Person:William Cox (108)

William Cox was baptised on 18th April 1802 at Barnack in Northamptonshire, son of Catherine Cox, formerly Newborn, and her husband Thomas Cox, a blacksmith. William was the second of the couple's three children. He also had a half-sister, born to his mother before she had married Thomas Cox.

On 19th April 1826, aged 24, William married Catherine Mason, who was also from Barnack. William followed the same trade as his father, becoming a blacksmith. William and Catherine would go on to have eleven children together, although two died young. William's father died in 1830.

The 1841 census finds William, Catherine and their children living in Barnack. William was described as a blacksmith at this time. By 1851, William was describing himself as a farmer of 95 acres. In both the 1841 and 1851 censuses, William's mother was living with him and his family. She died later in 1851.

William's eldest daughter married in 1852, and William's first known grandchild was born the following year. Another grandchild followed in 1855.

William died aged 54, and was buried at Barnack on 15th December 1856. Two months after his death an auction of his belongings was held. The notice of the auction tells us that he had owned two mares, two cows, eight ewes as well as a "well built narrow-wheeled waggon" and various other items of agricultural machinery. William's widow Catherine outlived him by 20 years.

1. ↑ Baptisms register, in Church of England. Parish Church of Barnack (Northamptonshire). Parish registers, 1695–1974. (Northampton, England: Northamptonshire Record Office).

   1802 / William Son of Thomas & Catherine Cox - April 18th

   This baptism has been linked to the William Cox who married Catherine Mason on the basis that one of the witnesses to their marriage was a Matthew Cox, and the William baptised in 1802 had a brother named Matthew, and the 1841 and 1851 censuses in which William's elderly mother Catherine was living with him (and her death certificate confirms that she was widow of Thomas Cox).

2. ↑ England. 1841 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class HO107; Piece 815; Book 2; Folio 10; Page 15, 6 Jun 1841.

   Address: Barnack, Northamptonshire
   William Cox, male, 39 [1801/2], Blacksmith, born in county
   Catherine Cox, female, 38 [1802/3], born in county
   John Cox, male, 14 [1826/7], born in county
   Elizabeth Cox, female, 12 [1828/9], born in county
   Thomas Cox, male, 9 [1831/2], born in county
   Mary Cox, female, 6 [1834/5], born in county
   Catherine Cox, female, 4 [1836/7], born in county
   William Cox, male, 2 [1838/9], born in county
   Matthew Cox, male, 1 [1839/40], born in county
   Luke Broom, male, 18 [1822/3], J. Blacksmith, born in county
   Catherine Cox, female, 68 [1772/3], Ind, born in county

3. ↑ England. 1851 Census Returns for England and Wales. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class HO107; Piece 2094; Folio 484; Page 3, 30 Mar 1851.

   Address: Barnack, Northamptonshire
   William Cox, head, married, male, 49 [1801/2], Farmer of 95 Acres, b. Barnack, Northamptonshire
   Catherine Cox, wife, married, female, 47 [1803/4], Farmers Wife, b. Barnack, Northamptonshire
   John Cox, son, unmarried, male, 23 [1827/8], Farmers Son, b. Barnack, Northamptonshire
   Elizabeth Cox, daughter, unmarried, female, 22 [1828/9], Dressmaker, b. Barnack, Northamptonshire
   Mary Cox, daughter, unmarried, female, 16 [1834/5], Farmers Daughter, b. Barnack, Northamptonshire
   Catherine Cox, daughter, female, 14 [1836/7], Farmers Daughter, b. Barnack, Northamptonshire
   William Cox, son, male, 12 [1838/9], Farmers Son, b. Barnack, Northamptonshire
   Matthew Cox, son, male, 11 [1839/40], Farmers Son, b. Barnack, Northamptonshire
   Josiah Cox, son, male, 8 [1842/3], Scholar, b. Barnack, Northamptonshire
   Sophia Cox, daughter, female, 6 [1844/5], Scholar, b. Barnack, Northamptonshire
   Catherine Cox, mother, widow, female, 77 [1773/4], b. Barnack, Northamptonshire

4.   Deaths index, in General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration. (London: General Register Office).

   d. William COX, December Quarter 1856, Stamford Registration District, Volume 7a, page 166, aged 55 [1800/1]

5. ↑ Burials register, in Church of England. Parish Church of Barnack (Northamptonshire). Parish registers, 1695–1974. (Northampton, England: Northamptonshire Record Office).

   BURIALS in the Parish of Barnack in the County of Northampton in the Year 1856
   No.	Name	Abode	When buried	Age	By whom the Ceremony was performed
   761	William Cox	Barnack	Dec[embe]r 15	55	G.A. Booth Curate

6.   Stamford Mercury, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
   Friday 13 Feb 1857.

   BARNACK, near STAMFORD.
   LIVE and DEAD STOCK, IMPLEMENTS, &c.
   To be SOLD by AUCTION,
   By Messrs. RICHARDSON,
   On Monday the 16th of February, 1857, upon the premises of the late Mr. WILLIAM COX,
   A Very superior Five-year-old MARE, aged Mare, 2 well-bred COWS, 8 In-lambed EWES, well-built narrow-wheeled Waggon, Cart, Winnowing-machine, Iron Plough, 2 pair of Harrows, Roll, Harness, and other Effects.-The Sale to commence at Twelve o'clock.
   Stamford, February 10, 1857.