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Record #18885

Name :: : Maurice FORD (1886 - 1967)
Father: : John William Ford
Mother: : Anne Elizabeth Ford

BMD and other details

Date of Birth: : 6 Mar 1886
Marriage (1): :
Marriage (2): :
Date of Death: : 27 Sep 1967

Abode (1) : Place of BirthEngland, Devon, Plympton

Abode (2) : Place of Death / Burial

Sailing Information

Date of Arrival: : 22 Sep 1899
Country: : Canada
Ship: : Arawa
Placement Family: : Hunt family

Homes / Agencys

Institution (GB): :
Agency: : Barnardos

NotesThe following is text of information gathered when Maurice Ford was taken in by Barnardo's Home . . .

MAURICE FORD

Admitted - 7th September 1899
Age - 12 years, 6 months.
Date and Place of Birth - 6th March, 1886, at Plympton Devon
Religious Denomination of Father - Church of England
Religious Denomination of Mother - Church of England
If Baptized - Yes
New Agreement with Canada Clauses, signed by half-sister, Mrs. Yabsley, as guardian.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

Colour of Hair - Brown Complexion - Fair
Colour of Eyes - Brown Vacc'n Marks - 2 l.a.
Height - 4ft. 103/4 in. Wieght- 86/12 lbs.
Chest Measurement - 261/2in. Condition of Body -
Remarks by Medical Officer - Nil
The Report went on . . .
Maurice is an orphan. Application was made at our Plymouth Branch on his behalf by his half sister, Mrs. Yabsley, and the case was recommended in a letter from Rev. Henry Hole - The Rectory, Plympton. Our Plymouth inspector investigated the facts and reported as follows:

The father, John William Ford, was a naval pensioner and labourer, and died in July 1885, at Plymton, from rupture. The mother, Ann Elizabeth Ford, afterwards supported herself by charing, and received parish relief. She died on 18th January, 1893; at Plympton, from influenza. Upon the mother's death, Maurice was taken by his half-sister above named, and remained with his relative and her husband up to the date of application.

The ground of appeal made to us was that the step-sister and her husband were unable to continue keeping the boy unless he were earning something, and even if this had been the case the husband refused to keep him, on account of his untrustworthy character. Since the removal of the family to Plymouth, the lad has been very troublesome. He became a member of a Ritualistic church choir and there fell into the company of a lad more thievish than himself. For a time he was in the employ of Mr. Medlar, working as silversmith, Frankfort Lane. During the time he stayed there he was guilty of all kinds of petty dishonesty such as stealing some vases, a Jubilee shilling, etc. He was afterwards employed at Smith's bookstall, North Road, Plymouth, and while there stole 2s 6d. In view of Yabsley's refusal to keep him, there was no alternative for him but the workhouse.

The lad has a somewhat furtive look and is evidently cunning. He is not stubborn, however, and in the opinion of our inspector is not unlikely to turn out well under course or firm and wholesome discipline. He is in good health.

Relatives:-

Half-brother - William Ford (18), groom at Thomas Hotel, 25 Fore Street, Devonport.

Half-sister - Ann Yabsley (30), wife of naval stoker, H.M.S. Seal (1child), 4 Archer Place, Plymouth.

[De. M. 2.156. Admission, 20,787]

Born .................... Plympton Devon, England - 1886
Passed Away......... September 27, 1967 - Age 82
Son to .................. John William Ford, 18?? - 07/1885
Anne Elizabeth Ford, 18?? - 01/1893
Relatives ............... Half Brother - William Ford
Half Sister - Ann Yabsley
Departed England . Avonmouth, Bristol, 11, Sept, 1899
Arrived Canada .... Admitted - 7th (22nd) September 1989
AGE - 12, 6 MONTHS, at Quebec

1901 Census shows Maurice Ford age 15 as a servant with the Hunt Family

From: {website}jsalvis.com/Fordie/0mainPage.htm

Mr. Ford's interest was in mission work. He attended Beverley Street Baptist Church. His family attended Walmer Road Baptist Church of which Dr. Dunn is pastor.

