Transcribed from NRO 542/35 by R S Wilson. March 2008
W Percy Hedley of Simonburn, deposited c 1970. 
W Percy Hedley was the author of “Northumberland Families”, in two volumes published by the Society of Antiquaries 1968. ISBN 0901082031.
This could be the “old book” referred to by Bob Green in his researches. The extensive material in the NRO, of which this a part transcript, could be the original source material for Hedley’s book, as  well as Beryl Charltons book on “The Story of Redesdale”.
The Coxons of Redesdale

Though by no means one of the largest families in Redesdale, the Coxons held an important position in that district from quite an early date. The earliest mention I have found of the family is in 1357 when at an inquisition taken at Newcastle before the coroner of Tynedale Ward, three persons of the name of Cokson were charged with no less than four robberies. John Cokson. William Cokson, Robert Cokson and Adam Breton had stolen ‘a beast of burden’ from William de Tyndale, another from William Younger, a third from a place called ‘the grene’, and a fourth from Blackheddon.
In 1528 the earl of Northumberland, as Warden General of the Marches sent up to Cardinal Wolsey a list of the names of the inhabitants of Redesdale. Included therein were eighteen persons of the name Cokson. Strangely enough, ten years later, the Muster Roll taken by Sir Cuthbert Radcliffe and Robert Collingwood does not contain a single instance of the name. In 1596 one of the charges made by the gentlemen of the Middle Marches against Ralph Mansfield, the keeper of Redesdale, was that he had allowed two men named Hall and Coxon to fight at Buccleugh at Hawick until one was killed.
Coxons of Woolaw
The most important branch of the family in Redesdale was that which for over two hundred years were customary tenants at Woolaw. Like their ancestors of the 14th century, and no doubt following the general example of their neighbours, the Coxons of Wollaw were often in trouble with the Warden of the Marches and the keeper of Redesdale. In 1569 George Cockson of Woolaw and others were arrested by Sir John Forster, the Warden, as aiders and abettors of the rebels. In 1604 Thomas, son of Matthew Cockson was returned in the Survey of Debateable and Border Lands as customary tenants of a house and 46 acres at Woolawe. He appears to have died before 1618, for in that year a Rental Roll of the Lordship of Redesdale records the annual payment by Thomas Coxson of 2/3 and by George Coxon of 2/3 for their holdings at Woolaw. These two would no doubt be sons of the Thomas Cockson who had been tenant in 1604, and following the custom of gaoelkind practised in the district, had succeeded to equal parts of their fathers holding.
In 1655 Matthew Coxon of Woolaw was returned by the Commonwealth officials as a suspected Royalist. It was probably he, or his son of the same name who had been buried at Eldson on 19th May 1695. He seems to have been succeeded at Woolaw by an Anthony Coxon, who however did not survive him more than two years, being buried 27th Sept 1697. The next persons at Woolaw (perhaps the next generation) were William Coxon who died in 1723 (buried 4th July 1723) and George Coxon who was married on 7th Jan 1697 to Sarah Hedley of the Storias.
An Anthony Coxon of Woolaw was married 14th Jan 1731 to Jane Brown, and had at least four sons and one daughter. The births of these children are all recorded in the Eldson Parish Register.
George. Born 10 March 1732.
Anne. Born 13 March 1734.
William Born 20 April 1736.
Joseph. Born 6 May 1737.
Thomas Born 19 May 1739.
Anthony Coxon was buried at Eldson 23rd Jan 1780, having survived his wife 34 years (she was buried 12 Nov 1746). George and William Coxon do not appear to have lived at Woolaw after they became of age, but the third son, Joseph, was of Woolaw in 1777 when he married Dorothy Laing. Anthony, son of Joseph and Dorothy Coxon was baptised 12 March 1780, and Jane daughter of the same parents, was baptised 28 July 1778.
After this date, the Coxons do not appear again at Woolaw, which place, was for a considerable number of ears afterwards occupied by that branch of the Hedley family, which is now represented by Mr Armourer Hedley of Newcastle.
Coxon of Bagraw
In 1577 William Coxon of Bagraw presented a complaint against Prissel of Merton and Robson of Middleknowes and others from the Scottish side of the Border for stealing ’12 kye and oxen, and £3 worth of insight’ from Bagraw. Two years later the Coxons of Bagraw again suffered from the Scots. William and Henry complained to the Warden of the Marches that the Davisons of Bermerrigg and Hall of Middleknowes had stolen 20 of their oxen.
