Son of Joseph Leonard Coward and Lucretia Scudder, husband of Ann "Nancy" Kilpatrick, the daughter of Thomas Kilpatrick and Ann Palmer, whom he married in New Jersey, and father of William S., James, Elizabeth (married John J. Giberson), Mary, Sarah (married Joseph Parker), Ann, Joseph and Moses Ivins Coward.

"Joseph Coward lived at Tom's River, New Jersey, after his marriage to Nancy Kilpatrick. Their children, William, Ann, James, Sarah, Joseph, Elizabeth, Mary and Moses were born there. Moses died young. William married Isabella Knott in 1811 and moved to Philadephia where he had a flour mill in Fetter Lane. James, in 1804, married Mary Bailey, and eventually, he too, moved to Philadelphia where he opened an inn at Laetetia Court. There were four sons in this family, and daughters, whose names we do not know. The sons were James Jr., Joseph and William, all given old family names, and Charles Wardell. The name Charles appears here for the first time in all generations going back to Old Hugh. James Sr., had two sisters who married men named Charles. Sister Sarah, in 1808, married Charles Parker. This Charles became prominent politically in New Jersey and became state treasurer. Their son, Joel Parker, was to become governor of New Jersey for two terms. Sister Ann, married Charles Wardell. James must have admired his brother-in-law, because he named one of his sons, Charles Wardell Coward. Charles was about eighteen when his family moved to Philadelphia. During the years when he helped his -inn-keeper father he learned a great deal about the luggage that came in on the stagecoaches..."

Obituary - In Upper Freehold, Monmouth Co., Capt. Joseph Coward, a soldier of the revolution.

(Diligence, Endurance, Intelligence and Faith by Estelle Coward McKell, page 313; The Spectator, New York, New York, Thursday (Evening), April 19, 1826; The Emporium, Saturday, April 22, 1826; The Trenton Federalist, April 17, 1826; Joseph Coward in the New Jersey, U.S., Deaths and Burials Index, 1798-1971, FHL Film Number 1543557)