Mike Skinsley. Reproduced by kind permission of Mike who can be contacted at Theskinsleys@aol.com

Last Update 23rd February 2010.

Note: Four figure numbers in brackets that follow a name are my own unique and personal reference numbers for that individual. Dates and ages do not have brackets. My reference numbers are not the same as those reference numbers which have been used by Stoker Wilson.

Whilst researching my family history on my mother’s side I found myself exploring Northumberland following the trail of the Coxon family. I have been able to trace the Coxon name back for nine generations to the late 1600’s and even my mother, who is 94 and still alive, has Coxon as a Christian name. Contact with various other people confirmed the nature and extent of the Coxon tree. I became aware as the data emerged that many members of the Coxon family worked in or at some of the corn mills of Northumberland in the 1700’s and throughout the 1800’s. I decided to try to determine the extent of the Coxon involvement with milling and to trace any rise or decline in their employment. 

I was able to identify mills which had a Coxon connection through a birth, marriage or death, or evidence from a census return which sometimes confirmed where they lived, their occupations and their family structure. There were many references which show the various Coxon families living or moving between villages. Some of this evidence is factual and reliable whist other evidence needs to be considered more carefully and perhaps matched or linked with other evidence. At the height of the use of water powered mills experienced millers would have been in great demand.

The millers tended to have large families, with their sons helping with all aspects of the running of the mill. Some sons would have helped with the actual milling, whilst others provided transport as the mill “carter”. Some mills were used to house the families, if they were big enough, whilst others used nearby properties to live in, for instance using the cottages at Debdon Burnfoot just down the track from Thrum Mill in Rothbury. When marriages took place, the couple often moved location to one of the other mills, leaving the older parents, or grand parents, at the original mill. For example, William Coxon (0585) lived and worked at Overgrass mill for 56 years whilst his sons moved and brought up their families elsewhere.

I have been able to identified 23 mills in Northumberland where there is evidence of occupation by the Coxon families. How long they occupied the mills varied from one year to 100 years. An analysis of the estimated length of time they occupied each mill shows the spread of their milling skills across the county. These are conservative estimates, for instance where only one piece of evidence emerged, such as a single census reference, then that appears as zero years occupation. In reality the family or miller may have been there for several years but finding the evidence has so far not been possible.

Mill	Start	End		Years	
					
Overgrass	1767	1867		100	
Stanton	1793	1892		99	
Weldon	1794	1836		42	
Thrum	1807	1887		80	
Kirkley	1832	1871		39	
Crag	1834	1851		17	
Washington	1834	1841		7	
Abberwick	1836	1841		5	
Hounden	1841	1851		10	
Rothley	1841	1841		0	
Cartingham	1846	1861		15	
Brinkburn	1851	1864		13	
Thompsons	1853	1855		2	
Walk	1855	1855		0	
Bilton	1861	1891		30	
Fallodon	1861	1871		10	
Hadricks	1861	1861		0	
Ogle	1861	1861		0	
Snitter	1861	1895		34	
Thirston	1861	1865		4	
Felton	1865	1905		40	
Plessey	1871	1874		3	
Rock	1871	1911		40	

My earliest, reliable evidence of occupation by the Coxon families in the mills of Northumberland is at Overgrass Mill in 1767 where, according to the North East Mills Group, there has been a working mill from 1256 to 1827.

The twenty three mills show an occupancy of at least 590 years worth of milling with Overgrass, Stanton and Thrum having the longest and perhaps the most important influence in providing experienced “man power” for other mills in the area.

 Eight generations ago on my family tree, Anthony Coxon (0417) was born at Woolaw in 1700.

His father may have been a George Coxon (3229) and if so he came from Lanchester in Durham, This is not a  place that I associated with milling, but it is possible that he was experienced in milling and travelled all the way to Woolaw  either to seek employment or to become responsible for a mill.

 Anthony  married Jane Brown (0418) in Elsdon and they both died in Woolaw, so they spent all their life in the Woolaw area. Looking at the NEMG file of mills in Northumberland the Woolaw area had two mills, one at Elsdon (1604/1914) and the other at Birdhopecraig (1704/1820). It is therefore possible that that this Coxon family lived, worked and learned their trade at the Birdhopecraig mill.

