Jeffery Cox (1770 - 1858)

Born 6 Feb 1770 in Maryland

Husband of Nancy Anne (Tillett) Cox — married 12 Jan 1798 in Mason, Kentucky, United States

Descendants

Died 27 Jul 1858 at age 88 in Flat Rock, Bartholomew Co. Indiana

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Biography

Jeffery was born in 1770 and passed away in 1858

• Find A Grave: Memorial #70493054
• Buried in the Spaugh Cemetery in Bartholomew County, Indiana
• My 5th great, Rhonda Kendall Watford

This history concerns itself with the family of Jeffery Cox, early settler of Bartholomew County, Indiana. This pioneer is buried in a graveyard about the size of a family room. Worn and broken now, Jeffery's tomb stone when it was recorded in the past read "Jeffery Cox Died July 27, 1858 Aged 88 yr, 21 days." according to one transcript in the Edinburgh, Indiana Public Library. Another reading of the tombstone by researcher Thurman Queryin the 1970's gave the same date of death but an age of "68 y, 5 mo." Based on the ages of Jeffery's children, he was surely 88 years old at death, but the rest is in doubt. If you combine both interpretations, that he was 88 years, 5 months and 21 days old at death, he was born February 6, 1770.

The History of Ross County, Ohio published in 1902 (p.427), has the following to say about Jeffery Cox:

"Jeffery Cox, who came from Maryland to Ohio as far back as 1780 and settled on Paint creek when but few white men could be found in all that region. He served a as soldier in the war of 1812 and late in life removed to Indiana where he ended his days."

The first evidence of a man named Jeffery Cox in the area of the Ohio River valley comes on June 1, 1796. On that date, "Jeffry Cox", White Male over 21, was listed in the 1796 tax list of Mason County, Kentucky. Jeffery Cox married on January 12, 1798 to Anne Tillett in Mason County, Kentucky. She was the probable daughter of John and Mary Tillett, who lived near Jeffery Cox in 1796. Since one of Jeffery's children, Susannah, is said to be the daughter of "Jeffery and Nancy Cox" and another, Jeffery Cox (1811-1843) was the son of "J. & N. Cox" it is likely that the mother's name was Nancy Anne Tillett. In 1798 Jeffery crossed the Ohio River and settled in Ross County, Ohio. He was taxed there on August 28, 1798 for his 80 acres. No evidence has been found yet to prove that Jeffery Cox served in the War of 1812 as claimed in the 1902 history. Jeffrey is next found in Ross County records as being elected fence viewer in Paxton Township on April 7, 1806. (26 p.325) On July 11, 1810, the Western Spy and Hamilton Advocate reported that Alex. Ramsey and Josiah Chizum had appraised a mare found by "Jeffry Cox". Jeffery Cox is listed in the tax lists of Ross County from 1817-38. He owned 144 acres in Paint Township located on Twin Creek. This was part of 550 acres originally granted to Duncan McArthur, a general in the War of 1812. The records show that Jeffery Cox purchased some land for $300 on March 1, 1816 from Duncan McArthur in Ross County.

Jeffery owned 3 horses and 3 head of cattle in the 1829 tax list. The tax lists of 1829-38 show he owned a stone mill.

Inside the family bible of Susannah (Cox) Query, daughter of Jeffery is a document dated July 19, 1894.

"Susanah Query was born in Ross County Ohio August 14, 1824 and moved with her parents, Jeffery and Nancy Cox to Bartholomy county Indiana 1835."

It appears that the date of Jeffery's arrival in Indiana was off by 4 years, since he was still on the tax rolls of Ross County in 1838. On April 6, 1839, Jeffery purchased a 10-acre plot of land in Section 10 of Flat Rock Township, Bartholomew County, Indiana for $75. (1 Book F p.641) He added 160 acres on November 29, 1839 (1 Book G p.88) and 80 additional acres in 1841-43 (1 Books H p.147, K, p.647).

In September of 1841, Jeffery took several members of the Campbell family to court over a conveyance involved in a probate case. Jeffery lost that case which ended in March 1842. (29 Book C p.257). On May 21, 1858, Jeffery sold 20 acres to his daughter Mary for $400 and 90 acres to son John Cox. (1 Book X p.639). On July 28, 1858, Jeffrey died at his home near St. Louis Crossing in Flat Rock Township, age 88. He was buried in a small cemetery plot on his land, which is now known as the Cox-Spaugh Cemetery.

Jeffrey Cox left a sizable estate but no will. A list of his children in the Bartholomew County Probate Record, dated September 20, 1860 is as follows: John Cox, Thomas Cox, Solomon Cox, Mary Wood, Nancy Armstrong, and Susannah Query. (6 Book B1, p.382) Living at that time but not listed for some reason were Daniel Cox and William Cox.

Jeffery's son John was appointed administrator and seems to have done an unsatisfactory job as far as his younger sister Nancy Armstrong was concerned. She went to court in 1860 to have John Cox increase his security to $8000. (6 Book B1, p.103) On May 20, 1862, she went to court to have him removed as administrator but dropped the case after an agreement was reached. (6 Book C-1, p.222) With the estate moving slowly through the court system, John Cox died June 2, 1863. It was stated that John had converted to his own use while administrator, $2000-2,500 of Jeffrey's estate. On February 10, 1863, John Cox had taken out a certificate of deposit in his name for $1,420.00 in the Kentucky State Bank.

A new administrator was named and the estate was finally settled. It was valued at $5315.19 with 78 acres of land valued at $787. (6 Book D-1, p.494-497). The final distribution of the assets didn't take place until October 1866 when 9 shares of $471.96 were divided between the adult children, living and dead, of Jeffery and Nancy Cox: Thomas, Solomon, Mary, Susannah, Jeffery, William, Daniel, Nancy and John. Seven grandchildren were also given shares. (28 Book F p.489).

What religious faith did the Cox family belong to? Although there were numerous Cox families, which settled in Ross Co. Ohio and Bartholomew Co. Indiana, which belonged to the Quaker denomination, there is no evidence at all that, the Jeffery Cox family did. Jeffery Cox's daughter Susannah joined the United Brethren Church of Flat Rock Township in 1842. They had a strict belief against participating in war or killing. There is only one Cox in Bartholomew County who served in the Civil War, Daniel Cox, who is more than likely, a grandson of Jeffery and son of Daniel Cox. This is some indication that the entire family belonged to the United Brethren faith.

Two sons of Jeffery Cox had close ties to Rev. Martin Laymon, minister of the Separate Baptist Church of Flat Rock. John and Daniel Cox both chose him to witness their wills. Jeffery's widow Nancy Cox died June 11, 1859. (Ibid) This family belonged to the United Brethren Church. The Cox-Spaugh Cemetery is located on what used to be Jeffery's land, near Road 900 North, a few hundred yards west of Road 425 East. Source: THE COX FAMILY HISTORY, By Patrick R. Pearsey, 2000.^[1]

Sources

Footnotes

1. ↑ Entered by Tom Rose.

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Tom Rose for starting this profile. Click the Changes tab for the details of contributions by Tom and others.