Go to Jacob’s early life and marriages
Go to Jacob’s known children
Go to Jacob’s migration from New Jersey to Tennessee
Go to First Land Development
Go to Tennessee migration and final years
Written by Steve Cox, 2018 – Revised 2025 with assistance from Claude.ai
The Search for Jacob Cox
For many years, there has been a strong paper trail that has tied together the descendants of Samuel Cox and Catherine Bruce. Samuel was born in 1770, in Halifax County, Virginia, based on records kept by his son, Coleman Cox, and passed down to current generations. However, determining the ancestry of Samuel has been more difficult. Since at least the 1960’s, there has been widespread information suggesting that Samuel was the son of John Cox and Mary Ferguson, who were married in Halifax County, Virginia, in 1766. While that would be a convenient answer, and there are additional circumstances that give credence to the theory, it has now been proven to be false.
The proof comes in the form of Y-DNA evidence that is coupled with genealogical evidence. The most conclusive comes from Y-DNA. Y-DNA measures markers along the Y-Chromosome of the male members of the family. A father passes down the markers in his Y-Chromosome to his sons so that in most cases their markers will look exactly like their father’s. Occasionally, however, one of the markers will “mutate” in one son with the rest remaining the same. From that time forward, the sons of the one who had the mutation will carry that same result. Children of all the other sons will not. Since this does not happen to every son, and since it does not happen in every generation, it is very simple to review the markers to determine a relationship. Cousins who share a common ancestor as many as 8 or 10 generations earlier will still have results that look much the same.
To determine if two men are cousins, 111 markers can be tested. If they have shared a common ancestor in the last 300 years, for example, they will probably match on more than 100 markers of the 111. [Since the original writing, the ability to examine Y-DNA has expanded to testing over 700 STR markers, as well as terminal SNP’s.) The fewer the differences, the more convincing it is that they are closely related. Armed with this new process, a small group of men who found that they were all tracing ancestors back to the 1760’s in Halifax County, Virginia, decided to take Y-DNA tests. Since early 2015, the results of 19 testers have been placed into a common group. The process and detailed results are described in a separate article. However, a brief summary is in order.
The results clearly indicated that Samuel Cox was a biological descendant of a man named Phillip Cox. Samuel, in all likelihood was Phillip’s great-grandson. Phillip was born in about 1677, and married Dorcas Hull in 1702. They lived in Somerset County, New Jersey. The Y-DNA also connects Samuel to a Jacob Cox who was also the father of men named Thomas and William Cox, while other forms of DNA (autosomal) have connected Jacob as the father of Dorcas Cox, wife of Richard Condra, and another Phillip Cox. We also know from Y-DNA that Jacob had a brother living near him while in southern Virginia who was probably named Samuel. This brother had children named Fulker, Phineas, and John, all of whom eventually migrated to Warren County, Kentucky, and beyond. Jacob and his brother would have been grandchildren of Phillip Cox and Dorcas Hull. While DNA has not technically proven the relationship to their father, we know that Phillip’s son, John, had sons named Jacob and Samuel who apparently disappeared from New Jersey.
There are, of course, others who are testing Y-DNA who do not match with this group. One such group traces to a Cox family that was in Orange County, Virginia, before some migrated to Halifax County, Virginia. Based on genealogical information, it appears that the John Cox who married Mary Ferguson was from this family line. If the genealogical information is accurate, then John Cox and Mary Ferguson do not represent the biological ancestry for Samuel Cox, b. 1770. Rather, it is clear that Samuel’s father was Jacob Cox, grandson of Phillip Cox and Dorcas Hull, and son, in all likelihood, of John Cox and Mary/Mercy Taylor.
So, who was Jacob Cox? We have a clear picture of his DNA, but what is his genealogical story? Let’s turn to that now.
Jacob’s Early Life and Marriages
We are exploring the story of a man who we believe to have been born in Somerset County, New Jersey, then migrated to southern Virginia and northern North Carolina, and finally settled in eastern Tennessee. We have information about him in each location, but we have no guarantee that we are always following the same person. Neither do we have clear records of his birth or death. For that reason, we begin with the confession that it is strong, but circumstantial evidence that connects the story across time and settings. This is the best information we have at the moment, but future genealogists should continue to be open to conflicting information, and make adjustments as needed.
Jacob was born in Somerset County, New Jersey, probably in the 1720’s. There are family trees online that place his birth in 1727, but we have found nothing to corroborate that date. It does, however, seem appropriate for events later in his life.
Jacob’s paternal grandparents were Phillip Cox, 1677-1736 and Dorcas Hull, abt 1680-1738. They eventually settled in Somerset County, New Jersey. Additional details about them are included in a separate article. Briefly, there is little known for certain about Phillip’s ancestry. Dorcas was the daughter of Phineas Hull and Jerusha Hitchcock, both of whom died in New England before Dorcas was a teenager. Dorcas may have then chosen to live with an uncle. Two uncles, Benjamin and Hopewell Hull had migrated to East New Jersey as some of its earliest settlers. The names of Phineas and Dorcas are used repeatedly in ensuing generations in this family.
