Frances Ward

Biography

Frances Stanley Ward was born on September 14, 1700, in Varina Parish, Henrico County, Province of Virginia. Her parents were Charles Worsham and Mary Worsham.

Frances married Richard Ward in 1717 in Henrico County, Province of Virginia. Together they had the following children:

1. Benjamin Ward;
2. Tahphenes Webber.

She died in January 1744 in Cornwall, Lunenburg County, Province of Virginia.

"Richard Ward and Frances Worsham was married December 18th 1716"

They had two children:

1. Benjamin Ward, born September 18, 1717
2. Tahpenes Ward, born March 29, 1729; married October 14, 1751 in Cumberland County, Virginia to Philip Webber. (Among their children was a daughter, Ann Bevill Webber.)

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https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/203828924/frances-ward

Name: FRANCES WORSHAM 1 2

Sex: F
Birth: 14 SEP 1700 in Bermuda Hundred, Henrico County, Virginia 3 4
Reference Number: 24399
Event: Fact BEF 02 JUN 1712 Father, Charles Worsham, died, when Frances was about 12 years of age.
Death: BET 1729 AND 1759 in possibly Lunenburg County, Virginia 5
Event: Fact Had 2 children and 17 known grandchildren.
Event: Fact 02 JUN 1712 Inventory of her father's estate was taken in Henrico Co., VA.
Event: Fact 18 DEC 1716 At age 16 Frances Worsham, married twenty-year old Richard Ward.
Event: Fact 18 SEP 1717 At age 17 gave birth to her eldest and only known son, Benjamin Ward.
Event: Fact 29 MAR 1729 At age 28 gave birth to her eldest and only known daughter, Tahpanes Ward.
Event: Fact ABT 1738 Son, Benjamin Ward, married someone known only as Missy; she died within a short time.
Event: Fact 04 MAY 1739 Grandson, Daniel Ward, was born.
Event: Fact BET 1745 AND 1750 Son, Benjamin Ward, married 2ndly Mary Duke, daughter of James Duke & Mary Byrd.
Event: Fact 14 OCT 1751 Daughter, Tahpanes Ward, married Philip Webber, Jr.
Event: Fact 02 MAY 1759 Husband, Richard Ward, remarried a Mary Johns at Lunenburg Co., VA.
Event: Fact BET AUG AND NOV 1761 Husband, Richard Ward (age 69), died at Lunenburg Co., VA leaving a will.
Event: Fact 20 JAN 1794 Daughter, Tahpanes Ward Webber, died at Cumberland Co., VA.
Event: Fact 08 OCT 1805 Her daughter-in-law, Mary Duke Ward, died.
Note:
The Ward Family Record that was owned by Daniel Ward, grandson of Richard and Frances Ward, indicates that FRANCES WARD was born September 14th, 1700. Her surname was not cited in the record. In about 1716 Frances married Richard Ward, son of Captain Seth Ward and Anne Hatcher Ward of Henrico County, Virginia. It was recorded that she gave birth to a son, BENJAMIN WARD, on September 18th, 1717 at age seventeen. On March 29th, 1729, Frances at age twenty-eight had a daughter named TAHPENES WARD. FRANCES was deceased by 1759 when her widower husband, RICHARD WARD married secondly Mary Johns in Lunenburg County, Virginia. Their son, Benjamin, married firstly c1738 to a woman only known to us as Missy, by whom he had one son named Daniel Ward of Franklin County, Virginia. Circa 1745 Benjamin married secondly Mary Duke, daughter of James Duke and Mary Byrd of Westover, Charles City County, Virginia, by whom he had six known children; their place of residence has not yet been fully established. Her daughter, Tahpenes Ward married Philip Webber; they lived out their lives in Cumberland County, Virginia. Frances was survived by fourteen known grandchildren who removed to different parts of the country. No references to date have been found that Frances relinquished her dower rights in any of the numerous land transactions of her husband, Richard Ward; this again indicates that she died before Richard Ward.

