Graham Family History and Genealogy
Could Sarah Graham's Maiden Name Be Cox??
My thanks to Barbara Brown Eakley for her work in assembling this information. If any of you Graham Researchers have additional information or documentation on this link, please let us know! Barbara can be contacted at gen_469 at msn.com.
According to Barbara, the facts strongly suggest that Jester Cox was the father of Sarah Graham Furrow, so his story is presented here to promote further research. Jester Cox was an early settler in what is now Franklin Co VA. In 1748 he was on the tax list of John Phelps for Lunenburg Co VA, the part that became Bedford County in 1752. On 11Mar1755 he had a survey made of 148A on White Oak Bottom Creek, a fork of Maggotty Creek in Bedford Co VA, and the same day had a survey made of 328A on both sides of Marley's Creek, a south fork of Maggotty Creek. That land was near the Carolina Road which ran through Maggoty Gap to North Carolina, and today is approximately Rte 220: this was the old Great Warrior Path of the Iroquois. On 24Nov1776 his line was mentioned in a survey made for James Slone of 677A at Maggotty Creek in Bedford Co VA. In 1778 his line was mentioned in a survey made in Bedford Co VA for William Mead: nearby landowners were Grimes, Simmons, Charter, Richardson, Allison, Taylor, Holland, Meador and Holloway. 1782-1788 his daughter Sarah and her children used the surname Cox in the court case with Grahams and Arthurs in Bedford Co VA. When his daughter Sarah Cox remarried 27Nov1787 in Bedford Co VA, Sarah Farley was identified as her mother, and surety was the neighbor James Slone.
1720+ - Jester Cox born. Ancestral File lists a Jesper Cox born about 1733 in Onslow County, NC. His parents were Charles & Rebecca Cox. Ours?
1748 Jester Cocke was on the Lunenburg Co VA (present Franklin Co) tax list of John Phelps, listed adjacent to Walker and Dyal (1). John and Amus Richardson were nearby(2). Charles Cock was on the same list, adjacent Ducker and Beard.(3)
1749 Jester Cock was on the Lunenburg Co VA (present Franklin Co) tax list of Nicholas Haile, adjacent to Choat and Kahoy.(4) Abell Richardson was nearby,(5) and John and Amos Richardson were on the list.(6) Charles Cock was on the same list, adjacent Guthrey and Standeford.(7)
1750 Jester Cock and Charles Cock were in the same household on the Lunenburg Co VA (present Franklin Co) tax list of Nicholas Haile, adjacent Rush and Chote,(8) with Amus, Benjamin, Abel and John Richardson being on the same list.(9)
1751 (Nov 26) James Graham was registered as an apprentice shoemaker under Robert Graham. James was a white male.(10) Ours?
1752 Jester Cock and Charles Cock were adjacent on the Lunenburg Co VA (present Franklin Co) tax list of John Phelps, adjacent Richardson (Abel, Benjamin & Joseph) and Mackey.(11)
1753 (October 2) Joseph Richardson conveyed bill of sale to Jester Cox.(12)
1754 (August 26) Jester Cox recanted as to the character of John Mead on July 31, 1751.(13)
1755 (March 11) Jester Cox had a survey made for 148A on White Oak Bottom Creek. "a north fork of Maaggotty Creek."(14) Same date he had a survey mede for 328A on both sides of Marley's Creek, "a south fork of Maggotty Creek", near Wolf Trap fork.(15) (Can't find transfer to Graham).
1762 (Aug 20) Robert Graham listed as not found in Augusta County, per August County court proceedings.(16)
1762 (Dec 20) James Grimes had a survey made for 90A on both sides of Maggotty Creek.(17)
1771 (February 16) Robert Graham was granted a patent for 328A on both sides Marley's Creek, a south fork of Magotty Creek.(18)
1776 (Nov 4) Grimes' property line was mentioned in a survey for Thomas Arthur for 170A on Maggotty Creek, near Polley.(19)
1776 (Nov 24) Grimes' property line was mentioned in a survey for James Slone for 677A on Maggotty Creek, near James Coffe.(20)
1778 (April 20) Jester Cox' property line was mentioned in a survey for William Mead for 5800A on the Staunton River and Gills Creek, near Grimes, Simmons, Charter, Richardson, Allison, Taylor, Holland, Meador and Holloway. (21) Jester Cox was adjacent a Richardson (no given name).
1782 James Graham and his wife Sarah lived on the 328A at Marley's Creek. (22)
1782 (Sep 2) Sarah Graham's nine orphans were bound out.(23)
1782 Jacob Graham was taxed on 200A. His sister Sarah Graham Arthur was taxed on 128A.(24)
1782 Thomas Arthur qualified to be deputy sheriff.(25)
1782 Thomas Arthur, gentleman, and Moses Greer were appointed to view a road from the head of Maggotty Creek to the Blackwater River. He was also appointed to take a list of tithables in his own and Capt Doggett's and Capt Richardson's militia companies.(26)
1782 (Sep 2) It was ordered that the church wardens bind out the orphans of Sarah Graham, naming Jasper, Pricilla, Robert, Molley, John, Debe, Jonathan, Sally and Betty Graham.(27)
1786 Grymes sued Arthur.(28)
1786 Grymes alias Cox sued Arthur.(29)
1787 (May) John Cox admitted as deputy clerk of Franklin County court.(30) Son of Jester?
1787 Grymes guardian summoned to settle acounts.(31)
1787 (Apr 2) Robert Graham was on personal property tax list A, had 1 horse and 1 cattle.(32) James Greer was visited the same day.
