I am a descendant of John Ford who was a plantation owner in Union County Arkansas. He was born abt 1798 or 1808 in Washington Co. Alabama. He died in Jackson Township Union County Arkansas on Dec 2, 1865 . He married Mary Ann Arrington on Jun, 25 1829 in Washington Co. Alabama by Thomas Wells. She was born on March 20, 1811 in Tennessee. She died on Apr 28, 1886 in Union County Arkansas. They had the following children Elizabeth Ford, John Ford Jr., Martha Ford my Great, Great Grandmother , Joseph Ford, Mary Ann Ford, Aurelia Ford, and Caroline Ford.

I am also, a descendant of John C. Pratt born abt.1802 in Stokes County, North Carolina. He died in Saline County Arkansas in March of 1860. He married Louisa Pumphrey on Sept.7,1829 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. She was born on 1811 in Georgia. She died after 1860 in Saline County Arkansas. They had the following children Jesse Pumphery Pratt my Great, Great Grandfather, Hopkins L. Pratt,  Frances Spivey Pratt,  Evelina H. Pratt,  Margaret A. Pratt,  Amanda H. Pratt,  Joab B. Pratt,  Benjamin F. Pratt,  John C. Pratt Jr,  Wiley R. Pratt and William C. Pratt.

My Great, Great Grand Parents were Jesse Pumphery Pratt born on Nov 30 1830 in Bibb County, Alabama. He died in Grant Co., Arkansas on Oct 30, 1888. He married Martha Ford on Jun 30, 1853 in Union County Arkansas. She was born on Jun 30,1835 in Washington Co., Alabama. She died on Apr 23, 1866 in Union County, Arkansas. She was the daughter of John Ford and Mary Ann Arrington. They had the following children John Henry Pratt my Great Grandfather, Lucius J. Pratt, and Jessie Franklin Pratt.

Information we need to Know

One thing that we as a Black Race should not forget is our past, good and bad and the people listed as our ancestors in this Ford family history summary went through much more. We should know who they were at least. The Given (first) names, and especially the Sur (last) names that exist for someone of the black race were/is not the name from the actual first generation, but instead may be the name that a person was given after being unloaded from a ship and sold. The slave owner would give the slave a first name, hence that became "your given name". History indicates that most slaves selected or were given the last (Sur) name of their previous slave owner after they became free. The race of an individual listed in this summary is exactly what the Federal Census Report has for that person. It could be Black, Colored, Negro or Mulatto. On the Census Reports a “Mulatto” only means the individual is very light skinned. "Mulatto" was legally defined as an offspring of a black parent and a white parent. The interesting thing is that offspring was always the child born to a "Black Mother" and a "White Father". Most African America are only listed in the 1870's Census when they recieved a Last Name.

I believe this is the most accurate historic information pertaining to my Great Great Grandmother Harriet Ford who was on John Ford's plantation. It starts in the year 1870. Her name was Harriet Wooley in the 1870 Census born about 1823 in Alabama and by 1880 she is listed in the Census as Harriet Ford born abt 1827 in Virginia however, I believe this is the same person. She is listed as a Widowed in the 1880 Census. She possibly had children with the last name Wooley and Ford. I just don't know what happen during this time in her history. She died about 1889 in Jackson Township Union County Arkansas. She had the following children that I know about Easter Ford my Great Grandmother, Louisa Ford, Robert Ford, Green Ford, and maybe more..

Easter Ford was the daughter of Harriet and born on Sept.27,1858 in Union County Arkansas. She died on Jan 23, 1943 in Calion, Union, County Arkansas. Her Children were by John Henry Pratt born Nov. 26 1853 in Union County, Arkansas and he died on 25 Nov 1921 in Union County, Arkansas. They had the following Children Hattie Ford,James Ford who later changed his name to James Meeks, Eula Ford, Dock Ford, Marshall Ford, Garland Ford my Grandfather, and Horatio Green Ford.

Federal Census Reports

The Federal Census Reports are officially documented information and the information on the reports should have been obtained from the individual or the head of the household or plantation where each report was taken. Arkansas Federal Census Reports when indicating the year of birth often used the word "abt" (about) and then stated the year. This applied to all races. Often the year of birth for an individual will not always be the same on other Census Reports

Slave Census Facts for Census Year 1850 Johnson Township Union County,

There were only two slave owners named Ford in Union County Arkansas.

12 slaves were owned by slave owner John Ford.
14 slaves were owned by slave owner Ennis Ford.

Slave Census Facts for Census Year 1860 Jackson Township Union County, Arkansas

There were only One slave owners named Ford in Union County Arkansas.

19 slaves were owned by slave owner John Ford.

Slave Census Facts for Census Year 1850 Union Parish, Louisiana

There were 3 slave owners named Ford in Union Parish, Louisiana.

21 slaves were owned by Alfred Ford. (Wife is named Nancy)
4 slaves were owned by William Ford.
7 slaves were owned by Benjamin Ford.