"Completed with thanks" - James Cox / Herbert Cox

[brodie5]

Hello,

I am having trouble with the Lancashire branch of my family research.

My gg father Herbert Cox lived in Chorley and was born in 1886 (married Mary Alice Horrocks in 1908).

All I know about him is that his father was a tailor called James Cox.

Does anyone have any ideas or family links to help me get somemore information about these ancestors?

I have found a possible family on the 1891 census but they are living in Blackburn.

All ideas are welcome 

Thankyou.

[CaroleW]

Hi

Although Herbert may have lived in Chorley after he married - he could have been born elsewhere

The profile of James on the 1891 matches the marriage cert entry

Could be the parents marriage

Marriages June qtr 1884
 
Cox  James    Blackburn  8e 688   
Smith  Mary Ann     Blackburn  8e 688

[Pegasuss]

I checked the 1901 Census, and found Herbert & his Sister:

RG13-3912, ED 19, Folio 159, Page 10

73 Carlisle Street, Blackburn, Lanc's

William GOLDSMITH, Head, Mar, 44Yrs old, Brushmaker      , Bn Birmingham, Norfolk
Mary A. GOLDSMITH, Wife , Mar, 40Yrs old, Cotton Weaver , Bn Blackburn, Lanc's
HERBERT COX, Son in Law, Single, 15Yrs old, Apprentice Templatemaker, Bn Blackburn, Lanc's
ANN J.     COX, Daut in Law, Single, 12Yrs old,                                          , Bn Blackburn, Lanc's

It looks like Their Mother married again after their Father Died?

Found on FreeBDM:

Deaths June Qtr 1893

COX, James, 32Yrs old, Blackburn 8e 290

& this Marriage:

Sept Qtr 1899

GOLDSMITH, William & Cox, Mary Ann, Blackburn, 8e 928

[helenar]

Sorry Carole noticed after I posted you had already found it

Marriages Jun 1884   
Cox  James    Blackburn  8e 688   
Smith  Mary Ann     Blackburn  8e 688   

[Pegasuss]

I found James on the 1881 Census (via Ancestry.co.uk ):

RG11/4181, Folio 116, Page 18

59 Canterbury St, Blackburn, Lanc's

Johanna (James) GRAY, Head, Widower, 53Yrs old, Bn Ireland
Mary E.                GRAY, Daut, Single     , 23Yrs old, Cotton Winder, Bn Blackburn, Lanc's
JAMES                   COX, Boarder, Single, 19Yrs old, Tailor              , Bn Manchester, Lanc's
Thomas B.     Robinson, Boarder, Single, 19Yrs old, Brass Finisher, Bn Manchester, Lanc's

Ancestry seem to be confused as to the Sex of the Head of the House, Listed (online) as a 'Female' the 'Widower' (which would imply a Male?

[Pegasuss]

I think I have found James on the 1871 Census:

Rg10/4073, ED 28, Folio 27a&28, Pages 48&49

44 Burlington Street (Industrial School), Ashton under Lyne, Lanc's

Gregory FERNS, Teacher, Widower, 29Yrs old, Teacher (Industrial School), Bn Stockport, Cheshire

the 28th named 'Inmate' (out of 39) was:

JAMES COX, Inmate, 9Yrs old, Bn Manchester, Lanc's

[brodie5]

CaroleW & Pegasuss,

Thanks very much for your help - Gosh you have found out loads!

I was totally thrown by James Cox being listed as being born in Ireland on the 1891 census.  This is probably an error as all the other entries say Manchester.

I knew that he had died quite young as he is listed as deceased on Herbert's wedding certificate in 1908 - but thanks to you two I now know that he died much earlier !

Do you know anything about "Industrial Schools" - I wondered if they were similar to workhouses?

Thanks again :-)

[CaroleW]

Hi

Have a look at this link re: Workhouses and Industrial Schools.  It's a real eye opener

http://users.ox.ac.uk/~peter/workhouse/

[brodie5]

Hi,

Thanks for the industrial school info.

A real eye opener indeed! Sounds like the kids all had a bad start to life and were probably trainee criminals.

The school must have done some good for James as he learned a trade as a tailor. 

Though he died at 32 so something nasty may still have happened to him !

:-)