1787 (Apr 26) Thomas Arthur was on personal property tax list A, had 5 slaves over age 16, 3 slaves under age 16, 10 horses and 15 cattle.(33)
1787 (May 16) Sarah Graham was on personal property tax list A, had 1 horse and 2 cattle, was a widow. not tithable.(34)
1787 (November) Sarah Grymes was awarded judgement for L8.40 against Robert Woods, gentleman, late sheriff of Franklin County, for an execution against Thomas Arthur in Grymes v Arthur.(35)
1787 (Nov 27) Sarah Cox and John Furrow applied for a marriage bond, with James Slone as security.(36)
1788 Thomas Arthur and his wife Sarah sold their 200A ("being the place and plantation where James Graham formerly lived") to Christian Charles Long.(37)
1788 (February 20) Jacob Graham and his wife Martha of Botetourt County VA, and Thomas Arthur and his wife Sarah of Franklin County VA, sold 200A on Marlow's Creek to Christian Charles Long.(38)
1788 (April 5) Thomas Arthur conveyed a deed for "the place and plantation where James Graham formerly lived" to Jesse, Perseller, Robert, Marray, Sally, Betsey, William, Deborah and Jonathan Graham.(39)
1784 John Arthur sued Grymes.(40)
1784 (May 10) Jacob Graham and his wife Martha of Botetourt County VA sold 328A on both sides of Marley's Creek, a south fork of Maggotty Creek, to Thomas Arthur; (recorded Feb 28, 1785). Witnesses were Amos Grimes, Rebekah Grimes, Isaac Rentfro, Chatten Doggett and and Thomas Doggett.(41) Thomas Arthur was a justice of the peace for Bedford County VA, and the husband of Sarah Graham, Jacob's sister.
1785 John Arthur sued Grymes alias Cox.(42)
1786 John Arthur sued Graham or Grymes.(43)
1788 (Apr 22) Deed of gift for 128A from John Furrow to Sarah Furrow, "for the children of my wife", naming Jesse, Priscilla, Robert, Molly, Sally. Elizabeth, William, Deborah, John and Jonathan Cox.(44)
1791 (February 25) Thomas Arthur was indicted for forging an order of Sarah Graham to the sheriff of Franklin County to pay money to George Asberry.(45)
1809 (Apr 1) Several of the Graham children (Adam Furrow and his wife Mary, Charles Furrow and his wife Deborah, William Crimes alias Cox, Jonathan Grimes alias Cox, Robert Grimes alias Cox, and David Howard and his wife Sarah: all were residents of Montgomery County VA) sold their interests in the 128A on both sides Marley's Creek to John Grimes alias Cox.(46)
1828 (Dec 19) Thomas Jewell and his wife Betsy of Montgomery County VA conveyed a deed for their 1/10 interest in 133A on Marlow's branch of Maggotty Creek to John Grayham of Montgomery County VA, being "part of the same land that John Furrow (late of same county of Franklin) by gift of deed conveyed to the said Betsy Jewell, late Betsy (Graham alias Cox)."(47)
Prepared by Barbara Brown Eakley
gen_469 at msn.com
May 31, 1998
1. Bell, Landon C, Sunlight on the Southside. (Philadelphia, PA: np, 1931) (Baltimore, MD: Clearfield Co, reprint 1991), p 82.
2. Ibid, p 82.
3. lbid, p 85.
4. lbid, p 96.
5. lbid, p 94
6. Ibid, p 93.
7. lbid, p 97
8. lbid, p 137.
9. Ibid p 135-137.
10. Augusta County VA Vestry Book 1746-1780:83.
11. Bell, ibid, p 208.
12. Lunenburg County VA Deed Book 3:307.
13. Bedford County VA Deed Book1:14.
14. Beford County VA Surveyor's Record 1:8.
15. Ibid, p1:9 and 2:7.
16. Kegley, F B, Keagev's Virginia Frontier, the Beginning of the Southwest, the Roanoke of Colonial Days, 1740-1783. (Roanoke, VA: The Southwest Vlrglnia Historical Society, 1938) p 196.
17. lbid, p 2:369 and 3:201 (Grymes).
18. Virginia Patent Book 39:246 (per Geary).
19. Bedford County VA Surveyor's Record 3:65.
20. Bedford County VA Surveyor's Record 3:67.
21. Ibid, p3:115
22. Franklin County VA Deed Book 1:378 and 7:309.
23. Bedford County VA order Book 7:3.
24. Per Geary. FIND CITATIONS.
25. Bedford County VA Order Book 7:109A.
26. Bedford County VA Order Book 6:336.
27. Bedford County VA Order Book 7:3.
28. Bedford County VA Order Book 9:51.
29. Bedford County VA Order Book 9:109.
30. Franklin County VA Order Book 9:109.
31. Bedford County VA order Book 9;163.
32. Schreiner-Yantis, Metti and Florence Speakman Love. The Personal Property Tax Lists for the Year 1787 for Franklin County, Virginia, (Springfield VA; Genealogical Books in Print, 1987), p 625 and 639.
33. Ibid, p 623 and 639.
34. Ibid, p 625 and 640.
35. Franklin County order Book. FIND CITATION.
36. Franklin County VA Marriage Bonds 1786-1850:1483.
37. Bedford County VA Deed Book 7:309.
38. Franklin County VA Deed Book 1:374.
39. Franklin County VA Deed Book 1:378.
40. Bedford County VA Order Book 8:111, 147 and 261.
41. Bedford County VA Deed Book 7:532.
42. Bedford County VA order Book 8:250.
43. Bedford County VA Order Book 8:291.
44. Franklin County VA Deed Book 1:441.
45. Franklin County VA Order Book. FIND CITATION.
46. Franklin County VA Deed Book 5:594.
47. Franklin County VA Deed Book 12:356.
