William Ward (HN:121)
Early life
William was born in 1826, eldest child and son of John Ward and Margaret O'Shea. He was christened in the Murroe Catholic Parish church on 1 February 1826. [1]
We know little of William's life until he and Michael decided to leave Rathwood together for Australia. Their younger sister Margaret would recount to her family the significant community farewell for William and Michael that lasted late into the night before they set off first thing in the morning. This must have been a common scene in the 1850s across Ireland.
Australia
It is almost certain that William and Michael sailed together from Liverpool on an unassisted passage on the 1,080 ton clipper ship Crimea together with 204 other passengers on 17 March 1857 and arrived in Melbourne after a 95 day voyage on 19 June 1857. [2]
William's death certificate noted that he was a pensioner in the Victorian railways. Consequently, William was found within some employee related records of the railways. The Victorian Government Gazette from time to time published a list of railway employees. The following entries may be found for William Ward:
- On 31 January 1884, William is a Laborer with the Engineers branch.
- On 31 December 1889, William is a Laborer with the Engineers branch.
- On 1 January 1893, William is a Gatekeeper in the Existing Lines branch, which sounds lighter duties for an aging employee.
There was also an 1887 gazette list of employees (sorted by division) and William Ward cannot be located.
It is quite probable that William and his brother Michael resided in Melbourne city after their arrival in 1857. It is also quite possible that William joined the railways soon after arriving in Melbourne. This was a strongly expanding utility of the 1850s and significant volumes of laborers were required. It appears that William lost about 6 years in age on his journey to Australia and represented his birth year as 1832 in official Victorian documentation including his marriage and death certificates. No doubt an enthusiastic 25 year old Irish immigrant made for a good employment prospect.
If William was part of the Engineers branch from when he joined the railways, it is likely that he worked on the laying of tracks and the associated land clearing, leveling and building of bridges.
Marriage
William Ward married Bridget Ryan on 11 April 1875 being 18 years after his arrival. The marriage took place at St Francis Catholic Church, Melbourne the same church as Michael's wedding some years previous. The marriage was recorded as the first for both William and Bridget. Bridget was noted as being a native of Tipperary, 36 years of age and working as a servant in Melbourne. William listed his age as 42, when he was in fact 49. They had no children.
Later years
William's employment with the Engineers division probably saw him move around Victoria which makes it hard to track him down. By 1889, William gives his address as Errol Street, Hotham that is today North Melbourne. The local rate books during the 1880s identify a William Ward, Laborer, living in Hotham.
About 1891, William changed his railways job to that of Gatekeeper. This typically meant manning the gates at level crossings of rail lines. William and Bridget moved to 2 Dick's Place, West Melbourne which is a rather strangely placed twin townhouse up a laneway beside 38 Hawke Street, West Melbourne. A Water Board map (at left) shows the block bordered by Ireland, Hawke and Spencer Streets with a red dot on 2 Dick's Place.
William is found at this address from about 1891 until his death on 2 September 1900. His primary cause of death is listed as pneumonia. His true age at death was 74 and he outlived three of his younger brothers.
References
- ↑ "Baptism Record for William Ward." National Library of Ireland, Catholic Parish Registers, Diocese of Cashel and Emly, County Tipperary, Limerick, Baptisms & Marriages 1814-1845, Microfilm 02508, Page 61, accessed 11 September 2026.
- ↑ "Immigration Record for William Ward." Public Records Office of Victoria, Inward Overseas Passenger Lists, VPRS 947/P0000, Apr - Jun 1857, Page 218, accessed 11 September 2026.