Jacob’s parents were John Cox and Mary/Mercy Taylor (last name is unproven). Jacob is named in John’s Will, written June 24, 1767, in Sussex County, New Jersey. He and his siblings are listed in the following order: Jacob, Samuel, Mary, Dorcas, Phinis, Elizabeth, John, Marcey, Benjamin, and William. Interestingly, the executors of the Will are to be Mary, John’s (the writer of the will) wife, and Moses Ayers, husband of Dorcas. An inventory of the estate is made by Nathaniel Ayers and Thomas Terrill. Witnesses include Ephraim Drake, Benonia Ayston, and Philip Hoffman. None of the sons are witnesses, executors, or are involved with the inventory. That suggests that the sons are not local or are for some reason unable to fulfill the responsibility.
The hints we have found from other names include: 1) Philip Hoffman in an online family tree who was said to be married to a Marcy with no surname given. Perhaps he is married to Marcy Cox. They had children named Dorcas and Mary/Marcy. Philip was said to be of German descent and born in Pennsylvania; 2) Ephraim Drake is connected to a Drake family closely associated with the Cox and Hull families. The Drakes and Hulls are in transactions together in the 1670’s. As it turns out Ephraim is from the same extended family of a James Drake who purchased items at the estate sale of Samuel Cox (b. 1770) in eastern Tennessee in 1808. An older cousin of Ephraim named Samuel Drake married Elizabeth Hull, a cousin of Dorcas Hull. There is another Samuel Drake, who is also a cousin, b. 1719, who marries a Mary Cox, and they have a daughter named Elizabeth. Though others have said Mary is from Henrico County, Virginia, it seems more likely that she is part of this family. There is some speculative evidence that Benoni Austin married a Mercy Thompson, who may be part of the William Thomson family. William Thomson witnessed Phillip Cox’s will in 1728.
Jacob’s Marriages
A recent autosomal DNA study has led to the conclusion that Jacob married Anna Coleman, and perhaps her sister, Mary. This has been suspected by some for a while because of the various interactions between the Cox and Coleman families. Now, DNA points to the same conclusion. Four descendants of Jacob Cox share a significant segment of overlapping DNA on Chromosome 4, along with a descendant of Phillip Cox, son of Jacob. That led to deeper research into other people who shared the same overlapping DNA with this group. Three more people were found who did not appear to have a connection to the Cox family. However, they all matched each other through common ancestry through the descendants of Thomas Coleman, b. abt. 1654, and Rebecca Claiborne. Two of the three descended from their granddaughter Mary Covington, by way of their daughter Ann. The third traced to Mary, the daughter of Thomas and Rebecca.
As it turns out, Thomas and Rebecca also had a son named Thomas. He married Elizabeth Brown. Two of their daughters were named Anna and Mary, and little has been known about either of them, aside from the fact that they were next to each other in age, with Anna slightly older than Mary. Some believe Anna was a twin sister of Sarah; others say she was born two years after Sarah, and a year before Mary. Sarah is important in helping confirm the connection because she married a man named Josiah Ryland, giving her the name Sarah Ryland. Years later, Samuel Cox, son of Jacob, named his first daughter, Sarah Ryland Cox. There are other examples of the children of Thomas and Rebecca interacting with Jacob’s family, but this demonstrates the significance of the relationship.
Knowing that all those with this overlapping DNA share a common ancestor, and knowing that these two families neighbored in the mid 1700’s, as well as having deeper relationships between each other, and knowing that Jacob’s son, Samuel, in addition to naming a child Sarah Ryland Cox, also named his first son, Coleman Cox, it seems highly likely that the common ancestry comes through this Coleman family. As will be reported elsewhere in this article, Jacob had land transactions in which his wife, Anna, relinquished her right to dower. Additional transactions that are believed to belong to our Jacob, indicate that he had a wife named Mary. If so, Anna died after June 16, 1763, and before 1769. Since the overlapping DNA includes a descendant of one of the early children, as well as descendants of the later children, then the two women have to be sisters in order for the DNA to match all the recipients.
Jacob’s Known Children
There are several known children, but we don’t know that we have an exhaustive listing. Those known or believed to be children of Jacob include, Dorcas, Rebecca, Phillip, Thomas, Jacob, Jr., Samuel, Nancy, and William. Interestingly, these names follow a pattern of being taken from Jacob’s grandmother (Dorcas), Anna’s grandmother (Rebecca), Jacob’s grandfather (Phillip), Anna’s grandfather and father (Thomas), Jacob (Jacob, Jr.), Jacob’s brother (Samuel), Anna (Nancy was replacing the use of the name Ann), and Jacob’s brother (William). Missing from the list is John, Mary, and Elizabeth (names of the parents of Jacob and Anna/Mary; however, there is one record of a person named John living in Jacob’s household in 1779 as an adult, suggesting a birthdate soon after Phillip. Unfortunately, there is no other record confirming his existence. There may still be other children.
