Florence Mary Bird

Date of Birth: 26 August 1874

Place of Residence: Launceston Tasmania Australia

Spouse Name: Oscar Clarence Cox

Children's Names: 1. Hedley West; 2. Oscar Arthur, Alma Helen, Ida Elizabeth & Harold William

Notes:

Florence Mary Bird was born on 26 Aug 1874, a daughter of Albert Edward Bird (1846-1908), known as ‘Bird the runner’ for his long distance racing exploits, and his wife Alice Walmsley (1855-1883). Soon after Florence was born her father was jailed for a period of six months for conspiring to defraud. Her mother died when Florence was 9 years old and three months later her baby brother Alexander died. She also had two sisters, Sarah and Lillian, and a brother William. At the age of 19 Florence had a son Hedley West Bird, born on 29 Jul 1893. The father was probably Hedley Charles West who was born on 21 Feb 1872.

When Florence was 21 she married 23-year-old Oscar Clarence Cox on 6 Oct 1895 in Launceston. Their eldest child Oscar was born at Lilydale in Jan 1896. Their daughter Alma was born in May 1897 at Evandale. In 1900 Florence and Oscar and their children migrated to New Zealand. Florence died aged 26 on 9 May 1901 in Wellington, shortly after giving birth to her fifth child, Harold. Her future husband Oscar and younger brother William are also pictured in the Family Album. See The Examiner 1 Jul 2006, p.33.

Contributors: John Bird Nov 2005 & Marion Sargent Feb 2006