Waid Hampton COX

     Waid Hampton COX was born circa 1773. He was a merchant, tavern owner and ferry operator. Wade Cox is credited with founding the town of Washington on the Alabama River where he operated the principal tavern and ferry. Shadrack Mims disrobed him as "an enterprising, industrious man with some means when he moved to Alabama. He very judiciously invested his means in lands on both sides of the river" for his ferry, which served for years as the main passage from Montgomery to West Alabama. This ferry established by Cox was the first in the county.

An 1895 article on the history of Autauga county in the Prattville Progress, written by "one of its earliest citizens", described Cox as a prominent citizen of Washington, "proprietor of the principal hotel and owner of the ferry across the Alabama River and almost the only thoroughfare leading from Montgomery to West Alabama."

The following description of early Washington is taken from Mims' account: "From the year 1825-1936, it [Washington] was a flourishing village, affording a lively business for three or four dry goods stores. The first cabin was erected in the fall of 1817, and during the next few years, [it became an important center of commerce]. When I reached the little village of Washington, what did I see? The most conspicuous building that met my eye was a brick building which they called the Court House-- this though small was large enough for the population, besides this there was a respectable building put up by Wade H. Cox, the founder of the village, and kept by him. There were two or three other stores, one kept by Pickett and Peck-- I do not recall by whom the others were kept-- Pickett and Peck had the largest. There were a good many people in town and business seemed brisk and lively, more so than in Montgomery-- at that time Montgomery and Washington regarded themselves as rivals. There were more men of wealth and influence settled in the vicinity of Washington than there were about Montgomery..." The removal of the county courthouse in 1833 to Kingston, as well as the birth of Prattville, quickly caused the decline of Washington.^1,2

Waid married Martha Moore MATHEWS, daughter of John MATHEWS and Mary "Polly" BURT, on 17 September 1818 in Milledgeville, Baldwin County, Georgia.³

Waid was commissioned justice of peace on 23 July 1824 in Autauga County. He resigned on 22 Jun 1829.

Waid left a will dated 7 December 1831 in Autauga County, Alabama. Item 1 - "to my beloved wife Martha" all his estate property both real and personal for her natural life or marriage. At her death the remaining estate to be equally divided among his four children: Mary Susan Delany, Jesse John James, William Henry Eaton, and Bartlett Ledbette. Item 2 - I leave until Jesse Gafford, my nephew, a horse, bridle and saddle and bed at his coming of age. Item 3 - appointed Martha his executrix and guardian of his children. It was signed by Waid H. Cox (seal), and witnessed by A. R. Hutchinson, James Colby, and David Golightly. It was recorded 30 January 1832 by A. R. Hutchinson.⁴

Waid Hampton COX died on 18 December 1831 in Washington, Autauga County, Alabama.

Waid's obituary was printed on 24 December 1831 in the Alabama Journal newspaper, published in Montgomery, Alabama. The obituary read, "Died at Washington, Autauga County, on Sunday, the 18th inst., Waid H. Cox, after a painful and distressing illness of two weeks. He left behind a disconsolate widow and four small children to mourn his loss."⁵

As business in Prattville expanded Daniel Pratt attempted to purchase Washington Landing. Washington had dwindled down to nothing since the 1830s, the result of the county seat transferring to Kingston and the rise of Prattville as the county business center. Washington consisted of little more than a dilapidated warehouse and wharf, as well as the ferry. But since Pratt sent many of his textiles and cotton gins down to the landing for shipping the site held great importance for him. The heirs of Wade Cox now held much of the land around Washington Landing and they initially rejected Pratt's offer. Since the heirs were primarily interested in maintaining possession of the ferry Pratt thought they would not be reluctant to part with the warehouse. He cannily suggested that if he were to build a warehouse above the landing it would take away most of their business while if a new warehouse were built and well conducted at Washington if would pull in more business and enhance the ferry traffic. By 1850 he reached an agreement with them where he paid the $10,000 for the land that their father had held while Pratt and Jesse Cox shared control over the ferry. Having secured the landing, Pratt began to improve its facilities and built a plank road from Washington to Prattville.⁶

Waid Hampton COX purchased a government land patent 10 September 1832 in Autauga County, Alabama. From the Cahaba Land Office he purchased the west half of the southeast quarter of section 7, township 17N, range 16E, containing 80.10 acres. This was just west of Prattville in Old Allenville area and over to north side of Hwy. 82 by-pass and intersection of Indian Springs Road..⁷

On 28 Jan 1833 Martha M. M. Cox, Jordan Abbott, William Burt, and Edward W. Gilbert posted a bond making Martha the guardian of Mary Cox, the infant daughter of the late Waid H. Cox. As long as she fufulled her duties as guardian the obligation would be void. Indentical bonds were posted for Jesse Cox, William Cox and Bartley Cox.

His estate was heard in court on 28 January 1833 in Autauga County, Alabama. Martha Webb Cox, Jordan Abbott, William Burt, and Edward W. Gilbert as co-executors of the estate of Waid H. Cox posted a $5000 bond making Martha the guardian of Waid's infant heirs Mary Cox, Jesse Cox, William Cox and Bartley Cox.