Herbert Palmer Cox - St. Vincent Planter
Posted on February 18, 2007
Posted UnderFamily Pages |
Herbert Palmer Cox (1748 - 1824)
Herbert Palmer COX was christened 29 September 1748 at Saint-Martin-in-the-Fields, Westminster, London, England. His father was John George COX and his mother was Prisca (possibly PHILPOT). His brothers and sisters were:
Henrietta COX was christened on December 15, 1732 at Saint Paul Covent Garden, Westminster, London, England. She married John LE ROUSSAU on December 24, 1757 at Saint Martin in the Fields, Westminster, London, England. They had at least one child, John George LE ROUSSAU, christened on May 13, 1759 at Saint Paul Covent Garden, Westminster, London, England.
Peter COX, born between 1732 - 1748, probably in London.
Theodoria/Theodosia COX, born between 1732 - 1748, probably in London.
Henry Andriese COX was christened on October 31, 1733 at Saint Paul Covent Garden, Westminster, London, England.
Thomas Holt COX, was christened on December 27, 1735 at Saint Paul Covent Garden, Westminster, London, England.
Harriott Holt COX was born about 1737, probably in London. She married James JEUDWINE (Judevin/Jeudvine) ob February 14, 1763 at St. Margaret, Canterbury, Kent, England.
Anna Wilhelmina COX was christened on February 28, 1740 at Saint Lawrence, Exeter, Devon, England. She married Robert ATKINS on March 16, 1762 at Saint Clement Danes, Westminster, London, England.
Margaretta COX was christened on May 06, 1744 at Saint Martin In The Fields, Westminster, London, England. She married Francis LAWSON on May 03, 1763 at Saint Paul Covent Garden, Westminster, London, England. Francis LAWSON was the son of John LAWSON and his wife Honna. Both Francis LAWSON and his father John LAWSON became a Councillor at Law Middle Temple. Francis LAWSON was born in 1737 and was living in 1801. Francis LAWSON and his wife Margaret had two sons and one daughter. Margaret Ann Elizabeth LAWSON was the eldest child. She married the Rev. Charles WHATLEY, Rector of Aston Ingham in Hereford. She was born in 1765 and was living in 1801, George LAWSON was the second child he was born in 1767 was living in 1801,unmarried. Charles John LAWSON was the third child, he was a Councillor at Law Middle Temple and he married his cousin Mary Ann LAWSON at St. George Hanover Square in 1803. He was born in 1768. NOTE: Francis LAWSON’s third son William Herbert LAWSON was not mentioned, perhaps he died in infancy.
George Lloyd COX January 29, 1746, likely twin with John Philpot COX.
John Philpot COX January 29, 1746, likely twin with George Lloyd COX.
It’s not yet known what led Herbert Palmer COX to leave England for St. Vincent, between 1770 and 1774. He was married on St. Vincent on 06 August 1774 to Jane ALEXANDER, the daughter of the Hon. Harry ALEXANDER and Lydia MARTIN, all natives of Antigua.
COX was a prominent individual on St. Vincent and is listed as a member of a “Friendly Club” in 1785. His name (H. P. COX), and those of the other members, was found engraved on a silver snuff box owned by James HAZELL. COX held several ranks in the Island Militia from at least 1789 until his death. His name is found in the St. Vincent Militia Commanders lists as Ensign in 1789, serving under Lieut. Colonel John GREATHEAD. In 1799, he is listed as Adjutant H. P. COX, in 1806 as Captain Herbert Palmer COX, in 1814 as Captain H. P. COX, and in 1821 with the “Light Horse”, as Captain Adjutant H. P. COX. An 1816 newspaper notice in the Times of London notes him as Clerk of the Assembly of St. Vincent in 1815. Since it is known from St. Vincent vital records that he owned slaves, it is speculated that he owned at least one sugar plantation in addition to his governmental duties. Herbert Palmer COX is believed to have lived in Queen’s Bay, St. Andrew’s Parish, St. Vincent. While his burial place is unknown, his death is recorded in the records of St. George’s Anglican Cathedral in Kingstown, St. Vincent as 08 April 1824.
