Sir Anthony St. Ledger was the son of Sir Warham St. Ledger and Lady Ursula Neville.² He married Mary Scott, daughter of Sir Thomas Scott and Elizabeth Baker, in 1578.¹ He died on 19 December 1602 in Ulcombe, Kent, England.¹

     Sir Anthony St. Ledger was Knight of the Garter and Lord Deputy of Ireland.¹

     Mary Scott was born circa 1558 in Smeeth, Kent, England.¹ She was the daughter of Sir Thomas Scott and Elizabeth Baker.¹ She married Sir Anthony St. Ledger, son of Sir Warham St. Ledger and Lady Ursula Neville, in 1578.¹ She married Alexander Culpepper.¹ She died in 1636 in Ulcombe, Kent, England.¹

     Alexander Culpepper married Mary Scott, daughter of Sir Thomas Scott and Elizabeth Baker.¹

     Sir Thomas Scott married Elizabeth Baker.¹

     Elizabeth Baker married Sir Thomas Scott.¹

     Sir Warham St. Ledger was born in 1539 in Leeds, Kent, England.¹ He was the son of Sir Anthony St. Ledger and Agnes Warham.¹ He married Lady Ursula Neville, daughter of George Neville and Mary Stafford.¹ He died circa 1597 in Cork.¹

     "As a soldier Sir Warham may have served with Somerset's invasion of Scotland in 1547, and he was a prisioner there until January 1549-50, when he was ransomed for £100. (Acts of the Privy Council 2547-50. p. 373). In 1553 he fought against Wyatt's supporters in Kent (Archaeol. Cant. xi. 143), and perhaps he servied in Ireland under his father during Mary's reign. About 1559 he was named a commissioner to transfer to England Bale's manuscripts and books. In 1560 he was sheriff of Kent. He was soon a member of the Irish privy council, and in July 1565 he was knighted. Thenceforward he took a prominent part in Irish affairs. Sir Warham was recalled from Ireland in November 1568. In 1569 St. Leger returned to England, staying either at his house in Southwark of Leeds Castle, Kent, where from 1570 to 1572 he had custody of Desmond and his family. He left his wife at Carrigaline, Co. Cork, a manor he held of Desmond; during his absence it was ravaged by the rebels. He remained in England until 1579, when his repeated petitions for employment and reward were answered by his appointment as provost-marshal of Munster, a new office, the functions of which seem to have been purely military. In this capacity St. Leger was actively engaged against the irish rebels for ten years. On 7 April 1583 he was appointed an assistant to to the court of high commission in Ireland, and in the following year he visited England. While there he accused Ormonde of treason (see Butler, Thomas, tenth Earl of Ormonde), and laid before the queen proposals for the better government of Ireland. In November 1589 he was succeeded, probably on account of his old age, as provost-marshal by George Thornton, but in 1590 he was governing Munster in the absence of the vice-president. He was in England again in 1594, and died at Cork in 1597. His will is in the Herald's College, London. It appears that Sir Warham also owned St. Leger House in Southwark.¹'

     Lady Ursula Neville was the daughter of George Neville and Mary Stafford.² She married Sir Warham St. Ledger, son of Sir Anthony St. Ledger and Agnes Warham.¹ She died in 1575 in Ulcombe, Kent, England.¹

     Sir Anthony St. Ledger was born in 1494 in Ulcombe, Kent, England.¹ He married Agnes Warham, daughter of Hugh Warham.¹ He died on 15 March 1559 in Ulcombe, Kent, England.¹

     'When twelve years of age (Lloyd, State Worthies, 1.99) ANTHONY ST. LEGER was sent for his grammar learning with his tutor into France, for his carriage into Italy, for his philosophy to Cambridge, for his law to Grays-Inne; and for that which completed all, the government of himself, to court; where his debonnairness and freedome took with the king, as his solidity and wisdome with the cardinal.'

"At eighteen ANTHONY joined the retinue of GEORGE NEVILLE, LORD ABERGAVENNY , an association which grew into a family tie when one of his sons married Lord Abergavenny's daughter URSULA NEVILLE and her sister CATHERINE married one of Anthony's Devon nephews.

"ANTHONY was a long time friend of SIR THOMAS WYATT of Allington Castle in Kent and upon his death in 1542 Anthony wrote the Epitaph upon Sir Thomas Wyatt the Elder which expresses is own personal respect and admiration for the man. This Thomas Wyatt was the close friend of ANNE BOLEYN. Anthony's step-grandaughter JANE FINCH (daughter of CATHERINE MOILE, wife of NICHOLAS ST. LEGER) married into the WYATT family by marrying George Wyatt, grandson of Sir Thomas Wyatt.

"He was present at the marriage of Princess MARY at Paris in October 1514, and is mentioned in the following year as forming one of Lord Abergavenney's suite (Letters and Papers of Henry VIII, i. 898, ii. 134). After Wolsey's downfall, in which, if we may trust the uncorroborated evidence of Lloyd, he seems to have taken a prominent part, he attached himself to Cromwell, whote active agent he was in the demolition of the suppressed abbeys. On 2 Aug. 1535, he was appointed, along with Sir William Fitzwilliam and George Poulett, to inquire into the state of Calais, and to take measures for strengthening the English Pale in France (ib. ix. 79). The following year he was one of the grand jury of Kent that found a true bill against ANNE BOLEYN (cf. Froude, ii. 507), and his name appears in the list of such noblemen and gentlemen as were appointed in October that year to attend upon the king's own person in the northern rebellion (Letters and Papers of Hentry VIII, xi.233). On 31 July 1537 he was placed at the head of a commission 'for the ordre and establishment to be taken and made touching the hole state of our lande of Ireland, and all and every our affaires within the same, bothe for the reduccion of the said lande to a due civilitie and obedyens, and the advanncement of the publique weale of the same' (State Papers, Henry VIII, printed, ii. 452-63). He and his fellow-commissioners arrived at Dublinon 8 Sept., and having with the assistance of the lord-deputy, Lord Leonard Grey, dissolved the army, they set out on the 26th on a tour of inspection through the parts adjacent to the English Pale.

"He returned to England at the end of March or beginning of April 1538 and in June was appointed one of the gentlement of the king's privy chamber. He was knighted early in 1539, and was one of the jury that tried and condemned Sir Nicholas Carew on 14th Feb. In October that year he went to Brussels in order to procure a safe-conduct through Flanders from the queen of Hungary for Anne of Cleeves, whom he escorted to England (Cal.State Papers, Henry VIII, xiv.pt. i.114, pt. ii. 126) and on his return was made sheriff of Kent and a commissioner for the establishment of the church of Canterbury with a view to its conversion into a cathedral. On 7 July 1540 he was constituted lord deputy of Ireland with a salary of £666 13s 4d., and in the same year obtained an act of parliament disgavelling his estates in Kent (Robinson's Gavelkind, p. 299). Sometime about 1544 Sir Anthony received the honour of the Garter together with £200 to his salary as deputy. In September 1548 Sir Anthony returned to England having been superseded by Sir Edward Bellingham.

"On 20 April 1550 he was appointed to meet the French hostages for the fulfilment of the treaty of Boulogne, between London and Dover, and on 4 Aug. he was reconstituted lord deputy of Ireland (Instructions in Cal. Carew MSSi.226-30), being sworn in on 10 Sept. In May 1552 he had a grant in fee farm of the castle of Leeds in Kent, and on 12 June he was appointed a commissioner for the survey of Calais and the marches. His name occurs as one of the witnesses to the will of Edward VI, 21 June 1553; but he supported the claims of Mary, and on 7 Aug. was sworn a privy councillor. He was reappointed lord deputy of Ireland in October and reached Dublin on 11 Nov. Want of money crippled his administration. He offended the catholics by certain verses ridiculing the doctrine of transubstantiation. But he had other and more powerful enemies, chief among whom must be reckoned Sir William Fitzwilliam who charged him with falsifying his accounts in favour of Andrew Wyse, late vice-treasurer. He was accordingly recalled for the third time, and on 26 May 1556 surrendered the sword of state to Thomas Radcliffe, lord Fitzwalter (afterwards third Earl of Sussex). The question of his defalcations was discussed at the council board, but St. Leger, was was suffering from sciatica, did not appear. on 8 Dec. 1558 a letter was addressed to him requiring him to 'to signifye with speed... what he myndeth to doo herein;' but his death at Ulcombe on 16 March 1559 put a stop to further proceedings. He was buried in the parish church there on 5 April, the day following the internment of his wife, who died eight days after him, on 24 March.

