Biography

James Ford was probably born in Okeford Fitzpaine ^[1]

He married Mary White on 2nd January 1677/8 at the parish church in Okeford. ^[2] The couple had several children

Mary, baptized 1679 ^[3]

James, baptized 1680^[4]

Thomas baptized 1685 ^[5]

Nathaniel baptism not found (mentioned in father's will)

James wrote a will on 25 July 1713 making the following bequests

To his son James Ford and his wife, 5 shillings each, and to his grandchildren James Ford and Jane Ford, twenty shillings each

to his son Thomas Ford and his wife, five shillings each and to his grandchild, John twenty shillings

to his son Nathaniel, the leasedhold estate 'which was formely Farrs' and where James lived 'after his mother's death'

To his wife Mary, the house called Farrs with two orchards, six beasts and 100 sheep on the common down, Rufus Mead (a copyhold property with two more lives; Thomas and Nathaniel Ford.

Mary received the residue of her husbands goods and chattels and the power to dispose of Rufus Mead and land in Shillingstone. She was made executrix.

James died and was buried at Okeford on 22nd December 1718 ^[6] (sadly this was the day before the burial of his daughter in law, Jane the wife of son James who died as a result of childbirth)

His will was proved on 22 August 1719 by his widow Mary ^[7]

Sources

1. ↑ The Ford family had been in this parish from at least the 1550s where they appear in a manorial survey. See Three Tudor Surveys, Dorset History Society, 2015. Unfortunately though it is clear that the family continued to live there, the registers were not consistently well kept.
2. ↑ Dorset History Centre; Dorchester, England; Dorset Parish Registers; Reference: PE/OFP:RE1/1 Okeford Fitzpaine combined register

   1677 Januar 2nd James Ford & Mary White was married

3. ↑ Dorset HC Reference: PE/OFP:RE1/1 Okeford Fitzpaine combined register

   1679 Aprill 22d Mary ye daughter of James Ford was baptized

4. ↑ Dorset HC Reference: PE/OFP:RE1/1 Okeford Fitzpaine combined register

   1680 August 3rd James ye sonne of James Ford and Mary his wife was baptised

5. ↑ Dorset HC Reference: PE/OFP:RE1/1 Okeford Fitzpaine combined register

   1685 May 12 Thomas the son of James & Mary Ford was baptised Rob’t Sco-- - Prower god fathers Dorothy White an Godmothers (a space was left but a second godmother’s name was not entered)

6. ↑ Dorset History Centre; Dorchester, England; Dorset Parish Registers; Reference: PE/OFP:RE1/2 Okeford Fitzpaine, Combined Register

   1718

   Decr 22 James Ford was buried in woollen only

7. ↑ Dorset History Centre; Dorchester, England; Dorset Parish Registers; Reference: PE/OFP:RE1/1 Okeford Fitzpaine combined register

   Dorset History Centre; Reference Number: Bc/W/F; Bristol Consistitory Event Record Number: 47 Will of James Ford of Ockford Fizpaine, 1718 transcript Freespace page