Besfords

The history of the Besfords

Mary Besford (née Turnbull) (1865-1951)

Mary Besford 1947

Mary Turnbull was born in 1865. Her parents, George Turnbull and Mary Turnbull (née Barron), were from Roxburghshire, Scotland. Mary had eight siblings.

Mary met David Besford, a coal miner and Methodist lay preacher, while he was preaching outdoors in the street, and they were married on 10th December 1887 at the United Presbyterian Church in Warkworth.

David and Mary lived at 19 Church Street, Amble until sometime between January 1893 and July 1894, when they moved to Middleton Street, Amble.

They had a total of twelve children, eight of whom survived beyond childhood.

4 generations: Mary Besford (née Turnbull) is centre with, left, her daughter Mary Thompson (née Besford) and, right, her mother Mary Turnbull (née Barron), holding Mary Thompson.
4 generations: Mary Besford (née Turnbull) is centre with, left, her daughter Mary Thompson (née Besford) and, right, her mother Mary Turnbull (née Barron), holding Mary Thompson.
Janet Besford with her mother Mary Besford (née Turnbull)
Mary Besford with her daughter Janet

Their third child (and first son) was John William (Jack) Besford.

David Besford with Mary Besford (seated)
David Besford with Mary Besford (née Turnbull, seated), 1920s/early 1930s
Mary Besford and David Besford
Mary Besford (née Turnbull) and David Besford 1920s/early 1930s
David Besford and Mary Besford (née Turnbull), pictured in 1947
Mary Besford (née Turnbull) and David Besford, pictured in 1947

Mary Besford died on 28th June 1951 at 33 Bothal Cottages, Ashington, at the age of 86.


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