By Steve Cox
February 23, 2019
The story of Rebecca Cox and her marriage to John Tally (Talley) is one that seems clear on the one hand, yet mysterious on the other. Most of the drama surrounds her husband’s birth and early life. We will begin with what we know.
John Tally served as a witness to a land transaction in 1788 between Jacob Cox and his son,Samuel Cox. The transaction in what is now northeastern Tennessee near Horse Creek is very close to land purchased by John Tally in 1798 on the Fall Branch of Horse Creek.
In 1808, Matthew Tally, son of John and Rebecca, was an executor for the estate of Samuel Cox, the person for whom he acted as a witness in 1788. Matthew and Jacob Tally were both present and made purchases at the estate sale for Samuel Cox. The Jacob who was present at the estate sale named one of his children Jacob Cox Tally.
The author of this article has DNA matches at ancestry.com with several descendants of children of John Tally and Rebecca Cox. Two of these matches believe they descend from Matthew, another from Jacob, and another from John. All of these matches have shared matches with the author who come from the Cox line of ancestry.
John Tally died in about 1813 in Franklin County, Tennessee, and Rebecca died in the same county in 1818. Most estimates have placed their birthdates in the 1750’s.
Based on the above information, it seems clear that John Tally married into the Jacob Cox family. These two families lived near each other for several years in northeastern Tennessee before John and Rebecca migrated to Franklin County, Tennessee, near Winchester. Matthew Tally married Sarah Condrey (Condra) who came from a family that had also married into Jacob Cox’s family. Jacob’s daughter, Dorcas, married Richard Condra. Another daughter, Nancy, married Presley Buckner. They had a grandson who married a granddaughter of John and Rebecca Tally.
Trying to tell the rest of the story with confidence is more difficult. Some have said that John was born and raised in what is now northeastern Tennessee. This would have been at a time when the area was essentially unsettled by White settlers. Some have said that John was a Cherokee, even though the name Tally suggests otherwise. Many have said that John was previously married to a Chickasaw woman who died giving birth to Jacob Tally, their third child. However, it is these three children who have descendants that appear to share DNA with the Cox family. The fact that one child, Jacob, bears the name of Rebecca’s father, also would cause to lean toward Rebecca being the mother. Some have said that John and Rebecca were married on November 10, 1784, though we have not seen documentation for the marriage. There is supposed to be a record by Samuel Tally in 1815 that says his mother’s name was Martha Rebecca Tally, though, again, we are hoping a Tally researcher can help us find the documentation.
We are aware that some of the children of John and Rebecca were John, Matthew, Samuel, William, Jacob, Sally, and Catherine (not listed in any order). It is likely there were others that we have not found listed. Whether all of these were biological children of Rebecca is uncertain. Old family stories and DNA appear to be in dispute, but the DNA evidence is not sufficient to be considered proof. More research is needed by Cox and Tally descendants.
The following is a transcript of Rebecca’s Will:
2nd wife of John Tally:
WILL: Know all men by these present that I Rebecka Tally of the State of
Tennessee & County of Franklin for the natural affinity , Natural affection
which I bear and have toward my grand
daughter Lete Tally the daughter of Catherine
Tally Dec’d, and my son Samuel Tally.
I do give grant bequath alien and confirm unto the said Lete Tally and Samuel
Tally all my property and Worldly Substance in the manner following (to wit)
First and foremost I give grant and bequath unto my before said granddaughter
my yellow negro girl, Sohpia and her
increase should there be any. I also give grant unto said Lete my house hold
and kitchen furniture. I next give unto said Lete and Samuel all my moveable
property of a perishable nature to be divided equally between them and unto my
Son Samuel Tally I give my all my right title claim and interest to one share
or legaties part of two thousand acres of land it being the share or part I
purchased of James Nun and his wife
Sally being one of the heirs of John Tally, late of Franklin County dec’d.
the land being the property of said John
Tally dec’d lying on the head of the boiling fork of Elk River but the said
Lete Tally die before she coms full age marries has no issue then I give all
the above recited property to my son Samuel Tally. In witness my hand and seal
this 6th day of February 1818 and 42nd year of American Independance. Signed
Sealed with my Seal in presence of:
Thos. Ridge
Hardy Prince
Rebecka Tally