Manx National Heritage has uncovered captivating stories from the manuscript collection at the Manx Museum.
It has shed new light on the adventurous lives of Manx brothers Joseph and Marshall Ward.
Among the unexpected finds is a remarkable account involving the infamous outlaw Billy the Kid, revealing a Manxman’s narrow escape from trouble in the American West.
Gold Hunters
Born in Maughold in 1859, Joseph Ward defied family expectations by fleeing the Isle of Man at just 17 to seek his fortune in the goldfields of Colorado.
His younger brother Marshall later joined him, and they spent years together, then separately, prospecting across Colorado, Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Nevada.
Self-styled as “Joe Ward the Desert Poet,” Joseph Ward ‘wrote not very good poetry and good satirical verse’ according to his niece Mary Quilliam (born Grace Mary Ward).
Some of the satirical verse mentioned Billy the Kid. Mary recounts how Joseph narrowly avoided danger after receiving a warning from an associate of Billy the Kid (William H Bonney) to leave Inyo County, California.
Joseph prudently stayed away, avoiding the violent fate of the outlaw himself.
Wealth of Documents
Manx National Heritage holds a wealth of documents, including Joseph’s transcribed writings and the Ward family papers.
These provide unique insights into the brothers’ travels, mining ventures, and personal reflections. Joseph was known for his love of solitude, books and poetry, often reading by firelight alongside his beloved burro, Cissie, who carried his treasured volumes across the deserts.
Marshall Ward’s 1951 letter from Onchan, Isle of Man offers a vivid glimpse into his prospecting days in Nevada, sharing stories of riding stubborn burros and mapping his mining claims.
Family photographs preserved in the archives further enrich the narrative of the brothers’ adventurous lives.
For more information or to explore the Ward brothers’ remarkable story visit the Library and Archive at the Manx Museum.
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