The Steele Creek Historical and Genealogical Society
Of the Old Steele Creek Township
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina

Families of Steele Creek:
Knox

CONTENTS

|  Knox Family of Steele Creek  |  Sarah Knox  |  Joseph (Robert) Knox  |  John Knox  |  Joseph Knox  | 
|  James Knox (1758 - 1842  |  James B. Knox  |  John Knox, Son of James and Hannah  |  Matthew Knox  |
|  Samuel Buie Knox  |

THE KNOX FAMILY OF STEELE CREEK

The John and Sarah Knox family was among the first to settle in Steele Creek. Sarah died November 8, 1763, and is buried at Steele Creek Presbyterian Church. We learn from the book Passengers on the Wings of Time, by Margery S. Knox, that the known children consisted of John Knox (1722-1777) who married Ann (1729-1815); Samuel (1730-1800) who married Mary Taggard; David, James, Robert, and Matthew. There was one sister, Mary Knox, who married Alexander McKee who was from Pennsylvania. We also learn about this line from Samuel’s will, which is on file in the NC archive. The Mecklenburg Knox line should not be confused with the John Knox/Witherspoon/Gracy line of Rowan County or the James Knox/Craig and John Knox/Gaston lines of the Chester District of South Carolina. However, we do know that Dr. John Knox and Florence Neely of Steele Creek were from the Knox/Craig line of Chester. The Chester line is documented in the book Heritage History of Chester County, SC, 1982.

SARAH KNOX (b. 1699 – d. 8 Nov 1765)
(Prepared by Linda Blackwelder, August 2002)

JOSEPH (ROBERT) KNOX (b. 1794 – d. 1854)
(possible son of Samuel & Nancy Knox.

Samuel mentions his son Joseph in his will of 1832, but there was never any information on a Joseph of the age of this Joseph living in Steele Creek. It could well be that this son Joseph died after the will of 1832 or moved from the area, however, I am more inclined to think that the Robert shown in the 1860 census living next door to Samuel’s other sons, Matthew and James, is the son Joseph with a 2^nd name of Robert. It could have been Joseph Robert or Robert Joseph.

There is a Thornburg family living between the three above and James Knox sons, Samuel B. and Joseph. That Joseph is definitely James’ son.

With the adjoining property of brothers Samuel and James, it is reasonable that their sons were each living on their father’s property. There is no marriage record for either a Joseph or Robert who married in Mecklenburg County to a Margaret ? around 1832. It could well be that she was from York County (or even Lincoln Co. since it was just across the river from them and a ferry within a mile).

There is a possibility that this Robert is the same Robert who married in Lincoln County to a Peggy B. Wattson on 3 Sept 1818., however, the Margaret living with Robert as his wife in the 1850 census was not born until 1812, so this could not be the same Margaret.

It would take further research to determine if Joseph and Robert are one in the same.

The other possibility is that this Robert is a son of James Knox, elder at Blackstock, who was thought to be the son of Robert Knox, brother of old John, Samuel, David and Matthew. That James Knox died in 1795 and he did have two sons at the time (not named in his will).

At this time, until it can be proven that this Robert is not the son of Samuel, I will keep him assigned to him.

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JOHN KNOX 1722 – 1777
(Prepared by Linda Blackwelder, Aug 2002)

From: Mecklenburg County, North Carolina Abstracts of Early Wills, 1763-1790 by Brent H. Holcomb, printed by A. Press, Inc. Greenville, S.C.. 1980. p.36

"Will of John Knox Senr. Of the County of Mecklenburg & province of North Carolina being very sick & weak in body…to sons James Knox, Samuel Knox & Mathew Knox, all my real estate, 508 acres to be equally divided, James Knox to have first choice, then Samuel second choice..if any died before reaching maturity, then his part to to to son Joseph Knox; to daughter Sarah Knox, two cows, two calves, etc…; to son John Knox, two cows & calf; to daughter Mary Knox, two cows, sheep, etc; to daughter Elizabeth Knox, two cows, two calves, etc. to daughter Ann Knox, two cows, two calves, etc.; to wife Ann, her maintainance & to clothe & school children…

friend Hugh Herron & brother Samuel (Knox) Exrs.

30 March 1772 John Knox (Seal)

Wits: William Kerr, Thomas Orr & Moses Sharpley

Proved in July Session 1777

Will Book D., pp. 122-123

From: Louise Pettus Notes – which she took from Colony of North Carolina, 1735-1764, Abstracts of Land Patents, Volume One by Margaret M. Hofmann, 1982, Roanoke News Company, Weldon, N.C. (For copies of patents write to: Land Grant Office, New Legislative Office Building –Room 302, 300 North Salisbury St., Raleigh, NC 27611)

Patent #4349, Patent Book 13, p. 424 JOHN KNOX, 21 Dec 1763, 508 acres in Mecklenburg County on the E. side of the Catauba(sic) River, joining Jean Armour, Matthew Knox, sd Knox, and (a point) near Robert Lepers (Leepers) improvement.

It appears from the above that John Knox owned another tract adjoining it.

From: Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, Deed Abstracts 1763-1779, by Brent H. Holcomb and Elmer O. Parker, Southern Historical Press, Inc. (reprint) from copyright 1979 by: The Rev. Silas Emmett Lucas, Jr. 1979.(reprint 1991) p. 225:

Meck. Deeds Vol 8, p. 101. (start of deed book 27. (a plat or beginning of a plat of land of John Knox.)

From: Genealogical Deed Abstracts of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina Books 10-14 by Herman W. Ferguson, Privately published by Herman Ferguson, Rocky Mount, NC 1990. p. 137:

From deed bk. 19, p. 179: "A division of land owned by John Knox, decd, as shown in the plat below between Jas. Knox & Saml. Knox, surveyed by James Sprott, Surveyor. Proved at Feb. Court 1812 by the certificate of Jas. Spratt. Registered 1 May 1812.

