Bessie Beeson Sams (1882 - 1944)
Born in Worthing
Bessie, born in Worthing, was a daughter of William Sams and Betsy (nee Beeson). She had two sisters and three brothers. She was christened in St Botolphs.
Father William, born in Bardfield, Essex, became Manager for George Beer who built several glasshouses on land by Chesswood Villa in 1872. There were 2 vineries, a cucumber house and a house for peaches. It was the first commercial glasshouse industry in Worthing.
William Sams became a significant grower at Heene, and Vice-Chairman of the Founding Committee of Worthing Horticultural Society founded in 1890.
Mother Betsy was born in Albury, Hertfordshire, daughter of William Beeson and Sarah (nee Stevenson). William, from Woolsthorpe in Lincolnshire, married Sarah, from Branstone, Leicestershire, in Grantham in 1845.
In 1871 Betsy or Elizabeth was working as a Cook at All Saints Rectory in Hastings. She was one of 4 Servants at the Rectory.
William and Betsy married in 1874 in Kensington and Chelsea.
In 1881 the Sams family were living in Manor Road. William, Nurseryman, and employer of 3 Labourers, with Betsy, and sons William, Verles and Edward, plus Betsy's parents, William (retired Publican) and Sarah. (I can't find any other mention of Verles.)
In 1891, living at Stortford House, Manor Rd. were William, Nursery Man and Fruit Grower, wife Betsy, and children William John, who followed his father into the Nursery trade, Joseph Beeson, Edward and Dolly (Dora), all born in Worthing. William lived between 1861 and 1871 with his parents in Bishops Stortford, probably the source of the name of his house. (which is on the NW corner of Manor Road and St Michael's Road, very close to the Cemetery.)
In 1901 William and Betsy, with William John, Dora and Bessie, were living at the Elms, in Boundary Road. They had a Domestic Cook and a Housemaid.
In 1911 there were William, Betsy, Joseph, and sisters Daisy and Bessie at the Elms. They had one female General Servant. Bessie was described on the census return as partially deaf from birth.
Mother Betsy died in 1924, and father William on 14th March 1937.
When William died he left Bessie and her sister Daisy £250 pounds for acknowledgement of their tender and loving care of him, and their work and helpfulness in household duties since their Mother's death. He left personal effects to Daisy and Bessie, and he left a house to Daisy.
When Bessie died, in February1944, at 21 Montefiore Road, Hove, Probate was given to brother Joseph. She was buried in the Sams family grave on the 22nd February.