William Cox, and his wife, Phoebe form a story in which the ending is known but the beginning is the mystery. A few years ago, a close Y-DNA match of the descendants of Jacob Cox, b. abt 1727, appeared at FTDNA.com. The person’s name is being withheld since permission is not been given to identify him. However, he had a paper trail that led his family back to a William Cox who he believed was born in South Carolina in 1773. This William, according to family records had died prior to 1830, but his wife had moved with her children to Henry County, Tennessee, sometime after the census was taken in 1830, in Hall County, Georgia, where they had been living. Much of that family has remained in Henry County throughout the intervening time.
We have not been able to determine how the family determined a name, birth location, or birth year for William. It is clear that he was not with the family in the 1830 census, and there is a William Cox in the 1820 census of Hall County, Georgia, and the ages of children fit with Phoebe’s family in 1830. Aside from that, we don’t know whether William is a name that had been passed from generation to generation, or whether the name and age were determined by putting the 1820 census with the 1830 census.
Yet, we do know that whatever his name, this person was very likely a descendant of Jacob Cox, either a child or grandchild. This makes it less likely that he was born in South Carolina, particularly if he was born in 1773. There is a slight chance he could be the son of Thomas Cox, son of Jacob, and Thomas’ first wife. It is also possible that Jacob had a son named John who could turn out to be the father of William. There was a person named John in Jacob’s household in 1778, and we find a person named John Cox in the 1820 census of Hall County, Georgia, who appears to have gotten land because of his service in the Revolutionary War. We simply don’t have any additional corroborating evidence of this John Cox’s existence.
Multiple surnames have been used for Phoebe. All are guesses. Our best guess as of 2019, is that Phoebe was a Barton. There was an ongoing relationship between the Cox and Barton families back in South Carolina, and Phoebe was living close to other Bartons in the 1830 census of Hall County, Georgia. The definitive conclusion awaits other researchers.
So, we have evidence of William’s descendants and ancestors, but very little about him. We can provide some detail about his children in Henry County, Tennessee, express confidence that they are also descendants of Jacob Cox, and we will include some notes written by others that may give hints for the next generation to follow.
It appears that the family had moved to Henry County by around 1840. In the 1850 census of District 11, Henry County, Tennessee, we find Simpson Cox, b. 1820. He is married to Arementia?, born 1827, and they have children named Sarah, 1845, W.A., 1847, and Phebe, 1849.
Living next to Simpson is Phebe Cox, the matriarch who was born in 1787 in South Carolina. Living with her is a Cassy, 1819, Willis, 1823, Mary, 1826, Sophia, 1830. All of these children were born in Georgia. We learn from this that Phebe is widowed/divorced. She began her life in South Carolina, but was living in Georgia by 1819 when Cassy was born. She could have other older children that are not named here and may not be living in this area. In fact, they would be old enough to have stayed in Georgia rather than come to Tennessee with the family.
Living next door to Phebe is a Nancy Hartsfield, 1837 (related to Martha Hartsfield future wife of Willis?), a Sarah Todd, 1780, and Martha Barton, 1819. All of them are listed separately, but they are under a Jesse Mangum family and a John Parrish family. All of these people are from North Carolina. The Parish family, at least, appears to have moved from North Carolina to Tennessee between 1837 and 1841.
This suggests that the Cox family moved from Georgia and the other families moved from North Carolina, and they met in Tennessee. They may not have known each other prior to that time. However, the Barton family is also in South Carolina in the area where Phebe is said to have begun her life.
In the 1840 census for Henry County, Tennessee, Phebe is listed. Living below her is a William Crittenden, then a Kelly Crittenden. Then, Joseph Barton (Jr. or Sr. is unclear), and below Joseph is Rebecca Barton.
In the 1830 census for Hall County, Georgia, Phebe is listed a couple of houses down from a Rebecca Barton, and a few houses above a Willis Barton (She eventually has a grandson named Willis Cox). See notes below for this and the 1820 census.
Gaston is in the Henry County, Tennessee, census in 1870 at the age of three. His parents are listed as Willis, born in Georgia in 1822, and Martha, born in North Carolina, in 1835. He has siblings named Thos?, born 1856, Nancy, b. 1859, and Phebe, b. 1864.
Willis appears to have a brother living close to him in this census. There is a W. S. Cox born 1821 in Georgia, married to a Arandia?, b. 1829 in North Carolina. (W.S. is undoubtedly the Simpson listed above) The two brothers were born in Georgia and married women from North Carolina, but all their children were born in Tennessee. The oldest child is born in 1844, so the family appears to have moved to Tennessee by that time. W.S. Cox’s children include Sarah, 1844, Georgann, 1854, Martha, 1857, A. J., 1860, G.A, 1863, and J.P. 1866.
Living between W.S. and Willis is a Wm. Cox, born 1848, married to Geneva?, born 1850. Wm. Is probably the son of W.S. since Willis’ wife would have been too young to be the mother.
