OLD PLYMOUTH . UK
www.oldplymouth.uk
 

WHO WAS WHO IN OLD PLYMOUTH

GEORGE FOX (1796-1882)

While the famous Mr George Fox who founded the Religious Society of Friends came from Leicestershire, Plymouth's Mr George Fox, also a member of the Society, came from the small parish of Egloshayle, near Wadebridge, in Cornwall, where there was a small Quaker Meeting House.  He was born at Gorvena, within the parish, on June 23rd 1796 to Mr Edward Fox, merchant, and his wife Mary.

On August 4th 1819 he married Miss Rachel Collier Hingston at the Quaker Meeting House in Plymouth.  She was the daughter of Mr Joseph Hingston, a banker in the borough, and his wife Catherine.

A large family of children followed the marriage: Frederick Hingston Fox, born in Egloshayle, Wadebridge, Cornwall, on January 27th 1825; George Edward Fox, born at Egloshayle, Wadebridge, Cornwall, on July 27th 1826; Rachel Anna Fox, born in Plymouth on August 22nd 1830; Charlotte Elizabeth Fox, born in a large house known as "Vauxhall", (later "Foxhall"), Dodbrooke, Kingsbridge, Devon, on July 22nd 1832; Joseph Hingston Fox, born at Kingsbridge on May 6th 1835; Albert Fox, born at Kingsbridge on September 1st 1836; Richard Reynolds Fox, born at Kingsbridge in 1840; Francis William Fox, born at Kingsbridge in 1841; Mary Catherine Fox, born at Kingsbridge in 1843; and Charles Alfred Fox, born at Kingsbridge in 1848.  Given that all their children were educated at home, presumably by their mother as there was no live-in governess, she must have been a pretty intelligent lady.

Mr Fox at first entered into a partnership as bankers with his wife's younger brother, Mr Alfred Hingston.  After their bank was merged into the Devon and Cornwall Banking Company Limited, with its headquarters in Bedford Street, Plymouth, Mr Fox became the manager of the branch in Kingsbridge.  For a time Mr Fox was a partner of Mr John Bayly the timber merchant but when the South Devon Railway Company reached Plymouth and was extended into the Plymouth Great Western Docks he severed his links with Mr Bayly and went into partnership with a Plymouth town councillor by the name of Mr Samuel Eliott doing exactly the same thing, importing timber.  The company was Messrs Fox, Eliott and Company.  When the London and South Western Railway Company opened their branch line from Devonport Station to Stonehouse Pool, they opened a timber yard at Richmond Walk.

Although in an obituary of Mr Fox he was credited with the opening of a convalescent home at Crownhill it was in fact his wife, Mrs Rachel Collier Fox, who promoted the idea: he, being a dutiful and loving husband, not to mention a banker, just handed her the money to pay for it.

Mr George Fox, who is thought to have retired from business life in 1878, died on Friday February 3rd 1882.  He was buried in the Plymouth, Stonehouse and Devonport Cemetery on Wednesday February 8th 1882.  Mr Eliott then left the business and reputedly set up again in Southampton, Hampshire.  Messrs Fox, Eliott and Company was continued by George Fox's eldest, Mr George Edward Fox (1826-1912) and made into a limited liability company in 1891.

Mrs Rachel Collier Fox died at number 2 Anglesey Villas, Ford Park, Plymouth, on May 22nd 1885.  She was also buried in the Plymouth, Stonehouse and Devonport Cemetery.

Following her death, their children maintained the convalescent home at Crownhill until 1890 when the Government bought the land for the construction of the military barracks.