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(JoiiFFnop HarauFl MaFb, 
 
 OF RHODE ISLAND. 
 1725-1776. 
 

 
 THE 
 
 LIFE AND- SERVICES 
 
 OF 
 
 0B.er:ii0r S^niB^I W 
 
 OF RHODE ISLAND, 
 
 A MEMBER OF THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS 
 
 l^ 1774, 1775 AND 1776. 
 
 BY HIS GREAT-GRANDSON, 
 
 JOHN WARD, 
 
 OF NKW YORK. 
 
 r 
 
 ^- 
 
 PROVIDENCE, R. I. : 
 
 J. A. & R. A. REID, Printers, 
 
 1877. 
 
^207 
 
NOTE. 
 
 The life of Governor Samuel AVaru has been very ably written by Professor 
 William Gammell, and will be found in the ninth volume of Sparks' Library of 
 American Biography. In tlie preparation of this interesting biograpliy. Professor 
 GammcU used many of the family papers now in the possession of tlie author of 
 
 / this sketch. It occurred to the writer that so many more letters and papers had 
 
 been collected since that time by his late \Hiele, Richard R. Ward, especially the 
 
 -* diary of (iovernor Ward in the Continental Congress, that a new article might be 
 
 written, embodying the best part of these documents, and illustrating the char- 
 acter of Governor Ward as an American statesman. Hon. Samuel G. Arnold, in 
 
 1^ his History of Rhode Island and in his Centennial Address, mentions Governor Ward 
 
 in very appropriate terms, especially alluding to his refusal to take the oath to 
 enforce the Stamp Act. Dr. George Bancroft mentions this refusal of the Cover, 
 nor in the fifth volume of his History of the United States, page 351. 
 
 The following sketch was i-ead by the author before the Rhode Island Histori- 
 cal Society at Providence, K. 1., by invitation, on Tuesday evening, December 19, 
 1S7G. It was published in the Providence Journal on Christmas day, the week 
 following; and the writer desires to express his thanks to the Rhode Island His- 
 torical Society for the resolutions passed in regard to his article, which are 
 alluded to in the notice of the meeting in the Providence Journal of the 20th 
 instant. 
 
 New York, December 27, 1876. 
 
GOVERNOR SAMUEL WARD,, 
 
 OF RHODE ISLAND, 
 By Col. John Ward, of New York. 
 
 The life of :i great andemineutly good man 
 leaves an inii>i'ess on his seneration, whirli is 
 very lastiii^MU its efffcts; altlioii;ih Iiis fame 
 may be dversliadoweil by that of otiiers, 
 ■whose gooii fortune lias been to live on and 
 reap the reward of their labors. The veil of 
 secreiiy that so Ions rested over the proceed- 
 ings of the Continental Congress did no ia- 
 .inry to the renntatiim of those members vvlio 
 lived to sign the Dei'larationof Independence; 
 but in the case of the subject of this memoir, 
 an untimely death, by precluding him from 
 signing that immortal document, prevented 
 his arduous labors in the cause of liis ccuin- 
 try from being as widely appreciated as they 
 deserved. 
 
 Governor Samuel Ward, of Rhode Island, 
 a very prouiincnt member of the celebr.ated 
 Continental Congress, and a patriotic states- 
 man of most enlightened views, was born .at 
 Newport, K. I., May 27, 17'.',5. lie was the 
 second son of Governor Kichard Ward, of an 
 ancient family settled in tliat colony, and 
 was descended from the celebr;ited lioger 
 Williams. lie received a very tlioniugli edu- 
 cation, residing at Newport uutil he w.as 20 
 years of age. When he married .\nna Uay, 
 ;\nd removed to \Vesterly, li. 1. Tliere he 
 rapidly rose to prominence and wealth, his 
 agrii'ultural and mercantile pursuits iiroving 
 very remunerative. While residiug there he 
 beciime well acquainted witli the dis- 
 tinguished philosopher, Benjamin Franklin, 
 who established a long corresixuideuce witn 
 Samuel W.ard's sister-in-law. Catherine Kay. 
 In IT.'iii, Mr. Wanl was elected to the (iene- 
 ral Assembly of Uhode Island, and continued 
 to represent Westerly in that body until 
 175!>. He took a leading part in the debates 
 of the Assembly and was speedily looked up 
 to with great respect, early winning for 
 himself the wide and commanding in- 
 
 fluence that his noble character and 
 talents deserved. In I'.IS, he was 
 one of the two delegates representing 
 Kliode Island in the Convention c.'illed at 
 Hartford by the Karl of l.oudoun Uj settle the 
 quot;l of New England troops in the French 
 war, and reported the jiroceedings of the 
 Convention to the Uhode Isl.and Legislature. 
 In ITiil, lie was ap|ioiutcd Cliiid' .lustice of 
 tlie c<»Iony, and in May, ITtiJ, while holding 
 this olHce, was elected (ioveriior. During liis 
 first term he was mui'h interested in the 
 wise plan of founding Kliode island (College, 
 now lirown I'niversity. His name appe:irs 
 ainotig the first signers of the petition for a 
 charter, and in 17(14 he became one of the 
 original trustees, when the college was incor- 
 porated l)y the Legislature. His son. Lieu- 
 tenant Colonel Samuel Ward, was graduated 
 with high honors in one of its earliest dashes. 
 In 17()5. he was reiilected (iovernor, and, ii,)on 
 tlie [lassage of the iufaiiious St;itiip \vX by 
 Parliament, immerliately took strong gro ind 
 against its enforcement. The Khode Isl.ind 
 Assembly, in September, adofited the live 
 celebrated resolutions dr.awn up by Patrick 
 Henry, of Virginia, to which another an! a 
 bolder one was .added, the whole breathing 
 virtually a tone of independence. The G iv- 
 ernors of all the colonies but one took the 
 oath to sustain and enforce the odious Stamp 
 .Vet. Sauiuel Ward, "the Governorof Khode 
 Island, stood alone in his patriotic refus U," 
 says the historian Mancroft. In the month of 
 Ov'tober, a Coloni.al Congress, representing 
 nine colonies, was held at New York to pro- 
 test against this oppressive measure. Henry 
 Wanl. a brother of t_iovernor Ward, and ni>ted 
 as holding the office of Secretary of Khode 
 Island for many years, was one of the two 
 deleg.ates from liis native colony. The fol- 
 lowing year, Samuel Ward was again elected 
 
Governor Samuel Ward, 
 
 Governor, continuinEr to reside in Newport 
 ■while in office. His future colleague in 
 the Continental Congress, Stephen Hopkins, 
 ■was generally the rival candidate opposed to 
 him, and party feeling in Khode Island 
 ran high, until finally a compromise was 
 agreed upon, and the two statesmen became 
 fiim friends. After the expiration of his 
 third term of office, Governor Ward returned 
 to his home at Westerly, R. I., where he re- 
 mained in retirement, closely observing the 
 rapid march of events, until he was called 
 to legislate for the whole country. He fre- 
 quently attended the sessions of the General 
 Assembly, although holding no office, and 
 exerted a wide influence in the decision of 
 questions of great pub'ic interest. 
 
