Sarah (Ford) Edson (bef. 1779 - abt. 1846)

Born before 12 Sep 1779 in Cummington, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States

Ancestors

Wife of Isaac Edson — married 1796 (to after 1805) in Milford, Otsego, New York, United States1805

Wife of Constant Williams — married 23 Oct 1817 (to before 30 Jun 1828) in Hardin, Kentucky, United States

Descendants

Died about 4 Aug 1846 after about age 66 in Machias, Cattaraugus, New York, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Michael Willis [send private message]

Biography

Goals -One of the goals of working on this profile was to clarify how the information about sisters Sally Ford Hodges and Sarah Ford Edson changed over time by examining the information found in a number of sources. A second goal was to create biographies for each sister that reflected their lives by providing details of the individuals who preserved Sally and Sarah's family history documents or wrote genealogy books about them. A third, and perhaps the most important goal, was to provide evidence that Sally and Sarah were 2 individuals with their own evidence-based histories who should be regarded as so when researching them for family or higher-level reasons.

Research Note: Because of the complexity of the information, information on this profile has been grouped under sub-headings as follows:

1. Area 1 Original Biography
2. Area 2 Additional Biography
3. Area 3 Background to how Sarah's and Sally's information became intermingled
4. Area 4 Background to the confusion- related to the books titled The Descendants of Andrew Ford of Weymouth Massachusetts Volumes 1,2, and 3. and to the book titled Edson family history...
5. Area 5 SO WHO WAS The Original SALLY and WHAT EVIDENCE DO WE HAVE?
6. Area 6 Special Mention - Researchers and Documents

Area 7 Review of Goals

Hyperlinks to Key People mentioned in this profile

1. Sally Ford Hodges Ford-12956
2. Phillip Hodges - Hodges-7013
3. Duane Dorr- Hodges-11920
4. Ralph Zublin Hopkins - Hopkins-21228
5. Richard L Ashmun -Ashmun-26
6. Carroll Andrew Edson - Edson-1433

Research Note - Caution - Online Sources such as Ancestry, Family Search, and others need careful vetting as information may not be correct - reason for this is mixing name Sarah with Sally, as well as some of their details.

RESEARCH NOTE: Researchers are advised to read the information on Sarah's profile and that of her sister Sally's profile before reading Sarah's husband Isaac's profile. The reason to read Sarah's page first is because there has been intermingling of Sarah's details with the details of her sister Sally Hodges resulting in the creation of Sarah Sally. Sarah Sally evolved because of revisions made from Volume 1 to Volume 3 of the books The Descendants of Andrew Ford of Weymouth Massachusetts. ^[1] as well as the use of the name SARAH SALLY in a Mayflower Member application.

Area 1 Original Biography

Sarah Ford was a daughter of Joseph Ford and Freelove (Beal) Ford, born about 1777 and baptized on 12 September 1779 in the First Congregational Church of Cummington, Massachusetts. In The Edson Family, she is erroneously identified as Sarah, daughter of Samuel Ford and Sarah Dyer, who was born in 1788 in Weymouth, Massachusetts.^[2]

In about 1796 she married Isaac Edson, son of John and Judith (Shaw) Edson of Bridgewater, Massachusetts. They married at Milford, Otsego County, New York. They had four children. She left Isaac Edson in about 1804 or 1805 and got a divorce. Subsequently, in about 1807, she removed with her children to Bradford County, Pennsylvania, where her brother Noah Ford had located. In about 1815 she removed to Hardin County, Kentucky, where her brother Moses Ford had located.^[2]

Second Marriage Sarah married Constant Williams in 1817 in Hardin County, Kentucky.. Constant Williams was living in Crawford County, Indiana at that Time..in the Far South Section of Crawford County Indiana.

Area 2 Additional Biography

Area 3 Background to how Sarah's and Sally's information became intermingled

Over a period of time, researchers investigating 2 of the daughters of Joseph and Freelove Beals, namely Sarah and Sally, have intermingled their birth, marriage, death, and other information creating issues, especially for researchers wanting to claim connections to organizations that require detailed evidence of correct ancestry.

