Introduction

Enos Cox was the only son in a family of seven children. He lived at Hill End, Hardington, and worked as a gardener throughout his adult life. He married at the age of about forty and had three daughters. Unfortunately, he suffered from epilepsy, which led to his early death.

Childhood

Enos was born at Hardington in about 1837, the only son of Thomas and Ann Cox. His father was a weaver and later a gardener. In March 1851, Enos was an errand boy.

Marriage

On 26 March 1877, at Corscombe, Enos married Emily Ann Hopkins, the daughter of Edward Hopkins and his wife, Maria.

Married life at Hill End

Enos and Emily established a home together at Hill End. Despite Emily being 37 years old at the time of their marriage, they had three daughters: Mary, Rhoda, and Rachel.

The local Labourers’ Friend Society awarded Enos prizes for the high standard of his allotment: 5s in 1879, 6s in 1884 and 6s in 1885.[1]

Death

On 21 June 1890, Enos was admitted to the Somerset Lunatic Asylum, suffering from epilepsy. He died there on 21 October 1890, aged 53.[2]

Emily’s later life

Emily lived at Hill End until nearly the end of her life. The 1891 census recorded her address as Myrtle Cottage. On 14 February 1908, she advertised two freehold houses and an acre of orchard land for sale, stating that they were “in occupation of owner and a tenant.”[3] She died at the home of her daughter, Rachel, at Leigh, Dorset, on 22 April 1909, at the age of 69.[4] Emily left an estate valued at £46-11s-9d, which she divided equally between her daughters, Mary and Rachel.[5]

Children

1878-Mary (worked in domestic service in London; married Francis Daniel Drage, a clerk of works, in 1925; died after 1939);

1880-Rhoda (advertised for a job as a sewing maid in 1907; later whereabouts unknown; not included as a beneficiary of her mother’s will);

1882-Rachel (married Charles Whitty, a farm labourer, at Leigh in 1910; died in 1966).

References

[1] Western Gazette, 10 October 1879 p.7; 3 October 1884, p. 6; 2 October 1885, p.8.

[2] Lunacy Patients Admission registers, 1846-1921; Civil Registration Death Index.

[3] Western Gazette, 14 February 1908, p.7.

[4] The will of Emily Ann Cox, dated 28 June 1908, proved at Blandford on 1 June 1909; Civil Registration Death Index.

[5] The will of Emily Ann Cox, dated 28 June 1908, proved at Blandford on 1 June 1909.