 In consequence of the oppressive acts of 
 the British ministry, Virginia and Rhode Isl- 
 and took the lead in establishing standing 
 committees of correspondence and inquiry, 
 in order to obtain the earliest intelligence of 
 all measures of the British government re- 
 lating to America, and to correspond with 
 similar committees iu the other colonies. 
 Governor Ward saw the advantage of ex- 
 tending this system to all the towns in Rhode 
 Island, and accordingly, on the 31st of De- 
 cember, 1773, so.'.n after the patriotic de- 
 stiuction of the tea at Boston, addressed a 
 letter to some prominent gentlemen of New- 
 port, urging thenecessity of establishing such 
 committees of correspondence in the various 
 towns of the colony, and suggesting that 
 Newport, their metropolis, should lead the 
 way in this important matter. This remarka- 
 ble letter was signed by himself and several 
 other patriots of Westerly, and is as follows: 
 
 Westerlt, 3Ist Dec, 1773. 
 Gentlemen— As Liberty, under God, is the pa- 
 rent of wisdom, virtue an'd happiness, and the only 
 serurity -nhich mankind can have for the enjoy- 
 ment of those invahiable blessings, we have be- 
 held witli the deepest concern, tlie many uncon- 
 etiiutlonal, violent and unjust attacks which have 
 been made npfui the liberties of America. Many 
 of thesr Htli tiipts have been deleated by the 
 brave r.'tJistiiii.-.- i.i the Americaiisj and the colo- 
 nies in Keinr;il have gloriously asserted tJieir just 
 riyhts and privileges, and nlaced the justice of 
 their cause in a Jiyht as clear as that of the me- 
 ridian sun. But the administration, ipsensible of 
 every humane, generous, and equitable sentiment, 
 still continues its vile attempts to enslave us. 
 There is therefore tlie greatest necessity that a 
 general, tirm and inviolable union and intercourse 
 of all the coloiiies. and of the several towns in each 
 colony, should immediately take place, that the 
 ministry may be etfectuallv convinced tbat an op- 
 position 10 their measures hath been made, not by 
 a tew Inter^Bted, designing or factious persons, 
 but by the joint <-oncurrence of people of all rankn 
 in the several colonies. To put this matter bey jnd 
 a doubt, aid convince the world that America is 
 firmly united, and resolved never to give up their 
 lil>erties but with their lives and fortunes, we 
 think a point of the greatest importance. We are 
 sensible that the appointment of committees of 
 correspondence by the several governm^'nts will 
 have a most happy tendency in this respect. 
 
 But we think something further necessary, and 
 can think of nothing to effectual as the calling of 
 town ineelint^s in every town ill the several colo- 
 nies, in oriler tu publish to the world th»ir senti- 
 ments iii)un the present alaiming situation ot af- 
 fairs, particularly their detestation ot and deter- 
 mination to oppose to the last extr*^mity the base 
 attempts niacie by the East India Company to es- 
 tablish tea factor-s and tax-gathererij amongst us; 
 and to ue«-l;iie the tirm resolution ot every town to 
 support earh iiiher. dnd especially our most wor- 
 thy bieflireii in Boston, who have so nobly sus- 
 tained and deteated every ministerial attempt 
 upon their liberties, and also to manifest our uu- 
 afterable resolution to live freemen, or die glori- 
 ously in defence of our jiberties. 
 
 With views o£ this kind, we had thought 
 of calling a town meeting in Westerly' ; but 
 as it would be most for the iiiteresl 
 of the common cause that a measure of 
 such importnnce should orit;inate in the metro- 
 polis, we chose to communicate our sentiments 
 to our brethren in Newport: and as you, gentle- 
 men, have generously undertaken to watcYi over 
 the interests of your country, and point out every 
 attempt upon liberty, we thought we could not 
 address ou^^elve8 to any gentlemen in the colony 
 with so much propriety as to you. If the meauure 
 suggested by us should appear to you in the same 
 important light which it does to ui-. you will un- 
 doubtedly tnke the proper measures for carrying 
 it into immediate execution iu this, and all the 
 other governments. 
 
 "We shall expect your sentimer ts by Mr. S , 
 
 before we proceed any further, and have no doubt 
 but that the maritime towns will be supported hy 
 all the otiier towns in the colony. We 
 have only to add that the crisis, the impor- 
 tant crisis which must determine whelh>'r 
 the inhabitants of this vast continent sh-tll 
 be the greatest and most happy people in the 
 uni erse, or a race of vile, misernhle. unhappy, 
 wretched slaves, appears to us to be now come. * * 
 • Let us then staijd firm, and whatsoever 
 onr hands find to do in this glorious caiibe, doit 
 with all our might. May that God who delivered 
 our fathers from the cruel hands of oppression 
 and persecution, and preserved them amidst all 
 the dangers and flistreps attending their settle- 
 ment in a wilderness destitute of every necessary 
 of life and inhabited by numerous tribes ot tierce 
 savages, give us wisdom and virtue to defend those 
 liberties they so gloriously pufhased and trans- 
 mitted to us, and to establish our just rights and 
 firivileges upon a foundation which shall last as 
 ong as the sun and moou endure!'* 
 
 Gov. Ward wrote in a similar strain to 
 prominent men in other towns of the colony; 
 and, on the second of February, 1774, intro- 
 duced a series of resolutions at a meeting of 
 the town of Westerly, as chairman of the 
 committee of correspondence, which fully 
 recite the grievances of which the colonies 
 complained, and urge resistance as the only 
 alternative remaining to them as freemen. 
 The meeting was very largely attended, and 
 the resolutions were adopted without a dis- 
 senting voice. 
 
 It is well known that the destruction of the 
 tea in Boston harbor only incited the British 
 ministry to more grievous measures, and the 
 Boston Port bill .ind other accompanying 
 acts warned the colonists that no mercy was 
 to be expected. These celebrated measures 
 powerfully aided in precipitating the Revolu- 
 tion. 
 
Gov€r7ior Samuel Ward. 
 
