This page was created for person who thought he might be related to Fred Ward. It is not relevant to the Warland family.
According to some sources, a Handley/Hanley Thompson Ward (born around 1760) married Ann Brinchey (abt 1762 - ) before 1788 and they had at least one child, Michael Hanley Thompson Ward (aka Hanley Thompson Ward)(1788/1787, Islington, London - 4 April 1859, West Maitland, NSW).
According to the website 'convict records', Michael Ward had a relationship with Sophia Jane Ann Elizabeth Prosley (or similar or Crolston?) and they had a daughter, Sophia Ward, born in 1808. (A Sophia Jane Ward was born in 1809 in London). Sources suggest that Michael and Sophia married in around 1813 but no record of this has yet been found.
Michael Ward, along with Thomas Dodman, was caught stealing, and tried at the old Bailey on 20 April 1814. His court case at the Old Bailey of 20 April 1814 states:
THOMAS DODMAN and MICHAEL WARD were indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 16th of February, one gallon and a half of rectified spirits, value 30 s. and one gallon and a pint of rum, value 22 s. the property of John Nicholson and William Nicholson , in their dwelling house.(Sources: (https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/; https://convictrecords.com.au/convicts/ward/michael/92736)
They were both sentenced to death but the sentence was commuted to life. Michael was said to have been transferred to the prison hulk Retribution moored at Woolwich on 6 August 1814. The Retribution registers appear to stop on 14 July 1814 and then continue as the Justitia's register. Michael is not obviously recorded in that listing from April 1814 to October 1814. From that hulk, Michael was transferred in October 1814 to the Indefatigable, bound for New South Wales.
Michael Ward arrived in Australia on 26 April 1815 on the Indefatigable.
Michael Ward's wife Sophia Jane Elizabeth Crolston (1792 - 1874 (NSW BDM Ref 5858)) and daughter (also named Sophia) decided to travel to New South Wales. Along with several other (free) wives of convicts, Sophia (and her daughter) left England on board the convict ship Northampton (the next convict ship after the Indefatigable) which departed Portsmouth on 1st January 1815. They arrived in New South Wales on 18 June 1815. Interestingly, according to the link below, 'Free passenger Mrs. Dodman died of apoplexy and was buried at Rio. The surgeon described her as a healthy good looking woman whose husband had been transported previously and had sent for her to join him (this was probably Thomas Dodman who arrived on the Indefatigable; her two year old son William Dodman died while at sea after leaving Rio and the last of the family on board, daughter Sarah at sea died on 9th April.' (https://www.jenwilletts.com/convict_ship_northampton_1815.htm)
Not long after her arrival, on 17 July 1815, Sophia petitioned for her husband to receive a Term of Leave (TOL) in Windsor so he could support her and her daughter. Sophia Ward settled in the Windsor area and Michael was assigned to her to work on a property where she was living.
It is believed that they had 10 more children after 1815 but only four survived. A newspaper report from 1931 referred to the fact that Fred Ward (Thunderbolt) had kept in touch with two sisters and a brother 'and their families'. The siblings are believed to have been Amelia, Joshua and Selina (Esther having moved to Sydney).
Their children were as follows (Sarah to Selina were recorded with their parents in the 1828 census. Their eldest Sophia Ward was possibly at another location at that time, or had died):
By 1822, Michael Ward, now a landholder, was residing on leased land in the Windsor district with his wife Sophia and four children. He had 14 hogs and 30 grains of maize in hand. In 1828, he was recorded as a labourer with a wife Sophia and six children living in Wilberforce. The family lived at Wilberforce from 1833 to 1837, during which time Frederick Ward was born. Michael Ward was granted a 'conditional pardon' on 10 July 1834, as reported in The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser of 18 July 1835.
A good summary of the bushranger Thunderbolt (with a photo) can be found here: FREDERICK WORDSWORTH WARD (CAPTAIN THUNDERBOLD). It states that:
Fred’s parents moved to the Maitland area in 1846, and at a very young age he was employed as a groom and station hand on several properties in the lower Hunter and Paterson River districts. When Fred was about 20 years old he was working on “Tocal” Station, near Maitland, when he suddenly resigned. At this time his older brother, William, was involved in a large scale horse and cattle stealing business with Michael Blake and John and James Garbutt. [For more detail on this aspect, see The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser of 14 August 1856] It has been said that James Garbutt employed Fred to help drive 75 horses down to Windsor. After they were sold it did not take long for the horses to be recognised, and Garbutt and Fred were arrested. They were sentenced to ten years with hard labour. Fred served four years at Cockatoo Island, then on 1st July 1860 was released on a Ticket of Leave. He went to Garbutt’s “Cooyal” Station in the Mudgee district. During this time he met and fell in love with Mary Ann Bugg whose father was English and mother Aboriginal.
The link provides more details.
Michael Ward, now named 'Hanley T[hompson] Ward', died on 4 April 1859 (NSW BDM Ref 3745/1859, his parents' names were stated as Hanley and Ann Ward). He was recorded as a 'dealer' (of what, is not clear). He was buried at the Church of England burial ground in West Maitland.
When his son Joshua Michael Ward died in 1879, Michael's name was shown as Hindley Ward.
Sophia Jane Elizabeth Ward died at the age of 86 at Campbell's Hill, West Maitland, on 9 August 1874 (NSW BDM Ref 5858/1874, no parents shown) and was buried in the same cemetery as her husband.
In 1899, a Joshua G Ward, the son of Audley G and Amelia Ward, died at Bingara (NSW BDM Ref 755/1899).
James Ward (possibly also known as William Ward, see below) (abt 1821 - ) was convicted at the Suffolk Quarter Session on an as-yet unknown date, and was sentenced to 7 years.
According to the convict ship register, James Ward was transported on the Strathfieldsaye, departing England with 269 other convicts on 11 February 1836, arriving in New South Wales on 15 June 1836. The problem is - who was James Ward and when did he board that ship? (https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/strathfieldsaye/1836)
The following men named James Ward were sent to Australia:
None of the above James Ward appear to be the one transported on the Strathfieldsaye in 1836.
According to this website the Strathfieldsaye departed Deptford (London) on the Thames on 27 January 1836 without any prisoners on board but with a group of soldiers and several paying passengers. The following text is from the site:
The convicts transported on the Strathfieldsaye in 1835 - 36 were convicted in England Scotland and Wales - Dorset, Berks, Middlesex, Warwick, Essex, Somerset, York, Southampton, Norfolk, Gloucester, Worcester, Northampton, Leicester, Suffolk, Lancaster, Wiltshire,. Sussex, Salop, Nottingham, Chester, Oxford, Derby, Devon, Surrey, Bedford,Stafford, London, Bristol, Ayr, Carnarvon, Perth, Dumfries, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh. There were also thirteen prisoners who were tried in Jamaica.
Thomas Braidwood Wilson R.N., was appointed Surgeon Superintendent of the Strathfieldsaye on 20 November 1835. He kept a Medical Journal from 16 December 1835 to 18 June 1836. Thomas Wilson joined the ship at Deptford on the 16th December while he ship was still being fitted out. The ship was delayed and not ready for sea until 27th January 1835. On this day the guard, a detachment of the 28th regiment was embarked at Deptford. The Guard consisted of Lieutenant Cadell, and Ensign Garling, and 28 rank and file of the 28th regiment. Passengers included Mr. Thomas Smith, farmer; Miss Cameron, governess; Mary Peacock and Caroline Freeman, Servants; eight soldiers’ wives, and thirteen children.
The ship travelled a few kms down the Thames and arrived at Woolwich where 70 prisoners from the Justitia hulk were received. It then travelled on to Portsmouth (via Chatham on the River Medway?) on the south coast of England where on 6 February 1836 130 prisoners were received from the Leviathan hulk. A couple of days later, a further 70 were received from the York - 270 prisoners in total, one of of which died on the journey out.
Thomas Wilson noted that the prisoners who joined from the Leviathan and York were 'miserable looking prisoners'. The web page above has a description of the conditions in the Leviathan. The prisoners were well behaved and were said to have reached Sydney in a better state than when they left.
Michael Ward was probably assigned to a landholder upon his arrival, quite possibly in Windsor given the details below. The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser of 6 August 1836, which refers to the distribution of convicts. While it does not name James Ward (or any other convict) specifically, it does include the following distributions to Windsor, which may provide a clue to James Ward's whereabouts in 1836:
Could James have been one of these three men, working for either Fitzgerald or Farlow? When he died in 1859, the newspaper noted that James Ward had been 'ailing for some time', suggesting he was an older man. An article in The Sydney Morning Herald of 7 March 1854 referred to servant of William Farlow 'of Yellow Mundays', named James White who had 'absented himself from his hired services'.