Traditionally, Frances Ward is identified as having been a Worsham. A Bible passed down among the descendants of Tahpenes (Ward) Webber is said to identify Frances as a Worsham without identifying her parents by name. Frances was perhaps a daughter of Charles Worsham and his wife, Mary Bevill. As Tahpenes (Ward) Webber named a daughter, Ann Bevill Webber, this certainly seems to support this theory regarding the identity of her parents. Ideally, Ward researchers would like to have concrete proof to confirm Frances Ward's placement in the Worsham family. This is made difficult by the destruction of so many Henrico Co., VA records. The only thing we know with any degree of confidence is the given name of Frances and her birth date. Her maiden surname and her proposed parentage are based on a proponderance of the surviving evidence, which is meager at best.

After Charles Worsham died, his wife, Mary Bevill Worsham, was involved in a court case and in her deposition she stated she had 3 sons & 2 daughters. Charles & Mary descendants in Henrico Co., VA; Prince George Co., VA., Brunswick Co., VA, Chesterfield Co., VA.

On April 25, 2005, Researcher, Steve Jennings (mrstevejennings@yahoo.com) provided t\the following information: "The tradition of this Ward family is that Frances was a Worsham. I want to back this up and try to prove it. A lady I have written back and forth who researches the Worshams said that Frances may have been one of the two daughters of Charles Worsham (died 1712 in Henrico County, Virginia) and Mary Bevill. Court records mention that Charles and Mary Worsham had five children, three sons and two daughters. The sons have been pinned down pretty much. Only one is known for 100 percent and that's William. Essex and Francis are pretty sure bets. The girls remain unidentified, but the court records do mention that there were two girls. I don't see any other Worshams that Frances could belong to. In addition to the tradition that Frances was a Worsham is the fact that Richard and Frances Ward's daughter, Tahpenes Ward Webber, named a daughter Ann Bevill Webber. I've not found a Bevill connection anywhere on either side of Ann's family, except for the possibility that her grandmother, Frances, was the daughter of Charles Worsham and Mary Bevill. The Wards and Worshams were connected through the marriage of Seth Ward, Richard Ward's brother, to Martha Worsham, a niece of Charles Worsham. So, if the family tradition is right, the brothers Seth and Richard Ward would have married first cousins. Charles and Mary Worsham would have named a son Francis and a daughter Frances Worsham. The Worsham researcher said that Frances (the girl) and Francis (the boy) might have been twins. I don't know about that one. I do know that back in those days it wasn't unheard of for parents to sometimes name two children the same name. Since the situation here was with a boy and a girl, I don't see that there is a problem."

Researcher, Steve Jennings (mrstevejennings@yahoo.com) provided information to from the Webber-Ligon Bible by email to this researcher on 30 June 2005. He stated the following: " This was taken from the Webber-Ligon Bible. RICHARD WARD married FRANCES WORSHAM and had a daughter, TAHPENES WARD, who married PHILIP WEBBER. Their daughter, ANNE BEVILL WEBBER, married RICHARD LIGON. The Webber-Ligon Bible was last known to be owned by a descendant, Mrs. WILLIAM HENRY GRAHAM. The Webber-Ligon Bible records the following marriage: RICHARD WARD and FRANCES WORSHAM was married December 18th 1716. The Bible does not identify the parents of Frances Worsham, but it does identify her as a Worsham. The fact that Richard Ward and Frances Worsham's daughter, Tahpenes, named a daughter Anne Bevill Webber points to the fact that Frances was one of the two daughters of Charles Worsham and Mary Bevill."