 On tlio ITtli of May, 1774, at a town meet- 
 ing in Proviiicnce, a general Congress of all 
 tlio I'olniiics was tirst jiroposed, :iud op the 
 \hX.\\ of .lime, during the session of the Gen- 
 eral Asseinhly, Samuel Ward and Stephen 
 Hopkins were elei-ted the tirst delegates 
 from any colony to the Continental Congress, 
 whieli suhse(juently met at I'hll.uleijthia. 
 Two days later, (iovernor Ward addressed a 
 letter (signt^d also by Stephen Hopkins) to 
 tlie Hon. Thomas Cashing, S|»eaker of tlie 
 Massaehusetts House of liepresentatives. It 
 reads as follows: 
 
 Newport, ITlh May (V .hnie), 1774. 
 
 Sir—The (Jeiif rrtl Asaembly of this i-nlony li:iv- 
 iuR in their present session resolved that tlie 
 pieservalioii of Aliiericii requires ;v «*(mveiitinn of 
 Tf preseiitHtivea from all the c.il.iiiies. ami ap- 
 pi'iiited ua to represent this folniiv in a (.'niif^^ress, 
 we take the earliest opportunity to jisMire you 
 that we Bh>ill ut alltiin-s he ready most htintdy 
 to oonuiir witli your Province, and tlie other rolo- 
 iileB, In all proper measures tor elfeerii;iiiy restor- 
 ing ihe ^eace ot Aiiieriea, and estahligli- 
 in^; the just rights of the oolonies. When 
 we oonsider the distress in whieh your 
 people are already involved, and tiie danger 
 wliK'h threatens us all, we are of opinion no time 
 ought to be lost, hut that as soon as all the colonies 
 c»N have time to concur in the measure, the Con- 
 gress ought to l>e held. We wo\iIri liv no ineitos 
 recommend a time so short MS wouhl puclude the 
 niiTe distant colonies from an o|i(iort unity of 
 sending commissioners; for the more Kenerai. the 
 more important and permanent will be the happy 
 consequences of it. 
 
 with regard to the place of meeting, we must 
 oliserve tliat the great design upi>n which we are 
 to assemble, is more to be attended to than our 
 own per-tou;il I'oiiveiiience. and that plai-e wliere 
 there will be the feweht objects to draw the 
 attention of the commissioners from the great 
 business of their meeting, must be the fittest 
 place for the Congress. In a government under 
 ministerial Instnu'iions, some inlerruntions may 
 he attempted ; but in one under the direction o'f 
 the people nothing of thtt ki"d can happen. 
 For these reasons, aod on account of the danger 
 of taking the small-jtox in some jdaces which 
 may be named, we should like one (d the j)lace8 
 proposed by the committee of correspondence tor 
 Connecticut, or Princeton in the .lerseys; but we 
 will make no difflculties on our own account, but 
 will readily join the other coniraissioners at any 
 time and place agreed upon by the majority." 
 
 The Congress met at Philadelphia, Sept. 
 5, 1774. (iovernor Ward Journeyed thither 
 on horseback. His private diary of this and 
 the succeeding Congress is still preserved. 
 He writes: 
 
 "Arrived In Philadelphia 30th Aug.. 1774. In the 
 eveidtuf. Aug. ;H. In ine forenoon the delegates 
 from South Carolina, and some gentlemen of 
 the cltv, came to see me; soon after, the delegates 
 from Boston. >cw Hampshire and <d' the <d*y, 
 (save ttmso out of town) and the Fttrmi-r, (Mr. 
 Jehn Uickinson.) in the afternoon, several gen- 
 tlemen of the city; Mr. Hopkins and lady and the 
 delejiHtes from Connecticut arrived. Sept. ."itii. 
 Met at the New TMveni. went to Carpenters' Hall, 
 »nd liking the place aureed to hold ihei'onKress 
 tliere, took a list of the delegates, chose the Hono- 
 rxble I'eyton Kanriolph, President, and Mr. 
 Charles Thrunpson, Secretar>'. rend the appoint- 
 ineuts of the delegates, considered of the man- 
 
 ner of each Colony's voting and rules for regulat- 
 ing the business, hut adjourned until 10 o'clock 
 to-morrow, tith. Met at 10 o'clock, each colony to 
 have one vote, et^^, etc. Mr. Du<Th); desired to 
 open by prayer to-nmrrow at ii o'<'loek. Kept. "th. 
 Mr. Ducht- read prayers and lessons, and conclu- 
 ded with one of the most sublime, catholic, well- 
 adapted prayers I cvei lu'itrd. Tlianlts for it. and 
 presented bv Mr. t'ushlng and Mr. Ward. A 
 committee of two from eaih colony appointed to 
 luepare a statement ul the rights oV the colonists, 
 the iiilrit gement ol tbitse rights, and the means 
 of redress. • • • Sept."J2d. The Congress met, 
 made and ordered jtublle a request t'l the mer- 
 chants not to import, and also to direct a delay of 
 orders already sent, nnlU the Congress came to 
 resolutions on that point," etc. 
 
 (iovernor Ward entered upon hi.s duties 
 with great xeal for his country's welfare, 
 and a .-jineere wish for independence, which 
 he niainlaiued througlioiit. He soon be- 
 came intini;itely acquainted with Washing- 
 ton, then a delegate from Virginia, and 
 what is preserved of their subsequent cor- 
 respondence is very interesting. In a lett-^r 
 to his son Samuel, dated at Philadelphia, 
 Oct. "I'l, 1774, he sums up the proceedings of 
 the lirst Congress as follows: 
 
 "We have formed a bill of rights, a list 
 of grievances. and for redress of those 
 yriexnnces. agreed upon a petition to the 
 Kui^.a non-imporl;itioii, non-exportation and UOD- 
 ci.ii^umpiion at,'ieeiuents. an address to the pe>)- 
 pU; ot Knglaud. anutlier to tho«e ot* America, have 
 stignnitized Bernard Hutchinson, and other 
 wret<!he8 in Boston, and advised resistance a.d 
 reprisals, in case any attempt should be made to 
 seize and iransport any jiersons to England fi>r 
 trial. Our proceedings are to he s»-nt to all the 
 colonies ana the West Indies to invite them to 
 juiu us. 
 
 The Congress adjourned on the 2()th of 
 October, after summoning a new Congress 
 for the following May, and the delegates re- 
 turned home. Samuel Ward and Stephen 
 Hopkins reported the proceedings to the 
 Khiide Island Assembly, at Providence, on 
 the fourth of December, and received a vote 
 of thanks for "the wise, spirited and faithful 
 discharge of the important trust reposed in 
 them," and were unanimously reelected as 
 members of the new Congress.' 
 
