Family Tree Maker's Genealogy Site: Genealogy Report: Descendants of Samuel COX

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Descendants of Samuel COX

6. Mary Ann² COX (Samuel¹) was born July 15, 1804 in Virginia⁶, and died January 18, 1881 in Decatur, TN. She married Uriah DENTON⁷ 1827, son of Jerow DENTON and Mary HULL. He was born 1808 in Virginia⁷, and died October 26, 1884.

More About Mary Ann COX:
Burial: Unknown, Goodfield Cemetery, Goodfield, Meigs Co., TN ⁸

Notes for Uriah DENTON:
THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION WAS TAKEN FROM A BOOKLET PUT TOGETHER BY SPENCER MARTIN ALLEN, AUGUST, 1979.

THE VIRGINIA TO TENNESSEE MOVEMENT (1828)

In the spring of 1828, the Cox, Allen, Denton and Woods families moved to Meigs (then Rhea) County, TN. There is no detail on the reasons for the migration nor on the trip itself. Probably, as in most changes of residence, the reasons were economic.

It is generally believed the families came down the Holston and Tennessee Rivers to Stewart's landing, just north of Decatur. It is also assumed they all came together in one party, but there is no confirmation. An earlier history compilation says Robert Allen left Virginia in 1844 by flatboat and landed at Hunter Bluff, west of Decatur TN. This evidently in error, as it is mentioned elsewhere in this record that Robert was a Rhea County resident in 1828 when he sold property he owned back in Virginia, and is so noted in a court indenture.

The assumption is that the Virginia party travelled in one group by flatboat, either on a hired craft or navigation their own. There is the possibility that steamboats may have been in operation on the Tennessee River south of Knoxville during that period and the party travelled as commercial passengers, but that premise is doubtful.

Considering the number of individuals in the migration, and assuming they brought at least a minimum of household goods, tools and farm implements and possible livestock, the cargo would have been considerable.

Samuel Cox, then 54, was the patriarch of the group since most other male members were his sons-in-law and his 14-year old son Jehu. The adults, in addition to Samuel and Eleanor, were : John and Elizabeth Cox Woods; Uriah and Mary Ann Cox Denton; and Robert and Margaret Cox Allen. There is no indication that another daughter Sarah and her spouse Drewery L. Godsey accompanied the party, although a Godsey family appears later in Tennessee. Son Abraham and his wife Celia Collins Cox had preceded the group into Tennessee and may have been influential in determining Rhea County as the families' future home.

Among the children in the group were Nancy Cox who died in Tennessee that same year at the age of 17 ; and 15-year old Jehu who died a month later, both possible victims of typhoid fever. Seven-year old William Owen, five-year old Jane Carson, three-year old Eleanor Elizabeth and infant RJDW, all children of Robert and Margaret Allen were included in the journey. Considering Elizabeth Cox Woods age at the time, 28, she probably had at least three children in the migration--Celia, Julia and Nan. Other adults may have been Jane Allen Patterson and Nancy Allen Davis (Robert allen's sisters) and their spouses and children, but thre is no record. Nor is there any information of the mysterious William and Sarah Allen, presumed brother and sister of Robert, were include in the trip. And there is no indication that Peter and Jane Carson Allen, Roberts' mother and father, made the journey. One of the migrants, Mary Ann Cox Denton was pregnant at the time as her son Jerro Patton was born later that year in Tennessee.

So, totalling up the probable number in the migrating party, we have a count of 20--12 adults and eight children. The logistics of this journey by whatever means must have been formidable.

According to the current tradition in Meigs County, after putting in at Stewart's landing, the party later proceeded downstream a few miles to Goodfield Creek and fanned out from these headwaters to establish their farms and homes, and for Robert Allen to set up his grist mill on the Creek. Records of the purchases of land and original deeds, as well as other vital statistics, were lost during a fire in the Meigs County Courthouse in the early 1900's.

A century and a half later, much of the farmland bought by the Virginia emigre families is now owned by the Roberts, Scott and Lewis families, descendants respectively of Jehu Wilson Allen and Nancy Findley Allen Scott. Few if any identifiable Allens, Dentons or Woods remain in the vicinity, although several Cox's still live there.

Many of the Virginia group and their descendants are buried in the well-maintained Goodfield Cemetery near Decatur. Others are buried in the nearby Cottonport Cemetery.

Children of Mary COX and Uriah DENTON are:

+	36	i.	Jerro Patton³ DENTON, born December 20, 1828; died May 15, 1916 in Decatur, TN.
+	37	ii.	Jehu T. DENTON, born 1830; died WFT Est. 1847-1920.
	38	iii.	Samuel Meredith DENTON, born February 13, 1833; died September 09, 1833.
+	39	iv.	Abraham DENTON, born November 27, 1834 in Tennessee; died September 03, 1922.
	40	v.	Nellie DENTON, born 1836; died WFT Est. 1837-1930.
+	41	vi.	Mary Ann DENTON, born February 13, 1837; died October 17, 1913.
+	42	vii.	Eleanor Bethany DENTON, born October 13, 1840; died November 11, 1921.
+	43	viii.	James Alexander DENTON, born September 04, 1843 in Decatur, TN; died December 22, 1898 in Decatur, TN.
+	44	ix.	John Henesar DENTON, born April 27, 1846 in Decatur, TN; died August 08, 1911 in Decatur, TN.

7. Sarah² COX (Samuel¹) was born January 12, 1808, and died WFT Est. 1851-1903. She married Drewery L. Godsey 1824. He was born February 03, 1795, and died WFT Est. 1850-1887.

Children of Sarah COX and Drewery Godsey are:

45	i.	Abraham³ Godsey, born 1826; died WFT Est. 1827-1916.
46	ii.	Nancy Godsey, born 1828; died 1828.
47	iii.	Elizabeth L. Godsey, born 1830; died WFT Est. 1831-1924.
48	iv.	Burley Godsey, born 1832; died WFT Est. 1833-1922.
49	v.	Margaret Ann Godsey, born 1835; died WFT Est. 1836-1929.
50	vi.	Celia Godsey, born 1838; died 1838.
51	vii.	Eleanor Godsey, born 1839; died WFT Est. 1840-1933.
52	viii.	Samuel H. Godsey, born 1842; died WFT Est. 1843-1932.
53	ix.	Mathilda Godsey, born 1845; died WFT Est. 1846-1939.
54	x.	William Godsey, born 1849; died WFT Est. 1850-1939.

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