Which Cocks, Cocke, Cox?
.
We have a local living historian,
Phil Hunter,
who has played the role
of a William Cocks
for years in Winchester VA.
Left to Right.
Marc Robinson and Phil Hunter
at the Fort Loudoun site
18 Feb 2019 Presidents Day.
Blog compiled in Nov 2020 and updated by Jim Moyer 11/7/2021 last update 3/30/2024
Table of Contents
William Cocks, ranger and owner of tavern GW rented
Thomas Cocke of the VA Regiment
Friend Cox, Quaker
update last by Jim Moyer 1/3/2023, 1/4/2023, 1/6/2023, 3/14/2024, 3/30/2024
Which COCKS, COCKE, COX?
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William Cocks
Phil Hunter has portrayed the character of William Cocks for years.
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William Cocks was a tavern owner at 21 South Loudoun St on the Lot 8.
The stone building here is not the actual tavern but it sits on part of that huge lot that represented 21 South Loudoun.
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This picture is from 3 July 2012 celebrating Rockin’ Independence Eve.
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Many patents for lots were claimed on May 15, 1753. One of which was a patent for Lot 8 Lord Fairfax conveyed to William Cocks.
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As an aside: George Washington had received a lot 77 on corner of Braddock and Fairfax Lane on the same day. And later GW installed his Blacksmith on that corner for iron works needed for Fort Loudoun.
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Colonel George Washington pays 40 lbs for a year’s rent to a Captain “Cocks.”
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William Cocks was the owner of Cocks Tavern, 21 South Loudoun Street in Winchester VA, Lot 8 map drawn in 1752 addition.
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Left to Right.
Marc Robinson and Phil Hunter
at the Fort Loudoun site
18 Feb 2019 Presidents Day.
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Phil Hunter has long portrayed William Cocks, tavern owner where Colonel George Washington rented living quarters for a year until 2 December 1756
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Then GW moved into Fort Loudoun Winchester VA.
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Marc Robinson is in the Virginia Regiment Uniform.
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He takes on the duty as President of the James Wood II Chapter of the Sons of American Revolution in 2020.
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Source is Pages 31-32 from Garland R. Quarles, author of “George Washington and Winchester VA 1748-1758, A Decade of Preparation for Responsibilities to Come,” 1974, published by Winchester Frederick County Historical Society.
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So William Cocks, the tavern house owner, was also
one of the first Captains of 2 Ranger Companies created.
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See All Correspondence between George Washington and William Cocks.
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Braddock stayed at Captain Cock’s tavern house.
See letter July 5, 1754, from Dinwiddie at Captain Cock’s .
This William Cocks is a Captain in the Rangers, commanding one of the 1st two forts built on the Patterson Creek. See fort location of Cocks Fort.
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From Founders Online footnote:
William Cocks and Jack Ashby were the first 2 ranger companies created.
Both commanded forts on the Patterson.
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Founders Online footnote:
“When GW assumed command of the Virginia Regiment on 1 Sept. 1755, he also became commander of all other Virginia forces, which included the companies of rangers commanded by William Cocks and John Ashby.”
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Left to Right.
Dr Warren Hofstra, Phil Hunter.
18 July 2010.
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Dr Warren Hofstra, historian,
has an excellent map
of all the tippling houses and ordinaries and taverns
in Winchester
at the time of George Washington.
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Phil Hunter portrays Captain William Cocks, tavern owner at 21 S Loudoun St, Lot 8.
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Founders Online footnote:
2. William Cocks’s and John Ashby’s companies of rangers were organized for the defense of Frederick and Hampshire counties in July 1755 even before word came of Braddock’s defeat. The rangers had been stationed at the two forts they built on Patterson Creek since the early fall of 1755. Funds for maintaining the ranger companies were running out, and GW gave “Furloes” to both Cocks and Ashby in hopes of enrolling individual rangers in the Virginia Regiment during the absences of their captains (GW to Dinwiddie, 4 Aug. 1756). Cocks went on from Winchester to Williamsburg in August to press his claims for money, and “after a Melancholy stay of ten days, Spent in Murmur, Silence, Complaints, Grief, and Remorse, hurrys homewards to taste true happiness in Content & retirement” (John Kirkpatrick to GW, 19 Aug. 1756). GW wrote Dinwiddie on 8 Sept. that he found the rangers “quite averse to enlisting into the Regiment.”
