Return to Family Index

THE STORY AS I KNOW IT
 
Daniel Maddox was born in 1755 re his tombstone mentioned below, possibly in what is now Charlotte County Virginia. Charlotte County was formed in 1764 from Lunenburg County.  It is not known for sure who his parents were. However, there are substantial records of Wilson Maddox and David Maddox both owning properties in this county from 1750.  It is believed that one was the father of Daniel.  Julie Mortensen did an in depth study of the available documents and believes that David was not  the father of Daniel.
When David Maddox died there was estate suit and Daniel was not listed as one of his sons. Index to Abstracts of Charlotte County, Virginia Will Book 1 1765- 1791 MADDOX,   David 23,51,436,. Will Bk 2, MADDOX, David 192,254, David Jr 254.  She tracked the descendants of John and Margaret Maddox of New Kent Ct. Va, and came to the conclusion that Wilson Maddox was John and Margaret's son and that he was Daniel's father.  To view her work go to Father of Dan

Daniel Maddox was listed on the Charlotte County Virginia tax list in 1787. That was the year that his son William  was born. Daniel Maddox is listed on the Charlotte County 1790 Census as head of household with 4 people. The last time he was found in Va was the VA Tax List 1793.

Two years later Daniel Maddox is on the 1795 Shelby County Kentucky Tax list  as having 2 horses, 4 heads of cattle and no acres. Near by was Wilson Maddox with 2 horses, 16 head of cattle and 150 acres on Gesses Creek.  This was Daniel's brother, Wilson Maddox who served the American Army during the Revolution in Kentucky.  He stayed and married there.  Gesses Creek is now Guist Creek in Shelby County Kentucky, to the east of Shelbyville.

Daniel Maddox had moved his family between 1793 and 1795 from Virginia to Kentucky.  We do not know who Daniel's first wife was, but it is hard to believe he made that trip with 4 children without her.  We believe it very possible that his last child by the first wife was David Maddox born 1797/8.  Perhaps she died with his birth. 

In 1797 Daniel Maddox bought 50 acres on Bullskin Creek, still in Shelby County,  Shelby County Deed Book C, page 109. the witness, James Pruitt was from Charlotte VA.  Wilson is listed on Fox Run Creek.  The two creeks come join together at Scotts Station, Harrington Mill Rd, north and west of Shelbyville.

Daniel Maddox wed a second time to Nancy Willis on October 9,1798 in Shelby County. Thomas J. Gwin signed their license. Shelby County, KY Marriage Bonds: 1792-1800.  The Shelby County Marriage Book 1, page 4, states  Daniel Maddox and Nancy Willis were married by James McQuaid.  This is probably the same James McQuaid said to be an elder and missionary from the Buck Creek Baptist church, Shelby County, Ky. The church was organized in 1799, so he may have been on his own in 1798.
from the Salem Missionary Baptist church History online.  Daniel and Nancy Maddox helped establish the Burks Branch Baptist Church about 1804. The church is near Fox Run Creek due north of Shelbyville.   This was much closer to their land then Buck Creek, which is south and west of Shelbyville.

Daniel Maddox is believed to have had the following children by the unknown first wife:
1. Wilson born in 1785. He was living with Asa’s family in Jennings County Indiana in 1850.
2. William. born 1787 married Elizabeth Moreland about 1817, he died 1855.
3. Michael born 1789, married Celia Owsley, and died 1828 in Trimble county KY
4. Robert born1793, married Sarah Gott 4/18/1820 In Shelby county Ky and died Sept 3, 1835 in Montgomery County In. Shelby County Marriage Bonds,
1792 and Find a Grave
5.  David G. born winter 1797/8,married Elizabeth Hawkins. Gosney Aug 6, 1823 Jefferson county KY.  died before 1850 in Louisville. (Find a Grave)

Daniel Maddox's known children by Nancy Willis are:
6. Jane born 1800 married William N. Gott in 1820. She died 1873 in Iowa.
7. Asa born about 1803 married Delilah Butler in 1823 in Indiana. They had 11 children. He died in 1855 and is buried near his parents.
8. Betsy born about 1805 married Benard Prebble in 1829. They had at least 7 children.
9. Samuel born about 1807 married Betsy Pool in 1829. They had 10 children. He died about 1854.
10. Lydia born about 1809 married Alex Prebble in Buchanan county, Iowa.
11. Permelia born 1816 married William Moore in 1845. Lived in Ripley County, Indiana.

