1877 biorn 1877 Moorgate Street, Stencoat, Halifax, Yorkshire, England (email Kate Mawer 16.2.25)

John & Mary (Polly) had no children (email Kate Mawer 16.2.25)

1941 death date (email Kate Mawer 16.2.25)

1891 John Smith Bedford and Frances Jane Smith, married in Sutton-in-Craven, West Yorkshire, on 23rd December 1891. Frances, known as Fanny, was 26 years old and living in Eastburn. John, 23, was a bookkeeper at a mill, living at Beanlands, his parents’ home in Sutton-in-Craven. Ten years previously Fanny, having left school, was a weaver. In 1891 she was visiting her brother William’s family in Great Marsden near Nelson. Her occupation was cloth weaver. Fanny’s parents and some siblings were living at 8 Skipton Rd in Steeton with Eastburn in 1891. It is assumed that she lived at home with her parents, like John, prior to marrying. (Email Kate Mawer 16 Feb 2025)

One year after marrying Fanny and John had their first child. Son Eric was born in December 1892. On Eric’s baptism record the family are shown to be living at Sutton Mill. Sutton Mill was an area of housing developed for mill workers by the owners, T&M Bairstow. A new mill had been built in 1888, so it is likely that John was working for Bairtow’s Mill as a bookkeeper, possibly in the General Office shown in this photograph.
In April 1895 Gordon, a second son was born, with the home on the baptism record given as Glusburn. Glusburn, Cross Hills, Sutton-in-Craven, Sutton Mill and Eastburn are located to the south west of Silsden, see the map below. The Bedford and Smith family connections to these mill towns and villages are described later in this narrative. Kath grew up in Sutton-in-Craven and lived in Silsden through all her married life.
The following year on 21st September 1900 a second daughter, Frances Isabel, was born. Towards the end of 1900 and the beginning of 1901, the family moved a couple of miles into Glusburn to live on Lothersdale Road. This photograph would become very special for the family as in February 1901, when Eric was 8 years old, Kath 3 and Isabel 5 months, Gordon died suddenly, aged 5. (Email Kate Mawer 16 Feb 2025)

1901 Census, 25 Lothersdale Road, Glusburn, Skipton, Yorkshire, John S Bedford, Head married 32, bookkeeper at Worsted Spinning Mill, worker, born Yorkshire, Keighley, Fanny wife 35 born Yorkshire, Keighley, Eric son, 8 born Sutton in Craven, Katharine A daughter 3 born Sutton in Craven, frances I daughter 6 months born Sutton in Craven

1903. Two years after the death of Gordon, on the 19th February 1903, the family was completed with the birth of William, known as Bill. He was given the middle name, Ritchie, his maternal grandmother’s maiden name. Shortly after Bill’s birth and perhaps because of it, in 1904 the family moved from Lothersdale Road to Ashgrove in Sutton-in-Craven. There was a short stay at Woodbine Cottage, Crosshills, before the final move to number 9 Ashgrove. So, with Eric, aged 12, Kath 7, Isabel 4 and Bill 1 this became the family home. Kath’s parents lived here for the rest of their lives. It is believed that the house move probably coincided with John changing jobs. His move back to Sutton-in-Craven linked to John working for Sir John Horsfall at Hayfield Mill in Sutton-in-Craven. (Email Kate Mawer 16 Feb 2025)

1910. In 1910 John and Fanny had this photograph taken of Isabel (9), Bill (7) and Kath (13). The photograph was taken at the Hall and Siggers Studio, that later became a place of work for Isabel. Information shared by Anne Booker, Isabel’s daughter, explained that Fanny had long periods in hospital in these years due to mental health issues. Fanny’s sister, Isabella, known as Aunt Bella, looked after the children at this time. Although we believe that she was also running her drapery business in Sutton Mill. (Email Kate Mawer 16 Feb 2025)

1911 Census, 9 Ashgrove, Sutton, Keighley, Yorkshire, John Smith Bedford, head 42, married, factory manager, worsted spinning, worker, born Yorkshire, Keighley, Eric, son 18 single, apprentice, machine tool , worker, born Yorkshire, Sutton in Craven, Katharine Annie daughter 13 school, born Yorkshire, Sutton in Craven, Frances Isabel daughter 10 school, born Yorkshire, Sutton in Craven, William Ritchie son 8 born Yorkshire, Sutton in Craven & Mary Jane Smith, wife’s sister, 33 single Housekeeper, born Halifax, Yorkshire

1911. By 1911 John is no longer a bookkeeper or clerk at a worsted factory instead in the census he gives his employment as factory manager in the worsted spinning industry. The move to Hayfield Mill, where John’s father Benjamin had worked, may also have been a promotion. With the children aged between 8 and 18 we find that Fanny was not at home at the time of the 1911 census. Now, Mary Jane Smith, Fanny’s youngest half- sister, known by the name Aunt Polly, was living with the family as the housekeeper, Aunt Bella living in Main Street, Sutton Mill. One year later on the 16th November 1912 Fanny died at home, aged 47. She died because of breast cancer and had been living with the condition for two years. Fanny’s older sister Kate had died of the same condition seven years previously, also aged 47. (Email Kate Mawer 16 Feb 2025)

The family continued to live at 9 Ashgrove, with Aunt Polly (known later as Granny Polly) running the household. As a school student Kath took part in amateur dramatic performances. She is shown here as a cast member in ‘Pearl the fisher maid’. A Spanish operetta, clearly shown with the number of fans! Kath would have enjoyed the music, singing and dancing. (Email Kate Mawer 16 Feb 2025)

1921. The 1921 census provides an insight as to how all the family, now over the age of 18, are employed. John was the manager at Hayfield Mills, working for John Horsfall & Sons, managing the worsted spinning factory in Glusburn. It is likely that this is where he was working in 1911 too. Aunt Polly is still living with the family as the housekeeper. (Email Kate Mawer 16 Feb 2025)

1926. It was after both his daughters had married that Kath’s father John married his second wife, Polly, on 3rd December 1926 at Keighley register Office. Polly was John’s sister-in-law and aunt to his children. She had lived with John since Fanny’s illness in 1911. Many years later, his grandchildren, Tom and Ben, were surprised to discover the marriage certiificate as the children had not known of this late marriage. In addition, they found that their own parents Kath and Arthur, had been the two witnesses, yet had never mentioned this to their children.
At the time of the marriage John was 58 and Polly years old. The 1921 marriage act had changed the law, allowing a woman to marry her sister’s husband, which could explain why John and Polly had not married sooner. (Email Kate Mawer 16 Feb 2025)

John and Polly would enjoy being at the seaside with their young grandchildren.

1933 John Smith Bedford died on the 19th September 1933 in Victoria Hospital, aged 64, he was in hospital having an operation and died of cardiac failure. He was buried with his first wife Fanny and his children Eric and Gordon. (Email Kate Mawer 16 Feb 2025)

England & Wales Marriages. Mary J Smith, married John S Bedford Oct/Dec 1926 Keighley, Yorkshire, Vol 9A, Page 404