The children of Herbert Palmer COX and Jane ALEXANDER were:
Lydia Prisca COX (twin), christened 20 August 1775 in St. George’s Anglican Cathedral, Kingstown, St. Vincent. She married Hugh Mill/Mills BUNBURY on 06 August 1791 in St. Vincent. They settled in Demerara (also called British Guiana, now Guyana). A newspaper article in the Times of London on the probate of Hugh M. BUNBURY, states that Lydia Prisca died in Demerara in 1800, but her burial is recorded in St. Vincent as Mrs. BUNBURY, buried on 01 September 1800. Their two children were Henry Mill/Mills BUNBURY and Jane Lydia BUNBURY, who married the French playwright, poet and novelist, Comte Alfred Victor de Vigny.
Margaret Jane COX (twin), christened 20 August 1775 in St. George’s Anglican Cathedral, Kingstown, St. Vincent. Her christening record lists her name as Margaret Jeana Cox. She was married 29 August 1796 to Dr. Alexander MELVILLE, a former Army Surgeon. Margaret was his second wife. She and Alexander Melville had eight children: Thomas S. MELVILLE, Jane MELVILLE, Margaret Elizabeth MELVILLE, Charlotte Burke MELVILLE, Jane Ann MELVILLE, Herbert Alexander Wilson MELVILLE, Charlotte Lydia MELVILLE, Mary MELVILLE, Lucretia Sarah MELVILLE, and Louisa Grant MELVILLE.
John George COX is believed to have been born about 1777 but has no christening record at St. George’s Anglican Cathedral in Kingstown, St. Vincent. The lack of the record is likely attributed to the unstable times between the First Carib War and the French takeover of 1778. He married before 1798, likely during the Second Carib War, to Jane Ann, maiden name unknown. They had at least three children: John George COX, Frances Lydia COX, and Herbert Palmer COX and Jane Ann COX.
Francis James COX, christened 09 January 1785 in St. George’s Anglican Cathedral, Kingstown, St. Vincent. He also lived on the nearby Island of St. Lucia, likely as part of his military assignment. He was married sometime before 1813 to Mary, a free woman of colour. They had four children: Francis Maxwell COX, John COX, Margaret COX, and Herbert George COX. Mary and their four children were all named in Francis’ will. He died 01 July 1824 and was buried in St. Vincent. His wife’s sister Tittoon (uncertain if this is correct) was also named in the will. At the time of his death, Francis James COX was a Captain at half-pay with the Royal York Rangers. His will transcription can be found here.
Anne Elizabeth COX, christened 02 August 1787 in St. George’s Anglican Cathedral, Kingstown, St. Vincent. She married 06 April 1809 to James GRANT, Esq., a merchant. James Grant died in London on 05 June 1837. His death is noted in the Times of London for 07 June 1837. His will was proved in London in October 1837, naming his “dearly beloved wife Ann GRANT”, and also Sir Alexander GRANT as executors. No children are mentioned, and his relationship to Sir Alexander GRANT is not explained. Read the will of James GRANT. Anne Elizabeth (COX) GRANT died after 1861.
She was listed in the 1851 and 1861 British Census as follows:
1851 England Census, Devon, Exeter, St. David, District 1b, Page 4 or 19
Dwelling # 8 (24 Southembray ?)
NEALE, Thomas - head, age 46, Laying (?) House Keeper, born Berkley, Gloucestershire, England
NEALE, Mary Ann - wife, age 50, born Exeter, Devon, England
NEALE, Jennie - daughter, age 21, born Exeter, Devon, England
NEALE, Richard L - son, age 20, born Exeter, Devon, England
NEALE, Elizabeth - daughter, age 17, born Exeter, Devon, England
NEALE, Emily - daughter, age 12, born Exeter, Devon, England
HILMAN, Mary A. - Servant, unmarried, age 22, House Servant, born Devon, Bovey
GRANT, Ann E. - Lodger, widowed, age 65, Annuitant, born St. Vincent West Indies
COX, Jane A. - Lodger, unmarried, age 24, born St. Vincent West Indies
COX, Margaret E. - Lodger, unmarried, age 23, born St. Vincent West Indies
DRAPER, Emeline - Lodger, unmarried, age 36, Governess, born ___ (British Subject)
RASHLEIGH, George C. - Lodger, married, age 59, Vicar of ____, Incumbent of ______, ____ of St. Mary’s College, ___chester, born Devon, Silverton
**Cox in Ancestry.com index as COY
**Grant in Ancestry.com index as GRAEB
1861 British Census - England, Somerset, Churchill
Dwelling #42 (Langford)
GRANT, Ann Elizabeth - head, age 75, fundholder, born West Indies, St Vigeans*
COX, Margaret Elizabeth - niece, age 28, born West Indies, St Vigeans
STANLEY, Mary A. E. - grand or great niece, age 4, born East Indies
GILLER, Martha - servant, age 56, cook, born Felton, Gloucestershire, England
LEAVER, Emily - servant, age 22, housemaid, born Bedminster, Somerset, England
GARDINER, Ann - servant, age 21, lady’s maid, born Dean, Oxfordshire, England
PINSENT, William H. - servant, age 20, coachman, born Chew Magna, Somerset, England
*should be St. Vincent
The children of Herbert Palmer COX and Jane ALEXANDER (continued) were:
Paul Greathead COX, christened 18 October 1789 in St. George’s Anglican Cathedral, Kingstown, St. Vincent. He died 04 December 1789.
