Sub-fonds MS 6/4 - Thomas Hunter Cox papers

Identity area

Reference code

MS 6/4

Title

Thomas Hunter Cox papers

Date(s)

  • 1842-1923 (Creation)

Level of description

Sub-fonds

Extent and medium

1 folder

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Thomas Hunter Cox of Maulesden and Duncarse, Deputy-Lieutenant and Justice of the Peace for the County of Forfar, was born in 1818. He was the sixth son of James Cock (later Cox) of Foggyley and Helen Scott. After attending school in Lochee, Thomas finished his education at the Dundee Academy. He then entered the office of Mr James Buist, flax merchant, where he received a good commercial training. In 1841 he joined the firm of Cox Brothers, which within a short time became the largest manufacturers of jute goods in Europe. Thomas was well suited to the management of the office including the financial affairs of the firm. He was methodical, punctual and took care in his work and he had a mild and kindly manner. He was a staunch Conservative and a member of the Established Church. He was an elder in the East Kirk, and was a zealous but liberal Churchman. His beneficence extended to many churches in different parts of the country. St Luke's, that had been vacated by the United Presbyterians, stood empty for several years until it was secured by Mr Cox, and went on to become the centre of a flourishing congregation of the Church of Scotland. Thomas H Cox also contributed regularly to this church and to the Lochee Parish Church. Throughout his life he took a great interest in the Lochee area and in schemes concerning the welfare of the community, giving financial support to the Lochee Literary Association, Lochee Christian Association, the Bog and other Missions He was a supporter of the movement in favour of a Medical School for Dundee an in 1886 he donated £12,000 to the Council of University College to establish and endow a Chair of Anatomy. Thomas H Cox was appointed to the Boards of many financial companies. He was also a Director of the Northern Assurance Company, of the Laing Overhead Sewing Machine Company, and of the three Scottish American Trust Companies. In 1873 he had became one of the original shareholders in the First Scottish American Trust, along with Messrs John Guild, John Sharp and Thomas Smith. Also in 1873, the Oregon and Washington Trust Investment Company was founded, and Thomas H Cox became a director. Three years later the Dundee Mortgage and Trust Investment Company was established under the same directors. The two companies were later amalgamated to form the Alliance Trust Company, and Thomas H Cox served as Chaiman of this company for the year prior to his retirement in 1885. Thus, he took a leading role in establishing two extremely profitable local investment companies. However, he also suffered the misfortune, along with some of his colleagues, of being associated in a smaller undertaking, the Oregonian Railway Company, which proved disastrous to its shareholders. In 1866 Thomas married Adelaide Campbell, daughter of James Galloway, and widow of William Brown, flax-spinner. They did not have children. He purchased the suburban residence of Duncarse from George Armistead and in c 1870 he purchased the estate of Maulesden, near Brechin from the representatives of Colonel Lauderdale Maule. Thomas H Cox died at Duncarse on 1 January 1892, about two years after the death of his wife.

Archival history

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Legal papers 1891-1923; Financial papers 1842-1843; Correspondence 1842-1843.

Accruals

Not expected

System of arrangement

Usually chronological within series.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Open for consultation subject to preservation requirements. Access must also conform to the restrictions of the Data Protection Act (2018), General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR, 2018) and any other relevant legislation or restrictions. Clinical information is closed for 100 years.

Conditions governing reproduction

Reproduction is available subject to preservation requirements. Charges may be made for this service, and copyright and other restrictions may apply; please check with the Duty Archivist.

Language of material

Script of material

Language and script notes

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

The records are on paper.

Finding aids

Descriptive list.

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

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Related descriptions

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

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Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

MS 6/4

Rules and/or conventions used

Description compiled in line with the following standards: International Council on Archives, ISAD(G) General International Standard Archival Description; International Council on Archives, ISAAR(CPF): International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons, and Families; National Council on Archives, Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997

Status

Catalogued

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

Sources

Accession area

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