 That body met at Philadelpliia on the 
 tenth of May, 177'!, while the p.alriotic excite- 
 ment occasioned by the battle of Lexingt-m 
 was stiil ringing through tlie country. Khode 
 Island immediately proceeded to rai.^e troops 
 for the emergency", the commissions i>f the of- 
 ficers being signed umler authority of the 
 I,egisl.iture by (_;ov. Ward's brotlier Henry- 
 Ward, the Secretary of the colony, who was 
 found faithful In hoiir of trial; while Gover- 
 nor Wanton and the Deputy (iovernor pro- 
 tested against the proceeding.-*, and were 
 consequently soon after reim)ved from oltice. 
 Governor Ward's son Samuel, a youth of 
 eighteen, promptly raised a company in 
 King's and Kent counties, and received a 
 commission as Captain. Governor Ward 
 
8 
 
 Governor Samuel IFan/. 
 
 journeyed to Philadelphia as before on horse- 
 back, and took his seat on the fifteenth cf 
 Way, becoming immediately very prominent, 
 his name, as before, constantly appearing in 
 the journal of Congress. Nearly every day 
 Congress resolved itself into a committee of 
 the whole, and Governor Ward on such occa- 
 pif ns was always called to the chair, John 
 Hancock, the Piesident, first summoning 
 him to that position on the 2Gth of May. 
 Wuch of the business was prepared during 
 these sessions, and Gov. Ward was chair- 
 man during a very momentous portion of 
 the proceedings, from Way 2(i, 1775, to March 
 13,1776. He was chairman of the ccmmit- 
 tee of the whole when it was resolved to 
 elect a Geneial for the continental forces, 
 June 15, 1775, and made his report accoid- 
 ingly, the choiie of Congress unanimously 
 falling en Col. George Washington, iben. as 
 before, a delegate fiom Virginia. Gov. 
 Ward's letters continue to throw light on the 
 pi oceedings of Congress. He writes tro his 
 younger biother, Henry, Secretary of Rhode 
 island, as follows: 
 
 * PHrLADBLPBiA, 22d June, 1775. 
 
 \esteraay the famous Mr. Jtffersoii. a delegate 
 fn ni Virginia, in the ror.ni ut Sir. R»i doli)li. ar- 
 ri\ed. I have not beeii in comjiiiiiy with liini yet. 
 He looks like a very seDsilile. spi.ittd. fine lellow, 
 aid, by the panjiblet T\hich be wrote last sum- 
 mer, he cerlaitly is one. 
 
 The celebrated John .Adams repeatedly 
 mentions Gov. Ward in his diary, and enter- 
 tained a very high opinion of him. Gov. 
 Ward's son Samuel was a Captain atthat time 
 in Col. Varnnm's regiment, the Twelfth Khode 
 Island, forming originally a part of the 
 "Khode Island Army of Observation" under 
 Geneial Nath. Greene, from May, 1775; Gov. 
 Ward's influence having brought about Gen. 
 Gieene's appointment. The Rhode Island 
 troops were encamped at Cambridge, Mas.s., 
 where General Washington assumed com 
 mand of the forces besieging Boston on the 
 3d of July, 177."); and it is said that "only in 
 the Rhode Island liegiments under Geneial 
 Gieene, did Washington discover aught of 
 military order, .-ystem, discipline and subor- 
 dination." After the battle of Bunker's Hill, 
 in which the Rhode Island troops were not 
 engaged, Captain Ward was stationed at 
 Piospect Hill, near Charlestown, where the 
 tioops underwent a very heavy bombard- 
 ment from the British, followed by constant 
 skirmishing. Gov. Ward's letters to his son 
 at that period, as throughout, breathe a most 
 lofty spirit of patriotism. 
 
 The Congress adjourned August 1st, until 
 Sept. 5th, 1775, and Governor Ward return- 
 ed to his home .at Westerly, R. I. On the 
 loth of August he wrote to his son, Captain 
 Ward, then stationed at Cambridge, as fol- 
 lows: "It gives me inexpressible pleasure to 
 
 find General 'Washington so universally ac- 
 ceptable to all the troops. I was sure, from 
 the intimate acquaintance I had with him, 
 his appointment would certainly be attended 
 with the most happy consequences." In 
 another letter to his son, written a few days 
 previously, he says: "iS'ever having heard 
 that you had been introduced to General 
 Washington, I have enclosed you a letter to 
 him. ileltitopen that you may read it, 
 then seal and deliver it immediately." 
 General Washington shortly after wrote to 
 Governor \\ ard, and says in'his letter, dated 
 at Canibiidge, August, i775: "I did not know 
 till yesteiday that vou had a son in the ar- 
 my; to-day i had the pleasure of his compa- 
 ny at dinner, together wiih Geneial Greene. 
 Colonels ■\arnum and Hitchcock had al- 
 ready done me that lavor. I think, if occa- 
 sion should ofler, 1 shall he able to give you 
 a good account of your son, as he seems a 
 sen.«ible, well-intoimtd joung man." In 
 September, 1775, Captain Ward, with his 
 company, joined Arnold's celebrated expedi- 
 tion to tjuebec, and underwent the terrible 
 hardships of the campaign with great forti- 
 tude. Governor ^^ aids interest in the 
 struggle continued unatiated. Shortly beiore 
 this he writes to a correspondent; "You 
 wish for peace, so do I; but never upon any 
 other terms but those which will secure the 
 liberties of my country." 
 
 The Continental Congress had adjourned 
 to the 5th of Stpttmber, but a quorum was 
 not obtained until the Kith instant. Gover- 
 nor Ward arrived in Philadelphia, Sept. 10th, 
 and immediately resumed his punctual at- 
 tention to public business. He showed his 
 apcreciation of General Washington's kind- 
 ness to his son in the lollowing letter: 
 
 "FBILADErPHlA.lTth Sept., 1775. 
 
 Dear Sir:— HavinK nothing of immediate conse- 
 quence to contmunicate, and determiiting to set 
 out for this city in a few days after the receipt 
 ot your lavor. I deferred acknowledging it 
 until my arrival here. 
 
 I am greatly obliged to jou for the very kind 
 notice which yfm were pleased to take ot my son, 
 ana the favorable light in which you view htm. 
 The advantages of tiavelling he wants; but those 
 ot a liberal education he eiiioys. He has seen 
 some of the best company in our colony: and, 
 from bis moral and political principles, I natter 
 mjself his conduct will make him not unworthy 
 of your future regard, every instance of which 
 I shall most gratefully aiknowledge. 
 
