R.H. Blackstock, Professional Genealogist

Elizabeth English Ward, Children

After Elizabeth’s husband dies in 1862 (beginning of the Civil War), all of her sons, except Monroe Ward (the youngest), move to Walton County, FL.  Her sons are:

  1. John Jackson Ward (1821-1901),1
  2. James Madison Ward (1823-1891),2
  3. Thomas Jefferson Ward (1825-1919),3
  4. William Josiah “Diamond Joe” Ward (1830-1924),4
  5. Benjamin Franklin Ward (1834-1923),5 and
  6. James Monroe Ward (1845-1907). 6

She has two daughters:

  1. Elizabeth Rebecca Ward Purvis (1836-1859) dies in Alabama when she is only 23 years old. Her husband remarries, and his second wife raises their children.7
  2. Mary Jane Ward Davis (1838-1921) remained in Alabama with her husband and children.8

Recently, a third daughter has been added by some researchers – Elizabeth White (1826-1908).9  Because the early censuses enumerated family members by age ranges (and not by name), and because early records in both Dale County and Geneva Counties were destroyed,10 this possible daughter has remained a mystery.  On the 1830 and 1840 census an unidentified female child, born around 1827, is enumerated in the Ward household.11  When the 1850 census provides the first enumeration of persons in the home by name, she is not found in the Ward household.  She would have been about 23 years old and probably married, or, she may have been deceased.  Some researchers are now reporting Elizabeth White as this missing daughter, however there is insufficient evidence to prove her relationship to James B. & Elizabeth English Ward.

Elizabeth English Ward travels 60 miles from their homestead in Geneva County, AL to Bruce, FL and stays several years visiting her sons and grandchildren in Walton County, FL.  Oral histories include stories of her trips in an ox drawn wagon to and from the two locations.12

By 1885, John Jackson Ward takes his wife & 14 children back to Geneva County and files a homestead claim.13 Four of Elizabeth’s sons and their families remain in Florida, living in the isolated Bruce, FL community14 and continue the life-style of a Creek Indian community.

Elizabeth lives with Monroe Ward, and later her daughter, Mary Jane Ward Davis, until her death on December 25, 188315 in Geneva County, AL.  She smoked a pipe, had a crippled hand (it was broken & healed poorly) and died from complications caused by a broken hip.  She was buried beside her husband in a private cemetery on the family homestead located near the intersection of County Roads 73/49 & 70 in Geneva County, AL.16

Monroe, who is living in Geneva County in 1900, is buried in Bruce, FL when he dies in 1907.17  James Madison Ward, Thomas Jefferson Ward, and William Josiah Ward are also buried in the Antioch Cemetery, Bruce, FL.18  Benjamin Franklin Ward and his wife are buried near-by in Ponce de Leon, FL.19  Their eldest son, John Jackson Ward, and both daughters are buried in Houston or Geneva County, AL (which was originally within the boundaries of Dale County, AL).20

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Footnotes:

1 1830 U.S. census, Dale, Alabama, Not Stated, p. 216, James Warde; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : accessed Mar 9, 2018); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M19, roll 3.  …  1840 U.S. census, Dale, Alabama, Not Stated, p. 18, James Ward … 1860 U.S. census, Dale, Alabama, population schedule, Newton, p. 680, dwelling 1226, family 1226, John J.  Ward.   Living next door to his brothers and parents … 1870 U.S. census, Geneva, Alabama, population schedule, Township 2, p. 606B, dwelling 515, family 520, John J. Ward. … 1880 U.S. census, Walton, Florida, pop. sch., Preinct 10, ED 156, p. 472D, dwell. Dwelling#, fam. Fam#, Name#.  … 1900 U.S. census, Geneva, Alabama, pop. sch., Center, ED 71, p. 33, dwell. 288, fam. 289, John J. Ward. 

