Moses COX ³

  General Notes:

That Moses Cox was the son of Ephraim Cox is established by the following facts: (1) Moses identifies Israel Cox as his brother in his will; (2) the family bible of Israel's son, David, lists the date of death of Ephraim, indicating Ephraim was Israel's father, which means he was also Moses' father; and (3) Moses is a common name among descendants of Peter Larsson Cock (Cox), because his father-in-law was Måns Svensson Lom and Moses is the English equivalent of Måns.

  Research Notes:

As was the case with Ephraim Cox, I did not personally research the records of Rowan County, North Carolina, as they relate to Moses Cox. Again, I am indebted to Nancy Kiser and Doris Scrivner Collier for sharing their research with me. Set forth below is a summary of the known references to Moses Cox in the records, accompanied by what source information I have.

1. The Rowan Militia Lists show Moses Cocks served as a scout under arms for 7 days in Jun 1759 (Nancy, citing Rowan County Register, Vol. 7, No. 4, Nov 1992 and Jo White Linn, Rowan County, North Carolina Tax Lists, 1757-1800)

2. In 1761, Moses Cox lived on 200 acres on waters of Muddy Run, Rowan County. (Doris)

3. In 1763 and 1764, there were land transactions involving Moses Cox. The Oct 1763 record appears to when Moses' deed from MuCulloh, dated 13 May 1762, was proved, said deed being for 296 acres in tract #9, adjoining, among others, Israel Cox. (Nancy, citing Abstracts of Minutes, Rowan County, 1763-1774, as transcribed on the Cox Coop Library, an Internet collection of Cox references; Doris, citing Jo White Linn, Abstracts of the Deeds of Rowan County, North Carolina, 1753-1785)

4. Moses Cox appeared on the 1764 list of those who had filed claims against Rowan County, his claims being for killing 1 wolf and 3 panthers. (Nancy, citing "An Account of Claims Laid on the County of Rowan for the Year 1764," which appears in the Jo White Linn book on Tax Lists referenced above, and the above-referenced Court Minutes)

5. In 1767, Moses Cox purchased land from Israel Cox. (Nancy, citing the above-referenced Court Minutes)

6. Moses Cox appeared on the 1768 Rowan County Tax List of John Ford. (Nancy, citing above-referenced Linn book on Tax Lists)

7. Moses Cox served as a constable for Rowan County in 1771. (Nancy, citing the above-referenced Court Minutes)

8. In 1771 and 1772, Moses Cox served on the Grand Jury for Rowan County. (Nancy, citing the above-referenced Court Minutes)

9. Moses Cox appeared on the 1772 Rowan County Tax List of James Smith, and was paired with John French. (Nancy, citing the above-referenced Linn book on Tax Lists)

10. Moses executed his will on 20 Jan 1778. (Nancy's transcription of his will, found at Will Book A:261, is set forth below)

In the name of God Amen. I Moses Cox of the State of North Carolina Rowan planter being thro' the abundant mercy & goodness of God of sound and disposing mind & memory, tho' sick in body, do make, constitute, ordain and declare this my last Will & Testament in name and form following revoking & annulling by these presents each and every Testament & Testaments Will & Wills heretofore by me and dictated word by word ____________ only for my last Will and Testament and no other. First I most humbly bequeath my Soul to God my Maker beseeching his most gracious Acceptance thereof thro' the all Sufficient Merits and Mediation of my most gracious and compassionate Redeemer Jesus Christ who gave himself to be an atonement for my Sins & is able to save all that come unto God by him seeing he was liveth to make Intercession for them, and who I trust will not reject me a _______ penitent Sinner when I come to him for Mercy. In hope & Confidence I render up my Soul with Comfort humbly beseeching the most blessed and glorious Trinity one God most holy most merciful & gracious to prepare me for the Time of my Dissolution, and then to take me to himself into that peace and Rest and incomparable felicity which he has prepared for all that love & fear his holy name Amen. I give my Body to the Earth from whence it was taken in full assurance of its resurrection from thence at the last Day. As for my burial I desire it may be decent without pomp or superflicity at the Discretion of my Wife & Executors hereafter named who I doubt not will manage it with all requisite prudence. And as to my worldly Estate I will and positively order that all my Debts be paid, and that so much of my personal Estate be sold as shall be sufficient to satisfy all my Creditors. Item I give and bequeath the plantation now in my own Occupation to my three loving & dutiful Sons namely John Cox, Charles Cox and Moses Cox to them and their Heirs forever to be equally divided among them. Item I give and bequeath to my dear & loving Wife Sarah Cox __________ following Goods & Articles ___________ two first litters of my own _____________my Stock such as she may choose and the __________________ of sheep to be chosen at her pleasure and the ____________ her care & possession to her & her heirs & Assigns forever the Remainder of my personal Estate and moveable Effects I will and order them to be sold and whatsoever the said moveable good & Effects may amount to I will and order it be equally divided among my four Daughters except my Saddle which I give to my three Sons to their own proper use and benefit. Lastly I do make and constitute my loving brother Israel Cox sole Executor of this my last Will & Testament and as Trustee for my Wife and Children. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal the twentieth Day of January one thousand seven hundred & seventy eight & in the Second year of American Independence.
Signed and sealed in the Presence of
_____WitnessesMoses Cox

Jonathan Davis
John Skinna
Caleb Todd

[On 1 Jul 1791, John Cox and wife Sarah, Charles Cox and wife Anne and Moses Cox sold the land which they had inherited from their father to Samuel Bartley. This was the land Moses Sr. had purchased from his brother Israel in 1767. (Doris, citing Rowan County, North Carolina Deed Book 13:760)]

11. Letters Testamentary of the Estate of Moses Cox, Dec'd, were granted to Israel Cox on 3 Feb 1778. (Nancy, citing William D. Bennett, "Testators & Intestates of Rowan County, 1778," which appeared in the Rowan County Register, Vol. 7, No. 4, Nov 1992)

12. Although Moses Cox appeared on the 1778 Rowan County tax list in Capt. Moore's District, this was probably Little Moses Cox, since Moses' widow, Sarah, also appears on the list. Also appearing on this tax list were Joseph Cox, John Cox, Benjamin Cox and Benjn Scrivner. John was probably the son of Moses. Query how, or even whether, Joseph and Benjamin fit into the family. (Nancy, citing above-referenced Linn book on Tax Lists) ^{4 5}

  Birth Notes:

This date was extrapolated from his appearance in early Rowan County militia and deed records.

Moses married Sarah.^{4 5}