John Ward was born in 1803 to John (a harness maker) and Frances (nee Duncan) and was the eldest of their 5 children. He was baptised at Beaulieu on 19th October that year.

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Priscilla Sarah Coombes was born to Ann and William and was baptised in Mappowder, Dorset on 17th July 1796 (so was a  year or two older than the age implied by her gravestone). It seems she went by the name Sarah in some records.

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Priscilla married John Ward in the last quarter of 1850 in the Southampton area. John would have been about 47 and Priscilla 51. No parish record could be found relating to this marriage to give a more precise location, date or parents of the couple.

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John (46), a master saddler and Sarah Ward (48) are listed in living in Beaulieu village in the 1851 census. John had clearly followed in his father’s trade.

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​Priscilla was buried at the chapel by the Rev John Bartlett Burt on 5th January 1859. Probate was granted in July 1860 and lists husband John as a harness maker.

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​The 1861 census lists John as a widower born in Beaulieu in 1803/4 and workings as a saddler. He lived with his 30 year old housekeeper Sarah Aish in Beaulieu. In the 1871 census John is listed harness maker living with his housekeeper Mary A Bennett in Beaulieu, Sarah Aish having got  married in January 1871. 

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John was buried by Rev J B Burt on 26th November 1873.