Douglas Leith COX christened 27 December 1792 in St. George’s Anglican Cathedral, Kingstown, St. Vincent. He married in St. Vincent on 17 March 1821 to Magdalen SUTHERLAND, daughter of George SUTHERLAND and Margaret MELVILLE of Montrose, Scotland and St. Vincent. They had two children in St. Vincent: Herbert George COX, who likely died as an infant, and Margaret Elizabeth COX (found in the British Census for 1881, 1891 and 1901). They had at least one child born in Montrose, Scotland named George Herbert COX, who married his cousin Jane MELVILLE, daughter of Thomas MELVILLE and Rebecca LYTE of St. Vincent. They also had Jane Ann COX, born in St. Vincent, Scotland or England, Sarah Maria COX, born in Hampshire, England in 1831 (found with her sister Margaret E. COX in the 1901 British Census), and Elizabeth Melville (Matilda on one census record) COX, born in Coteau-du-lac, Soulanges, Quebec, Lower Canada on 06 February 1835 (found in the 1881 British Census in Angus, Scotland with husband Alexander M. WATT and six children). Douglas Leith COX and his wife are suspected to have died in Scotland or England.
They were listed in the 1851 and 1861 British Census as follows:
1851 England Census - Devon, Kilmington, District 2, Page 16 or 166
Dwelling # 81
COX, Lieut. Douglas - head, married, age 58, Paymaster Half Pay 47th Regt. born St. Vincent West Indies
COX, Magdalen - wife, married, age 53, born Scotland
COX, Sarah Maria - daughter, age 17, born Gosport, Hampshire
COX, Elizabeth Matilda - daughter, age 15, born Canada
1861 British Census, England, Somerset County, Churchill, ED# 3, Page 6
Dwelling #28 (Churchill Village). Census taken 7 April 1861.
COX, Douglas L. - head, married, age 68, Paymaster Half-Pay (?) Army, born West Indies, St. Vincent
COX, Magdalen - wife, married, age 63, born Scotland
COX, Sarah M. - daur., unmarried, age 35 (?), born Hampshire, Gosport (?)
COX, Elizabeth M. - daur., unmarried, age 25, born Canada, Lantan(?) DeLas(?)
COX, Magdalen A. S., g. daur., age 8, born East Indies, Peshawur
GODING (?), Ellen, serv., unmarried, age 18, General Serv.
John George Cox (abt. 1777 - 1852)
No birth/christening or marriage record is found in St. Vincent for John George COX. He was most likely born during the unstable time following the First Carib War and the French takeover that soon followed. The Second Carib War and removal of the natives was taking place when he most likely married. Christening records for three of his known children in St. Vincent name his wife only as Jane, but she is identified as Jane Ann in the will of their eldest son, of the same name as his father. The elder John George COX served in the British Army and is named as Captain John George COX, in the Canada death notice of his daughter Jane Ann McLEAN, wife of John McLEAN. His four known children were: John George COX., Frances Lydia COX., Herbert Palmer COX. and Jane Ann COX..
