Elizabeth English Ward, Marriage

Elizabeth marries James B. Ward (1796-1862) around 1820. The newly-weds settle in Jackson County, FL where they pay taxes in 1820 and later file a Donation Act land claim saying they were married and cultivating the land before July 1821.¹ Their first child is born February 1821 in Georgia.² It is unknown why or where in Georgia their first child was born. Maybe Elizabeth sought the help of a trusted elder woman to assist in the birth of her first child.

In 1827, the same year Florida issues laws making it illegal to buy or sell to Indians, the young Ward family sells their Florida land and moves to Dale County, AL.³

In 1836, sixteen years after winning the Georgia Land Lottery, the deed to District 19, Lot 155 is officially processed.⁴ In February of the following year, James M. Baker (husband of Priscilla English) and Nicy English appoint “James Ward of the county of Dale in the state of Alabama” power of attorney to "act for and in our names" and administer their share of the estate of James English. The estate was drawn up as Lot #155 (202.5) acres) in the 19th District of Early County, GA (which became Decatur County in 1832). The actual language of the document says "convey our share or proportion being, one half part as the heirs of James English deceased." Nine months later, on November 18, 1837, “This indenture made between James and Elizabeth Ward orphans of James English & for the heirs of James English” ... "James Ward has a power of attorney to act for the orphans and John Rodgers," ... Lot 155 is sold to John Rodgers for $100.⁵

During the next 25 years, Elizabeth and her family operate a cattle ranch and small farm in present-day Geneva County, AL.⁶

Four months after the Civil War began, on August 28, 1861, James B. Ward writes his will leaving Elizabeth Ward, his wife, three sections of land (Township 2, Range 25, aliquots in Sections 8 & 9), one “negro boy” named Sam (who later goes by the name Sam Ward⁷) and other farm and household items.⁸ However, he had clear title to only one of the listed aliquots (2N 25E 9 SENW⁹) with one aliquot being owned by his son, John J. Ward¹⁰ and the third remained Public Land until 1892 when his son, William J. Ward, finalized his homestead claim.¹¹ It is unknown if the coordinates were recorded by the Geneva County Clerk incorrectly or if the property descriptions were incorrectly remembered. James Ward owned several other aliquots in the area. James further says the property should go to Monroe Ward, their youngest son, upon Elizabeth’s death.¹²

The “Monroe Letter” – a handwritten letter saying James B. Ward & Elizabeth English were Creek Indians – was also dated August 28, 1861. At the time this handwritten letter was discovered, the following evidence indicates it was verified as authentic in the 1960s:

Margie Weathers provided a hand-written statement (which was not notarized or dated) telling the story of how she came to find the Monroe Letter.¹³ She claims Jesse Ward (1878-1960), the son of Monroe Ward, had kept most of the family papers and owned the letter. Jesse was reluctant to discuss anything about Indians with them, so they contacted an un-named mutual relative and Jesse gave the letter to her. Jesse Marvin Ward also submitted at least two Affidavits regarding Elizabeth English’s ancestry.¹⁴ Margie Weathers is the great-great granddaughter of James B. Ward and Elizabeth English Ward through their son Jackson Ward (who lived most of his life in Geneva County, AL). Margie, however, lived in Walton County, FL.¹⁵
“Letter to Monroe Ward from his father James B. Ward” was listed among the recommended attachments to Docket 21 applications.¹⁶ This indicates Tribal Leaders accepted Margie Weathers and Jesse Marvin Ward statements. In Margie’s statement she indicates Tribal Leader J.J. Ward also met with Jesse Ward.
A newspaper article announcing the discovery of the "new evidence" in Texas was included in the Muscogee Nation of Florida’s 2002 TA Response. This was most likely the Monroe Letter.¹⁷

Nearly 30 years later, when the Internet created a new revolution in Genealogy research by allowing distant relatives to connect virtually and post/share documents online, the Monroe Letter became a controversial piece of evidence. Two other documents also appeared about this time: (1) The “Ward Diary” (also known as “The 1840 Ward Record”),¹⁸ and (2) a single page of hand-written names titled “Frindly Creeks” authenticated by the Probate Judge, Bainbridge, Decatur County, GA.¹⁹ The Muscogee Nation of Florida has reviewed both of these documents and found them to be less than authentic.²⁰

While it might seem unlikely James B. Ward wrote a letter from his death bed saying he and his wife were Indians and his descendants should receive money for land taken from Creek Indians – the evidence listed above offers more to support rather than disprove the document’s authenticity.

Footnotes:

¹ Jackson, Florida Territory, United States, 1820 Tax Book, p. 8, entry for James Ward, July 1820; Microfilm L23, Roll 1, 3.1.1. … United States Congress, American State Papers: Documents, Legislative and Executive, of the Congress of the United States, Public Lands, Claims to Lands in West Florida (Washington, D.C.: Gales and Seaton, 1832), 31: 61-63. … James Ward no. 116; Untitled Book containing Donation Act oral oaths for the Territory of West Florida, .Microfilm S 1001, V2; 599, Spanish Archives, West Florida Land Claims; State Archives of Florida, Tallahassee.

