Joseph Wilcox 1798 born in the East Indies or South Africa

[Ellie07]

My 5th Great Grandfather showed up as being born in either South Africa or East Indies. Eventually, he moved to the UK (Bilston) and married Rhoda Alcock in 1817. I can't seem to get any further back than him. Does anyone have any more information? would be much appreciated.

A census record from 1851 shows he was an excavator and had 10 employees.

[shume]

The 1851 census seems to be the only one listing him as born Cape of Good Hope. 1861 census and 1871 census list him as East Indies ( ie India, Burma) By this census he is a pauper widower living in a Wolverhampton workhouse.
There is a death in 1873 for Joseph Wilcox in Wolverhampton which could be him. Age given is 80 but remember it could have been a guess by the informant. Ref 6b308. It might be worth purchasing his death cert which may give his parents names.
The next alternative is to hunt down his marriage cert in 1817 (parish records) which should give his father's name.
I searched 2 India records site ( Families of British in India and British Library) but no baptism. perhaps he was born Cape of Good Hope on way to India?
If you Google Wolverhampton workhouse there is a lot of info and photos.

shume  australia

[ShaunJ]

It might be worth purchasing his death cert which may give his parents names.

Very, very, unlikely on an English death certificate

The next alternative is to hunt down his marriage cert in 1817 (parish records) which should give his father's name

Father's name not required on marriage registers before 1837

[ShaunJ]

In the 1861 census he is resident in Warwick Street, described as "lab & greengrocer".

There are newspaper court reports in April and July 1863 concerning a 70 year old old man named Joseph Wilcox of Warwick Street, Bilston, a small shopkeeper, who was jailed for 12 months for an offence against a 13 year old girl in his employ.