(The plat map is entered into the book)

From: Mecklenburg County, North Carolina Court of Common Please and Quarter Session, Vol. II, 1801-1820, by Herman W. Ferguson, privately published in Rocky Mount, NC, 1997. p. 162:

!812 February Court Session: "Joseph Knox to James & Samuel Knox, for his own third part of 508 acres of land bequeathed by John Knox, Decd,. To said James, Sam. & Jos. Knox dated 23^rd of August 1797, proved by John Beatey.

Also at same 1812 Feb Court session: The division of Lands of John Knox, Decd, between James Knox & Samuel Knox, Heirs of said decd, was admitted to record on the certificate of James Spratt, surveyor, to with:

James Knox, 260 acres begining…(description) and (2) to Samuel Knox, 240 acres beginning at (description)

From above, it appears that Matthew (brother of Joseph, James & Samuel) who received the 1/3 interest in the land in John’s will did in fact die and Joseph inherited his interest in the land. From this we can see that Joseph sold his 1/3 interest and it is thought that he at that time (about 1797) left and went to Tennessee.. He does not appear in the 1800 census record in the Steele Creek area.

As noted, the 508 acres was the same 508 acres that John Knox received a patent for in 1763.

ANN KNOX
(b. 1729 – d. 15 Nov 1815)

The maiden name of Ann is not known and she probably married John around 1757-58 since the oldest child, James, was born in 1758. Probably this marriage took place in another county/and or state. She is buried at Steele Creek Presby. Church cemetery.

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Joseph Knox, son of James and Hannah Knox, was named in his father’s will as receiving the plantation on which the father now lives. This is evident in the 1840 census listing of old James and Hannah as there is male living in the household age 30-40 and 1 female age 15-20 and a female under 5 years. Also living in the household is 1 male 80-90 yrs and 1 female 60-70 which are James and Hannah. Living next door to them was Samuel Buie Knox and his family. When Hannah died, she left a will leaving to Joseph all of the household items. From the various census records, i.e. 1850 and 1860, Joseph never moved from his home place.

His first wife, Violet B. Simeril (spelled various ways, Simmeral, Simmerel, Simril, Simeril, Simeral, etc) was the daughter of Francis Simeral, who lived on the other side of Samuel Buie Knox. She had died in 1849 and in the 1850 census, Joseph was shown with his three children, Nancy H. Knox, James F. and John S. Apparently he married his 2^nd wife, Cynthia T. ? right after the 1850 census taker recorded them as this only child by Cynthia, Tabitha, was born in 1851. It is probable that Joseph married Cynthia in York County, SC as no marriage record for him and Cynthia has been found in Mecklenburg County. It could well be that he married her in Gaston County as those records have not been checked. Many of the Price family married people from Gaston and even one of Samuel Buie’s daughters married a man from Gaston County. With Price’s ferry almost within sight of their land, it was easier to meet someone from across the river than others in Steele Creek. In 1860 all of the children born before that date, Nancy H., James F., John S. and Tabitha, were living at home with their parents Joseph & Cynthia Knox.

In the 1970s interview with Uncle Sam and Aunt Kate, he related that Joseph Knox was a brother of his grandfather, Samuel Buie Knox, and that his son Lee ran the Knox ferry that went across the river into where Gaston Co. and York Co. came together.

See below regarding Lee and William, much younger sons of Joseph and Cynthia.

The sons of Joseph, James F. and John S. Knox, and younger sons William and Lee, did not leave any known heirs.

Nancy Hannah Knox, b. Oct 26, 1839, married William M. Boyd who was born August 28, 1838, d. June 22, 1912. It is known that they had at least two children, Elva Boyd, who died March 5, 1872 at the age of 1 year 8 months and is buried at Pleasant Hill Presby. Another child, Violet J. Boyd, b. 24 Oct 1871 never married and was a very active member of Pleasant Hill Presby. She died on Aug 4, 1957. There is also a possibility that William Monroe Boyd b. June 16, 1882 was also a son of Nancy and William Boyd. Nancy Hannah Knox Boyd died Sept 27, 1910.

James F. Knox was in the Ranalesburg Rifles (N.C. 13^th Reg., Co. B, made up of lower Steele Creek men in the Civil War) and he enlisted at the age of 18 on 3 April 1861. On May 5^th, 1862 he was wounded in the leg and captured at Williamsburg, VA. He died in a hospital near Fort Monroe, VA on May 16, 1862 of that wound. Even though he is buried in Virginia, he has a tombstone at Pleasant Hill Presbyterian Church Cemetery. It states he died on May 1^st, however, I suspect that whoever informed the family of the death may have made an error as to his actual death.

Both Samuel B. and Joseph had tombstones erected at Pleasant Hill for their sons that were killed in the war but not buried there.

Joseph’s other older son, John S. Knox, was 15-16 years of age when the war started and probably enlisted later in another unit. There was a John D. Knox who enlisted in 1861 at the age of 22 in the Ranalsburg Rifles and later transferred to a Signal Corp in 1862. It is believed that this John D. Knox was the son of one of the other Knoxes in Steele Creek. There was a J. S. Knox listed in the 53^rd Reg., Co. B, N.C. Troops and that unit also had men from the upper Steele Creek area. It is more probable that this was Joseph’s John S. Knox, however, the John D. buried at Pleasant Hill appears to be Joseph’s son.

Joseph died in 1868, prior to the 1870 census of Steele Creek. The 1870 census has an even greater mystery. Living in an area closer to Pleasant Hill Presbyterian Church was Joshua Boyd and Tabitha Boyd. She was shown as age 19 . Her marriage took place at the home of her mother on 9 Sept 1869. Joshua D. Boyd was the son of Thomas. M. & T. C. Boyd.

Cynthia was still living the next year but she was not in Steele Creek in 1870. Because of the location of where Joseph lived on the river, it is possible that the census taker missed Cynthia and her youngest two sons. She is not living around the area of Samuel B. Knox. On the property that should have been hers after the death of Joseph, was John Knox, (evidently the older son John D.) but he had only a black family living with him. Cynthia and Joseph had two younger sons, born almost 10 years after Tabitha was born. Whether they had more children during this time that died or for whatever reason, Cynthia doesn’t show up again until the 1880 census when she is found as head of household and there are more families between her and Samuel’s children which would indicate that each of them had sold some property. In 1880 census, Cynthia is age 52, her son William is 18 and Lee Knox is 13.

