Edward Ford

the eldest Son of Sir John Ford Knight, was born at Uppark in the parish of Harting in Sussex, became a Gent. Com. of Trin. Coll. in the beginning of the year 1621 aged 16 years, but before he took a degree he left that House, and whether afterwards he travelled or studied in the Inns of Court, I know not. Sure it is that about the beginning of the Civil War, he was prick’d High Sherriff for Sussex, adheer’d to the King at Oxon, from whom he received the honour of Knighthood there, 4. Oct. 1643 and about that time had a commission to be a Colonel in his Army against the Rebels; for which afterwards he suffered equally with other Royalists. In Nov. 1647 when the King made his escape from Hampton Court, he, with Dr. Steph. Goffe were committed to safe custody, as being suspected for the design of the Kings escape. In 1656 he, upon Olivers encouragement, and invitation of the chief Citizens of London, raised the Thames water into all the highest streets of that City, ninety three foot high, in four eight-inch pipes, to the wonder of all, and honor of the nation: done at his own charge, and in one years time, with his rare engine that he had invented for that purpose; by which several parts of the nation did afterwards find benefit in the draining of Mines and Lands, much better and cheaper than any other device before. ’Twas he also that made the great water Engine against Somersethouse, for the serving the Inhabitants of the Strand, and of other parts adjoyning, with water; which hindring the prospect of Qu. Cath. the Royal Consort of K. Ch. 2, she found means to have it pluck’d down. Some time after his Majesties restauration he invented a new way of farthings, of which he made demonstration to the King and Council so plainly, that they were satisfied that they could not possibly be counterfeited, and that one farthing could not be like another, but that they should differ in some little thing. And having then a design to get a patent for the making of them for England, was put aside by Pr. Rupert, and at length was content with one only for Ireland: To which place taking a journey soon after, died there before he could effect his design. He hath written and published,

A design for bringing a river from Rickmansworth in Hertfordshire to S. Giles in the Fields near London: The benefits of it declared, and the objections against it answer [•] d Lond. 1641. in 5. or 6. sh. in qu.

Experimental proposals how the K. may have money to pay and maintain his Fleets, with ease to the people; London may be rebuilt, and all proprietors satisfied; money may be lent at 6 l. per cent. on pawns, and the fishing trade set up, and all without straining or thwarting any of our laws and customs. Lond. 1666. qu.

Defence of Bill-credit—Printed at the end of the former pamphlet. About the year 1663 he printed an ingenious proposal for the raising of money by bills of exchange, which should pass current instead of money, to prevent robbery, but this I have not yet seen. He died in Ireland, 1670. on the 3. of Sept. in sixteen hundred and seventy, and his body being brought into England, was buried in the Church at Harting by its Ancestors. He was a great Virtuoso of his time, yet none of the Royal Society, and might have done greater matters, if that he had not been disincouraged for those things he had done before.