“His X Mark” refers to the practice, in early American legal documents, of allowing signatories to mark an “X” on a document instead of signing their full name. In some cases, a fading, inky “X” has to suffice as proof of our ancestors’ existence
This blog is the work of Justin and David Maddox, son and father, who for two decades have researched the descendants of Edward Maddox (ca. 1615-1694), one of the first settlers of the Colonies of Maryland and Virginia – a land speculator, doctor, merchant and Justice of the Peace. Edward’s descendants are innumerable and are now living throughout the country. If your last name is Maddox (or Smallwood, Posey, Ware, Grey, Knight/McKnight, Long, Gaines, Garafano, Key, McCleskey, Holland, Thomas or Novom) there’s a good chance you’re a relation. This blog is intended to provide glimpses into the lives of Edward’s descendants and to attract conversation between the most recent generations. Hopefully you’ll gain something from our obsession hard work.
After much searching, David uncovers Henley Maddox’s grave in the Turkey Creek Baptist Church cemetery, Ware Shoals, South Carolina.
For those in search of some background material on the Maddox family and its origins in America, below are four excellent books that served as touchstones for our research. Our research supplements theirs by proving Edward’s children and by connecting early generations (after Benjamin II, 1735-1811) to the living generations (at least for our direct paternal line). We’ve stopped short of writing flattering descriptions of ourselves.
Early Families of Southern Maryland, Volume 9, Elise Greenup Jourdan, Heritage Books, 2007, pp. 185-252
The Maddox Family of Maryland, with Webster and Related Families, Fredonia Maddox Webster. self-published, 1957.
Maddox: A Southern Maryland Family, W.N. Hurley, Jr., Heritage Books, 1994.
Nichols-Smallwood-Maddox 1638-1930, Joyce Smelley Odom, self-published, 2006.
hisXmark 
Great work! Seems like our lines may have crossed before in history – a few times before. Research in my Holland line reveals a strong Webster lineage as well.
Thanks Joe! If we can prove a link to Thomas Maddox, who lived at Warresquoiak, near Jamestown in 1620-23, then we’ll probably have some scary connections, since I think the Hollands lived next door-ish. Oh, and don’t get me started on the Key-Holland links… very frightening,
I found another breakthrough on Ancestry.com with a distant cousin who is related to me in the Streett family. He shares a lineage with you as well in the Maddox/Wheeler/Posey lines. I’ll send a follow-up regarding his page via email.
Answered your question:
http://www.sfhs.org.uk/forum/seeking-father-edward-maddox-17th-century#comment-4452
Thank you so much for your insightful reply, David. I’ve checked the sites you’ve provided and it appears that our Edward (d. 1694) is not a match for any of the individuals in the sites, unfortunately. I’ll dig deeper into the data and try to triangulate to known relatives. I really appreciate your response!
Hello,o
I just found your site. I have a website on MyHeritage.com. My grandmother was Nellie Williams Maddox before marrying my grandfather, R. G. Roberson. I have the same people that you have on this site in my family tree on MyHeritage. Would enjoy corresponding.
Hi Gayle… thanks for your note! I’m glad you found the site. Anything you can add would be appreciated!
Hi,
There is a record of a Cornelius Maddock of Broughton Parish marrying Elizabeth Garmston by license at Myddle Parish Church on Feb 6 1815. Witnesses Mary Garmston, Mary Maddock, and William Maddock. Broughton/Myddle is about 32 miles from Munslow.
This Cornelius Maddock was baptised 7 March 1786 at Broughton by Wem, Shropshire by parents Cornelius and Abigail Maddock.
There was a Cornelius Maddox married 18 Dec 1709 to
…. Elizabeth Howells at Holdgate Shropshire, about 4 miles from Munslow….
Is this worth following up?
This is really cool cute. My Great grandfather was a Maddox and traced his lineage to a Benjamin Maddox born in 1693. Had a hard time finding his wife on Ancestry.com but your blog seems to indicate he had two wives. A Francis Wheeler who appears to have died in 1727 and A Francis Posey who was the mother of George my direct ancestor.
My dad just received his DNA (y-67) results from FamilyTree DNA. We have the surenane HAWKINS. Since receiving the test results, we found out that we are actually MADDOX.
My dad’s closets DNA matches show Benjamin Maddox II as their earliest known relative. So we think it maybe possible that he is a descendant of Benjamin Maddox II also.
We don’t know how we ended up with the name Hawkins. We have only been able to search back to my dad’s great-grandfather born about 1813 in South Carolina.
I have read a lot of the info that has been provided. But I was curious if anyone has come across anything like a name change in the family, an adoption, or even an affair. I’m aware that this could have been kept a secret or simply not recorded but I thought it would be worth asking.
Thanks
You’re the first to mention a name change… I hadn’t heard of it. I’ll definitely keep it in mind while researching. Thanks.
My husband is a direct descendant of Samuel Maddox (1638-1684). His 6th gr grandfather was Notley Maddox whose mother was Ann Notley. I have no record of Cornelius or Edward in my genealogy research. However my husband’s 4th gr grandfather was Lenny Posey. I suppose this makes you related somehow. On findagrave I did find burials in Christ Church, Port Tobacco, Md. One for Benjamin Maddocks I 1693-19 Sep 1770 and one for Cornelius Maddocks 21 Aug 1661-1705. Don’t know if these are the burials you were searching for or not. I have researched this line for over 30 years and have much research on them. Ann
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/80824670/james-samuel-maddox
Any information about this man and connections to your Maddox line and the others. Born on the land near The Maddox river in South Carolina and took on the last name.
I obtained a copy (and transcript) of a Will made by John Everall of Wentnor Shropshire on the 15 May 1630 from the Shropshire Library. He left thirty shillings to his grandCHILD Edward Maddox, twenty shillings to another grandCHILD Edward Medlicot,, daughter Allice children three shillings each, daughter Joyes children three shillings each, his son Henry ten shillings, the rest equally to his son Henry and daughter Barbara: “if my daughter Barbara be ruled by my two sonnes and do not marry herself without their consent, otherwise if she will not be ruled by them, I leave her but twenty shillings”.. His son Edward to be sole executor.
Witnessed by Henry Everall and Jane Medllicott
It seems that this Edward Maddox was an infant in 1630, but his parents aren’t identified.
Wow… nice catch! That’s one of the best fits for our Edward that I’ve seen.
Hi,
It should be Wentnor not Wentor Shropshire. Please correct!
Thanks!
David Pugh
Edited! Thanks.
Pingback: The latest research into the possible parents of Edward Maddox (d. 1694) | hisXmark
Just found your wonderful site! I’m related to Notley Maddox Sr. & Jr. Working on James Maddox’s wife Mary. Some say it’s Mary Wheeler. Your site says Mary Hawkins. The only Mary Hawkins I keep running into married John Lowe in 1705 Prince George, MD (not James Maddox). Would love your opinion. