Abt 1591 - 1676 (~ 85 years)
Generation: 1
1. | Thomas Ford was born about 1591 in Dorchester, Dorset, England; died on 28 Nov 1676 in Northampton, New London, Connecticut, USA. Other Events:
Notes:
Prior to emigrating to the New World on the ship "Mary and John" Thomas Ford lived in Dorchester, Dorset, England. The Holy Trinity Church of Dorchester contains the following Baptism Records for children of Thomas Ford:
Thomas, baptized 21 Sep 1623; buried 6 Oct 1623
Hepzibah, baptized 15 May 1625
Hannah, baptized 1 Feb 1628/29; buried 28 Mar 1629
At Bridport, 15 ½ miles west of Dorchester we find earlier baptism records for children of Thomas Ford:
Joan, 8 june 1617
Abigail, 8 Oct 1619
We also find that Elizabeth Charde Cook, the widow of Aaron Cook, married Thomas Ford 19 Jun 1616 in Bridport. As Thomas Ford, Elizabeth Charde and the three living children, plus Aaron Cooke, son of the deceased Aaron Cooke, all arrived in the New World in 1630 we can safely conclude that all of these records pertain to the same family.
We can also conclude that between 1619 and 1623 Thomas and Elizabeth moved from Bridport to Dorchester.
It is possible that Thomas Ford was a widower with a child when he married Elizabeth Charde. In Powerstock, which is 6 miles northeast of Bridport, we find two men named Thomas Ford. One married 29 Jan 1607-08 to Julian Dun and the other married 13 Dec 1610 to Joane Way. We find three baptism records for Florence (1608), Thomas (1610) and Julian (1615) which likely belong to the Thomas Ford married first. And we find two baptisms in 1612 of which one would likely belong to the first Thomas (married 1607/08) and the other likely to the second Thomas (married 1610). Mary, baptized 18 Aug 1612 and Sarah, baptized 6 Jan 1612/13. After 1613 only one Thomas was having children baptized in Powerstock. Joane Ford was buried in Powerstock on 10 May 1615.
It is possible that Joan Ford, first child of Thomas Ford and Elizabeth Charde was named Joan in 1617 in honor of the deceased first wife, which was not uncommon to do in those days. It is also possible that Henry Way, of Bridport, who also emigrated on the "Mary and John" at the same time as Thomas Ford, was related to Joane Way. Based on this reasoning, some have concluded that Thomas Ford probably first married Joane Way. I think "probably" may be too strong a word. I will go with Thomas Ford "may" have first married Joane Way and they may have had a daughter named Sarah or Mary.
In regards to which child, Mary or Sarah may have been born to Thomas and Joane, some have, perhaps erroneously concluded that it was Mary. Aaron Cook has appeared in the record as Thomas Fords "son-in-law". Aaron Cook is married to Mary Cook. Thus some have concluded that this wording is proof that Thomas Ford had a daughter Mary and is additional proof of the Joane Way marriage. However, this is faulty reasoning. In the terminology of the day "son-in-law" could also mean what we today call "step-son". And we know that Aaron was the step-son of Thomas, due to Thomas marrying his mother. And that would have nothing to do with whomever Aaron married. The Great Migrations series gives a maiden name for Aaron's wife, and it is not Ford. Therefore, if Thomas was the person who married Joane Way, we still do not have any idea if their child was Mary or Sarah. Neither child emigrated with Thomas. They both would have been 17 or 18 at the time and perhaps already married, if still alive.
It is unknown who the parents of Thomas Ford were. Burt Spears who has intensively researched the "Mary and John" passengers, has come up with 11 wills of people surnamed Ford in the area and timeframe we are looking at. It is impossible to put these wills together in a genealogical meaningful way. However, one will offers some possible clues. It is the will of Thomas Ford of Dorchester , proved 8 May 1611. In the will the executor is Thomas Forde, "son of my brother John Forde". If this is the same Thomas it would make his father John Forde. The clue here being that perhaps as executor he gained control of property in Dorchester, which would explain his move from Bridport to Dorchester some years later. Consider that we had two Thomas Fords in Powerstock that we know of and that the existence of eleven Ford wills could imply that the common name of Thomas appears even more than twice. I would say that this is a real stretch and that we can only conclude that we do not know anything about the ancestry of Thomas Ford.
Many on-line genealogies freely use the first wife as Joane, the first child as Mary and the father as John Ford as facts. The first wife and first child have not been proven and the father is pure speculation.
