The Ward Line - Kent to South Australia
Frank Ward was born on 19 July 1872 in Great Chart, Kent and was christened on 25 August 1872 in Great Chart, Kent. Frank was the third child of George Ward and Caroline Jell. Frank was not quite four-years-old when his mother died. His father George remarried later the same year. Before he was 18-years-old, Frank was working for the South Eastern Railways as a coach builder.
At the age of 25, Frank married Martha Jane Wooderson. Martha Jane was the eighth child of Henry Wooderson and Emma Elizabeth Symonds. They were married on 19 December 1897 at the Congregational Chapel in West Ashford, Kent. Frank was living at 34 Lower Denmark road in South Ashford and Martha Jane at 11 Beaver place, South Ashford. Martha Jane’s sister, Sarah Susannah and her husband Edward Arthur Wilson, were witnesses.
For the first few years of their marriage, Frank & Martha Jane lodged with the Wilson family. Edward Wilson was also a railway worker, in 1901 he was a railway carriage wagon lifter. Sarah was at home, 5 Christchurch road, Ashford, with five small children. On 6 July 1904, Frank and Martha Jane’s first child was born. A son, William Frank Ward, was born at 58 Torrington road, Ashford, Kent. Frank was still working for the railways as a carpenter at this time. On 16 May 1906, Alice Elizabeth Ward was born in Ashford district, Kent. Two years later, another daughter, Gladys May Ward was born on 24 May 1908 in Ashford district, Kent. Edith Ward was born in about June 1910 in West Ashford district, Kent but sadly Edith died when she was 10-years old. |
In 1911 Frank, Martha and their four children were living at 50 Torrington road, Ashford, Kent. The following year George Drury Ward was born on 26 January 1912 and two years later, Frederick Ward was born on 9 February 1914.
By 1939, Frank and Martha Jane had moved to 152 Christchurch road, Ashford, Kent. Frank was still employed as a Railway Carpenter. Only two children were still at home, Gladys and Frederick. Gladys was 31 years old and employed as a domestic servant and Frederick was 27 years old and working for the Southern Railway as an engine cleaner. William Frank Ward had married on Christmas Day 1931 in Brighton, Sussex to 19-year-old Doris Ellen Woolven and they were in Worthing, Sussex in 1939 with their two eldest children. George Drury Ward was living in Chigwell, Essex in 1939 and working as a shoe salesman. Alice Elizabeth Ward may have been working away from home as well. Neither Gladys May or Alice Elizabeth married and they lived together in their later years. |
Frank Ward died in about March 1951 in Ashford, Kent at the age of 78 years. Martha Jane died the following year in about June 1952 in Ashford, Kent at the age of 73 years.
Descendants of Frank Ward
Frank Ward was born on 19 July 1872 in Great Chart, Kent, was christened on 25 August 1872 in Great Chart, Kent and died in March quarter 1951 in Ashford, Kent at age 78 years. Frank married Martha Jane Wooderson on 19 December 1897 in West Ashford, Kent. Martha Jane was born on 10 October 1878 in Folkestone, Kent and died in June quarter 1952 in Ashford, Kent at age 73 years. They had six children: William Frank, Alice Elizabeth, Gladys May, Edith, George Drury and Frederick.
- William Frank Ward was born on 6 July 1904 in Ashford Kent and died on 24 February 1984 in Brighton, Sussex at age 79 years. William married Doris Ellen Woolven on 25 December 1931 in Brighton, Sussex. They had three children: Joyce Edith, David Frank and Brian Frederick.
- Alice Elizabeth Ward was born on 16 May 1906 in Ashford, Kent and died in March quarter 1997 in Shepway, Kent at age 90 years. Alice did not marry.
- Gladys May Ward was born on 24 May 1908 in Ashford, Kent and died in March quarter 1996 in Ashford Kent at age 87 years. Gladys did not marry.
- Edith Ward was born in June quarter 1910 in West Ashford district, Kent and died in December quarter 1920 in West Ashford district, Kent at age 10 years.
- George Drury Ward was born on 26 January 1912 in Ashford, Kent and died on 7 October 1987 in Ashford, Kent at age 75 years. George married Isabella Emma Trelfer in June quarter 1940 in West Ashford district, Kent. Isabella (Bella) was born on 3 April 1916 in Portsmouth, Hampshire and died before 2010. They had two children: Janet M. and Keith.
- Frederick Ward was born on 9 February 1914 in West Ashford, Kent and died in March quarter 1979 in Ashford, Kent at age 65 years. Frederick married Marjorie Elizabeth Page on 23 March 1940 in Westwell, Kent. Marjorie was born on 14 May 1917 in Thanet, Kent. They had two children: Allen F. and Jennifer M. Allen Ward died as a result of an accident in a timber yard in September 1966 in Ashford, Kent at age 21 years.