Robert Ward was born at Toorigal House, Kincumber in February 1882. His parents were Manasseh Ward and Madeline Geary Henderson. Robert had two older sisters, Josephine who was five and Madeline three. He also had a brother William who was almost two.
There was another brother named Thomas who died as a baby in March 1881, less than a year before Robert was born. Two more little boys, named John and Manasseh jnr, were born and died before Robert’s fifth birthday.
When Robert was four his family moved to Balmain for a year before returning to the Brisbane Water district and settling in Gosford. Shortly after returning to the district, Robert’s father, Manasseh Ward was elected as an Alderman on the local Council. He would go on to serve many years in various roles on the Council, including multiple terms as Mayor and later Shire President.
Gosford was still a small country town, but with the arrival of the railway in 1890, it started to grow more rapidly. In 1891 the Ward family moved to a new house in Gertrude Street Gosford. The house stood on two acres and was surrounded by gardens, orchards, horse yards and poultry yards.
The family continued to grow and by the time Robert was 14 there were 11 children all living at home. The boys all slept on the downstairs verandas of the house and frequently had to share their accommodation with visitors who were invited to stay the night. The Ward household was well known for its hospitality.
When he was old enough to start work, Robert was apprenticed to a local woodturner and learnt his trade while still living at home.
In 1904 Robert married Ethel Parsons at St Leonards. Ethel was 18 and Robert 22. Robert continued to work as a woodturner in Gosford and he and Ethel lived in Mann Street. Robert and Ethel had six children while they were living in Gosford. By 1930 they were living in Lilyfield. Robert continued to work in his trade.
The children mostly remained living at home until they married, and the youngest son, Allan remained living with his mother even after he married. With his wife Dorothy, Allan lived with his mother until she died in 1963
Robert died in 1974 aged 65. He was survived by his wife Ethel, five of his six children and nine of his siblings. Ethel died in 1963 aged 77. Robert and Ethel are buried together at Rookwood Cemetery.
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