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Wales (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Wales => Flintshire => Topic started by: History Lives on Saturday 09 November 19 17:07 GMT (UK)
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I'm looking for more information on the family of William Ward, who was Clerk of the parish of Overton and a resident of Overton Villa up until his death in 1734.
He had 5 children (William, Elizabeth, Ann, Roderick, John), John being registered with a mother's name Jane.
I am unable to find William's wife Jane's burial record or their marriage record, nor a record of William's birth (some time in the 1600s) despite the births of many other Wards recorded in Overton during this time. Since he was parish clerk I imagine his family had some status locally.
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possible remarriage in Overton for Jane 12 August 1739 Edward Roberts, slater and Jane Ward widow.
Edward Roberts, slater, buried 2 Dec 1740.
William's will
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01ols/
Burial 28 Jan 1720 in Overton for Margaret, wife of William Ward. Possible earlier marriage for William?
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Wow Osprey, can't thank you enough for sharing this will.
The handwriting and early modern spelling makes it rather difficult to read though. I'll try and create a transcription for people to reference in future
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Overton parish records are available via FindmyPast which is free over this weekend.
Any problems with the will, ask on this thread. It's not too bad for that period. There are earlier Ward wills from Overton, Thomas who died in 1668 and his wife Christian who died in 1679. They did have a son William, but I think that might be a generation before your William.
https://www.library.wales/searchwills/
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Would anyone be able to make any additions or corrections to this partial transcript I've made?
WARD C/1734/8
The Will of William late of Overton in the County of Flint
In the name of God ---- William Ward of Overton Towne in the County of Flint in the and Diocese of Chester parish Clerk being weak in body, full of sound and sign offring word and memory prayed to Almighty God I doo make this my last will and testament as follows:
First & foremost, my soul to Almighty God, that gave it hoping thro the ---- of my Lord Saviour Jesus Christ ----------- of all my sinns and ------ Everlasting Life
----SEVERAL ILLEGIBLE LINES ---------
Discretion of my executors hereafter named and as for what worldly goods or personnal gane God hath gifted me with -------- thereafter follows:
I give and begweath to my nephew, who was Jones Leuls ------- to the tune of ? shillings
I give and begweath to my son Roderick Ward all my wearing apparel and also all my tooles belonging to my --- whatsoever.
I give and begweath to Edward Witward clerk of Bangor and Elizabeth his wife the sume of five shillings, -----
My will and meaning is and does hereby give and bequeath after any just debts and funeral expenses are discharged, half my personal estate to my mourning wife Jane Ward and the other half to be equally divided between my son Roderick Ward and my daughter Ann Ward and I doo hereby nominate -------------- my living wife Jane Ward, my son Roderick Ward and my daughter Ann Ward loyal executors of this my last will and testament ----- hereby -------- anulling, and making voyd all former and other wills by me heretofore made
And I doo earnestly request the Reverend Mr John Jennings priest of Overton to see this my last Will and Testament fulfilled and performed --------- whereof I have to this my last will and testament ------ my hand and ------- this fifth day of June in the year of our lord 1734.
Signed and published and -------- by this William Ward as his last Will and Testament
David Edwards
Thomas Edwards
Thomas Ellis
5th December 1734:
Jane Ward and Anne Ward, two of the Executors within named took the usual of Executors in common form, referred to the other executor Roderick Ward, a minor to take upon him the execution of the same when he shall come to age and lawfully define the same before us.
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Making a start...
In the name of God Amen I William Ward of Overton Towne in the County of Flint in the and Diocese of Chester parish Clerk being weak in body but of sound and disposing mind and memory (praised be Almighty God) I doo make this my last will and testament as follows
First & foremost, my soul to Almighty God, that gave it hopeing thro the Merrits of my blessed Saviour Jesus Christ to receive remission of all my sinns and to inherit Everlasting Life
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My body I desire may be decently Interrd at the Discretion of my Executors hereinafter named and as for what worldly goods or personnal Estate God hath blessed me with I dispose thereof as follows:
Imprimis I give and bequeath to my nephew Thomas Jones late of the H[e]ll the sum of ten shillings
Item I give and bequeath to my son Roderick Ward all my weareing apparel and also all my tooles belonging to my trade whatsoever
item I give and bequeath to Edward pritchard clerk of Bangor and Elizabeth his wife the sume of five shillings apeece
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and I doo herby nominate constitute and appoint my loving wife Jane Ward my son Roderick Ward and my daughter Ann Ward Joynt Executors of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking & annulling and making voyd all former and other wills by me heretofore made and lastly my will and meaneing is and I doo hereby earnestly request the Reverend Mr John Jennings Curate of Overton to See this my last Will and Testament fulfilled and performed In Witness whereof I have to this my last Will and Testament set my hand and seale this fifth day of June in the year of lour Lord 1734.