It would seem that Uncle Sam was correct, however, he must not have known about James and John. He did say that Joseph’s daughter Nancy had married a Boyd. He must not have known about the daughter Tabitha either, who had probably moved from the area. It is not known where John was living between the 1870 census and 1880 census. He died in 1892, so he must have moved to town or somewhere else after Cynthia reappeared on the property with her two youngest sons. Lee Knox was still running the ferry in the early 1900s. Several older members of the community remembered crossing over into York Co. on Lee Knox’s ferry. As of 1999, his house was still standing and being used as a club house at the Island Point community at the end of Island Point Road. When Lake Wylie was started in the 1920s, Lee’s property would have been purchased by Duke Power Co.

William and Lee did not marry. William died in 1904 prior to Lake Wylie being formed. It is not known where Lee lived after the purchase of his property in the 1920s. He didn’t die until 1933. Both are buried at Pleasant Hill Presbyterian showing R. William Knox, b. August 29, 1861, d. March 22, 1904 and Charles Lee Knox, b. January 7, 1867, d. March 5, 1933. Cynthia is also buried at Pleasant Hill, b. February 24, 1828, d. June 2, 1884, wife of Joseph Knox.

An obituary for Charles Lee Knox states he died at a Charlotte hospital and the funeral was held at Pleasant Hill Presbyterian Church by DR. R. A. Young (minister at Pleasant Hill) and Rev. J. M. Walker, pastor of Steel Creek Presbyterian. (March 1933). He had served several years as deacon of the Pleasant Hill church of which he was a lifelong member. The following great-nephews of Mr. Knox served as pallbears, William and John Boyd, Robert and Leon Glenn, Dale and John Thompson. Mr. Knox is is also survived by the following nieces and nephews. Mrs. S. S. Glenn of York Co., Mrs. E. D. Thompson, Misses Fannie and Violet Boyd and W. M. Boyd of Steele Creek.

Joseph Knox was an elder at Pleasant Hill Presbyterian Church. When Pleasant Hill was formed in 1836, the charter members list included many of the Knox name.

On that list of first members are Joseph Knox and his brother Samuel B. Knox who was one of the first elders. At some point Joseph Knox became an elder as his tombstone indicates he was a, "Ruling Elder Pleasant Hill Presbyterian Church".

This is just one more Knox family that did not have the named carried on in Steele Creek. Only the daughter’s married and none of Joseph’s sons married to carry on the name.

The daughters are not researched further.

In the 1830s, 40s and 50s, there were so many Knox families in Steele Creek it was hard to sort them out. By 1900, there was only one or two left.

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JAMES KNOX (1758 – 1842)
Son of John and Ann Knox

(Prepared by Linda Blackwelder, August 2002)

From: Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, Will Abstracts, 1791 – 1868, Books A-J By Herman W. Ferguson, Privately printed Rocky Mount, NC 1993. p. 178.

Will of James Knox, dated 10 Aug 1839, probated in January 1843 court. Recorded in Will Bk. H, p. 113:

To wife "Hannah, Negroes Jenny and Eliza during her lifetime also a comfortable maintenance from the part of my plantation I now live on willed herein to my son Joseph. She is to have all the household and kitchen furniture except for items left to my sons, a horse, the livestock necessary for her support as determined by my Exrs, and all the provisions, fodder, and grain on hand is to be retained for the support of my family."

To son Samuel B. Knox, the portion of my plantation adj. the Catawba River and Semrill, as well as the Negro Will at the death of my wife, the Negro Louisa and her issue, a cow and calf, and all that I have given heretofore on condition that he pay to my dau-in-law, Hannah S. Knox $100 and to my son James B. Knox $200 within two years after my demise.

I give to my son James B. Knox the Negro Mary and her issue, a horse and colt, two cows and calves, a third of my cattle and hogs, and a bed and furniture, all on condition that they pay to my grandson John Knox $100 within two years after my demise.

I will to my son Joseph Knox all the balance of my plantation I now live on less the portion willed to my son Samuel, as well as the Negro Andy and, at the decease of my wife, the Negro Jenny. I also give my son Joseph a horse, two cows and calves, a third of my cattle and hogs, and a bed and furniture, all on condition that he pay $200 to my son James B. Knox and $100 to my grandson John Knox within two years of my demise. My unwilled farming utensils are to be divided equally between my sons James and Joseph, but my blacksmith tools, cotton gin and wheat thresher are to remain where they are now for the joint use of my three sons. My debts are to be paid by my sons James and Joseph, and if I should fail to provide my grandson John Knox with a horse before my demise, this gift, worth $75, is also to be the responsibility of James and Joseph.

Exrs: Samuel B. and James B. Knox

Witnesses: John Hart and Mary Lindsey

(Codicil of 15 Aug 1842) It is my will that my sons Samuel and Joseph are to be released from the responsibility of paying $200 each to my son James B. Knox. Furthermore, Samuel is to pay $50 instead of $100 to my daug-in-law Hannah S. Knox; James and Joseph are each to pay $50 to my grandson John Knox instead of $100; and the Negro Louisa, named in my will to my son Samuel, is to be valued, my three sons are to draw lots to determine who is to receive her, and the recipient is to pay a third of her value to each of his brothers.

Wit: J. Har, Jurat, and A. R. Erwin

From: Interview by Linda Blackwelder with Uncle Sam and Aunt Kate Knox, August 1976.

