Owner II: Colonel Hewson Cox: family-owned for 50 Years.
Cox Family (1851-1902)
Hewson Cox was a Colonel in the Mexican-American War and served as the interpreter for General Winfield Scott. Hewson Cox, the son of William Sitgreaves Cox(1790–1874, see pics), was an American sailor who served in the Caribbean, the Florida coast, and throughout the waters off Canada and New England, patrolling and engaging hostile British expeditions. During the War of 1812, he was acting lieutenant aboard the USS Chesapeake at the time of its capture by HMS Shannon. In the battle where the phrase “don’t give up the ship” was coined, Cox was subsequently court-martialed for his actions during that engagement and discharged from the Navy. After advocacy from his descendants, his rank was restored by President Harry S Truman.
Col. Cox returned from the Mexican-American War and purchased the 334 acres, along with various barns and structures, from the heirs of John Jacobs in 1851. He and his wife constructed their home in 1852, based on the contemporary horticulturist/architect Andrew Jackson Downing’s recent publication “American Country Villas”, published in 1850.
He and his wife died in 1859. They had two children that were born there, Walter (see pics2) and Richard, who were raised in Philadelphia after their parents’ death in 1859 and became prominent businessmen. (The property was nearly lost in sheriff sale in 1860.(“See picture of mosaic that was installed in second story stairwell the mansion in honor of his father “Vi Di Mar”, a gold leaf, lapis portrait of the sea voyager)
As seen on west Whiteland and Pennsylvania Railroad maps dated 1867 and 1899 Walter (see profile reference). Walter is listed as the owner (see map).
The property was sold after Richard Cox died in 1899, final sale 1902 to Clarence Sears Kates II (cancelled checks covering settlement and title fees were found by us in the proverbial cigar box in the attic 1998 during our renovation are in our possession, see pics).
It was listed on the National Historic Registry 1984 as “The Hewson Cox House”.