Richard Fitzgerald is almost certainly the man described in the Windsor and Richmond Gazette of 23 October 1914, who died in 1840. 'Richard Fitzgerald died, at the age of 68 years, on 25th May, 1840. The Fitzgerald vault will be found to the north-west of the church in St. Matthew's cemetery, not far from the well-known vault of Andrew Thompson. Mrs. Richard. Fitzgerald died 12th May, 1833, at the age of 53 years. Robert Fitzgerald, the only surviving son of Richard Fitzgerald, was born in Windsor on 1st June, 1807. The family had built, about the thirties, what in those days was considered a fine mansion in George-street, the building being now known at the Royal Hotel. In this building he entertained at times on a lavish scale.' There is no mention of James Ward.
Isabella Sharp was said to be the daughter of James William Sharp and Isabel/Isabella Hanley/Handley. (Note that all Isabella Sharps recorded in findmypast.co.uk were born in Scotland, but no match can yet be found in scotlandspeople.gov.uk).
Isabella was a free settler who travelled in steerage class, arriving in New South Wales on the Globe on 31 August 1841. Several other (possibly single) women and a family accompanied her in steerage (The Sydney Monitor and Commercial Advertiser 30 August 1841). Why did Isabella Sharp leave England?
James Ward married Isabella Sharp in 1843 (NSW BDM Ref 89/1843 V184389 83).
The children of James and Isabella Ward as recorded in the NSW BDM records were:
(Note that Michael Ward, the father of Frederick Ward, 'Thunderbolt', and family, moved to Maitland around 1846.)
The Freeman's Journal of 9 March 1859 recorded the death at Windsor of a James Ward:
SUDDEN DEATH - A man named James Ward, residing in George Street, suddenly expired at his residence yesterday morning. He had been ailing for some time past but latterly his health had been much improved. He was at his breakfast yesterday morning, when he was taken suddenly ill, and expired in a few minutes. He leaves a wife and young family totally destitute.
The above James Ward was, according to NSW BDM death records (Ref 5429) the son of William and Hannah Ward.
Isabella Ward (or her daughter?) is died the year after, in 1860 at Windsor (NSW BDM Ref 6434, parents shown as William and Isabella, suggesting it was the daugther).
According to his obituary (see below), Joseph William Ward was born at Laughtondale on the Hawkesbury River and lost his parents when a boy. If the above deaths for James and Isabella are correct, then Joseph was around 13/14 at this time.
Based on the obituary of his son Joseph William Ward, it believed that the children may have been cared for by the family of David and Izetta Bushell who had the following children:
Joseph William Ward (2 February 1846 (NSW BDM Ref 1404/1846 V18461404) - 30 July 1928 (NSW BDM Ref 12887, which lists his parents as William and Isabella) married Ambrosine Isabella Bushell, a daughter of David Bushell, at Windsor (see below for more information) in 1873 (NSW BDM Ref 4211). Their children were:
The Windsor and Richmond Gazette of 20 March 1897 carried a death notice for David Bushell, which makes reference to a Mrs Ward (born Ambrosine Bushell).
The sudden death of an old and respected resident of the district, in the person of Mr David Bushell, of Wilberforce, took place late on Saturday night last, at his residence. Deceased had reached the age of 71 years and 8 months, and was on Sunday morning last found dead in his bed. He has been ailing for a considerable time, and a few months previous was stricken down by a paralytic stroke, the effects of which he never fully recovered. The funeral took place on Monday morning last at half past ten o'clock. The cortege was a very long one, being followed by residents from all parts of the district. The remains were interred in the Church of England cemetery, Wilberforce,Rev Mr Fielding officiating. Mr T Collison carried out the duties of undertaker. The pall-bearers who walked beside the hearse were Messrs R Greentree, J Turnbull, J Buttsworth, and G Bennett. Deceased leaves a grown-up family, all of them highly respected, among whom are Mesdames Lobb, Ward [Ambrosine, nee Bushell] and Cupitt, and Messrs J Bushell, of Cornwallis, and D Bushell of Wilberforce.
