John Besford was the son of John Besford and Mary Besford (née Felton). John was born in Birtley, Northumberland and was baptised at St. Giles Parish Church, Birtley, on 3rd September 1749.
John Besford married Margaret Forster, also from the parish of Birtley, on 22nd December 1768, after Banns of Marriage had been read on 27th November and 4th and 11th December. John and Margaret were married by James Johnson, Curate at Birtley.
John and Margaret had the following children, all of whom were baptised at St. Giles Parish Church, Birtley:
- Ann Besford baptised 18th February 1771. Ann died at Pithouses and was buried on 5th November 1771.
- John Besford, born at Pithouses and baptised 29th November 1772.
- Margaret Besford, born at Pithouses and baptised 6th November 1774.
- George Besford, born at Pithouses and baptised 6th April 1777. George died and was buried on 16th February 1782. *
- Robert Besford, born at Pithouses and baptised 25th July 1779.
- Joseph Besford, born at Pithouses and baptised 2nd September 1781. Joseph died and was buried on 29th January 1782.
- Ann Besford, born at Pithouses and baptised 9th February 1783.
- Margery Besford, born at Pithouses and baptised 20th July 1788.
John Besford died in 1816 at the age of 67 at Cowstand, a farm in the parish of Birtley. He was buried at St. Giles Parish Church, Birtley on 18th December 1816.
*The parish register entry for George Besford’s baptism reads “George Besford, son of George and Margaret Besford of Pithouses”. John Besford’s brother George Besford married Mary Dodd in 1772 and none of their children were born at Pithouses. I believe that this was an error by the clergyman who made the entry in the parish register, especially since the burial record of just under five years later reads “George, son of John and Margaret Besford of Pithouses”.
