Compiled by
Lee Alton Absher, M.D.
Knoxville, Tennessee
© Copyright 1966
Reprinted with permission
The name Mattox, according to Hugh Allen, of the Knoxville (Tennessee) News Sentinel, occurs in fifteen or twenty different forms, the most frequent spelling being Mattox, Maddox, Maddux, and Maddock.
The name derives from the Welsh personal of Madoc, meaning strength. The earliest appearance of the name is in 1142 and in Shropshire in 1272 and 1273. The Mattox families first came to America in the latter part of 1600.
A common basic amorial bearing of the Mattox family shows "Per pale gules and azure two lions passant or."
John Mattox is the first one of the family of whom we have a record. He was the father of Matilda J. Perdue, wife of Green Perdue. He was born in Virginia, but the date of his birth is unknown. We have a record of his service in the War of 1812. He enlisted from Franklin County, Virginia, in 1814. He was honorable discharged in 1815, from Richmond, Virginia. He was married to Mary (Polly) Cochran, in Franklin County, Virginia, August 5, 1814, by John Heire, M. G. Samuel Cochran was the security.
In 1818, John Mattox's family moved, with his father-in-law, Samuel Cochran, Sr., to Sumner County, Tennessee. He purchased a farm of 130 acres here, January 6, 1819. It was near Caney Fork of Drakes's Creek in the Corinth community. It was the first part of his farm, which consisted of 832 acres at the time of his death. He died in Sumner County, September 15, 1839. He left a will dated September 13, 1839, leaving his entire estate to his wife, Mary.
Mary (Polly) Mattox, daughter of Samuel Cochran, Sr., was born February 22, 1796, in Franklin County, Virginia. The date and place of her death are unknown.
WILL OF JOHN MATTOX
Sumner County, Tennessee. Will Book 2, page 260
In the name of God, Amen:
I John Mattox of Sumner County State of Tennessee being of sound mind and perfect understanding do make and ordain this my last will and testament in the manner and form following, viz.
Item 1st. It is my wish and desire that my executors pay out of my estate all of my just debts.
Item 2nd. I give and bequeath unto my loving wife Mary after paying my just debts, the whole
of my estate both real and personal to be kept together for her use and benefit and to raise and
school my children during her natural life or widowhood in case she should marry again, I wish
the court to grant unto my executors an order to sell all my land and giveing unto my loving wife
Mary a childs part of my whole estate and divide the remaining part of my estate
equally between all of my living children. to have and to hold for them and their heirs forever.
further in case my wife or widow should not marry again at the close of her natural life I wish the
Court to grant an order to sell off my land and the money arising from such with the balance of
my estate to be equally divided between all of my living children. I leave my loving wife Mary my
Executrix with James Butler Executor to my last will and Testament in witness whereof I have
hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 13 day of September 1839.
John Mattox (seal)
Signed in the presence of
Samuel Cochran Senior
Joseph Smith
J. B. Brizendine
Mathew (his X mark) Perdue
Eli Perdue
State of Tennessee Sumner County Court October Term 1839
The last Will and Testament of John Maddox deceased was produced in open Court for probate
and was duly proved by the oaths of J. B. Brizendine and Eli Purdue two of the Subscribing
witnesses thereto and thereupon Mary Mattox the Executrix therein named appeared in open
Court and together with James Butler, James B. Brizendine and Eli Purdue here securities entered
into and acknowledged their bond to Newton Cannon Governor in the penal sum of Four
thousand dollars conditioned as the law directs and took the oath of Executrix prescribed by law.
Copy Test.
Thos. Donoho clk
A Sumner County chancery court petition for the sale of Mary Mattox's farm, filed August 26, 1857, names the following children of John and Mary Mattox: Sarah V. and husband, James Boles; Matilda J. and husband, Daniel G. Perdue; Emily F. and husband, William Boles; Mary Ann and husband, Mark Perdue; Latitia V. and husband, H. Perdue; Severence E. and husband, Samuel Rippy; Sina E. and husband, Daniel W. Barber; Ammon C., A. Blair, John, Wyley A., Pea W., and R. T.
MARY MATTOX AND OTHERS PETITION TO SELL LAND
filed August 26, 1857
To the Hon B. L. Ridley Chancellor and sitting at Gallatin Sumner County.
The petition of Mary Mattox, James Byles and wife Sarah V., Danl. G. Perdue and wife
Matilda, William Byles and wife Emily F., Mark Perdue and wife Mary Ann, H. Perdue and wife,
Latitia B., Danl. W. Barber and wife Sina E., A. C. Mattox, A. B. Mattox, and John Mattox a
minor who sues by his next friend O. P. Butler all citizens of Sumner County, W. A. Mattox and
P. M. Mattox citizens of Texas, R. T. Mattox a citizen of California and Sarah J., Eli, Mary Ann,
Elizabeth W., Lucinda, and Emily Rippy minors and citizens of Missouri who sues by their next
friend O. P. Butler.
