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Elsie May COX [Muller/Molineux] (1893 – 1987)

By Paul Ricketts

Elsie May Cox was hidden away from our family history for decades, so when we discovered that she was Arthur Muller’s first wife, we began research a story that took years to uncover. It may be a sign of the times that during the 1920’s most of the family must have known something but managed to keep it under wraps for the following generations.

Else May Cox’s Birth

Elsie May Cox was born in Saffron Walden, Essex, England, most likely on 14th May 1893 to George Robert Cox and Susan Annie Bletstow1–2

While there are several records that suggest different birth years, ranging from 1895-18993-7, taking into account Elsie’s various deceits, the 1893 year is the most reliable because the evidence comes from other reporters. Absent a birth certificate, the 1901 England Census of 19011 and the England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-19152 were recorded closest to the birth, and created by other reporters.

The birthday is likely correct. While Elsie lied about her age, she offered the date 14th May for the 1939 England & Wales Register3. That date is then repeated in the England & Wales, Death Index, 1916-20074. The May date is then loosely corroborated by the England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index which puts Elsie’s birth in Q2 (Apr-May-Jun)2 . All of which suggests that Elsie was born on 14th May.

Elsie and the 1901 Census

In 1901 Elsie, now aged 8 years old, along with the rest of the Cox family were living at 11 Alpha Place, Saffron Walden, Essex, England. Here we find her living with her parents George and Susan, and her elder siblings Alfred and Beatrice1. Given that we find can find Elsie’s parents and siblings living in the same house in the 1891 England Census, it’s reasonable to assume that Elsie Cox has been living here since her birth in 189316.

Mother’s Death

Aged 13 in 1906, Elsie’s mother, Susan Cox, dies at home, and is buried in Saffron Walden Cemetery.

Elsie Cox Meets Arthur Muller

Prior to May 1919, Elsie meets Arthur Albert Muller, but we don’t know how or where. Our assumption is that Arthur met Elsie while convalescing at the Walden Place Red Cross Hospital in Saffron Walden. Having contracted influenza while fighting in World War I, he had been transferred through a number of field hospitals and arrived back in England in early 1919. We have a photo of Arthur with other patients but there is nothing in the background to help us identify whether this was taken in Saffron Walden or not.

Elsie’s First Marriage

On 3rd May 1919 Elsie May Cox marries Arthur Albert Muller at the church of St. Mary Magdalene, in the village of Sheet, Hampshire, England5-6,9–11,13.

According to the marriage certificate, Arthur is 19 and a private in the Somerset Light Infantry. Elsie claims she is 20 years old, but is most likely 26. She also tells the recorder that her father’s middle name is Donald, although in reality it is Robert11 . Elsie and Arthur are recorded as residing at Arthur’s fathers home – Mill Cottages in the town of Sheet. The marriage is witnessed by Arthur’s brother John Louis Muller and E.F.M. Kingshott 11

After their marriage, Elsie and Arthur return to Elsie’s father’s home at 11 Alpha Place, Saffron Walden, Essex, England. Arthur stays here until December 1919 when, after re-enlisting in the Somerset Light Infantry, he leaves for Egypt11. Sometime after Arthur leaves to join his regiment, Elsie moves to Kensington in London, England.

Elsie Muller Moves to Kensington and Marries Dennis Molineux

In Oct 1920 Elsie meets Dennis Molineux9. Despite still being married to Arthur, she then marries Dennis Molineux on 23rd Apr 1921, in a registry office in Kensington South, Middlesex, England3,6–7,9,14–15.

According to their marriage certificate7, Dennis Herbert Molineux is an ‘Engineer G.P.O [General Post Office]’, aged 21 and is residing at ‘11 Rock Villa, Tunbridge Wells’. His father is William Amos Molineux, who is a house painter. Dennis’ sister Edith Molineux is a witness, as is a George Lane. Elsie claims to be a spinster, despite using her married name, and 22 years old, despite being 28. She gives her fathers name as ‘Donald Muller (deceased)’ although George Robert Molineux was still living in Saffron Walden, and wouldn’t die until 1949. Elsie’s residence is given as 3 South Row, Westbourne Park, [Kensington, Middlesex].

