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IN THEIR FOOTSTEPS - 09/14/2008
(by Richard Townsend - OpEd Columnist - September 17, 2008)
Life on the edge of civilization
Thomas Ward was an Irishman who settled near Long Pond (now Greenwood Lake) in the early part of the 18th century. There are indications that he probably was connected with the iron works, perhaps as manager of the store of the American Company.
An interesting article appeared in the New York Mercury on Aug. 4, 1760. I have quoted the article below, maintaining the original punctuation and capitalization:
“THE WARDS VS. THE WILDCATS
WILDCAT ATTACKS SON OF THOMAS WARD, RINGWOOD
New York, August 4
The 10th of May last, as the Son of Thomas Ward, a Boy about 10 years old, of the County of Bergen and Province of New-Jersey, stood on a Rock fishing for Trout, in Long Pond River, near Ringwood, a large Wild-Cat, supposed to be on the Limb of some Tree near the River, jumped on his Head, and he being much frightened fell into the River, and the Cat with Him, when he was scratched and bit in so dismal a Manner, that it was with the greatest Difficulty the Lad could by any Means extricate himself out of her Claws; but at Length of both being much Fatigued he seized his Antagonist by the Throat, dragged her on Shore, and there with Stones beat her Brains out.
The Lad then went home, and a Doctor being sent for, he had his Wounds dressed, which were all healed up in a few Weeks, and seemed quite well, until the 20th of June in the Morning, he was suddenly taken with Pains all over his Body, but complained most of the Places that had been bit, and was in such an Agony that Day and Night, that next Morning he ran to a Neighbors about two Miles Distance, and told them their House and Barn, the Road and Himself was all on Fire: He was sent from thence home, and about Sunset on the 21st of June he died quite mad, being Six Weeks from the time he was bit by the cat. After his decease, the Marks of the Wounds where he had been bit turned very black.”
At the time of this article there were more than 10 languages spoken in New York City and currencies from some 18 countries were widely used. The style of the writing is very interesting to me. It is amazing to me that this story was published three months after the incident in New York City. It was then and is now of human interest.
Thomas Ward had another son, Peter, born in 1756 and who died in 1812 as a man of much local prominence in the Revolutionary War and in the affairs of Bergen County. Pompton Township was then part of Bergen County.
The next articles will be on the Rhinesmith, Lines and Board families as we follow in their footsteps.
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