"The state funeral for Sir Anthony had already been arranged, posing a problem for the Herald's Office. There was no precedent for a person of his rank being buried with his wife. The problem was solved by burying Agnes first on the day before her husband's funeral on the 5th April. They were both buried at Ulcombe, Kent. (Moya Frenz St. Leger, 1986)

"Sir Anthony was granted several manors and rectories in Kent, including Selling, Kennington and Lenham, these having formerly been possessions of St. Augustine's Abbey, Canterbury; he also received the lands of Kent's Chantry in Headcorn."¹

     Agnes Warham was born in Croydon, Surry, England.¹ She was the daughter of Hugh Warham.² She married Sir Anthony St. Ledger.¹ She died on 24 March 1559 in Ulcombe, Kent, England.¹

     George Neville was born in 1471 in Abergavenny, Monmouthshire.¹ He married Mary Stafford in June 1519.¹ He died in September 1535 in Kent, England.¹

     George Nevill(e), 5th Baron Bergavenny KG (c. 1469 – September, 1535) held the office of Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports. He was born in Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, Wales, the son of George Nevill, 4th Baron Bergavenny and Margaret Fenne. He was an elder brother of Sir Edward Nevill who was executed in 1540 charged with "devising to maintain, promote, and advance one Reginald Pole, late Dean of Exeter, enemy of the King, beyond the sea, and to deprive the King". (Reginald Pole was a Catholic exile and seems to have been a cousin of Nevill's). They had two sisters, Jane and Elizabeth.
     Lord Bergavenny is thought to have been married four times, to: Lady Mary Brooke of Cobham; Mary Lady Stafford; Joan FitzAlan and Margaret Brent.
     Sir George Neville was buried before January 24, 1536 in Birling, Kent, England.
     The title Baron Abergavenny (or Bergavenny) was a barony by tenure in the Peerage of England. It was first created by King William I, and was extant for well over 800 years. It became abeyant (suspended) upon the death of the fifth Marquess of Abergavenny in 2000.¹

     Mary Stafford was born in 1491 in England.¹ She married George Neville in June 1519.¹ She died in 1535 in England.¹

     Henry Duke was born say 1635 in Benhall, Suffolk, England.¹ He married Elizabeth (?) circa 1667.² He died in 1714 in James City County, Virginia.¹

     Henry Duke is believed to be one of twenty-nine children of SIR EDWARD DUKE, Baronet, His Sir Edward's second wife, was ELLEN PANTON of Benhall, Suffolk County, England.

COLONEL HENRY DUKE, Councilor of Virginia,is believed to have emigrated from England to Bermuda, thence to York County,Virginia. By 1653 he may have been living in James City County.
In 1680 the first record of his name in the James City County records occurs when he is listed as Justice of James City County. He was a man of considerable wealth, status, power, and prestige in the Colony of Virginia. His sister, ELIZABETH DUKE, was married to NATHANIEL BACON "the Rebel" who died in 1676. His brother, WILLIAM DUKE, was an ardent supporter of NATHANIEL BACON; WILLIAM DUKE was married to HANNAH GRENDON

On 25 July 1690 as CAPTAIN HENRY DUKE, Gov. FRANCIS NICHOLSON appointed him to solicit subscriptions for building a college and free school in the Colony of Virgina (William & Mary Quartery, Vol VII, p 160). From 1692 to 1699 he served as a Burgess in the House of Burgesses for James City County. In 1698 he was listed as CAPT. HENRY DUKE with 77 men serving under COL. DANIEL PARKE (father-in-law of William Byrd, II of Westover). In 1699 he was commssioned Sheriff of James City County. In 1702 QUEEN ANNE appointed him as a member of the Royal Council of the Colony of Virginia; he was later designated as Judge of the Admiralty Court. In 1714 he made his last appearance before the Royal Council of Virginia. He died shortly thereafter, having served for twelve years on the Council.

As a member of the Royal Council, HENRY DUKE sat in judgment at the trial of GRACE SHERWOOD, who was accused of being a witch. (Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol III, p 400).

On July 25, 1690, Captain HENRY DUKE was appointed by Governor Francis Nocholson to solicit subscriptions to build a college and fee school in the colony. From 1692-1699 he was a memer of teh House of Burgess for James City County. [William Mary Quarterly, Vol VIII, p 160][In 1702 Queen Anne appointed HENRY DUKE as a member of the Royal Council and later designated him Judge of the Admiralty Court. As member of the Royal Council, he sat in judgment at the trial of GRACE SHERWOOD who was accused of being a witch (Va. Historical Magazine, Vol III, p 40]

June 7, 1699, King William III of England, Scotland, France & Ireland appointed Henry Duke as Sheriff of the County of James City. (Virginia Historical Magazine, Vol I., p 236):
"VIRGINIA, sct: (Seale)
William the Third, by the Grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, etc.
"Wee doe hereby Commissionate, authorize and appoint you to be Sheriff of James Cit y County for this present year, one thousand six hundred Ninety & nine, and that you be accordingly sworn as soon as conveniently can be. And before you be admitted to the office of Sheriff of the said County of James City You enter into bond before Our Justices of the Peace of the said County with Good and Sufficient Security in the penale sume of One hundred thousand pounds of Tobacco to Us, Our heires and successors, to render to Mr. Auditor Byrd or such others as shall be appointed by Us to receive the same, a particular perfect and full account of all Our Revenues and dues in the same County during the time of your Sherivalry. And also that you shall due payment make of all such Publick dues as shall be Levied in the aforesaid County of James City unto the serverall lpersons that shall be appointed to receive the same. And full performance make of all things belonging to the office of Sheriff of the aforesaid County. And We do hereby command all Our officers, both civil and Military, and all other Our subjects that are Inhabiting the sd. County and others Actually there to be aiding and assisting to you, the sd. HENRY DUKE as Sheriff, all things relatiing to the office of Sheriff of the aforesaid County.
Witness Our Trusty and welbeloved FRANCIS NICHOLSON, Esq'r, Our Lieut & Governor Genll of Our Colony and Dominion of Virginia in America at James Town, under the Seale of Our Colony, the seventh day of June, in the eleventh of Our Reign, Anno ye Dom., 1699.
Fr. NICHOLSON
To our Trusty and welbeloved FRANCIS NICHOLSON, Esq'r, Our Lieuten and Govern General of Our Colony & Dominion of Virginia in America, or to Our Commander in chief of Our said Colony for the time being."

7 June 1699:
"To HENRY DUKE, Gent., Greeting
Wee doe hereby Commissionate authorize and appoint you to be Sheriff of James City County for this present year, one thousand six hundred Ninety & nine, etc. This seventh day of June, 1699 (eleventh year of the reign of King William) Fr. NICHOLSON, ESQ. (Colonial Papers, Virginia, No. 63; Virginia Historial Magazine, Vol 1, 1894).

On 21 May 1702 HENRY DUKE was granted the commission as a Councilor of the Colony & Dominion of Virginia granted by Queen Anne in the first year of her reign (Virginia Magazine of History & Biography, Vol. XXIII, page 40): "ANNE R.
Trusty and beloved, We greet you well:
Whereas we are well satisfied of the Loyaltie, Integrity and Ability of Our Trusty and welbeloved HENRY DUKE, Esqr., We have therefore thought fit hereby to signify Our will and pleasure to you that forthwith upon receipt herof you swear and admitt him the said HENRY DUKE to be one of Our Council of Our Colony & Dominion of Virginia. And for so doing this shall be your Warrant. And so we bid you farewell.
Give at Our Court at St. James's this 21st day of May, 1702, in the first year of Our Reign.
By Her Majesty's Command,
NOTTINGHAM.

On 12 January 1704/5 HENRY DUKE and HENRY DUKE, Jr. (his son), examined the will of COLONEL WILLIAM BYRD, Sr., and made certificate at Westopher, Charles City County. The Council appointed him to examine the accounts of WILLIAM BYRD, I, as Auditor General of the Colony at Byrd's death. On 12 January 1704/5 the Will of WILLIAM BYRD, I was proved in the Charles City County Court by FRANCIS NICHOLSON, ESQ., Her Majesty's Lieutenant and Governor General of Virginia, COLONEL HENRY DUKE of the Council (James City County), Captain Littlebury Epes of Charles City County; HENRY DUKE, JR. of James City County, and Captain Joshua Wynne of Prince George County. In his will written in 1700, he gave to the poor in Henrico and Westover Parishes and asked his friends LTC William Randolph (Henrico), Bartholomew Fowler died 1701), and Mr. Richard Bland to be trustees of his estate until his son, William Byrd, II, returned to Virginia from England.

HENRY DUKE signed as witness to the Articles of Agreement between JOHN CUSTIS and WILLIAM BYRD, II, on February 4, 1711. (Duke, Walter Garland; Henry Duke, Councilor, 1949, p 31]

From Boddie on COLONEL HENRY DUKE: "Colonel Henry Duke founder of the Duke family in America was a native of County Suffolk, England, and was born about the middle of the seventeenth century. He was the son of SIR EDWARD DUKE and ELLEN PANTON DUKE. At the time Henry Duke reached his majority Virginia was attracting the younger sons of scores of English families and he evidently followed the popular tide of emigration. He seems to have arrived possessed of some means since he almost immediately began to acquire extensive estates. He was affiliated with the military forces and held the rank of Captain and later Colonel. He was a member of the Governor's Royal Council. He was a member of the house of Burgesses and he was Sheriff at Jamestown and Justice. He left many thousands of acres in his estate at his death in 1714."

