Elizabeth and Richard Cox
Images and notes from Mary Beth Simmons-Sierer with contribution from Bob Leathers
ELIZABETH (ROBERTS) COX. (PICTURE FROM MARY BETH SIMMONS-SIERER)
ELIZABETH (ROBERTS) COX. (PICTURE FROM MARY BETH SIMMONS-SIERER)
Life Story
1821: Richard George Cox was born in Dudley, Worcestershire, England in the Black Country.
1827: Elizabeth Roberts was born in Dudley, West Midlands, England in the Black Country. (Fairmount Cemetery Records, Denver Colorado.) (Online Records)
1848 April 24: Elizabeth Roberts and Richard Cox were married in the Parish Church in the Parish of Brierley Hill in the County of Staffordshire. The wedding was in the presence of Robert Cox and Elizabeth Cox, both signed the certificate with an X. Elizabeth was a minor in age. She was a spinster, no occupation and living at Brierley Hill. She signed the marriage certificate with an X. Her father was Joseph Roberts, a miner and still living. Richard was a minor in age, a bachelor, and employed as a miner. He also living at Brierley Hill. He signed the marriage certificate with an X. Richard's father was Richard Cox, deceased at the time of the wedding and a coal miner by occupation.
1851: Elizabeth Cox, age 21, born about 1830 in Dudley, Worcestershire, England was living in Kingswinford, England with her husband Richard, a coal miner, age 24, born about 1827 in Dudley, Worcestershire, England (1851 England Census)
1861: Elizabeth Cox, head of house, no occupation, a miner's wife, age 29, born in Dudley, was living in Dudley, Worcestershire, England with her children Joseph, age 9, born in Dudley, Jane, age 5, born in Dudley, and Mary, age 11 months, born in Dudley. (1861 England Census)
Note: Richard was not listed in the census nor was Robert. Robert would not be born until 1863. (1861 UK Census)
1869: Elizabeth and Richard Cox lived in the Black Country after they were married. They immigrated to America with their children, just after the end of the American Civil War.
1880: Elizabeth Cox, born about 1832, occupation keeping house, age 48, born in England was living in Saint Clair, Schuylkill, Pennsylvania with her husband Richard Cox, born about 1830 in England, age 50, a coal miner, and her son Robert J. Cox, age 16, a fan turner in the coal mine, a single, white, male, born about 1864 in England. (1880 U.S. Census)
1887: The Union Pacific coal mines at Carbon were operating, but the mineable coal was diminishing. A new source of coal was needed. A new source was found at Chimney Springs, which would later become Hanna.
1888: The Hanna town site at Chimney Springs was surveyed and the area explored for coal mine locations. Mark Hanna, at the request of the Union Pacific Railroad, toured the Wyoming coal mines. On his trip he visited the newly discovered coal fields at Chimney Springs for possible expansion. He recommended the coal field be developed. When the decision to move the coal operation from Carbon to Hanna was made, the coal site at Chimney Springs was named Hanna after Mark Hanna.
1889: Elizabeth and Richard Cox along with their children Robert Cox and Jane Cox followed Joseph Cox moved to Carbon and were living in the coal camp in 1889. They became long-time residents and supporters of Carbon.
1889 January 30: The United States Post Office Department established a Post Office at Hanna and appointed George F. Doane as postmaster.
1889 July 12: Richard Cox died in Carbon, Wyoming. He was buried in the Carbon, Wyoming cemetery.
1889: Workers spent their time in Hanna developing the Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 1 Mine 1 and No. 2 Mine and building the town. Living conditions in Hanna during the winter of 1889 were difficult. The workers lived in tents and were exposed to the winter weather with little protection from Wyoming's cold and windy conditions.
1890 June 19: A fierce fire broke out in Carbon and burned most of the business district to the ground. A few reports indicate the fire started in the Scranton House hotel where a guest knocked over a kerosene lamp. The fire fighters even tried dynamiting a few buildings in hopes of stopping the fire from spreading, but their efforts were not successful. Immediately after the fire, the people and businesses started rebuilding the town and new laws and ordinances were passed to help avoid such a thing from happening again.
