Bernard James Ward

[Ian Blakesley]

I am trying to find Bernard James Ward (born 9 January 1915) and/or his family who I believe are my closest blood relatives.  Bernard visited the US for work sometime in the 1930's. He volunteered to serve in the US Army in 1942. After wartime service, he moved to Canada in 1947. I believe he then returned to the US in the mid-1950's to join his younger brother Eric George Ward. I believe they were both agricultural engineers. I believe Bernard became a naturalised US citizen in September 1965, having settled in Massachusetts. According to Ancestry.co.uk, of which I am a world-wide member, Bernard died in 2004. All the above information I have received from Ancestry. Our part of the family lost touch with Bernard via his parents James George Ward and his wife Hannah Elizabeth (nee Blakesley), who had emigrated to Canada in early 1948. Hannah Ward was my great-aunt (my paternal grandfather's elder sister). I have no address for any of them. Can anyone help, please?

[*Sandra*]

Hello Ian,

Welcome To Rootschat


Unfortunately we cannot do living people on these forums just ancestors.  However, we can share information via the personal message system.

On the UK Incoming Passenger List   23 Dec 1947  SS Mauretania - two male children were mentioned under the name of Bernard but have dashes through which means they did not travel.  Can you tell me if those were children of Bernards ?

On the US Naturalization Records Index the address was 3 Eubar Circle. Billerica. Massachusetts.  Checking on the link below - it shows families WARD in Billerica - do those names ring any bells ? One in particular lives at Bertha Circle MA and the address for Bernard was Eubar Circle they are 3 miles apart - only 8 minutes 

http://www.rootschat.com/links/09kv/

Have you checked on that popular networking site to see if any relatives may be on that ?

Regards.
Sandra

[Lisa in California]

Similar thread on the Canada board (so efforts aren't duplicated):
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,474312.0.html


Welcome to RootsChat, Ian.

[Lisa in California]

Ian:

I cannot view additional details, but there is a sailing to the UK (UK Incoming Passenger List) for his brother,
born 1910, arriving 1933.

Is it possible that his brother was older than Bernard?  If the record might be for the correct person, there may be additional clues.

(Modified to remove his brother's name, for privacy reasons.)

[Ian Blakesley]

Thanks so much, Lisa, for your replies which are most helpful. The children mentioned on the "Mauretania" 1947 I don't recognise, because I believe Bernard had one daughter  I think born Vin 1948/49.   Thank you for confirming that  there are Wards in Billerica, Massachusetts, so I will try to contact them. This is is the first breakthrough I've had in what has become a lengthy search; I'm sure it will be over soon. Many thanks again.   

                               IAN BLAKESLEY

[*Sandra*]

Hi Lisa,

Bernard's brother was younger - E G birth registered June 1923 Brixworth. UK

BW
Sandra

[Ian Blakesley]

Hullo, Sandra; thank you for your  two posts about my long-lost cousins. I've checked the 1947 Shipping List ; thank you for explaining the two children that I missed, which I have now included on Bernard's profile. Also I've logged onto the link you recommended and the White Pages show a Peter Ward of the right age to  be Bernard's second son to be living in Billerica.  I think I'm nearly there, thanks to Lisa and yourself......in only two days, after nearly a year of logging on every day on Ancestry.co.uk. How glad I am to be a member of RootsChat! I wish I'd joined months ago.

[*Sandra*]

Your most welcome Ian.  My fingers are crossed that you will find some-one in Billerica and you never know, that might lead you to E G.  E also seems to be a "man of mystery" I am wondering if he perhaps reversed the names and went under G E   Do you happen to have an exact date of bith, I think it was registered Q2 - June 1923. We may still find something. 

Regards
Sandra

[Ian Blakesley]

Hullo,  Sandra, again! Lucky I check my e-mails every day. To answer your question about Eric Ward, as Bart Simpson would say: "No Problemo!" I have a copy of Eric Ward's birth certificate in front of me; his precise date of birth is 26 February 1923, place of birth Spratton, Northamptonshire, England. His birth was not registered by his mother Hannah Elizabeth Ward with the sub-district of Brixworth in the County of Northampton until 10 April 1923.   Ii  have checked Shipping Lists as well, and it appears he might have been a deck-hand on commercial ships in in 1952/3 (assuming I've got the right Eric Ward) OK, he might have stopped using the name Eric and just been known as George, or he might have used another first name altogether, who knows? It's all part of the enjoyment of family history research is getting the right answers to the right questions.
Thanks again, Sandra.  Hope to hear from you soon      Best wishes       IAN.