The Ford Family

Alf Ford

Father: Edward Funnell Ford

Mother: Emily (Risley) Ford

Alfred Thomas Ford

Birth: 8 August 1847

Father: Edward Ford

Mother: Elizabeth (Funnell) Ford

Married: Mary Ann Thrash on 3 August 1881, at Bishopstowe, by the Right Rev the Lord Bishop of Natal

Notes: Went by the name "Tom". At his marriage he is noted as being "of the firm of E F & A T Ford of PMBurg"

Sources:

Edward Ford

of Warblington House, Emsworth, Hampshire

Birth: 1805/6

Married: Elizabeth Funnell on 28 May 1828, in Saint Mary's, Portsea, Hampshire, England

Children: Occupation: Blacksmith

Death: 1880, at the residence of his son, Mr. Edward Ford, in Pietermaritzburg, Natal, aged 74. Edward's death notice appeared in the Natal Witness on 4 May 1880, so it is reasonable to assume that his death occurred a few days before this.

Notes:
Edward emigrated to Natal aboard the Phantom (passenger list), arriving in Durban in July 1858. Durban, at the time, was a small, sand-ridden town, as described by William James, who had arrived a few months earlier. The passenger list of the Phantom is a little confusing; it lists Edward and Mrs. Ford and "Child". Listed separately are Sarah and Lucy Ford (which is reasonable, they would have been 21 and 19 respectively at the time) as well as a Helen Ford (which I don't know what to do with - it is possible but seems unlikely, that she was unrelated and co-incincidentally on board ship with other of the same surname. Perhaps it is a typo of Harriet, perhaps she was a niece or possible she was another sibling in this large family!). It also seems odd that only a single child is listed - there should have been many of the younger children. Other families on the passenger list show exact numbers of children -perhaps there were too many little Fords running around to count!!

After spending about 12 months in Durban, Edward moved up to Pietermaritzburg, where he set up blacksmith shop on Longmarket Street, just above the Park Hotel. Later the smithy was moved to the corner of Longmarket and Chapel Streets. In 1865, at the time of Eliza's wedding, he is recorded as living in Longmarket Street.

Eliza is listed in her wedding notice as the "Fifth daughter of Mr. E. Ford". My list of Edward's children show Eliza as the seventh daughter. Perhaps my list is in error, or perhaps two of the elder girls had died before this time.

Sources:

Edward Funnell Ford

E.F. Ford's Coachbuilding works
Edward Funnell Ford's coachbuilding works on Longmarket Street, Pietermaritzburg. The building was demolished circa 1950, and Braemar House now stands on the site.
Scan by Chris Gosnell from photograph belonging to Esme Fuller
E. F. Ford wedding gift
This chair was made by Edward Ford as a wedding gift to his bride
Photograph by Jeremy Gosnell
Birth: 10 April 1844, in Havant, Hampshire, England

Father: Edward Ford

Mother: Elizabeth (Funnell) Ford

Married: Emily Risley on 28 September 1875, at St Peters Cathedral, Pietermaritzburg, Natal, by the Lord Bishop of Natal

Children: Death: 15 June 1924

Obituary:
Dated Saturday 28 June 1924, in the Natal Mercury:


OBITUARY
MR. E.F. FORD, MARITZBURG
On Sunday, June 15, there passed away at Maritzburg another of the few remaining Old Colonists in the person of Mr. E.F. (Ted) Ford, who arrived at Durban, with his parents, at the early age of 13 years by the sailing ship, Phantom, in July 1858, after a trying voyage of over three months.

Mr. Edward Ford, sen., settled in Durban for about 12 months and then came on to Maritzburg in 1859, and started business as a blacksmith at what is now known as "Ingleside", in Longmarket Street, just above the Park Hotel, and at this early age Mr. Ford started his apprenticeship with his father, often being called up in the early hours of the morning to blow the bellows and strike, as the heat was so oppressive during the day.

After a few years the business was moved to the now familiar corner of Longmarket and Chapel Streets, where it has seen the City grow from a few cottages here and there to its present state. On the death of his father, Mr. Ford acquired the business and made considerable extensions, securing the sole agency for the great British engineering firm of Messrs. Marshall Son & Sons, of London and Gainsborough, an agency the firm holds to the present day. In the early days Mr. Ford was successful in securing the orders for machinery for many of the leading mines and in addition had a good connection throughout Natal and the Transvaal in the carriage and coachbuilding business.

