Wards of Stagsden

[BORRI]

Hi everyone.
I'm having a problem with my Abbott family marrying into the Ward Family.
I have
1784 Catharine Abbott (born 1742) Marries Samuel Ward of Stagsden in Water Stratford
She was the Sister of Thomas Abbott the Elder of Milton Keynes Village

Thomas the Elder died in 1801 and in his Will he leaves everything to his Sons and his Wife, but no mention of Daughters although he had several, Brothers or Sisters.

Thomas Abbott Jnr, John Abbott, Jonathan Abbott and James Abbott are the Sons mentioned

James dies in 1805 and leaves a Will, he doesn't mention his Brothers but does mention 2 Sisters (Daughters of Thomas the Elder) and his Mother, Ann.
This is where the problem starts!

Catherine (born 1761) Wife of Samuel Ward of Stagsden- This is not the same Catherine mentioned above !

Elizabeth (born 1764)Wife of James Ward of Stagsden

Catherine was born in Wavendon and Elizabeth in MK Village, their Father was Thomas Abbott Jnr

a) Are there 2 Samuel Wards from Stagsden.
b) Where did they Marry, I can't find them in Buckinghamshire.
c) Where did they Live/ Die, I can't find them in Buckinghamshire.

I'm very confused and need help, thanks all.
         
 

[StevenG]

The Wards seem to have been in Stagsden for a relatively short time. There is a burial of Samuel Ward in 1785. He left a will. There is also a will for Ann Ward, widow in 1786. I would guess that they were the parents of your Samuel and James.

There are adult baptisms for James Ward and William Ward on the same day in 1786. Unfortunately no parents are given. James's 1785 marriage to Eizabeth Abbot is in the marriage register, and the baptisms of ten children of theirs in the baptism register. There is also the baptism of  Thomas, son of Samuel & Catherine in 1785 (and the baptism of a child of John & Ann of Cranfield in 1783, which might be totally unrelated). Thomas was buried in 1810 aged 25. A John Ward was buried in 1812 aged 19 - presumably son of James as there is a suitable baptism.

Samuel seems to have died in 1819, but I don't know where he was buried. His will is at the PCC and can be seen on Ancestry. It is long and verbose and I only skimmed it. He mentions his wife Catherine, his brothers James and William and various Abbots, brothers of Catherine. Thomas, by now dead, was presumably the only child.

[Galium]

From Stagsden PR:

Burials: 8 Sep 1785  Sam. Ward  yeo[man]
            5 Dec 1785 Ann Ward  widow [doesn't say whose widow she was]
            10 May 1810  Thos. Ward s/o Sam. and Cath.  aged 25
             27 Feb 1812 Jn Ward aged 19

Baptisms: 22 Apr 1783 Mary d/o Jn. and Eliz. Ward  of Cranfield
               20 Jun 1784  Thos. s/o Sam. and Cath. Ward
                17 Apr 1786 Jas. Ward  adult
                                   Wm. Ward adult
                                    Ann d/o Jas. and Eliz. Ward
                 22 Nov 1791 Eliz. d/o Jas. and Eliz. Ward
                                    Lydia d/o Jas.and Eliz. Ward
                 24 Nov 1797 Jn. s/o Jas. and Eliz. Ward
                                     Sam. s/o Jas and Eliz. Ward
                                     Thos. s/o Jas. and Eliz. Ward
                 23 Nov 1808 Joel s/o Jas. and Eliz. Ward b. Mar 10 1799
                                     Sophia d/o Jas. and Eliz. Ward b. Feb 2 1802
                                     Hen. s/o Jas. and Eliz. Ward b. May 15 1804
                                     Cath. d/o Jas. and Eliz. Ward b. Apr 21 1806

A note in the register after the 1808 baptisms reads: " I take this opportunity of  stating that I solemnly protested to the father of the above children against his having withheld the rite of Baptism from them  so long, contrary to the custom of the Land, against the practise of the established Church and the generally admitted command of the scriptures, and which neglect would have deprived them of Christian burial, had they died. T. Grimshawe"

Marriages: 27 Jun 1768  Wm. Ward otp and Mary Taylor of North Crawley, Bucks.  lic.
                 18 Jul 1771  Jas. Baskerville otp and Lydia Ward otp lic.
                19 Apr 1774  Jn. Ward otp and Eliz. Summerling otp lic.
                 20 Sep 1775 Hen. Fowkes otp and Susnh.Ward otp lic.
                 21 Jun 1785 Jas. Ward otp and Eliz. Abbot of Milton, Bucks. lic.

These are all the events for people named Ward up to 1812. The only Abbot who appears is Elizabeth marrying James Ward.

[BORRI]

Thank you both
Some really useful info here, it may take me a day or two to put it
together.
Thanks for the time and effort you both put in.
Borri

[BORRI]

Thank you both again, your info has been very helpful, but could you just double check a couple of entries for me.
You have both given me the same information but with a slight difference.
 
1783 Mary Daughter of John & Eliz Ward of Cranfield (or is it John & Ann)?

1785 Thomas son of Samuel & Catherine (or was it 1784)?

Thanks for your help, Borri

[StevenG]

The Cranfield baptism was John & Elizabeth - my mistake, sorry.
Thomas Ward was baptised June 20 1785.

[BORRI]

That's brilliant, thank you.
Still didn't solve my initial problem with the 2 Catherine Abbotts marrying 2 Samuel Wards of Stagsden, but it has moved me forward.

[Galium]

re: Thomas s/o Samuel and Catherine.
Yes, sorry the year of baptism should be 1785. 

[Galium]

You have Catherine Abbott d/o Thomas and Ann baptised in Wavendon in 1761, and Catherine Abbott marrying Samuel Ward in 1784.

Is there any reason that these two cannot be the same person?  Catherine born in 1761 would be aged around 23 in 1784.

There are burials at Aspley Guise, Bedfordshire of Samuel Ward aged 60 on 2 June 1819 (the will of Samuel Ward of Stagsden was proved 26 August 1819), and Catherine Ward aged 72 on 20 November 1833.

Added. Samuel's will, when he gives his address as 'Stagsden'was written in 1812.  The Index to Death Duty Registers for 1819 shows that probate was granted to Cath. Ward of Aspley Guise, Beds.