It is an oddity, but apparently true, that William and Willis are siblings, born a year apart. Not only that, but William also is listed as W.S., which sounds like Willis. No wonder he goes by Simpson!
Gaston names a son Thomas, and he has a brother named Thomas. Could one of his grandfathers be named Thomas? Could it be Phebe’s father’s name?
This family eventually leads directly to the Y-DNA match, confirming the relationship between them and Jacob Cox, b. abt. 1727, clear back in New Jersey.
W.S. Cox, his wife, and several children are buried in a Cox Cemetery in Henry County, Tennessee. There is an inter-relationship with Barton, Byars, and Phillips families. It is possible that Phoebe was a Barton. Willis, Cassy, and William were names used in that family. (Cemetery can be found online as Cox Cemetery #2)
Additional Notes
In the 1820 Hall County, Georgia census: (The Families of Hall County, Georgia, 1817-1849,975.8272)
William Cox, 3 boys born 1810-1820, 2 girls between 1810-1820, wife born between 1775 and 1795, and William born between 1775 and 1795
In the 1830 Hall County, Georgia census: (The Families of Hall County, Georgia, 1817-1849,975.8272)
Rebecca Barton, Page 95, one male, 15-20, 1 female, 20-30, 1 female 50-60, 1 female 90-100 (Grandmother, mother and her two adult children?)
Phoebe Cox page 96, three households from Rebecca, (John Thompson and James Head between them), 2 boys 5-10, 2 boys 15-20, 2 girls 5-10, 1 girl 10-15, 1 girl 15-20, 1 girl 20-30, and 1 woman 40-50
Phebe is born 1780-1790
Daughters born 1800-1810, 1810-1815, 1815-1820, and two born 1820-1825; 2 boys born 1820-1825
Willis Barton, Page 96, six households below Phoebe, 1 5-10, 1 20-30
John Cox, Page 71, 1 5-10, 2 10-15, 2 15-20, 1 20-30, 1 50-60
John F. Cox, Page 85, 1 20-30
Joseph Barton is listed on page 89 with one person under five and one 20-30
John Barton, sr. Page 101, one person 60-70
Henry Barton, Page 114, Two under 5, 1 5-10, and 1 30-40
John Barton, Page 117, Two under 5, 1 30-40
John Cox Page 120, 2 15-20, 1 20-30, and 1 60-70
William Barton Page 123, 1 5-10, 1 15-20, and 2 30-40
David Barton, Page 123, 1 60-70
Stephen Barton, Page 126, 1 under five and 2 20-30
Olliph Barton, Page 126, and next to Stephen Barton, no free people listed
James Barton, page 126 and next to Olliph Barton, 1 15-20
Note on ancestry.com for Moses Barton, Sr. (Source unknown)
A book I read called, “1800 Census of Pendleton District, South Carolina” makes mention of descendants and records that have been located that tend to prove that a good possibility exist that the Barton family probably began in Maryland (and possibly New Jersey) before moving to Virginia then to North Carolina and on into South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and west. It further relays that five Bartons; David, Joshua, William, Issac and Benjamin Barton all lived in Pittsylvania-Henry (Franklin County) Virginia between 1767 and 1782. They are most likely ancestors to the Pendleton District, Barton Families. Another book, “Gone to Georgia,” echos what has been relayed previously.
A book I read, called “The Heritage of Hall County Georgia 1818-2001” reads the earlier Bartons are said to have gone into England with William “The Conqueror” 7th Duke of Normandy in the latter part of the 10th century. They were known as “de Barton” until the 12th century when they began to commonly use “Barton”. It also reads that the Hall County Bartons descended from Thomas Barton who arrived in Jamestown, Virginia before October 8, 1634 and that a Thomas Barton (Possibly of our lineage) was born around 1600. The “Law of Primogeriture” kept the younger sons from gaining anything from their fathers and they had to move out to seek fortunes of their own and to support their families. The families therefore began to move south into North Carolina then on South. The families congregated around Wilkes County North Carolina area for a while then in to the Pendleton District of South Carolina. They settled into Tugaloo area of Georgia before moving on into Alabama through Jefferson and Lawrence counties then ending the early immigration in Walker and Winston Counties. .
On January 1, 1797 Robert Looney sold all his belongings and the following land to David Barton (Father of Thomas and ancestor to our Walker County Alabama Barton Family). 200 acres on Cane Creek of Tugaloo, 200 acres on Tugaloo near mouth of Chauga. David Barton also bought 50 acres from on February 5, 1801 from John Keys (Father to Susan who married David’s son Thomas Barton). Thomas bought land from William and Elizabeth Baker on October 10, 1798. The land on Cain Creek of Tugaloo adjoined the Plantation of Capt John Kees (Keys).
It reads that David Barton and the Thomas-Moses Barton family moved to Morgan County Georgia between 1794 and 1801. It goes on to read that Moses, son of Thomas and Susan (Keys) Barton was born in South Carolina in 1774 and followed his father into Morgan County Georgia by 1801. Moses then went to Walker County Alabama in 1822.
