From Stoker Wilson Nov 2008
John Coxon (1841-1908) was my Great Grandfather. From him all the later generations of Coxons in my family history emanate. He was born in February 1841 at Stanton Mill several miles west of Longhorsely, and now a ruin. By the time of the 1841 census in June of the same year, only a few months old, he had moved with his father Henry and the family to Hounden mill just outside Warkworth. He seems to have spent his childhood there, (he is listed in the 1851 census), but by 1861 at the age of 20, he had moved south and was working with his maternal uncles Robert & George on a farm just outside of Dinnington. There he met his wife, Elizabeth Bell, continued in farming, and then some time between 1881 and 1891 he moved to Newbiggin where he died in 1908.

Working back a generation, Henry (1880-1851), John's father, was born at Stanton Mill in 1800 and lived and worked there for 41 years until the Spring of 1841. Now Henry's wife Susannah was also a Coxon. In fact they were cousins, and her family was into milling in a big way. Susannah was born at Weldon Mill, on the banks of the Coquet just south of Longframlington whilst her father John (1767-1833) was miller there from about 1794 to his death in 1833. he seems to have been a very wealthy man; In his will he "left goods and chattels worth 600 pounds", a very very considerable sum of money in 1833!

In the same generation as Susannah and Henry, her brother William, who died aged just 32, worked at the mill at Weldon Bridge. Brother John (1798-1873) may have continued as a miller (a "John Coxon of Kirkley Mill" is recorded on a Gravestone). Brother Thomas (1799-1881) continued at Weldon Mill until the death of his father in 1833, and then continued in farming at Edlingham and Feltham. Brothers Robert & George (possibly on the strength of an inheritance) took over South East Mason Farm near Dinnington, (and were joined by nephew John as previously explained).

Moving back in time another generation Susannah's father John (1767-1833) was born at Overgrass Mill, some miles north of Felton, before moving as we have already seen, to the mill at Weldon Bridge. Amongst his brothers William (1770-1844) was miller at the Thrum mill, Rothbury, from 1807 to 1844, where he died He was a prominent member of the Presbyterian Church at Thropton. Incidentally William's son, William (1808-1839), was born and died at the Thrum mill. And yet his son, another William (1832 -), is to be found with his wife Elizabeth at Brinkburn in 1861 and at Plessey Mill, Stannington in 1871. Sister Eleanor (1770-1823) married a William Coxon and became Henry's parents, when they took over Stanton Mill. Brother Robert (1774-1851) continued at Overgrass and died nearby. Brother George (1775-1851) became an innkeeper at Alnwick.

And we can trace the milling link even further. John's father was another William (1736-1824). It is thought that he was born somewhere near Longframlington. by 1767 he fathered John at Overgrass Mill, and he seems to have remained there at Overgras until his death in 1824. Before that the family seems to have come down from Wooler.

There are other family links with mills. There are Coxons at Cartington Blue Mill just north of Thropton. And we know that William (1770) was a prominent member of the Presbyterian church at Thropton.

All these names, times and places are no doubt confusing, but enough has been said to show how prominent the Coxons were in milling circles at this time. From at least 1767 through to 1851 there were Coxons in the Coquetdale mills.


1861 census With Uncle Robert Coxon at East Mason
Robert Coxon/H/UN/50/Farmer of 130 acres employing 3 men/Weldon Bridge
George/Bro/43/ joint farmer ditto/ditto
John/nephew/19/Ag Lab/Stanton Mill
Joseph Surtees/ Vis/52/Ag Lab/Simonburn
Mary Harbottle/Serv/48/Housekeeper/Longhorsley

1871 census Seaton Burn, Weetslade, Nth Gosforth
John Coxon/H/M/30/Ag Lab/Stanton
Mary E/Wf/M/26/Dinnington

Living with wife and children at Grocer’s Shop, Dinnington in the 1881 Census.
Whole family at Newbiggin in 1891 census of Morpeth.
Dwelling: Grocers Shop
Census Place: Dinnington, Northumberland, England
Source: FHL Film 1342231 PRO Ref RG11 Piece 5097 Folio 62 Page 46
Marr Age Sex Birthplace
John COXON M 40 M Long Horsly, Northumberland, England
Rel: Head
Occ: Ag Lab
Mary E. COXON M 37 F Dinnington, Northumberland, England
Rel: Wife
Occ: Grocer
Dorothy S. COXON 9 F Dinnington, Northumberland, England
Rel: Dau
Occ: Scholar
Glory H. COXON 7 M Dinnington, Northumberland, England
Rel: Son
Occ: Scholar
Robert COXON 5 M Dinnington, Northumberland, England
Rel: Son
Occ: Scholar
George I. COXON 3 M Dinnington, Northumberland, England
Rel: Son
Matthew B. COXON 1 M Dinnington, Northumberland, England
Rel: Son
1891 census Newbiggin
John/H/49/Ag Lab/b Dinnington
Mary/Wi/45/ditto
George/S/19/Coal Miner/ditto
Dora/D/15/ditto
Robert/S/13/ditto
George/S/3/ditto
Matthew/S/11/ditto
Susan/D/7/ditto
John/S/5/ditto

1901 census Newbiggin
John, Mary and Henry at Newbiggin

(The Coxon Family Bible gives the date of death as 20/4/1908 aged 65, but John is said to be deceased on the day of on Robert & Mary's Marriage on 15/6/1907. It is possible that the date in Bible is wrong)

He seems to have started life as a farm labourer. He is listed as a Miner on his son Robert & Mary's marriage certificate and in the 1901 census. John Coxon appeared as Head of the Household in the census of 2 April 1871 at Seaton Burn, Weetslade, , (This is the first census after John & Mary's wedding in 1870. This cottage was probably their first married home. by the 1881 census they had moved to the Grocer's shop in Dinnington).7,8 John Coxon appeared as Head of the Household in the census of 3 April 1881 at The Grocers Shop, Dinnington, , John and his wife Mary are listed as being at the grocer's shop, Dinnington, in 1881. At the same time John's occupation is given as as Agricultural Labouer. We might guess that Mary ran the shop, whilst John went out to work.9 John Coxon appeared as Head of the Household in the census of 3 April 1891 at Jacksons Buildings, Newbiggin by the Sea, .10 John Coxon appeared as Head of the Household in the census of 31 March 1901 at Argyle Terrace, Newbiggin by the Sea,