George Welton Ward was born in Leiston Suffolk County England the eldest son of John Ward (1786-1848) and Susannah Welton (1789-1869).  George Welton lived on a farm with his parents during his early life doing the mowing and other light work on account of his poor health.  He married Ann Trulock (1816-1860) on January 24, 1842, in London.  After their marriage George Welton kept an “Inn” in Woodbridge Suffolk County for about six years.  In 1847, George Welton and Ann moved their young family to Southhampton Hamshire, England.  He became manager of an oil mill and stayed in that position until he came to America.

    In 1849, George Welton and Ann were taught the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ by the missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  After thorough investigation, they accepted it and were baptized into the Church by Elder Thomas D. Stenhouse. George Welton Ward was the first and only known one of his father’s family to embrace Mormonism.  When he did so he was required to make a choice between his share of his father’s estate and his newly found religion.  Like Mary of old “he chose the better part” and stayed with his Church.

     George Welton and Ann emigrated to the United States of America sailing from England in a little sailing vessel named “Ellen Marie”.  They were twelve weeks crossing the Atlantic Ocean landing at New Orleans about May 23, 1851.  After landing they sailed up the Mississippi and Missouri rivers to Council Bluff.  In May 1852, George Welton and Ann emigrated to the great Salt Lake valley arriving October 9, 1852.  A year later Brigham Young called for men and their families to leave Salt Lake and settle the territory both north and south.  In the winter of 1852, George Welton and Ann moved to Ogden and then in the Spring of 1854 they moved to Willard Creek.  George Welton and Ann had eight children.  Their oldest chlld, William Ward (1842-1876), is our direct ancestor.

    George Welton Ward served as first counselor to Bishop Alfred Cordon from 1857 to 1871 when Bishop Cordon died.  George Welton became “acting bishop” from 1871 to 1877 when on September 9, 1877, he was ordained Bishop of Willard Ward.  He held that office until his death August 18, 1882.

     George Welton Ward entered into polygamy on June 30, 1857, when he married Mary Hankinson (1840-1882) in Brigham Young’s office.  George was 43 and Mary was 17.  The ceremony was performed by President Young himself.  They were later sealed for “time and eternity” in the Endowment House by Daniel H. Wells on June 20, 1863.  George Welton and Mary had seven children.