Thomas Ford, Elizabeth (Charde)Ford, Joanna Ford, Abigail Ford, Hepzibah Ford and Aaron Cooke arrived in Dorchester, Massachusetts in 1630. In 1637 Thomas Ford moved to Windsor and in1672 to Northhampton where he died 28 Nov 1676.
After Elizabeth Charde died in Windsor 18 Apr 1643 he remarried at an unknown date to the widow of Thomas Scott. There was a child named Ann, but it is uncertain if Thomas Ford or Thomas Scott was the father.
Some have said that Thomas Ford has more descendants than any other male New England immigrant. I do now know if that is true or not, but he certainly has lots of descendants. He had three confirmed daughters who lived to procreation age. Joanne married Roger Clapp and they had 45 grandchildren. Abigail married John Strong, they had 16 children and 143 grandchildren. Hepzibah married Richard Lyman and had 8 children and 43 grandchildren. That is a total of 231 great grandchildren for Thomas Ford and Elizabeth Charde from only 3 daughters. Plus Elizabeth Charde has additional descendants through her son Aaron Cook. As each generation multiplies itself, with the kind of start their descendants had, it would be virtually impossible for a later generation to catch up to them in numbers. Some notable descendants of Thomas Ford and Elizabeth Charde include Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Princess Diana, Spencer Tracy, the Wright brothers, Samuel Colt, Rutherford B Hayes, Mike Huckabee, D.H. Lawrence, Sarah Palin, and Harriet Beecher Stowe. Gary Boyd Roberts' books mentions these and many other prominent descendants.
Bibliography:
Thomas Ford of Dorchester, England, and Dorchester, Mass prepared by Donald Lines Jacobus from material obtained by Clarence Almon Torrey published 1939, The American Genealogist Vol 16 P41-43.
The Mary & John Series by Burton Spears-various volumes and pages
The Great Migrations Series by Robert Charles Anderson published by the New England Historic Genealogical Society.
Thomas married Elizabeth Charde on 19 Jun 1616 in Bridport, Dorset, England. Elizabeth was born about 1593 in England; died on 18 Apr 1643 in Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
Children:
- 2. Joanna Ford was born on 8 Jun 1617 in Bridport, Dorset, England.
- 3. Abigail Ford was born on 8 Oct 1619 in Bridport, Dorset, England.
- 4. Thomas Ford was born on 21 Sep 1623 in Dorchester, Dorset, England; died on 6 Oct 1623 in Dorchester, Dorset, England.
- 5. Hepzibah Ford was born on 15 May 1625 in Dorchester, Dorset, England; died on 11 Apr 1683 in Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts, USA.
- 6. Hannah Ford was born on 1 Feb 1628/29 in Dorchester, Dorset, England; died on 28 Mar 1629 in Dorchester, Dorset, England.
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Thomas married Ann Unknown on 7 Nov 1644. Ann was born after 1591. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
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Generation: 2
2. | Joanna Ford (1.Thomas1) was born on 8 Jun 1617 in Bridport, Dorset, England. Other Events:
Notes:
Birth:
baptism date
Joanna married on 6 Nov 1633 in Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
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4. | Thomas Ford (1.Thomas1) was born on 21 Sep 1623 in Dorchester, Dorset, England; died on 6 Oct 1623 in Dorchester, Dorset, England. Other Events:
Notes:
Birth:
baptism date
Died:
burial date
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5. | Hepzibah Ford (1.Thomas1) was born on 15 May 1625 in Dorchester, Dorset, England; died on 11 Apr 1683 in Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts, USA. Other Events:
Notes:
Birth:
baptism date
Hepzibah married Richard Lyman before 1644. Richard (son of Richard Lyman and Sarah Osborn) was born on 24 Feb 1617/18 in High Ongar, Essex, England; died on 3 Jun 1662 in Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
Children:
- 8. Hepzibah Lyman was born in 1644 in Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut, USA; died on 4 Jun 1732 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut, USA.
- 9. Richard Lyman was born on 26 May 1647 in Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut, USA; died on 4 Nov 1708 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut, USA.
- 10. Sarah Lyman was born about 1648; died between 1688 and 1708.
- 11. Thomas Lyman was born about 1649; died on 15 Jul 1725 in Durham, Middlesex, Connecticut, USA.
- 12. Elizabeth Lyman was born about 1651; died on 22 Mar 1676.
