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Book on Nathaniel Ford - SC - 1753-1843; Posted by: Ned Little; Date: JAN 18, 2000
Below you will find a book on the Ford family of Chester County, SC and their relatives and descendents. I typed it in from a copy of the hand-written document. I tried to leave it as it was originally written.
Antecedents of the Family of Robert Ford and their Lateral Relatives so far as now known with some Military Record of himself and sons L. M. Ford
August 5, 1904 This was written for Mrs. H. M. Stevenson, daughter of Robert Ford.
Nathaniel Ford, Sr. is as far back as we can trace our ancestry. He came from Caroline county, Virginia and settled on Dutchman's creek, Fairfield county, then known as Craven, some time previous to the Revolutionary war in what year is unknown. Near this place he ended his earthly pilgrimage in 1843 in the ninetieth year of his age. He was of stout muscular frame about six feet and two or three inches high and of dark complexion. He was possessed of a good intellect, but his education was quite limited. He was very fond of the social glass, and indulged so freely that property dwindled away to nothing in the latter part of his life. He served as magistrate for many years, was a mason, and as he never connected himself with any branch of the Christian church his religious predilections are unknown. It was thought that he was tainted with Deism. In his last illness he was asked his thoughts concerning the future, the reply was: "God gave the soul and to him it will return." After he passed away his face had the appearance of a quiet sleep at the end of a long and eventful life. In the Revolution he espoused the cause of the colonists against King George. In his latter days he often fought over the battles in which he was engaged, not much of this now remembered. He was about thirty three years old when hostilities began. He very probably had married previous to that. He was in several skirmishes and battles among them Cowpens, Orangeburg, Fort Moble and Eutaw Springs are remembered. At Cowpens he received a bullet, which lodged just under the skin of an arm. It could be seen and felt plainly, often he was requested to have it taken out. His reply was "It shall go to the grave with me," and it did. He retained until his death the musket he used in the service. When Sherman's army passed through it was in possession of his grandson, John L. Ford, they intended to break it up, but upon hearing its history left it uninjured. The last known of it William B. Ford, son of John L. Ford had possession of it. This was several years ago. He may still have it. On one occasion he received a furlough at Orangeburg, set out on foot to visit his home on Dutchman's Creek, after trudging all day, night came upon him some four or five miles above the present site of Columbia. In a deep ravine near what was known to the wagoners as Joe Brown's hill before the days of the railroads. Here he rested during the night at the root of a large white oak. When he halted and thought of the arrangements for the night, the wolves were howling fearfully, he discharged his musket, reloaded it, sat on the root of the tree with his faithful gun between his knees, and rested as best he could. Little did he think that in less than three fourths of a century in that same ravine the whistle of the steam engine and the thundering of trains would reverberate. The country then was an open forest being destitute of undergrowth. A few cultivated tracts were scattered here and there over the country. Wild pea vines from one to two feet high covered the country. The settlers could often see wild deer in herds of five to fifteen grazing about within sight of their cabin doors. Cattle and swine were raised in great abundance with but little care, trouble or expense.
Nathaniel Ford, Sr. married a Miss Cloud, sister of Joseph Cloud, Sawney's Creek, Fairfield Co., S.C. Nothing is known of her antecedents at this time. A considerable number of Clouds reside in Sawney's Creek section, all of whom are relatives. The Bells and Gupples who formerly resided in the same section were relatives also. Mrs. Nathaniel Ford, Sr. is reputed to have been a beautiful woman with black hair. She became partially bald before her death. Keziah Ford, sister of Nathaniel Ford, Sr. espoused one Nicholas Peay, and bore to him one son, Col. Austin Ford Peay. And to Col. A.F. Peay were born one son, Col. N.A. Peay and three daughters. One of whom married Dr. John Myers, another, Joseph A. Black, and the other espoused Thomas Lyles Fairfield. The names of these daughters is not remembered.
It is not known that Nathaniel Ford, Sr. had any brothers in South Carolina, but it is very probable as the names Kiah, Gardner, and Derrel Ford are remembered in the family. Many years ago a Mrs. Maggie Ford, who may been the widow of these men, lived in the Longtown section. John Long was the maternal grandfather of the late Robert Ford. Whence he came, from who he descended nothing is known. As the feelings between him and Nathaniel Ford, Jr. were not cordial, the chances to learn anything about his family history were remote. He resided many years on Rocky Creek near Pickett's (now Gladden's) mill, and not far distant from Beckhamville, in Chester county, where he died in 1834. He was a large and fleshy of florid complexion. He weighed over two hundred pounds. He was of Irish descent. He was a successful farmer, saved a competence, and left some estate as his death. He was for many years a leading of Mt. Zion Baptist church on Turkey branch. He was twice married. His first wife was a Miss Hannah McFadden, Chester Co., the date of the marriage is unknown. She bore to him three daughters, Elizabeth, Mary, and Senna. Elizabeth espoused Nathaniel Ford, Jr. Mary espoused James Griffin, and Senna married Thomas Griffin. These Griffins were brothers and the sons of Rachel Griffin, who came to Fairfield from Georgia. His second wife was Eliza Guntharpe whom he married within three months after the death of his first wife. She was a most excellent woman, and lived to be about eighty years old when she died near Blacksburg, York Co., S.C. She bore no children. Nathaniel Ford, Sr. was the father of five sons, to wit. John, Gardner, James, Hezekiah, and Nathaniel, Jr. and five daughters who grew to womanhood. viz: Annie, Mary, Sallie, Elsie, and Martha, and one whose name is unknown, died in childhood. They are named without regard to the order of their birth, as that is unknown.
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circa 1747 - circa 1843 (~ 96 years)
