William Ward

William Ward, 1812 - 1877

William Ward grew up on the Old Boston Mine farm near Frostburg and at 15 began hauling coal from his father's farm to Cumberland. In 1841, he purchased 625 acres of what was to become known as Borden Shaft Mines. In 1858 he sold the property to a coal company while retaining use of the land for farming purposes. The 1860 census lists him as a farmer, living with his wife, four children, and possibly his mother. His worth in real estate was listed at $25,400 and in personal property, $57,600, which included slaves.

William was known as a "kind and considerate" master. Upon the emancipation of Maryland's slaves on November 1, 1864, Ward provided each of his 29 slaves a new suit of clothes and held a dinner to commemorate their freedom.