William Bestford (1862–1922)
William Bestford was born near Blaydon in 1862. He served in India with the Northumberland Fusiliers, then worked as a coal miner around Winlaton, and died in Newcastle in 1922.
Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne stands on the north bank of the River Tyne. It was historically part of Northumberland, and became a county in its own right in 1400.
From 1530 all coal shipped from Tyneside had to pass through Newcastle Quayside, and the town’s wealth came from that trade and later from shipbuilding.
Besfords lived in the suburbs of Gosforth and Heaton, and Dora Besford married Harry Hornsby at St Hilda’s in Jesmond in 1948.
Family of John Besford (1826–1914) and Margaret Besford (née Patterson)
John Besford and Margaret Patterson had eight children, born around Cowpen and Blyth from 1851. Their son Robert lived just 22 days.