- 13. John Lyman was born about 1655; died on 13 Oct 1727 in Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts, USA.
- 14. Joanna Lyman was born on 7 Jun 1658 in Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts, USA; died on 1 Jan 1659 in Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts, USA.
- 15. Hannah Lyman was born on 8 Jul 1660 in Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts, USA; died on 11 Oct 1736.
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Hepzibah married John Marsh on 7 Oct 1664 in Northampton, New London, Connecticut, USA. John was born about 1618 in Essex, England; died on 28 Sep 1688 in Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
Children:
- 16. Lydia Marsh was born on 9 Oct 1667; died after 1751.
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6. | Hannah Ford (1.Thomas1) was born on 1 Feb 1628/29 in Dorchester, Dorset, England; died on 28 Mar 1629 in Dorchester, Dorset, England. Other Events:
Notes:
Birth:
baptism date
Died:
burial date
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Generation: 3
8. | Hepzibah Lyman (5.Hepzibah2, 1.Thomas1) was born in 1644 in Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut, USA; died on 4 Jun 1732 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut, USA. Other Events:
Notes:
from transcription of stones in Lebanon's Old Cemtery:
"Here lies ye body of ye worth Mrs. Hephzibah ye wife of Don Josiah Dewey. She was the daughter of Mr. Richard Lyman of Hartford. She was one that feared ye Lord & slept in Jesus June ye 4 1732 in ye 89 year of her age."
Hepzibah married Josiah Dewey on 6 Nov 1662 in Northampton, New London, Connecticut, USA. Josiah (son of Thomas Dewey and Frances Unknown) was born on 10 Oct 1641 in Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut, USA; died on 7 Sep 1732 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
Children:
- 17. Hepzibah Dewey was born on 9 Oct 1663 in Northampton, New London, Connecticut, USA; died in 1750 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut, USA.
- 18. Mary Dewey was born on 16 Oct 1665 in Northampton, New London, Connecticut, USA; died on 11 Jan 1666/67 in Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts, USA.
- 19. Josiah Dewey was born on 24 Dec 1666 in Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts, USA; died in 1750 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut, USA.
- 20. John Dewey was born on 9 Feb 1669 in Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts, USA; died in 1718 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut, USA.
- 21. Ebenezer Dewey was born on 20 Feb 1672/73 in Westfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, USA; died on 3 Dec 1711 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut, USA.
- 22. Nathaniel Dewey was born on 20 Feb 1672/73 in Westfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, USA; died in in New London, New London, Connecticut, USA.
- 23. Elizabeth Dewey was born on 10 Jul 1677 in Westfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, USA; died on 2 Oct 1757 in Westfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, USA.
- 24. Experience Dewey was born on 9 Apr 1682 in Westfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, USA; died in 1755 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut, USA.
- 25. Joseph Dewey was born on 9 Apr 1682 in Westfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, USA; died on 9 Jul 1682 in Westfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, USA.
- 26. Benjamin Dewey was born on 8 Jul 1685 in Westfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, USA; died on 13 Jul 1685 in Westfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, USA.
- 27. Mindwell Dewey was born on 19 Oct 1686 in Westfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, USA.
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9. | Richard Lyman (5.Hepzibah2, 1.Thomas1) was born on 26 May 1647 in Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut, USA; died on 4 Nov 1708 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut, USA. Other Events:
Notes:
Moved to Lebanon in 1696 (Genealogy of the Cowles Family in American, Calvin Cowles)
Richard married Elizabeth Cole on 26 May 1675 in Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts, USA. Elizabeth (daughter of John Cowles and Hannah Unknown) was born about 1650 in Farmington, Hartford, Connecticut, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
Children:
- 28. Samuel Lyman was born in Apr 1676 in Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts, USA.
- 29. Richard Lyman was born in 1678 in Northampton, New London, Connecticut, USA.
