I am looking for information about James Cox and his parents.

According to the 1851 Census, James Cox was born in “Ritford”, Gloucestershire in about 1794 and was living in the tything of Rodley, Westbury on Severn. He had married his wife Elizabeth Goode on 24 October 1822 in Westbury on Severn, but the names of their fathers were not recorded at the time. James Cox died on 29 December 1858 in Rodley, Westbury on Severn, and was buried on 5 January 1859. According to his death certificate, he was born in about 1790. His family continued to live in the area for a number of generations.

Having failed to find a James Cox in “Ritford” in Gloucestershire, I believe that the 1851 Census was transcribed incorrectly and that James Cox was born in Rudford rather than in “Ritford”. A James Cox was christened on 29 January 1792 in Rudford, his parents were listed as James and Ann.

However, the Rudford Parish Records appear to indicate that there was only one Cox family in Rudford at that time which was headed by Thomas and Ann Cox (nee Stock). Thomas and Ann married in Rudford on 5 October 1787 and produced nine children between 1788 and 1807. I believe that James Cox was the third of these nine children and that the name of his father was incorrectly entered in the Rudford Parish Records as James and not Thomas. How can I confirm that James was the son of Thomas Cox?

I am also wondering if Thomas Cox was born in 1762 in Deerhurst and Anne Stock in Ross on Wye in 1765. Since the Rudford Parish marriage record does not state the names of Thomas’ and Anne’s fathers and lists the couple as being of the parish, how can I establish their places of birth and the names of their fathers?

Many thanks,
hellgeo

I have just checked the parish register and it definitely says James is the son of James & Ann Cox, although I do agree that it appears that the father`s christian name may have been misrecorded. You need to check the Bishops Transcripts and see how the baptism is recorded in these, they are held in Gloucester Archives and may also be available at one of the Mormon Family History Centres. As part of the transcription project we will be checking the BTs against the Parish Registers and recording any differences which occur, but it will probably be a few months before we do Rudford.

Year: 1802
Month: Jun
Day: 6
Parents_Surname: COX
Child_Forenames: John
Fathers_Forenames: Thomas
Mothers_Forenames: Ann
Mothers_Surname:
Residence:
Occupation:
Officiating_Minister: William Gyllett A.M Curate
Event: Baptism
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P276 IN 1/1
Page_Number: 30
Parish_Chapel: Rudford

1841
John Cox abt 1806 Gloucestershire, England St Leonards Upton, Gloucestershire
Comfort Cox abt 1806 Gloucestershire, England St Leonards Upton, Gloucestershire

< interesting Rigford not too different to Ritford for James in 1851 !>

1851
John Cox abt 1807 Rigford, Gloucestershire, England Head Upton St Leonards, Gloucestershire
Comfort Cox abt 1799 Upton St Leonards, Gloucestershire, England Wife Upton St Leonards, Gloucestershire

1861
John Cox abt 1816 Rudford, Gloucestershire, England Head Upton St Leonards, Gloucestershire
Comfort Cox abt 1813 Upton St Leonards, Gloucestershire, England Wife Upton St Leonards, Gloucestershire

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Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster & Hereford Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>

Thank you for your prompt response and suggestion. I am planning to visit the local Mormon Family History Centre next week having established that a copy of the Bishop's transcripts for Rudford 1729-1856 exists on microfilm.
hellgeo

Thank you for the information about John Cox, possibly one of James Cox' younger brothers. This is very helpful since I had not succeeded tracing him in any of the Census records.
hellgeo