THE NAME
“Rock Ford”
In the 18th Century, no bridges spanned the Conestoga so it was necessary to “ford”—or cross—at locations known to be sufficiently shallow and where the river bottom was firm. Thus, “Rock Ford” referred to the “ford at the rock” either because of the nearby large rock outcropping or because the bottom of the river was firm with rocks. Historic Rock Ford is located along the banks of the Conestoga River about one and a half miles southeast of downtown Lancaster.
A plaque located alongside Williamson Road reads:
At Rockford near here lived & died General Edward Hand, M.D., a soldier of the Revolution, Adjutant General & friend of Washington. Born in Clyduff Ireland, he first fought for British rights, then for American Liberty. Lancaster County’s Historical Society erected this tablet Sept. 20 A.D. 1912 to honor a soldier, statesman and gentleman and all of the County’s sons who fought in freedom’s holy cause.