The Ford Family of English Harbour

For what it's worth, here's a bunch of data on the Ford family, with emphasis on the community of English Harbour, Trinity Bay. Clearly there were several Ford families there in the late 19th century, but by 1921 the name was nearly gone... indeed, it was Gordon Ford who was the last of the Ford's to reside there.

Which begs the question: where did everybody else go? Granted, women who changed their name upon marriage account for some of the loss of the presence of the Ford surname. But this alone does not account for everybody. Several of the children of James Ford and Martha Price/Priest moved to the USA, and so I wonder if other members of the Ford family also relocated. As a bit of an aside, I have more info online on James & Martha's daughters Amelia and Florence.

There is also the question: where did the Ford's come from. This question has now been somewhat answered, with the discovery that some of the English Harbour Ford's were actually born in Bonavista (as noted in the Vital Stats records for their deaths).

And then there's the question: how are all these Ford's related? (assuming that they are indeed related). I think the answer(s) to this question will be revealed as progress is made in determining where the Ford's came from.


[Home] [Mail]

Information received from Rev. Donald Young in October 1988, from the records of the Anglican Parish of Port Rexton:


        BIRTHS
        ======

        Rachael (writing poor but looks like Rachael) born May 15, 1892
        parents - James & Martha Ford

        Pamela Florence born January 5, 1895 - James & Martha Ford

        Bessie May born July 30, 1895 - George & Elizabeth Ford

        Gordon born March 3, 1899 - Stephen & Mary Ann Ford

        Alice Marguerite born October 30, 1889 - James & Martha Ford

        Elen (??) born April 10, 1891 - George & Elizabeth Ford

        Walter James born September 13, 1883 - George & Elizabeth Ford

        Norah Lillian born July 18, 1885 - George & Elizabeth Ford

        Stephen born September 4, 1885 - James & Martha Ford

        William James born June 28, 1885 - John & Mary Ann Ford

        Emma Susanna born October 20, 1887 - John & Mary Ann Ford

        Charles born March 8, 1888 - George & Elizabeth Ford

        William Francis born October 2, 1888 - James & Martha Ford

        John born July 30, 1876 - Abraham & Elizabeth Ford (maiden name Long)

        Amelia Janes born June 13, 1877 - James & Martha Ford (maiden name Priest (?))

        Mary born December 20, 1987 (?) - Abraham & Elizabeth Ford

        Ann Elizabeth born February 16, 1879 - James & Martha Ford

        Katie Elmina born September 23, 1882 - James & Martha Ford


        MARRIAGES
        =========

        Levi Walters age 28 - father John Walters
        Mary Ford age 23 - father Abraham Ford       - married December 19, 1901

        John Ford age 29 - father Abrahm Ford
        Susanna Hookey age 22 - father John Hookey   - married December 24, 1905

        John Ford age 25 - father James Ford
        Mary Ann Bailey age 27 - father James Bailey - married November 19, 1882

        George Ford age 24 - father George Ford
        Elizabeth Price age 20 - father Charles Price - married November 30, 1882

        John Penny age 25 - father James Penny
        Sarah Ford age ? - father Gerald Ford        - married December 16, 1886

        William James Walters age 25 - father John Walters
        Alice Marguerite Ford age 24 - father James Ford - married April 6, 1913

        Isabella Ford age ? - father James Ford
        George Miller age ? - father Martin Miller   - married December 6, 1877


        DEATHS
        ======

        Charles Ford burried June 11, 1889 age 1 1/4 years

        Rachel Ford died February 19, 1896 age 51 years

        Catherine Ford died July 11, 1897 age 77 years

        George Ford died February 12, 1900 age 75 years

        James Jerrett Ford died June 12, 1903 age 86 years

        Elizabeth Ford died May 22, 1904 age 62 years

        Stephen Ford died August 2, 1932 age 85 years

        May Ann Ford died March 3, 1935 age 82 years

        John Ford died June 27, 1906 age 29 years

        Hannah Ford died September 7, 1909 age 51 years

        Tryphena Ford died January 28, 1912 age 80 years


Information contained in the register of the Anglican Church of St. Silas, in English Harbour


        BAPTISMS
        ========

        Date of Baptism         Child's Name    Parents' Names                  Profession      Abode           By whom the Sacrament was performed

