Ambrose Cox of Chesterfield
Ambrose Cox married Catherine
born circa 1744
died 16 Oct 1823
Clare House, Kings County
Ambrose Cox was a brewer of James Gate, Dublin. He donated two barrels of beer to the poor each
week. He was a director of the Grand Canal Company and held property at Montpelier, Newtown
Castlebyrn which was sold by 1796. He bought Clara House in the King’s County circa 1802 for 20K and
endeavoured to establish a linen manufacture in the neighbourhood. Ambrose Cox Magistrate of the
Kings County died at Clara House, Kings County on 16 Oct 1823 aged 79.
1 Mary Cox baptised at St James’ RC Church on 13 Feb 1769.
2 Thomas Cox eldest son late of the 19th Regt died at Kilmainham in April/ May 1842.
3 James Cox third son baptised 10 Mar 1771 at St James’ Dublin.
4 Henry Cox baptised at St James’ 19 Apr 1772.
5 Mary Cox baptised at St James’ on 16 Sep 1774.
6 James Cox baptised 1 Dec 1776 at St James’ Dublin. Magistrate in 1820 died May 1840.
7 Maria Cox eldest daughter died at Chesterfield (the residence of her sister) on 9 May 1852.
8 Edward Cox born baptised at James Street on 19 Jul 1778 was a appointed a magistrate of Kings
County in 1807. He took over the estate after the death of his father and was bankrupt by 1837.
The house was let for 7 years by the court and Edward moved to England. He was arrested for
non payment of a debt of £43 (the cost of a horse and carriage) and brought to Whitecross
Debtors Prison on 10 Mar 1843. He was unable to raise sureties to obtain his release and died
April 1843 at the Debtors Prison. A wife is mentioned at the inquest but no issue was found.
9 Catherine Cox second daughter baptised at St James’ on 2 Oct 1779 died at Woodville, County
Down in November 1842.
10 Ambrose Cox youngest son baptised 18 Oct 1784 at St James' was appointed a magistrate in
1843 and inherited the estate on the death of his brother Edward. He married Emily Catherine
Wolseley at St Peters Church of Ireland on 4 Jul 1844. Emily was the second daughter of the
Rev Clement Wolseley and Maria Fetherstonhaugh of Lakelands, Sandymount and 28 Fitzwilliam
Street. He was appointed DL in 1847. The Cox’s were very sociable and Clara House saw a lot
of visitors come and go. They also hosted cricket matches with over 1000 spectators in the
grounds. He built a market house and courthouse at Clara. Ambrose died at 28 Upper
Fitzwilliam Street on 27 Apr 1863 and left 4700 in personal estate. His wife was his executor.
Emily died 10 Apr 1876 at Nice, France.
1 Ambrose Clement Wolseley Cox, son and heir born 14 Aug 1846 at Lakelands,
Sandymount (the residence of Mrs Wolseley) was baptised at the RC Church in Clara on
7 Sep 1846. He attended the Royal Military College, joined the 12th Lancers and was
based at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham. He married Louisa Helen Elizabeth Kirwan at
Christ Church, Bray on 1 Jun 1870. Louisa of Glenbervie was the daughter of Richard A H
Kirwan, JP of Baunmore, Galway and the widow of Thomas Donaldson. Louisa had a
daughter Helen Louisa Donaldson and three sons. The reception was held at the Marine
Hotel, Bray. He was ADC to Lord Strathcairn and was appointed High Sheriff of King's
County in 1873. Ambrose attained the rank of colonel and in 1884 he travelled to
Florida with the Earl of Huntington and Lord Hastings and met the then president
Chester A Arthur. Huntington was chairman of a company formed for the purpose of
colonizing the district of Florida, in which state a large tract of land had been secured.
Ambrose was left a life interest in Clara House and mortgaged the estate in 1868. In
1888 Ambrose was bankrupt. They lived at Sherrards Welwyn, Hatfield. Louisa died
28 Aug 1905 at Hatfield and was buried at Wymering, Portsmouth. Ambrose died
9 Jan 1913 at Oakwood Court, Kensington, London and late of Clara, Co Offaly. The
tenancy of Clara House was left to the C of I incumbent of Clara and a sum of money for
the upkeep of certain graves at Wymering was bequeathed.
1 Reginald Garnet (Garnet) Wolseley Cox born 19 Jun 1872 at Clara House, Tullamore.
He attended the Royal College of Music. He was a composer and vocalist. He died
from consumption on 11 Nov 1904 at Cranham Lodge, Stroud.
2 Henry Edward Cox born on 22 Jun 1847 at 28 Upper Fitzwilliam Street.
3 Francis James Cox, youngest son born 17 Mar 1849 at Lakelands, Sandymount died at
Richmond, Surrey from Diphtheria on 3 April 1862 aged 13.
4 Daughter Cox born 31 Mar 1852 at Clara who survived but a few hours.
5 Emilia Eliza Cox born 5 Nov 1854 at 28 Upper Fitzwilliam Street. Emilia, only daughter died
17 Mar 1856 at 41 Fitzwilliam Street.
6 Daughter Cox born 10 Dec 1856 at 41 Fitzwilliam Street.
11 Eliza Frances Cox baptised 3 Mar 1787 died 12 Oct 1865 at Fitzwilliam Street late of Chesterfield
and left 3K in personal estate. Her sister in law Emily her executor.
