James Ward
Events
Date of Birth: about 1804.
Place of Birth: Kidderminster, Worcestershire, England.
The approximate date and place come from the 1851, 1861, and 1871 censuses.
Date of Baptism: unknown.
Place of Baptism: unknown.
Date of Burial: 26 October 1877
Place of Burial: Kidderminster, St George's Church.
The burial is recorded in the parish register.
Relationships
Father: unknown.
Mother: unknown.
My best guess is that James was the son of Joseph Ward and Susannah Harris. (See the Commentary section.)
Spouse: Mary Ward (1803 - 1881). Married 28 February 1831 in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire.
The marriage is given in the parish register.
Children:
(Complete source citations for facts about the children on this page are currently outside of the scope of this project.)
Daniel Ward (baptized 12 September 1832 - died about 1870) married Sarah Ann Breeze 24 December 1857 in Kidderminster.
Joseph Ward (baptized 19 December 1834 - died 1874) married Fanny Hope in 25 May 1861 in Hay, Breconshire.
Hannah Ward (baptized 29 July 1836).
James Ward (born 28 April 1838) married Sarah Ann Stephens in 1863.
Thomas Ward (baptized 5 November 1840 - died 1875).
George Ward (baptized 20 January 1843) married Alice Allen in 1861.
Mary Ward (baptized 27 June 1846 - died 1921) married Thomas Richard Fasey in 1882.
Evidence
From the Worcester Journal (9 September 1830, page 2):
JAMES WARD
Currier and Leather-Seller,
RESPECTFULLY informs the Inhabitants of Kidderminster, and its Environs, that he has taken Premises in WATERLOO-STREET, (opposite Tan-yard), where it his intention to carry on the above Business in all its Departments; and having laid in a very excellent ASSORTMENT of GOODS, he trusts, by assiduity and attention, to merit a share of that Support which it will ever be his study to deserve.
Pigot & Co.’s Commercial Directory (1835, Kidderminster):
Curriers
Ward James, Waterloo st
from the Entry of Birth of James Ward:
1838
Kidderminster
When and where born: twenty eighth of April 1838 Waterloo Street Borough
Name: James
Sex: Boy
Name and surname of father: James Ward
Name, surname, and maiden surname of mother: Mary Ward formerly Ward
Occupation of father: Currier
Signature, description and residence of informant: James Ward of Waterloo Street Father
When registered: twenty sixth of May 1838
Wednesday 30 December 1840 Worcester Chronicle:
IN THE INSOLVENCY OF JAMES WARD.
WHEREAS by Indenture, bearing the date the Twenty-sixth day of December instant, between JAMES WARD, of Kidderminster, in the County of Worcester, Currier, and JOHN ROGERS, of Kidderminster aforesaid, Tanner, of the second part, and the several Persons whose names and seals are thereunto affixed, or who shall assent to the said Deed as therein mentioned, Creditors of the said James Ward did assign, transfer, and set over unto the said Robert Allies and John Rogers, their Executors, Administrators, and Assigns, all and singular the Stock in Trade, Household Furniture, Debts, Monies, and all other, the personal Estate and Effects of the said James Ward, in trust, nevertheless, for the benefit of the Creditors of the said James Ward, who shall execute or assent in writing to the said Deed within two calendar months from the date thereof. Notice is therefore hereby given that the said Deed of Assignment is now lying at the Office of the undersigned MR. WILLIAM BRINTON, Solictor, Park Butts, in Kidderminster aforesaid, for execution by the Creditors of the said James Ward. All persons who are indebted to the said James Ward are not to pay the amount of their respective debts except to whom the Trustees shall appoint to receive the same on their behalf. Dated this 26th day of December, 1840.
WM. BRINTON,
Solicitor to the said Trustees.