        16 Jun 1844             William         James & Sarah Ford              Planter         Salmon Cove     David Martin, " "
        30 Nov 1845             Pamela          George & Catharine Ford         Planter         English Harbour David Martin
        10 Jun 1849             Stephen         George & Catherine Ford         Planter         Salmon Cove     Tho M Wood
        09 Jun 1850             George          James and Sarah Ford            Planter         Salmon Cove     Tho M Wood
        27 Apr 1851             James           George & Catherine Ford         Fisherman       English Harbor  Tho M Wood (private)
        10 Aug 1851             James and Ann   George & Cathn Ford             Fisherman       English Harbor  Tho M Wood


        MARRIAGES
        =========

        21 May 1845     George Ivemy Ford of English Harbor
                        Katherine Long of Salmon Cove

                        married at English Harbor by David Martin
                        witnesses: Charles Penney, Barnet Miller

        BURIALS
        =======

        Date of Burial  Person's Name                   Age             Abode           By Whom Performed

        07 Nov 1851     Ann Ford                        7 months        English Harbor  James R Moore R
        06 Nov 1857     Ann Ford                        16 months       E Harbour       James R Moore
      


DPHW Volume 65, held at PANL.

These are transcriptions of events which are recorded in the Anglican parish of Trinity East, being baptisms 1869-91 and marriages 1876-91.
    * NOTE THAT THE DATES FOR THE FIRST SIX BAPTISMS BELOW ARE, IN MY OPINION,
      OUTRIGHTLY WRONG!!  For correct info, refer to original sources,
      such as the records from St. Silas and St. Paul's.


        BAPTISMS
        ========

        Baptism    Birth        Name                    Parents                          Place

     *  06 May     10 Apr 1872  James                   George & Catherine Ford          English Harbour
     *  02 July    14 Jun 1872  Ann                     John & Eliza Ford                English Harbour
     *  24 Sept    10 Sep 1872  George                  James & Sarah Ford               Salmon Cove
     *  04 April   21 Mar 1873  Stephen                 George & Catherine Ford          Salmon Cove
     *  10 Aug     10 Jun 1874  Pamela                  George & Katherine Ford          English Harbour
     *  16 June    12 Aug 1874  William                 James & Sarah Ford               Salmon Cove
        07 May     18 Apr 1876  James                   Edward & Honor Nurse (Forde)     Salmon Cove
        08 Aug     30 Jul 1876  John                    Abraham & Elizabeth Forde (Long) Salmon Cove
        30 Sep/77  13 Jun 1877  Amelia Jane             James & Martha Forde (Priest)    English Harbour
        02 June    26 Apr 1878  Edmund Spragg Nurse     Edward & Honor Nurse (Forde)     Salmon Cove
        03 Sept    26 Aug 1878  Abner                   Samuel & Amelia Wells (Forde)    English Harbour
        15 June    20 Dec 1878  Mary                    Abraham & Elizabeth Forde        Salmon Cove East
        22 June    16 Feb 1879  Ann Elizabeth           James & Martha Forde             English Harbour
        06 May     10 Mar 1880  Uriah                   Edward & Honor Nurse             Salmon Cove East
        26 Nov     23 Sep 1882  Katie Elmina            James & Martha Ford              English Harbour
        18 Nov     13 Sep 1883  Walter James            George & Elizabeth Ford          English Harbour
        16 Aug     18 Jul 1885  Norah Lillian           George & Elizabeth Ford          English Harbour
        30 Sept    04 Sep 1885  Stephen                 James & Martha Ford              English Harbour
        22 Nov     28 Jun 1885  William James           John & Mary Ann Ford             Salmon Cove West
        29 Jun/85  28 Jun 1885  William James           John & Mary Ann Ford             Salmon Cove West
        25 Aug     19 Aug 1886  Honor                   John & Mary Ann Ford             Salmon Cove West
        08 Nov     20 Oct 1887  Emma Susannah           John & Mary Ann Ford             Salmon Cove West
        20 May     08 Mar 1888  Charles                 George & Elizabeth Ford          English Harbour
        04 Oct     02 Oct 1888  William Francis         James & Martha Ford              English Harbour
        01 Dec     30 Oct 1889  Alice Marguerite        James & Martha Ford              English Harbour


        MARRIAGES
        =========

        06 Dec 1877 at Trinity East
        George Miller, bachelor of Salmon Cove
        Isabella Ford, spinster of Salmon Cove
        witnesses:  Hannah Ford, Ann Miller

        19 Nov 1882 at Trinity East
        John Ford, age 25, bachelor of Salmon Cove West
        Mary Ann Bailey, age 27, spinster of Salmon Cove West
        witnesses:  George Miller, Emma Ford

        30 Nov 1882 at Trinity East
        George Ford, age 24, bachelor of English Harbour
        Elizabeth Price, age 20, spinster of Salmon Cove East
        witnesses:  Stephen Ford, Honour Ford

        16 Dec 1886 at Trinity East
        John Penny, age 25, bachelor of English Harbour
        Sarah Ford, spinster of English Harbour
        witnesses:  Stephen Ford, Julia Ann Penny


From the page 138 of the book "The History of the Fishermen's Protective Union of Newfoundland" by William Ford Coaker, published in 1920.

