"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 uncles 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 Commodores motive in constraining the young man to return to England was not wholly unselfish, for William owed the the Commodore the price of passage across the ocean. The Commodore sold the young man for an amount equal to the price of passage across the Atlantic, to a Mr. Snyder, a resident of Pendelton 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 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 notherly direction. He was not tempted to 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. Much of this journey required cutting a road through the dense unihabitated 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 Man. 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 the 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. William Ward died 28 November, 1814 at the age of 71 years and his wife died December 1834 aged 89 years."

SoSource: THE HISTORY OF PICKAWAY COUNTY OHIO, by Aaron R. VanCleaf, written in 1906, (Pages 431-432).urce:
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William was a private the 2nd Virginia Regimen, Company 8 of Captain Francis Taylor. Commanded by Colonel Alexander Spotwood from March 28, 1777 to September 30, 1777. From September 1777 to March of 1778, the regiment was under the leadership of Colonel Christian Febiger. He was paid $6.66 per month and was at Brandywine and Germantown, and spent the winter at Valley Forge. When he mustered out in March of 1778, he recieved $2.66 since he only served 12 days that month.
Source: National Archive & Records; Revolutionary War Company Muster Roll 2.

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In 1780 he moved to an area along the Blackthorn River near Franklin, Virginia (now West Virginia). He obtained a patent for 160 acres along that river on March 1, 1781. He paid one pound sterling ($2.80) for this parcel. He also obtained a patent for 35 additional acres along the Blackthorn River, which was issued under the administration of Thomas Jefferson. Pendelton County was formed from Augusta, Rockingham and Hardy counties on December 4, 1787.
He added to his holdings in Virginia by buying 50 acres on December 13, 1794; 125 acres on September 26, 1796 and 230 acres on May, 27, 1797, along the Blackthorn River.
He sold his 600 acres of land in Pendleton County for 200 pounds to James Botkin according to the county records.
Source: Virginia State Library
Title: Real Estate Transactions
Page: Book C, Page 357 (Reel 44) and Book D, Page 555 (Reel 45).

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Reber Hill Cemetery is located on the east side of Winchester (Twp. 8) about a half mile south of Ashville-Fairfield Road (County 32) in Walnut Township. This is near Ashville in Pickaway County, Ohio.

William is buried in the Sidner J. Ward (a cousin) plot in Reber Hill Cemetery near Ashville Ohio. He was moved there in 1905 from Sixteenth Burying Ground.

Sidner Jay Ward was the son of Matilda Rout and Richard Courtney Ward.