Thomas Cox (1761 - 1830)

Born 7 Jun 1761 in Baltimore County, Maryland

Ancestors

Son of John Cox Sr. and Elizabeth (Simpson) Cox

Descendants

Died 13 Dec 1830 at age 69 in Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee, USA

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Bob Matzoll, Jr. [send private message] and Charles Cox [send private message]

Biography

Thomas was born in 1761. He passed away in 1850.^[1]

Name: Thomas Cox. ^{[2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]} Born 07 JUN 1761. Baltimore, Maryland, USA. ^{[4] [7]} Died 13 DEC 1830. Nashville, Davidson, Tennessee, USA. ^{[2] [3] [4] [7]} Probate: 17 AUG 1830. Davidson, Tennessee, USA. ^{[2] [3]} Buried Johnson Chapel Cemetery, Brentwood, Tennessee. ^{[4] [11]} Residence MAY 1780. Davidson, North Carolina, USA. ^[10] 1805 Davidson, Tennessee, USA. ^[5] 1830 Davidson, Tennessee, USA. ^[8] Cumberland Compact 13 MAY 1780. Fort Nashborough. Note: #N00109.

Notes

1780 HISTORY: Sources "Clayton's Centennial History of Davidson Co. (1880) and Edythe Rucker Whitley, "Pioneers of Davidson Co." (Baltimore, MD: The Genealogical Publishing Co. Inc.). Early in the spring of 1779 preparations were made at Watauga to plant a permanent settlement on the Cumberland. The place selected was the bluff near the French Lick (now Nashville). An account of the voyage can be found in Clayton's"History of Davidson County", published in 1880; After arriving at the spot we know as Fort Nashborough it was necessary for these settlers to set up some kind of government. The results being "Articles of Agreement or Compact of Government". There were approximatly 233 signers of the Compact and THOMAS COX was one of the signers. This was May 1, 1780.

1783 MILITARY: Source "Roster of Solders from North Carolina in Amer. Revolution, (DAR); Thomas Cox, a private in 10th. Regt., N.C.Line. Thomas Cox granted 640 acres in 1783 for 7 years service in the Continental line.

1784-89 LAND GRANT: Tennessee, Davidson Co.; WPA Books; Register Book A. page-112: Thomas Cox No., Carolina...No. 81 ...Regs. Feby. 19th. 1788--To all to whom these Presents Shall come Greeting----- Know ye that we Pursuant to an Act of our General assembly intitled an Act for the Relief of the Officers and Soldiers in the Continental Line of this State for & in Consideration of the services of Thomas Cox, one of the Guard to the Commiss"rs. for laying off the lands for the said officers and soldiers have given and Granted and by these Presents do give and Grant unto the sd. Thomas Cox a Tract of Land containing Six Hundred and Forty acres lying & being in our County of Davidson. Beginning at two white Oaks and South West Corner to Samuel Willsons preemption of the main west forks of Stone River: Thence South Three hundred and twenty poles to Three Walnuts: Thence East: Three hundred and twenty poles Crossing the sd. River to a stake. Thence North Three hundred and Twenty poles--To sd. Willson's Corner: Thence West with the Boundary sd. Preemption Three hundred and Twenty poles to the Beginning: with all woods, waters, mines, minerals,hereditaments and appurtenances to sd. land Belonging or appertaining To hold to the sd. Thomas Cox, his heirs and assigns forever: &c.&c. Which Land was surveyed for the sd. Cox. March 12th. 1785 by B. Pollock D.S. and Benjamin Watkins and Jonath, Robertson Sworn C:C: Consequence of a Warrant No. 149 Located & Entered the 16th. of Jany. 1784 in the preemption office: As Appears by a Plat & Certificate annexed to the above. Grant: Signed by his Excellency Richd. Caswell, r. & c with Seal of the State affixed: Dated at Kinston Oct. 8th. 1787. Test Andrew Ewing D: R:

