Michael Cox (abt. 1740 - abt. 1815)

Born about 1740 in Hamburg, Germany

Husband of Maria Elizabeth (Dessloch) Cox — married about 1759 in Luzerne, Pennsylvania

Descendants

Died about 24 Jan 1815 at about age 75 in Fayette, Pennsylvania, United States

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Biography

Michael was born about 1740. He passed away about 1815.

Michael Senior was a real character. Below is the full story, taken from the Fayette County History, by Boyd Crumrine.

Early settlements were made along Cox Run, near Dunlap’s Creek. Among them a conspicuous figure was Michael Cox, who was famous as a great Indian-fighter and an ex-Revolutionary soldier.

The Coxes were at one time quite numerous in Luzerne, but now may be looked for in vain. A story about Michael Cox and a hog stands as a laughable episode in the old man’s experience. He had been so much troubled by the animal’s depredations that he arose one day in his might and swore he would jerk the hog to an unmentionable place, meaning to throw him over a high bluff into a depth known locally as "hell." Accordingly Cox caught the hog by the tail, and dragging him toward the precipice put his available strength into a last pull that was to land the porker in perdition. Unluckily, Cox pulled with such vigor that he fell on the tail, descended into the place where he had hoped to send the beast. It was a terrible fall and well-nigh killed Cox, who lying where he fell and groaning out his misery attracted a lad named John Covert to the scene, and the boy running for assistance Cox was got home and to bed. His injuries were serious indeed, but he recovered after a long confinement. John Covert, the boy above named, died in Luzerne in 1881 at the age of ninety-three.

Cox had a large family and to each of his sons gave a farm. One of these sons was a captain in the militia, and what was singular for a militia captain, invariably appeared upon parade in his bare feet. One day at parade he got a thorn into one of his feet, and halting to repair damages, yelled to his men, "Go ahead, boys and march to yon mullien stalk, while I pull this blasted thorn out of my foot."

As an evidence of the kindly and self denying humanity that characterized some of Luzerne’s early settlers stands the story of the man who coming into the township from Hagerstown to find employment, accidentally broke his leg only a little while after he came in. He was poor and unable to pay for such service as his case required, but eight of the inhabitants of old Luzerne improvised a hammock, laid the wounded man thereon, and shouldering the burden marched through the woods and over hills until they reached Hagerstown, and there delivered their charge into the hands of a surgeon, whom they bade attend him at their expense. Five of these men were Thomas Davidson, John Conwell, Michael Cox, Eli Virgin, and William Roberts.

In September, 1794, Jehu Conwell, Charles Porter Junior, Robert Baird, Michael Cox, Thomas Gregg, and William Oliphant laid a road thirty-three feet wide from Kensey Virgin’s ferry towards Brownsville, a distance of six miles and seventy-eight perches, intersecting a road leading to Brownsville.

Sources

• http://www.coxcharacters.com/part2A.html

Michael and Elizabeth Cox and Their Ten Children Michael Cocks (Michael Cox, Sr.) born before 1740, possibly in Hamburg, Germany died: 24 Jan 1815 in Fayette County, Pennsylvania

married: Elizabeth (Desloch ?) birth date and place unknown died 20 July 1810 in Fayette County, Pennsylvania

Both Michael and Elizabeth were probably buried on what later became the C. H. Swan Farm, covering part of the "Fruit Hill" homestead.

Ten Children Michael Cox, Jr. born: 27 Aug 1759, birth place unknown, died 11 Jan 1832, Ohio County, Virginia (now West Virginia) married: Jeruthea Brooks (possibly the second wife; his first wife may have been a certain Rachel Morehead, this remains to be proven, however). Jeuthea Brooks was born in 1773 in New Jersey and died on 20-28 Oct 1863, Ohio County, Virginia (now West Virginia). Both Michael and Jeruthea were buried in the small Cemetery, on the Cox farm just outside West Liberty, West Virginia. Jacob Cox born: circa 1760, died: 5 Oct. 1822, Darke County, Ohio married: Eve Wise, Hardy County, Virginia; she died: 3 Sept. 1846, Darke County, Ohio; both were buried in Hillar Cemetery. Peter Cox born: circa 1765, died: 1841 Wayne County, Ohio married: Magdalin (unknown surname, was perhaps born Jane Roberts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Rosanna Cox born: circa 1767; died: before 1814 married: Eber Homan, born 4 Sept 1764, Long Island NY. Eber Homan reportedly remarried twice after Rosanna died, and had a total of twenty-four children (eight by each wife). Rosanna may not have been his first wife. Records on Eber Homan are confusing (possibly due to conflation of Sr. and Jr.), but it is certain that he received a pension for his service in the Revolutionary War (S-4405). For further details, click *here for the Homan page*, or contact Mary Ann Bowry or Jill Carter (see Appendix 4 for addresses.) Eve Ann Cox born: circa 1767, died: circa 1850 married: Jacob Deem (Diehm), born: 9 April 1764, Frederick Co., Maryland; died: circa 1864, Woods County, West Virginia. Elizabeth Cox born: circa 1769, died: ? married: (first name unknown, possibly Jonathan) Langly Margaret Cox born: circa 1772, died: ? married: (first name unknown, possibly Samuel or Peter) Fry [Note: A certain "Colonel Fry" was killed when he struck a tree brank while reiding a horse. He was buried on the site south of Uniontown.]

Martin Cox born: circa 1774, died: 15 April 1842, Sandusky Township, Crawford Co. Ohio married: Rebecca Hull, born: circa 1778, circa Washington Co. Pennsylvania, died: circa 1858 Christine Cox born: 10 Jun 1776, died: 11 Jun 1858 De Kalb County, Indiana married: Henry Hull, born: 19 Nov 1775, Pennsylvania, died: 20 Jan 1861, De Kalb County, Indiana Joseph Cox born: 1781, died: before 7 May 1816 (age 35) Served in the War of 1812 married: Mary Margaret Doney (daughter of Isaac Doney) circa 1805

Year: 1790; Census Place: German, Fayette, Pennsylvania; Roll: ; Image: Residence date: 1790 Residence place: German, Fayette, Pennsylvania, United States

Year: 1800; Census Place: German, Fayette, Pennsylvania; Roll: ; Page: ; Image: . Residence date: 1800 Residence place: German, Fayette, Pennsylvania http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1800usfedcenancestry&h=410745&ti=0&indiv=try&gss=pt

Millennium File

U.S. Naturalization Records Indexes, 1794-1995 National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington, D.C.; Indexes and Registers of Declarations of Intention and Petitions for Naturalization of the U.S. District and Circuit Courts for the Western District of Pennsylvania, 1820-1906; Microfil

Fayette County History, by Boyd Crumrine.