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Thanks to Jen and Osprey for these corrections, much appreciated.
Any thoughts on "my nephew Thomas Jones, late of the Hell"? I think it may say something else
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I think it might actually be Holt, will of William Jones from 1733 mentions brother in law William Ward and son Thomas.
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01olv/
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The second letter in both cases is 'e', so to me it reads Hell or Helt :-\
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Interesting. William Jones' will describes Holt as within the parish of Overton but the only Holt I know of is near Wrexham...
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oops - I was assuming it was the place name Holt :-[
Just spotted Helt Wood on the map
https://historicplacenames.rcahmw.gov.uk/placenames/recordedname/2fa7fcf8-c40f-44e6-877e-5a309afcd9b2
;)
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Interesting. William Jones' will describes Holt as within the parish of Overton
But the word is Helt, not Holt :-\
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possible for William's first marriage. Overton was in the diocese of Chester before 1849 and there is a marriage licence from 1706 for William Ward & Margaret Powell of the chapelry of Overton
https://www.genuki.org.uk/big/wal/FLN/Overton
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Found William Jones marrying a Mary Ward in Overton in 1714. This is probably the William Jones from the William Ward's will and testament.
Mary Ward was born in Overton in 1681 daughter of a William Ward (likely my William's father).
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oops - I was assuming it was the place name Holt :-[
Just spotted Helt Wood on the map
https://historicplacenames.rcahmw.gov.uk/placenames/recordedname/2fa7fcf8-c40f-44e6-877e-5a309afcd9b2
;)
This Helt Wood is shown on the Tithe Apportionment for Overton, and between it and the river is Helt Meadow.
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possible burial 30 march 1717 in Overton for Mary, wife of William Jones of Overton Villa.
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Don't think the William Ward that married Margaret Powell is my William Ward as Margaret didn't die until 1720 which overlaps with when he should be married to Jane.
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isn't the only baptism that mentions Jane the one for John in 1722?
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Ah yes, my apologies. Here are the births:
William 1710
Elizabeth 1712
Ann 1715
Roderick 1718
John 1722
So I suppose it could be plausible that the first four are by his wife Margaret. However it is strange he only had 1 child by his wife Jane unless she was an older woman.
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I'm unfortunately unable to find the birth of my William Ward (guessing around 1785), nor that of his father whose name was William according to Ann Ward's marriage to William Jones.
I am therefore not 100% that Thomas Ward and Christian Ward are connections, but would it be reasonable to assume that Thomas Ward who died in 1668 is the grandfather of William Ward who died 1734? He had a son William Ward whom he left items to in his will as did his mother Christian.
This would have been around the right time period to be William Jr's father. Or was it likely that there could have been two William Wards born to different parents in Overton?
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well, if the families were using traditional naming patterns, there could be more than one William Ward. So if William son of Thomas was named after the father of Thomas for example, brothers of Thomas could also have named their first sons after the same father, so there would be a William in each Ward family.
The other problem is that Overton changed from the diocese of Chester to St Asaph, and the BTs seem to be still with Chester.
Burials
10 Sept 1718 of William the son of William Ward of Overton Villa
26 June 1734 William Ward of Overton Villa, Cowper (?) and Parish Clerk
29 Aug 1716 Mary daughter of William Ward
16 Nov 1716 Elizabeth daughter of William Ward of Overton Villa
9 Aug 1717 Mary daughter of William Ward
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I suppose the likelihood depends on the size of Overton at the time. The UK population was 8 million, about 1/8 of what it is today. Overton has about 1300 today so just as a general estimate I imagine its population was in the low hundreds.
Also any ideas why William married Margaret Powell by license if they were both from the same parish? Was it likely to do with being in a rush to marry?
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not necessarily. It could be that they didn't want everybody knowing about the upcoming marriage. It seems that sometimes the better off in the parish preferred to marry by licence. More info here
https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Marriage_Allegations,_Bonds_and_Licences_in_England_and_Wales
Population of Overton in 1831 was 1746, it declined to 1111 by 1901. Not unusual in rural parishes.
https://www.genuki.org.uk/big/wal/FLN/Overton