The Obituary

We are laying away today a great man.
Perhaps not as the world rates greatness. Wealth, fame or empire building. But Mr. Ford was great in a truly Christian sense. He delighted to bring happiness to his fellow men.

To understand this type of greatness you must see a picture.

A small boy stood bereft through death of all his relatives. Fordie, as he liked to be called stood alone in the heart of London England. He had no living relatives to which to turn.

He could have become a London street urchin. Seventy years ago the streets of London were over-run by countless homeless boys who searched for food stealing from fruit stalls and sleeping in boxes and halls.

In those days there were no highly developed social agencies to care for the unfortunate that we have now. There was a medical doctor with a few volunteers who sought to help these homeless boys. They were watchful to find the homeless boy before he became a street urchin. This group clothed and fed the boys for a time then as a measure of self-help they placed some of the boys on Canadian farms as chore boys. For more in Dr. Bernardo see below.

Many of the boys placed by the English group did not fare too well. Surprisingly, the Canadian Farmer, gratified to get the cheap labour, seemed to be hostile and harsh. Often the boys were abused, slept in outhouses and worked too hard. Yet on growing to manhood they reached a high place In Canadian life. I know at least five Baptist ministers who came in this way to Canada as boys.

Yet Fordie escaped this fate again. Fordie was befriended by the medical doctor, and his group placed Fordie, as a self-help plan, with a fine Christian Canadian farmer. No doubt Fordie?s agreeable and willing helpfulness gave him the advantage. The Canadian farmer to whom Fordie was sent was a kindly man. He eventually adopted Fordie as his own son. Fordie now has a new father, mother and several brothers and sisters. He loved that farm home greatly. He adored his new Mother and spoke of her in most appreciative terms always. That farm meant much to Fordie. All through his life when he desired a quiet holiday he would return to his farm home.

In this farm home, church and Sunday School was a must. Fordie found a joy and outlet in the church. Here he discovered that he could sing. His great delight was to give pleasure to people by singing the grand old hymns. It was in the rural church that Fordie began his ministry of song. He had a remarkable voice with a true feeling for the song. Later his singing meant as much in a service as the sermon. A deacon said to me, "When Fordie sings my faith is so great I can feel God is near.

Fordie never thought of his singing as a ministry. He liked to sing and his singing made people happy. Throughout his life in Western Canada and in Toronto, Fordie was very interested in Church choirs and patriotic singing.

In the first world war. Fordie served his country and sang for his soldier comrades.

I took a picture out of a frame one day and behind the picture was another picture of Fordie in a Lieutenant's uniform. I said to him, "I know you were in the war but you never mentioned that you were an officer." Fordie said, "I enlisted as a private and they made me a lieutenant. It happened one day at gunnery practice. I had never shot a gun in my life but I would point the gun and it would hit the target. It was something to do with my eyes I guess. They placed me in the gunnery school as an Instructor. All the Instructors were lieutenants so they made me one.

That was Fordie. He thought things just happened to him. Never did he claim merit, for his fortunate advancement. So it was in his singing. He just loved to sing and he sang. He could have commercialized his singing. cut a few records or entered the professional entertaining field. He would have been a financial success. No, he reserved his singing for the church and his singing made people happy.

Fordie?s attitude of helpfulness was also seen in his daily work. He had such capacities as an organizer that he could do well in business. But here again, not money or advancement swayed him; he would rather be helpful. He worked daily yet he taught Bible classes and acted as soloist in choirs. This, to him, was as important as his daily work. Though Fordie could never be accused of being a visionary he was always the practical man.

For a time Fordie worked as a Y.M.C.A. secretary. He found a subtle pleasure in this work. He was helping young men. The pleasure came perhaps because unconsciously he was repaying those who had helped him.

Next Fordie was a director of a home for homeless boys, conducting the daily routine of over 80 boys. Again, we find him supplying the need where the need was greatest.

