John Ford

Notes:

John Ford and Mary Mallory

Name: John FORD
Birth: ABT 1636 in Abbyfield Park, Sandbach Parish, Chesire, England
Death: 1699 in VA
Residence: Rappahonnock Creek, Northern Neck Reg, VA

The following is taken from "Ford of Virginia and Kentucky" from Historical Southern Families.The Ford family of Abbeyfield Park in Sandbach Parish, Cheshire, England, came into prominence during the reign of Henry VIII, by acquisition of monastery lands near Sandbach. The dissolution of the smaller monasteries was completed by the year 1540. It is a historical fact that "Bluff King Hal" disposed of these church properties only to his favorites; thus it is highly probable that one of his Ford intimates had the good fortune and the necessary means to become the owner of a very desirable estate. A family receiving benefits from the monarch would naturally adhere to the ruler's church-state policies. Even three generations later, the Fords of Cheshire continued in the royalist party. As the struggle for power grew to a crisis under the Stuart kings, loyalty assumed an ever increasing importance. The arrogance and avarice exhibited by the Crown and many of the king's followers gave rise to resentment and revolt. England became divided, king versus parliament, Cavalier against Roundhead. Finally war broke out, and there was no one to quell disorder and crime. The war compelled hundreds of families to leave England to escape from the marauding bands that attacked country estates. Women and children were especially vulnerable, where neighbor rose against neighbor. Every established family, it seems, that treasures more than four generations of records, has some incident which grandparents enjoy telling to the young. These anecdotes may never be recorded in the family Bible, nor in any "Charter Chest," but they are not forgotten and are referred to as "tradition." Such are important to the family historian. Somewhere on the coast of Ireland, a ship stood at anchor. A small boy was playing on the shore with other lads. His mother, in the usual crowd of onlookers, was intent on getting news of her home in Chesire, a short day's sail across the Irish Sea. After a while, a man approached and invited the boys tocome and see the ship. They were hesitant, but he offered a knife to each boy if he would come on board to get it. Those who did go aboard were seized, gagged, and hidden, and the ship sailed off with them. The story goes that one of the boys was named John Ford, and he was "about eight years old." The ship arrived at the port of Kicotan (now called Hampton), at the mouth of the James River. John was taken ashore and offered for sale (indenture). It was the custom in the colony for widows, orphans and abandoned children to be cared for by the vestry, under the charge of the minister of the local parish, following the Anglican practice in England. The Rev. Phillip Mallory was rector of Hampton Parish at this time. He recognized John at once, as he had known his family in Sandbach Parish in County Chester. The minister had been pastor of Moberly Parish, only a short distance from Abbeyfield Park, the Ford homeplace. The Rev. Phillip Mallory soon had the boy released, probably paying the cost of passage. From then on, John's home was in the Mallory household, where he was fed, clothed, and given an education. Sixteen years later, John Ford married the niece of the Rev. Phillip Mallory. She was Mary, daughter of the Rev. Thomas Mallory, Dean of the Cathedral Church in Chester, England. Mary's name appears in her father's will, 1671, which speaks of her as the wife of John Ford in Virginia. The Rev. Phillip Mallory returned to England and died in London in 1661. His will, dated July 23, 1661 and probated July 27, 1661 names "nephew Roger Mallory all my plantations in Virginia." Since Mary was the younger sister of Capt. Roger Mallory, it is possible that she made her home with him. His name appears in a number of county records, all indicating that as a land owner, he was of the "gentleman class." John Ford's people, as land owners, were also of the same social standing. The custom of education of apprenticeship, common in England, would naturally be followed in the colony. Thus John would be brought up to the position of a Virginia gentleman, if indeed he did form part of Captain Roger Mallory's household. The will of the Rev. Thomas Mallory names "Mary Forde, daughter, 20 s. to buy her a ring." It is thought that John was born about 1636 and that his first marriage occurred about 1660, or a year or two earlier.
The Mallory's bought and sold land in the Northern Neck region of the colony as well as in the York River valley. When John Ford's name appears in the county records he is found living on Rappahannock Creek, close to the point where the creek runs into the Rappahannock River. The Rev. Phillip Mallory at one time owned 1,000 acres of land on Fleet's Bay in "Old" Rappahannock County.

