William Ward was the son of Henry Ward (1780–1852), who himself was the son of Abraham Ward from Warwickshire. His mother was Sarah Ward (1779–1858), the daughter of Abraham Ward (1739–1817) from Stafford and Oxford. Ward became a coal merchant as his father had been before him.
His business was based at the canal wharf on the Oxford Canal in Jericho, Oxford. William Ward married Harriet Timmis on 20 July 1830. They lived at the junction of Street John Street and Alfred Street (now Pusey Street) in central Oxford.
The house is now 22 Street John Street.
Eleven children were born to them in this house between 1832 and 1847, all baptised at Street Giles" Church nearby. Ward was Mayor of Oxford in 1851-1852 and again in 1861-1862.
In 1868, Ward was elected the first President of the newly formed Oxford Constitutional Association. Ward was also a leader in the Oxford Movement.
He donated the land in Jericho for the building of Street Barnabas" Church in 1869.
Ward erected a drinking fountain on the site of the spring at Walton Well, located in Walton Well Road, with a plaque dated 1885. Ward died on 20 July 1889 aged 82 and was buried in the family vault at Street Mary Magdalen"s Church.
He became known as the father of modern Conservatism in Oxford.
