Michael Ward & Ann Ryan (HN:125)

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Ireland

Birth place

Michael Ward was born in 1835 in Rathwood, Abington, County Limerick, Ireland and baptised on 5 July 1835 in the Murroe Catholic Parish. He was the fifth baptised child of John Ward and Margaret O'Shea. Michael had 10 siblings.

Ann Ryan is estimated to have been born around 1838 and is believed to have been born in the Civil Parish of Latteragh, County Tipperary, Ireland. Her parents were Michael Ryan and Hanora Kennedy.

Emigration

Undoubtedly to seek opportunities outside of Ireland, Michael and his eldest brother William left the family farm and made their way to Liverpool, England. They sailed from Liverpool on an unassisted passage on the 1080 ton clipper ship Crimea together with 204 other passengers on 17 March 1859 and arrived in Melbourne after a 98 day voyage on 22 June 1857. The Victorian public records office has Michael's age as 20 years.

Ann and her six siblings sailed from Liverpool on an unassisted passage on the Marco Polo and docked in Melbourne on 31 January 1854. Ann was about 16 years of age. There was no mention of her parents on the shipping list so they had either died or were left in Ireland.

Ward's Trek in Australia

Melbourne

It is likely that Michael took on some labouring positions for a number of years in Melbourne to save some money to fulfil his farming ambitions. He was probably living with his brother William around Melbourne city. Ann most likely worked as a domestic servant after her arrival. Michael and Ann were married in St Francis, Melbourne on 4 April 1861. According to the marriage certificate, Michael was 24 years old and Ann was 23 years of age.

The second generation of Wards commenced in Australia with the birth of John in 1862 at Riddles Creek Victoria, a village not far from Melbourne.

Northern Victoria

From Riddles Creek, Michael and Ann stared their journey north and purchased 124 acres of land near Pyalong, Victoria not far from Kilmore. Ann and Michael spent some years around Kilmore where Ann gave birth to their next three children: Michael Edward in 1864; Hanora (Nora) in 1866; and Patrick in 1868.

Ann and Michael moved further north to Nagambie, Victoria where their next two children were born, Thomas in 1871 and Margaret in 1874. In 1870 to 1872 Michael was listed as farmer, Pyalong. In 1875 he was listed Goulburn Hotel Nagambie, and grocer Nagambie. Source: Baillier’s Postal directory of 1875.

After Margaret was born, Michael and Ann must have sold their interest in Nagambie and traveled north into New South Wales to Deniliquin where on 16 May 1874 Michael selected 320 acres each in the name of his six children and a further 320 acres in his own name which gave them a total holding of 2,240 acres, On these adjoining blocks he first used tents then built huts on the common corners. It was reported in the Deniliquin paper that Michael was taken to Court for non residence on these blocks. While at Deniliquin Michael and Ann had their 7th and last child, William, born 6 January 1877 at Red Plain, Deniliquin. On 22 March 1879 Michael held a Clearing Out Sale at his residence Garry Owen on Hartwood Run, Deniliquin. Source: Newspaper advertisement.

It is reported in Ann's obituary that after leaving Deniliquin they went to Wentworth on the New South Wales and Victorian border.

New South Wales

At one time the family lived at Ward's Change where the Cobb & Co service used to change their horses when on route to small towns. These changing posts were about 10 miles (16km) apart and some of the bigger ones offered overnight accommodation for coach passengers and drivers. The accommodation was a simple large room with an open fire, table and chairs where people were offered refreshments and were also offered the choice of sleeping on a chair or on the floor. It was thought that Ward's Change was one such a changing post. Source: Jeanette Ward related to her by Florence Ward wife of William Joseph Ward.

The site of this post has since been researched by Michael Pahlow and thought to be on the road between Ivanhoe and Wilcannia, on the boundaries of Springdale and Mount Manara Stations. Perhaps this was also Arlington Plains.

Nyngan

Greencamp

Ann’s obituary states that the Ward family arrived in Nyngan in 1888 from Wentworth whereas Thomas’ Obituary has the date as 1886. It could be assumed that the arrival date in Nyngan was 1886 as per Thomas' Obituary. The first recorded land purchase after the Wards arrived in Nyngan was on 22 September 1887 when Michael made a Conditional Purchase of 2,776 acres of Greencamp for the cost of one pound per acre. Source: Dept Lands Vol. 7416 Fol. 46,47. Title was not granted until 22 June 1916. (Michael died in 1891). The older boys were sent ahead a few months earlier to select land at Nyngan and the family came later by wagon. The land they selected was Greencamp and Whitewood and part of Delta which would total about 20,000 acres by 1887. Source: Silvia Ward.