1902 May 7: Mrs. Richard Cox of Rock Springs is spending a few days here at her son's home, Robert Cox, ex-mayor of Carbon. (Carbon News, Rawlins Republican May 7, 1902) Elizabeth and Richard's son Joseph Cox was Foreman of the Carbon No. 6 mine and later became responsible for developing the No. 1 mine and No. 2 mine in Hanna. Her daughter Jane (Cox) Pickering lived in Rock Springs most of her adult life and was married to a lawman there, George Pickering. (BL)
1914 Sept. 9: Mrs. John While and Mrs. Richard Cox left for Hanna last Saturday. Mrs. John While of Hanna, has been visiting her aunt Mrs. Richard Cox this week. Mrs. Cox will return with her niece to Hanna to spend the winter. (Rock Springs Miner, Sept. 9, 1914)
1915 Oct. 21: Elizabeth (Roberts) Cox died in Linn, Colorado. Elizabeth Cox was buried in Fairmount Cemetery, Denver County, Denver Colorado, Plot: Blk 61. Inscription: Mother (Fairmount Cemetery Records Online)
MRS. ELIZABETH COX DIES AT ADVANCED AGE: The death of Mrs. Elizabeth Cox occurred on Thursday at the home of her son, Joseph, in Linn, Colorado, at the advanced age of 88 years. Mrs. Cox was one of the old and well-known residents of Rock Springs and had made her home here until recently, when she went to live with her son. She was a bright and well preserved, old lady, her health having been good for one of her advanced age, and the news of her death was a shock to her relatives and friends in this city. She was a native of Yorkshire, England. Her funeral took place yesterday in Denver. She leaves two sons, Joseph, of Linn, Colorado, and Robert, of Hanna, and one daughter, Mrs. George Pickering of this city (Rock Springs). She also leaves fourteen grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. (Rock Springs Miner, Oct. 23, 1915)
Note: Linn Colorado is correctly spelled Lynn. Lynn is located near Aguilar Colorado near the railroad. (BL)
1921: When daughter, Jane (Cox) Pickering, (1857-1921) died, age 64, in Rock Springs the notice stated she was an early resident of Carbon and her brothers were Joe and Bob (Robert) Cox. Her husband, George Pickering (1834-1913) was noted in Carbon in 1884 when their daughter, Mary was born. They later had two more daughters and lived in Rock Springs and Ogden, Utah.
2011: A visit to Netherton, West Midland, England in the Black County.
1827: Elizabeth Roberts was born in Dudley, West Midlands, England in the Black Country. (Fairmount Cemetery Records, Denver Colorado.) (Online Records)
1848 April 24: Elizabeth Roberts and Richard Cox were married in the Parish Church in the Parish of Brierley Hill in the County of Staffordshire. The wedding was in the presence of Robert Cox and Elizabeth Cox, both signed the certificate with an X. Elizabeth was a minor in age. She was a spinster, no occupation and living at Brierley Hill. She signed the marriage certificate with an X. Her father was Joseph Roberts, a miner and still living. Richard was a minor in age, a bachelor, and employed as a miner. He also living at Brierley Hill. He signed the marriage certificate with an X. Richard's father was Richard Cox, deceased at the time of the wedding and a coal miner by occupation.
1851: Elizabeth Cox, age 21, born about 1830 in Dudley, Worcestershire, England was living in Kingswinford, England with her husband Richard, a coal miner, age 24, born about 1827 in Dudley, Worcestershire, England (1851 England Census)
1861: Elizabeth Cox, head of house, no occupation, a miner's wife, age 29, born in Dudley, was living in Dudley, Worcestershire, England with her children Joseph, age 9, born in Dudley, Jane, age 5, born in Dudley, and Mary, age 11 months, born in Dudley. (1861 England Census)
Note: Richard was not listed in the census nor was Robert. Robert would not be born until 1863. (1861 UK Census)
1869: Elizabeth and Richard Cox lived in the Black Country after they were married. They immigrated to America with their children, just after the end of the American Civil War.