According to later records9, Elsie was pregnant when they married. She had also had two illegitimate sons by an unidentified man. During their relationship Dennis had asked Elsie several times whether she was already married before theirs, but she denied it. Finally, around the time of the birth of their son Raymond, in July 1921, after receiving ‘certain information’, Dennis confronted Elsie again, at this point she confessed9. However, Dennis never communicated with the police.

Elsie Muller’s Arrest and Trial

Elsie Muller was arrested by Detective-Sergeant Hinton in Calverly Street, Saffron Walden, on 11th November 1922. After informing her he had a warrant for her arrest, he read her her rights, to which she replied “Quite right”9. She was then committed from Tunbridge wells to Maidstone, Kent, England5,9. On 11 December 1922 Elsie was bailed at court for bigmy5,10.

Elsie’s trial was held on 17th Feb 1923 in Maidstone, Kent, England5. Justice Darling sentenced her to 2 days detention, which with time already severed, meant she was able to free to leave.

Who is Doris Cox

As soon as Arthur Muller returned to Taunton, he sent a post card to a Doris Cox in Croydon. We know that both Arthur and Dennis Molineux had been tipped off about Elsie’s bigamy, we’re curious wether Doris Cox is a relation of Elsie, and if she was the one who let Arthur and Dennis know. 

Elsie’s Family in World War II

It seems that after this tumultuous period, the now Elsie Molineux settled down. We find Elsie and Dennis in the 1939 England & Wales Register, living at 33 Stephen’s Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England3. Her occupation is shown as unpaid domestic duties, and he is still working for the General Post Office as a telecoms engineer3.

Their son Raymond Molineux joined the 97th (The Kent Yeomanry) Field Regiment for the Royal Artillery, dying during the Battle of El Alamein in on 1st July, 1942.

Elsie’s Death

Elsie May Cox died at the age of 94, on 9th July 1987 at 12 Birkdale, 158 Upper Grosvenor Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent4. She was cremated on 17th July 198712.

Sources:

