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Ancestry of Jehu Cox Knox County, Kentucky, Was Ancestry of Jehu Cox Knox County, Kentucky, was chosen by providence for the advent of Jehu Cox. Destiny ruled that he would be a great empire builder, a champion of Mormonism, and the ancestor of a great family of truth seekers. Kentucky, his "Old Kentucky Home" takes the name from an Indian name, meaning, "Land of Tomorrow," was first discovered by Marquette and Joliet in 1673. The Iroquoians whom Marquette found in the region described their country as a meadow land--a truly accurate description. The area was an ideal hunting ground for the Indians. Before the coming of the white man the Indian tribes prized the area so highly that a life and death struggle ensued for its possession. It was truly a "Dark and Bloody Ground" when Daniel Boone first explored it in 1767. Eight years later (1775) Daniel built the wilderness Road from Virginia into Kentucky. This famous road (later used by the Cox family) followed an Indian trail to the top of the Appalachian Mountains--better known as Cumberland Gap--then down the Cumberland River into Kentucky and Tennessee. For a century after 1775 a stream of settlers followed that road to find new homes in the west. Kentucky was given statehood June 1, 1792, eleven years before the advent of Jehu. The time chosen by providence for the advent of Jehu was September 5, 1803, simultaneously with his arrival the American people were passing through a great crisis. Tensions had been caused by the Louisiana issue. Napoleon had stolen this territory from Spain and was then offering it for sale to the United States. The burning issue: "Should we purchase this stolen real estate?" The debate had reached a climax just when Jehu came to earth. His presence in Kentucky affected the issue favorably. The purchase was ratified by Congress a few months after our great Kentuckian arrived. Settlement of the issue illustrates a pattern in the life of Jehu Cox. Born during a crisis, Jehu's life was a continuance crisis. Knox County is located in the southeast part of the Blue Grass state. Crossing over the Cumberland Gap the road turns through Bell County and into Knox County. Twenty miles from the Gap is the center of Knox County. Twenty miles from the Gap is the center of Knox County. The Cumberland River originates in the hilly country east of Knox County. The river makes a large bend within the county. It is very probable that Jehu was born near that river. The county was all rural in 1803. If towns existed they were very small. Col. James Knox led a party of nine hunters into this area in 1769 and explored the country adjacent to Knox. The county was named for him. Mr. Knox made his home in that area and became one of its leading citizens. Jehu was the fourth child in the family. Nathan, the brother older than he, was born in 1800. This means the move to Kentucky was made between November 1800 and September 1, 1803. When the Cox family had been living in Tennessee is unknown. It is very probable they lived in the extreme northeastern tip of the state--very likely in Sullivan or Carter County. In that area the three older children of Thomas Cox were probably born, namely; Benjamin in 1796; Solomon, May 4, 1798; and Nathan, in November 1800. There are no Census records for these eastern counties until 1830 therefore these opinions must be considered as speculation. Before we detail the life story of Jehu let us focus our attention on his ancestry. The Cox clan were Quakers--and good Friends they were too. The family's affiliations with this sect reaches back to the days of George Fox. Friend Thomas Cox, father of Jehu, was born in a Quaker community (Cane Creek, North Carolina), December 5, 1775. Rachel Carr, wife of Thomas, came from strong Quaker ancestors, too. Thomas was a farmer. Naturally then, wherever he lived, his home was in the country. Cane Creek, still a rural community in 1947 when the writer visited it, was the boyhood home of Thomas during his first 20 years. In 1795 he met and married Rachel Carr. That same year he moved to Grayson County, Virginia, a distance of 110 miles west of Cane Creek. We do not know whether the marriage took place before or after the move. The family could have lived in Grayson County but a short time for in 1796 the first child was born in Tennessee. It is interesting to note that Cane Creek, and Grayson County are in a straight line with the Cumberland Gap. Rachel Carr was born March 4, 1771 in Cane Creek, the daughter of Thomas and Mariam Carr. Her father, Thomas, was born in 1731, arrived in Cane Creek in 1753, married July 15, 1756 to Mariam Jones. Thomas was the