Ward from Killarney 1850s (Protestant)

Ruby, 

I can see David Ward and family in the 1911 census of Walton on the Hill, Liverpool. David was 30 and a railway clerk, Edith 27, Edna 3 & Ida 1. All 4 were born in Liverpool. Couple had been married 4 years. Likely marriage for them in West Derby, Lancs Oct – Dec 1906 Volume 8b, page 856.

I can see what looks like Matthew Ward, Sarah etc in the 1901 census for 65 Stanfield St, Everton, Liverpool.  Mathew 48, gas works watchman, b Preston; Sarah 44, Robt 21, David 20 (both railway clerks) Mathew & Sidney 18. All born Liverpool.

There’s a possible family in Preston in the 1861 census. Robert Ward 32, Draper born Bentham, Yorkshire, Ann 34 born Preston, Mathew 8, John 7, Thomas 6, Bartie (?) 4, Robert 2 & Mary 1, all born Preston.

So though they may have lived in Killarney in the 1850s, it looks as though Robert and his wife were both born in England.

Hi Elwyn and many thanks for that reply, but its the wrong Ward..  There was no Robert Ward.  but thank you for replying. x

Hi Elwyn,  we know very little about the Ward family, is there any more information,?  some of what you have found is true but we are not sure of the rest.  David was a draper in Preston and must have been well off to affort to send his four sons to a private school.    

What looks to be Matthew Ward’s marriage to Sarah Owens was in Birkenhead Oct – Dec 1878 Volume 3a, page 664. If you order a photocopy of that from GRO Southport it should give you Matthew’s father’s name and occupation.  You can use that to search again for his parents.

1881 census for 80 William St, Southport has Matthew 28 born Preston, occ draper’s assistant; Sarah 24, born Liverpool (not Betws y Coed), children Robert 1 & David 8 months (both born Liverpool).

I had a look for Ward families with children named Mark, Luke, John & Matthew in the 1861 census around Preston but without success.

Marriage for David Arthur Ward & Marjorie Dyke registered Liverpool Jul-Sept 1941 Volume 8b page 3.

Hi again Elwyn,  yes, you have got the right Ward.  David Arthur and Marjorie were Johns parents.  He was given 'jumbled' information about his ancestors, all he knew was they came from Killarney.  We go over to Ireland regularly and would love to visit Killarney.  Any idea what part of Killarney thhhey were from?   Best wishes,,  Ruby & John. x

Ruby & John,

If I have found the correct family then I don’t see any Irish connection at all.  Robert Ward was born in Yorkshire in about 1829. I think he married when he was about 20 or 21 in Preston (there are a couple of likely looking marriages in 1850 and 1851) and Matthew was born there in 1853 as were numerous other children after that. If he was also in Killarney then he couldn’t have been there very long.

Killarney is just a town so not very difficult to investigate. Try the local library and see if they have any records of a draper named Ward.

Sometimes people get confused with their ancestry and make mistakes. I can’t see any obvious connection with Ireland at all for the Ward family.