Joshua Cox of Ireland
& Lancaster County, PA
Joshua Cox was born abt. 1690-1700 in Ulster, Ireland, and died 1747 in Lancaster Co., PA. He married Mary Rankin, daughter of John RANKIN & Ann MCELWEE. She was born between 1690-1700 in Ulster, Ireland, and died after 1747.
Children of Joshua Cox & Mary Rankin:
- Richard Cox, born c.1720's, Lancaster Co., PA; d. 1810, Stokes Co., NC; m. Jane __.
- Joshua Cox, born c.1720's, Lancaster Co., PA; d. 1821, Stokes Co., NC; m. Mary NEAL, May 17, 1769, Rowan Co., NC (d. 1837).
- Mary "Mollie" Cox, born c.1730's, Lancaster Co., PA; d. bet. 1810-1820, Wythe Co., VA; m. John CRAIG (d. 1808).
- +David Cox., Sr., born c. 1730's, Lancaster Co., PA; d. 1819, Grayson Co., VA; m. Margaret Ann MCGOWAN, around 1760 (b. abt. 1740's, d. Apr. 1811).
- +Capt. John Cox, b. July 25, 1739, Lancaster Co., PA; d. Dec. 24, 1818, Ashe Co., NC; m. Margaret DAVIS, daughter of Richard DAVIS, around 1760 (b. May 21, 1736; d. Dec. 19, 1806).
Notes
The Northern Irish Coast
oshua Cox of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, is sometimes identified as John Cox. However, those who have seen Joshua Cox's original will (Lancaster Co., PA, Will Book A, p.131) believe that the signature is clearly "Joshua."
By unproven tradition, Joshua Cox is said to be the son of Sir Richard Cox (1650-1733), who was the Lord Chancellor of Ireland from 1703-1707. However, this claim is unsupported by any evidence yet discovered and I consider it speculative. It seems more likely that Joshua Cox and his family were among the thousands of impoverished Scotch-Irish immigrants who came to Pennsylvania during the early 1700's. The Scotch-Irish (called Ulster Scots in the U.K.) were Scottish Protestants, mostly Presbyterians, who moved to Northern Ireland beginning about 1605 at the urging of King James I. The Scots hoped to find religious freedom in Ireland, but instead their lives were plagued by grinding poverty and endless conflict. By 1776, an estimated quarter million Scotch-Irish had left Ireland to seek greener pastures in America. They were often the first Europeans to move into frontier territories, and soon became the dominant ethnic group in the Carolinas, Kentucky and Tennessee.
Joshua Cox probably married his wife Ann Rankin in Ireland, and then immigrated with her and her family to Lancaster County, PA, around 1720. They settled in Rathmullen Township, which was then part of Lancaster County (now part of Franklin County). The Rankins were originally from the town of Derry, Ulster, according to some family trees that I have seen. They were living in Lancaster County, PA, by 1728 when John Rankin donated the land on which the first Presbyterian Church in the area was built.
Joshua died in 1747. When Ann died is not known. She may have accompanied her sons when they migrated to Virginia around 1756.
IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN. I, being at present under some indipossion of body but in perfect use of my reason and knowing it is appointed for all men to die, I do make, this my last will and testament first, then I leave my soul to God who gave it and my body to be buried where my friends think fitt and as for my worldly goods I do dispose of them in the mannore and form following:
After pay my just debts and funeral charges, first then I bequeath and leave to my loving wife the bed whereon we have ly on and her saddle, her cloths and a young mare of three year old of a gray colour and the third of all my other goods. The other two thirds of my estate and goods I leave and bequeath to my children to be equally divided among them and if it be so ordered in Providance that any of whom dy then that ones share shall be equally divided among the rest. I do appoint that soon after my death that all my goods and estate be prised and the account taken and kept. If my wife shall think fitt to marry again that, before she marry, that what I have left to my children be secured for them. There is a gun now in my house which was given to my son JOHN in way of a gift which I acknowledge doth properly belong to him. there is also a young black mare of three years old given by Mr. COCHRAN to my daughter MARY that doth properly belong to her. I do appoint my beloved wife and my son RICHARD to be my executors to perform this, my last will and testament, I do appoint my neighbore JOHN HOLIDAY and my brother-in-law, WILLIAM RANKIN, to oversee and assist my wife as to this my last will.
/s/ [JOSHUA? JOHN?] COX (L.S. )
This 22 of April, 1747. Signed and sealed in the presence of: Robert JORDAN and Andrew DONLAP.