1784-89 LAND GRANT: Tennessee, Davidson Co.; WPA Books; Register Book A. Thomas Cox No Carolina No. 43 Regr. Feby. 19th. 1789. To all to whom these present shall come Greeting. Know ye that we Pursuant to an act of our Gen'l Assembly intitled an Act for the Relief of ye officers & soldiers in ye Contl. Line of this State for & in Consideration of ye service of Thomas Cox. One of ye Commissrs. Guard for laying off the Lands Allotted the sd. Officers & Soldiers have Give n & Granted: & by these Presents do give & Grant unto Thomas Cox : A Tract of Land Containing Three hundred & Twenty Acres being in our County of Davidson. Joining his Service Right of 40 acres on the upper Side. Beginning at Three Small Walnuts Corner to his 640 acres survey; Thence South One hundred & Sixty poles to Two Walnuts & a Mulberry; Thence East Three hundred & Twenty poles To a Large Ash and White Oak: Thence North One hundred & Sixty poles to the other Corner of his 640 acre survey. Thence West with ye Boundary of the same Three hundred & Twenty poles to the Begining---With all woods, waters , mines, minerals hereditaments & Appurtenances to the sd. Thomas Cox: his heirs & assigns forever: &c:&c:&c :-- Which Land was Surveyed for ye sd. Cox: March 9th. 1785 by B. Pollock, D.S.: And Jonath: Robertson & Benjn. Watkins, Sworn C:C: on Consequence of a Warranty No. 150, Located & Entered . Jany. 17th. 1784 in the Preemption Office as appears by ye Plat & Certificate annexed to ye above Recited Grant: signed by his Excellency Richd.Caswell: Esqr. &c. wi th Seal of ye State affixed Dated at Kinston , Oct. 8th. 1787. Test Andrew Ewing, D.R.

1787 MILITARY: Source "North Carolina Land Grants in Tennessee by Burgner as sourced by Byron Sistler, Nashville,Tn.(reseacher).

In 1787 Thomas Cox was granted 320 acres in Davidson Co. In the same year he was granted 640 acres on Stones River (south end of Davidson County. These grants were supposed to be for military service.

1788 MILITARY: Source "North Carolina Land Grants in Tennessee by Burgner as sourced by Byron Sistler, Nashville,Tn.(reseacher).

In 1788 Thomas Cox and Wm. Hankins were granted 500 acres on the Clinch River (E.Tn.) for military service.

In 1794 Thomas Cox was part of an armed band of settlers who retaliated against an Indian raid with a murderous attack.

1794 DEED: Tennessee, Davidson County, Nashville, Microfilmed Index ; Book C; Page 245. On 2-12-1794 Edward Cox of Sullivan County, Tennessee, appointed his brother Thomas Cox in Davidson County, Tennessee, as power of attorney for handling land transactions.

1797 DEED: Tennessee, Davidson County, Nashville, Microfilmed Index ; Book D; page 299. On 2-13-1797 Thomas McCrory sold 200 acres in Davidson County.

1801 DEED: Tennessee, Davidson Co.; Deeds E-313. On 11-23-1801 Thomas Cox sold John Gilliam and Isham Gilliam 640 acres on West Fork of Stones River.

1801 DEED: Tennessee, Davidson Co; Deeds F-126; On 11-13-1802 Thomas Cox sold 11 acres to Benjamin Smith.

1803 HISTORY: Petitions to the General Assemble of Tennessee; Abstracted from the Tennessee State Library & Archives Microfilm Legislative Petitions 1803, Roll No. 2. 3-1-1803 "Petitioners (of Sullivan County) state that since the last session, two Justices of the Peace in Capt. Abraham Looney's District have died, namely John SPURGIN, Esq. and John YANCEY, Esq. They ask that John JENNINGS be appointed to replace John YANCEY. Aigned by : 8 SEP 1803 There were about seventy signers of this petition, among them were: Thomas Cox William Cox John Cox (Do not who this John Cox was as John, Sr. and John, Jr. were dead in 1803) Greenberry Cox

