The Beginning

"Radford" is an English name that is local in origin, meaning that the name was derived from the name of the place where a man once lived or where he held land. There were "Radford" towns in counties of Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Warwickshire and thereby spread to the counties of Derbyshire, Cheshire, Somersetshire and Lancashire.

The literal meaning of the name is "red ford".

The FIFTH Generation   -   The John Radford Family     BACK to the GILLETT FAMILY

The first known Radford on the Gillett family tree was John Radford. John was probably born in Somersetshire, England, in the 1770's. He married Sarah Hodder on May 27, 1804, in Winsham, Somerset, Engand. Sarah was born or christened February 7, 1779, in Winsham, Somerset, England, the daughter of John and Sarah (Tucker) Hodder.
      (John Hodder was born in Winsham about 1750. He married Sarah Tucker there on June 4, 1775.
      Sarah was born about 1754 in Winsham, Somerset, England.)

The John Radfords were living in the Parish of Henton, St. George, Camby of Somersetshire, England when they decided to come to America. They came in 1818 settling in Lawrence County, Ohio. Why Lawrence County? John was probably in his early 40's, Sarah was about 39 years old with four children between three years old and ten years old.

John and Sarah (Hodder) Radford were the parents of at least four children, all born in England. Three of their children married children of Joel and Chloe (Griswold) Gillett.

• Henry Hodder Radford
  Born:   April 4, 1808, in Somerset, England
  Married:   Philander Gillett on October 5 , 1829, in Lawrence County, Ohio - she was born March 10, 1809,
        the daughter of Joel and Chloe (Griswold) Gillett - they spent their entire married life in the Lawrence
        County, Ohio area - Philander died March 31, 1860, at age 51
  Died:   November 2, 1876, at age 68 - both Henry and Philander are buried in the Old Rome Cemetery
        in Lawrence County, Ohio
  Children:   Ten - for their children see Philander Gillett in the Gillett History (5th generation)
• William Radford
  Born:   (Date/Place Unknown) - he was listed in the 1840 census for Lawrence County, Ohio
  Died:   (Date/Place Unknown)
• Sarah G. Radford
  Born:   June 12, 1812, in Henton Parish, St. George County, Somerset, England
  Married:   Alanson Gillett on April 20, 1829, in Lawrence County, Ohio - he was born in Seneca County,
        New York, on August 22, 1802, the son of Joel and Chloe(Griswold) Gillett
        - after Sarah died, Alanson married(2) Sarah (Haskell) Paine - Alanson died in 1894 in Harriman,
        Roane County, Tennessee, about 92 years old - he was first a boat builder in Louisiana and then a
        farmer in Lawrence County
  Died:   February 26, 1866, at age 53 - both Sarah and Alanson are buried in the Old Rome Cemetery
        in Lawrence County, Ohio
  Children:   Nine - for their children see Alanson Gillett in the Gillett History (5th generation)
• Nancy Ann Radford - direct ancestor (Great-Great-Grandmother) - see 4th generation
  Born:   September 3, 1815, in Saint Pauls, Little Eaton, Derbyshire, England
  Married:   Joel Griswold Gillett on July 30, 1833, in Lawrence County, Ohio - he was born May 12, 1812,
        probably in Seneca County, New York, the son of Joel and Chloe (Griswold) Gillett -
        Joel died June 27, 1875, in Barry County, Missouri
  Died:   (Date/Place Unknown) - Nancy Ann (Radford) Gillett was still living as of 1891 over 76 years old
  Children:   Four

The FOURTH Generation   -   The Joel Gillett Family     BACK to the GILLETT FAMILY

For more information on the Nancy Ann (Radford) and Joel Griswold Gillet family, go to: