FOX FACTS

from the files of Helen Fox Spinks

updated, edited, and noted by Albert H. Spinks Nov 2002

 

[Note by ahs:  The following is raw data from the files of Helen Fox Spinks.  Use it as a guide, not as gospel.  As I check items against original documents, I will so indicate and make appropriate changes.]

 

1750

It appears that our Fox ancestors were originally German, very likely from the Paletinate, upper or middle Rhine.  Philip Fuchs, our immigrant ancestor, apparently went first to Holland, marrying Amelia Rosenboom somewhere along the way, and they came to America shortly before Jacob, the eldest child was born. [Note by ahs:  I accept this as being fact]

 

15 Aug 1750

Philip Fuchs landed in Philadelphia, PA on Ship Royal Union from Rotterdam (Rupp) [Note by ahs: This is well documented and I accept it as fact.]

 

27 NOV 1750

Jacob Fox born in Philadelphia.  [Note by ahs: This is well documented in church records.]

 

27 SEP 1756

Martha Huddleston born in Bucks Co., PA, daughter of Henry Huddleston and Mary Wilkinson.

 

1759

Philip Fox is shown on map of Plumstead Township as owning 150 acres, Bucks Co., PA. [Note by ahs: I have a Xerox copy of this map but have been unable to find original source documents but they are bound to exist somewhere.]

 

1774

Probable date of marriage of Jacob Fox and Martha Huddleston, as first child, Mary Ann, born 30 June, 1775. [Note by ahs:  Sound good reasoning to me]

 

21 AUG 1775

Philip Fox was private in Plumstead Associators, Bucks Co., Capt. William McCalla’s Co. [note by ahs: This is well documented]

 

17 MAY 1778

Philip Fox was an ensign in Fifth Company

 

1779

Philip Fox paid state tax on 150 acres

 

6 JUN 1780

Jacob Fox was private first class, Capt. Robert Patterson’s Sixth Co., 3rd Bn, Bucks Co. Militia.

 

19 MAY 1781

Jacob Fox also listed as private first class in militia.

 

1781

Jacob Fox paid state tax on 190 acres

 

1782

Jacob Fox paid state tax on 40 acres

 

1783

Move from Bucks Co. to Rowan Co., NC, made. [Note by ahs:  I accept this as being true.]

 

20 OCT 1783

John Fox married Catherine Henckel in Rowan Co. [note by ahs:  I have record that this marriage was 30 OCT 1783.]

 

2 FEB 1784

Jacob Fox bought 160 acres plus house, etc. from Mary Spurgeon, widow, and her son, Samuel, on south fork of Abbit’s Creek (Bk. 10-9&10) Rowan Co. [note by ahs: This is well documented.]

 

1784

Jacob Fox owned 465 acres on Abits Creek Waters in Rowan Co., NC. [note by ahs: I am aware of the 160+ acres Jacob purchased from Mary Spurgeon, but I am unaware of his owning 465 acres total; don’t know where this came from.  I do know that Philip Fox onwed a total of 640 acres in Rowan Co., obtained by land grants.]

 

9 FEB 1785

Margaret Steadman born in North Carolina, daughter of John Steadman and Hannah McKinney (More data available on this family).

 

1785

Philip Fox (Fuchs) was Elder of First Congregation Lutheran Church, Abbot’s Creek settlement, Rowan Co., NC. [Note by ahs:  I believe this to be Bethany Church in present Davidson Co., NC (used to be Rowan).  Note that Philip’s associated with the Luthern Church is well documented.]

 

22 APR 1785

William Fox born in Rowan Co., NC

 

5 MAY 1785

Jacob Fox served on jury.

 

10 NOV 1786

Jacob and Philip fox served on jury.

 

5, 7, 10 FEB 1787

Jacob Fox served on jury.

 

18 MAY 1789

Philip Fox got two land grants; #1849 for 400 acres on waters of Sokeass of muddy Creek

and #1863 for 240 acres on Brush Fork of water of Abbots Creek from State of N. C. (Bk 11-797&803). [note by ahs: The above date in 1789 must have been the date the grant was recorded in the Rowan Co. deed book.  The original grant records in the NC archives says that the 240 acres were ‘entered’ 5 DEC 1784, the warrant was issued 5 DEC 1786, and the survey made 7 DEC 1786.  The 400 acres were entered 5 FEB 1785, warrant was issued 5 FEB 1785, and the survey performed 6 DEC 1786.]

