William Cox (pioneer)

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William Cox (born 19 December 1764 at Wimborne Minster, Dorset, England, died 15 March 1837) was an Australian pioneer. He married Rebecca Upjohn in 1789.

[edit] Military Career

Cox was commissioned as Ensign in 117th Regiment of Foot in 1795, transferring in 1796 to the 68th Regiment of Foot (Durham Regiment of Foot (Light Infantry)). In 1797 he became Lieutenant and made his first voyage to Australia.

As part of the New South Wales Corps, Cox made a second voyage to Australia in 1799, arriving in New South Wales on the Minerva in 1800, with his wife and four sons. He became a landowner while in the colony but returned to England in 1807 to answer allegations that he had misused army funds. Cox was cleared, and was promoted to Captain of 102nd Regiment of Foot, and placed in charge of Irish political prisoners. Cox returned to Australia, where he resigned his commission.

[edit] Building Career

Cox was appointed a magistrate by Govenor Macquarie and was responsible for erecting many government buildings.

In 1814, Governor Macquarie approved Cox's offer to 'voluntary offer of your superintending and directing the working party' that would build a road crossing the Blue Mountains, between Sydney and Bathurst, Australia. The completed dirt track was 12 feet wide by 101.5 miles long, built between 18 July 1814 to 14 January 1815 using 30 convict labourers and 8 guards. Macquarie surveyed the finished road in April 1815 by driving his carriage across it from Sydney to Bathurst. The Governor commended Cox and stated that the project would have taken three years if it had been done under a contract. As a reward Cox was awarded 810ha of land near Bathurst.

Rebecca died in 1819, survived by Cox and five sons. In 1821, Cox married Anna Blackford, sister of one of his tenants. William and Anna had three sons and a daughter.

[edit] Resources

Local Family History Links, Penrith City Council (links to Cox of Dorset; also see Rebecca & Anna)
Memoirs of William Cox, J.P.; Historical Records of Australia, ser. I, vols IV, VI to IX; Memoirs of Joseph Holt. from