Thomas Ford and Elizabeth Charde

Emigrant Ancestors

Thomas Ford was born in Powerstock, Dorset, England about 1589. It is very probable he was the son of John Ford III and Joan Beck who were married on February 3, 1583 in the small town of Piddlehinton, Dorset, England. His uncle, Thomas Ford, a merchant of Dorchester mentioned "Thomas, son of my brother John Ford"

Thomas married his first wife in Powerstock. She was Joan Waye. They married on December 13, 1610. Joan died a short time later on May 10, 1615. She is buried in Powerstock.

Thomas moved on to Bridport, Dorset, a larger town on the English coast, with a tiny harbor. Bridport is noted for the manufacture of rope, twines and nets. A Bridport "Dagger" is a hangman's noose! Perhaps Thomas took up the trade of ropemaker. While in Bridport, he married a young widow, Elizabeth Charde Cooke, who was the widow of Aaron who died on December 28, 1615 in Bridport. Elizabeth had a young five year old son, Aaron.

Fifteen years later, Thomas and his family joined several others leaving for New England. They sailed from Plymouth, England on March 30, 1630. Two months later, on May 20, 1630 the Mary and John entered Boston Harbor. Thomas, Elizabeth, their four daughters, Joanna, Abigail, Hepzibah and Hannah and young Aaron were ready to begin a new life.

Thomas applied for freeman status on October 19, 1630, and was admitted on May 18, 1631. He was chosen a selectman of Dorchester on October 8, 1633 and on June 27, 1636. He served on a committee to collect rate for a fort on January 6, 1633/4. In 1635, he was the town fenceviewer and was asked to help lay out land for the fort.

Thomas was ordered to build a fence forty feet long to pen in his two cows in 1633, and in 1635, he was granted two acres of land and six acres of fresh marsh. He was granted six more acres of marsh land on June 27, 1636.

Aaron Cooke had was living in Connecticut in 1636. The following year, 1637, the Ford family relocated to Windsor, Connecticut. Thomas was included as one of the original founders of the town. Elizabeth died on April 18, 1643 in Windsor, CT.

On November 7, 1644, Thomas married the widow of Thomas Scott in Hartford, Ct. She was Ann Scott.

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 the Constable at Windsor, Ct.

During the next few years, he purchased a great deal of land north of Windsor, Ct. from the Indians. He named a portion of it Simsbury. He later transferred the title to his stepson, Captain Aaron Cooke, who built a home there. It was named after the English town of Symondsbury, Dorset.

Thomas again served his new community in several positions. He was Deputy to the General Court from Windsor. He attended meetings on March 8, 1637, April 5, 1638, April 11, 1639, April 9, 1640 . On April 9, 1641, he was marked "absent". He attended again in April of 1644 and May 18, 1654.

He also was on the livestock committee on February 8, 1640.

His name appears on the town records many times. Land was "granted, 50 acres at Masscoe, whereof four & forty hath been improved by him by plowing & mowing," September 8, 1653. Later, some of his land was forfeited to the county by mortgage. They granted him the sum of thirty pound on October 16, 1663. He sold land in Podunck to Joseph Fitche.

The Fords moved to Northhampton, MA in 1672.

Thomas died at the age of 87 in Northhampton on November 28, 1676. His wife Ann, died previously on May 5,1675 in the same town.

His inventory included no land holdings, and his estate was valued at £195.17s.9p.

INNS AND INN KEEPERS.

1638

Forasmuch as greate inconveniences have beene occationed by young men and other

labourers that have dyeted in Inns and Ale houses especially who have had other houses to

repaire unto in the same Towne, It is therefore enacted by the Court, That none shall dyett in

Inns or Alehouses, nor haunt them which are in the Townes they live in, nor make them the

ordinary place of their abode. 1663.

It is enacted by the Court and the authority thereof, that noe ordinary keeper in any towne in

this Govrment shall permit any single persons either children or servants, under the

Govrment of parents or masters, or any that are not housekeepers, to buy any strong

liquors or wine in theire houses or where they have to doe without libertie from their parents

or masters, upon the penaltie of paying a fine of five shillings for every default.

It is enacted by the Court and the authoritie thereof, that all ordinary keepers or retaylers of

strong waters doe pay an exise of six pence a gallon for all such liquors as are made in the

Collonie and drawn forth and retailed by them, and twelve pence a gallon for all such as they

bring in or have brought in unto them from other p'tes, and eight pence a gallon for all wine

that shalbe brought in and retailled as aforsaid, and that those that are appointed in each

towne to look after the law concerning excessive bringing liquors into the Govrment, shall

also take up the excise and to have two pence a gallon for all liquors distilled in the

Govrment, and four pence a gallon for all such as shalbee brought into the Govrment,

and two pence a gallon for all wine that is brought in and retailled as aforesaid, and that

all such retaillers or ordinary keepers shall make payment of the said Excise unto those

that are appointed to receive it; att the same time that they bring in such wine or liquors,

or that it is brought in unto them, or give a bill under theire hand for the payment therof in

some short time after upon the penaltie of paying a fine of five pounds for any that shalbee

brought in and not excised or securitie given for the payment thereof as aforesaid.

1671, June.

For the prevention of great abuse by the excessive drinking of Liquors in ordinaries;

This Court doth order that every ordinary keeper in this Govrment shall be heerby impowered

and required,

That in case any p'son or p'sons doe not attend order but carry themselves uncivilly by being importunately desirous of drink when denyed, and doe not leave the house when required,

such ordinary keeper shall returne theire names to the next Court; that soe they may be

prosecuted according to the nature of the offence; and in case any ordinary keepers shall

neglect soe to doe he shalbee fined five shillings for every default.

1674, June 4th.

It is enacted by the Court, That as to the restraining of abuses in ordinaries.

That noe ordinary keeper shall sell or give any kind of drinks to Inhabitants of the Towne

upon

the Lord's day, and alsoe that all ordinary keepers be required to cleare theire houses

of all

Towne dwellers and strangers that are there on a drinking accoumpt, except such as

lodge

in the house, by the shutting in of the day light upon the forfeture of five shillings, the one

halfe

to the Informer and the other halfe to the Townes use.

1682, June 7th.

It is enacted by the Court and the authoritie therof, that none shalbe allowed to keepe an

Ordinary or publicke house of entertainment, but such as first be approved soe to doe

by the

Townes wherein they live.

It is enacted that in every place wher week day lectures are kept all victuallers and ordinary

keepers shall cleare theire houses of all p'sons able to goe to meeting during the time

of the

exercise, except in extreordinary cases for the necesary relieffe of strangers unexpected

repairing to them, on penalty of five shillings for every such offence.

And that whosever is Licensed to keep such publick house of Entertainment shall be

well

provided of Bedding to entertaine Strangers and Travellers, and shall also have convenient

Pasturing for Horses, and Hay and Provender for their entertainment in the Winter, and

shall

not be without good Beer, and if any Ordinary keeper do frequently fail in any or all of

these

upon complaint he shall lose his License.