Francis Marshall Ward (26 December 1830 - 5 April 1914[1]) was a bass singer, composer and musician who flourished mainly in Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.

Life edit

He was born on 26 December 1830, the son of Francis Ward (b. 1796) and Jessey Marshall (1796-1946). He was baptised on 24 January 1831 at St Michael’s Church, Lincoln. He was educated as a chorister in Lincoln Cathedral.

On 19 April 1853 he married Mary Hannah East in St Swithin's Church, Lincoln[2] and they had the following children

  • Harry Marshall Ward (1854-1906)
  • Elizabeth East Ward (b. 1855)
  • Jessie Mary Ward (b. 1857)
  • Tom Edgar Ernest Ward (1858-1901)
  • Frank Sydney Ward (b. 1860)
  • Lily M Ward (b. 1864)
  • Nellie Ward (b. 1866)

In 1886 he was appointed conductor of the Philharmonic Choir for the Liverpool Exhibition.[3]

He died on 5 April 1914 at his home, 98 Melton Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham, and on 9 April was buried in the General Cemetery in Nottingham.

Organist Appointments edit

Compositions edit

His compositions included settings of church services, anthems, songs and part songs, notably “Great and Marvellous”, “I have set the Lord always before me” and “I will give thanks”.[5]

References edit

  1. ^ "Late Mr. F.M. Ward". Nottingham Evening Post. England. 9 April 1914. Retrieved 1 June 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  2. ^ "Marriages". Lincolnshire Chronicle. England. 22 April 1853. Retrieved 1 June 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  3. ^ "The Late Mr. F.M. Ward". Liverpool Daily Post. England. 8 April 1914. Retrieved 1 June 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  4. ^ "Mr. F.M. Ward". Stamford Mercury. England. 21 July 1865. Retrieved 1 June 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. ^ Humphreys, Margaret; Evans, Robert (1997). Dictionary of Composers for the Church in Great Britain and Ireland. A&C Black. p. 350. ISBN 9780720123302.