John Ward & Rose Cunningham (HN:1251)

Birth place

John Ward was born at Riddles Creek Victoria near Melbourne in 1862, the eldest son of Michael Ward and Ann Ryan. He was 23 years of age when the family first came to Nyngan and settled on Greencamp in 1887.

Rose Ann Cunningham was born 1873 at Kingscourt Cavern Ireland. She was the daughter of Luke Cunningham (farmer) and Margaret O’Reilly according to her marriage certificate, although her death certificate states her parents as being James Cunningham and Bridget unknown. Rose came to Australia and is said to have landing at Normanton Queensland in the Gulf of Carpenteria in 1891 at the age of 18 years. Her occupation was 'Child minder'. She made her way to Nyngan where she worked in the Railway Refreshment Rooms as a waitress.

Marriage and children

John Ward married Rose Ann Cunningham on 17 Apr 1895 at St Patrick’s Catholic Church Nyngan and moved to Beetree which he and his mother, Ann, had purchased from Richard Prior. They had seven children:

• John Edward Joseph (Jack) born 22 Apr 1896 at Nyngan
• Patrick 1897
• Mary born 1899
• Clarice Ursula 1900 at Oberon
• Thomas Michael 1902 at Beetree
• Alice Terese 1905 at Beetree
• Rose Margaret 1907 at Beetree

Life and times

In 1893 John Ward was in partnership with some of his brothers in Ward Bros Butchery in Nymagee St, Nyngan, which they may have purchased from William Brotherton who had a butchery in Nymagee St in 1885.

John Ward also owned a Wool Scour at Beetree starting 1898 when he ran an advertisement in the Nyngan Observer dated 8 October 1898. The advertisement ran until 1905.

Nyngan Observer 8 October 1898

John Ward desires to notify that he has taken over the wool scour on Beetree and has made extensive alterations and improvements in the scouring plant, and so is in a position to undertake extensive orders during 1898 – 99. John Ward is arranging for permanent and abundant supply of pure clean water and will therefore be in a position to guarantee that the wool will be scoured to the satisfaction of those patronizing him. We scour on commission only. We are not buyers of wool. Our charges are; 1d per 1 lb, scoured weight, and on orders over 50 bales a rebate of 2½ per cent.

JOHN WARD PROPRIETOR.

John also acted as alderman for the Municipality of Nyngan.

The Nyngan Observer dated 11th. February 1899.

Municipality of Nyngan. Annual Elections.

To the ratepayers. Ladies and gentlemen , as you are aware I am a candidate for the position of alderman and as I was unavoidably absent on nomination day, I take this opportunity of informing you that if you do me the honour of returning me, I will use whatever ability I am possessed of for the best interest of the ratepayers. I will thoroughly and conscientiously consider every question that comes before the Council and vote irrespectively of any personal or party feelings. I am ladies and gentlemen Yours faithfully John Ward Beetree

Polling Day: Monday Feburary 13th. From 8am to 5pm.

The Nyngan Observer dated 18th. Feb. 1899.

Results of Election

• T.J.Cahill 104
• John Ward 97 (Elected)
• A.J.Burne 94
• J. Knight 90
• H. Rodgers 31
• Informal 1

In 1899 John Ward was also an active Member of the 'Farmers and Settlers' and the P & A Association.

John and his brothers, Patrick and Thomas formed a partnership to run Greencamp, Delta, Euroka and Beetree. The Ward Bros partnership was dissolved in 1923. John getting Delta and Euroka, Patrick sold his portion of Greencamp to McLaughlins of Whitewood. Thomas got the remainder of Greencamp. In 1925 Delta and Euroka were transferred to John Ward and he also purchased land from Doyle to add to Delta.

In 1914, John owned a race horse called Snip which won the Beablebar Cup, ridden by his brother Patrick. This Cup was on display at the Maroubra house for many years and is now in the possession of Ron Logan of Fareholme, Condobolin.

The house on Beetree where John and Rose Ann lived after they were married was on the first block of Beetree called NO. 1, on the eastern bank of the Bogan River. The house had a sunken first floor with the window sill height below ground level. This was the living area. The top floor contained four big bedrooms with a verandah all around. It had a covered walkway to the separate kitchen. One of the locals, Rolly Bexon said he thought the house was on stilts. The verandah posts may have given it that appearance.

John ran Delta and moved the family to Euroka for the summers and then later moved there semi permanently. In 1914 John Ward purchased Neva Cottage 13 Staverly St, Blackheath from his sister Nora, probably so the children could attend Blackheath School. His son Thomas Michael attended St Joseph’s College Sydney between 1916 and 1918 giving his home address as Neva Cottage, Blackheath.

John died in 1926 and is buried next to his two brothers Michael Edward, and William in the Blackheath Cemetery. In his will he left his residuary Estate to be divided equally among his children and to his wife an annual annuity of 350 pounds. In John Ward’s schedule of assets for probate it is noted:

• House and produce store at 50 Nymagee St. Nyngan valued at 745 Pounds.
• Land at Leura (Vacant) lots 24,25,26 Craigend St, valued at 120 pounds. This land was described as heavily timbered scrubland, very inaccessible. Today (2005) it has a double story brick home and two weatherboard homes on these blocks.
• Delta 10,172 Acres
• Euroka 4,039 Acres
• Stock on Delta and Euroka 4,976 Sheep, 120 Cattle 18 Horses

The assets of the Estate were valued at 27,867 Pounds. Considerable probate would have been paid on this amount.

Rose Ann, after leaving Euroka went to live in Rosebury Sydney together with her two unmarried daughters Mary and Rose Margaret. In about 1934 they moved to 92 French St Maroubra (renamed 11 Mons Ave) where she lived until her death from breast cancer on 10 July 1954. Rose Ann was buried in Botany Cemetery Sydney, aged 86 years.

Rose Ann was a very staunch Irish Catholic, attending Mass regularly and saying the family Rosary daily. Sometimes she would have to interrupt the rosary to place her bets on the racehorses. One Sunday per month, Rose Ann and her two daughters Mary and Rose Margaret, had those of her grandchildren who were attending boarding school in Sydney, visit for the day. After saying the rosary Rose Ann would have her grandchildren gather around her while she talked about old times. At our age we were not the slightest bit interested in old times and would sneak out of the room if we had the opportunity. Now we wish we had paid attention to her stories.

Links

Children of John Ward and Rose Ann Cunningham

• John Edward Joseph Ward (born in 1896)
• Patrick Francis Ward (1897)
• Mary Nora Ward (1899)
• Clarice Ursula Ward (1900)
• Thomas Michael Ward (1902)
• Alice Terese Ward (1905)
• Rose Margaret Ward (1907)

Parents of John Ward

• Michael Ward & Ann Ryan (married in 1861)

Siblings of John Ward

• Michael Edward Ward (born in 1864)
• Hanora Ward (1866)
• Patrick Ward (1867, infant death)
• Patrick Ward (1868)
• Thomas Ward (1871)
• Margaret Ward (1874)
• William Joseph Ward (1877)