The Hawkesbury Advocate of 6 October 1899 ran the following article:
On Friday night last the sad news reached Windsor of the discovery of the body of James Bushel, at the bottom of a 70ft shaft, on the Bobby Burn's lease at Peak Hill. His head was smashed in near the temple, and the body fearfully bruised. On enquiries being made it was found that deceased was none other than James Bushel, a native of Wilberforce, and brother to Mesdames T. Lobb, E. Cupitt, and J. Ward [Ambrosine nee Bushell] of Windsor, and also to Joshua and David Bushell. The deceased has been away from the district for about ten years, but was very well-known and as well liked. He was last seen on Wednesday, after which his absence caused a search to be made with the foregoing result. He was 49 years of age and has for many years followed up mining pursuits, being well-known on nearly all mining fields, and highly respected. An inquest was held on the body when a verdict of accidental death was returned. The funeral took place at Peak Hill, on Saturday last and was largely attended. The deceased had not been in the best of health for some time past and it is thought that when looking into the shaft he became giddy and fell down.
The following deaths are recorded for the children born to David and Izetta Bushell from 1921:
Ambrosine Ward (nee Bushell), the wife of J Ward of Kenilworth Street, Croydon, died on 14 February 1926. Her obituary in the Windsor and Richmond Gazette of 19 February 1926 provides some insight into her life and family:
OBITUARY. MRS. JOSEPH WARD. Hawkesbury people learned with sorrow on Monday last of the death of Mrs. Ambrosine Ward, wife of Mr. Joseph Ward, which took place at 'Myooria,' Kenilworth street, Croydon, at 7 p.m. on the previous evening. The late Mrs. Ward was a member of a well-known and highly respected Hawkesbury family, and she was herself beloved by all who knew her. She was a daughter of the late David Bushell, of Wilberforce, and was born there in 1854. In 1873 she was married, to Mr. Joseph Ward at Windsor. There were 11 children of the union, 9 of whom are now living. The surviving members of the family are: — Mrs. J. Mullin (Ada), of Potts Point, Sydney; Mrs. G. Crone (Belle) of Ashfield; Mrs. H. Marshall (Bessie) of Moss Vale; the Misses Ellie and Kathleen Ward, of Potts Point; Messrs Frank, Colin and Oscar Ward, of Potts Point, and Mr. Bruce Ward, of Windsor. Mr. Joseph Ward, with the assistance of his splendid helpmeet, founded the well-known business in Windsor now conducted by Mr. Bruce Ward. There they reared their large family, gave them all a liberal education, and made a fine success of the business. About 12 years prior to leaving Windsor they retired to 'Claremont,' which Mr. Ward purchased from the late Thomas Chaseling. Mr. E. T. Cheeseman, managing director of the Hotel Sydney, now owns and occupies 'Claremont.' Mr. and Mrs. Ward removed to Potts Point about seven years ago, where they have resided ever since. The late Mrs. Ward and her husband had occupied a cottage at Croydon for a month prior to her death, having gone there to be near her medical adviser. She had been in delicate health for about five months. She was a sister of Mrs. Thomas Lobb, Mrs. John Lobb, Mrs. E. J. Cupitt and Messrs David, Joshua and Claude Bushell. No family was more respected or better known in the Hawkesbury district than the Ward family. For the many years that Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Ward were in business they enjoyed the confidence and goodwill of the people. Some 20 years ago Mr. Ward became an alderman of the Windsor Council and in 1910, the year that the Hawkesbury centenary was celebrated, he was Mayor of the town, and his late wife held the distinction of being Mayoress of that historical epoch. The deceased was a woman of refinement and broad charity and her death is deeply deplored by a very large circle of friends. The funeral came by motor from Croydon on Monday afternoon, and the remains were interred in St. Matthew's C.E. cemetery. The funeral was largely attended. Rev. N. Jenkyn, R.D., conducted the burial service, and spoke in eloquent terms of the deceased's many admirable attribute.
Joseph William Ward died on 28 July 1928. His obituary in the Sydney Morning Herald on 4 August 1928 read as follows:
MR. JOSEPH WILLIAM WARD. Windsor lost one of its oldest residents by the death of Mr. Joseph William Ward at the age of 82 years, after a life spent entirely in the district. He took an active part in everything connected with the progress of the district. He was the Mayor of Windsor at the centenary celebrations, and was an ardent Anglican. For many years he was superintendent of the St. Matthew's Sunday-school, the oldest in the State. In his youth Mr. Ward was a rowing enthusiast, and won many trophies on the Hawkesbury. He leaves a family of four sons and five daughters.
