George Taliaferro Ward
Encyclopedia
George Taliaferro Ward was a cotton plantation owner and politician from Leon County, Florida
. He served the Confederate States of America
as a colonel
during the American Civil War
.
, Kentucky
and moved to Tallahassee, Florida
in 1825 where he became Register of the Land Office succeeding Samuel R. Overton. In 1844 Ward married Sarah Jane Chaires of the wealthy cotton producing Chaires family of eastern Leon County and had at least three daughters, Georgima, Anna, and Mattie as well as brothers. Sarah Jane would inherit other properties that were later incorporated into Southwood.
Ward owned both Waverly Plantation
, Southwood Plantation
and Clifford Place Plantation
. Combined, Ward had 160 slaves, produced 7500 bushels of corn and 500 bales of cotton.
just north of Tallahassee. Prince Achille Murat
was Ward's second and Dr. Randolph of Tallahassee was the attending physician
. Mr. Alston hit George Ward first, breaking his leg. Ward hit the ground as Alston walked toward him, still shooting. One shot broke George Ward's arm. When Alston got directly over Ward, Alston had no shots left while Ward still had one. Alston evidently then folded his arms and declared, "I believe he will kill me after all." Ward fired his last shot and missed. Ward demanded more guns and insisted that Murat prop him up so that the contest might continue, but he fainted before his instructions could be carried out. It was later agreed to continue the duel, but before Ward recovered sufficiently to fight, Alston was killed in another duel.
and attended the 1838 Florida Constitutional Convention
in Port St. Joe, Florida
. In 1845 he voted in the First Florida Election. In 1852 Ward ran for Governor of Florida on the Whig
ticket losing to Democrat
William D. Moseley.
Ward was seated in the Montgomery Convention
on secession
February 4, 1861. In April 1861 Ward ran for and was elected to the Confederate Provisional Congress. Later in the same year he was elected colonel of the 2nd Florida Infantry
.
was sent to Virginia
to serve where he participated at the Yorktown Siege
but lost his life to a gunshot wound at the Battle of Williamsburg
. In 1862 the Ward family was presented the Confederate Battleflag.
San Marcos de Apalache located at St. Marks
, Wakulla County, Florida
was renamed to Fort Ward to honor George T. Ward.
Leon County, Florida
Leon County is a county located in the state of Florida, named after the Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León. At the 2010 Census, the population was 275,487. The county seat of Leon County is Tallahassee which also serves as the state capital. The county seat is home to two of Florida's major...
. He served the Confederate States of America
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
as a colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Personal
Ward was born in Fayette CountyFayette County, Kentucky
Fayette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. The population was 295,083 in the 2010 Census. Its territory, population and government are coextensive with the city of Lexington, which also serves as county seat....
, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
and moved to Tallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee is the capital of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat and only incorporated municipality in Leon County, and is the 128th largest city in the United States. Tallahassee became the capital of Florida, then the Florida Territory, in 1824. In 2010, the population recorded by...
in 1825 where he became Register of the Land Office succeeding Samuel R. Overton. In 1844 Ward married Sarah Jane Chaires of the wealthy cotton producing Chaires family of eastern Leon County and had at least three daughters, Georgima, Anna, and Mattie as well as brothers. Sarah Jane would inherit other properties that were later incorporated into Southwood.
Ward owned both Waverly Plantation
Waverly Plantation
Waverly Plantation was a large cotton plantation of unknown area located in southern Leon County, Florida, United States and owned by George Taliafero Ward.-Multiple Plantation Statistics:...
, Southwood Plantation
Southwood Plantation
Southwood Plantation was a large cotton plantation of located in southern Leon County, Florida, United States and owned by George Taliafero Ward.-Location:Southwood Plantation bordered the Francis Eppes Plantation on the north and the R. G...
and Clifford Place Plantation
Clifford Place Plantation
Clifford Place Plantation or Clifford Place was a cotton plantation of unknown area located in southern Leon County, Florida, United States and owned by George Taliafero Ward....
. Combined, Ward had 160 slaves, produced 7500 bushels of corn and 500 bales of cotton.
