Family:John Rankin and Ann McElwee (1)

There is some conflicting information on this family, any corrections (with sources) by other researchers would be appreciated.

Genealogy Report for John Rankin and Ann McElwee:

Descendants of John Rankin

Generation No. 1

1. JOHN1 RANKIN was born Abt. 1668 in Prob. Ireland, and died Bef. 02 Jun 1747 in Chester County, Pennsylvania. He married ANN MCELWEE 1693 in Prob. Ireland. She was born Abt. 1672 in Prob. Ireland, and died in Chester County, Pennsylvania.

Children of JOHN RANKIN and ANN MCELWEE are: 2. i. MARY2 RANKIN, b. Abt. 1694, Prob. Ireland; d. 1756. ii. WILLIAM RANKIN, b. Abt. 1709. iii. RICHARD RANKIN, b. Abt. 1730. iv. JAMES RANKIN, b. Abt. 1730; d. 1803; m. REBECCA BENNETT, 1756; b. WFT Est. 1729-1738.

Generation No. 2

2. MARY2 RANKIN (JOHN1) was born Abt. 1694 in Prob. Ireland, and died 1756. She married JOSHUA 'JOHN' COX 1725 in Ulster, Northern Ireland, son of RICHARD COX and MARY BOURNE. He was born 22 Apr 1694 in Ulster, Northern Ireland, and died 1747.

Notes for JOSHUA 'JOHN' COX:

Apparently Joshua Cox is also listed as "John Cox" by some researchers.

http://www.moonzstuff.com/cox/joshua1690.html

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 Coastoshua 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.

Will of Joshua Cox Lancaster Co., PA, Will Book A, Vol. 1, p.131 April 22, 1747 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.

http://members.tripod.com/brodman/d0000/g0000094.html#I0351

John COX BIRTH: 22 Apr 1694 DEATH: 1747 Father: Richard COX Mother: Mary BOURNE

Family 1: Mary RANKIN

Richard COX 

+Mary Molly COX

Joshua COX 
David COX 
John COX 

Children of MARY RANKIN and JOSHUA COX are: i. RICHARD3 COX, b. Abt. 1726, of Stokes County, North Carolina; m. JANE ???. ii. JOSHUA COX, b. Abt. 1730, Rathmullen Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania; m. MARY NEAL, 1769. iii. MARY "MOLLY" COX, b. Abt. 1732, Rathmullen Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania; d. 17 Feb 1816, prob. Virginia1; m. JOHN CRAIG, Abt. 1760, Lower Roanoake Valley, Virginia1; b. Abt. 1732; d. Abt. 1813, Wythe County, Virginia1.

Notes for JOHN CRAIG: http://members.tripod.com/brodman/main.html

John CRAIG BIRTH: ABT. 1732 DEATH: Mar 1808, Wythe Co, VA Family 1: Mary Molly COX MARRIAGE: 1759

Robert CRAIG 

+James CRAIG

John CRAIG , Jr. 
David CRAIG 
Hiram CRAIG 

+Jane CRAIG +Idress CRAIG

Nancy CRAIG 
Sinthie CRAIG 

iv. DAVID COX, b. 1737, Freencastle, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania; d. 1819, Grayson County, Virginia; m. MARGARET ANN MCCOWEN.

Notes for DAVID COX: http://members.tripod.com/brodman/d0001/g0000090.html#I0495

David COX BIRTH: 1737, Lancaster Co, PA DEATH: 1819, Grayson Co, VA Father: John COX Mother: Mary RANKIN

Family 1: Margaret Ann MCCOWEN

v. JOHN COX, b. 25 Jun 1739, McDowells Mill, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania; d. 24 Dec 1818, Ashe County, North Carolina; m. MARGARET DAVIS, Abt. 1760; b. 21 May 1736, Prob. Virginia; d. 19 Dec 1806, Ashe County, North Carolina.

Notes for JOHN COX: http://www.moonzstuff.com/Cheek/CoxJohn1739.html

CAPT. JOHN COX

CAPT. JOHN COX, son of Joshua COX & Mary RANKIN, was b. July 25, 1739, in Lancaster Co., PA, and d. Dec. 24, 1818, in Ashe Co., NC.  He m. MARGARET DAVIS, daughter of Richard DAVIS, abt. 1760.  She was b. May 21, 1736, probably in Virginia, and d. Dec. 19, 1806, in Ashe Co., NC.

