Phillip COX

Abt 1676 - Abt 1736  (~ 60 years)

• Name	Phillip COX
  Birth	Abt 17 Jan 1676	London, , Middlesex, England
  Gender	Male
  FamilySearch ID	LTCN-GNZ
  Will probated 1736	Somerset County, New Jersey   [1]
  	Heirs mentioned: wife Dorcas (Executrix); sons John, Phillip and Phineas; and daughter Elizabeth.
  _UID	84C491D1DE374F59B20CAA912C77F78B8586
  Death	Abt 12 Jul 1736	Somerset, Province of New Jersey
  Person ID	I594779933	Carney Wehofer 2024 Genealogy
  Last Modified	10 Dec 2024

  
  

  Father	Isaac COX,   b. Abt 1650, London, Middlesex, England d. Abt 1760, Elizabeth, Essex, New Jersey (Age ~ 110 years)
  Mother	Sarah SUTTON,   b. 15 Sep 1650, Scituate, Plymouth Colony, Massachusetts d. 16 Sep 1714, Perquimans County, North Carolina, British Colonial America (Age 64 years)
  Family ID	F536732268	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Dorcus HULL,   b. Abt 1685, Saco, York, Massachusetts Bay Colony d. Abt Feb 1753, Somerset, Somerset County, New Jersey (Age ~ 68 years)
  Marriage	24 Sep 1702	Middlesex, New Jersey, British Colonial America
  Children	1. John COX,   b. 20 Oct 1703, Somerset, Somerset, New Jersey, British Colonial America d. Bef 1 Feb 1768, Newton, Sussex, New Jersey, British Colonial America (Age 64 years)   2. Phillip COX, Jr.,   b. 13 Jun 1705, Bridgewater Township, Somerset, New Jersey, United States d. 19 Sep 1785, Somerset, New Jersey, United States (Age 80 years)   3. Phineas COX,   b. 30 Apr 1709, Bridgewater Township, Somerset, New Jersey, British Colonial America d. 1774, Sussex, New Jersey, British Colonial America (Age 64 years)   4. Elizabeth COX,   b. 12 Feb 1716, Basking Ridge, Somerset, New Jersey, United States d. 15 Apr 1799, Middlesex, Middlesex, New Jersey, United States (Age 83 years)   5. Mary COX,   b. 17 Sep 1719, Hunterdon, New Jersey, British Colonial America d. 1758, Basking Ridge, Somerset, New Jersey, United States (Age 38 years)
  Family ID	F536732269	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	7 Nov 2024

  
  