A duel
A duel took place between George Ward and a man named Robert W. AlstonRobert W. Alston
Robert W. Alton was a cotton planter who lived near Lake Miccosukee, Leon County, Florida. Alston was originally from Halifax County, North Carolina and came to Florida by way of Hancock County, Georgia....
just north of Tallahassee. Prince Achille Murat
Prince Achille Murat
Achille Charles Louis Napoléon, Crown Prince of Naples, Hereditary Prince of Berg, 2nd Prince Murat was the eldest son of the King of Naples during the First French Empire and later in life mayor of Tallahassee, Florida in the United States.-Early life:Murat was born in the Hôtel de Brienne in...
was Ward's second and Dr. Randolph of Tallahassee was the attending physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
. Mr. Alston hit George Ward first, breaking his leg. Ward hit the ground as Alston walked toward him, still shooting. One shot broke George Ward's arm. When Alston got directly over Ward, Alston had no shots left while Ward still had one. Alston evidently then folded his arms and declared, "I believe he will kill me after all." Ward fired his last shot and missed. Ward demanded more guns and insisted that Murat prop him up so that the contest might continue, but he fainted before his instructions could be carried out. It was later agreed to continue the duel, but before Ward recovered sufficiently to fight, Alston was killed in another duel.
Political
From 1838 through 1839 Ward served on the Florida Legislative Council from Leon County, FloridaLeon County, Florida
Leon County is a county located in the state of Florida, named after the Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León. At the 2010 Census, the population was 275,487. The county seat of Leon County is Tallahassee which also serves as the state capital. The county seat is home to two of Florida's major...
and attended the 1838 Florida Constitutional Convention
Florida Constitution
The Constitution of the State of Florida is the document that establishes and describes the duties, powers, structure and function of the government of the U.S. state of Florida, and establishes the basic law of the state....
in Port St. Joe, Florida
Port St. Joe, Florida
Port St. Joe is a city located at the intersection of U.S. Highway 98 and State Road 71 in Gulf County, Florida, United States. As of 2007, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 3,579. The population was 3,644 as of the 2000 census. Port St. Joe became the county seat of Gulf County...
. In 1845 he voted in the First Florida Election. In 1852 Ward ran for Governor of Florida on the Whig
Whig Party (United States)
The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic...
ticket losing to Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
William D. Moseley.
Ward was seated in the Montgomery Convention
Montgomery Convention
The Montgomery Convention marked the formal beginning of the Confederate States of America. Convened in Montgomery, Alabama the Convention organized a provisional government for the Confederacy and created the Constitution of the Confederate States of America....
on secession
Secession
Secession is the act of withdrawing from an organization, union, or especially a political entity. Threats of secession also can be a strategy for achieving more limited goals.-Secession theory:...
February 4, 1861. In April 1861 Ward ran for and was elected to the Confederate Provisional Congress. Later in the same year he was elected colonel of the 2nd Florida Infantry
2nd Florida Infantry
An integral part of the 2nd Florida Regiment, the 2nd Florida was organized in April and July 1861 and mustered into Confederate service for 12 months near Jacksonville, Florida on July 13, 1861. It was reorganized on May 11, 1862.Assignments for the 2nd were:...
.
Civil War
In 1862 Ward's 2nd Florida Infantry2nd Florida Infantry
An integral part of the 2nd Florida Regiment, the 2nd Florida was organized in April and July 1861 and mustered into Confederate service for 12 months near Jacksonville, Florida on July 13, 1861. It was reorganized on May 11, 1862.Assignments for the 2nd were:...
was sent to Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
to serve where he participated at the Yorktown Siege
Battle of Yorktown (1862)
The Battle of Yorktown or Siege of Yorktown was fought from April 5 to May 4, 1862, as part of the Peninsula Campaign of the American Civil War. Marching from Fort Monroe, Union Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan's Army of the Potomac encountered Maj. Gen. John B. Magruder's small Confederate force...
but lost his life to a gunshot wound at the Battle of Williamsburg
Battle of Williamsburg
The Battle of Williamsburg, also known as the Battle of Fort Magruder, took place on May 5, 1862, in York County, James City County, and Williamsburg, Virginia, as part of the Peninsula Campaign of the American Civil War...
. In 1862 the Ward family was presented the Confederate Battleflag.
San Marcos de Apalache located at St. Marks
St. Marks, Florida
St. Marks is a city in Wakulla County, Florida, United States. It is part of the Tallahassee, Florida, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 272 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 299 .-Geography:...
, Wakulla County, Florida
Wakulla County, Florida
Wakulla County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 22,863. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county was 28,212 people...
was renamed to Fort Ward to honor George T. Ward.