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RANGER COCKS FORT LOCATION:
See Map location of William Cocks Fort. At one time Colonel George Washington had plans to make this largest of all of the forts. He called it Fort Washington at one point.
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Founders Online footnote:
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6. On 18 Sept. 1754 Dinwiddie instructed William Cocks of Winchester to provide goods for Indian presents and subsequently proposed that Cocks be the commissary’s deputy to secure provisions and wagons at Winchester for Braddock’s expedition.
Cocks became captain of the 1st company of rangers at Winchester in July 1755. Shortly before GW arrived on 14 Sept. for his first visit to Winchester after taking command of the Virginia Regiment, Cocks left town with his rangers, who then numbered nine or more, to patrol the area around the headwaters of Patterson Creek above the South Branch of the Potomac.
When GW issued these orders on 10 Oct., Captain Cocks was at the Middle Branch with his rangers to protect the terrified inhabitants there. See William Cocks’s company rolls, 21 Oct. 1755, and his journal, 8 Sept.—20 Oct. 1755, both in DLC:GW.
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7. John Ashby (1707–1789) and his rangers seem to have been in the vicinity of Patterson Creek when the Indians struck on 1 Oct. Until the rangers disbanded in the summer of 1756, both Ashby and Cocks continued to operate with their men between the South Branch of the Potomac and Fort Cumberland, Md., manning small forts on Patterson Creek, going on patrols, and escorting wagons to and from Cumberland. Ashby’s company of rangers was the second of those in Frederick and Hampshire counties for which Lord Fairfax issued Dinwiddie’s commissions of early July 1755. Ashby initially had little success in recruiting, but by 2 Oct. he had enlisted at least 28 rangers. There is no evidence that Ashby entered the Virginia Regiment after losing his ranger company, but he did participate in the Battle of Point Pleasant in 1774 when he was well past the age of 60. For a full identification of John Ashby, see GW’s Diaries description begins Donald Jackson and Dorothy Twohig, eds. The Diaries of George Washington. 6 vols. Charlottesville, Va., 1976–79. description ends , 1:6–7.
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Founders Online footnote
When GW assumed command of the Virginia Regiment on 1 Sept. 1755, he also became commander of all other Virginia forces, which included the companies of rangers commanded by William Cocks and John Ashby. Presumably “the money in my hands” which he refers to here was money provided by Dinwiddie out of the appropriation for the rangers in July 1755. In response to this letter, Dinwiddie wrote GW on 19 Aug. 1756 that he was writing to “Colo. Fairfax to pay You the Balla. in his Hands of 600£ he had of me,” but on 8 Sept.[1756] GW wrote Dinwiddie that he would have to discharge the rangers “as the fund is exhausted.” On 20 Oct. 1756, however, GW recorded a payment of £68 13s. 9d. from George William Fairfax of “Rangers Money.”
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Source:
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updated 6/7/2023
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William Cocks Ranger Co had a drummer
FROM GEORGE WASHINGTON
TO WILLIAM COCKS,
4 JUNE 1756
TO WILLIAM COCKS
[Winchester, 4 June 1756]
To Captain William Cockes—of the Rangers. Sir,
I received yours, complaining of the irregular method of supplying you with provisions; and communicated the contents to Commissary Walker, who writes you on this head: His directions you must follow1 You must make out an accompt of the pay which is owing to you, and transmit it to me per the first opportunity.2 Take care to be very vigilant and active; and to communicate all the intelligence that is remarkable and certain. You must always, upon any alarm, have regard to the summons of each other; and to unite on all extraordinary occasions. Endeavour at working by stratagem; to way-lay and surprize the Enemy; rather than seek them in an open pursuit.
I was greatly surprized and angered to hear of the dastardly behaviour of seven of your men, who fled from a less number of the Enemy, without discharging their pieces. Such behaviour merits the fate that some of our men [(]for the like offence) will soon meet with.3 and, you may assure your company that they shall not escape unpunished for such Offences. Your parties that go for provision, should always be made strong. I am &c.
G:W.
Winchester—June 4th 1756.
LB, DLC:GW.
