Ward was born in
Newport, Rhode Island. He was the son of Thomas Ward and Amey Billings of Newport, and grandson of John Ward who had come from
Gloucester, England. His father was a merchant who held many positions in the town government, and his grandfather had been an officer in
Cromwell's Army who came to the American colonies following the accession of King
Charles II of England. Ward was made a freeman of Newport in 1710, then entered public service as Attorney General.He later became Deputy and Clerk of the Assembly, and then served as the General Recorder for the colony from 1714 to 1730. Richard Ward's older sister Mary married Sion Arnold, a grandson of Governor
Benedict Arnold. Ward is buried under a brick vault in the
Common Burying Ground in Newport, and his son
Samuel, after first being buried in
Philadelphia, was re-interred next to him. ==See also==