Nat Gould

Mahala Berisford 1847-1934

Mahala Berisford was born at Hartington in Derbyshire, the daughter of George Berisford and his wife nee Sarah Howard. Her father was a shoemaker. She was baptised at Hartington on 10 October 1847.

She was married to Frank Austin at Hartington on 26 December 1871 (1). He was born at Milldale in Alstonefield parish in 1849, the son of Edward and Elizabeth Austin of Milldale. He worked at Stanshope Hall in Alstonefield parish.

In 1881 the family were recorded as living in Milldale, but when the 1891 Census was taken they were recorded at 4 Hope Road in Alstonefield (2). They were still there in 1901, Frank Austin then being a roadman. In 1911 they were living at Hope Cottages in Alstonefield. Frank Austin was then an estate worker and small farmer.

They had three children, all born in Alstonefield:

Frank Austin. He was born in 1870 (3). In 1891 Frank Austin was a shoemaker's apprentice aged 20. By 1901 he was a shoemaker working on his own account. On 5 March 1902 he married Esther Millward at Earl Sterndale in Derbyshire. By 1911 they were living at Hope Dale in Alstonefield, when he was working as a boot repairer on his own account. Frank Austin died in 1960 aged 89 years. His wife had predeceased him in 1955 aged 86 years.

Alfred Edward Austin. He was born in 1873. He was working at the Cheese Factory at Rocester in Staffordshire in 1901, but was living at home in Alstonefield in 1911, unmarried, employed as a roadman. He died in 1958 aged 85 years.

Arthur Austin. He was born in 1878. In 1901 he was a cattleman working on a farm. In 1911 he was unmarried and employed as a roadman. He had married Lucy Webster in 1907. She was born at Kniveton in Derbyshire, the daughter of Thomas and Harriet Webster. They had a son Arthur Austin born at Alstonefield in 1909. Lucy Austin died in 1925 aged 42 years. Her husband Arthur Austin died in 1959 aged 82 years.

Mahala Austin died in 1934 aged 86 years (4).
Her husband had predeceased her in 1931 aged 82 years.

(1) The entry in the Hartington marriage register wrongly records her as Matilda Berisford, but correctly names her as being the daughter of George Berisford the shoemaker. The witnesses were Isaac Berisford (probably her brother) and Ann Berisford (probably her grandmother).
(2) This may have been the same address.
(3) He was born before his parents married, and his birth name was registered as Frank Austin Berisford. After his parents married the Berisford name was dropped. In the 1881 Census Return he was recorded as Frank Austin, by which name he was known for the rest of his life.
(4) Her death was registered at the Ashbourne District Registry under the name Agnes Mahala Berisford.