The deceased was one of the foundation members of the Maritzburg Rifles, and later joined the Natal Royal Rifles but as horsemanship appealed to him more strongly, he transferred to the City troop of the Natal Carbineers and was one who volunteered for the Langalibalele expedition, and his reminiscences of the stirring experiences of this gallant troop in the Bushman's Pass under Colonel Durnford, were always most interesting. Incidentally, he was believed to be the last survivor of this expedition unless a Mr. Church of Durban is still alive. He had with him as half-section Mr. Bond, who was killed along with Potterill and Erskine, the fatal bullet passing Mr. Ford and striking Bond. The Langalibalele Monument in the Market Gardens, Maritzburg, bears testimony to the noble efforts of this troop of the Natal Carbineers.

In 1872 Mr Ford left for the Vaal River diamond diggings, along with three or four chums, amongst whom was the late Mr. Kit Bird, a former Colonial Secretary of Natal. Mr. Ford used to relate how the party missed a small fortune, for it seems that after working for a week or a fortnight digging and carting the precious soil that was to end all trouble financially, they decided to commence the washing and sorting. The first wash gave them great hopes, for they secured five small stones, and a neighbouring camp, amongst whom was the late Durant (Dan) Scott, came along and offered them £10,000 for the heap. This offer they refused, but to their dismay, they went right through the remainder of the heap and never found another stone.

When Mr. Ford arrived back in Maritzburg he continued his business which, during his absence, had been carried on by his brother, Mr. Tom Ford. Some years later great excitement ran through Maritzburg when gold was found in various places in close proximity, notably Table Mountain. Mr. Ford, who then owned the only steam engine in the town, set to work to make a crusher, and as the prospectors brought their samples along, so he crushed and tested them, along with his old friends Dr. Sutherland and Mr. Joe Shaw. Unfortunately for the sake of Maritzburg and Natal, although signs of the precious metal were found, none of the samples proved profitable.

The deceased gentleman was an intimate friend of the late Bishop Colenso, and many were the experiences he could relate of the unhappy breach in the English Church in those early days. It was he who suggested and eventually erected, the now familiar church bells in the grounds of St. Peter's Cathedral, photographs of which have been taken and sent to all parts of the world. He undertook the making of the ironwork for the first footbridge over the Umsindusi River into the Alexandra Park, and also stood security for the contractor, Mr. Tom Harding, and the writer will never forget hearing him tell of the anxious afternoon when the bridge was just about finished, and a very heavy storm broke over Zwartkop, the river rising and rising until everyone thought the bridge must go. The storm, however, happily abated, but it is on record that it was the highest the river has ever come down.

Although never taking an active part in public life, he was keenly interested in things municipal and governmental, and was a staunch supporter of Natal remaining out of the Union, and up till three years ago never lost interest in the old established business that bears his name.

He married, in the year 1877, Emily, the eldest daughterof the late William Risley, by whom he is survived, the marriage bearing seven sons and two daughters, of whom one daughter (Mrs. J.H. King, of Umlaas Road) and six sons (Alf, John, Cliff, George, Rupert, Wilfred) are still living, five being with the business in Maritzburg and one resident in Durban.

Although in indifferent health for the past three years, the end was painfully sudden at the ripe old age of 80 years and 2 months. Of a kind & lovable disposition, and a devoted husband and father, he will be sadly missed by his sorrowing wife and family, to whom the deepest sympathy will be extended. The many beautiful floral tributes bore testimony to the esteem in which the deceased was held by those who had the privilege of his friendship.

The funeral which was attended by a very large number of mourners and friends of the old pioneer, took place at the Wesleyan Cemetary, Maritzburg, on Monday afternoon, the Rev. Canon Harris, of St. Peter's Cathedral Church, officiating.

Notes:
Edward Ford had a town house in Loop Street, but his granddaughter Esme recalls him living on a farm in the Chase Valley (now an extensive housing development). She remembers the most wonderful family Christmas parties on the farm featuring citrus and flowers.

Sources:

Elizabeth Ford

Birth: 18 May 1829

Baptism: 21 June 1829, at Middle Street-Wesleyan, Gosport, Hampshire, England

Father: Edward Ford

Mother: Elizabeth (Funnell) Ford

Sources:

Eliza Ford

Birth: 18 September 1841

Father: Edward Ford

Mother: Elizabeth (Funnell) Ford

Married: John Smith, of Thornville Park, on 16 March 1865, at the Wesleyan Chapel, Pietermaritzburg, by the Rev. G. Blencowe

Notes: Eliza is listed in her wedding notice as the "Fifth daughter of Mr. E. Ford". My list of Edward's children show Eliza as the seventh daughter. Perhaps my list is in error, or perhaps two of the elder girls had died before this time.