Anne (Nancy) Coxon (0435), daughter of Anthony and Jane, married a Roger Coxon (3200) who was born in Elsdon in 1750. This indicates that there was more than one Coxon family in the area. Anne and Roger were to have ten children born in a variety of places (Corsenside, Old Town Elsdon, Harbottle and Cartington) which shows that they must have kept moving jobs to keep in employment. 

Anthony and Jane had a son William 0585) born at Woolaw in 1736. This William married Susannah Mather (0586) and all their children were born at Overgrass Mill. They both died at Greens Farm, not far from Overgrass Mill. One of the sons, another William (0577) moved on to Rothbury and Thrum Mill which they occupied for three generations.

We begin to see a drift across the County from the mills in the western area around Woolaw and Elsdon to places like Overgrass, Thrum and Weldon. There was a complex criss-crossing between the mills.

William Coxon (0585) arrived at Overgrass Mill from Woolaw whilst John Coxon (0587) went to Weldon Mill, Eleanor (Nelly) Coxon (0589) went to Stanton Mill, William Coxon (0577) went to Thrum Mill, whilst Robert Coxon (0591) stayed at Overgrass.

At Thrum Mill, William (0577) had come from Overgrass, Elizabeth Coxon (0581) went to Felton where her husband was a farmer, Jane Coxon married twice but remained at Thrum but one of her sons, a John Orr ended up at Snitter.

Census		No. of Mills occupied by a Coxon family

1801		3
1811		4
1821		4
1831		5
1841		9
1851		8
1861		12
1871		9
1881		6
1891		5
1901		2
1911		1

Analysis of this movement data reveals that there was a slow build up in the early 1800’s in the Coxon occupation of mills. The rise reflects the increase in the number of mills and the volume of milling capacity required to satisfy the agricultural demands of the area.

Then there was this increase in the amount of movement by the Coxon families between mills with most occupancy occurring between 1841 and 1871, with twelve mills in 1861. A steady decline followed until there was only one Coxon occupied mill left in 1911. The decline was influenced by the growth of the industrial revolution. There was the promise of more employment nearby in the coal mines or heavy industry of Northumberland and Durham. Some Coxon millers moved into agriculture as farmers but the wages would not have been as high as those being offered in the industrial coastal area.

So, by the early 1900’s most of the corn milling was in sharp decline and the contribution of the Coxon families was no longer required. Many of the mills fell into ruin and are now overgrown, others have survived and have been restored. 

Where the Coxon families came from originally, before 1700, remains unresolved. They appear to have been in the Woolaw area, but where did they learn their skills of milling and even who built the mills looks like remaining a mystery. 

I have listed all the mills with Coxon associations (in alphabetical order) with my estimate of occupancy. This may not be a definitive list as it has not been possible to follow up each child born into the Coxon family and there were a lot of children born during this time. 

Abberwick Mill, Edlington

1841 census Thomas Coxon (1426) born 1799 at Brinkburn had married Dorothy Graham (1438) born 1804 at Hetton and they had  eight children. Three were born at Weldon – Bridge or Mill ? – before moving to Abberwick around 1835/1836 for the next two children. Others were born at Low Tossen or Todstread. It is not known how Thomas’s career unfolded but when aged 53 the 1851 census described him as a “Carter” at Middle Moor, whilst the 1861 census for Ogle Mill described him as a “Farmer and Miller, farming 90 acres of land and employing a number of labourers.

1851 census Thomas Coxon (1444) born 1839 aged 12 nephew of widow Isabella Coxon aged 78, was born at Abberwick

The two children who were born at Abberwick were George Graham Coxon (1443) who died at birth in 1836 and Thomas Coxon (1444) who was born in 1838. This Thomas was described in 1861 as a “Farmers Son” whilst another son, Richard (1445) aged 20 was a “Miller” at Ogle Mill.

 Richard was born at Low Tossen, Felton in 1840 but the 1841 census has six of the Landers family, plus six others, at Abberwick Mill confirming that the Coxon family had left Abberwick on their way eventually to Ogle Mill.

Coxon Connection 1836 - 1840

Bilton Mill, Lesbury

There were two brothers, namely Robert Coxon (1430) born 1810 and Edward Coxon (1433) born 1814, both born at Felton, Weldon Bridge Mill. Edward married Alice Unknown (1486) born 1817 from Chevington, Birling, Warkworth, but no evidence of children. Robert never married.

