Events
Date of Birth: 19 January 1861.
Place of Birth: Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England.
The date and place are given on the birth certificate.
Date of Baptism: 17 February 1861.
Place of Baptism: Shrewsbury (St Chad).
The baptism is recorded in the parish register.
Date of Death: 22 August 1940.
Place of Burial: Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales (St Woolos Cemetery).
Relationships
Father: Daniel Ward (1832 - 1870).
Mother: Sarah Ann Breeze (1836 - 1916).
See the Commentary section.
Spouse: Sarah Harper (about 1863 - 1933). Married 7 April 1885 in Kidderminster, Worcestershire.
The date and place are given on the marriage certificate.
Children:
(Complete source citations for facts about the children on this page are currently outside of the scope of this project.)
Rose Mary Ward (born 19 April 1885, baptized 29 June 1885 in Kidderminster - died 22 September 1956 in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia) married Frederick William Wilson in 1910.
Lily Jane Ward (baptized 27 December 1886 in Kidderminster - died 1887).
Violetta Breeze Ward (baptized 15 Jan 1888 in Wolverley, Worcestershire - died 1959 in Ashfield, New South Wales, Australia).
Daniel Charles Ward (baptized 11 March 1889 in Kidderminster - died 3 November 1917 in Palestine).
Lilian May Ward (born 6 May 1892 in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire - died 1964) married Aubrey Bevan in 1915.
Harry Ewart Ward (born 13 June 1898 in Wolverhampton - died 25 July 1978 in Toronto, Canada) married Doris Winstanley Molineux 8 November 1925 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada (St Anne’s).
Olive Edith Ward (born 11 January 1901, baptized 5 February 1901 in Maindee, Monmouthshire - died 1961 in Newport, Wales) married Cecil Williams 19 August 1925.
Harold Frederick Ward (born 29 July 1903, baptized 18 August 1903 in Maindee, Monmouthshire - died 12 November 1971 in Newport, Wales) married Gwendoline Maud Linda Harris 10 April 1929 in Maindee, Monmouthshire.
Evidence
Certified copy of entry of birth (General Register Office, Shrewsbury registration district, St Chad sub-district)
When and where born: Nineteenth January 1861. New Street, Frankwell
Name, if any: Charles John Thomas
Sex: Boy
Name and surname of father: Daniel Ward
Name, surname and maiden surname of mother: Sarah Ann Ward, formerly Breeze
Occupation of father: Ironmonger
Signature, description and residence of informant: Sarah Ann Ward, Mother, Frankwell, Shrewsbury
When registered: Seventh February 1861
Signature of registrar: Richard Stephens Registrar
Baptism record:
When baptized: February 17th
Child’s Christian Name: Charles John Thomas son of
Parent’s Name. Christian: Daniel Sarah Ann
Parent’s Name. Surname: Ward
Abode: Severn Cottages
Quality, Trade, or Profession: Ironmonger
By whom the Ceremony was performed: J Harding
1861 census of England (Shrewsbury, Shropshire)
Severn Terrace (Frankwell St Chad)
Daniel Ward, Head, M., 28, Ironmonger assist., [born] Worcester Kidderminster
Sarah Ann Ward, Wife, M., 24, Wife, [born] Warwick Bir’m
Mary Sophia Ward, Dau, Un, 2, daughter, [born] Salop Shrewsby
Chas Jno Thomas Ward, Son, Un, 11 weeks, [born Salop Shrewsby]
Mary Jane Jones, Serv, Un, 22, House Servant, [born] Stafford Whampton
1871 census of England (Kidderminster, Worcestershire)
52 Blackwell Street
Sarah A Ward, Head, Wid, 32, Dressmaker & Shop Keeper, [born] Birmingham, Warw.
