Ward Brothers (rowers)
Encyclopedia
The Ward Brothers were four members of one family who rowed
as a team and sometimes individually. They were declared World Champions after a four-oared race in 1871.
. Isaac Ward was a proprietor of fishing vessels, sloops, and schooners along the Hudson River
. He taught his sons watercraft skills and four of them became particularly adept at rowing.
These were;
William Henry, b 1827, known as ‘Hank’,
Charles, b 1831
Joshua, b 1838, known as ‘Josh’,
Gilbert, b 1841,
Additionally another son, Ellis Ward
, b 1846, sometimes shared the honours if one of the others was unavailable. Later he went on to coach rowing for some forty years at the University of Pennsylvania
.
Joshua was proficient at the single sculls and after a number of early races he was good enough to win the American Sculling Championship
in 1859 and 1863. He won numerous other races and his backers hoped he would row Robert Chambers (oarsman)
the then Champion of England. However the race never happened.
1857: JULY 4 Newburgh N. Y., Regatta. Josh Ward (age 19) and Hank Ward (29) row “Fanny Fern”, winning double scull race by a stroke or two.
1858: SEPT. 15 Newburgh Regatta. Josh Ward wins his first single scull match, rowing against John Hancon: 2 miles, in 16 minutes 7 seconds (16:7), won by two lengths.
1859: OCT. 4 Staten Island Regatta. Josh becomes Champion Single Sculler of America, winning Tiffany solid silver championship belt:
5 mile race with a turn halfway, in 35:10.
1860: JULY 25 Citizens’ Regatta at Worcester, Mass. Josh wins single scull race. 2 miles, in 15:37. He also won in six oared race, rowing in “Banker” with George Shaw,
R. Marvel, W. Tuttle, C. Shaw, P. Hunt: 3 miles, in 1837 the best time ever made by six oared crew on 3 mile course.
1861: SEPT. 2 At Cornwall, N. Y. Josh. wins first prize, defeating Radford (England), Grady (N. Y.), McKiel (Cold Spring), Hancon and Stevens.
1861: SEPT. 20 AT Poughkeepsie, N. Y. Josh wins single scull race: 5 miles, in 40:00.
1865: AUG., At Cornwall, N. Y. Josh defeats Hancon, Biglin, Grady, Radford (England), McKiel, Bergen and June.
1865 SEPT 25 Ward v Biglin
The Biglin Brothers
were challenged to a race on a five-mile course at Sing Sing by Josh Ward, who had organized four man team from his brothers, Gil, Charles, and Hank. The Wards beat the Biglin brothers for the professional four-oared championship of America.
1866: SEPT. 20 at Springfield, Mass. Josh wins single scull race against Walter Brown, Doyle and McKiel: 2 miles, in 15:59.
1867: SEPT. On Connecticut River at Springfield . Ward brothers Josh, Gilbert, Hank and Charles defeat Canadian crew from St. John, New Brunswick: 3 miles to stake boat & return (6 miles), in 39:28. See also the Paris Crew
.
1868: JULY 4, On Charles River at Boston. Ward brothers win six oared race, defeating the St. John crew again and Harvard University crew.
1868: JULY, On Lake Quinsigamond at Worcester. Josh, Charles, Hank, Gilbert and Ellis Ward with Jere L. Raymond (Ossining) defeat Harvard crew again: 3 mile turning course (1.5 + 1.5), in 17:40 the fastest time ever made by a six oared crew over 3 mile turning course.
1871: SEPT. 11 International Regatta at Saratoga Lake, N.Y. Josh, Ellis, Hank and Gilbert Ward gain the world championship by defeating five other four oared crews: 2 miles & turn (4 miles), in 24:40 the fastest time ever made by a four oared crew over 4 miles.
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
as a team and sometimes individually. They were declared World Champions after a four-oared race in 1871.
Ward family
The four brothers were part of a large family; nine sons and five daughters were born to Isaac and Winifred Ward. The children were born at Middle Hope, New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Isaac Ward was a proprietor of fishing vessels, sloops, and schooners along the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
. He taught his sons watercraft skills and four of them became particularly adept at rowing.
