The Family of Isaac Ford 1764-1834

The Lawton Parish Register reveals that the parents of the Isaac Ford 1800-1861 were Isaac and Mary Ford. It is also clear that, in 19th Century rural Staffordshire, marriage was often followed by a series of children at two to four year intervals. So it is possible to piece together families and their movements from the Baptism Recods. That has led me to construct the following tree:

The family of Isaac Ford born 1764 - Scrollable

Isaac Ford 1764-1834 = Mary
John 1789-1863	William 1791-1856	Thomas 1794-1857	Hannah 1797-1813	Isaac 1800-1861

The evidence for the existence of this family group is fairly strong. The first and last two children were baptised at Lawton. The middle two at Newchapel, but stated to be residents of Brieryhurst hamlet, which is just over the county border from Lawton.

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Notes on individuals gathered from scattered locations in my notebook, and elsewhere.

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Isaac Ford 1764-1834

Newchapel Baptism: 1764 Apr 23 - Isaac son of John and Hannah Ford was baptised

Astbury Burial: 1834 Jun 14 - Isaac Ford collier of Stadmorslow in the parish of Wolstanton aged 71

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Mary

There is no information on Mary Ford

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John Ford 1789-1863

Newchapel Baptism: 1789 Apr 12 - John son of Isaac and Mary Ford baptised Lawton Parish

Mow Cop Burial: 1863 Feb 25 - John Ford of Mow Cop aged 75 years

Mow Cop Tombstone: John Ford of Mow Cop Died 23/2/1863 aged 75. Hannah (wife) 11/1/1863 aged 73. Tabetha (daughter) died 18/1/1877 aged 43. Also Thomas (son) died 7/6/1888 aged 67.

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William Ford 1791-1856

Newchapel Baptism: 1791 Nov 27 - William son of Isaac and Mary Ford, Brie (new book)

Mow Cop Burial: 1863 Jun 21 - Wm Ford of Congleton aged 73 years

Tombstone: Sarah Ford wife of William Ford of Dales Green. Died 17/6/1856 aged 64. also William Ford died 17/6/1862 aged 73. Also Luke Hancock (grandson & Pauline Oakes his wife)

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Thomas Ford 1794-1857

Newchapel Baptism: 1794 Nov 16 - Thomas son of Isaac and Mary Ford, Brie

Mow Cop Burial: 1857 Feb 10 - Thomas Ford of Mow Cop aged 62 years

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Hannah Ford 1797-1813

Lawton Baptism: 1797 May 21 - Hannah daughter of Isaac and Mary Ford, Collier, Lawton

Astbury Burial: 1813 Apr 6 - Hannah d of Isaac Ford Collier and Mary of Whitehill Aged 16

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Isaac Ford 1800-1861

Lawton Baptism: 1800 Aug 24 - Isaac son of Isaac and Mary Ford, Lawton

Newchapel Burial: 1861 Jul 21 - Isaac Ford of Stadmorslow aged 60 years

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Details

Written by: Clifford E Ford

Category: People

Published: 05 July 2017

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The Family of John Ford 1724-1778

The records of births, deaths and marriages become sparser in the early part of the 18th Century and it becomes more difficult to identify unambiguous family groups. In the following tree for John Ford and Hannah, the first six children were baptised at Newchapel and the last three at Astbury.

The family of John Ford born 1724 - Scrollable L/R

John Ford 1724-1778 = Hannah Oakes
Hannah 1754-????	Mary 1755-???	Sarah 1757-????	John 1759-1763	Isaac 1764-1834	Grace 1767-????	John 1769-1855	Jane 1770-????	Phebe 1773-???

Isaac was baptised at Newchapel but buried at Astbury, perhaps indicating a family link with the latter. To put this group in conext, my printed 1980s copy of the Mormon Records for Cheshire contained only one other baptism in the 18th Century where the parents were John and Hannah Ford, and that was in Stockport in 1791. In Staffordshire there were three, in Rolleston in 1755, Lane End [near Longton] in 1766 and Burton-on-Trent in 1790. So it seems a pretty good bet that the group in the table above were a single family. The parentage of John Ford is uncertain but potentially tantalising!

