Hansford Ward  John Ralph Hansford Ward (November 1817 – 17 February 1903), invariably known as Hansford Ward or Captain Ward, was a ship's captain in South Australia, who figures prominently in the pre-history of the Adelaide Steamship Company. A son, also named John Ralph Hansford Ward (8 April 1852 – ) but known as John R. H. Ward, was also a ship's captain. Ward was born at Abbotsbury, Dorset, and emigrated to South Australia aboard "Lady Lilford", arriving in September 1839. He settled at Glenelg, and gained employment under Thomas Lipson as a crew member for John Anthony's boat, associated with the Glenelg custom house. He was one of Lipson's party at the proclamation of Port Adelaide in 1840. In April 1840, Ward was among the party that accompanied Governor Gawler to explore and chart the Spencer Gulf coast of Eyre Peninsula from Port Lincoln to Franklin Harbor. Also in that party were Thomas Lipson, John Hill, Thomas Burr, and Alfred Hardy. He married Jane Best in August 1840. She was the eldest daughter of J. Richard Best of Hindmarsh, who died on 1 January 1850 from head injuries sustained at the Adelaide racetrack after a viewing platform railing gave way. In 1841 the customs facility at Glenelg was disbanded, and Ward turned to fishing. He founded H. Ward & Co., proprietors of oyster and cray fishing boats, in which business he was involved for about ten years. He also ran the Glenelg Hotel from 1846 to 1850. A cutter 20 tons burthen was built by the firm of Henning & Fenden on the banks of the Patawalonga River and in 1840 christened "O.G." (perhaps originally "Osmond Gilles") before the cream of Adelaide society. The ceremony was held to coincide with the launch of the township of Glenelg, whose proprietors included William Finke, Osmond Gilles (for whom the boat was named), H. R. Wigley (father of W. R. Wigley) and Mathew Smith. "O.G." was the first boat of any size to be built in South Australia; her first master F. Finney. Ward purchased the cutter in 1850 and enlarged her to 27 tons burthen, and from January 1851 to May 1854 he was plying her between Adelaide, what is now the Fleurieu Peninsula, Kangaroo Island and Yorke Peninsula, delivering supplies and returning with wheat and wool.