        Joseph Ford, son of Stephen Ford of English Harbour, served in
        World War I.  Joseph's official number was 3432.  He was
        demobilised on 19 June 1919.  He is also acknowledged to have
        been a "Coaker Recruit".


From the Regimental Roll, held at PANL:

        Regimental ID Number 3432 is for Joseph Ford, son of Stephen Ford
        of English Harbour.  He enlisted on 19 January 1917, at which time
        he was aged 20, and unmarried.


From the records of the Anglican Church of St. Paul, in Trinity

These records are found on microfilm M-1947 at the National Archives in Ottawa (this microfilm includes records up to 1867).
        BAPTISMS
        ========

        Baptism      Birth        Name                  Parents                         Trade           Residence

        12 Feb 1843               Honor                 James & Sarah Ford              Planter         Salmon Cove
        08 Jun 1845               Abraham               John & Amy Ford                 Planter         Salmon Cove
        28 Dec 1845               Elizabeth             James & Sarah Ford              Planter         Salmon Cove
        14 Aug 1853               Honor                 George & Catherine Ford         Fisherman       English Harbour
        14 May 1854  30 Mar 1854  Isabella              James & Sarah Ford (Freeman)    Fisherman       Salmon Cove
        21 Sep 1856  17 Jul 1856  Ann Elizabeth         George & Catherine Ford (Long)  Fisherman       English Harbour
        08 Nov 1858  06 Oct 1857  John                  James & Sarah Forde (Freeman)   Fisherman       Parry's Cove (H Sound)
        08 May 1859  01 Oct 1858  George                George & Catherine Forde (Long) Fisherman       English Harbour
        19 Jun 1860  29 Feb 1859  Emma Susannah         James & Sarah Forde (Freeman)   Fisherman       Salmon Cove       [NB: 1859 was not a leap year]
           Mar 1861  20 Feb 1861  Sarah Ann             Joseph & Susan Forde (Holyer)   Fisherman       Salmon Cove
        27 Aug 1864  29 Jul 1864  Sophia                Edward & Honour Nurse (Forde)   Fisherman       Salmon Cove
      * 12 Aug 1866               William               Edward & Honor Nurse (Forde)


        MARRIAGES
        =========

        31 December 1813
        Gerrard Ford junior of Bonavista
        Honora, daughter of James & Joan Ivamy of English Harbour
        witnesses:  William Ivamy, James Skeffington

        20 October 1841
        James Ford, bachelor of Bonavista
        Sarah Freeman, spinster of Salmon Cove
        witnesses:  John Ash, George Ford

        02 November 1843
        John Ford of Bonavista
        Amy Randall of Trinity
        witnesses:  John Ash, James Ford

        29 November 1862 at St. Paul's in Trinity
        Edward Nurse of Salmon Cove
        Honor Forde of Salmon Cove
        witnesses:  Robert Nurse, Ann Nurse, Jacob Pitche [?], Elizabeth Forde,
                    Albert Freeman, Mary Freeman, George Late, Joanna Bestone

        04 November 1865 at St. Paul's in Trinity
        James Ford, widower of Salmon Cove
        Honor Ash, widow of Salmon Cove
        witnesses:  Martin Miller, Sarah Ann Ryan, Abraham Ryan,
                    Mary Ann Forde, Charles Ash


        BURIALS
        =======

      * 01 Dec 1771 - Edward Ford
        20 Nov 1803 - Peter Ford, servant with B. Lester & Co.
        12 Jun 1861 - Sarah Forde, of Salmon Cove, aged 37


      * This entry comes from the NLGS Index, not from my personal transcription.
        The NLGS index also includes a few instances of Ford's witnessing
        marriages.


