Genealogy Chat

This may help with my query on the tips board
Alice

I know Jim (or Thelma)
I have been looking for James Cox for years. I'm well chuffed to have him born in Norfolk where I happen to live - so easy access the parish records(ha ha - I haven't tried looking yet) AND a bit of family intrigue.
I have tried to contact one person on this site with james hitchcock in his tree but no reply yet - will look for these others and contact them - I think it unlikely they know about his history - will break it to them gently!

Thank you for your help
Alice

I'm so jealous,a convicted bigamist!
A whole new set of relatives.
From search trees
Hitchcock
James 1875 CHISLEHURST Kent England No Zoe
James 1875 CHISLEHURST Kent England No Paul
This seems to be Jane's son.
1881
James Hitchcock James,Jane abt 1875 Chislehurst, Kent, England Son Chislehurst, Kent

great result

I have looked but cannot find the marriage.
I wonder why he changed his name to Cox in the first place - maybe he had done something wrong and didn't want to be traced.
I will try to look up his birth and trace family back at records office tomorrow.
Thank you again rose
Alice

HI Alice,

Well done to you for thinking about checking the Old Bailey site!

I see the date is Nov. 1865. Have you found the marriage?

Rose

Hope you check back to this thread Rose. I found this on the Old bailey site:
56. JAMES HITCHCOCK (29), PLEADED GUILTY to feloniously marrying Jane Phillips, his wife Elizabeth being alive.— Confined Three Months.

Proves your theory was right ! Well done .

Thank you Rose. Will try that - maybe he will know about a marriage etc.
Alice

Someone called Paul Peros has him in their tree and all the Chislehurst born Hitchcocks. Might be worth contacting him.

Rose

Well that is brilliant Rose.
I reckon he is the same man - but I wonder why he dropped the Hitch - although i can understand why he picked it up again!
I can see george was a shemaker so it all fits perfectly !
Will try to look at the parish registers - I live in Norfolk so it may be a bit easier now i know I am looking for a Hitchcock!
Alice

Oh, I doubt they divorced. It was very expensive in those days.

From what I've seen, a working, married women with no husband listed most likely means the husband's done a runner.

2 James from Thetford who are blacksmiths and living in Chislehurst.... A bit of a coincidence. Can't find them both on the same census either.

No obvious marriage for James and Jane.

Rose

1841:

1841 England Census
about George Hichcock
Name: George Hichcock
Age: 45
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1796
Gender: Male
Where born: Norfolk, England
Civil Parish: St Peter
Hundred: Thetford
County/Island: Norfolk
Country: England
Registration district: Thetford
Sub registration district: Thetford
Household Members: Name Age
George Hichcock 45
Ann Hichcock 40
John Hichcock 15
Henry Hichcock 13
Robert Hichcock 10
James Hichcock 8
Mary Hichcock 5
Charles Hichcock 2

Rose

Do you think James may have divorced his first wife Elizabeth ? She was still alive when he was with jane in 1871 and claiming she was married - or do you think he may have just taken up with Jane and pretended he was married ?
A Bit of scandal maybe - how exiting!
Alice

You could try tracing Jane's maiden name to help trace the marriage.

Rose

Hi there Rose - sorry I think you must have been posting the same time as me .
I can't remember if I found Elizabeth in 1881.
Alice

In 1841 Downham Market there is a George Hitchcocks who is an apprentice blacksmith - was this a co-incidence do you think - or is he in some way connected to James?
He does have father george down as a boot and shoemaker on his mariage certificate though.
- odd
Think I will have to go to bed now - but your finds are quite exciting - I feel as though this could be a bit of a breakthrough.Thanks again.
Alice

Where is Elizabeth in 1881? Is she still alive?

Rose

Hi there.
Wow you have all been so busy! Sorry I have not been able to getback to you until now.
So do you think may have been James HitchCox?
I wondered where James was in 1871 - but wondered if he may have been way with the army - as they were in Woolwich . however the new wife theory fits pretty well too.
Any ideas how I can prove/add weight to the theory?
Thank you for all your help
Alice

1871 England Census
Name: James Hichcock
Age: 32
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1839
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Jane
Gender: Male
Where born: Thelford, Norfolk, England
Civil Parish: North Cray
County/Island: Kent
Country: England
Disability: View Image
Registration district: Bromley
Sub registration district: Chislehurst
ED, institution, or vessel: 4
Household Members: Name Age
James Hichcock 32
Jane Hichcock 27
Jane Hichcock 4
Josephine Hichcock 10 months

Rose

It looks as though he may have left his wife. She's listed as married in 1871 but he's missing and she has a job as a laundress. A blacksmith's wife really had no need to work so this makes me think he's gone.

Have you seen the James Hitchcock with wife Jane? He's a blacksmith and I don't see a marriage for them. They are in Chislehurst in 1871 where James and Elizabeth were in 1861.

Rose