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Thomas Hunter Cox of Cox Bros1,2

M, #17082, b. 13 September 1818, d. 1 January 1892
Last Edited: 7 Aug 2022

Parents:

Father*: James Cock bleacher, manufacturer2 b. 1776, d. 1848
Mother*: Helen Scott2 b. 1787, d. 1824
  • Birth*: Thomas Hunter Cox of Cox Bros was born on 13 September 1818 at Lochiefield, Forfarshire, Scotland.1,3
  • He was the son of James Cock bleacher, manufacturer and Helen Scott.2
  • Marriage*: Thomas Hunter Cox of Cox Bros married Adelaide Campbell Galloway on Tuesday, 20 November 1866 at Dundee, Forfarshire, Scotland, .4,3
  • Death*: Thomas Hunter Cox of Cox Bros died on 1 January 1892 at age 73.1,5
  • (Witness) Biography: He was mentioned in the Biography of James Cox of Cox Bros; James Cox papers
    This material is held at University of Dundee Archive Services
    Reference GB 254 MS6/2
    Dates of Creation 1798-c 1900
    Name of Creator James Cox
    Physical Description 2 Boxes The records are on paper.

    Scope and Content
    Legal papers c 1800-1884; Financial papers 1798-1881; Household finances 1858-1886; Correspondence 1835-1912; Personal papers 1817- c 1910; Press Cuttings 1881; Ephemera c 1861-1890.

    Administrative / Biographical History
    James Cox, senior partner of Cox Brothers and Co., was born in July 1808. As a boy he worked in the office of Mr C Kerr, the Town Clerk of Dundee. He succeeded his father in the family linen manufacturing business, based in Lochee, in 1827. He united with his three brothers in a copartnery in 1841. Shortly after, hand-loom weaving became gradually superseded by power-looms and the firm were quick to adopt the most recent improvements. Cox Brothers also took advantage of the growing importance of jute and, following the construction of Camperdown Works, ultimately became one of the largest jute manufacturing companies in Europe.

    James Cox also pursued a municipal career for seven years, and he held the offices of Magistrate, Councillor and Provost in succession. In December 1868 he was elected to the Town Council and at the same time he was elected Fourth Bailie. In 1869 he was made Third Bailie and the following year he was advanced to the position of First Bailie. Having filled the office of Councillor for one year, in November 1872 he was unanimously elected Provost of the burgh. He filled this office until November 1875, when he retired.

    In 1867 James Cox was elected a member of the Board of Directors of the North British Railway Company. He was a major figure in the construction of the first Tay railway bridge and one of the most extensive shareholders of the undertaking, being elected Chairman of the Tay Bridge Company during the course of its construction, completed in 1877. The collapse of the bridge two years later deeply affected James Cox and it was mainly due to his determination that the second railway bridge was constructed.

    James Cox was a member of the United Presbyterian Church, and in 1866 he inaugurated a movement for increasing the stipends of ministers.

    James Cox married Clementina, a daughter of James Carmichael, engineer, in 1834. He had one surviving son, Edward Cox, and four daughters. In 1878 he purchased the estate of Cardean, near Meigle but continued to consider Clement Park in Lochee his true home. He died on 1 December 1885. He was interred in the family burial place, Western Cemetery, Dundee.6
  • (Witness) Business-Owner: Thomas Hunter Cox of Cox Bros witnessed the Business-Owner of James Cox of Cox Bros; Cox Brothers Ltd, Jute Spinners and Manufacturers, and Cox Family Papers

    This material is held at University of Dundee Archive Services
    Reference GB 254 MS6
    Dates of Creation 1798-1981
    Name of Creator Cox Brothers Ltd and Cox family
    Language of Material English
    Physical Description 5.28 linear metres. The records are on paper and include photographs.

    Scope and Content
    Business records 1824-1936; Legal and estate papers c 1800-1953; Accounting and financial records including personal and household finances 1798-1972; Correspondence and letter books 1832-1975; Diaries 1923-1981; Personal papers 1817-1975; Press Cuttings 1868-1939; Photographs c 1875-c 1960; Plans 1823-[20th century]; Publications and ephemera 19th and 20th centuries.