1841 census Robert was at Longframlington with mother Isabella (0588) and three brothers including Edward.

1861 census Robert aged 50 was at South East Mason Farm running it with brother George (1432) and nephew John Coxon farming 130 acres employing 3 men.
1861 census Edward aged 45 was at Bilton Junction, Lesbury with wife Alice. He was a farmer and miller of 50 acres. They had three servants.

1871 census Edward is now aged 54 still at Bilton Mill with wife Alice and four servants.

In the “Professions” publication/directory for 1879 Edward Coxon is listed as,” Miller, Bilton, Ledbury”

1881 census Robert aged 72 is now at Bilton Mill as an unemployed farmer
1881 census Edward is aged 66 at Bilton Mill, a farmer of 52 acres with 3 labourers, Alice is aged 66.

1891 census Robert is aged 82 and is listed as single and is also living on his own means. They are now living at 7 Waggon Way Road, Alnwick having moved from Bilton Mill.

1891 census Edward is aged 75, now living on his own means as a retired farmer having moved to Alnwick with his bother. Alice is also still alive aged 73.

All three, Robert, Edward and Alice, must have died between 1891 and 1901

Coxon Connection 1861 - 1891

Brinkburn Mill

1851 census William Coxon (0210) aged 19 born 1832 at Debdon Burnfoot was a servant for the Charlton family at Combfield House, Brinkburn Low.

By the 1861 census William has become the miller at Brinkburn, married Elizabeth Mennim (0281) born 1831 Alwinton  and they had six children.

 Number three was James E (0420) born in 1864 at Brinkburn. James became a miller with Artz. 

In 1861 William was living at Combfield House, Brinkburn Low with his family and his brother Robert (0494) who was a mill carter

William moves with family to Plessey Mill between 1861 and 1871and then to Newcastle as a dairyman by 1881.

Coxon Connection 1851 - 1864

Cartington Blue Mill, Thropton

Is it Blue Mill Cartington or Cartington Blue Mill?

John Coxon (0587) born 1767 at Overgrass Mill and Isabel Curry (0588) born 1771 at Bogend were married in 1794 and had ten children born at Weldon Mill. Of these children -

First child William Coxon (1424) born 1796 and Mary Scott (1434) born 1800 were married and had a son John (1435) born 1821 at Weldon Mill. He died aged 25 in 1846 at Cartington Blue Mill,

Second child Thomas Coxon (1426) born 1798 in Felton and  Dorothy Graham (1438) born 1803 in Felton married in 1826. They had eight children.

Their third child Isabella Graham Coxon (1441) died 1848 at Cartington Blue Mill

Fourth child Ann(ie) Coxon (1428) married Philip Watson (1449). She dies between 1841 and 1861. Philip lives with son and daughter at Blue Mill in 1861 census.

Coxon Connection 1846 - 1861

Crag Mill

“Professions” 1834 lists William Coxon, Miller, Crag Mill, Belford

Coxon Connection 1834 - 1851

Fallodon Mill

1861 census Thomas (1672) aged 27 living at 17 Embleton Village with wife and two daughters, working as an agricultural labourer

1871 census has Thomas Coxon (1672), aged 37, and his wife Joan – spelling mistake Johann – (1687), aged 33, with five children and four servants living at Fallodon Mill.

1881 census this family appears at Rock Mill.

Coxon Connection  1861 - 1871

Felton Mill

1841 address census has 4 of the Flemming family plus two of the Leighton family at Felton Mill

William Coxon (0577) born 1772 at Overgrass Mill and Elizabeth Grunson (0578) born 1771 married in 1806 at Bedlington. They had five children.

They had a son William (0500) born 1808 at Thrum Mill. He married Ann Grey (0501) born 1807 at Brinkburn. They married in 1829 at Rothbury.

William and Ann had a son Robert (0494) born 1838 at Burnfoot Rothbury who may have worked at Thrum Mill initially before moving to Felton.

Robert (0494) and Jane Scott (0495) born 1842 in Hedgeley were married in 1861. In the 1881 census Robert was a mill carter (corn).  They both died at Felton Mill in 1905 and 1895 respectively. They had ten children.