A book called History of Walker County-The early settlers Page 129 has short history of Moses Barton which describes the following: Moses Barton is the first of that name to come to Walker County and according to family tradition is a descendant of David Barton who came to America from England in 1672 with his brother Abraham. Abraham first settled in Maryland and later went to New England. David Settled on the James River in Virginia. One of his descendants also named David Barton went into Kentucky with Daniel Boone and was killed by Indians at Harrodsburg in 1767. Five of his sons were in the Revolutionary war and one of them, another David Barton, served as a Colonel with George Washington at Valley Forge. Thomas Barton, son of the last David Barton, married Susan Keys. Susan was the daughter of John and Susan Keys of Fairfax Courthouse, Virginia. Thomas and Susan Barton moved to Morgan County, Georgia in 1794, and to Alabama in Territory in 1817 being the first white settler to locate north fo the Tallapoosa River. He cleared the first plantation and built the first grist mill of that locality. It is believed that Moses is the son of this Thomas Barton.
It goes on to state that Moses came to Walker County about 1822 as a land entry records him buying land on Warrior River near the mouth of BlackWater Creek in Section 27 T14 R6. Not much recorded info is available except that he was a good farmer and and is buried in the Old Sardis Cemetery on the Warrior River.
Moses married Francis “Fanny” Black and had children; Nathaniel (married Massa Rogers), Hiram (married Sarah K Willis), Willis (married Margaret Martin), Vicey Louisa (married James Sanders), Lydia (married Samuel Morrow), John Mason (married Anna Willis), Nancy (married John B Robbins), James Allen (married Celia Ann Brock), Rebecca (married Burgess Mullins), Frances (married James Morrow), Milley (married James Raines) Moses (married Margaret Frye) and Mary A (married James Nations).
A funny note to this story is that Faney Barton bought land in Walker County Alabama and showed herself as Faney Barton Sr. I then wondered if she put the Sr on her name because she was married to Moses Barton Sr or because she had a daughter named Frances and the daughter was named after her.
Moses is buried in the Sardis Cemetery in Walker County Alabama beside his wife Fanny.
End of Online Notes
Thomas Cox connection?
Thomas Cox, son of Jacob, may be connected to this line. It appears Thomas is living with his wife, Martha (Smith) in 1850, in Gwinnett County, Georgia. This county borders Hall County. Martha is said to have been born in 1790 in South Carolina. Thomas was born about 1766, according to his age, in Virginia. Samuel Cox, 24 years old, is living next to them with his wife, Lowery. There are other families near them in the 1850 census who appear to have migrated from Pickens County, South Carolina area. They include Larkin Browne, who was living near Henry Barton in Pickens County in 1820, and William Davis. There is a James Lowery in Pickens County in 1820 who could be a clue for Samuel’s wife, and he is living three doors from Larkin Browne.
Thomas and Martha have children living with them in 1850, named John, 21, Charles, 25, Olimper, 38, Elmira, 20, Robert, 15. Samuel, 24, is next door with Lowery (Liwry?), 24, and Milderne(?), 1, a daughter.
An Elizabeth Cox marries George Lowery in 1813 in Franklin County, Georgia, a precursor to Gwinnett.
Possible death of William Cox?
The Families of Hall County, 1817-1849, Davis, Robert, S. Jr., 975.8272 D297
(Page 72)Perhaps William Cox died as early as 1825. In that year John Cox is listed as parent or guardian of Saml. Cox, James Cox (15), and William Cox (12). These are listed as poor children in Captain Olivers District. In 1827, Samuel F. Oliver is paid for teaching in the 268th District, and his students include James and William Cox. (Page 79) Later in 1827 (page 80, he is paid for teaching Saml. Cox. In 1828, he is paid again for teaching William Cox (Page 80). If William was 12 in 1825, he would be 15 in 1828. In 1830, he would be 17 years old, and there is a William Cox who is in the 1840 census who fits this age group (Page 274). Even though several of the children in these lists are present for each session. Saml. and William appear to be taking turns being in school.
We might conclude that John Cox is the oldest brother in the group, born soon after William and Phoebe are married. Samuel, James, and William would be younger brothers. But they would be adults by the time Phoebe leaves for Henry County, Tennessee.
In the 1820 census, William has three boys born from 1810 to 1820 (Saml., James, and William?) (Page 44). This William is born between 1775 and 1794, as is his wife. He is a farmer. He also has two daughters born between 1810 and 1820. This does not leave a place for John Cox
Unfortunately, there appear to be three people named John Cox in the 1820 census, and they all have young boys who could fit the category of being the poor children of John Cox rather than him being their guardian. One of these is apparently a Revolutionary War Soldier, having won land in the 1827 lottery (Page 176)
(Page 77) George and Samuel Cox are poor children whose tuition is to be paid. They are listed in a special session in 1826 along with a group of children who appear to be different from those who are normally listed with Saml., James, and William.