Coxe (Cox)

The Coxe (from now on Cox) family was from London as far back as has been traced. Although there are speculations that a Robert Cox was the earliest ancestor, four brothers, Henry, John, George and William are known to have been active in the parish of Holborn St. Andrew of London in Middlesex County in the mid-1600’s. There was a Robert Cox and “Syth Moare” who were married in that parish on 22 Nov 1607 who might possibly be the parents.1 John, his nephew Henry Cox and his niece, Ann Cox Cawthorne (our ancestor) all ended up in the colony of Virginia. It is important to follow three of the brothers as some of the information we have on them fills out the picture of the migration of this family.

John Cox lived in Old Rappahannock County, Virginia and had passed away by 5 Jan 1670/1 when John Hull and George Mott were granted bond on his estate.2 He left a will dated 9 Nov 1669 recorded in Old Rappahannock County records, but the original will must have been damaged as there are significant portions that are skipped over intentionally as if they couldn’t be read.3 However, among the items is included that “I do hereby constitute & ordaine my well beloved kinsman Henry Cox ye sonne of my brother William Cox & now present in Virginia my sole…..this my Last Will & Testament.”

George Cox, the other brother, left a will dated 26 Oct 1683 that was proven in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury 6 Jul 1686.4 He styles himself “citizen and haberdasher of London.” A haberdasher was a merchant who sold everyday items for clothing and sewing. The Worshipful Company of Haberdashers was a London guild which many gained apprenticeships through. He stated that he gave “my messuage or tenement and shopp now knowne by the signe of the Rose situate in Holborne in the parish of St. Andrews Holborne London with appurtenances unto my nephew Henry Cox.” He also mentions that if for some reason Henry had no issue or could not inherit then it would go to “George Cox sonn of my late brother Henry Cox” and if he died then to “my nephew John Cox and his heires male.” He mentions nieces Mary Hampstead, Elizabeth Byrar(?), children of a niece Joane Parker, nephew Richard Lucas; Mary, Sarah and George Cox, children of his nephew George Cox and others.

What helps further tie these individuals together with the third brother William is the nephew Henry and their occupation. George gives special attention to his nephew Henry Cox who was to inherit is place as the primary heir. We find that Henry had been apprenticed to George on 6 Sep 1667.5 His father William is also described as haberdasher and citizen of London. George himself is noted as having become a freeman (graduated from an apprenticeship) in 1640 with his master as William Cox.6 This is presumably his brother.

William Cox

As has already been established, William was a haberdasher of London. He became a freeman in 1632 through apprenticeship to Frances Martyn.7 Apprenticeships were generally seven years long, so he apparently became master to his brother George soon after gaining freeman status for George to gain status of freeman in 1640.

William was married to Aurelia Mollens (also spelled Mullens, Mollins, etc.) on 23 Jun 1635 at St. Mary, Stoke Newington, Middlesex County.8 She was the daughter of James Mollins who mentioned her in his will from 1638, stating “my three daughters…Aurelia Cox wife of William Cox.”9

The baptisms of their six known children were all recorded at St. Andrew, Holborn.10,11 Note that William is called a hosier, someone who sold socks, stockings, leggings, etc and was considered a type of haberdasher.

  • Aurelia Cox daughter of William Cox hozier and of Aurelia his wife Beetweene the Bridge and Sho Lane End in Holborne bapt 13 (Aug 1639)
  • Ann Cox dau: of William Cox hosier & of Aurelia his wife borne in his house neare holborne Birdge and was bapt the 7 (Feb 1642/3)
  • John Cox sonne of William Cox hozier and of Aurelia his wife bourne in his house neare Holborne Bridge bapt the 8 (May 1645)
  • Thomas Cox sonne of William Coxe haberdasher neare holborne Bridge and Aurelia his wife borne at Newington Butts? by Lambeth but baptized by the minister of this parish his father and mother dwelling in this parish 4th July 1648
  • James Cox Sonne of William Cox Haberdasher and of Aurelia his wife by Holborne Bridge was bap: the 4th (Aug 1650)
  • Henry Cox Sonne of William Cox Haberdasher and of Aurelia his wife neare holborne bridge was bapt 18 (Mar 1651/2)

William’s wife Aurelia died and was buried at St. Andrew, Holborn in 1654.12 William may be the William Cox buried at St. Andrew, Holborn on 20 May 1663. However, his son Henry was apprenticed to his uncle George in 1667 and it states he was son of “Wm Cox Citizen & haberdr of London” which would be odd if William had already died. Also that burial entry states that William was in Castleyard in Holborne, so he may have moved if this is the same individual.

