Conclusion

I believe this new evidence PROVES James B. Ward was not a resident of Wilkinson County, GA in 1820.  Furthermore, it infers James B. Ward (and John & Nathan Ward) were most likely living in Florida prior to 1820.

Therefore, the “fruit” of all theories derived from the belief he was a resident of Wilkinson County, GA in 1820 are no longer valid.

Mr. Merritt’s research STARTS with this fact and uses it to formulate all other conclusions:

• “You’ll notice that our James Ward had a female 45+ living with him in 1820 [Wilkinson County, GA].  This may be his mother since Elizabeth’s father was still alive up to about 1837.  So perhaps we shouldn’t be looking for James’ father in 1820 since his mother was almost certainly a widow if she was living with him. … We can then pretty safely guess that the elder woman was James’ mother and that James’ father must, therefore, have died before 1820.“¹
• “Starting Hypothesis:  That the Samuel, Solomon, Nathan and John Wards associated with James B. Ward were his brothers; that their father died before 1820; and that their widowed mother lived with them in Wilkinson County, GA in 1820.”²

Now that it has been proven James B. Ward was a resident of Jackson County, FL in 1820 via Tax Records, we can no longer assume he is the James Ward found on the 1820 Wilkinson County Census.  This also means we can no longer make the assumption his father died prior to 1820.

Wilkinson County, GA is approximately 220 miles from Jackson County, FL, and, while it is possible for James & his wife to make that trip, it doesn’t seem probable.  However, there remains the unexplained reason why their first child was born in GA about six months after the 1820 census.  IF, the James Ward enumerated on the 1820 Wilkinson County Census is our James B., then it is my theory James and Elizabeth traveled there to meet up with her mother – not James’ mother. Even today, pregnant women seek the comfort of their mothers during their first pregnancy. This offers another “theory” as to the identity of the elder woman and also breaks the starting hypothesis offered by Mr. Merritt.

This is what the EVIDENCE proves:

• Cattle ranching was a long-standing Industry in Florida with many “wild herds” roaming free.
• When he was 17 years old, James Ward volunteered for 3 months of military service during the War of 1812.  The military assigned him to a “spy” position attached to Fort Mitchell.  Spies at that time were required to have knowledge of the “wilderness” areas and Indians.
• James Ward, John Ward, and Nathan Ward were living in Jackson County, FL around 1819-1820.
• James, John, & Nathan Ward paid taxes in Jackson County in 1820.
• James, John, & Nathan Ward filed a homestead claim to receive free land in Jackson County, FL under the Donation Act of 1824. 
• James & Mary (possibly Nathan’s wife) were awarded their land claim, and sold it, in 1827.
• John Ward purchased land in Jackson County, FL in 1827.  This land is now classified as being within the boundaries of Houston County, AL.
• Land purchased by John Ward was noted by surveyors as “poor pine land” – which was undesirable for farming, but good for cattle ranching.
• James, John, and Nathan Ward were residents of Jackson County, FL from 1820 through 1827 – at total of 8 years. 
• James, John, and Nathan Ward are recorded on the 1830 Census as residents of Dale County, AL.
• Nathan Ward moves to Mississippi by 1840.
• By 1850 James Ward has a sizable cattle herd and appears to make most of his income through cattle and livestock ranching.
• James Ward lives the remainder of his life in the southern portion of Dale County, AL (which later becomes Geneva County, AL).

Based on this evidence we can DEDUCE (aka “guess” or “speculate”) the following about his early life:

• At the young age of 17, James Ward had knowledge of the Creek Indian Territory surrounding Fort Mitchell and the ability to mingle with Indians living within this area without raising suspicions.  This would also indicate he could communicate with them (i.e., spoke one of the Indian languages). If he did not have these skills, then he would not have been placed in the position of “spy” – instead, he would have remained a mounted soldier.
• For a young man of 17 to have knowledge of Creek Indian Territory he must have grown up making frequent trips through, or, living in the area. 
• James, John, and Nathan are probably brothers. 
• James, John, and Nathan may have been establishing their cattle herds in the early 1820, or, they may have been involved in Cattle Ranching before 1820.

One outstanding question remains – how did James B. Ward know enough about the land and people within the boundaries of Creek Territory to be hired as a spy?  He was a teenager.  This clearly indicates he had been traveling, and/or living, in this area.

Finding a father, occupation, or other element that answers this question may well provide the final “proof” everyone is trying to find.

Could James’ father have been a resident of Spanish West Florida prior to 1819?  If this were true, it wouldn’t explain why James, Nathan, and John say they were born in South Carolina.

Cattle ranching would be a good candidate as it would put them traveling through this territory driving their herds to market.  Nathan and John report owning cattle in 1824, but probably not enough to merit driving them to market -- unless they had already driven most of them to market and only report their remaining cattle.

New Timeline

• 1812 (June) - War of 1812 begins, the 13 colonies fight a second time for their freedom with border colonies in FL and Canada fighting on the other side.
• 1813 – GA:  Hartford, Pulaski County - enlisted on Dec. 22nd
• 1813 – GA: travels into Creek Territory to Ft. Mitchell and operates as a spy for Ft. Mitchell
• 1814 – GA: Hartford, Pulaski County - discharged Feb. 19th
• 1815 – Unknown
• 1819 – The Adams-Onis Treaty gives FL to the United States
• 1819 – FL:  Jackson County – squatting?
• 1820 – FL:  Jackson County – paid taxes
• 1821 – GA:  Birth of first child, John Jackson Ward on Feb. 16, 1821
• 1821 – FL:  Jackson County – Listed as resident on 1824 Land Claim which required him to be a resident in 1821
• 1827 – FL:  Jackson County – Signed Petition
• 1827 – FL:  Jackson County – Sold land north of Marianna, FL
• 1830 – AL:  Dale County – Appears on census next door to John & Nathan Ward
• 1837 – AL:  Dale County – James English estate settlement records
• 1840 – AL:  Dale County – Appears on census
• 1850 – AL:  Dale County – Appears on census and children are named
• 1850 – AL: Dale County - Owned 200 cattle, 36 sheep, 125 swine
• 1860 – AL: Dale County - Owned 60 cattle, 130 sheep, 100 swine
• 1861 – AL: Dale County - James B. Ward dies

There is still much research to be done.

I hope this body of work helps all of my fellow Ward researchers make new headway in resolving the mystery of “Who was James B. Ward’s father?”

It is time we move beyond the “it’s all fake” and actually look at the facts AND family lore.  It has been my experience that some element of truth exists in family lore.  James B. Ward obviously developed some type of connection to the Indians before he was 17 years old.  Was it at birth? When he was a child? How strong is this connection? 

More research is needed!