Samuel Ward (Rhode Island politician)

Samuel Ward Sr.
Samuel Ward
31st and 33rd Governor of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
In office 1762–1763
Preceded by	Stephen Hopkins
Succeeded by	Stephen Hopkins
In office 1765–1767
Preceded by	Stephen Hopkins
Succeeded by	Stephen Hopkins
7th Chief Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court
In office May 1761 – May 1762
Preceded by	John Gardner
Succeeded by	Jeremiah Niles
Personal details
Born	May 25, 1725 Newport, Rhode Island
Died	March 26, 1776 (1776-03-27) (aged 50) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Resting place	Common Burying Ground, Newport
Spouse	Anne Ray
Parent(s)	Richard Ward, Mary Tillinghast
Occupation	Farmer, Politician, Chief Justice, Governor

Samuel Ward (May 25, 1725 – March 26, 1776) was an American farmer, politician, Rhode Island Supreme Court justice, governor of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, and delegate to the Continental Congress where he signed the Continental Association. He was the son of Rhode Island Governor Richard Ward, was well-educated, and grew up in a large family in Newport, Rhode Island. He and his wife received property in Westerly, Rhode Island from his father-in-law, and the couple settled there and took up farming. He entered politics as a young man and soon took sides in the hard money vs. paper money controversy, favoring hard money or specie. His primary rival over the money issue was Providence politician Stephen Hopkins, and the two men became bitter rivals; the two also alternated as governors of the colony for several terms.

During this time of political activity, Ward became a founder and trustee of Brown University. The most contentious issue that he faced during his three years as governor involved the Stamp Act, which had been passed by the British Parliament just before he took office for the second time. The Stamp Act placed a tax on all official documents and newspapers, infuriating the American colonists by being done without their consent. Representatives of the colonies met to discuss the act, but when it came time for the governors to take a position, Ward was the only one who stood firm against it, threatening his position but bringing him recognition as a great Patriot.

Ward's final term as governor ended in 1767, after which he retired to work on his farm in Westerly. On August 5, 1769, he was baptized at the age of 44 in the old church of Westerly as a Seventh Day Baptist.^[1]

He was called back into service in 1774 as a delegate to the Continental Congress. War was looming with England, and to this end he devoted all of his energy. After hostilities began, Ward stated, "'Heaven save my country,' is my first, my last, and almost my only prayer." He died of smallpox during a meeting of the Congress in Philadelphia, three months before the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and was buried in a local cemetery. His remains were later re-interred in the Common Burying Ground in Newport.