Hugh Fox Jr (abt. 1770 - abt. 1826)

Hugh Fox, Sr., was first mentioned in Burke County records 28 July 1778 as having land on Upper Little River. Shortly thereafter on 24 Oct 1778 he entered a claim of "200 acres on the Upper Little River on the north fork or second fork of said river, up both sides of creek crossing the wagon road that leads from the lower creek by the Mineral Spring." This land was in an area that is presently in Caldwell County, near Old Union Church in the Little River Township. Neighboring landowners were David Andrews, John Morow and Robert Warren. By the late 1790's Hugh Fox had acquired more land from the State of North Carolina, this time on the Middle Little River. Middle Little River flows through both Alexander and Caldwell Counties; however, in light of the names of the neighbors, this land was presumable in Alexander County.

!It is quite likely that Hugh Fox moved over into the Alexander County area at the time he was acquiring his property there from the state, especially in view of the fact that on 26 Nov. 1800 he signed over his original 200 acre tract to his friend John Haas. Family tradition tells it that John Haas married one of Hugh Fox's daughters.

!Hugh Fox left a will recorded in Burke County and on file in the N.C. State Archives in Raleigh. The will, dated 13 Oct. 1827 names a daughter Sally Cox, a son William, son-in-law Alexander Thompson, and two grand-daughters Rachel and Polly Fox. Although his will mentions only these few heirs, the 1790 Burke County census indicates he had a rather large family.

!William Fox, son of Hugh, received land adjoining that of his father and it is quite clear that this land was in present day Alexander County. William was still living in that county at the time of the 1850 Federal Census. The N.C. State Grant which was issued to William Fox 22 Aug. 1795 describes his land as being "on the head branches of Little Rocky Branch - the waters of Middle Little River." Family tradition places it between Antioch Baptist Church and the All Healing Springs.

!William Fox was born around 1769 and was still living in 1850. He apparently was married twice, his second wife's name being Mary; first wife's name was unknown. The 1850 census of Alexander County gives William's age as 81 with Mary aged 46 and a son Calvin, aged 3 years. By his first wife William is known to have had a son Moses. Other sons were throught to be William, Jr., Elisha and James. The family also included several daughters. !On 10 April 1823 Moses Fox b. 1799, son of William Fox and wife #1, married Mary "Polly" Teague who was born in 1802 to Solomon and Nancy "Dorsett" Teague. To this union were born nine children, William b. 1824; Nancy b. 1827; Solomon b. 1831; Cinthia b. 1834; Andrew b. 1836; Jordon b. 1838; Mary b. 1840; Betsy b. 1842 and Moses G. b. 1848.

!William Fox, oldest son of Moses and Polly Fox, married ca. 1847 Nancy Caroline Julian, dau. of David and Dosha Julian. Eight children were born to this couple during the years leading up to the Civil War. Harvey Alexander was born in 1848; Amanda Elizabeth was born in 1850 and married William Bentley. Their children were James, Leroy, Rufus and Caroline. Andfrew Lafayette (6-14-1851 to 11-20-1925) married twice, first to Mary Margaret Hefner and second to Mary Joanna Haire; David Benjamin (1853-1928) md. 1. Jennie Swearingen and 2. Arjane E. Kinder; Moses Monroe (1855-1930) md. Martha A.E. Hefner. Children of this couple were Bertha, Zeb, Emma, Lou and Charlie. Mary M. b. 1857 md. Abel Fox; Henry Morgan (1859-1926) md. Martha A. Miller. They had Ella, Alma, Harvey, Martha, Ada, and Arthur. Martha b. 1862 md. Leonard Childers.

!About a year after the start of the war, William Fox enlisted on 4-6-1862 in Co. G(?), 37th Reg. of the Confederate Army. He had served only a short time when he was killed at the Battle of Hanover Junction, Va. on 5-27-1862, a rifle ball going through his head. His brother Solomon Fox of Co. A., 7th Reg. was killed in the same manner only 4 months later at Sharpesburg on 9-17-1862. Another brother Jordon Fox who served in the Artillery was killed near Petersburg by a fragment of a bursting shell striking him in the head.

!On the 2nd day of June, 1885 Caroline Fox, age 63, a resident of Alexander County, applied for and subsequently was granted a pension from the State of North Carolina as widow of William Fox.

!W.E. White in his "History of Alexander County" tells this story. "William's oldest son Harvey Alexander Fox, was a soldier in General Custer's famous Black Horse Cavalry and barely missed being in the fight of Little Big Horn in June 1876 where every man in Custer's command was killed. It just happened that he was in Major Rene's detachment which went out just before the Indians appeared."

!Sources for above: Burke County N.C. Land Grants; Burke County Wills; Burke County Marriage Records; Census Records; Family Tradition; Family Records; "Cousins by the Dozens" by David Cherry, Jr.; "History of Alexander County" by W.E. White; W. C. 'Red' Watts, historian; Family Recollections; N.C. Pension Records; Alexander County Wills. Above written by Daisy C. Brown, Rt. 13 Box 1060, Hickory, N.C. 28601, phone (704) 495-8068 and Rebecca S. Hunter, 2330 11th Ave., N.E., Hickory, N.C. 28601, phone (704) 256-2965. No date given.

!Will of Hugh Fox, Burke Co., NC October 1827

!In the name of god Amen the _______enth day of October in the year of our Lord one Thousand Eight Hundred and twenty seven. I Hugh Fox of the County of Burke and State of North Carolina being sick of body but of a perfect mind and memory and calling to mind the Mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this my Last will and Testament That is to say principally and first of all I Recommend my soul to allmighty god that gave it and my body to the Earth to be Buried in a decent Christian burial at the discretion of my Executors nothing doubting at the general Resurrection I Shall Receive the same by the mighty power of god; and as touching such worldly Estate as it hath pleased god to bless me with I give and bequeath in the following manner and form Viz. Item 1st. I give and bequeath to daughter Sally Cox a brown Cow with a white face which she is in possession of at this time with her increase. Item 2nd. I give and bequeath to my son William Fox one red Cow with a broken horn; and my large powder horn. Item 3rd. I give and bequeath to my son in law Alexander Thompson twenty Shillings in money. Item 4th. I give and bequeath to my two granddaughters Rachel and Polly Fox three Hundred acres of Land Lying on big Rock to be divided equally between them. The balance of my property that I may be in possession of at my decease to be sold by my Executors and after paying my just debts to be Equally divided among my Living Children and I hereby make and ordain my worthy friends philip Austin and Alfred Hartley Executors of this my Last will and Testament, Revoking all others in witness whereof I the said Hugh Fox have to this my Last will & Testament set my hand and seal the day and year above written. Signed Sealed published and declared by the said Hugh Fox his as his Last will and testament Hugh X Fox in the presence of us who were mark present at the time of signing and sealing thereof A. Hartley Jurat Moses fox Jurat William palmer

!State of N. Carolina Burke County Court of pleas & quarter Sessions January Term 1828 The within was presented in Open Court by the Executors and proved in due and solem form by the oaths of A. Hartley and Moses Fox both subscribing witnesses and ordered to be registered and that letters testamentary issue to the Executor. ____________ Clerk