Uncle Sam stated that his grandfather was Sam Buie Knox and that Sam Buie’s father was James Knox. He stated that his great-grandfather James and bought land in 1794 for 700 acres that was originally the Neal land between the river and the old Knox land. Uncle Sam was born on the "river place" of the Knox land in 1911. (He told me that this land was where the Wildlife Club Rd is today. He remembered there was another Sam Knox near his Sam Buie Knox but didn’t know if they were related or not. He said the Swann’s farm adjoined the farms of Samuel Buie Knox. He also remembered that Sam Buie had a brother Joseph who had children Lee and William, both of who never married and a daughter Nancy Hannah that married William Boyd. He said that Lee Knox ran a ferry on the river. (Lee Knox’s house was schedule to be destroyed in the year 2000. It was the club house for the Island Point folks. I don’t know if it is now gone on not, however, Dolly Sledge Hickman remembers as a child going on the ferry that Lee Knox ran over to York Co. near the Gaston Co. line. This was before Lake Wylie was formed)

Uncle Sam also told me that his grandfather, Sam Buie Knox was married 2 times. The first time to a Pettus woman and the second time to Ann Sloan who had married 1^st to a Lourie and had two sons, Robert and Sam Lourie. He said Robert Lourie was in the Civil War. Sam’s father was Charles Pettis Knox, son of Sam Buie Knox.

From my own research: (Linda Blackwelder). This James Knox has been very difficult to separate from the other James Knoxes in the county. They are as follows:

1. Capt. James Knox (of the Hopewell area of NW Mecklenburg) He died on October 10, 1794 at the age of 42 years, making him born @ 1756. He is buried at Hopewell Presbyterian.

2. The above James Knox, buried at Steele Creek Presbyterian, died 21 Nov 1842 at the age of 84 making him born @1758. His tombstone states that he was a "Patriot of the Revolutionary War".

3. There is James Knox, who was a founding elder at the old Steele Creek Associate Reformed church (later called Blackstock ARP) who died 10 Sept 1795 at the age of 39, making him born in 1756. This James Knox lived in the area where today Hwy 51 west of Pineville and Nation Ford Rd. comes together. (This is especially interesting to me in that he lived only about 2 miles from the birthplace of James K. Polk, whose grandfather was James Knox. This James Knox lived on the NC/SC line but his home must have actually been in York Co. as that is where I found his will. More will be covered about this James Knox under Robert Knox, who in the1790 census lived in the same place and appears that James and his family were living with Robert. It is unfortunate that this James did not name his children in his will. His wife was Elizabeth and he left instructions in his will that his "aged father" be taken care of. In that household were 2 boys under 16 years of age and 2 females, who were probably his wife Elizabeth and a daughter. This was the only Knox listed in York Co. at the time.

Following are other facts found about the James Knox of this family.

Recall in the will of John Knox, James Knox’ father, he left his land to his sons, James, Samuel and Matthew. James was to have first choice of land, then Samuel the second choice leaving Matthew the last choice. This was for 508 acres. There was a statement that if any one of those three died then son Joseph was to receive that part. I have been unable to determine what happened to this Matthew Knox, but it appears that by 1797, Matthew must have died because at that time, son Joseph deed his 1/3 interest in this land to James and Samuel. In 1812, James and Samuel divided this 508 acres into separate adjoining tracts. James Knox took 260 acres and Samuel took 240 acres.

The source for the above two transactions were from:

Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, Minutes of the Court of Common Pleas and Quarter Sessions, Volume II: 1801-1820, By Herman W. Ferguson, Rocky Mount, NC 1997. p. 162. "Book 5, 1812 Febuary Session: Joseph Knox to James & Samuel Knox, for his own third part of 508 acres of land bequeathed by John Knox, Decd., to the same James, Sam. & Jos. Knox dated the 23^rd of August 1797."

In other words, Joseph had deed the land to them in 1797 but they had not recorded the deed until 1812).

From: Ferguson’s Vol. II (Ibid above) p. 162. at the same court session above "The division of Lands of John Knox, Decd, between James Knox and Samuel Knox, Heirs of said decd..was admitted to record on the certificate of James Spratt, Surveyor, to wit:"…

A description was given of the 260 acres tract to James Knox and the 240 acre tract of Samuel Knox.

To further establish the location of the area where James Knox lived, the following is from, Herman W. Ferguson, Vol I, of Minutes of the court of Common Pleas and Quarter Sessions, 1780-1800, p. 189:

October session 1797: Ordered by the court that Bennet Wood be and is hereby appointed as overseer of the road from John Prices to Isaac Prices Ferry and is authorized to call on all the hands liable to work on roads on the under named plantations:

Viz: Isaac Price, Hugh Herrons, James Knoxes, Saml. Knoxes, Junr., Mathew Knox’s, Joseph Swanns, James Porters, David Hartts, Moses Swann’s, Thomas Grier (formerly Blackwoods) John Prices, Samuel Neals, etc……."

These were indeed owners of land from what is today Island Point on Lake Wylie going back toward Shopton on Shopton Road West. Note: The Mathew Knox named above was "old Matthew Knox" who was a brother of John Knox, who died in 1777. He had owned the property adjoining his brother John. (this will be covered under the Mathew Knox section).

The parents of Hannah McFalls is not known. The McFalls name does not appear in early court records so it is doubtful that her father lived for any length of time in Mecklenburg County. There was a John McFalls listed in the 1790 census and this may have been her father. Perhaps he lived in the area long enough for James to meet and marry his daughter. It seems more likely that during the Revolutionary War, his troop may have spent some time in what is now Burke Co., NC. The Over-the- Mountain men that fought at Kings Mountain had a gathering place around what is now Rutherfordton, then called Gilbert town. There were a lot of McFalls in Burke County in 1790 and some in Rutherford Co., (which was formed from part of Burke Co.) It may well be that Hannah’s father lived for a time during the war in Mecklenburg and then moved on to Burke County.

Hannah died after her husband and left a will in Mecklenburg County.

From: Ferguson’s, Will Abstracts of Mecklenburg Co. Books A – J….

p. 200: Will Book I, p. 101: Will of Hannah (X) Knox, 3 Sept 1845, probated in April 1847 Court. Being weak of body, I give to my son Joseph Knox, all my household and kitchen furniture, all livestock and all property that fell to me by the will of my husband.

Sole Exr: Joseph Knox.

Wits: John Hart and Samuel Knox.