Author, WALTER GARLAND DUKE, says that HENRY DUKE, Councilor of Virginia, may have been either a son, nephew, or cousin of SIR EDWARD DUKE, Baron and Knight, who resided at Benhall Lodge, Suffolk County, Virginia, and whose daughter, ELIZABETH DUKE married firstly NATHANIEL BACON, leader of Bacon's Rebellion. The exact relationship has not been determined but they were most assuredly of the same family. It is believed that possibly WILLIAM DUKE, husband of HANNAH GRENDON, of Surry County, and JOHN DUKE SR. of York County may also have been children of Sir Edward Duke. He states there is no doubt that these individuals are related and are of the same family becaause his grandson, Clevears Chisholm Duke of Louisa County, Virginia, wore a seal ring bearing the arms of Sir Edward Duke's family and his silverplate, some of which was in the possession of descendants, was engraved with the coat-of-arms of that family.

From "Our Burnley Ancestors and Allied Families" pg. 40-41
"The Dukes were a prominent and titled family in England. In volume 3, pp. 33, 34, NOTABLE SOUTHERN FAMILIES is a sketch of this family from which we secured part of the following: COLONEL HENRY DUKE was the founder of the Virginia family. He was a son of SIR EDWARD DUKE of Benhall, Suffolk, who had been knighted by KING CHARLES II. Two of his ancestors had been Lord Mayor of London. Three of the children of Sir Edward Duke and his wife ELLEN PANTON were: SIR JOHN DUKE; HENRY DUKE, who came to Virginia; and ELIZABETH DUKE, who married in England, Nathaniel Bacon, afterwards known as "The Rebel," who settled in Virginia 1674, died 1676. After Bacon's death his widow was again married."
This same essay states that Henry Duke married Lydia Hansford but that has been disproved.

In Sainsbury's Abstracts (1706-1714, p 448) a ltter from COLONEL SPOTTSWOOD to the Lords of Trade dated March 9. 1713/4: "Three of the Council dead in little more than a month viz: HENRY DUKE, WILLIAM FITSHUGH, JOHN CUSTIS."

LAND RECORDS FOR HENRY DUKE:

On 20 April 1682 "CAPT. HEN. DUKE" was named in the patent of MRS. MARY WADE for 463 acres, James City County, on a br. of Tiascun (sic, Diascund) Swamp (Patent book 7, p 174) which 463 acres together with 100 acres belonging to Joseph Preston, begins at Grimes' old line; to CAPT. HEN. DUKE; to mouth of Preston's spring br; by Esqr. Bray's plantation; along Mr. Burnell; down Warrangy Run; &c. Granted to Mr. Thomas Hampton 8 Mar 1658 for 400 acs. & by him (Preston's 100 acs. excepted) assigned to sd. MARY WADE by the name of DUKE, 30 Nov 1670; durther due for transport of 4 persons. Fra. Heyne, Robert Griffith, Robert Cannon, Morris Mosely. (Cavaliers & Pioneers, Vol 2, p 240)

On 22 September 1682 "CAPTAIN DUKE" was named in the patent of 183 acres in James City County by JOHN HICKS beg. on South side of the South swamp against the mouth of Preston's Spring Branch; to CAPTAIN DUKE; near the Quarter Swamp; along land of the Orphants of Mr. Collins. (Cavaliers & Pioneers, Vol 2, p 243)

On 30 October 1686 "CAPT. DUKE" was named in the land patent of WILLIAM PEAWD for 400 acres in the upper part of James City County on the West side of the Chickahominy River as recorded in Patent Book 7, page 515, "From Capt. Duke's corner to Gwin's line, to a branch of Webb's run; to Walters Br; on Womsley's line, to NE side of Nicketewances Path, over Masons & Bradford's paths; down a br of Toroham Run, to Gwins's Corner. (Cavaliers & Pioneers, Vol 2, p 300)

On 23 October 1690 CAPTAIN HENRY DUKE patented 1000 acres, James City County, South side of Chickahomony River touching Webb's Run (Patent Book 8, p 123); granted to Thomas Towner from whom it escheated by inquisition under Chr. Wormley, Esqr., Esch'r, and now granted, &c. (Cavaliers & Pioneers, Vol 2, p 357, Patent Book 7, page 123)

On 23 October 1690 CAPTAIN HENRY DUKE had a land grant of 1,l000 acres, south side of the Chickahominy River, in James City County, Virginia. (Patent Book 8, page 123, Land Office, Richmond). This is supported by the Quit Rent Roll for James City county for sometime between 1690 and 1704 Henry Duke, Sr. passes the 1000 acres to his son, Henry Duke Jr.
The Quit Rent Roll for James City County, 1704 notes the following:
HENRY DUKE, ESQ. 2986 acres
HENRY DUKE, JUNR. 1000 acres
THOS. DUKE 750 acres
THOS. HILL 310 acres
THOS. MOUNTFORD 600 ACRES (removed from York County)

On 20 April 1694 HENRY DUKE, Gentleman, patented 736 acres, James City County (Patent Book 8, page 321) 200 acres on brs. of Warrony Creek; & the Birchin Swamp, in Sir JOHN AYTON's line on the horse path; to Timber Swamp &c; 536 acres adj. WILLIAM ELCOME or Elcore; near Mr. Sorrell's pate; near an Indian Field; adj. sd. Ayton & Mr. Burnell (or Burrell), &c. Granted Mr. Henry Hartwell, 30 May 1679, deserted & granted Mr. William Edwards16 April 1690, & patented 23 Oct. 1690, deserted, & now granted by order &c. Importation of 15 persons: Thomas Capwell, Richard Stubbs, Susan Ally, Catherine Dunahow; Jack, Judith; 3 by certification of E. Chilton, Cl. S. off; Toney, Frank, Tony, Crocky, Bess, Betty, Negroes.

Also on 20 April 1694 CAPTAIN HENRY DUKE patented 90 acres in James City County (Patent Book 8, p 322) from his corner on Tiascunn Swamp (sic, Diascund Swamp), along land he purchased of WILLIAM MANNING; down Warrony Creek to Tiascun Bridge, &c. Transport of 2 negroes: Daniel & Murreah. (Cavaliers & Pioneers, Vol 2, p 387)

Colonel HENRY DUKE is mentioned frequently in records along with "HENRY EUKE, JR., GENT," who was undoubtedly his dSon and heir-at-law upon the death of his father in 1703/4. In 1694 "Henry Duke, Gent" received a patent for 736 acres.

On October 20, 1704 a land patent was issued to HENRY DUKE for 1,168 acres in St. Paul's Parish, New Kent County which was formed in 1654 from York & James City Counties on Licking Hole Swamp, a branch of the Chickahominy. [Patent Book 8, page 611] Note that York County is just north of James City & Charles City Counties.

The Quit Rent Roll for 1704 for New Kent Count shows:
Henry Duke, Esq., 375 acres
Henry Duke, Esq., 170 acres

On April 28, 1711, HENRY DUKE received a pattent for 82 acres on the west side of the Chickahominy near Webb's Run "along his own land. " [Note: Walter Garland Duke maintains that Henry Duke, Jr., Gent. was undoubtled the son of Henry Duke and was his heir-at-law upon his father's death in 1713/14. In 1694 Henry Duke, Gent. received a patent of 736 acres.]

According to William Garland Duke the following patents show the location of land once owned by COL. HENRY DUKE which afterwards became situated in Hanover County after its formation from New Kent County in 1720. The patents were granted to others but their lands adjoined that of Colonel DUKE which then was inherited by his son, HENRY DUKE, JR.
1. Patent to JOHN HIGGASON, 2087 acres, issued 26 October 1669, Book 10, p 308: "beginning at a pine on the N side of the S River being a corner late of HENRY DUKE, ESQR, thence along said Duke's line, N 37 degrees, # 144 poles, thence along line of said Duke . . . to a gum in the New Found River, thence up the river, the meanders thereof. .. "
2. Patent to JOHN KEMBROW, 426 acres, issued 23 Dec 1699, Book 10, p 228: "Beginning at a corner white oak of Mr. Overton's on the N side of the Southana River . . . then along OVerton's land N . .. to a Black Gum of JOSEPH PEERS, then along Peers' line S 42 degrees . . . to a pine . . to a Red Oak . . . to a Black Oak . . . to a Red Oak of JOHN GLENN, along Glenn's line West . . . then S to a White Oak of ANDREW SPRATLING . . . to a Hickory standing on the said S River, thence down the meanders thereof. "
3. Patent to RON HARRIS, 100 acres, 16 June 1727, Book 13, p 149: "Beginning at a corner Gum upon the New Found River belonging to COL. HENRY DUKE thence along said Duke's line N . . . to a corner Hickory upon New Found River, thence down the said river as it windeth to the place first began."

