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COX - Wickhamford top ten 1900s

Whilst there are fleeting references to the name Cox in 18th century records, and the arrival of a Cox family in Wickhamford in the mid 19th century, it was not until the 20th century that the name became common in Wickhamford, and this was due to one family.

18th century Cox families

There is a reference in the transcription of the London Apprenticeship Abstracts, 1442–1850 (found on Findmypast) to a Richard Cox, whose father, Philip Cox, was a Badsey blacksmith.  He was apprenticed on 2nd March 1709/10 to Walter Coney of the Blacksmith Company in London, to learn his father’s trade.  Nothing is known about this family of Coxes in Badsey. 

The first mention of the name Cox in Wickhamford parish records is on 9th December 1778 when Samuel Cox married Mary Collet.  Samuel died in October 1791 at Wickhamford and Mary in January 1799.  They do not appear to have had any children.

The name does not then make a reappearance until over a hundred years later.

Cox Family 1 – William Cox (1792-1868), Wickhamford, and descendants

In 1851, William Cox (1792-1868), a farm bailiff, was living in Wickhamford with his wife, Elizabeth, and two children.  William had been born at Ashton-under-Hill, Gloucestershire, in 1792, the son of William and Ann Cox.  He married Elizabeth from Bretforton and they had two children, both born at Bengeworth, Evesham:  Mary (c1836) and James (1839-1914).  They were living at Bengeworth in 1841 but had moved to Wickhamford by 1851, where William was the bailiff at Field Farm.  By 1861, just William and Elizabeth were living at Wyre Piddle, where William worked as a gardener.  William died at Wyre Piddle in 1868 and Elizabeth in 1878.

James Cox (1839-1914) married Ursula Cull in Evesham in 1865.  In 1866, James Cox was living in Badsey with his wife Ursula when their daughter, Elizabeth Susan, was baptised; James was a baker.  Ursula’s brother, Bazaleel, was also a baker, and her nephew, John Ernest Cull, would later establish a bakery in Badsey in the 1880s, which lasted well into the 20th century.  However, James did not continue as a baker as, in 1871, by now living at Roe Stock, North Mimms, Hertfordshire, he was gardener in charge of The Grange, Colney Heath.

James and Ursula went on to have five more children:  William Edney (1868), Thomas Burns (1872), Adeline Agnes (1874), Henry Charles (1877-1966) and Caroline Mary (1881).  William was born at Wyre Piddle (where James’ parents lived), Thomas at Roe Stock, and the three youngest children at Acton, Middlesex.  James continued working as a gardener; the family appears in the 1881, 1891 and 1901 census returns for Acton.  By 1911, James was staying with his son, Henry, and family in Little Sodbury & Horton, Gloucestershire, whilst Ursula was staying with her married daughter, Caroline Mary Nelmes, in Acton.  James died at Little Sodbury in 1914 and was buried at Horton on 29th January 1914.  Ursula remained in Middlesex and died in 1928; she was buried at Ealing on 10th March 1928.

Cox Family 2 – William Cox (1862-1917), Wickhamford, and descendants

At the beginning of the 20th century, another Cox family came to live at Wickhamford and it was this one family that was responsible for making it one of the commonest names in Wickhamford that century.

William Cox (1862-1917) was born at Ebrington, Gloucestershire, in 1862, the fifth of nine children (and second son to be called William as his eldest brother, William, had died the year before, aged nine.) of Charles Cox, an agricultural labourer, and his wife, Harriet (née Brain).  William’s father died in 1875.  William was still living in Ebrington in 1881 with his widowed mother, Harriet, and siblings, Joseph, Mary and John.  He worked as an agricultural labourer.

On 1st September 1883 William married Alice Jane Bacon at Ebrington.  They had nine sons and two daughters:  Charles William (1884-1966), Joseph (1886-1958), James Thomas (1888-1966), George Frederick (1890-1962), John Henry (1893-1975), Albert (1896-1985), Frank (1898-1916), Wilfred Edgar (1900-1917), Alice Lilian Annie (1902-1986), Ernest Harold (1904-1957) and Ruth Mary (1905-1990).  The children were all born in Ebrington except for Alice who was born in Badsey and the two youngest in Wickhamford.

