Thomas Ford

• General Notes
  • Thomas FORD - b. about 1589, Dorset, England; d. Nov. 28, 1676, Northampton, MA [memorial - inscription]. It is possible he was the son of John FORD III and Joan BECK (m. Feb. 3, 1583, Piddlehinton, Dorset, England), and nephew of Thomas FORD, merchant of Dorchester who died Jan. 20, 1610/11. The latter's will, proved May 8, 1611 names, among others, his brother John, and "Thomas, son of my brother, John FORDE." Thomas FORD arrived at Dorchester, MA in the 'Mary & John' 1630 with wife, four daughters and step-son Aaron COOKE, settled at Windsor, CT, where he was granted a lot in 1637, and moved to Northampton, MA 1659. Freeman 1631; deputy to General Court 1637-1640; juror 1643 and 1644. In 1645 Thomas moved to Hartford, CT and established a tavern in the house of Thomas SCOTT. In 1652 he sold the tavern, and in 1655 was Constable at Windsor, Hartford Co., CT. No documentary evidence has been found to support the long standing claim that the Thomas FORD who married Dec. 13, 1610, at Powerstock, Dorset, England, Joan WAYE was the emigrant, nor that the Joane WAYE who was buried there May 10, 1615 was the wife of Thomas FORD, rather than, say, his child. Thomas FORD married first Jun. 19, 1616, Bridport, Dorset, England; and second Nov. 7, 1644 Annie (SANFORD) SCOTT (d. May 5, 1676, Northampton, MA), widow of Thomas SCOTT (d. Nov. 6, 1643).