Individual Details
Samuel Cox
(1770 - Abt Jul 1808)
Samuel Cox was born 1770 in Halifax County, Virginia, and died in 1808 in what was then Knox County(now Union County), Tennessee. He was married twice to Catherine (Katty) Bruce or Brewis in Halifax County Virginia in 1790 and Margarett Crippen. Samuel bought land from his father in what is now northeastern Tennessee, in 1788, but returned to Virginia for his marriage. It appears that the children were all born in Tennessee.
When Catherine died in 1806, Samuel was left with a large family of children who ranged from teenagers to infants. He quickly married Margaret Crippen, but their life together was brief. In April of 1808, Samuel and Margaret's brother, John, got into a fight. Samuel was injured so seriously that he died within a few months. Margaret was pregnant with their child, but the rest of Samuel's children were left with a step-mother whose brother was responsible for their father's death. Needless to say, the children were sent to live with various guardians. An estate sale soon dissolved the property, but there would be legal battles for several years to come, some in regard to the fight between Samuel and his brother-in-law, and some in regard to who should have been heirs to the property.
Samuel was relatively young, but he had accumulated a good bit of wealth. His untimely death dealt a blow to his family and impacted the generations that followed after.
From Terry Hutchison:
Here's the answer to questions about Samuel Cox and the assault:
The following is Court Action taken against John Crippen which began in 1808 and continued until the sale of his property in 1820. It occurred over a several year period.
There are several pages of Summons for different witnesses in this case (Mary Crowder?, Jane Cox, & John Miller, Benjamin Hall, Smith Major, & James Crippen ) and these actions took place over several months. It appears that Elizabeth Hackey & Benjamin Hall & Smith Major are major witnesses in the defense of this suit that since the indictment was found he has not been able to have ? summons - that we believe he can procure their attendance at next Term - that they are not absent by his procurement or consent and that he can not come safely to trial without their evidence sworn to ??? 14th Oct 1808....
These are the charges & witness testimony of Samuel's son, John Cox:
The Jurors for the State of Tennessee impaneled sworn and charged to inquire for the County of Knox aforesaid, upon their oath, present that a certain John Crippen late of the County aforesaid laborer on the Tenth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and Eight at town in the County of Knox aforesaid, with force and arms in and upon one Samuel Cox then and there being? in the peace of the State, an assault did make and him the said Samuel Cox then and there did beat wound and ill treat, and other wrong to him and there did to the said Samuel Cox, to the great damage of the said Samuel Cox, to the evil
example of all others in like cases offending and against the peace and dignity of the State..
John Williams Solicitor for Knox County
THEN the Warrant:
State of Tennessee
Knox County
To any Lawful Officer to Execute & Return.
Whereas Complaint has been made to me John Miller Esq. one of the Justices of Peace for the County Aforesaid upon the Oath of John Cox of this County planter that John Crippen of this County Laborer did on the 10th day of April 1808 or thereabout did Violently Assault his Father Samuel Cox by Pushing his fist in his face and making his Nose bleed in the County Aforesaid. These are therefore to Command you in the name of the State to Command you to Apprehend the said John Crippen & bring him before me or some other Justice of the peace for said County to Answer the above complaint & be further dealt with as the law directs given
under my hand & seal this 15th day of Sep. 1808
Summons Mary Crowder
John Miller
Wm White
One of the Acting Justices for the County
John Cox
Aforesaid Witnesses for the State
Samuel was most likely killed by his brother in law, John Crippen (brother of Samuel's second wife). At least he died shortly after a rather serious altercation with his brother in law and it appears to me that he may have died because of that, but it was never proven in Court. In fact, no charge of murder was brought, perhaps because it was viewed as a family quarrel.
Samuel Cox Will in 1808
An instrument of writing purporting to be the Will and Testament of James Cox deceased was probated for probate whereupon this issue was made by the Court, to wit, whether a paper wrote in the following words-
In the name of God Amen. I, Samuel Cox of Knox County and State of Tennessee being through the abundant mercy and goodness of God, though weak in body, yet of a sound and perfect understanding and memory do constitute this my last Will and Testament and desire it to be received by all as such.
