The following information was assembled from numerous sources and cannot be used directly as proof of Qualifying Service or Lineage.
It is considered a research aid and is intended to assist in locating sources that can be used as proof.
State of Service: PA/VA
Qualifying Service: Private
According to some accounts, Joseph Fox left his home in New Jersey at the age of16 and went to England. He became an apprentice to a stovesman and shortly thereafter, he became a British soldier. When the Colonies declared Independence, he deserted and returned to the United States and fought as a Patriot in the Revolutionary War.
He enlisted at Pikes Run, Pennsylvania, in December 1776 as a private. He was trained at Pittsburgh, Brownsville, and Valley Forge. He served with the 11th Virginia Regiment (which includes the 7th, 13th and 15th consolidated). He served four years in the regular American Army under Captain David Steele and two years in the Pennsylvania Rangers in 1781 under Captain Thomas Robinson. He was at Brandywine, Germantown, Trenton, Stony Point, Monmouth, Valley Forge and Yorktown. Additional commanding officers included General Anthony Wayne, General Lafayette, Lieutenant VanCamp, Major Posey, Lieutenant Fleury, Colonel Febiger and General George Washington. He was discharged January 21, 1783 at Northumberland, Pennsylvania.
He was given 336 acres of land in Perry Township, Greene County, Pennsylvania, January 15, 1814.
Author: Dennis Lee Wright
Joseph Fox was my paternal 4th great grandfather. He was born in New Jersey in 1753 and died in Perry Township, Greene County, Pennsylvania in 1847. He had three wives, fathering twelve children.
Joseph Fox served 4 years in the Continental Army under Captains David Steele and William Johnston and 2 years (1781-1783) in the Pennsylvania Rangers under CPT Thomas Robinson. Joseph enlisted at Pikes Run, PA in December 1776 as a Private. He served in the 13th, 11th, 7th and 1st Virginia Regiments. He trained at Pittsburgh, Brownsville and Valley Forge. He fought at Brandywine, Germantown, Trenton, Valley Forge, Stony Point, Monmouth, and Charlestown. In 1779 he was selected from CPT William Johnston’s company as one of handpicked men to serve as light infantry in Gen Wayne’s Corps in the successful attack on Stony Point. In late 1779 and early 1780, the Virginia Regiments were consolidated into three units. Joseph Fox is believed to have served in Captain Johnston’s company in the 1st VA Regiment commanded by Col William Russell under the 1st VA Brigade commanded by BG Woodford. The 1st VA Brigade marched to Charleston arriving in April. With the surrender of Charleston, Captain Johnston’s company became prisoners on 12 May 1780. Joseph was exchanged in 1781 and joined the Pennsylvania Rangers. He was discharged on January 21, 1783 at Northumberland, PA. Additional commanding officers included General George Washington, General Anthony Wayne, General Lafayette, Colonels Daniel Morgan, William Russell and Christian Febiger; MAJ Posey, and LT Van Camp.
An undocumented, but interesting story goes that Joseph left his New Jersey home at the age of 16 and went to England. He became an apprentice to a stonemason. Shortly thereafter, he became a British soldier but when the Colonies declared independence, he left the British Army and returned to America to fight on the American side in the Revolutionary War. He was given “bounty land” in Pennsylvania (336 acres patent dated January 15, 1814 in Perry Township). He was supposedly given the honor of naming the county seat and county where his land was located. He chose Greene County named after General Nathaniel Greene and the county seat was named Waynesburg for General Anthony Wayne.
Joseph Fox personally appeared in open court on September 10, 1832 and swore an oath to make his declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the Service Pension Act of Congress passed on June 7, 1832. His pension amounted to $80 per annum.
His tombstone is atop a knoll near Fox Run, Greene County, Pennsylvania. The log cabin that he built in the 1790s is still standing and is inhabited. His descendants still live in the area. A very informative family history book titled Joseph Fox His Descendents and Related Families, 1997) was written by Charles S. Fox, his 3rd great grandson.
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