He and his wife received property in Westerly, Rhode Island from his father-in-law, and the couple settled there and took up farming.

The most contentious issue that he faced during his three years as governor involved the Stamp Act, which had been passed by the British Parliament just before he took office for the second time.

He died of smallpox during a meeting of the Congress in Philadelphia, three months before the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and was buried in a local cemetery.

Their second son Samuel Ward, Jr. served as the lieutenant colonel of the 1st Rhode Island Regiment in the Continental Army.

It was renamed Westerly High School in the late 20th century, but the main auditorium was given his name.

[7] In 1761, the Assembly named Ward to the office of chief justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court,[7] but he only served in this capacity for a year, finally being elected governor in 1762.

During this term, one of the most contentious issues of the age arose, uniting the divided elements into a common cause[8] when both houses of the British Parliament passed the Stamp Act.

Samuel Adams of Massachusetts invited all the colonies to a congress of delegates to meet in New York to discuss relief from the unjust taxes.

[8] In August 1765, the Rhode Island General Assembly passed resolutions following the lead of Patrick Henry of Virginia.

Rhode Island's appointed stamp distributor was Attorney General Augustus Johnson, but he refused to execute his office "against the will of our Sovereign Lord the People.

"[8] The Rhode Island General Assembly met again at East Greenwich in September 1765, choosing delegates to the New York congress and appointing a committee to consider the Stamp Act.

[9] The committee reported six resolutions that pointed to the absolution of allegiance to the British Crown unless the grievances were removed.

"When I first entered this contest with Great Britain, I extended my view through the various scenes which my judgment or imagination pointed out to me.

[10] As plans solidified, the General Assembly met the following month in Newport and elected Ward and Hopkins as delegates.

He devoted all of his energy to the Continental Congress, until his untimely death from smallpox at a meeting of the convention in Philadelphia.