Thusly complaining your petitioners would respectfully show unto your Honor that John Mattox departed this life in the year 1839 having made his last will and testament which was admitted to probate by the County Court of Sumner County. A copy of said will is here filed exhibit A as part of this petition. The court will see by reference to the will, that the entire estate, both real and personal is bequeathed to the wife Mary during her life or widowhood and at her marriage or death the property is to be equally divided between the living children of the testator. The widow has remained single since the death of the testator and has remained in the use and occupation of the property. Your petitioners would further show unto your Honor that some of the legatees have moved off and a portion of them are now making preparation to move to the state of Texas. The said Mary is also desirous of moving to Texas where she has children residing and to which state others of her children are making preparation to go. There was but little of the personal property left, after paying the debts of the testator. Prior to his death he had portioned off one of the children and since his death, the widow has been giving off to other children as they would marry, property equal in value to the one that married before the death of the testator. There are others of the children who have received nothing and the said Mary desires to make them equal out of the personal property on hand, which will nearly exhaust the same, there being no negroes.
The testator died seized of about 800 acres of land in Sumner County, Tennessee adjoining the
lands of Danl Barber and Wm. Cochran on the north, the lands of John Barber and others on the
East, the lands of Eli Perdue and others on the South and the lands of John Perdue and others on
the West. The children are all grown and have left the said Mary, except John who is about 19
years of age. It is wholly unprofitable for the said Mary to keep and cultivate the place and to rent
it out, causes it to deteriorate in value. The testator left your petitioners his only children and heirs
at law except the husbands Byles, Perdues and Barber mentioned in the captions. Severence E.
married Samuel Rippy and had the six Rippy children named in the captions and she died leaving
them surviving her. She had one that died in infancy, in its first year. Although a question might be
raised upon the will, as to the proper construction of said will and the right of said minors to
receive any portion of the estate, yet the balance of the petitioners desire that they should receive
an equal share with the remainder of the parties, they taking their mothers interest. The premises
considered your petitioners pray an order to sell said lands, upon such terms as to the court may
seem meet and give to the said Mary a portion of the fund in lieu of her life estate in the land. She
being about 60 years of age, and the balance of the proceeds to be equally divided among the
heirs as they are severally entitled. And also place a construction upon said will. Let the land be
sold in separate tracts so as to suit purchasers and as they desire to move they pray for an order of
sale upon the shortest notice. Grant such other relief as the nature of the case may require and to
the court may seem meet and as in duty bound will ever pray.
s/Head and Turner attorneys
John Mattox Bounty Land Application. Service of John Mattox, Pvt., 1814, Va. Militia. The National Archives, Washington, D.C.
BLWt. 94151 for 160 acres, Act of 1855, was issued to Mary Mattox, 31 July 1860, widow of John Mattox, Pvt., Capt. Eli Ferguson, Va. Militia, War of 1812.
Mary Mattox, 26 June 1855, 59 years old, resident of Sumner County, Tenn., applied for bounty lands under the Act of 3 March 1855, declared she was the widow of John Mattox, who enlisted in Franklin County, Va., 1814, and served as Pvt., as above, and was honorable discharged at Richmond, Va., in 1815; she married John Mattox, in Franklin County, Va., Aug 21, 1816, by John Heire, M. G.; she was before her marriage Mary Cotherne; her husband died in Sumner County, Tenn., 15 Sept 1839, she referred to muster rolls for proof of his service; she had no evidence or record of her marriage. R. C. Brizendine, J. P., attested.
Matthew Perdue and Mary Cochran, Sumner County, Tenn., 26 June 1855, deposed they were well acquainted with Mary Mattox and her deceased husband.
Ricard C. Brizendine and Jos. Smith, Sumner County, Tenn., 2 July 1855, deposed that John Mattox and wife Mary lived as man and wife and had children; he died in 1839 and left widow who has not remarried.
John L. Bugg, Clerk of the Court, Sumner Co., Tenn., certified 10 July 1855. Thos. Buntin (?), J. P. attested.
R. A. Scott, clerk of the court, and Richard M. Taliaferro, P. J., Franklin Co., Va., certified to
the following record:
Jordan Robertson and Solomon Pasley, before Thomas S. Keen, Franklin Co., Va., that they
marched in service in the company of Capt. Eli (Ely) Ferguson of the company aforesaid and both
were well acquainted with John Mattox and Daniel Cochran who served in said company until
discharged at Richmond, 1815. Thos. Keen, J. P., attested.
Solomon Pasley and Jordan Robertson, Franklin County, Va., 25 Nov. 1859, declared they
were members of Eli Ferguson's Company, mustered 5 Feb., 1815, marched to Richmond, and
there discharged when Peace made; both have bounty land warrants for service; they are well
acquainted with John Mattox, deceased, who also was a member of the same company and
discharged when they were.
Lewis Dillion, J. P. attested.
Ro. A. Scott, clerk of the court, Franklin County, Va., certified.