The application to confirm certain Indians lands in Ohio, the petition of Pim-e-ne-see or William Ward, and others, children of John Ward, deceased is found in the US Serial set, ID ASP028 Pub.land 117, Jan 24, 1806, 1 page.

It appears from the representation of the petitioners and an accompanying certificate of Isaac Zane that they are the children of John Ward by an Indian woman with whom he cohabited as his wife.  Their father, having been made a prisoner by the Indians when very young had entirely conformed himself to their mode of living, but always entertained a wish to discover his friends and enjoined it into his children, if they should survive him to prosecute the inquiry and if they were successful in making the discovery, that they should endeavor to obtain a settlement among them, and adopt the civilized mode of living as being preferable to that of the savage state.  After the death of their father, in obedience to his injunctions, they have, by diligent inquiry found a brother of him in the State of Ohio, to whose neighborhood they have removed and made a settlement, but being wholly destitute of means to purchase land, they pray that such grants of land may be made them as will secure to them the prospect of a living, otherwise they will be under the necessity of returning to the Indians. 

The committee was looking for a precedent to do as they had asked.  They said they were unable to find any such precedent, but that there had been in April 1802 “An act for the relief of Isaac Zane.”  They said that although the lands mentioned in this act were given to Mr. Zane without any pecuniary consideration, it is believed that they were considered in the light of a compensation for various acts of kindness performed by him to such of our citizens as were in captivity with the Indians and for his service in furnishing information of the intentions of the Indians when they were hostile.

Their resolution was that the prayer of the petition ought not be granted.

I wonder if John Ward’s children went back to live among the Indians or if they managed to find a way to remain in Ohio.  It would have been immensely helpful to have been told the name of all of his children.  And where were the Indians living at that time?  Apparently, not in Ohio.

(Thanks to Min for bringing this to my attention.)