Thomas Besford was born on 11th June 1900, the son of Thomas Besford and Elizabeth Besford (née Train). Thomas was the brother of John Besford (1890-1916).
The 1901 Census recorded Thomas as 9 months old and living with his parents Thomas and Elizabeth at 3 Ann’s Row, Cowpen, Blyth, Northumberland. At this point Thomas had three sisters living at home with him (Kate, 15, Annie, 12, and Elizabeth 3) and his elder brother John, 10.
The 1911 Census recorded Thomas aged 10 and living with his parents and family at 3 Ann’s Row, Crofton Mills, Cowpen , Blyth. His father Thomas (51) was working as a Hewer. His mother Elizabeth was 46. Thomas had seven brothers and sisters living with him and his parents. These were: Annie Besford (22), John Besford (21) who was working as a putter, Elizabeth Jane Besford (13), Jane Besford (8), Emily Stuart Besford (6), Emma Besford (4), and Edward Train Besford (2).
Thomas’s brother John Besford had joined the Northumberland Hussars and was serving in France when he sadly died of illness in 1916 at the age of 25.
The 1921 Census tells us that Thomas, now 21, was working as a coal miner (specifically a putter) at Cambois Colliery, which was owned by the Cowpen Coal Company. His father Thomas (now almost 62) was also working at Cambois Colliery as a hewer. The family were still living at 3 Ann’s Row, Cowpen. In the household as well were Thomas’s mother Elizabeth (56), and his siblings Jane Besford (19), Emma Besford (15), Emily Besford (14), and Edward Besford (13). Jane was working as a barber’s assistant (to a T. Wheatley) and Emily was working as a domestic servant to a Mr. M Smith, the owner of a chip shop.
In early 1925 Thomas Besford married Minnie Dorsett.
Kelly’s Directory of Northumberland for 1929 lists Minnie Besford as a Fried Fish Dealer at 11 Northumberland Street, Blyth. In other words she was running a chip shop.
The 1939 Register taken at the outbreak of the Second World War recorded Thomas and Minnie Besford living at 12 Woodbine Terrace, Blyth. Thomas was now aged 39, and Minnie was 40. Thomas was no longer a Coal Miner but was now described as a Fried Fish and Chip Dealer. Minnie was recorded as carrying out domestic duties.
Minnie Besford died in 1995.
Thomas Besford’s father Thomas was the son of Ann Besford, the sister of John Besford (1826-1914). Thomas was thus the great-grandson of Robert Besford (1792-1844) and his known ancestry therefore goes back to the marriage of James Besford and Margaret Robson (1679), his 5x great grandparents.
