Not the same, but perhaps descended,
Thomas Wiard founded the plow co in 1804 (Initially, in Avon,NY), Norman's published artillary documents are around the 1860's, long strech of time even allowing arbitrary age for those endeavors....
Thomas had brothers, (William,Seth, Thomas, Henry, and Matthew)
William had a son, Seth, but he worked for the plow company (1860's)
Geneology traces Wiard's (also Wyard) to Connecticut families, from Boston emmigrants (1666), apparently from london or at least England..
The other direction is more interesting....
Norman's father was William wiard, William's father was Squire Thomas Wiard, of East Avon, New York.
http://books.google.com/books?id=EFNbAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA37(Note, read up from this page, backwards)