Person:Alexander Besford (1)

Alexander Besford Occupation: Member of Parliment Worcester

   His dau inherited the manor of Black Naughton, co. Worcester.
   ---
   Some say that Alexander Besford was son of John Besford and Joan de Harley, but:
   To briefly summarize a well documented article in _The Genealogist_ v. 10, no. 1, pp. 35-72:
   "Agnes (de Besford) Throckmorton was therefore descended neither from the Harley family of co. Salop nor from the Harley family of co. Worcester."
   Evidence indicates that Alexander de Besford (b. est. 1325?) was likely son of John de Besford [who married Joan de Harley] 's brother Alexander, thus entirely missing any possible connection to Joan [de Harley?].
   ---
   Alexander de Besford died without male issue, leaving either two or three daughters: Margaret, who married firstly John Dicleston of Dixton in Alderton (co. Glouc.) and secondly Thomas de la Hay; Joan, who married Sir William Clopton (fn. 32) ; and perhaps Agnes, who married Thomas Throckmorton of Fladbury
   ---
   Though Alexander de Besford and Margaret his wife presented [to the church of Flyford Flavell, Worcs] in 1300 (fn. 24) and 1302, (fn. 25) the advowson was claimed in 1330 by Avice's grandson Thomas de Naunton. (fn. 26) Thomas, however, failed to make good his claim against Alexander de Besford, who stated that Avice had given the advowson and apparently also the manor to her son Robert, and that Robert had given it to Alexander and his wife Margaret. (fn. 27) The manor then descended with Besford (fn. 28) (q.v.) until the death of Alexander de Besford at the beginning of the 15th century, when it was apparently divided between his co-heirs, for John Dicleston and his wife Margaret presented to the church in 1405 and 1407, (fn. 29) and their daughter Margery, with her second husband Nicholas Giffard, presented in 1447, (fn. 30) while William Clopton, who had married Joan, Alexander's other co-heir*, (fn. 31) died seised of the manor and advowson in 1420?
    ---
   Alexander de Besford of Besford, Worcs, died [aft 1388] without male issue, leaving either two or three daughters: Margaret, who married firstly John Dicleston of Dixton in Alderton (co. Glouc.) and secondly Thomas de la Hay; Joan, who married Sir William Clopton.
   Margaret and Joan seem to have divided the manor of Besford between them, Joan ultimately transferring her share to her elder sister for a rent of 30s. out of the manor. Beatrice, widow of Alexander de Besford, who held of the lord a toft in which the capital messuage of her manor used to stand, and two parts of the manor of Besford, died in 1403?4, when it was presented that the daughters and heirs of Alexander, Margery wife of John Dicleston and Joan wife of John (an error for William) Clopton, owed suit for the same. John Dicleston owed for relief and fealty for half a fee in Besford from 1408 to 1411. The estate shortly afterwards passed to Thomas de la Hay, who had married John's widow. After his wife's death on 24 August 1412, Thomas de la Hay continued to hold the manor.

1.   Royal Families in Europe, Mayflower Descendants.

   Royal Families in Europe, Mayflower Descendants, Mrs. (Oscar Herbert) Elizabeth M. Leach Rixford, (Originally published Burlington, Vermont, 1932, Supplement published, 1943, Consolidated and reprinted for Clearfield Company, Inc. by Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc., Baltimore, Maryland, 1992, 1993), Page 186

2.   The Throckmorton Family Author: C. Wickliffe Throckmorton.

   A Genealogical and Historical Account of the Throckmorton Family Author: C. Wickliffe Throckmorton.
   Call Number: R929.2 qT531
   Genealogy of the Throckmorton family in England and the United States with brief notes on some of the allied families, 1066-1926.
   Bibliographic Information: Throckmorton, C. Wickliffe. A Genealogical and Historical Account of
   the Throckmorton Family. Richmond, VA: Old Dominion Press, 1930.
   Page 39
   Text: b. Abt 1322, Besford, Worcestershire, England

3.   Sixty Colonists Who Came To New England, by Frederick Lewis Weis.

   Ancestral Roots of Sixty Colonists Who Came To New England, by Frederick Lewis Weis.
   Title: Ancestral Roots of Sixty Colonists Who Came to New England between 1623 and 1650, Sixth Edition
   Author: Frederick Lewis Weis
   Publication: Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, Maryland, 1992
   Reference: 27
   Text: Died: bef 1403

4.   LDS Text: Pedigree Reference File, CD.
5.   Http://our-royal-titled-noble-and-commoner-ancestors.com/p33.htm.

   Sir Alexander Besford
   b. circa 1340, d. before 1403
   Father John de Besford d. 1341
   Mother Joan de Harley d. 1341
   Sir Alexander Besford married Beatrice Thorndon, daughter of Nicholas de Thorndon. Sir Alexander Besford was born circa 1340. He died before 1403.
   Family
   Beatrice Thorndon d. 1404
   Children Alice Besford
   Agnes Besford b. 1365, d. 1428