The following patents include land owned by Colonel HENRY DUKE in what became Hanover County after being formed from New Kent County in 1720. The patents were granted to others but adjoined land of Col Duke which descended to his son, HENRY DUKE, JR.:
October 26, 1699: patent to John Higgason for 2087 acres being a corner late of Henry Duke, esq, thence along Duke's line:
December 23, 1699: patent to John Kembrow for 426 acres
June 16, 1727: patent to Robert Harrison, 100 acres, beginning at a corner gum upon the New Found River belonging to Col. Henry Duke.

ELIZABETH DUKE MASON, HIS DAUGHTER:
In 1701 COLONEL HENRY DUKE of James City County had a daughter ELIZABETH DUKE, wife of JAMES MASON, of Surry County. It may be reasonably assumed that HENRY DUKE, JUNR., in the Quit Rent Roll, given below for 1704 was his son.

A reference to his daughter, ELIZABETH DUKE MASON:
"Gentlemen
I understand you are Mr. JAMES MASONS Security for his adeon on the estate of Mr. THOMAS BINNS deced and that yu feare being injured thereby therefore this is to let yu know yt if yu rest satisfied till Mr. MASON returnes that I will dureing his absence stand between yu and all manner of damage that shall fall upon yu or either of yu for being his Security as above sd and doe assure yu what is due to BINNS estate (had not mASON wherewth to doe it) out of my owne estate rather than yu should suffer therefore hope for the prsent this will give yu such satisfaccon that youl putt my daughter to noe further trouble. I had thought to bee over at yr Court but the Committee for the revisall of the lawes will then sett wch will prevent mee. I am Gent
Yr. humble servt
HEN. DUKE"

REFERENCES BY WILLIAM BYRD, II, TO HENRY DUKE IN HIS SECRET DIARIES:

WILLIAM BYRD, II wrote in his Secret Diary about visits to COLONEL HENRY DUKE'S home and to his sister DUKE's house, meaning the home of MARY BYRD DUKE and her husband, JAMES DUKE, son of Henry Duke to include the following:
l711, March 7: "About 9 o'clock [AM] I got on horseback and rode to MR. GEE's where I had appointed to meed COL. HILL, who came according to his time. We ate bacon and eggs and then proceeded to my brother DUKE's. He was not at home but my sister [Mary] was and gave us a cast over the river and thence we rode to COLONEL DUKE's where we came about 5 o'clock. He could tell us no news. He received us, according to custom, very courteously. We had milk for supper and sat talking till about 9 o'clock before we went to bed." [Secret Diary of William Byrd II 1709-1712]
1711, September 18: "About 10 o'clock [AM] I ate some shoat and then was set over the creek and from thence rode to my brother DUKE's but neither he nor my sister was at home. However the negroes set me over the river and I proceeded to COLONEL DUKE's. I found him among the rubbish for his house was pulled to pieces. He had not been well. In the evening they got me some roast flesh but he had no drink good so that I was forced to drink thick cider. He knew no news. The Colonel was very kind to me and very cross to his old woman according to custom. She was grown very deaf so that the Colonel conceives some hope of outliving her. We sat and talked till about 9 o'clock and had then I retired. . . COLONEL HARDIMAN died this day of the kick of a horse." [Secret Diary of william Byrd II]
1711, September 21: "I was a long time in discoursing with the Governor concerning what should be done with obstinate Quakers and about 11 o'clock took my leave and then rode away to COLONEL DUKE's. The weather was hot but I got there in 2 1/2 hours. Here I found my brother JAMES DUKE who was not very well. About 2 o'clock I ate some stuffed chicken and about 4 we took the Colonel with us and went to my brother's and called at Mr. B-s where we saw the brunette that married DR. DUBAGE. We found my sister well and all the family. We drank some thick cider and I ate some milk. Then I retired to my chamber . . . thank God Almighty." [Secret Diary of William Byrd II]

COLONEL HENRY DUKE, Councilor died in 1713. He had many land grants in James City County. The follow grants may be attributed to another COLONEL HENRY DUKE who was living in 1727 in that part of New Kent County which was Hanover County in 1720, and then later Louisa County. The records do not speak of this Colonel Henry Duke as being deceased:
Oct. 26, 1699, renewed October 31, 1716, patent to John Higasson, 1087 acres, "Beginning at a pine on the N side of South River, being a corner late of Henry DUKE ESQ, thence along said Duke's line . . . alont another line of said Duke . . . to a gum in the New Found River. (Patent Book 10, p 306)
Nov. 20, 1704, HENRY DUKE, ESQ., 1168 acres of land, New Kent Co, St. Paul's Parish, on Licking Hole Swamp, along Pagiters (Pargiters) Line. (Patent Bookk 9, page 611)
Dec. 23, 1714, JOHN KEMBROW, 426 acres "beginning at a corner white oak at Mr. OVERTON's on the N side of Souteanna River . . . to JOSEPH PEERS . . . to JOHN GLENS, along Glens line west . . . to a white oak of Colonel HENRY DUKE's along Duke's line to a white oak of ANDREW SPRATLING (Book 10, p 228).
ANDREW SPRATLING's patent, granted 15 October 1698, was on the W side of Southann River . . . below the mouth of Falling Creek. (Patent Book 9, p 171)
June 16, 1727, grant of land to ROBERT HARRIS, 100 acres of new land, "beginning at a corner gum upon the New Found River belonging to COLONEL HENRY DUKE, thence along the said DUKE'S line . . . to acorner hickory on New Found River . . . " (Patent Book 13, p 149)

COLONEL HENRY DUKE and HENRY DUKE JR. witnessed a transcribed copy of the will of COLONEL WILLIAM BYRD:
"Virga Westopher in Charles City County the 12 day of Janry 1704/5
This is a true Copy of the last Will and testamt of the Honble. Collo. WM BYRD one of her Majts Councill & Auditr. of Virga. lately deced:; it being examined with the origenall by me FRANCIS NICHOLSON ESQ her Majst LT & Govr GEnll of Virga in the presence of the honble Collo HENRY DUKE one of her Majts Hnble Councill of Virga Captn LITTLEBURY EPPS of Charles City County HENRY DUKE JUNR of James City County Gent: & CAPTN JOSHUA WYNNE of Prince George County wch sd origenall will alppears to be all written by the sd Collo Byrds own hand wthout any blott or Interlineacon and sealed with his own seal in testemony whereof we have hereunto set our hads the day & year above written. HEN DUKE
FFR NICHOLSON
LITTLEBURY EPPS
HENRY DUKE JUNR.
JOSHUA WYNNE.¹

     Elizabeth (?) married Henry Duke circa 1667.¹

     Martha Branch married Benjamin Ward, son of Richard Ward and Frances Worsham.¹

     Daniel Ward was born on 4 May 1739 in Henry County, Virginia.¹ He was the son of Benjamin Ward and Martha Branch.¹ He died on 6 February 1826 in Franklin County, Virginia, at age 86.¹

     Benjamin Ward was born say 1750 in Virginia.² He was the son of Benjamin Ward and Mary Duke.¹ He married Celia Stewart on 16 April 1774 in Pittsylvania County, Virginia.³ He died in 1820 in Ashe County, North Carolina.⁴

     Celia Stewart married Benjamin Ward, son of Benjamin Ward and Mary Duke, on 16 April 1774 in Pittsylvania County, Virginia.¹

     William Ward was born on 14 April 1752 in Cumberland County, Virginia.¹ He was the son of Benjamin Ward and Mary Duke.¹ He married Mary Bowman Stewart on 8 May 1777 in Pittsylvania County, Virginia.² He married Mary Robertson on 12 October 1812 in Rutherford County, Tennessee.³ He died on 23 July 1835 in Jefferson, Rutherford County, Tennessee, at age 83.¹

     DR. WILLIAM WARD was first recorded at Washington County, North Carolina in the 1770's with his brother, BENJAMIN WARD. By 1804 DR. WILLIAM WARD settled near Jefferson on the Stones River in Rutherford County, Tennessee. Rumors abound that the Wards had good relations with the Indians, however when the first white settlers came into the middle Tennessee region the land was unoccupied. In 1748 Dr. Thomas Walker, a Virginia land speculator, explored a part of upper east Tennessee. He later passed through the Cumberland Gap. In the spring of 1779 JAMES ROBERTSON and a small group of men, including one Negro, left Watauga, going through the Cumberland Mountains thrugh Kentucky, entering Tennessee in what is now Sumner county. They were joined by another group led by MANSKER. Robertson, with over 200 emigrants, set out late in 1779 for the Nashville area reaching French Lick in January 1780, during one of the severest winters on record. Soon a group led by JOHN DONELSON (DONALDSON) left by water to join the ROBERTSON party arriving Apr8l 24, 1780. In 1780 many east Tennesseans fought in the Battle of Kings Mountain. In 1783 Rutherford County was part of Davidson Co.,NC. Rutherford Co. was formed in 1804 from Davidson and Williamson counties.

