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Matthew Arnold's Royal Descent

Devon & Cornwall Notes and Queries vol. VI, (January 1910 to October 1911), pp. 171-172.

by

Hugh Alex Ford

Prepared by Michael Steer

The Note relates to Note 144 submitted by M.P. Coode and appearing on pages 111-2 of this journal and mentioning the Ford family. The present Note concerns an attempt by its author to acquire more information on his own Ford family. Arnold was a poet and cultural critic who worked as an inspector of schools. He was the son of Thomas Arnold, the famed headmaster of Rugby School, and brother to both Tom Arnold, literary professor, and William Delafield Arnold, novelist and colonial administrator. The article, from a copy of a rare and much sought-after journal can be downloaded from the Internet Archive. Google has sponsored the digitisation of books from several libraries. These books, on which copyright has expired, are available for free educational and research use, both as individual books and as full collections to aid researchers..

Note 203. MATTHEW ARNOLD'S ROYAL DESCENT (V., par. 32, p. 47; VI., par. 114, p. in ; and par. 175, p. 188). - The licence for the marriage of Charles Ford and Dorothy Chudleigh was issued by the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury on 2 November, 1671. In Foster's Chester's London Marriage Licences is the following: -

Ford, Charles, of the city of Exeter, co. Devon, gentleman, bachelor, 23, and Dorothy Chudleigh, of same, spinster, 18, with consent of friends; alleged by William Hopwood, of Westminster, gent., one of the gentlemen of H.M.'s chapel, 2 Nov., 1671.

It will be noted that this Charles Ford is described as "gentleman" in the allegation, although Mr. Gruselier states in his note that the Revd. Charles Ford, of Exeter, was designated as "Priest Vicar at the baptism of their daughter Dorothy in 1671." I am not acquainted with the actual locality of the Ford-Chudleigh marriage.

A Charles Ford, second son of Charles Ford, of Plymtree (will 7 July, 1650, prd. P.C.C. 8 Feb., 1650-1, Grey 21), by his first wife (name unknown), was baptised at Plymtree on 16 Dec, 1647, and would consequently have been between 23 and 24 in 1671 if we assume that he was baptised before he was one year old. Is this Charles Ford - who was a descendant of the family of Ford, of Ford, co. Devon - identical with the Charles Ford who married Dorothy Chudleigh? The age at least agrees, although I am aware that little reliance can be placed on the ages given in marriage allegations. I should be glad to learn the place of the marriage.

I take this opportunity to state that I am interested in all pedigrees of Ford in any part of the country and in the West Indies. I have complete lists of all Ford wills in the P.C.C. from 1383 to 1800, and of all Administrations from 1600 to 1800. I have also numerous pedigrees and sketch pedigrees of many families of the name, as well as thousands of references to individuals, lists of wills in several local Probate Registries, and various other data. I should welcome enquiries from anybody interested in a Ford pedigree ; and I should be glad to know if there is any family in existence who can prove, or who claims descent from any of the Ford families whose pedigrees are recorded in the Visitations of Devon and Sussex.         Hugh Alex. Ford.