Saturday, 31 October 2015

Walter "Watty" Cox. Dublin

Walter "Watty" Cox

Gunmaker/Journalist/Dramatist.

United Irishman?

                                                                      Bedford Row

                                                                         Dublin

                                                                     1793 -1797


                                               (This blog is written as a correction)

In the long and distant past I wrote an article regarding this gunmaker and in error 
referred to him as being William "Watty" Cox of Waterford. William Cox of Waterford 
did trade as a gunmaker and we will revisit him in a later blog.

Following further research and a plethora of new information now available
online regarding Walter "Watty" Cox.  I am now pleased to rectify this error and offer my apologies.

                              Advertisement placed announcing the termination of the
                "Firm" or "Partnership" between Charles Meredith and Walter Cox,
                                         Gunmakers. Dated 25th September 1793.

It is now obvious why Charles Meredith distanced himself from his 
one time business associate,  as Walter "Watty"Cox was an outspoken 
United Irishman and Editor of the clandestine broadsheet the Union Star.

As can be seen by Walter Cox's trading dates he was banished from Ireland
just prior to the rebellion. His later history can be read in the links below.

A very interesting character and one who tested the patience of the British Government but was too useful to dispense with! Document: PRO HO/100/75/F189-190* a letter written on the 10th March 1798 by British agent, Cooke and sent to Mr Wickham at Dublin Castle,  just shows the level of treachery that Cox undertook. A very intelligent and calculating man who would be pardoned, pensioned-off and sent to foreign fields for sending many of his associates to the gallows.

Transcript of the letter below.

NB: This letter originally written in Cooke's hand was difficult to decipher and certain
words were illegible.

We would be pleased to hear from any fellow collectors who own Pistols/Guns produced by Walter "Watty" Cox and marked to Dublin. 



 Links: Re: Walter "Watty" Cox:


http://www.mocavo.co.uk/The-United-Irishmen-Their-Lives-and-Times-3/496664/473


* The Year of Liberty by Thomas Pakenham Hodder & Stoughton . 1969.

Our sincere thanks for the above links.

Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk





No comments:

Post a Comment