1921 Census of Newfoundland.

In English Harbour we find:

        Dwl Fam        Name         S Relat MS   Born    Age Place of Birth Imm. Nat. Natnlty Rel. M Occupation Industry       E'r E'd O.O. Other Work
                                               Year  Mth

         31  37 Stephen Ford        M head  m  1847  Apr  74 English Hr               English CofE   fisherman  shore fishery           Y   small farm
                Mary A. Ford        F wife  m  1849  Jun  72 English Hr               English CofE
                Gordon Ford         M son   s  1900  Apr  21 English Hr               English CofE


1935 Census of Newfoundland.

In English Harbour we find:

        Dwl  Fam  Name of Each Person       Own?  Value Rms Radio Relationship     Sex MS  Age  Birthplace  Birthplace  Birthplace  Imm. Nat.   Nation.  Rel.   Read  Sch. Occupation        Industry             Class   Earn.

         79   79  Ford Gordon                O     50    5    N   head              M   s  36   Nfld        Nfld        Nfld                    British   CE      R        Fisherman         Shore Cod fishery      O       5


1945 Census of Newfoundland.

In English Harbour we find:
                                                                     M                                    Nation-   Racial   Yr in       Sch Sch   Sch   T    Religious                                        Occupation   Un Wage
        Dwl Fam O Value K  R Name of Each Person     Relation      S S  Age   Birthplace    1935 Abode        ality Origins  Nfld    R/W Yrs Age S Mth 5 B X  Denomination  Occupation     Industry         Cl  in 1935     Wk Amount  P Earn.  
        --- --- - ----- - -- ----------------------- -----------   - -  ---   ------------  ------------  --------- -------- ---     --- --- --  - --  - - -  ------------- ------------   ---------------- -- -----------  -- ------- - -----
         67 207 O $ 600 S  3 Ford Gordon                           M s   46   Trinity N.    Trinity N.    Nfld      English    3     R    8  13        N N N  C of E        [?] Labourer   Pick & Shovel    W  Fisherman     0 $ 80    M $ 960


From the records of the Anglican Church of St. Paul, in Trinity, for the period following 1867

For now, the only source of info here is from the NLGS index, though I hope to get my own transcription from PANL (provided that PANL has a copy of the original records).

From the Name Files of the late Dr. Keith Matthews.

These records are held at the Maritime History Archive. I gleaned this information from the Name Files on 27 Nov 1998.
        24 Dec 1770 - Gerrard (or Garreth) Ford and/or his wife called on Isaac Lester to get him clear of a man of war

        1787, Bonavista Anglican - Gerrard Ford ESQ married Eliz Lander

        19 Sep 1788 - Gerrard Ford appointed Justice of the Peace for Bonavista

        Nov 1793, Bonavista Anglican - Gerrard and Eliz Ford have a son Gerrard baptised

        1813, Trinity Anglican - Gerrard Ford of Bonavista married Honora Ivamy of English Harbour

        [Jan ?] 1818, Bonavista - Gerrard and Honour Ford have children James and Susan baptised

        Aug 1829, Bonavista - Gerrard Ford died, aged 66, a native of Wimborne Dorset

        1829, Bonavista Methodist - Jaret and Honour Ford have a daughter Mary

        1829, Bonavista Methodist - James and Mary Ford have a daughter Mary (born Dec 26)


From the Vital Statistics registers.

These records were kept by the Colonial Government and are now housed at PANL. I need to go back and get more information from these registers when I get the chance (such as more complete data from Bonavista, as well as birth and marriage records). For now, what I have below is the result of a few days' effort in February 2000.

The box numbers below refer to the box number that contains a single roll of microfilm at PANL. The item number is the number of the item on that particular roll of microfilm.