In Toronto Fordie left a prosperous church to assist in a downtown mission church. In the mission the need was greater. He brought his gifts and music to those who had little.

Fordie brought leadership and music to this mission for 32 years. He held many offices and chaired many committees. His chief contribution was that he brought music to the mission. The singer and his songs, his ministry of music was a great contribution to the lives of those who attended the mission. They waited eagerly to hear his song. They gladly placed themselves under his tutorship that they might sing in his choirs.

Fordie was superintendent of the Sunday School for many years. The attendance reached its peak when Fordie lead the school. The children loved him and he loved the children. Fordie was always the first at the church with a well-planned programme for his part. As one said, "Fordie always knows what he is going to do, and how he will do it, be it meeting, an entertainment or a song."

Fordie will long be remembered for his social and parties. Everyone had a good time. He enjoyed parties, and liked to see others enjoying themselves. Fordie?s parties were always a great success.

We at Beverley are indebted to Fordie for the 32 years he enriched the life of our church and brought a glow to our mission work. We are also conscious of the fact that Fordie, in spending so much time at the mission, was depriving his family of his presence. Here we give a word of appreciation to Fordie?s family, for our gain wsr their loss. Yet as Fordie would feel, give happiness where the need is greatest and in sharing, our blessings are multiplied. I would not be remise in saying "thank you" to Fordie?s family for their sharing with us a fine man?s gifts.

SKF

Fordie?s daily work was with the SKF Ball Bearing Company. He worked here for many years. Now in his daily work he was just as outgoing in helping others as he was in his church work.
I asked Fordie once what kind of work he did. He said, "Well I have just been transferred from the accounting office to the personnel department." Again, one of the things that just happened to Fordie. Instead of accounting costs, directing industrial operations or selling the product, he is in the personnel department. He visits the sick employee in the home and in hospital. He organizes banquets, summer picnics and get-togethers for the employees and staff. He said, "It is my job to look after the welfare of the employees and keep them happy. When they are happy they do a better job for the firm."

Fordie?s employers recognized his gifts. He delighted to make people happy. His firm gave him a free hand to follow his bent.

Surely the man was great. If we try and sum up Fordie?s life and worker we will find his attitude in the words of his favorite hymn which was once a class song of the Bible Class he taught.

Jesus calls us o'er the tumults,
Of our life?s wild restless sea
Day by day His sweet voice soundeth
Saying Christian, follow me.

Jesus calls us from the worship,
Of the vain world?s golden store,
From each idol that would keep us.
Saying "Christian. Love me more."

Duplicate records consolidated 15.10.2015 alanmack

ContributorsCreated : 2012-12-02 17:24:15 / From original database

Additional Contributions from : alanmack

Last Updated : 2013-12-02 07:38:54 /

Family History ResearchersRootsChatters with family connections to Maurice FORD:

Readers Comments

Surnames starting with: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 99 Entries

Surnames starting with: F »FARL »FAZA »FERN »FINC »FISH »FLET »FLYN »FORD »FOTH »FRAN »FRED »FRIE »FULL » FZZZ

