A. THOMAS FORD - D. 28 Nov. 1676, Northampton, Massachusetts, m. 1) 13 Dec. 1610, Powerstock, Dorset, England, Joan Way, bur. 10 May 1615, dau. of Stephen Way and Ursula Gill. 2) 19 Jun. 1616, Bridport, Dorset, England, ELIZABETH CHARD COOKE, d. 18 Apr. 1643, Windsor, Connecticut. widow of Aaron Cooke. 3) 7 Nov. 1644, Hartford, Connecticut, Ann Scott, widow of Thomas Scott.

 In 1623 Thomas Ford and his family were living in Dorchester, Dorset, England and were members of Holy Trinity Church, whose rector was Rev. John White. John White has been called the "Founder of Massachusetts"

 Rev. John White wrote to Gov. John Endicott, 'to appoint places of habitation for sixty families out of Dorsetshire which were to arrive the following spring." A meeting was held on 15 Oct. 1629, "at the Deputyes House". Twenty five members of the council which financed the planters were there and "MR. FORDE, wth divers others of the genalitie."

 This meeting was arranged so that the finance company would benefit for seven years by the shipping of furs. The government of the colony was to be placed into the hands of Gov. John Winthrop. In New England.

 Thomas Ford and his family came on the MARY AND JOHN, 1630. The passage costs were 5 pounds per adult, 10 pounds per horse, 3 pounds per ton of freight.

 Thomas requested admission as a freeman 19 Oct. 1630 and took the oath 18 May 1631 in Dorchester, Massachusetts. To become a freeman at that time you had to be a member of the Church.

 3 Apr. 1633 - "It is agreed that a doble rayle with morteses in the posts, of 10 foote distance one from the other, shall be set up on the marish.....by the owners of the Cowes vnder named, p'portionally. 20 foote to everye cowe." Thomas Forde owed two cows.

 The last record of Thomas Ford in Dorchester, Massachusetts was 5 Jul. 1636.

 1637 - Thomas was one of four men who purchased a large tract from Sachem Tehano, which now includes Windsor Locks, the northern third of Windsor and the southern part of Suffield.

 1637 - Granted fifty acres - Simsbury, Connecticut.

 Feb. 1639/40 - George Hull, "moved the court in behalf of Thomas Ford of Windsor, that in regard the workmen are much taken up and emplyed in making a bridge and meetinghouse with them, and his work hindered of impaling in the ground which was granted him by the court for a hog-park, that there may be granted him a year longer time for the fencing it in; which was upon the reasons aforesaid, condescended to."

 1644 - Thomas removed to Hartford, Connecticut. He ran an "Ordinary", as an accomodation for strangers passing through. It was located in the Scott house located on the southwest corner of State and Front Streets.

 Diary of John Winthrop, Jr. - "reached the Inn of Thomas Ford at Hartford", 17 Nov. 1645. The Inn was sold to Thomas Cadwell in 1652.

 1656 - Thomsa bought the homelot of William Hosford.

1658/59 - Thomas bought th Arthur Williams house and lot.

 1667 Thomas helped settle the estate of Nicholas Denslow.

1669 - Thomas helped settle the estate of Elizabeth Denslow's.

1670 Apr. - Thomas Inventoried the estate of Rev. John Warham.

 Thomas removed to Northampton, Massachusetts bef. 1672 where he spent the rest of his life.

 Children # 1, Joan Way, #2-6 Elizabeth Chard Cooke

A. AARON COOKE - Bur. 28 Dec. 1615, Bridport, Dorset, England. M. 2 Sept. 1610, Thornecome, Devon, England, Elizabeth Chard .

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