The famous Doxford name finds its roots at Cox Green, a small riverside community between Washington and Penshaw. We know he was first a timber merchant probably operating from the south side of the river on the eastern edge. It was a site named "Nichol's Sands", presumably named after a local fellow who lived nearby. This trade naturally lends to shipbuilding given his abundance of material, and his first vessel was produced in 1839. This was the Betsey & James, a snow for a partnership of Newcastle merchants. An assortment of cargo ships were produced over the next few years until 1841.

It appears the shipbuilding slump of the 1840s led to a ceasing of production. William Doxford was rendered bankrupt in 1841 when he was living at Monkwearmouth Shore, rendering this site likely closed. No other mention of Cox Green can be found and the 1843 tithe apportionments of the whole area do not even mention a shipyard nevermind Doxford. Therefore, we can presume the slump effectively killed off shipbuilding in Cox Green and was restarted in the late 1840s or 50s. By then Doxford was off in Sunderland and his family kickstarted vessel construction closer to the town, becoming the behemoth of Wearside industry we're more familiar with.