  1. Ancestry.com, “1901 England Census.,”, database, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 25 January 2023), entry for Elsie May Cox (age 7) Saffron Walden, Essex, citing The National Archives Class: RG13, Piece: 1735, Folio: 86, and Page: 48 “11 Alpha Place”. 2015.
  2. Ancestry.com, “England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915,” Database, , Ancestry.com (https://Ancestry.com : accessed 31 January 2023), entry for birth of Elsie May Cox; citing Saffron Walden, Essex, England, Q2, 1841, Vol.4: 705
  3. Ancestry.com, “1939 England & Wales Register,”, database, Ancestry.com (https://Ancestry.com : accessed 5 February 2023), entry for Elsie May Molineux [Muller/Cox] (age 44) Tunbridge Wells, Kent, citing Ancestry.com Class: Kent, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Diqb, Schedule: 332, Sub Schedule: 2, Line Number 31, and “33 Stephen’s Road”.
  4. Ancestry.com, “England & Wales, Death Index, 1916-2007,” Database, , Ancestry.com (https://Ancestry.com : accessed 5 February 2023), entry for marriage of Elsie May Molineux [Muller/Cox] in July 1987; Registered July, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, 1987, Vol. 16: P. 1852
  5. Ancestry.com, “UK, Calendar of Prisoners, 1868-1929,” Database, , Ancestry.com (https://Ancestry.com : accessed 5 February 2023), entry for Elsie May Muller [Cox/Molinuex] (aged 25); The National Archives; Kew, London, England; HO 140 Home Office: Calendar of Prisoners; Reference: HO 140/377
  6. England Kent & Sussex Courier (1873-1998), “Kent Assizes, Tunbridge Wells Bigamy,” Kent & Sussex Courier (1873-1998), Sussex & Kent, UK, 23 February 1923, p.4, col.5; Elsie May Muller [Cox] bigamy trial; Online Images, https://www.britishnewspaperarchives.com (https://www.britishnewspaperarchives.com : Online 28 January 2023).
  7. England, Marriage Certificate, Elsie May Muller and Dennis Herbert Molineux, married 23 April 1921, Registry Office, Kensington, London., 1921; General Registry Office, Southport.
  8. Ancestry.com, “1901 England Census.,” database entry for entry for Alice Muller [Kemp] (age 35) St Peter’s Parish, Liss, Hampshire, citing The National Archives Class: RG13, Piece: 1092, Folio: 72, and Page: 27 schedule 160 “Fernhurst Cottages”.
  9. England Kent & Sussex Courier (1873-1998), “Tunbridge Wells Borough Bench, Alleged Bigamy,” Kent & Sussex Courier (1873-1998), Sussex & Kent, UK, 15 December 1922, p.4, col.3; Elsie May Muller [Cox] bigamy trial; Online Images, https://www.britishnewspaperarchives.com (https://www.britishnewspaperarchives.com : Online 26 January 2023).
  10. Kentish Express and Ashford News (1898-1973), “One of the Best Wives, Alleged Bigamy at Tunbridge Wells,” Kentish Express and Ashford News (1898-1973), Kent, UK, 15 December 1922, p.10, col.6; Elsie May Muller [Cox] bigamy trial; Online Images, https://www.britishnewspaperarchives.com (https://www.britishnewspaperarchives.com : Online 28 January 2023).
  11. England, Marriage Certificate, Elsie May Cox and Arthur Albert Muller, married 3rd May 1919, Parish Church, Sheet, County of Southampton, 1919.
  12. Ancestry.com, “UK, Burial and Cremation Index, 1576-2014,” Database, , Ancestry.com (https://Ancestry.com : accessed 5 February 2023), Entry for Elsie May Molineux [Muller/Cox] (age 94), Tunbridge Wells, Kent; citing Deceased Online; United Kingdom; Deceased Online Burial Indexes; https://www.deceasedonline.com/
  13. Ancestry.com, “England & Wales, Marriage Index, 1916-2005,” Database, , Ancestry.com (https://Ancestry.com : accessed ), Database entry for marriage of Elsie May Cox & Arthur Albert Muller on 3rd May 1919; Registered Apr-May-Jun, Petersfield, Hampshire, 1919, Vol. 2c: P. 491
  14. Ancestry.com, “England & Wales, Marriage Index, 1916-2005,” Database, , Ancestry.com (https://Ancestry.com : accessed 1 February 2023), Database entry for marriage of Elsie May Muller & Dennis Herbert Molineux; Registered Apr-May-Jun, Kensington, London, 1921, Vol. 1a: P. 400
  15. Ancestry.com, “1939 England & Wales Register,” database entry for Dennis Herbert Molineux (age 39) Tunbridge Wells, Kent, citing Ancestry.com Class: Kent, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Diqb, Schedule: 332, Sub Schedule: 2, Line Number 30, and “33 Stephen’s Road”.
  16. Ancestry.com, “1891 England Census.,”, database, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com : online, 22 February 2023), entry 277 for Geo Rbt Cox (age 31) Saffron Walden, Essex, Citing The National Archives ED 9,
    Piece: 1433, and Folio: 44. 2015.
  17. England Kent & Sussex Courier (1873-1998), “Tunbridge Wells Borough Bench, Alleged Bigamy,” Kent & Sussex Courier (1873-1998), Sussex & Kent, UK, 15 December 1922, p.4, col.3; Elsie May Muller [Cox] bigamy trial; Online Images, https://www.britishnewspaperarchives.com (https://www.britishnewspaperarchives.com : Online 26 January 2023).

Further Research:

  1. Identify how and where Arthur Muller and Elsie Cox met
  2. Identify ‘Doris Cox’ and how shes fits this story
  3. Identify how Arthur found out about Elsie’s bigamy