1880: Elizabeth Cox, born about 1832, occupation keeping house, age 48, born in England was living in Saint Clair, Schuylkill, Pennsylvania with her husband Richard Cox, born about 1830 in England, age 50, a coal miner, and her son Robert J. Cox, age 16, a fan turner in the coal mine, a single, white, male, born about 1864 in England. (1880 U.S. Census)
1887: The Union Pacific coal mines at Carbon were operating, but the mineable coal was diminishing. A new source of coal was needed. A new source was found at Chimney Springs, which would later become Hanna.
1888: The Hanna town site at Chimney Springs was surveyed and the area explored for coal mine locations. Mark Hanna, at the request of the Union Pacific Railroad, toured the Wyoming coal mines. On his trip he visited the newly discovered coal fields at Chimney Springs for possible expansion. He recommended the coal field be developed. When the decision to move the coal operation from Carbon to Hanna was made, the coal site at Chimney Springs was named Hanna after Mark Hanna.
1889: Elizabeth and Richard Cox along with their children Robert Cox and Jane Cox followed Joseph Cox moved to Carbon and were living in the coal camp in 1889. They became long-time residents and supporters of Carbon.
1889 January 30: The United States Post Office Department established a Post Office at Hanna and appointed George F. Doane as postmaster.
1889 July 12: Richard Cox died in Carbon, Wyoming. He was buried in the Carbon, Wyoming cemetery.
1889: Workers spent their time in Hanna developing the Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 1 Mine 1 and No. 2 Mine and building the town. Living conditions in Hanna during the winter of 1889 were difficult. The workers lived in tents and were exposed to the winter weather with little protection from Wyoming's cold and windy conditions.
1890 June 19: A fierce fire broke out in Carbon and burned most of the business district to the ground. A few reports indicate the fire started in the Scranton House hotel where a guest knocked over a kerosene lamp. The fire fighters even tried dynamiting a few buildings in hopes of stopping the fire from spreading, but their efforts were not successful. Immediately after the fire, the people and businesses started rebuilding the town and new laws and ordinances were passed to help avoid such a thing from happening again.
1902 May 7: Mrs. Richard Cox of Rock Springs is spending a few days here at her son's home, Robert Cox, ex-mayor of Carbon. (Carbon News, Rawlins Republican May 7, 1902) Elizabeth and Richard's son Joseph Cox was Foreman of the Carbon No. 6 mine and later became responsible for developing the No. 1 mine and No. 2 mine in Hanna. Her daughter Jane (Cox) Pickering lived in Rock Springs most of her adult life and was married to a lawman there, George Pickering. (BL)
1914 Sept. 9: Mrs. John While and Mrs. Richard Cox left for Hanna last Saturday. Mrs. John While of Hanna, has been visiting her aunt Mrs. Richard Cox this week. Mrs. Cox will return with her niece to Hanna to spend the winter. (Rock Springs Miner, Sept. 9, 1914)
1915 Oct. 21: Elizabeth (Roberts) Cox died in Linn, Colorado. Elizabeth Cox was buried in Fairmount Cemetery, Denver County, Denver Colorado, Plot: Blk 61. Inscription: Mother (Fairmount Cemetery Records Online)
MRS. ELIZABETH COX DIES AT ADVANCED AGE: The death of Mrs. Elizabeth Cox occurred on Thursday at the home of her son, Joseph, in Linn, Colorado, at the advanced age of 88 years. Mrs. Cox was one of the old and well-known residents of Rock Springs and had made her home here until recently, when she went to live with her son. She was a bright and well preserved, old lady, her health having been good for one of her advanced age, and the news of her death was a shock to her relatives and friends in this city. She was a native of Yorkshire, England. Her funeral took place yesterday in Denver. She leaves two sons, Joseph, of Linn, Colorado, and Robert, of Hanna, and one daughter, Mrs. George Pickering of this city (Rock Springs). She also leaves fourteen grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. (Rock Springs Miner, Oct. 23, 1915)
Note: Linn Colorado is correctly spelled Lynn. Lynn is located near Aguilar Colorado near the railroad. (BL)
1921: When daughter, Jane (Cox) Pickering, (1857-1921) died, age 64, in Rock Springs the notice stated she was an early resident of Carbon and her brothers were Joe and Bob (Robert) Cox. Her husband, George Pickering (1834-1913) was noted in Carbon in 1884 when their daughter, Mary was born. They later had two more daughters and lived in Rock Springs and Ogden, Utah.
