The Early 1800 Wards in Western Counties of New York

I began this study as a result of the ol' proverbial brick wall. My great grandfather Charles Ward, who according to a number of sources, was born in Allegany County, New York 15 May 1805. I can't find him there and of course, I don't know the names of his parents.

My WARDs - The earliest official record that I have of Charles is in Adams County, Illinois 17 August 1836 where he married Martha Burke and had the first 7 of their 8 children. Their children were Martha Jane, William J., John B., Isaiah A., David C., Harvey Z., Granville and Henry Harrison. Henry was born after the family moved to Knox County, Missouri in 1856. He's my grandfather. I think Charles had a brother or close relative named Zebediah Ward. This Zebediah and family lived just north of Charles and family in Hancock County, Illinois by 1850. He and his family moved to Knox County, Missouri and joined a church there at the same time and along with Charles and his family. Zebediah's son Caleb and his birth date, is listed along side of Charles' children in an old Ward family Bible. Zebediah was born in New York in about 1825. His wife's given name was Martha. Their children were all born in Indiana and were William H., Caleb G., Samuel J., and Lydia A.

I continue to search for more data on all Wards during that early 1800 time frame, in and around Allegany County, New York. As I find more data on any Ward in that area and that time frame, it is added to these web pages. Maybe some of it will help another researcher.

I hope you have some data that you'd like to contribute to these pages. If so, please send it to me at cwward@anet-stL.com and I'll add it as soon as I can. Please include the source of your data.

Research data:

1. The first settlements of Centerville, Allegany County, New York were made by Jos. Maxson of Rhode Island in April 1808 and by James Ward in the fall of the same year. ⁽¹⁾

2. 1810, Nunda Township, Allegany County, New York ⁽²⁾

(no other Wards were listed in this county)

James Ward
2 males under age 10
1 male between ages of 10 & under 16
3 males between ages of 16 & under 20
1 male between ages of 26 & under 45
1 male age 45 or upwards
1 female under age 10
1 female between ages of 10 & under 16
1 female between ages of 26 & under 45

Could one of these males under the age 10, have been my Charles Ward?

Zebediah Ward
1 male between ages of 10 & under 16
1 female between ages of 10 & under 16
2 females age 45 or upwards

Could this have been the father of my Zebediah Ward?

3. James Ward erected a framed barn before 1810. It is said to have been the first in the Town of Almond. He is also credited with planting the first orchard in Centerville.⁽³⁾ (Note: Centerville is near the northwest corner of Allegany County, west of Hume.)

4. James Ward of the Town of Almond, Allegany County conveys property in Almond to Trustee of School District Number 11 of said town September 8, 1831⁽⁴⁾

5. James Ward and his wife Wealthy of the Town of Almond, Allegany County, New York conveys property in Almond to Zabad C. Handy of Tompkins County, April 16, 1837.⁽⁴⁾

6. A Zebadeah Ward was chosen Commissioner of Schools at the first town meeting of Greater Nunda at Peter Granger's home in Pike on April 4, 1809. Greater Nunda consisted of Eagle, Pike, Genesee Falls, Portage, Centerville,Hume, Granger and Grove.⁽⁵⁾

7. James Ward, late of the Town of Almond, died in the said town on or about the 7^th day of January, 1854 and the following persons are all the heirs at law and the next of kin of the deceased, and their respective ages and places of residences are as follows:⁽⁶⁾

Luman A. Ward of Hornellsville, about 48 years
Ruth Ann Brockway of Brady, Kalmazoo County, Michigan, about 45 years
Wealthy Brookina of Brady, Kalmazoo County, Michigan, about ? years
Electa Webb of Hornellsville, New York, about 49 years
Zenas Ward of Howard, Steuben County, New York, about 37 years
Alfred Ward of Hornellsville, New York, about 28 years
Durastus Ward of Hornellsville, New York, about 26 years
Elisha Ward of Almond, New York, about 20 years

Ages of the "heirs at law and next of kin" listed here, don't seem to match the ages of the males and females listed in the 1810 census record of the James Ward in Nunda Township, shown in item 2 above.

Is the Wealthy Brookina listed as an hier or next of kin in these probate records, James Ward's wife, mentioned in item 5 above?