 ^ith pleasure 1 onsuve, that you have lately 
 received some powder, anel expect some lead and 
 arms, from our colony. I hope the measures taken 
 by Congress, and by the colonies, will furi.istl 
 you with such quantities as will allow the freest 
 scepe to your military plans and operations. 
 
 That jtait of your U tier relative to removing the 
 stock from the islands and sea coast, I laid before 
 our General Assembly . I showed the necessity of 
 imraedialtly doing it, in the most forcible ternn; 
 and such measures were immediately adopted, as 
 have. I imagine, secured all our cattle from the 
 enemy, by this time. 
 
Governor Samuel Ward. 
 
 The inmiiuornblo dlfflculties w»ili-h you niuBt 
 liavt* eiu-oiitiirrnl in llie <-(»iiiinnii(i nt an army 
 under (llllfrcnt .stuhlislimiMits. hi want 
 of arms liiid umniunilion, nunltir siiiiiilien of 
 provisions. a military rhest, t-xiuTlf nct'»i 
 offlcert), H due oivunizatlon. and h luiudrcd 
 other thlnps, I lia^e some, thouKh not an adequate 
 coiureption of; hut, Imm the ;i.-co«nts wlilch I 
 havy li'f I'li'umni' to ivretve from my Jrifiids tri 
 Cunfjri'ws, I ilutiM unt hut your wlsf and sleady at- 
 tenllon to Ww svrvi.-c will svirniount all oltsiat'U'S, 
 and that bv tlie oixmiIuk of the next i-ampalKn,you 
 will have the tineht army under your command 
 which ever waa fornu'd in Anit-rifft. 
 
 I am too sensible ot ilie niultipllrity of business 
 in whirh you jtrc ell^;;lKed. to Mutter myself vvitli a 
 regular rnrn-sjioiHU itie; hut wbenevtr \uu siiall 
 eommuiiii'iite aM\ thin^i iieeessary tor the publie 
 good To me. you Tuay rely upon my best and (.'oii- 
 atant endeavors, botli iu uur own cotocy and in 
 Con»;re.s(i, m promote the service. 
 
 I most i.-berrtully entered Into a solemn enK^iKe- 
 meiiT. upon \ niir appointment, to support yovi with 
 my life and loriiiiie.anil shall uuist n-dniously, and 
 with Uie highest uteasure. endeKVor to discharge 
 that duty. I'lie i;on;,'ress hej^au to do business last 
 Wednesday, but many meiiihers are still abseut. 
 Coloi el Lee, Colonel Harrison antl Mr. delferson. 
 and the Morth <arollna delegalea at.d somn others, 
 have not arrived, Mr. Uanuidph has been rou- 
 tined with a fever two or three days; Messrs. 
 Wythe and Lee are under iiioeiihition ; .to that Col- 
 onel Nelson wlone attends Irom \oiir colony. 
 
 We entered into (he conMder:il imi of your ler- 
 ters yesterday. Kor want of a tborounh knowl- 
 edge of milifary aifatrs. it wa.s not so well under- 
 stood how an otlieer'a having several aiipoint- 
 meuts eould mak« any dllTereuee in rank. For in- 
 stance, how a llenera'l 'Mlicer's liavlng a regimenc 
 or eotnpjny, or a Held oiUcer's having a "lompany, 
 could alti r bis rnrk. It seemed to l)e the general 
 oi)liiion ihit all nfticers should receive pay only 
 for one eomndssion, and that their highest; and 
 that when the army was reformed, no person 
 should sustain more than one i^tllee. Ittit some 
 seemed toappreliend that it ti general oillcer ap- 
 pointed by hiseolonv as enlonel of a iiartlcu'ar 
 regiment, or a tiehl olhcer as <-aptain of a com- 
 pany, were rtl ii«*ed bv the Coii;:rebs eoninii^f'ioiis 
 as such, that tin- rolonles would apjuiint other 
 colonels and e;ipl,iiiis in Ibeir places, 'i hat this 
 Increase of olllcers would augment the dittieuUies 
 attending the r«*duction of tlie troops, it such a 
 measure should he adopted. Tpon tne whole, tlie 
 matter was refeirpil, and as soon as your sever;-! 
 letters are couMidereil. %ou will he ac(iuaiuted with 
 the seniiments of the Congress. 
 
 We have no ntws here from England later than 
 tlie isth of .luly. IVv the Klnti's answer to the pe- 
 tition of the L' rd Mayor, Aldermen and (-ommons 
 of the city of I.,oiirion, it appears he is determined 
 to pursue and enforce his measures. (Jod be 
 thanked, that however severe the contest may 
 prove, we are now in su<'h a happy wav tliat the 
 end must be the estabiisliment of Ameilcan lib- 
 
 To (Jeneral Washin^tou. 
 
 Samuel Ward. 
 
 In addition to daily presiding in Commit- 
 tee uf the Whole, (Jovernor Ward was ap- 
 pointed a member of the i^ecret committee tu 
 contract for arms and munitions of war, 
 and was subsequently chosen chairman of 
 this committee. *"Ile was also a member of 
 the stindiu^ committee on claims and ac- 
 count-*," a position compollini; him to be 
 familiar with all the operations of the army, 
 and with the services rendered by e:ich of 
 the respective colonies. He also served up- 
 on a lartfe number of special committees, 
 
 ".some of which were entrusted with the 
 most delicate and responsible duties." On 
 acccuiMt of the physical disability of his 
 colieaj^ue, Governor Hopkins, the ollicial cor- 
 respondence of the Kliude Isl;md delegation 
 with the government and citizens of the 
 coUuiy was also wholly thrown upon Gover- 
 nor Ward. In llie mouth of October he 
 writes to his family : 
 
 "I am almost worn out with attention tobuslnese. 
 I aril upon a stuiidnig committee of claims, wtiich 
 meets every inorniitg betore Congress, and upon 
 the secret committee which meets almost every 
 afternoon; anu tliese, with a close attendance 
 vipiui Coh^-rcss, and wiitlng many letters, make 
 my (buy very hwrd, and I cannot get time to ride 
 or take otherexerelHe. But I hope the business 
 will not be so pressing very long." 
 