The Windsor and Richmond Gazette of 3 August 1928 ran a much more detailed obituary which confirms that he was orphaned as a young boy:
THE LATE JOSEPH WARD. MAN OF MANY PARTS. BY the death of Joseph William Ward, which took place suddenly at the residence of his daughter (Mrs. R. W. Moore), of 'Araporo,' Milray Avenue, Wollstonecraft, on Monday, another well-known Windsor identity passes to the land of shades and shadows. With the exception of about seven years, the deceased gentleman lived the whole of his life in the district, and reached the great age of 82 years. For half a century, he was one of the most prominent citizens of the old town, and was honored and respected for his goodness and worth by every section of the community.
Born at Laughtondale on the Hawkesbury River the late Joseph Ward lost his parents when a boy, and he came to Windsor in the employ of the late Thomas Primrose to learn his trade as a carpenter. He afterwards joined the firm of Beard and Co. (now Pulsford ang Co.), and remained with them till, shortly after his marriage to Miss Ambrosine Bushell, a member of another well known Hawkesbury family, when he decided to buy into a small business of his own and commenced in a humble way near the railway viaduct in Macquarie-street. Soon afterwards he moved into George-street to the small shop now occupied by Mrs. J. Hibbert, near the Council Chambers. As the venture prospered he soon, found these premises too small, and set about to build the store which is now the site of the well-known business conducted by his son, Mr. Bruce Ward.
Being a lover of the land, the deceased entrusted the management of the business in a great measure to his wife, whilst he followed the avocation of farming; and it was this love of the outdoor-life that induced him, on retirement from business, to purchase the beautiful old home, 'Claremont,' now the residence of Mr. E. T. Cheeseman.
Some nine years ago Mr. Ward and family left the district to reside at Potts Point but after the death of his wife about two years since he returned to Windsor to spend his remaining days with his son, Mr. Bruce Ward, and family, at 'The Grange.' Here he enjoyed splendid health, and was always actively engaged gardening, etc., until Saturday last when he decided to spend a few days in Sydney amongst the various members of his family. Apparently in the best of health and spirits, at his daughter's home at Wollstonecraft on Monday, he was chatting and making arrangements for his return to Windsor on the morrow. Subsequently he strolled out into the garden where he collapsed a few minutes afterwards, and died.
During his residence in Windsor the late Joseph Ward took a very keen interest in all movements connected with the welfare and progress of the town. In his early days he was a very keen waterman and a great sculling enthusiast. Being a personal friend of the late Peter Kemp, he became a good amateur sculler, and in the days when that sport was so popular he was a member of the crew which beat the famous Maitland Eight, and the silver cup won on that occasion is still in the possession of the family. During the big '67 flood and subsequent, devastations in the Hawkesbury, the deceased was always an active worker in rescue work, and his advice was always sought and followed in dangerous undertakings.
He was a keen follower of sport, and only a few weeks since he tripped to Sydney to see the English footballers in action. He was also a keen tennis enthusiast, and was present at the match between Windsor and Wilberforce about a fortnight ago. An ardent supporter of the 'king of sports' — cricket — the deceased was seldom absent from a match in Windsor when his sons were the mainstay of the Old Federal Club some years ago.
The subject of this notice was also a keen follower of politics, and could always be found solidly behind the candidate of his choice. His reminiscences of the thrilling contests in days gone by, when electors rolled up to the meetings in full force to encourage the respective candidates, and fight for their choice if necessary, were interesting indeed. His service with the volunteers was a long one, and for which he was made a grant by the Government of the country.
Of his public life a great deal could be written, but in this brief sketch of his career it is sufficient to cursorily glance at his record. As a citizen of Windsor he was created a Justice of the Peace, after which he entered the Council and with conspicuous ability, served the ratepayers of the old borough for many years, and at different times the highest civic honors were conferred on him. He occupied the mayoral chair on the great occasion of the Windsor centenary celebrations — an honor which he always cherished owing to his long residence in the town. He was a warden of St. Matthew's Church of England for a long term, and with the Rector and General Paine was elected annually to represent the church at the Synod meetings in Sydney. He also occupied the position of Superintendent of St. Matthew's Sunday School for a period of 40 years.
