Exford L. King
My dad always went by the name Exford Louis King. I notice, however, that in an old census report he is listed as Louis Xavier Exford Roy. Cousin Cheryl has explained the complexities of exploring and interpreting French-Canadian names. I won’t get into that. Anyhow, as the story goes Dad was born in the year 1900. His mother Emma ran what today would be called a bed and breakfast. There would only be a few guests at a time. In those days the expression “English” meant anyone who spoke English as their native tongue. And so, an English-speaking couple was enjoying the fresh mountain air in and around Chazy Lake. Grandmother Emma put them up while she was pregnant with my dad. The time of delivery came, and Dad was born at home. The “English” lady promised that if she could name the child, he would receive a handsome legacy. She named him Exford, perhaps partly after his father’s name of Xavier. Time passed but no monetary award ever followed. The name lived on, however. Dad named his oldest son James Exford and I named my son Michael Exford so the name continues. Incidentally, I was born in the same house thirty-two years later, and my grandfather added Xavier to my birth certificate.
