Col. Nahum Ward

His career was one of note and diversity. He was a sailor, a Boston merchant, a town founder and real estate operator, a militia officer, a lawyer and judge.

The call of the sea came first, and while still in his twenties he was master of a vessel in the West-Indian service. "A spiritual change came over him and induced him," he said, "to relinquish that made of life and go into trade in Boston." There we find him admitted by the selectmen as a "new inhabitant," May 6, 1714. Two years later he was again in Marlborough at the time that plans were being perfected for the division of a westward tract of 3200 acres, Known as the " Haynes Farm," and he purchased the shares of two of its twenty-three owners.

The division of the property was followed by a petition to the General Court for land contiguous to and surrounding both the Haynes and other privately owned tracts for the formation of a new township. This was granted and "Shrewsbury" was established, with forty-four original proprietors - Nabum Ward being one of them.

Ten years later the town ship was incorporated, and he was elected moderator (or "mayor"), chairman of its first board of selectmen, and assessor. The office of moderator he held for twenty-two years; that of selectman twenty-three years. He was the town's first representative in the General Court and served eight years in the legislature. In addition were two years as town clerk, and four as town treasurer.

SOURCE: http://virts.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~robertkl/g0000020.html

HIS MOTHER LEAVES HIM 20 SHILLINGS, ETC

WILL OF HANNAH BRIGHAM-EAMES-WARD

FIRST: I will that all those debts and duties as I do owe in Right or conscience to any person or persons whatsoever shall well and truly be paid in convenient time after my decease by my Executor hereafter named.

Item: I give to my well beloved son Gershom Ward whom I likewise constitute make and ordain my onely and sole executor of this my last will and testament and all my lands and other Estate which I shall dye seazed by him freely to be possessed, he fulfilling those things hereafter specified: First I will that he the aforesaid Gershom doe take the sole care of my daughter Hannah Eames and provid for her both in sickness and in health with the help of what Estate she hath and what of right belongs to her during her Natural Life. And further it is my plesuer that the Bed and Bedding which she uses and a white cow and all the puter that I shall leve that is marked with Eames leters with all her other things be called hers : it is my will also that his heirs or administrators stand obliged to the performance hereof and her funeral to be at his charge.

Item: I will that there be paid unto my four other children by my Executor above named to wit: to William and Nahum Ward and to Mary Keyes and Bethiah Brigham twenty shillings apiece within one year after my Decease and if Elisha shall ever come again that my executor pay him twenty shillings also and if any of my children should dy before the time of payment then to their heirs also. I apoint my well beloved kinsmen Samuel Goodenow and Joseph Straten to be the over seer of this my will. Ratifying

and confirming this to be my last will and testament in witness hereof I have set my hand and seal the Day and yeare above written. her

Signed Sealed Published Hannah H Ward (Seal) pronounced and Declared mark by the said Hannah Ward as her last will and testament in the presents of us the subscribers viz :

John Brigham (original signature.)

Joshua Rice

Joseph Straten

Will filed Dec. 1719.

Record of Probate 27 June 1720

Inventory 2 Feb. 1721.

Source: BOOK: History of the Brigham Family, p 77-80

GEDCOM Note

!Birth: Dec 6 or 18 !Life: He followed the seas in early life and in several voyages was master of a vessel; but later he went into trade in Boston where it is supposed his eldest son was born, but whose birth is found only on Shrewsbury records with that of his other children; it should be noted that this eldest sons date is recorded as a year before the marriage date, so either marriage or birth date may be in error.

Age 70 Spouse: Martha Ward

Father of Maj. General Artemas Ward, first Commander-in Chief of the American Revolution.* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Jan 29 2021, 0:39:30 UTC