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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => London and Middlesex => Topic started by: stevemiller on Tuesday 05 December 17 12:00 GMT (UK)
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Another one of my families playing hide and seek in London. The fresh eyes of Rootschatters would be greatly appreciated.
Jane MILLER was born in Stoke Poges BKM in Q3 1856.
She married Richard COX at St Jude’s Chelsea on 20 July 1879.
In 1881 the two of them are at 1 Draycott Terrace, Chelsea
Richard COX head 29 born Stapleford HRT [sic]
Jane COX wife 24 born Stoke BKM
In 1891 at 87 Westbourne Street, St Georges Hanover Sq
Richard COX head 40 born Stapleford CAM
Jane COX wife 34 born Stoke BKM
Alice COX dau 6 born Pimlico LDN
In 1901 still at 87 Westbourne Street
Richard COX head 50 born Stapleford CAM
Jane COX wife 43 born Stoke BKM
Going by electoral registers they seem to have been at Westbourne Street from about 1885 to 1903.
What I have failed to find are
1 Alice’s birth registration and baptism (if any)
2 where was Alice after 1891
3 any other children
4 what happened to Jane and Richard after 1903
(Jane could be widowed at 23 Overstone Road, Hammesrsmith in 1911 – aged 54, born Slough – but I’ve nothing to collaborate this is the right Jane)
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I wonder if perhaps Alice was her middle name? She could be registered and under her first name later on but not finding a birth for ** Alice yet.
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(Jane could be widowed at 23 Overstone Road, Hammesrsmith in 1911 – aged 54, born Slough – but I’ve nothing to collaborate this is the right Jane)
That one hasn't had any children.
Maybe your family emigrated - have you checked passenger lists?
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There are no Cox births in St George Hanover Square RD in the 1882-1886 period with mmn Miller.
Possibly Alice was a niece rather than a daughter?
There are 4 Alice Cox births in St George in 1882-1886:
1884:
Alice mmn Field
Alice Elizabeth mmn Haynes
Alice May mmn Plater
1886
Alice Edith mmn Goddard
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Of the possible Richard Cox deaths, the one in Epsom in 1909 was an inmate of Long Grove mental hospital (but the admission register shows that he'd only been there for just over a week). Aged 59
http://www.epsomandewellhistoryexplorer.org.uk/HortonCemeteryBurialsC.html
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Possible marriage for Alice
26/12/1904 at St James Church Edmonton
George Walter Napier age 22 bachelor labourer of 13 Claremont Street father Charles William Napier (deceased) occupation foreman
To
Alice Mary Cox aged 19 spinster no occupation of 13, Claremont Street father Richard John Cox occupation labourer
Witnessed by William Napier and Emily Cox
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Possible marriage for Alice
26/12/1904 at St James Church Edmonton
George Walter Napier age 22 bachelor labourer of 13 Claremont Street father Charles William Napier (deceased) occupation foreman
To
Alice Mary Cox aged 19 spinster no occupation of 13, Claremont Street
father Richard John Cox occupation labourer
Witnessed by William Napier and Emily Cox
1901c RG13; Piece: 1260; Folio: 50; Page: 41
Alice Mary Cox age12 born Southend Essex with her parents
Richard J Cox 37 , Emily 30 and siblings Walter 8, Albert 4
George & Alice's children mmn COX
Daisy Violet Napier born 1906
Albert Edward Victor Napier born 1909
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Many thanks for all the contributions. It looks like this is remaining a tough nut to crack, but I'm grateful for some possible leads.
If the 1911 Hammersmith Jane Cox is not mine, I must admit that I have not found a more likely candidate in previous censuses.
Millipede points out that this Jane says she had no children (I think I assumed she was saying she had no child alive), which ties in with ShaunJ’s suggestion that Alice may have been a niece (or adopted?).
Jane had two sisters. Mary Ann Miller (born Stoke Poges 1859) married Walter James Spencer at Acton in November 1883, and her 10 children (per 1911) are accounted for..
Elizabeth Miller (born Stoke Poges 1861) had two illegitimate children before she married George Kreiner on 26 December 1888. Elizabeth Rose Miller was born April 1885 at Queen Charlotte's Hospital, Marylebone, and George Miller was born Dec 1886 at St Pancras Workhouse. Elizabeth Rose lived with a great aunt, and George was brought up as a Kreiner.
