Today I share an early will from Nelson County, Kentucky.  Isaac Cox, in the early days of service to his country, was an ensign under Col. Henry Bouquet during his expedition against the Shawnees and Delawares in 1764.  He married Mary Enoch around this time.  Col. Isaac Cox and his wife moved to Nelson County, Kentucky, about 1780, forming Cox’s Station to give early settlers a place of safety during Indian raids, which were prevalent at this time.  Kentucky County was divided into three counties in 1780 – Fayette, Lincoln and Jefferson – Col. Cox’s land was in Jefferson at this date, becoming part of Nelson County in 1784.

I share with you a survey for Isaac Cox dated March 28, 1781, for 1,000 acres on Cox’s Creek, only one of his many surveys.

Survey 230 March 28, 1781

Surveyed for Isaac Cox in the County of Jefferson, 1,000 acres of land upon a preemption warrant agreeable to the annexed plat, beginning at two walnuts and two white oaks marked I.C., standing about 85 poles south of Cox’s Creek, running thence N20 W400 poles to two white oaks and hickory marked I.C.  Crossing Fitch’s Branch or Fork of Cox’s Creek at 78 poles and run down it 20 poles, crossing also Cane Fork of Cox’s Creek at 320 poles about 16 poles below Murray’s Run, then N64 W240 poles to a black oak and hickory marked I.C., then N20 E234 poles to an ash and two sugar trees near the head of a drain marked I.C., then S70 E636 poles to two walnut and sugar trees standing by the side of a branch in the fork marked I.C., then S20 W234 poles to the beginning.

There are four branches of water listed in this survey – Cox’s Creek, the largest, which is easily seen on any map of the county.  In the photo Cox’s Creek runs east/west.  Caney Creek runs to the south, and Murray’s Run to the south west of Caney Creek.  I could not find Fitch’s Branch. The following is a photo taken of a present day topographical map of the area. 

And one more map of Kentucky, from the 1780’s showing Col. Cox’s station. You can see this map is not drawn to scale, but it gives a good picture of the early settlements for that date.

In his will Isaac Cox gives the plantation where he lives to his wife Mary Enoch Cox, along with stock, farming tools and household furniture.  Isaac mentions three slaves – Easter, Jude and Dinah.  Easter is to be free May 1, 1793; Jude in 1804 and Dinah in 1806.  Nothing is directly mentioned, but I feel that Easter is mother to Jude and Dinah.  The two children are to be schooled ‘in the manner as to be able to read a chapter in the Bible.’

Other than his wife Isaac Cox gives bequests to Friend Cox, David Cox and James Cox, sons of David Cox; Elizabeth Cox, Sarah Cox and Susanna Cox, daughters of Benjamin Cox; Nancy Cox, daughter of Gabriel Cox; brother, Jonathan Cox; John Cox and Isaiah Cox, sons of George Cox; Benjamin Cox, son of John Cox; brother Gabriel Cox; brother Edward Cox; brother Benjamin Cox; brother Gabriel Cox is an executor.

Isaac Cox owned a tremendous amount of property.  The amount of land in the home plantation he left to his wife is not listed, but other amounts total 11,770 acres.  There is no mention of children.  Mary Enoch Cox married William May after her husband’s death.

Isaac Cox signed his will September 15, 1786. It was probated April 8, 1788.

Will of Isaac Cox

Nelson County Wills, Pages 42-45

In the name of God, amen.  I, Isaac Cox, of Nelson County and Commonwealth of Virginia, being in perfect health, do make and publish this my last Will and Testament and first I recommend my soul to God who gave it, and my body to the earth, and as to what worldly goods it hath pleased the Lord to bless me with, I dispose of the same in the following manner (to wit).

First.  It is my will and order that I order all my just debts be paid. Secondly.  I give and bequeath to my beloved wife, Mary Cox, the plantation whereon I now live together with all my stock of horses and cattle, sheep and hogs, as also all farming tools,

and household furniture.  And Negroes to free in the following manner and to be free at the following periods (to with) Easter, on the first day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand and seven hundred and ninety-three; Jude to be free in the year one thousand eight hundred and four, and Dinah to be free in the year one thousand eight hundred and six, and in the meantime, the above named Jude and Dinah shall be schooled in such a manner as to be able to read a chapter in the Bible.

Third.  I give unto Friend Cox, David Cox and James Cox, sons of David Cox, five hundred pounds which will be due from James Nourse in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine.  Also, I give Elizabeth Cox, Sarah Cox and Susannah Cox, daughters of Benjamin Cox, fifteen hundred acres of land lying on the Clear Fork of Rough Creek, to be equally divided between them.  I give unto Nancy Cox, daughter of Gabriel Cox, two hundred acres of land, lying on Nolan, entered and surveyed in the name of Nicholas Lewis and assigned to me.  Also, I give unto my brother Jonathan Cox four hundred and fifty acres of land near the mouth of Cox’s Creek, entered and surveyed and returned in my name.  Also, I give

unto John Cox and Isaiah Cox, sons of George Cox, 100 pounds each, and to Benjamin Cox, son of John Cox, two hundred pounds, the total of this last mentioned four hundred pounds is to come out of the last payment of Alexander Skinner and Gilbert Inlay, which is due in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty eight.  Also, I give unto my brother Gabriel Cox one half of the following tracts of land (to wit) three thousand one hundred acres on the north side of Salt River, including the mouth of Buck Creek, and two thousand four hundred and eighty-five acres in knobs near Long Lick, both of the above tracts were entered, surveyed and returned in the name of Henry Banks.  Also I give my brother Edward Cox one half of eighteen hundred and thirty five acres that I have in partnership with John May.  Also I give unto my brother Benjamin Cox one half of all the land I have in partnership with Benjamin Netherland and John Card, which is about two thousand two hundred acres, and all and every other part of my estate, both real and personal, bonds, bills, notes, judgements, executions, I give unto my beloved wife Mary Cox, who I appoint Executrix of this my last Will and Testament.  Also, I appoint my brother Gabriel Cox friend James Rogers, Executors, of this my last Will and Testament.  In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this fifteenth day of September in the year 1786.

Isaac Cox Joshua Carman, Mary Wilson, Jonathan Cox

At a Court held for Nelson County on Tuesday, the 8^th of April 1788, the foregoing last Will and Testament of Isaac Cox, deceased, was proved by the testimony of Joshua Carman and Mary Wilson, two of the subscribing witnesses and ordered to record. Test.  Isaac Morrison, Clerk

In the following article we read the Col. Isaac Cox ‘was the most useful citizen of pioneer times.’ When the county of Nelson was formed on May 24, 1785, Col. Cox was named Chancellor in Equity by the Governor of Virginia, to ‘hear and determine major matters brought before the court.’ It says Cox was ‘the wealthiest man who had died in Nelson.’