Aaron Ward (representative)
Encyclopedia
Aaron Ward was an American lawyer and politician from New York
.
Academy, and then studied law. At the beginning of the War of 1812
he was commissioned a lieutenant
in the 29th Regiment of Infantry, and in 1814 commissioned a captain. Afterwards he continued to serve in the State Militia, in 1830 attaining the rank of major general
. After the war, he resumed his legal studies in Oxford, New York
, was admitted to the bar, and commenced practice in Sing Sing.
He was District Attorney of Westchester County from 1819 to 1822. On January 19, 1820, he married Mary L. Watson (1797-1853, daughter of Elkanah Watson
).
Ward was elected as an Adams man to the 19th
and 20th
; as a Jacksonian
to the 22nd
, 23rd
and 24th
; and as a Democrat
to the 27th United States Congress
, holding office from March 4, 1825, to March 3, 1829; from March 4, 1831, to March 3, 1837; and from March 4, 1841, to March 3, 1843.
He was a delegate to the New York State Constitutional Convention of 1846. In 1855
, Ward ran on the Hard
ticket for Secretary of State of New York
, but was defeated by Joel T. Headley
.
Ward was the first President of the Dale Cemetery
in Ossining
and a trustee of Mount Pleasant Academy.
Ward died in Georgetown, D.C., and was buried at the Dale Cemetery in Ossining.
His daughter Virginia Gadsby Ward was married to NY Assemblyman George Adlington Brandreth
(1828-1897), and they had four daughters.
His daughter Josephine A. Ward (d. 1906) was the second wife of Senator John Renshaw Thomson
(1800-1862), and in 1878 became the second wife of Gov. of Maryland Thomas Swann
.
Congressman Elijah Ward
was his cousin.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Life
He was the son of Moses Ward. He completed preparatory studies in Mount PleasantMount Pleasant, New York
Mount Pleasant is a town in Westchester County, New York, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the town population was 43,724.-Geography:...
Academy, and then studied law. At the beginning of the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
he was commissioned a lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in the 29th Regiment of Infantry, and in 1814 commissioned a captain. Afterwards he continued to serve in the State Militia, in 1830 attaining the rank of major general
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
. After the war, he resumed his legal studies in Oxford, New York
Oxford, New York
Oxford is a town in Chenango County, New York, United States. The town contains a village named Oxford. Oxford is an interior town in the south-central part of the county, southwest of the City of Norwich. At the 2000 census the town population was 3,992...
, was admitted to the bar, and commenced practice in Sing Sing.
He was District Attorney of Westchester County from 1819 to 1822. On January 19, 1820, he married Mary L. Watson (1797-1853, daughter of Elkanah Watson
Elkanah Watson
Elkanah Watson was a visionary traveller and writer, agriculturist and canal promoter. He was born in Plymouth, Massachusetts and died at Port Kent, New York. During the American Revolutionary War he carried dispatches to Benjamin Franklin in France...
).
Ward was elected as an Adams man to the 19th
19th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:-Leadership:- Senate :* President: John C. Calhoun * President pro tempore: John Gaillard , until December 4, 1825** Nathaniel Macon , from May 20, 1826- House of Representatives :* Speaker: John W. Taylor -Members:...
and 20th
20th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:-Leadership:- Senate :* President: John C. Calhoun * President pro tempore: Samuel Smith - House of Representatives :* Speaker: Andrew Stevenson -Members:This list is arranged by chamber, then by state...
; as a Jacksonian
Jacksonian democracy
Jacksonian democracy is the political movement toward greater democracy for the common man typified by American politician Andrew Jackson and his supporters. Jackson's policies followed the era of Jeffersonian democracy which dominated the previous political era. The Democratic-Republican Party of...
to the 22nd
22nd United States Congress
-House of Representatives:-Leadership:- Senate :* President:** John C. Calhoun , resigned December 28, 1832, thereafter vacant.* President pro tempore:** Samuel Smith , first elected December 5, 1831** Littleton W...