At the time of the 1901 census, which was taken on 31st March, the Cox family was still living in Ebrington, although six-year-old Albert was staying with John and Elizabeth Crane and family, at Silk Mill Cottages, Badsey.  His relationship was described as cousin.  John Crane was actually Albert's first-cousin-once-removed (John's mother, Sarah, being the older sister of Albert's mother, Alice).  William was now working as a railway servant, whereas in 1891 he had been a telegraph department labourer.

Just a week or two later, the Coxes moved from Ebrington to Belmont Terrace, Badsey, a terraced house which had only recently been built.  On 15th April 1901, John and Albert enrolled at Badsey School.   By May 1904, they had moved to Wickhamford where Ernest was born and, in September 1905, they took on the tenancy of a new house, No 10 Wickhamford (present-day No 93 Pitchers Hill), which was described in the Valuation Survey of 1913.  William had moved to the Vale to take up market gardening; the Valuation Survey also reveals that he occupied 3½ acres of agricultural land at Francis’ Grave, Badsey.

There is a photo of William and Alice with eight of their children in the garden of their new home.  By 1911 William was described as a market gardener.  Seven children were still living at home in the five-roomed house, with two of the boys, John Henry and Albert working as market garden labourers.

During WWI, six sons went to join the Army.  On 12th August 1916, The Evesham Journal reported that William and Alice Cox of Pitchers Hill, Wickhamford, had six sons serving their country.  Within the space of seven months, three tragedies befell the family.  Firstly, 17-year-old Frank Cox died of heatstroke at Salonika in July 1916.  Then in February 1917, 16-year-old Wilfred Cox died.  Three days later, William Cox walked to Badsey Vicarage to see the Vicar about the funeral of his son.  On his way home he was later tragically killed on Pitchers Hill as a result of a hit and run motor accident.  Both William and Wilfred were buried in the churchyard of St John the Baptist on 24th February 1917.  William died on 21st February 1917 and was buried three days later.  The Parish Magazine of March 1917 gave a report of his death.  Probate was granted to William’s widow, Alice.

Alice Cox lived on until 1950, dying at 73 Pitchers Hill, Wickhamford, on 23rd August, aged 86, leaving 40 grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.  Probate of her will was granted to her daughter, Alice.