ID	Name	DOB	Place of birth	Arrivals & Ships	Dest.	Agency	Family links
17577	FORD, Alfred	1897	ENG,	Mar 1911 : Dominion	CAN	National Childrens Home
12285	FORD, Archibald	1923	ENG,	Jul 1937 : Duchess of Bedford	CAN	Barnardos
19619	FORD, Arthur	1883	ENG,	Jun 1897 : Labrador	CAN	Barnardos
26746	FORD, Bertrand	1899		Oct 1910 : Sicilian	CAN	Barnardos
15911	FORD, Bridget	1874	ENG,	Jun 1884 : Polynesian	CAN	Catholic Protection Society
19014	FORD, Dora Mary M	1905	ENG,	Sep 1912 : Sicilian	CAN	Barnardos
5411	FORD, Eiza Emily W	1899	ENG, , Islington	Sep 1912 : Sicilian	CAN	Barnardos
17436	FORD, Emily	1886	ENG,	Jun 1898 : Californian	CAN	Waifs & Strays
16534	FORD, Ernest	1891	ENG, WAR, Birmingham	Jun 1902 : Siberian	CAN	Middlemore
23026	FORD, Ernest M	1899	ENG,	Apr 1908 : Lake Champlain	CAN	Fegan Homes for Boys
24158	FORD, Frederick	1854	ENG,	May 1870 : Scandinavian	CAN	Boy's Home Great Queen Street, London
12335	FORD, George Alfred	1884	ENG, HAM, Gosport	Jul 1894 : Sardinian	CAN	Barnardos
10628	FORD, Harold	1915	ENG, , Weston-Super-Mare	Apr 1929 : Duchess of York	CAN	Barnardos
24998	FORD, Henry	1897		Mar 1910 : Tunisian	CAN	Barnardos
18144	FORD, James H	1875	ENG,	Jul 1887 : Sarmatian	CAN	Canadian Catholic Emigration Committee
9360	FORD, John	1896	ENG,	Jul 1905 : Southwark	CAN	Barnardos
12624	FORD, John	1878	ENG,	Apr 1896 : Scotsman	CAN	Barnardos
6671	FORD, Kenneth	1913	ENG, , Bath	Mar 1927 : Montrose	CAN	Barnardos
18661	FORD, Leon	1897	ENG,	Sep 1911 : Lake Manitoba	CAN	Unknown Catholic Group
5863	FORD, Maud	1893	ENG,	Oct 1904 : Bavarian	CAN	Barnardos
18885	FORD, Maurice	1886	ENG, DEV, Plympton	Sep 1899 : Arawa	CAN	Barnardos
8199	FORD, Stanley	1913	ENG, LDN, London	Sep 1928 : Antonia	CAN	National Childrens Home
6673	FORD, Victor	1912	ENG, , Bath	Mar 1927 : Montrose	CAN	Barnardos
12336	FORD, Walter Thomas	1886	ENG, HAM, Gosport	Jul 1894 : Sardinian	CAN	Barnardos
17438	FORD, William	1885	ENG,	Jul 1899 : Lake Huron	CAN	Barnardos
24997	FORD, William	1898		Mar 1910 : Tunisian	CAN	Barnardos
4029	FORD, William A.	1897	ENG,	Jun 1906 : Siberian	CAN	Middlemore
16714	FORDE, Alban John	1869	ENG, CHS, Birkenhead	Apr 1877 : Sardinian	CAN	MacPherson Homes
16715	FORDE, Alexina	1872	ENG, CHS, Birkenhead	Apr 1877 : Sardinian	CAN	MacPherson Homes
18340	FORDE, Mary Ann Elizabeth	1864	ENG, CHS	May 1879 : Sardinian	CAN	Liverpool Sheltering Home
16716	FORDE, Robert	1866	ENG, HAM, Southsea	Apr 1877 : Sardinian	CAN	MacPherson Homes
18339	FORDE, Violet Elizabeth	1874	ENG, CHS, Birkenhead	Apr 1878 : Sarmatian	CAN	Louisa Birt
19912	FORDHAM, Albert	1881	ENG,	Apr 1897 : Labrador	CAN	Fegan Homes for Boys
9849	FORDHAM, Gladys	1900	ENG,	Sep 1914 : Corinthian	CAN	Barnardos
