See the Potteries List section for the Water Lane Pottery.
It is not known precisely when the Water Lane Pottery was established. Edward Ward took his freedom in September 1682 and took his son Edward as an apprentice in February 1683. It is assumed that the Pottery was established between these dates.
| c1682-1710 | Edward Ward I ran the Water Lane Pottery. |
After his death in 1710, he was succeeded by his son, Edward Ward II.
He was the father of Edward Ward II, James Ward and John Ward.
| 1677 | 10 Jul. He was witness to the will of Robert Wastfield, potter (PRO Prob. 11/355). |
| 1678 | 10 Sep. Probably the Edward Ward who was noted as an apprentice or servant of Sarah Wastfield in her will (PRO Prob. 11/359). |
| 1680 | 15 Jan. Noted as a gallypotmaker of Brislington when his son Edward Ward II was apprenticed to Jonathan Browne, John Tanner and Susanna his wife (A, Ar). However, in February 1683 Edward Ward II was apprenticed to his father. |
| 1682 | 15 Sep. Mr. Mayor having formerly had the liberty of making one free of the Citty, being first to be nominated to the honer did this day nominate one Edward Ward a Potter now liveinge att St. Annes who was approvd of by the house and orderd that he be made free accordingely (CCP). |
| 1682 | 15 Sep. Mr. Mayo desiring the house this day to give the freedom of the City to Edward Ward potter according to the usuall priviledge allowed to the Mayor shall have his desire And the said Wm. [sic] Ward shall be made free of this City at the request of Mr. Mayor Notwithstanding any Act order or ordinance of the Common Councell to the contrary And that the Chambln doe admit him unto the libertys of the City … (CCP). |
| 1682 | 15 Sep. Edward Ward, potter, is admitted ye libties of this cittie by order of Sir Thomas Earl Knt. Mayor according to ye usuall previledge allowed ye Mayor for the time being and wh. consent of ye house hath taken ye Oathe of Allegeance (F). |
| 1683 | 17 and 18 May. Indenture of Lease and Release between Anna Jordan of the City of Bristol, widow, of the one part and Edward Ward of Brislington … Gallipot Maker, of the other part … of a property in Temple parish (Pountney 1920, 352). |
| 1683-94 | He was described as a gallypotmaker (A, Ar). |
| 1685-95 | Edward Ward’s first recorded export of English earthenware was to Jamaica on 9 January 1685. He then exported English earthenware to Cork, Waterford and Dublin. Note: not all Port Books have been studied (PB-EXP). |
| 1689 | ‘By Edward Wards poor money rec’d and not bro. to acc. 17s.4d’ (Temple-Ch). |
| 1689 | Edward Ward, Temple parish (BRO Rate 1 Wm. & Mary c.3). |
| 1691 | 19 Sep. His son, Joseph, was apprenticed to John Horwood, carpenter (Ar). |
| 1692 | Mar. ‘Rec’d of Mr. Edward Ward for halling through the parish wast 10s.0d’ (Temple-Ch). |
| 1692 | ‘By Caysh of Mr Edw. Warde for A backway to bathavon as p. Agreemt. with the Vestry for Continew dudring pleasure, one yeare being due Lady Day 10s.0d’. Ward continued to pay this rent until at least 1707 (Temple-Ch. and Af1(5)). |
| 1693 | 27 Oct. A potmaker of Temple parish, he was bondsman to a licence granted to John Ward, potmaker (M). |
| 1693 | 10 Nov. A lease for a property in Temple Street occupied by the Widow Batt adjoined a tenement ‘now of Edward Ward Potter on the North part … and extendeth from the Streete there forwards on the west part unto the Churchyard backwards on the East part …’ (BRO Temple Ab 155(2)). |
| 1696 | ‘An Acct. of ye mony Re’d for ye poor ye 1st half year becoming due at Michelmas 1696 Mr Edwd. Ward, senr, 19s.6d’ (Temple-Ch). |
| 1696 | He was living in Temple parish with his wife, Deans, and children, Deans, James, Hannah, Sarah and Mary (Ralph & Williams 1968, 253). |
| 1698 | Edward Ward, Snr., Temple parish (BRO Rate 9 Will. III c.10). |
| 1698-1707 | ‘Mr Edward Ward for his way 10s’ (sometimes ‘for his way at bathavon’) (Temple-Ch). |
| 1698/9 | ‘Ann Jordan and Edward Ward 2 Rackcloses now Tenemts formerly Barnes £1.12.8’ (G). |
| 1699 | ‘To Mr Edwd. Ward his disbursements when Chiefe Constable in ye yeare 1699 5s.10d’ (Temple-Ch). |
| 1700/1 | Rental from the lands of St John of Jerusalem ‘Edward Ward, potter, for Tenmts (thother part of sd. Rackcloses £1.6s.2d’ (G). |