  • Charles William Cox (1884-1966) was born at Ebrington on 7th December 1884, the eldest of 11 children of William Cox and his wife, Alice Jane (née Bacon).  At the time of the 1901 census, he was still living with his family at Ebrington, working as an agricultural labourer.  A week or two later, the whole family moved to Belmont Terrace, Badsey.  In about 1903 the Cox family moved to Wickhamford.   This was the year in which Charles married Sarah Bennett.  It is assumed that Charles and Sarah moved to Wickhamford with the rest of the family, as a daughter, Inez Rose, was born on 2nd March 1904, and was baptized at Wickhamford on 25th September 1904.  In March 1906, Charles, Sarah and Inez Rose emigrated to Canada.  Four more daughters were born in Canada:  Lillian Stella (1907-2001), Constance Ada (1912), Clarice (1914-1914) and Almedia Maude (1915). Charles joined the Canadian Army in 1916 and saw active service in France.  Charles, in his later life, was a visitor to Wickhamford on several occasions, and was remembered for wearing a Stetson and smoking a large cigar around the village.  Charles died at Calgary, Alberta, in 1966, his wife having died four years earlier.  Some time after the death of her parents, Inez Rose Sjøgren wrote about their early pioneering life in Canada. 
  • Joseph Cox (1886-1958) was born at Ebrington in 1886, the second of 11 children of William Cox and his wife, Alice Jane (née Bacon).  At the time of the 1901 census, he was still living with his family at Ebrington, working as an agricultural labourer.  A week or two later, the whole family moved to Belmont Terrace, Badsey, and then to Wickhamford in about 1903.  Joseph married Ann Pilkington at Worcester in 1908.  The 1911 census reveals that he was now working as telegraph wireman for a railway company.  Joseph remained for the rest of his days in Worcester, dying there in 1958.
  • James Thomas Cox (1888-1966) was born at Ebrington in 1888, the third of 11 children of William Cox and his wife, Alice Jane (née Bacon).  At the time of the 1901 census, he was still living with his family at Ebrington, working as an agricultural labourer.  A week or two later, the whole family moved to Belmont Terrace, Badsey, and then to Wickhamford in about 1903.  James joined the Welch Regiment in Cardiff in 1905.  He left the Army in December 1911 and was put on the Reserve list.  James married Amy Brown at All Saints, Evesham, in July 1912; they had five children.  James was recalled and signed on again on 5th August 1914, the day after War was declared.  He went to France on 13th August 1914 with the British Expeditionary Force and was wounded in the left knee, at the Battle of Ainse, in September 1914.  He was probably the first man with Wickhamford connections to have seen action and was subsequently awarded the 1914 Star.  James left the army in 1923.  In 1939, by now widowed, James lived in Evesham, described as a market gardener own account.  He died in 1966 and is buried at Waterside Cemetery, Evesham, beside his wife who had died nearly 30 years earlier.
  • George Frederick Cox (1890-1962), the fourth of 11 children of William Cox and his wife, Alice Jane (née Bacon), was born at Ebrington, Gloucestershire, on 5th December 1890.  At the time of the 1901 census, he was still living with his family at Ebrington, working as an agricultural labourer.  A week or two later, the whole family moved to Belmont Terrace, Badsey, and then to Wickhamford in about 1903.  George is pictured with his parents and seven of his siblings in the garden at Pitchers Hill, shortly after their move to their new home.   George emigrated to Canada in 1910, following in the wake of his older brother, Charles, who had emigrated four years earlier.  George joined the Canadian Army in 1915 and saw active service in France.  George was released from service in the Canadian Army following his father’s death. This was Canadian Government policy, as the family had no breadwinner.  George thus spent a time in Wickhamford after the end of the war; during this time he played for Wickhamford Albion Football Club.  George married Dorothy Rose Winstone in 1919.  Their first-born son, William George (1919-2002), was born at Wickhamford in 1919.  In 1920, George returned to Canada with his new wife and baby son, where five more children were born:  Charles Henry (1921), Ruth Irene (1922), Dorothy Elizabeth (1923-1993), James Winstone (1928-2017) and Alice Mary (1931-1996).  They returned to England in 1933, where two more children were born.  George built a house on Pitchers Hill, Wickhamford, and named it Delia after the place where he had lived in Canada.  He started a village shop on Pitchers Hill.  He also had a fruit and vegetable stall outside the shop.  The National Farm Survey of 1941 gives an idea of George’s land holding, together with this description.  A photo of George and Dorothy, their children, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law and grandchildren may be viewed in the photo gallery.  George died at Wickhamford on 1st August 1962; Dorothy died in 1995.  George’s youngest son contacted the Badsey website in January 2012.