Mary S [Ward], dau, 12, Scholar, [born] Shrewsby, Salop
Charles J. T. [Ward],Son, 6, [Scholar], [born Shrewsby, Salop]
Edward E [Ward], Son, 4, [Scholar], [born Shrewsby, Salop]
Sarah H [Ward], daugh, 2, [born Shrewsby, Salop]
Harry Downey, Lodger, 19, Bricklayer, [born] Kidd Worcester
1881 census of England (Kidderminster, Worcestershire)
8 Worcester St
William Roberts, head, Widr, 78, Tailor, [born Worcester] Stockton
Sarah Ann Ward, serv, W, 45, genl serv, [born] Warwick Birmingham
Chas J T Ward, boarder, Unm, 20, Tailor, [born] Salop
Edw’d Ernest [Ward], [boarder], 14, Butcher’s assistant, [born Salop]
Sarah Hannah [Ward], [boarder], 12, Scholar, [born Salop]
Frederick Cheadle, [boarder], 63, Draper’s assistant, [born] Stafford Stone
William Watkinson, [boarder], 66, Wool stapler, [born] Lincoln Gainsboro
Certified copy of entry of marriage (General Register Office, Kidderminster registration district)
When Married: Seventh April 1885
Name and Surname: Charles John Thomas Ward
Age: 24 years
Condition: Bachelor
Rank or Profession: Tailor
Residence at the time of the Marriage: 15 Cross Street, Kidderminster
Father's Name and Surname: Daniel Ward
Rank or Profession of Father: Ironmonger
Name and Surname: Sarah Harper
Age: 22 years
Condition: Spinster
Rank or Profession: ---------
Residence at the time of the Marriage: 15 Cross Street, Kidderminster
Father's Name and Surname: William Harper
Rank or Profession of Father: Earthenware dealer
Married in the Register Office by Certificate before me, Thomas Milwes Registrar, Fredk Burcher Superintendent Registrar
This Marriage was solemnized between us, Charles John Thomas Ward, Sarah Harper, in the Presence of Samuel Francks, Elizabeth Francks.
1891 census of England (Wolverhampton, Staffordshire)
10 St James Street
Charles Ward, Head, M, 30, Lead Coater, [born] Schrewsbury Salop
Sarah [Ward], Wife, M, 28, [born] Stourbridge, Worcester
Rose [Ward], Daur, 5, Scholar, [born] Kidderminster [Worcester]
Voilet [Ward], Daur, 3, [born]Wolverly [Worcester]
Daniel [Ward], Son, 2, [born] Kidderminster [Worcester]
1901 census of Wales (Newport, Monmouthshire)
41 Vivian Rd
Charles J T Ward, Head, M, 40, Stocktaker in Iron Works, [born] Shops. Shrewsbury,
Sarah [Ward], Wife, 38, [born] Worcestr Stourbridge
Rose M. [Ward], Daur, S, 15, Mothers Help, [born Worcestr] Kidderminster
Violetta M. [Ward], Daur, S, 13, [born Worcestr] Wolverley
Daniel C. [Ward], Son, S, 12, [born Worcestr] Kidderminster
Lilian M. [Ward], Daur, 8, [born] Staffs Wolverhampton
Harry E. [Ward], Son, 2, [born Staffs Wolverhampton]
Olive E. [Ward], Daur, 2 mo, [born] Monmouth Newport
1911 census of Wales (Newport, Monmouthshire)
38 Bishton Street
1. Charles John Thomas Ward, Head, 50, Married, [married 26 years, 8 children, 7 children still living, 1 dead], Life Assurance Agent, [born] Salop, Shrewsbury, [speaks] English
2. Sarah Ward, Wife, 49, Married, [born] Worcester Stourbridge, [speaks] English
3. Daniel Charles Ward, 22, Single, Ironworker (Sheet Marker. Sheet Mills), [born Worcester Kidderminster]
4. Harry Ewart Ward, 12, School, [born] Staff. Wolverhampton, [speaks English]
5. Olive Edith Ward, 10, School, [born] Mon. Newport, [speaks English]
6. Harold Frederick Ward, 7, School, [born] Mon. Newport, [speaks English]
signed Charles John Thomas Ward
1921 census of England:
[Name and Surname; Relationship to Head of Household; Age; Sex; Marriage or Orphanhood; Birthplace and Nationality (if not born in the UK); Personal Occupation; Employment; Place of Work]
Charles John Thomas Ward; Head; 60 [years] 5 [months]; M; Married; Shropshire Shrewsbury; Inspector of Steel Sheets in Rolling Mill; John Lysaght Limited Steel Sheet Mills, out of work; Orb Works Newport. Mon.