8519	FORDHAM, Percy	1885	ENG, , Islington	May 1902 : Dominion	CAN	Barnardos
21798	FORDHAM, Thomas Joseph	1872	ENG,	Aug 1889 : Sardinian	CAN	Barnardos
12150	FORDY, Alice Mary	1918	ENG, YKS, Scarbro	May 1928 : Ballarat	AUS	Fairbridge Homes
3286	FOREMAN, Benjamin	1887	ENG, , Buntingford	Apr 1900 : Cambroman	CAN	Barnardos
23248	FOREMAN, Bertie	1893	ENG,	May 1906 : Empress of Britain	CAN	Fegan Homes for Boys
15117	FOREMAN, Edward	1891	ENG,	Apr 1900 : Cambroman	CAN	Barnardos
8015	FOREMAN, Harriet	1853	ENG,	Jun 1869 : Austrian	CAN	Maria Rye
9025	FOREMAN, Thomas	1896	IRL,	Aug 1910 : Tunisian	CAN	Barnardos
11375	FOREMAN, William	1893	ENG,	Jul 1900 : Tunisian	CAN	Barnardos
9014	FOREST, Maggie	1879	ENG,	May 1887 : Parisian	CAN	Louisa Birt
20360	FORESTER, Daniel	1892	ENG,	Oct 1903 : Dominion	CAN	Barnardos
21919	FORKER, J	1893	ENG,	Oct 1903 : Dominion	CAN	Barnardos
27558	FORREST, Andrew	1871	SCT, BEW, Dunse	1881 : Manitoban	CAN	Marchmont Homes
5218	FORREST, Peter	1924	ENG, WAR, Birmingham	Sep 1935 : Duchess of Atholl	CAN	Fairbridge Homes
9265	FORREST, Sedgewick Wynne	1889	ENG, LND, Lambeth	Jul 1901 : Numidian	CAN	Barnardos
27559	FORRESTER, Alexander	1868	SCT, LKS, Glasgow	1881 : Manitoban	CAN	Marchmont Homes
23545	FORRESTER, John Whyte	1917	ENG, HAM, Brading, Isle of Wight	Mar 1928 : Benalla	AUS	Fairbridge Homes
26348	FORRESTER, Ronald Arthur	1922	ENG, WAR, Aston	Aug 1932 : Oronsay	AUS	Fairbridge Homes
5374	FORRESTER, William	1910	ENG, , Newport	Aug 1925 : Montnairn	CAN	National Childrens Home
11397	FORSEY, John	1875	ENG, , St George in the East	May 1885 : Sardinian	CAN	MacPherson Homes
11867	FORSHAW, Michael	1874	ENG, LAN, Liverpool	Jun 1884 : Polynesian	CAN	Catholic Protection Society
11866	FORSHAW, Peter	1873	ENG, LAN, Liverpool	Jun 1884 : Polynesian	CAN	Catholic Protection Society
19897	FORSTER, Robert	1888	ENG,	Jun 1897 : Labrador	CAN	Barnardos
15269	FORSTER, Thomas	1866	ENG,	Mar 1882 : Polynesian	CAN	Liverpool Sheltering Home
6242	FORSTER, William Sharp	1903	ENG,	Mar 1911 : Sicilian	CAN	Barnardos
17439	FORSYTH, Agnes	1888	ENG,	Apr 1901 : Dominion	CAN	Marchmont Homes (now Barnardos)
13050	FORTE, Augustus	1883	ENG,	Sep 1896 : Mongolian	CAN	Unknown Catholic Group
17579	FORTE, John	1898	ENG,	May 1910 : Tunisian	CAN	MacPherson Homes
17580	FORTRUM, John	1893	ENG,	May 1908 : Dominion	CAN	Barnardos
12615	FORTUNE, Lionel	1881	ENG, , St George Hanover Square	May 1896 : Labrador	CAN	Park Row School, Bristol
25896	FORTY, Arthur	1895	ENG,	Mar 1903 : Canada	CAN	National Childrens Home
9988	FORTY, William	1887	ENG, , Kensington	Apr 1902 : Dominion	CAN	National Childrens Home
9704	FORWOOD, Alice	1881	ENG,	Oct 1892 : Sardinian	CAN	Barnardos
