Cox, Frances Jane (nee Blanchard) (1875-1900)

Transcription of Obituary In the Primitive Methodist Magazine by W.C. Ball

THE subject of this sketch exchanged mortality for life on Sunday, May 20th, 1900, at the early age of 25 years. Brief as her life was, it was full of service, and her name is associated with many fragrant memories in the minds of all who knew her. The greater part of her life was spent in Malton, where she was born, and where she was best known by her maiden name, Frances Blanchard. Her association with our people here commenced from her earliest days. Unlike many she could not point to any specific date in her history as the beginning of her religious experience. She seemed rather to belong to that class who know not the day nor the hour of their spiritual birth, but who are none the less confident that they have passed from death unto life. Those, too, who saw her most frequently felt that the quiet consecrated life was the all-sufficient evidence that she was in Christ Jesus. In connection with our Malton Church, she rendered valuable service for several years as a Sunday School teacher, and also as organist. In July, 1897, she became the wife of the Rev. William Cox, and removed with him to the Norwich Second Circuit. Here they spent two years, and would have remained longer, but her health began to fail, and her medical attendant advised a return to Yorkshire. Her removal with her husband to Middleham in July, 1899, was followed by a marked improvement in health, and hopes were entertained of a permanent recovery. But it soon became evident that this was out of the question. In January, 1900, she was compelled to take to her bed, and from that time she gradually sank. Everything that medical skill and loving care could do for her was done, but in vain, and after languishing in unspeakable weariness for four months, she quietly fell asleep on the Day of Rest. Her mortal remains were interred at Malton Cemetary on May 23rd, in the presence of a large company of sorrowing friends. Previous to the interment a service was held in our Malton Chapel, conducted by the circuit ministers, at which an address was given by Rev. S. Smith, formerly of Norwich. The Rev. W. Robinson, read the service at the grave. On Sunday evening, June 3rd, a Memorial Sermon Was preached in Malton Chapel by Rev. W. Robinson from the words, “Her sun is gone down while it was yet day.” The service was an impressive and memorable one. In Malton Mrs. Cox was greatly beloved, and both in Norwich and Middleham, although her failing health prevented her from taking a very active part in Church work, her unobtrusive yet genuine piety, and her kindly, courteous bearing won for her unwavering esteem. She did not live long, but she lived well, and we cannot but think that in her last hours she had little wasted time to regret. Our sorrow is mingled with joy, for death to her was no king of terrors, and those who mourn her departure most mourn not without hope, for they are well assured that she is “not lost, but gone before.”

Family

Frances was born in 1875 at Malton, Yorkshire, to parents William Lowson Blanchard, a butcher, and Frances.

She married William Dalton Cox (1870-1957) in the summer of 1897 at Malton, Yorkshire.

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1902/235

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers

Comments about this page

  • John,

    Thank you for pointing out my typo. I have made the correction in the text.

    By Geoff Dickinson (25/02/2019)
  • There is a small error under family, her parents were William Lowson Blanchard, a butcher, and Frances Ann Blanchard (nee Anfield)

    By John Blanchard (24/02/2019)

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