The blocks on Greencamp were selected in each of the names of John, Michael Edward, Norah, Patrick, Thomas and Margaret. William's name did not appear on the map located, however he may have been selected in the area outside the map scope. Also Patrick has only one block on this map, which leads to the conclusion that there is more of their land off the map. The story was passed down through generations that they selected four blocks and built one house on the common corner to satisfy the residency law. But in fact there were blocks in six names, seven if William had a block, so they would have required a number of huts to satisfy the residency law as they did at Deniliquin. The Sans Pastoral Directory, Grants Gazette 1887-1890 listed Michael Ward, Ward Bros Green Camp, John Ward, Nyngan and M. E. Ward, Ferndale, a property a few miles west of Girilambone NSW.

The family lived at Greencamp with maybe the exception of William, Thomas and possibly Nora who took up land in Megalong Valley in 1888/89. Patrick married Elizabeth Leighton in 1898 and lived in a small house on the East side of the road which is now part of Whitewood. Margaret Ward married Alfred Bentick in 1901 and moved to Sydney and sold her share of Greencamp to Thomas in 1908 for 700 pounds. They spent some time at Greencamp/Whitewood after they were married. Their 3rd child, Alfred John Bentick, was born in Nyngan in 1904 and Alfred snr’s occupation and address was Grazier, Whitewood.

Michael Edward Ward married Annie Frances Sallaway in 1893 and some of their children were born at Greencamp

  • Anne Frances (Nance) born at Whitewood
  • William Joseph (Bill) born at Whitewood
  • Harry Favel born at Greencamp in 1904.

Michael Edward sold his share of Greencamp and moved to Katoomba, probably after Harry was born.

After Ann died in 1902, John, Patrick and Thomas formed a partnership Ward Bros in which Greencamp was a major part of their lands. In 1917 they purchased Needlewood to add to Greencamp.

Greencamp homestead must have been very big to house all the people and later as reported in the Nyngan Observer, Patrick hosted a number of parties and supplied overnight accommodation for his friends accompanying him on his horse racing excursions. Around 1919 or 1920 the Greencamp homestead burnt down (wax matches were blamed) and Patrick and family lost everything.

In 1923 the Ward Bros partnership was dissolved. John got Delta and Euroka, Thomas got the remainder of Greencamp after Patrick sold his share to McLaughlins and moved to Melrose Plains, Tullamore. In the late 1930’s Thomas invited Michael Edward back to Greencamp to help him run it and they entered into a stock partnership together. As they were getting on in years they invited Michael’s son William Joseph to join them. William Joseph took over his fathers' share of the partnership and became manager. Thomas built a new house on Greencamp to replace the burnt one. Michael Edward and Annie Frances Sallaway lived there with their daughter Anne Frances looking after them. Thomas and Nora lived in Minor Street, Nyngan until they died in 1960. Greencamp was then put up for auction and sold to the Griffiths Family. It was then 10,706 acres.

Beetree

Ann and her son John purchased Beetree (1,110 acres) in the 1890’s from Richard Prior who had acquired it in 1881. Beetree is about 5 km North of Nyngan town on the Bogan River. John married Rose Cunningham in 1895 and six of their seven children were born there. John operated a Wool Scour at Beetree using water from the Bogan River.

The first advertisement in the Nyngan Observer newspaper is as follows.

The Wool Press used to bale the scoured wool had a brand name Mason which was a fore runner of the famous Koerstz press. It was built very strong to withstand the bigger bulk of the scoured wool and the top box was about a foot taller than the Koerstz, which necessitated the presser building a set of steps out of unused woolpacks to enable him to fill the box with wool. This wool press was moved to Delta woolshed and was used there until the late 1980’s when it was replaced with a hydraulic press.

When the Greencamp homestead burnt down, Patrick and family moved to Beetree to live for a time until he went to Katoomba, previous to buying Melrose Plains in 1924. In 1914 the Beetree land was transferred into the names of John, Patrick, Thomas and Nora. It was then sold to Clinton Machin (a minor) on 18 December 1924.