There were still Coxons at Bagraw until well into the 18th century, but like many other Redesdale families at this time, they had become very poor. Andrew Coxon of Bagraw died in 1688, his wife having died two years earlier. In 1692 the death of William Coxon of Bagraw is recorded in the Registers, and the last mention of the family is under the date 21 Dec 1731 when Matthew Coxon of Bagraw, a pauper, was buried.
Coxon of Rooken
One of the most notorious thieves in Redesdale during the early part of the 17th century was Gerard Coxon of the Rooken, more generally referred to by his nickname of “Hint”. In 1629 he was in gaol in Newcastle, charged with the ‘felonious receipt’ of Robert Elliott alias Hobb of Cockshawe, ‘a Scotsman and a great thief’, who at that time was suspected of having stolen a gray mare from William Daug of Daugsburne. On May 19th 1629 ‘Hint’ was remanded by the Warden, Sir John Fenwick, under suspicion of having stolen eight horses from Johns Wrinkle of Harnham.
A George Coxon was also in gaol in Newcastle at this time, and at the Assizes of 1629 was ordered to be whipped for stealing from Thomas Browne of Ramshawe.
Coxon of Rattenraw and Horsley
In 1604 Clement, son of Robert Cockson held a house and lands at Coerhorsley, and about the same time George Coxon had purchased for £21 a house and land at he same place. In 1618 George and Clement Coxon were still in possession of their holdings, each paying annually the sum of 4/8 to the Lord of the barony of Redesdale.
One of these holdings at Horsley may perhaps be identified as Rattanraw. At least, a family of Coxon, had settled at this latter place by the 17th century, and the Elsdon Parish Registers contain so many references to the family that even a conjectural pedigree from this source is impossible.
Robert & Ann Coxon of Rattenraw occur in 1672 and 1675, in which later year their son William was baptised. The next couple are Gerard and Isabel Coxon who had a daughter Jane baptised 1676 and a son Clement in 1686. Jane the dumb daughter of Gerard Coxon of Rattenraw died in 1691, and on Jan 14th 1692 Gerard Coxon of Rattenraw and his daughter were both buried in one grave. Gerard Coxon of Rattenraw, idiot, poor, was buried 16th Aug 1729.
Edward and Mary Coxon of Rattanraw had a son George baptised in 1676, and another son Matthew born in 1686. A daughter Sarah was born in 1694.
At one time, there were two Archibald Coxon living at Rattenraw. One of them had a wife called Jane and the other a wife called Barbara. Jane died in 1771, and one of the Archibalds died in 1745.
Matthew, son of Matthew Coxon of Rattenraw was baptised 14 June 1713. His father may perhaps have been the son of Edward and Mary Coxon. Another Matthew Coxon, son of Thomas and Mary Coxon died in 1750. His mother died 12 years later. A George Coxon was buried at Elsdon 12 Dec 1751.
An Edward Coxon of Ratteraw died in 1764, and another in 1790. One had a wife called Frances, and the wife of the other was called Jane.
Other Coxon in Redesdale
There was numerous other person of the name Coxon in Redesdale during the 17th and 18th centuries. There was a Ralph Coxon at Stobs in 1672; a John Coxon at Gailsfield in 1673; and an Anthony Coxon at Breadless raw in 1677. This latter Anthony must not be confused with his namesake of Woolaw, for Anthony of Breadlessraw’s wife was Ann, and Mrs Coxon of Woolaw was called Isabel.
Ralph Coxon, late of Kellyburn Mill died in 1686. Matthew and Edward, twin sons of George and Ann Coxon of Raylees were baptised on Christmas Day 1693.
Chartners, otherwise known as Charter Shields, in the parish of Rothbury, was the home of Coxons for some time. Stephen Coxon was there in 1697, and thirteen years later had a son Matthew born there. In 1727 Thomas & Jane Coxon were living at Chartners, for on May 7th of that year their son Gilbert was baptised at Elsdon.
William Coxen of Oldtown died in 1711. Anthony Coxon of Overacres, a pauper, was buried on Feb. 1st 1734. In 1745 Matthew Coxon, who lived in the Chapelry of Netherwitton, was married at Elsdon on May 16th to Alice Coxon.
Robert Coxon of Sopwith, poor, was buried 28th April 1739. Mark Coxon of Soppit, perhaps a son of this Robert, Married 22nd June 1748 Jane Daug, and his daughters Sarah and Eleanor were born in 1767 and 1768 respectively. On April 18th 1769 Mark Coxon of Soppit, pauper, was buried. His widow died April 1808 aged 85.
James Coxon of Netherhouses died July 2nd 1801 aged 62. There had been a John Coxon at Netherhouses in 1679.