The Marion County Historical Society will be presenting the Ford’s Encampment Sept. 13 through Sept. 15.
The sixth annual encampment will be located at the John Ford Home in Sandy Hook. The encampment was originally scheduled Feb. 23, but was canceled due to the weather at the time.
The event now will be spread over 3 days.
The John Ford Home is considered the oldest home in the Pearl River Valley. It dates back to around 1798.
Besides its age the home is full of history, including Gen. Andrew Jackson and his troops staying there overnight before heading to the Battle of New Orleans. Originally the house was a stockade known as Ford’s Fort during the War of 1812. It was used against the Creek Indians during the “Great Mississippi Panic.”
It was at the home in 1816 where territorial delegates came together to petition for Mississippi statehood in what became known as the Pearl River Convention.
The area where the home stands was raided in the Civil War in 1864 by Gen. John Davidson and 4,000 union soldiers.
In addition to its war history is its history with the Methodist Church. The Rev. John Ford was a Methodist minister when he settled in Sandy Hook around 1808. He was a leader in the Methodist Church and held the first Methodist conference at the John Ford Home. A second conference was held in 1818. From that conference it was decided one of John Ford’s sons would go to Jackson where he established the first church there, which is now known as Galloway United Methodist Church.
In addition to be a meeting place, the house has also been an inn and one of the first post offices in the area at a time when the region was known as “Ford’s” and later “Fordsville.” Ford was the first postmaster and maintained that position until his death.
See The Columbian-Progress for more details.
Pictured Above: Civil War reenactors from several states will participate in the Ford encampment Sept. 13 through Sept. 15.