    • William George Cox (1919-2002), the eldest of eight children of George Frederick Cox and his wife, Dorothy Rose (née Winstone), was born at Wickhamford and baptised in the Church of St John the Baptist on 29th June 1919.  William emigrated with his mother and father to Canada in 1920.  In 1933 he returned with his family to England.  During WWII, William served in the Royal Air Force, mainly in East Africa.  William married Margaret Lister Gibbs at Wolverhampton in 1945.  The marriage banns were read at Wickhamford as William had returned to the parental home after coming back from the war.  They settled in Wolverhampton where two children were born.  William died at Wolverhampton in 2002.
    • Charles Henry Cox (1921), the second of eight children of George Frederick Cox and his wife, Dorothy Rose (née Winstone), was born in Canada on 7th March 1921.  He began his schooling at Warrell Lake, Alberta, Canada, but then enrolled at Badsey Council School in November 1933 when his family returned to England.  During WWII, Charles served with the Grenadier Guards and Army Air Corps.  Charles married Winifred J Mole in 1948 in the Evesham area.  He returned to live in Canada in 1953.
    • Ruth Irene Cox (1922), the third of eight children of George Frederick Cox and his wife, Dorothy Rose (née Winstone), was born in Canada on 11th March 1922.  She began her schooling at Warrell Lake, Alberta, Canada, but then enrolled at Badsey Council School in November 1933 when her family returned to England.  Ruth is pictured in a photo by her father’s fruit and vegetable stall.  
    • Dorothy Elizabeth Cox (1923-1993), the fourth of eight children of George Frederick Cox and his wife, Dorothy Rose (née Winstone), was born in Canada on 12th May 1923.  She began her schooling at Warrell Lake, Alberta, Canada, but then enrolled at Badsey Council School in November 1933 when her family returned to England.  Dorothy was Head Girl at Badsey School in 1936-1937.  She is pictured in a photo of celebrations held for King George VI’s coronation in May 1937, and also in a photo by her father’s fruit and vegetable stall.  Dorothy married Douglas P Shillam in 1947 in the Evesham area.
    • James Winstone Cox (1928-2017), known as Jim, the fifth of eight children of George Frederick Cox and his wife, Dorothy Rose (née Winstone), was born in Canada on 5th June 1928.  He was a pupil at Badsey Council School from 1934-1939; he then went on to Prince Henry's Grammar School, Evesham.  He played for Wickhamford Football Club in 1952/53 season.  Jim died in Birmingham in 2017.
    • Alice Mary Cox (1931-1996), the sixth of eight children of George Frederick Cox and his wife, Dorothy Rose (née Winstone), was born in Canada on 23rd August 1931.  She was a pupil at Badsey Council School from 1936-1942; she then went on to Prince Henry's Grammar School, Evesham.  Alice married John M Pedlar at Wickhamford in 1954.  Alice died in the Reading area in 1996.
  • John Henry Cox (1893-1975), known as Harry, the fifth of 11 children of William Cox and his wife, Alice Jane (née Bacon), was born at Ebrington, Gloucestershire, on 7th September 1893.  He began his schooling at Ebrington but then enrolled at Badsey Council School in April 1901 when the family moved to Belmont Terrace, Badsey.  Harry is pictured with his parents and seven of his siblings in the garden at Pitchers Hill, shortly after their move to their new home.   He was still at home in 1911 working as a market garden labourer.  He enlisted in the Worcestershire Regiment in 1912, signing on for 7 years and so was a member of the regular army on the outbreak of war.  He first saw action in 1914 and thus was awarded the 1914 star.  He was wounded at St Eloi in France on 28th March 1915 whilst rescuing a wounded companion.  He spent about four months in hospital at Dalmeny, but recovered from his wound.  He was then transferred to the Royal Berkshire Regiment as a replacement.  For his gallantry he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal and served until 1919.  By way of contrast to his brothers’ treatment in the Canadian Army, on his father’s death in 1917, Harry was reputedly told by the Sergeant  Major that the officer had to tell him of his father’s death and ‘do not make this difficult for him’!  Harry appears on the Absent Voters’ list for 1918.  During WWI, Harry married Beatrice Kate Hooper at Tiverton, Devon, in 1916; their first child, Iris Ruth Doreen (1920-2014), was born there in 1920.  They then moved to North Cornelly, Glamorganshire, where two more children were born:  Vera May (1922-2019) and Wilfred Henry (1929-1994).  Harry was a Quarry Manager.  On a visit to Wickhamford in the 1930s, Iris was photographed beside her Uncle Ernest's stall.  Harry died at Bridgend, Glamorganshire, on 28th December 1975, aged 82.  His grandson contacted the Badsey website in 2012.