Mary A (0502) born 1862 at Brinkburn was not married in the 1881 census but had a son Frederick (0498) aged 3 months born 1881 at Felton Mill. 

Susan (0573) was born in 1864 at Thirston (Mill?). She was not at Felton Mill in 1881.

All the other children were all born at Felton/Felton Mill

Elizabeth (0574) born abt 1865 at Felton

Jane (0503) born 1867

William (0504) born 1870 married Hannah Brooks (1417). William died at Northwood Middlesex in 1918. He was a domestic Coachman

George (0496) born 1871 and Isabella Richardson, were married in 1897 at Morpeth and was a corn miller but not sure where. George died at Rothbury in 1897, Isabella died 1898, both are buried at Felton.

John Edward (0505) born 1875 married Mary Ann ? born 1875

Francis (0506) born 1876. A general domestic servant, married John Tipping (3384) born 1873, a plumber

Isabella (0497) born 1878 still at Felton Mill in 1901 aged 23, married Robert Birkley (3385) in 1907 in Newcastle

Frederick (0498) born 1881, believed to be the son of Mary Ann (0502)

Matthew Davy (0499) born 1883

1841 address census has 4 of the Flemming family plus two of the Leighton family

Coxon Connection 1865 - 1905

Hadricks Mill, Gosforth

Isaac Coxon (1523) born 1834 married Jane unknown born 1835. Had five children. The second child, another Isaac (1557), was born at Hadricks Mill in 1861.

1881 census they have moved from Hadricks to Brenkley.

Coxon Connection 1861

Hounden Mill, Warkworh

Henry Coxon (1451) born 1806, and Susannah Coxon (1429) born 1804 married in 1828 at Felton and had eight children, six at Stanton Mill.

John Coxon (1) (1454) born 1834 at Stanton Mill died aged 7 at Stanton Mill in 1841. 
Henry Coxon (1457), born 1838 at Stanton Mill, died in 1842 at Hounden Mill aged 4.

The family must have moved from Stanton Mill in 1841 as the 1841 and 1851 census shows the family at Hounden Mill. The eighth child Ann was born in 1845 at Warkworth, perhaps at Hounden Mill.

The next male to be born following the death of John Coxon (1) in 1841 was also called John. This John (2) (1458) born 1841 in Long Horseley and Mary Elizabeth Bell (1460) born in 1870 were married in Dinnington and had seven children, all born at Dinnington

1841 census has Henry and Susan Coxon plus four of their children Isaac, Isabella, Henry and John (2) living at Hounden Mill. Also there is one lodger.

The 1851 census has John (2) aged 10 at Hounden Mill, with parents and sister Ann.

In the 1861 Census John (2) is aged 20 working on a farm just outside Dinnington with his maternal uncles, Robert and George. Perhaps he moved after the death of his parents. Between 1881 and 1891 he moved to Newbiggin where he died in 1908

Coxon Connection 1841 - 1851

Kirkley Mill, Ponteland

John Coxon (1427) born 1798 at Weldon Mill and Mary Orpeth (1437) born 1800 were married at Long Horsley in 1827. She died 24th March 1832 aged 32 at Kirkley Mill, Ponteland.

The gravestone at Ponteland is Sacred to the Memory of Mary, wife of  John Coxon of Kirkley Mill, who died March 24th 1832, aged 32 years, also of Hannah, his second wife, who died Jan 4th 1864, aged 64 years, also of the above John Coxon, who died at Bassington, Sept 7th 1873 aged 74 years

John and second wife Hannah were at Benridge Ponteland in 1841 census; Benridge Farm, Kirkley in 1851 census; Bassington in 1861 census. It appears that John was more a farmer than a miller.

In 1871 census there were four members of the Coxon family at the mill but they had moved by 1881 to Mill Inn, Cowgate, Fenham.

Coxon Connection 1832 - 1871

Ogle Mill, Ogle

1841 census shows the White family occupying Ogle Mill.

1851 census the Coxons were at Longframlington and had moved to Middle Moor by 1851.