son of Benjamin Carr of Gunpowder, Maryland. Benjamin's wife and parents are all unknown. The ancestry of Mariam Jones is more complete. She was born about the same time that Thomas was (1721?). She was the daughter of Richard and Mariam Coppock Jones, married October 2, 1776 at Nottingham, Chester County, Pennsylvania. Richard and Mariam were faithful members of the Society of Friends. Richard was the son of David and Elizabeth Jones. That's all we know of his ancestry. We have more data on Mariam Coppock. She was born in 1706 at Aston, Chester County, Pa., the daughter of Aaron and Mariam Short Coppock --stalwart Quakers. Aaron Coppock, an Elder in the Quaker Society, was born in Cheshire, England, October 25, 1662, came to America in childhood with parents, Moses and Martha Scarborough Coppock. The Coppocks lived in Chester County where Aaron grew to manhood. He first married Mary (about 1689) with whom he had 4 children. After her death he married (September 30, 1704) Mariam Short, the widow of George Thompson and William White. This marriage took place at the Chichester Meeting in Chester County. Aaron and Mariam became the parents of three children, Mariam the second child, arrived in 1706. Soon after marriage the Coppocks moved to Nottingham where they spent the rest of their lives. The Friend, published in Philadelphia in 1856 (Vol. 29, p 68) gives us a few interesting items about Aaron: "Being a friend of sound Judgement, and exemplary in his walking, he was, soon after, chosen an Elder in which station he did not long continue, his Heavenly Father having called him to the work of the Ministry. During the short period allotted him to labor in this service, he was, 'concerned to exhort Friends to a life of self-denial, watchfulness, and prayer!' This his Fiends say he did in all sincerity, zeal and innocence! He died October 9, 1725, leaving a blessed prospect of eternal happiness before him, with sure hope that he should, through adorable mercy, partake thereof. In this assurance, knowing in whom he had believed, he departed this life. He was aged 63 years and had been engaged in the ministry of the Gospel about seven. Such was the character of Aaron Coppock. Had he lived in our day he would have enthusiastically accepted the restored gospel. That possibility may already be a reality. His temple work has been done (May 6, 1948, and the sealing ordinance completed (November 10, 1949). Mariam, the wife of Aaron, was probably the daughter of Adam and Mariam Ingram Short, born, we believe, in England. This is all we know about the ancestry of Rachel Carr. Let us now return to the Cox family and the ancestry of Thomas Cox. Thomas Cox was number 6 in a family of ten. His father, Solomon Cox, was born about 1745 in Warrington, York County, Pennsylvania. Warrington--a live Quaker Community--was the home of the Cox, Hussey, and Garretson families. These clans had stuck together for generations. Many inter-marriages had cemented the tribe into a solid unit. When Solomon was a lad of ten his father John joined the Hussey and Garretsons for a long move to Cane Creek, Orange County, North Carolina, a distance of 300 miles. Cane Creek was a real Mecca for the Society of Friends. These Quakers hoped to establish a new Zion amongst the slave holders of the South. A Quaker Meeting was organized and a progressive community sprang into existence. Like the Mormons in Jackson County, the Quakers soon found themselves surrounded by intolerant neighbors. The slave holders looked with suspicion on these strange people whose religion opposed slavery. Suspicion led to antagonism and conflicts. Finally, persecution became so violent the Quakers abandoned Cane Creek and settled in eastern Tennessee, Kentucky, and Western Virginia. Meanwhile, as indicated above, John Cox with three children arrived in Cane Creek April 19, 1755. We next hear of Solomon, the youngest of the there, in 1766 when he married Naomi Hussey. This pair obeyed the first commandment fully for within 15 years ten children came to bless their home. A tradition in the family says that Solomon was excommunicated by his Quaker Friends. He was found guilty of militant activity with the Regulators who opposed British taxes. Since the Quakers opposed war, their action against Solomon is understandable. But we in our day are proud to learn that Solomon made a contribution in the cause of freedom. Military activity was only a sideline for Solomon. He had ten children to support. Ruth, the youngest, was born in 1780 or 1781. This was about the time that pressure from the slave holders became so great the family decided to move away.
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