  • Albert Cox (1896-1985), the sixth of 11 children of William Cox and his wife, Alice Jane (née Bacon), was born at Ebrington, Gloucestershire, on 31st January 1896.  He began his schooling at Ebrington but then enrolled at Badsey Council School in April 1901 when the family moved to Belmont Terrace, Badsey. Albert is pictured with his parents and seven of his siblings in the garden at Pitchers Hill, shortly after their move to their new home.   He was still at home in 1911 working as a market garden labourer.  Albert married Joyce Violet May Proctor at Wickhamford on 24th February 1914.  They had five children: Albert Donald (1915-1977), James Wilfrid (1920-1999), Violet Doris J (1922-2004), Ernest F (1923) and Mavis Pearl (1925-1979).  During WWI, Albert enlisted with the Royal Field Artillery.  He served in France and Salonika but his service record has not survived.  Albert played for Wickhamford Albion Football Club.  They moved from Wickhamford to Evesham in 1922.  At the time of the 1939 register they lived at 21 Rynal Street, Evesham.  Joyce died at Evesham in 1955 and Albert died in the Birmingham area in 1985.
    • Albert Donald Cox (1915-1977), the eldest of five children of Albert Cox and his wife, Joyce Violet May (née Proctor), was born at Wickhamford on 7th October 1915.  He started his schooling at Evesham Council School but then spent a year and a half at Badsey Council School 1921-1922.  The family then went to live in Evesham.  Albert married Rose E Howe in 1935 in the Evesham area.  He died in 1977.
  • Frank Cox (1898-1916), the seventh of 11 children of William Cox and his wife, Alice Jane (née Bacon), was born at Ebrington, Gloucestershire, on 30th July 1898.  He was a pupil at Badsey Council School from 1901 to 1911.  Frank is pictured with his parents and seven of his siblings in the garden at Pitchers Hill, shortly after their move to their new home.   After the outbreak of WWI, although under age, Frank joined the Royal Field Artillery, like his older brother, Albert.  He was sent to Greece to help fight the Bulgarian Army.  It was there that he succumbed to sunstroke, on 13th July 1916, after only a brief time in the country, aged 17, just a few weeks short of his 18th birthday.  He was buried in Salonika Military Cemetery.  News of Frank’s death appeared in The Evesham Journal of 5th August 1916 and details of his death and of a memorial service appeared in the parish magazines of 1916.
  • Wilfred Edgar Cox (1900-1917), the eighth of 11 children of William Cox and his wife, Alice Jane (née Bacon), was born at Ebrington, Gloucestershire, on 31st October 1900.  He was baptised in St James’ Church, Badsey, on 21st December 1901.  Wilfred was a pupil at Badsey Council School from 1904-1913.  Wilfred is pictured with his parents and seven of his siblings in the garden at Pitchers Hill, shortly after their move to their new home.   He died from septicaemia on 18th February 1917, said to be as a result of a rusty nail puncturing his big toe.  Three days later his father was killed in a motor accident when walking to Badsey to see the Vicar about his funeral.  Wilfred was buried at Wickhamford on 24th February 1917, the same day as his father.
  • Alice Lilian Annie Cox (1902-1986), the ninth of 11 children of William Cox and his wife, Alice Jane (née Bacon), was born at Badsey on 12th January 1902.  She was baptised in St James’ Church, Badsey, on 16th March 1902.  Alice was a pupil at Badsey Council School from 1905-1915.  Alice is pictured with her parents and seven of her siblings in the garden at Pitchers Hill, shortly after their move to their new home.   Alice was a member of the Wickhamford Women’s Institute and is pictured in a photo of 1957.  She is also pictured as one of the adults accompanying children on a Wickhamford Sunday School outing.  She was known as “Sis” and worked for the Southern family until the age of 84 when she had a horrible accident which killed her; she was the aunt of David Southern, son of her sister, Ruth.  Her injuries were the same as her father’s.  She never married and lived in the house at Pitchers Hill (which the family had moved to in the opening years of the 20th century) until her death in 1986.  She was described in her obituary as a pillar of the church.
  • Ernest Harold Cox (1904), the tenth of 11 children of William Cox and his wife, Alice Jane (née Bacon), was born at Wickhamford on 16th August 1904.  He was baptised in the Church of St John the Baptist, Wickhamford, on 25th September 1904.  Ernest is pictured with his parents and seven of his siblings in the garden at Pitchers Hill, shortly after their move to their new home.   Ernest was a pupil at Badsey Council School from 1909-1917.  Like his brother, George, Ernest had a fruit and vegetable stall on Pitchers Hill.  Ernest married Gladys May Turner in the Evesham area in 1934; they had eight children.  At the time of the 1939 register, Ernest and Gladys and family lived at 14 Pitchers Hill, Wickhamford.  Ernest died in the Evesham area in 1957 and Gladys in 1986.
  • Ruth Mary Cox (1905-1990), the youngest of 11 children of William Cox and his wife, Alice Jane (née Bacon), was born at Wickhamford on 21st December 1905.  She was baptised in the Church of St John the Baptist, Wickhamford, on 28th January 1906.  Ruth is pictured with her parents and seven of her siblings in the garden at Pitchers Hill, shortly after their move to their new home.   Ruth was a pupil at Badsey Council School from 1911-1919.  She was awarded a scholarship to secondary school but was unable to accept it.  Ruth married Frederick Lawson Southern on 20th September 1928 at Wickhamford.  She died in the Evesham area on 20th May 1990.    

