Zebediah Ward II 1755-1836
Only a few basic facts are known regarding Zebediah Ward's life in the East, aside from his service in the New Jersey Militia.
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| Old North Church Newark, New Jersey |
- He gives his birth date and place as December of 1755 in Essex County, New Jersey. [Zebediah Ward pension file S16285, 26 Oct 1832; HeritageQuest]
- Zebediah's parents were Zebediah I and Selvester (nee Zanderson) Ward of Canoe Brook, New Jersey, his grandfather being known as "Caleb Ward Jr. of Canoe Brook." A history of the Willis family of New England and New Jersey and Their Ancestors by Charles Ethelbert Willis [Archive.org] traces this family back to England, stating the immigrant ancestor, George Ward of Houghton Parva, arrived at Watertown, Massachusetts prior to 1630. This information has not been traced nor proven as of this date.
- Zebediah first married about 1776 to Saartye Silof (Sarah Zeluff), daughter of Danel Silof and Henne Klac (Daniel Zeluff and Hannah Clark). Saartye was christened on 27 Jul 1755 at the Reformed Protestant Church on Staten Island, New York. [U.S., Dutch Reformed Church Records in Selected States, 1639-1989; Ancestry.com]
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| New Jersey and Staten Island c. 1780 [courtesy Library of Congress] |
- Danel Silof's will dated 3 Mar 1777, names wife, Hannah, and daughter "Sarah Ward," and makes Zebediah Ward executor with son Benjamin. The will was proved 20 May 1778 [New Jersey State Archives; New Jersey, Abstract of Wills, 1670-1817 Vol XXXIV p607; Ancestry.com].
- Zebediah's and Sarah's first documented child, Hannah, was born bet. 1777 and 1783, possibly named for her grandmother Silof. [Will of Zebediah Ward found by J. Anderson; New Jersey Archives; New Jersey, Marriage Records, 1683-1802; First Series, vol. XXII, p.594; Ancestry.com / New Jersey State Archives; Marriage Records: New Jersey, Marriage Records, 1683-1802; p.594; Ancestry.com]
- The will of Zebediah's father, Zebediah of Canoe Brook, as written 28 Dec 1783 and proved 15 Jan 1784. It names his sons, Caleb, Zebediah, John and Moses, his wife Selvester, and "daughters." Executors were his wife and, his uncle, Samuel Williams, and Joseph Harrison. The bequest from Zebediah to his son, Zebediah was "6 acres; also a plantation bought of the Earl of Sterling, with his paying for it." [New Jersey State Archives; New Jersey, Abstract of Wills, 1670-1817 Vol XXXV p429; Ancestry.com].
- On 11 May 1784 Zebediah Ward was admitted and sworn as a Freeman by the Common Council of New York City, and ordered to be registered as a cartman. [Minutes of the Common Council of the city of New York, 1784-1831; Ancestry.com]
- Statement, 10 Apr 1793, to Governor William “Paterson” by James Headen, Deputy Commissioner of Newark Township, Essex County, stating that inhabitants of Canno [sic] Brook had formed a “Company of Foot” and chose John Squire, Captain; Obediah Wade, Lieutenant; and Zebediah Ward, Ensign.
- Record Group: Department of Defense; Subgroup: New Jersey Militia; Series: Miscellaneous Records, 1777-1868 [New Jersey State Archives]; Call Number: Box 2, Folder 1; Page Number: 3; Family Number: 4]
- On 11 Apr 1796 Zebediah Ward attended a Town Meeting in the Court House in Newark. [City of Newark; Records of the Town of Newark, New Jersey From Its Settlement in 1666, to Its Incorporation as a City in 1836; 1864; p.175]
- Tax Lists of New Jersey show that the Zebediah Ward family lived in Newark, Essex County, New Jersey during the period between 1779 and 1796. The death of Zebediah Ward Sr. is confirmed by the appearance in the records of "Zebediah (Widow) Ward in June of 1789. [NJ Tax Lists Index 1772-1822; Ancestry.com]
New Jersey Tax Rolls in Newark, Essex County 1779-1796
| Year | Zeb Ward Sr. | Zeb Ward Jr. | Zeb (Widow) Ward |
| 1779 Jan | p.34 | p.34 | |
| 1780 Feb | p.31 | p.31 | |
| 1780 Oct | p.31 | p.31 | |
| 1781 Aug | p.31 | ||
| 1782 Mar | p.31 | p.31 | |
| 1782 Jul | p.31 | p.31 | |
| 1783 Oct | p.31 | p.31 | |
| 1783 Oct | p.31 | p.31 | |
| 1789 Jun | p.37 | p.36 | |
| 1790 Mar | p.37 | p.36 | |
| 1793 Jun | p.37 | ||
| 1795 Oct | p.39 | ||
| 1796 Jun | p.39 | |
American Revolution
Abstracted from the Pension Application S16285 of Zebediah Ward dated 26 Oct 1832:
On 14 Dec 1775 Zebediah Ward signed on for a one-year enlistment in Col. Jonathan Ogden's Regiment, New Jersey Troops. He served under Capt. Henry Myers and Lt. Isaac Morrow, and was appointed Sgt. The regiment marched to NY and up the North [Hudson] River. They were dismissed on 14 Dec 1776 at Newark, New Jersey.
