Patrick Jefferson Knox

…“Tale of Two Johns” Character Profiles…

Patrick Jefferson Knox

b. abt 1823 - d. 1880-1900

Overview

Patrick Jefferson Knox, second son of John and Polly B. Knox, left Mecklenburg County, North Carolina with a group who "moved west" to Alabama after April 1846 and before 1850, where he became the "overseeing" manager for several large farm operations -- apparently remaining in Alabama until he died sometime between 1880-1900.

In 1850, Patrick is found in Marengo County, Alabama, overseeing the farming operations of Major William Lee Davidson, also formerly of Mecklenburg Co, NC. Living next door is Col. John H. Davidson.

Col. John Howard Davidson's wife was Martha D. Caldwell, sister of David Alexander Caldwell, daughter of Alexander Caldwell and Sarah Davidson, daughter of Major John Davidson, the Signer, and Violet Wilson, daughter of Samuel Wilson Sr, making Martha D. and David A. Caldwell the niece and nephew of Samuel Wilson Jr and Hannah Knox, daughter of Capt Patrick Knox.

By 1860, Patrick was overseeing another large farm for a Mrs. Eliza A. Tunstall in Greene County, Greensboro, Alabama. On April 27, 1860, Patrick J. Knox appears back in Mecklenburg Court Records as a Poll Manager for Elections in Dewese Township. His father died on 16 June 1860. The Census in Alabama was taken on 19 June 1860. It seems likely that Patrick was in fact still in NC, but enumerated by his employer back in Alabama. He does not appear on the 1860 Census with his parents and brothers, John and Andrew.

He is mentioned as a residence of Alabama in 1870 court records associated with the settlement of his brothers’ estates; however, he does not appear in either NC or AL census records.

Patrick never married. He died and was buried in Alabama, the exact year and location is unknown, but his last Census record was taken in 1880 Hale County, Alabama. Cousin John Wilson Knox, Jr. (b. 1919) in a 2000 conversation with the author, stated that Patrick's middle name was Jefferson, and that it was "rumored" that Patrick had fathered several black children. According to family tradition "word of his death did not reach his family in North Carolina for nearly a year " (but no death date has been found). I speculate he died between 1880-1883, the year that Patrick Jefferson Knox, II, son of Samuel Edward Knox, was born.

Mecklenburg Co NC -Minutes of Court of Common Pleas & Quarter Sessions

1860. April Session

Book 11, 331

Cont. April 27, 1860

[lists Election Precincts and managers]

....

Dewest Box: E. B. D.Sloan, Esqr, PATRICK J. KNOX*, Jos. M. Wilson

....

[Source: Herman W. Ferguson, Minutes of Mecklenburg Co NC Court of Common Pleas & Quarter Sessions Vol : 1851 - 1860 , page 227]

NOTES:

This must be Patrick Jefferson Knox, son of John & Mary B. (Robison) Knox. The only other Patrick Jefferson Knox in Mecklenburg Co, NC was not born until 1883..., which may be the year Patrick Jefferson Knox, I died, since 1880 is the last census record found for him.

Patrick's father John, who died in July 1860, may have been ill for a while before 1860. Knowing the end was near... Patrick may have returned from Alabama for a brief while to be with his father? Can think of no other explanation for why he would be in Mecklenburg Co...

Patrick is nowhere to be found on the 1870 Census in either NC or Alabama, and may have been returning? H is mentioned in the court records of his brothers (John R & Andrew S) estate(s) filed Sept 3, 1870 (see "more about" notes for sister Margaret Knox Alexander for more details):

"John (Sr.) died July 16, 1860. Andrew died November 17, 1861 without heirs. As specified in the will, Andrew's share then went to John R. as well. Son John R. Knox died January 4, 1863 without a will or a wife. On September 3, 1870, Robert J. Knox petitioned the probate court to name Robert J. Knox, Patrick J. Knox, Mary Smith and the children of Margarette Alexander as heirs (tenants in common) and to sell the land and divide the proceeds equally.

This was done and the land was sold for $3000. This amount, plus interest and less expenses of the sale resulted in $3099.70 being equally divided between Robert J., Patrick J. , the children of Mary Smith and the children of Margarette Alexander." Final settlement of John R. Knox estate wasn't made until 1872.

In 1880, Patrick (P. J. Knox), then 57, is found in Laneville, Hale Co, Alabama living alone. He is assumed to have died between the 1880 and 1900 Censuses.

[Did he leave a will or are there are any estate records in Hale Co, Alabama? ]

1850 Census of Marengo Co, AL: page 10a,

lines 18-21:

John H. Davidson, 58 , M, Farmer, 20000, NC [John "Jackey" Howard Davidson]

Martha Davidson, 58, F [Martha (Caldwell) Davidson]

A. C. Davidson, 23, M, Lawyer, NC [Alexander Caldwell Davidson]

T. B. Kennon, 40, M, Overseer, SC

lines 22-25:

Wm Lee Davidson, 68, M, Farmer, 8500, NC

Sarah Davidson, 60, F, NC [Sarah (Kerr) Davidson]

Wm L. D. Pitts, 6/12, M [Wm Lee Davidson Pitts]

Patrick Knox, 37, M, Overseer, NC [sic age 27, see 1860 and 1880 census records below]

son of John and Polly B. Knox [named as a resident of Alabama in 1870 Petition to Settle Estate of brothers John R and Andrew S. Knox]

1860 Census of Greensboro, Greene Co, AL: page 610-611,

[19 June 1860]

line 38-40:

Eliza A. Tunstall, 41, F, Farming, 210000, 90000, AL

Wiley O. Tunstall, 20, M, AL

James L. Tunstall, 14, M, AL

line 1-2:

Vida Tunstall, 12, F, AL

Patrick J. Knox, 37, M, Overseeing, NC

Eliza was the widow of James L. Tunstall...1850 Census of Greene Co, AL:

James L. Tunstall, 40, Farmer, VA (Dr. James Levi Tunstall)

Eliza A, 31, AL

Wiley C, 10, AL

James L. ,5, AL

Eliza V. 4/12, AL

1870 United States Federal Census

Patrick is nowhere to be found on the 1870 Census in either NC or Alabama, and may have been in transit? He is mentioned as a "resident of Alabama" in the court records of his brothers (John R & Andrew S) estate(s) filed Sept 3, 1870.

1880 United States Federal Census

Name: P. J. Knox

Home in 1880: Laneville, Hale, Alabama

Age: 57

Estimated birth year: abt 1823

Birthplace: North Carolina

Relation to head-of-household: Self (Head)

Father's birthplace: North Carolina

Mother's birthplace: North Carolina

Occupation: Farmer

Marital Status: Single

Race: White

Gender: Male

Household Members: Name Age

P. J. Knox 57, W, Farmer, NC/NC/NC

Next Door is:

Frances Garland, 56, B Female, Servant VA/VA/VA

Lee Cyrus, 12, B Male. Servant Al/Al/AL

Henry Garland, 65, B, Male, Farm Labor, NC/NC/NC