Ann Cox

Ann was baptized in 1643 and was married to Richard Cawthorne on 13 May 1668 at St. Mary’s, Harefield, Middlesex, not far from London.13 They, along with their daughter Aurelia and Ann’s brother Henry, were transported to Virginia by Thomas Gouldman sometime before 23 Sep 1674 when Gouldman received a land grant of 2200 acres for transporting a total of 44 persons.14 It would seem however that they were transported in 1669 as Henry is mentioned in his uncle John Cox’s will from that November as “Henry Cox ye sonne of my brother William Cox & now present in Virginia.”

Ann is further identified as Ann Cawthorn(e) through the will of Henry Cox. He did not live long in the colonies but died in Oct 1675, leaving a will dated 22 Feb 1674/5 which includes the following item: “I give unto my Brother in law Richard Cawthorn my best Cloath suite, my best hatt & a pair of french falls, & a pair of stockings both new to be delivered to him immediately after my death. Item I give unto Richard Cawthorn junr my nephew and to Aurelia Cawthorn my neece each of them a cow calfe to be delivered them about the beginning of June next after my death.”15

It is not known when Ann died. However, when Richard’s will was proved in 1687 and then later in 1689, the court appointed guardians for the three children, described as orphans. Aurelia is incorrectly named Ann in the record which states: “Ordered that Mr. John Waters take under his care & tuition the two orphans of Richard Cauthorne of this County decd by name Richard & Ann, and that the boy continue wth the sd Waters untill he atteyne the age of Eighteen years, the Girle till sixteen. The sd Waters obligeing himself to give the sd Richard two years schooling & to finde the sd orphans during the respective terms time aforesd cloathing dyett & lodging convenient.”16 The youngest, Thomas, was put in the case of Rebecca Moss in 1689 to stay with her unto the age of fifteen “& that then he be payed corne & clothes according to the custom of other servants.”17

  1. Saint Andrew, Holborn, Middlesex Parish Register 1559-1698, London Metropolitan Archives, P69/AND2/A/002/MS06668/001 ↩︎
  2. Old Rappahannock County, Virginia Deed Book 4, 1670-1672, pp. 442-443, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89P6-3J6W) ↩︎
  3. Essex County (Old Rappahannock County), Virginia Deed & Will Book, Volume 9, 1695-1699, pp. 12-13, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9P6-3W5C) ↩︎
  4. Prerogative Court of Canterbury Piece 384 (Lloyd), folio 17 ↩︎
  5. Worshipful Company of Haberdashers, Register of apprentice bindings 1655-1675, p171, London Metropolitan Archives, CLC/L/HA/C/011/MS15860/006 ↩︎
  6. Worshipful Company of Haberdashers – Register of freedom admissions 1526-1613, p238, London Metropolitan Archives, CLC/L/HA/C/007/MS15857/001 ↩︎
  7. Worshipful Company of Haberdashers – Register of freedom admissions 1526-1613, p215, London Metropolitan Archives, CLC/L/HA/C/007/MS15857/001 ↩︎
  8. Saint Mary, Stoke Newington, Middlesex Parish Register 1560-1812, London Metropolitan Archives, P94/MRY/001 ↩︎
  9. Prerogative Court of Canterbury Piece 178 (Lee), folio 478 reverse ↩︎
  10. Saint Andrew, Holborn, Middlesex Parish Register 1623-1642, P82/AND/A/001/MS06667/002 ↩︎
  11. Saint Andrew, Holborn, Middlesex Parish Register 1642-1654, P82/AND/A/001/MS06667/003 ↩︎
  12. Saint Andrew, Holborn, Middlesex Parish Register 1653-1672, P69/AND2/A/010/MS06673/004 ↩︎
  13. St. Mary’s, Harefield, Middlesex Parish Register 1538-1812, London Metropolitan Archives, DRO/080/001 ↩︎
  14. Virginia Land Patents, Vol. 6 (1666-1679), p526, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSLZ-PS2V-N) ↩︎
  15. Old Rappahannock County, Virginia Will Book 1, 1665-1677, pp. 191-194, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9PX-2S3M-3) ↩︎
  16. Old Rappahannock Order Book, Vol. 2, 1686-1692, p17, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9T3-P3W5) ↩︎
  17. Old Rappahannock Order Book, Vol. 2, 1686-1692, p199, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9T3-PSJ4) ↩︎