Articles

John was born at Snitter and became an agricultural labourer. He and his wife Mary Felton had seven children.

Robert Besford (1792–1844) married Isabella Robson at the Parish Church of St. Mary Magdelene, Mitford, Northumberland, on 18th April 1818.

Thomas Bestford volunteered for the 9th Pennsylvania Cavalry in 1861 and deserted a year later, one of more than 200,000 Union soldiers who did.

Elizabeth Mary Dixon married Alexander Sanderson Besford (1901–1992) on 4th October 1921.

Irene Besford married Roy Boston and had two children, Lynette and Christine. She is buried at Korumburra Cemetery in Victoria.

Three Besfords were convicted in the English courts and transported to Australia.

The earliest Besford we have been able to trace was living in Thropton at the time of his marriage to Margaret Robson. The couple had a son named George.

The parish register records only “George, son of the Widow Besford, Snitter”. Which George Besford this was remains unsolved.

Ann Besford was working as a servant at Earsdon West Forest Farm north of Morpeth by the time she was 16 years old. She had six sons, five of whom survived to adulthood.

George Besford was born at Fenrother, Northumberland, and worked as a coal miner. He was actively involved in boat racing.