(Not sure the above witness, Samuel Knox, is her son but don’t think a member of the immediate family can witness a will. This may have been a son of Samuel Knox, James’ brother. I believe he had a son Samuel and the property of James and Samuel adjoined, so he probably was a close neighbor. Joseph Hart was a neighbor.

It appears that sons Samuel B. Knox and James B. Knox already had their property and no doubt, Hannah was living with Joseph since he received the homeplace. I would imagine that is why Hannah left the household items to him

There is also a deed in 1825 from James to his son, Samuel B. Knox for 250 acres. This appears to be about the time that Samuel B. Knox married 1^st to Cynthia Pettus. He had probably deeded property to James B. Knox when he married also. I noted that the will did not leave real property to James B, only personal property.

James and Hannah Knox are buried at old Steele Creek Presbyterian Church Cemetery.

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JAMES B. KNOX (1803 – d.?)
and
JAMES B. KNOX (b. 1792 - ?)
(Sons of James & Hannah McFalls Knox and Samuel& Nancy Knox)

Before declaring that James B. Knox (b. 1803) is absolutely the son of James and Hannah Knox, it must be pointed out that it appears that Samuel Knox, brother of James also had a son named James B. Knox. Samuel’s son was only about 5 years older than James’ son, so it could well be that I have no way of determining which James B. Knox is the son of James and which is the son of Samuel. Also, the wives may be in error. One James B. Knox married Rebecca Pettus and the other James B. married Ann Price.

The James B. Knox who married Ann Price was born in 1803 and the James B. Knox that married Rebecca Pettus was born @ 1792. (birth years taken from 1850 Steele Creek Census) Since James & Hannah McFalls Knox were married in 1797 and their 1^st son Samuel B. was born in 1798 then it is probable that James B. b. 1803 is their son. Samuel & Nancy Knox would have been married earlier as it appears that their first child was born @ 1790, indicating that the other James B. born in 1792 was their child.

Both of the James B. Knoxes would have lived at one time near Isaac Price who was the father of Ann. Several of Samuel’s sons appear in Steele Creek in the 1850 census and it shows they were born in SC, however in the 1860 census, many of these sons show as being born in NC. (If in fact these were his sons.) It appears they were living on his property that he split with James in the 1850 census. Rebecca Pettus would have lived in York County, however, Samuel B. Knox’s, James B. Knox’s brother did marry first to a Pettus. One James B. Knox was mentioned in James’ will as receiving a slave and other items, and for whatever reason, he did not leave any real property to James B. If the James that had just married Ann Price was the son of old James then he married her three months before old James’ death. His father may have deeded him property when he married. I noted that Samuel Buie Knox, brother of James B., and oldest son of James, did receive property by deed just prior to his marriage, however, he also left property to Samuel B. Maybe he gave James B. more at his marriage than Samuel B. got. Also, James B. purchased several other tracts of land as the years went by.

Little is known of James B. Knox that married Ann G. Price, daughter of Isaac and Nancy Price, adjoining neighbors. He married her on 31 August 1842 and his bondsman was his 1^st cousin, Henry N. Knox.(or his brother if this James B. belonged to Samuel). His wife, Ann, died on 23 Feb 1847 leaving him two children, Isaac age 3 yrs and William P. age 1 year. James appears in the Steele Creek 1850 census with only the two sons, but appears that he may have married late in 1850 to someone possibly in South Carolina. It appears that after his marriage in late 1850+, he must have moved from Steele Creek. He does not appear in the 1860 census in Steele Creek.

Ann’s tombstone at Pleasant Hill Presbyterian Cemetery shows, Ann G. Knox, d. February 23, 1847, aged 31, wife of Major James B. Knox and daughter of Isaac and Nancy Price. It is unknown where James B. Knox moved to. Since he was referred to in 1847 as a Major, it can only be assumed that he was a major in the militia as he would have been to young to serve in the War of 1812.

In the Mecklenburg County court minutes from 1830-1840, he is listed as Capt. James B. Knox, of the lower Steele Creek Militia Company. It is probable that sometime in the 1840s. he was promoted to a Major.

The other James B. Knox, son of old Samuel and Nancy Knox, may be the one that married Ann Price and was Major James B., however, there is a possibility that the other James Knox in the 1850 Steele Creek Census, may have been a son of James Knox, who is buried at Blackstock Cemetery (Steele Creek ARP). It was thought that that James had 2 sons and 1 daughter. It was also told by old Mr. Boyce, of York Co., SC, who in 1931 wrote a description of the area around Flint Hill Baptist and Blackstock Church, that the James Knox that was a founding elder at Blackstock, died 1795 had children who married into the Pettus family. At first I was under the impression that this was incorrect in that Samuel Knox’s daughter married into the Pettus family. This James Knox, b. 1792, in the 1850 Steele Creek Census was married to Rebecca Pettus who on the census says she was born in South Carolina. The 1850 census also states that this James Knox was born in South Carolina however, in the 1860 census, he is shown as born in North Carolina but Rebecca is still shown as born in South Carolina.

The James Knox (married to Rebecca) in the 1850 Steele Creek census was living next door to Matthew Knox and Robert Knox (which may be another mystery). James and Rebecca Pettus Knox had all girls except 1 son John. The oldest child was Nancy, b. about 1824/5. Samuel Knox (brother of James) and his wife Nancy, had a James B. Knox. It was thought that this James Knox was their son and by the daughter named Nancy, it was a lead. Another thought on this is that James Knox’s son, Samuel B. Knox married first to Cynthia Pettus so it is possible that Samuel B. Knox’s brother James married a Pettus also.

By the 1860 Steele Creek Census, Rebecca had died and daughter Margaret had died in 1854 (buried at Pleasant Hill Presby). Evidently, Nancy and Mary Ann had married. Those living in the household of this James Knox were his daughters, Susan, Cynthia and Lorena and son John.

By 1870, James was still living at the age of 79 and the four daughters, Mary, Susan, Cynthia and Lorena were still living with him. It appears that Mary’s husband, if she had married, may have been killed in the Civil War. As was so common between 1860 and 1870, so many boys were killed during the war that it produced many "old maids"….there were not enough boys their age left to marry. This was the same case with the Irwin family of lower Steele Creek. Four daughters were left single with no one to marry after the war.

