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- Andrew received property from his father, 1720 (Plymouth County deeds, vol. 16, p. 9), and land, housing, farm equipment by his father’s will, proved in 1725. He was appointed executor by his brother Hezekiah’s will, 27 Nov. 1721, and was named guardian of Hezekiah’s minor children, Hezekiah and Ruth, in 1723. He built two houses in Abington (Historical Society of Old Abington). The first one, at the present site of lOll Washington Street, was probably built after his purchase of the Woodward grant, 1706/7. His son Jacob lived and died in this house. About 1800 Jacob’s son Benjamin sold it to Capt. Richard Vining, who built another house there in 1815. Andrew’s second house, located at 770 Washington Street, was “new” about 1735. A house stands there today; the back part of dark stained shingle, with central chimney, is the original; it faces south. It was sold in 1760 by Andrew Ford IV to Joshua Howe (Plymouth County deeds, vol. 48, p. 194). A sign attached to the front of the house erroneously states that it was erected before 1700.
Andrew was called “Ensign” in the Abington records, 23 April 1728. He and his wife Mercy were on the first list of First Church members, 1724. He was on the committee to get the meeting house finished, 24 Dec. 1728, and on the committee, 1 March 1731, which made up the accounts regarding the finishing of the meeting house. Ten years later he was moderator of a meeting which was primarily concerned with the question of repairing the old meeting house or building a new one.
He was also active in civic affairs. He was elected Highway Surveyor three times, 4 March 1723, 1 March 1725, I March 1731. Twice he served on a committee to provide a schoolmaster for the town, 26 Nov. 1729, the first in Abington, and again 30 Dec. 1730. On 23 April 1728 he was trustee for a £60,000 loan to the town. On 8 Jan. 1730 he served on a committee to meet with Hingham, Hull, Scituate, Hanover, Weymouth and Braintree committees in an attempt to have this district create a new county. On 5 Dec. 1734 he was moderator of a town meeting to provide for the care of an indigent; and on 31 May 1736 moderator of a meeting concerned with the continuation of the same case. On 22 May 1738 he was moderator of a meeting on a petition to have the old “Colony Line” re-surveyed correctly; and on 31 March 1741 moderator of a regular Town Meeting. Andrew bought land in 1706/7 from Joseph and Isaac Poole (Plymouth County deeds, vol. 7, p. 208). This deed mentioned land of “ye sd John fford,” probably a clerical error as “Andrew” is the only previously-mentioned Ford. In 1724 Andrew bought land from William Reed; he sold property in 1740 to James Nash, in 1742 to Abraham Josselyn, in 1744 to Joseph Stoddard, in 1749 to Woodbridge Brown (Plymouth County deeds, passim.).
His will was written 12 June 1749 and proved 4 June 1750. He bequeathed to “beloved wife Allice” the privilege of living in the best room of either of his houses, also food supplies and firewood. His son Jacob received the northerly half of his farm, except for the sawmill. His son Andrew received the southern half of the farm and the sawmill. His daughter Hester Porter received thirty acres of land and her children, money. The children of his daughter Mercy Richards and of his daughter Mary Reed, also received money. Witnesses were: Samuel Brown, Ebenezer Bate, Jr., Mercy Brown. His sons Jacob and Andrew were named executors when the will was proved in 1750 (plymouth County Probate, vol. 12, p. 146, 147). - Descendants of Andrew Ford of Weymouth, Massachusetts
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