1. None of this correspondence between Cocks, Thomas Walker, and GW has been found.
2. A weekly return from Cocks at Patterson Creek, dated 3 July 1756, lists in his ranger company one captain, one lieutenant, three sergeants, one drummer, and thirty-two rank and file (DLC:GW).
3. The Maryland Gazette (Annapolis) for 1 July 1756 reported that on 29 May “an Express arrived [in Williamsburg] from Cox’s fort, with Advice, That the Indians had killed and scalped two Men belonging to it, that were out a Hunting, wounded a third, and a fourth was missing, of the Party which consisted of Seven; that they drew up on an Eminence near the Fort and fired at it several Times.”
Source
William Cocks Fort to be "Washington Fort," the biggest
William Cocks, the tavern owner of Cocks Tavern of big lot 8 then referenced as 21 South Loudoun, was also the Ranger Captain William Cocks.
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George Washington rented a place at that tavern for a year. Then he moved into Fort Loudoun 2 Dec 1756.
Ranger Captain William Cocks fort was built at same time Fort Ashby was built.
Washington Fort?
Colonel Goerge Washington originally wanted that fort later to be his biggest fort, bigger than Fort Loudoun in Winchester VA. It never happened, but at one point he and others were calling it Fort Washington.
Captain David Bell on Sept 6. 1756 first called it Fort Washington.
Colonel George Washington had plans to make it the biggest fort of all the forts to hold 500 men on November 9, 1756.
See more on this map
William Cocks Fort Attacked 29 May 1756
This terror attack --- May 29, 1756
at Cocks' Fort
was
Printed in newspaper July 1, 1756
Colonel George Washington is mad about it
and writes June 4, 1756:
"I was greatly surprized and angered to hear of the dastardly behaviour of seven of your men, who fled from a less number of the Enemy, without discharging their pieces. Such behaviour merits the fate that some of our men [(]for the like offence) will soon meet with. and, you may assure your company that they shall not escape unpunished for such Offences. Your parties that go for provision, should always be made strong. I am &c." end quote.
Here is where we think the attack happened.
See Cross and Bones icon to right of the icon for Cocks Ranger Fort in the woods area on the map:
The Maryland Gazette (Annapolis)
for 1 July 1756
reported that on 29 May
“an Express arrived [in Williamsburg] from Cox’s fort, with Advice, That the Indians had illed and scalped two Men belonging to it,
that were out a Hunting, wounded a third, and a fourth was missing, of the Party which consisted of Seven; that they drew up on an Eminence near the Fort and fired at it several Times.”
That Eminence?
A barracks was proposed under that "eminence."
A barrack is proposed to be built outside the fort, "under the Hill, tho' in such a manner as to lie under the immediate command of the fort and may be closed in a short warning,"
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Colonel George Washington writes this September 6, 1756.
He addresses this to "Captain David Bell at Fort Washington. "
Founders Online footnote about the fort's name - -
William Cocks’s fort on Patterson Creek was sometimes called Fort Washington after Cocks left the fort and while his rangers were being disbanded.
Source
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William Cocks needing backpay
Capt. William Cocks (owner of Cocks' Tavern) of the 1st company of rangers and John Ashby, captain of the 2d company, were petitioning the House of Burgesses for expenses incurred in recruiting and maintaining their troops in 1755–56
To George Washington from John Kirkpatrick, 19 August 1756
From John KirkpatrickWilliamsbg
Augt 19th 1756
Dear Sir.