Delta

An early map of Delta shows John, Patrick and Thomas with their names on five portion numbers totaling 668 acres; probably in the late 1880’s or 90’s. After that the Ward brothers acquired more land on Delta including the House block. On 6 May 1914 they purchased a further 4,671 acres from Mathew and William Brown. Around 1920 they purchased land from Robert Doyle. The first paddock of Delta is called Doyles. After Robert Doyles' death they purchased a further 91 acres from his wife Annie Frances Doyle in 1925. Delta was transferred into John’s name on 14 August 1925 after the Ward Bros partnership was dissolved.

John died in 1926 and his probate inventory included Delta 10,172 acres. John Edward Ward (John's son) then managed Delta for his Estate. John Edward Ward married Clara Priest in 1928 and reared his family there until he died in 1958. In 1953 Delta was divided when John’s Estate was wound up. John Edward getting half (approximately 5,300 acres) and Thomas Michael (also John's son) getting the other half which he called The Corners. Thomas Michael Ward died in 1961 and his son (also Thomas Michael Ward) managed The Corners for his Estate until his sudden death in 1976 aged 40 years. The Corners was then sold to Richard George.

Delta was left to Trevor John Ward (son of John Edward) in his father's will and he lived there until he retired in the year 2000 and moved to Nyngan then leased Delta to Walken Farming Pty Ltd on 1 April 2001.

Delta house was originally four rooms with a verandah all around. The kitchen and dining room was separate as was the law in those days because of the fire risk. Another four rooms were added after the turn of the century and a few of the verandahs were filled in to make extra bed rooms and a bathroom.

A story related by John Edward Ward, that a station hand, when giving notice to quit the job, gave his reason for leaving because the water divining forces underground were pulling the metal knives and forks in his hands making it difficult for him to eat. The house was built on a foundation of wooden stumps just above the ground level. Over the years these rotted and the eight floods that came through the house between 1950 and 1956 starting the death sentence for the house. The walls dropped and left a domed floor in each room. Even in this state Trevor John Ward and his wife Leone lived and reared a family there until they moved to Nyngan in 2000.

The house is situated on one side of the Bena Billa Creek and the main road on the other. In the early days this necessitated swimming horses across when the creek was full and with the advent of motor transport, leaving the car on the other side and walking to the house. Eventually a bridge was built which collapsed when Stan Leahy endeavored to cross with a truck load of sheep. Stan and his passenger were uninjured but a number of sheep were killed and the truck and crate were severely damaged.

Between 1950 and 1956 the flood water went through the house eight times. The first flood in 1950 was then an unheard of event, the only other flood previous to this was in the 1920’s and the water at its peak came under the house. Because no one knew what to expect, the Nyngan Police ordered the evacuation of the families along the creek system. Two of John Edward Ward's children were away at school at the time and were not pleased to miss out on the army duck ride which took the family to Nyngan. The record flood was in February 1956 when the peak was 17 inches over the floorboards. In this flood the men stayed at The Corners and used the Ferguson tractor and boat to get to Delta house.

Trevor John Ward recounts:

On one of these visits we noticed the rising water approaching the top of the 4 gallon drums upon which we had the piano placed. It was decided, while two lifted the piano the third person would place a brick on each drum. When the piano was lifted the drums floated away in the current leaving two straining men and the third trying to catch the drums. Finally the job was completed with three exhausted fellows. We learned that the trick was to either fill the drums beforehand or pierce them to let the water fill them as it rose. In one of the floods the family moved to the shearers quarters, it was 4 inches higher than the house. It was seven weeks before we moved back to the house.

Megalong Valley, Euroka

Thomas and William purchased 407 acres on the Megalong Creek in Megalong Valley in 1888 to 1890 in three separate transactions. They were aged 17 years and 11 years respectively at the time so perhaps Michael or Ann may have done the dealing for them. The total purchase price was ₤200/10/8 (decimal currency $401.08), these were the founding acres of Euroka. Source: Dept. Lands Vol’s 2338 & 2347 Folio’s 22 & 22. On 13 June 1901 Ann purchased 1,015 acres from John Edward Moore and Fredrick Moore to add to Euroka. The purchase price was ₤800. Source: Dept. Lands Book 702 No. 989.

The Wards used Euroka as a drought relief for their Nyngan holdings. At first sheep, cattle and horses were walked between the two, approximately 300 miles apart. Then later they trucked the stock by train either loading or unloading at Mt Victoria. The stock was then driven along the Great Western Highway either to or from Blackheath. From there negotiating Nellies Glen which is the steep, winding and narrow road down into Megalong Valley. Think what it would be like these days, driving stock along that piece of Highway.