• Notes

  Phillip Cox was born in England 17 Jan 1677, [1] the child of Isaac Cox and Sarah Sutton. He came with his parents to Elizabethtown, New Jersey about 1690; removed, later, to the Blue Hills, in Somerset County where he died at the remarkable age of 108 years. [2] [3] Philip married first 24 Sep 1698 to Hannah Trembly in Woodbridge; his step-sister. [4] Philip married second to Dorcas Hull. [5] [6] Will is dated 10 Mar 1785; probated 29 Sep 1785 - which mentions three children: Isaac, Hannah (Sutton), and Susannah (Sutton). His other children were probably not living at this time. [7] Birth Birth 17 Jan 1676/77 London, London, England [8] [9] [10] [11] Event Arrival 1685 Barbados [12] Arrival BET 1663 AND 1679 Virginia, USA [13] Marriage Husband: Phillip Cox Wife: Hannah Trembley Child: Anna Cox Marriage 24 Sep 1698 Woodbridge, Middlesex, New Jersey, USA [14] [15] Husband: Phillip Cox Marriage: Place: of New Jersey [16] Legal Robert Littis Hooper was chief justice of the Province of New Jersey, and before him Phillip Cox of the Blue Hills in the county of Summersett, carpenter," made a letter of attorney to his son Philip Cox of the said county in East New Jersey, 30 Aug 1731. • York, Maine Deeds XIV 256 [17] Death Death Sep 1785 Blue Hills, Somerset, New Jersey, USA [18] Died Y. Sep 1785. Blue Hills, Somerset, New Jersey, United States. Age: 108. Incorrect Philip Sr died in 1736 and his son Philip Cox Jr died in Sept 1785 Died Y. Sep 1785. Blue Hills, Somerset, New Jersey, United States. Age: 108. Incorrect. Philip Cox Sr died in 1736 and his son Philip Cox Jr died in Sept 1785 Died Y. 13 Jul 1736. Blue Hills, Somerset, New Jersey, United States. Age: 59. Philip Cox Sr died in July 1736 PHILLIP COX FAMILY AMONG EARLIEST SETTLERS IN "THE BLUE HILLS" [From "Warren History" Vol II No. 8, Fall 1997] Since the spring of 1991, when we ran an article about the forgotten Cox family cemetery near Mountain Blvd Extension and Washington Valley Road, much additional information has come to light about the Coxes. It is now clear that Phillip Cox (c1680-1736) was one of Warren's earliest settlers. Cox's tombstone and that of his son, Philip (1705-1785), were visible as late as 30 years ago but have now disappeared. Phillip Cox was born in London about 1677-80, said to be a son of Isaac Cox, a merchant tailor. The earliest mention of Phillip Cox discovered so far is in 1702, when he witnessed, along with Edward Slater and Nicholas Monday Jr, the signing of John Dennes' will. Dennes was a carpenter in Woodbridge. On 27 March 1703 Munday and Cox appeared at Perth Amboy for the probate. On 5-6 August 1709, Phillip Cox purchased items at the estate sale of John Royse, Gentleman, of Piscataway, Middlesex County. Cox spent two seven shillings for "a feather bed," one shilling, 10 pence for "2 forks & skelitt," £1.7 shillings for "Blew curtains," and 6 shillings for "an Old spade." Family historian John Clay Cox, in his unpublished manuscript (1907), dates Phillip Cox's removal to "the Blue Hills" between 1710-15, but this seems to be a decade or so too early. On 18 May 1727 Phillip purchased 200 acres from Daniel Hollingshead. The deed describes this land as "Betwixt the first and second mountain called the Blue Hills" (now Washington Valley). The deed also states that Philip was "now in the occupation [and] possession" of the land. This farm became the "Homeste[a]d Plantation"of the Cox family for over 70 years (1727-1796). The tract is shown on Benjamin Morgan's map (1766), but still in Hollingshead's name, probably explained by the fact that the Coxes kept this deed (and others) in their possession until 1794-97, when they were put on record. Phillip Cox (about 1680-1736) married first Hannah Trembly, and had Sarah, who married Peter Trembly Jr; Annah, born 1701, who married Jacob Cossart (Cosad); and Mary, born 1702, who married John Sutton. By a second wife, Dorcas (Graves), Phillip had John, born 20 October 1703, who married Mary; Philip, born 13 June 1705, who married Johanna Trembly; Phineas (Fines), born 30 April 1709; Jacob, born 27 January 1711; Elizabeth, born 12 February 1716, who married David Riggs Sr; and Mary, born 17 September 1719. The record of his children by his second marriage appears in the family Bible printed in London, 1589. Phillip Cox was a farmer, carpenter, tailor and mill-wright. His will, dated 27 September 1728, is interesting enough to be quoted at some length: "I Phillip Cox of the Blue hills in Sumersett County being internally in bodily health