William Henry Cox

William Henry was the son of James Henry Cox and his wife Hannah Cox nee French. James Henry Cox was born on 7 October 1862 in Tipton, Staffordshire, the son of John and Prudence Cox. His father was a coal miner. He was baptised at Tipton St Martin's parish church on 4 January 1863. Hannah French was the daughter of Richard and Lucy French, her father was a miner. Hannah's birth was registered in 1866 (J/F/M Foleshill Warwickshire) and she was baptised at Foleshill St Laurence on 2 June 1867. In 1871 the family was living in Stonebroom, Derbyshire, and although most records show her place of birth as Foleshill, on the 1881 Census there is a record of a Hannah French (15) born about 1866 in Stonebroom, Derbyshire, who was a general servant to Thomas Bennett (a 'smallwear dealer') and his wife Anne at 20 Spread Eagle Street, Nottingham. Hannah's parents Richard and Lucy were still living in Stonebroom, Shirland, in 1881. James, a miner, married Hannah (19) on 3 March 1885 in the parish church of Shirland, Derbyshire (1885 J/F/M Chesterfield). They were both living at 490 Stonebroom, Derbyshire. His father was named as John Cox , a miner, and her father was named as Richard French, also a miner. James and the two witnesses, John French and Ada French, signed the marriage register with their mark. James and Hannah had ten children: James Henry b. 1885 (A/M/J Chesterfield) baptised 21 June 1885, Shirland, Derbyshire, John Richard birth registered 1887 (J/F/M Chesterfield), Henrietta b. 23 September 1889 (O/N/D Chesterfield), Mary Prudence b. 30 January 1892 (J/F/M Chesterfield), Lucy b. 5 July 1894 (J/A/S Chesterfield), Nathaniel b. 1896 (O/N/D Chesterfield), William Henry b. 21 June 1899 (J/A/S Mansfield), George Alfred b. 1902 A/M/J Nottingham, Walter b. 1904 (O/N/D Nottingham) and Rose Ada b. 18 December 1906 (1907 J/F/M Nottingham). The children's places of birth vary with each census, but the six oldest were probably born in the Morton area of Derbyshire, where the family was living in 1891, William Henry in Sutton in Ashfield, where the family was living in 1901 and given as his place of birth on his Naval record, and the three youngest children in Radford. In 1891 James (27), a coal miner, and Hannah (24) were living in Morton, Derbyshire, with their three children James (5), John (4) and Henrietta (1). By 1901 they had moved to 21 Parliament Street, Sutton in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire. James (37) was still working as a coal hewer. He and Hannah had seven children: James (15) and John (14) who were both working in a colliery below ground, Henrietta (11), Mary (9), Lucy (6), Nathaniel (4) and William (1). The family had moved to 90 Salisbury Street, Nottingham, by 1911. James (47) was still working as a miner hewer. Of his and Hannah's ten children only eight were in the home on the night of the census: Henrietta (21) and Lucy (16) who were wheel builders at a cycle works, Mary (21) of no occupation, Nathaniel (14) a leather dresser, William (11), George (8), Walter (6) and Rose Ada (4). The two oldest boys, James Henry and John Richard, have not yet been traced on the 1911 Census. James and Hannah were still living at 90 Salisbury Street when William was killed in 1918. William's father probably died in 1953 (Sep Nottingham) aged 91. Hannah's history is less clear. There is a record of a Hannah Cox born about 1865, who died in 1948 (Dec Nottingham) aged 83, and a corresponding notice in the Nottingham Evening Post which shows a connection with All Souls Church [Radford] (see 'extra information'). However the national register of 1939 records a James Henry Cox b. 19 January (sic) 1862, who was retired, living at 90 Salisbury Street with Bertha H Cox b. 17 March 1864 married, and Bertha Hall b. 15 October 1876, widowed and retired. No record of a second marriage by James has been found nor a 1939 record for a Hannah Cox traced to Nottingham. Of William's siblings: James Henry has not been traced after 1901. A JH Cox (unidentified on ROH) is commemorated on the Meadows St Saviour war memorial and there is a family connection with the church through Prudence Mary (Houldgate) who was married in the church and lived on Lamcote Grove (1917). However, there are no military records for a JH Cox whose details match those of William's brother. John Richard may have married Christabel Adams in 1913 (J/A/S Basford) and there is a record of a John R Cox born about 1888 who died in 1925 (Mar Nottingham). Henrietta married William Stevenson in 1912 (J/F/M Nottingham). In 1939 they were living in Nottingham: Hetty Stevenson b. 23 September 1889, William Stevenson b. 22 May 1889 a builder's labourer, also presumed children, George E Stevenson b. 5 March 1919, a blacksmith, Evelyn Stevenson (later Price) b. 21 September 1921, an ironer, and Elsie M Stevenson (later Hill) b. 14 December 1922, an office clerk. Henrietta died in 1966 (Dec Nottingham). Mary Prudence married George Carver Houldgate on 2 August 1915 at St Saviour, Meadows, Nottingham (J/A/S Nottingham). George, who was born in Auckland, New Zealand, attested on 2 March 1917 at the age of 25 years 2 months. He and his wife Mary were living at 2 Lamcote Grove, Meadows, Nottingham, and they had one child, Winifred Mary b. 14 August 1916. His occupation was hairdresser. He was discharged from the army on 4 October 1917; the reason for this is not clear from the surviving documents but his medical record shows his height as 4’ 10½" and that he had a poor physique. The couple were still living in Nottingham in 1939: Mary b. 30 January 1891 (sic), George b. 26 September 1890, a gentleman's hairdresser, and a presumed child, Lilian A Houldgate (later Henstock) b. 21 April 1922 a hosiery cutter. Mary Prudence died in 1978 (Mar Nottingham, b. 30 January 1892), date of death on cremation record, 6 January 1978. Lucy married Andrew J Peacock in 1926 (J/A/S Nottingham). In 1939 they were living at 46 Laburnam Road, Southampton, Hampshire; Lucy b. July 1894, Andrew J Peacock b. 9 January 1891, public works contractor's labour heavy worker. Lucy probably died on 1 January 1988 (Jan Nottingham). Nathaniel may have died in 1962 at the age of 65 (b. abt 1897, 1962 Jun Nottingham), cremation 9 June 1962. There is a record of a Nathaniel Cox, 2nd Battalion Sherwood Foresters (12227 Private), who served with the BEF and disembarked France 8 September 1914, but no corroborative evidence that this was William's brother. There is also a record on the Naval Medal & Award Rolls of a Nathanial Cox (3762/A, Leading Seaman) who was awarded the 'Star' and British War Medal and Victory Medal. George Alfred Cox married Florence Barber in 1925 (O/N/D Nottingham), In 1939 at the time of the national register they were living in Nottingham. George A Cox b. 5 April (sic) 1902, a coal miner below ground, Florence Cox b. 25 October 1900, and Sheila Mary Cox b, 29 October 1931. George Alfred died in 1971 (Mar Nottingham); the death index gives his date of birth as 5 May (sic) 1902. Walter may have married Doris H Booth in 1926 (O/N/D Nottingham) but he has not yet been traced on other records after the 1911 Census. Rose Ada Cox married Albert Wade in 1926 (O/N/D Nottingham). In 1939 they were living in Nottingham, Rose Ada Wade b, 18 December 1906, Albert Wade b. 8 May 1902, a hotel barman, and Maurice Wade b. 28 December 1933. Rose died in 1973 (Mar Nottingham), date of birth 18 December 1906.

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