Ancestors of Mandy Willard

Thomas WARD (1716-1783)

and Mary CAPLIN (1714-1755)

Thomas Ward and Mary Caplin were possibly 6x Great Grandparents.  (Click here to see their place in my pedigree chart.)  They married on 14 May 1740 at the parish church of St. Peter and St. Paul in Ashington, Sussex.  He was then of Henfield, Sussex and she of Ashington.

Thomas Ward was born on 28 May and baptised on 6 June 1716 in Henfield, Sussex.  He was the third son and fourth child of Joseph Ward (c1685-1723) and Mary Vinnall (c1685-1733).  He died aged about 67 years and was buried on 24 August 1783 in Henfield, as Thomas Ward the elder.

Mary Caplin was baptised on 14 September 1717 in Ashington, Sussex.  She was the third daughter and sixth child of Daniel Caplin (c1680-1732) and Sarah (c1680-1739).  She was buried on 5 January 1755 in Henfield.

Thomas Ward and Mary Caplin had 6 known children:

1. Thomas Ward was born on 5 February and baptised on 20 February 1740/1 in Henfield.  He may have been buried in Henfield on 24 August 1783 or 15 December 1802.

   Thomas married Elizabeth Nicholson on 23 April 1764 in Sompting, Sussex (or 1 April 1764 in Henfield).  He was then a bachelor of Henfield and she a spinster of Sompting.  The witnesses to the marriage were Edward Campion and Edward Grover.

   An Elizabeth Ward was buried on 17 September 1781 and another on 17 April 1804 and yet another died aged 72 years and was buried on 30 June 1810, all in Henfield.

   Thomas and Elizabeth had 2 known children:

   1. Thomas Ward was baptised on 3 March 1765 in Henfield.  He died aged 58 years and was buried on 10 October 1823 in Henfield.

      Thomas married Sarah Matthews by licence on 22 September 1791 in Shermanbury, Sussex.  He was a bachelor of Henfield and she a spinster of Shermanbury.  He signed his name and Sarah made her mark.  The witnesses to the marriage were William Stanford (signed) and Abigail Woolven (marked).  (Abigail may have been the wife of Richard Woolven.)

      Sarah was baptised on 30 September 1768 in Shermanbury and was the daughter of John Matthews (1725-1798) and Jane Worsfold (c1730-1807).

      Thomas and Sarah had the following children:

      1. Mary Ann Ward was privately baptised on 25 March 1792 in Henfield.  Her parents were described as paupers and exempt from paying the baptism fee.  She was received into the church on 12 June 1792.

      2. Elizabeth Ward was baptised on 12 December 1797 in Henfield

      3. Harriet Ward was baptised on 3 May 1801 in Henfield.

      4. Gainer Ward (daughter) was baptised on 7 August 1803 in Henfield.  She may have been buried as Jane Ward on 29 January 1805 in Henfield.

      5. Matthew Ward was baptised on 26 October 1806 in Henfield.

   2. Mary Ward was privately baptised on 21 September 1766 in Henfield.  She was buried there as an infant on 4 October 1766.

2. William Ward was born on 3 March and baptised on 16 March 1743/4 in Henfield.  He may have married Sarah Tate on 7 May 1768, and/or Mary Jay on 30 January 1770.  Both marriages were in Sompting.

3. Mary Ward, my possible 5x Great Grandmother, was born on 1 December and  baptised on 14 December 1746 in Henfield.  She married William Stilve in 1773.  (They have their own page.)

4. Joseph Ward was born on 12 February and baptised on 26 February 1748/9 in Henfield.

   Joseph married Martha Bawcomb on 11 February 1777 in Steyning, Sussex.

   Martha was baptised on 8 April 1749 in Steyning and was the daughter of Thomas Bawcomb and Susanna.

   Joseph and Martha had 1 known daughter:

   1. Ann Ward was baptised on 5 September 1784 in Steyning.  She may have had an illegitimate son:

      1. William Hill Ward was baptised on 25 December 1803 in Henfield.  He may have been buried on 5 October 1805, but the burial may also refer to the William Ward who was born 1718, or the William Ward born in 1805, as mentioned below.

5. Edward Ward was born on 3 February and baptised on 17 February 1750/1 in Henfield.  He was buried on 24 November 1808 in Henfield.

   Edward married Mary Bawcomb on 10 August 1774 in Steyning.

   Mary was baptised on 30 March 1752 in Steyning and was the daughter of Thomas Bawcomb and Susanna.  Mary may have died aged 66 and have been buried on 6 April 1808 in Henfield.

   Edward and Mary had the following children:

   1. Susan Ward was baptised on 28 February 1777 in Henfield.  She may have married William Ridge on 30 September 1798 in Woodmancote, Sussex.  He was then a bachelor of Henfield and she a spinster.  They were married by the rector, John Rideout.  The witnesses to the marriage were Nicholas Burtenshaw and John Evans.

   2. George Ward was baptised on 24 June 1787 in Henfield.  His parents paid the 3 pence baptism fee.

      George married Christain Goddard by banns on 27 --- 1816 in Henfield (June to October).  He was then a bachelor and she a widow and they were both of Henfield.  She signed her name as Christiana Selby.  A witness to the marriage was Hannah Filling.  As Christian Goddard she had previously married Joseph Selby by banns on 20 January 1812 in Henfield.  He was a bachelor and she a spinster and they were both of Henfield.

      When the 1841 census was recorded the family were living in Nep Town, Henfield and George was a bricklayer.

      George and Christian had the following known children:

      1. Edward Ward was baptised on 20 September 1817 in Henfield, at which time his father was a bricklayer.  He married Elizabeth Robinson Peters by banns on 24 February 1837 in Albourne, Sussex.  He was then a bachelor of Henfield and she a spinster of Albourne.  In 1841 the couple were living in Nep Town, Henfield in the home his parents, and Edward was then a plasterer.

      2. Anne Ward was baptised on 29 August 1820 in Henfield, at which time her father was a bricklayer and the family were living in Church Street, Henfield.  She was living at home in 1841.

      3. Mary Ward was baptised on 13 July 1823 in Henfield.  Her father was a bricklayer at the time of his baptism.

      4. Harriet Ward was baptised on 4 February 1827 in Henfield.  She was 14 years old in 1841.

      5. Ellen Ward was baptised on 7 March 1830 in Henfield.  She was 11 years old in 1841.

      6. Jane Ward was baptised on 2 September 1832 in Henfield. She was 8 years old in 1841.

   3. Ann Ward was privately baptised, as she was ill, on 10 June 1791 in Henfield.  She was received into the church on 19 June 1791.  Her parents paid the 3 pence baptism fee.  She may have been buried on 20 April 1800 in Henfield, but the burial may also refer to the Ann Ward who was born in 1748 or the Ann Ward who was born in 1783.

6. Henry Ward was born on 3 August and baptised on 11 August 1754 in Henfield.  He married Mary Geere in 1780 in Henfield.  (They have their own page.)

CAPLIN          WARD