Jack Webber posted 28 October 2005 on Genforum the following message. "I don't know any of the Graham descendants and don't know where the Bible is today. It was owned by Mrs. Graham in 1907. I have a transcript copy of the Bible record. Here's what the transcript says, as you may find it helpful."
Richard and Ann Ligon Family Bible
These entries are taken from a Holy Bible printed in Edinburgh by Mark and Charles Kerr, 1795. The Bible is owned by Mrs. William Henry Graham, 1907.
Richard Ward and Frances Worsham was married December 18th 1716
Phillip Webber and Tahpenes Ward was married October 14th 1751
Richard Ligon and Ann Bevill Webber was married September 10th 1797
Alfred Wood married Tabitha Ward Ligon December 22 1822
William Richard Wood and Lucy Henry Southall were married August 25th 1847
Nannie Jane Wood married David Malcolm Wilkinson April 14th 1857
John Webber born August 15th 1752
Frances Webber born September 10th 1754 died September 14th 1754
Richard Webber born May 24th 1756
Phillip Webber born April 30th 1758
Benjamin Webber born October 6th 1760
Mary Webber born October 27th 1763 died November 3d 1763
Seth Ward Webber born March 20th 1766
Essex Webber born May 19th 1769 died October 8th 1773
Simeon Webber born January 16th 1772
Ann Bevill Webber born October 25th 1775
Richard Ligon born July 18th 1798
Daniel Ligon born December 22d 1799
Archibald Ligon born August 10th 1802
Tabitha Ward Ligon born June 10th 1804
Rachie Ligon born August 10th 1806
Catherine Ligon born December 11th 1808
Henry Ligon born February 11th 1811
George Ligon born June 7th 1813
Judith Ligon born February 1st 1815

Father: CHARLES WORSHAM b: 1658 in Bermuda Hundred, Henrico County, Virginia
Mother: MARY BEVILL b: 1662 in Henrico County, Virginia

Marriage1 RICHARD WARD b: 29 OCT 1692 in "Sheffield", Varina, Henrico, Virginia
Married: 18 DEC 1716 in prob. Henrico County, Virginia 6 7 8 9 10
Event: Fact in Frances Worsham was age 16 when she married Richard Ward, who was age 20.
Children
BENJAMIN WARD b: 18 SEP 1717 in Henrico County, Virginia
Tahpanes WARD b: 29 MAR 1729 in (Brunswick Co.) Virginia

Sources:
Details: Ward researches would like to find further proof that Frances\wife of Richard Ward, is Frances Worsham.
Details: Steve Jennings in an email to Brenda Reed 4/25/2005 stated that Frances, wife of Richard Ward, may have been Frances Worsham and one of 2 daughters of Charles Worsham (died 1712, Henrico Co. VA) and M ary Bevill. Court records mention that Charles & Mary Worsham had 5 children, 3 sons & 2 daughters. One son is William Worsham. Essex & Francis are sure bets. The girls remain unidentified but co urt records do mention 2 girls. He does not see any other Worsham that Frances could belong to. Tahpenes Ward Webber, daughter of Richard & Frances Ward, named a daughter Ann Bevill Webber. Mr. Jen nings has not found a Bevill connection anywhere on either side of Ann's family, except for the possibility that her grandmother, Frances, was the daughter of Charles Worsham and Mary Bevill. The War d and Worsham families were connected through the marriage of Seth Ward (brother of Richard Ward) to Martha Worsham (niece of Charles Worsham). If family tradition is right, the brothers Seth & Richa rd Ward would have married first cousins. Also as Charles & Mary Worsham named a son, Francis, and a daughter, Frances, that they may have been twins. It was not unheard of in that era for parents t o name 2 children with the same name.
Author: Ward Family (Records of Mary Ann Hansard)
Title: Ward Family Bible Record
Note:
Source Medium: Other

I obtained the Ward Family Record from Virginia Smith who obtained it from Mary Lorena Hansard Wilson of Sweetwater, TN., who died in 1992 in her nineties. The Ward family record was probably from th e Ward Family Bible. All the entries except for the last one appear to be in the same hand and ink and appear to have been recorded in the middle 1700s. The last entry, the death of Daniel Ward of F ranklin Co., VA, appears in a different hand & ink & would have been recorded shortly after his death. The Ward family record was originally owned by Richard Ward (1769-1762) and passed to his grands on, Daniel Ward (1739-1826) (son of Benjamin Ward and his first wife) of Franklin County, VA. It then passed down to Daniel Ward's daughter, Elizabeth Markham (Marcum) and then to her granddaughter , Mary Ann Hansard, who was the grandmother of Lorena Wilson of Sweetwater, TN.

