John Besford (1872–1954)
John Besford was born in Blyth, and worked for the Cowpen Coal Co. for 61 years.
Blyth
Blyth is a port town on the Northumberland coast, 13 miles (21 km) north-east of Newcastle upon Tyne, at the mouth of the River Blyth.
Coal was shipped from the port from the fourteenth century, and three million tons a year were leaving the staiths by 1900. Shipbuilding on the river dates from 1748.
George Robert Besford (1909–1981)
George Robert Besford and his wife Isabella Summers emigrated from the UK to Canada in 1947. The family returned in 1949 and lived in Blyth, Northumberland.
William Besford (1851–1879)
William was born in 1851 at Cowpen, Blyth and worked as a coal miner. In 1877, he married Jane Temple at Morpeth Register Office. The couple had one daughter.
John Besford (1826–1914)
John was born in 1826 at Eshott Heugh. He would have worked as an agricultural labourer from a very early age (5 or 6). He later worked as a coal miner, which he continued until he was at least 74 years old.
Thomas Besford (born 1900)
Thomas Besford married Minnie Dorsett in 1925. Together they ran a chip shop in Blyth.
Thomas Besford (1833–1914)
Thomas Besford worked as a coal miner throughout his life. He was left with four young children when his wife died of smallpox.
Ann Besford (1825–1896)
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 (1831–1908)
George Besford was born at Fenrother, Northumberland, and worked as a coal miner. He was actively involved in boat racing.
William Thompson Besford (1899–1997)
William Besford was taken prisoner in the Second World War in 1942. He was repatriated at the end of the war.
Robert Besford (1792–1844)
Robert Besford was an agricultural labourer. His first wife Isabella died aged 24. He married Mary Marshall in 1821.