1861 census shows Thomas Coxon (1426), aged 63, and wife Dorothy Graham (1438), aged 36 at Ogle Mill, Ogle Village, with three sons, two grand children and a servant. Thomas was a farmer and miller, farming 90 acres. One of his sons Richard, was described as a miller, whilst the other two, Thomas (born Abberwick) and Edward J, were a farmer’s sons and a tailor. The servant was a dairy maid. The age of his wife in the 1861 census must be wrong as the date of birth should  be 1803 and not 1825. Thomas was born at Brinkburn.

It has not been possible to identify the parents of the two grandchildren who were both born in Whalton, a village a couple of miles north of Ogle.

Ogle Mill in 1871 was occupied by the Nichol family.
Coxon Connection 1861

Overgrass Mill

There are records of a Martin Grey, born about 1640 at Overgrass, Felton who married an Elizabeth Forster, born about 1644 at Greenses, Felton. They married on 3rd February 1669 and had ten children between 1670 and 1686. Five children were listed as definitely being born at Overgrass whilst the others were born at “Alnwick” but no connection has been made linking these Coxons to later Coxons below. The Mill is now just an empty shell.

A William Coxon (0585) born in 1736 at Woolaw and Susannah Mather (0586) born 1736 at Alnwick were married in 1763 at Longframlington and they had  6 children. They must have been living at Overgrass on or before 1767 as all the children were born at Overgrass Mill between 1767 and 1779. William lived and worked at the mill for 56 years, probably from his marriage in 1763 to around 1819.

John Coxon (0587) born in 1767 at Overgrass Mill and Isabel Curry (0588) born 1771 at Bogend were married in 1794 at Cornhill and had 10 children born at Weldon Mill. John and Isabel must have moved from Overgrass Mill to Weldon Mill before the birth of their first child in 1796 in Long Framlington.

Eleanor (Nelly) Coxon (0589) born 1770 at Overgrass Mill. Eleanor and another Coxon, Isaac (0590) born 1764 were married at Edlington in 1793. They had eight children between 1794 and 1814 all born at Stanton Mill. Eleanor may have left Overgrass Mill in 1793 when she married. Perhaps Isaac was already at Stanton Mill which is where he died in 1829.

William (0577) born 1772 at Overgrass Mill and Elizabeth Grunson (0578) born 1771were married in 1806 and they had five children. Their first child was born in 1807 at Thrum Mill so William must have left Overgrass Mill before 1807, perhaps when he married in 1806. Both William and Elizabeth died at Thrum in 1844.

Robert Coxon (0591) born 1774 at Overgrass Mill and Sarah Thompson (0592) born 1775 were married at Overshields. They had six children. The second child Susan (1651) was born at Overgrass Mill, the rest at Greens.

George Coxon (0593) born 1775 at Overgrass Mill married twice. First in 1805 to Ann Laws born 1776. Second in 1832 to Ann Coxon born 1786. George was an inn keeper.

Edward Coxon (0596) born 1779 at Overgrass Mill, his occupation described as a Hind. He died in 1838

The 1841/1851 census lists at “Overgrass”, Felton, not necessarily Overgrass Mill shows –

William Coxon age 80, Farmer
Ann Coxon age 60
Walter Coxon age 40, Agricultural Labourer
Jane Coxon aged 30

When age rounding is considered this could  match some information I had that a William Coxon died at Overgrass aged 81 in 1845 and his wife Ann died at Overgrass aged 93 in 1867. There were two children, Walter born 1801 and Jane born 1811. However, I cannot at the moment link these with other Coxons at Overgrass Mill or even elsewhere.

The 1841 census for Overgrass Mill shows it was occupied entirely by the Richardson family

Coxon Connection possibly 1640 or 1767 - 1867

Plessey Mill

William Coxon (0210) born 1832 married Elizabeth Mennim (0281) and they had six children

William (0493)		 born 1856 at Alwinton
Annie (0214)		 born 1858 at Snitter
James E (0420) 		 born 1864 at Brinkburn
Elizabeth Coxon (0211)	 born 1866 in Newcastle
Frank R M Coxon (0421)	 born 1872 at Plessey Mill
John G Coxon (0212)	 born 1873 at Plessey Mill

The family move from Alwinton to Snitter (mill?) to Brinkburn and then to Newcastle before they move to Plessey Mill.

1871 census William (0210) is at Plessey Mill

1881 census William is a dairyman in Newcastle, his son, James, is a miller (Artz)

 Coxon Connection 1871 – 1874

Rock Mill

1841 address census has the Sharp family at the Mill along with some of the Hogg and Ogle families.

