An American Family History

Absalom Fox and Christian Bonham married in Kingwood, Hunterdon County, New Jersey about 1758. Soon after they married, they moved to Loudoun County, Virginia.

Their children’s names are listed in Genealogical Miscellany of New Jersey by Kate W. Buchanan. Their children were born in Virginia. Their first four children were born in Loudoun County.

Captain Charles Fox was born in 1759.
David Fox was born July 7, 1764.
Bonham Fox was born in 1761.
Mary Fox Frazee was born in 1763.
David Fox was born July 7, 1764.

In 1765, Absalom bought 500 acres on the Broad Run of the Potomac in Loudoun County, Virginia for five shillings sterling. The transaction was recorded in the February 8, 1765 indenture. The Loudoun County Order Book says that on November 13, 1766, Absalom was appointed overseer of the road leading from Broad run to Beaverdam Church.

He appeared on 1768 list of tithables for Loudoun County, Virginia.

Colonial Virginia Source Records indicate that on November 9, 1769 the Virginia Gazette reported that Edward Wood, an English servant, ran away from Absolom Fox of Leesburg, Loudoun County.

Anchor Fox Sutton was born on August 24, 1772. Iva Fox Sargeant was born on June 17, 1774.

On November 14, 1774 Absalom bought land in Loudoun County, Virginia from John Berryman.

Jonathan Fox was born in 1777. In 1777, Absalom Fox was the security for John Skillman's will in Loudoun County, Virginia. The will was proved February 10, 1777.

On June 15, 1778 an indenture was recorded between the Foxes and Jonas Clapman. Jonas paid 800£ for 500 acres in Loudoun County.

This indenture made 15 day of June 1778 between Absalom Fox and Christian Fox his wife and Jonas Clapham for and in consideration of the sum of 800 pounds current money of Virginia to them in hand paid by said Jonas Clapham before sealing and delivering of these presents ..... hath sold all that tract or parcel of land situate and lying and being on broad run in the County of Loudoun and consisting of 500 acres which Absalom Fox purchased of John Berryman.

Signed Absalom Fox
Christian Fox her mark
In presence of
Ambrose Fox,
Thomas Prithard,
Gabriel Fox
William Fox,
Benjamin Mason,
George Summers
Har Lane

In 1778, Absalom and his brother, Gabriel Fox, moved near Romney, Hampshire County, West Virginia. In 1780, Absalom was granted a lease of 276 acres in Hampshire County. The land included Bear Wollow on Buffalo Lick Run. He was to pay 1 shilling sterling per 50 acres on St. Michael's Day.

Rebecca Fox Dearth was born in 1781.

They moved to the Western Pennsylvania wilderness in the early 1780s. They lived on the North Ten Mile Creek near Lone Pine in Washington County. The two youngest, Jonathan and Rebecca, were carried there in hampers on horseback. They were associated with the North Ten Mile Baptist Church organized by the Reverend David Sutton.

In 1781 Absalom was recorded in the tax records of Bethlehem Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania with 95 acres, two horses, seven cattle and no sheep. He was also on the list in 1782, 1783.

In 1782, Absalom and Christian of Washington County, Pennsylvania leased their 276 acres in Hampshire County, West Virginia on Branch Mountain to Robert Calvin.

They were granted 423¼ acres on January 26, 1785 at Fox Hill on Bushy Run of Ten Mile Creek in Washington County, Pennsylvania.

To Absalom Fox.
Fox Hill, Bushy Run, Ten Mile Creek, Pennsylvania Aaron Vancamp, David Frazie, Ebenezer Hilton, Philip Luallin, Charles Fox, John Rush. 423¼ acres. Tract surveyed in pursuance of warrant granted to Absalom Fox, 26 Jan 1785. In witness whereof his Excellency B. Franklin, Esq. hath hereto set his hand,
14 October, 1787
Record of Deeds in Courthouse, Washington, Pennsylvania, Book 327, page 278.

On the Bethlehem Township tax list in 1785, 1787. In 1787, Absalom had 235 acres, 2 horses, 5 cows and a still.

Absalom gave 100 acres each to Charles and David. In 1788, Absalom had 75 acres and Charles and David had 100.

Charles and David married before 1790. Bonham married in 1787. Anchor married in 1788. David and Anchor both married children of Baptist Minister, Reverend Abraham Sutton and Mary Chenowith.

The family appeared in the 1790 census in Washington County. There were four males (two under 16) and four females. Charles and David were listed with their own households. Sampson Sargeant appeared in the 1790 census with a household of four as does David Sutton, Jr.

In 1791, Isaac Leet bought part of the tract called Isaac’s Chain of Waters of Ten Mile Creek in Bethlehem Township from Absalom for fifty pounds.

Isaac Leet to Absalom Fox,
March 23, 1791,
fifty pounds for part of tract called Isaac's Chain on waters of Ten Mile Creek in Bethlehem Township, beginning at a corner, a white oak, thence by land of David Sutton. . .

On January 17, 1792, Absalom patented 282 acres and 74 perches of Prospect Hill on Ten Mile Creek.

Patent to Absalom Fox, 1792, of tract Prospect Hill on Ten Mile Creek. Zeph Beall, Simon Hersh, Henry Shidler. 282 Acres, 74 perches, patented 17 January, 1792.

Absalom died about 1797 in Lone Pine. His heirs transferred land to Jonathan, David, and Charles. Charles received the part called Prospect Hill near David Sutton, David Fox, and Tobias Friend. Jonathan received 98 ¾ acres of land called Fox Hill on Ten Mile Creek, beginning at an elm tree near the properties of David Sutton, Philip Llewellyn (Luallen), and Charles Fox. David Fox received 228 acres and 71 perches on Ten Mile Creek near Philip Friend, James Graham, Henry Shidler, Henry Hask, Tobias Friend and his own land.

Rebecca married in 1799.

Some of the family moved to Warren County, Ohio in the early 1800’s. Jonathan and Charles were to join them later. They came by way of the Ohio River and landed near present day Cincinnati on April 10, 1798 where there was a village of less than thirty homes. They traveled along the Wayne's Mile Long Road to Clear Creek and settled there.

Christian died in 1821 in Warren County, Ohio and was buried with the Dearth family.

The rod or perch or pole is a surveyor's tool equal to 5 1⁄2 yards.

Lone Pine, Washington County, Pennsylvania was a village located on the north fork of Ten-Mile Creek. It was known as Lone Pine, Pleasant Valley, and "Pin Hook."

The Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia borders Maryland and Virginia. The first European settlers started arriving about 1730.

Hunterdon County was originally part of Burlington County, West Jersey. It was set off from Burlington County on March 11, 1714. It included Amwell, Hopewell, and Maidenhead Townships.

A land patent is an exclusive land grant made by the government. The certificate that grants the land rights is also called first-title deed and final certificate. In the United States, all land can be traced back to the original land patent.

An indenture is a legal contract for labor or land. Two copies on the same sheet were separated with a jagged edge so that the two parts could be refitted to confirm authenticity. An indentured servant worked without wages for a specified time to pay a debt and was bound to the employer. In the 17th century, nearly two-thirds of settlers came as indentured servants to pay for their passage.

Kingwood Township is on the western border of Hunterdon County, New Jersey. It was founded in 1798.

Descendants of Absalom Fox and Christian Bonham are Mayflower Descendants. Samuel Fuller Hannah Fuller Bonham Hezekiah Bonham Amariah Bonham Christian Bonham Fox