Sarah Ward; Wife; 59 [years] 2 [months]; F; Married; Worcestershire Stourbridge; Home Duties; —
Harold Frederick Ward; Son; 17 [years] 11 [months]; Monmouthshire Newport; Scrap Cutter in Rolling Mill; John Lysaght Limited Steel Sheet Rolling Mills, out of work; Orb Works Newport. Mon
Signature: Charles John Thomas Ward
from the Kidderminster St Mary parish registers:
[1885]
When Baptized: June 29.
Child’s Christian Name: Rose Mary
Parent’s Christian Names: Charles John Thomas & Sarah
Parent’s Surname: Ward
Abode: Cross Street
Quality, Trade, or Profession: Tailor
By whom the Ceremony was performed: Gerald M Isaac
[1886]
When Baptized: Dec 27
Child’s Christian Name: Lily Jane
Parent’s Christian Names: Charles John Thomas & Sarah
Parent’s Surname: Ward
Abode: Clensmore Lane
Quality, Trade, or Profession: Labourer
By whom the Ceremony was performed: Thomas L Claughton
[1889]
When Baptized: March 11th
Child’s Christian Name: Daniel Charles
Parent’s Christian Names: Charles John Thomas & Sarah
Parent’s Surname: Ward
Abode: 6 Coldfield Row
Quality, Trade, or Profession: Tailor
By whom the Ceremony was performed: G A Moore
from the Wolverley parish register:
[1887]
When Baptized: January 15th
Child’s Christian Name: Violetta Breese
Parent’s Christian Names: Charles John Thomas & Sarah
Parent’s Surname: Ward
Abode: Wolverley
Quality, Trade, or Profession: Forgeman
By whom the Ceremony was performed: CHarles B. Rowland
from the St James Wolverhampton parish register:
When baptized: 1892 June 29.th
Child’s Christian Name: Lilian May
Parents’ name: Charles John Thomas & Sarah Ward
Abode: 10 S. James St.
Quality, Trade, or Profession: Lead-coater
By whom the Ceremony was performed: Henry V Stuart
from the Maindee parish register:
When baptized: 1901 Feb 5
Child’s Christian Name: Olive Edith
Parents’ name: Charles John Thomas & Sarah Ward
Abode: 41 Vivian Road
Quality, Trade, or Profession: Stock taker
By whom the Ceremony was performed: J R Hosbons
When baptized: 1903 August 18th
Child’s Christian Name: Harold Frederick
Parents’ name: Charles John Thomas & Sarah Ward
Abode: 41 Vivian Road
Quality, Trade, or Profession: Ironworker
By whom the Ceremony was performed: J.R.Jones
from the Newport Vaccination Register:
When born: 11th January 1901
Where born: 41 Vivian Road
Name, if any, of child: Olive Edith
Sex: Girl
Name and Surname of the Father: Charles John Thomas Ward
Rank, Occupation, or Profession of Parent: stocktaker in Ironworks
When given: 22nd February 1901.
To whom given: mother
from John’s 1914 Newport Street Directory:
Bishton Street, 38, Ward, Chas JT, insurance agent
from John’s 1938 Newport Street Directory:
Bishton Street, 38 Chas. J. T., irnwkr
from the 1939 England and Wales Register
[Newport, Monmouthshire]
3 [Gordon St.] Ward Charles J. T. / M/ [born] 19 Jan [18]61/ W[idower]/ Steel Sheet Weigher Retired
Commentary
Parentage:
Charles’s parents are identified on his birth certificate. His father is identified as “Daniel Ward”, occupation “Ironmonger”. The mother is identified as “Sarah Ann Ward, formerly Breeze”. The informant was “Sarah Ann Ward, Mother, Frankwell, Shrewsbury”. (On the birth registrations for all of Charles’s siblings, the mother’s maiden name is also recorded as “Breeze”.)
Charles’s parents are also identified in his Shrewsbury baptism record (“Daniel and Sarah Ann Ward”). Daniel is an ironmonger. They are living at “Severn Cottages”.
In the 1861 census, Charles’s father is identified as “Daniel Ward”. He is 28, an ironmonger’s assistant, born in Kidderminster. Daniel’s wife is “Sarah Ann Ward”, 24, born in “Warwick Bir’m”. The family is living at Severn Terrance, Frankwell St Chad. (See above.)