Sources:

Ellen Ford

Birth: 14 July 1842 in Havant, Hampshire, England

Father: Edward Ford

Mother: Elizabeth (Funnell) Ford

Sources:

Emily Ford

Birth: 19 January 1849

Father: Edward Ford

Mother: Elizabeth (Funnell) Ford

Sources:

George Ford

Birth: 4 November 1850

Father: Edward Ford

Mother: Elizabeth (Funnell) Ford

Sources:

George Ford

Father: Edward Funnell Ford

Mother: Emily (Risley) Ford

Harriet Ford

Birth: 1 January 1832

Father: Edward Ford

Mother: Elizabeth (Funnell) Ford

Notes: Harriet is not found in IGI baptism records, although both her elder and younger sisters are. Her birthdate of 1 January 1832 is precariously close to the 11 October 1832 date recorded in the IGI extractions for her younger sister Miriam.
Sources:

John Ford

Father: Edward Funnell Ford

Mother: Emily (Risley) Ford

Joseph Clifford Ford

Joe Ford
Joseph Clifford Ford
Scan by Chris Gosnell from photograph belonging to Esme Fuller
Joe Ford
Joseph Clifford Ford
Scan by Chris Gosnell from photograph belonging to Esme Fuller
known as "Cliff"

Father: Edward Funnell Ford

Mother: Emily (Risley) Ford

Married: May Foaden

Children:

Lucy Ford

Birth: 6 August 1838, in Havant, Hampshire, England

Father: Edward Ford

Mother: Elizabeth (Funnell) Ford

Notes: Lucy emigrated to Natal aboard the Phantom (passenger list), arriving in Durban in July 1858. Aged 19 at the time, she is listed separately, but travelled with her parents.

Sources:

Miriam Ford

Birth: 11 October 1832

Baptism: 2 December 1832, at Middle Street-Wesleyan, Gosport, Hampshire, England

Father: Edward Ford

Mother: Elizabeth (Funnell) Ford

Notes: FORD family tree supplied by Esme Fuller lists her name as Marian.

Sources:

Mary Ann Ford

Birth: 7 September 1834

Baptism: 22 October 1834, at Saint Peters Daniel Street-Wesleyan, Portsea, Hampshire, England

Father: Edward Ford

Mother: Elizabeth (Funnell) Ford

Sources:

Rupert Ford

Wilfred and Rupert Ford
Wilfred and Rupert Ford. In the photgraph album where the original photo appears, a text note below reads "The Ford boys: WILFRED and RUPERT", so I assume that Rupert is on the right in this photo.
Scan by Chris Gosnell from photograph belonging to Esme Fuller
Birth: 18 December 1889, at Kingston Lodge, Chase Valley, Pietermaritzburg, Natal

Father: Edward Funnell Ford

Mother: Emily (Risley) Ford

Notes: Twin brother of Wilfred Ford

Sources:

Sarah Ford

Birth: 14 November 1836

Baptism: 11 December 1836, at Saint Peters Daniel Street-Wesleyan, Portsea, Hampshire, England

Father: Edward Ford

Mother: Elizabeth (Funnell) Ford

Notes: Sarah emigrated to Natal aboard the Phantom (passenger list), arriving in Durban in July 1858. Aged 21 at the time, she is listed separately, but travelled with her parents.

Sources:

Selina Ford

Birth: 16 January 1846, in Havant, Hampshire, England

Father: Edward Ford

Mother: Elizabeth (Funnell) Ford

Sources:

Wilfred Ford

Wilfred and Rupert Ford
Wilfred and Rupert Ford. In the photgraph album where the original photo appears, a text note below reads "The Ford boys: WILFRED and RUPERT", so I assume that Wilfred is on the left in this photo.
Scan by Chris Gosnell from photograph belonging to Esme Fuller
Birth: 18 December 1889, at Kingston Lodge, Chase Valley, Pietermaritzburg, Natal
Father: Edward Funnell Ford

Mother: Emily (Risley) Ford

Notes: Twin brother of Rupert Ford

Sources:

Unknown (Ford) King

Father: Edward Funnell Ford

Mother: Emily (Risley) Ford

Married: to J. H. K. King

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