Daniel Maddox is on the Gallatin County KY Tax list in 1806.  I need the source documentation for this. This means he has moved from Shelby County up toward the Ohio  River.  The book Kentucky Called Them by Gertrude E. Hewson contains the following notes of Maddox: The area he settled in eventually became Trimble County. Other names mentioned in the book include Wilson, David,  Michael, and William.

1807 Daniel Maddox had land on Corn & Spring Creeks. (page 196 Kentucky Called them )
Jan 12, 1813, Daniel Maddox had 100 acres on Corn & Spring Creeks (page 233 Kentucky Called Them) 

The 1810 Gallatin County Census roll 6, on page 2 of 14.  The Census has been alphabetized, kind of, and Dan Maddox is very hard to read:
2 males 1-<10 (Asa & Samuel)
2 males 10-<16 (Robert & David)
1 male 20-45 (William or Wilson)  The other brother may have been working on a farm.  We've not found them on 1810 census
1 male >45   (Daniel)
3 females 0 - <10 (Jane, Betsy & Lydia)
1 female 20-45 (Nancy)

Michael Maddox is next on the Census list
1 male 16-<26   Michael
1 femlae 16-<26 Celia

1817 was the last tax listing on corn Creek for Daniel Maddox.   That year he purchased land in Jennings County Indiana.  He may have  left for Jennings County Indiana about 1818. taking many of his family with him.  Wilson may have been the only older son who went with Daniel, but it is believed that all of Nancy's children made the move.  However, the Dan Maddox family is found on the Shelby County Ky Census, page 165.   So did they move to Indiana, then returned to Shelby, near brother Wilson, then move again to Indiana OR was the original move postponed for some reason, but they needed to leave their Corn Creek land?????  Anyway the 1820 Census:
1 male 0-<10 (????)
1 male10-<16 (Samuel)
1 male 16-18 (Asa)
1 male 16-<26 (David)
1 male 45+ (Daniel)
1 female 1-<10 (Permelia)
2 female 10-<16  (Lydia & Betsy)
1 female 45+ (Nancy)

Next listing is Robert Maddox 1 male 16-<26 and 1 female 16-<26
near by listing is William Maddox 26-<45, 1 son<10 and wife 16-<26
daughter Jane wed  William Gott that year.

But sometime after that Census was taken many of the Maddox family moved to Jennings County, Indiana.  There they were part of the Vernon Baptist church.  It had begun in 1816.  They met outdoors the first 7-8 years, but then about 1824 moved to their current location on a hill overlooking the Muscatatuck Valley.  The longest serving minister of the church was W. T. Stott, one of the founders.  he is buried very near to Daniel Maddox.  The old now overgrown Wilson's Cemetery may have been in early use by the members.

Daniel Maddox died January 24, 1823 and is buried in an overgrown cemetery about 8 miles from Old Vernon, Indiana.   Nancy Willis Maddox eventually went to live with her son Asa and lived another 32 years.

In 1825 Dan's heirs finish paying for the 80 acres of Maddox land in Jennings County. pg90 of a Jennings County Survey Book. "8 1/2  NW gr section 33, 80 acres, March 20, 1825 Heirs of Daniel Maddox" under Town #7 North. Wilson Maddox & Lydia Maddox each acquired 40 acres adjacent to their Dad's land, completing the 160-acre square. 

 From tombstones in Wilson’s Cemetery in Vernon Township, Jennings County, Indiana:
1. Dan Maddox died January 24, 1823, aged 67 years.
2. Nancy, Consort of Dan Maddox died February 6, 1855 Aged 81 years.
3. Asa Maddox died July 117, 1855