George Henry Cornford was born in 1834 in West Firle, the illegitimate son of Naomi Cornford. He was baptised at St Peter's Church, West Firle on 2nd November 1834. His mother died c1837 and George was brought up by his grandparents. He married Matilda Ann Ivy (nee Webb, born Middlesex) at St James, Westminster, 0n 2nd October 1859. They went on to have seven children, the oldest two born in Lambeth, the youngest five born in Worthing. Their fifth child, Edward James, died aged 11 and was buried in the East section of the cemetery.
By 1866 the family was living in Thorn Terrace (Thorn Road by 1896), George working as an Engineer at a Water Works.
George and Matilda's fourth child, Thomas Macdonald was born in Heene in 1870 and was a Carpenter by 1891, then still living at home with his parents. He married Kate (nee Uttley, born in Chalton, Hampshire) at St Mary's Broadwater in 1890.
In 1901, George and Matilda were living at 2 Burlington Terrace in Rowlands Road with their single daughter Georgina Louise, a Dyer and Cleaner, working on her own account as Cornford and Co. Dyers. George was recorded as a Retired Engineer, he had been married 51 years and had 8 children, 6 still living.
George Cornford died in 1913, Matilda in 1918. They were buried in the same grave in the cemetery, next to that of Edward James. In his will George left everything to Matilda his effects amounted to £138 0s 4d.