William (alias Symes) FORD

                   "The William Ford of Melpashe, Netherbury, Dorset, below [omitted here[,
whodied about 1593/4 was undoubtably [sic] the husband of Agnes Ford
alias Symes of the same place, who left a will probated 11 Jan. 1616/7.
.....  William(1593) names [in his will] children: Thomas, Nicholas,
Roger and William (under 21).  The ... will of Agnes Ford alias Symes of
Netherbury suggests she was the widow of William Ford above.  Widow Agnes
Ford alias Symes of Netherbury, her will probated 11 Jan. 1616/17 also
names sons, Nicholas, Roger and william. She names her deceased son,
Thomas (probably d. 1611, his will proved,8 May 1611).  But she also
names a son John Ford, who she leaves only 20 shillings, while she leaves
her other sons from 20 to 40 pounds. Could John havebeen a "blacksheep"
of the family, ignored by his father and shunned by his mother?  (P)
Although there are still some missing pieces to the puzzle in solving the
ancestry of Thomas Ford of Windsor, CT. tje following *provisional*
ancestry is proposed: William Ford alias Syms m. Agnes -----, a. 1567. He
died in late 1593 and she in late 1616.  His will proved 1594 above. Her
willproved 1616/17.  (P) Children.  a. John Ford -- See below [under his
name]. b. Thomas Ford -- His will, 20 Jan. 1610/11, names brother, John
and his son,Thomas.  He was named as "deceased" in his mother's will in
1616.  c. Nicholas Ford -- Alive in 1617.  d. Roger Ford -- Alive in
1617.  e. William Ford --Alive in 1617.  f. Joan Ford -- Alive in 1594."
--- Burton W Spear, * ... Mary & John 1630 ... *, v 18, 1992, p 51-52.
Earlier, on p 48, Spear says:  "Thomas Ford of Windsor, Ct. probably left
as many, if not more descendants thanany *man* who ever came to New
England from England.  One person who left more descendants was his
second wife, Elizabeth Chard, because she had a son, Aaron Cook, by her
first marriage who had seven children and at least 37 grandchildren.
However, the parents and ancestry of Thomas Ford have eluded searchers
for many years.  (P) The first record found of Thomas Ford was his
marriage to Joan Way on 13 Dec. 1610 in Powerstock, Dorset, but he
probably camefrom some other town.  This village is about 4 miles NE of
Bridport where Thomas lived a few years later.  Powerstock appears to
have been the ancestral home of the Ford family of southwest Dorset from
the beginning of the 16th century. This family used the alias Symes from
the earliest times. Assuming thiswas his first marriage he was born a.
1582.  The only Thomas Forde [sic] baptism found near this date was a son
of Nicholas Ford, baptized 6 Jan. 1689 (Ref: Salt Lake City, 942.33/Pe
V26P).  There was a Nicholas Ford baptized at Powerstock on 15 July `570
and another on 11 Feb. 1571, but no parents were noted.  There was a
Nycholas Ford who m. Helyan Long 14 Oct. 1588 in Symondsbury, Dorset (1
mi. NW of Bridport). (P) One of the best articles on the searchfor this
ancestry of Thomas Ford was written by Donald L. Jacobus in TAG 16:41-43,
July 1939.  ..... [summary of Jacobus article omitted here] ..... "
Spears also gives wills of other FORDs who might have been related to,
even the father of, Thomas FORD, the emigrant.