In 1778 BENJAMIN WARD appears on Washington Co., TN Lists of Taxables 1778-1801as written by Mary Hardin McCown, Nancy E. Jones Stickley, and Inez E. Burns. In 1778, Valentine Sevier, Sheriff, Dr. to the County Court of Washington County, North Carolina collected taxes. The amount of the estate of BENJAMIN WARD was 356.10.0. BENJAMIN WARD paid 3.12.0 in taxes. On page 4 of these same records assessed by Henry Lyle, Samuel Henry & William McNabb and returned to Jno. McNabb, Esq appears WILLIAM WARD (Estate of 185.0.0 & Taxes paid of 1.16.10 1/2]. He is living in the same area with Robert Sevier, Valentine Sevier, Sr. and Valentine Sevier. On page 7 of these records assessed by Benjamin Cobb, Solomon Smith, William Ahser and returned to John Chisolm, Esquire appears DEMSEY WARD [Estate of 171.10.3 and Taxes paid of !.15.3]. It is not known if Dempsey Ward is related to DR. WILLIAM WARD and BENJAMIN WARD.

In 1779 a List of Taxables, Return made by Thomas Houghton, Esquire for 1779 of Washington County, North Carolina to receive the same with proprietors names delivering the same on oath, as also, the Assessment theron for the year of 1779. The assessors were Matthew Talbot, Sr. Andrew Taylor, and Clevias Barksdill. WILLIAM WARD was assessed for one site of 250 acres valued at 250. He had 3 horses valued at 350. He had 7 cattle valued at 70. He had ready money of 21.2.8. The total sum of his property was 691.2.8.

In 1790 the Washington County, NC Return of the Taxable Property in Captain Stones Co. for the years 1790 and 1791, returned by Joseph Britten, August 10, 1791 included WILLIAM WARD. In 1790 he had 1 white poll, 1 black poll, and 243 acres of land. In 1791 WILLIAM WARD listed 1 white poll, 1 black poll, and 243 acres of land. The List of Taxables in Captain Tullis old company, undated but likely 1792 list, on the other side of Capt. Thomas Maxwell's Company listed WILLIAM WARD as having 300 acres of land and one white pole and no black pole.

In 1790 the Washington County, North Carolina Return of the Taxable Property in Captain Stones Company for the years 1790 and 1791, returned by Joseph Britten, August 10, 1791 included WILLIAM WARD. In 1790 he had 1 white poll, 1 black poll, and 243 acres of land. In 1791 William Ward had 1 white poll, 1 black poll, and 243 acres of land. In 1792 WILLIAM WARD is listed in Captain Tullis' old Company with 250 acres of land and one white pole. The List of Taxables in Captain Tullis old company, undated but likely 1792 list, on the other side of Capt. Thomas Maxwell's Company listed WILLIAM WARD as having 300 acres of land and one white pole and no black pole. In. In 1793 DR. WILLIAM WARD appeared on the Return of the Taxable Property in Captain Morrisons' Company for the years 1793 and 1794 in Washington Co., NC with one white pole, no black pole, and 400 acres of land. He showed the same in 1794. In 1795 a List of Taxable Property belong in Captain Morrison's Company, Recorded by Jack Sevier, D. C. undated but most likely 1795 included WILLIAM WARD. No land or black poles or horse studs are listed. In 1795 a List of the Names of the Delinquents in the Duplicate for 1795 named Doctor William Ward -- no land, 1 pole 25 Cents, 12 1/2 Cents, 25 Cents.

3 Oct 1804, Rutherford Co. TN: JESSE WARD, nephew of Dr. William Ward, attended court as a witness for 3 days. (p 38, Court minutes).

4 December 1804, Rutherford Co. TN: Deed from WILLIAM NASH to WILLIAM WARD; both of Rutherford County, TN; for $300 in hand paid for a tract of land lying on the water of the east fork of Stones River and on the northeast side of the same river, being part of a tract grqanted to REDMOND D. BERRY, and containing 200 acres. (Deed Book A:50)

January 1805: Rutherford County, Tennessee; Court of pleas & quarter session; WILLIAM NASH acknowledged a deed of 200 acres of land to WILLIAM WARD, waters east fork of Stones River, beginning near dry branch Radford's nw corner thence to Donelson 1000 acre survey thence part of a tract of 640 acres granted to Redmond D. Berry & conveyed to Wm. Nash; Witnessed by Cunningham Smith & DANIEL RICHMOND. (Deed Book B:58)

April 1805, Rutherford Co., TN: Grand Jury presents a bill of indictment against JESSE WARD for assault & battery, a true bill. (Court Minutes April 1805 p 61)

In January 1806 a JOHN WARD purchased 200 acres of land from JESSE VICK in Rutherford Co, Tn proven by John Anderson. Shortly afterwards JOHN WARD & JESSE WARD were ordered to work as hands on a road from the Davidson line in Rutherford Co. (Rutherford Court Min Jan 1806, p 181,132) Then in April 1807 State of Tennessee vs JESSE WARD, recognisance to keep the peace; JESSE WARD bound in sum of $300, William Burnett his bail, in the sum of $150 (Rutherford Co TN 4/1807 Court Minutes, p 4)

April 1808: Rutherford Co. TN: Court Minutes: Ordered John Hoover, John White, John Edwards, John Winn, James Daugherty, William Edwards, DOCTOR WILLIAM WARD, Samuel C. McNeese to lay off a road from Cummings mill the nearest and best way to the Wilson county line in a direction towards Jefferson, and make report to our next Court.

April 8 1808: Rutherford Co. TN Court Minutes: Ordered WILLIAM WARD for jury duty for next term.

July 1808, Rutherford Co. TN Court Minutes: Ordered that Peter Grayson oversee the road from John Hoovers leading by his own plantation, crossing at Burkeleys ford & intersecting the road leading from Jefferson to Ruckers & that the following hands work under him: Robert Bedford & hands, John Hoover, James Daugherty, Colonel Winns, Edward Good, Peter Graysons hands, Charles Kavanaugh, Wshington Bankston, Asa Foster, Lew Yarbour, Cader Dement, Thomas Gilliam, DOCTOR WILLIAM WARD, John Bradley, Abner Dement, Peter Matthews, William Baker, William Thweatt & all the hands within 2 miles of said road on the nort side of the east fork of Stones River & that the above hands be released from working under Peter Arnold as o verseer of the road & c.

July 1810, Rutherford Co., TN: WILLIAM WARD was summoned for jury duty for next term of court. (Rutherford Co. Court minutes July 1810, p 163)

By 1810 WILLIAM WARD is found in the Census for Rutherford County, TN as follows" William Ward 03031-01100-0-14: 3 white males 10-16 yrs; 3 white males 26-44 yrs; 1 white male age 45 yrs plus; 1 white female 10-16 yrs; 1 white female age 16-25 yrs; 14 slaves. From "The History of Medicine in Rutherford County, TN Part II by Robert G. Ransom, MD (library at Murfreesboro, TN) we confirm: DR. WILLIAM WARD was listed as William Ward on the 1810 census of Rutherford County, age 45 or above, wife 45 or above, and 3 males age 10-16, and 3 females 26-45, and one female 16-26. He owned 14 slaves and lived in Jefferson, Tennesee.

Rutherford County Court Minutes 2 April 1811 state: "If DR. WILLIAM WARD will receive HERBERT HARDY and will give him such medical aid and also furnish him with such nourishment as his situation may require that this court will make him a suitable allowance." On July 2, 1811 the court reimbursed DR. WILLIAM WARD $8.00 for a coffin he provided for the late HERBERT HARDY, deceased. (Source 1. Rutherford Co, TN Census 1810; 2) Rutherford Co. Court Min 1811) Who Herbert Hardy was, where he came from, and what injuries or ailments he had is a mystery. What is known is that he came into Jefferson and that the county appropriated funds for his care. On April 3rd 1811 the court order Thomas Mitchell, tavern owner, be allowed $25 for furnishing Hardy with a bed. On July 2nd the court ordered the sheriff to take possession of Hardy's bed asnd effects and sell them at six months credit, making a return on the sale. Hardy must have been destitute for on October 10, 1811, the sale amounted only to $14.13. James Havins was allowed $25 by the court for caring for Hardy while he was ill. Dr. Ward must had had James Havins care for Herbert Hardy, while he gave the necessary medical treatment. James Gray was also granted $12 by the court for his amount against Herbert Hardy.

Dr. William Ward was one of the earliest physicians of Rutherford County, having trained under apprenticeship. He would have probably possessed a well known book of the time, Gunn's Domestic Medicine which discussed in plain language diseases of men, women, and children. Surgery was limited to opening absesses, removing foreign bodies, setting fractures, closing cuts. A cholera epidemic hit Murfreesboro and middle Tennessee the beginning of June 1833. Thirty died the first day; one hundred and nine people died in all. In those days Calomel was the primary treatment.

