William Ward (1743 - 1807)
In the 1760s and 1770s, William Ward was a nailer residing at the Linthurst, Bromsgrove, according to the parish registers. He was possibly occupying the Bird in Hand public house in High Street, Bromsgrove, in 1784. (Worcester County Council 14463/1/1) In 1802 he is described as an innholder.
Events
Date of Birth: about 1743.
William’s burial record gives his age at death as 64.
Date of Baptism: 2 October 1743.
Place of Baptism: Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, England (St John the Baptist).
The parish register gives the baptism.
Date of Burial: 19 December 1807.
Place of Burial: Bromsgrove (St John the Baptist).
The parish register gives the burial.
Relationships
Father: Samuel Ward (1717 - 1769)
Mother: Hannah Insley.
William’s parents are named in his baptism record. Hannah's surname appears in her marriage record.
Spouse: Sarah.
Sarah’s name is given in the baptism records of her children. The Worcester Journal of 12 October 1820 (p. 3) possibly records her death: "Lately, in the 68th year of her age, Mrs. Sarah Ward, of Bromsgrove." If this was her, she was buried 24 September 1820 in Bromsgrove, with the same age at death given. The age seems a bit young for her to have children starting in 1766. Perhaps William had two wives named Sarah. There seems to be quite a gap between Mary's and James's births. William Ward's widow seems to have been living in his house in 1810 (Bromsgrove Land Tax), the 1811 census, and 1820 (Bromsgrove Land Tax).
Children:
(Complete source citations for facts about the children on this page are currently outside of the scope of this project.)
William Ward (baptized 7 July 1766 in Bromsgrove - buried 30 May 1768 in Bromsgrove).
Joseph Ward (born 2 June 1770, baptized 9 June 1770 in Bromsgrove - buried 3 May 1822 in Kidderminster) married (1) Susannah Harris 22 January 1793 in Birmingham; married (2) Ann Brookes 12 February 1811 in Kidderminster.
William Ward (born 23 August 1773, baptized 10 September 1773 in Bromsgrove - buried 5 January 1842 in Bromsgrove) married (1) Hannah Penn 11 August 1796 in Bromsgrove; married (2) Ann Akrill 30 May 1833 in Bromsgrove.
Mary Ward (born 24 August 1775, baptized 27 December 1775 in Bromsgrove - died 29 December 1778).
James Ward (born 23 October 1789 at 2:03 a.m. , baptized 1 January 1790 in Bromsgrove - buried 19 September 1864 in Coleshill, Warwickshire) married Frances Moore 25 December 1812 in Wolverley, Worcestershire.
Evidence
from the Bromsgrove (St John the Baptist) registers:
Christenings:
July 1766
7 William Son of William & Sarah Ward Linthurst Nailer
June 1770
9 Joseph Son of William & Sarah Ward Bromsgrove Nailer.
September 1773
10 Willim Son of Willim & Sarah Ward Brome Nailer
December 1775
27 Mary D of William & Sarah Ward Bromsg
January 1790
1 James Son of William & Sarah Ward
Burials:
May 1768
30 William Son of William & Sarah Ward of the Linhurst Nailer
December 1778
29 Mary Daug.r of William & Sarah Ward
A 1784 conveyance (Worcestershire County Council 899:1486 BA14463):
Bromsgrove, High Street, Conveyance
Indenture between Edward Addenbrooke of Over Sapey [Upper Sapey], Herefordshire, esquire (mortgagee), Mary Burden of Bromsgrove, widow of Thomas Burden late of Bromsgrove, linen cloth maker, deceased, and Edward Perks the younger of Alvechurch, flax dresser, being a conveyance from Mary Burden to Edward Perks of a messuage or tenement formerly in the occupation of Benjamin Hope and then known as the Bulls Head, but now occupied by William Ward and known as the Bird in Hand in High Street, Bromsgrove, together with the brewhouse, cellar, yard and other appurtenances.
Date: 25 March 1784
from the UK Land Tax Redemption (1798, Bromsgrove):
Proprietor: Wm Perkes Alvech.
Occupier: Wm Ward
Sum Assessed: [1 pound 5 shillings]
Proprietor: Jno Derington
Occupier: Wm Ward
Sum Assessed: [1 pound 12 shillings]
Apprentice records
Bromsgrove
Apprentice: Benjamin Stanton (for good husbandry)
Master: William Ward (grocer)
From a 1829 description of "Chandler's Charity":
…One Garden, situated and joining to Chandler’s Close and the Alcester-road, and let on lease to Mr. William Ward, 29th September 1805, for sixteen years, at the yearly rent of one pound four shillings per annum….
From the UK Poll Books and Electoral Registers (1806, Worcestershire, Upper Division of the Halfshire Hundred):
Name of Freeholder: William Ward Senr
Place of Residence: Bromsgrove
Place of Freehold: Bromsgrove
Occupiers Names: his own & Humphrey Bowen
Land Tax: L.R.
[William voted for the Hon. W. B. Lygon, a Whig candidate.]