2 1830 U.S. census, Dale, Alabama, Not Stated, p. 216, James Warde.  … 1840 U.S. census, Dale, Alabama, Not Stated, p. 18, James Ward.  … 1850 U.S. census, Washington, Florida, population schedule, Division 3, p. 300b, dwelling 236, family 238, James Ward; digital images, Ancestry (http://ancestry.com : accessed Mar 7, 2016); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M432, roll 59. He was at the home of his future wife, Mary Jane Purvis. … 1860 U.S. census, Dale, Alabama, population schedule, Not Stated, p. 678, dwelling 1208, family 1208, James M. Ward; digital images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed Mar 7, 2016); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M653, roll Family History Library Film 803008.  … 1870 U.S. census, Walton, Florida, population schedule, Uchee Anna, p. 816B, dwelling 406, family 406, William J. Ward; digital images, Ancestry (http://ancestry.com : accessed Sep 29, 2018); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M593, roll 133.   … 1880 U.S. census, Walton, Florida, population schedule, Precinct 10, enumeration district (ED) 156, p. 473A, dwelling 73, family 74, James M. Ward; digital images, Ancestry (http://ancestry.com : accessed Mar 7, 2016); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T9, roll 132. 

3 1830 U.S. census, Dale, Alabama, Not Stated, p. 216, James Warde.  … 1840 U.S. census, Dale, Alabama, Not Stated, p. 18, James Ward.  … 1850 U.S. census, Dale County, Alabama, population schedule, Southern Division, p. 198b, dwelling 460, family 460, Thomas J. Ward.   … 1860 U.S. census, Dale, Alabama, pop. sch., Newton, p. 711, dwell. 1431, fam. 1432, Thomas J. Ward.  … 1880 U.S. census, Walton, Florida, pop. sch., Precinct 10, ED 156, p. 472D, dwelling 68, family 69, T.J. Ward. …  1900 U.S. census, Walton, Florida, population schedule, West Bay, enumeration district (ED) 126, p. 2, dwelling 17, family 17, Thomas J. Ward; digital images, Ancestry (http://ancestry.com : accessed Mar 7, 2016); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T623, roll Family History Library microfilm 1240177.  … 1910 U.S. census, Washington, Florida, population schedule, Clarkston, enumeration district (ED) 116, p. 25A, dwelling 446, family 447, Thomas J. Ward (father-in-law); digital images, Ancestry (http://ancestry.com : accessed Mar 7, 2016); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T624, roll T624_169.    

4 1830 U.S. census, Dale, Alabama, Not Stated, p. 216, James Warde.  … 1840 U.S. census, Dale, Alabama, Not Stated, p. 18, James Ward.  … 1850 U.S. census, Dale County, Alabama, pop. sch., Southern Division, p. 176A, dwell. 143, fam. 143, William J. Ward.  … 1880 U.S. census, Walton, Florida, pop. sch., Precinct 10, ED 156, p. 472D, dwell. 64, fam. 65, W.J. Ward.  … 1900 U.S. census, Walton, Florida, pop. sch., Mossy Head, ED 119, sheet 18, dwell. 286, fam. 288, W.J. Ward.  … 1920 U.S. census, Walton, Florida, population schedule, Bruce, enumeration district (ED) 146, p. 12A, dwelling 225, family 225, W. Joe; digital images, Ancestry (http://ancestry.com : accessed Mar 7, 2016); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T625, roll T625_232.

