Richard Ward (abt. 1636 - 1682)

Born about 1636 in Varina, Henrico, Colony of Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Blackman) Ward — married 1 Sep 1656 in Virginia

Descendants

Died 1 Aug 1682 at about age 46 in Varina Parish, Colony of Virginia

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Biography

Richard Ward (Seth 1 ) of Henrico County was a magistrate there in 1666; the date of his birth is not known; but, he died in 1682. ^[1]

The wording of his deeds indicate he was born in England^[2]

RICHARD WARD (before 1617(?)-1682) of ENGLAND and HENRICO COUNTY, VIRGINIA

RICHARD WARD, the son of SETH WARD and perhaps KATHARINE SMITH, removed from England to Colonial Virginia sometime before 1634 and settled in Henrico County below present-day Richmond. Henrico was one of the original eight shires into which Virginia was divided in 1634; this peninsula is on the north side of the James River, between the James and the Chickahominy, beginning at the mouth of the Chickahominy where it empties into the James and extends to "the falls" of the James which flow between Henrico and Chesterfield Counties.

Richard married ELIZABETH (surname not known) and by her had four known children: SETH WARD, RICHARD WARD, Edward Ward & ELIZABETH WARD as proven by his Last Will & Testament of 1682 and possibly' a son, JOHN WARD, who was not named in his will. [Va. Mag. II, p 312]

Richard Ward married Elizabeth (surname unknown) and had issue:

1. Seth Ward.
2. Richard Ward.
3. Edward Ward.
4. Elizabeth Ward, of whom nothing further is known.

^[3]

ROSSE, an Indian boy, belonging to EDWARD WARD (who was formerly sold by Mr. RICHARD WARD dec'd at ye Outcry made of ye estate of Captain JOHN KNOWLES dec'd] being brought by SETH WARD before this Worshipful Court is adjudged to be fifteen years old. [Henrico Record Book 2, 1678-1693, page 120, Magazine of VA Genealogy, Vol 30, No 2.]^[4]

The SETH WARD patent was land previously home to THOMAS SHEFFIELD and his family from 1619 to 1622. THOMAS SHEFFIELD had received a royal land grant of 2,300 acres from the Crown of England; he and his family were tragically killed in an Indian Massacre on February 22, 1622. From 1622 to 1634 the land remained uninhabited until the Indians and settlers reached an agreement and it was safe for the settlers to return to the area. SETH WARD acquired the Sheffield property in 1634. RICHARD GREGORY of Dinwiddie bought about 1,000 acres from another SETH WARD sometime between 1797 - 1805 and built the house that sits on the property today. The old home is used as an Officer's Club today. The property is the present site of the DEFENSE SUPPLY CENTER RICHMOND.^[5]

Richard Ward held the indenture of Simon Lygon whom his father, Seth Ward, had imported.

Wills

On 10 December 1677 at the Henrico Court Phillip Thomas and RICHARD WARD depose that the will exhibited in the court by John ____ Clerk is the last will and testament of WILLIAM COOKSON, dec'd that they were witnesses to. Recorded 10 Dec. 1677, page 30, Henrico County Will & Deed Book, 1677-1692, Part 1.

Will of CHRISTOPHER BRANCH, Henrico County, VA recorded page 209, 20 Feb 1681/2: Dated 20 June 1678

To son THOMAS B RANCH, great copper ceatle, and a book and 240 acres already given him;

To grandson CHRISTOPHER BRANCH all land between river to line of my son THOMAS and Proctors Creek, provided he hellp build his b rother SAMUEL a house of 4 board lengths.

To grandson SAMUEL BRANCH, land called Jacks Bottom at Proctor's Creek, provided he help build his brother BENJAMIN a house of 4 board lengths.

To grandson BENJAMIN BRANCH land between Jacks Bottom and Proctors Creek.

SAMUEL and BENJAMIN to live with CHRISTOPHER until able to look after themselves;

WILLIAM and JOHN BRANCH to have permission to hunt and fish in the creek and swamp.