Information obtained in 2006 offers more detail into the life of John George COX. He is enumerated on the 1851 British Census as follows:
1851 England Census, Devon, South Molton, District 1b
Dwelling # 70 (East Street)
COX, John Geo. - head, widower, age 73, Captain Half Pay (Army) born West Indies St. Vincent
TAYLOR, Mary - servant, unmarried, age 28, House Servant, born Somerset, England
John George COX died on April 17, 1852 in South Molton, Devon, England. His will names some additional children (highlighted below in yellow) to those above, which suggests a likely second marriage:
John George COX’s will from the Devon (England) Record Office
In the name of God Amen, I, John George COX of the town of South Moulton [Molton] in the county of Devon, a Captain in half pay in His Majesty’s Army, do make this my last will and testament being in sound health and of sound mind & memory in manner & form following: First, I give my body to be buried in the nearest churchyard to which I may died with as small an expence and as private as possible. Secondly, I leave nothing of my effects to my daughters Jane Ann McLEAN or Francis [Frances] Lydia SWIRE, as they will succeed to the property of their mother. Thirdly, I leave to my son Harry Alexander COX, the sum of five pounds for his disobedience and folly, and Fourthly, I leave and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth Ann SMYTH all monies and arrears of pay which I may possess or be due to me at the time of my decease together with my household goods and furniture and other effects to which I might be intitled [entitled] or have any claim for her sole use and benefit and I constitute and appoint her Husband William Gould SMYTH sole executor of this my last will and testament and I request that should my present servant Mary TAYLOR be living with me at the time of my decease that my wearing apparel may be given to her for her long and faithful services. In witness whereof have hereunto set my hand & seal.
Signed, sealed and declared as the last will and testament of the said Captain John George COX in due presence this 10th day of June in the year of our Lord 1851.
Signed: John George COX - LS
William Loch BRAYLEY
John BRAYLEY
For Executors.
Appeared personally William Gould SMYTH of South Molton in the county of Devon, Gentleman
Executor named in the will of John George COX late of South Molton in the county of Devon, Captain in Her Majesty’s Army, who died on the seventeenth day of April now (?) instant……
Sworn on the twenty-fourth day of April, 1852
__________, Surrogate
Frances Lydia COX was christened 25 November 1800 in St. George’s Anglican Cathedral, Kingstown, St. Vincent. She married before 1820 to Roger SWIRE. The wedding ceremony is rumored to have taken place on the Island of Grenada or Antigua, where the couple had eloped. SWIRE was from Yorkshire, England and had moved to St. Vincent either on a military assignment or after inheriting property.
In 1821, he was a Lieutenant with Militia Commissions in the Queen’s Companies. Sometime between 1827 & 1828, the SWIRE family relocated to the Port Antonio area of Jamaica. They had twelve children: John Henry Dalzell SWIRE, Roger Jones SWIRE, Hannah Jane SWIRE, Frances Anne SWIRE, Emily Elizabeth SWIRE, Philip SWIRE, Maryanne/Marianne SWIRE, Christina Octavia SWIRE, William Spencer SWIRE, Lucy Albertina Sarah Martha Toogood SWIRE, Augustus SWIRE and Elizabeth Anne Coy SWIRE.
The only SWIRE’s/SWYER’s in Jamaica today are of mixed ancestry and are believed to descend from Roger Jones SWIRE, and possibly other SWIRE’s of this family.
The photo of Frances is from a locket that was in the possession of a descendent living in Kingston, Jamaica in 2004. A lock of Frances’ hair is also attached to the locket. It is speculated to have been given to this family by someone in the RUTTY family, possibly Elizabeth Swire RUTTY (”Granny Rutty”) or one of her children.
Some researchers have Frances Lydia COX as Frances Lydia Palmer COX and list her as the daughter rather than the granddaughter of Herbert Palmer COX. Her family bible is part of the collection of the National Library of Jamaica collection after mysteriously turning up in a desk drawer at the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission in 1991. The last entry was dated 1945. The bible was a gift from her son-in-law, Alexander J. BRYMER, likely on the occasion of the birth of his first child, as the date with the inscription on the bible’s front inside cover and his first child’s birthdate are the same, here is the full handwritten inscription: “Mrs. SWIRE, with Alexander J. BRYMER’s affectionate regards, September 30th, 1847.”
There are some amusing family stories about Frances and her courtship with Roger Swire. One of them from the Rutty family states that: “Frances Lydia COX’s father was the colonel of an English regiment. The future Lord Clive was a penniless lieutenant in his regiment. Clive fell in love with Frances, but the colonel said no go and packed her off to the island of St. Vincent, where his sister lived, the wife of the Bishop of St. Vincent. There she met a Yorkshire man by the name of Roger SWIRE, who had inherited property on the island, and they fell in love. Roger chartered a schooner and eloped with her to Antigua, where they married. They then returned to St. Vincent.”
