William Ward Decon

  Noted events in his life were:

• Background Information: ¹⁵²
William came to New England in 1639, with five children: probably John, Joanna, Obaddiah, Richard, and Deborah, and settled at Sudbury. He was freeman in 1643, and represtative in 1644. He removed to Marlborough about 1660, and was representative there in 1666. He was deacon at the first organization of the church. He made his will 6 Apr 1699.

Joseph Savage, A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, Little Brown, Boston, 1860

• Background Information: ¹⁵⁶⁵
The first mention of William Ward in the Americas appears in the year 1639. The proprietors of Sudbury made three divisions of their lands; the first in 1639 and the third in 1649. It appears in the record that William Ward shared in each of these three divisions.

William Ward was made freeman in 1643; represented Subury in the General Court in 1644, and was Chairman of the selectmen for several years. In 1660, he left Sudbury. He and twelve other residents of Sudbury petitioned the General Court in 1656 for a new plantation.

In 1660, William Ward moved from Sudbury to a new plantation that was named Marlborough. He was chosen deacon of the new church there. He died there on 10 Aug 1687, leaving a will dated "the sixth of April, in the year of our Lord Christ, one thousand six hundred and eighty-six." He had been married at least two time, the second to a woman named Elizabeth who he mentions in his will. He had the following fourteen children:

Born in England
John, b. abt 1626, married Hannah Jackson
Joanna, b. abt 1628, married Abraham Williams
Obadiah, b abt. 1632, married Mary
Richard, b. abt 1635, married Mary Moore
Deborah, b. abt. 1637, married John Johnson
Born in Sudbury, Massachusetts
Hahhah, b. abt. 1639, m. Abraham How
William, b. 22 Jan 1640, married Hannah Eames
Samuel, b. 24 Sep 1641, married Harah How
Elizabeth b. 14 Apr 1643
Increase, b. 22 Feb 1644, married Record
Hopstill, b. 24 Feb 1646, married James Woods
Mary, b. abt. 1647, married Daniet Stone
Eleazer, b. abt. 1649, married Hannah Rice
Bethiah, b. abt. 1658, married Daniel Rice

Ward Family; Descendants of William Ward, Who Settled in Sudbury, Mass. in 1639, pp. v-viii, 9