William Ward(25)

Index for Ward and Associated Families of Sassafras Neck, Cecil County, Maryland

Son of Thomas Veazey Ward (22) and Mary McLane Ward.

Born at Woodlawn January 31, 1847, twin brother of Thomas Ward (29).

Educated partly at Maryland Agricultural College and partly at the University of Virginia. Commenced the study of the law with a view to adopting it as a profession but abandoned it to engage in farming.

Positions held:

  • Member of the Vestry of St. Stephens Church for many years. It is here noted that the first William Ward who patented the homestead of Woodlawn in 1681 was a member of the first Vestry of St. Stephens Parish, then called South Sassafras, and that at least one of his descendants in every generation in direct line to William Ward (25) served in the Vestry of that parish. He is the last William Ward of this the eldest branch of the Sassafras Neck family.

  • He was a member of the House of Delegates from Cecil County in the General Assembly of 1876 and was active in the political affairs of the county for many years.

He was married at Essex Lodge on April 27, 1872, to Charlotte Ringgold Knight, daughter of William and Arabella (Veazey) Knight of Essex Lodge and granddaughter of Thomas B. and Ann (Ward) Veazey (18).

During his father's lifetime he assumed charge of the Rose Hill estate and it was his home both before and after his marriage. He finally parted with the property and after a brief stay in Wilmington, Delaware, the family removed to Baltimore, Maryland, where he entered the service of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company and there remained until his death.

He died in 1905, at the White House farm in Sassafras Neck, which belonged to his wife and where he had gone for a few days as was his habit. He was buried in St. Stephens churchyard in the lot with William Knight, his wife's father and mother and her grandparents Thomas Veazey and Ann Ward his wife, adjoining the lot where many of the Wards have been laid to rest.

William and Charlotte Ringgold Ward had children, as follows:

  • Belle Knight Ward (26) born July 10, 1874, married in Winchester, Virginia, (at home of her Aunt who was married to Julian Ward) to Dr. John Randolph Graham of Winchester, and practicing medicine in New York. They have a son.

    • John Randolph Graham

  • Mary McLane Ward (27), born October 27, 1877; married in Washington, D.C. August 28, 1897, by Rev. Murray, to Leonard Passano, Junior, of Baltimore. They have children:

    • Leonard Passano (generally called "Billy")

    • Gladys Passano

  • William Ward (28) born January 6, 1882; died March 6, 1883.

Last updated: April 19, 2002.

Ellen Ward
ellen@bcpl.net

Back to my home page