Grandson CHRISTOPHER BRANCH to be sole executor.

All the rest of the estate to grandsons CHRISTOPHER, BENJAMIN, AND SAMUEL, SARAH and MARY BRANCH, the wife of THOMAS JEFFERSON, to be equally divided.

Witnesses: ABELL GOWER, RICHARD WARD

Proved by above witnesses 20 Feb 1681/2

The following is an abstract of the will of RICHARD WARD written in April 1682: RICHARD WARD of parish and County of Henrico, to son RICHARD WARD 300 acres in a parcel, one lying & being upon Mr. Abell Gower, the other lying & being on Mr. John Knowles:

To youngest son EDWARD, 250 acres;

To daughter ELIZABETH WARD 150 acres;

To eldest son SETH WARD plantation I now live on and all the lands that shall be left in what I expressed in my will above said. To eldest son, SETH WARD, one bed, bedstead, with curtains and vallainces, 2 flock beds with covering, one large table, and forme, one old chest, one pr doggirons, 7 pewter dishes, one gallon flagon, 6 plates and leather chair, one joint stoole, one chest, pr pott racks, one copper kettle, one brass kettle, one smoothing iron, a spit and frying pan, one courch, pr pot hooks, one powdering tub, 3 napkins, 3 pr sheets, 8 head cattle, one great iron pestle, one well bucket & chain, one ladle, one copper pot, 9 silver spoons, 2 seal gold ring, 1 silver bowl, and salt cellars, 1 silver dram cup.

To second son RICHARD WARD 2 feather beds, 1 with curtains and vallianes and and bedstead, the other with covering thereto belonging, 1 iron bound case, ` leather chair, 1 round table, 2 potts, 1 pr pot hooks, 1 pr pot racks, 6 plates 7 pewter dishes, 1 cullender, 2 chests, 1 pr andirons, 1 spit, 1 frying pan, 1 great iron pot, 1 smoothing iron, 1 Bible, 1 couch, 3 diapr napkins, 3 pr sheets, 8 head cattle, 1 iron pestle, 1 gridiron, 9 silver spoons, 2 silver cups, 1 silver scale. To youngest son EDWARD WARD, 1 bed & bedstead, with curtains & vallaines, and all necessarys thereto, 2 great chests, 1 stoole, 1 leather chair, 1 table, 6 new pewter dishes, 1 iron pott, of 4 gall, one little iron kettle, 1 iron bound case, 1 warming pan, 6 plates, 1 little iron pot, 1 looking glass, 1 pr pot racks, 3 diapr napkins, 3 pr sheets, 7 head cattle, 3 of them to be cows, 1 iron pestle, and morter, 1 pr of fire tongs, 9 silver spoons, 1 silver cup, 1 silver tobacco stopper.

To daughter ELIZABETH WARD, 2 feather beds one with curtains and vallaines & bedstead, the other with covering belonging thereto, 1 new ticking, 1 great chest, 6 plates, 8 pewter dishes, 2 chests, 1 box iron & heaters, 1 wooden chair, 1 joint stool, 1 great iron kettle, 1 pr pot racks, 1 skillet, 1 small iron pot & pot hooks, 1 chafing dish, 3 diap napkins & table cloth, 3 pr sheets, 1 saddle & bridle & one saddle cloth, 7 head cattle, 3 of them cows, 1 Bible, 1 driping pan, 1 pewter candlestick, 1 silver cup, 1 silver tankard, and 9 silver spoons.

One half ensuing crop made by my 3 hands, SIMON LYGON, ROSS & JACK, either of Indiane Corne or tobacco, 1/2 to daughter ELIZABETH and son RICHARD to be equally divided to buy each a servant, and NATT and BUTTON, 2 of my horses, and the other half to my son SEITH.