As to my worldly estate, I will and positively order that all my debts be paid, that my burial be decent without pomp or state at the discretion of my dear wife and my Executors hereafter named, whose fidelity I doubt not.
First, I bequeath unto my beloved wife, one tenth part of all my personal property.
Item, I also will and demise unto my well beloved daughter, Sarah Bylant, one negro girl named Jenny and also an equal part in all my Estate both real and personal to her, her heirs and assigns forever.
Item, I also will and demise the real and residue of all my estate both real and personal without any further exceptions to my well beloved children, to wit, unto John, to Coalman, unto Jacob, to Polly, to Rachel, to Bruce and unto Samuel and also to the child or children whom my wife shall lawfully bear unto me, to them, their heirs and assigns forever. I also constitute and appoint my true and trusty friends and dear and kind relations, Jacob Cox Sr Matthew Tally and Presley Buckner, whom I appoint and authorize to sell and dispose of any of my goods and chattels, to discharge my legal debts and where they shall think the personal property of my estate to be cumbrous to the family or in any danger of loss or damage, to sell it as they deem most advantageous and when my wife or any children mentioned in this Will shall make due application according to the law for their part contained in this my last Will and Testament, then and in that case I desire these, my Executors, to nominate and appoint or cause it so to be not less than three disinterested men of honest sober fame to attend on the premise and there make out a valuation of all the property then belonging to the estate, except the negro girl bequeathed to Sarah Bylant, and render unto the applicant the part allotted them by this Will.
And in witness of this, my last Will and Testament, I have herunto set my hand and seal this twenty seventh day of April 1808.
Samuel Cox, (Seal)
is expressive of the last Will and Testament of Samuel Cox deceased or not, whereupon came a Jury, John Dearmond, Joseph Rodgers, Francis Casteel, Sam'l Bowman, Roland Chiles, wm Anderson, Wm Cunningham, Thos Gillespie, Jeremiah Jacob, Moses Looney, Jonathan Douglass, John Meek say said instrument is expressive of the last Will and Testament of Sam'l Cox dec'd.
Matthias Tally provided bond for Margaret Crippen at her wedding to Samuel Cox. Perhaps the Matthew Tally is the same person. Presley Buckner is the husband of Samuel's sister, Nancy. It is unclear whether Sarah "Bylant" is the daughter's middle name that is thought to be Ryland. She is too young to be married, but middle names of other children are not used.
The source for the Will also includes a listing of the inventory for Samuel. It is extensive and detailed, including 9 slaves (five of which are children) 45 head of hogs, three pigs, 17 sheep,2 ducks, seven cows, 5 steers, 3 heifers, two calves, and two pages worth of articles with everything from sakkles to candle snuffers to a white cashmere waistcoat, and much more.
According to other family researchers, Matthew Tally was the son of John Blakeman Tally and Martha Rebecca Cox, and some have postulated that Rebecca is an older sister of Samuel. Not all agree that Rebecca is the mother, but this is an appropriate scenario since the other two executors of Samuel's will are related to him.
Samuel's marriage to Catherine (Katty or Caty) Bruce showed John Bruce providing surety. The wedding was performed by Rev. James Watkins.
Samuel and Catherine (Caty) were married by Rev. James Watkins, who is also shown performing a marriage in Caswell County, North Carolina, for another family in the same time period. (Watkins performs another wedding in Halifax County, Va, in 1799. Perhaps he was working both side of the state line) John Bruce provided surety for Catherine.
When Catherine died in 1806, Samuel was left with a large family of children who ranged from teenagers to infants. He quickly married Margaret Crippen, but their life together was brief. In April of 1808, Samuel and Margaret's brother, John, got into a fight. Samuel was injured so seriously that he died within a few months. Margaret was pregnant with their child, but the rest of Samuel's children were left with a step-mother whose brother was responsible for their father's death. Needless to say, the children were sent to live with various guardians. An estate sale soon dissolved the property, but there would be legal battles for several years to come, some in regard to the fight between Samuel and his brother-in-law, and some in regard to who should have been heirs to the property.
Samuel was relatively young, but he had accumulated a good bit of wealth. His untimely death dealt a blow to his family and impacted the generations that followed after.
