CHAPTER XIII

MARGARET POTTS - COX

The minutes of Newark (afterwards changed to Kennet) Monthly Meeting, of 1 mo. 1, 1712, and held at ye Center, contain the following entry.

"Richards Cocks Requesting of this meeting a Certificate in Relation to marriage with a ffriend belonging to ye Monthly Meeting at Abington in ye County of Philadelphia. Thomas Wickersham & Wm. Horne are appointed to Enquire into his clearness in Relation to marriage or otherwise & make report to ye next monthly meeting."

At a meeting held 2 mo. 5, 1712, at the same place, is this,

"Thomas Wickersham & William Horne makes return to this meeting yet they find nothing against Richard Cox to obstruct, but that he is Clear in Relation to marriage, therefore this meeting orders yet he have a Certificate as he requested."

On 3 mo. 26, 1712, the minutes of Abington Monthly Meeting contain this record:

"Whereas Richard Cox, of Kennet Monthly in ye County of New Castle, and Margaret Potts, having declared their Intentions of Marriage with each other; before two Monthly Meetings, Enquiry being made by persons appointed and found clear from all others on ye account of Marriage. Did accomplish their marriage in ye Unity of Friends as is signified by their Marriage Certificate."

The account book of Francis Daniel Pastorius shows a charge on May 4, 1712, against Richard Cox of Kennet in Chester County, for a "Marriage Certificate and Margaret Potts."

In Futhey and Cope's "History of Chester County," it is stated that Richard Cox is supposed to have been a son of John Cox, who came from England in 1708, and settled in the neighborhood of Kennet. The minutes of Newark Monthly Meeting of 7 mo. 4, 1708, have this entry.

"A Certificate being produced to this meeting by John Cox, a ffriend lately Come from Ould England, which said Certificate being Read is Excepted of by this Meeting."

Of Margaret Potts we have no definite account. The tradition mentioned in the last Chapter, alleges that she was a daughter of Jone Potts, the widow. Richard and Margaret Cox sign Potts marriage certificates among relatives.

The minutes of Kennet Monthly Meeting, under date of 4 mo. 6, 1713, has this entry.

"Whereas Richard Cox desireth to remove himself & family into ye Province of West New Jersey & desireth a Certificate of his life & conversation to ye monthly meeting, of Crosswick (now Chesterfield) - therefore this meeting appoints Wm. Horn & Isaac Few to make inquiry concerning him & Make report to ye next meeting."

At the next meeting, held 5 mo. 4, 1713, is this minute.

"Wm. Horn gives this meeting accompt that Isaac Few & he have made enquiry concerning Richard Cox & They find nothing against him therefore this meeting orders ye sd Friends to Draw a Certificate & bring ye to next meeting."

There is no further mantion of this matter, and the women's minutes do not mention it at all. The Crosswicks Monthly Meeting minutes contain no mention of Richard Cox, and if he did remove to that section at all, he evidently soon returned to Kennet.

In 1719, Richard and Margaret Cox attended the double wedding of the two daughters of Jonas Potts at Perkiomen, and were signers to both marriage certificates. That they went such a long distance to attend these weddings is suggested as a strong evidence of near relationship.

In 1722 and 1723, mention is made in the Kennet Monthly Meeting minutes of Richard and Margaret Cox, from which it appears that Margaret had a sister Potts, who was a member of Abington Meeting and at that time unmarried.

On 4 mo. 1, 1728, Richard Cox made a request to Kennet Monthly Meeting for a certificate of removal, and the following minute in reference thereto was made.

"Request being made on behalfe of Richard Cox and his wife for a Certificate to the Joined to North Wales (now Gwynedd) Monthly Meeting therefore we appoints John Heald and Joseph Mendenhall to make inquiry into his Conversation and affairs if nothing appears to obstruct to Joine with women ffriends to draw a Certificate for them and produce to the next mo. Meeting."

Kennet minutes of 6 mo. 3, 1728, contain the following entry, showing that the certificate was duly granted.

"The ffriends appointed to draw a Certificate for Richard Cox and his wife, have produced it to this meeting which was here read and approved, and those friends have rendered their reasons for not appearing last meeting which are taken for satisfaction."

The women Friends appointed Elizabeth Horn and Martha Heald to inquire conderning Margaret Cox.

Norrth Wales, (Gwynedd), Monthly Meeting then included some part of Chester County, lying west of the Schuylkill River. Whether Richard Cox removed to the bounds of this meeting at this time or not, is not clear. The certificate does not appear to have been presented to Gwynedd Monthly Meeting prior to 4 mo. 24, 1729. After this date a section of the minutes is missing.

Richard Cox married a second wife, Mary, but no record of the marriage has been found. On 1 mo. 31, 1733, a Richard Cox was complained of at Kennet Monthly Meeting for marrying out of meeting. It is however not certain that this Richard was identical with the subject of this Chapter. (NOTE: There appears to have been at least three person bearing the name of Richard Cox at the same time. First, Richard Cox who married Margaret Potts in 1712, second, Richard Cox, son of Richard and Margaret, born in 1718; third Richard Cox, of New Garden, who married Elizabeth Scarlett in n 1726. In 1739, a Richard Cox signed the marriage certificate of James Musgrave and Hannah Cox, daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Buzby) Cox."

Richard Cox was a taxable in Pikeland Township in 1749 and 1750, and in Vincent Township from 1754 to 1760, being crossed off on the latter date. Perhaps he died in the latter year. His will, dated Nov. 15, 1757, and probated March 31, 1762, is recorded at Philadelphia in Will - Book M. page 263. He is described as of "the Township of Vincent in the County of Chester & Province of Pennsylvania, Husbandman," He devises his "House & Plantation situate lying and being in the Township, county & province aforesaid, containing 'Twenty-five acres of Land, etc.," to Mary Cox, his wife, during her life. He names his sons Joseph, Benjamin and John Cox, his daughters Sarah wife of George Burson, Elizabeth wife of William Page, and Mary wife of Jonathan Potts, (NOTE: The identity of this Jonathan Potts has not been established.) and his grand-daughter Hannah Burson. Below is given what seems to be a correct statement of the children.

Children of Richard and Margaret (Potts) Cox.

1. Anna Cox b. 8 mo. 29, 1713

2. Sarah Cox b. 12 mo, 15, 1715; m. George Burson

3. Richard Cox, b. 2 mo. 17, 1718

4. Jonathan Cox, b. 6 mo. 11, 1720

5. Joseph Cox, b. 2 mo. 18, 1723; m. Catharine Watson

6. Benjamin Cox, b. 2 mo. 18, 1723; m. Elizabeth

7. John Cox, b. 8 mo, 9. 1725

8. Elizabeth Cox, m. William Page

9. Mary Cox, m. Jonathan Potts