Mayor 1908 – 1909.
Member of the Conservative Party.
A member of the established church – Church of England.
Francis was elected to the Council on the 1st November 1907, as a representative of the St. Margaret’s Ward.
Born: 1850, Ipswich.
Baptised: 24th March 1850, at St. Stephen’s Church, Ipswich.
Father: Francis Ward, born 1818, Filby, Norfolk. In his early 20s, Francis, a butler, moved to Ipswich for employment with Mr. Andrew Wood Baird, a physician, of Lower Brook Street, Ipswich. Francis Ward died 1904, Ipswich.
Mother: Lydia Ward (nee Barker), born 7th January 1820, Debenham, Suffolk, baptised 11th April 1820, at Debenham. Lydia Barker Wood died 1858, Ipswich. Laid to rest at Ipswich Old Cemetery, Section E.
Stepmother: Sarah Ward (nee Harper), born 1837, Great Oakley, Essex, Sarah was a house servant for Christopher Mercer Durrant, a physician of 12, Northgate Street, Ipswich when she and Francis married. Sarah Ward died 1911, Ipswich.
Sister: Rosa Catherine Ward, born 1848, Ipswich, baptised 9th July 1848, at St. Stephen’s Church, Ipswich. On the 25th June 1868, at St. Margaret’s Church, Ipswich, Rosa married Charles Smith, born 1847, Ipswich, baptised 1st August 1847, Ipswich. Rosa and Charles had 10 children and made their family home in Ipswich. Charles was a carpenter and joiner – his own account. Charles Smith died 1912, Ipswich. Rosa Smith died 1924, Ipswich.
Stepbrother: Ernest William Ward, born 11th January 1876, Ipswich. In 1914, Ernest married Alice Maud Punchard, born 6th December 1879, Ipswich – daughter of James Punchard, a miller and Ellen Elizabeth Punchard (nee Horn), of Ipswich. On the 1939 Register Ernest and Alice were living at their home – 275, Colchester Road, Ipswich, Ernest was a chief cashier at Ipswich Gas. Alice Ward died 1976, at The Lodge, Rushmere St. Andrew, Suffolk.
CENSUS
1851 Lower Brook Street, St. Peter’s, Ipswich.
Francis was a year old and living with his parents & sister.
Francis, 32, a House Servant.
Lydia, 30.
Rosa, 2.
1861 24, William Street, Ipswich.
Francis was 11 years old and living with his widowed father & sister.
Francis, 43, a Butler.
Rosa, 12.
1 housekeeper.
1871 21, William Street, Ipswich.
Francis was 21 years old, a Solicitor’s Clerk. He was living with his father, stepmother & cousin.
Francis, 53, a Butler.
Sarah, 34.
Louisa Harper, 6, born London.
1881 39, Wilberforce Road, Ipswich.
Francis was 31 years old, a Solicitor. He was married and head of the household.
Mary Ann, 31.
Mabel, 5.
Kathleen, 3.
Frank, 1.
1 general domestic servant.
1891 28, Fore Street, Ipswich.
Francis was 41 years old, a Solicitor and Superintendant Registrar of births, deaths & marriages for Ipswich. He was married and head of the household.
Mary Ann, 41.
Mabel, 15, a Mother’s Help – Domestic.
Kathleen, 13.
Frank, 11.
Sidney, 9.
Reginald, 7.
1 general domestic servant.
1901 3, St. Helen’s Street, Ipswich.
Francis was 51 years old, a Solicitor – employer. He was married and head of the household.
Mary Ann, 51.
Frank, 21, a Solicitor’s Articled Clerk.
Sidney, 19, a Solicitor’s Articled Clerk.
Reginald, 17, an Auctioneer’s Articled Clerk.
1 visitor.
1 cook.
1 housemaid.
1911 3, St. Helen’s Street, Ipswich.
Francis was 61 years old, a Solicitor. He was married and head of the household.
Mary Ann, 61.
Frank, 31, a Solicitor.
1 cook.
1 housemaid.
On the 17th September 1874, at St. Mary Key Church, Ipswich, by the Reverend Rivers, Francis married Mary Ann Catchpole, born 1850, St. Clement’s, Ipswich – third daughter of William and Hannah Catchpole, of Foundation Street, Ipswich.
