At the present time relatively little is known about James Cox - we do not know when or where he was born, when he married, or when he died - however we do know some details of his career and family. The following entry reflects the known facts about James Cox whilst further speculation on the origins of the family can be found in the article Searching for the Cox Family

James Cox married Elizabeth [name unknown]

1807-1814

James Cox was a licensed victualler at the White Lion public house on the High Street, St Giles in the Fields, London.

The earliest record placing James Cox at the White Lion is a list of licensed victuallers in the parish for 1807^[1]. The list shows two names against the White Lion (James Lucas and James Cox) indicating a change in tenancy during the year, although the date of transfer is not indicated. The equivalent list for 1806^[2] names James Lucas and the list for 1808^[3] names James Cox. At this time there were 130 pubs in the parish of St Giles in the Fields alone (see the Register of Innkeepers and Alehouse Keepers in St Giles in the Fields - 1809 for an example of the list from one year).

An insurance record dating from 1810 survives in the collection of Sun Fire Office policy registers held at the Guildhall Library, providing a small glimpse into James' life:

846620^[4]

16th July 1810

James Cox of the White Lion, High Street, St Giles's, victualler

On his [main?] dwelling house only situate as aforesaid Brick & Timber not exceeding one hundred and fifty pds

household goods wearing appl printed books and plate therein only not exceeding five hundred pds

Pictures & prints framed & glazed therein only not exceeding fifty pds

Stock and utensils & goods in [trust?] therein only not exceeding five hundred pds

James Cox remained at the White Lion until 1814. The exact date of James Cox's departure from the White Lion is difficult to determine. We know that James' son George William was baptised in St Giles in the Field in December 1813 but that when he was buried at Hackney in December 1814 his abode was still given as St Giles in the Fields. This could indicate an overlap between the tenancies of the pubs in St Giles and Clapton.

The list of licensed victuallers in the parish for 1814^[5] shows two names against the White Lion (George Barham and James Cox) indicating a change in tenancy during the year, although the date of transfer is not indicated^[6]. The equivalent list for 1815 names only George Barham^[7].

Left: The church of St Giles in the Fields as seen from St Giles High Street in August 2009. The Intrepid Fox public house (seen on the left of the picture) stands on the site of the White Lion^[8]. Right: The old entrance to St Giles in the Fields (known as the 'Resurrection gate') looking back towards the Intrepid Fox Public House. This gate would have faced the White Lion at the time James Cox was here, as it was only moved to its present location in 1865^[9].

1814-1821

The Cox family appears to have moved to Clapton, Hackney around 1813-1814 (the earliest family burial at St John at Hackney took place on 1st January 1813).

An insurance record from the collection of Sun Fire Office policy registers held at the Guildhall Library shows that James Cox was the licensed victualler at the White Hart public house in Clapton, Hackney by 10th November 1815.

111936^[10]

10 Novr 1815

James Cox at the White Hart Clapton Victualler

On his household goods Wearing apparel printed books and

[plate?] in his [main?] dwelling house only situate as aforesaid a

stove therein brick seven hundred and fifty pounds

China and glass therein only fifty pounds

Stock and utensils and goods in trust therein only six hun

dred pounds

A further document dated 9th April 1818 records the insurance of properties owned by Ann Dawson, widow, near the Pond in Clapton^[11]. Amongst the properties listed is the White Hart and this shows that James Cox was still the tenant at the White Hart at this date:

On a house only being the White Hart situate

at Clapton in tenture of Cox a Victualler a stove

therein Brick Seven hundred pounds

Stables with rooms over in same tenure Brick &

Timber Two hundred and fifty pds

Rooms adjoining in same tenure Brick & Timber

Seventy pounds

The 1821 census^[12] (taken on 28th May 1821) has survived for Hackney and this shows that James Cox was living at Austins Rents and was a victualler by profession. There were 3 males and 6 females in the property (a total of 9 individuals). Only the head of household is named so it is difficult to be certain who the other 8 individuals were - the 6 females presumably include his wife Elizabeth and daughters Emily, Louisa. It is possible that this total includes barmen and servants as well as family members.

James Cox appears to have moved on by 1823 (an insurance document shows that Charles Thomas Meek was victualler at the White Hart Lower Clapton by 3 April 1823) and there is no evidence of him living in the parish by the time of the 1831 census (which also survives). It appears that the White Hart that James knew was destroyed in the 1830s and subsequently rebuilt^[13].

1835

Although we do not know when James Cox died it is worth noting that one of the witnesses at his daughter Emily's marriage on 21st July 1835 was James Cox. This could be Emily's father or even a brother that we are not yet aware of.

Children:-

• Harriett Cox
• Henry Samuel Cox
• Louisa Cox
• George William Cox
• Emily Cox