Following up Sandra's request for help with her grandmother's family, Sue of Glemsford has offered a couple of pointers, and using the Census and registration material that is available online I have been able to offer the following digest (surrounded by all sorts of health warnings about not jumping to conclusions, of course):In the final quarter of 1907, Mary Ann M Ford married Ernest Jarrold in the Thingoe district, which covers a huge area between (and around) Long Melford and Bury St Edmunds and a lot of the surrounding districts.In 1901, Mary M Ford (sic), aged 15, was living with her parents, Benjamin (47) and Susannah Ford (45), at St Catherine's Road, Long Melford. Mary was a Silk Winder. Benjamin was a Plate Layer on the Great Eastern Railway; Susannah a horse hair weaver. the rest of the family comprised:Rosina, 18, a "half day" domestic servant; James, 20, a Labourer in a factory (what was made is illegible!); Arthur, 17, a painter's apprentice; Nelly, 13, a silk winder; and Laura 9, Ethel, 7, and Kate and Sidney, 5.In the same year, a 16 year old Earnest Jarrold appears as the son of David and Isabella Jarrold, of Stanton, in the Thingoe district. David was a shepherd, Earnest a "shepherd's page". Other children were: Lily, 22, Annie, 12, Henry, 11, Albert, 9 and Minnie 7. There were actually hordes of Jarrolds/Jarralds in Stanton throughout the perioid for which Censuses are available.In terms of age and area, I think this Earnest/Ernest is our best bet.The 1891 Census shows the Fords on Westgate Lane, Melford - on the road to Glemsford. Employment for Benjamin and Susannah and S was the same. All the children, including the oldest, Harry, then 12, were scholars.The registers for the first quarter of 1886 record the birth of Mary Ann M Ford, in the Sudbury district.The 1881 Census has Benjamin and Susan (sic) living on Hall St, Melford, the main village street, very near to the Swan Inn. Benjamin was a Malster's Labourer. They had just Harry C, aged 2, and James, 11 months.Throughout these three censuses, everybody in the family is shown as being born in Melford.A marriage between Benjamin Ford and Susannah Rison appears in the second quarter of 1878.In 1871, Benjamin appears as the 17 year old farm labourer, son of James and Maria Ford, living at Bridge St, an outlying hamlet of Melford, where James was a gamekeeper. James was 39, Maria 46. Their other children were: John, 15 , a gamekeeper's assistant; Henry, 14, a Farm labourer, and Emma 11, James 9, Alfred 7, Elizabeth and Maria (both 6), all scholars. In 1861, James and Maria were at Linhedge (?) Wood Cottage, Bridge St, with Benjamin, John, Henry and Emma. James was already a Gamekeeper.The 1851 Census does not want to help me at present.James and Maria married in the first quarter of 1854, Benjamin had appeared by the next quarter! Maria's maiden name was Newman, and in 1871, a Newman family was living next door to the Fords.As for Susannah, the 1871 Census shows a Susan Rison visiting the Horrex family on Hall St, Melford, and, in 1861, James (31) - Agricultural Labourer) - and Mary Ann Rising (28) were living near the Cock and Bell with their children Charles, Susannah, Susannah and Harriet (7, 5, 2 and 2 months). Unfortunately, the surname is very difficult to track because of the possible variations in spelling. So there doesn't seem to be a straight Glemsford connection, but they are all there or thereabouts!Now: if anyone else can feed in more detail, we'd love to know!SCLabels: Ford, Jarrold, Melford, Newman
