| Notes |
- The first record of William Ward is found in Sudbury in 1639. He may have been there several years. He was admitted Freeman May 10, 1643, and for many years was one of the chief men of the town. He was a deputy to the general court from Sudbury in 1644, for many years was a selectman and most of the time chairman of the board. He was the local magistrate--thecommissioner to end small causes.
He deposed October 4, 1664, that he was about sixty-one years old, fixing the year of his birth as 1603. He was one of the nine Sudbury men who petitioned for the grant subsequently known as Marlborough, and including originally not only the present city of Marlborough, but the towns of Westborough, Northborough and Southborough.
In 1660, the year of incorporation, Ward settled in the new town ofMarlborough, where his descendants have been numerous and distinguished. He was chosen the first deacon of the Marlborough church.
He drew fifty acres, the largest size of house lot granted by theproprietors. These home lots varied, according to the importance of the individual proprietor, from fifteen to fifty acres. His house was on the south side of the road nearly opposite the meeting house, and his land extended to what was then called Belcher's pond, near which the tavern of his son-in-law, Abraham Williams, was located.
Ward suffered the usual hardships and losses of the pioneer and especially during King Philip's war he lost heavily. His buildings were burned, his cattle destroyed and one son slain.
He died at Marlboro, August 10, 1687, aged eighty-five years. His will was dated April 6, 1686. He bequeathed to his wife Elizabeth; children John and Increase; the children of sons Richard and Eleazer, deceased; son-in-law Abraham Williams; to all his children by former wife and present wife. His widow died December 9, 1700, in her eighty-seventh year.
Source: Was downloaded with a GEDCOM many years ago and I have lost the source of where I got the GEDCOM file!
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1603 - 1687 (84 years)
