”On the fifth day of May, 1675, a company from England, principally members of the Society of Friends, landed from the ship “Griffith,” which had brought them from England to find a home in West Jersey. The leading spirit of the enterprise and the owner of the lands now included in what are now known as Salem and Cumberland counties. New Jersey, was John Fenwick. from which the colony received its name. The landing place of the Fenwick colony appearing to Fenwick as a good location for a town he called it New Salem.
Among these Fenwick colonists was Joseph Ware, of Monmouthshire, Wales. Thomas Shourds, in his “History of Salem County,” says that Joseph Ware came as a “servant” to Edward Wade. But as Smith, in his “History of New Jersey” says—Fenwick’s daughters, Anne and Elizabeth, married two of his “servants,” it would seem that the meaning of servants then was one who worked for wages and not one of inferior social position. But that is of little moment. Joseph Ware soon became a man of importance in the colony, his name appearing several times as a member of and sometimes as a foreman of the grand jury. He bought within a few years five hundred acres of land on Lower Alloways Creek, part of which is yet owned by descendants. He died March 30, 1711, leaving a will in which he divided his property among his children, after providing for his widow Mary. He made no mention of his son, John, who early in life became a follower of George Keith, known as the Quaker Baptist, which fact probably estranged him from his father. Joseph Ware married (first) May 30, 1683, Martha, daughter of John Becket, of Essex, near Kingston-on-the-Thames, England: four children. He married (second) Mary, who is mentioned in his will, who bore him a daughter, Patience.
John Ware, second son of Joseph Ware by his first wife, Martha (Becket) Ware, was born in New Jersey about 1688; his will, probated June 20, 1734. was made May 1, preceding, when he declares himself ‘sick and weak in body, but of sound mind and perfect memory.’ He was styled “yeoman” and declares in his will that he is a resident of Cohansie, Salem county, Province of New Jersey. He left to his ‘loving wife. Bathsheba’ all his ‘plantation lands buildings with the appurtenances situate and being in Cohansie’ until his first born son John, born 1722, ‘shall arrive at the age of twenty-one years.’ After that she was to have one-third of all he possessed so long as she remained a widow.
Elnathan Ware, second son and fourth of the six children of John and Bathsheba Ware, has had no mention of his early life preserved beyond mention in his father’s will in which he was given twenty-five acres and ten pounds in gold. There is no record of him until 1760, when he gave bond to the state when he obtained “License of Marriage” to ‘Mercy Moore.’ He was then resident of Greenwich, Cumberland county, New Jersey, his wife, Mercy, a daughter of Enoch Moore of the same town. Elnathan and Mercy (Moore) Ware were the parents of nine children of which Joseph was the sixth child and the fifth son.
Joseph Ware, fifth son of Elnathan and Mercy (Moore) Ware, born August 27, 1771, in Greenwich, Salem county, New Jersey, removed to Cape May, New Jersey, where he died. He married (first) Deborah Whillden, (second) Harriet Whillden, supposed to have been sisters. Children: 1. Samuel Fithian, born October 16, 1800, died 1876; married (first) Esther Teal,, (second) Lydia Thomas. 2. Deborah Whillden, born May 4, 1804, died 1866; married Thomas Eldredge. 3. James Whillden. born January 12, 1806, died 1890: married Deborah Hampton. 4. Joseph, born May 16, 1809; married (first) Ann Hughes, (second) Lydia Leaming. 5. Daniel Crowell, born November 1, 1810, died 1891; married (first) Rachel , (second) Louisa Ford. 6. Welmon W.. see forward. 7. Maskell, born 1822; married (first) Leah Mathias, (second) Mary J. Warrick. 8. John G. W., born 1825.
Welmon W. Ware, fifth son of Joseph Ware and his second wife, Harriet (Whillden) Ware, was born in Cape May, New Jersey, 1818, died in July, 1886. He was educated in the public schools, and became one of the prominent men of Cape May county. He was a Republican in politics, member of the State Senate eight years and for sixteen years was superintendent of the United States Life Saving Station at Cape May; mayor of Cape May several terms, also serving in the city council several terms. In the years following the civil war he was proprietor of the Willard Hotel in Washington, D. C, later returning to Cape May. He was a man of public spirit and used his influence always for the betterment of public conditions in his city- He married (first) Mary B. Schellinger, (second) Lydia C. Schellinger. (third) Bell West.
Preston W. Ware, son of Welmon W. Ware and his second wife. Lydia C. (Schellinger) Ware, was born in Cape May, New Jersey. June 1, 1866. He was educated in the public schools of Cape May, which was his home in youth, save for the few years spent in Washington, D. C, while his father was proprietor of the Willard Hotel, the family making their home there during that period. After leaving school he became a plumber’s apprentice and became thorough master of all branches of that business. He followed his trade as a journeyman in Cape May and other New Jersey and Pennsylvania towns until his marriage in 1889. when he located in Media. He there established in business for himself in plumbing and steam heating in all its branches. He has gained an enviable reputation as an expert workman and a reliable contractor. His business covers the territory surrounding Media and for a time included the contracting of buildings as well as their fitting out with plumbing and steam fitting. He is a member of the Order of Artisans, and he and his wife and family are active members of the Presbyterian church; workers in both church and Sunday school. In politics he is a Republican, but although interested in all that pertains to the public good has never sought or accepted public office.
Mr. Ware married, October 11, 1889. Matilda J., daughter of John and Catherine Schowerer, of Media. Children: Elsie, married Freeman B. Chesley, of Marlton, West Virginia; Louise, now attending West Chester Normal School; Walter, now a student in Media. The family residence is at No. 4 West State street, Media.”
Source: A History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania And Its People, Vol. 3, by John W. Jordan, LL.D, Lewis Historical Publishing Co., New York, 1914, pages 876-7