8. A James Ward purchased land in Wyoming County, New York from the Holland Land Company.⁽⁷⁾

9. A Revolutionary Ward soldier by the name of James Ward is buried in Java Village, Wyoming County, New York.
A James Ward purchased land in the Town of Sheldon, Genesee County, New York.⁽⁸⁾

10. WARD, James, late Town of Almond. Elisha Ward, minor child, age 20 on 6 January, resident of Town of Almond, has no guardian. Thornton F. CURRY appointed guardian. 27 February 1854.⁽⁹⁾

This is surely the same James& Elisha Ward listed in the probate records of James Ward, in item7 above

11. Interred at Old Catholic Cemetery near Portageville, Allegany County, New York

Ward, Catherine - 1820-1871, wife M. Ward
Ward, Michael - no dates, son M.C.Ward (Baker & Keyes family on same monument)

12. Wards from the Centennial History of Allegany Co., published 1896:⁽³⁾

p. 757 Under Fillmore business interests, Eugene Ward groceries and provisions, boots, shoes and staple dry goods.
p. 764 The children of Horton and Sarah (Engle) Clute are Julia May (Mrs. Eugene H. Ward) and Hattie (Mrs. Carl J. Howden), both of Fillmore, N.Y. Mr. Clute has been a merchant in Wiscoy (Allegany Co) since 1881, an assessor 9 years, and postmaster the past 7 years. Mrs. Clute has long been known as a newspaper correspondent, under nom de plume of "Lucile", at Wiscoy. Since these people lived in Fillmore, they may be buried in Pine Grove Cemetery in Fillmore. (NOTE: Wiscoy and Fillmore are located in the northern part of Allegany Co east of Hume.)

13. More WARDS around Almond, New York⁽³⁾

p. 561 (Almond) The first permanent settler of North Valley was Solomon David, who located on the Hull farm in 1804. Elihu Knight with Ardeno Cobb, and Wheeler Hinman settled in the lower part of North Valley about 1804. Benjamin Hayes who had been in the Revolutionary War settled on the Peter Lippencott farm in 1807. North Hill was settled by William Howe and Charle Cook and his father in 1808. Howe was a very prominent man in the town, and died about 1870, the oldest resident of the town. John and Jeremiah Van Vechten came from Montgomery Co. about 1817, and settled near Bishopville. Zenas Ward, grandfather of the Wards now living in North Valley, was one of the first settlers of that locality.

This Zenas Ward is likely the same Zenas Ward listed in the probate records of James Ward, in item 7 above.

p.562 (Almond) The original settlers of North Valley with but few exceptions are all gone and have left but few descendants living there; some of the Wards are still there, descendants of the original settlers.

p. 573 (Almond) Joseph W. Emery, son of Abram K. and Eliza (Thomas Emery, was born in Hornellsville, May 24, 1840. He enlisted in Co. F, 141st Reg't. N.Y.V., in 1862 and was discharged May 30 1865. He married Helen J., daughter of William C. and Rachel (Head) Ward of Almond in 1865 and settled in the town. Mr. Emery has been assessor of Almond 7 years, is a member of Doty Post, No. 226 of Hornellsville. He has one son Homer H.

p. 578 (Almond) Capt. Zenas Ward, son of Zenas Ward, born in Connecticut, married Elizabeth M. Delaney. He came to Almond from Cayuga Co. in 1823 and settled on the farm now owned by the Curry family. He was a farmer. Of his ten children 5 are living: Cordelia (Mrs. Lewis Wollever), Jonathan, Jackson, Nancy J. (Mrs. Dr. D. Van Vechten of Ohio), and Angeline, who married Charles W. Van Vetchen, son of Jerry. C.W. Van Vechten was born in Montgomery Co., he came here early with his parents. He settled on the farm owned by Newton Karr. He was road commissioner. He died in 1885. Ashbel Ward, son of Zenas, was a native of Connecticut. He located here, married Electa Brown, had 4 sons and 4 daughters and died in Almond.

The father of Capt. Zenas Ward, Zenas Ward is likely the same Zenas Ward listed in the probate records of James Ward, in item 7 above.

