Francis Ward (d. 1779) was a resident of colonial Tyrrell County and served as a politician and county clerk. In 1755, he joined other merchants, traders, and planters in petitioning the Board of Trade for relief on trade restrictions. In 1777 he served as security for Charles Rhodes, who had to appear before the Edenton District Court of Oyer and Terminer to testify about his involvement in the Gourd Patch Conspiracy. He also received the sworn deposition of another conspirator, John Collins.