In April 1812 Rutherford Co. Tennesse, JOSHUA HADLY deeded to WILLIAM WARD 640 acres of land;
proven by William Edwards and Humphrey Nelson. (Rutherford Co TN Court Minutes, April 1812, p 5)

April 1812 WILLIAM WARD was ordered for road work for a road from bank of Spring creek at William Nash's to Cornelius Saunders; other hands included John Robertson. (Rutherford Co Tn Court Minutes, April 1812k page 59).

WILLIAM WARD - WILL
Rutherford County, Tennessee
Roll No. 260, Book 1832-1837, Page 215
Tennessee State Archives & Library, Nashville, TN
Copy of Original Will provided by:
Rutherford County Archives, 435 Rice Street, Murfreesboro, TN 3713 (Copy provided to Researcher Brenda Reed)
"I WILLIAM WARD of the County of Rutherford and State of Tennessee being of sound mind and memory do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following. First, it is my will and desire after my death all my estate of every description whatever except the property hereafter given to my nephew THOMPSON WARD should be kept together in the possession of my beloved wife MARY WARD for her use and benefit during her life and at her death to be equally divided and take half of my said estate when divided I give and bequeath to my said wife MARY WARD to dispose of in any way she may wish at her death. I do also give and bequeath to my nephew THOMPSON WARD son of my brother JAMES WARD seven negroes as follows: BEN a negro man I bought of KIRK, POLLEY his wife and her five children namely, COLEMAN, JANE, MARTIN, ELIZA, and SARAH and all other future increase to him and his heirs forever. I do also give and bequeath the one half of my property above given to my said wife MARY WARD during her life to be equally divided at her death between my brother JOSHUA WARD'S three daughters, RACHEL, RODY, and SEALY and THOMPSON son of my brother JAMES WARD to them and their heirs forever. I do appoint my beloved wife MARY WARD sole Executrix of this my last will and Testament, hereby revoking all former wills by me made. It is my will and desire that my said wife shall not give any security as Executrix. In Witness whereof this 20th day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two.
William Ward (Seal)
Signed and acknowledged
In the presence of us:
J.. D. Donnelson, Jurat
Robert Booth, Jurat
B. Randolph, Jurat

In 1835 a will & administration record was entered for WILLIAM WARD in Rutherford County, TN Record Book 9, page 215. Another record was recorded in 1836 for Doctor William Ward in Record Book 9, p 304 in Rutherford County, TN. In 1847 another record was recorded in Record Book 14, p 166 of Rutherford County for William Ward.

On 17 July 1835 an article was published in the Nashville Banner as follows:
" THOMPSON WARD, TAKE NOTICE! By applying to Mary WARD, executrix of the estate of your uncle Dr. William WARD, late of Rutherford County, Tennessee, who died 23 July 1835, you will hear of something to your advantage. Direct to Jefferson Post Office, Rutherford County, Tennessee."

28 April 1836: Inventory of Estate of Doctor William Ward: 45 named negroes, cash $2908 & notes

On 22 February 1838 Records of Rutherford County, TN (Book W on page 604): Dr. Ward's widow, MARY WARD, made a deed of gift to THOMPSON WARD, her late husband's nephew.

Mary A. Hansard in her book "Old Time Tazewell" writes the following: "In the year 1839 Dr. William Ward of Rutherford County, Middle Tennessee, an uncle of Father's died. He was a very rich old genteleman, owned a large boundary of land on Stones River not far from the Hermitage of Andrew Jackson, ex-president, and about 25 miles distant from nashville. His widow [Mary Robertson Ward] engaged my father [Peter Markham/Marcum] to oversee her business, as she had about 65 Negroes and cultivated cotton extensively. He accordingly left Tazewell in May 1840 and moved to said county. He was much pleased with this beautiful country and the surroundings. We visited Nashville in July following and if you remember this was the year of the presidential election. There was greater excitement over this election than any I ever knew. It was the year that Wm. Henry Harrison was elected president.........We lived in Rutherford County only one year and then returned back to Tazewell on account of the ill health of Mother and sister, and Father's health had failed also."

On 10 October 1849 a list of heirs was named: "Included herein is Listing of Heirs of DR. WILLIAM WARD from Rutherford County Chancery Court Minutes Book A page 402 (Books mislabeled Book B is Book A). Copy of original records sent by Barbara Blankenship of Knoxville, TN. to Tom C. Ward (Columbus, KS) 5/30/1996; e-mail to Brenda Reed 12/19/1997. Record as follows:
"JOHN JONES Administrator de bonis with the will annexed of WILLIAM WARD, dec'd VS WILLIAM MAJOR, Administrator & ISAIAH ROBERTSON & others Decree. Be it remembered that this cause came on for further hearing on the 16th day of October 1849 before Chancellor RIDLEY, upon the report of the Clerk & Master made in pursuance of an Inter___ decree heretofore pronounced in this court directing to take proof & report who are the next of kin to WILLIAM WARD deceased. And it appeared from said report that WILLIAM WARD deceased has 4 brothers of the whole blood namely JAMES WARD, JOSHUA WARD, BENJAMIN WARD, and MICHAEL WARD; that he had one brother of half-blood namely DANIEL WARD; and that he had one sister of the whole blood, namely MARY KENNEDY. It also appears that JAMES WARD died before WILLIAM WARD, that he left children THOMPSON WARD, WILLIAM WARD, AND MARY BAGLEY who were living at the death of WILLIAM WARD; that he left a daughter ELIZABETH LOGAN who died before WILLIAM WARD, leaving six children, namely WILLIAM, JAMES, THOMPSON, CAMPBELL, POLLY ANN and ELIZABETH LOGAN. It appears that JOSHUA WARD died before WILLIAM WARD, leaving a daughter named RACHEL afterwards RACHEL DUNCAN who was living at the death of WILLIAM WARD, and that she is the only child of JOSHUA WARD who is proved to having been living at the death of WILLIAM WARD. It does not appear whether BENJAMIN WARD is living or dead or whether he had children or not. It appears that MICHAEL WARD died many years since, that he left a Son JOSHUA WARD who is now living; and he is proven to have had one or two other children whose names do not appear or whether they are living at the death of WILLIAM WARD, namely WILLIAM WARD, JESSEE WARD, DANIEL WARD, BENJAMIN WARD, JONATHAN WARD, ASA WARD, SAMUEL WARD, ELIZABETH afterwards ELIZABETH MARCUM, SEALY WARD, HAPPY WARD afterwards HAPPY PERDUE and PRUDENCE WARD afterwards PRUDENCE PERDUE, eleven in number. It appears that MARY KENNEDY was living at the death of WILLIAM WARD. And said report being unexcepted to is in all things confirmed. It is therefore ordered adjudged and decreed by the Court.
1st that THOMPSON WARD, WILLIAM WARD & MARY BAGLEY children of JAMES WARD are entitled to one sixth of the lapsed legacies and as to which the said WILLIAM WARD died intestate to be equally divided between them in right of their Father JAMES WARD deceased.
2nd That the children of ELIZABETH LOGAN not being children of a brother or sister of WILLIAM WARD deceased are too remote in blood and take no interest whatever in his estate.
3rd That RACHEL DUNCAN is entitled to one sixth of the lapsed legacys in right of her father JOSHUA WARD which is in addition to her legacy to which it has been heretofore decided she was entitled under the Will of WILLIAM WARD the legacy under the WILL being one fourth of one half ot the entire estate.
4th That BENJAMIN WARD is entitled, if living to one sixth of the lapsed legacies and if dead, leaving children , they are entitled in his room & stead.
5th That JOSHUA WARD is entitled to one sixth of the lapsed legacies in his right of his father MICHAEL WARD deceased.
6th That the aforesaid children and heirs of DANIEL WARD are entitled to one sixth of said lapsed legacies in right of their said father DANIEL WARD deceased, to be equally divided between them.
7th That MARY KENNEDY is entitled to one sixth of the lapsed legacies.
8th It appearing to the Court that MARY KENNEDY sold and conveyed her interest in the estate of said WILLIAM WARD deceased to CHARLES DEMENT, it is ordered adjudged and decreed that the Clerk & Master pay over her distributive share to the legal representatives or attorney of the said Charles Dement.
9th It is ordered adjudged & decreed that the Clerk & Master pay over the distributive shares to the other persons entitled as herein declared and in the proportions to which they are respectully entitled or to their legal representatives.
10th It is further ordered adjudged & decreed that the Clerk & Master proceed to collect the funds belonging to said estate and which are to be distributred as aforesaid as fast as practicable and pay over the same to the persons entitled as herein declared; and that he make report of his progress therein to the next term of the Court." (10 October 1849, Rutherford Co, TN)

The following land transactions were recorded in the Rutherford County, Tennessee Deed Books as follows involving the heirs of DR. WILLIAM WARD:

Rutherford County, TN Deed Book Y, p 204, # 542:
THOMPSON WARD, County of Knox, State of Kentucky to MARY WARD of Rutherford County,TN for #3472 -- all my interest in title and claim of any and every part of estate of DR. WILLIAM WARD which I am entitled under will of WILLIAM WARD after death of said MARY.

