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 1727 - 1800 (72 years)
Generation: 1
| 1. | Artemus Ward was born on 26 Nov 1727 in Shrewsbury, Worcester County, MA; died on 28 Oct 1800; was buried in Mountain View Cemetery, Shrewsbury, Worcester County, MA. Other Events and Attributes:
Notes:
Artemas Ward Sr. was born 26 Nov 1727 in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, a son of Nahum Ward Sr. and Martha Howe. He graduated from Harvard College in 1748. He was elected to the Massachusetts General Assembly and later served on the Executive Council.
Artemas served as a Justice of the Peace in Shrewsbury in 1752. In 1755 during the French and Indian War, he was a major in Colonel Abraham William's Regiment of Massachustts Militia. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel while serving under Gen. James Abercrombie and became commander of the 3rd Regt.
After the war, Artemas was elected to represent Shrewsbury in the Massachusetts Assembly. He was named to the Executive Council and took an active roll in the controversies between the elected Assembly and the appointed Royal governors. He was appointed a Brigadier General of the Massachusetts Militia in 1774 by the Massachusetts Provincial Congress while serving as a delegate in the legislature. In 1775 he was made Commander in Chief of Massachusetts Militia. He was commissioned Artemas was in overall command of the American forces at the Battle of Bunker Hill but was not at the battle site itself. He was also in command of the forces besieging Boston until the arrival of General George Washington, when he assumed second in command. Because of poor health, he resigned his commission in Apr 1776 but Washington asked him to continue until May.
Artemas was elected Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas of Worcester County in 1776 and as President of the Massachusetts Executive Council in 1777.
He was elected as a member of the Continental Congress in 1779 but because of poor health did not take his seat. He was elected as to the Massachusetts House of Representatives and served 1779-1785 and as Speaker in 1785.
Artemas was elected as a Federalist to the House of Representatives of the 2nd US Congress and reelected for a second term, serving from 1791-1795.
Artemas married Sarah Trowbridge in 1750 and they had 8 children, including Artemas Jr., who became a United States Congressman. Artemas died 28 Oct 1800 and was buried at Mountain View Cemetery, Shrewsbury.
Delegate to the Continental Congress Massachusetts, 1780-1
State House of Representatives Massachusetts, 1779-1785
U.S. Congressman, Massachusetts 1781-85
Artemus married Sarah Trowbridge on 31 Jul 1750. Sarah (daughter of Caleb Trowbridge and Hannah Walter) was born on 3 Dec 1724 in Groton, Middlesex County, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
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Generation: 2
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