Ford, Thomas, Bl.
FORD, THOMAS, BL.
Priest, martyr; b. Devonshire, England; d. hanged, drawn, and quartered at Tyburn (London), May 28, 1582. After receiving his master's degree from Trinity College, Oxford, Ford was a fellow for about three years. Having entered the English College, Douai in 1570, Ford became one of the first three of its students to be ordained (March 1573 at Brussels). He continued his studies until his return to England, May 2, 1576. There he was chaplain to Edward Yate and his Bridgettine guests at Lyford, Berkshire. Ford was arrested with St. Edmund campion (July 17, 1581) and committed to the Tower (July 22), where he was submitted to torture three times. He and Bl. John shert stood trial together on an absurd charge of conspiracy at Rome and Rheims—where he had never been, and on dates when he was in England. Both were condemned November 21 and were executed with Bl. Robert johnson. All three were beatified by Pope Leo XIII.
Feast of the English Martyrs: May 4 (England).
See Also: england, scotland, and wales, martyrs of.
Bibliography: r. challoner, Memoirs of Missionary Priests, ed. j. h. pollen (rev. ed. London 1924; repr. Farnborough 1969). j. h. pollen, Acts of English Martyrs (London 1891).
[k. i. rabenstein]