So this journal entry is a little off my family tree... well it's not on my direct line or my husband's but an interesting one anyway... This research started with my mother in law finding a grave stone of a James & Jane Ward and wondered if they were the parents of the husband of Thirza Jane Moon, who is the sister to Mary Ann Maria Moon. Mary is the Gt Gt Grandmother of my husband. So here is what I have found out about them...

James Wakeford Ward
Born: ? Jan 1810 in Bridport, Dorset, England
Died: 12 Jun 1881 New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand


James Wakeford Ward was born in Bridport Dorset to parents John Ward & Ann Curme. As yet I have not found where the Wakeford name comes from. It is more than likely either of his Grandmother's madian names. But I'm yet to confirm this.

On the 31st Oct 1830 James married Jane Long. Although there are some historians have have James Ward marrying Jane Balson. Due to the lack of dates on these family trees, it is not easy to tell whether they have the same James Ward, or whether it is another one. But they do have the son of James Ward, Joseph marrying Thirza Jane Moon. So this assumes there is an issue with whom James Ward married.

Looking on Ancestry.com, James Wakeford Ward married Jane Long on 31st Oct 1830. Although there are many James Ward's marrying in the year 1830, only one has the middle name Wakeford. So this ties up in my opinion whom James married. I can not find a marriage record for a Ward & Jane Balson around the time of 1830. There is one in 1844, but James & Jane were already in New Zealand by then, so this would mean that this information is incorrect. I do believe there is some connection with the Balson family, as I found in the 1841 English census that an Ann Balson was either living with or visiting James & Jane. So it's likely there is a connection, but just not sure what yet.

But the next question begs, was James Wakeford Ward the father of Joseph that married Thirza Jane Moon. I believe this is correct as the baptism record has Joseph Curme son of James & Jane Wakeford Ward ... While Wakeford is not the madian or middle name of Jane it is for James. Therefore I believe this connection is correct.

Jane Long
Born: 04 Jul 1811 in Bridport, Dorset, England
Died: 14 Aug 1899 New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand

Jane Long was born in Bridport, Dorset to mother Ann Long. In the christening record for Dorset, Jane is noted as a Bastard child. There is no father noted on the record. In 1826 Ann marries Joseph Balson. This is where the Balson name comes from. Although Jane keeps her mother's name through to her marriage to James. Ann Balson living/visiting Jane & James in 1841 is her mother.

Jane's mother Ann lived a very long time. She died at age 96, which in this age would have been very very old. Unfortunately her husband Joseph died in 1839 at age 42. So Ann spent 43 years without her husband an only 13 years with him. I'm unsure if they had any children.


James Wakeford Ward Family Time Line

1810 James Wakeford Ward was born on 10th Jan 1810 in Bridport, Dorset, England. Some historians have the date as the 3rd. I'm not sure yet which is correct.

1830 James married Jane Long (She was born on 04 Jul 1811 in Bridport, Dorset (Her parents were not married)) on the 31st October 1830 in Bridport, Dorset at the parish. (will need to determine which one). The two witnesses were Mary & Henry Curme. Henry & Mary are brother & sister, there parents are George Panchen Curme & Mary Fudge. I'm not sure yet how George fits in another thing to check into. (George Panchen CURME married Mary FUDGE 23 September 1800 Bridport Dorset, witnesses James SADLER, Mary HYATT and John CURME)

1834 Joseph Curme Ward is born in Bridport on 10 Sep 1834. Some historians have his birth in October, which with the baptism record does not match. There are two baptism/christening records, one for Dorset (14 Sep 1834) and one for England Christenings (11 Sep 1834). I wonder whether there is a transcription error for the England Christenings records, as I can not view the original. The Dorset record clearly shows the date as the 14th Sep 1834.
- Joseph (Joe) married Thirza Jane Moon on 13th May 1857 in New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand
-- George John b 1857: d 1902 New Zealand
-- Henry b 1859 : d ? (could be 1929, but need to confirm)
-- Ada Sarah b 1862
-- Laura Jane b 1865

1837 John Curme Ward is born in Bridport in Jan 1837. Unfortunately he dies at age 4 on 4th May 1841 prior to the family moving to New Zealand.

1840 Ellen Ward is born in Bridport on 17 Jul 1840.
- Ellen marries John Kenyon in New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand

1841 On the 2nd November 1841, James, Jane & two (Joseph & Ellen) children sailed from Plymouth, England on board the Timandra bound for New Plymouth, New Zealand.

1842 on the 24th Feburary 1842, James, Jane & Family arrive in New Plymouth ready to start a new life.

1844 Emily Ward is born on 10th Feb in New Plymouth.

1846 Annie Ward is born on 24th Oct in New Plymouth.

1848 Jane Ward is born on 23 Sep in New Plymouth.

1853 John Ward is born on 16 Feb in New Plymouth.

1856 Fanny Ward is born on 24 Jul in New Plymouth. Fanny died on 26 Sep 1879 at age 23 in New Plymouth.

1881 James died on 12th June 1881 in New Plymouth. He is buried at Te Hunui Cemetery in New Plymouth.

1899 Jane died on 14th Aug in New Plymouth at her son Joe's house. She is buried with James at Te Hunui Cemetery in New Plymouth.

TO DO:
2: Find out where the Wakeford name comes from
Ans: James's Grandmother is Mary Wakeford.
4: Find out how Henry & Mary are related to James.
They are cousin's on his mother's side.
5: Find evidence of James Wakeford Ward's actual birth date if it exists.
6: Add Joe & Thirza's children.
7: Add Ellen & John's children.
8: Add Emily's husband & Children.
9: Add Annie's husband & children
10: Add Jane's hudband & children
11: Add John's wife & children
12: Find out what Fanny died from. Also Fanny may have married Richard James Hoskin -Add children
13: Ann & Joseph Balson children?