5 1840 U.S. census, Dale, Alabama, Not Stated, p. 18, James Ward.  … 1850 U.S. census, Dale County, Alabama, pop. sch., Southern Division, p. 176A, dwell. 143, fam. 143, Benjamin F. Ward.  … 1860 U.S. census, Dale, Alabama, pop. sch., Newton, p. 680, dwell. 1224, fam. 1224, Benj. F. Ward. … 1870 U.S. census, Washington, Florida, population schedule, Vernon, p. 833B, dwelling 162, family 159, Franklin Ward; digital images, Ancestry (http://ancestry.com : accessed Mar 7, 2016); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M593, roll M593_133.   … 1880 U.S. census, Walton, Florida, population schedule, Precinct 11, enumeration district (ED) 155, p. 466A, dwelling 6, family 6, Benjamine F. Ward  … 1900 U.S. census, Holmes, Florida, population schedule, Ponce de Leon, enumeration district (ED) 46, p. 16, dwelling 254, family 254, Benjamin F Ward; digital images, Ancestry (http://ancestry.com : accessed Mar 7, 2016); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T623, roll Florida History Library microfilm 1240170.   … 1910 U.S. census, Holmes, Florida, population schedule, Ponce De Leon, enumeration district (ED) 42, p. 9B, dwelling 157, family 165, Benjamine F Ward; digital images, Ancestry (http://ancestry.com : accessed Mar 7, 2016); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T624, roll T624_162.  … 1920 U.S. census, Holmes, Florida, population schedule, Ponce De Leon, enumeration district (ED) 72, p. 13A, dwelling 44, family 48, B Franklin Ward; digital images, Ancestry (http://ancestry.com : accessed Mar 7, 2016); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T625, roll T625_223.

6 1850 U.S. census, Dale County, Alabama, pop. sch., Southern Division, p. 176A, dwell. 143, fam. 143, Monroe Ward.  … 1860 U.S. census, Dale, Alabama, pop. sch., Newton, p. 680, dwell. 1227, fam. 1227, Monroe Ward.  … 1870 U.S. census, Geneva, Alabama, pop. sch., Township 2, p. 597B, dwell. 385, fam. 390, Monroe Ward.  … 1900 U.S. census, Geneva, Alabama, pop. sch., Wrights Creek, ED 72, p. 3, fam. 277, Monroe Ward.

7 1840 U.S. census, Dale, Alabama, Not Stated, p. 18, James Ward.  … 1850 U.S. census, Dale County, Alabama, pop. sch., Southern Division, p. 176A, dwell. 143, fam. 143, Elizabeth Ward. Note:  She died sometime after her youngest child was born in 1858 and before the 1860 census where her husband is enumerated as being married to Adeline (a 19-year-old) with their two children who are 10 and 6 years old.  She died young leaving few records and much of her life is still debated by modern researchers.

8 1840 U.S. census, Dale, Alabama, Not Stated, p. 18, James Ward.  … 1850 U.S. census, Dale County, Alabama, pop. sch., Southern Division, p. 176A, dwell. 143, fam. 143, Mary Ward.  … 1860 U.S. census, Dale, Alabama, pop. sch., Newton, p. 680, dwell. 1221, fam. 1221, Mary Davis.  … 1870 U.S. census, Geneva, Alabama, pop. sch., Township 1, p. 31, dwell. 229, fam. 229, Mary Davis.  … 1880 U.S. census, Geneva, Alabama, population schedule, Not Stated (East Half), enumeration district (ED) 79, p. 658D, dwelling 134, family 135, Mary Davis … 1900 U.S. census, Geneva, Alabama, pop. sch., Wrights Creek, ED 72, p. 3, dwell. 269, fam. 269, Mary Davis.  … 1910 U.S. census, Geneva, Alabama, population schedule, Fadette, enumeration district (ED) 97, p. 5B, dwelling 93, family 93, Marry Davis; digital images, Ancestry (http://ancestry.com : accessed Mar 7, 2016); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T624, roll T624_12.   … 1920 U.S. census, Geneva, Alabama, population schedule, Hokes Bluff, enumeration district (ED) 100, p. 8A, dwelling 138, family 139, Mary Dovie; digital images, Ancestry (http://ancestry.com : accessed Mar 7, 2016); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T625, roll T625_15. 

9 Find A Grave, digital images (http://www.findagrave.com  : accessed Mar 5, 2021), Elizabeth White, memorial number 49667635. 

