DERBYSGEN-L Archives

From: "Alan Bloor" <>
Subject: Re: [DBY] Last of the Line
Date: Mon, 1 Jan 2001 09:06:08 -0000
References: <02fb01c07349$773d8060$deb0883e@oemcomputer>

Joy

I've some experience of doing this sort of thing and it can be done,
although it helps if it's an unusual surname (which COX isn't) and the
family stays in the same area. But here's some suggestions of how to do it :

1. Start systematically searching the GRO marriage index for the sons'
marriages. Start at 1908 (when the eldest son would be 20) and work forwards
quarter by quarter. If you don't find them you may have to look at a few
years before 1908 in case they married very young. Once you have some
possibilities based on the names and locations matching, take a chance and
order some marriage certificates to confirm identities.

2. Go back to the GRO indexes (of births this time) and look for possible
children. This task is made easier because from around 1911 the index gives
the mother's maiden name. This provides more surety that you're on the right
track, though you should still be prepared to buy the certificates to
confirm - plus the birth certificates will hopefully give you the addresses.

3. I don't know where you live, but if you can get to Derby one of the
libraries should have local directories and electoral lists. If you have the
addresses then searching electoral lists year by year will tell you when the
family moved on, and directories might reveal any new address if they do
move. Another possible reason for a family being lost from the electoral
roll could be death - check the GRO death index if this happens and they are
quite old at the time. If one name disappears but the other stays, then a
death is even more likely. Also, the names of adult children sometimes
appear for a few years at the parents' address.

4. Once you have found the deaths of both parties, check the National
Probate Index for any wills that might have been made. If there are wills
for both husband and wife, the will of the second to die is often the most
useful as the money is usually divided between the children. Wills cost £5
and can be extremely useful.

5. If you find the names of the children in a will, then go back in the
indexes and look for their marriages, then start again!

Obviously this is very time consuming and not always guaranteed to be a
success, but I have found it useful in my searches on a couple of occasions.

If you have no luck, then I suppose the 1911 census may help but you'll
have to wait 10 years for that.

Hope this helps

Alan Bloor
----- Original Message -----
From: Joy Hungerford <>
To: <>
Sent: Sunday, December 31, 2000 4:46 PM
Subject: [DBY] Last of the Line


> Hi Listers
> I'm still on the track of an elusive great-uncle.
> My g-grandfather, Francis Charles COX moved from Bath to Alfreton abt
1870.
> He had ten children. Only one of his six daughters produced children.
> Of his four sons, three had children, but none has passed on the name COX
beyond the third generation.
> This leaves one son, the eldest, who is my only hope if I am to find
Francis's male line continuing.
> Big snag - none of his surviving nieces or nephews can help me on this.
> William Charles COX was b 15 May 1866 in Bath.
> The 1881 Census lists him as a tailor's apprentice.
> He married Mary Ann ALLEN 30 May 1887in Alfreton.
> I believe he had four children - William Charles b 10 Aug 1888, Francis
Thomas, b 22 Apr 1890,
> Alfred, no details known, and Alice, who married a HARRISON.
> If anyone has any info which could save a dying line, I would be so
grateful!
> Kind regards,
> Joy
>
> ______________________________

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• Re: [DBY] Last of the Line by "Alan Bloor" <>