Capt. Cocks after a Melancholy stay of ten days, Spent in Murmur, Silence, Complaints, Grief, and Remorse, hurrys homewards to taste true happiness in Content & retirement, protesting never to risque his fortune to the Caprice of Committee men hereafter—declaring his Loss & Sufferings were never to be repaired, nor expects any Satisfaction by his being Shifted from Man to Man, for Money—The Governr sends him to the Committee, they return him to the Governor, & he Referrs to Lord Fairfax, & the Colonell—However his Complaints are, both the Governor & Committee have delt Generously by him.1
By this Muddy Mortall, I thought it incumbent to advise You, that I shall be detain’d a Couple of days longer in town, being obliged to leave a Copy of all Accounts as they now have been examind, & Stand stated in Your Book, so that the next Comittee, will have easy work with you—We was exceeding Lucky in a Committee of Rationall & intelligent Beings, who Soon dispatch’d every thing with great Judgement, & Resolved £5000, shoud be sent you—As I am not inform’d what were all their Results—I can only hint at Some, as their discontinuing the 2d. for Clothing, & 2d. ⅌ Month for the Surgeon—from all the Men encreased Dr Craiks pay to 10/ order’d him £50 to defry his extra. expence of Medicines, & promis’d he shoud Suffer nothing at the Years end in that article &c. &c. You’ll be fully inform’d from the Speaker of Every circumstance2
—He has promised to compleat the Cash to day, but I am afraid it will be in the old Stamp of 4 & 5 pounders. On Saturday we Shall doubtless leave the Town. Not a Syllable of News to write You.Excuse haste—
I Am with Due Defference & Esteem
Sir, Your Much Obliged & Most ervt
Jno. Kirkpatrick
ALS, DLC:GW.
Founders Online footnotes
1. For an account of the forming of the two companies of rangers in Frederick and Hampshire counties in the summer of 1755 and the decision to discharge them in August and September 1756, see GW to Dinwiddie, 4 Aug. 1756, n.20.
As late as the spring of 1757 Capt. William Cocks of the 1st company of rangers and John Ashby, captain of the 2d company, were petitioning the House of Burgesses for expenses incurred in recruiting and maintaining their troops in 1755–56. See 9 May 1757, in JHB, 1752–1755, 1756–1758, 459; Kirkpatrick to GW, 19 June 1757; and GW to John Robinson, 10 July 1757.2. See the committee’s minutes enclosed in John Robinson to GW, 19 Aug. 1756.
Source:
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William Cocke vs William Cocks?
William Cocke is mentioned here: this involves the VA Regiment
Is this William Cocke the same as William Cocks, the first Ranger Company Captain?
And if so, if both are the same, then did this original Ranger join the Virginia Regiment?
There is a Thomas Cocke, mentioned above, who is a Captain in the Virginia Regiment.
Did William Cocks the Ranger Captain and inkeeper become a Captain William Cocke with his name spelled differently -- did he join the 2nd VA Regiment under William Byrd III in the Forbes Expedition?
Written in old script with some of the S letters showing as an F.
Will clean up the text to make more readable.
DRAPER MSS. 4 ZZ 51.[A. L. S.]
Williamflmrg June j** 17^8
I have yours of May 26"' and have by Col" Wafhington fent you up £475— which with the £600 by Jenkins makes ;£io75. The Baggage, Forage and Bat money intended for your Officers by the Council amounts to £1007-10-0 according to S' John S' Clair's' Eftimate of £806, with 25 p"- C added ; but M-" Webb^ in drawing the order on the Trea- fury by miftake took ;<;86o for S"- Johns Acco' and put 25 pr C on that, for Col" Wafhing- tons and Col" Byrds Regiments which is £67-10 each too much and to be accounted for; Col Wafhington nows of the miftake.
I have fent you a Cheft of Medicines from M-- Pafteurs Shop, with Inftruments; but cannot yet hear of a Surgeon for you which gives me much concern. You will soon have Tents, Kettles and Canteens from Gen' Forbes*; but I am defired to provide Haver- facks, which if not fent up with Blankets and other things expe<5led here in a few days, must be got at Winchefter, as the pay will be fure when fettled.
I fend Col" Byrd^ the Commiffions back again to be filled up and dated, to give prece- dency according to a regulation made in Council, of which I fend a lift. By it you will find Captain Cocke and Captain LightjooP fet afide ; the laft as having but 43 Men exclu- five of Armifteads, and all very bad ; and as there was a neceffity to lay one afide, the Council tho' Capt" Meredeth with his 55 Men all very good and on the Day to deferve a preference. Capt" Cocke tho' a good Officer was confidered as having only 26 Men himfelf, whereas Capt° ScoU» had railed 54 extream good and in a fhort time, but which we muft loofe by Contradl, if he were not a Captain, as they were attached to him. But to make all the acknowledgement we could to Cap* Cocke's merit the Council named him firft Lieut' & M"' Lightfoot 2°'*, but if they refufe to accept, then Capt" Mtmford" will be firft and fo on; by which the firft Enfigns will be Lieu'^ and Col" Byrd will fill up the reft as he thinks proper. I am forry to find W Gunn^° iolovi in the lift, but as I did not obferve it at the Time, I hope he will still ferve his Country as fignally for this Cam- paign; and not defert us on a Pundlilio which a good Patriot would overlook. M'' Temples" performance was not duly confidered in the hurry but I hope he will make a good Officer and so reconcile things.