12 January 1842 Rutherford County, TN Deed Book Z, p 154, #223:
OBEDIENCE CANADA TO CHARLES DEMENT. OBEDIENCE CANADA of the County of Hart and State of Kentucky being the sister of the late DR. WILLIAM WARD deceased of the county of Rutherford and State of Tennessee for $160 all the right title claim and interest I now have or hereafter may have in remainder after the death of MARY WARD in and to the estate of DR. WILLIAM WARD deceased ...my interest arising in consequence of the death of two of the daughters of JOSHUA WARD and THOMPSON WARD the one half of said estate....which said two daughters are reported to have died before the testator.

14 January 1845, Chancery Court, Rutherford County, TN (Microfilm # 0380555 FHC SLC):
"Be it remembered that the Chancery Court for the Fourth division of the State of Tennessee having met on the First Monday in January 1845 at the Court house in Murfreesboro and having provided in the dispatch of the rulings therein pending which proceedings and regularly recorded in the minutes of Docket of said Court which book has been exhausted the minutes of the proceedings of said Court not therein contained are set forth in this book
William A. Malone, Adm
Boris non with the Will arrived of Interlocutory Decree
WILLIAM WARD Decd vs CHARLES DEMENT, Lavinia (Robertson) Green (Wrather), Susan (Robertson) Woods, Isaiah Robinson, William Majors, Adm., with the will annexed of MARY WARD dec'd, Sarah (Robertson) French and her husband, William M. French, Cynthia (Cyrena Robinson) Kincannon and her husband L. A. Kincannon, Ann Sublett and her husband Wm. L. Sublett, RACHAEL WARD and all the heirs and distributees of WILLIAM WARD, decd. Be it remembered that this case came on to be heard before the Hon. B. L. Rialey Chancellor & on the 10th day of January 1845 upon Bill for the courtruction of the will of WILLIAM WARD dec'd, answering and Bill taken for conferred as to the others Exhibits Replication and proofs and the reports of the Clerk and matter which reports are in the words and figures following to wit. Sm M. Malone, Adm, with the will answered of MARY WARD Decd vs WILLIAM MAJORS Adm with the will annexed of MARY WARD & others. In obedience to the interlocutory decree here is pronounced at the last term of this court the undersigned clerk master has this day of 1844 proceeded to take and state the account ordered in said decree so far as the proof exhibited in the case will enable him to do so which account is as follows viz: I find that WILLIAM M. MALONE is chargeable as follows to said estate into amt recd of WM MAJORS Adm of MARY WARD decd $519.43 to the hire of the following negroes for 1843 viz: SARAH & WILSON $25.00; EPHRAIM $58.50;

Rutherford County, TN Deed Book Y, p 204, # 542.
THOMPSON WARD, County of Knox, State of Kentucky to MARY WARD of Rutherford County, TN for #3472 -- all my interest in title and claim of any and every part of estate of DR. WILLIAM WARD which I am entitled under will of WILLIAM WARD after death of said MARY (widow of Dr. Ward).

21 Feb 1850 Rutherford County, TN Book 4, p 394, $515:
WILLIAM WARD, Power of Attorney, to PRESTON FRAZIER of Bedford County, TN to Chancery Court of Rutherford Co., TN or anyone else -- that may fall to me by last will and testament of DR. WILLIAM WARD late of Rutherford County, TN or -- share which may descend to me of said WARD'S estate. Registered 21 Feb 1850.

23 February 1850 Rutherford County, TN Deed Book 4, p 412:
JOSHUA WARD deed to WILLIAM SPENCE for $550 interest in the estate of WILLIAM WARD deceased late of Rutherford County, TN, I hereby covenant with the said WILLIAM SPENCE that I have an interest in the real and personal estate of the said WILLIAM WARD deceased as one of his heirs in right of my father MICHAEL WARD deceased.

29 April 1852, RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TN, Chancery Court Records:
Be it remembered that this cause came on for hearing before the Hon. R. L. Ridley on this 29th day of April 1852 upon petition filed at the last term of this court & upon the report of the Clerk & Master made at the present term which report is in the words and figures following to wit:
KELLY WARD & Others - Ex-partee
In this cause, the undersigned reports that the children of BENJAMIN WARD are entitled to $1050 - less the costs -- that said BENJAMIN WARD died in 1820 and before the death of WILLIAM WARD which took place in 1835 and that the said BENJAMIN left 10 children, three of whom died before the said WILLIAM WARD, to-wit, MRS. WEBB, MRS. MARLOW, and DUKE WARD, and that DANIEL WARD, JESSE WARD, KELLY WARD, & JAMES WARD are still living, that NICODEMUS WARD died 3 or 4 years ago, that BENJAMIN WARD died 14, 15, or 16 years ago and that WILLIAM WARD died without ever having been married but the time of his death is not known.
-- James F. Fletcher, C & M
The court being satisfied that said report is in all things correct doth order adjudge and decree that the Clerk & Master after paying the cost of this proceeding out of the fund reported as in his hands, he shall pay the balance over and as follows, to-wit, to DANIEL WARD, JESSEE WARD, KELLY WARD & JAMES WARD each one seventh (1/7) of the amount in his hands to the heirs of NICODEMUS WARD, one seventh to the heirs of BENJAMIN WARD (son of BENJAMIN WARD Senior) one seventh. The Clerk & Master will also pay over to DANIEL, JESSE, KELLY & JAMES WARD each one ninth (1/9) of the amount to which WILLIAM WARD would be entitled if he were alive, to the heirs of NICODEMUS WARD one ninth (1/9), one ninth (1/9) to the heirs of BENJAMIN WARD, one ninth (1/9) and that he retain in his hands the remaining three ninths to be paid to the heirs of DUKE WARD, MRS. SUSAN WEBB, & MRS. CELIA MARLOW in the event it shall appear hereafter that they are entitled to receive it."

On 29 April 1852 the Rutherford County, Tennessee Court distributed the estate of Dr. William Ward as follows: "Be it remembered that this cause came on for hearing before the Hon. R. L. Ridley on this 29th day of April 1852 upon petition filed at the last term of this court & upon the report of the Clerk & Master made at the present term which report is in the words and figures following to wit: KELLY WARD & Others ,Ex-Partee. In this cause, the undersigned reports that the children of BENJAMIN WARD are entitled to $1050 - less the costs -- that said BENJAMIN WARD died in 1820 and before the death of WILLIAM WARD which took place in 1833 and that the said BENJAMIN left 10 children, three of whom died before the said WILLIAM WARD, to-wit, MRS. WEBB, MRS. MARLOW, and DUKE WARD, and that DANIEL WARD, JESSE WARD, KELLY WARD, & JAMES WARD are still living, that NICODEMUS WARD died 3 or 4 years ago, that BENJAMIN WARD died 14, 15, or 16 years ago and that WILLIAM WARD died without ever having been married but the time of his death is not known. -- James F. Fletcher, C & M. The court being satisfied that said report is in all things correct doth order adjudge and decree that the Clerk & Master after paying the cost of this proceeding out of the fund reported as in his hands, he shall pay the balance over and as follows, to-wit, to DANIEL WARD, JESSEE WARD, KELLY WARD & JAMES WARD each one seventh (1/7) of the amount in his hands, to the heirs of NICODEMUS WARD, one seventh to the heirs of BENJAMIN WARD (son of BENJAMIN WARD Senior) one seventh. The Clerk & Master will also pay over to DANIEL, JESSE, KELLY & JAMES WARD each one ninth (1/9) of the amount to which WILLIAM WARD would be entitled if he were alive, to the heirs of NICODEMUS WARD one ninth (1/9), one ninth (1/9) to the heirs of BENJAMIN WARD, one ninth (1/9) and that he retain in his hands the remaining three ninths to be paid to the heirs of DUKE WARD, MRS. SUSAN WEBB, & MRS. CELIA MARLOW in the event it shall appear hereafter that they are entitled to receive it."²

     Mary Bowman Stewart married William Ward, son of Benjamin Ward and Mary Duke, on 8 May 1777 in Pittsylvania County, Virginia.¹

     Mary Robertson married William Ward, son of Benjamin Ward and Mary Duke, on 12 October 1812 in Rutherford County, Tennessee.¹

     Steven Edward Fitzpatrick is the son of William Fitzpatrick and Ann Marie Steffee.¹

     Joshua Ward was born say 1760 in Cumberland County, Virginia.¹ He was the son of Benjamin Ward and Mary Duke.¹ He died in 1827 in Washington County, Virginia.¹

