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Facts and Events
Thomas Cox's origins have yet to be established. The age given when he died implies that he was born around 1768. One possibility is that he was the Thomas Cox baptised at Collyweston in Northamptonshire in 1772, son of Mary Cox, formerly Brown, and her husband John Cox, a blacksmith.
Thomas's first confirmed sighting is on 7th July 1798, when he married Catherine Newborn at Barnack, about six miles east of Collyweston. She already had an eighteen month old daughter called Esther, who thus became Thomas's stepdaughter. It seems unlikely that Thomas was actually Esther's father, as she continued to use the surname Newborn into adulthood rather than using the name Cox.
Thomas and Catherine stayed in Barnack, having three more children baptised there between 1800 and 1805.
Thomas worked as a blacksmith. There seems to have been a network of Cox blacksmiths across eastern Northamptonshire, most of whom can be shown to be related to each other, all being descended from Robert Cox and Susannah Desborough who had married at Woodnewton in 1722. Their sons Robert, John, and Thomas were blacksmiths at Apethorpe, Collyweston and Woodnewton respectively, whilst the younger Robert's sons Matthew, Robert, and Thomas were blacksmiths at Apethorpe, Wansford and Fotheringhay respectively. It is considered highly likely that Thomas at Barnack was therefore also connected to this family, albeit precisely how remains uncertain. Whilst the 1772 baptism at Collyweston would link Thomas to this family, it does not explain any link to the Elizabeth Cox who married in Barnack in 1790.
As well as being a blacksmith, Thomas appears to have owned at least four tenanted cottages in Barnack.
Thomas's first known grandchild was born in 1821, being his son Matthew's eldest child.
In 1825 Thomas wrote his will. In it he made provision for his two grandchildren from his son Matthew's first marriage to Elizabeth Williamson, who had died in 1823. Thomas possibly wrote his will when he did as Matthew was about to remarry; Matthew married Ann Simpson three weeks after Thomas wrote his will.
Thomas appears to have had seven grandchildren born in his lifetime.
Thomas died in 1830, being buried at Barnack on 8th August 1830. He was said to be 62 years old. Catherine survived him by 21 years.
References
- Church of England. Parish Church of Colley-Weston (Northamptonshire). Parish registers of Colley-Weston, 1541-1949. (Northampton, England: Northamptonshire County Record Office, 1994?).
1772 / Thomas son of John & Mary Cox baptiz[e]d 14th Decemb[e]r
This baptism would appear to be the most likely, on the basis that he was the son of a blacksmith, which was the same occupation the adult Thomas followed, his parents had married at Easton on the Hill, where the adult Thomas's son Matthew later settled, and the child baptised in 1772 had several relatives with the name Matthew, which was a relatively uncommon name at the time. All parishes within a five mile radius of Barnack church have been checked for baptisms between 1763 and 1773 (based on the adult Thomas's burial implying he was born around 1768) and not only has no Thomas Cox been found, but there have been no Cox baptisms found. Going further afield, there do seem to have been large numbers of Coxes in the area of Northamptonshire around Woodnewton / Collyweston and nearby areas, many of whom were blacksmiths. Collyweston is only about six miles from Barnack. Thomas was not the Thomas Cox baptised at Apethorpe in 1765, as it can be shown that he was still alive in 1835 when he acted as executor to his sister's will, four years after the Thomas Cox in Barnack had died. Thomas was also not the Thomas Cox baptised in Wakerley in 1773, as it can be shown that he was still alive in the 1851 and 1861 censuses. No other marriage or burial has been found which appears to relate to the Thomas Cox baptised at Collyweston. This baptism does imply that he was 57 when he died rather than the 62 quoted on his burial record, but such a margin of error is not unusual for the time. However, uncertainty remains. In particular, eight years before Thomas's marriage to Catherine Newborn at Barnack, there was a couple called Thomas Harrison and Elizabeth Cox who married there, and one of the witnesses to that marriage was Sarah Newborn, who was probably Catherine's older sister. It is therefore reasonable to presume that there was a connection between that Elizabeth and this Thomas. Whilst the Thomas baptised in 1772 at Collyweston did have a sister called Elizabeth, she appears to have married Ralph Dale at Collyweston in 1790.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 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 1830 | | No. | Name | Abode | When buried | Age | By whom the Ceremony was performed | | 234 | Thomas Cox | Barnack | Aug[us]t 8 | 62 [1767/8] | C. Kingsley, Rector |
- Consistory Court of Peterborough Wills (Northamptonshire Record Office, Northampton)
Will of Thomas Cox of Barnack: P Will lib2 396.