Soon after his release in Dec 1776, he reenlisted for 4 months as a Ranger in the New Jersey Militia under Maj. Samel Hays, Capt Elijah Squire, and Lt. Abraham Ludlum. This troop was stationed at Ash [Brook] Swamp to watch British at Amboy, and had frequent skirmishes with the enemy.
After this 4 months were up, he reenlisted and served from April 1776 to November 1778 in the New Jersey Militia under Capt. John Pack in Jeremiah Smith's Regiment, They were stationed in the lines from Woodbridge to Tappan Bay, where the Hudson River widens.
From December 1779 to 1780 he served under Peter Gordon, Forage Master General at the battles of Elizabethtown, Connecticut Farms, and Springfield; the latter was the largest battle in the Northern theater.
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In December of 1783 the war was ending. Zebediah had been out of the service for three years and had settled down to marriage and small children. In Dec 1783 Zebediah's father died at the age of 59. His will was written 12 Dec 1783 and probated 28 Dec 1783, leaving to his son Zebediah six acres, and "also a plantation bought of the Earl of Sterling, with his paying for it." It is not clear what Zebediah did with this land he inherited, as seven years later he had moved to upstate New York.
1800-1812 New York
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| Early Migration Routes in New York (map courtesy Tioga Co FamilySearch Wiki) |
According to Zebediah's statement in his pension records, he had moved his family from New Jersey to New York in 1800 and resided there about 12 years. He was taxed in Newtown (now Elmira), Tioga County, New York as a non-resident in 1803. [New York, Tax Assessment Rolls of Real and Personal Estates, 1799-1804; Tioga 1803 Newtown; Ancestry.com]
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| Allegany County 1808 [courtesy Allegany County Historical Society] |
9 June 1809 (called but excused)
24 Oct 1809 (called)
26 June 1810 (called and fined $5)
On 4 Apr 1809 at a meeting in Peter Granger's home in Pike Zebediah Ward was chosen Commissioner of Schools at the first town meeting of Greater Nunda. Greater Nunda consisted of Eagle, Pike Gennessee Falls, Portage, Centerville, Hume, Granger and Grove. [Carl W. Clark; Allegany County Historical Society Local History & Genealogy]
The 1810 Federal Census of Nunda Township. In his household are 1 male between 10 and 15, one female between 10 and 15, 1 male and 2 females over 45 years of age. There is also a James Ward living in Nunda Township. It is not known if there is a relationship between the two men. [1810 United States Federal Census New York Allegany Nunda p1; Ancestry.com]
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| Allegany County, New York |
1812-1828 The Indiana Frontier
At his pension hearing he stated that "from the New York he removed to the state of Indiana," probably using Zane's Trace for travel , where he is found in 1820, living in Lawrenceberg, Dearborn County, Indiana. The 1820 Federal Census reports in his household 1 male between 26 and 45 (most likely his son Peter) 1 male over 45 (Zebediah) 1 female 10 to 16, 1 female 16 to 26 and 2 females over 45. [1820 United States Federal Census IN Dearborn Lawrenceburg p11; Ancestry.com]
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| Traveling on Zane's Trace through the Cumberland Gap |
A Zebediah Ward of Dearborn County filed a Land Patent for a 40-acre tract in Ripley County, Indiana on 1 August 1833 at Jeffersonville, Indiana. It is not clear whether this is Zebediah or his son, Zebediah, born about 1784. [Bureau of Land Management - General Land Office Records; Record for Zebediah Ward]
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Zebediah Ward Land Patent |
Zebediah second married Harriet Jones on 16 Jul 1828 in Harrison County by Hays McCallen J.P. Zebediah was 73 years old when they married; Harriet was 24. They had three children: Sylvester Ward born 19 Nov 1829, Mary Jane Ward born 22 Jan 1833, and Stephen Benjamin born 11 Aug 1833. [Harrison County Clerk, Harrison County, Indiana; Collection of Vicki Klein; 24 Jun 2010]
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Marriage Record of Zebediah Ward & Harriet Jones, Harrison County, Indiana
Also: "State of Indiana, Harrison County ?? Personally appeared before me Henry W. Heth clerk of the Circuit Court in and for said county, Samuel Clark, who being duly sworn depo?t? and saith that he is acquainted with Zebadiah Ward, and Harriet Jones who are about to intermarry, that the said Harriet Jones usually resides in said county of Harrison and tht he verily believes they are both of lawful age, and that he knows of no lawful reason why they should not be married And further this affiant saith not-- his Samuel X Clark mark Subscribed and sworn to this 16th-day of July 1828-- H.W. Heth clk Z. Ward and % affidavit H. Jones filed July 16th 1828 [WARD/JONES Marriage Affidavit 16 Jul 1828 Harrison Co. IN obtained from Frederick Porter Griffin Center Harrison Co. IN]
On 26 Oct 1832 Zebediah Ward appeared in the Clark County Circuit Court to file his pension request. He described his service, stating there were no witnesses who could prove his service, but did provide the names of two men who could provide him with a character witness. [Zebediah Ward pension file S16285, 26 Oct 1832; HeritageQuest]
Zebediah wrote a will on 23 May 1833, when he was 77 years old. He left minor bequests to his children by Sarah Zeluff: Hannah Riker, David, Zebediah, Peter and Phebe Ward. He leaves his son Sylvester 40 acres of land, his daughter Mary Jane a cow and a feather bed. Stephen Ward, who would be born just under three months from the date of the will, and be 3 years old before the death of his father, was left out entirely.