14. 1820 Wards in Western NY Counties ⁽¹⁰⁾

Last	First	Year	Town	County	State	Ref No
Ward	Samuel	1820	PIKE TWP	ALLEGANY CO.	NY	27
Ward	John	1820	ISHUA	CATTARAUGUS CO.	NY	15
Ward	Elisah	1820	PERRYSBURG	CATTARAUGUS CO.	NY	27
Ward	Cornelius	1820	SCIPIO TWP	CAYUGA CO.	NY	95
Ward	Nathaniel C.	1820	CATO	CAYUGA CO.	NY	72
Ward	Hiram	1820	LOCKE TWP	CAYUGA CO.	NY	138
Ward	Henry	1820	MENTZ	CAYUGA CO.	NY	55
Ward	George	1820	SEMPRONIUS	CAYUGA CO.	NY	78
Ward	Jonas	1820	MENTZ	CAYUGA CO.	NY	54
Ward	Hiram	1820	MENTZ	CAYUGA CO.	NY	55
Ward	James	1820	SCIPIO TWP	CAYUGA CO.	NY	102
Ward	Hugh	1820	AURELIUS	CAYUGA CO.	NY	31
Ward	Nathaniel	1820	AURELIUS	CAYUGA CO.	NY	25
Ward	Loyal	1820	AURELIUS	CAYUGA CO.	NY	31
Ward	George	1820	SEMPRONIUS	CAYUGA CO.	NY	77
Ward	Cloe	1820	MENTZ	CAYUGA CO.	NY	54
Ward	Israel	1820	SCIPIO TWP	CAYUGA CO.	NY	98
Ward	Zenas	1820	SCIPIO TWP	CAYUGA CO.	NY
Ward	Archibald	1820	BRUTUS	CAYUGA CO.	NY	12
Ward	John	1820	AURELIUS	CAYUGA CO.	NY	27
Ward	Abner	1820	STERLING	CAYUGA CO.	NY	61
Ward	William W.	1820	AURELIUS	CAYUGA CO.	NY	33
Ward	Abner	1820	SCIPIO TWP	CAYUGA CO.	NY	100
Ward	Zenas	1820	SCIPIO TWP	CAYUGA CO.	NY	98
Ward	Solomon	1820	SCIPIO TWP	CAYUGA CO.	NY	121
Ward	Fenner	1820	POMFRET	CHAUTAUQUA CO.	NY	123
Ward	Elijah	1820	CHAUTAUGUE	CHAUTAUQUA CO.	NY	48
Ward	Caleb	1820	GERRY	CHAUTAUQUA CO.	NY	77
Ward	Hope	1820	ORANGVILL	GENESEE CO.	NY	203
Ward	Daniel	1820	LE ROY	GENESEE CO.	NY	154
Ward	Chester	1820	LEICESTER	GENESEE CO.	NY	161
Ward	Jabez	1820	PERRY	GENESEE CO.	NY	235
Ward	Jeremiah	1820	SWEDEN	GENESEE CO.	NY	281
Ward	Amesa	1820	BETHANY	GENESEE CO.	NY	48
Ward	John	1820	BERGEN	GENESEE CO.	NY	36
Ward	Abner	1820	BERGEN	GENESEE CO.	NY	36
Ward	Erastus	1820	ELBA	GENESEE CO.	NY	114
Ward	Samuel	1820	ORANGVILLE	GENESEE CO.	NY	203
Ward	William	1820	PERRY	GENESEE CO.	NY	234
Ward	James	1820	SHELDON	GENESEE CO.	NY	271
Ward	Samuel	1820	PEMBROKE	GENESEE CO.	NY	218
Ward	Lyman	1820	ATTICA	GENESEE CO.	NY	12
Ward	Luke	1820	SWEDEN	GENESEE CO.	NY	281
Ward	Live	1820	BERGEN	GENESEE CO.	NY	37
Ward	Justis	1820	SHELDON	GENESEE CO.	NY	271
Ward	Joy	1820	BERGEN	GENESEE CO.	NY	41
Ward	Julious	1820	YORK	GENESEE CO.	NY	317
Ward	Levi	1820	COVINGTON	GENESEE CO.	NY	90
Ward	James	1820	HAMBURGH	NIAGARA CO.	NY	171
Ward	Thomas	1820	GROVELAND	ONTARIO CO.	NY	93
Ward	Chauncy	1820	RICHMOND	ONTARIO CO.	NY	35
Ward	Samuel	1820	GROVELAND	ONTARIO CO.	NY	96
Ward	Stephen	1820	CANADAIGUA	ONTARIO CO.	NY	220
Ward	Er.	1820	RICHMOND	ONTARIO CO.	NY	36
Ward	Taber	1820	AVON	ONTARIO CO.	NY	189
Ward	Moses	1820	PHELPS	ONTARIO CO.	NY	302
Ward	Artemas	1820	PALMYRA	ONTARIO CO.	NY	339
Ward	Allen	1820	MINDON	ONTARIO CO.	NY	357
Ward	William	1820	VICTOR	ONTARIO CO.	NY	323
Ward	Levi	1820	PALMYRA	ONTARIO CO.	NY	330
Ward	Jabez	1820	RICHMOND	ONTARIO CO.	NY	41
Ward	Daniel	1820	SPRINGWATER	ONTARIO CO.	NY	85
Ward	William	1820	VICTOR	ONTARIO CO.	NY
Ward	Shadrick	1820	RICHMOND	ONTARIO CO.	NY	40
Ward	Daniel	1820	JUNIUS	SENECA CO.	NY	113
Ward	Bansonia	1820	JUNIUS	SENECA CO.	NY	107
Ward	John	1820	JUNIUS	SENECA CO.	NY	110
Ward	William	1820	COVERT	SENECA CO.	NY
Ward	William	1820	COVERT	SENECA CO.	NY	57
Ward	Jacob	1820	WOLCOTT	SENECA CO.	NY
Ward	Smith	1820	JUNIUS	SENECA CO.	NY	114
Ward	Jacob	1820	WOLCOTT	SENECA CO.	NY	136
Ward	Eli	1820	WOLCOTT	SENECA CO.	NY	136
Ward	Leeman	1820	GALEN	SENECA CO.	NY	120
Ward	Henry	1820	PAINTED POST	STEUBEN CO.	NY	183
Ward	Abijah	1820	PAINTED POST	STEUBEN CO.	NY	183
Ward	Elisha	1820	READING	STEUBEN CO.	NY	259
Ward	Jonas	1820	PAINTED POST	STEUBEN CO.	NY	183
Ward	Charels	1820	READING	STEUBEN CO.	NY	268
Ward	Warehouse	1820	ADDISON	STEUBEN CO.	NY	241
Ward	Anthony	1820	ADDISON	STEUBEN CO.	NY	241
Ward	Isaac	1820	PAINTED POST	STEUBEN CO.	NY	183
Ward	Osbood	1820	CANDOR	TIOGA CO.	NY	286
Ward	Reuben	1820	CAYUTA	TIOGA CO.	NY
Ward	Stephen	1820	TIOGA	TIOGA CO.	NY	293
Ward	Reuben	1820	CAYUTA	TIOGA CO.	NY	264