 On the :_iOth of September, he writes to his 
 brother Henry, uh follows; 
 
 "No news from England since my last. The 
 
 fentlemen from Ueorj-ta deserve the ch;iracter 
 gave you of them; they are some of the high- 
 est ions ot liberty I have seen, antl are very sensi- 
 V)Ie and clever. Mr. Wythe, and Mr. Lee. of Vir- 
 ginia, liave been under Inoculation sfnee my last, 
 so tha - 1 can say no more of these than I did 
 then, having that niibiippv jealousy of New Eng- 
 land, which some weak imnds are pi>sse8scd with, 
 great unai.itnity prevails in Congicss; our meas- 
 ures are spirited, and 1 believe we are now ready 
 to go every length to secure our liberties, ./ohu 
 Adams's letter has silenced those who opposed 
 evt-ry decisive measure; but the m'lderite friends, 
 or. as I contiider them, tht enemies ot our cause, 
 have caused copies ot it to he sent throughout the 
 province, in hopes hv raising the crv ot Indepen- 
 dence, to throw liiu friends ot liher'iy out of the 
 new Assembly, the choice of which" commences 
 next Monday; hut I believe they will fail, and Ibat 
 the Hou*ie will be more decidtd than ever. One 
 comfort We have, that divine wisdom and good- 
 ness oftt I. bring gooil out of ill. That the issue 
 ot I Ills sune contest will he the estalillshnient of 
 our libertie.s, I as tirmly believe as I do my eiis- 
 leiii-e; for 1 never can think that Gtal brought us 
 into this wilderness to perish, or, what is worse, 
 to bt^i.'ome slaves, but to make us a (sr*?atand free 
 peojile." 
 
 The lihode I?l;ind Assembly was the first 
 to ;idvocate the building ot an American 
 navy, and in.ttructed their two delegates ac- 
 cordingly. On the :Jd of October. 1775, 
 Governor Ward wrote in his diary witli ref- 
 erence to his duties in Congress, as follows: 
 ^'I'resented our instructions for carrying on 
 the war elTectually, and building :in Ameri- 
 can Meet." Tliese instructions were for the 
 present laid upon the table, and were not 
 finally acted ujion till the 11th of December, 
 when Congret^s, according to it.*; journal, 
 "took into consideration tlie instructions 
 given to the delegates of Rhode Ishind, and 
 after debate thereon, 
 
 lieM'lffd, That a committee be Appointed to de- 
 vise w.iya and means for furnlsliing tliese colo- 
 nies with a naval armameut, and report with all 
 convenient speed." 
 
 Two days following, the committee report- 
 ed in favor of building thirteen ships. After 
 
lO 
 
 Governor Samuel Ward. 
 
 a full debate the recnrt was adopted by Con- 
 gress, and the sliiiis were ordered to be built 
 at the expense of the United Colonies. The 
 following day Governor Ward wrote to his 
 brother: 
 
 '"I have the pleasure to acquaint you that, upon 
 consitlering our Instructions for a navy, the Con- 
 gress has agreed to build thirteei' ships ot war. 
 A committee is to he this day appointed, with tuil 
 powers to carry the resolve into execution, pow- 
 der and duck are ordered 'o be imported. All 
 other articles, it is supposed, may be got lii <he 
 colouies. Two of these vessels are to he built lu 
 our colony, one in >ew Hampshire, etc. The par- 
 ticulars I would not have mentioned. The ships 
 are to be built with all possible despatch." 
 
 While this important project was under 
 discusi-ion, the ill-judged conduct of the 
 British ministry was strengthening the hands 
 of patriots lilie'Ciovernor Ward. On the '2d 
 of November he writes to his brother: 
 
 "The evening before last, two ships arrived from 
 England. The advices which they liring {amongst 
 which is a proclamation tor suppr^'ssing rebellion 
 and sedition) ale of immense service to us. Our 
 councils have been hitherto too fluctuating; one 
 day measures tor carrying On the war were adopt- 
 ed; the next, nothing must be done that would 
 widen the unhappy breach between Great Britain 
 and the colonies As these ditfert-nt ideas have 
 jirevailed, our conduct has been directed accord- 
 ingly. Had we. at the opening of tne Congress in 
 Mav, immediately taken proper measures for 
 carrying on the war with vigor, we might have 
 been in possession of all Canada, undoubtedly, and 
 probablv of Boston 'Ihank God, the happy day 
 which Thave long wished for is at length arrived ; 
 The Southern colonies no longer entertain jealou- 
 sies of the >'orIhern; they no longer look hark to 
 Great Britain; they are convinced that they have 
 been pursuing a phantom, and that their only 
 safety is a vigorous, determined defence. One of 
 the gei.tlemen. who has been most sanguine for 
 pacific measures, and very jealous of the New 
 England colonies, addressing me in the style of 
 Bmher Rrhel. told me he was now ready to join us 
 heartily. "We have got.' says he. 'a suflicient 
 answer to our petition; I want nothing more, hut 
 am readv to declare ourselves* iudependent. send 
 ambassa'dors,' etc , and much more which pru- 
 dence forbids me to commit to paper. Our reso- 
 lutions will henceforth be spirited, clear and 
 decisive. May the Supreme Governor of the 
 universe direct and prosp-r them! The pleasure 
 which this unanimity gives me is Inexpressible. 
 I consider it a sure presage of victory. Mv anxiety 
 is now at an end. 1 am no longer worried with 
 coutradictory resolutions, but feel a calna, cheer- 
 ful satisfaction in having one great and just object 
 in view, pnd the means of obtaining it certainly, 
 by the divine blessing, in our own hands." 
 
 The condition of the army in Massachu- 
 setts at this time engaged Llovemor Ward's 
 attention very much, as the difficulties at- 
 tending the e'st,ablishment of the continental 
 system among troops enlisted under the 
 authority of the several colonies were very 
 great. Congress was much perplexed by 
 these difficulties, which are constantly alluded 
 to in General Washington's letters to that 
 body. Governor Ward held a correspon- 
 dence with General Greene on this subject, 
 which threw additional light on these em- 
 
 barrassments, General Greene giving him 
 the most accurate information on all the 
 points in question. The colony of Rhode 
 Island at this period was suffering the con- 
 sequences of its patriotic attachment to the 
 cause of independence, as the British ships, 
 under command ot Captain Wallace, taking 
 advantage of the e.vposed condition of its 
 shores, sent parties of marauders, who 
 devastated the country threatened by the 
 fleet. Governor Ward writes to his brother 
 at this time: 
 
 "I have traced the progress of this unnatural 
 war through burning towns, devastation of the 
 country and every subsetjuent evil. I have 
 realized wirli regard to nivselt the bullet, the 
 bayonet and the halter; and, compared wiih the 
 immense object I liave in view, they are all less 
 than nothing. No man living, perhaps, is itiore 
 fond of his children than I am, and I am not so 
 old as to be tired of life; and jet, as far as I can 
 now judge, thetenderest connections and the most 
 important private concerns are very miuute 
 objects. Heaven save nn country! I was going to 
 say, is my lirst, my last, and almost my only 
 prayer." 
 
