Click on any of the News, Events, or Discoveries buttons above to see historical things that happened during
John Ward's life. These are only some of the major events that affected the life and times of
John, his family, and friends. For example, John is 4 years old when Mississippi Territory organized from Georgia's western land claims. It includes what will later become portions of Mississippi, Alabama and Northern Florida,
| Age | Date | Event |
|---|
| 8 |
1802 |
Georgia formally cedes western claims for its southern boundary at the 31st parallel -- which will become the north western border of FL and southern border of AL. |
| 9 |
1803 |
Between 1803 and 1811 a horse trail is established connecting Milledgeville, Georgia to Fort Stoddert, American outpost north of Mobile. This is expanded into a road and called The Federal Road by 1811. |
| 11 |
1805 |
Indian cessions opened up large portions of western (Choctaw) and northern (Chickasaw and Cherokee) Alabama to white settlers. |
| 17 |
1811 |
Tecumseh visits the Creek Indians living in what will become Georgia and Alabama to try to persuade them to join his fight against the flood of white settlers. Some towns join forces with Tecumseh and become known as "Red Sticks". |
| 18 |
1812 |
The Creek tribes in southern Alabama and Georgia find themselves under increasing pressure from white settlers. Led by Chief Weatherford, they accepted an alliance with Tecumseh and are nicknamed "Red Sticks". |
| 19 |
1813 |
During 1813-14, Muskogee-speaking Creeks leave AL and move into areas in Northern FL in response to the Creek Civil War (also known as the Red-sticks War). |
| 19 |
1813 |
Two battles begin the Creek Indian War: (1) Fort Mims Massacre - Fort Mims is attacked on August 13 by the Red Sticks while the inhabitants are eating their noon meal. The massacre brings an immediate response from the whites and soldiers are recruited from Tennessee, Georgia and other territories, and (2) The Battle of Holy Ground on December 1813. |
| 20 |
1814 |
The Treaty of Fort Jackson is finalized on August 9, 1814. William Weatherford (Red Eagle) surrenders to Gen. Andrew Jackson and cede their lands to the federal government. This opens approximately half of present-day AL to white settlement. |
| 20 |
1814 |
Battle at Horseshoe Bend on March 27, leaves the Creek Red Sticks scattered and unorganized. Those that survive the battle flee south into northern Florida and band together as the Seminoles. Red Eagle (Billy Weatherford) surrenders to General Andrew Jackson at Fort Jackson later in the year. |
| 23 |
1817 |
Alabama Territory is created when Congress passes an act to divide the Mississippi Territory and admit it into the union as a state. Alabama will remain a territory for two more years. |
| 25 |
1819 |
Alabama admitted to the United States |
| Age | Date | Event |
|---|
| 5 |
1799 |
The Rosetta Stone was discovered |
| 6 |
1800 |
The first battery was invented by Volta |
| 13 |
1807 |
The first steamboat was invented by Fulton |
| 20 |
1814 |
The first locomotive engine was created by Stephenson |
| Age | Date | Event |
|---|
| 6 |
1800 |
NEWS HEADLINES: Seat of U.S. government moves from Philadelphia to Washington DC |
| 17 |
1811 |
NEWS HEADLINES: Tecumseh's emerging Indian Confederacy is defeated at the Battle of Tippecanoe in Ohio. Afterwards, Tecumseh and his brother travel from their Shawnee homes in the north to recruit and unify the southern Indians. |
| 18 |
1812 |
NEWS HEADLINES: War of 1812 begins and will continue for until 1814. Some call it the Second War of Independence because the US fights Great Britain to a stalemate, Americas independence was assured. |
| Age | Date | Event |
|---|
| 4 |
1798 |
Mississippi Territory organized from Georgia's western land claims. It includes what will later become portions of Mississippi, Alabama and Northern Florida, |
| 9 |
1803 |
Louisiana Purchase from France (who secured it from Spain) gives the US a huge new territory and the port of New Orleans. |
| 10 |
1804 |
The Seminole warrior later known as Osceola is born near Tuskegee, AL. |
| 11 |
1805 |
Federal Road project begins after the Creek Indians give the U.S. permission to develop a “horse path” through their nation that will provide better mail delivery between Washington City (DC) and New Orleans. Soon settlers are traveling and settling along this path to settle the southern frontier. |
| 12 |
1806 |
Lewis and Clark Expedition, which began in 1804, ends. News of the rich lands to the west begins to spread. |
| 17 |
1811 |
By 1811 the new "Federal Road" (which started as a horse path) is filled with a steady flow of white settlers into Creek Indian Territories. The Spanish begin to fan hostile sentiments among the Indians. |
| 26 |
1820 |
The Act of April 24, 1820 abolished the land purchase credit system, fixed the price of public lands at $1.25 per acre, and set the minimum purchase at 80 acres. After a person purchased land, a final certificate was issued by the land office and sent to Washington DC to be verified and signed by the President -- a time consuming process. Public lands were most typically available through US treaties with Indians who agreed to be removed from their homelands. |
| Age | Date | Event |
|---|
| 1 |
1795 |
White Terror and bread riots in Paris |
| 2 |
1796 |
Napoleon marries Josephine de Beauharnais |
| 3 |
1797 |
Napoleon proclaims the Venetian Constitution, founds Ligurian Republic in Genoa |
On page 11: The family of Nathan Ward consists of 3 free white males under 10 years old, 2 between the ages of 10-15, 2 between the ages of 16-25, and 1 who is 45 years old or older. One free white female is between 16-25 and the other is 45 years old or older.