William Ware was born about 1820 in Maryland. Records show that William was purchase as a slave by the Jesuits of Georgetown. He worked on their plantation which is now Georgetown University in Alexandria, Va. In return the Jesuits converted the slaves to Catholic religion. In early 1838 the Jesuits found themselves in serious financial crisis, so they had to sell William and 271 other slaves in order to make ends meet.William was sold and transported to Louisiana on the ship, Katherine Jackson which arrived November 13, 1838. William was then sold to Henry Johnson and placed on a plantation in Ascension Parish near Donaldsonville, Louisiana. While living in Donaldsonville he married Henrietta Ware, who was also a slave born in Louisiana. Between 1844 and 1864 William had two sons (Peter & William Jr) and four daughters (Mary Francis, Celia, Nellie & Ellen)with Henrietta Ware. During the Civil War, he served as a Union soldier from Louisiana, enlisting in 1863 and discharge in 1865. He died about 1871, in Donaldsonville, Ascension Parish, Louisiana, at the age of 51. At the U.S. Pension hearing, his widow, Harriette Adams Ware. recorded that he was buried in Donaldsonville by a priest on church ground, The Church of Ascension of our Lord.
Hi Nikki, As Peter Ware is your great great grandfather, we are related too. My mother, always spoke about her uncles. She, also, maintained contact with several female relatives in Baton Rouge. As for the Georgetown folks, I have had minimal contact. I will present family history at our family reunion in July. Hopefully, we can obtain more feedback.
Lorraine, my name is Nikki Lee – Ricardo and I are cousins. My 2nd-great-grandfather is Peter Ware. Have the Georgetown folks been in touch with you yet?
Hello my name is Howard Ware. My dad’s people are from St Landry parish. My research shows also that our descendants are form Maryland.
My great great grandfather is William Ware. He had three sons, Augustus, Joe, and Peter. All three brothers were born in Smokebend, Louisiana and were blacksmith. My grandmother adhered to Catholic traditions pass them on to us.