When all is said and done.... a work in progress

 cont...

The George and Alice Ford story  part 12

 

Revisiting the coastguard at Ball hill

This story began when the Fords of Eastwood, New South Wales sought to unravel the mystery of their grandfather, Sid Ford’s upbringing. It was always assumed that as he was called Paddy and had a kind of Irish accent that he was of Irish descent.  But snippets of information, newspaper articles  and mementos sent by family to Sid over the years brought us to Newhaven. Alice’s remarriage to William Mockford and the report of mourners at his funeral listed  Sid’s siblings. There were a lot of them. George’s Navy records gave a date and place of birth and sketchy details of his brother.   Further details on the marriage certificate came next and a barrage of navy records for the boys and some details of the sisters from a 70s letter started to fill in the pieces.  Soon I made contact with Beatrice’s relatives via Genes Reunited a  Edith’s grandsons via Ancestry and the flood gates opened. Online trees have expanded the search, Cecil’s family was found, William’s grandson sent me information, Joseph’s daughter was discovered in Canada and years later Archibald’s extended family was found. (I’d decided he was unmarried and lost at sea!)

Further still DNA has backed up the whole story. More recently grandchildren and great grandchildren of the siblings have confirmed the roots back to George and Alice’s family. What’s more the documentation and Ancestry contact and recent DNA testing has allowed cousins to find each other and meet up across the oceans.

When I first discovered George Ford and his family I couldn’t help but be drawn to the fact that sea water seemed to be running through their veins. In fact as I researched further it has continued for generations.  Rather late in the piece we found the mystery behind George’s upbringing and parentage. He actually originated from the land in East Meon, Hampshire and yes he began his life born a Wilks not a Ford.  Funnily Alice, his wife later married a Mockford but she probably had already married a “mock” Ford!!

Alice’s family and parentage is another story still evolving. She’s from a maritime background too, a true hero who outlived two husbands (one by 50 years). She lived to a great age. Her story has been able to be updated due to Archibald’s daughters and details revealed in the 1939 census.

George’s early life seems to have made its mark on the genes- the love of the veggie garden/ plot/ allotment was strong and competitive amongst the future generations of Ford men.  

Another observation comes from my studies into my own family history. The women and often the young folk generally live a short life. Women died in childbirth or children of the  poverty of  living in large families.  Despite George’s early death, the navy pension and assistance allowed his children and Alice to live respectably. Alice’s children all appear to have lived to adulthood. Alice died at 94. Of the next generation many of the womenfolk have lived until their eighties and the following generation into their ninties- healthy and strong from a good steady income earnt from the good  maritime jobs and  perhaps the standard of healthy living provided by the veggie gardens. 

Maritime adventures and opportunities have lead to members of the extended family moving all over the world. We could watch an International event and be able to feel we could still barrack for a winner once our own country has been knocked out.

It will never be possible to have a Ford Reunion but it is possible to have a “virtual” reunion with the wonders of modern technology. I’m pretty proud to have rounded up a bunch of my husband’s second cousins to create this virtual event which now continues through emails, Facebook, phone calls about DNA, swapping photos etc. Some of us have met up or will meet up one day (Covid permitting)

Reunions always need stories and memories. Someone always brings a photo album.  In this reunion the keepers of the artefacts and photos have “shared” from afar. Sharing the stories and writing things down can only be a good thing- it’s made our family story three dimensional. Copies of photos distributed amongst the generations guards against the unthinkable.  Thank you to all the people who dusted off their photo albums, memorabilia and address books- good on you – you took time to share and preserve this story with past and future generations.

My favourite photo is the one of Edith in Africa and yes there was a relative born in an African colony. and another photo I love is  of Alice Ford- matriarch.

Edith May Ford in Africa with husband James Mercer

Definitely Alice Ford nee Barter

My favourite story is Richard and Liz Harvey dusting off the war medal belonging to Alfred Samuel Ford, the brother who was killed in action. Everyone was surprised to see his name under the tarnish. We had the story that went with the award-yes it can only be a good thing uncovering the stories.

After writing the first story many second and third cousins  took a DNA test- no coaxing from me and many quite random. (perhaps Jude Hayes bent a few arms around her family.) Some of this served to find people who were looking for lost contacts. Family reunions have happened around Archie’s family. My husband has at least 20 matches.

