James Ford of West Gordon

JAMES FORD (aka JAMES FOORD)

Stonemason in East Gordon; Feuar of West Gordon; Church Elder in Gordon

James Ford is the second son of William Ford, tenant in East Gordon, Berwickshire, Scotland. He was born before 9 April 1732, the date upon which his baptism was registered at Gordon in Berwickshire, Scotland. His mother's name is not mentioned in his baptismal record but there seems hardly any doubt that he is a son of Isabel Steel. Certainly she is his father's only known wife. James Ford's baptismal record reads as follows: "Baptized James s. to Wm Foord tenent in E. Gordon" [National Records of Scotland, Gordon Baptisms, 1728-65, reference OPR.742/3] Image of Baptismal Record

Feuar of West Gordon

James Ford purchased eight acres of land in the Muir of Gordon from George Fairholme of Greenknowe. His feu charter was issued on 17 March 1791. National Records of Scotland, [Sasine Abridgements for Berwickshire, abridgement number 1280 dated 8 April 1829]

Death

James Ford died in May 1801. [National Records of Scotland, Lauder Commissary Court, Testament Dative of umqll James Ford mason in Gordon, reference CC/15/5/12] Image of Testament

His Testament Dative

William Ford, Hedger at Marchmont, gave up his father's testament dative. He was confirmed as executor dative qua nearest in kin to his deceased father on 17 January 1808. His brother-in-law, Thomas Bell, feuar in Duns, acted himself as his cautioner. [National Records of Scotland, Lauder Commissary Court, Testament Dative of umqll James Ford mason in Gordon, reference CC/15/5/12]

1. Image of Testament
2. Image of Testament

Marriage

James Ford married Janet Fairbairn in 1769. Their request for marriage proclamation was booked at Gordon in Berwickshire, Scotland, on 29 June 1769 The marriage record reads as follows: "Compeared to Proclamation in order for marriage James Foord and Janet Fairbairn both in this Parish. Recd one shilling for the use of the poor". [National Records of Scotland, Gordon Marriages 1765-1819, reference OPR.742/4] Image of Marriage Record

Children

1. Margaret Ford
2. Isabel Ford
3. Janet Ford
4. Mazie Ford
5. William Ford, Gamekeeper and Forester
6. James Ford
7. John Ford, roadman
8. Robert Ford

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

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10 April 1772: I John ffoord indweller in Gavintown ffor the love favour and affection which I have and bear to James ffoord second lawfull son to William ffoord tennant in East Gordon and to enable him to make payment of the legacies after mentioned Hereby make constitute and ordaine the said James ffoord his heirs and donators my cessioners and assigneys in and to all sundry goods gear cloaths plenishing debts Bonds Bills whereby the same are due and all others whatsomever pertaining and addebted or that shall happen to pertain or be addebted to me the ttime of my decease whenever the same at the pleasure of God shall happen. With full power to the said James ffoord to enter and take possession of the haill goods gear and others above assigned and to ask crave and receive pursue for intromitt with and uplift the same and generally all and sundry other things to doe use and exerie that I might doe myself while on life. Reserving my own liferent and power to alter and innorate these presents at any time in my lifetime vel eliam in mortis articulo and I hereby nominate and appoint the said James ffoord to be my sole exer universall legator and only intromitter with the goods gear debts and others pertaining to me. With full power to him to give up inventarys of my means debts and effects and confirm the same in terms of law Provideing always likeas it is hereby expressaly provided and declared and by acceptation hereof the said James ffoord binds and obliges him his heirs and successors to pay all my just and lawfull debts if any shall be due by me the time of my decease and to pay my funeral charges and that I be decently interred. As Also to make payment to William ffoord tennant in East Gordon my brother german the soume of one hundred pounds sterling mony. To William ffoord tennant in Dirrington his son sixty pounds sterling. To John ffoord third son to the said William ffoord elder sixty pounds sterling. To Margaret ffoord indweller in East Gordon daur of the said William ffoord sixty pounds sterling. To Agnes ffoord another daughter of the said William ffoord sixty pounds sterling. To Issabel Brown daughter to James Brown tennant in East Gordon ffive pounds sterling and that six months after my decease with a fifth part more of liquidate expenses in case of failzie and anent thereafter during the not payment and in case the said William ffoord die before me then and in that case the one hundred pounds Sterling mony legate and left to him shall be divided amongst his three sons William James and John ffoords allenarly the other children having no share therein Dispenseing with thereof delyvery hereof and admitting the same to be good valed effectuall and sufficient to all interests and purposes as if the same were delyvered altho found lying by me the time of my decease or in the hands of any other person and I consent these presents be insert and regratt in the Books of Councill and Session or others competent therein to remain for preservation for which effect I constitute .......... my Prors In witness whereof I have subr these my presents written upon stampt paper conforme to act of Parliament be Alexr Christie senior writer in Dunse with my hand at Dunse the tenth day of Aprill 1772 years before these witnesses Ephrain Selby merchant in Dunse and Alexr Christie writer hereof (signed) John ffoord (signed) Ephrain Selby witness (signed) Alexr Christie senior witness.

