Ford Family

I realize this is an enormous undertaking, that the Ford family of the Washington Township area is one of the most prolific and an inordinately common name, but I will do my best here to try and make sense of it all. If you have an addition or correction, please send it to me via e-mail

Now onto the history:

As far as I know, most of the Fords in this area descend from one Thomas Ford, born somewhere in New Jersey about 1764., or his brother, Stephen. Thomas is supposedly buried in the cemetery at Pleasant Mills, but I have been told that his headstone vanished long ago so this cannot be ascertained. Oral family history written down by Helen Leek Mack, testimony from those who claim to have seen said stone before it was broken, is the only evidence.

Thomas Ford was living in Galloway Township, Gloucester Co., by 2 Jun 1835 when he signed an affidavit for his brother, Stephen's Pension Application. (Rev War Pension Records M804, Reel 1001, Case #R3661). Also signing that affidavit were one Simon Lucas, of Galloway Twp, and Jesse Evans, of Washington Township.

Some researchers have speculated that the John Ford buried at Lower Bank was also his brother, but this remains unproven. That John lived from 1770-1845.

The descendants of Stephen will be featured on another page that I am still working on.

Thomas married a woman by name of Mary Drummond, who was born in 176. She died on 24 Dec 1841 and was buried in the cemetery at Pleasant Mills.

These are the children of Thomas Ford and Mary Drummond:

  1. Thomas Ford, who married Nancy Cramer. It seems this may be the same woman who also married his brother, Benjamin. I am not sure, however, who was the first husband.
  2. Martha Ford. She married Sebastian Crowley, and died on 16 April 1881.
  3. John Ford, born 4 July 1798 in Greenbank. He also died there, on 19 Nov 1885. His wife was Mary Margaret Magee, also born and died in Greenbank. She lived from about 1800 to ca. 1860. Their children were:
  4. Charles Ford. He was born about 1785, and was married to a woman named Sophia Dayton who was born about 1790. They were the parents of:
  5. Tabitha Ford (27 Oct 1789-26 Jan 1867. She was married to Samuel Crowley, the son of Samuel Crowley and Mary Woos. It may be this man, or possibly the son he sired with Tabitha, Samuel, that operated the glass works at Crowleytown and Bulltown, although the exact identity of that Samuel is elusive. Tabitha and Samuel had the following children together:
  6. Benjamin Ford (1796-1861), who married Nancy Cramer and had:
  7. Robert Ford, born about 1800. He married Susanna Stoover in 1821, and they had the following children together:

I have only begun to scratch the surface here of the complex genealogy of the Ford family, and I will update this page whenever I have a chance. Obviously it will not all fit here and as it grows links to the other pages will be added.

This page was last updated on February 3rd, 2001