He was considered an effective political leader, President John Adams describing him as "universally esteemed, beloved, and confided in by his army and his country".

His father had broad and successful career interests as a sea captain, merchant, land developer, farmer, lawyer and jurist.

[5] In the next fifteen years they would have eight children: Ithamar in 1752, Nahum (1754), Sara (1756), Thomas (1758), Artemas Jr. (1762), Henry Dana (1768), Martha (1760), and Maria (1764).

In 1755 the Massachusetts militia was restructured for the war; Ward was made a major in the 3rd Regiment which drew its company mainly from Worcester County.

[9] In 1758 the regiment marched with Abercrombie's force to sortie on Fort Ticonderoga,[10] but Ward was sidelined during the campaign by an "attack of the stone."

[11] In the General Court (the provincial assembly) he, with Samuel Adams and John Hancock, was appointed to the taxation committee.

[13] In the growing sentiment favoring rebellion, the 3rd Regiment resigned en masse from British service on October 3, 1774.

Additional British forces arrived by sea in May, and in June, Ward learned of their plan to attack Bunker Hill.

[16] (Ward was one of the original four major generals in the Continental Army along with Charles Lee, Philip Schuyler and Israel Putnam.

Ward took command of the Eastern Department and held that post until March 1777, when ill health forced his resignation from the army.

[20] Ward was appointed a delegate to the Continental Congress in 1780 and 1781,[21] and from 1791 to 1795 was elected twice to the United States House of Representatives[22] after being an unsuccessful candidate in 1788[23].

Located at 786 Main Street in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts it is open to the public for limited hours during the summer months.