    Administrative / Biographical History
    The Cocks family, later Cox, was in business from at least the 18th century. The firm of Cox Brothers was established by the four brothers James, William, Thomas and George in 1841 and became a limited company in 1893. In 1849 the original site at Foggyley became too small and the firm moved to Camperdown Works. It amalgamated with other jute firms in Dundee in 1920 to form Jute Industries Ltd. Products included jute and hemp yarns, ropes and twines, bags and sacks, hessians, striped beddings, tickings, horse clothing and tarpaulins. It went into voluntary liquidation in 1933.7
  • (Witness) Business-Owner: Thomas Hunter Cox of Cox Bros witnessed the Business-Owner of William Cox of Cox Bros; William Cox papers
    This material is held at University of Dundee Archive Services
    Reference GB 254 MS6/3
    Dates of Creation 1832-1844
    Name of Creator William Cox
    Physical Description 1 folder The records are on paper.

    Scope and Content
    Legal papers 1843-1844; Financial papers 1843-1844; Correspondence 1832-1844.

    Administrative / Biographical History
    William Cox (1812-1894) was the second son of James Cox and He formed Cox Brothers Ltd as a copartnery with his three brothers, James Cox, Thomas Hunter Cox and George Addison Cox in 1841. A fourth brother, Henry Cox was generally resident in Calcutta to manage business interests there.8
  • Business-Owner*: Thomas Hunter Cox of Cox Bros was owners of the business Thomas Hunter Cox papers
    This material is held at University of Dundee Archive Services
    Reference GB 254 MS6/4
    Dates of Creation 1842-1923
    Name of Creator Thomas Hunter Cox
    Physical Description 1 folder The records are on paper.

    Scope and Content
    Legal papers 1891-1923; Financial papers 1842-1843; Correspondence 1842-1843.

    Administrative / Biographical History
    Thomas Hunter Cox of Maulesden and Duncarse, Deputy-Lieutenant and Justice of the Peace for the County of Forfar, was born in 1818. He was the sixth son of James Cox of Foggyley and Helen Scott. After attending school in Lochee, Thomas finisged his a=education at the Dundee Academy. He then entered the office of Mr James Buist, flax merchant, where he received a good commercial training. In 1841 he joined the firm of Cox Brothers, which within a short time became the largest manufacturers of jute goods in Europe.

    Thomas was well suited to the management of the office including the financial affairs of the firm. He was methodical, punctual and took care in his work and he had a mild and kindly manner. He was a staunch Conservative and a member of the Established Church. He was an elder in the East Kirk, and was a zealous but liberal Churchman. His beneficence extended to many churches in different parts of the country. St Luke's, that had been vacated by the United Presbyterians, stood empty for several years until it was secured by Mr Cox, and went on to become the centre of a flourishing congregation of the Church of Scotland. Thomas H Cox also contributed regularly to this church and to the Lochee Parish Church.

    Throughout his life he took a great interest in the Lohee area and in schemes concerning the welfare of the community, giving financial support to the Lochee Literary Association, Lochee Christian Association, the Bog and other Missions.

    He was a supporter of the movement in favour of a Medical School for Dundee an in 1886 he donated 12,000 to the Council of University College to establish and endow a Chair of Anatomy.

    Thomas H Cox was appointed to the Boards of many financial companies. He was also a Director of the Northern Assurance Company, of the Laing Overhead Sewing Machine Company, and of the three Scottish American Trust Companies. In 1873 he had became one of the original shareholders in the First Scottish American Trust, along with Messrs John Guild, John Sharp and Thomas Smith. Also in 1873, the Oregon and Washington Trust Investment Company was founded, and Thomas H Cox became a director. Three years later the Dundee Mortgage and Trust Investment Company was established under the same directors. The two companies were later amalgamated to form the Alliance Trust Company, and Thomas H Cox served as Chaiman of this company for the year prior to his retirement in 1885. Thus, he took a leading role in establishing two extremely profitable local investment companies. However, he also suffered the misfortune, along with some of his colleagues, of being associated in a smaller undertaking, the Oregonian Railway Company, which proved disastrous to its shareholders.