1829 DEED: Tennessee, Davidson Co.; Deeds S-179; On 4-18-1829 Thomas Cox, Henry Knight and Lucinda (Cox) Knight (on another part of the document it appears the woman's name was Sinderella) sold land on north side of Big Harpeth River to John E. Carrington. (What was Lucinda's relationship to Thomas Cox?) DEED: Tennessee, Davidson Co.; S-766, this is a long involved document, extremely hard to read, which spells out the distribution of Thomas Cox's land after his death. George Melvin was one of the recipients , as was Benjamin.

1830 CENSUS: Tennessee, Davidson County, page 233. Cox, Thos. Males: 20-30 (2) 50-60 (1) Females: 20-30 (4) Slaves: Male 10-24 (1)

1830 DEATH: Tennessee, Davidson Co.; Taken from "Obituaries from Early Tn. Newspapers (Lucas)". Two death notices for Thomas Cox appear, one in the National Banner & Nashville Whig, another in the Nashville Republican & State Gazette. Both state he died in Davidson County on 12-13-1830, "in the 69th year of his age." No other information (Obits in those days were usually very brief.)

1830 OBIT: National Banner and Nashville Whig, Nashville, Davidson County, Tn. Monday, Dec. 20, 1830. Cox, Mr. Thomas. In the 69th. year of his age. Died in Davidson County on Monday the 13th. inst.

1830 OBIT: Nashville Republican and State Gazette, Nashville, Davidson County, Tn. Dec. 21, 1830. Cox, Mr. Thomas. Aged 69. Died in Davidson County on Monday 13th. inst.

1830 WILL: Davidson County, Tennessee, copy of written will from Probate Records, Tennessee State Library and Archives. Roll #429; Book #9; Page #483.

Thomas Cox deceased Will Recorded February 24, 1831 State of,Tennessee Davidson County, August the 17, 1830 In the name of God amen. I Thomas Cox being in my perfect mind and viewing the uncertainty of life and the certainty of death do make and ordain this my last will and testament revoking all others in the first place it is my will and desire that all my just debts should be paid and my burial expenses it is my will and desire that all my land except what is hereinafter named be equally divided between all my children agreeable to quality and quantity giving all as equal a division of the cleared land as possible that is to be divided as it is at this time by Jesse Cox. Enos Pipkin and Philip Wolf except the lot of land on the north side of the land where I now live the drawer of said lot has the liberty of removing the spinning house on said lot of land it is further my will and desire that the land that I bequeathed to my son BENJAMIN in case he should have no heir it should descend back to his brothers and sisters said Benjamin is to have and I give and bequeath one feather bed, bedstead and furniture. one cow and calf and one sow and pigs. I do further give and bequeath to my daughter ELIZABETH one horse the value of fifty dollars and that amount in other property and to have her saddle and bridle, one cow and calf , one sow and pigs, six dollars worth of cupboard furniture. Three hundred weight of pork, one bed, bedstead and bed furniture, one bureau . I having given to my daughter SALLY COMPTON to the amount that I have given to my daughter ELIZABETH . I do further give and bequeath unto my other three daughters that is to say, TEMPERANCE, MARGERY AND POLLY the same in every particulars that is given and bequeathed to ELIZABETH. I do give and it is my will that my daughter POLLY should have one large family teaboard. I do further give and bequeath to my son GEORGE MELVIN COX one saddle and bridle of the value of twenty dollars, one cow and calf, one sow and pigs, six dollars worth of cupboard furniture, three hundred weight of pork, bed, bedstead and furniture, one bureau worth fifteen dollars all the bureaus that are mentioned to of the same value. I bequeath no horse to my son GEORGE MELVIN he having received his horse and fifteen dollars in money. I do further give to my son MARCUS one horse the value of fifty dollars and the same things in quantity and quality as given to GEORGE MELVIN. I do further give and bequeath to my son WASHINGTON fifty dollars in place of a horse . He is have the same kind of property allotted to him that my other two sons have except for the horse as before mentioned, it is my will and desire that my negro boy, NELSON my stills and waggon farming tools of every kind and all my stock of every kind not bequeathed always should be sold and the proceeds after paying my debts and legacies and all expenses as well as putting gravestones over the grave of my wife and also of my own grave with our names and ages and that it is my will the balance of the money be equally divided between my children, it is my will that when my son WASHINGTON arrives at the age of twenty years that my town lot in Pulaski and the lot of land where I live should be sold on a credit of twelve months and the rights made when the money is paid. all the beds not bequeathed is to be divided between my daughters. The balance of my household and kitchen furniture is to be sold and the money equally divided between my children all the grain raised on the lot where I live is to be sold for the support of the family after the hogs is fattened until said lot is sold. What soap and leather is on hand I wish to be divide between the children without selling of it. I also give and bequeath to my grandson, MARYLAND, one feather bed, bedstead and furniture which he has in possession also one lot of land on the east side of the road laid off by Enos Pipkin , Jesse COX and Philip Wolf where the shed shop stands, if said MARYLAND should die without an heir , said lot of land to descend back to my children. Lastly it is my will that my son GEORGE MELVIN and my son-in-law HENRY COMPTON act as my executors to this my last will and testament as witness my hand and seal the date and year above written atest. L Dunnevant. .Thomas McCrory. THOMAS COX. {seal}

