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

The Old Parish Register of St. Mary Magdalene contains both a record of the reading of the banns for their marriage, and a record of the marriage itself. Robert was recorded as living at Stannington, Northumberland at the time of the marriage. Isabella was from the parish of Mitford. John Besford was a witness at the wedding – almost certainly Robert’s elder brother John. The register bears Robert’s signature, but Isabella must have been unable to write as she has made her mark against her name in the Register.

Robert and Isabella went to live and work at Stickley Farm, located just to the north-east of Cramlington. The farm is still there today.

Isabella died and was buried at the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Horton, Northumberland on 28th February 1819, only 10 months after her marriage to Robert. The Parish Register entry records her age as 24. Robert would have been aged 27 at that time. The register records that Isabella had died at Stickley.

Main image: Etching of Mitford church from 1813, almost contemporaneous with their marriage.