    In 1866 Thomas married Adelaide Campbell, daughter of James Galloway, and widow of William Brown, flax-spinner. They did not have children. He purchased the suburban residence of Duncarse from George Armistead and in c 1870 he purchased the estate of Maulesden, near Brechin from the representatives of Colonel Lauderdale Maule. Thomas H Cox died at Duncarse on 1 January 1892, about two years after the death of his wife.5
  • Name Variation: Thomas Hunter Cox of Cox Bros was also known as Thomas Hunter Cock.2
  • (Witness) Business-Owner: He witnessed the Business-Owner of Edward Cox of Cardean; Edward Cox papers
    This material is held at University of Dundee Archive Services
    Reference GB 254 MS6/5
    Dates of Creation 1860-1913
    Name of Creator Edward Cox
    Physical Description 2 boxes The records are on paper and photographs.

    Scope and Content
    Financial papers 1872-1883, letter books 1871-1900, correspondence [1860s]-1903, academic notes 1866-1869, personal papers 1860-1913, Ryehill UP Church papers 1878-[1880s], photographs [1880]-[early 20th century].

    Administrative / Biographical History
    Edward Cox, of Cardean, Meigle, was born on 15 May 1850. He was the eldest son of James Cox, at one time Provost of Dundee, and Clementina Carmichael. He was educated at Dundee High School and Edinburgh University, and subsequently received tuition in Germany. After completing his education he spent some time in India. On his return he became associated with Camperdown Jute Works, and on his father's death in 1885 he was given a directing hand in its affairs. Following the conversion into a Limited Liability Company, in 1893, he acted as Chairman.

    Edward Cox had a large interest in commercial undertakings apart from Camperdown Jute Works. In 1892 he became a Director of the Scottish American Trust Companies and the Northern American Trust Co. Ltd, becoming Chairman in 1895. He was chairman of the; a Director of the Northern Insurance Co., the Scottish Widows' Fund Life Insurance Society, the Callander and Oban Railway Co; and director and deputy chairman of the Caledonian Railway Co. Ltd. From 1890 to 1891 he was president of the Dundee Chamber of Commerce, and was also a Governor of University College.

    From a young age he was involved in philanthropic and religious work. He took an active part in the running of a Children's Church at Lochee, a branch of the Dundee Boys' and Girls' Religious Association, in which he held the position of an honorary vice-president until the time of his death. He was originally a member of Lochee West UF Church, and he was largely responsible for the establishment of Ryehill Church. When he moved to Cardean he attached himself to the Episcopal Church.

    In politics he was a Unionist, but in fiscal matters he was an ardent Free Trader.

    Edward Cox combined business talent with scholarly attainment. He formed close personal friendship with such men as Professor Henry Drummond and Professor Stalker, Aberdeen. He was well known for his fine taste in art and had many noteworthy works in his collection at Cardean. As administrator of the will of his late uncle, Thomas Cox, he formed a bequest to establish a free public branch library and baths in Lochee. He also purchased the AC Lamb collection of Old Dundee literature and pictures when it was on the point of being dispersed, therefore ensuring its survival intact. In 1900 he presented the entire collection to the Free Library.

