Today we first visit Northumberland County, Virginia, the date being February 20, 1653. Ten years earlier, 1643, the land that was to become Northumberland was still the Chickacoan Indian District – there were no settlers who lived in this area at the time. But it didn’t take long for them to come and make the land their own. On the date first mentioned above, in the Northumberland County Orders, is the following notice –
‘Whereas it doth appear unto ye court by ye deposition of William Beasly and John Draper that Vincent Cox came into this country ye 10th day of October last was four years and that ye said Cox was sold or assigned by John Pettitt to Mr. Richard Cole for serving him, the said Cole, ye remainder of four years as by ye said assignment may more at large appear which said line of service ye Court doth declare that ye said Cox hath served according to ye last assignment. The Court doth order that he, ye said Cox, shall be free from ye said Cole and that ye said Mr. Cole shall pay all charges of Court.’
And, from the July 20, 1654, Order Book #2 –
‘The Court orders Mr. Richard Cole to pay to Vincent Cox, his late servant, one cloth suit, one pair of shoes and stockings, one shirt, one hat or cap and three barrels of Indian corn, being due unto him, by October 20th.’
I give these examples to show that even if someone’s passage was paid to come to Virginia in the early days, they could still make something of themselves and prosper.
Part of Northumberland County was used to make the new county of Westmoreland in 1653 and it was in this area we find more information about Vincent Cox.
From Historical Atlas of Westmoreland County, Virginia, page 57, we find Vincent Cox patented 400 acres of land on the same date as Robert Self, May 20, 1665, (S.L.O. 5, p. 299 [141]). Vincent Cox afterwards patented 665 acres adjoining his first patent, September 27, 1665, making him one among the large land owners.
Vincent Cox married Anne Charnock, daughter of Christopher Charnock. Six children were alive when Vincent’s will was written in 1698 – sons Charnock, Thomas and Vincent, and daughters Martha, Anne and Elizabeth. Sadly, wife Anne was deceased before the will was written since she is not mentioned. Vincent Cox must have been older when he married. If he had just finished four years of service for his passage to Virginia, he must have been about 25 years of age. Give another ten years to work to buy land and establish himself, he may have been 40 – or older – when he married Anne Charnock. It is noted in his will that none of the children have heirs. Charnock, probably the oldest, could have been married, but only recently – he is living on one of the plantations of his father. None of the sons have heirs, none of the daughters are married as their bequests are to be given on the day of marriage.
The eldest daughter gets the best brass kettle; the second the next best, and so on. Thomas and Elizabeth are young enough to receive one and two years of schooling, respectively.
Elizabeth Cox, daughter of Vincent Cox and Anne Charnock, married William Lewis, son of John Lewis and Mary Garner. A suit in Chancery in Westmoreland County dated February 3, 1717, between William Lewis and Elizabeth his wife, and Charnock Cox and Vincent Cox, Executors of Vincent Cox, her father, to receive from Charnock Cox ‘one rug of fifteen shillings price,’ and that Thomas Bennett, who intermarried with the widow of Vincent Cox, the younger, to pay for ‘one pair of blankets of fifteen shillings price and one bed tick of eighteen shillings price, one bolster and three pillow ticks all of twenty shillings price, two silver spoons of sixteen shillings price, and that in lieu of the schooling directed to be given by the said Vincent, then father to the said Elizabeth, one of the complaints they made to Charnock and Thomas.’ Notice that Vincent Cox, Elizabeth’s brother, was deceased by this date. Twenty years after her father’s death and she still hadn’t received her inheritance. Perhaps she had just married?
Will of Vincent Cox
Westmoreland County, Virginia
Pages 173a
In the name of God Amen. I, Vincent Cox, of the Parish of Cople in the County of Westmoreland, being of sound and perfect memory, praised be God, doe make and ordain this to be my last Will and Testament in manner and form following. I bequeath my soul unto God which gave it in full hopes of a free pardon and redemption of all my sins, through the merits and satisfaction of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and a blessed resurrection to everlasting life and my body to the earth from whence it came, to be decently buried at the discretion of my executors hereafter named, and it is my will and desire that no dishonor be to my God by drinking immoderately or other misdemeanors.