Dorcas has not traditionally been attached to this family by others. She married Richard Condra, and has been assigned birthdates from 1738 to the 1750’s. We feel comfortable in claiming her now because of an increasing level of DNA evidence. A number of known descendants of Jacob Cox share DNA with descendants of Richard and Dorcas. We also know that the families lived near each other in northeastern Tennessee, and that Richard was in a land transaction involving Jacob Cox, Jr. Several Condra’s attended the estate sale for Samuel Cox, son of Jacob. Sarah Condra married Matthias Tally, an executor of Samuel’s estate, and the stepson of Rebecca Cox Tally, Jacob’s daughter (See next paragraph). The mounting DNA evidence makes a convincing case for Dorcas to be a child of Jacob. In addition, she carried the same name as Jacob’s grandmother. Based on Richard’s age, and the timing of her parents meeting each other, it seems likely that Dorcas was born in the early 1750’s.
Rebecca married John Tally in about 1784. She was his second wife and was born around 1755. A child from John’s first marriage named Matthias (Matthew), though raised by Rebecca, was an executor of the estate for Samuel Cox, son of Jacob. Matthew married Sarah Condry as is mentioned above. Rebecca died in 1818 while living in Franklin County, Tennessee. Her husband, John Tally, witnessed the land transaction between Jacob, Sr., and son, Samuel, in 1788. That transaction included the plantation on which Jacob was living, so John appears to be the family representative recognizing that Samuel is getting this property which might otherwise have gone to all of Jacob’s children at his death.
There is also some DNA evidence that ties descendants of Rebecca to the Cox family. It is not as strong as that which matches Dorcas.
Phillip fought in the Revolutionary War and made a pension application several years later, leaving us with information about him. He testifies as to having been born in 1755 or 1757, depending on which part of the information is read. He was born on the Mayo River (an area where we find Jacob) and settled in Pickens (Pendleton) District of South Carolina. He married Jemima Taylor, whose family had been in North Carolina. His children included one named Jacob Ralston Cox and another named Dorcas. We have found two or three descendants of his who match autosomal DNA with Cox descendants of Jacob. We have not confirmed a Y-DNA match at this time, but we have a Y-DNA match with a man who descends from Phillip Cox, b. 1819, and who lived in Georgia, but relatively near to where Phillip. b. 1755, lived in South Carolina. Some circumstantial evidence points to him being the grandson of Phillip, but there is also a chance he could be the son/grandson of Thomas, who lived in the same area.
Thomas was born in 1762 in Halifax County. He also fought in the Revolutionary War and left us with a pension application from which to learn. Thomas reported living in Lincoln County, North Carolina for a brief time, as well as living in the western country (we believe that was near the Jacob Cox family in what is now northeastern Tennessee), before settling in Franklin County, Georgia. There he married Martha Smith, though he had been previously married to an unknown person. Y-DNA has now proven that he had at least one child by his first wife and named that child Jacob. This Jacob was born in 1788, married Sarah Wilkins, and lived in nearby Elbert County, where her family had settled. Their son, Clement W. Cox became the 3rd great-grandfather of one of the Y-DNA testers. Later in life, Thomas moved to Gwinnett County, Georgia. Phillip and Thomas were living in different states, but their homes were within 20 miles or so of each other. In the mid-1800’s, they had children living next door to each other in northwestern Georgia, and among some other Coxes who have not been proven to be part of the family but seem likely to be related.
Jacob Cox, Jr. was born in 1768, leaving 6 years between known children. This could be a clue about the death of Jacob’s first wife, or it could be that there are children we have not discovered. Jacob, Jr. was young enough to move with his father from Virginia to what is now Tennessee, probably around 1780. He married Mary Widener, and they settled in Hawkins County, Tennessee, a little to the north of the rest of the family. We don’t know why, but Jacob wrote a will in 1808 and died in 1809, not long after his younger brother. Since he was in his early 40’s, we can assume he was sick, but we don’t have a record of what caused his death.