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Notes on individuals gathered from scattered locations in my notebook, and elsewhere.

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John Ford 1724-1778

Newchapel Baptism: ... privately John son of John and Margery Ford Oct 14 1724 Stadmorslow Ham

Astbury Marriage: 7 September [1751] John Ford husbandman and Hannah Oaks spinster both of Astbury Parish by Banns

Astbury Burial: 12 February 1778 John Ford of Odd Rode

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Hannah Oaks

There is no information on the baptism and burial of Hannah Ford

Astbury burial: 24 February 1796 Hannah Ford widow of Odd Rode

Astbury Marriage: 7 September [1751] John Ford husbandman and Hannah Oaks spinster both of Astbury Parish by Banns

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Hannah Ford 1754-????

Newchapel Baptism Bishop's Transcript: Jan 30th [1754] Hannah d of John and Hannah Ford

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Mary Ford 1755-????

Newchapel Baptism Bishop's Transcript: Nov 11th [1755] Mary d of John and Hannah Ford

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Sarah Ford 1757-????

Newchapel Baptism Mormon Records: Sarah d of John Ford and Hannah 20th Novemeber 1757 Newchapel

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John Ford 1759-1763

Newchapel Baptism Mormon Records: John s of John Ford and Hannah 23 December 1759 Newchapel

Newchapel Burial: Dec 24 1763 John s of John and Hannah Ford Bre

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Isaac Ford 1764-1834

Newchapel Baptism: 1764 Apr 23 - Isaac son of John and Hannah Ford was baptised Brie

Astbury Burial: 1834 Jun 14 - Isaac Ford collier of Stadmorslow in the parish of Wolstanton aged 71

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Grace Ford 1767-????

Newchapel Baptism Mormon Records: Grace d of John and Hannah Ford 8 Mar 1767 Newchapel

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John Ford 1769-????

Astbury Baptism: John son of John Ford and Hannah of Odd Rode 15th Jan 1769

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Jane Ford 1770-????

Astbury Baptism: 9th December 1770 Jane d of John Ford and Hannah of Odd Rode

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Phebe Ford 1773-????

Astbury Baptism Mormon Records: Grace d of John and Hannah Ford 27 Jun 1773 Astbury

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Details

Written by: Clifford E Ford

Category: People

Published: 05 July 2017

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John Ford of Bucknall 1683-1728

This particular John Ford was the third son of Hugh Ford of Ford Green, whose ancestry and family relationships are well known. Family historians in Victorian times stated that he had a son, also John Ford, who died without issue in 1756. However, some of the records I have uncovered do not fit with previous work, and I present here evidence in support of a suggestion that John Ford's son might be the ancestor of my line. First, a simple family relationship table:

The family of John Ford born 1683

John Ford 1683-1728 = Margery Ford c1700-1762
John 1724-????

The story of this family is perhaps the most intricate and intriguing of the family groups, so I present the factual information and discussion rather than a page appendix.

Factual information

• There is an entry in the Astbury Parish Register recording the marriage of John Ford and Margery Ford in 1720:
  4 May 1720 Joannis Ford Parish de Wolstanton [&] Margeria Ford Parish de Astbury.
• There are records in the Leek Quaker Minute Book for 1720 recording John Ford being spoken to on account of marrying out.
• John and Margery Ford had a son baptised John at Newchapel in 1724. The entry in the Parish Register reads:
  ... privately John son of John and Margery Ford Oct 14 1724 Stadmorslow Ham.
• In his will of 1728, John Ford of Bucknall, clearly the same man because he names his wife and all of his surviving brothers and sister, makes provision for his son John and any other child that might be born, by leaving them his Wolstanton property. He also gives Thomas Shufflebotham, his tennant at The Ashes, the opportunity to have said premises at any year's end.
• On February 14 1757 Margery Ford, widow of Congleton, married Jonathan Eaton, widowman of Eaton [just north of Congleton].
• Margery, wife of Jonathan Eaton of Buglawton [also just north of Congleton] was buried at Astbury on June 21 1762.
• Jonathan Eaton's will of 1773 did not mention any Fords.