and good and perfect memory thanks be to Almity God and Calling to Rembrance the uncertinty of my transitory Life do ... constitute ordain and Declare this my last will and Testament in maner and Form following revoking annulling by these Presents All and every testament and testamony wills and wills heretofore by me made and declared either by word or writing and This is to be takin only to be my Last will and testament and none other. And first being penitent and sory from the botom of my Hart for my sins ... I give and Comitt my Sole unto Allmity God my Saviorand Redemer. In him and by the merits of Jesus Crist I trust and beleve (Lord help my unbelief) assurdedly to be saved and to have full remission and forgiveness of all my Sins and that my Sole with my Body at the given day of resurrection Shall rise Again with Joy and through the meritt of Crist death and passion possess and inherit the kingdome of heaven prepared for his ellect and chosen And my body to be buried In such place whear it shall please my executors hereafter named to appoint. And now for the setling my temporal estate and such goods Chattels and Debts as it hath pleased God (far above my Diserts) to bestow upon me ..." Cox then gives "unto my well beloved wife the house and Land wheare I now live so Long As she Remains A widow ..." After his wife's death, "then the house and Land to be evenly divided betwin my other two sons, that is to say, Philip and Phinas ..." Also, "the movable to be evenly divided betwin the fouor Children that is John Philip Phinas Elizabeth." An inventory of Cox's estate, made by Daniel Blackford, Ephraim Dunham and Derkes Cox, administrators, and filed 07 January 1737, reveals a great deal about life in Warren a generation before the Revolution. His movable estate totalled £355, 16 shillings, and 3 pence, perhaps $3000 in today's prices. The most valuable item on the list, at £45 and 15 shillings, is illegible, but the second most valuable, at £45 is a "neger man"; that is, a slave. Three "bads and bading" at £31 begins a long list of items: Carptners and Giners tuls [carpenters and joiners tools]; 3 bras kittles outher bras ware [brass kettles and other brassware]; puter and tin [pewter and tin ware]; Iron war; lume and taklen [loom and tackling for the loom]; Chist of droars [chest of drawers]; 5 tronks and Chest [trunks and chest]; earthen and wooden war; 3 Lukinglases and glas war [looking glasses and glassware]; table and cloth and napkins and 10 chars; 1 bible; sundry books; 5 wosted capes [worsted capes]; a pace of satten [a piece of satin]; a pace of chench [chintz]; dubbel folds; wooll folds; linen and wooling yearn [linen and wool yarn]; arthers [feathers]; pare of wosted coms [pair of worsted combs]; 1 cart yok and chanz [cart yoke and chains]; 3 spinnen weels; 45 sheep; 6 gads [goats?]; 2 youk of oxen and other cattel; 3 plows and a harra and taklen [plows, harrow and tackling]; crop of weet and barly [and] ry and otes and flax [valued at £70]. Phillip Cox was also the owner of 100 acres he purchased in December 1728 from John Budd near a place called "Mine Mountain" on the south side of the main branch of the Passaic River. Phillip's will directed his executors to sell this land, probably located in what is now Bernards Township near Chambers Brook. Phillip Cox died on 12 July 1736. His will was probated on 18 August 1736, and he was buried in the Cox Cemetery on his farm. In 1947 Charles C Gardner, a genealogist, recorded this information about his tombstone: "On farm of Mr Thomas at Springdale, on the North side of road from Warrenville to Martinsville in use as part of a walk by kitchen door: philup cox July ye 12, 1736." In 1950 Grace Hendrickson Riddle, a great-great-great-great-great granddaughter of Phillip Cox, discovered his marker in the sidewalk at the Fred Dilzell house, 155 Washington Valley Road. After chalking the inscription, she took the picture shown here (the only one known to exist). It clearly shows the name was "phillip," but it is easy to see how the "ll" could be mistaken for "u". Mrs William Dilzell, now of Wooster, Ohio who lived in the addition built onto the old house from 1959-1968, described the marker as the second stone from a concrete slab behind the house. In 1989 the stone was not found, although it may have been deteriorated beyond recognition John Cox (1703-1767), Phillip's son, married Mary and they had 10 children: Jacob, Samuel, Mary, Dorcas, Phineas, Elizabeth, John, Marcy, Benjamin and William. John Cox was an early settler