According to Elizabeth Rose's birth certificate her mother was living with the Coxes at 87 Westbourne Street !
Given the birthdates of these two children I don't think Elizabeth can be Alice's mother, but I will have another look.
I will certainly work on the four Alice Cox births that ShaunJ suggested, to see if there is any connection to a brother of Richard Cox.
I was looking for the Napier-Cox couple, suggested by Jolee, in the 1911 census (without much luck!), but I think Ladyhawk has found this was not my Alice Cox.
ShaunJ – however did you find that 1909 burial for Richard Cox? Can I ask where you saw the admissions register?
Millipede suggested emigration. Nothing has leapt out at me, but I admit I'm not an expert when it comes to searching the lists. Certainly a lead to follow up – after all, family legend says we own half of Saskatchewan, but I've never found a likely candidate !
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ShaunJ – however did you find that 1909 burial for Richard Cox? Can I ask where you saw the admissions register?
I saw that there was a death for a Richard Cox of the right age in Epsom registration district and guessed that it might be an inhabitant of London who had been committed to one of the mental hospitals there - the "Epsom Cluster" (http://www.epsomandewellhistoryexplorer.org.uk/HospitalCluster.html) .
The admission register is viewable on a popular subscription site - check the catalogue under "lunacy".
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Thank you Shaun - great searching
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In 1891 at 87 Westbourne Street, St Georges Hanover Sq
Richard COX head 40 born Stapleford CAM
Jane COX wife 34 born Stoke BKM
Alice COX dau 6 born Pimlico LDN
Looking at the census document, there are other occupants of the building. However, specifically noted as part of the Cox household (ie. "Boarder" rather than just "Lodger") is Jane BRIDGE, single, 29 years old, servant/housemaid, from Newbury BKM.
Richard, Jane & Alice Cox and Jane Bridge are living together in two rooms, unlike other lodgers in the building who are shown as occupying single rooms. Jane Bridge is a boarder, rather than servant to Richard & Jane. She is therefore a peer, possibly friend.
The two Janes are both born in Bucks. Jane Bridge would have been in her early 20s when Alice Cox was born. There isn't any evidence of Richard & Jane Cox having any other children, either before or after Alice. Jane Bridge is not living with them in 1901.
There is an Alice Bridge born in the St Pancras registration area in Q4 1886 (Vol 01B, page 118), mmn unspecified. I can't find an obvious candidate for her anywhere in Middlesex in the 1891 census, nor a particularly relevant death.
Am I chasing shadows, or is there a case to be made for Alice Cox actually being Alice Bridge?
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Rattus - thanks for picking up on Jane Bridge. I should have listed her originally, and then thought my post this morning was long enough already!
The Alice Bridge you mention was born illegitimately in St Pancras Workhouse on 11 Dec 1886, and baptised on 22 Dec. However, the mother was Emily Bridge.
I'm having no luck in finding them in subsequent censuses.
Now, of course, Newbury is not in Bucks, but rather in Berkshire.
Jane Miller's only brother, George (born Stoke Poges 1854) moved to Newbury in the mid 1880s - now am I chasing shadows? I don't recognise Bridge as a "Newbury name" and I've not found Jane Bridge apart from 1891.
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The Alice Bridge you mention was born illegitimately in St Pancras Workhouse on 11 Dec 1886, and baptised on 22 Dec. However, the mother was Emily Bridge.
Ah, good work. I knew this needed more time, but didn't want to proceed further without feedback.
Jane Miller's only brother, George (born Stoke Poges 1854) moved to Newbury in the mid 1880s - now am I chasing shadows?
I reckon this shadow is worth the chase. Might come to nothing, but there's quite a credible narrative that could be constructed to explain the lack of documentation for Alice. Jane Bridge is clearly different, somehow, to the other 'lodger' occupants.
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Now, of course, Newbury is not in Bucks, but rather in Berkshire.
Further evidence that my understanding of western Home Counties geography is as sketchy as ever. I do actually know that Newbury is in Berks, but assumed it must be somewhere near a border with Bucks and had swapped over at some point. Now I've looked at a map... ;D
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I've been following up the four Alice birth registrations in St Georges Hanover Square, including looking at their siblings to help with searches.
Richard Cox was born in Stapleford CAM and his father was William Cox, an ag lab. So we are looking for possible brothers who fit the bill. In addition, we shouldn't find any of these Alices in 1891, except at 87 Westbourne Street.
