"My Said Reputed Son" ??

Hello All

Recently, you kindly helped supply information about ancestors whose Wills I
have now acquired.
The phraseology in one is a little confusing, regarding the way of referring
to a son.
Lt Col John WARD (died May 22nd 1842) appears to have had one son and in his
Will refers to him as "my said reputed son" and bequeaths the bulk of his

Ken Gibb...

"my said reputed son".

A "quaint" English way of saying ,
1. The parlour maid ,
2. Waitress,
3. Little bit of "fluff" at the pub

stood up to him.

Ken

and bequeaths the bulk of his

estate to him.

Eve McLaughlin...

It means he is illegitimate, but acknowledged as being the son of the
colonel.

This son, also John WARD married Charlotte WARD
July 7th 1837, St George Southwark.
The Marriage certificate just states father's name and occupation as normal.

Eve McLaughlin...

as he would - he uses the surname, he was accepted as the man's son -
why draw attention to any irregularity?

roy...

The phrase "my said reputed son" seems to me unambiguous. It clearly
means that John Ward jr was illegitimate but that Lt Col John Ward
(sr) had accepted that he was the lad's father.

Had John been his legitimate son by a marriage, it is extremely
unlikely he would have referred to him in the terms he did. The fact
that the colonel left the boy most of his estate suggests he had no
other children, especially as none were apparently mentioned in
his will (though you don't actually make that clear), and perhaps he
wasn't even married.

kathleen spencer...

On the Military papers I have, as I mentioned, Marriage was marked as (?)
Only three nephews (William West Smpson, George Phillip Simpson, (looks like
he lived at a Rectory in Somerset)and Davis James Simpson (Purser of the
Satellite Sloop oof War). Whether Simpson will eventually lead to a clue, or
his sister married someone of that name is still a mystery but they were all
adults. Various servants, including the Wet Nurse of his grandchild were
left portions.
There would have been two grandchildren by this time.

It sounds as if Col Ward was a man of honour and standing by what he
perceived to be his obligations! Do you have a clue as to who the

A. Gwilliam...

Although it'd be boring if all our ancestors were like that, it's still
nice to know; don't you think? Well done, Col. Ward!

mother was?

kathleen spencer...

No wife/mother was mentioned.

Roy Stockdill

"There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about,
and that is not being talked about."

Oscar Wilde

Is this just the manner of speech at that time?

Have not so far been able to find a marriage for John snr.
The Military papers I have leave marriage as a question mark.

Would appreciate your comments as I may be looking for a non existent
marriage.

Kate (Sydney, Australia)

Ken Gibb...

Ken & Jill Gibb, gibb@westnet.com.au
Mordialloc,
Vic. Australia.

mvernonconnolly...

I've certainly come across this phrase used of illegitimate issue in a
will; in the one I saw it also named the mother of the children, but
they were under age at the time.
-Matthew