 

6 NOV 1789

William and Jacob Fox in court case vs Jacob Holdespole (no data given) Note: this is the only mention of William Fox, son of Philip.  He was not mentioned in Philip’s will.

 

8 MAY 1790

Jacob Fox witnessed deed between Nathan Hinkle and Wintle Himkle.

 

1790

John Fox in Rowan Co., NC census  4 - 3 - 7

Jacob Fox in York Co., SC census 1 - 2 - 5

Philip Fox in Chester Co., SC census 1 - 2 - 3

 

Philip Fox bought 100 acres from Hugh Millin on south side, south branch, Fishing Creek, Chester Co. (B - 312) [note by ahs: Per Rowan Co. deedbook 26, p2, one Phillip Fox still owned property in Rowan as of 21 AUG 1815.  Note also that Pat Settle (psettle@yahoo.com) has an ancestor, Philip fox, who died in Bullitt Co., KY, in 1828.  His will had many familiar Fox names.  However, no proof this is son of Philip and Amelia..]

 

6 FEB 1792

Jacob Fox bought 150 acres from Richard Sadler on Fishing Creek, land, houses, etc.  He was presently living in York Co., SC. (B - 414).

 

23 JUL 1792

Philip Fox writes will in Rowan Co., NC, naming wife, Amelia, sons Jacob, Philip, and John; daughters Susannah (John) Grove, Elizabeth (Wintel) Hinckel, and daughter Mary Koster’s five children.  John and Amelia executors (E - 167).  [note by ahs: This will is well documented]

 

2 AUG 1796

Above will proved by Lawrence Ungler.  Amelia Fox relinquished, John Fox qualified as executor.

 

25 MAR 1797

John Fox sells 240 acres on Brush Forks of Abbett’s Creek to Frederick Miller (Bk. 18- 397). [note by ahs: This would be Philip, Sr.’s 240 acre land grant.  Since Phillip’s  will specified that the land was not John’s until after his mother passed away, does this mean that Amelia had passed away by 25 MAR 1797?]

 

10 OCT 1797

John Fox buys 300 acres on Elisha’s Creek from Zachariah Allen (Bk 15-281). [note by ahs: Mother’s notes did not say where this was but I would guess that she meant Rowan Co., NC]

 

19 OCT 1797

John Fox sells 400 acres (or more) on Muddy Creek to John Monrow, Benjamin Hinkle witnessed. (Bk 16-468) [note by ahs: This property would be the 400 acres obtained by Philip Fox by land grant.]

 

1800

John Fox in Rowan Co. census 2m, 2f to 10; 1m, 1f 26-45. [note by ahs; Our records of John Fox show that he had some children in the 10-16 yr range that don’t show in the above data.]

 

Jacob Fox in York Co. [SC] census  3m, 1f to 10; 2m,1f 10-16; 1f 16-26; 1m, 1f over 45.

[note by ahs: The above data corresponds closely, but not exactly, to what we know from family records about children of Jacob Fox.]

 

Philip Fox in Chester Co. [SC] census 1m, 4f to 10; 1m, 1f 10-16, 1f 16-26; 1m, 1f 26-45. [note by ahs: I currently have no record of the children of Philip Fox, Jr. except this census record]

 

[note by ahs: Note that the 1800 censuses do not account for Amelia Rosenboom Fox. (noone in her age group.]

 

19 APR 1804

John Fox sells 30 acres to Joseph Allen, a part of 300 acres from Z. Allen.

 

8 Jan 1805

William Fox and Margaret Steadman married, possibly Rutherford Co., NC, as John Steadman is there in both 1800 and 1810 census.

 

1810

John Fox in Rowan Co., NC, census.  1m, 2f to 10; 1m, 1f 10-16, 1m, 1f over 45.

 

Jacob Fox in York Co., SC, census 2m 10-16; 1f 16-26; 1m 26-45, 1m over 45.

