Robert Cox

• GIVN: Robert
• SURN: Cox
• Sex: M
• Born: 1655 in Marblehead, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States
• Died: 28 May 1731 in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States
• AFN: 8KML-CR
• _UID: F6CB4F772A0111DAB9B700A0CC5D9B65D6C4
• _FSFTID: LJKJ-WTM
• Baptised LDS: 22 Aug 1986
• TEMP: JRIVE 22 Aug 1986
• TEMP: JRIVE
• Record last updated: 27 Oct 2014
• TIME: 21:57
• Notes:

  Wounded in swamp fight, King Phillips war, Dec 1675. James Cox was in the same company.
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  «u»ROBERT COX«/u», of Marblehead, Massachusetts, was the earliest proven progenitor of this branch of the numerous American Coxes. He became a freeman at Marblehead in 1666, which is apparently the first record of his existence. In 1675 he served under Captain Gardiner in the celebrated "Swamp Fight" against the Indian King Philip, and was wounded December 16-19, 1675. (Mass. Archives, Vol. 68, p. 104).
  
  There is no record of his coming from England nor any positive knowledge of who his father was, though it is generally believed that one James Cox, an early resident of Marblehead was such. A thorough search of the wills and deeds of Essex County has failed to throw any authoritative light on this subject, so Robert Cox must be regarded as the beginning of the family.
  
  In an inventory of the estate of William Pease, of Salem, dated 29 Apr 1678, three years later, mention is made of seven barrels of mackerel, shipped to the Barbadoes by Robert Cox. (Essex Probate, Vol. 2. Robert Cox of Boston, was "a fisherman".) The name of Robert's first wife has not yet been discovered. He appeared in Scituate, according to Dean, about 1690, where his first four children were born, or at least recorded. (History of Scituate, Samuel Dean, p. 238. Scituate Town Record.) Dean says that Robert married Mary, the daughter of Edward Jenkins, but Edward Jenkins speaks of his daughter Mary, as the wife of William Cox. (Plymouth Deeds & Probate). Dean also calls William Cox, of Scituate, "the brother" of Robert, but the evidence is not given.
  
  Robert lived in Scituate, Mass., as early as 1690, and married there about 1692, Mary Jenkins. (Their children were James, William, Robert, Jane, and Margaret.) After the death of Mary, he married 5 October 1703 at Scituate, Mass., Mrs. Agnes Okeman Kent, widow of Joshua Kent of Boston. Agnes had three children by her first marriage: John, Joshua, and Agnes Kent who married Issac Pierce. Shortly after his second marriage, Robert Cox moved to Boston, Mass., where he engaged in the business of fisherman and mariner. He lived on Prince Street where he owned considerable property and was a man of excellent standing. In Boston his second set of children were born: Joanna, Elias, Ruth, Samuel, Andrew, and MATTHEW.
  
  Robert died in Boston in June 1731, at great age. The inventory of his estate amounted to L 542: 19s; 11d.
  
  The will makes Samuel, his son, his Executor, but the Probate Record names James for that place. The estate is finally settled in 1745, by Matthew; James, Samuel, & Andrew having died, Samuel "without heirs". Joanna & Ruth, not being mentioned in the will, were probably dead prior to 1731. "Granddaughter Ruth" was perhaps the daughter of Elias. If so, she was less than one month old at the making of the will. In the final order for the division of the estate in 1745, one third was given to Elias, one third to the heirs of Andrew, & the remaining third to Matthew. (Suffolk Deeds & Probate).
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  Robert Cock will, 28 May 1731
  
  In the name of God amen the twenty eight day of May one thousand seven hundred and thirty one I Robert Cock of Boston in New England Fisherman being weak of body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be given unto God therefore calling unto mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this my last will and testament. That is to say Principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul into the hands of God that gave it, and my body I recommend to the Earth to be buried in decent Christian burial at the discretion of my executor nothing doubting but at the General Resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty Power of God and as touching such Worldly Estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me in this life I give demise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form Imprimis I give and bequeath unto Agnus Cock my dearly beloved wife the front lower room and shop adjoining to it and moveables during her widowhood and the rent of the front chamber and the easterly shop till my son Mathew Cock comes of age. Item I give unto my eldest son James Cock twelve pounds also unto my son William Cock twelve pounds. I give unto my son Robert Cock twelve pounds. I give unto my daughter Jane Edmunds twelve pounds. I give unto my daughter Margaret Stone twelve pounds. --I give unto my son Joshua -------- I give unto my son John Kent eight pounds. I give unto my daugthter Agnus Pierce ten pounds. Now I do constitute make and ordain my son Samuel Cock my sole executor of this my last will and Testament Item I give unto my grand daughter Ruth Cock one bed and what belongeth to it when she comes of age -- and give unto my sons Elias Samuel Andrew and Mathew all my estate equally to be divided between said four sons they paying the afore-mentioned legacies and I do hereby utterly disallow revoke disannull all and every other former testaments wills, legacies, and bequest executors or executors by me any ways before named willed and bequeathed ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have here-unto let my hand and seal the day and year above written my will is further that my son Elias Cock shall have the kitchen and the chamber over it and the Eastward shop paying his mother eight pounds a year till my son Mathew Cock comes of age
  
  Robert Cock (his seal)
  
  Signed Sealed Published Pronounced and Declared by the said Robert Cock as his Last Will & Testament in the Presence of us the Subscribers.
  
  (All interlining & Erasing was done before signing and Sealing)
  
  Thomas Webber
  Mary Tomson
  Geo. Parsons