To son SEITH WARD, JACK my INDIAN BOY, and the keeping of my youngest son EDWARD WARD until he is 19 years of age to have benefit of his labor at his disposing, and likewise benefit of Rosse, the Indian's labor the term and time abovesaid & then son EDWARD to take him into custody; in case Sons SEITH & EDWARD cannot agree till term abovesaid then Edward to choose his own guardian. Son SEITH to build sone EDWARD a dwelling house of 20 ft wide & 30 ft long with 2 outside chimneys on the land given in my will.

Son RICHARD full produce of 1000 lbs of 2758 lbs. tobacco shipped for England by Capt John Rude's Commander of the Hopewell, of London as pr bill of lading; & 1000 to daughter ELIZABETH WARD & 757 lbs to son, EDWARD. Of 2 years remaining time of servant LYGON, the first year to son SEITH, the last year to be equally divided between my son RICHARD and my daughter ELIZABETH. Should tobacco shipped home as above bring my sons in debt then they each to bear equal share according to proportion.

Horses and mares to son SEITH & RICHARD and daughter ELIZABETH (a horse mentioned running at the World's end.)

Remaining cattle to be equally divided among my 4 children, SETH, RICHARD, EDWARD & ELIZABETH, stocks of hogs divided among said 4 children and for the linnen and woollen and shoes and stockings to be equally divided, vis: 32 ells of Dowlas, 9 ells of Lockram, 30 ells of fine canviss, 8 1/2 ells of course canviss, 27 yds blew linnen, 7 1/2 yds broadcloth, 3 yds cotton, 3 pr worsted stockings, 1 pr of yarns, 7 pr french falls, 1 new hatt. Yokes, chains, saws, wedges, carpenters tools to remain amongst children for each of their proper uses & all other tools belonging to the house.

Executor: oldest son, SETH WARD.

Witnesses: THOMAS LOCKETT & WILL BALLOWS

Dated 18 April 1682.

Probated 1 August 1682. (Henrico Records).^[6]

Research Notes

These two references provide a birth date for Elizabeth Blackman, and likely also confirm her marriage to Richard Ward:

William and Mary Quarterly, Page number: Vol 27 Vol 9; pp 148-199, 185, 199,258. *288, 312-13.

Utah Redds and Their Progenitors, Lura Redd; 1973; pp 195, 286, *294, 296-310, 561-2

The above pagination references were badly mangled on the FamilySearch site. As time permits, they should be reviewed as soon as possible to facilitate creating Elizabeth Blackman's profile.

The previous footnote reference after Chesterfield Counties, using the site "ANCESTORS OF VIRGINIA AND BEYOND," no longer exists. More research is warranted to see if the user has updated links.

Sources

1. ↑ The William and Mary Quarterly, Volume 27
2. ↑ Richard Ward, IOO acres in Varina in county of Henrico, bounded southwest towards ye twoe mile creek N. W. into main woods, southerly upon land now in possession of John Baker E. N. E. to the fouer mile creek. Due said Richard Ward, 50 acres for his own personale adventure and 50 acres by purchase of Bartholomew Farthing to whom it is due for transportation of a servant called Sarah Breman. Dated 14 July 1637. (Register of the Land Office.)
3. ↑ William and Mary Quarterly pps. 185-199
4. ↑ as cited in William and Mary Quarterly, p. 188
5. ↑ as cited by RootsWeb user Brenda Keck Reed
6. ↑ William and Mary Quarterly, p. 188; see also Colonial Henrico Wills (page 9, 6 of 26).

• Immigration Record, partially redacted: U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s (Immigration & Emigration - index courtesy of Ancestry.com): Richard Ward, Arrival: Virginia year
• Marriage Records, partially redacted: Virginia, Compiled Marriages, 1660-1800 (Birth, Marriage & Death): Richard Ward, Spouse: Elizabeth Blackman, Marriage: Virginia 1 Sep 1656
• U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 (Birth, Marriage & Death): Elizabeth Blackman, Spouse: Richard Ward, Spouse Birth Year: year, Spouse Birth Place: VA
• Will of Richard Ward for subcribers at Ancestry