, 23rd
23rd United States Congress
-House of Representatives:For the beginning of this congress, the size of the House was increased from 213 seats to 240 seats, following the 1830 United States Census .- Leadership :- Senate :* President: Martin Van Buren...
and 24th
24th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:During this congress one House seat was added for each of the new states of Arkansas and Michigan.-Leadership:- Senate :* President: Martin Van Buren * President pro tempore: William R. King - House of Representatives :...
; and as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the 27th United States Congress
27th United States Congress
The Twenty-seventh United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1841 to March 3, 1843, during the one-month...
, holding office from March 4, 1825, to March 3, 1829; from March 4, 1831, to March 3, 1837; and from March 4, 1841, to March 3, 1843.
He was a delegate to the New York State Constitutional Convention of 1846. In 1855
New York state election, 1855
The 1855 New York state election was held on November 6, 1855, to elect the Secretary of State, the State Comptroller, the Attorney General, the State Treasurer, the State Engineer, two judges of the New York Court of Appeals, a Canal Commissioner and an Inspector of State Prisons, as well as...
, Ward ran on the Hard
Barnburners and Hunkers
The Barnburners were the more radical faction of the New York state Democratic Party in the mid 19th century. The term barnburner was derived from the idea of someone who would burn down his own barn to get rid of a rat infestation, in this case those who would destroy all banks and corporations,...
ticket for Secretary of State of New York
Secretary of State of New York
The Secretary of State of New York is a cabinet officer in the government of the U.S. state of New York.The current Secretary of State of New York is Cesar A...
, but was defeated by Joel T. Headley
Joel T. Headley
Joel Tyler Headley was an American clergyman, historian, Author, newspaper editor and politician who served as Secretary of State of New York.-Life:...
.
Ward was the first President of the Dale Cemetery
Dale Cemetery
The Dale Cemetery located in Ossining, New York is a town-owned cemetery encompassing and has been operational since October 1851.-Description:...
in Ossining
Ossining (town), New York
Ossining is a town in Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 37,674 at the 2010 census. It contains two villages, the Village of Ossining and part of Briarcliff Manor, the rest of which is located in the Town of Mount Pleasant....
and a trustee of Mount Pleasant Academy.
Ward died in Georgetown, D.C., and was buried at the Dale Cemetery in Ossining.
His daughter Virginia Gadsby Ward was married to NY Assemblyman George Adlington Brandreth
George A. Brandreth
George Adlington Brandreth was an American lawyer, manufacturer and politician from New York-Life:...
(1828-1897), and they had four daughters.
His daughter Josephine A. Ward (d. 1906) was the second wife of Senator John Renshaw Thomson
John Renshaw Thomson
John Renshaw Thomson was an American merchant and politician from New Jersey.-Life:Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he attended the common schools in Princeton, New Jersey, and the College of New Jersey . In 1817, he went to China and became a merchant in Canton where he was United States...
(1800-1862), and in 1878 became the second wife of Gov. of Maryland Thomas Swann
Thomas Swann
Thomas Swann was an American politician. Initially a Know-Nothing, and later a Democrat, he served as mayor of Baltimore , as the 33rd Governor of Maryland , and as U.S...
.
Congressman Elijah Ward
Elijah Ward
Elijah Ward was a U.S. Congressman during the American Civil War and the Reconstruction era.Ward was born in Sing Sing , New York. He pursued classical studies, engaged in commercial pursuits in New York City and at the same time attended the law department of New York University...
was his cousin.
Sources
- The New York Civil List compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough (pages 59, 71ff, 384; Weed, Parsons and Co., 1858)
- Maj. Gen. Aaron Ward, of New York a political biography in The United States Magazine and Democratic Review (Vol. 28; January 1851, pages 70ff)
- Death notice of his daughter Josephine, in NYT on March 3, 1906