This is the last Will and Testament of me Thomas Cox of Barnack in the County of Northampton Blacksmith as follows I give and devise all those my two messuages or tenements and premises with their appurtenances situate in Barnack aforesaid and in the several tenures of William Handson and Knowles unto my dear Wife Catherine and her assigns for and during the term of her natural life and from and after her decease I Give and devise the said two messuages or tenements and premises unto my Daughter Sophia her heirs and assigns for ever subject nevertheless and I do hereby charge the said Estates with the payment of the Legacy or Sum of Forty Pounds unto my son William and I do direct that the same shall be paid to him within twelve months next after my said Daughter shall come into possession of the same Estates I Give and devise all that my messuage or tenement and premises with the appurtenances situate in Barnack aforesaid in the tenure of William Barron unto my Grandson Thomas Cox (son of my son Matthew) his heirs and assigns for ever but in case my said Grandson Thomas shall die before he shall attain the age of twenty one years then I give and devise the said Estate and premises unto my Granddaughter Mary Ann Cox the Daughter of my said son Matthew her heirs and assigns for ever I Give and devise all that my messuage or tenement and premises with the appurtenances situate in Barnack aforesaid and in tenure of Thomas Gray unto my said Granddaughter Mary Ann Cox her heirs and assigns for ever but in case my said Granddaughter shall die before she shall attain her Age of twenty one years then I Give and devise the said Estate and premises unto my said Grandson Thomas his heirs and assigns for ever But I do hereby also declare my will to be that in case both of my said Grandchildren shall die before they shall have attained the age of twenty one years then and in such case I give and devise the said two messuages or tenements and premises hereinbefore devised to them unto my said dear wife and her assigns for and during the term of her natural life and from and after her decease I Give and devise the said messuage or tenement and premises in tenure of William Barron unto my son William his heirs and assigns for ever and I Give and devise the said messuage or tenement and premises in tenure of Thomas Gray unto my son Matthew his heirs and assigns for ever I give and devise all those my three roods of land lying in Southorpe Field and all other my Real Estates whatsoever and wheresoever situate unto my said two sons Matthew and William their heirs and assigns for ever as tenants in common and not as joint tenants I Give and bequeath unto my said Dear Wife such Articles of my Household Furniture and Linen for her life as she may think proper to select and after her decease I Give and bequeath the same unto my said Daughter Sophia All the rest residue and remainder of my Household Goods monies and securities for money chattels personal Estate and Effects which I may die possessed of (subject to the payment of my just Debts Funeral charges and expences and also the payment of the fin and fees due upon the Admission of my said Wife to the several Estates hereinbefore devised to her I give and bequeath unto my two sons Matthew and William in equal shares and proportions whom I do nominate constitute and appoint Executors jointly of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking and making void all former and other wills be me at any time heretofore made and do declare this only to be last In witness whereof I the said Thomas Cox the Testator have to this my said last Will and Testament contained in two sheets of paper set my hand and seal (that is to say) to the first sheet hereof my hand only and to this second and last my hand seal this first day of August in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and twenty five. Thomas Cox
Signed sealed published and declared by the said Testator Thomas Cox as and for this last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses hereto the word second being first obliterated I Hickman W[illia]m Baker, attorney, Market Deeping W[illia]m Baker junior
Proved on the 22nd day of January 1831 before the Reverend William Head Clerk a Surrogate on the oaths of Matthew Cox and William Cox the joint Executors to whom administration was granted.
Estate valued at: under £300
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