From Terry Hutchison:
Here's the answer to questions about Samuel Cox and the assault:
The following is Court Action taken against John Crippen which began in 1808 and continued until the sale of his property in 1820. It occurred over a several year period.
There are several pages of Summons for different witnesses in this case (Mary Crowder?, Jane Cox, & John Miller, Benjamin Hall, Smith Major, & James Crippen ) and these actions took place over several months. It appears that Elizabeth Hackey & Benjamin Hall & Smith Major are major witnesses in the defense of this suit that since the indictment was found he has not been able to have ? summons - that we believe he can procure their attendance at next Term - that they are not absent by his procurement or consent and that he can not come safely to trial without their evidence sworn to ??? 14th Oct 1808....
These are the charges & witness testimony of Samuel's son, John Cox:
The Jurors for the State of Tennessee impaneled sworn and charged to inquire for the County of Knox aforesaid, upon their oath, present that a certain John Crippen late of the County aforesaid laborer on the Tenth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and Eight at town in the County of Knox aforesaid, with force and arms in and upon one Samuel Cox then and there being? in the peace of the State, an assault did make and him the said Samuel Cox then and there did beat wound and ill treat, and other wrong to him and there did to the said Samuel Cox, to the great damage of the said Samuel Cox, to the evil
example of all others in like cases offending and against the peace and dignity of the State..
John Williams Solicitor for Knox County
THEN the Warrant:
State of Tennessee
Knox County
To any Lawful Officer to Execute & Return.
Whereas Complaint has been made to me John Miller Esq. one of the Justices of Peace for the County Aforesaid upon the Oath of John Cox of this County planter that John Crippen of this County Laborer did on the 10th day of April 1808 or thereabout did Violently Assault his Father Samuel Cox by Pushing his fist in his face and making his Nose bleed in the County Aforesaid. These are therefore to Command you in the name of the State to Command you to Apprehend the said John Crippen & bring him before me or some other Justice of the peace for said County to Answer the above complaint & be further dealt with as the law directs given
under my hand & seal this 15th day of Sep. 1808
Summons Mary Crowder
John Miller
Wm White
One of the Acting Justices for the County
John Cox
Aforesaid Witnesses for the State
Samuel was most likely killed by his brother in law, John Crippen (brother of Samuel's second wife). At least he died shortly after a rather serious altercation with his brother in law and it appears to me that he may have died because of that, but it was never proven in Court. In fact, no charge of murder was brought, perhaps because it was viewed as a family quarrel.
Samuel Cox Will in 1808
An instrument of writing purporting to be the Will and Testament of James Cox deceased was probated for probate whereupon this issue was made by the Court, to wit, whether a paper wrote in the following words-
In the name of God Amen. I, Samuel Cox of Knox County and State of Tennessee being through the abundant mercy and goodness of God, though weak in body, yet of a sound and perfect understanding and memory do constitute this my last Will and Testament and desire it to be received by all as such.
As to my worldly estate, I will and positively order that all my debts be paid, that my burial be decent without pomp or state at the discretion of my dear wife and my Executors hereafter named, whose fidelity I doubt not.
First, I bequeath unto my beloved wife, one tenth part of all my personal property.
Item, I also will and demise unto my well beloved daughter, Sarah Bylant, one negro girl named Jenny and also an equal part in all my Estate both real and personal to her, her heirs and assigns forever.
Item, I also will and demise the real and residue of all my estate both real and personal without any further exceptions to my well beloved children, to wit, unto John, to Coalman, unto Jacob, to Polly, to Rachel, to Bruce and unto Samuel and also to the child or children whom my wife shall lawfully bear unto me, to them, their heirs and assigns forever. I also constitute and appoint my true and trusty friends and dear and kind relations, Jacob Cox Sr Matthew Tally and Presley Buckner, whom I appoint and authorize to sell and dispose of any of my goods and chattels, to discharge my legal debts and where they shall think the personal property of my estate to be cumbrous to the family or in any danger of loss or damage, to sell it as they deem most advantageous and when my wife or any children mentioned in this Will shall make due application according to the law for their part contained in this my last Will and Testament, then and in that case I desire these, my Executors, to nominate and appoint or cause it so to be not less than three disinterested men of honest sober fame to attend on the premise and there make out a valuation of all the property then belonging to the estate, except the negro girl bequeathed to Sarah Bylant, and render unto the applicant the part allotted them by this Will.