in Sussex County, where he made his will 24 June 1767. An inventory of his estate was made on 01 February 1768, by Nathaniel Ayers and Thomas Terrill, both residents of what is now Warren Township. Sometime after their father's death in 1736, Philip (1705-1785) and Phineas (1709-?) divided the 200 acre homestead. Phineas received the western half, Philip the eastern. In 1741 Philip Cox purchased 53 acres on the north side of First Mountain from Ebenezer Tingley. In 1744 Philip acquired 13 acres on the north side of First Mountain from Benjamin Gross. The Elizabethtown Bill in Chancery lists Philip Cox as the owner of 12.4 acres (Lot 141) on the north side of First Mountain, and surveyed 27 March 1744. At the August term 1744 of the New Jersey Supreme Court (Somerset Sessions), Francis Bowes, Esquire, of Trenton, brought suit against Philip Cox in his capacity as surety on a bond made by Jonas Greenaway. The county sheriff took Philip into custody, but he was admitted to bail on 28 August 1744, with Phineas Cox as surety. The outcome of this case is not known. In 1750 Philip Cox served as Somerset County highway commissioner. In June 1751 the county highway commissioners agreed to a petition by "some of the inhabitants of New Bridgewater to Lay a Road for the Benefit of Mill & Market" to begin "in the Road that Leads from Baskinridge to Coxes Mill in the lower part of John Harris' Land at a WalnutTree," thence across Isaac Poules' land to Joseph Ross' new saw mill on the Green Brook. According to the 1766 Morgan map, John Harris owned land near Coontown. A record dated 16 December 1761 in the Somerset County Road Book describes another road laid out along the property line of Philip Cox: "Beginning on the Road that comes from Dead River to Tingleys ... till it comes to the Line Between Philip Cox and Joseph Cate[r]lin ... until it comes to the Top of the Mountain till it comes to Veals [Vail's] Path Thence Down the Path till it comes to meet the other Road by Veals Bridge Which Road to be a Three Rod Road." A 1753 list of Somerset County voters shows Philip Cox in Bridgewater Township and Phineas Cox in the North Precinct, later Bernards Township, probably an indication that Philip was in possession of the entire 200 acres. Philip Cox purchased 50 acres from Francis Hollinshead in 1743 by deed not acknowledged until 1753. At the end of this deed appears a notation: "I Philip Cox do sine over this written deed to Darkes Cox for rate resined by me." Apparently Philip wanted his mother to have her own place, since his family now included sons Peter and Isaac, and at least two older sons, probably John and Philip, and daughters Susannah and Hannah. About 1753 tragedy struck the Philip Cox family. A tradition handed down through Isaac's decendants and printed in a history of Ritchie County, West Virginia, states: "His [Isaac's] brothers, having gone some distance from home to make an improvement, in advance of the settlement, and raise a crop, pitched their tent near a fine spring from which they got water for constant use, and in a short time they all sickened and died; and upon investigation, it was found that the water came from a copper-mine, and thus was poisonous. Isaac being but a lad, and drinking here and there where he chanced to be herding the stock, escaped death." Family historians claim that John and Philip died and no doubt were buried in the Cox Cemetery. Somehow Peter escaped. Where this copper mine may have been is open to conjecture, but we do know that Warren was known early on as a potential source of copper and that small mining operations were not uncommon in this area. It may be more than coincidence that in 1756 four shares were sold in the Mine Lot, located "in the Township [of] Bridgewater in the County of Somerset on the Top in part and part on the South side of 1st Mountain." The property was purchased from William Burnett, who retained one share. The other four shares were owned by Daniel Cooper Sr and Jr, Philip Cox and Phineas Cox. In 1790 Isaac Cox (1743-1838) requested a division of this property. The adjoining property owners were Abraham Vail, David Vail, John Vail, John Runyon, Cornelius Cornelison, Isaac Cox and A Clark Low. It is interesting that in the division Lot No. 1 began "at the Northern most Corner of the Intire Tract at a heap of stones near a spring of Water..." Lot No. 2 began "at a heap of stones on the Top of the aforesaid mountain ..." Lot No. 4 included land "to a heap of stones at or near the foot of said Mountain ..." By 