Another family story from the Littlejohn’s states that: “Roger SWIRE was Aide-de-camp to the Governor of St. Vincent. Frances Lydia Palmer-Cox (note the surname is incorrectly hyphenated here) had been sent out at age 16 to stay with her grandfather, the Chief Justice. Roger and Frances fell in love but were forbidden to see each other. Roger was rather wild. Apparently Roger asked the advice of the Governor. “The Governor pointed over his shoulder. Roger thanked him, and when the Governor said, ‘I said nothing,’, Roger said, ‘No Sir, but I will take your advice.’ Roger procured a sloop, some sailors, and a chaperone and effected an elopement. They were married at St. George’s Church in Grenada and later settled in Jamaica, purchased a sugar plantation, and imported horses from Yorkshire to improve local stock.”
John George Cox, Jr. (1798 - 1850)
John George COX, Jr., was born 01 February 1798 in St. Vincent. He was christened at St. George’s Anglican Cathedral in Kingstown, St. Vincent on 28 March 1798. He was the son of John George COX (above) and Jane Ann, maiden name unknown. He had Militia Commissions in the Queen’s Companies in 1821 as Ensign Quartermaster, and in 1828 as Lieutenant. He married Sarah CLARKE, location unknown. On 06 April 1823, their daughter Jane Lydia COX was christened at St. George’s Anglican Cathedral in Kingstown, St. Vincent. Sometime before 1840, Sarah CLARKE died and John George COX remarried to the widow of well-known St. Vincent Anglican Rector Rev. Lansdown GUILDING. The marriage of John George COX to Charlotte Lydia (MELVILLE) GUILDING took place at St. Marylebone parish in Westminster, London, England in the March quarter of 1840. It is not known if they had any children. In 1841, John George COX made his will as he was about to set sail from Bristol, England to the island of Trinidad. In the will he states that he was the eldest son of John George and Jane Ann COX of St. Vincent. He died in the September quarter of 1850 at St-Martin-in-the-Field’s parish, Westminster, London, England. His will was probated in 1851. It is assumed that he is buried in Westminster. His widow Charlotte Lydia died in Brooklyn, New York, USA in March 1860. She was buried 17 March 1860 in the MELVILLE family plot in the famed Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn. Records of the MELVILLE family of St. Vincent state that she was living in the home of nephew Henry Reed MELVILLE (son of her brother Thomas MELVILLE), when she died.
Jane Ann Cox (abt. 1797 - 1852)
Jane Ann COX was born about 1797 most likely in St. Vincent. While no christening record has been found for her there, her death notice in a Wigtownshire, Scotland newspaper names her father as Captain John George COX (above, born 1777) of the British Army. She was married in St. Vincent on 12 July 1817 to John McLEAN, Esq., a planter. John McLEAN was associated with the estate of Peruvian Vale in Charlotte Parish, St. Vincent until at least 1827 (see the Fidler diary). At some point after late August 1828 when their child was baptized, the John McLEAN family left St. Vincent for Grimsby, Lincoln County, Clinton Township, Upper Canada (now called Ontario). There is a John McLEAN listed in the 1828 census for Grimsby, Clinton Township, Upper Canada, who could be this same John McLEAN, or another, possible relative. For the St. Vincent John McLEAN’s to have relocated to Grimsby in time for this census would be a daunting task since they would have traveled first by ship, then overland across heavily wooded land. Further research will reveal exactly when this John McLEAN family arrived in Grimsby. Baptism records from St. Vincent match several cemetery records in Grimsby for several of the McLEAN’s children. Jane Cox McLEAN’’s death notice appeared in the Wigtown Free Press of Wigtownshire, Scotland (perhaps McLean was from this area ?) as follows:
“M’CLEAN/COX, Jane - D21/4/1852 - On the 21st April at Peruvian Vale, Clinton, Upper Canada, Jane, the wife of John M’Clean, Esq., and daughter of Captain John George Cox, of the British Army.” WIGTOWNSHIRE FREE PRESS, published at Wigtown, Scotland.
John McLEAN and Jane Ann COX had the following known children:
James Melville McLEAN, Jane Ann Grant McLEAN, John George McLEAN, Charles Herbert McLEAN, Henry Ross McLEAN, Hugh McLEAN, and Mary Jane McLEAN. Another believed son is Francis T. McLEAN, who was born in Canada after 1828. Four of these children are buried in the same plot as John and Jane Ann McLEAN in St. Andrew’s Anglican Church Cemetery, Grimsby, Lincoln County, Ontario, Canada.
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John McLean of Peruvian Vale Estate was still residing there in 1830. He accompanied Dr. John Melville (of Mount St. Patrick) on a trip to Canada in July, and returned to St. Vincent in October. His wife, Jane, was residing in St Vincent at that time.