The FORD
line not unlike the other surnames of our family are of Scotch-Irish extraction which are Scots and Northumberlain Saxons who were re-located to the Ulster District of Northern Ireland; [Viking-Norsk] and Native American descent. One of the origins of the name is rooted in the sept names of the MacKinnane Clan. Current research indicates that the surname FORD was possibly - originaly pronounced and spelled variously as [FOARD, FORBES, FORDE, variants, with FORDEN being possibly the original spelling]. The surname FORD originated along the Scottish/English Border area, know as the "Ridings" of Northumberland. The ancestral Castle was Chillingham Castle. This area was invaded and occupied by Danish Vikings in about 979ad.
I have just recieved some interesting new information from a cousin in Northumberland, who indicates that the FORD surname was possibly originally spelled FORDEN and is in fact associated with Chillingham Castle. That the name originates in the Denmark [Norse - Norsk].
During the 19th century the Earl of Tankerville was the Liard of the Castle
Most of Scotch-Irish as they are known by here in North America or Ulster-Scots as there are known of in Ireland. Names have their origins in the early forced removal of Scots into the Ulster District of Ireland. There were several waves of early Celts who occupied Ireland, Scotland, Wales and lower Britannia [England] before the invasion of of the Normans in 1066 [Irish and Scots - are terms used by the Romans when refering to the Celts]. The term "Celt" did not come into popular usage until the 19th century.
[review theUlster-Scot [Celtic] pages for a historic timeline]
1st Generation
Descendents of George C. Ford [FORDE, FOARD, FORDEN]
George C. FORD
, born abt. 1770 in Mecklenburg Cty., North Carolina, died abt. 1840-50 Benton Cty., Arkansas and is buried in the Ford Cemetery [?] inside the Pea Ridge National Battlefield. He was married to Roda Winchester, born 1778, the Winchester's also came from Mecklenburg Cty., NC.
Notes for George C. Ford:
Born in NC about 1770, lived there until after 1811. "George FORD b.abt.1770 in NC, thought to be the brother of Henry FORD b.abt.1760-1770 in NC (Married to Mary MOORE). Both George and Henry FORD moved by 1820 to TN. George and 4 sons; Richard, William H., Henry and George Washington FORD moved to Benton Co. AR by 1835. Son's of Henry; Richard E. and George Tennessee FORD moved to IL then Benton Co, AR abt. 1845. William Logan FORD b. abt.1820 in Warren Co, TN, son of Richard FORD, married Lydia RUDDICK daughter of Capt. William E. RUDDICK b. 1785 in TN and Elizabeth WILSON. William RUDDICK built the Elkhorn Tavern at Pea Ridge, Benton Co.,AR, site of the famous Civil War Battle."
Enroute to Arkansas; spending several years in TN. Moved to Warren Co., TN., according to the census records. Warren Cty. TN, for 1820 and 1830, George and his brother Henry and their families are listed on the census.1820 Warren Co., TN census, p. 271 - Richard Ford and George Ford (listed next to one another).
About 1834, George and his 4 sons moved to Benton Co. AR. Since records for Benton Cty., AR indicate George and family are located at Pea Vine Ridge. George C. FORD: not unlike his neighbors of the period; though a farmer, there was little need to spend a whole lot of time farming with the abundance of game in the Ozark Mountains of northwestern Arkansas.
Looking at the birth locations of Richard [Ceorge's son] children, he arrived here in early abt. 1834.
There is some speculation that George's parent's was Henry Ford and Catherine [unk]. George and his brother Henry were born in Mecklenburg Cty., NC.
reference: Census: 1800-1810, Mecklenburg Cty., NC
Census: 1820-1830, Warren Cty., TN
Children of George C. Ford and [unk] Winchester are:
- Richard Ford, b: abt. 1797-8 in NC; died abt. 1853 in Benton Cty., AR
- William Ford, b: June 15, 1802 in Lenoir Cty., NC; died March 10, 1885 in Callao, Macon Cty., MO
- George W. Ford, b: abt. 1803 in NC
- Henry Ford, b: 1805 in NC; died abt. 1850
- George Washington Ford, b: abt. 1810 in NC
Henry Ford and George Ford who are brothers born in North Carolina, Henry abt. 1770 and George abt. 1775, I do not know who their parents are. Henry died in Cannon County, TN abt. 1845 he had 11 children as follows:
Children of Henry Ford and [unk] mother:
Margaret E. Ford, born 1801
Elizabeth M. Ford, born 1803
Markely S. ?
Richard E. 1806
George Tennessee 1808
Mary V. 1810
Minerva ?
Levicia ?
Lavina ?