It seems that Rock Mill by this time was no longer a water mill but used as a residence and site of a farm. Thomas and family are listed as farmers and not millers

1871 census aged 37 Thomas (1672) and family were at Fallodon Mill so they must have moved to Rock Mill between 1871 and 1879.

“Professions” 1879 lists Thomas Coxon, Farmer, Rock Mill, Rock

1881 census sees the Coxon family at Rock Mill, Thomas Coxon (1672), aged 47, his wife Joan ? (1687), aged 45, and six children. Thomas was a farmer of 147 acres, employing 4 labourers and one boy.

1891 census Thomas and Joan are still there but with only two of their children plus three servants.

1901 census Thomas is a widower with three children at home with two different servants. Thomas is still a farmer.

1911 census there is no Thomas. The farming was taken over by two of the “children” Robert Matthew Coxon (3246) and Thomas Edward Coxon (3244). Two sisters are also living at Rock Mill.

Coxon Connection 1871 - 1911

Rothley Mill

1841 address census has eight of the Lamb family and three others, including a William Anderson (0390) aged 25 working at the mill for the Lamb family

Some of  the Andersons, were to marry Coxons.

Coxon Connection 1841

Snitter Mill

The name Snitter is derived from Middle English 11th/15th century for “Snow” or “Wild Place”

1839 Robert Orpeth (1483) married Isabella Coxon and had two children, John born 1840 and Frank/Francis born 1843. Robert is a farmer of 80 acres employing one man.

1841 address census has four of the Orpeth family and three others at the Mill. The Orpeths were Robert born 1807 aged 35, Isabella born 1816 aged 25, John born 1841 aged 0, Thomas born 1816 aged 25.

1851 census shows that Robert Orpeth is a miller and farmer of 80 acres employing six labourers. William Coxon and Isaac Coxon were mill servants

1861 census shows that Snitter Mill was being run by the Orpeth family, father Robert (1483) and two sons were the millers. But also there was Isaac Coxon (1452) also working as a miller. Working as a house servant was Ann Coxon (1459)

1881 census  shows that the Orr family were living at Snitter and that John Orr (3225) born 1845 was a farmer and Miller of 100 acres employing one labourer. Interesting to note that there was a Ann Coxon Watson aged 39, unmarried, living at Snitter Lane! Is this the same Ann Coxon shown in 1861?

The Orpeth family moved out of  Snitter between 1861 and 1881 probably replaced by the Orr family. John Orr and Mary Graham born 1844 were married in 1877 in Newcastle. They had four children. John died at Snitter Mill on 11th Jan 1887, Mary died at Snitter Mill on 24th July 1895

Coxon Connection 1861 - 1895

Stanton Mill, Stanton, Longhorsley

Now just a pile of rubble but the mill race can be made out. (SW)

Susannah Coxon (1429) born 1804 at Weldon Mill and Henry Coxon (1451) born 1800 at Stanton Mill were married at Felton in 1828 and they had 8 children, most were born at Stanton between 1831 and 1841. Henry lived and worked at Stanton Mill for 41 years and died there in 1851.

One of the children John (1) (1454) was born 1834 at Stanton and died at Stanton Mill in 1841 aged 7.

Another child, Henry (1457), dies in 1842 at Hounden Mill, Warkworth aged 4.

Eleanor (Nelly) Coxon (0589) born at Overgrass and Isaac Coxon (0590) born in 1764 were married in Felton in 1793 and they had 8 children all born at Stanton Mill between 1794 and 1814. Two of the children, Isaac (1505) and Eleanor (1507), both died at Stanton Mill in 1802 age 19 and 1826 age six months respectively

It appears that the Coxon family left Stanton Mill in 1841 before the official census that year.

A gravestone at St Helen’s Church, Longhorsley records a death on 30th August 1892 of John, 4th son of Thomas and Agnes Mather, aged 22. He died at Stanton Mill.

1851 census records a William Coxon aged 53, born 1798 a farm labourer, born at Stanton Mill.

Coxon Connection 1793 - 1892

Thirston Mill

Robert Coxon (0494) born 1838 and Jane Scott (0495) were married in 1861. Their second child Susan (0573) was born at Thirston ( Mill or a farm?)

