James Ward b1832. Tracing his parents.

[Tim Brayshaw]

Looking at a slightly different side to my family tonight, and was wondering if anyone has access to records that might help on this one. I was questioning myself whether to post on here because it is on the boundary of Derbyshire and West Riding of Yorkshire.

I have a James Ward b1831/2. In the 1851 census he is down as 20 years old, an Apprentice Saw Handle Maker under is uncle George Ward. (b1807 in Holmesfield). James is down as being born in Totley, Derbyshire.

Going back another census to 1841, they are living in Dronfield, he is still living with his uncle George Ward and seems to be the only nephew to that family. It looks as if possibly his parents have passed away.

There is only a singular tree on a popular site which claims his father is a William Ward from Bakewell, Derbyshire. But i just can't find any information to support it.

Can anyone help me solidify information for James' parents?

(I will be ordering a certificate for James' marriage in 1854 if nothing can be solid. Obviously that will just give me his father's name and occupation.

[CaroleW]

I suspect the tree owner is using info from James marriage cert as his fathers name

[shirl100]

As Carol mentioned the marriage cert would give you absolute proof. There are a couple of possibles on www.familysearch.org for baptisms near Totley, both from parish register extracts

Holmesfield James Ward b Cartledge, bap 14 July 1833 parents William and Sarah https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NTGD-4HJ
Christ Church, Dore James Ward bap 16 Feb 1834 parents Thomas Ward and Mary https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NT5V-NZQ

Both places are close to Totley which didn't have it's own church then, Dore is about 0.5m closer.

Shirl

[CaroleW]

Who did James marry in 1854?

[Tim Brayshaw]

Who did James marry in 1854?

I'm going to treat myself to a few certificates at pay day so I'll know for definite in a few weeks. James Ward married an Ann Hartley. I confirmed this with one of their child's birth certificates because I was unsure of his marriage at the time.

[spendlove]

Hi,

On 1851 Census the uncle of James Ward is George Ward born abt 1807 Holmesfield Derbys.
So James has to be the son of a sibling of George Ward, have you considered he may be
the illegitimate son of a sister of George Ward?

On www.familysearch.org  there is a Bpt  28th Sept 1806 of a George Ward, father THOMAS no
mother stated.

Spendlove

[Tim Brayshaw]

Hi,

On 1851 Census the uncle of James Ward is George Ward born abt 1807 Holmesfield Derbys.
So James has to be the son of a sibling of George Ward, have you considered he may be
the illegitimate son of a sister of George Ward?

On www.familysearch.org  there is a Bpt  28th Sept 1806 of a George Ward, father THOMAS no
mother stated.

Spendlove

Thankyou for your reply. Do you know what, I hadn't considered that at all, but it could be a possibility.

Short of checking the bastardy records of the parish there isn't really a way for me to confirm this is there? Especially if the only two baptisms have mothers and fathers attached to them from holmesfield and dore.

[Tim Brayshaw]

I suspect the tree owner is using info from James marriage cert as his fathers name

I received the certificate today. On James' marriage certificate he has his father down as a John Ward (a labourer.) Unfortunately this seems to rule out both of the found entries for a James ward born around that time, i can't seem to find any entry for a James Ward with a father as a John.

I guess searching for a death/burial entry for a John Ward before between 1832 and 1841 as he was with his uncle for the 1841 and 1851 census' returns.

[Tim Brayshaw]

Just thought i would revive this, just in case someone has access to some parish records that i can't get to online.

It's a James Ward b1832 in Totley, Derbyshire with his father being named as John Ward on his marriage certificate. Can anyone help find a baptism?

Someone has also on Anc* a family where George Ward (James' uncle) is the child of Thomas Ward and Mary Hattersley - whom also have a child called John born 1808 in Dore. There is just no source citation however and i like to back everything up before i solidify anything.

I can find two possible marriage's for the father John Ward;

Yorkshire, Archbishop of York Marriage licences index, 1613-1839 Transcription

John Ward
Age   21
Birth year   1809
Residence: Dronfield, Derbyshire
Licence date   06 Dec 1830
Intended marriage place   Doncaster PC
Elizabeth Hudson
Spouse's age   21
Spouse's parish   Doncaster
Spouse's county   Yorkshire
[/s] - I have since found this couple on the 1851 census, with John Ward born , Cowley, Derbyshire near Dronfield and wife Elizabeth from Doncaster so it is not this one.
* This one as it states his birth of 1809 and from Dronfield - it is the closest to the NBI entry;

JOHN WARD
Birth year   1808
Death year   1832
Age   24
Burial year   1832
Burial day   1
Burial month   12
Place   DORE
CHRIST CHURCH

Saying this i can not find a death for an Elizabeth Ward before 1841, which would explain why James is living with his uncle in 1841 and 1851.

The other marriage is;

John Ward
Marriage year   1829
Spouse's first name(s)   Martha
Spouse's last name   MORTON
Supplied first name(s)   Jn
Supplied last name   WARD
Place   DRONFIELD
Record set   Boyd's Marriage Index 1538-1840


Also next door to James' and uncle George in 1851 there is a family headed by a Thomas Ward born around 1811 in Totley, Derbyshire. (Very likely to another of James' uncles) - When searching for a birth for this gentleman this shows...

Thomas Ward
29 Jul 1810
DORE,DERBY,ENGLAND
Father's Name:   Thos Ward
Mother's Name:   Mary

On James' marriage certificate the witnesses are a Thomas Ward and a Catherine Thornton.

So this is all weighing up in my favour so far, if the gentleman in the NBI entry and the marriage to lady from Doncaster is correct, then this is most likely to be James' father...

John Ward
15 Jun 1808
DRONFIELD,DERBY,ENGLAND
Father's Name:   Thomas Ward