The Ford Family
Origins and History
Jane Ford
Personal & Family Data
| Born | January 14, 1844 West Dean, Sussex England |
| Father | James Ford |
| Mother | Clara Ford |
| Siblings | William Ford James Ford George Ford Louisa Wray Mary Edwards Eliza Ford |
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Bio
Jane is the last child born to James and Clara Ford. She is 16 or so years younger than their oldest child, her brother William Ford (father of Thomas A. Ford). So we know William has left the family home, in search of his own way through life, and will eventually move north to Fownhope.
Baby sister Jane, on the other hand, is living at home with mom and dad until 1871, when her mother dies; and sometime soon thereafter, her father dies as well. While she is listed as working as a dressmaker in 1871 census records, by 1881 we find Jane listed as a school Mistress and living at St. Pancras. She lives in the Friary but is the head of her household. Other members include the 13 year old twins, Clara and Eliza Wray! It seems she has stepped in, as best she can, to take care of her sister Louisa's orphaned girls.
We don't know for sure, but it is possible that Jane may have made a life for herself working as a dressmaker. She could have moved to London to do this. Perhaps she was a terrible dressmaker and is forced to moved to St. Pancras. My guess is that instead she chose to go and do everything she could for her nieces.
It looks like she never marries and continues to live her life in poverty. How would a woman in her late 20s, caring for two girls and working as a teacher in an orphanage actually meet a possible husband who could change her life? The last record we have of her is in 1911, when she is 67 and living in the Almshouse (the poorhouse) in "The Hornet" in Chichester. Today, The Hornet is a Pub and Jane's sacrifice lives on through the descendants of her niece Clara (Wray) Fowler.
Jane is the last child born to James and Clara Ford. She is 16 or so years younger than their oldest child, her brother William Ford (father of Thomas A. Ford). So we know William has left the family home, in search of his own way through life, and will eventually move north to Fownhope.
Baby sister Jane, on the other hand, is living at home with mom and dad until 1871, when her mother dies; and sometime soon thereafter, her father dies as well. While she is listed as working as a dressmaker in 1871 census records, by 1881 we find Jane listed as a school Mistress and living at St. Pancras. She lives in the Friary but is the head of her household. Other members include the 13 year old twins, Clara and Eliza Wray! It seems she has stepped in, as best she can, to take care of her sister Louisa's orphaned girls.
We don't know for sure, but it is possible that Jane may have made a life for herself working as a dressmaker. She could have moved to London to do this. Perhaps she was a terrible dressmaker and is forced to moved to St. Pancras. My guess is that instead she chose to go and do everything she could for her nieces.
It looks like she never marries and continues to live her life in poverty. How would a woman in her late 20s, caring for two girls and working as a teacher in an orphanage actually meet a possible husband who could change her life? The last record we have of her is in 1911, when she is 67 and living in the Almshouse (the poorhouse) in "The Hornet" in Chichester. Today, The Hornet is a Pub and Jane's sacrifice lives on through the descendants of her niece Clara (Wray) Fowler.
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