1861 census a Walter Coxon age 64, a servant at East Thirston was a Corn Grinder – perhaps at Thirston Mill.

Coxon Connection 1861 - 1865

Thompsons Mill

1861 census Thomas Coxon born 29th January 1828, Eglingham, married to Jane Atkinson born about 1827 at Thompson’s Mills. Thomas’s occupation was a road maker. They had eleven children their first was born in 1853 at Thompsons Walls or Thompsons Mill? The other children were born in Eglingham.

Coxon Connection 1853 - 1855

Thrum Mill, Rothbury

Thrum Mill was a corn mill, one mile east of Rothbury. The earliest reference is 10th March 1693. It is probably named after the noise of the river making a “thrumming “ or “drumming” sound. It used to grind the corn for the local bakers and to sell further a field. It is now a ruin. Features at the mill were a corn drying kiln, corn mill, sluice gate, water wheel and water mill. (SINE Project University of Newcastle)

William Coxon (0577) born in 1772 at Overgrass Mill and Elizabeth Grunson (0578) born 1771married in 1806 at Bedlington. They both died in 1844 at Thrum Mill, William in February, Elizabeth two months later. They had 5 children, all were born at Thrum Mill. These “first” Coxons must have been at Thrum Mill by 1807 when their first child Ann (0575) was born. William who became the miller at Thrum and Elizabeth may have worked or lived at the Mill when they married in 1806.

Ann Coxon (0575) was born 1807, married John Snowdon (0576) and had four children. He was a flour dealer. In 1841 they lived at North Street, Rothbury, in 1851 at Hudsons House and in 1861 with Ann a widow she was at the Queens Head, Rothbury. Ann died before 1871.

William Coxon (0500) born 1808 and Ann Grey (0501) born 1807 in Brinkburn married in 1829 at Rothbury and had five children. He was the miller at Thrum and died aged only 31 at Thrum Mill in 1839. Four of their five children were born at Debdonburnfoot, just down the river and across the road from Thrum Mill, the other at the Lynn, Brinkburn. These cottages were part of the Cragside estate, now a National Trust property, the first place in the country to use hydro electricity. It was the home of Lord Armstong who may have lived in the Debdonburnfoot cottages whilst the electricity was being installed in the house. William died in 1839 whilst Ann survived until she was 70 years of age. In 1871 she was living at Cragside Lodge with three grand children.

Susan Coxon (0579) born in 1809 and Edward Storey (0580) born 1808 married in 1832 and they had seven children but all were born at Knock Law, near Thrum Mill. Susan probably lived at Thrum Mill until she married in 1832. Edward was a farmer of 40 acres in 1851.

Elizabeth Coxon (0581) was born in 1813, probably at Thrum Mill but there is no evidence of this except that all the other children were born there. She married in 1841 to John Thompson (0582) and they had four children all born in Felton. John was a farmer.

Jane Coxon (0583) was born in 1814 at Mount Healey, near Thrum Mill. She married twice, first to William Orr (3224) who was born in 1815 at Thrum Mill. They married in 1843. So the Orr family were living and working alongside the Coxon family in 1815 or even earlier. They married at Thropton on the 19th June 1842 and had three children. They were John Orr (3225) born 1844 and William (1) Orr (3239) born in 1845. But he died within a year and the next child was a boy so he was called the same, William (2) (3240). William Orr senior, (3224) was the miller at Thrum. However, he died in 1845 aged 30. John Orr died in 1887 at Sniter Mill

It appears that Jane (0583) and Joshua Johnson Tennant (0584) born 1825 then married in about 1850. They had three children, all born at Thrum Mill. Elizabeth (3227) born 1853 died aged 4 months. Jane Ann (3228) born 1855, married and had eleven children, but none were born at the Mill. Joshua (0597) born 1858, married and had 5 children.
Jane died at Thrum Mill in 1887 and this is the last confirmed date that a direct member of the Coxon family occupied the Mill. By 1891 they had certainly left Thrum Mill after at least 80 years of milling. Joshua Tennant was a miller and farmer and died in 1890.