A final word..

Writing up the family stories and completing family lines will probably always be a work in progress as seen by this version 2. They are getting too large to handle and print so I have divided them up into smaller    stories. Along the way I have explored Alice’s family, her sisters mainly but there’s more. I’ve dug through the East Meon farm life, George’s mother, brother, possible cousin. All can be found found through looking at the tags on the blog.     

I thank my partners in crime for research and information and especially for getting on board with DNA testing. We have collaborated across the seas!  As I’ve said before this has enabled an impressive 3D story to come together. Stories provide so much more than just names on a page or lines on a tree. It’s fun finding forgotten stories and uncovering ancestors’ lives. It’s a good excuse for a trip. I think we even had a few ahh ha! moments  especially over Archibald and his family.

Any mistakes are mine – I will always welcome insight or information to enhance the cause! Photos will always be welcome. Hope to catch up soon. If you have further to add please contact me via the contact form at the bottom of the blog.

Cecil Frederick Ford (1893- 1951) Lived on the Isle of Wight

cont....

The George and Alice Ford Story  Part 10

Cecil Frederick  Ford was born 12^th June 1893 in Kilronan, Aran Ireland. He was 3 years old when brought to England and the family lived in the Coastguard Cottages at Portobello on the Newhaven to Brighton Road prior to his father's premature death.

In the 1901 census  he is a 7 year old schoolboy at Newhaven living with his  mother Alice, Alfred, Archibald and  Sidney.  Later after a brief career as a milk carrier  he took up a 12 year engagement in the Navy  from 16^th March 1909  at age 15 to 13^th June1923. His Service Number on joining was J3876.

As a young man he is 5’3” and grows 2 inches in two years where he is shown as being  5'3" at age 16 and 5'5" at 18. His records describe him as having  light brown hair , grey blue eyes,  fair  to sallow complexion with an eagle and snake tattooed on the left forearm. He was to get a tattoo of a  full Eagle in flight on his back  or chest in later years.

The 1911 census has him as a  Royal Navy boy Class 1, 17 years "on board" the Ganges and  religion is  Church of England. This was a Training ship to learn seamanship.

1911 Census

Other ships served on include: Impregnable, Donegal, Graffon, Royal Arthur, Alacrity, Illustrious/Alacrity, Pegasus,Talbot, Victory 1, Black Prince, Victory 1, Vernon, Attentivia (Crusader),Implacable, Europa, Erropa(Bulgarian), Europa I, Canada, Victory 1, Courageous, Queen Elizabeth, Victory 1

 

Cecil’s naval record

He was awarded the awarded the Star, Victory and British war medals during service in WWI and seems to have ceased his naval service on 13/6/1923 12 after his 12 years service.

 

 

 

 

These photos of Cecil and Kathleen were treasured in a locket. HMAS Ganges was Cecil’s first posting in 1911 .

 

 

 

Cecil married Kathleen Mary Lower a Newhaven girl in1920 in Newhaven. On the Isle of Wight they brought up three boys,  Alan George, Cecil Joseph and Norman Frederick Ford.  Norman and his family moved to New Zealand in 1966.

 

Here is Cecil’s tree….

Cecil Frederick Ford b: 12 Jun 1893 in Arran Donegal, Ireland, d: 25 Jul 1951 in Isle of Wight

 

+ Kathleen Mary Lower b: 27 May 1894 in Newhaven, Sussex, m: 1920 in Newhaven, d: 1985 in Isle of Wight, England; aged 90

 

Allan George Ford b: 26 May 1923, d: 09 May 2007 in East Cowes Isle of Wight

   + Joan

Cecil Joseph Ford b: 28 Nov 1928 in Isle of Wight, England, d: 1998 in Isle of Wight, England

    + Audrey K G Woodford m: 1951 in Isle of Wight, England

  Norman Frederick Ford b: 1929 in Isle of Wight, England, d: 23 Oct 2012 in Taupo, NZ

 

+ Eileen Florence Wallace b: 13 Aug 1932, m: 1953 in Isle of Wight, England, d: 10 Jun 1995 in Auckland NZ

 Cecil lived the rest of his life on the Isle working for Trinity House, Trinity House had a remote station on the island out of Cowes which was later shut down.  He died aged 58 years in a workplace accident while working as a seaman. Apparently when they were bringing a buoy over side and he got caught between the buoy and the deck head, was crushed and died. He was buried 28th July 1951  at St James Church East Cowes  Grave no 1299 Section A.  Probate of £616 was granted to his wife Kathleen Mary Ford.  She died 1985 in Isle of Wight aged 90.

