The Ford Family

Born	1835 Singleton, Sussex
Died	1871
Father	James Ford
Mother	Clara Ford
Siblings	William Ford James Ford George Ford Mary Edwards Eliza Ford Jane Ford

Spouse	Samuel Wray
Married	August 26, 1862 St. Peter-The-Great Church, Chichester, Sussex England
Children	James William Wray Elizabeth Wray Clara Fowler Eliza Gregory

Bio
Louisa is a younger sister of William Ford, and so is aunt to Thomas A. Ford. She is the fourth child born to James and Clara Ford, and also their first girl.

By the time she is 16, Louisa is already working as a servant and living with another family in a town called Rogate. She must have learned well, as ten years later we find her working for the Bishop of Chichester in Sussex! Here she is a ladies maid, where she works with at least 20 other servants. A ladies maid was a very good position indeed! They all care for the Bishop's family - his wife, several daughters and a son, and even grandchildren.

When she is 28 years old, Louisa marries a man named Samuel Wray in a Church called St. Peter-The-Great in Chichester. Samuel is a printer, and the couple moves to Colchester, Essex, where they have their first child, James William Wray. Then they have a daughter Elizabeth, in 1865. Then they have twin daughters Clara and Eliza in June of 1867. The young couple seem on their way to having a large happy family like most people in their time.

Alas, happy quickly turns to sad when Samuel dies in 1869. He had a small "Setter Press Printer" business in Eastgate Square. Louisa must sell her husband's printing equipment, and she moves back to Sussex, where she is living in St. Pancras and working as a School Mistress. St. Pancras is a very poor place with close quarters and illness spreads quickly. Louisa must have become sick herself, as most 36-year-old women with four very young children do not make out their last will and testament; but she did.

It is a sad document where she outlines the few possessions she has and to which child they will go. James will get her gold watch; baby Eliza her bible. Her oldest daughter Elizabeth will have her China Service and Clara her writing desk. Her son, James, is sent to live with her father James Ford. Louisa dies in December of 1871, leaving behind her orphaned baby girls in the care of St. Pancras.

Louisa's youngest sister Jane must have been moved by the fate of her nieces as she soon leaves the comforts of home and goes to take up her sister's work at St. Pancras. By 1881 she is listed as the Mistress of the school and her address is #13 Pancras street. Living with her are none other than the Wray sisters! The love of the Ford family warms the soul.