Note: Stadmorslow is in the Newchapel chapelry of Wolstanton Parish.

Discussion

So how does this information fit with previous work? In the 1712 will of Hugh Ford, his father, John Ford inherited the Bucknall property and a half share in the Ashes with his brother Isaac, who died unmarried in 1722. Isaac did not mention John in his will, nor The Ashes. It is not clear where the Ashes is located. Rowley suggested that it was Norton, or possibly Horton. Until now it has never been suggested that it might have been The Ashes at Harriseahead, which is shown on William Yates map of Staffordshire of 1775. It is close to the boundary between Stadmorslow and Brieryhurst hamlets.

Hugh Ford of Spragg House, Norton, in his will of 1733, acknowledged the terms of the will of his brother John Ford of Bucknall regarding the Wolatanton property. He actually says Now in case of such contingency as aforesaid [John dying without issue] I do give devise and bequeath all and singular the said [property] to John Ford of the Ivy House Hugh Ford of Ford Green Thomas Adams Josiah Ford ... upon trust ... for my younger children. I take this to mean that Hugh is simply passing on his obligation to hold the Wolstanton property in trust for his nephew John, son of John and Margery Ford, and what is to happen if John dies without issue (before reaching the age of 21?).

Rowley (1983) thought that John Ford was almost certainly John Ford of Ivy House, Stoke on the grounds that The Ivy House was in or near Bucknall. In fact John Ford of The Ivy House, Stoke upon Trent, left a will in 1752 in which he mentioned his daughters, son-in-law and daughter-in-law, the wife of his son John who is dead, and his grand-daughter Lidia. John Ford appears to have been the tennant of the Vyse family between 1716 and 1749. So John Ford of The Ivy House is not the son of John Ford of Bucknall.

John Ford of the Ashes House, Norton, died in 1748 and his will indicates that John Ford, the younger, of Ivy House had died between 1745, when the will was made, and 1746, when a codicil was added. The will does not mention any wife or child, but it does include a long list of kinsmen: William Ford of The Bank [on the Cheshire flanks of Mow Cop], John Ford of Ivy House, Matthew Ford of Handley Green (deceased), William Ford of Cook Hill, Carswall, Samuel Ford of Audley, Ralph Fornd [sic] of Sandbach, and that is just those with the Ford name.

Not one of the relatives of John Ford of The Ivy House, Stoke upon Trent, or John Ford of the Ashes House, Norton are obviously related to The Fords of Ford Green! So if the John Ford baptised in 1724 is he who died without issue in 1756 I have not yet seen the evidence for it. If he survived, he would have been the right age to be married to Hannah Oaks at Astbury in 1750.

What might have happened to Margery and her young son John after the death her husband in 1728? She might have gone back to live with her parents, thought to be James Ford of Kent Green, although he would have been over 70 at that time. Perhaps she went to live with relatives in Congleton, where she was living when she later remarried. Perhaps she went to live on the Wolstanton property, where she was living when her son John was baptised. Who knows?

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Appendix: Additional Quotations

The Leek Quaker Minute Book for 1720:

167 This meeting being informed John Ford hath married one not of our society its desired John Toft Jun and Isaac Whitehead speak to him upon it. 2nd 4th mo 1720

168 John Toft jun and Isaac Whitehead not having answered their service respecting John Ford are still confirmed. 7/5/1720

169 John Toft Jun acquainted us how with is brother Sam word [sic] with John Ford to speak to him upon account of going from us who we understand signified his satisfaction therein and total unwillingness to give any reason for his so doing, from which cannot have any hopes of his sehiz nor sight of misdoing yet if any have it upon their mind to say further to him it is desired they may not omit it. 4/6/1720

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Written by: Clifford E Ford

Category: People

Published: 05 July 2017

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Introduction

Stone Trough is a farmstead about 500m east of The Ashes, 800m north-west of Upper Stadmorslow and 500m south-west of Towerhill Farm. It was the site of a colliery which was worked before 1800 [Moulds Pits]. and the home of a Ford family for some time prior to 1750. The following are entries in the Astbury parish register:

• Astbury Burial: 11 February 1736 [37] William Ford of Stone Trough
• Astbury Burial: May 7th 1737 William son of William Ford of Stone Trough
• Astbury Burial: 16 Jan 1750 Dorothy Ford widow of Stone Trough in the parish of Wolstanton.
• Astbury Burial: March 3rd 1778 James Ford Gent of Congleton

There is also a Letter of Administration granted 4 March 1736 to Dorothy Ford of Wolstanton, widow, James Ford of Congleton, gentleman, and Elizabeth Ford of Wolstanton, spinster.

There is also a will dated 1795 of John Ford of Danebank, Congleton. in which he leaves £200 to his wife and the remainder of his estate to his nieces Eliza Lowe and Ann Johnson.

James Ford of Congleton

The will of this man begins:

This is the last will and testament of me James Ford of Congleton in the County of Chester Gentleman son and heir of William Ford of Stone Trough in the hamlet of Stadmorslow in the Parish of Wolstanton in the county of Stafford deceased and Grandson of James Forde late of Kent Green in Odd Rode in the County of Chester Gentleman deceased...

The will was made in 1767 and probate was granted to his son John Ford in 1780. James Ford left his properties in Cheshire and Staffordshire to his beloved son John. The will goes on at great [incomprehensible] length about a quadripartite agreement concerning land properties at Tetton Newton [guessing that] and Trinderton in Cheshire, Stadmorslow in Wolstanton and Odd Rode, involving periods of 500 and 1000 years! He gives enough detail wo work out his ancestry, and also mentions his daughter Anne, wife of John Lowe of Northwich, surgeon (he settled £1000 on her as her marriage portion).

The descendents of James Ford of Kent Green 1656-

James Ford of Kent Green was the son of William Ford of Ford Green and some of his history was covered by Rowley in The Ford Green Story. He was born in 1656 and married Jane Antrobus, daughter of William Antrobus of Kent Green. They had a son named William who married Dorothy Dickenson the daughter of William Dickenson of Talke. William and Dorothy had four children baptised at Audley: William Sept 28, 1701, James July 30 1702 [James Ford of Congleton], Jane April 21 1704 and Ann Aug 1 1705. Ellen Forde, spinster sister of James Ford of Kent Green, died in 1691 leaving a will in which she stated that she was of Odd Rode.

Clearly William and Dorothy moved to Stone Trough where William died in 1737, his son William having died the previous year, and Dorothy in 1750. Could William's nephew John, mentioned in the will of James Ford of Congleton, be the ancestor of my line? He would have been the right age.

There is Letter of Adminstration granted in 1814 to Eliza Harrison, widow, with respect to the estate of James Forde late of Congleton who died 28th February 1778, her grandfather. It states that he was a widower without parent, grand parent, great grand parent, child, sister or uncle. Eliza seems to be the sole heir. Maybe Congleton had more than one resident James Ford Gent at this time. Another one, from Eaton, died in 1783.

Transcript from Astbury Parish Register

Marriage
March 1676 Jacobus fforde & Jana Antrobus

Baptisms
Odd Rode: July 1678 Willel fil Jac: fford de Kent Green Yeoman
Odd Rode: Dec 1680 Maria fil Jacobi fforde de Kent Green Yeoman
Odd Rode: May 1683 Ellena fil Jacobi fford de Kent Green Yeoman
Odd Rode: Aug 1685 Elizab fil Jacobi fford de Kent Green Yeoman
Odd Rode: Oct 1688 Nouane file Jac fford de Kent Green Yeoman
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Odd Rode: Dec 1695 Ann fil Jacob fford et Jane
Odd Rode: March 1698 Sara fil Jacobi fford et Jane
Odd Rode: Nov 1700 Hanna fil Jacobi fford et Jane

Burials
Odd Rode: Sep 1687 Infans[?] Jacobi Ford de Kent Green
Odd Rode: Jan 1726 Sara Ford Sp

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Written by: Clifford E Ford

Category: People

Published: 05 July 2017

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