Cox Family 3 – Frederick Cox (1885-1964), Wickhamford, and descendants

In 1921, a completely separate Cox family moved to Wickhamford.  This was Frederick and Dorothy Cox and their three sons.  Frederick John Cox (1885-1964) was born in Bristol on 18th November 1885, the youngest of three children of John Cox, a dock corn porter, and his wife, Ellen.  The family later returned to live in Deerhurst, Gloucestershire (John’s home village) where they were living in 1901 and John was working as a labourer on the Deerhurst estate; Frederick was working as a groom.  Frederick married Dorothy Annie Hiatt on 12th April 1909 at Deerhurst; by now he was employed as a gardener.  They had three sons:  Frederick John (1909-?), Cecil Walter (1912-1958) and Reginald William (1920-1995).  By the time of the 1911 census, they were living at Tewkesbury Park Gardens.  In 1921 they moved to The Bungalow, Wickhamford.  At the time of the 1939 register, they were living at 15 Council Cottages, Pitchers Hill, Wickhamford.  In 1939, Frederick was an agricultural engineer’s assistant and an ARP Warden.  Frederick died in the Evesham area in 1964 and Dorothy in 1968.

  • Frederick John Cox (1909-?), the eldest of three children of Frederick John Cox and his wife, Dorothy, was born at Deerhurst, Gloucestershire, on 11th September 1909.  He started his schooling at Deerhurst and then enrolled at Badsey Council School in 1921 when his family moved to The Bungalow, Wickhamford.  Frederick married Beatrice Annie Wallis in 1934 in the Evesham area. 
  • Cecil Walter Cox (1912-1958), the second of three children of Frederick John Cox and his wife, Dorothy, was born at Deerhurst, Gloucestershire, on 2nd January 1912.  He started his schooling at Deerhurst and then enrolled at Badsey Council School in 1921 when his family moved to The Bungalow, Wickhamford.  He left school in 1925.  Cecil was still at home at 15 Council Cottages, Pitchers Hill, Wickhamford, at the time of the 1939 register; he was employed as a lorry driver to an agricultural co-operative.  Just over two months later Cecil married Violet Bennett on 2nd December 1939 at Wickhamford.  During WWII, he served with the Worcestershire Regiment.  Cecil Walter Cox (1909-1958) died at the Royal Infirmary, Worcester, on 18th January 1958.  They had two children.  Violet was a member of the Wickhamford Women’s Institute and is pictured in a photo of 1959 with her daughter. His home address was 55 Pitchers Hill, Wickhamford.  Probate of his will was granted to his widow, Violet.
  • Reginald William Cox (1920-1995), the youngest of three children of Frederick John Cox and his wife, Dorothy, was born at Deerhurst, Gloucestershire, on 21st July 1920.  He was a pupil at Badsey Council School from 1924-1935.  Reg is pictured in a photo of Wickhamford Sunday School outing c1931.  Cecil was still at home at 15 Council Cottages, Pitchers Hill, Wickhamford, at the time of the 1939 register.  He is known to have served during WWII but his army details are unknown.  Reg died at 144 Kings Road, Evesham, on 9th October 1995.

Cox Family 4 – James Cox (1874-1948), Badsey, and descendants

James Cox and family lived briefly in Badsey in 1908.  James Cox (1874-1948) was born in Solihull, Warwickshire, in 1874, the third of ten children of James Cox, a woodman, and his wife, Mary Ann (née Martin).  At the time of the 1881 census he was living with his family in High Street, Solihull, but his whereabouts in 1891 and 1901 are unknown.  On 29th April 1903, James married Annie Eliza Trumper at Herne Bay; James was described as a bootmaker.  Their first two sons, Sidney Herbert James (1903-1990) and Arthur Frederick (1904-1983) were born at Chertsey.  A third son, Leslie Frank (1906-1977), was born at Brentford, Middlesex.

In May 1908, James and Annie moved to Badsey with their three young sons.  Sidney and Arthur enrolled as pupils at Badsey Council School.  They were in the village just a short time as they left the school on 23rd September 1908.  However, James advertised in the parish magazine for six months starting July 1908.

James and family moved to Broadway where a fourth son was born, Percy William James (1909).  By 1911, they lived in Yardley, Birmingham.  They went on to have three more sons.  James died at Maidstone, Kent, in 1949.