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| 1833 Will of Zebediah Ward (located 1972 by researcher J. Anderson) |
Harriet (nee Jones) Ward stated in an 1869 pension request that her husband, Zebediah Ward, died on 13 Aug 1837 in Clark County. However, in reviewing the original Record of Pension Payments for Indiana, one can make out following the recorded March 1836 payment "Died 24th August 1836." This date is supported by this last payment voucher:
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| Revolutionary War Final Payment Voucher [Fold 3] |
Zebediah was most likely buried in Clark County, and local lore states his resting place is probably in the Merrill-Ward Cemetery, which was on the bank of Silver Creek (now Muddy Fork). Flooding along Muddy Fork has been an annual problem, and the area is covered with several inches of sand and dirt. No marked graves have been found, and the area has not known to have been probed. The cemetery is part of the Illinois Grant, Lot #199 (see map in blog entry for Stephen Jones coming soon)
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| Silver Creek, AKA Muddy Fork near the location of Merrill-Ward Cemetery |
"Harriet Ward, widow of Zebediah Ward a Revolutionary soldier and pensioner who died 24 Aug 1836 claimed and received the final payment of his pension, $47.19 for the period from 4 Mar 1836 to 4 Aug 1836, a total of 5 months 20 days." Harriet Ward made her mark, and received payment. [NARA Selected Final Pension Payment Vouchers, 1818-1864, Entry 722 IN Files]
After the death of her first husband Harriet remarried to Lewis Franconi. The record in the Clark County Marriage Register reads "Apl 18 1838 | Lewis Frenconi | Juliann Ward." No reason has been found for Harriet to be listed as "Juliann," however it is clear by census, pension and other documents that this "Juliann" is the same person as Harriet (nee Jones) Ward.
Lewis and Harriet Franconi had 3 children together: Alonzo, born 9 Dec 1838, Charles, born 29 Apr 1844, and Emeline, born Jul 1849. In the 1850 Census of Wood Township, Harriet is listed as Head of Household, so it appears that Lewis has left her by this date. She states in her bounty land application that he "died in the State of Kentucky in the fall, she thinks, of the year 1853." [1850 Federal Census of Wood Township, Clark County; Ancestry.com / Zebediah Ward pension file S16285, 26 Oct 1832; HeritageQuest]
On 10 Nov 1869 Harriet (nee Jones) Ward Franconi, age 67, appeared before the Floyd County Circuit Court to apply for bounty land based on her husband's service in the American Revolution. She states she "resides on Upper Fifth Street , no number to house, between Sycamore and Oak Streets in said City of New Albany [the residence of her son, Charles Franconia]." She continues, saying "she has always been loyal to the Government of the United States and never in any manner whatever aided or abetted the late rebellion [Civil War]." [Zebediah Ward RW Pension File; Heritage Quest]
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| Harriet Jones Bounty Land Patent |
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| Pierce County, Nebraska, location of Harriet Franconi's Bounty Land Grant |
On 15 Dec 1870 Harriet Franconi filed a land patent with the Bureau of Land Management based on an "Act Granting Bounty Land." The patent covered 160 acres in Pierce County, Nebraska. On the patent is written out that Harriet assigned the land to Thomas M. Brown, who assigned it to Sidney Edgerton, so it appears that she did not intend to live on the land. Harriet died after 15 Dec 1870. [Bureau of Land Management - General Land Office Records; Record for Harriet Franconi & Zebediah Ward]
Children of Zebediah Ward & Sarah Zeluff
Descendants of children with labeled *proven DAR* may join the DAR under those children. Related to a different child? Other *proven* children are known to be related to Zebediah Ward, but potential DAR members must provide proof to DAR to obtain membership. Any *unproven* children will require research to locate proof.