     By 1790 Josh Ward was at the 8th District of Wilkes Co, North Carolina (which became Ashe County). In 1800 he removed to Carter County, Tennessee. In 1801 he sold his land in Carter County. Sometime before 1815 he removed to the Lower Section of Washington County, Virginia, where he lived until he died sometime between 14 February 1827 when he was listed as a tithe and 7 March 1827 when his Estate was cited in the Washington County, Virginia B List of Tithes.²

     Mary Obedience Ward was born say 1764 in Virginia.¹ She was the daughter of Benjamin Ward and Mary Duke.¹ She married William Canada.¹ She died after 1849.¹

     William Canada married Mary Obedience Ward, daughter of Benjamin Ward and Mary Duke.¹

     Michael Ward was born say 1766 in Virginia.¹ He was the son of Benjamin Ward and Mary Duke.¹ He died before 1835.¹

     Richard Ward was born on 29 October 1692 in Sheffield, Varina Parish, Henrico County, Virginia.¹ He was the son of Seth Ward and Ann Hatcher.² He married Frances Worsham, daughter of Charles Worsham and Mary Bevill, on 18 December 1716 in Virginia.³ He married Mary Johns on 2 May 1759.⁴ He died between 24 August 1761 and 23 November 1761 in Cornwall Parish, Lunenburg County, Virginia.⁵

     Richard Ward led an interesting and colorful life. He lived at various times in Brunswick County, Cumberland County, Henrico, and Lunenburg in Virginia and briefly in Granville Co., NC. He was frequently involved in legal disputes demonstrated through court records. He had 4 known children, 19 grand-children, & 62 great-grandchildren.

In 1708 The Secret Diary of William Byrd of Westover 1709-1712," edited by Wright and Tinling, I take note of the entry for 18 Dec 1710: ". . . About 12 o'clock came DICK WARD from above to settle accounts with me. He did not tell me that some part of the dam was gone, but Ralph G-p-l-n did tell me there was three feet of it gone . . . "

Further proof is needed for the following allegations as more than one Richard Ward lived in Henrico at the time. A Richard Ward was in Henrico County court several times 1714 to 1724 accused of fighting in court, theft, assault & battery, trespass, not paying his bills, & swearing. Below are some of these dubious achievements. In August 1714 authorities arrested THOMAS MATTHEWS, EDWARD MATTHEWS, & RICHARD WARD for fighting in the court. In September 1720 RICHARD WARD trespassed on the land of his brother SETH WARD and assaulted him. Richard was arrested but when he did not appear in court, the Court imposed on him a £50 judgement to be voided if RICHARD showed at the next court. We presume THOMAS TURPIN, RICHARD'S surety, got him to court. The next month, JOHN SOANE accused RICHARD WARD of trespass, and in February 1720/1 GEORGE RONALD brought a complaint against him. WILLIAM RANDOLPH sued Richard for to collect money owed to him in court in August 1721. RICHARD was guilty of some lesser offenses. In June 1722 a grand jury indicted him for swearing and ordered him to pay the churchwardens 5 shillings or 50 pounds of tobacco. His brother SETH was his security. Ironically court records identify RICHARD WARD as an Under Deputy Sheriff in January 1722/3 and during the next two years he brought minor complaints against JOHN PETER BONDURANT and JOHN BURTON. In June 1724 RICHARD DENNIS complained to a Henrico County justice that RICHARD stole eight or nine bushels of Indian corn. They arrested RICHARD but it seems he escaped prosecution on a technicality. The court concluded 'the proceedings upon said complaint are not legal, the same is dismissed and each party is ordered to pay his own costs.' RICHARD's last appearance in Henrico County court was in October 1724 for assaulting and beating JOHN BURTON. A jury awarded BURTON 17 shillings and court costs. He evidently took his frustration elsewhere as THOMAS FRANKLIN accused RICHARD WARD of assault and battery in Amelia County in 1736." In 1723 Richard Ward obtained by "Distrainte" from Thomas Pleasants one feather bed, one sheet, and one blanket. (Henrico Co., VA Monthly Meeting, Pleasants)

LAND PATENTS GRANTED TO RICHARD WARD:
1733, March 3: Goochland (later Cumberland) County, 450 acres N side of Appomattox River beginning at the mouth of Angola Creek [Register of Land Office, Richmond, Patent Book 15, p. 180].
1740, August 28: Prince Edward County, 400 acres on the Appomattox River (Early Settlers of Prince Edward County
1742, January 12: Brunswick County, 400 acres, S side Ward's fork. [Note: in present Charlotte County.]
1742, July 30: Goochland County, 200 acres south side James River on Swift Creek, in a Meadow; adjacent Thomas Watkins, Michael Garthwright & John Maxey; Whereas by Patent 11 April 1732 granted Nathaniel Maxey 11 April 1732.⁴

     Frances Worsham was born on 14 September 1700 in Bermuda Hundred, Henrico County, Virginia.¹ She was the daughter of Charles Worsham and Mary Bevill.^2,3 She married Richard Ward, son of Seth Ward and Ann Hatcher, on 18 December 1716 in Virginia.⁴

     Traditionally, Frances Ward is identified as having been a Worsham. A Bible passed down among the descendants of Tahpenes (Ward) Webber is said to identify Frances as a Worsham without identifying her parents by name. Frances was perhaps a daughter of Charles Worsham and his wife, Mary Bevill. As Tahpenes (Ward) Webber named a daughter, Ann Bevill Webber, this certainly seems to support this theory regarding the identity of her parents. Ideally, Ward researchers would like to have concrete proof to confirm Frances Ward's placement in the Worsham family. This is made difficult by the destruction of so many Henrico Co., VA records. The only thing we know with any degree of confidence is the given name of Frances and her birth date. Her maiden surname and her proposed parentage are based on a proponderance of the surviving evidence, which is meager at best.

On April 25, 2005, Researcher, Steve Jennings (mrstevejennings@yahoo.com) provided the following information: "The tradition of this Ward family is that Frances was a Worsham. I want to back this up and try to prove it. A lady I have written back and forth who researches the Worshams said that Frances may have been one of the two daughters of Charles Worsham (died 1712 in Henrico County, Virginia) and Mary Bevill. Court records mention that Charles and Mary Worsham had five children, three sons and two daughters. The sons have been pinned down pretty much. Only one is known for 100 percent and that's William. Essex and Francis are pretty sure bets. The girls remain unidentified, but the court records do mention that there were two girls. I don't see any other Worshams that Frances could belong to. In addition to the tradition that Frances was a Worsham is the fact that Richard and Frances Ward's daughter, Tahpenes Ward Webber, named a daughter Ann Bevill Webber. I've not found a Bevill connection anywhere on either side of Ann's family, except for the possibility that her grandmother, Frances, was the daughter of Charles Worsham and Mary Bevill. The Wards and Worshams were connected through the marriage of Seth Ward, Richard Ward's brother, to Martha Worsham, a niece of Charles Worsham. So, if the family tradition is right, the brothers Seth and Richard Ward would have married first cousins. Charles and Mary Worsham would have named a son Francis and a daughter Frances Worsham. The Worsham researcher said that Frances (the girl) and Francis (the boy) might have been twins. I don't know about that one. I do know that back in those days it wasn't unheard of for parents to sometimes name two children the same name. Since the situation here was with a boy and a girl, I don't see that there is a problem."

Researcher, Steve Jennings (mrstevejennings@yahoo.com) provided information to from the Webber-Ligon Bible by email to this researcher on 30 June 2005. He stated the following: " This was taken from the Webber-Ligon Bible. RICHARD WARD married FRANCES WORSHAM and had a daughter, TAHPENES WARD, who married PHILIP WEBBER. Their daughter, ANNE BEVILL WEBBER, married RICHARD LIGON. The Webber-Ligon Bible was last known to be owned by a descendant, Mrs. WILLIAM HENRY GRAHAM. The Webber-Ligon Bible records the following marriage: RICHARD WARD and FRANCES WORSHAM was married December 18th 1716. The Bible does not identify the parents of Frances Worsham, but it does identify her as a Worsham. The fact that Richard Ward and Frances Worsham's daughter, Tahpenes, named a daughter Anne Bevill Webber points to the fact that Frances was one of the two daughters of Charles Worsham and Mary Bevill."⁵

     Tahpanes Ward was born on 29 March 1729 in Virginia.¹ She was the daughter of Richard Ward and Frances Worsham.¹ She married Philip Webber Jr. on 14 October 1751.¹ She died on 20 January 1794 in Cumberland County, Virginia, at age 64.¹

     Philip Webber Jr. was born circa 1730 in New Kent County, Virginia.¹ He married Tahpanes Ward, daughter of Richard Ward and Frances Worsham, on 14 October 1751.² He died on 26 February 1796 in Cumberland County, Virginia.¹