I have been reading a lot about the Southern Wards,of which I might well be a part, but at this moment I'm trying to learn more about my 4g grandfather William. According to the history of Pickaway County OH by Aaron R. Van Cleaf, written in 1906, (PPs. 431-432) "William Ward was born in Hampshire, England. His father, desiring that he should learn a trade, apprenticed William to his uncle Charles who did not, however, treat the lad as he deserved. He accordingly resented his uncle's mistreatment and ran away. He secured a place on an English vessel through a distant relative Commodore Ward of the English Navy. After making several trips across the ocean, he finally concluded to remain in this country despite the fact that Commodore Ward offered him every inducement to return to England. The Commodore's motive in constraining the young man to return to England was not wholly unselfish, for William owed the Commodore the price of passage across the ocean. It resolved itself into a case of 'Ward eat Ward' and terminated in the Commodore's selling the young man for an amount equal to the price of a passage across the Atlantic to a Mr. Snyder, a resident of Pendleton County VA. Between young Ward and freedom lay 10 acres of saplings and underbrush which he had to grub to secure his release from servitude. While engaged in working out his freedom, he became acquainted with a young woman named Nancy Courtney, whose birthplace was somewhere in Scotland and who, like himself, was working out the price of her passage to this country. After securing his own freedom, he assisted Nancy in her work and hand in hand they emerged from the gloom of servitude into the clear light of American freedom. Soon after this they were married. “To this union were born eight children -- six sons and two daughters. The sons were named: Charles, William, Robert, George, James and Richard. In the spring of 1802 the fact was brought home to Mr. Ward that greater opportunities presented themselves in Ohio than in the Old Dominion and accordingly he set out for what was then known as the Northwest Territory. In the month of May, 1802, he and his family, with their teams, working tools and household goods disembarked from a flatboat at Portsmouth, Ohio, from which point he set out in a northerly direction. He was not tempted to remain in Chillicothe, the early capital of the Territory, but continued on to the north to section 17, township 9, range 21 in what is now Pickaway County, through much of the journey having to cut a road through the dense uninhabited wilderness. Arriving at his destination, he located on the half section of land now owned in equal parts by his great-grandsons, Charles and James Ward. The old log house that was then built is still standing. Four generations have dwelt within its walls. Rain and snow have fallen on it. Winds and tempests have swept against it, but for a century it has withstood all. What mighty changes have been wrought since the old house was built. When its timbers were hewed in the forest, the greater part of Ohio was still uncultivated and uninhabited save by wild animals and the Red Men. They were happy people who lived in the old log cabin. It was home to them; love was there, peace was on the walls and joy stood in thew door. Little children were born there and from its confines the souls of the father went up to God. How dear to my heart were the scenes of my childhood. Williams Ward died 28 November 1814 aged 71 years and his wife died December 1834 aged 89 years." The above sketch is according to the "History of Pickaway County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens" pp 431-433, found in the Burton Historical Section, Detroit Public Library as well as the Pickaway County Historical Society. In the application of Mary Alice Stein for membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution, which was accepted, she wrote that William Ward and his brother came from England to get material for ships for their father who was a wealthy ship builder in England. The sons became interested in the cause of the colonists and fought with them against England. Because of this they were disinherited by their father. She says, however, that material was a family tradition. It is known that the two daughters of William and Nancy, Elizabeth and her husband, Leonard Propst, stayed in Ohio only a few years andthen returned to Virginia. Mary Ward died, either en route or shortly after the family arrived in Ohio. I'm seeking information about William's family. He was born Dec. 25, 1743 And his wife Nancy on March or April 4, 1744 or 1745.