The original Euroka homestead was built by the Wards. It was Drop-Log slab construction and very little of it remains today.

In 1903 William, Thomas and Nora gave a grant of one acre to Cardinal Moran, Archbishop of Sydney Catholic Church for the site of a church on the Megalong Creek. This church eventually burned down and another was built on the site, then moved to its present site on the main road. In 1904 William, Thomas and Nora took possession of Moors properties Megalong Station and Medlow Station. The Wards are said to have eventually owned about 6,000 acres in Megalong Valley.

During a bushfire in 1905, flames leapt from ridge to ridge and met from three directions to unite in one mighty conflagration in Megalong Valley. On Euroka, woolsheds, wool presses, all fencing and thousands of sheep and cattle were wiped out and the loss at the time was estimated to be in the vicinity of ₤2000. Source: Royal Australian Historical Society. It has been reputed that Rose Cunningham, wife of John Ward, took the children and her sewing machine down to the Megalong Creek for safety for the duration of the fire.

The indigenous aborigine tribe that habituated the Megalong Valley in the early days was the Gun-dun-gorra tribe and in their language, Megalong means 'Valley under the Rock'. Euroka means 'A spirit which lived in the sun'. Two indigeneous men worked for the Wards on Euroka, they were father and son both named Billy Lynch. The father was nicknamed 'Bleached Billy' owing to the colour of his hair. Young Billy Lynch is reputed to have saved the lives of the two white men, Tom and Bill Ward, when their cattle stampeded one night out Oberon way, and came charging headlong through the camp where the men were settled. Source: Royal Australian Historical Society.

This is a story from the Royal Australian Historical Society, told about some early settlers in Megalong Valley. Which could have included the Wards. A settler, meeting a friend of his, offered to share with him a beast which he had killed and skinned up in the hills. The two set off together, and in due course each arrived home with half a bullock and happy thoughts of good fresh meat for some time to come. A few weeks later the second party, while riding out in search of one of his bullocks that had strayed, passed on his journey the first party who was also riding. 'Did you happen to see a black bullock with white markings?' he called out to his neighbor. 'Yes' he replied 'You ate half of it about three weeks ago'.

The original Homestead Block was subdivided and sold to E.C.S. Chapman in 1931. From about 1913 John Ward and Rose Cunningham lived at Euroka and their daughters Alice and Rose and perhaps some of their other children attended a one teacher school. Classes were at first undertaken in the various homes. The teacher taught two or three days at each location until a permanent school was provided. In 1914 John purchased a house in Blackheath from his sister Nora Ward: 13 Staverly Street Blackheath called Neva Cottage. Probably the children then attended Blackheath School until they went to boarding school in Sydney.

When John died in 1926, Euroka was 4,039 acres. His son Thomas Michael took over the management of Euroka for the Estate. Thomas Michael Ward married Ena Peacock in 1932 and raised his four children, Colleen, Loraine, Thomas Michael and Robyn at Euroka. Their early education was undertaken at the Megalong School. Over the years portions of Euroka were sold off and in 1953, when Thomas Michael Ward and family moved to Nyngan, the balance of the land, being 1,843 acres, was sold to A.C.Cameron.

Trek's end

Michael died at Nyngan on 13 December 1891 aged 56 years, 5 years after arriving in Nyngan. His will dated 11 September 1891 (made three months before his death) left all his personal belongings and real estate to his wife Ann for her sole use and upon her death to be divided as she directed. At this time the Will states that Ann as the executrix and the executors John and Michael Edward were all living at Green Camp. For Probate the value of Michael's real and personal estate was set at ₤3,990 / 7 / 2 (Decimal currency $7,980.72). This included 5,120 acres of Green Camp. Source: Dept Lands , Value of Inventory. Book 849 No. 617.

Ann died on 20 December 1902 in Katoomba and her body was railed to Nyngan to be buried with her husband Michael in the Nyngan Catholic Cemetery. She died Intestate and her estate was divided equally between the children by the Probate Jurisdiction of NSW. For Probate her estate was valued at ₤900 / 13 / 10. At this time Michael Edward lived at Katoomba, Patrick at Greencamp and William at Euroka.


Links

Children of Michael Ward and Ann Ryan

Parents of Michael Ward

This link contains details of the search for John Ward and Margaret O'Shea and their family.

Siblings of Michael Ward

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