Martha Ann Bussell1

#14589, (circa 1781 - 1850)
FatherJames Bussell2
MotherSarah (-?-)2
Extended Family
ChartsAncestors of Mabel Smart
Descendants of Thomas Cox & Martha Ann Beaton

Children of Martha Ann Bussell and Thomas Cox
BirthMartha Ann Bussell was born circa 1781.3
 
BaptismMartha Ann was baptized on 2 Sep 1781 in All Saints, West Ham, Essex. Her parents were James & Sarah Bussell.2 
Research Note Why do I think this is the baptism for Martha Ann Bussell who married Thomas Cox? The year fits and her aunt (as identified in her will) married in West Ham in 1768. The surname seems centered in Dorset/Devon/Somerset so the West Ham ones are likely related to one another. More research to be done! 
MarriageShe married Thomas Cox on 16 Mar 1806 in St James Clerkenwell, Middlesex.
Details from the register: Thomas Cox and Martha Ann Bussell, both of this parish, married by banns. They each signed their name and the witnesses were Richard Bussell and Hellen Bussell.1 
Residence 1806 married in St James Clerkenwell, Middlesex
1806 daughter Martha Ann was baptised in Pentonville (Clerkenwell)
1808 son Thomas William baptised in Southwark, Surrey
1810 son James Richard baptised in Southwark
1811 daughter Martha Ann buried in Southwark
1813 daughter Sarah Jane baptised in Southwark, abode Brunswick Street
1815 daughter Helen baptised in Southwark, abode Norfolk Street
1818 (January) daughter Eliza baptised in Southwark, abode Norfolk Street
1818 (November) daughter Sarah Jane buried in St Pancras, Middlesex, abode Cromer Street
1820 son Joseph Henry baptised St James Clerkenwell, abode Cromer Street excise
1821 Thomas buried in St James Clerkenwell, abode Great Warner Street
1826 son James Richard buried in Southwark, abode Gravel Lane. 
(Mentioned) WillFrom the will of Martha Layel dated 19 Aug 1811: To niece Martha Cox wife of Thomas Cox, cousin Martha Ann Bussell, and cousin Mrs Hellen Bussell wife of Richard Bussell, her wearing apparel.4 
(Widowed) Burial.Her husband Thomas died in 1821.5 
1841 CensusA Martha Cox appeared on the 1841 Census of Mile End Old Town, Middlesex, at Cottage Grove. She was 59 years old and a female servant in the household of Joseph Layel (55, excise officer) and Martha Layel (18). None of them were born in Middlesex. Note that the 1841 census records ages rounded down to the nearest 5 years, does not record relationships, and only indicates whether or not the person was born in the county.6 
Research Note Reasons for this to be the correct Martha are that her exact age was recorded, she was not born in Middlesex, and she is in the household of Joseph Layel, an Excise Officer. Joseph Layel was a witness to her son Thomas William's marriage in 1834. 
Item. On 24 May 1842, a document was drawn up to suspend the removal of Martha Ann Cox, Widow of Thomas Cox, from the parish of St Leonard Shoreditch Middlesex to the parish of Saint Pancras, her legal settlement, on account of severe illness. She was residing in the Shoreditch Workhouse.
To wit:


The Examination of Martha Ann Cox touching the place of her last legal Settlement Who on her oath saith that she is 60 years of age, was married to Thomas Cox in Saint James Church Clerkenwell about 36 years ago - he died in 1821 - that about the end of the year 1818 or the beginning of the year 1819 her said husband took 2 unfurnished rooms on the first floor in the House of Mr Joseph Ashfield situate No 68 Cromer Street in the Parish of Saint Pancras in the County of Middlesex at £16 per Annum and he rented and occupied the said rooms and resided therein two years or thereabouts. That Examinant after his death was allowed weekly relief by the Overseers of the said Parish of Saint Pancras 2(?) years or thereabouts and She hath not since done any act to gain another Settlement, is ill, chargeable to the Parish of Saint Leonard Shoreditch and cannot with safely be removed therefrom.
Sworn before me one of the Police Magistrates of the Metropolis sitting at the Police Court Worship Street Shoreditch within the Metropolitan Police District the 24th day of May 1842.
Signed by Martha Ann Cox.7
 
SignatureThe signature of Martha Ann Cox.7
Signature on removal papers
Item. On 6 September 1842, John Hale Surgeon certified that Martha may safely be removed to her Parish by conveyance.
The Shoreditch workhouse admission and discharge records verified that Martha Cox, age 60, was there from 17 May to September 1842 and was removed to St Pancras.7,8 
DeathMartha died in 1850.3
 
BurialShe was buried on 17 Feb 1850 in Christ Church Southwark. The register recorded that she was 68 years old and her abode was Bennetts Mews. [This was the address of her eldest son Thomas William Cox]3 
Last Edited20 Jan 2022

Citations

  1. Marriages of the parish of St James Clerkenwell, Middlesex. Register at London Metropolitan Archives. Image viewed at Ancestry. Thomas Cox & Martha Ann Bussell, 1806, #3356.
  2. All Saints church, West Ham, Essex Parish Register transcript, viewed at FreeREG. Martha Ann Bussell baptism, 1781.
  3. Burials of the parish of Christchurch Southwark, Surrey. Register at London Metropolitan Archives. Image viewed at Ancestry. Martha Cox, 1850, #1714.
  4. Last Will & Testament of Martha Layel of Stratford, West Ham, 19 August 1811, proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 2 October 1811. Image viewed at Ancestry.
  5. Burials of St James Clerkenwell, Middlesex. Register at London Metropolitan Archives. Image viewed at Ancestry. Thomas Cox, 1821, #1592.
  6. 1841 Census for England & Wales, HO107/713 Book 2 Folio 42 (Mile End Old Town Lower District, Borough of Tower Hamlets).
  7. Settlement Exam of Martha Ann Cox, St Leonard, Shoreditch, Middlesex, 1842. Images viewed at Ancestry.
  8. London, England, Workhouse Admission and Discharge Records, 1764-1930. Originals at London Metropolitan Archives, image viewed at Ancestry.
  9. Parish Registers of St James Pentonville, Middlesex. St James was a chapel in the hamlet of Pentonville in Clerkenwell parish. Image viewed at Ancestry. Martha Ann Cox baptism, 1807.
  10. Parish Register of Christ Church, Southwark, Surrey, England (Wade Cox, via professional searcher).
  11. St Saviour Southwark Surrey Parish Registers. Register at London Metropolitan Archives; image viewed at Ancestry. Sarah Jane Cox, 1813.
  12. St Saviour Southwark Surrey Parish Registers. Register at London Metropolitan Archives; image viewed at Ancestry. Helen Cox, 1815.
  13. St Saviour Southwark Surrey Parish Registers. Register at London Metropolitan Archives; image viewed at Ancestry. Eliza Cox, 1818.
  14. Baptisms of St James Clerkenwell, Middlesex. Register at London Metropolitan Archives. Image viewed at Ancestry. Joseph Henry Cox, 1820.