15. 1820 Pike, Allegany County, New York⁽¹¹⁾
James Ward
     1 male of 26 and under 45
     1 males 45 or up
     3 females under 10
     1 female of 26 and under 45

Is this the same James Ward that was living in Nunda in the 1810 census, above?

16. 1830 Almond, Allegany County, New York⁽¹²⁾
Hiram Ward
     1 male under 5
     1 male of 30 and under 40
     2 females under 5
     2 females of 5 and under 10
     1 female of 5 and under 10
     1 female of 20 and under 30
     1 female of 50 and under 60

Thomas Ward
     1 male of 60 and under 70
     1 female of 15 and under 20
     1 female of 60 and under 70

Ashbe (?) Ward
     1 male of 5 and under 10
     1 male of 15 and under 20
     1 male of 30 and under 40
     2 females under 5
     1 female of 10 and under 15
     1 female of 30 and under 40

This is likely to be Ashbel, Zenus Ward's son, mentioned in 14, above.

Thomas Ward Jr.      2 males under 5
     1 male of 5 and under 10
     1 male of 30 and under 40
     1 females of 5 and under 10
     1 female of 10 and under 15
     1 female of 30 and under 40

17. 1830 Canadea, Allegany County, New York⁽¹³⁾
John Ward
     2 males under 5
     1 male of 5 and under 10
     1 male of 10 and under 15
     1 male of 30 and under 40
     1 female under 5
     2 females of 5 and under 10
     1 female of 15 and under 20
     1 female of 20 and under 30
     1 female of 30 and under 40

Where was James Ward of Nunda, Allegany County in the 1830? above?

Wards - Ontario County, New York Land Sales⁽¹⁴⁾

Year	Grantee	Grantor	book	page
1826	Abbey, Aaron	Ward, Samuel Jr	45	180
1826	Abbey, Anne	Ward, Samuel Jr	45	180
1826	Abbey, Cheney	Ward, Samuel Jr	45	180
1826	Abbey, Dexter	Ward, Samuel Jr	45	180
1826	Abbey, Rawson	Ward, Samuel Jr	45	180
1826	Abbey, Sally	Ward, Samuel Jr	45	180
1826	Abbey, William	Ward, Samuel Jr	45	180
1826	Abbey, William heir	Ward, Samuel Jr	45	180
1810	Acer, John	Ward, Thomas	14	262
1822	Bangs, Reuben	Ward, Levi	40	99
1813	Barnhart, Isaac	Ward, Levi	19	442

18. Wards in Livingston County, New York 1796⁽¹⁵⁾
About the year 1760 George Ward, with his wife, Mary Grier, and son, Thomas, left their home in Durham, England, and sailed for America. They settled at Hanover, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, near the city of Harrisburg. Thomas was born in England in 1759. He enlisted and served in Wisner's regiment throughout the Revolutionary War. In 1796 he came to Livingston County and located on a tract of lane in what is now the town of Groveland.