    Edward Cox was married to Miss Stitt, a daughter of Mr JS Stitt, of Liverpool, and had two sons, J Ernest Cox and John Cox, and three daughters, Hilda, Irena and Beatrice. He was a Deputy-Lieutenant for the County of the City of Dundee and a Justice of the Peace for Dundee.9
  • (Recipient) Letter for web: On 5 October 1843 James and Thomas received a letter from Henry Scott Cox linen merchant at Manchester, England, ; Manchester 5 Oct 1843
    Dear Bros,
    I note [write?] today with 3 Bank of England notes value £40 which I hope arrives safe.
    I have only to [ado?] the following order for Bylands & Sons - viz no 40 50
    8per 8ply = 16ply 58 inch [units?] strips to be sent off as soon as you can & cancel the remainder of (if any) of the [Jumpd? Canvas C 3 1/12 d.
    They have not a single piece of [Boddy? of any kind in the place
    from [yours?]
    xxx xxxx
    Henry S Cox.10
  • (Witness) Memorial Inscription: Thomas Hunter Cox of Cox Bros is commemorated on the headstone erected in 1886. Inscription reads First name(s)     Henry Scott
    Last name     Cox
    Age     79
    Birth year     1816
    Death year     1886
    Cemetery     St Peters Church, Invergowrie
    Burial ground     Invergowrie
    County     Forfarshire (Angus)
    Country     Scotland
    Transcription     James Cox of Clement Park and Carlton 5.7.1808 – 1.12.18*5 aged *7y. William Cox of Foggyley and Syagon 23.2.1812 – 7.9.189* aged 82y. Robert Crystal Cox 16.12.1815 – 2.8.1891 aged **. Henry Scott Cox 1.4.1816 – 18.3.1886 aged 79. Thomas Hunter Cox, Duncarse, Mallesden and Strathmartine 13.9.1818 – 1.1.1892 aged 74. George Addison Cox, Beechwood and Invertrossachs 27.12.1820 – 6.5.1899 aged 79. Mrs Ellen Scott Cox or Methven of 9 Windsor Street, Dundee 27.9.1824 – 23.3.1893 aged 68. Old table tombstones in memory of James Cock his wife Isobel Doig in family was removed from its site in front of this monument to the vestibule of Liff Parish Church for preservation 23.2.1914
    Record set     Scotland Monumental Inscriptions
    Category     Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records
    Subcategory     Parish Burials
    Collections from     Great Britain, Scotland.1
  • (Spouse) Death: His spouse Adelaide Campbell Galloway died in 1899.4,5

Notes

  • Residence*: Thomas Hunter Cox of Cox Bros lived at Duncarse and Maulesden.2

Citations

  1. [S54] Website findmypast.co.uk (www.findmypast.co.uk) Record Transcription:
    Scotland Monumental Inscriptions [Oct 2020].
  2. [S49] Website Web Site online (www.) Messrs Cox Brothers, Manufacturers https://mcmanus168.org.uk/mcmanus168entry/messrs-cox-brothers-manufacturers-lochee/ [Nov 2020].
  3. [S49] Website Web Site online (www.) The Cox Family in Angus and Perthshire https://www.coxlochee.co.uk/Members.php?memberID=22&pageno=1&origin=3 [Nov 2020].
  4. [S49] Website Web Site online (www.) The Cox Family in Angus and Perthshire https://www.coxlochee.co.uk/Branch04.php [Nov 2020].
  5. [S138] Description of 'Thomas Hunter Cox, Thomas Hunter Cox papers, 1842-1923. Cox Brothers Ltd, Jute Spinners and Manufacturers, and Cox Family Papers. University of Dundee Archive Services. GB 254 MS6/4' on the Archives Hub website, [https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/data/gb254-ms6/ms6/4], (date accessed :13/11/2020).
  6. [S138] Description of 'James Cox, James Cox papers, 1798-c 1900. Cox Brothers Ltd, Jute Spinners and Manufacturers, and Cox Family Papers. University of Dundee Archive Services. GB 254 MS6/2' on the Archives Hub website, [https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/data/gb254-ms6/ms6/2], (date accessed :13/11/2020).
  7. [S138] Description of 'Cox Brothers Ltd and Cox family, Cox Brothers Ltd, Jute Spinners and Manufacturers, and Cox Family Papers, 1798-1981. University of Dundee Archive Services. GB 254 MS6' on the Archives Hub website, [https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/data/gb254-ms6], (date accessed :13/11/2020).
  8. [S138] Description of 'William Cox, William Cox papers, 1832-1844. Cox Brothers Ltd, Jute Spinners and Manufacturers, and Cox Family Papers. University of Dundee Archive Services. GB 254 MS6/3' on the Archives Hub website, [https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/data/gb254-ms6/ms6/3], (date accessed :13/11/2020).
  9. [S138] Description of 'Edward Cox, Edward Cox papers, 1860-1913. Cox Brothers Ltd, Jute Spinners and Manufacturers, and Cox Family Papers. University of Dundee Archive Services. GB 254 MS6/5' on the Archives Hub website, [https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/data/gb254-ms6/ms6/5], (date accessed :13/11/2020).
  10. [S43] Held by PCC & found by GDA amongst the effects of DGA/CNM [Sept 2020].