John Cox was born in Collingham, Nottinghamshire in 1807. His names of his parents are currently unknown.

By 1833, John had moved to Carlton-le-Moorland in Lincolnshire, 16 miles east of Collingham, and on 4th July 1833 he married Sarah Smith at All Saints’ Church, at Canwick, also in Lincolnshire. The parish register shows that John was living at Carlton-le-Moorland, while Sarah was of Canwick. Their marriage was witnessed by Mary Cox, Edward Cox, Mary Lintin, and Thomas Smith.

Sarah Smith was born in Washingborough, Lincolnshire, in 1813. Her parents have not yet been identified.

John and Sarah named their first child John. He was baptised in the neighbouring village of Thurlby on 18th March 1836 at St Germain’s Church. At this time John was working as a labourer.

Between 1836 and 1839, John, Sarah, and their son moved eighteen miles south to the village of Bottesford, then part of Leicestershire, where John continued to work as a labourer. They lived at Belvoir Inn Farm, and on 6th July 1839 their daughter Eliza was baptised at St Mary’s Church.

On the 1841 census return, John reported that he was working as a ground keeper, and the family were living at Belvoir Road in Bottesford.

Their next three children were also baptised at St Mary’s Church: Sarah Ann was baptised on 9th November 1841, Thomas was baptised on 3rd December 1844, and William was baptised on 13th January 1846. Each record shows that John was a labourer of Belvoir Inn Farm, Bottesford.

Between 1846 and 1848 the family moved again, this time 35 miles west to Swarkestone in Derbyshire, where John continued to work as a labourer.

John and Sarah named their next child Charles, who was baptised at St James’ Church, Swarkestone, on 23rd November 1848. Their last child, Charlotte, was baptised on 25th August 1850, also at St James’ Church. John was still working as a labourer at this time.

In April 1851, at the time of the census, John and Sarah were still living at Swarkestone, together with Sarah and their children Eliza, Sarah Ann, Thomas, William, and Charlotte. However, he was now working as a farm bailiff. Their son John recorded in the family Bible that his father was a bailiff to Lowes Farm at Swarkestone. Lowes Farm was originally built as racing stables by Sir Harry Harpur in 1777 as part of the Harpur-Crewe estate, and converted into a house in the 1800’s.

John was still employed as a farm bailiff ten years later in April 1861, living with Sarah at Swarkestone.

John Cox died on 20th February 1864 aged 57, and was buried in the churchyard at St Wilfrid’s Church, Barrow Upon Trent, on 25th February.

After her husband’s death, Sarah moved to Ashby Road in Melbourne, Derbyshire. In 1871 she was working as a seamstress and living with her daughter Charlotte and grandson William Bailey Cox. By 1881 Sarah was working as a glove stitcher, still living at Ashby Road with her daughter Charlotte and three grandchildren.

Sarah Cox died on 16th May 1883 aged 63 and was interred on 19th May in a grave close to her husband's in the churchyard at St Wilfrid’s Church.

Memorials for John and his wife Sarah (left)

John and Sarah Cox were my great-great-great-grandparents.