Wayne County, NC - Heritage Series Reprinted with permission of the Mount Olive Tribune and cannot be reproduced without permission. Transcribed by Barbara Kawamoto. The Ward Family of Sampson and Duplin "Our Heritage" By Claude Moore The Wards were among the pioneer Colonial families in Duplin, Sampson, Onslow and Pitt counties, and many of their descendants live all over North Carolina. They still have their annual clan reunions, which began back in 1922. Early facts about the Wards are still missing, but it is believed that the first known forefather, Edward Ward, came from London, England, to Pitt County, N. C., prior to 1740, and later settled on a plantation on New River in Onslow County. He may have been a grandson of Sir Edward Ward, a London judge. Edward Ward was a colonial sheriff of Onslow. He married Mary Cannon, a daughter of Edward and Sara Woodard Cannon, and they had two sons, William (born 1753) and Edward (born 1744), and several daughters. William Ward served in the North Carolina militia during the American Revolution, and a very detailed account of his service is recorded in the Pension Records in Washington. He fought at the Battle of Moore’s Creek Bridge on February 27, 1776, and later he was engaged in a skirmish with the Tories at Myhand’s Bridge on Coharie Swamp in Sampson County. William Ward married Mary Bell and first settled on a plantation in Duplin County, and later to the Taylor’s Bridge section of Sampson County. They had the following children: William Ward settled at Thomasville, Georgia, along with several other families from Sampson and Duplin; Robert Ward, who married Sarah Ann Alderman and settled at Thomasville, Georgia; Nancy Ward (born 1802), who married Thomas Carlton and settled at Thomasville, Georgia; Samuel Ward, who married Mary Robinson and settled in Sampson County; and Alfred Ward (1790-1869) who married Elizabeth Robinson and finally settled in Duplin County. Alfred Ward attended Old Evergreen School at Delway, and in 1815, he was married to Elizabeth Robinson (1793-1874), a daughter of William Robinson and Mary Matthis Robinson. They had the following children: William Robinson Ward (1819-1897); Elbridge G. Ward (1819-1897); Joseph J. Ward (1821-1902); James Edward Ward (1824-1901); Sarah Amanda Ward (1827-1885); Mary Eliza Ward (1829-1901); George W. Ward (1832-1884); and Alfred C. Ward (1835-1915). William R. Ward married Keziah Jane Johnson and settled in Duplin County. He was a member of the N.C. Legislature for many years. Their children were: Mary Amanda Ward; Nathaniel G. Ward; Mrs. Bettie Blanchard; Alfred D. Ward; Mrs. Josephine Wells; Mrs. Keziah F. Wilkins; William P. Ward; Mrs. Cassandra Ward Allen (1869-1942); Mrs. Sallie Eliza Blanchard; and Don K. Ward. Elbridge G. Ward married Mary Jane Robinson and settled at Harrells in Sampson County. During the War Between the States he supervised the making of salt near Wilmington. His children were: Alonza J. Ward; Thomas Ward; Margaret D. Ward; Elizabeth Melissa Ward; Alfred J. Ward; Edward L. Ward; and William Preston Ward. Joseph John Ward married Rachel Newkirk and settled in Duplin County. He was a teacher, justice of the peace and a surveyor. His children were: Mrs. Adelaide Turner; Mrs. Frances R. Wells; Mrs. Joanna Carr; Jacob L. Ward; and Mrs. Sallie Henry Wells. James Edward Ward was in the Home Guard during the War Between the States, a Mason, a justice of the peace and a member of the Red Hill Universalist Church. He married Isabella Robinson and lived in Sampson County. Their children were: Sebastian M. Ward; Mrs. Elvina A. Robinson; Abner G. Ward; George C. Ward; Mrs. Margaret Wilkins Page; Alfred Ward; Robert Edward Ward; and an infant daughter. Sarah Amanda Ward married John Robert Vann and lived at Rockfish in Duplin County. Their children were: Mary Elizabeth Vann; Sarah J. Vann; James W. Vann; Narcissa Vann. Mary Eliza Ward married Robert Charles Johnson, a member of the Home Guard during the War Between the States, and lived in Pender County. They had the following children: Ellen C. Johnson; Joab Franklin Johnson; Robert W. Johnson; Sallie E. Johnson; and Milton H. Johnson. George W. Ward, Confederate soldier, married Mary Priscilla Alderman. He was a teacher, surveyor and a member of Red Hill Universalist Church. His children were: Mrs. Mary Ward Taylor; Daniel P. Ward; Mrs. Myra E. Falkner; Albert J. Ward; William A. G. Ward; George R. Ward (1877-1942); Preston C. Ward; and Livingston D. Ward. Alfred C. Ward, Confederate soldier, married Rebecca W. Boney. He was sheriff of Pender County and a member of the N. C. Legislature. His children were: John W. L. Ward; Phoebe E. Ward; Mary C. Ward; and Mrs. Isla Ward Highsmith. (Reference: A history of the Ward Family) ============================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. The electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Barbara Kawamoto ==============================================================