In the 1871 census, Charles’s mother is identified as “Sarah A Ward”, 32, born in “Birmingham, Warw.”
In the 1881 census, Charles’s mother is identified as “Sarah Ann Ward”, 45, born in “Warwick, Birmingham”.
On Charles’s marriage certificate, his father is identified as “Daniel Ward”, “Ironmonger”.
There are thus multiple independent records giving consistent information about Charles’s parentage. Charles’s mother Sarah Ann Breeze was the informant for his birth certificate, and probably also the 1871 and 1881 censuses. Charles’s father Daniel was probably the informant for the 1861 census. Charles himself would have been the informant for his marriage certificate. The baptism took place at the family’s home parish, where they would have been known by friends and acquaintances.
There is supporting DNA evidence that Charles was the son of Daniel Ward and Sarah Ann Breeze. I am a paper-trail descendant of Charles, and I share DNA with a paper-trail descendant of Charles’s sister (and Daniel and Sarah’s daughter) Sarah Hannah. (Third cousin once removed, 22 cM over 2 segments)
These relationships can be accepted as sufficiently proven according to usual genealogical standards.
Date and place of birth:
The evidence for Charles’s date and place of birth is satisfactory. The birth certificate, baptism record, and 1861 census give evidence which is consistent:
Birth certificate: born 19 January 1861 at New Street, Frankwell, Shrewsbury. (Informant Sarah Ann Ward, mother).
Baptism record: baptized 17 February 1861 at St Chad, Shrewsbury. Abode of family: Severn Cottages.
1861 census (taken 7 April 1861): age 11 weeks, residence Severn Terrace (Frankwell, St Chad).
References
“AncestryDNA ThruLines for Daniel Ward database report”, AncestryDNA. Accessed 26 February 2025.
Birth Certificate of Charles John Thomas Ward (official copy). General Register Office. England and Wales. Civil Registration Certificates. (London, United Kingdom: General Register Office).
"England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/NGGY-7FS : accessed 13 Apr 2014), Charles John Thomas Ward, 17 Feb 1861; citing , reference ; FHL microfilm 503526, 503527, 503528.
Parish registers of Shrewsbury St George, digital images available for a fee on Findmypast.co.uk.
Marriage Certificate of Charles John Thomas Ward and Sarah Ward(official copy). General Register Office. England and Wales. Civil Registration Certificates. (London, United Kingdom: General Register Office).
Daniel Ward household, 1861 census of England. Worcestershire, Kidderminster, Kidderminster, ED 7, piece 1874, folio 31, page 11, in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1861. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1861; digital image Ancestry.com (accessed 13 April 2014).
Sarah A Ward household, 1871 census of England. Worcestershire, Kidderminster, Kidderminster, ED 7, piece 3034, folio 12, page 18, in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1871. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1871; digital image Ancestry.com (accessed 13 April 2014).
William Roberts household, 1881 census of England. Worcestershire, Kidderminster, Kidderminster, ED 11, piece 2901, folio 98, page 48, in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1881. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1881; digital image Ancestry.com (accessed 13 April 2014).
Charles Ward household, 1891 census of England. Worcestershire, Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton Eastern, ED 17, Wolverhampton, piece 2233, folio 173, page 13, in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1891; digital image Ancestry.com (accessed 11 April 2014).
Charles J T Ward household, 1901 census of Wales. Monmouthshire, Newport, Newport (ED 5), Newport, piece 4962, folio 106, page 43; digital image at Ancestry.com (accessed 11 April 2014) citing Census Returns of England and Wales, 1901. Kew, Surrey. England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA), 1901.
Charles John Thomas Ward household, 1911 census of Wales. Monmouthshire, Newport (registration district 587), Newport (ED 24), Newport; RG14, Piece 31983; digital image at Ancestry.com (accessed 11 April 2014) citing Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911. Kew, Surrey. England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA), 1911.
Newport Vaccination register. Digital images on Ancestry.com.
Parish registers of St Mary Kidderminster, Worcestershire; Wolverley, Worcestershire; and Maindee, Monmouthshire. Digital images on Ancestry.com.
John’s 1914 Newport Street Directory
John’s 1938 Newport Street Directory