John was active in county affairs. He held 500 acres of land in King and Queen county. This may have been his wife Mary's legacy from her father's estate. He served on the county grand jury in 1685, also in 1693, and was under contract to operate a ferry over the river. His place was on the north side. The county seat was at Hobbs-His-Hole, on the south shore. (Hobbs-His-Hole was the old name for Tappahannock.) "On January 16, 1686, the court contracted with John Ford to provide and keep a sufficient boat for the transporting of footmen from the mouth of Rappahannock Creek to Mr. John Daingerfield's landing on the Rappahannock River and over the said Rappahannock Creek on the day before court, the day of court, and the day after court." The will of John Ford was entered for probate before the Richmond county Court (Old Rappahannock was abolished in 1692) on March 6, 1699.
The document is badly damaged, but names are legible. The legatees are wife Patience and son John. Wife to be executrix. Witnesses signed: Henry Chappell, Edward G. Newton, and Selah Newton. There is no reference to the first wife Mary nor to the other children.

NOTE: A photocopied facsimile of John Ford's will is available from the State Archives, Virginia State Library, Richmond, Virginia. After the death of Mary (Mallory) Ford, John Ford married Patience Newman. Thomas Newman who lived across Rappahannock Creek, had been an early settler there. Patience was evidently well-known to the Fords, whose acreage was at the mouth of the creek. Apart from John mentioned in the will, the only other known children were James (will probated Dec 16, 1702) and Elizabeth who married (?) Barnes.

Marriage 1 Patience Newman
Marriage 2 Mary MALLORY b: ABT 1640
Married: BEF 1662
Children
John FORD b: ABT 1662 in in Uncle's home, King & Queen Co., VA
Elizabeth Ford
James Ford

John married Mary Mallory in 1660 in , King and Queen, Virginia, USA. Mary (daughter of Thomas Mallory and Jane) was born in 1631 in Northenden, Cheshire, England; died in 1675 in Richmond, Independent Cities, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. John Ford was born in 1661 in York River Valley, Lancaster, Virginia, USA; died in 1714 in , Richmond, Virginia, USA.
2. Elizabeth Ford was born in 1668 in Herring Creek, Anne Arundel, Maryland, USA; died in 1703 in Herring Creek, Anne Arundel, Maryland, USA.
3. Elizabeth Stodgon was born in 1670 in , Anne Arundel, Maryland, USA; died in , Anne Arundel, Maryland, USA.
4. Elizabeth was born in 1670 in , Anne Arundel, Maryland, USA; died in , Anne Arundel, Maryland, USA.
5. James Ford was born in 1670 in Herring Creek, Anne Arundel, Maryland, USA; died on 16 Dec 1702 in Herring Creek, Anne Arundel, Maryland, USA.

John married Patience Newman about 1680 in Richmond, Independent Cities, Virginia, USA. Patience was born about 1658 in Richmond, Independent Cities, Virginia, USA; died on 2 Jun 1714 in Richmond, Independent Cities, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John married Elizabeth Phillipe on 12 Jun 1632 in Wirksworth, Derbyshire, England. Elizabeth was born about 1610 in , , , England; died on 6 Mar 1699 in Richmond, Independent Cities, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Married: 28 Apr 1600

William married Grace Williams on 25 May 1585 in , Shropshire, England. Grace was born in 1568 in Pontesbury, Shropshire, England; died in 1618 in Pontesbury, Shropshire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Hugh married Amalie in 1530 in , Staffordshire, England. Amalie was born in 1510 in Norton, Staffordshire, England; died in 1560 in Norton, Staffordshire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]