No more loyal citizen than the late Joseph Ward ever lived, and during the Great War two of his sons served at the front. He leaves a family of nine children — Ada, (Mrs. Mullen, Potts Point), Ellie (Mrs. Youdale, Roseville), Belle (Mrs. Crane, Ashfield), Kathleen (Mrs. Moore, Wollstonecraft), Bessie (Mrs. Marshall, Moss Vale), and Frank, Bruce, Colin and Oscar to mourn their loss.
Thoroughly conscientious in all his dealings, a lover of justice and fair-play, with broad-minded views and clear-sighted in all business matters, the late Joseph Ward was one of those rare citizens whom it is always a pleasure to meet. A kindly heart, a genial disposition, and his big sympathies for unfortunate fellow creatures, were all tributes that won for him the respect of all classes, while his probity and honesty of purpose inspired the confidence of everyone who knew him. As a friend he could be implicitly trusted, and his sound advice was of considerable help, to those who sought it; but it was his fine impartiality and constant endeavor to do the right and fair thing that always won the admiration, of even those who are never, happy unless carping at and criticising public men. Freely he gave his best services to the town, and the municipality generally, and he passed to the Great Beyond honored and revered by every section of the community.
The funeral took place on Tuesday afternoon, the remains being brought to Windsor by motor hearse and interred in St. Matthew's cemetery. The chief mourners were Messrs Frank, Bruce, Colin and Oscar Ward (sons); Hy. Ward (brother), J. K. Mullen, G. H. Crane, R. W. Moore, E. Youdale (sons-in-law), Wm. Hall, David Bushell, Thomas Lobb [married Izetta L Bushell in 1884 (NSW BDM Ref 1189)] (brothers-in-law), Ashley Nix (nephew), Jack Ward (grandson), and Mrs John Lobb [Kezia A Bushell, married John Lobb in 1884 (NSW BDM Ref 1189)] (sister-in-law).
Upon arrival at St. Matthew's Church the cortege was met by a large gathering of townspeople. All denominations were largely represented and questions of creed and 'isms' were forgotten for the nonce, in the universal desire to honor the memory of a good man — One whose fine record will not be forgottem for many a year. Among those who attended the funeral were General J. J. Paine, V.D., Dr. G. McElhone (representing the N.S.W. Lawn Tennis Association), Mr. F. J. Mason (Town Clerk), Aid. W. H. O'Brien., ex-Aid. W. J. Ross, ex-Aid. G. Marden, ex- Aid. G. Davis, Mr. N. B. Walker (representing his father, Mr. R. B. Walker, M.L.A. ), Evangelist Arnold, the Captain of the Salvation Army, Mr. Brinsley Hall (Hawkesbury Race Club), Mr. R. A. Nevile (Bank of N..S. Wales), Messrs W. Lobb, R. A. Pye, A. H. Wilcher, O. H. Dean, E. J. Cupitt, G. F.. Cupitt, Aubrey Pye, T. J. Cambridge, J. Cobcroft, P. Holland, W. B. I-Iolman, F. Wood, P. Hulbert, S. W. Maisey, Clive Harris and many others.
The remains were borne from, the hearse into the church, and to the grave by the four sons. Rev. N. Jenkyn, R.D., conducted the burial service, and made eloquent and sympathetic reference to the life of the deceased. He referred to the pathetic, suddenness of the deceased's death, and said it came as a great shock to most people, because the late Mr. Ward was so well known to all. Only on Saturday last the rector said he was chatting with Mr. Ward, and he appeared to be so well, but 'in the midst of life we are in death.'
'The late Joseph Ward was born in the district,' continued the preacher, 'and lived here all his life. He had to make his own way through life, and was a genuine worker up to his death. He was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth, and all the more credit is due to him because he made a success of life on his own. Highly respected throughout the whole district, he had a military training, but was a man of peace. The citizens trusted him for they elected him as an alderman of the Council, and he held the high and honorable position Of Mayor of the town for years, with credit to himself and satisfaction to the ratepayers of the municipality. It is only fitting therefore, that to-day the flag should fly half-mast over the Council Chambers as a tribute of respect to the memory of the late Joseph Ward. The deceased did much in his quiet way to further, the interests of the town and municipality. He was Mayor at the time of tile centenary of the old town, and his services to the district during times of. flood will be remembered for many years to come.