2011: A visit to Netherton, West Midland, England in the Black County.
Elizabeth and Richard had four children together:
- Joseph Cox born November 7, 1856, in Netherton, Dudley, England.
- Jane Cox born in 1858 in Netherton, Dudley, England.
- Robert Cox born in 1864 in Netherton, Dudley, England.
- Mary Cox.
Coming to America
The Cox and While family stories started with two sisters - Sarah and Elizabeth Roberts. They were both born, raised and married in Netherton, Dudley, England, which is in the middle of the Black Country of England. (Bob Leathers)
Elizabeth Roberts married Richard Cox and Sarah Roberts married Henry While. Both Richard and Henry were coal miners in the Black Country, a profession that was and would continue to be a part of their families for generations.
Sarah and Henry While remained in England, living their lives in Netherton, Dudley, England in the heart of the Black Country. They lived and raised their family at 87 Halesowen Road in Netherton. They lived at the address for many years after they were married. Their sons John While, James While and Jobe While along with their grandson James While - the son of their oldest son Samuel - however, did not stay in England, they were recruited to Carbon and Hanna by Elizabeth Cox, Richard Cox and their son Joseph Cox to work in the Carbon and Hanna coal mines.
Sarah and Henry While remained in England, living their lives in Netherton, Dudley, England in the heart of the Black Country. They lived and raised their family at 87 Halesowen Road in Netherton. They lived at the address for many years after they were married. Their sons John While, James While and Jobe While along with their grandson James While - the son of their oldest son Samuel - however, did not stay in England, they were recruited to Carbon and Hanna by Elizabeth Cox, Richard Cox and their son Joseph Cox to work in the Carbon and Hanna coal mines.
Elizabeth and Richard did not remain in England. They immigrated to America with their children in about 1869.
Bleak living and working conditions in the Black Country along with new job opportunities in America were probably the reasons for Elizabeth and Richard to leave England in 1869 and seek a brighter future in America. It was probably for the same reasons the While families were convinced by the Cox families to make the move to Carbon and Hanna as well.
Old Carbon and Hanna Death and Burial Records
Cox, Richard
Cemetery: Carbon
Headstone: "Died July 12, 1889. Aged 68 Years Mark the perfect man, behold the upright lordly, and of that man is peace”
Born:1821
Died: July 12, 1889
Age: 68 y's
Note: Richard Cox was the father of Joseph Cox and the grandfather of Charles H. Cox. (BL)
Cemetery: Carbon
Headstone: "Died July 12, 1889. Aged 68 Years Mark the perfect man, behold the upright lordly, and of that man is peace”
Born:1821
Died: July 12, 1889
Age: 68 y's
Note: Richard Cox was the father of Joseph Cox and the grandfather of Charles H. Cox. (BL)
(Image by Bob Leathers for the Hanna Basin Museum Website)
Richard Cox's grave is located in Carbon, Wyoming next to his grandson Charles H. Cox. To the right of Richard Cox is the graves of his nephews James While Sr., James While Jr. and Jobe While who were all killed in the June 30, 1903 Hanna Mine Explosion of the in the Union Pacific Coal Company No. 1 Mine in Hanna.
(Image by Bob Leathers for the Hanna Basin Museum Website)
(Image by Bob Leathers for the Hanna Basin Museum Website)
Fairmount Cemetery, Denver County, Denver Colorado Records
Fairmount Cemetery, Denver County, Denver Colorado, Plot: Blk 61. Inscription: Mother (Fairmount Cemetery Records Online) (Image by Bob Leathers)