1. Hannah Ward *proven* born between 1777 -- 1783 location unknown; died aft 23 May 1833. Married on 29 Mar 1798 in Caldwell, Essex County, New Jersey to James Riker (born c. 1774 New York). James and Hannah Riker moved with her family to Tioga County, New York. Named in 1833 Will of Zebediah Ward as "Hannah Riker." No other information at this time.
2. David Ward *proven* born c. 1782 location unknown, died aft. 23 May 1833. Appears to have lived in Dearborn County, Indiana in 1830. Named in 1833 Will of Zebediah Ward. No other information at this time.
3. Zebediah Ward III *proven* born c. 1784 location unknown, died aft. 23 May 1833. Appears to have lived in Dearborn County, Indiana in 1830. Named in 1833 Will of Zebediah Ward. No other information at this time.
4. Phoebe Ward *proven* born c. 1787 location unknown, died aft 23 May 1833. Named in 1833 Will of Zebediah Ward as "Phoebe Ward." No other information at this time.
5. Peter Z. Ward *proven DAR* born 1792 Essex County, New Jersey, died 1 Apr 1873 at Bennetsville, Clark County, Indiana, buried in the Merrill Ward Cemetery at Muddy Fork, Clark County, Indiana. Peter Z. married 1) c. 1821 Dearborn County, Indiana to Rhoda Ann Pate (born c. 1802 Montgomery County, Virginia, died c. 1862 Clark County, Indiana). Children: William S. b. 1822, Peter Z. Jr. c. 1823, *Commodore P.* c. 1828, Phebe c. 1830, Hannah b. 1832, Catherine Rhoda c. 1834, Diadima c. 1835, Samuel C. c. 1838, Henry H. c. 1842, Zachary F. c. 1846. Peter Z. Sr married 2) 18 Apr 1863 Clark County, Indiana to Elizabeth Story and 3) 17 Jun 1865 Clark County, Indiana to Elizabeth Sinex (born 1796 Delaware, died 1892 Floyd County, Indiana). No children from either of these marriages.
Children of Zebediah Ward & Harriet Jones
5. Sylvester Ward *proven* born 19 Nov 1829 at Harrison, Clark County, Indiana, died 8 Jan 1916, buried Ebenezer Cemetery, Clark County, Indiana. Sylvester married 1) 7 Sep 1853 at Jeffersonville, Clark County, Indiana to Sarah C. Harmonson (died bef. Jun 1860). Children of Sylvester and his first wife were: Andrew H. b. 1853, John W. c. 1856, and Albertine c. 1858. Sylvester m. 2) 25 Oct 1860 in Jeffersonville to Sarah C. McDaniel (born c. 1844 Little York, Clark County, Indiana, died 1887 Clark County, Indiana). Children of Sylvester and his second wife were: Harriette Ward b. 1864, Charles Edward b. 1868, William Zebediah b. 1870, Margaret c. 1871, Benjamin Franklin b. 1874, Wilburt b. 1877, Alonzo b. 1879, and Henry Jackson b. 1881.
6. Mary Jane Ward *proven DAR* born 22 Jan 1833 in Indiana, died 3 May 1916 Monroe Township, Clark County, Indiana, buried at Bethel Cemetery, Pekin, Clark County, Indiana. Mary Jane married 1 Jan 1851 in Clark County, Indiana to William F. Creamer (born 5 Oct 1830 in Germany, died 21 Jul 1902 in Polk Township, Washington County, Indiana. William and Mary Jane Creamer had the following children: Mary Elizabeth b. 1852, Charles Alonza b. 1858, *Asa Benjamin* b. 1859, Hattie Catherine b. 1864, Jane E. b. 1866, Elnora Ellen b. 1868, Lorena Missy b. 1870, William F. Jr. b. 1872, and Dennis Albert b. 1874.
7. Stephen Benjamin Ward *proven* born 11 Aug 1833 in Indiana, died 12 Nov 1925 at Cairo, Alexander County, Illinois, buried at Beech Grove Cemetery, Mounds, Pulaski County, Illinois. Married 20 May 1858 in New Albany, Floyd County, Indiana to Susan Aldridge (born 1834 New Albany, Indiana, died 10 May 1911 at Cairo, Alexander County, Illinois). Children of Stephen and Susan Ward were: Edwin Alonza b. 1861, Sarah H. b. 1864, Thomas L. b. 1868, and Louise Camille b. 1874.
Is Zebediah Ward your ancestor?
Zebediah Ward (DAR Ancestor # A133534) is a Proven Patriot, whose service is acknowledged by the DAR.
Anyone who can prove descent from him is eligible for membership.
Please feel free to contact me if you are descended form this patriot.
I will be happy to share what research I have.
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