It is not known where this James B. Knox is buried either. He most likely died in Steele Creek but neither he nor Rebecca are buried in any known grave at any of the churches in the Steele Creek area. It is probable that after the war, the family lost a lot of money and with only daughters left to bury him, they may not have been able to afford a stone. If Rebecca is buried somewhere in York Co., then James may be buried with her.

With so many possibilities with the two James B. Knoxes and possibly another James Knox of the same ages as the others (within 5 or 6 years apart) it is impossible to determine who belonged to James Knox and his brother Samuel, or even the old James Knox that died and is buried at Blackstock. This is the second generations of James Knoxes that are difficult to separate. Of course, all of these were in Steele Creek and at the same time, there was a least one James Knox living in the Huntersville area of Mecklenburg County. Unless a family bible is found, or some other court record that could explain which of these belong to which father, it is probable that they will never be identified correctly.

Even though I have no proof of which James B. was "definitely" the son of James & Hannah, two items lead me to believe it was the James B. that married Ann Price. (1) the ages of each James B. shown on the Steele Creek census and (2) in the interview with Uncle Sam Knox in the 1970s, he said that his father told him they were "kin" to the Prices. Uncle Sam did not know the relationship of that kinship.

If it is true, then it is probably that it was the James B. Knox who was the brother of Uncle Sam’s grandfather who married Ann Knox. The only thing that hints of an error in this is the fact that Henry N. Knox (brother of James of Samuel & Nancy) was the bondsman for the marriage of James B. Knox to Ann Price. Why wouldn’t Sam’l B. Knox, his own brother, have been the bondsman. I have resolved this in my mind that because Henry N. Knox was born the same year as this James B. Knox, and they were 1^st cousins and lived on adjoining farms, they were probably much closer as friends than James and his brother Samuel B. Many bondsman of that day appear to have been friends (or at least not brothers or fathers) so this may not have been uncommon.

Until proven otherwise, I am attaching the James B. Knox that married Ann Price to James and Hannah.

Sources: 

Marriages of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina 1783 – 1868 by Brent H. Holcomb, Reprint, Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. Baltimore, MD, 1981

1850 and 1860 Mecklenburg County Census Records – Steele Creek Twp.

Mecklenburg County, North Carolina Minutes of the Court of Common Pleas and Quarter Session, Vol III: 1821-1830 and Vol. IV: 1831 – 1840, By Herman W. Ferguson, Rocky Mount, NC 1998 and 2002.

Mecklenburg County, North Carolina Will Abstracts, 1791 – 1868, Book A-J, By Herman W. Ferguson, Rocky Mount, NC, 1993

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(By: Linda L. Blackwelder)

Almost nothing is known of this John. He did marry Hannah S. Neely, their marriage bond dated 1 May 1826, married on 4 May 1826 at the home of Samuel Neely in Steele Creek. (Information taken from: Marriage of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, 1783 -1868, Compiled by Brent H. Holcomb, reprinted 1981 by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc.,Baltimore MD., p. 107. and from the Catawba Journal, newspaper at that time in Mecklenburg Co. . It is known that in 1828, John and Hannah were living in Lincoln Co., NC as found in the court records as follows:

From: Abstracts of Deed Books 15-23, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, 1794 – 1830 by Herman W. Ferguson, Rocky Mount, NC, 2001. p. 23: Recorded in Deed Bk. 23, p. 298: 25 Jan 1828, Samuel Knox & Jane N., his wife & John Knox & Hannah his wife, all of Lincoln County to Samuel Neely, Ezekiel C. Neely & Thomas B. Neely all of Mecklenburg for $767.42, the interest of the grantors in the lands of Saml. Neely, decd. Wit: John Hard, & Jos. Neely. Thomas J. Greer examined Jane and Hannah apart from their husbands and acknd that the ladies signed the deed voluntarily. Proven at Feb Court 1829. Reg. 21 Mar 1829.

The Samuel Knox above would have been a 1^st cousin of James B. Knox and son of Samuel Knox, brother of James, the father of James B. Knox. See group sheet of Samuel Knox., brother of James.

It would appear that John died prior to his father since in his father, James’ will, he leaves money to his daughter-in-law Hannah and grandson, John Knox. This is probably why nothing was known on John. He had married and moved to Lincoln Co and then died prior to his father making his will. The above Samuel married to Jane Neely, had returned to the Steele Creek area by 1850 census, however, it is not known if Hannah remarried after her husband’s death, nor what happened to their son John. Further research in Lincoln Co., might lead to the answer of this question.

It is known that old Samuel Neely owned property not far from the Knoxes, so these were neighbors marrying each other.

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It is not known who the wife of Matthew Knox was. She may have died young or she definitely predeceased him as she is not mentioned in his will.

Matthew appears to have come to Steele Creek after his brothers, John and Samuel. It is probable that Samuel and John had received grants before Mecklenburg County was formed in 1763. At least Samuel was here by that time and it appears that he already owned several large tracts of land before he started buying more that were recorded in Mecklenburg County.

Matthew purchased property from Reese Price and his wife Sarah (of then Anson Co.) on 15 & 16 December 1762. The amount of acres is not listed in the abstract. (Mecklenburg County, N.C., Deed Abstracts, 1763-1779, Brent H. Holcomb & Elmer O. Parker, Reprinted by Southern Historical Press, Inc, Greenville, SC. 1991. p. 3.) It states that the property was located on the east side of the Catawba River, near land formerly granted to James Armour and near an old Indian path and was granted to Reese Price in 1753.

In 1775, Matthew received a state Grant #414 issued at New Bern, Vol. 25, p. 53, for 100 acres on the east side of the Catawba River adj. Amour, Swann, John Knox and other lands of Matthew.

His children had probably married at a place where Matthew lived prior to moving to Steele Creek. His daughters were married to a Garrett, Barry Young and John Peck. These were certainly not Steele Creek names and evidently they did not move to Steele Creek. They may have lived in old Tryon County or Lincoln Co., however, nothing is known of them.

