Background
He was born posthumously, and so succeeded to his father"s baronies at birth.
He was born posthumously, and so succeeded to his father"s baronies at birth.
In 1712, during his minority, one of the first Newcomen steam engines was erected within his Coneygree Park, in Tipton west of Dudley Castle, so as to drain coal mines there. This was illustrated in a contemporary engraving by Thomas Barney, also showing the castle, so that the engine sometimes referred to as the Dudley Castle engine. Another engines was subsequently erected for his Park colliery.
Edward Ward died a bachelor in 1731.
His titles were inherited by William Ward, 10th Baron Dudley, 5th Baron Ward (died 1740), on whose death the estates and titles were divided. This led to a dispute over the ownership of a steam engine standing on the entailed property, ultimately resolved in favour of Lord Dudley, who therefore removed the engine to his own property at Russell"s Hall, Dudley.