Knox Family Tree diagram (oversize)

Collection — Map Case: 3.10, Folder: 10

Identifier: MS0262

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Family tree (copy) drawn in the shape of a tree by Katie S. Goodman of Woodleaf, N.C. in June, 1914. Inscription in lower right section of diagram: "John Knox, the trunk of the Tree, was born in Scotland in 1708. Kent [sic] from there to Ireland, with other Scotch (sic] immigrants by invitation of the King of England, to constitute a balance of power against the insurgent Irish Catholics. He married an Irish Presbyterian wife, Miss Jean Gracy. Emigrated to America in company with Patrick Gracy, his Bro. in law, & others, about 1740. He was one of the early settlers of Rowan Co., N.C. Bought land, 600 acres, on the south side of Third Creek, for 37 £ 10 S which land had been granted by Earl Granville to James Stuart. He raised a family of seven sons & one daughter, as shown by the drawing. His sons & several grandsons served in the Revolutionary War. He died in 1758, aged 50 years. He and wife were both buried in Thyatira Church cemetery, in Rowan Co., N.C."

Dates

1914

Creator

Goodman, Katie S. (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Some material may be copyrighted or restricted. It is the patron's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections.

Biographical / Historical

John Knox was an early settler of Rowan county, NC who left a large family with many descendants, including President James Knox Polk, who was his great-grandson. John Knox was born in Scotland about 1708 and moved to Northern Ireland as a young man, where he married Jean Gracy, a fellow Presbyterian. The couple eventually moved to the American colonies and settled in Rowan county, NC around 1740. John and Jean Knox had seven sons and one daughter, some of whom moved to other states over the course of their lives, including Tennessee, Ohio and Georgia. The children were: William (1736-1776), Absalom (1738-1808), John (1739-1802), Mary (1742-1823, married a Rosenbrough and an Armstrong), Samuel (1746-1837), Joseph (1747-1836), James (1752-1794, grandfather of President Polk) and Benjamin (1759-1842). John died in Rowan county, NC on October 12, 1758 and his wife Jean died on September 18, 1772 at 64 years of age.