William's will:
In the name of God Amen I William Ward of Bromsgrove in the County of Worcester Innholder being of sensible and disposing mind and memory (thanks be to Almighty God) do make this my last Will and Testament in manner following (that is to say) I give and bequeath to my dear Wife Sarah the choice of any part of my household furniture to the value of thirty pounds. I give to my Son James Ward the sum of fifty pounds to be by my Executors hereinafter named paid applied and disposed of for putting him out Apprentice or in such other manner for his benefit during his Minority as they shall see fit, I will and direct that my stock in Trade, my household goods personal estate and effects and also the good will of my present Dwellinghouse be sold and disposed of by my Executors as soon as conveniently may be after my Decease, and subject to the payment of all my just debts my funeral Expences, the aforesaid legacy my Son James, the Costs of my Executors in the execution of this my Will, I give and bequeath one half part of the residue of such my personal estate (the same into two equal parts to be divided) unto my two Sons Joseph Ward and William Ward to be paid to them respectively within twelve months next after my Decease, and the remaining one half part of the residue of my said Personal Estate I give and bequeath unto my respected Friends Mr Thomas Sanders and Mr John Parkes whom I appoint Executors of this my will and Guardian to my Son James during his Minority, and to the Survivor of them and to the Executors and Administrators of such Survivor to be by them placed replaced and continued out at Interest on real security in their names Upon trust to pay and apply one half of the Interest arising therefrom unto my said my for and during her natural life free from the debts or controul of any Husband with whom she may happen to intermarry and her receipt alone to be a sufficient discharge for the same, and the other or remaining half of the Interest arising therefrom unto and for the use and benefit of my said Son James during his minority and in case any part thereof shall remain unapplied the same to accumulate for his benefit And from and after the Decease of my said Wife, I give and bequeath one half of the said Principal money equally unto and between my said three Sons Joseph William and James share and share alike, And on my said Son James attaining his age of twenty one years I give and bequeath the other half of the said Principal money with the Interest thereof unto my said Son James (in case my said Trustees and the survivor of them shall consider it prudent, otherwise they to have power to postpone the payment thereof until my said James shall attain his age of twenty four years) I give and devise All that my Messuage or Dwellinghouse called or known by the name of the Roe Buck Inn together with the Malthouse Grainery Stables and other outbuildings and yard thereunto belonging now in my own occupation. Also all those three Tenements or Dwellinghouses adjoining to the said Messuage and premises with the outbuildings and yard thereunto belonging with their appurtenances in my own occupation and of my Tenant [blank] Bate situate and being in Bromsgrove aforesaid, and all other my real Estate whatsoever and wheresoever with their Appurtenances unto the said Thomas Sanders and John Parkes and to the survivor of them and to the Heirs and Assigns of such Survivor during the natural life of my said Wife and until my said Son James shall have attained his said age of twenty one years Upon trust that they my Trustees do and shall receive the rents and profits of the said Premises as the same can be received, and pay and apply the same in four equal parts, one fourth part whereof to my said Wife into her own hands (and not to be subject to the debts or controul of any after taken Husband, and her receipt alone to be a sufficient Discharge for the same notwithstanding her Coverture) and the remaining three fourth parts thereof unto and to be equally divided between my said three Sons Joseph William and James And from and after the decease of my said Wife and on my said Son James attaining his said age of twenty one years, I give and devise All the said Messuage Tenements buildings and premises with their Appurtenances unto my said three Sons Joseph William and James and their Heirs To hold to them their Heirs and Assigns for ever equally to be divided between them as Tenants in Common and not as joint tenants And in case of the death of any or either of my said Sons before they respectively shall become entitled to their shares of my real Estate as aforesaid leaving Issue lawfully begotten, I give and devise the share or part of him so dying unto and amongst such Issue whether Child or Children (such Issue taking only his or her parents part or share) equally to be divided between them and to take as Tenants in Common and not as Joint tenants, And in case of the death of my said Son James under age and without Issue, or of the death of my said Sons Joseph and William or either of them without Issue I give and devise the share and Interest so devised to him and them as aforesaid equally unto and between the Survivors or Survivor and their Heirs To hold to them and their Heirs as Tenants in Common and not as Joint Tenants, It is my Will that the Provision hereinbefore made for my said wife shall be received and taken by her in full of all dower or other customary Estate which she might be entitled to as my widow And it is my will that my said Trustees and Executors shall out of the said Trust monies or any part thereof be first fully paid and reimbursed all his and their Costs and expences in the execution of the trusts of this my will and that they or either of them shall not be answerable for any loss or losses which may happen to the said trust monies or any part thereof unless the same shall happen through his or their wilful default or neglect nor shall the one of them be answerable or accountable for the act deed or miscarriage of the other of them but each for his own acts deeds or miscarriages only and hereby revoking all former Will and Wills by me made I publish and declare this to be my only true last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I have to this my Will contained in two sheets of Paper to the first sheet set my Hand and to this second and last my Hand and seal and published the same the fourth day of March In the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and two.
William Ward
Signed sealed published and declared by the Testator above named as and for his last will and Testament in the presence of us, who in his presence, at his request, and in the Presence of each other have subscribed our Names as Witnesses --
Ann Whiteford John Wardel Ben Witheford
12th May 1808 The exors above named appeared and was sworn in common form of Law and also that the personal Estate of the deced does not amount in Value to Two thousand Pounds
before me, Tho: Evans
from the Bromsgrove Land Tax 1800:
Owner: William Ward sen
Annual Tax: 3 0
from the Bromsgrove Land Tax 1810:
Owner: William Ward sen Execs
Occupier: Mrs Ward
Exonerated: 3 0
from the Bromsgrove Land Tax 1820:
Owner: Wm Jos & Jas Ward
Occupier: Mrs Ward & Mrs Bourn
Annual Tax: 3 0
References
Accounts and Papers relating to Charities and Charitable Donations, for the Benefit of the Poor and Other Persons in England and Wales, Session 5 February - 24 June 1829. Vol. XX.
Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, St John the Baptist parish registers, FHL films 321124-6, Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Land Tax Redemption Office: Quotas and Assessments. IR23. Records of the Boards of Stamps, Taxes, Excise, Stamps and Taxes, and Inland Revenue. The National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, England . Digital image on Ancestry.com.
London, England, UK and London Poll Books. London, England: London Metropolitan Archives and Guildhall Library. Digital image on Ancestry.com.
Will of William Ward of Bromsgrove. Worcester Consistory Court. Digital images on FamilySearch accessed 11 March 2018.