² 1850 U.S. census, Dale County, Alabama, population schedule, Southern Division, p. 194B, dwelling 409, family 409, John J. Ward. … 1860 U.S. census, Dale, Alabama, population schedule, Newton, p. 680, dwelling 1226, family 1226, John J. Ward. … Find A Grave, digital images (http://www.findagrave.com ), John Jackson Ward, memorial number 21890207. Note: Marriage year is estimated based on the birth of her first child on February 16, 1821.

³ Territory of Florida, "Laws of Florida," Pensacola Gazette, May 18, 1827, p. 1, col. 4-5; digital images, Newspapers Publisher Extras (http://newspapers.com : accessed Mar 15, 2017). … Certificate #363, Matthew Marshal assignee of James Ward; "Land Patents," database and images, General Land Office Records (http://glorecords.blm.gov). ... General Land Office Records, Land Entry Case Files, Paper (United States Bureau of Land Management), Land Entry Case File #363, Matthew Marshal, Assignee of James Ward of Florida, for E1/2 SW1/4, Section 17, Township 7N, Range 12W.

⁴ Early County (1820), District 19 (microfilm drawer 54, box 22), Grant issued to James English's Orphans; Land Lottery Grants; GA State Archives, Morrow.

⁵ Decatur, Georgia, Deeds and Mortgages, Book D: 374 & 375, Estate of James English, 11/10/1937; Decatur County, GA, Courthouse, Bainbridge.

⁶ 1850 U.S. census, Dale County, Alabama, non-population schedule (Agriculture), Southern Division, line 12, James B. Ward; photo copies from Alabama State Archives, Montgomery, AL. … 1860 U.S. census, Dale County, Alabama, non-population schedule (Agriculture), Southern Division, p. 23, line 30, J.B. Ward; "U.S., Selected Federal Census Non-Population Schedules, 1850-1880," database and images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : accessed Sep 17, 2018); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M279, roll 27.

⁷ 1870 U.S. census, Geneva, Alabama, population schedule, Township 2, p. 596B, dwelling 378, family 378, Samul Ward; digital images, Ancestry (http://ancestry.com : accessed Nov 29, 2020); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M593, roll M593_17. … 1880 U.S. census, Geneva, Alabama, population schedule, Not Stated, enumeration district (ED) 079, p. 670D, dwelling 354, family 356, Sam Ward; digital images, Ancestry (http://ancestry.com : accessed Nov 29, 2020); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T9, roll 13. … 1900 U.S. census, Geneva, Alabama, population schedule, Garrards, enumeration district (ED) 72, p. 2, dwelling 30, family 30, Sam Ward; digital images, Ancestry (http://ancestry.com : accessed Nov 29, 2020); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T623, roll FLH microfilm 1240017.

⁸ Geneva, Alabama, Deed Book, Z: 84, James B. Ward to Elizabeth Ward, Aug 28, 1861 (recorded Sept. 1, 1907); Geneva County Courthouse, Geneva. … Dale, Alabama, Deed Book, J: 615, James B. Ward to Elizabeth Ward, Aug 28, 1861 (recorded Oct. 11, 1861); Dale County Courthouse, Ozark.

⁹ James B. Ward of Dale County, Certificate #23658 (Accession Nr: AL2480__.028), 11/1/1858; "Land Patents," database and images, General Land Office Records (http://glorecords.blm.gov).

¹⁰ John J. Ward, Certificate #18822 & #18823 (Accession Nr: STA AL2410__.193), 9/1/1858; "Land Patents," database and images, General Land Office Records (http://glorecords.blm.gov).

¹¹ William J. Ward, Homestead Certificate #10890, Homestead Application #17573 (Accession Nr: STA AL4800__.217), 6/10/1892; "Land Patents," database and images, General Land Office Records (http://glorecords.blm.gov). … Cyrus P. Collins, Certificate #591462 (Accession Nr: SER 591462), 7/9/1917; "Land Patents," database and images, General Land Office Records (http://glorecords.blm.gov).

¹² Geneva, Alabama, Deed Books, Z: 84.

¹³ Muscogee Nation of Florida Museum, editor, Oral Histories (Bruce, Florida: n.p., n.d.), Margie Weathers.

¹⁴ Muscogee Nation of Florida Museum, editor, Oral Histories (Bruce, Florida: n.p., 1956.), Jesse Marvin Ward.

¹⁵ The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "FamilySearch Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org : accessed Dec 1, 2020), entry for Margie Sarah Silcox [Weathers], person ID LY78-W6V. … The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "FamilySearch Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org : accessed Dec 1, 2020), entry for John Jackson Ward, Sr., person ID 2Q1C-22W.

¹⁶ Elizabeth English Ward [Docket 21]; privately held by Muscogee Nation of Florida Bruce, Florida.

¹⁷ Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Federal Acknowledgement, Petitioner #32, Muscogee Nation of Florida, 2002 Technical Assistance Response, Volumes I - III (Bruce, Florida: Muscogee Nation of Florida, 2002), III: Exhibit #90.

¹⁸ Origin of this document is unknown. It is a handwritten journal with diary-like entries starting in 1840 – supposedly written by William Josiah Ward (1830-1924).

¹⁹ Origin of this document is unknown. While stamped by the Decatur County probate office, they do not have the original nor any evidence of its existence. This document has also been freely shared on the Internet.

²⁰ Ann Tucker (Bruce, FL), interview by Regina Blackstock, 3/1/2021; notes privately held by Regina Blackstock, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Monticello, FL, 2021.