2786	FOSKETT, Isaac	1885	ENG, SFK, Ipswich	Jul 1894 : Sardinian	CAN	Barnardos
6761	FOSTER, Albert	1898	ENG,	Aug 1906 : Dominion	CAN	Barnardos
20246	FOSTER, Albert	1892	ENG,	Oct 1903 : Dominion	CAN	Barnardos
26801	FOSTER, Arthur	1923	ENG,	Oct 1934 : Moreton Bay	AUS	Fairbridge Homes
7089	FOSTER, Benjamin	1855	ENG,	Aug 1871 : Prussian	CAN	MacPherson Homes
22810	FOSTER, Benjamin B	1893	ENG,	Jul 1902 : New England	CAN	Barnardos
20315	FOSTER, C.	1895	ENG,	Oct 1903 : Dominion	CAN	Barnardos
3187	FOSTER, Celia	1888	ENG, WAR, Birmingham	Oct 1900 : Tunisian	CAN	Barnardos	Sherlock Dillon
26451	FOSTER, Charles	1896	ENG,	Mar 1906 : Dominion	CAN	Barnardos
23881	FOSTER, E J	1885	ENG,	Oct 1893 : Labrador	CAN	Barnardos
6103	FOSTER, Ellen	1900	ENG,	Aug 1909 : Tunisian	CAN	MacPherson Homes
23316	FOSTER, Ernest Leonard	1894	ENG, MDX, Fulham	Aug 1906 : Tunisian	CAN	MacPherson Homes
9361	FOSTER, George	1905	ENG,	Jun 1913 : Corinthian	CAN	Barnardos
6465	FOSTER, Herbert	1901	ENG,	May 1909 : Corsican	CAN	Barnardos
21770	FOSTER, Lily E.	1885	ENG,	Oct 1900 : Tunisian	CAN	Barnardos
25822	FOSTER, Mary	1879		Jun 1891 : Norwegian	CAN	Quarriers
22387	FOSTER, Michael	1873	ENG,	Jul 1886 : Polynesian	CAN	Canadian Catholic Emigration Committee
16554	FOSTER, Minnie Louisa Maud	1910	ENG, ESS, West Ham	Sep 1922 : Minnedosa	CAN	Barnardos
25501	FOSTER, Reginald	1900	ENG,	May 1909 : Corsican	CAN	Barnardos
16578	FOSTER, Reginald Albert	1908	ENG, LND, Bethnal Green	Sep 1922 : Minnedosa	CAN	Barnardos
8708	FOSTER, Robert	1916	ENG,	Mar 1930 : Nova Scotia	CAN	Salvation Army
14551	FOSTER, Rose	1915	ENG,	Jun 1930 : Duchess of York	CAN	Crusade of Rescue
17440	FOSTER, Rose	1886	ENG,	Jul 1898 : Labrador	CAN	Barnardos
12490	FOSTER, Samuel Robert	1892	ENG,	Jul 1903 : Dominion	CAN	Barnardos
3188	FOSTER, Sarah	1893	ENG,	Oct 1900 : Tunisian	CAN	Barnardos	Sherlock Dillon
17581	FOSTER, Sidney	1896	ENG,	Aug 1906 : Dominion	CAN	Barnardos
16579	FOSTER, Stanley William David	1913	ENG, LND, Bethnal Green	Sep 1922 : Minnedosa	CAN	Barnardos
21782	FOSTER, Thomas Charles	1898	ENG, ESS	Aug 1912 : Corsican	CAN	MacPherson Homes
21783	FOSTER, Thomas Charles	1898	ENG, ESS	Aug 1912 : Corsican	CAN	MacPherson Homes
17582	FOSTER, THOMAS G	1894	ENG,	Mar 1906 : Dominion	CAN	Barnardos
22484	FOSTER, Thomas W	1890	ENG,	Sep 1901 : Tunisian	CAN	Barnardos
21397	FOSTER, Winnifred	1905	ENG,	Jun 1913 : Corinthian	CAN	Barnardos
ID	Name	DOB	Place of birth	Arrivals & Ships	Dest.	Agency	Family links

Surnames starting with: F »FARL »FAZA »FERN »FINC »FISH »FLET »FLYN »FORD »FOTH »FRAN »FRED »FRIE »FULL » FZZZ

Surnames starting with: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 99 Entries

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