Alice mmn Field Q1 1884
Baptised March 1884 at St John, Westminster.
Parents William Cox & Alice Field married Dec 1882 at St John, Westminster
Age at marriage gives William’s birth as c1849 and he said his father was William, a cabman. In fact he might have been the illegitimate son of Amelia Cox baptised Dec 1850 at StGHSq.
In 1891 Alice is with her step grandfather, Samuel Marks at 1 William Street, Lambeth [RG12/395/31/12]
Alice May mmn Plater Q2 1884
This was the trickiest one to work on, but the Cox-Plater combination is rare..
Henry Cox married Jane Plater Q1 1882 Aylesbury BKM. They moved around quite a bit, and I haven’t been able to pin down Henry himself.
However, in 1891 Alice is with her mother and siblings in Aylesbury Workhouse [RG12/1146/135/4]
Alice Elizabeth mmn Haynes Q3 1884
Baptised Oct 1884 at Holy Trinity, Westminster.
Parents Edmund Frederick Cox and Elizabeth Haynes.married Q3 StGHSq.
I think Edmund was born 1855 in Westminster and his father was Henry.
In 1891 Alice was with her widowed father at 3 Broughton Street, Battersea [RG12/424/101/26
Alice Edith mmn Goddard Q3 1886
No baptism found, but Henry Cox married Eliza Goddard May 1878 at St Martin, Kentish Town. The marriage shows he was born c1856 and his father was William Cox, labourer.
However, 1891 shows he was born in Harwell BRK. The whole family, including Alice, are at 10 Sutherland Street StGHSq [RG12/75/101/4]
So, none of the fathers appear to be brothers of Richard Cox and, crucially, all the Alices are accounted for in 1891 and they are not at 87 Westbourne Street.
Next step – Jane Bridge?
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Well, I've had a go at finding Jane Bridge born in Berks or Bucks and all I come up with is the 1891 entry at Pimlico !
I had another look at the St Pancras workhouse connection, including some good old fashioned browsing through the creed registers.
Emily Bridge had three daughters born here:
Alice born 11 Dec 1886 bapt 22 Dec 1886 mother admitted from 3 George St
Laura born 13 Dec 1887 bapt 30 Dec 1887 from 3 George St
Emily born 25 June 1889 bapt 12 July 1889 from 10 Thornhill Bridge Place [Islington?]
Needless to say - no sign of any of them in 1891 or after ! and no clues at the two addresses either.
It looks like this one has to go back into the unsolved cases file.
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Well, I had another try…
I got the death certificate for the Richard Cox (Q3 1909, Epsom) who ShaunJ found in Long Grove Asylum.
This gave Richard's occupation as “Labourer of 23 Chancellors Road, Fulham”. He was not registered as an elector there, and there was no sign of any Cox there in 1911, although it looks like various rooms were let out.
I did another old-fashioned browse of the creed register for Fulham Palace Road Workhouse and found Richard Cox admitted on 22 June 1909 and discharged to Long Grove on 2 July 1909. [image 72 of the 1905-1909 book]. Crucially it gave his date of birth as 24 May 1850.
Richard's parents were William Cox and Eliza Head https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JQ6J-YF2
There is no birth registration for a Richard Cox, but there is for a male Cocks mmn Head (Q2 1850, Chesterton).
The birth certificate arrived today and gives the unnamed boy’s date of birth as 24 May 1850.
One of Richard’s causes of death was “general paralysis of the insane about 1 year”, or syphilis. Could this explain why he had no children?
A huge thank you to ShaunJ for his pointing me in the right direction – I will always remember the “Epsom Cluster” as a possible hiding place for the more elusive folk !
It just shows the answer is out there, just waiting to be discovered.
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And Jane remarried the splendidly-named, and 20 years younger, Owen Owens Q1 1913 at Fulham. The marriage certificate arrived today and confirms she was a widow and her father was Joseph Miller, deceased general labourer. Both parties gave their address as 23 Delorme Street.
They lived in Acton 1918-1930 according to electoral registers, and both died in 1931 (Q2 and Q4) in Brentford reg district.
I've not been able to find Owen Owens in any census, but I'm sure Jane is the widow at Overstone Road, Hammersmith in 1911.
Alice remains the mystery - I would err towards her being Alice Bridge, "adopted" by the Coxes. If anyone does come across her, please let me know.
Many thanks to all who contributed.