Item. I give, devise and bequeath unto my son Charnock Cox the plantation where he now lives and three hundred acres of land adjoining to the land of George
Page 174
Lamkin, deceased, and to the sons of Robert Self, to him my said son Charnock and the heirs of his body lawfully begotten, and for want of such issue to my son Thomas Cox and the heirs of his body lawfully to be begotten, and for want of such issue to my three daughters Martha, Ann and Elizabeth, and the heirs of their bodies lawfully to be begotten, and for default of such issues to my right heirs forever.
Item. I give, devise and bequeath unto my son Vincent Cox the plantation where I now live with all houses, orchards and all other appurtenances thereunto belonging and the tract of land containing 346 acres to him, my said son, and the heirs of his body lawfully to be begotten and for want of such issue to my son Charnock Cox and the heirs of his body lawfully to be begotten, and for want of such issue to my son Thomas Cox and the heirs of his body lawfully to be begotten, and for want of such issue, to my three daughters, Martha, Anne and Elizabeth, and the heirs of their bodies lawfully to be begotten and for want of such issues to my right heirs forever.
Item. I give, devise and bequeath to my son Thomas Cox 270 acres of land lying at the upper end of the tract, part of it called Little Will’s Folly, to him my said son Thomas and the heirs of his body lawfully to be begotten and for want of such issue to my son Charnock Cox and the heirs of his body lawfully to be begotten, and for want of such issue to my son Vincent Cox and the heirs of his body lawfully to be begotten and for want of such issue to my three daughters, Martha, Anne and Elizabeth, and the heirs of their bodies lawfully to be begotten and for default of such issue to my right heirs forever.
Item. I give unto my son Vincent cox what moneys I have in England towards setting up his trade, in the hands of Michael Ching.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my son Charnock Cox, Ben and Betty, Negroes to him and his assigns forever and one bed tick and bolster, a rug and pair of blankets and a silver whistle and bells.
Item. I bequeath unto my son Vincent Cox, Samuel, Wright and Frank, Negroes to be delivered to him at the age of 21 years, and father bed bolster, rug and blankets.
Item. I bequeath unto my son Thomas Cox, Negro Dick and one feather bed bolster, rug and blankets.
I give and bequeath unto my daughter Martha Cox a silver tankard and my great brass kettle, a feather bed bolster and two pillows, a rug and blankets and a pair of calico curtains and valences and 8,000 pounds of tobacco at the day of marriage.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Anne Cox six silver spoons and the next best brass kettle, a feather bed bolster, two pillows, a rug and blankets and the curtains and valances on my own bed and 8,000 pounds of tobacco at the day of marriage.
I give and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth Cox seven silver spoons and a sliver dram
Page 174a
Cup and the next best brass kettle and feather bolster and pillows and rug and blankets and a new bed tick bolster and pillow ready made and 10,000 pounds of tobacco at the day of marriage and two years schooling from ten years old to twelve.
Item. I give unto my son Thomas Cox one year of schooling.
Item. I give unto my sons Charnock, Vincent and Thomas Cox all the residue of my personal estate, when my debts and legacies are paid, to be equally divided among them, and the survivors of them.
Lastly, I make, ordain and appoint my son Charnock Cox and Vincent Cox Executors of this my last Will and Testament, revoking all other former wills by me made. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the 5th day of July 1698.
Vincent Cox
Sealed and published and declared in presence of us – Henry Rose, Robert Bennett, Mary Burnett
Westmoreland County
At a Court held for the said County the 26th day of October 1698
The last Will and Testament of Vincent Cox, deceased, was proved by the oaths of Henry Ross and Robert Bennett. A probate thereof granted to Charnock and Vincent Cox, Executors therein named and the will ordered to be recorded.
Teste. James Westcomb, Clerk Westmoreland County
Categories: Old Wills
