William James Ward was from (not necessarily born in) Charleston, an old goldmining town on the West Coast of the South Island, 30km south of Westport.
His death notice in the papers said he was 49. BDM has 48. The inquest into his death notes that he was an elderly man probably about 60 with grey hair, whiskers and moustache ... a hard life will do that to a person and assuming his wife put the death notice in the paper we will go with that age.

William married Sarah Ann Aldridge
WARD - ALDRIDGE 2 Oct 1875, William James Ward, Charleston, to Sarah Ann (1850-1911?), daughter of Job Aldridge of Nelson. Sarah was a daughter of Job Aldridge (1816-1890), from Berkshire, died Nelson and Hannah Belcher (1820-1897)

At his death in Wellington, James had eight young children to feed ..
Evening Post, 24 Sep 1886
WARD - On 21st September, William James Ward, aged 49 years. Home, Charleston and Nelson papers please copy

* The body which was found yesterday amongst the rocks at Island Bay was brought to the Morgue by Constable Stewart in the afternoon to await identification. It is that of an elderly man, apparently about 60 years of age and belonging to the labouring class, with grey hair, whishers, and moustache, about 5ft 6in in height and of medium build. The clothing consists of a brown tweed coat, clean white moleskin trousers, dark tweed vest, soft felt hat and lace-up boots. Deceased was seen at 11am passing the Island Bay Hotel, when he asked for matches, which were supplied by the trainer Mr J. Lunn. He then walked away in the direction of the beach and nothing further was seen or heard of him until about 1 o'clock. when the body was found by two men named Harry Townsend and George Morley about midway between the hotel and the cave of the celebrated hermit. It was some distance above high-water mark and the flesh was still warm. In one of the pockets a slip of paper was found, which bore the words, "Tired and worn out with anxiety" and the signature of "William Ward" Beyond this fact, there does not appear to be anything to suggest the suspicion that the unfortunate man committed suicide. An inquest will be held at the Morgue tomorrow morning and in the meantime Dr Hutchinson will make a post moriem examination of the body.
The remains have been identified during the day as those of a labouring man named William Ward, who has lived at 26 Cambridge-road. For some time past he had been out of employment and had consequently been very despondent. yesterday morning he left his home and did not return, but was seen at Newtown during the forenoon by his sister-in-law, Mrs Skelly. Deceased leaves a widow and wight children to mourn his demise. The post mortem examination was made by Dr Hutchison this morning and we understand that no symptoms of poisoning were detected, though there was evidence of a condition of body bordering upon starvation. The stomach has been deposited with Dr Skey, Colonial Analyst, for analysis.

* Seldom has a sadder case come under our notice than that of the unfortunate man William Ward, upon whose remains an inquest was held yesterday and who is declared to have died from starvation. Penniless and unable to obtain employment, he deliberately denied himself the necessaries of like in order that there might be some food for his children. The whole family appear to have been reduced to the sorest straits, yet to have resigned themselves to death by slow starvation, rather than ask for help from anyone. While it is impossible to help admiring the father's martyr-like heroism and respecting the reluctance on the part of both parents to become objects of charity, one cannot help feeling that the sentiment was a morbid one and that to this morbid sentiment a valuable life has been sacrificed. The unfortunate man had only to let his sad circumstances be known to receive prompt help from private and public sources. The warm-hearted generosity of the people of Wellington in such cases of destitution is so well-known that we are certain the merest intimation of so sore a case of need would have elicited instant and ample aid. While we deeply deplore the melancholy sacrifice of poor William Ward's life, we may point out that his widow and children for whom he died have still to be relieved and we do not doubt that they will be most generously cared for.

* A pitiful story of evil fortunes, suffering, semi-starvation and death, comes from Wellington. William Ward, a man with a wife and family of eight young children, lived in Cambridge Road. Ward had been out of employment and his family were suffering from want of food. Ward, in a half famished state, walked out to Island Bay, got to some distance from the hotel and then lay down on the rocks and died, leaving a written paper saying "I am worn out by anxiety and privation" Now that the man is dead, Wellington society is shocked and efforts are being made to help the starving children. But the hard, ugly fact remains, that a sober, decent and industrious man, with a wife and eight young children to support, may struggle vainly to make a living in Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand and having utterly failed, may lie down and die of starvation without a single hand being held out to his aid