© June Bow & Karen Poff – February 2022
Ambrose Cox married Catherine
born circa 1744
died 16 Oct 1823
Clare House, Kings County
Ambrose Cox was a brewer of James Gate, Dublin. He donated two barrels of beer to the poor each
week. He was a director of the Grand Canal Company and held property at Montpelier, Newtown
Castlebyrn which was sold by 1796. He bought Clara House in the King’s County circa 1802 for 20K and
endeavoured to establish a linen manufacture in the neighbourhood. Ambrose Cox Magistrate of the
Kings County died at Clara House, Kings County on 16 Oct 1823 aged 79.
1 Mary Cox baptised at St James’ RC Church on 13 Feb 1769.
2 Thomas Cox eldest son late of the 19th Regt died at Kilmainham in April/ May 1842.
3 James Cox third son baptised 10 Mar 1771 at St James’ Dublin.
4 Henry Cox baptised at St James’ 19 Apr 1772.
5 Mary Cox baptised at St James’ on 16 Sep 1774.
6 James Cox baptised 1 Dec 1776 at St James’ Dublin. Magistrate in 1820 died May 1840.
7 Maria Cox eldest daughter died at Chesterfield (the residence of her sister) on 9 May 1852.
8 Edward Cox born baptised at James Street on 19 Jul 1778 was a appointed a magistrate of Kings
County in 1807. He took over the estate after the death of his father and was bankrupt by 1837.
The house was let for 7 years by the court and Edward moved to England. He was arrested for
non payment of a debt of £43 (the cost of a horse and carriage) and brought to Whitecross
Debtors Prison on 10 Mar 1843. He was unable to raise sureties to obtain his release and died
April 1843 at the Debtors Prison. A wife is mentioned at the inquest but no issue was found.
9 Catherine Cox second daughter baptised at St James’ on 2 Oct 1779 died at Woodville, County
Down in November 1842.
10 Ambrose Cox youngest son baptised 18 Oct 1784 at St James' was appointed a magistrate in
1843 and inherited the estate on the death of his brother Edward. He married Emily Catherine
Wolseley at St Peters Church of Ireland on 4 Jul 1844. Emily was the second daughter of the
Rev Clement Wolseley and Maria Fetherstonhaugh of Lakelands, Sandymount and 28 Fitzwilliam
Street. He was appointed DL in 1847. The Cox’s were very sociable and Clara House saw a lot
of visitors come and go. They also hosted cricket matches with over 1000 spectators in the
grounds. He built a market house and courthouse at Clara. Ambrose died at 28 Upper
Fitzwilliam Street on 27 Apr 1863 and left 4700 in personal estate. His wife was his executor.
Emily died 10 Apr 1876 at Nice, France.
1 Ambrose Clement Wolseley Cox, son and heir born 14 Aug 1846 at Lakelands,
Sandymount (the residence of Mrs Wolseley) was baptised at the RC Church in Clara on
7 Sep 1846. He attended the Royal Military College, joined the 12th Lancers and was
based at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham. He married Louisa Helen Elizabeth Kirwan at
Christ Church, Bray on 1 Jun 1870. Louisa of Glenbervie was the daughter of Richard A H
Kirwan, JP of Baunmore, Galway and the widow of Thomas Donaldson. Louisa had a
daughter Helen Louisa Donaldson and three sons. The reception was held at the Marine
Hotel, Bray. He was ADC to Lord Strathcairn and was appointed High Sheriff of King's
County in 1873. Ambrose attained the rank of colonel and in 1884 he travelled to
Florida with the Earl of Huntington and Lord Hastings and met the then president
Chester A Arthur. Huntington was chairman of a company formed for the purpose of
colonizing the district of Florida, in which state a large tract of land had been secured.
Ambrose was left a life interest in Clara House and mortgaged the estate in 1868. In
1888 Ambrose was bankrupt. They lived at Sherrards Welwyn, Hatfield. Louisa died
28 Aug 1905 at Hatfield and was buried at Wymering, Portsmouth. Ambrose died
9 Jan 1913 at Oakwood Court, Kensington, London and late of Clara, Co Offaly. The
tenancy of Clara House was left to the C of I incumbent of Clara and a sum of money for
the upkeep of certain graves at Wymering was bequeathed.
1 Reginald Garnet (Garnet) Wolseley Cox born 19 Jun 1872 at Clara House, Tullamore.
He attended the Royal College of Music. He was a composer and vocalist. He died
from consumption on 11 Nov 1904 at Cranham Lodge, Stroud.
2 Henry Edward Cox born on 22 Jun 1847 at 28 Upper Fitzwilliam Street.
3 Francis James Cox, youngest son born 17 Mar 1849 at Lakelands, Sandymount died at
Richmond, Surrey from Diphtheria on 3 April 1862 aged 13.
4 Daughter Cox born 31 Mar 1852 at Clara who survived but a few hours.
5 Emilia Eliza Cox born 5 Nov 1854 at 28 Upper Fitzwilliam Street. Emilia, only daughter died
17 Mar 1856 at 41 Fitzwilliam Street.
6 Daughter Cox born 10 Dec 1856 at 41 Fitzwilliam Street.
11 Eliza Frances Cox baptised 3 Mar 1787 died 12 Oct 1865 at Fitzwilliam Street late of Chesterfield
and left 3K in personal estate. Her sister in law Emily her executor.
© June Bow & Karen Poff – February 2022