Andrew Ford II (abt. 1651 - 1725)

Born about 1651 in Weymouth, Norfolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Ancestors

Husband of Abiah (Pierce) Ford — married about 1679 in Hingham, Plymouth, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Descendants

Died 24 Aug 1725 at about age 74 in Abington, Plymouth, Province of Massachusetts Bay

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Biography

Original Biography

Andrew Ford jr.

(II) Andrew (2), son of Andrew (1) Ford, was born about 1650 and died August 24,1725. He was an original settler of the town of Abington, occupying the land inherited from his father, going there in 1680. His farm was near that of Joseph Cleverly, and it is said that he was obliged at one time to go away on account of Indian attacks. He was one of the chief proprietors of the first meeting house in Abington. His will was dated April 8, 1725, and proved October 29, 1725. It mentions his children, and grandchildren Ruth, Jacob, son of Andrew, and Andrew, son of Thankful. His son Andrew was made executor. He married Abiah Whitman or Whitmarsh. Children: 1. Andrew, born 1682, mentioned below. 2. Hezekiah, April 28, 1687, married Mercy Whitmarsh. 3. Sarah, died 1734; married Joseph Joslin. 4. Thankful, married Hersey. 5. Lydia, married Richard Whitmarsh. 6. Abiah.

There is no record of Andrew's exact birth date or of his age at death; it is certain, however, that Andrew 1 had at least two sons by 3 April 1651, the date of Robert Lovell's will, in which Robert mentioned his son-in-law's "eldest son" and "youngest son".

Andrew married about 1679/80 Abiah [? Pierce], born about 1654, died between 22 March 1721, the date of Andrew's letter quoted below, and 8 April 1725, the date of his will which does not mention her. Abiah's identity has long puzzled researchers. Mrs. Barclay eliminated many possible Abiahs from surrounding towns and concluded, after reading deeds and court records of the Ford family, their associates and relatives, that she was probably Abia Pierce, daughter of Capt. Michael Pierce of Hingham and Scituate and his first wife Persis Eames. In the families associated with the Fords the only "Abia" was in the Pierce family. There is no proof of what became of Abia Pierce, who was living at the time of her father's will, 15 Jan. 1675, and was of the right age to have been the wife of Andrew Ford. She is mentioned twice in the Plymouth records, first in the will of a neighbor, Esther Woodfield, 27 May 1672, secondly in her father's will when she was still unmarried. Andrew 2 Ford's daughter Abia, who married James Bearse, named a son Miall, possibly after her grandfather, Capt. Michael Pierce.

p.12 Andrew lived in Weymouth until he was almost thirty. Suffolk County deeds show that he bought property there 16 Feb. 1673/4 and 10 Feb. 1676/7 from Richard Phillips and his wife Mary (vol. 9, p.12-13; vol. 10, p.150-151).

There is no military service in Massachusetts for him, but Andrew "Foard" is mentioned in an account of sundry payments made in 1673- 1674, for the building of "the Castle," a fortification on Castle Island in Boston Harbor (Secretary of State, Boston and Mrs. Colin Campbell, Historical Society of Old Abington).

Andrew took the oath of allegiance to Charles II with his father and brothers in Weymouth in 1678. Two other Suffolk County records concern him: the will of his father and the estate records of his first cousin, James 3 Lovell. Andrew 1 Ford, 25 Feb. 1692/3, bequeathed his son 12 pence, which he judged sufficient with what he had already given him. The inventory of James 3 Lovell's estate, 1717/18 mentioned land held in partnership with his "brother " Andrew Ford (Suffolk County Probate Record, vol. 20, p.455, given in History of Weymouth, vol. 3, p.394). James 3 was the son of James, brother of Ellinor, Andrew's mother; therefore, Andrew's first cousin; "brother" may indicate a close friendship or some connection unknown to this historian......[me, add rest later]

Andrew was named the heir of his brother Ebenezer and grantor of 16 acres of land in Woodbridge in 1702.

Correspondence

An important family letter, written by Andrew Ford to his nephew John Ford of Hanover, N. J., has been preserved and published in The History of Weymouth, vol.3, p.227:

"Dear Kindsman: I am glad to hear of ye welfare of which I have been apprized by Mr. Dean. I should be glad to see you but I despair of it in this life considering my age and the distance of place of our habitations. I and my wife are well (excepting the infirmities of old age). My children also are well. My son Hez. is lately married unto his second wife (viz) unto Sarah Magoone our kindswoman and they are well and give their service unto yrself and yrs and returne you many thanks for yr kindness unto their brother James Magoone who deceased with you or att ye Least att ye house and they desire yt you would send his pocket book unto ym by Doctor Dean the bearer herof if it is with you for it may be of service to his administrators. Your kindsman Thomas Magoone is living and he is all of yt family excepting my sons wife and my sister Magoone. You have but three uncles living, viz, myself, my brothers Nathaniel and Israel Forde (both of Weymouth). I and my wife present our tender love and service unto you and yrs. I earnestly desire yt you would write me by the bearer hereof. I am yr Affectionate uncle, Andrew Forde Abington Mar. 22nd 1721."