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17 January 1808: Testament Dative and Inventory of the goods gear debts and sums of money under written which belonged and were addetited resting awand to the deceased Jas Ford Mason in Gordon the time of his decease which happened upon the [blank] day of May 1801 years faithfully made and given up by Wm Ford hedger at Marchmont son of the said defunct and which William Ford is executor dative qua nearest in kin decerned to the said James Ford his father by the Comr of Lauder and his deputy as the said Comr his decreet dative given and pronounced thereanent upon the day and date of these presents and more length bears.

Follows the Inventory. Impr. the said defunct at time foresaid of his death had pertaining and belonging due and addebted to him by John Watson senr and junr of Mains the following dividents upon £100 and £5 due upon their joint obligations dated the 15th May and 7th October both in the year 1778 to John Ford indweller in Gavinton to which the said James Ford had right from the said John Ford his uncle by disposition and assignation or deed of settlement dated [blank] and registered in the Sheriff court Books of Berwickshire the 15th day of March 1781, vizt: A dividend of the said Messrs Watsons means and effects due and payable at Marts 1796 of . . . £30.14.11. Another due at Martinmas 1804 of . . . £54.5. And a third due Whitsunday 1808 of . . . £15.9.11. Summa of the Inventory £108.9.10.

David Renton of Graystonelees Commissary principal of the Commissariot of Lauder specially constitute for the confirmation of testaments within the bound thereof understanding that after due summoning and lawful warning made by form of edict openly as effers all persons having interest are lawfully summoned and none compearing to object I decerned the said William Ford executor dative qua nearest in kin to the said James Ford his father as my decreet dative given and pronounced thereanent at more length bears and therefore I, in his Majesty's name and authority and mine make constitute and confirm the said William Ford executor dative qua nearest in kin to the said defunct in and to the sum of money and debt before written and give and committ the intromission therewith to him accordingly, with power to him to ask crave receive for intromitt with and uplift the debt and sum on money foresaid, and generally all and sundry other things to use and [ - ] that to the office of executry in such as is known to appertain Reserving always just compt and reckoning of his intromissions to all persons having interest as accords or which effects. Thos Bell fewar in Dunse has become caution as an act of caution made thereanent bears. Given under the hand of the Clerk of Court upon these three pages of paper stamped with a stamp denoting the payment of two pounds Sterling of duty at Lauder this seventeenth day of January eighteen hundred and eight years. (signed) Robt Romanes Clk Dept. [National Records of Scotland, Lauder Commissary Court, Testament Dative of the deceased Jas Ford Mason in Gordon, reference CC15/5/12]

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19 September 1808: Memorandum. The late John Ford indweller at Gavintown was a creditor of the late John Watson, sen. & junr. of Mains for a bill of £105 dated 15th May and an obligation for £5 dated 7th October 1778. John Ford on 10th April 1772, assigned these claims to his nephew James Ford, mason in East Gordon, who drew a dividend thereon at Candlemass 1785 of £41.3.11. The following dividends are due to the representatives of James Ford, viz: at Martinmass 1796 . . . £38.14.11 at Martinmass 1804 . . . £54.5.0 at Whitsunday 1808 . . . £15.9.11. In all £108/9.10. Besides interest on the three first dividends at 2p cent. James Ford's representatives are his six children, viz: three sons and three daughters in life. It is necessary that they confirm the above debt as executors to their father, and perhaps also to John Ford, unless James Ford did so under the foresaid assignation or deed of settlement which was dated 10th April 1772 and recorded in the Sheriff Court Books of Berwick 15th March 1781 and it will be necessary to see the extract of this settlement, and to consider the same, before a confirmation is expede by James Ford's children. If they have already confirmed executors to their father the confirmation may be sent to Edinburgh along with the extract of the above deed of settlememt. Mr, Dickson of Antons hill will be able to adise what should be done when the papers are shown to him by William Ford It is understood that James Ford died intestate. [National Records of Scotland, Lauder Commissary Court, Memorandum, reference CC15/6/69] Image of Testament 1 Image of Testament 2