{"id":24939,"date":"2017-09-06T11:33:06","date_gmt":"2017-09-06T15:33:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.genealogybank.com\/?p=24939"},"modified":"2021-04-22T13:36:17","modified_gmt":"2021-04-22T17:36:17","slug":"my-ancestor-deacon-edward-fox-cordwainer-and-revolutionary-war-veteran","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/my-ancestor-deacon-edward-fox-cordwainer-and-revolutionary-war-veteran.html","title":{"rendered":"My Ancestor Deacon Edward Fox: Cordwainer and Revolutionary War Veteran"},"content":{"rendered":"

My ancestor Deacon Edward Fox<\/span> (1755-1839) was a Revolutionary War veteran who served in the 2nd New Hampshire Regiment<\/a>. He was born in Nottingham, New Hampshire, in 1755 and married Anna Creighton<\/a> (1762-1843). Together they had 10 children.<\/p>\n

According to notes on FamilySearch.org and Find-a-Grave, Edward supported his family by working as a cordwainer<\/a> in a shoe factory.<\/p>\n

\"Photo:<\/a>
Photo: cordwainer statue on Watling Street, in the Cordwainer ward of the City of London, England. Credit: Alma Boyes; Wikimedia Commons.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Cordwainer? What exactly does a cordwainer do? I wanted to learn more about cordwainers in America, so I searched the term in GenealogyBank\u2019s Historical Newspaper Archives<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
Source: GenealogyBank<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This search led me to a Salem Observer<\/em> newspaper article that gave me a bit more information about the profession.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Source: GenealogyBank, Salem Observer (Salem, Massachusetts), 3 March 1860, page 1<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A second article, this one from the San Francisco Bulletin<\/em>, describes the science of being a cordwainer.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Source: GenealogyBank, San Francisco Bulletin (San Francisco, California), 28 July 1888, page 2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

According to Wikipedia, a cordwainer made new shoes from leather \u2013 while a cobbler only repaired shoes. So, my ancestor was a shoemaker.<\/p>\n

Edward died in Meredith, Belknap, New Hampshire, in 1839 and was buried in the Sanborn Cemetery in Belknap County. Unfortunately, the cemetery was vandalized and Edward\u2019s gravestone was destroyed.<\/p>\n

You can clearly see the initials E. F. on the remnants of Edward Fox\u2019s gravestone in Meredith, Belknap, New Hampshire. See: Find A Grave<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Photo:<\/a>
Photo: gravestone of Edward Fox, Sanborn Cemetery, Meredith, Belknap County, New Hampshire. Source: Find A Grave.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Edward\u2019s wife Anna died at age 81 in Meredith, New Hampshire, and was buried with Edward in the Sanborn Cemetery. I found her obituary in GenealogyBank.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Source: GenealogyBank, New-Hampshire Gazette (Portsmouth, New Hampshire), 19 September 1843, page 3<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A quick Google search of \u201cAnna Creighton Fox + New Hampshire\u201d led me to a photo of her gravestone, which is, fortunately, still intact. See: Find A Grave<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Photo:<\/a>
Photo: gravestone of Anna Creighton Fox, Sanborn Cemetery, Meredith, Belknap County, New Hampshire. Source: Find A Grave.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Genealogy Tip:<\/em><\/strong> Search GenealogyBank\u2019s Historical Newspaper Archives<\/a> using your ancestor\u2019s occupation as a keyword to find more insights into their lives and the times in which they lived.<\/p>\n

Related Article:<\/strong><\/p>\n