Samuel Cox was born in 1770 in Halifax County and moved with the family to Tennessee. In 1788, he bought the family farm from his father on Horse Creek and Lick Creek, which can be found near Fall Branch along Interstate 81, just southeast of Bristol, Tennessee. His son, Coleman, is said to have been born near Jonesboro, Tennessee, and this location is about 15-20 miles from Jonesboro, so it is likely he was living here when his first child was born. Samuel went back to Virginia to find his wife. He married Catherine Bruce, who was born the same year that he was born. Even though they married in Halifax County, Virginia, there is no evidence that they ever lived there. Catherine died in 1806 while still young. Samuel then married Margaret Crippen, but within a short time got into a fight with her brother, and was injured so severely that he died a few months later. This left the children with a stepmother whose brother had “killed” their father. Needless to say, they were shipped out to guardians in the area. Margaret was pregnant at the time of the fight, and Samuel had a son that he never knew. He had time to write a will, naming Jacob Cox, Sr., Matthew Tally, and Presley Buckner as executors. Jacob, Sr., appears never to have participated in carrying out the logistics of that work, leading to the theory that he was also infirm, or perhaps died in the same time period. We also have a record of Samuel’s estate sale, with a list of names of those who made purchases. It provides insight into family and neighbors in the area.
Nancy Cox was born in 1772. She married Presley Buckner, a grandson of Thomas Mustain, who had neighbored with Jacob back in Halifax County, Virginia. Presley and Nancy eventually moved to Indiana, but appear to have been in some sort of dispute with one of Samuel’s youngest children during the 1820’s. The reason for the dispute is not clear, but it seems to be related to who had rights to inherit property.
William is a child that presents as many questions as answers. His descendants have Y-DNA that makes a strong case for him to be a child of Jacob. He was said to be born in 1773, but his descendants have claimed that he was born in Pickens/Pendleton, South Carolina, where Phillip was later located. He married a Phoebe (perhaps Barton) when he was nearly 35, so he may have also had a previous marriage. It appears he died prior to 1830, when Phoebe is found in Hall County, Georgia, as a head of household. The family soon thereafter moved to western Tennessee, living in Paris, Tennessee. He could have been a child of Phillip except for the fact that Phillip named another child William a few years later. William was born about a year after Phillip and Jemima were married. It is possible that Jacob’s wife died in childbirth with William, and so Phillip and Jemima chose to take William on and raise him since Jacob had several other young children to raise. It could also be that William moved to Tennessee with the family, but chose to head to South Carolina as a young adult and live near his oldest brother, one who might have had a heavy influence on him in the first few years of his life. The truth is that we only know that the Y-DNA connects William to our family, and he is first known to be living near Phillip as an adult.
Jacob’s Migration from New Jersey to Tennessee
Understanding Jacob’s movements becomes clearer when we examine his land transactions chronologically and geographically. Jacob’s business activities reveal a pattern of strategic land acquisition, development (particularly mill construction), and profitable resale that required him to maintain residence in multiple counties simultaneously at various times.
Early Virginia Years (1755-1762): Halifax County Establishment
It appears that Jacob may have arrived in Halifax County, Virginia by as early as 1755, when he had land surveyed on Horse Pasture Creek. Horse Pasture Creek begins a little northwest of Martinsville, Virginia, and flows south to the North Mayo River, about 2.5 miles north of the Virginia/North Carolina border. The survey was transferred to George Jefferson in 1769, so this may have been Jacob’s primary residence during these years, though there is no indication that he ever paid for the land beyond the survey costs. The land bordered land surveyed by John Woodson in 1749. This may help explain Jacob’s connection to the Woodson family in Cumberland County, Virginia, a few years later. As explained below, he purchased land from John Woodson in Cumberland County in 1770. It seems unlikely that we can ever confirm that this is the same John Woodson, nor can we confirm which John Woodson, among many choices, had the land surveyed in Halifax County. In 1758 and 1759, Jacob bought two parcels of land from George Walton that were said to be on the north side of the South Mayo River. The transactions were witnessed by George Watkins, Shadrack Tribble, and James Dillard. On August 17, 1758, Jacob purchased 200 acres, and another number of acres (apparently unreadable on the deed). At the same time, Fulker Fulkerson bought 499.5 acres from the same person, and with the same witnesses. The land belonging to Jacob and Fulker was said to join at one corner.
Fulker, and his father, Frederick, were part of Jacob’s story, as well as Jacob’s brother, Samuel, several times. This is an important connection because Frederick’s father, Volcker (Dirck), had a land transaction witnessed by Philip Cox, father of John Cox, whose Will is listed above. That transaction was in Somerset County, New Jersey, some 40 years earlier. This certainly gives us reason to believe that the Jacob Cox who is the son of John is the same Jacob who buys land on the South Mayo River.
It is at about this time that a Phillip Cox is born in the area. Phillip left a paper trail through his Revolutionary War Pension application. In it, he says he was born in 1755 on the Mayo River in Halifax County, Virginia. He will show up as a tithable in the household of Jacob in Henry County, Virginia, in 1778 and 1779. This creates another connection between Jacob Cox and the Phillip Cox in Somerset County, New Jersey.