As to the extravagant Charges in recruiting by fome Officers, it produced perhaps, what will be tho' by fome too fevere a corredlion; but the Council are jtiftified in it, by the Pradlice at raifing the Firft Regiment ; their Pay as Officers, from the date of their
recruiting
Footnotes
1 The letter was written either to Lieutenant-Colonel George Mercer, in command of the Virginia troops until Wafhington's amval, or to Dr. Thomas Walker, Commiffary-General.
2 Sir John St. Clair was a lieutenant-colonel in the Britifh army. He came to America in 1755, was quartermafter-general under Braddock. and was wounded in Braddock's Defeat. He ferved as quarter- mafter-general under Forbes in 1758.
3 Colonel Daniel Webb. He came to America in 1756 and ferved as fecond in command to General Abercromby, the commander-in-chief.
4 General Forbes commanded the fecond expedition againft Fort Duquesne, which was undertaken in 1758-
5 William Byrd III, fon of the celebrated William Byrd, of Weftover. The Virginia troops in 1758 were increafed to two regiments, one commanded by George Wafhington and the other by William Byrd- Wafhington ftill held his rank of commander-in chief of the Virginia troops. William Byrd was alfo a member of the Coimcil and continued as fuch until the Revolution. He fympathized with England in the Revolution and committed fuicide in 1777.
6 Captain William Cocke and Captain John Lightfoot, both of Colonel Byrd's regiment.
7 Captain Samuel Meredith commanded a company in Col. Byrd's regiment.
8 Charles Scott, captain of a company of regulars.
9 Robert Munford, captain in Byrd's regiment. He wrote feme interefting letters to Colonel Thomas Bland, of Prince George County, relating his experience in the war.
'" James Gunn, captain in William Byrd's regiment.
'" Benjamin Temple, of Hanover, was a captain in WilUam B>Td's regiment in 1758 and a lieutenant in a battalion of Virginia regulars commanded by Colonel Wm. Peachy, in 1759.
Source:
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William Cocke ?
Found this while working on Evan Shelby and the State of Franklin
May 15 – William Cocke arrived in New York where the United States Congress was in session at the time.
May 16 – Cocke addressed Congress in an effort to win recognition for the State of Franklin. Congress denied recognition of the new state.
1786
On November 28, 1785 the Treaty of Hopewell was signed between the United States and the Cherokees (which included William Blount representing North Carolina). On April 17 the treaty was ratified by Congress.
In the treaty, the United States government gave land to the Cherokees that encompassed present-day middle and parts of East Tennessee. Some of the land was part of the State of Franklin counties of Greene, Spencer, Blount, Caswell and Sevier.This action superseded the Dumplin Creek Treaty between the State of Franklin and the Cherokees of the previous year. With no formal treaty, hostilities intensified between the two. From July 31 to August 3, the Cherokees and a Franklin commission (headed by William Cocke) negotiated another peace treaty and signed the Treaty of Coyatee.
March – The Franklin spring session was held in Greeneville. A state seal may have been adopted at this session. Joseph Martin wrote North Carolina Governor Richard Caswell on May 11 saying, “I am told they [Franklin] have a coat of arms of their own.”[2] Also, William Cocke was again elected to represent Franklin before the United States Congress – he seems to not have went, but instead wrote Benjamin Franklin for advice and telling him of the state’s name in honor of him. Benjamin Franklin replied by saying that he believed the new state was called Frankland and that he wished the best for the new state’s outcome.
Fall – Governor John Sevier called for a special General Assembly session. In the special session, William Cocke and David Campbell were elected to attend the upcoming North Carolina Assembly. They were to negotiate Franklin’s separation from North Carolina. Campbell became ill before the start of the Assembly and instead of traveling he sent Governor Richard Caswell a letter for separation to be read in front of the Assembly. The North Carolina Assembly ignored and denied Franklin’s plea for independence.