     Deaths
     ======

     Box Item Page Line  Name                 Death Date     Death Place            Cause of Death      Age      Religion             Occupation     Birth Place        Place of Burial
     --- ---- ---- ----  ------------------   -----------    ------------           --------------      ------   -----------------    -------------  ------------       ---------------
     29   1      9    5  Elizabeth Eliza Ford 11 Dec 1891    Southside (St. John's) Senility            88       Church of England                   Newfoundland       CofE Cemetary
     29   1    100    3  Mary Ford            23 Feb 1892    Upper Island Cove      Old Age             88       Roman Catholic                      Island Cove        Island Cove
     29   1    107   11  Deborah Ford         17 Mar 1892    Bonavista              Croup               6 months Church of England                   Bonavista          Bonavista
     29   1    110    2  Alexander Ford       22 Jun 1891    Fogo                                       3 weeks  Roman Catholic                      Fogo               Fogo
     29   2     94   26  George Ford          29 Oct 1892    Bonavista              Consumption         60       Church of England    Fisherman      Bonavista          Bonavista
     29   2    100   18  Martha Ford          29 Oct 1893    Swains Island          Nephrite            56       Methodist                           Swains Island      Wesleyville
     29   2    287   23  Frederick John Ford  18 Apr 1895    Bonavista              none given          31       Church of England    Fisherman      Bonavista          Bonavista
     29   2    290   10  Noah Ford            01 Oct 1895    Charlottetown          Scarlatina          5 3/4    Methodist                           Charlottetown      Charlottetown
     29   2    293    1  Leah Ford            15 Apr 1896    Bonavista                                  1 month  Church of England                   Bonavista          Bonavista
     29   2    365    2  Rachel Ford          19 Feb 1896    English Harbour        Natural Causes      51       Church of England                   English Harbour    English Harbour
     30   2    176   36  Amy Ford             23 Sep 1898    Trinity                Senile Decay        84       Church of England                   Trinity East       Trinity
     30   2    188   36  George Ford          12 Feb 1900    Salmon Cove East       Gen'l Debility      75       Church of England    Fisherman      Bonavista          English Harbour
     30   3    243   39  James G Ford         12 Jun 1903    Salmon Cove West       Old Age             86       Church of England                   Bonavista          Salmon Cove West
     30   3    254   17  Elizabeth Ford       22 May 1904    Salmon Cove East       Conjestion of Lungs 62       Church of England                   Salmon Cove East   Salmon Cove East
     30   3    273   15  John Ford            27 Jun 1906    Salmon Cove East       Pul Tuberculos      29       Church of England    Fishing        Salmon Cove East   Trinity East
     30   3    289   17  Joseph Ford          12 Jun 1903    Bonavista              Heart Dis           14       Church of England                   Bonavista          Bonavista
     30   3    289   20  Thomas Ford          03 Jun 1903    Upper Amherst Cove     Old Age             88       Church of England    Fishing        Upper Amherst Cove Lower Amherst Cove
     30   3    290   42  Alexandria Ford      13 May 1903    Gambo                  Consumption         22       Methodist                           Gambo              Gambo
     30   3    306   31  George Ford          14 Feb 1905    Bonavista              Gen Debility        1        Church of England                   Bonavista          Bonavista
     30   3    311    6  Maria Ford           03 Nov 1905    Bonavista              Consumption         50       Church of England                   Bonavista          Bonavista
     30   3    322   23  Sarah Ford           11 Nov 1906    Shamblers Cove         Cancer              69       Methodist                           Greenspond         Shamblers Cove
     31   2    245   18  Hannah Ford          07 Sep 1909    English Harbour        Pul Tuberculosis    51       Church of England                   English Harbour    English Harbour
     31   2    281   14  Tryphena Ford        18 Sep 1908    Bonavista              [blank]             38       Church of England                   Bonavista          Bonavista
     31   3    238   33  Tryphena Ford        28 Jan 1912    Champneys              Senile Decay        80       Church of England                   [blank]            Champneys



Methodist Register at Bonavista

I need to go back and collect baptism and burial data. For now though, I do at least have marriages:
   MARRIAGES
   =========

   19 December 1844
   Andrew Mouland of Bonavista
   Pamela Ford of Bonavista

   24 December 1850 at Bonavista
   William Littles of Bonavista
   Mary Ford of Bonavista

   01 January 1853
   John Ford
   Ann Cuff
   witnesses: William Ford, James Tucker, John Cole

   31 December 1853
   William Ford of Bonavista
   Mary Hampton of Bonavista
   witnesses: John Ford, Alfred Saint

   17 November 1859 in Bonavista
   James Little, batchelor of Bonavista
   Mary Jane Ford, spinster of Bonavista

   13 November 1860 at Upper Amherst Cove
   Jared Ford, widower of Upper Amherst Cove
   Elizabeth Smith, spinster of Upper Amherst Cove

   24 December 1865
   John Hampton, widower of Bonavista
   Charlotte Ford, spinster of Bonavista

   10 December 1868
   James Verge [or Burge ?] of Bonavista
   Susannah Ford of Bonavista
   witnesses: George Romaine, Noah Burge

   27 November 1875
   James Abbott of Bonavista
   Elizabeth Ford of Bonavista
   witnesses: John Hampton, Thomas Ford, James Shirran

   12 February 1887 in the house of the bridegroom's mother
   William Ford of Bonavista
   Sarah Harris of Bonavista
   witnesses: Alexander Ford, Thomas G Ford
   

[Home] [Mail]

Last Modified: Wednesday, 28-Mar-2018 20:32:25 NDT