Joanna (Ward) Williams (abt. 1628 - 1718)

Born about 1628 in England

Wife of Abraham Williams — married 1650 in Sudbury, Middlesex, Massachusetts

Descendants

Died 8 Dec 1718 at about age 90 in Marlborough, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts

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Joanna (Ward) Williams migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Biography

Joann, daughter of William Ward, was born in 1627 in England. The family emigrated to Massachusetts about 1638^[1][2]. She married Abraham Williams in Massachusetts in about 1659.^[3] They had four children during their marriage.^[4] She died on December 8, 1718, in Marlborough, Massachusetts, at age 91, and was buried there.^[5][6]

From William Ward Genealogy

"3. Joanna Ward, born in England about 1628, died December 8, 1718, in Marlborough, Mass. She married about 1659, ABRAHAM WILLIAMS, born in England in 1628, died December 29, 1712, in Marlborough.

"He settled in Watertown, Mass., and was of that place in 1652 when he took the oath of fidelity. In August 1654 he purchased a house and twelve acres from John Callow, reselling it in 1659 (Joanna joining in the deed). Three years later he bought a house and six acres in the section now known as Newton Corners. In the following year he moved again, joining the Ward family in Marlborough, taking up land near the southeasterly end of 'Belcher's Pond.'

"Marlborough proved to his liking, for he permanently settled there, combining farming and tavern-keeping. The site of his dwelling is after 260 years still devoted to a house of public refreshment which perpetuates his name and that of his descendants—the "Williams Tavern." During King Philip's War, and later, his home was a 'garrison-house' (see page 51, Chapter X).

"He was prominent in the community, serving as representative in the General Court, and as lieutenant of militia.

"His will disposed of a considerable amount of property, both personal and real. Among the bequests is a conditional one to William Ripley, an apprentice: "concerning William Ripley, whom we have brought up from a child; his time is not long to stay on strict terms— then nine pounds will be due him—one he hath already had—let his due be paid out of the whole estate—if he will stay with Abraham and John for reasonable wages by the year, three or four years, then I give to him for his own forever, to settle on, twenty acres of land at Rock Patch with the meadow to it, next to my son[-in-law] Beaman's. If he like not that, he shall have twenty acres at the west end of Crane Hill and three acres of meadow at Cedar meadow, above the island next to Barnes; and if not that he must go.

"The instrument also directed that for his wife and himself there should be provided 'a decent and christian burial, without weeds or flourishes, for our fathers and mothers had none.

"Children, born in Marlborough, Mass:

28. Elizabeth, born in Newton, Mass., married July 26, 1678, Thomas Beaman (Bemond) of Marlborough, Mass., born 1649, died October 21, 1731, son of Gamaliel and Mary Beaman of Dorchester, Mass. Children: Elizabeth,4 Daniel. Eleazer (married Hannah Howe, daughter of 56), Sarah, Lydia E., Abraham (married Mary Rice, 208).

29. John, born July 6, 1665, died in infancy.

30. William, died August 30, 1702. He married before 1692 Elizabeth . Children: Thomas,4 Abraham.

31. Lydia, born July 9, 1669.

32. John, born August 1675, died January 3,1718, in Marlborough." ^[7]

Research Notes

Possible Matching English records: As of 5.2.24, FindAGrave reports a birth date of 11 Sep 1627 in "England." without explanation. An Ancestry.com Public Tree also uses this date, with a location of Clerkenwell, London, England. A search of FamilySearch, Ancestry.com, and FreeRegUk found no matching records. The closest were"

• Hanna Ward d/o William bp 1 Nov 1628^[8] Appears to have an older brother John about the right age.
• Jane, daughter of William Ward, was baptised on 11 July 1627 in Kendal, Westmoreland, England.^[9]

Sources

1. ↑ From History of the town of Marlborough, Middlesex Co., MA... p. 459-
2. ↑ VIRKUS, FREDERICK A., editor. Immigrant Ancestors: A List of 2,500 Immigrants to America before 1750. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1964. 75p. Repr. 1986.
3. ↑ William Ward Geneaology, p. 66, https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89067294322;view=1up;seq=128
4. ↑ William Ward Geneaology, p. 66, https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89067294322;view=1up;seq=128
5. ↑ Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=71368336&ref=acom
6. ↑ Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 for Joanah Williams Marlborough Vital Record Transcripts
7. ↑ William Ward Genealogy, p. 66, https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89067294322;view=1up;seq=128
8. ↑ Leicestershire : Shearsby : St Mary Magdalen : Bishop's Transcript : "Parish Register" database, FreeREG (https://www.freereg.org.uk/search_records/5f5cd563f493fd0543005b8f : viewed 2 May 2024) baptism Hanna Ward 01 Nov 1628
9. ↑ Baptism: "England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975"
   Original data: England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013; FHL Film Number: 1471684
   Ancestry Record 9841 #64911537 (accessed 2 May 2024)
   Jane Ward baptism on 11 Jul 1627, daughter of William Ward, in Kendal, Westmoreland, England.

• Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=71368336&ref=acom
• Historical notices of Thomas Fuller and his descendants, with a genealogy of the Fuller family, 1638-1902, pub. 1902, by Fuller, Arthur Buckminster, 1822-1862. ; Fuller, Edith Davenport, p. 28
• "History of the town of Marlborough, Middlesex county, Massachusetts, from its first settlement", p. 459
• Immigrant Ancestors: A List of 2,500 Immigrants to America before 1750, VIRKUS, FREDERICK A., editor.. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1964. 75p. Repr. 1986.
• Mack Genealogy : The Descendants of John Mack of Lyme, Conn, appendix p. 1747.
• Martyn, Charles. William Ward Genealogy (The).: The History of the Descendants of William Ward of Sudbury, Mass., 1638-1925. New York: Artemas Ward of the Seventh Generation, 1925. p. 66, https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89067294322;view=1up;seq=128
• Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 (birth and death records)
• U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900
• U.S., New England Marriages Prior to 1700, Genealogical Publishing Co.; Baltimore, MD, USA