When Did James Ward Marry Sarah Lake?

Research note by Wesley Johnston - begun 24 Jul 2016, last updated 24 Jul 2016

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Overview

James WARD and Sarah LAKE probably married in Ernestown Township of Addington County, Midland District, Upper Canada. No actual marriage record has yet been found for them. And their children's baptisms have not all been found. Some published family trees show their marriage as 13 Jul 1802, but Sarah had already stated in her May 1802 land petition that she was the wife of James WARD. So the 13 Jul 1802 date is certainly wrong. In fact, 13 Jul 1802 is the date on which her land petition was read. But when were they married?

Oldest Children of James Ward and Sarah Lake

The two oldest children of James WARD and Sarah LAKE were Mary and William WARD.

Mary WARD

Only two records of Mary are known. Her maiden name is given as Mary WARD in the 4 Nov 1910 death record of her daughter Mary Jane (HARRISON) LAMB. And Mary herself is listed in the 1861 Canada Census of Ops Township in Victoria County, as Mary HARRISON, where her age is shown as 60. No death record nor grave stone have yet been found for Mary. Thus Mary was born about 1801, which would put the marriage date of James and Sarah at about 1800.

William WARD

William appeared in many records. His 24 Apr 1880 death record gives his age as 79. The 1851 Canada Census, taken in 1852, shows his age as 50. (He is actually enumerated twice -- once at his own home in Storrington Township and once visiting at his parents' home in Ernestown Township. Both show his age as 50.) The earlier record, in which the information was provided by William himself, is the more credible. So William was born about 1802, which would make him the second child of the marriage.