Introduction

The aim of the research was to discover whether Deric Cox’s ancestors may have worked for the East India Company during the time of the Salt Hedge and, if so, what their roles were. The scope of the research covered the years between 1840 and 1880, focusing on those men of working age.

Whilst it is not known what took the ancestors of Deric Dennis Cox (1950-20111 ) to India in the first place, his family can be traced there back to the first part of the 19th century, with the earliest record found within the scope of the research being the marriage of his 3x great-grandparents, Joseph d’Silva to Elizabeth Gomes, in 1821.

Using the British India Office parish records and General Register Office records, Deric Dennis Cox’s ancestors and their known siblings are shown in the pedigree charts illustrated below. The vital records for India generally give the ages at marriage and, as the burial records often give the age at death in years, months and days, the exact date of birth can be determined. These records have been the main source to determine the occupations of the family men (listed in date order) during the time of the Great Hedge, and only the changes in their careers are indicated within the narrative. Interestingly, none seem to appear in the East India Register & Army List 1855, the Indian Army & Civil Service List 1873, nor the British India Office Index of Civil Engineers.