State of Tennessee, Davidson County January Session 1831. A paper writing purporting to be the last will and testament of THOMAS COX decd was produced in open court for probate and recorded thus Leonard Dunnevant and Thomas McCrory the submitting witnesses to said paper being duly sworn deposed and say that they became such in the presence of the said Thomas decd and at his request and in presence of each other and that they believe he was of sound mind and memory at the time of executing said paper. ordered that the said paper be admitted to record. Whereupon Henry Compton one of the executors named in court here gave bond in the amount of twenty five hundred dollars with Marcus Cox and Melvin G Cox his securities for his faithful discharge of the trust reposed in him. Ordered that he have letters Testamentary granted him —— Ewing clerk of said court

1830 BURIAL: Tennessee, Davidson County, Brentwood (outskirts of Nashville, now Williamson County); Johnson Chapel Church cemetery grounds. Source from the book "Tombstone Inscriptions and Manuscripts" Compiled by Jeannette Tillotson Acklen. OLD CEMETERY ON PROPERTY OF DR. W.A. BRYAN On the property of Dr. W.A. Bryan is an old cemetery in very bad condition. The vault has fallen in and the once fine rock wall is partially destroyed. Marble tombstones are down and badly defaced. There are many interesting epitaphs there. Thos. Cox, born in Baltimore County, Md, June 1761-Dec. 15, 1830. Rebecca Cox, born in Burks County, Pa. Aug 24, 1770-Sept 8, 1827 J. Cox, 1800 T. Cox, 1806 Wm. Bumpass, Jr., son of Wm. and Elizabeth Bumpass, Mar. 31, 1815-Aug. 23, 1835. Melvin G. Cox, son of E.A. Cox, Aug. 17, 1840-Dec. 4 , 1840 These files were contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Ed Cox Ecoxjr@@aol.com