[This letter is important to the origin of the Fords of New Jersey]

Andrew 2 Ford shared his father's ability for acquiring and managing real estate. He also possessed the pioneers' courage and aggressiveness and showed qualities of leadership in his family, his community and his church.

Will

Andrew Ford's will was made 8 April 1725 and probated 29 Oct. 1725^[1] (Plymouth County Probate, vol. 5, p.115, 117, 258, 259):

In ye name of God amen, I, Andrew Ford Senr of Abington in ye County of Plymouth in New England being sensible of ye mortality of my body and being of perfect mind and memory, .................... ................. I do also desire my well-beloved friend Deacon Samuel French to be ye overseer of this my last will and testament. In witness wherof I have hereunto set my hand and seal on this eight day of April anno domini 1725 and in ye 11th year of Reign of our Sovereign Lord George King of England. Witnesses: Samuel Brown, John Noyes, Samuel Noyes. Probated 29 Oct. 1725.

Inventory, 3 Sept 1725: The moveables appraisal of lands by Samuel French, Nicholas Shaw, and Ebenezer Bate, 2 March 1727 included "a servant's time" valued at £10.^[2]

Children

Children, probably born at Ford's Farms, but not recorded (except Hezekiah); there are no Ford vital records in Abington, Plymouth, MA until about 1724. These children are:

i. Andrew 3, b. about 1682.

ii. Sarah, b. about 1684; d. 3 Dec. 1734.........

iii. Hezekiah, b. 28 April 1687.

iv. Thankful, b. about 1689; d. after 1754..........

v. Lydia, b. about 1693-5.....

vi. Abiah, b. about 1697/8................

Death

Andrew Ford died in Abington, Plymouth, MA 24 Aug. 1725 at the age of 75. ^[3][4]

Andrew Ford, Abiah Pierce Ford and their children - Detailed Information below to complement the Original Biography

Researchers interested in reading comprehensive details about this Andrew Ford, (briefly identified as ID 3 iii on Page 8 under his father's name - see attached Image 1) his wife Abiah and their children are referred to the book The Descendants of Andrew Ford of Weymouth Massachusetts starting on Page 11 and finishing on Page 16. Detailed information about their children can be found on Pages 15 and 16 and on attached Images 2 and 3. Andrew's children, males, who have a bold number 7 or 8 at the start of their name will have their own profile located on higher number pages in the book. The online version of Volume 1 of the book is found here: THE DESCENDANTS OF ANDREW FORD OF WEYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS PART 1 THE FIRST SIX GENERATIONS Compiled by ELIZABETH COBB STEWART Capital City Press Montpelier, Vermont 1968 https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/601183-the-descendants-of-andrew-ford-of-weymouth-massachusetts-pt-1

Note:

1. ELIZABETH COBB STEWART refers to this Andrew as ID 3 or as Andrew ² throughout later sections of her book.
2. ELIZABETH COBB STEWART refers to Andrew ²'s son as Andrew ID 7 or Andrew ³ in later sections of the book.

Sources

1. ↑ "Massachusetts, Plymouth County, Probate Records, 1633-1967," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L97D-FHQ2 : 20 May 2014), Probate records 1724-1731 and 1838-1842 vol 5-5T > image 87-88 of 596; State Archives, Boston.
2. ↑ "Massachusetts, Plymouth County, Probate Records, 1633-1967," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-997D-F4ZD : 20 May 2014), Probate records 1724-1731 and 1838-1842 vol 5-5T > image 165 of 596; State Archives, Boston.
3. ↑ Vital records of Abington, Massachusetts, to the year 1850. New England Historic Genealogical Society. Publication date 1912. Vol. 2. P. 277.[1]
4. ↑ http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=63361296

• Genealogical & Personal Memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts; editor: William Richard Cutter A.M.; 1910 Lewis Historical Publishing Company

• Descendants of Andrew Ford of Weymouth, Ma. - PART I: Elizabeth Cobb Stewart Publication: Capital City Press, Montpelier, VT, 1968; Page: Page 109