| 1700 | Sir Thomas White’s Account ‘Ann Jordan and Edward Ward for 2 Rack Closes now Tenemts. formerly William Barnes £1.6.0 & 0.6.0 – £1.12.8’. A deed dated 8 March 33 Eliz. (1591) granted to John Barnes Merchant, in fee farm now in possession of Ed. Ward, etc., ‘from ye way leading from Water Lane to Temple Churchyd. to ye end of ye lane on that side ye last Tenemt. in holding of Tho. Church carpenter included’ (BRO 04238). |
| 1701 | Oct. A potter of Temple parish, he was bondsman to a licence granted to James ward, potter (M). |
| 1702 | 12 Jun. He was a party to a deed of settlement between John Bennett of Bristol, cooper, Robert Bennett of Bristol, cooper (son of John Bennett) and his wife, Deenes (Daughter of Edward Ward), in which a settlement of land was made on Robert and Deenes Bennett, as a result of their marriage (SRO DD/BR/tb 7). For details see under Robert Bennett I. |
| 1703 | ‘Rentalls of the Lands of St John of Jerusalem Nicholas Jordan a Tenemt and garden at Bathavon in Fee farm 3s More for Tenemts part of 2 Rackcloses formerly in Wm. Barnes fee farm 6s 6d Edward Ward Potter for Tenemts (thither part of the said Rackcloses) £1.6.2’ (BRO 04128). |
| 1703 | 4 Oct. He stood surety for William Morgan to keep an alehouse in temple parish (AKL). |
| 1705/6 | Anthony Woodward, baker, became free because of his marriage to Mary, daughter of Edward Ward, gallypotmaker (G). |
| 1709 | 15 Oct. A potter of Temple parish, he was bondsman to a licence granted to John Grace, potter (M). Note: this may be a reference to Edward Ward II. |
| 1710 | 4 Feb. Described as Edward Ward the elder, gallypotmaker, in his will. He made the following bequests: To his son Edward Ward and his daughter Deans Bennett, his house, in which he was living, in Water Lane, Temple parish. To his son Edward, ‘the houses and utensils of trade belonging to my pothouse and also the said potthouse’ and all the residue of his estate. To his son, James, his house in Water Lane occupied by Thomas Church, carpenter, his two houses in Rack Close in the occupation of Bruce Wilson and the widow Williams, his house in Temple Street in the occupation of Nathaniel Reed, weaver, and also his house, stable and two closes of grounds on St Michael’s Hill in the parish of Westbury-on-Trym, occupied by Thomas Williams. To his daughter Hannah, the wife of Henry Greene, mariner, his house in Bitton parish in Gloucestershire, in the occupation of Elborough Holborough; to his daughter Mary, the wife of Anthony Woodward, malster, his house in Bitton in the occupation of John Flower, husbandman; to his daughter Sarah, the wife of John Churchman, distiller, his house with parcels of ground in Compton Dando in Somerset, in the occupation of William Ford, husbandman; and to his daughter Deans Bennett his two houses and parcels of ground in Compton Dando in the occupation of John Hilsey, yeoman, and John Maynard, husbandman, together with all his household goods, household stuff and utensils of the household in his house in Water Lane. To each of his grandchildren ‘ a broad piece of gold’. To his sister Mary Tibbott, widow, four acres of ground in Keynsham, Somerset. To Andrew Gifford the elder of Bristol, clerk, five pounds of lawful money, and four pounds of money to be distributed by him ‘to such poor people of the Congregation of which he is pastor’. The will was proved on 6 March 1710 (PRO Prob 11/515). |
| 1710 | 25 Feb. ‘Edward Ward, pottmaker, St Phillips’ buried (RB). |
| Apprentices: With his wife Deans: Edward Ward II, 14 Feb 1683 (A). John Ward, 13 Sep 1686 (A)-23 Jul 1702 (F, G) Thomas Frank I, 8 Aug 1689 (A, Ar)-11 Jun 1698 (F) James Ward, 5 May 1694 (A)-23 Jul 1702 (F, G) |
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| Rate and tax book entries: Property 1: St Ann’s Mill 1694-1700) Edward Ward for ye Mill at St. Anns (Bris-PR) 1702-03) Ed. Ward or occup. for a mill (Bris-PR) 1695-1702 Edward Wade for the Mill (Brislington-Ch) (In 1704 Thomas Frank was paying rates on the mill).Property 2: Water Lane, Temple parish 29 Sep 1701 – 24 Dec 1701 Edward Ward, Snr. for houses, ground and tenm. (Temple-L) 1702 Edward Ward Snr. (Temple-W,LS) 1704-08 Edward Ward Snr. or occupiers (two properties) (Temple-PR) |