Matthew was a constable for Mecklenburg County in 1778. Since he owned property adjoining the Prices, John Knox (his brother) and Swann, it is likely that it was located near where Westinghouse Blvd is located today near Hwy 160. The "old Indian path" was no doubt the Tuckassegee path which was in the locale of Hwy 160 today. Armour’s land was located near where Wither Cove is today.

He left his real property to his sons, John and James. It is believed that James moved to South Carolina at some point. Matthew named his son, John his co-executor along with neighbor James Hartt. In 1825, James of Pendleton Dist., SC sold to John Knox, 250 acres on the river adj. Samuel Knox which he stated, he inherited from his father ,Matthew Knox. Whether this was his brother John, or his cousin John (either son of Samuel or son of James), it is not known.

Matthew wrote his will on 26 April 1800 (about the time that his brother Samuel Knox, died, and it was probated in Jan. 1803. None of Matthew’s children are buried in Steele Creek and if Matthew is buried at Steele Creek, he does not have a marker.

In his will, he gives his daughter, Jane Garret a Negro, Hannah. He gives the plantation he lives on and the tract adjoining it to be divided between his sons John and James and "if they cannot agree among themselves how these lands are to be divided, they are to call upon Hugh Herron, Joseph Swann and James Hartt to make the division, and son John is to have his choice as to which half is to belong to him". He gives to his daughter Margaret, the Negro Nan (who is not to be sold out of the family), also "my rug, my feather bed, blanket and sheets. To his daughter Elizabeth, he gave the Negro Ned and "my small table". To his grandson Matthew Young $60 when he reaches 21; to son (in-law?) Barry Young one silver dollar; and to granddaughter Amy Price, a cow and a blanket. ***was there another daughter who had married a Price and perhaps had died prior to his will???** He willed that the Negro Aleck is to remain on his land and that his time is to be divided between his sons John and James. The Negro wench Binah, is to be set free and at full liberty to act for herself on condition that she live among his children of her choice and he gave her a cow, a spinning wheel and some hogs.

His son (in-law?) John W. Peck is to have full liberty to occupy what he can of his improvements for a term of two years and either live "in my dwelling house or my other little house".

It appears that all of these children may have left the area after Matthew died and none of these names appear in Steele Creek records or cemeteries.

I suspect that there was a cemetery located near the river at one time where some of the Prices, Knoxes and other neighbors might be located, however, if there was, it is probably under the waters of Lake Wylie today. These people attended Steele Creek Church, but there are several of these families that do not appear to be buried at Steele Creek. It may be that they are buried at Steele Creek in unmarked graves.

Matthew is mentioned in his brother Samuel’s will. It appears that at his death, only brothers David and Robert may have still been living. It is not known when either of them died or where. It is suspected that Robert died in York County and David may have lived elsewhere in South Carolina.

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The will of Samuel B. Knox is dated the 14^th day of August, 1874. (See Attached). In this will, he leaves to Ann Knox, his wife the plantation he now lives on with "40 acres included that I bought of Samuel Knox" and other things.

He leaves to his son, William H. Knox, "the Porter place containing 240 acres, also one hundred acres of the T. J. Grier Tract and other things. He will to his daughter Cynthia H. Price, "eighty acres to be laid off thro the west end of the Thomas J. Grier tract" and other things. He wills to his daughter Eliza Knox, "one hundred acres of land laid off the east end of the Thomas J. Grier land" and other things. He leaves to his daughter Kizia Knox "the J. B. Knox tract of land containing 140 acres". (This tells us that James B. Knox, his brother, probably did sell his land to Samuel B. and moved away).

He wills to his daughter Margaret Stow "my old home place containing 237 acres and she is to pay back $150". He wills to his son Charles Knox "the plantation I now live on subject to the interest of his mother in Item 1. (This is the tract of land that Uncle Sam said was either the Neal property or adjoined the Neal property. Today, that property would have been on both side of Withers Cove across from Westinghouse and across the bridge. Uncle Sam told me he was born and raised in a house that would have been on Wildlife Club Rd. running down to Withers Cove. This was probably the old homeplace.) He directed that his "two daughters Eliza & Kizia are to have a home with their mother at my present residence while they remain single…."

He appointed Isaac J. Price and W. H. Knox as his executors to settle his estate. Witnesses were neighbors, Thomas J. Simeril and Thomas P. Grier. When the will was filed in 1875, the estate was worth approximately $7000 and that Ann Knox, C. H. Price, W. H. Knox, R. E. Knox, M. K. Knox, M. A. Stowe & C. P. Knox are the proper persons entitled under said will. (will filed in Mecklenburg County, NC)

Samuel Buie Knox was the oldest child of James & Hannah Knox. He married 1^st to Cynthia Pettus around 1825 probably at her home in York Co., S.C. The Pettus’lived just across the line in the area of Pleasant Road bounded by Gold Hill Road and I-77 or near that area. Cynthia Pettus was the daughter of Capt. George Pettus (1752 – 1816) and Jane Knox (1766 – 1847). (see group sheet) Cynthia Pettus died in childbirth on August 27, 1826 and was buried in the Pettus family cemetery along with her 3 day old infant. This cemetery is in the Saddlegate subdivision on Pleasant Road. (information on the Pettus family from Louise Pettus of Rock Hill.)

The interesting part of this marriage is that Jane Knox Pettus was the daughter of Samuel Knox, who was the brother of John Knox (1722 – 1777). John Knox was the grandfather of Samuel B. Knox, so Samuel B. and Cynthia Pettus were 2^nd cousins. Old John also had a son Samuel, brother of James, Samuel B.’s father. Samuel Knox, son of John, had a son James B. Knox who married Rebecca Pettus, who was the sister of Cynthia. This James would have been a 1^st cousin of Samuel B., so that James B. also married his 2^nd cousin.

After the death of Cynthia, Samuel B. remained single for some time. In the 1830 census, he was living alone on his land adjoining his father, James.