 During the autumn the subject of fortify- 
 ing the Highlands of the Hudson river also 
 occupied the attention of Congress, and Gov. 
 Ward mentions in his diary, "tliata com- 
 mittee was appointed to con.^ider the subject 
 of the fortilications ordered to be erected on 
 the Hudson River," and th.at, "Gen. Wooster 
 was ordered, unless counter-ordered by Gen. 
 Schuyler, to come down to the Highlands, 
 leave" as many troops as the managers of the 
 works think necessary, .and repair with the 
 remainder to New York." On the 12th of 
 December, 1775, he writes to his brother: 
 
 "The contest betwen the two countries involves 
 a question of no less magnitude than the happi- 
 ness or misery of millions, and wten we ext-nd 
 our views to future ages, we may say millions of 
 millions. Our views, therefore, ought to tie exten- 
 sive, our plans great, and our exertions adequate 
 to the iinmense object before us, and 8ilch,IUoubt 
 not, will Ije the conduct of Congress." 
 
 During this time Gov. Ward's favorite son, 
 Capt. Samuel Ward, was participating in .all 
 the hardshijis and horrors of Arnold's cele- 
 brated march to Quebec through the wilder- 
 ness of Maine. The sufferings which these 
 brave soldiers underwent were almost un- 
 paralleled, while, as is well known, after 
 displaying the most desperate courage in 
 the attack on Quebec, Dec. 31st, 1775, and 
 penetrating far into the city, the very bravest 
 of them were outnumbered and made priso- 
 ners, Capt. Samuel Ward being among the 
 number. The news of this disaster reached 
 Congress on the 17th of .January, 1770, by 
 dispatches from General Schuyler, and Gov. 
 Ward was appointed on the committee to 
 whom these dispatches were referred. On 
 the 21st he wrote to his son as follows: "I 
 most devoutly thank God that you are alive, 
 
Governor Samuel Ward. 
 
 1 I 
 
 in good health, and have behaved well. 
 You have now a new scene uf aition, to 
 behave well as a prisoner. Von have been 
 taught from your infancy the love of Clod, 
 of all mankind, and especially of your 
 country; in a due discharge of these various 
 duties of life consist true luuior. religion 
 and virtue. * * * All r.'inks of people 
 here have the highest sense of the great 
 bravery and merit of Colonel Arnold, and 
 all his otflcers and men. Though prisoners, 
 they have ac(;uired immortal honor." * * * 
 On the UHh of Kehruary he writes to another 
 son (John), in Khode Island: "1 am pleased 
 with the acc<mnt which you give nie of the 
 military operations in the colony. I expect 
 we shall suffer much, I hope we shall bear 
 it as becomes freemen, and have no doubt 
 but Heaven will crown our generous efforts 
 with success." A few days bef^ire, he wrote 
 to his brother Henry: "Dr. Franklin, upiui 
 my mentioning to hini a letter from the (Jov- 
 crnor relative to making powder, gave me a 
 receipt from some author, wliich 1 enclose." 
 About the same time he writes to his sister: 
 "When I consider the alarms, the horrors 
 and mischiefs of war. I cinnot help thinking 
 what those wreti-hes deserve, wlio have 
 involved this innocent country in all its 
 miseries. At the same time I adore the 
 divine wisdom and goodness, which often 
 overrules and directs those calamities to the 
 producing of the greatest good. This I 
 numbly hope will be cnir case. We may yet 
 establish the peace and hapjiiness of our 
 native country upon the broad and never- 
 failing basis of liberty and virtue. 
 
 When I reflect upon this subject, and an- 
 ticipate the glorious jieriod, the dangers of 
 disease, th.e inconveniences experienced in 
 my jiriv.ate affairs, the almost unpar.alleled 
 sufferings of Samuel, (his son, Captain 
 Ward,) and all that my dear children and 
 friends do or can suffer, appear to me 
 trilling." 
 
 (In the 4th of March, he writes to his broth- 
 er: 
 
 "The al>andonlne our Islands must be a very 
 heavy lots. • • The ('oiiRress is laktnKineasures 
 for tlie ih'fcncp of all part8 of the contliu'tit. New 
 York. New .fersey, PciiiisTlvaiiiii, the lewer cmin- 
 tles. I Delaware,! and >laryland are ril;nle a Ml<Mle 
 Dt'partineiit. under lieiiernl .SclmyhT; Virginia, 
 North CaroUiia, Snnth Carolina add (ieorjila, the 
 Southern I)t.]i,irfriient nniler (ieneral Lee, who 
 will soon he drt;tehed there. ,Sl.x hrlnadier.-* are 
 appointed for these Colonies. • • * There are 
 above thirty hal talions raising, or raised In these 
 depart iiienls. and more ean be raised, so that I 
 liope the enemy may meet a proper reeepHoii In 
 any quarter. A eoniniittee Is appointed bv Coti- 
 Kress to eontraet for the making of arms: this Is a 
 matter of Immense linnortanee. • • • This new 
 ment a vessel Is arrived from Europe with tweidv- 
 flvetoesof powder. • • Ceneral l.ee Is t'ortirviinr 
 New York. The Captain of the enemy's ships 
 eave out they would fire on Ihi' town. (JeiuTal 
 Lee in return Kave out that If theydhl.he would 
 
 chain a hundred of their best friends loRether, 
 and the first house they set ou fire should be their 
 funeral pile." 
 
 The la.st letter in the h.and writing of Gov- 
 ernor Ward is dated at I'hiladelphia, March 
 11, 17711. He writes to his son. Captiin 
 Samuel Ward, in the lofty strain of religious 
 patriotism he has made f.amiliar to us, and 
 in closing says: "Dr. Kranklin does me the 
 favor to take charge of this letter." 
 
