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Note: Abner Ford, along with Abner Ford, Jr. are found in the 1790 U.S. Federal
Census of Balltown Township, Lincoln Co., ME. Their names are listed
consecutive and it is presumed they are father and son.
In the 1800 U.S. Federal Census of Balltown Township, Lincoln Co., ME
they are again listed consecutive. The listing for Abner Ford shows one
male over 45 and one female over 45. This would be Abner and most like
his wife Bethiah. This would indicate they were both still alive when
the 1800 census was taken. The listing for Abner Ford, Jr. shows one
male 26-44 (Abner), one female 26-44 (his second wife Susan), one male
10-15 (William), 2 males under 10 (Nathan and Abner), 2 females under 10
(Bethia and Susan Ann). The gender and ages of these family members
absolutely fit that of the Abner Ford and Susan [Fowls] family as
described by Milo Miller in his book "A History and Genealogy of the Jo
Ellis Family 1797-1935."
The 1810 U.S. Federal Census of Jefferson (formerly Balltown) Township,
Lincoln Co., ME only lists one Abner Ford. This is consistant with the
elder Abner Ford's death occuring between the taking of the 1800 and 18
censuses. The listing for Abner Ford shows one male 26-44 (Abner), one
female 45 or over (his wife Susan), 3 males 16-25 (William, Nathan,
Abner), 1 male 10-15 (Enoch), 2 males under 10 (Elijah and Unknown), 1
female 16-25 (Bethia), 3 females 16-25 (Susan Ann, Silence, and Asenath
and 2 females under 10 (Eliza and Hannah). With the exception of the
unknown male under 10 this again completely fits the gender and ages
shown in Miller's book. Also notice the names Abner and Bethiah giv
the oldest male and female children are the same as their paternal
grandparents first names -- Abner and Bethiah Samson Ford.
In Miller's book on page 114 a letter from Sewall Ford refers to his
great grandfather "Abner Ford who moved from Jefferson (which was
formerly a part of Balltown) to Mayfield, ME" The entire letter follows:
LETTER OF SEWALL FORD, AUTHOR AND MAGAZINE CONTRIBUTOR
A number of years ago Mrs. Bertram G. Smith, a relative, wrote Sewall
Ford making inquiry about the Ford ancestry. He referred her letter to
his father for a reply but the old gentleman didn't get around to it, so
Sewall Ford answered it himself in the following words:
Spofford, N. H., July 15, 1920
Dear Mrs. Smith:
I am sorry your letter has remained so long unanswered, but as I have no
head for family history, I sent it on to my father, asking him to reply
but he didn't get around to it. He is now 77 and not much of a letter
writer. I was up to see him yesterday however and found that he cou
no further back than his grandfather, Abner Ford, who moved from
Jefferson to Mayfield, Me. He had eight children, and one of them w
grandfather, Enoch Ford, who also had eight children.
I have been told that Abner Ford was a descendant of the "Widow Ford and
her two sons," who are mentioned on the Pilgrim monument at Plymouth as
having come in the ship "Fortune," next to arrive after the Mayflower,
but I have never seen the genealogy traced out. Possibly someone in
Jefferson, Me. could give you the missing data.
Sincerely yours,
Sewall Ford
NB.-This Sewall Ford, born Mar. 7, 1868, at South Levant, Me., is a
descendant of Enoch Ford, son of Abner Ford, above mentioned. His wint
home is in Clearwater, Florida. He is quite a noted short story writer,
and has been a voluminous contributor to the magazines since 1903,
writing Shorty and Torchy stories and many others.
Sewall Ford was graduated from Haverhill Mass. High School in 1887,
married Lillian M. Sylvester, of Haverhill, Mass. Dec. 11, 1889. He is
the son of John F. and Susan (Morrill) Ford, and John F. Ford was Enoch
son.
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