Colonial Despatches
The colonial despatches of Vancouver Island and British Columbia 1846-1871
Correspondence (private letter)
Cox, Sophia Elizabeth to Colonial Office 22 November 1862, CO 60:14, no. 11575, 353.
Abstract
Correspondence (private letter).
Minutes (3), Other documents (2).
Sophia Cox writes the Colonial Office to request that her estranged husband,
William Cox, be forced to provide her with financial support.
Mrs. Cox to Colonial Office
The Memorial of Sophia Elizabeth Cox now residing at No 39 York
Road, Kingstown. Wife of William G. Cox Stipendiary Magistrate,
British Columbia
.in -6 +6
Sheweth
Sheweth
That on the 6th day of November 1857 I was married to said
William G. Cox in the Parish Church of St Marys, Donnybrook.
That shortly after our marriage I accompanied my Husband to
New York and resided there with him until my health failed.
That the said William G. Cox in the Month of August 1858
proceeded to British Columbia as an Emigrant and at his
solicitation I returned to Ireland. That said William G. Cox
shortly afterwards obtained a Government Appointment and has been
for some time and now is Stipendiary Magistrate in said Colony,
that it was with your Memorialists Fortune her said Husband was
enabled to emigrate, that said William G. Cox frequently promised
to remit me half his Salary for my support, but has not made any
remittance whatever.
That in consequence of such neglect, I have been reduced to
great privation and am in debt to various people for the
necessaries of life, and am now dependent on my Sister (who has
very small means) for a roof to cover me and for my support,
although my said
Husband has an Income of at least (as I am informed
and believe) £400 a year. That he has not any Family to support.
Husband has an Income of at least (as I am informed
and believe) £400 a year. That he has not any Family to support.
May it therefore please your Lordship to direct that some
portion of my Husbands Income should be applied towards my
support, or direct such further or other relief as my hard case requires.
Sophia Elizabeth Cox
We certify to the truth of the foregoing Memorial
Ronald Macdonnell, Rector of Union of Monkstown Dio: Dub:
[Gusk?] N. Wade, 5 Clare St. Dublin, Solr
39 York Road
Kingstown
Nov 22nd 1862
Kingstown
We certify to the truth of the foregoing Memorial
Ronald Macdonnell, Rector of Union of Monkstown Dio: Dub:
[Gusk?] N. Wade, 5 Clare St. Dublin, Solr
Minutes by CO staff
Mr Elliot
W. Cox is Chief Constable at Rock Creek, B Columbia with a Salary, as the applicant states, of £400. In such a case as this might not the interference of the Secretary of State be properly exercised? The Statement of the Memorialist is verified.
W. Cox is Chief Constable at Rock Creek, B Columbia with a Salary, as the applicant states, of £400. In such a case as this might not the interference of the Secretary of State be properly exercised? The Statement of the Memorialist is verified.
VJ
25 N
I should write to the Governor, and say that unless he [Cox] can
refute this representation, he must either provide for his wife out
of his Salary (which the former shd cause to be done in an
efficient manner & so as to prevent evasion) or else must
immediatly be removed from his appointment.
Other documents included in the file
Draft reply, Newcastle to Douglas, No. 151, 28 November 1862,
forwarding a copy of Sophia Cox's request and asking that he investigate. Newcastle writes that if
Sophia Cox's claims are true, William Cox must either provide her with support or resign his position.
