Wardsville

  The sun is a symbol of growth, new life and prosperity. Settlers of the 19th century such as George Ward relied on the sun for their livelihood and subsistence. The sun ensured the growth of crops. The sun powered...

The tree of life is the Irish symbol of Family. George Ward and his wife left their ancestral family in Ireland to come to the New World. They were determined to build their own family and heritage in these lands....

Ward was discharged from the army in 1796. However, the British Army requested that Ward come out of retirement to establish a tavern to aid travelers and soldiers. George Ward’s Inn was opened in 1810. George Ward cleared the land...

Those early settlers who broke ground and planted the first crops recognized the richness of the soil and the good growing seasons. Corn, beans and wheat were well adapted to the soils and climate and were a staple part of...

Indian Paintbrush - Delaware First Nations The Delaware Nation of the Thames were tremendous help in the settlement of the Wardsville region. Newcomer settlers were often aided by native communities in adapting to the region they were living. The Delaware...

Turkey Tracks represent the abundance of wildlife and vegetation in the area. There were wild turkeys, rabbits, squirrels, ducks and geese. One of the most widely hunted animals in the area was the deer. Deer were not only used for...

The gristmill was an essential part of George Ward's life in Wardsville. The gristmill ground farmers’ wheat into finely ground flour. Before the invention of the gristmill, farmers had to grind wheat into flour with a simple mortar and pestle....

Farmer's Wife: Margaret Ward."This morning I set bread to rise in the warmth from the fireplace, while the two youngest children took turns churning the butter. The churn and two new oak buckets have made life considerably easier, although I...

Kennedy Street, Wardsville, ON. Visit the Tombstone barn quilt block at Wardsville's Historical Cemetery. The Ward family has graciously sponsored this barn quilt block to honour their ancestors, George and Margaret Ward and descendants. Tombstone “George Ward 1743-1837”. In 1837,...

George Ward’s many life experiences left him more than skilled in construction and assembly. During his many years in the British army, Ward gained the necessary skills to construct shelters. It was a common requirement for British soldiers to construct...

 Bounty from the Thames - Fish The native communities along the Thames had always used the Thames River as a source for food and European settlers were able to learn proper fishing techniques from the local native people. In the...

 Double Irish Chain-was a popular quilt pattern used in the early 1800s. The history of the quilt pattern connects this quilt and the life of George Ward to his humble beginnings in his native country of Ireland. The Irish people...

Victory-The end of the War of 1812 came in 1814. While the British kept the Americans from taking British territories, the war left much hardship, damage and loss for the people loyal to Britain. George Ward suffered great losses to...

Twisted Rope-represents the personal trauma and hardship George Ward suffered during the War of 1812. During the war, George Ward returned home to see his family and ensure that they were safe. Upon arriving, George Ward was captured by the...

Salute to Colours - Loyal to his Country.  The military career of George Ward was long, eventful and loyal. George Ward enlisted with the 58th regiment in his native country of Ireland. He came to North America in 1776 as...

Woodland Path-In the early 1780s, the stretch of land between Amherstburg and Delaware was little more than dense forest. Southwestern Ontario was not the thriving and inhabited area that we know so well. Very few people lived here and travel...

Wagon Tracks - After the War of 1812, the Longwood’s path expanded. By the 1840s, the road had been widened enough to allow wagons to travel back and forth. The widened path inadvertently led to the development of the area...

Crossed Canoes - Travel on the Thames.  Before the development of Longwood’s Road, the Thames River was the most efficient means of transportation. Referred to as “La Tranche” by the French and ‘Many Antlers’ or "Askunessippi" by the First Nations, the...

Compass - Navigation through this area was challenging.  The trees of Longwood’s were large and old. The forest was dense with thick-branched trees.  Trees rose a hundred feet to block out the sun during daylight hours so travellers had to...

Battle of Three Rivers - In the early 1770s, as the British parliament was drafting the Quebec Act, which would supersede the Royal Proclamation as the constitution of Quebec, revolution was breaking out in the American colony. Early in May...

Union Jack -  was created in 1801 to represent the Union of Scotland, the Kingdom of Ireland and the Kingdom of Great Britain. It was under this flag that early settlers and the following generations of Canada grew and prospered....

Ship at Sea -  was a significant part of George Ward’s life. Ward would have been very familiar with travelling by sea and operating sailing ships. He made many trips across the ocean when he was enlisted in the British...

Soldiers- has moved from the Battle Hill Cairn in preparation for the Battle of the Longwoods March 4, 1814.   . Watch the Royal Scots trailer by Crocodile Productions War was a common part of George Ward’s life in the late 18th and early...

Church Window-In the early 1800s, there were no churches. Settlement was sparse. This was a time for personal direction in faith and ‘saddlebag’ preachers. These men of God traveled from place to place on horseback, ministering to the people.  Whatever...

Old Country Church - The Christian faith was a strong aspect of settlers' lives in the 19th century. When churches were eventually built in the mid 1800s, they served numerous functions. First, the church was typically the town meeting place....