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.
Eshott Heugh
Eshott Heugh is a farm about 7 miles (11 km) north of Morpeth in Northumberland, in the parish of Felton. Heugh is a northern word for a steep bank. The Heugh was a separate holding on the Eshott estate, which the Carr family held from the mid sixteenth century until it was sold in 1792.
Robert Besford moved his family to Eshott Heugh in the mid-1820s. Two of his children were born there and baptised at Felton.
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.
Mary Besford (later Ferguson) (1822–1883)
Mary Besford was born on the farm where her parents were living and working. She worked on the farm, and later as a dressmaker.
William Besford (1823–1906)
William Besford worked as a coal miner until he retired, and was later recorded at age 77 to be working as a grocer in the 1891 census.
Robert Besford (1792–1844)
Robert Besford was an agricultural labourer. His first wife Isabella died aged 24. He married Mary Marshall in 1821.
Family of Robert Besford (1792–1844) and Mary Besford (née Marshall)
The seven children of Robert Besford and Mary Marshall were born across the farms around Cramlington and Felton, from Stickley to Eshott Heugh.