On the 1820 US Census for New York, in item 15 above, the Thomas Ward & Samuel Ward of Groveland, New York are almost certainly a father (Thomas) and a son (Samuel). Thomas's father, George Ward, appears to be the great grandfather of Gen George Armstrong Custer. Thomas & Samuel's graves (as well as a couple of other very old Ward graves) can be seen at: Graves

A brief history of this Ward family can be found at:George Ward history

19. WARD Wills files in Early 1800's in Western Counties of New York

Name of Testator:	Residence:	Vol # - Page #	Time Frame
CAYUGA COUNTY
WARD John	BRUTUS	A1-177	(1799-1810)
WARD John	AUBURN	A2-367	(1830-1833)
WARD Jonas	BRUTUS	A1-38	(1799-1810)
WARD Jonah	MENTZ	C1-189	(1824-1829)
WARD Stephen	AURELIUS	A1-98	(1799-1810)
CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY
WARD Fenner	POMFRET	1-47	(1830-1843)
LIVINGSTON COUNTY
WARD Samuel	GROVELAND	2-65	(1823-1835)
WARD Thomas	GROVELAND	2-190	(1823-1835)
WAYNE COUNTY
WARD Artemas	MACEDON	B-241	(1832-1841)

Does anyone have access to or own a copy of any of these wills? Can you scan or photocopy them and forward to the author of this page?

20. Will of Thomas WARD of Livingston County⁽¹⁶⁾

I Thomas Ward of the town of Groveland in the County of Livingston and state of New York aged about seventy four years being desirous to discharge the duty which every man owes his family by making such provisions for the distribution of my property as shall be just and equitable do make publish and declare this my last will and testament as follows

First - I direct that the expenses of my last sickness and of my funeral expenses be paid in preference to any ------ to legacy herein contained ---

Second - To my daughters Mary Whitnah, Elizabeth Waterous and Ann Ward I have already advanced and paid what I believe is just and proper as their portion and share of my estate both real and personal estate.

Third - In consideration that my daughter Mary Whitnah is with her family now residing in a new and uncultivated country and that a little aid maybe useful to enable her to overcome the embarraxxment to unavoidable to persons thus situated I do hereby order and direct that my executor herein after named shall either before or after my death though as speedily as maybe pay to my said daughter Mary the sum of three thousand dollars and her or her said husband receipt for the same shall be conclusive evidence of he payment thereof and which shall in full of all claims or demands which the said Mary or her said Husband ot their heirs shall have of make upon my estate.

Fourth - I give devise and bequest to my son John Ward his heirs and assigns all the rest of and residue of ...

There is more, of course, but those 4 children are the only descendants mentioned.

21. Connewango Pioneers, CATTARAUGUS CO. NEW YORK⁽¹⁷⁾
Lomis Lillie settled on lot 21, Joseph Cunningham on Lot 32 and Luke Ward on lot 32, in 1823.
Elisha Ward, Stephen Crocker, and Freeman Edwards located near Perrysburgh Village in 1817.

Footnotes for "Study of Early 1800 WARDs in Western New York Counties"

22. Atlasof Allegany County, New York, 1869 by D. G. Beers & Co.

23. 1810 Federal Census of Allegany County, New York

24. John S. Minard, Allegany County and its People. A Centennial Memorial History of Allegany County, New York, W. A. Fergusson & Co., Alfred, N.Y., 1896.

25. Record of Deeds, Allegany County, New York

26. Letter from Historian Robert H. Gath of Nunda, New York.

27. Surrogate Records of Allegany County, New York, Petition for Proof of Will

28. Names of 1st Grantees in the Holland Purchase of Wyoming County, New York.

29. Genesee County Land Records of Town of Sheldon, New York

30. Guardianship Orders (1852-1864) on file in the Allegany County Surrogate's Office, Belmont, New York.

31. 1820 Federal Census Index of New York

32. 1820 Federal Census of Pike, Allegany County, New York

33. 1830 Federal Census of Almond, Allegany County, New York

34. 1830 Federal Census of Canadea, Allegany County, New York

35. Ontario County, New York Deed Index, Grantees, 1789 - 1845

36. History of Livingston County, NY; 1905, Page 109

37. Livingston County, NY Surrogates Office, Record of Wills, Volume 2 1823 - 1835, Page 190-191

38. HISTORY OF CATTARAUGUS CO. NEW YORK WITH ILLUSTRATIONS AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF SOME OF ITS PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS, by L. H. Everts, J. B. Lippincott and Co, Philadelphia, 1879.

Compiled and Submitted by Carl W. Ward

Research data:

Footnotes for "Study of Early 1800 WARDs in Western New York Counties"