Articles

Thomas Besford was the son of David Besford and Mary Besford (née Turnbull). Thomas was born on 8th November 1899 at Chevington Crescent, Northumberland.

George Bestford was born on 1st October 1897 at Bensham, Gateshead. His parents were Thomas Bestford and Elizabeth Ann Bestford (née Reed) who married in 1889.

John Besford was born on 7th November 1879 at Cowpen, Blyth. His parents were Thomas Besford (1833-1914) and Thomas’s second wife Isabella Besford (née Oliver).

The Border Reivers were raiding families during the 15th to early 17th centuries on both sides of the border between England and Scotland.

The Border Reivers were raiders along the Anglo-Scottish border. Read more about the Reivers and the Reiver family names which occur in Mary Besford (née Turnbull)’s ancestry.

Jack Besford spoke at the Northumberland Miners’ Picnic, Carlisle Park, Morpeth, on Saturday, 17th July 1948.

Joan Matthews was born on 24th April 1921 at Westgate, Haltwhistle, Northumberland. Her parents were John Thompson Matthews (then aged 30) and Mary Elizabeth Teasdale Matthews (née Liddell) (then aged 28).

Henry Charles Deamster Hornsby was born on 16th May 1909 at Pace Bush, Choppington, Northumberland. His parents were Demster Hornsby and Annie Hornsby (née Johnson).

John Besford was the son of Robert Besford (1752-1837) and his second wife, Ann Besford (née Goodfellow). John was baptised on 3rd May 1789 at the parish church of St. John of Beverley, St. John Lee, Northumberland. St. John Lee is about 10 miles south of Hallington, where Robert and Ann were living at the time. Robert was employed as an agricultural labourer at Cheviot Farm, Hallington.

William Thompson Besford was the son of John Besford (1872-1954) and Mary Ann Besford (nee Thompson). He was born on 10th September 1899.