To Gunsmith?

[Ewan]

I haven't been able to find my William Cox on the 1861 census, born 1833 Birmingham. A silver plater in 1851, a silversmith in 1852 and 1859, 1877 a jeweller, 1881 electro metallurgist (plated ware) and in 1891 silver plater and gilder. There is a gunsmith born 1834 Birmingham living in Whitechapel as a lodger and I did wonder if this was he, I ask could all the above occupations be interchanged (don't know if this is the correct word) with a gunsmith?

His granddad was a gun stocker and his aunt married a gun polisher all living in Birmingham and Aston


Many thanks for any suggestions etc
Ewan

 

[smtr]

Hi Ewan

You don't say if he was married by 1861?
I have found this William Cox at 52 Charlotte Place, Marylebone, Middlesex.
Will Cox B1833 Bham - Silversmith
Matilda Cox B1833 Wales - wife
William Cox B1853 Bham - son
Charles Cox B1842 Bham - brother - unmarried - Silversmith

Suzanne

 

[paul stacey]

In the flint lock days the Manton brothers Gunsmiths (birmingham) invented a spark plate in silver later platinum, could have used silversmiths, alot of the fire arms were inlaid with silver too.

 

[Ewan]

Hi Ewan

You don't say if he was married by 1861?
I have found this William Cox at 52 Charlotte Place, Marylebone, Middlesex.
Will Cox B1833 Bham - Silversmith
Matilda Cox B1833 Wales - wife
William Cox B1853 Bham - son
Charles Cox B1842 Bham - brother - unmarried - Silversmith

Suzanne

Hello Suzanne thank you very much for your help with information from the 1861 census, I think you have posted it before for me back in late 2009. Also I have discounted the William who is married to Matilda living in Marylebone because this particular William was traced back and he was living with his brother Charles and parents in 1851.

https://forum.birminghamhistory.co.uk/showthread.php?t=28519

Paul thank you for the information about the Manton brothers in Birmingham I will google that to see if it can tell me anymore about the work of gunsmiths.

Ewan