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Introduction

Mary Floy Katzman

July 17, 1998

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      When we're young there aren't enough hours in the day to raise our children, earn a living and get some sleep, but as we become older we turn to other things. One of those things may be "cleaning the attic" and digging into a trunk or box or writing a journal. Sometimes we know "something" is there and in our later years we finally get around to organizing stuff. This journal is one of those "somethings".

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       Bill Howe of Denver, Colorado sent a copy of this journal to Jeffrey C. Weaver and me. He and Aunt Ginny have given their permission for me to make copies and make them available so others can share this wonderful find. Jeff and Mr. Howe had originally made contact on the internet and since Mr. Howe wanted more information on the Greer family, Jeff put Mr. Howe in touch with me. Mr. Howe told us a little of the contents, but I wasn't prepared for the wealth of information this journal contained. Nor was I prepared for its length and scope. Along about dinner time (which didn't get cooked), I started to pick up the phone to call Jeff when the phone rang. A voice on the other end said "Did you get it?" It was Jeff. Needless to say he was as excited about this journal as I was. Until almost dawn the next day I was engrossed in the journal. The details describing people are unbelievable from hat size to shoe size, color of hair and eyes, height and weight and on and on. In places you'll laugh and in others you'll cry. His description of his escape route during the Civil War back into Pike Co., Kentucky is so detailed, there is no doubt one could walk in his footsteps and those of his seven companions.

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     Francis Marion Wilcox was born in Ashe County, North Carolina Novemebe 13, 1843, but grew up in Pike Co., Kentucky. His parents were Samuel and Barbara Houck Wilcox who were also born in Ashe Co. His grandparents were Isaiah and Hannah Greet Wilcoxsen and George W. and Barbara Houck (her maiden name was also Houck). Many born with the name Wilcoxsen shortened it to Wilcox.

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      In doing genealogy research, it isn't unusual to find errors. Often these errors can be attributed to trying to remember something one may have heard years before and so I urge you to check and recheck the names, spouses, relationships, dates, etc. The first little part of the Journal pertains to the Boone family and today we know that some of what Francis Marion Wilcox wrote to be in error about the Boone family.

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      We received a typed transcript of the Journal and were unable to check on some of the names contained in our copies. However, one surname name had been transcribed as "Trwitt" It should read "Trivett" or "Trivette". I've taken the liberty of making that change throughout the Journal for easier reading.

     I hope you enjoy reading the Journal and how fortunate for us it has been preserved for over 100 years. For the most part, I've left the writing style as I received it. Mr. Wilcox sometimes writes as if he were telling the story and sometimes as if someone else was telling the story.

Enjoy!

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To my family:

     I have attempted to copy the journal of our Uncle, great Uncle Francis Marion Wilcox. This was written in a flowing hand of beautiful script. Although very difficult to read is some places I have tried to reproduce his words just as written.

I have left this copy with double-space so that errors in persons names, or dates, or other factual data can be brought to my attention. In this way, should anyone have information they could state, on Page 20, say, the name Trwitt should read Triwitt - I could change my master copy and advise each of you the corrected version.

     The obvious "type" error, the spelling erros, and the lack of correct punctuation, will leap out at you who are more gifted than I in these arts. I would sincerely appreciate these corrections brought to my attention as well, as I have made myself a self-imposed deadline in order to get this to you by Christmas of 1980. Your help will be wonderful.

I am in the process of writing about the events mentioned herein and would like to say that I will have the story finished by Christmas of next year. It is still in the rough-dream state, so we will see.

Bless you all, I love you with all my heart.

 

Ginny

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P.S. Jack, in a weak moment or else not hearing my request correctly, said yes to helping me make genealogical charts from the information so devotedly given herein. When these are complete I will send them on to you as well.

 

      The ancestors of Daniel Boone formed a settlement near Exeter, England where all followed a pastoral life. George Boone came to America in 1717, on or about that period, together with nine sons, but the names of only three seem to been preserved - James, John and Squire. The latter was the father of Daniel Boone.