[note by ahs: Take note of the fact that Martha Huddleston Fox is not listed in the above data.  She was born in 1756 so would have been 54 yrs old.  So did Martha pass away between 1800 and 1810?]

 

8 APR 1811

John Fox sold 270 acres on Elisha’s Creek to Joseph Dial (Bk 23-430)

 

1 FEB 1815

Nathan Jackson fox born York Co., SC.  [note by ahs: Without a doubt this is true]

 

8 JUNE 1820

William Henry Fox born Green Co., AL

 

1820

Jacob Fox in York Co., SC,  census 2m to 10; 1 16-26; 1 over 45.

 

John Fox in Hardin co., TN census 1m, 1f to 10; 1 m 16-26; 1[?] over 45. [note by ahs: Note that Catherine Hinkle Fox does not appear to be listed in the above data.]

 

Philip Fox in Lincoln Co., TN 3m 1f to 10; 1m to 16; 1m, 1f 26-45. [note by ahs: I have data that supports this to be Philip, son of John, son of Philip and Amelia.]

 

no Foxes in Rowan Co., NC

No Foxes in Chester Co., SC

 

[note by ahs: I have not checked any of the census data given in this document, so don’t take any of it as ‘gospel’.]

 

NOV 1823

William Fox got land grant of 80 acres in Green Co., AL, certificates #421, 422, 423 from State of Alabama.

 

1830

Jacob Fox, Sr. in York Co., SC, census 1m,1f under 5; 1m, 1f  30-40; 1m 70-80.

 

Jacob Fox, Jr in York Co., SC, census 1m, 1f under 5; 1m,1f  5-10; 2m 10-15; 1f 20-30; 1m 30-40.

 

William Fox in Greene Co., AL, census

 

Philip Fox in Lincoln, Co., TN, census 1m,1f under 5; lm,1f 5-10; 1m 10-15; 2m,1f 15-20; 1m 20-30; 1m,1f  50-60. [note by ahs: I have data that supports this to be Philip, son of John, son of Philip and Amelia.]

 

No Foxes in Chester Co., SC.

No Foxes in Rowan Co., NC.

No Foxes in Hardin co., TN.

 

1832

Probable date of move of Jacob Fox, Sr., and son, Nathan Huddleston Fox from York Co., SC, to Carroll Co., TN.

 

13 SEP 1834

Jacob Fox died in McLemoresville, Carroll Co., TN. [note by ahs: Gravestone records support this.]

 

27 NOV 1834

Jacob Fox., Jr. together with Elizabeth Ellis, widow of Thomas S. Ellis, Elizabeth Montgomery, and Robert Ellis (heirs of Benjamin Ellis, Dec’d) sold 182 acres of land to Rebecca Evans. [note by ahs:  It was not recorded where this sale took place or where the 182 acres was located.  My records show that Jacob Fox, Jr. married 1st Priscilla Ellis in 1815, and 2nd Elizabeth.  Maybe this sale was associated with Jacob’s in-laws.]

 

14 NOV 1836

William Fox, commissioner, sold land to Samuel T. Cherry in Greene Co., AL (H-149).

 

1838

Jacob Fox, Jr. sued by John S. Bratton for $552 & Sheriff sold at auction for $295 80 acres belonging to Jacob Fox on 24 April. [note by ahs:  the record did not tell where this occurred.]

 

1836

William Fox on tax roll of Winston Co., MS, 14 slaves.

 

26 MAY 1840

William and Margaret Fox of Winston Co., MS, sold several parcels of land in Greene Co., AL, to Charles H. Barry (K-663)

 

1840

William Fox in Winston Co., MS, census (p. 260)

 

1841

William Fox paid tax on 1,356 acres in Winston Co., MS, 15 slaves.

 

18 NOV 1841

William Henry Fox and Nancy Dumas married in Winston Co., MS.

 

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Notes:

Research in Bucks Co., PA, reveals that there were other families of Fuchs, Fux, and Fox, including such names as Jacob, Georg, Friedrich, but there is no proof of relationship between these families and our Philip Fox.

 

Jacob Fox of Bedminster Twp. [Bucks Co.?] wrote a will dated 31 MAR 1783, proved 4 JUNE 1785 naming wife Catherine, and sons Jacob, John, George, Donald and Nicholas.