 (iovernor Ward i-ontinued his unremitting 
 attention to his duties, constintly presiding 
 over Congress in committee of the whole, 
 etc., until the 1.5th of March, when he was 
 obliged to leave the session, owing tr) a vio- 
 lent attjick of illnes.s, which, the following 
 morning, jiroved to be small-pox. He died 
 of this fatal disease on the Uiith of March. 
 Dr. Young, who attended him, wrote the 
 same day to Governor Ward's brother .as fol- 
 lows: "It is with the most heartfelt grief, 
 with tile deepestatllictionand pungentregret, 
 tli.at I inform yon, the patriotic Samuel 
 Ward, Ks(|., left his .anxious, his numerous 
 friends in this city to ben-:iil their loss of one 
 of the most ;ible, consistent and determined 
 defenders of American liberty in his person, 
 who departed life at 2 a. ni. this morning, of 
 that tremendous disease, the small-pox, taken 
 in the natural way." The following day, 
 Governor Ward's colleague, the Hon. 
 Stephen Hopkins, wrote to the Secretary of 
 Khode Island, on the same subject. He says: 
 
 "I am very sorry to be under the necessity of wrft- 
 iUK so disagreeable news as the death of your 
 brother, the Honorahle Siiiiuel \Vard. Ksq.. must 
 be. He first found himself a little out of order on 
 Wednesday, the l;Uh of March, ami on that and 
 the two tollowing days, he attended (JoiiRress. but 
 on the last of them he was so poorly as to be 
 obliged to leave it before it rose, and on Saturday, 
 the 16th, in the meniiiii,-. the smallpox appeared 
 plai.ily. • • • 11.' .•ontlnned with the bad symp- 
 toms rather inere;isln!.'. until yesterday morning 
 about 2 o'clock, when he c'xpired without a groan 
 or struggle. He appeared to have retained his 
 senses quite thro' his whole disorder, even to the 
 last. 
 
 His funeral is to be attended thisdayst.t o'clock, 
 by the Congress as mourners. l»y the'General As- 
 sembly of the j)rovlnce of Pennsylvania, by the 
 Mayor and Corporation of the city of Philadelphia, 
 the Committee of Safety of tlie province, 
 an<l the Committee of Inspection of the city 
 and llOertles; the clergy of all dern>mlnatlcni8 pre 
 ceding tbecnrnse. six very reajiei-table g,. nth-men 
 of this city Ijeing pall hearer.s. Me will b.- r;irrled 
 into the great Presbyterian Meeting-house, in ' 
 Arch street, where a funeral discourse will be de- 
 livered by the Rev. Mr. Stillman. The corpse will 
 from thenee be carried to the Kap'Ist burylng- 
 gruund in ttxis city and there interred. 
 Your very alTcctioaate friend, 
 
 Stkp. Hopkins. 
 
 Dr. Young also s.aya in his letter: "So full, 
 so firm, so capable, so industrious was Mr. 
 Ward, that his loss will be severely felt in 
 the Congress. One, at least, of the mighty 
 advocates for American independency is fall- 
 
12 
 
 Governor Samuel Ward. 
 
 en in Mr. Ward, to the great grief of the pro- 
 to-patriot Adams." John Adams mentions 
 Gov. Ward's death in a letter as follows: 
 *'\Ve have this week lost a very valuable 
 friend of the Colonies in Governor Ward of 
 Rhode Island, by the small-pox in the natur- 
 al way. * * * He was an amiable and a 
 sensible man, a steadfast friend to his coun- 
 try, upon very pure principles. His funeral 
 was attended with the same solemnities as 
 Mr. Randolph's. Mr. Stillman being the 
 Anabaptist minister here, of which persua- 
 sion was the Governor, was desired by Con- 
 gress to preacli a sermon, which he did with 
 great applause." Many years after, in 1821, 
 John Adams thus speaks of his character in 
 a letter to one of his descendants: "He was a 
 gentleman in his manners, benevolent and 
 amiable in his disposition, and as decided, 
 ardent and uniform in his patriotism as any 
 member of that Congress. When he was 
 seized with the small-pox, he said that if his 
 Tote and voice was necessary to support the 
 cause of his country, he should live, if not 
 he should die. He died, and the cause of 
 his country was supported, but it lost one of 
 its most sincere and punctual advocates." 
 Governor Ward's remains were interred 
 in the I'irst Haiitist Clinrch, and a monument 
 was erected over the spot by an act of the 
 General Assembly of Rhode Island, passed 
 the following May, wnich pays this tribute 
 to his memory : 
 
 "WHEltEAH, The Honorable Samuel Ward. Esq.. 
 late a delegate for this Colony in the Continental 
 Conpress, hath lately deceased in the city of Phila- 
 delphia; in testimony of the respect due to his 
 memory, and iu grateful remembrance of his pub- 
 lic services, 
 
 Jiexolvtd, That his exect.tors or administrators 
 are desired, as soon as may be, to exhibit to this 
 Assembly an account of his funeral expenses for 
 pavment. And it is further resolved, that the 
 delegates for this Colony, for the time being, be 
 instructed to erect a decent tombstone or menu- 
 ment of marble, nith such inscription as they 
 
 shall think suitable, over the place where his body 
 hath been deposited, at the expense of this 
 Colony." 
 
 The monument was duly erected, and the 
 inscription was written by the celebrated 
 John Jay. Gov. Ward's remains reposed in 
 Philadelphia until 18(10, when they were re- 
 moved to the family plot in the cemetery at 
 Newport, Rhode Island, where the monu- 
 ment ordered by his native Colony still cov- 
 ers the ashes of one of the truest and most 
 patriotic statesmen of the Revolution. 
 
 A striking feature of Gov. Ward's charac- 
 ter was his remarkable grasp of mind and 
 st.atesmanlike breadth of view. His letters 
 show an appreciation of the critical situation 
 of the Colonies, before it had fairly dawned 
 upon the minds of any but a, very few states- 
 men like himself. As the crisis approached, 
 he rose to the situation, and evinced an un- 
 alterable desire tor independence, which was 
 intensified as the struggle proceeded. The 
 noble career of his son, Lieuten.ant Colonel 
 (then Captain) Samuel Ward, in the Revolu- 
 tionary army, equalled his expectations and 
 fanned his love of country to a still holier 
 tiame. The letters he addressed to his favo- 
 rite son and other relatives breathe a reli- 
 gions spirit and devout trust in Providence, 
 accompanying and enhancing his intense pa- 
 triotism. Gov. Ward's religious character 
 was remarkably developed, and a lofty spir- 
 ituality pervades his writings, apparently 
 stimulating his courage and e.arnestness in 
 the great national w'ork in which he was en- 
 g.aged. So thoroughly unselfish was he, and 
 so regardful of his duty to his country, that 
 while aware of the danger he was running of 
 taking the fatal disease of which he died, he 
 felt that he could not spare time from his pa- 
 triotic labors to be inoculated, and thus fell a 
 victim to a conscientious discharge of his 
 public duties. The country could ill afEord to 
 lose so noble an example of the best virtues 
 of that greatest period in our national his- 
 tory, the American Revolution. 
 
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