William Coxon (0210) who was one of the five children of William (0500) above, born Debdonburnfoot 1832 who married Elizabeth Mennim (0281) in 1855. They had six children, three born around Rothbury, two at Stannington and one in Newcastle

This family must have left the Rothbury area between 1863 and 1865 as the 1861 census lists William (0210) aged 28 as a Miller for Artz and his brother, a Mill Carter, both living at Combfield House, Brinkburn Low (Glendale). In 1871 census William is at Plessey Mill, Stannington and in 1881 he is a dairyman at 6 Stowell Street in Newcastle.

The 1841 census shows that there was an early connection between the Coxon family and the Orr family at Thrum Mill. The census shows that William Coxon (0577) was still the miller at Thrum. Living there was his wife Elizabeth (0578) and two daughters Elizabeth (0581) and Jane (0583). Also there was  William Orr (3224) a lodger working  at Thrum Mill who Jane was to marry later.

The 1891 census shows two families at Thrum Mill. There was Thomas Purvis, his wife and niece, as well as William and Sarah Orr. So by 1891 the Coxon occupation of Thrum Mill has ended but the Orr family were still there and William was the miller.

Professions 1834 lists a William Coxon as Miller at Thrum Mill

Some minor items at Thrum Mill were taken to Heatherslaw Mill, the last working mill in Northumbria.

Coxon Connection 1693 or 1807 – 1887

Walk Mill

“Professions” 1855 records a George Coxon, a farmer at Walk Mill

Coxon Connection 1855

Washington Mill

“Professions” 1834 lists Thomas Coxon, Miller, Washington Mill, Washington

Gravestone inscription at Washington, County Durham. Esther, wife of Thomas Coxon, Washington Mill, died Sept 8th 1836, aged 69 years and Thomas, above named, died May 24th 1838 aged 67 years.

1841 address census has Elenor Coxon at the Mill with three of the Bell family and four others

Coxon Connection 1834 - 1841

Weldon Mill

Weldon Mill has now been developed into a private dwelling house. There used to be a very old map of Weldon hanging in the pub!

Weldon Mill was occupied by the Coxon family from about 1794 to at least 1836.

John Coxon (0587) born Stanton Mill or Overgrass Mill and Isabel Curry (0588) from Bogend Berwickshire married and they had 10 children born at Weldon Mill. They may have moved there before or when they married in 1794 but certainly before the birth of their first child in 1796. Their 10th child was born in 1815. This is the same John Coxon that worked at Abberwick Mill before moving to Weldon Mill.

John was miller at Weldon between 1794 and 1833

First child William (1424) born Long Framlington in 1796 and Mary Scott (1434) born 1800 married and had two children, both born at Weldon Mill so William must have been working there at this time.
John (1435) born 1821 died 1846 at Blue Mill Cartingham.
Isabel (1436) born 1823

Second child Thomas (1426) born 1796 at Felton and Dorothy Graham (1438) born 1803 married in 1826 and they had 8 children. The first three were recorded as born at Weldon Mill and possibly the others as well. Thomas worked at Weldon Mill until the death of his father John in 1833. So these Coxon children were born at the Mill up to 1833 and possibly 1836. Their third child, Isabella Graham Coxon (1441) died 1848 at Blue Mill Cartingham.

Third child John (1427) born 1798 and Mary Orpeth (1437) born 1800 married in ? Mary died in 1832 at Kirkley Mill, Ponteland.

Fourth child Annie (1428) born in 1800 marries Phillip Watson (1449) and have six children. 1841 at Low Hall, Shilbottle. 1861 census Phillip is a widower aged 61, a retired farmer, living at Blue Mill, Bankfoot, Cartington

Fifth child Susannah Coxon (1429) born 1804 and another Coxon,  Henry Coxon (1451) born in 1800 at Stanton Mill married in 1828 and they had 8 children

Sixth child Eleanor (1425) was born 1806 but died 6 years old in 1812 at Weldon Mill.

Seventh child Robert (1430) born 1808

Eighth child Isabella (1431) born 1810 and Robert Orpeth (1483) born in ? married in ? and had two children born at Rothbury

Nineth child George (1432) born 1812

Tenth child Edward (1433) born 1815 and Alice (1486) born 1817 married at Chevington, Birling in ?. The 1891 census shows that Edward aged 75 was born at Weldon Bridge along with his brother Robert (1430).

Coxon Connection 1794 - 1836