COX-L Archives From: Bushy Hartman <mihartman@@InfoAve.Net> Subject: [COX] WATAUGA Date: Mon, 17 Jan 2000 09:28:29 -0500 THE WATAUGA SETTLEMENT - THE MOST REMARKABLE FREE GOVERNMENT EVER INSTITUTED BY WHITE MEN, AFTER CIVILIZATION?? In early American History it was generally the "Indian Tredars" who were the first to penetrate the Indian Country. JULIUS DUGGER and AND?? GREER have been ??arded the honor of being the first white men to settle in the WATAUGA COUNTRY. They are said to have come there about the year 1766, and built cabins. GREER'S home is said to have been about three miles above the present town of ELIZABETHTON, and DUGGER'S not far from what was long called "Dugger's Bridge". COL. JAKES ROBERTSON came across the mountains about 1770, from NORTH CAROLINA; VALENTINE SEVIER, SR.from up in the Valley of Virginia about the same time, and COL. JOHN CARTER in 1770-71. These men were followed in a very short time by other settlers who found their way down into this then unknown country: Simon Bundy, Matthe?? Talbot, Baptist McNabb, Charles Robertson, Michael Hyder, James Edens, Thomas Courley, William Boyd, Joseph Hyder, Col. John Tipton and Samuel Tipton and other sons, including Isaac and Thomas; Edm??nd Williams, Jonathan and David Pugh, Isaac, Andrew, Abner and Nethaniel Taylor, Peter, John and Henry N??ve and John S. Thomas, and of course, others. Those we have mentioned represented the advance guard of that remarkable tribe of adventurous pioneers who, voluntarily, plunged into an unknown American wilderness, set up homes and established the most remarkable government theretofore known to white people of the civilzed world ??the FREE SETTLEMENT of "??ATAUCA". THE WATAUGA SETTLEMENT IN FACT WAS AN INDEPENDENT STATE. It was Lord Du??more, who has been quoted as saying in a letter to his superiors in 1774, after being advised of what had taken place on the Watauga, that the people there, had, "to all intents and purposes erected themselves into, though an inconsiderable, yet a separets STATE." This was the status openly ??ssumed by these adventurous but determined pioneers, when in the early part of 1772, they formed what they called an "Associstion", dr??w up Articles relating to their own government & established rules and regulations designed to make their own self-government a fact and not a theory, appointing officers and courts and constabulary necessary for that purpose. This action in fact brought into full force and ??ffect the first written constitution ever adopted by a community of American-born Free??. The organization of this "separate State"on the Watauga, was born of necessity, since they found themselves beyond the reach and protection of any other Government or State, or its administrative powers. PIONEERS WHO DID NOT OWE ALLEGIANCE TO ANY GOVERNMENT To what State or what Government did these pioneers owe allegiance? They did not know. In fact opinion was divided as to what State, if any, had jurisdiction over the territory on the Watauga. No lines had been drawn and no surveys made. Even the Governor of VIRGINIA did not know, and erroneously issued grants and patents to lands a few miles away. North Carolina made "claims" but they were not backed by the surveyor's instruments. Nor was any interest taken in those rugged souls who had crossed the mountains & disappeared out of the Old North State. No protection was offered such citizens that had been, even as the Indian's tonihawks took the lives of women and children. If the Watauga residents needed protection they had to furnish it themselves, while Virginia, North Carolina and the British Isles set supinely by, wholly disinterested. These people were ungov??r??d, but needed a government, so they established one of their own, in their own way and according to their own ideas. Thus, it happened they met and arected themselves into an inconsiderable, and yet a separate State. This thread: [COX] WATAUGA by Bushy Hartman <mihartman@@InfoAve.Net> Re: [COX] WATAUGA by <Brondak@@aol.com>