Henry M. 1818
Nancy M. 1820
2nd Generation
Richard Ford, born abt. 1794 in Mecklenburg Cty., NC [?]., died abt. 1853 is buried in Benton Cty., AR. Married to Isabella LOGANborn abt. 1797 in SC., married abt. 1814 in Warren Cty., TN. Isabella died in Benton Cty. and is buried there, burial site not found at present.
Notes on Richard FORD a farmer by trade. Reference: Census: 1820-1830, Warren Cty., TN
Census: 1850, Sugar Crk. Twp., Benton Cty., AR
1850 Sugar Creek Twp., Benton Co., AR census, page 84B (near neighbors to Joseph FREEMAN). Richard was shown as head of household #532, 52 b. NC, farmer, Isabella 53 SC, George W. 21 TN, Jonas 20 TN, Evins S. 18 TN, Jackson 15 AR, Nancy 20 TN.
Additional notes: Estate recorded in Benton County, Arkansas April 15, 1867 for Richard Ford. It lists his heirs as: Rebecca Caroline [?], nee: Sawyer, Mary "Polly" Ruddick, nee: Ford, Nancy Jane Ford, nee: Marshall, Ivan Ford, George Winchester Ford, and is signed by John Henry Ford.
Strangly Jefferson Tilton Ford is not mentioned in the will nor the estate; he was Richards son and Mary "Polly" Ruddick's husband. He did not pass away until 1882 in Benton County???????. SpeculationI think my gg-grandfather divorced his wife, Mary "Polly" Ruddick [my gg-grandmother] and took up with Roberta Virginia Howett??? Thus it appears he was estranged from his father and his father-in-law Capt. William Ruddick.
I think this probable angered my ggg-grandfather Richard Ford and to insure the estate for his grandson; William Franklin Ford. He left a share of the estate to his daughter-in-law; Mary "Polly" Ruddick. The ironic part of the story is that after the death of Mary "Polly" Ruddick [Ford], and William Franklin Ford's relocation to the Indian Territory, Robert Virginia Howett is living with him and his family in the Indian Territory, until her death.
Children of Richard Ford and Isabella Logan are:
#9 - William Logan Ford, b: abt. 1815 in Mecklenburg Cty., NC; died April 7, 1859 in Benton Cty., AR.
#10 - Daughter One Ford, b: 1815-1820 in TN.
#11 - Jefferson Tilton Ford, b: November 1, 1818 in NC or TN; died May 1, 1882 in Benton Cty., AR.
#12 - Rebecca Caroline [Ford] [?], b: 1821-1829 in TN., Married to Robert Sawyer
#13 - George Washington Ford, B: 1821-1829 in Warren Cty., TN.
#14 - Jonas Ford, b: abt. 1831 in Warren Cty., TN.
#15 - Nancy Jane Ford, b: abt. 1831 in Warren Cty., TN., Married to a Marshall
#16 - Irvin S. Ford, b: March 22, 1833 in Warren Cty., TN.
#17 - John Henry Ford, b: June 27, 1835 in Benton Cty., AR; died January 6, 1897 in Benton Cty., AR.
3rd Generation
Jefferson Tilton FORD, born Nov 1, 1818 in NC. or TN., died May 1, 1882 in Benton Cty., AR.
Spouse #1:Mary "Polly" RUDDICK, died 1869
Married: December 23, 1848, in Benton Cty., AR.
Parents:
Father:Capt. William RUDDICK
Mother:Elizabeth WILSON
Spouse #2:Roberta Virginia HOWETT
Married: aft. 1870
Notes on Jefferson Tilton FORD:Land records dated: November 15, 154, Cash Entry Doc#5988; Twp. 20-41.2 acres, Doc.#6006 Twp. 21-40 acres
Notes on Mary Polly RUDDICK:buried Ruddick Cemetary, Garfield, AR.
Notes on Roberta Virginia HOWETT: buried in Kemp Cemetary, Bryon Cty., OK.[see notes on William Franklin Ford]
Henry Ford was born abt. 1805 in North Carolina, and died abt. 1850. He married Nancy Sawyer abt. 1825.
Children of Henry Ford and Nancy Sawyer:
1. William C. Ford
2. Elmira Catherine Ford
3. Hannah S. Ford
4. Robert Sawyer Ford
5. Elizabeth J. Ford
6. Rebecca Elon Ford
7. Mary Ann Ford
8. Nancy Abigale Ford
George Washington Ford was born abt. 1810 in North Carolina. He married Annie abt. 1831 in Cannon Co., Tennessee.
Children of George Washington Ford and Annie:
1. Thomas Ford
2. Polly Ford
3. Sarah Ford
4. Hannah Ford
5. Rosan Ford
6. George W. Ford
7. Margaret Ford
Children of Jefferson T. FORD and Mary RUDDICK:
William Franklin [Francis] FORD, born January 6, 1849 in Benton Cty., AR., died April 2, 1920 in Achille, OK.