In 1758, John P. Cox is born. We do not know his parents for certainty, but the best guess of the moment is that he is a nephew of Jacob. Some also report that Rebecca Cox was born in this year, though we have not seen corroborating evidence. Rebecca was probably a daughter of Jacob since one of her children acted as an executor for the Will of Samuel Cox (b.1770 and Jacob’s son) in 1809. She was the second wife of John Talley/Tally.
In 1762, Jacob expanded his land holdings and entered the milling business. He purchased 89 acres from Robert Wooding on both sides of Stinking River at Thomas Faris’ corner and Joseph Mayes line. It appears this was a business transaction for Jacob because he began building a mill on the property. In August of 1762, Jacob was told to procession land with Thomas Mustain, Thomas and Joe Faris, and John Payne. Thomas Mustain eventually became the grandfather of Presley Buckner, who married Nancy Cox (daughter of Jacob Cox). In November, Fulker Fulkerson sold 370 acres of the land he had on the South Mayo River to either his father or brother, Frederick Fulkerson. Thomas Cox is born in 1762, according to his Revolutionary War Pension Application.
First Land Development and Sales (1763): The Mill Project
Jacob began selling land in 1763, and he had a busy day on June 16. He sold 119 acres to James Roberts on both sides of Green Creek on the Mayo River, 100 acres to Leonard Vandergriff on the north side of the South Mayo River (Both said to be part of an earlier grant to Robert Walton—probably the land Jacob bought from George Walton), and the 89 acres of land he purchased from Robert Wooding in 1762. This land on the Stinking River is a bit different from the others. He bought it for 10 pounds and sold it for 70 pounds after holding it for less than a year; however, the land has a grist mill that is under construction, and Jacob has to finish it. Jacob sells the land to Fulker Fulkerson, his neighbor on the South Mayo River.
This probably does not leave Jacob landless. Since we don’t have the acreage for one of his purchases in 1758, we only know that it was 200 and another purchase. In 1763, he sold a total of 219 acres in the area of the Mayo River. We will also find that Jacob continued to have land close to the Bannister River, though we don’t have a record of the purchase. We also learn from these transactions on June 16, 1763, that Jacob is married to Anna. She relinquishes her right of dower on the land he is selling. It is the only definitive record we have found for a name for his wife.
The mill construction and sale to Fulkerson demonstrates Jacob’s business acumen – turning a 600% profit in less than a year by adding value through mill development. This pattern of land improvement and profitable resale would become a consistent theme in Jacob’s business activities.
Continuing Virginia Operations (1764-1769)
Phineas Cox, probably a nephew of Jacob, was born in 1764.
Jacob Cox is listed as being a neighbor in a land transaction on the Stinking River in 1766. We do not have a record of when he got that land.
In 1767, Jacob’s father, John Cox, wrote his will back in Sussex County, New Jersey. Jacob is listed as a son.
The following year, 1768, Jacob Cox, Jr. is born. Perhaps Jacob was feeling a need for a way to pass his own name along after his father died.
Cumberland County Ventures (1765-1772): A Complete Development Cycle
Jacob’s business expansion into Cumberland County reveals a sophisticated seven-year development strategy that demonstrates his skill as a land speculator and developer. The recently discovered deed records show a complete cycle of strategic acquisition, development, and profitable disposal.
October 28, 1765: Initial Cumberland County Acquisitions
On the same day, Jacob made two significant land purchases that would form the basis of his Cumberland County operations:
- John Carter Transaction: Jacob purchased 12 acres from John Carter and his wife Mary for 4 pounds current money of Virginia. This small parcel was strategically located, bounded by Henry Dillon, Jacob Cox’s existing holdings, and John Carter’s land. (Cumberland County Deed Book 4, FHL Film 07893765, Image 342, Page 56)
- William Dillon Transaction: On the same day, Jacob purchased a much larger tract – 100 acres from William Dillon and his wife Joyce for 22 pounds 10 shillings. This land was strategically located “lying and being on both sides of the river road” and was bounded by prominent landowners including Carter Henry Harrison, Robert Furlong, John Carter, and Henry Dillon. (Cumberland County Deed Book 4, FHL Film 07893765, Image 342, Page 57)
These purchases show Jacob acquiring a total of 112 acres in a single day for 26 pounds 10 shillings. It is likely that the land from the two purchases was contiguous since two of the bordering neighbors were connected to each (John Carter and Henry Dillon).