March 20 – Brigadier General Evan Shelby of North Carolina and Governor John Sevier met at a conference at the house of Samuel Smith in Sullivan County to seek a solution to the conflict between the supporters of Franklin and the North Carolina loyalists. Both agreed and signed a peace agreement.
Not all agreed with the Shelby-Sevier peace agreement – especially William Cocke. Neither side consented to follow the peace agreement in the weeks that followed.
Source:
William Cocke is mentioned here: this involves the VA Regiment, Orderly Book, 1 November 1758:
Founders Online Footnote 2. This and subsequent paragraphs are GW’s orders for the 1st Virginia Regiment. George Speake and William Woodford had been ensigns in GW’s Virginia Regiment since the summer of 1757. Woodford was still a lieutenant when the assembly voted the officers in the Virginia Regiment a year’s pay in 1762 before its dissolution; and Walter Cuningham and William Cocke had reached that rank. Cuningham, of Augusta County, had just been acquitted by a court of inquiry where he was judged to have “done nothing to prevent his preferment” (court of inquiry, 30 Oct. 1758, DLC:GW).
Source:
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From George Washington to Thomas Cocke, 18 September 1755
To Thomas Cocke
[Fort Cumberland, Md.18 September 1755]
To Captain Cocke of the Virginia Regiment.Whereas the Service Requires . . . .
From Thomas Jefferson to William Cocke, 21 October 1796
To William Cocke
Monticello Oct. 21. 96.
Dear Sir
The letter you were so good as to [write me of late? came duly to hand, and I always learn with great pleasure that I am recollected with approbation by those with whom ....
This last letter added 1/4/2023
Thomas Cocke
A Captain in the Virginia Regiment
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Founders Online footnote:
Capt. Thomas Cocke was probably the son of the Thomas Cocke of Surry County who died in 1750. In Dec. 1754 Dinwiddie made Cocke a captain, and he continued at that rank after GW took command of the regiment. In Jan. 1756 Cocke’s company was numbered the 5th in the Virginia Regiment and in July the 7th. Cocke lost his captaincy when the number of companies in the regiment was reduced in 1757. In June 1758 he secured the same rank in the 2d Virginia Regiment.
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This small reference link below incorrectly connects Thomas Cocke to this fort. This fort is the fort named after William Cocks mentioned above.
Thomas Cocke, in this highlight, is listed as Captain in Sept 17, 1755
William Cocke is mentioned here: this involves the VA Regiment
Is this William Cocke the same as William Cocks, the first Ranger Company Captain?
And if so, if both are the same, then did this original Ranger join the Virginia Regiment?
There is a Thomas Cocke, mentioned above, who is a Captain in the Virginia Regiment.
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Friend Cox
There was a Friend Cox who owned a fort house on the Little Cacapon near the Potomac.
Norman Baker's "French and Indian War of (old) Frederick Co VA" page 147-148 states the fort is on east bank of the Little Cacapon River at the mouth....
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Timeline:
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Prior to 1750 Cox Fort was erected for the purposes of protecting and defending both the Potomac River and the Little Cacapon valley.
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Sources:
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25 April 1750
George Washington had previously surveyed a tract of 240 acres (0.97 km2) of land at the Little Cacapon's mouth for Friend Cox on April 25, 1750.
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Ctrl F to find "Friend Cox"
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Source
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6 October 1755
Captain George Mercer appointed aid de camp. In the list of garrisoning the outer forts is found 23 soldiers are designated to garrison Friend Cox's. BTW the uniform of the VA Regiment has a description in here.
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22 Nov 1755
Lt Col Adam Stephen requests Washington to a detachment of soldiers at "Coxs Ferry."
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Source
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23 April 1756
An Ensign Hubbard was given the discretion if the settlers thought it advisable to destroy the fort and join Ensign Edward Hubbard at Enoch's Fort and Cox fort? when a major Indian invasion was underway.
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12 May 1756
This could mean there was more than one fort erected.
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Colonel GW writes to Lt Col Henry Peyton of the Prince William Militia:
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You are hereby ordered to proceed with the Detachment under your command, along the old waggon-road,1 until you come to Cockes’s Fort, on Pattersons Creek: where you are to leave a Subaltern, one Sergeant, and twenty men, to strengthen that Garrison. From thence you are to continue your march to Ashby’s Fort; which you are also to strengthen with the same number of men—and from there you are to proceed to Friend Cox’s, at the mouth of Little Capecapon—Post your party at that place; and immediately set about erecting a Fortress, for the security of the pass, and for the defence of your Detachment.
