Fordham Family History

I have tracked down most links relating to my family history of my namesakes.  Principle memory sources have been Adrian Fordham (my father), Veronica Bareham (nee Fordham, my aunt), Alan Fordham (my uncle), Cicely Fordham (my great-aunt, now deceased), Joan Fordham (my grandfather's second cousin, now deceased), Edith Sargeant (nee Fordham, my grandfather's cousin).  

Special thanks are due to ken Fordham of Loughborough, who though not related directly to me, has been a huge help with tracking down various links and branches of the family.

I never met my grandmother Florrie, but did know my grandfather Felix (Edward Alan Fordham), pictured above with my dad Adrian and my Aunt Veronica taken in 1943 when he was home on leave.

In broad terms, the geography of the family history is as follows.  Fordham is a relatively common family name and by the late 18th Century, c.1790 the family are agricultural labourers in North Suffolk, principally around the villages or Coney Weston, Barningham and Hepworth.  The family at this time are not land owners and would have been deeply affected by the enclosure laws of the early 19th Century.

Coney Weston is to remain the main area of residence for the Fordham family throughout the 19th Century and indeed, right up to the end of the 20th Century when the last close blood relative Joan Fordham passed away.

By the late 19th Century however, travel (mainly the growth of the railways) and access to careers enable a higher level of mobility and parts of the family take this as their cue to move - Ellen Fordham (1840-1913) marries John Green in Coney Weston and stays in the north Suffolk area; George Fordham (1842-1921) becomes a police constable, moves and marries Alice Anker in 1870 in Whittlesea, Northamptonshire; and James Fordham (1848-1927) marries Agnes Plummer in Stowmarket, but returns to Coney Weston and Barningham and become significant farmers in the village.