1765 Phineas Cox had fallen heavily into debt. "Philiph" Cox became "Joyntly bound" on his bonds (amounting to £378, 12 shillings, 2 pence). By 1768 the amount had increased, "Amounting in the whole Debt Interest & Cost to Near Six Hundred pounds (£600)…" The bonds were payable to Charles Read, Josiah Appleton, Joseph Read, Noel Forman, John Berrien and John Sayer. Some or all of these bonds must have been assigned to Henry Alward and John Roy as the records show that John Berrien "in Compassion to him ye the sd. Philiph Cox hath Undertook to pay of said action " on condition that Alward and Roy turn all bonds over to him. Alward and Roy agreed to do this only if Philip Cox mortgaged his farm, a mortgage signed on 18 June 1768 and recorded 10 February 1774. Phineas' debt may have been related to speculation in mines, the mill, land, or a combination of these. The Morgan map shows that Phineas Cox owned 707 acres north of Dead River. He also owned other tracts. On 14 November 1772, another road was laid out, this one most likely along much of the route now followed by Washington Valley Road. This road began "at the Road that leads from the Baskinridge Road down the Mountain by Stephen Viele [Vail] at or near the house where Jonathan Grey now lives and thence to run on a Straight line to the front of the House of Philip Cox and thence to the land of Henry Alwood, Esquire, & thence ... to the lands of Philip Winans ... to the house of William Winans... thence southerly through to the lands of the said William Winans where the old path formerly ran to the lands of John Seburn [Sebring] thence up the path ... to Stephen Viel where the old Road or path formerly went to the Road that leads from Benjamin Coons to Bound Brook." In 1776 Philip bought Phineas' half (100 acres) of the "Homeste[a]d Plantation" for £400. Both Philip and Phineas were "of Bridgewater Township." Tax ratables for Somerset County in 1779 show "Ph & Is Cox" as owners of 200 acres, 6 horses, 11 cattle, and 6 hogs. Ratables in 1781 list "Phillip Coxe" and "Isaac Coxe" separately, each with 150 acres. "Phillip" had 3 horses and 5 cattle. Philip Cox was a farmer, land owner, millwright, miller, part owner of the "Mine Lot", and surveyor. He supplied "Boards for the Cofin" of John Cox of Sussex County in 1767. Cox's Mill was probably a grist and saw mill. Philip Cox made his will 10 March 1785, leaving "all my Homeste[a]d Plantation where I now live together with all my out Land and Rights of Land throughout the State of New Jersey to my Son Isaac Cox, his Heirs and Assigns, forever." In exchange, Isaac had to pay his sisters, Hannah Sutton and Susannah Sutton, £100 "proclamation money." Philip left all of his movable estate to his three surviving children, Isaac, Hannah, and Susannah. A granddaughter, Sarah Riggs, was to receive £8 and her son, Peter Riggs, £2. (Jo)Hannah Cox, Philip's wife, was not mentioned. Isaac Cox and Anthony Cosart were named as executors, Samuel Tingley, Janet Tingley, Rhoday Corton, and Abner Sutton were witnesses. On 19 September 1785, Philip Cox died at age 80 years. An inventory of his estate made 24 September 1785 by Jonathan Willet and William Winans in the presence of Phineas Cox and Rev. Abner Sutton valued his moveable estate at £396 and 81 shillings. Philip Cox was buried in the Cox Cemetery on his farm. In 1947 Charles C Gardner described his marker as follows: "Near Springdale, Warren Township, Somerset County, in a green patch in a ploughed field. No other stone in patch. Stone is broken and is scaling off, but pieces still there. The exact wording on this stone, which will soon disappear is: In memory of Mr Philip Cox who died 19 September 1785 aged 80 years." My research leads me to conclude that Cox's tombstone was on the upper (northwest) side of what became Mountain Blvd Extension. In 1796 Isaac Cox sold 242 acres (the "Homeste[a]d Plantation" and other tracts) to James Wemyss for £942 10 shillings. By 1798 Isaac, Sarah, and their five children had settled in Harrison County, (West) Virginia. This article was prepared by Phillip L Crane, Rte 2, Box 191, Lowell, Ohio 45744, and edited by A A Siegel. Anyone with information on the descendants of Phineas Cox, Peter Cox, Hannah or Susannah Sutton please contact the author.

  
  

• Sources

  [S1160] The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, FamilySearch Family Tree (http://www.familysearch.org), ((http://www.familysearch.org)), accessed 7 Nov 2024), entry for Phillip COX, person ID LTCN-GNZ. (Reliability: 3).