These were;
William Henry, b 1827, known as ‘Hank’,
Charles, b 1831
Joshua, b 1838, known as ‘Josh’,
Gilbert, b 1841,
Additionally another son, Ellis Ward
Ellis Ward
Ellis Ward was an American rower and coach best known for his time as the coach of the University of Pennsylvania rowing team...
, b 1846, sometimes shared the honours if one of the others was unavailable. Later he went on to coach rowing for some forty years at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
.
Joshua was proficient at the single sculls and after a number of early races he was good enough to win the American Sculling Championship
American Sculling Championship
The American Sculling Championship .These races were conducted under the challenge system. For details of this see World Sculling Championship, Challenges.All races were with a turn.The following table shows winners from 1859 to 1888...
in 1859 and 1863. He won numerous other races and his backers hoped he would row Robert Chambers (oarsman)
Robert Chambers (oarsman)
Robert Chambers was a famous Tyneside professional oarsman. He became the Tyne, Thames, English and World Sculling Champion.He was one of three great Tyneside oarsmen, the other two being Harry Clasper and James Renforth....
the then Champion of England. However the race never happened.
Rowing records
1857: JULY 4 Newburgh N. Y., Regatta. Josh Ward (age 19) and Hank Ward (29) row “Fanny Fern”, winning double scull race by a stroke or two.
1858: SEPT. 15 Newburgh Regatta. Josh Ward wins his first single scull match, rowing against John Hancon: 2 miles, in 16 minutes 7 seconds (16:7), won by two lengths.
1859: OCT. 4 Staten Island Regatta. Josh becomes Champion Single Sculler of America, winning Tiffany solid silver championship belt:
5 mile race with a turn halfway, in 35:10.
1860: JULY 25 Citizens’ Regatta at Worcester, Mass. Josh wins single scull race. 2 miles, in 15:37. He also won in six oared race, rowing in “Banker” with George Shaw,
R. Marvel, W. Tuttle, C. Shaw, P. Hunt: 3 miles, in 1837 the best time ever made by six oared crew on 3 mile course.
1861: SEPT. 2 At Cornwall, N. Y. Josh. wins first prize, defeating Radford (England), Grady (N. Y.), McKiel (Cold Spring), Hancon and Stevens.
1861: SEPT. 20 AT Poughkeepsie, N. Y. Josh wins single scull race: 5 miles, in 40:00.
1865: AUG., At Cornwall, N. Y. Josh defeats Hancon, Biglin, Grady, Radford (England), McKiel, Bergen and June.
1865 SEPT 25 Ward v Biglin
The Biglin Brothers
Biglin Brothers
The Biglin Brothers were brothers from New York active in professional rowing during the decade following the American Civil War, when rowing was one of America’s most popular spectator sports...
were challenged to a race on a five-mile course at Sing Sing by Josh Ward, who had organized four man team from his brothers, Gil, Charles, and Hank. The Wards beat the Biglin brothers for the professional four-oared championship of America.
1866: SEPT. 20 at Springfield, Mass. Josh wins single scull race against Walter Brown, Doyle and McKiel: 2 miles, in 15:59.
1867: SEPT. On Connecticut River at Springfield . Ward brothers Josh, Gilbert, Hank and Charles defeat Canadian crew from St. John, New Brunswick: 3 miles to stake boat & return (6 miles), in 39:28. See also the Paris Crew
Paris Crew
The Paris Crew is the name given to a quartet of Canadian sport rowers from Saint John, New Brunswick.Robert Fulton, George Price, Samuel Hutton, and Elijah Ross, along with reserve oarsman James Price, became Canada's first-ever international sporting champions when they defeated the London Rowing...
.
1868: JULY 4, On Charles River at Boston. Ward brothers win six oared race, defeating the St. John crew again and Harvard University crew.
1868: JULY, On Lake Quinsigamond at Worcester. Josh, Charles, Hank, Gilbert and Ellis Ward with Jere L. Raymond (Ossining) defeat Harvard crew again: 3 mile turning course (1.5 + 1.5), in 17:40 the fastest time ever made by a six oared crew over 3 mile turning course.
1871: SEPT. 11 International Regatta at Saratoga Lake, N.Y. Josh, Ellis, Hank and Gilbert Ward gain the world championship by defeating five other four oared crews: 2 miles & turn (4 miles), in 24:40 the fastest time ever made by a four oared crew over 4 miles.