August 5, 1769: First Profitable Sale – The Gilliam Transaction
Jacob sold 113 acres to James Gilliam for 45 pounds, representing the combined acreage he had purchased from William Dillon and John Carter in 1765. This sale yielded a 70% profit over four years (purchased for 26 pounds 10 shillings, sold for 45 pounds). The transaction was witnessed by Samuel Taylor and Drury Woodson, and Jacob’s wife Mary relinquished her dower rights. (Cumberland County Deed Book 4, Pages 363-364, Image 496)
June 24, 1770: A Bigger Project
Jacob established new Cumberland County holdings by purchasing 400 acres from John Woodson and John Hughes for 50 pounds. This large tract was bounded by Nicholas Davies, John Alexander, Benjamin Dumas, Terry Tarplin, Henry Turner, and Hughes’ line – the same boundary markers that would later appear in his sale to Daniel Johnson. (Cumberland County Deed Book 4, Pages 389-391, Images 509-510)
February 24, 1772: The Major Sale – Daniel Johnson Transaction
Jacob’s most significant Cumberland County transaction came with his sale to Daniel Johnson of 400 acres for 130 pounds – exactly the tract he had purchased from John Woodson and John Hughes in 1770 for 50 pounds. The deed describes Jacob as being “of the county of Cumberland” and Daniel Johnson as being “of the same county,” indicating both men were local residents.
The land boundaries in the Johnson deed precisely match those described in Jacob’s 1770 purchase from Woodson and Hughes: “beginning at Nicholas Davies corner pine running thence on his line north twenty five and a half degrees…thence on John Anderson’s line north twenty seven degrees west…then on Benjamin Dumas’s line…then on Terry Tarplin’s line…then on Henry Turner’s line…then on Hughes line…” This confirms Jacob was selling exactly what he had purchased two years earlier.
The transaction yielded Jacob a remarkable 160% profit in just two years (purchased for 50 pounds in 1770, sold for 130 pounds in 1772). His wife Mary relinquished her dower rights, and the deed was properly recorded in Cumberland County Deed Book 5. (Cumberland County Deed Book 5, FHL Film #7893766, Page 28, Image 24)
The Complete Cumberland County Strategy (1765-1772)
Jacob’s Cumberland County operations demonstrate a masterful seven-year business cycle:
Total Investment: 76 pounds 10 shillings
- Carter/Dillon purchases (1765): 26 pounds 10 shillings
- Woodson/Hughes purchase (1770): 50 pounds
Total Returns: 175 pounds
- Gilliam sale (1769): 45 pounds
- Johnson sale (1772): 130 pounds
Net Profit: 98 pounds 10 shillings (128% return on investment)
This represents not just land speculation, but sophisticated development work. The four-year gap between his initial 1765 purchases and 1769 sale to James Gilliam aligns with the timeline needed for mill development and land improvement. Jacob’s temporary residence in Cumberland County during this period would have been essential for supervising development projects, building business relationships, and maximizing the value of his investments.
By 1772, Jacob had completely liquidated his Cumberland County holdings, having turned every acre purchased into profitable sales. This timing coincides with his family’s movement toward North Carolina and his eventual migration to Tennessee, suggesting Jacob was systematically converting Virginia land investments into capital for his westward expansion.
Understanding Jacob’s Multi-County Strategy
The timing of these Cumberland County transactions, occurring while Jacob maintained active business in Halifax/Pittsylvania counties, supports the theory that Jacob operated with dual residences for business purposes. Cumberland County offered several advantages:
- Water Resources: Excellent for mill construction with the James River and its tributaries
- Transportation: The “river road” mentioned in the Dillon deed provided commercial access
- Established Community: Proximity to prominent families like the Harrisons, Carters, and Dillons
- Investment Opportunities: Active land market with development potential
The four-year gap between his 1765 purchases and 1769 sale to James Gilliam aligns perfectly with the timeline needed for mill development – site preparation, construction, and establishment of operations. Jacob’s temporary residence in Cumberland County during this period would have been essential for supervising construction and building the business relationships necessary for successful mill operation.
Pittsylvania County Concurrent Operations (1769-1773)
The complexity of Jacob’s business operations is further demonstrated by his concurrent activities in multiple counties:
July 28, 1769: Jacob sold land to Henry France in Pittsylvania County, being described as “of Pittsylvania County” just one week before being described as “of Cumberland County” in the James Gilliam transaction. This apparent contradiction makes sense if Jacob maintained business residences in both counties.
January 29, 1770: Jacob bought land from Fulker Fulkerson in Pittsylvania County, again being described as “of Pittsylvania County.” The transaction was witnessed by Jesse Woodson and Arch. Hughes, connecting back to his Cumberland County associates.
November 7, 1770: Jacob had 293 acres surveyed in Pittsylvania County on the north side of the Mayo River, indicating continued expansion of his Virginia operations.
March 1773: Jacob sold his Pittsylvania land purchased from Fulkerson to John Sims, now being described as “of Surry County of the province of North Carolina,” showing his continued westward movement while maintaining Virginia interests.