One reason the problems with Sally and Sarah became an issue may have been related to the information in 2 of the volumes of the book titled The Descendants of Andrew Ford of Weymouth Massachusetts by ELIZABETH COBB STEWART. [1]

A second reason the problems with Sally and Sarah became an issue may have been related to the information in Volume 2 Chapter 25 Page 641 of the 1969 book titled Edson family history and genealogy : descendants of Samuel Edson of Salem and Bridgewater, Mass. by Carroll Andrew Edson. [2]

A Third reason for the confusion may be connected to an application made to the Mayflower Society by Richard Leighton Ashmun who used the name Sarah Sally for his application and information about his application is found later in this profile.

Area 4 Background to the confusion- related to the books titled The Descendants of Andrew Ford of Weymouth Massachusetts Volumes 1,2, and 3. and Edson family history and genealogy : descendants of Samuel Edson of Salem and Bridgewater, Mass.

In Volume 1 on page 1 Stewart explained her role as compiler and the many sources and contributors to the book. One contributor Stewart described was Florence Harlow Barclay of Whitman, Mass. noting that she contributed much to the first 2 generations . Mrs Barclay pops up in several places related to Sarah and Sally and those places will be explained in more detail in latter sections of this biography.

Perhaps because of the intermingling in the book mentioned above, other researchers on various sites may have started using the name Sarah Sally for one or both individuals. For this reason, any researcher coming to this profile must understand that many researchers, including those who are direct line descendants, have expended a great deal of effort and time to sort out who was SARAH ? who was SALLY? and why there was no person called Sarah Sally.

Comparing Volumes -To see comparison information - refer to the attached document labelled Analysis of how Sally Ford Hodges and her sister Sarah Ford Edson evolved through revisions to become Sarah Sally

1969 Edition - In Volume 1 on Pages 59 and 60 under Joseph Hodge ID Number 30, Stewart (the compiler) lists Joseph's ancestors, names his wife, Freelove Beals, and lists his children.

1. Joseph's sons are clearly identified.
2. However, the daughters are listed as un-named daughter born about 1773, Sally ID number VI born 1777, and another un-named daughter born 1781.
3. Stewarts's details about Sally ID number VI are comprehensive, covering her birth, marriage to Phillipp Hodge, their children and Phillip and Sally's deaths.
4. Stewart makes no suggestion about the names of the daughters born in 1773 and 1781.
5. There is no mention of Sarah.

1988 Edition- Stewart (the complier) made numerous corrections in The eighth, ninth and later generations; additions and corrections for parts [vol.] 1 and 2.

1. One of the corrections that Stewart made was to swap Sally ID number VI with that of Sarah who is now Sarah ID number VI.
2. Stewart didn't refer to the dates originally assigned to Sally, instead she referred to the 12 Sep 1799 Baptism Record and this was important as it confirmed that Sarah's parents were Joseph Ford and Freelove Beals Ford
3. Stewart also provided details about this newly added Sarah's (using Sally's ID) marriage to Isaac Edson, their divorce and their children.
4. Stewart also mentioned that Sally most likely was the daughter of Joseph and Freelove Beals Ford based on family papers of R. Z Hopkins and comments by Mrs .Barclay. For details look at the bottom of attached Image labelled Sarah Edson 1983 page 43 Revision.

Note- R.Z Hopkins (aka Ralph Zublin Hopkins Hopkins-21228) (2 x Great Nephew of Sarah Ford Edson) name was often listed with his grandfather Duane Dorr Hodges Hodges-11920 because both provided family documents that were referenced in the books The Descendants of Andrew Ford of Weymouth Massachusetts. To read more about their lives and their contribution to the Ford/Hodges family history researchers should follow the link to their profiles.

Review of the book Edson family history ...

1. In 1969, Carroll Andrew Edson published 2 Volumes of his book titled Edson family history and genealogy : descendants of Samuel Edson of Salem and Bridgewater, Mass.
2. Edson's biographical text about Issac Edson (husband of Sarah) in Volume 2, Chapter 25, Pages 641 Heading John 5 Edson Fifth Generation ID Number 202 and Page 642 Heading Sixth Generation Isaac 202-1. may have also contributed to the confusion because Edson incorrectly listed Sarah's parents as Samuel and Sarah Dyer Ford
3. Edson also included a May 11, 1788. birth date for Sarah. However, he did not provide evidence supporting this date.
4. Unfortunately, Edson did not publish a third volume (that he hoped to do) in which he may have corrected his parent error and birthdate error
5. To learn more about Carroll Andrew Edson follow the link to his profile where Carroll Andrew Edson's lineage is described, his research into the Edsons is covered in detail, and his sources are listed and how his research through the Edson ancestry possibly resulted in his naming the wrong parents- Samuel and Sarah Dyer Ford - as parents of Sarah Ford Edson.