Mary Ann and Francis had five children:
Mabel Marian Ward, 1875, Ipswich. Mabel was a member of the congregation and a Sunday School teacher at St. Michael’s Church, Ipswich. On Wednesday, 7th June 1899, at St. Michael’s Church, Mabel married the Reverend John Henry Jennings, M.A., curate of Goole, Yorkshire, born 1859, Croydon, Surrey. John had formerly served as curate of Holy Trinity Church, Ipswich for a period of five years. A reception for 120 guests was held at the Ward’s family home ‘St. Helen’s House,’ where a handsome marquee had been erected on the lawn in the rear of the property, with a corridor to connect it with the house. Mabel and John had three children. Mabel Jennings died 15th June 1936, at her residence The Vicarage, Greasbrough, Rotherham, South Yorkshire. The Reverend John Jennings died 7th June 1937, at his residence The Vicarage, Greasbrough.
Evening Star – Saturday, 21st November 1908 – GIRLS’ EDUCATION – On Friday, 20th November 1908, the annual prize-giving in connection with the Ipswich Municipal Secondary School for Girls was held in the School Hall, Bolton Lane. There was a large attendance of parents and friends and a capital programme of music, and recitations was given by the scholars. The proceedings commenced with the singing of the old Harrow School song, “Forty Years On.” 
A dramatic recitation “The Trial of the Knave of Hearts,” from “Alice in Wonderland,” was much appreciated, and all filled their parts beautifully. At the prizegiving, the Mayor of Ipswich, Mr. Francis Charles Ward presided and was supported by Miss M. H. Wood, LL.D. Principal of the Cambridge Training College for Women, Miss Emily Harrison, Head Mistress, the Reverend Edward James Gilchrist, Mrs. Elizabeth May, Mrs. Florence Harriet Nussey Cullingham, and Mr. Robert Thomas Whiting, a Governor. During her report, Miss Emily Harrison alluded to one branch of their schoolwork, and that was Nature study, as their fame had spread beyond the borders of Ipswich. Madras had quite a large assignment of exhibits on permanent exhibition, and she had received flattering comments on their work from the promoters of the exhibition. Specimens of the girls’ work were also in Australia and Shanghai. The girls had brought honour to their school. Emily continued to say that as soon as it could be done, there would be beds for flowers, and botany work properly arranged for the girls to work at, and plants for study and ornament in the greenhouse. Miss M. H. Wood distributed the prizes. The Reverend Edward Gilchrist proposed, and Mrs. Elizabeth May seconded, a vote of thanks to the Mayor of Ipswich and Dr. Wood.
Suffolk Chronicle and Mercury – Friday, 3rd September 1909 – FIGHTING “LIKE TWO BULLDOGS” – “They were going for each other like two bulldogs,” said Police-constable Gostling, in evidence against two young fellows named Ellis George Bergdahl, cycle repairer, and Thomas Morris, painter, living together in St. Stephen’s Lane, Ipswich. The defendants were summoned before the Mayor of Ipswich, Mr. Francis Charles Ward, Mr. William Orford White, Mr. George Hines, Mr. Harry William Raffe, Mr. Henry Mason Jackaman, Mr. John Henry Grimwade, and Mr. Roderick Donald Fraser, at the Ipswich Police Court, on Monday, 30th August, for disturbing the public peace by fighting in the Butter Market on Saturday night.
Police-constable Gostling, replying to a question by Ellis Bergdahl, said that at the Police Station, he did not complain of having been struck first by Thomas Morris.
Robert Beaumont said that he heard the two defendants arguing and saw Thomas Morris strike the first blow.
Ellis Bergdahl stated that Thomas Morris was the aggressor. He was going home in company with his young lady when he met Thomas standing in a shop doorway in the Butter Market. Thomas commenced arguing and subsequently struck him.
Thomas Morris said that he was only talking to Ellis about him having torn his coat at the arm. They lived together, and this latter incident occurred at home. The Magistrates bound the defendants over in the sum of 40s. to keep the peace for six months. They also ordered them to pay 5s. each costs.
Note: Ellis Bergdahl was to die following military service.