The Hull Family Connection and Possible Cumberland County Origins
An intriguing discovery in the Cumberland County records may provide insight into how Jacob first acquired land in the area. A 1771 transaction (FHL Film 7893765, Image 557, Page 485) shows Stephen Hull and Stephen Hull, Jr. from Rhode Island selling Cumberland County land that they inherited from their relative Joseph Hull, who died in Hanover County, Virginia. This land was located “on the branches of Little Guinea Creek” and was sold to Thomas Davenport.
Given Jacob’s Hull ancestry through his grandmother Dorcas Hull, it’s possible that Jacob first learned of Cumberland County opportunities through Hull family connections, or even inherited land rights in the area that aren’t recorded in surviving deeds. This could explain how Jacob was able to move so quickly into Cumberland County land speculation and why he felt confident investing so heavily in the area.
North Carolina Transition (1771-1773)
By 1771, Jacob is on the move again. He is listed in Surry County, North Carolina with one tithable. It is possible that he simply moved across the line from Virginia to North Carolina, or that his property was in both states. He is listed in 1772 with two Tithables, which might be explained by Phillip coming of age. Turning 16 in 1772 would give Phillip a birth year of 1756. This, 1772, is also the year that Phillip is said to have married Jemima Taylor. Also listed as Tithables in 1772, in Surry County, North Carolina, were a Drury Taylor and a James Taylor. Jemima was said to have a brother named Drury, suggesting that Drury could be her older brother, and James her father, or Drury could be her father.
December 24, 1773: Jacob’s continued business acumen is demonstrated in his purchase of 236 acres from Henry Lansford in Pittsylvania County (which became Henry County in 1776) for only 27 pounds on both sides of Stewarts Creek of the Ararat River. He’s described as being from “County of Surry, province of North Carolina,” but the witnesses include George Brittain and Henry Lansford, Sr.
Henry County Period (1776-1780): Final Virginia Phase
In 1776, Henry County is formed from Pittsylvania County’s western edge, which includes the land that Jacob purchased in 1773. He has now moved from Pittsylvania County to Henry County without moving.
In 1777 John P. Cox marries Sarah Nunnelly in Henry County, Virginia. We believe John P. is a nephew of Jacob.
In 1778, Jacob is listed as a tithable, along with Phillip, in Henry County, Virginia. In 1779, they are listed again, in reverse order, and John is listed alongside them. We do not know who John is. If he is another son who just turned 16, it is a child we have not discovered anywhere else. It could be John P. Cox who was serving in the war the previous year but is now home. However, Y-DNA suggests John P. is probably not the son of Jacob.
1778: Jacob demonstrates his continued business success by selling his Henry County land to Daniel Carlin. He sold the 236 acres on both sides of Stewarts Creek (purchased in 1773 for 27 pounds) to Carlin for 90 pounds – a remarkable 233% profit over five years. This transaction shows Jacob’s ability to identify undervalued land and profit from regional development.
By 1780, Jacob disappears from the Tithable list in Henry County, but he receives a land grant of 293 acres on the south side of the South Mayo River, adjoining Walton’s line. This sounds as if it is in the neighborhood of land he had already owned, suggesting he maintained some Virginia interests even as he prepared for his westward migration.
Tennessee Migration and Final Settlement (1782-1809)
Jacob headed west from Virginia, having 59 acres of land surveyed in Washington County, North Carolina (later Tennessee), February 11, 1782, on the north side of the north fork of the Holstein River, listed as Treasury Warrant 10880. It is not clear whether Jacob moved to this land or not. Lewis Whitener had land in the same Treasury Warrant, as did a John Weaver, who is otherwise unknown to us.
In 1784, Jacob received land grant 1306 in Sullivan County, North Carolina, an area that later became northeastern Tennessee. His daughter, Rebecca, married John Tally in the same year. John Tally, Lewis Weidener, and John Miller, all neighbors or with family connections, received land grants along with Jacob that year.
November 22, 1788: Jacob’s final major land transaction demonstrates his continued business philosophy of strategic sales to family members. He sold what is likely the land from his 1784 grant to Samuel Cox, undoubtedly his son who has just turned 18. Jacob sold 200 acres, including “the plantation on which he now lives” in Sullivan County on the headwaters of Horse Creek and Lick Creek for an undisclosed amount. Isaac White and John Tally, Jacob’s son-in-law, are witnesses. Jacob is listed as Jacob Cox, Sr.
This transaction is particularly significant because it includes “the plantation on which he now lives,” indicating Jacob was transferring his primary residence to his son. Today, it appears that Horse Creek and Lick Creek come together just a mile southwest of Fall Branch, Tennessee, on Interstate 81.
The transaction offers a curiosity in that Samuel buys the land while older brother, Jacob, Jr. is still in the household, as well as younger sister, Nancy.