Kathleen Mary Mew, Alan’s daughter and Cecil’s granddaughter had this to add. “I was too young to know my grandfather Cecil before he died. My mum (Joan) says he was a very kind and gentle man. He was the carpenter on board the Trinity House boat based at East Cowes which serviced all the lighthouses and buoys around the British coast and Channel islands.”

“My father (Alan) took his place after his death. Mum recalls granddad talking about life on Aran Island when he was young, and believes the family was connected to the coastguards.  Mum and Dad spent their honeymoon in 1945 at Peacehaven staying with the family and remembers everyone being involved with the local church and tee-total. They had to behave themselves.” Alan’s wife Joan is 88 and still living on the Island.  Alan lived until 2007 and his daughter Kathleen and her husband John Mew are Island residents and vegetable farmers.

 

                                                        Cecil and Kathleen prior to 1953

Grandaughter Anne Overton nee Ford recalls being told stories about Cecil  by his son Norman and particularly about one night during WWII. “Because their house (Albany Cottage) in Osborne Road was so close to the ship yards they did receive a few visits from the German air force.  Dad vividly remembers one night when his bedroom window was broken by presumable flak.  Reckoned that was a night to remember.”

Cecil was also known to like his rum. “His (Norman’s) Dad enjoyed his rum and he would bottle it while he was away then there was always some when he got home again, for his reserves as Dad put it.” 

Although she never knew her grandfather, Cecil, Anne elaborated on her Grandmother.“My grandmother (Kathleen) was an awesome woman.  Big cuddly and always smelling of either lavender or home baking / preserving and as a child to me it seemed they had such an enormous three storey house.  Boy was the attic a fabulous place to explore.  And the garden, peas, beans, goose berries, black currants, raspberries, it seemed to have everything.  Many a time I helped her harvest, pod peas and prepare beans to be salted down.  She was a resourceful woman, in hindsight I suppose she had to be. She must have been because when Dad married Mum and wanted to buy a house, she lent him the £100 he needed, presumably for a deposit.  “Then Dad bought a house down the road at number 78 Osborne Road, where I grew up.” 

Cecil and Kathleen on the left with Julie

Young Norman  aged 5 in 1935

Norman and his family moved to New Zealand in 1966s. His Children are Anne, Karen and Michael. During WWII on the Isle Norm used to build model ships and aircraft  “ from perspex taken from crashed German aircraft–or at least we liked to think so.”  On leaving school Norman had become an aircraft Woodworker making helicopter blades for helicopters and later model ships for the experimental department of British Hovercraft.  In NZ he joined the Dockyard as a boat builder before being asked to become the official modelmaker.

Anne Overton nee Ford had this to say about Cecils’ son, Norman. “He ended his working career as a model maker for the Royal NZ Navy.  But he also made models for himself when he retired.  I have those models.  Two will be of particular interest as they are from his Dad’s career with Trinity House.  One is of the lifeboats that was similar to that which his Dad and Syd? served on and the other is of I think the ship his Dad served on- light house  tender / service boat called Patricia.  Interestingly enough they still have in service a Patricia today.”

He has many in the Naval Museum at Devonport- One in Sydney and one of HMNZS Endeavour that was presented to the City of New Plymouth in 1988.

Norman presenting a Naval cutter to Sir David Beattie

LIFE BOAT “PATRICIA”

                                                   From an Article “Norm’s built’ em all”

Norm and Cecil Jnr’s family were very close.  The two sister in laws Eileen and Audrey enjoyed holidays in Peacehaven, Guernsey and Newhaven.  Vanessa, Elaine and Patricia were Cecil’s three children.

A few years back we met up with  Anne Ford in Sydney. Anne's husband Bob is ex Navy, her sister, Karen lives on a restored ex Target Towing boat and her brother Michael is the Captain of a pleasure cruiser. Sea water definitely running in their veins.  

Second cousins reunited Bob and Steve Anne and Robyn

 

 My husband has a DNA match to a descendant of Cecil's son Norman.