John Cox II and Winifred J. (Cooney) Cox

On April 20, 1891 John Cox II (1870-1940),  arrived in New York aboard the Aurania ship sailing from Liverpool England and Queenstown Ireland.   He was 21 years old at the time and had left his family in Leicestershire, England to start a new life in America.

He was the eldest Son of John Cox (b.1847-1906) and Sophia Bolton (1846-1934), brother of Edith, Harry and Ivy.  None of his family came to America, but Edith emigrated to Canada with her husband in 1911 to pioneer settle New Ontario.  Edith's descendants in Canada shared the Cox family photo posted on this blog.  It is believed that photo was taken in 1891, perhaps prior to John II departing for America.

We believe John met his future wife, Winifred J. Cooney (1868-1956) who emigrated from Ireland, aboard the Aurania immigration ship, but have been unable to find her on passenger lists to date.   Unfortunately, the 1900 census, which indicates John Cox arrived in 1891 with 9 years in the country, leaves both those fields blank for Winifred, possibly with the assumption they were the same as her husband, but there is no way to confirm that.  However, the 1920 census gives Winifred's immigration date as 1900, but this is obviously a mistake as John and Winifred were married in Massachusets in 1899.
The marriage record provides details, including occupations and parents names, thus, should be considered reliable. The record can be viewed on this blog -see 'John Cox comes to America'  on top of page.
The 1930 census is the last census that captures year of immigration and indicates that John and Winifred came to the US in the same year.

John and Winifred were married in North Attleboro, MA on June 22, 1899.   In 1900 they resided on W. 52nd St. in Manhattan and John was worked as a Coachman.  Winifred's sister, Maggie Cooney,was also living with them at the time.  Maggie, who was 17 years old at the time,  emigrated from Ireland the year before in 1899.  Winifred and John had a baby that died in infancy as the 1900 Census states Winifred was the mother of 1 child not living.  They had 2 other children, that we know of, born in 1902 and 1906.

In 1920, the family lived at 77 Church St. in New Rochelle with their daughters, ages 18 and 13.  John was employed as an Automobile Driver and the oldest daughter, Margaret was employed as a bank Stenographer.  They also had 3 lodgers living with them at the time.  By 1925 they had moved to 22 Lincoln St. New Rochelle.  According to the 1930 Census they owned that home, valued at $15,000 and they also owned a Radio Set.  John continued to work as a private Chauffeur.  Margaret was no longer living at home as she had gotten married a year earlier in 1929.

The 1940 Census has John & Winnie living at 22 Lincoln St. with their daughter Mae (Cox) Schoenherr,  Mae's husband Ralph and their oldest daughter, their second child not having been born yet.  John was 70 years old at that time and not working/retired.  John Cox II died in 1940.  He is buried at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne, NY with Winifred who passed away in 1956.  Their daughter, Margaret, and her husband, Thomas Hennessy are buried in the same plot.  The younger daughter, Mae, passed away in 1954 at only 48 years old, and is buried elsewhere.


Children of John and Winifred Cox:

• Margaret F. Cox (1902-1981) - married Thomas F. Hennessy (1899-1954) and had 4 sons and 2 daughters
• Mary Katherine (Mae) Cox (1906-1954) - married Ralph Schoenherr and had 2 daughters