Therefore, because of the changes of name and details, it was highly likely that Sarah and Sally became Sarah Sally and that this intermingled information was (and still is) spread throughout the many genealogy sites.

Area 5 So Who WAS The Original SARAH and what EVIDENCE do we have?

Researchers need to refer to the attached image labelled Sarah Edson 1983 page 43 Revision.

1. Parents Confirmed - Joseph Ford and Freelove Beals confirmed by Baptism record.
2. Birth Date Not Confirmed May 11, 1788, Weymouth, Mass. as suggested by Carroll Andrew Edson
3. Marriage 1 Confirmed To Issac Edson
4. Marital Problem Confirmed based on advertisement by Issac in 1805- Isaac posted an advertisement declaring that he would no longer be responsible for his wife Sarah Ford's bill. See attached Image labelled Isaac Edson 1805 advertisement that he will not pay Sarah Edson's bills.. Marriage problems also confirmed by location information
5. Children Confirmed Children By Sarah Ford, born in New York State, probably in Milford: 202-14 HANNAH #202-15 DANIEL, born Nov. 30, 1802.#202-16 SARAH, born Nov. 5, 1804.
6. Marriage 2 Confirmed -To Constant Williams
7. Sarah's Death and Burial are not Known. Based on the attached Letter from Ten Broeck Cemetery in Farnersville, New York.. citing readings of grave markers in 1950, it could be that her grave has not been found, but may have been vandalized.

Area 6 SPECIAL MENTION: RESEARCHERS AND DOCUMENTS

Note Background Information in Volume 1 of the book The Descendants of Andrew Ford.... by Stewart.

1. Preface- Most of the material in this book was originally published by the New England Historic Genealogical Society in The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume CXIX, January, 1965, through Volume CXX, January, 1966.
2. The compiler acknowledges her indebtedness to the many members of the family and to friends who have contributed to the genealogy; also to those unknown benefactors whose respect for history caused them to gather and preserve the numerous records used in composing this book.
3. Page 1- There is no genealogy of the entire family, but material on it has been presented in several genealogies (see text for lists of genealogies as well as in text citations throughout the book.

RESEARCHERS connected to Andrew Ford history and books

1. Elizabeth Cobb Stewart - compiler
2. Florence H. Barclay) - Mrs Barclay was a noted genealogist
3. Mrs Goldsmith Cummington Historical Society - See Summary of Letters below

Questions related to the above researchers:

1. What triggered the change in text from Sally ID number VI born 1777 and married to Phillip Hodges to Sarah ID number VI baptized 12 Sep 1779 and first married to Isaac Edson?
2. Are there any records that would give a clear indication of why the text was changed? Has anyone tried looking for it- possibly through correspondence related to the various editions?
3. In the revised text, after writing about Sarah, the authors included notes mentioning Sally - and therefore are writing about 2 different individuals - not a person called "Sarah Sally". Refer to the attached Image labelled Analysis of how Sally Ford Hodges and her sister Sarah Ford Edson evolved through revisions to become Sarah Sally

RESEARCHERS connected to the Hodges Family'

1. Duane Door Hodges - Sally and Phillip's grandson via their son Warren Babbit - see his profile for more details
2. R. Z. Hopkins (aka Richard Zubil Hopkins) - great great great grandson of Sally and Phillip via their son Warren, his son Duane, his daughter Ada.
3. Mr Richard L Ashmun - Hodges Descendant - See Summary of Letters below and attached as an Image to this profile

DOCUMENTS

1. Family papers of the late R. Z. Hopkins
2. Diaries of Duane Dorr Hodges
3. Family Bible Pages - see Image attached to this profile
4. Family History Page - see Image attached to this profile that includes birth and death dates
5. Letters - see Image attached to this profile and summary below