Jacob, Sr.’s younger children had reached marrying age during this period. In 1789, Nancy married Presley Buckner in Sullivan County. In 1790, Jacob, Jr. married Mary Widner (Witner, Weidner) in Hawkins County, which had just been formed out of Sullivan County. Samuel also got married in 1790 to Catherine Bruce; however, he traveled back to Halifax County, Virginia, for the marriage, showing the family maintained connections to their Virginia roots, perhaps the Coleman side of the family that was still in Halifax County, Virginia.
Final Years and Death (1803-1809)
It seems likely that Jacob moved further south into Grainger/Knox/Union County, Tennessee after transferring the family plantation to Samuel. In 1803, Jacob Cox sold 200 acres of land in Grainger County to Jacob Sharp. It is not clear whether this is Jacob Cox, Sr. or Jacob Cox, Jr. We have not seen a record of the land being purchased.
The final years of Jacob’s life were marked by family tragedy. In 1806, Catherine Cox, wife of Samuel and daughter-in-law of Jacob, died. Two years later, Samuel got in a fight with the brother of his new wife and was beaten severely. By the summer of 1808, Samuel had written a Will, listing Jacob Cox, Sr. as one of the witnesses. Jacob Cox, Jr. also wrote a Will in 1808. Both of Jacob, Sr.’s, sons died within a short time.
It would appear that Jacob, Sr. may have also died in this time period. A Grainger County census and tax list for 1810 lists 200 acres for Jacob Cox heirs, and 15 acres for Samuel Cox heirs. The listing is repeated in 1814 and 1815. While it is not clear whether the listing for Jacob is for father or son, it seems that Jacob, Jr. had maintained his property in Hawkins County rather than Grainger. In addition, Jacob, Sr. would be over the age of 80 by this time. Even though Jacob, Sr., is listed as an executor on Samuel’s Will, along with Presley Buckner and Matthew Tally, he does not participate in the inventory of the property with the other two. This could suggest his own death, or ill health. It is also possible that the Sr. suffix was now reserved for Samuel’s brother Jacob (Jr.) because Samuel had a son he had named Jacob. If the elder Jacob had died at an earlier time, the titles might have shifted to make it clear that Samuel was not listing his young son as an executor.
Conclusion: Jacob Cox’s Legacy
Jacob Cox’s life represents the story of many early American entrepreneurs – men who used land speculation, development, and strategic business relationships to build wealth and establish their families in the expanding frontier. His journey from Somerset County, New Jersey, through multiple Virginia counties, and finally to Tennessee demonstrates both the mobility and business acumen required for success in colonial and early American society.
The Cumberland County deed records reveal Jacob as a more sophisticated businessman than previously understood. His ability to maintain operations in multiple counties simultaneously, his consistent pattern of land improvement and profitable resale, and his strategic use of family relationships and business partnerships show a man who understood how to navigate the complex world of 18th-century land development.
Jacob’s dual-county residence strategy – maintaining family operations in Halifax/Henry County while developing business interests in Cumberland County – reflects the realities of early American enterprise. The distances involved and communication limitations of the era required physical presence for successful business operations, explaining why Jacob would have needed to establish temporary residence in Cumberland County during his mill development projects.
Most significantly, Jacob’s story illustrates how DNA evidence can unlock genealogical puzzles that have persisted for decades. The combination of Y-DNA testing with careful analysis of land records, witness lists, and family connections has allowed us to construct a much more complete picture of Jacob’s life and business activities than traditional genealogical methods alone could provide.
Jacob Cox died within a timeframe of 1803 and 1810, but no record of his death, a Will, or burial has been found to date. However, the documentary evidence of his land transactions, family relationships, and business partnerships provides a rich picture of a man who successfully navigated the challenges of colonial and early American life, building a foundation that allowed his descendants to prosper in the expanding American frontier.
Sources and References
Cumberland County Deed Records:
- Cumberland County, Virginia Deed Book 4 (Family History Library Film 07893765)
- Image 342, Pages 56-57: Jacob Cox purchases from John Carter and William Dillon, October 28, 1765
- Images 509-510, Pages 389-391: Jacob Cox purchases from John Woodson and John Hughes, June 24, 1770
- Image 496, Pages 363-364: Jacob Cox sells to James Gilliam, August 5, 1769
Court Records:
- Cumberland County Virginia Court Orders, 1767-1787, Page 43 (975.5615, W216): Jacob Cox to Daniel Johnson transaction, 1772
Additional Records:
- Various Halifax County, Pittsylvania County, Henry County, and Tennessee land records and tax lists as referenced in the original research
- Revolutionary War pension applications for Phillip Cox and Thomas Cox
- Y-DNA test results from multiple family lines
- Autosomal DNA analysis connecting Coleman family relationships
Note: Full deed transcriptions and additional supporting documentation are available in the author’s research files. Researchers should verify all information through primary sources and continue to seek additional documentation to further clarify Jacob Cox’s complete life story.