10 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "Research Wiki," database, Family Search (https://www.familysearch.org : accessed Mar 5, 2021), Dale County, AL; Dale County had destructive courthouse fires in 1869, and 1884.  Geneva County courthouse burned in 1898.

11 1830 U.S. census, Dale, Alabama, Not Stated, p. 216, James Warde  … 1840 U.S. census, Dale, Alabama, Not Stated, p. 18, James Ward; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : accessed Mar 9, 2018); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M704, roll 5.

12 Walton, Florida, Sworn Statement, Jesse Joe Ward, December 21, 1955; Muscogee Nation of Florida Museum, Bruce. … Walton, Florida, Sworn Statement, Elizabeth Rebecca Ward, January 9, 1956; Muscogee Nation of Florida Museum, Bruce.

13 Application #17078, John J. Ward Sr. of Geneva County, AL, Public Land Office; Homestead Applications; U.S. National Archives, Bureau of Land Management, Washington.

14 Bruce, FL is surrounded by swamps on three sides.  It remained extremely isolated until paved highways were established after WWII.

15 Muscogee Nation of Florida Museum, editor, Oral Histories  (Bruce, Florida: n.p., n.d.),Susan Davis Martin, Not Dated (based on her age, it was recorded in 1955). … Her headstone gives her date of death as 1879, probably because she was not recorded on the 1880 census.  However, eyewitness accounts provided by Elizabeth Jane Ward Jackson and Susan Martin Davis claim she died in 1883 and others report her death even later.

16 Find A Grave, digital images (http://www.findagrave.com  : accessed Feb 15, 2016), Elizabeth Nvhokv English Ward, memorial number 21891677.  … Revenue Commissioner Geneva County Alabama, "2017 Public GIS, Parcel Search," database, Public GIS (https://www.alabamagis.com/Geneva/Frameset.cfm : accessed 1/18/18), Parcel # 1402090000007001. Rec. Date: Sep 17, 2018.  Note:  The land for this two-person cemetery is currently owned by the United Cherokee Tribe of Alabama.  It is 0.6 acres, measures 200 feet by 130 feet, with no highway access.  James Ward and Elizabeth Ward are not connected to the Wards descending from Nancy Ward of the Cherokees. The Tribe does not know how they came to be the owners of this cemetery..

17 1900 U.S. census, Geneva, Alabama, population schedule, Wrights Creek, enumeration district (ED) 72, p. 3, family 277, Monroe Ward; digital images, Ancestry (http://ancestry.com : accessed Jan 3, 2016); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T623, roll FHL #1240017 … Find A Grave, digital images (http://www.findagrave.com  : accessed Feb 15, 2016), Monroe James Ward, memorial number 21788944. 

18 Find A Grave, digital images (http://www.findagrave.com  : accessed Sep 25, 2019), James Madison Ward, memorial number 21788942.  … Find A Grave, digital images (http://www.findagrave.com  : accessed Oct 29, 2019), Thomas Jefferson Ward, Sr., memorial number 21788948.  … Find A Grave, digital images (http://www.findagrave.com  : accessed Oct 29, 2019), Rev. William Josiah 'Diamond Joe' Ward, memorial number 21640266.

19 Find A Grave, digital images (http://www.findagrave.com  : accessed Mar 5, 2018), Benjamin Franklin Ward, memorial number 23451593.  … Find A Grave, digital images (http://www.findagrave.com  : accessed Mar 5, 2018), Martha Mary Gilley Ward, memorial number 23451815. 

20 Find A Grave, digital images (http://www.findagrave.com  : accessed Sep 7, 2019), John J. Ward, memorial number 21890207.  … Find A Grave, digital images (http://www.findagrave.com  : accessed Mar 5, 2018), Mary “Polly” Ward Davis, memorial number 23021027.  … Location of grave for Rebecca Ward Purvis is unknown.


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