Summary of the 4 letters

The senders were:

1. Mr Richard L Ashmun - descended from
2. Mrs Goldsmith Cummington Historical Society

1. Nov 1996 (Bottom Left Green Paper) - Mr Asmun writes to Mrs Goldsmith seeking birth information on Sally Ford
2. Feb 13- 1997 (Bottom Right Pink Paper)_Mrs Goldsmith replies - and her replies are vital as they explain that there are no records for Sally and the reason is that the records were not kept at that time. She also provides information that Joseph Ford had moved
3. May 1997 (Top Left Pink Paper)- Mr Ashmun writes seeking information for Sarah, Jacob, Molly, and Anna and the records about Joseph Ford moving from Abington to Cummington
4. June 1997 (Top Right Pink Paper) Mrs Goldsmith confirms records sent .

Conclusion: Unlike some of her siblings whose births/baptisms were recorded in the Cummington records, family researchers, in particular Richard L Asmun of Pleasant Hill, Pennsylvania obtained evidence that no record was available for the period when she -SALLY- was born -

RESEARCHER Carrol Andrew Edson and his father Andrew Wheatley Edson connected to the Edson family history and documents

In Volume 1 in the Preface on pages 1-3, Carroll describes in detail the sources he researched and used to write his book. In Volume 2, Carroll, in the Foreword, limits his introduction to a paragraph describing Volumes 1 and 2 and his hope to publish Volume 3.

Once it was known that Carroll Edson was the author of a 2 volume genealogy book that wrongly identified Issac Edson's wife Sarah Ford Edson's parents and wrong birth date, Carroll's lineage was traced back to understand his line of descent and compare it to Sarah's husband Issac Edson's lineage. Carroll's lineage was also compared to the lineage of Sarah Ford to identify any possible ancestral connections between Sarah's line and Carroll's line. Carroll's and Isaac's Family Trees follow separate paths until they reach Deacon Samuel Edson. When comparing Carroll's and Sarah's Family Trees, there are no common ancestors. However, both Carroll and Sarah do have a last name of Hopkins - Carrolls being a female ancestor and Sarah's being the last name of a descendant- R. Z Hopkins who provided family documents to the writers of the Andrew Ford genealogy book. More research is needed to compare the Hopkins ancestors for a common ancestor.

When Edson published his genealogy book in 1969, it is not known what led him in Volume 2 on Page 642 to identify Sarah Ford Edson's parents and birth date incorrectly. Nor is it known if, in Volume 3, Edson would have revised her parents to be the correct parents based on baptism records naming them as Joseph and Freelove Beals Ford. Nor is it known if he would have changed Sara's birthdate to her baptism record. Nor would he have anticipated the way that information - wrong or correct- has exploded because of technology and online access. Nor would he have anticipated the way that genealogy research has moved from posted letters and personal inspection to online access. Unfortunately, because of the technological changes, Edson's wrong information continues to be found. See attached Image labelled Sarah's Mother and Father NOT named correctly in Edson Family genealogy book by Carroll Andrew Edson 1969.

Researcher Richard L Ashmun, his connection to the Hodges, and Mayflower Application Problems

Richard was a direct line descendant of Sally and Phillip Hodges through their daughter Lorena Ford Morley whose daughter Nancy married into the Ashman (aka ASHMUN) family.

Note Mr. Ashmun was a Life Member of American Legion Post # 446, VFW Post # 3360, the Slovak-American Sportsman Club of Hecla, Moose Lodge # 1151, Greensburg and the Pennsylvania Mayflower Society. Mr. Ashmun was also a Life member of the National Society, PA Society and the General Arthur St. Clair Chapter, Greensburg, National Sons of the American Revolution,. He held various positions in the organization including National Vice President, General for the Mid Atlantic District, National Trustee, National Vice Chairman of the ROTC/JROTC Committee, PA State President and PA State Genealogist & Chapter President, and served on many other committees. [5]

Problem possibly caused by Richard L Ashmun's Mayflower Application See attached Image labelled Mayflower Application showing name Sarah/Sally. It is believed that Richard used the name Sarah Sally when he completed his application, most likely because he wanted to ensure that his proof record would be accepted. Since the time of his application, persons wanting to become Mayflower Descendants have continued to spend time researching family history in an effort to prove that Sarah and Sally were 2 different individuals who were sisters born to Jacob and Freelove Beals Ford.

