Edward Watson Ford

Who was Mr Edward Watson Ford?

Mr Edward Watson Ford was an 18 (eighteen) year-old English blacksmith who tragically lost his life in the sinking of the RMS Titanic on April 15, 1912. He was a third-class passenger traveling with his family, seeking a new life in America.

Early Life and Family

Edward Watson Ford was born in the second half of 1895 in Mayfield, Sussex, England. He came from a working-class background, with his family roots deeply embedded in the Sussex countryside. His parents were:

Father: Edward Ford (born 1858), a farm worker from Fletching, Sussex
Mother: Margaret Ann Watson (born 1857), originally from Bracadale on the Isle of Skye, Scotland

Edward’s parents married on June 17, 1890, in Hadlow Down, Wealden, Sussex. He was the third of five children:

Dollina Margaret (born 1891)
Frances Mary (born 1893)
Edward Watson (born 1895)
William Neal Thomas (born 1897)
Robina Maggie (born 1904)

Childhood and Early Career

Where did Edward Ford spend his early years?

Edward’s early years were spent in rural Sussex. The 1901 census records show the Ford family living in the hamlet of Mark Cross in Rotherfield, Sussex. This picturesque setting would have been the backdrop for Edward’s childhood, surrounded by the rolling hills and farmlands of the English countryside.

What was Edward’s profession?

By the time of the 1911 census, Edward had begun his career as a blacksmith. At the age of 16 (sixteen), he was listed as a boarder at The Forge Lions Green, Horeham Road, Waldron, Sussex. His occupation was described as a “blacksmith’s improver,” indicating he was apprenticing or training in the trade.

Family Hardships and the Decision to Emigrate

The Ford family faced significant challenges in the years leading up to their fateful journey:

Edward’s father reportedly deserted the family
His mother struggled to support the family as a poultry farmer
Edward’s sister Frances emigrated to the USA in 1911, working as a domestic servant for a wealthy Long Island family

Inspired by Frances’ tales of a better life in America, the Ford family made the momentous decision to leave their home in Rotherfield and seek new opportunities across the Atlantic.

The Titanic Journey

Who accompanied Edward on the Titanic?

Edward was part of a large group of ten people embarking on this life-changing journey:

His immediate family members
His aunt Elizabeth Johnston and her family
A family friend, Phoebe Alice Harknett

What were the details of their Titanic passage?

Ticket Number: W./C. 6608
Ticket Cost: £34 7s 6d
Class: Third Class
Embarkation Point: Southampton
Destination: New London, Connecticut, where Edward’s uncle Thomas Watson lived

The Tragic Sinking

Tragically, the entire party of ten, including Edward Watson Ford, perished in the sinking of the Titanic. None of their bodies were identified among those recovered after the disaster. This devastating loss wiped out almost an entire generation of the Ford family.

Aftermath and Legacy

Following the sinking, Edward’s father filed a claim for the loss of his family. He was awarded a meager five shillings per week as compensation. The fate of Edward’s father remains uncertain, though it’s possible he remained in Rotherfield until his death in 1933.

Edward Watson Ford’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the many young lives cut short by the Titanic disaster. At just 18 (eighteen) years old, he represented the hopes and dreams of countless immigrants seeking a better life in America, only to have those aspirations tragically extinguished in the cold waters of the North Atlantic.