Eldest child of John Duke Cox and Charlotte Agnes Cox (nee Payne)

Husband of Adelaide Andrews, father of 7 children aged 12 years to 3 years when he died.

A narrative of his life written by his descendent: "Hector joined his Uncle Sam Cox at Karioi in the late 1890’s where he looked after the shop and worked on the farm. His Uncle bred thoroughbred horses and Hector rode as a gentleman rider over jumps winning several trophies. The record shows they caught and broke in many wild horses the best being sent to the Boer War as reliable mounts. Hector went to the Boer war and on being discharged returned to Karioi to farm with his uncle.

Hector married Adelaide Louisa Andrews on the 23 February 1903 at All Saints Church, Palmerston North, returning to Karioi by pack horse train. During their time in Karioi the railway was in construction and when it eventually reached Karioi. Hectors wife was due to give birth to her 3rd child, when the Railway to celebrate, brought up their first carriage to transport her to Palmerston North for the birth, making quite an occasion of it. The eldest girl Dorothy managed to creep away unnoticed during the celebrations and fell into a dam at the back of the house. As all efforts to resuscitate her failed, a Maori walked up, lifted her up and held her upside down above a smoking fire, then compressed her chest to make her inhale. In a very short time she was brought around and was handed back to very grateful parents. A Maori cure never mentioned today.

They remained there till 1910 when after the devastation of a big fire they went to the South Island where he became Manager of Booth McDonalds, a Farm Machinery firm.

He wrote poems and an account "From NZ to Mafeking", about the war

Whilst in South Africa, Hector took a revolver from a Boer prisoner of war, and kept it carefully. The revolver was engraved with the name A.S. Arnold and the Cox's named their eldest child with this name. After the death of her husband, Mrs Cox made an effort to trace the owner of the revolver. The search was successful and the letter from A.S. Arnold was published in a newspaper. Arnold also gave the revolver to his "namesake".

At the age of 34 he was killed in a road accident at Washdyke, outside Timaru.

A large amount of money, 5000 pounds was collected by the Lodge for his widow and all the children, but the family did not benefit from it at all. Years later it was discovered that a trusted Lodge member had stolen all of the money.

Ada sold 8 Beverley Hill and the family moved to Hadlow and milked cows. Later she swapped the farm for 30 Grassmere Street. No money changed hands. She moved out to Albury and lived in the school house, then living with her daughter Zoe until her death.

Copies of a letter from Rupert who was killed in Borneo during the War and a letter written by Adelaide were held by Zoe unopened in a handbag belonging to Adelaide until 21st January 1992."

Father was named John Duke Cox. AWMM