1841 census of England (Kidderminster, Worcestershire)
Lion St
James Ward, 35, Commission Agent, Y [“Y” means born in Worcestershire]
Mary [Ward], 35, Y
Daniel [Ward], 8, Y
Joseph [Ward], 6, Y
James [Ward], 3, Y
Thomas [Ward], 7 Months, Y
1851 census of England (Kidderminster, Worcestershire)
Coventry St
James Ward, Head, Mar, 47, Currier, [born] Worc’r Kidderminster
Mary [Ward], Wife, Mar, 48, [born Worc’r] Bromsgrove
Daniel [Ward], Son, Un, 18, Ironmonger App, [born Worc’r] Kidderminster
Joseph [Ward], Son, 16, [Ironmonger App], [born Worc’r Kidderminster]
Hannah [Ward], daur, 14, Scholar, [born Worc’r Kidderminster]
James [Ward], Son, 12, [Scholar]. [born Worc’r Kidderminster]
Thomas [Ward], Son, 10, [Scholar], [born Worc’r Kidderminster]
George [Ward], Son, 8, [Scholar], [born Worc’r Kidderminster]
Mary [Ward], daur, 5, [born Worc’r Kidderminster]
1861 census of England (Kidderminster, Worcestershire)
Coventry Street
James Ward, Head, Mar, 57, Accountant, [born] Worcester Kidderminster
Thomas Ward, Son, Un, 20, Stone Mason, [born Worcester Kidderminster]
Mary Ward, Daughter, Un, 15, Scholar, [born Worcester Kidderminster]
1871 census of England (Kidderminster, Worcestershire)
Coventry St
James Ward, head, Mar, 67, Solicitors Writing Clerk, [born Worcester Kidderminster]
Mary [Ward], Wife, Mar, 68, [born Worcester Kidderminster]
Thomas [Ward], Son, Unm, 30, Worsted Dyer, [born Worcester Kidderminster]
Mary [Ward], daur, Unm, 25, Dressmaker, [born Worcester Kidderminster]
Harry Breeze Ward, G’d Son, 8, Scholar, [born] Salop Shrewsbury
James's burial (Kidderminster, St George, 1877)
Name: James Ward
Abode: Coventry St.
When buried: Oct. 26.th
Age: 74 yrs.
By whom the Ceremony was performed: W.E. Thompson
Commentary
James Ward’s baptism has not yet turned up, making the identification of his parents uncertain. Here are some reasons for supposing that they were Joseph Ward and Susannah Harris:
(1) According to the censuses, James was born in Kidderminster in 1803 or 1804, and Joseph and Susannah were living in Kidderminster at that time.
(2) Joseph was a currier, as was James, until his bankruptcy in 1840.
(3) One of Joseph’s sons married one of James’s wife’s sisters, showing that a marriage between the families, although they were first cousins, was a real possibility.
(4) Joseph's son Thomas was living in Coventry Street at the time of his death in 1838. Joseph's widow Ann was living there in the 1841 census. By the 1851 census, Ann had moved to Proud Cross, but James Ward was now living in Coventry Street, working as a currier. Perhaps he had moved into Ann's house with his growing family.
Here are some reasons for doubting that the marriage took place:
(1) The absence of a baptism record is odd, given that there are baptisms recorded for most of Joseph’s other children. However, Joseph probably had a daughter, Eliza, who was born about 1806 in Kidderminster, for whom no baptism has turned up. (Eliza is described as the cousin of Joseph’s brother’s son in a census.)
(2) Joseph doesn’t mention James in his will. This may not be significant, as Joseph does not mention some of his other children, either. He mentions his sons John and Thomas, and also his children generally, without apparently naming them all. A newspaper account of Joseph’s death noted that the family that he left behind was “numerous”.
Until other evidence comes to light, it would seem that Joseph and Susannah are the most likely candidates for parents for James.
References
Bromsgrove, Worcestershire parish registers, FHL film 321127, Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Pigot and Co.’s National Commercial Directory, (London, 1835). Page 646.
The Worcester Chronicle (30 December 1840), page 3, column 5; digital image on Findmypast.co.uk (accessed 13 April 2014).
James Ward household, 1841 census of England. Worcestershire, Kidderminster, Kidderminster, Kidderminster; HO107, piece 1208, book 9, folio 16, page 24, in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1841. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1841; digital image Ancestry.com (accessed 13 April 2014).
James Ward household, 1851 census of England. Worcestershire, Kidderminster, Kidderminster, ED 1r, piece 2038, folio 447, page 25, in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1851. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1851; digital image Ancestry.com (accessed 13 April 2014).
James Ward household, 1861 census of England. Worcestershire, Kidderminster, Kidderminster, ED 10, piece 2078, folio 68, page 13, 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).
James Ward household, 1871 census of England. Worcestershire, Kidderminster, Kidderminster, ED 10, piece 3034, folio 116, page 29, 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).
GRO index, Deaths Dec 1877, Kidderminster, Volume 6c page 129. General Register Office. England and Wales. Civil Registration Certificates. (London, United Kingdom: General Register Office).
Kidderminster St George parish register. Digital image on FamilySearch, accessed 16 January 1877.