Parents:
Thomas Ward, gentleman, (b. ca 1786 and died at Crediton in 1838 aged 52) and Elizabeth nee Huggins. They married at Crediton, Devon ,24 November 1808. I have found nothing of their parents, but it’s possible Thomas had a brother called William.
Four of their children emigrated to Nelson, New Zealand - Elizabeth, Mary, John & Thomas Jnr.
Children identified to date:
Elias Tremlett Ward (1810-1874). Born 5 April 1810, bapt. 2 December 1811. married Sarah Kingdon at Crediton on 4 December 1832. Sarah may have died quite early on – perhaps not long after the birth of their only child Elizabeth, b. 1834. At any rate, in 1841 Elias and his daughter lived at ‘Langridge” with William Ward (perhaps his uncle?) listed as the head of household and no sign of wife Sarah, but at some point Elias took over running ‘Langridge” himself. In 1871 he was recorded as head of household at “Langridge Farm”, described at that time as being 284 acres in size and employing 14 labourers.
Was Elias the oldest in the family?
Note:
Charles Norrish and brother John Ward were the executors of Elias Ward’s will.
Elizabeth Ward (1811- 1901) Bapt 2 Dec 1811 at Credition. Devon. Married master mariner Captain Edward Fearon on 11 February 1840 at St Olave Hart Street, Crutched Friars, London, Emigrated to New Zealand on the barque “Thomas Sparks” with her husband Captain Edward Fearon and brothers John & Thomas Ward, arriving at Nelson on 26 February 1843. Her first child, daughter Elizabeth Ludwig (Lizzie) Fearon, was born during the outward bound voyage. A few months later the Fearons settled at the nearby settlement of Motueka. Her brothers bought land at Stoke, just outside the city of Nelson. Elizabeth died at her home, “Northwood”, Motueka, New Zealand, on 1 January 1901.
Mary Ward bapt 12 Feb 1817 at Crediton, Devon – emigrated via ship “Bernicia” arriving at Nelson NZ (aged 31 and single) on 6 November 1848, along with her brother John and his new wife Caroline (nee Micklem). Lived with the Fearon family at their home, “”Northwood”, Motueka, NZ and married one of their neighbours, Charles Thorp Esq.of Motueka, at St Thomas’ Anglican Church, Motueka, on 11 April 1850 – Rev T. L. Tudor officiating.. Died at her home, ‘Burton Farm”, Motueka, on 8 Aug 1886.
John Ward (1818 –1904?), Born at Crediton 22 January 1818, bapt. 10 March 1819. Came to NZ with Edward and Elizabeth Fearon and brother Thomas Ward on the ship “Thomas Sparks”, arriving in Nelson 26 February 1843, Bought land at Stoke just outside the city of Nelson, which he farmed jointly with his brother Thomas (Tom) Ward. Travelled to England 1848 and married 22 April 1848 at Kensington, London, to Caroline Micklem from Hurly, Berkshire. Returned with his new wife and sister Mary Ward on the “Bernicia”, arriving 6 November 1848 at Nelson, NZ, where his first child, son John Micklem Ward, was born in 1849. John and his family had gone back to England to live by the 1860s. He established a successful business as a wine merchant in London, though maintained a link with “Langridge Farm” at Crediton. Living at Withycombe Raleigh in Devon by 1891 and possibly died ca 1904.
Emma Ward (1825-1891) Bapt. 26 Oct 1825. Never married and lived in Devon until her death in 1891 at 66 years. Living in Zeal Monachorum Devon with the Norrishes and sister Elizabeth (nee Ward) and brother-in-law Edward Fearon in 1841, with brother Elias Ward at “Langridge Farm”, Crediton, in 1871 and recorded living with Skinner cousins in Zeal Monachorum in 1881and 1891 censuses. Skinners were Ward relatives via the Norrishes.
Thomas Ward Jnr. ? is my mystery man - I can find no record of his birth or death, though know he was known as Tom and travelled to NZ with his sister Elizabeth , brother-in-law Edward Fearon and brother John Ward on the barque ‘”Thomas Sparks”, arriving Nelson 26 February 1843. Unfortunately the passenger manifest doesn’t list their ages so doesn’t help with working out Thomas’ date of birth. Thomas and his brother John jointly established a farm at Stoke, just outside the city of Nelson, which they worked together until 1848 John then travelled back to England for a short visit and Thomas went to Motueka before taking over the management of a sheep run in the Awatere, Marlborough , NZ, on behalf of his brother-in-law, Edward Fearon. He then acquired his own sheep run in the Awatere, which he named “Langridge” after the family farm in Crediton. In 1859 he sold this run and then he vanishes again. Did he stay in NZ or, like his brother, return to England? He possibly moved to Canterbury, NZ, but the name Thomas Ward is so common that without additional info like his age I can’t pinpoint him. If anyone can help with this puzzle, I’d love to hear from you.
It’s possible there are other members of this family I haven’t yet found – if anyone can fill in gaps, I’d appreciate it. Would also be very interested to know just how long the Ward family was associated with “Langridge Farm” at Crediton.