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14. | Joanna Lyman (5.Hepzibah2, 1.Thomas1) was born on 7 Jun 1658 in Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts, USA; died on 1 Jan 1659 in Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts, USA. Other Events:
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Generation: 4
17. | Hepzibah Dewey (8.Hepzibah3, 5.Hepzibah2, 1.Thomas1) was born on 9 Oct 1663 in Northampton, New London, Connecticut, USA; died in 1750 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut, USA. Other Events:
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18. | Mary Dewey (8.Hepzibah3, 5.Hepzibah2, 1.Thomas1) was born on 16 Oct 1665 in Northampton, New London, Connecticut, USA; died on 11 Jan 1666/67 in Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts, USA. Other Events:
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19. | Josiah Dewey (8.Hepzibah3, 5.Hepzibah2, 1.Thomas1) was born on 24 Dec 1666 in Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts, USA; died in 1750 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut, USA. Other Events:
Josiah married Mehitable Miller in 1691. Mehitable was born on 10 Jul 1666 in Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts, USA; died in 1729 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
Children:
- 30. John Dewey was born on 4 Dec 1700 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut, USA; died on 4 Sep 1773 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut, USA.
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20. | John Dewey (8.Hepzibah3, 5.Hepzibah2, 1.Thomas1) was born on 9 Feb 1669 in Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts, USA; died in 1718 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut, USA. Other Events:
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21. | Ebenezer Dewey (8.Hepzibah3, 5.Hepzibah2, 1.Thomas1) was born on 20 Feb 1672/73 in Westfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, USA; died on 3 Dec 1711 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut, USA. Other Events:
Notes:
From transcription of stones in Lebanon's Old Cemetery:
"Here Lies the Body of Ebenezer Dewey ye son of Dn Josiah and Mrs Hepzibah Dewey who Devoted his Life to God and Having Lived A Short Life in Love & Charity Towards men Died in faith glorifying God Dec 3rd AD 1711 in Ye 38th year of His Age."
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22. | Nathaniel Dewey (8.Hepzibah3, 5.Hepzibah2, 1.Thomas1) was born on 20 Feb 1672/73 in Westfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, USA; died in in New London, New London, Connecticut, USA. Other Events:
- Reference Number: 5836
- Birth: 1672, Massachusetts, USA
Nathaniel married Margaret Burroughs on 24 Jan 1699/00 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut, USA. Margaret (daughter of John Burrows and Hannah Culver) was born on 5 Oct 1677 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut, USA; died in 1717 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
Children:
- 31. Nathaniel Dewey was born on 12 Dec 1700 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut, USA; died in in Connecticut, USA.
- 32. Margaret Dewey was born on 5 May 1702 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut, USA; died in 1730 in Hebron, Tolland, Connecticut, USA.
- 33. Samuel Dewey was born on 5 Jul 1704 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut, USA; died after 1742 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut, USA.
- 34. Noah Dewey was born on 13 May 1706 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut, USA.
- 35. Sarah Dewey was born on 2 Aug 1709 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut, USA.
- 36. Thomas Dewey was born on 20 Jan 1713 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut, USA.
- 37. Hepzibah Dewey was born on 28 Dec 1715 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut, USA; died on 22 Mar 1792 in Orford, Grafton, New Hampshire, USA.
- 38. Tamor Dewey was born on 20 Oct 1717 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut, USA.
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23. | Elizabeth Dewey (8.Hepzibah3, 5.Hepzibah2, 1.Thomas1) was born on 10 Jul 1677 in Westfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, USA; died on 2 Oct 1757 in Westfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, USA. Other Events:
Elizabeth married on 3 Jan 1699/00 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
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24. | Experience Dewey (8.Hepzibah3, 5.Hepzibah2, 1.Thomas1) was born on 9 Apr 1682 in Westfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, USA; died in 1755 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut, USA. Other Events:
Notes:
according to oneworld tree experience dewey is 6xgg of Mamie Eisenhower
Experience married John Gillett on 3 Jan 1699/00 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut, USA. John was born on 10 Jun 1671 in Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
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25. | Joseph Dewey (8.Hepzibah3, 5.Hepzibah2, 1.Thomas1) was born on 9 Apr 1682 in Westfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, USA; died on 9 Jul 1682 in Westfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, USA. Other Events:
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26. | Benjamin Dewey (8.Hepzibah3, 5.Hepzibah2, 1.Thomas1) was born on 8 Jul 1685 in Westfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, USA; died on 13 Jul 1685 in Westfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, USA. Other Events:
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27. | Mindwell Dewey (8.Hepzibah3, 5.Hepzibah2, 1.Thomas1) was born on 19 Oct 1686 in Westfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, USA. Other Events:
Notes:
From "the baptisimal records of the Westfield Church of Christ from 1679 to 1836" page 8, "year 1686, 10 mo, 19 d. Mindewell daughter Josiah & Hephzibal Dewey"
Birth:
baptism date
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