      George Boone settled in Berks County, Pennsylvania at a place named after his English home, Exeter. Squire Boone grew up and married in Pennsylvania, in what year is not known, to a Miss Mary Morgan. He raised seven sons and four daughters viz Daniel, James, Squire, Edward, Jonathan, George, Samuel, Sarah, Hannah, Mary and Elizabeth.

     Daniel, according to memoranda kept by his Uncle James, was born July 14th, A.D. 1732, which date is thought to be nearer correct than any other. His father, Squire, immigrated to Wilkes County, North Carolina, settling on the banks of the Yadkin River, the precise date not given. They settled within a short distance of what is now Wilkesboro, the county seat of Wilkes County, south of the Blue Ridge where he followed an agricultural avocation and hunting vocation. While in the latter pursuit, young Daniel first met Miss Rebecca Morgan, whom he afterwards courted and won her heart and together they were married, the precise date we do not know. He raised nine children by her: Israel, Nathan, Daniel, Jesse, Rebecca, Susan, Lavina and Jemima. About the year 1760, Daniel Boone first crossed the Cumberland mountains and was about 26 years old when he first came west.

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        In 1769 he came to the territory now comprising the state of Kentucky in the company of John Finley, John Steward, Joseph Holden and William Cool. Yet according to papers found in the archives of Tennessee and marks found on green trees in Powells Valley, Virginia, Daniel came west through the unexplored regions as early as 1760.

After his tour with John Finley and Company, he went back to North Carolina, got his family and was joined by several others and while enroute at or near Cumberland Gap, they were attacked by a large band of Indians. In this attack several were wounded and worst of all, James Boone was killed dead. This so discouraged Mrs. Boone that she prevailed upon her husband to proceed no further. Consequently they returned to Powell Valley, formed a settlement, but only temporarily for Daniel. Our old pioneer had been to the "promised land" and he resolved to settle the region discovered. Consequently he went back, got his family and those left behind and after several days of wandering through an uninhabited wilderness where roamed the bison, elk, deer, bear and the "wily savage", we find him settling upon the banks of the Kentucky River at a place he called Boonesboro, Mrs. Boone being the first white woman to set foot upon the banks of said stream.

     Then Daniel and his small colony erected a fort where more than once they were besieged and had to contend against overwhelming numbers of savages. These Indians claimed Kentucky as their hunting grounds and contested every inch of ground. 'Twas near this region that Squire Boone was killed, also Nathan Boone.

      For general history, let the reader pursue the complete life of Daniel Boone and the history of Kentucky. Daniel Boone died in the state of Missouri, at a place called ________ at the ripe old age of 81 years. He together with his wife, now sleep in the famous blue grass soil of Kentucky for which he so long contended.

We can only close this introductory sketch by saying, "nobel hero and heroine, thy trails have been many, thy fortitude knew no bounds. Sacrifices were demanded and readily made. Now while thy bodies lay at rest, thy souls shall live on. Eternity is yours. Roam amid the fields such as angels delight in."

     According to the best history at command, George Boone came also from Pennsylvania. The ancestors of our Great Grandfather, Samuel Wilcox, who no doubt had crossed the ocean about the same period the Boone came across, but since we do not have precise dates, we cannot give it in either case. As before mentioned, it appears Daniel Boone was born July 14, 1732 and was married to Miss Rebecca Bryant on or about the year 1755. John Wilcox married Daniel Boone's sister on or about the year 1758. Her name was Sarah. Samuel Wilcox, our Great Grandfather, a son or nephew of John Wilcox, was born on or about the year 1760 and grew up and married a Miss Callaway, daughter of Richard Callaway and sister of Flanders Callaway. This marriage occurred, according to the most reliable history and information to be obtained, on or about the year 1785. Flanders Callaway, it seems married the elder daughter of Daniel Boone, whose christian name was Jemima, near Lexington, Kentucky during the fall of 1776, just after her capture and rescue from the Indians by her father, Richard Callaway. Hence, Mrs. Flanders Callaway, once Miss Boone became the Aunt of Isaiah Wilcox, who was the son of Samuel, above named and born on February the 15th 1796 in Wilkes County, North Carolina. Great Grandfather Samuel died was buried at this date, March 29, 1893, where to me is unknown.

 

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