On 2 October 1835, Samuel Buie Knox married a widow with 2 children. Ann Sloan Lowrie, was the daughter of Robert Sloan and Ruth Beaty who were married 14 Feb 1800 (bond date). She married first to Robert J. Lowrie on 28 July 1827. They had two sons, Robert B. and Samuel J. Lowrie. Neither son married. Both of these boys served in the Civil War. Samuel J. was wounded and never completely recovered and he died in 1866. Robert died young at a young age in 1869.

The children of Samuel B. and Ann Sloan Lowrie are all listed in the Charles Pettus Knox bible in the possession of Sambo Knox. (see attached group sheet) It appears that Samuel B. and his wife attended Steele Creek Presbyterian, however, many of their children are buried at Pleasant Hill Presbyterian.

The oldest child of Sam B. and Ann Knox was Cynthia Hannah Knox.

Cynthia H. Knox was born 4 August 1836, d. 23 Dec 1903. She married on 30 Oct 1854 to Isaac Jasper Price. Isaac was first married to Amanda Neely on 23 Jan 1851. Isaac Price was born 28 Dec 1819 in Steele Creek, the son of Isaac Price (II) and Nancy Barnett. He married to Nancy Amanda Neely, b. 30 Aug 1830 in York Co. to John Neely (II) and Cynthia Starr. Of this marriage one child was born. She was Margaret Roseanna Jane Price, b. 16 Sept 1852. This child married John Randolph Porter and had 8 children.

Amanda Neely Price died on 28 Jan 1853 leaving a 4 month old for Isaac to raise.

Eighteen year old Cynthia married Isaac Jasper, who was 35 years old at the time and by that time, Margaret was almost 2 years old. This couple lived nearby both the Price and Knox family. They lived in the vicinity of where the Westinghouse Plant is today at the corner of Westinghouse Blvd and Shopton Road West. This couple had 6six children in addition to two unnamed infants who died at birth, one in 1862 and the other in 1872. Of the other six children, one died at the age of 3 and one at the age of 1 ½ years. The other four married and had families. This couple is buried at Steele Creek Presbyterian church cemetery. (See attached group sheet).

The next oldest child was a son, James S. Knox, b. 23 Dec 1837. He was known as Jim. He never married. He fought in the Civil War and was wounded. He was able to make it home before he died on 4 Apr 1865. He is buried at Pleasant Hill Presbyterian Cemetery.

The next child was John H. B. Knox, b. 10 Oct 1839. He never married and was killed in the Civil War on 31 May 1864. He has a tombstone at Pleasant Hill Presbyterian that says he is buried at Staunton, Va.

The 4^th child was William Harrison Knox, b. 110 April 1841. He also never married and he died 25 Jul 1919. He was wounded in the Civil War but he didn’t die from the wounds even though it gave him problems for the rest of his life. He is buried at Steele Creek Presbyterian Church.

The next child was Ruth Eliza Knox, b. 8 Jan 1843. She was called Eliza. Her marriage record in Mecklenburg County reads, "Elias J. Garrison, age 30 of Mecklenburg County, son of J. A. & R. Garrison of South Carolina (father-living, mother-dead) married to Ruth E. Knox, age 30 of Mecklenburg County, daughter of S. B. & Ann Knox of Mecklenburg. (father-dead, mother-living) married on 19 April 1876 at Mrs. Ann Knox in Steele Creek by John Douglas, min. Witnesses were: W. A. Wilson, H. A. Stowe and Thomas J. Simeril of Mecklenburg County." This was a second marriage for Elias Garrison. He married 1^st to Hannah Catherine Youngblood, daughter of Richard Calvin Youngblood and Nancy Hannah Lessley on December 26, 1867. There was one child, Hanna D. Garrison, d. October 3, 1874 at the age of 1 year, 7 months and 12 days. Hannah Catherine died February 28, 1874. It is thought by this writer, that she died in childbirth and the baby was born dead. (Taken from this writer’s research on the Youngblood family). Elias was wounded in the Civil War and walked with a limp. It appears that Ruth Eliza and Elias J. Garrison did not have any children. She died 20 March 1919 and Elias died 2 Oct 1909. Both are buried at Steele Creek Presbyterian Church.

The next child was Joseph G. Knox, b. 22 Oct 1845. He never married. Was killed in the Civil War on 7 Jun 1864 at Petersburg, VA and is buried there. There is a marker for him at Pleasant Hill Presbyterian Church cemetery.

The 7^th child was Margaret Ann Knox, b. 5 Feb 1847. She married Herbert A. Stowe on 3 December 1872. Her marriage record filed at the Register of Deeds reads,

"License issued 29 Nov 1872 for Herbert A. Stowe, age 22, of Mecklenburg County, son of Herbert and Martha Stowe of Mecklenburg (father – dead, mother – dead) to Maggie A. Knox, age 24 of Mecklenburg, daughter of S. B. & Ann Knox of Mecklenburg (father and mother living……which is not correct. S. B. died in 1868) married 3 December 1872 at the residence of Sam’l B. Knox in Steele Creek by J. C. Chalmers, Min. AR Presby Church." This was a little strange in that J. C. Chalmers was the minister of Little Steele Creek Associate Reformed Church and Lower Steele Creek ARP. Little Steele Creek ARP was located on Sandy Porter Rd. (These two churches merged to form Central Steele Creek ARP-latter Presbyterian Church) It may be that Herbert Stowe was a member of that church and perhaps there was a reason why Rev. Douglas of Steele Creek Presbyterian couldn’t marry them. This couple lived in Gaston County and therefore little is known of them. They did have children but their names are not known. Margaret (Maggie) died on 10 October 1901 and is probably buried in Gaston County, NC.

The 8^th child was Mary A. Kezia was born 5 Feburary 1848. Kezia never married and lived at home with her mother and later with her brother Charles Pettus Knox who had inherited the home place under the direction of Sam. B.’s will that their mother and Kezia would have a home there. Kezia died 19 Jan 1936. She is buried at Steele Creek Presbyterian Church.

The 9^th and last child was Charles Pettus Knox, born 25 June 1849. He was the father of Uncle Sam Knox.

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