* An inquest on the body of William James Ward, who was found dead at Island Bay on Monday, was held at the morgue yesterday morning. Mr George Tabor was chosen foreman of the jury. Dr Hutchinson stated that the body was free from all traces of external injury and was in perfect preservation. On examining the stomach and the intestines he had found them quite empty, excepting of a small quantity of liquid. The organs of the body were quite healthy. From the appearance of the body he believed that had been caused by continual starvation and mental distress. The contents of deceased's stomach had been analysed by Mr Skey, who found no poison whatever in it. Henry Townsend gave evidence as to finding the body. Deceased's wife stated that her husband went out shortly after 8 o'clock on Monday morning without saying where he was going. Before starting he had a small piece of scone and a cup of tea. Being in indigent circumstances they were unable to procure other food. Deceased had been our of work for over two months, although he had repeatedly tried to get employment, but without success. Witness did not know till yesterday (Monday) that they would have received assistance if they had applied to the Benevolent Society. The Coroner (Dr Johnston) said it was one of the most painful cases that had ever come before him. Apparently, the deceased was one of those honest, sober men who were too proud to beg. The jury returned a verdict of death caused by want of sufficient nourishment.

* The widow and family of the late William James Ward, who was found dead on the Island Bay beach on Monday afternoon last, have been left utterly destitute. In fact they had been destitute for two months before the head of the family dropped down and died from sheer exhaustion, caused by want of nourishment. "I cannot steal; to beg I am ashamed" might be written as a truthful epitaph over the grave of Ward. His high-strung sensitiveness led him to starve to death rather than ask for bread; and what little he could obtain he deprived himself of in order that his wife and children might keep body and soul together. The evidence taken at the inquest, is a melancholy record of how a man may starve while food could have been procured by the mere asking. However, the eight children - the eldest not eleven years of age, the youngest but four months - and the widow had even commenced to break up her bedstead a few days ago for firing, being without the means of purchasing any. Her parents reside in Nelson and we are informed that if she could get there with her family she would find assistance and might be enabled to earn a living for herself and children.

* It has been hinted that there is a possibility that the relatives of the man named Ward, who died of starvation at Wellington recently, may have some legal interest in the Town Acre and Masterton Small Farm Block, section 29, containing 40 acres, which was originally purchased by a man of the same name. The crown grant in the name of Ward has been lying unclaimed at the land office, Wellington, between twenty and thirty years.

* Sir, I notice a great deal is being written about the "shame and the disgrace" of a man being allowed to die in this prosperous city of ours of sheer starvation. I would like people to take into consideration these few items. Charitable aid is given by the Benevolent Institute, which is supported by voluntary contributions, subsidised £ for £ by the Government. Now, every man has to pay duty to Government indirectly, in the food he takes or the clothes he wears so that he is really entitled to aid in the event of sickness or lack of work. Again, a writer cries shame on the Relieving Officer for not finding out that poor Ward was so utterly destitute. The only way I can see in which this could have been discovered would have been for the Relieving Officer to have made a house to house visit, asking if the occupants were in need of "benevolent aid;" rather a thankless task, I fancy. If a man has that wrong-headed pride which forbids him to seek relief from that source to which he is fairly entitled to look for it, and thereby starves himself to death (to say nothing of the misery of his family), I contend that he is more to be blamed than pitied

* A concert and dance in aid of the Ward family is to be held in the Drillshed on Friday night. It is to be under the patronage of the officers and members of the Wellington garrison and will, no doubt, seeing that it is for such a deserving object, be well attended.

* The Evening Post collected subscriptions in aid of the family. By the end of the month (Sep 1886) they already had £34 18s (Sep 2017 equivalent of around $6,750)

William James Ward and Sarah Ann Aldridge had 8 children. These are the children I have to date. Your help verifying them and any other info on William would be appreciated
* 1876 - Caroline Anne Ward
* 1877 - 1939 William James Ward
* 1878 - George Henry Ward
* 1880 - Job Ward
* 1881 - Hannah Frances Ward
* 1883 - Lillian Ward
* 1884 - Daisy Ward
* 1886 - 1957 Leslie Albert Ward
- Leslie was born 10 April, 4 months before his father's death.

* Leslie was in Wellington in 1902 appearing in court for theft
* George & James were in Wellington in 1910 appearing in court for stealing 13 cabbages from Nan Kinn

* Was Sarah able to keep her children. Did Sarah remarry. She apparently died 29 Sep 1911 in Hokitika