ED COX Fri Apr 11 08:35:54 1997 John Cox, Sr. brought his family to Sullivan Co. Tn. abt 1774 from Baltimore County Md. He brought sons: Edward Cox of Sullivan Co., John Cox, Jr. of Hawkins Co. and Thomas Cox of Davidson Co. Family helped to build Fort Watauga. I would like any info pertaining to my family and their connection to the Watauga settlement. Also interested in how William and Greenberry Cox are related to the John Cox, Sr. family. Thanks EDWARD COX, b. 1750-1759 married SARAH MEREDITH and he lived his life in Sullivan County, Tennessee. He died in 1850. JOHN COX, JR., b. 1758 married TABITHA AMIS and he lived in Hawkins County, Tennessee. he died in 1798. THOMAS COX, my g-g-g-grandfather, b. June 1761 in Baltimore County Maryland., married REBECCA WEBB , b. Aug. 1770 in Berks County, Pennsylvania. Thomas went on the Col Roberson expedition up the Cumberland River in 1779 and built Fort Nashborough, later renamed Nashville and he was one of the signers of the Cumberland Compact in 1780. Thomas lived his life in Davidson County, Tn. and died in 1830. Also looking for information on the following names: WILLIAM COX GREENBERRY COX , died abt 1807, left children with THOMAS COX as guardian with children mentioned as Dr. Thomas Cox and Lidia Cox as being minor children. Believed married to RUTH BOSLEY COX . Ruth was previously married to a WILLIAM COX in Baltimore County Maryland. and he died in 1766, and Ruth married his brother GREENBERRY COX. believe they migrated to Tennessee in 1767. I would like to know if and how GREENBERRY was related to my Cox family. Ruth's son, Jesse, married Susan. Only child mentioned. Jesse died and Ruth everything to Jesse's children; James, Susanna, Sophia, Abraham, Thomas, Isaac, William and Jacob. Not sure who Jessee's father was, WILLIAM OR GREENBERRY. Anyone with information on above family, please write. Ed Cox

Sources

1. ↑ Find A Grave memorial 30850832 for Thomas Cox (Jun 1761–5 Dec 1830) created 25 October 2008 by S. Taylor; citing Johnson Chapel Cemetery, Brentwood, Williamson County, Tennessee.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Source: #S00017 Wills; Author: Tennessee County Court (Davidson County); Probate Place: Davidson, Tennessee
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} Source: #S00017 Wills, 1784-1920; Author: Davidson County (Tennessee). County Clerk; Probate Place: Davidson, Tennessee
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3} Source: #S00032
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Source: #S00026
6. ↑ Source: #S00034
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2} Source: #S00043 Birth date: Jun 1761 Birth place: Baltimore, Maryland, USA Death date: 15 Dec 1830 Death place: Nashville, Davidson, Tennessee, USA Note: #N00107
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} Source: #S00014 Year: 1830; Census Place: , Davidson, Tennessee; Roll: ; Page: . Residence date: 1830 Residence place: Davidson, Tennessee, United States Note: #N00108
9. ↑ Source: #S00012 Tennessee State Library and Archives; Nashville, Tennessee; Early Tennessee/North Carolina Land Records; Series Number: 04; Series Title: Grants
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1} Source: #S00038
11. ↑ Source: #S00057

• Source: S00012 Ancestry.com Tennessee, Early Land Registers, 1778-1927 Publication: Name: Name: Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.;;;
• Source: S00014 Ancestry.com 1830 United States Federal Census Publication: Name: Name: Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.Original data - Fifth Census of the United States, 1830. (NARA microfilm publication M19, 201 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Gr;;; .
• Source: S00017 Ancestry.com Tennessee, Wills and Probate Records, 1727-2008 Publication: Name: Name: Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.;;;
• Source: S00026 Ancestry.com Tennessee, Early Tax List Records, 1783-1895 Publication: Name: Name: Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.;;;
• Source: S00032 Ancestry.com U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current Publication: Name: Name: Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.;;;
• Source: S00034 Ancestry.com North Carolina and Tennessee, Early Land Records, 1753-1931 Publication: Name: Name: Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.;;;
• Source: S00038 Ancestry.com 1770-1790 Census of the Cumberland Settlements Publication: Name: Name: Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.;;;
• Source: S00043 Heritage Consulting Millennium File Publication: Name: Name: Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2003.Original data - Heritage Consulting. The Millennium File. Salt Lake City, UT, USA: Heritage Consulting.Original data: Heritage Consulting. The Millennium File. Salt Lake City, UT, USA:;;;
• Source: S00057 Jeannette Tillotson Acklen "Tombstone Inscriptions and Manuscripts" Compiled by Jeannette Tillotson Acklen .