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Colonel Washington writes to William Cocke
You will deliver Mr Baylie2 what carpenters tools you have in the Fort: as he has orders to build a small Fort at the Mouth of Little Capecapon. I am &c.
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August 1756
Capt David Bell of the VA Regiment was directed to garrison the Cox's Fort with 20 men to protect convoys and expresses to and from Fort Cumberland.
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April 4, 1765,
a settler by the name of Balzar Stoker received a land grant of 232 acres (0.94 km2) from Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron along the Little Cacapon River and its mouth on the Potomac.
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Prior to receiving his land grant from Lord Fairfax, Stoker had also purchased 30 acres (120,000 m2) from John Cox.
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Located on these lands at the Little Cacapon's mouth was "Coxes Ferry," which crossed the Potomac to Maryland. It was at the river's mouth (referred to as "Ferry Field") ....
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A relative of John Cox, Friend Cox, had constructed a stockade.
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Source
23 April 1756
An Ensign Hubbard was given the discretion if the settlers thought it advisable to destroy the fort and join Ensign Edward Hubbard at Enoch's Fort and Cox fort? when a major Indian invasion was underway.
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MORE SOURCES:
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CTRL to find "Friend" in this link:
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The Virginia Frontier, 1754-1763 By Louis Knott Koontz
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This book contains some confusion between William Cocke's Fort of the First Company of Rangers on the Patterson with Fort Ashby and Friend Cox Fort on the Potomac at the mouth of the Little Cacapon.
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Sources:
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First letter by Colonel George Washington dateline 2 Dec 1756 from Fort Loudoun instead of as "Winchester"
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Refer to as
Baker Fort Loudoun,
Fort Loudoun, Washington’s Fort in Virginia by Norman Baker, 2006
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Refer to as
Quarles-1
George Washington and Winchester Virginia 1748-1758 by Garland R Quarles published in in Volume VIII of Winchester Frederick County Historical Society Papers 1974
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Refer to as
Quarles-2
Garland Quarles detailed a good chronology of Winchester’s origins in 1952, “Streets of Winchester,” later re-published by the Winchester Frederick County Historical Society in a 1996 book, titled, “Winchester Virginia, Streets, Churches, Schools,” pages 39-45
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Refer to as Morton
The Story of Winchester in Virginia, The Oldest Town in the Shenandoah Valley by Frederick Morton, 1925, republished by Heritage Books 2007
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Notes
Other similar sounding Names?
There was a Captain Thomas Cocke in the Virginia Regiment.
That Cocke lost his captaincy when the number of companies in the regiment was reduced in 1757. In June 1758 he secured the same rank in the 2d Virginia Regiment.
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And there was a Friend Cox who owned a fort house on the Little Cacapon near the Potomac.
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William Cocks, the tavern owner of Cocks Tavern of big lot 8 then referenced as 21 South Loudoun, was also the Ranger Captain William Cocks.
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George Washington rented a place at that tavern for a year. Then he moved into Fort Loudoun 2 Dec 1756.
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Ranger Captain William Cocks fort was built at same time Fort Ashby was built. The Cocks might have become "Washington Fort" but those plans for making this the biggest fort on the frontier never materialized.
Both Ranger forts, Cocks and Ashby's were built on the Patterson Creek.
.
Dr Warren Hofstra
is signing a book
for Phil Hunter
who has long portrayed
tavern owner William Cocks
at 21 S Loudoun St
on lot 8 of Winchester
surveyed by John Baylis in 1752.
.
Dr Warren Hofstra
has an excellent map
on all of the tippling houses, taverns, ordinaries
existing during GW’s stay in Winchester VA.
.
Other similar sounding Names?
There was a Captain Thomas Cocke in the Virginia Regiment.
That Cocke lost his captaincy when the number of companies in the regiment was reduced in 1757. In June 1758 he secured the same rank in the 2d Virginia Regiment.
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And there was a Friend Cox who owned a fort house on the Little Cacapon near the Potomac.
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