Children of CAPT. JOHN COX and MARGARET DAVIS:

1. James COX, b. Feb. 24, 1763, Botetourt Co., VA; d. Apr. 17, 1842, Grayson Co., VA; m. Elizabeth SEXTON, widow of Timothy TERRILL, May 15, 1782, Grayson Co., VA.

2. Catherine COX, b. May 18, 1768, Botetourt Co., VA; d. Feb. 3, 1847, Ashe Co., NC; m. Henry HARDIN.

3. Mary "Polly" COX, b. Aug. 10, 1771, Botetourt Co., VA; d. Jan. 22, 1820, Ashe Co., NC; m. Thomas MCGIMSEY, Aug. 25, 1800, Ashe Co., NC.

4. Joshua COX, b. Mar. 30, 1773, Botetourt Co., VA; d. Jan. 1, 1860, Alleghany Co., NC; m. Nancy RICHARDSON, daughter of Jonathan RICHARDSON & Elizabeth TAYLOR, June 10, 1793, Ashe Co., NC.

5. Annie COX, b. 1775, Botetourt Co., VA; d. Dec. 1, 1848, Ashe Co., NC; m. James BAKER.

6. Jane COX, b. July 10, 1777, Botetourt / Montgomery Co., VA; d. Mar. 26, 1860, Alleghany Co., NC; m. Canada RICHARDSON, son of Jonathan RICHARDSON & Elizabeth TAYLOR.

7. Sarah COX, b. abt. 1780, Wythe Co., VA, or Wilkes Co., NC.

8. Cynthia COX, b. Apr. 17, 1782, Wythe Co., VA, or Wilkes Co., NC; d. July 24, 1864, Alleghany Co., NC; m. William GAMBILL; bur. Elk Creek Church, Alleghany Co., NC.

NOTES

Capt. John Cox, a Revolutionary War soldier, is believed to be the son of Joshua Cox and Mary Rankin of Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania. The Cox and Rankin families were Scotch-Irish immigrants from Ulster, Northern Ireland.

On Feb. 1756, Delaware Indians attacked and burned the Cox home near McDowell's Mill, in what is now Franklin Co., PA, then part of Lancaster Co., PA John Cox and older brother Richard were taken prisoners. John Craig their brother-in-law was also captured while trying to rescue John and Richard. All three escaped in Aug. 1756. John Cox described his experiences to the Provincial Council on Sept. 6, 1756, and it can be found in Colonial Records of Pennsylvania," Book VII, pp.243-244 (see next page).

After this ordeal, John Cox and his brothers David and Joshua, and John Craig, migrated to Virginia where they fought in the French and Indian Wars from 1756 to 1763. They qualified for land grants for their service. (This is reportedly documented in an order issued by the court of Montgomery Co., VA, dated April 5, 1780.) By 1765, John and David Cox were settled in the upper New River Valley region of southwest Virginia, in an area that was then part Botetourt Co., VA. It became Fincastle Co. in 1772, Montgomery Co. in 1777, Wythe Co. in 1790, and Grayson Co. in 1793. John Cox's sister Mary Cox and her husband John Craig made their home in what became Wythe Co., VA. John's brothers Joshua and Richard Cox settled across the state line in Rowan Co., VA, in an area that became Surry, then Stokes Co., NC.

John Cox continued his military service. John Cox. Sr., John Cox Jr., David Cox, and John Craig appear on a list of men from Fincastle Co., VA, who served in "Lord Dunmore's War" (1774). (Library of Virginia on-line database). In 1774, John Cox is mentioned several times in dispatches from Major Arthur Cambell to Col. William Preston regarding the progress of "Lord Dunmore's War" (a brief period of hostility between the settlers and the native Shawnee Indians). (see below)

John Cox became a captain during the Revolutionary War and commanded a fort on the New River. He and his brother David Cox fought at the battle of King's Mountain, and John was wounded at Whitsell's Mill. John Cox was captured during the Tory insurrection in 1779. (Draper Papers, July 18, 1779, Doc. #3ZZ19).

Between 1777 and 1783, John Cox obtained three land grants in the Cranberry District of what was then Wilkes Co., NC, later Ashe, later Alleghany Co. However, it seems that he kept land in Montgmery/Wythe/Grayson Co., VA, as he continued to appear on tax lists.

Capt. John Cox died in 1818 and was buried on his land near Scottville, Ashe Co., NC.

Endnotes

1. Parris, Bill - e-mail: pbill456@aol.com.