Area 7 Review of Goals

At the start of this profile a number of goals were identified:

1. One of the goals of working on this profile was to clarify how the information about sisters Sally Ford Hodges and Sarah Ford Edson changed over time by examining the information found in a number of sources. This goal was achieved with the support Patricia Furth Hodges-6990 and Lawrence Hasenstab Hasenstab-19... who provided documents and responded to numerous emails.
2. A second goal was to create biographies for each sister that reflected their lives by providing details of the individuals who preserved Sally and Sarah's family history documents or wrote genealogy books about them. This goal has been achieved through extensive research into Sally and Sarah's ancestors and descendants, especially those family members who preserved family documents.
3. A third, and perhaps the most important goal, was to provide evidence that Sally and Sarah were 2 individuals with their own evidence-based histories who should be regarded as so when researching them for family or higher-level reasons. This goal was particularly important as it was felt necessary to correct the wrong information about Sally and Sarah that has persisted over time and at levels that are above family research, including at the Mayflower level.

Sources

1. ↑ The Descendants of Andrew Ford of Weymouth, Massachusetts Vol 1-Compiled by ELIZABETH COBB STEWART 3 v. PAGE COUNT 173 OWNING INSTITUTION Sacramento California FamilySearch Library PUBLISHER DIGITAL FamilySearch International ACCESS LEVEL Public located at: https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/601183-the-descendants-of-andrew-ford-of-weymouth-massachusetts-pt-1
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Vital Records from the New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014. (Compiled from articles originally published in The New England Historical and Genealogical Register.) From Eastwood, Elizabeth Cobb Stewart, "Descendants of Andrew Ford, Weymouth, Mass.: Additions and Corrections," The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol. 137 (1983), page 43. Correction to content published in New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol. 119 (1965), pages 255-256.

• The Descendants of Andrew Ford of Weymouth, Massachusetts Vol 1-Compiled by ELIZABETH COBB STEWART 3 v. PAGE COUNT 173 OWNING INSTITUTION Sacramento California FamilySearch Library PUBLISHER DIGITAL FamilySearch International ACCESS LEVEL Public located at: https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/601183-the-descendants-of-andrew-ford-of-weymouth-massachusetts-pt-1

• Edson family history and genealogy : descendants of Samuel Edson of Salem and Bridgewater, Mass. Volume 2, Chapter 25, Pages 641 Heading John 5 Edson Fifth Generation ID Number 202 and Page 642 Heading Sixth Generation Isaac 202-1 located at: Ancestry. com. Edson family history and genealogy : descendants of Samuel Edson of Salem and Bridgewater, Mass. [database on-line]. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. Original data: Edson, Carroll Andrew,. Edson family history and genealogy : descendants of Samuel Edson of Salem and Bridgewater, Mass.. Ann Arbor, Mich.: Lithographed by Edwards Bros., 1969?. https://www.ancestry.com.au/search/collections/29005/

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/76319749/sarah-edson: accessed 08 July 2023), memorial page for Sarah Ford Edson (18 Sep 1777–4 Aug 1846), Find a Grave Memorial ID 76319749, citing Ten Broeck Cemetery, Franklinville, Cattaraugus County, New York, USA; Maintained by MW (contributor 48367755).

• Mayflower Society Application Database: "Community Trees," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/2:2:QVQY-KTJ : accessed 22 October 2021), entry for Sarah Ford, cites sources; "Mayflower Pilgrim Genealogies" file (2:2:2:MMXD-DP8), submitted 24 February 2020 by FamilySearch.

• General Society of Mayflower Descendants Membership Applications, 1620-1920. (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2020).

Sarah FORD

Christening 9/12/1779 [1]

Location Cummington, Hampshire, Massachusetts, United States

Spouse Isaac Edson

Gen Member Number 69360-00

Generation 8

Volume Name Chilton, James Page 1205:1

Sarah FORD

Marriage 1796 [2]

Location Milford, Otsego, New York, United States

Spouse Isaac Edson

This link is to the Family Search Mayflower Descendants Database . Showing her Linage to ..James Chilton. And how many times She has been Proven (49) +