Notes on William F. Ford: It is apparent that William's step-mother Roberta Virginia Howett relocated from Benton Cty., AR to the Indian Territory and resided with William until her death. She is buried in the Old Kemp Cemetery in Bryan Cty.
Spouse #1: Martha C. GENTRY
Married: November 9, 1876 in Pink Hill, Grayson Cty., TX.
Children of William Franklin Ford and Martha C. Gentry:
Willie Alma Fordborn [unk], died Aug 9, 1899 in Grayson Cty., TX. Married to Will Turner, Nov 3, 1896. Will died in 1940 and is buried in the Tupelo, OK. Cemetery. They had two boys; Luther and Norvil Turner.
Spouse #2: Emily Elizabeth HOGAN
Married: March 19, 1882 in Pink Hill, Grayson Cty., TX.
Children of William Franklin Ford and Emily Elizabeth Hogan:
Sarah Loucretia Ford, borb Jan 1, 1882, Pink Hill, TX., died [unk] buried Gould, OK., Married to John Cole, Dec 24, 1902
Lillie Augustis Ford, born Oct 18, 1884 at Pink Hill, TX., died Jan 21, 1885 [infant death]
James [Jim] Jefferson Ford, born Oct 30, 1887 at Panolia Cty., Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory, died Nov 21, 1906 - [never married]
Arthur Carter Ford, born Dec 12, 1890 Panolia Cty., Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory, died Aug 29, 1969 at Fort Worth, TC. Married to Neoma Alice Jordan, Dec 12, 1923, Neoma died Aug 29, 1969 at Fort Worth, TX.
Pictured on the left rear is Agness Anna Mae Ford. To her left is her cousin, Loren(COLE)WESTON, (Choctaw roll#7381), and seated are cousins; left-Eual COLE, and right-Arthur Neil COLE.
Agness Anna Mae Ford, Sept 30, 1895 in Bryan Cty., Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory, died Nov 9, 1926 in Wellington, Collinsworth Cty., TX. Married to James Monroe Swaffar/Swafford, born May 27, 1875 in White Cty., AR, died May 1943 buried Birds Prarie Cemetery, South of Tupelo, OK., They were married Jul 11, 1918.
Children of Agness Anna Mae Ford and James Monroe Swaffar:
Willaim Larkin Swaffar/Swafford, born Jul 12, 1919 in Hendrix, OK.
My mother, age 20 and myself age 3 months
Emma Neoma Swaffar/Swafford,living
married to [#1\} Prentis Melvin Robins, born Aug 23, 1908 in Center, OK., died Oct 1, 1970 in Altus, OK.
Children of Emma Neoma Swaffar and Prentis Melvin Robins:
#1: Jimmie Lee Robins, Living Robins
Spouse: #1: Marry Louise Bridgewater [Robins], born Feb 3, 1942 in Rockford, ILL. died Oct 12, 2006 in Ponca City, OK.
#2: Bobbie Janelle Robins, died while living with her daughter in Idaho, 2002
#3: Billy Dean Robins, Living Robins
#4: Charlotte Gayle Robins, Living Robins
#5: Sharon Janette Robins, Living Robins
#6: Pete Wesley Robins, died in Modesto, CA 2005
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#1: Jimmie Lee Robins
Children of Jimmie Lee Robins and Marry Louise Bridgewater [Robins]
#1: Living - daughter
Note: Daughter has two male children, living.
Jim's Spouse: #2: Nancy Elizabeth Clark [Robins].
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#2: Bobbie Janelle Robins
born 1942 in Ada, OK, died 2002 in Idaho
#1: Living Britt - son
#2: Living Britt - daughter
#3: Tammie Britt - killed in car wreck
#4: Living Britt - daughter
#5: Living Britt - daughter
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Children of Billy Dean Robins and Wynn Sweargin
#1: Living Robins - son
#2: Living Robins - daughter
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Children of Charlotte Gayle Robins and [?]
#1: Living - son
Children of Charlotte Gayle Robins and [?]
#1: Living son
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Children of Sharon Jenatte Robins and [?]
#1: Living - daughter
#2: Living - daughter
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Children of Pete Wesley Robins and [?]
#1: Living - female
Children of Pete Wesley RObins and [?]
#1: Living - son
#2: Living - daughter
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Children of Emma Neoma and Kenneth Parnell:
Sandra Parnell [infant death-died at birth], buried Greenlawn Cemetery, Bakersfield, CA.
[#3] Grady Merckborn 1902, died 2002 at Modesto, CA. [just short of 100 years old]
NOTICE: This site is under construction, please keep watch, as I will be adding additional information."
#3: Billy Dean Robins
#4: Charlotte Gayle Robins
#5: Sharon Janette Robins
#6: Pete Wesley Robins
[#2] Kenneth Parnell