CH75. Stone in floor
RICHARD HENRY COX / Born Sept 22nd 1779, died June 7th 1863 / CHARLOTTE COX / his wife / born 1773, died June 1837 / CHARLOTTE ANN COX / his sister / born Feb. 1778, died Dec. 1855 / CHARLOTTE MARIA GREVILLE / his daughter / born Dec. 16th 1802, died April 13th 1841.
The Cox Family
In the middle of the central aisle of the nave you will find the gravestone of Richard Henry Cox (1779-1863). He was part of the Cox banking family and the grandson of Richard Cox, founder of the travel company Cox & Kings. Also buried with him are his wife, his sister Charlotte and his daughter who were all named Charlotte!
In 1810 he purchased Hillingdon House (the large white house in St Andrews Park). He had 4 sons and 3 daughters and his eldest daughter Emily married Sir Charles Mills (who lived at Hillingdon Court) thus the 2 powerful and influential families of Hillingdon were joined by marriage.
In 1840 or thereabouts a fire took hold at Hillingdon House on a Sunday morning, and some church members walking nearby on their way to church saw the flames. The Vicar on hearing the news, decided not to hold the service that morning and the congregation were encouraged to go and help. It would seem that the house was beyond repair and the house was completely rebuilt and finished in 1844.
On the last pillar of the North Aisle is a brass plaque (CH062) in memory of Sir Charles Cox, who was the second son of Richard Henry Cox. He is buried in the churchyard along with other members of the Cox family. The tomb is very large and made of polished grey granite. Unfortunately it lies underneath a large irish yew tree so it is constantly covered in pine needles and in the autumn red berries. It looks so nice when it is swept clean but it doesn’t stay clear for very long. John Kellaway who was butler to Richard Henry Cox for 34 years has a small modest grave stone alongside the family tomb.
In the 1881 census, the following staff were employed by the Cox family: 1 butler, 1 under butler, 4 footmen, 1 usher, 1 coachman, 1 under coachman, 1 groom, 2 stablemen, 1 servant, 1 housekeeper, 2 laundrymaids, 3 housemaids, I stillroom maid, 1 cook, 3 kitchen maids and 3 ladies maids. Other information that we can glean from the census is that the occupations of most men in the family was “army agent”. An army agent did everything for army officers not within the official remit of the army: for example they supplied or arranged for the supply of all kinds of personal goods, from new uniforms to furniture to books, trophies, even engagements rings!
Christine Bartlett