Text: "Richard Ward son of Seth Ward Born October 29th 1692
Frances His Wife Born Sept 14th 1700, Benjamin Ward son of Richard Ward born September 18th 1717, Tahpenes Ward Daughter of Richard Ward Born March 29 1729; Daniel Ward son of Benjamin Ward Born May 4 th 1739, died Jan 29th 1826"
Details: Further proof is needed to clearly and accurately establish that Frances, wife of Richard Ward, was "Frances Worsham."
Details: Frances' youngest known child, Tahpanes Ward, was born in 1729. Her husband, Richard Ward, married secondly in 1759 at Lunenburg Co., VA.
Author: Ward Family (Records of Mary Ann Hansard)
Title: Ward Family Bible Record
Note:
Source Medium: Other

I obtained the Ward Family Record from Virginia Smith who obtained it from Mary Lorena Hansard Wilson of Sweetwater, TN., who died in 1992 in her nineties. The Ward family record was probably from th e Ward Family Bible. All the entries except for the last one appear to be in the same hand and ink and appear to have been recorded in the middle 1700s. The last entry, the death of Daniel Ward of F ranklin Co., VA, appears in a different hand & ink & would have been recorded shortly after his death. The Ward family record was originally owned by Richard Ward (1769-1762) and passed to his grands on, Daniel Ward (1739-1826) (son of Benjamin Ward and his first wife) of Franklin County, VA. It then passed down to Daniel Ward's daughter, Elizabeth Markham (Marcum) and then to her granddaughter , Mary Ann Hansard, who was the grandmother of Lorena Wilson of Sweetwater, TN.

Text: "Richard Ward, son of Seth Ward, born October 19th 1692; Frances His wife born September 14th 1700"
Details: PROOF OF WIFE'S SURNAME IS NEEDED.
Title: Steve Jennings, Researcher
Text: Mrs. William Henry Graham is the last known owner of a Ward-Liggon Family Bible that stated Richard Ward married Frances Worsham, and had a daughter, Tahpenes Ward, who married Philip Webber. Their d aughter was Ann Bevill Webber, which indicates Frances may have been one of the two daughters of Charles Worsham and his wife, Mary Bevill.
Title: Webber-Liggon Family Bible
Publication: Location: Mrs. William Henry Graham (related to the line of Tahpenes Ward Webber);
Note:
Source Medium: Book

Data provided by Steve Jennings.

Text: "Richard Ward and Frances Worsham was married December 18th 1716."
Author: Matthew Carey
Title: William Ward Bible
Publication: Name: November 7, 1803, No. 122 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA.; Location: Copy provided to Brenda Reed by Charles Ward of Sweetwater, TN. "This is to attest and affirm that I, John B. Hansard, have personally copied the above Bible record from the Bible of William Ward an d I do herby affirm that the recorded in said Bible.";
Note:
Source Medium: Book

This Bible record ame from the Bible of William Ward, nephew of Dr. William Ward. Dr. Ward was a rich man and didn't have any children. His first wife was Mary Bowman Stewart. She died and the doct or took his nephew into his house to make him his heair. The nephew was William ward, son of Dr. Ward's brother, Benjamin Ward and wife Selah/Celia Stewart, sister of Dr. Ward's first wife, Mary Bowm an Stewart." Near the front of th Bible is written: "William Ward His Book Given Him by his Uncle William Ward May 19th 1806. The earliest entries were recorded by William Ward, nephew of Doctor Wi lliam Ward, copied from an older Bible in Doctor William Ward's possession. The newphew made his home with his uncle and the Bible reverted to the uncle upon the nephew's death. The entries dating f rom the newphew's death are in the hand of Doctor William Ward, except for the entry recording his death, which is in the hand of another nephew, Peter Marcum, who was given the Bible by Doctor Ward' s widow. The Bible is in poor condition and has pages missing. "

Page: page 679
Text: Richard Ward and Frances Worsham were married December 18th 1716.