  • Sidney Herbert James (1903-1990), the eldest of seven sons of James Cox, a bootmaker, and his wife, Annie Eliza (née Trumper), was born at Chertsey on 4th December 1903.  In May 1908, Sidney, and his younger brother, Arthur, enrolled as pupils at Badsey Council School, when their father came to work in the village.  However, their stay in the village was not long and they left in September 1908, moving firstly to Broadway, then Birmingham, Oxford and Kent.  Sidney married Margaret Edith Marian Payne at Maidstone, Kent, in 1936.  He died at Marden, Kent, on 14th May 1990.
  • Arthur Frederick (1904), the second of seven sons of James Cox, a bootmaker, and his wife, Annie Eliza (née Trumper), was born at Chertsey on 13th December 1904.  In May 1908, Arthur, and his older brother, Sidney, enrolled as pupils at Badsey Council School, when their father came to work in the village.  However, their stay in the village was not long and they left in September 1908, moving firstly to Broadway, then Birmingham, Oxford and Kent.  Arthur married Margaret Burr at Maidstone, Kent, in 1926.  He died at Maidstone in 1983.

Cox Family 5 – Ernest William Cox (1866-1952), Badsey

Another Cox family was living in Badsey by 1911.  This was Ernest Cox and his wife, Florence.  Ernest William Cox (1866-1952) was born at Sandford, Oxfordshire, on 15th October 1866, the youngest of four children of Richard Cox and his wife, Ann (née Day).  He was baptised at Sandford on 2nd December 1866.

In April 1881, Ernest joined the Great Western Railway Company in Birmingham, and went to live with his eldest sister, Elizabeth, by now married to Mark Gregory.  Ernest left the railway service in April 1887.  By 1891, Ernest was lodging in Aston, Warwickshire, working as a tram conductor.

Ernest married Florence Mary Jarvis on 21st September 1896 at Christ Church, Sparkbrook, Warwickshire.  Florence was the mother of an eight-year-old son, Reginald Rupert Jarvis, who, in the 1901 census appeared with the surname of Cox.  They were then living in Balsall Heath, Worcestershire, Ernest working as a cab proprietor.

By 1911, Ernest had taken up market gardening and moved to Badsey with Florence.  They lived in a house on Bretforton Road, Badsey (current-day No 53).  According to the Valuation Survey of 1912, Ernest also rented nearly 3 acres of land at Bully Brook and Hurst Way, off the Willersey Road.

It is not known when the couple left Badsey.  Florence died at Meriden near Coventry in 1922; Ernest was then a farmer.  By 1939, Ernest was living on Midland Road, Coalville, Leicestershire, described as a retired smallholder.  Ernest died at 157 Whitehill Road, Ellistown, Leicestershire in 1952.

Other Cox references

  • There is a plaque in memory of Linda Jane Cox (1948-2008) in the Garden of Remembrance, Badsey. 
  • Henry Cox lived on Old Post Office Lane, Badsey.  He died there in May 1958, aged 71.

Statistics

  • Position in League Table:  4 (Wickhamford top ten 1900s)
  • Total number of Badsey baptism records:                 3
  • Total number of Badsey burial records:                     1
  • Total number of Badsey census records:                   4
  • Total number of Wickhamford baptism records:     4
  • Total number of Wickhamford marriage records:   5
  • Total number of Wickhamford burial records:         5
  • Total number of Wickhamford census records:     25
  • Name origin:  Cox has a number of possible origins:  (1) It may have originated as a nickname from the bird, the cock, deriving from the Old English pre 7th Century "cocc", and applied to a young lad who strutted proudly like a cock. The nickname may also have referred to a natural leader, or an early riser, or a lusty or aggressive individual.  (2) It may also have derived from the Old English personal names "Cocc" or "Cocca", found in placenames. But as "cock" became a common term for a boy, it may also have been used affectionately as a personal name.  (3) It may be of topographical origin for a "dweller by the hill", deriving from the Old English "cocc" meaning haycock, heap or hillock.

The British Surname Atlas produced by Archer Software gives distribution maps for all the surnames found in the 1881 census of England, Scotland and Wales.

  • In 1881, Cox was the 65th commonest name, with a total of 45,260 people bearing that name (as a comparison, the top surname, Smith, had a total of 421,703 people).
  • Within Worcestershire, Cox was ranked 37, with a total of 1,097 people bearing the name (the top surname in Worcestershire was Smith with 7,243 people).
  • Within Gloucestershire, from where many of the Cox families hailed, Cox was ranked 21, with a total of 2,084 people bearing the name.

Mentioned in Publications

Maureen Spinks, January 2020