Thread: Harriet Ward

Chris

Harriet Ward nee Hunn

By M.V.
Acle. In 1851 Harriet was living with her parents at Damgate in Acle, however,
on June 17th 1852, at St George Parish Church, Tombland, she married Robert Ward, a miller. In 1855 they left for Australia, leaving behind their one year old son Robert Fosse Ward with Harriets parents. This was probably because conditions on the ships were very harsh. They traveled on the ship “Goldfinder”. Robert and Harriet’s second son Joseph Burton Ward was born at Spring Creek, Beechworth, North West Victoria in 1856, being baptized along with his brother George who was born in 1857, also at Beechworth. This was It seems that the family moved to Buckland , Victoria between 1857 and 1859 as their fourth child Harriet was born there, although they travelled to Beechworth for the christening. Unfortunately Harriet died aged only 14 months.

Robert’s brother Thomas had also emigrated and the two brothers bought blocks of land over the years until they owned 5 or 6 at Lower Buckland. Both were panning for gold in the stream which flowed 100 yards on the other side of the road from their homes. The houses are no longer standing but were made of weatherboard with a shingle roof, a wide veranda and covered by creeping plants. The front door was central and upon entering there was a sitting room, opening off this was a large kitchen plus two more small bedrooms.

On 29th January 1863 disaster struck when Harriet and Robert’s son, Joseph, drowned in a reservoir which was used for mining purposes by his father. It was a very hot day and Joseph had gone there with his brother George and friend Alfred Rudebecke. Joseph took off his clothes and jumped in but was soon in trouble. Alfred ran to get Harriet and Robert, but sadly it was too late.

Harriet and Robert decided to return to England for a while, leaving Australia in 1863 after their son Arthur Hunn Ward had been born that year.

Eventually the family returned to Australia, arriving in Melbourne in January 1866 on the ship “GoldenSea”. This time Robert their eldest son (who was 13 years old by this time) accompanied them.


Just before 1885 Harriet decided to join a ChristadelphianEcclesiaChurch. Another Lower Buckland family, the Hepburns were already Christadelphians and so a regular Sunday service was held at the Hepburns home. The Christadelphians are a religious group who believe that the Bible is totally without error, that there is no existence after death and that when Jesus returns he will raise his followers from the dead and grant them immortality. These followers will help him to rule, bringing justice, righteousness and peace to the whole world. The group sometimes have their own halls to worship in, but they tend to meet in homes or rented rooms.
The only school in Lower Buckland was a Catholic one, and as the family
Catholic, Robert became part of a committee for a state school, which was eventually approved.

Robert and Harriet had two more sons, Edgar who was born in 1868 and Granville James born in 1871.

Harriet died of bronchitis and mitral incompetency on 4th October 1913 at Lower Buckland, aged 82 years. Upon her death the Alpine Observer said of her that she was ‘an early settler and well respected’. It has not yet been ascertained when Robert died, although according to her death certificate she was a widow when she died. Her eldest son, Robert Fosse Ward married Fanny Caroline Humphreys and had eight children, he was a postmaster in Melbourne and died aged 92 years on 26th July 1945.

Bazza

Harriet Ward was my great-great-great-grandmother, I had most of this info but there were a few bits I didn't have. There are also a few mistakes and corrections. The 'Buckland' where the Wards lived is not in Tasmania, it's in Victoria, and known as the Buckland Valley. Robert Ward (the husband) died on 4 Feb 1910 at his home on the Lower Flat, Buckland Valley. His headstone has an incorrect date inscripted upon it though, 14th Feb 1910. Robert also ventured to Aust. in Nov 1852, probably to check things out and try his hand at a bit of mining. I am descended from their third son, George Edwin who married Louisa Ann Kinsmore.

Chris