And in witness of this, my last Will and Testament, I have herunto set my hand and seal this twenty seventh day of April 1808.
Samuel Cox, (Seal)
is expressive of the last Will and Testament of Samuel Cox deceased or not, whereupon came a Jury, John Dearmond, Joseph Rodgers, Francis Casteel, Sam'l Bowman, Roland Chiles, wm Anderson, Wm Cunningham, Thos Gillespie, Jeremiah Jacob, Moses Looney, Jonathan Douglass, John Meek say said instrument is expressive of the last Will and Testament of Sam'l Cox dec'd.
Matthias Tally provided bond for Margaret Crippen at her wedding to Samuel Cox. Perhaps the Matthew Tally is the same person. Presley Buckner is the husband of Samuel's sister, Nancy. It is unclear whether Sarah "Bylant" is the daughter's middle name that is thought to be Ryland. She is too young to be married, but middle names of other children are not used.
The source for the Will also includes a listing of the inventory for Samuel. It is extensive and detailed, including 9 slaves (five of which are children) 45 head of hogs, three pigs, 17 sheep,2 ducks, seven cows, 5 steers, 3 heifers, two calves, and two pages worth of articles with everything from sakkles to candle snuffers to a white cashmere waistcoat, and much more.
According to other family researchers, Matthew Tally was the son of John Blakeman Tally and Martha Rebecca Cox, and some have postulated that Rebecca is an older sister of Samuel. Not all agree that Rebecca is the mother, but this is an appropriate scenario since the other two executors of Samuel's will are related to him.
Samuel's marriage to Catherine (Katty or Caty) Bruce showed John Bruce providing surety. The wedding was performed by Rev. James Watkins.
Samuel and Catherine (Caty) were married by Rev. James Watkins, who is also shown performing a marriage in Caswell County, North Carolina, for another family in the same time period. (Watkins performs another wedding in Halifax County, Va, in 1799. Perhaps he was working both side of the state line) John Bruce provided surety for Catherine.
Events
| Birth | 1770 | ||||
| Marriage | 24 Mar 1790 | Halifax County, Virginia, United States - Catherine Bruce Brewis | |||
| Marriage | 9 Dec 1807 | Knox County, Tennessee, United States - Margaret Crippen |  | ||
| Will | 22 Apr 1808 | Knox County, Tennessee, United States | | ||
| Death | Abt Jul 1808 | Knox County, Tennessee, United States | |
Families
| Spouse | Catherine Bruce Brewis (1770 - 1806) |
| Child | John Cox (1791 - 1853) |
| Child | Coleman Cox (1793 - 1859) |
| Child | Jacob Cox (1794 - ) |
| Child | Sarah Ryland Cox (1795 - 1834) |
| Child | Polly "Mary" Cox (1796 - ) |
| Child | Rachel Cox (1798 - ) |
| Child | Brewis "Bruce Or Bruice" Cox (1801 - 1848) |
| Child | Samuel Cox (1803 - 1828) |
| Spouse | Margaret Crippen ( - ) |
| Child | George Washington Campbell Cox (1808 - 1855) |
| Father | Jacob Cox (1727 - 1809) |
| Mother | Anna Coleman (1728 - 1763) |
| Sibling | William Cox (1772 - 1829) |
| Sibling | Dorcas Cox (1755 - ) |
| Sibling | Phillip Cox (1755 - 1834) |
| Sibling | Rebecca Cox (1758 - 1818) |
| Sibling | Thomas Cox (1762 - 1853) |
| Sibling | Jacob Cox (1768 - 1809) |
| Sibling | Nancy Cox (1771 - 1836) |
Endnotes
1. Knox County, Tennessee Marriage Records, 1792-1837, Page 40.
2. Union County Museum (Roy Acuff Museum), Cox file.
3. Descendent of Samuel Cox through second wife, Margaret Crippen, email, July 23, 2001.