Misc. Notes
Enlisted Rev. War 15Jul1780, served 3mo guard duty. Rendered aid in defense of Fort Blackmore-1777 (
http://www.wisecomp.com/ccl/DCCockeWar.htm)“April 3, 1793, David Cox, James Albert, and John Duncan, by paying the delinquent tax on the John Blackmore tract of land, became owners of a tax claim against it. As an outcome of this transaction, James Albert became the owner of “blackmore’s Old Fort,” consisting of 300 acres. this same tract was then sold under a deed of trust to Goldman Davidson, who in turn sold it to James S Cox.”
BLACKMORE'S FORT
This is the "small fortification" that Captain Russell wrote Preston was being built at Blackmore’s at the mouth of Stony Creek, but which in time grew to be the second most important fort on the frontier. Built on the lands of Captain John Blackmore, who along with his brother Joseph had come from Fauquier Co., VA, with their families to carve out homes in the wilderness in the year 1772.
Being more exposed it was attacked by Indians more often than Moore’s and many people were killed and captured in and around this fort. The fort stood on the north side of Clinch, just outside the village of Fort Blackmore. It was to Blackmore’s that all the people came when the forts in Powell Valley were evacuated in 1776, just prior to the outbreak of the Cherokee War, as did the people from Rye Cove Fort. It must have been of large proportions, but no one has left any known description of this fort. According to Samuel Alley who was born in sight of the fort in the year 1801, it was torn down and no vestige of it remained in 1887, when he paid a visit to his old home and found the ground where the old fort stood being tended in corn. However, nearby stood an apple tree planted by his father which to that day was known as the "John Alley Apple Tree." (11)
Across the road in a fringe of trees and brush, and slightly northeast of where the old fort stood is the old fort graveyard, with rows of small, uncut stones marking the final resting place of those who died from either the stroke of disease or tomahawk in the long ago.
Always known as Blackmore’s Fort, the village today, almost two centuries later still bears the name except in the reverse order of Fort Blackmore. (From Historical Sketches of Southwest Virginia, Number 4, 1968, pages 1 to 26)
Middle name Clinton
Second Supplement of the DAR Patriot Index(New Ancestor List), Wash.DC Natl SocDAR, pg 15
Records show that David C. Cocke/Cox rendered patriotic service in the Revolutionary War by enlisting 15 July 1780 and serving three months duty. He is listed in the Second Supplement to the DAR Patriot Index (New Ancestor List), Washington, D.C. 1973, National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, pg 15. It states "David Cox, born 1748, died 02-28-1828 married Jemima Leach, Patriotic Service in Virginia." Mrs. Quillen in her application stated "Patriot rendered aid in defense of Fort Blackmore - 1777".
Deed: p72 Oxer Deed to Cocke___1795: Indenture between Samuel Oxer & Sarah, his wife and David Cocke (all of Russell County)...(amount blank)..200 acres m/l in Russell County it being a part of a larger tract granted to Henry Hamlin..patent bearing date 20Jul1790 and Bounded.. flat rock on the bank of Clinch River thence running up the middle of the red lane..to Stony Creek thence down Stony Creek to the Mill race.... p73 Sig: Samuel Oxer, Sarah Oxer Wit:Samuel Porter, James Leath, Henry Lock(?) Acknowledgement/Recorded: 23Feb1796
James McKinney and David Cox(David C. Cocke) were signers of the Petition to Virginia House of Delegates requesting formation of Russell County Virginia from Washington County
Member of Stony Creek Baptist Church(Scott County Virginia)