'He was a thinker, the late Joseph Ward. He was a man of original ideas and original thoughts; he was a man of many parts and only those who knew him intimately realised the talents he possessed. He could do almost anything, and was a man of much common sense. That was one of the things that showed out prominently in his life. He was a lover of little children, and we don't forget his long service to the church as Superintendent of the Sunday school. The children loved him, and the teachers worked so amicably with him. We remember that he was warden of the old church for many years, and a constant worshipper.
'I never heard the late Joseph Ward make light of anything good — he had a reverence for good things. He was always on the side of right, and a man of strong convictions. He has left us an example of humility — for he was a humble man. He has left us an example of service for King, and an example of service to the town and district. During my long residence in the parish I have never heard one word of scandal or one finger of scorn pointed at the late Joseph Ward. He was a loyal subject, and you always knew where to find him when it came to a question of the Empire, He lived to the great age of 82 years, and left this world with his faculties almost unimpaired.
'In conclusion,' added the rector, 'I desire to express not only the sympathy of the members of the parish, but that of the whole Hawkesbury district with the bereaved family.' The 'Gazette' also desires to express sympathy with the members of the family — though it might well be said that the late Joseph Ward had weathered the trials and tribulations of this life for a fair time, had been blessed with good health for the great bulk of those years, and 'there was no moaning at the bar when he put out to sea'.
The Windsor and Richmond Gazette of 11 September 1931 carried the obituary for David O Bushell.
AFTER a lengthy suffering from a painful illness, one of this district's oldest and most respected residents, Mr. David Oscar Bushell, passed peacefully away at his residence, Wilberforce, during the early hours of Sunday morning at the age of 73 years. By his death, the Hawkesbury has lost one of those pioneer farmers of the old school who did so much for the promotion and the prosperity of this part of the colony in its early days. The arduous toil that was associated with the plodding pioneers had no exception in this centre, and men like Dave Bushell, who carved their homes in the heart of the bush , and reared a large family, were endowed with a large measure of pluck and perseverance. A son of the late David and Isetta Bushell, the deceased was born at Wilberforce, where he resided all his life. Forty-one years ago he was married at the Presbyterian Church, Windsor, to Mary Sullivan, daughter of Mr. James Sullivan and the late Mrs. Sullivan, of Wilberforce . Incidentally Mr. Sullivan is still hale and hearty at the great age of 87 years. On account of ill health, the late Mr. Bushell retired from active farm work about twelve years ago. He was able to get about, however, until six months ago, when his illness took a more serious form and against the progress of which he fought tenaciously. Considerable pain was his misfortune through his sickness, which he bore with great Christian fortitude and with wonderful hope, patience and resignation. The late Dave Bushell was a man who worked hard during his early life, and he and his good wife reared a family of sons and daughters who are a credit to a good father and mother. The home of the Bushells has always been recognised as one of the most hospitable in the Hawkesbury, and many stories are told of the help and encouragement that others received at the hands of the deceased. Ever ready to help a deserving cause, the late Mr. Bushell's kindness and charity earned for him the goodwill of all sections of the community. Deceased leaves a widow and family of eight sons, and three daughters, viz., Netta (Mrs. Wood, Windsor), Bruce (Wilberforce), Arthur (Windsor), Jack (Vineyard), Joshua (Wilberforce), Lillian (Mrs. O. Voller), Wilberforce), Linda (Penrith), Paul, David, Alfred and William (Wilberforce). Mrs. T. Lobb (Wollstonecraft, and formerly of Windsor), Mrs. Edward Cupitt (Windsor), are sisters, and Mr Vern. Bushell (Wee Waa) is a brother of the deceased. That the late Mr. Bushell was a man who enjoyed the universal esteem of the people was evidenced by the large gathering that attended the funeral on Sunday afternoon, the remains being laid to rest in the Presbyterian cemetery, Windsor. Rev. R. C. Lawton conducted the last sad rites, and Mr. Chandler was the undertaker.
The Sydney Morning Herald of 17 September 1937 ran two notices stating that (a) Charles Alfred Stephens (senior) of North Sydney and Joseph William Ward, of Windsor, owed rates on Lot 3 of Section 8, D.P. 459, Linsley St, Cobar; and (b) Ambrosine Isabella Ward, of Windsor, owed rates on lot 12, Section 21, D.P. 3554, Eleventh and Fourteenth Streets, Cobar. As a result of the non-payment of rates, the land would be sold 'for default' by the Municipality of Cobar.
Created 11 March 2019, updated 8 April 2020, Copyright Andrew Warland