EDWARD COX

THE LATE MR.EDWARD COX

AN OLD NEWBURY TRADESMAN

The funeral of the late Mr. Edward Cox, whose death we recorded in our last issue, took place on Friday afternoon at Newbury Cemetery.

The deceased, who, though a native of Newtown, came to be regarded as a well-known Newburian, had not been in the best of health for some time, but it was not until a week before his death – which resulted from heart failure – that he was obliged to take to his bed. He came to the town some 47 years ago, and two years later he commenced business as a market gardener. This he rapidly extended and developed, and in 1879 he started the mineral water factory which he and his sons have so successfully carried on. He was a shrewd man of business, but kindly with it, and one of his last acts was to provide work for a number of unemployed, putting them on to dig up a field in Mill-lane. It is feared, however, that in superintending this he contracted a chill which culminated in his fatal illness. Another instance of his sympathetic nature was the contribution of a gross of mineral waters for the old people at the Workhouse at Christmas time. He was never directly connected with any public work, but he was a keen sportsman, and for many years took a prominent part in organising the Easter Monday sports and races which were such a popular feature of the Easter Holiday in Newbury in the seventies and eighties. For many years he was also one of the most regular of the Newbury tradesmen who followed the Craven Hounds, and in fact took a great interest in all kinds of sport. The deceased, who was 70 years of age, leaves a widow, eight sons and two daughters.

The interment took place on Friday afternoon in the presence of a large number of sorrowing relatives and friends. The first part of the service was held in St John’s Church, the Rev. H. Wickham Legg, the vicar officiating……

The mourners included Mr. Albert E. Cox, Mr. W. D. Cox, Mr. W.F. Cox, and Mr. A.G. Cox (sons), Mrs. F. Stroud (daughter), Mr. E.H. Cox (son),Mrs. W. Keep (daughter), Mr. A.J. Cox, Mr. F.H. Cox, and Mr. H.V. Cox (sons), Mr. a. Cox and Mr. F. Cox (nephews), Mr. J. Barefoot (brother-in-law), Mr. W. Keep (son-in-law), Messrs W. Newman Bailey, R.C. Heath, Sam Pocock, James, [sic] Williams, William Burge.

Amongst those at the graveside were Messrs G. Paulin, J. Hedger and W. Fabry, who formed a deputation from the Newbury Licenced Victuallers’ Society etc

Newbury Weekly News 18 March 1909

Mrs P page 57 Ch 10 died 8 March 1909 aged 69

Buried 12 March 1909 Bk 1899 p165 no. 8519

Also Caroline died 20 April 1913 aged 75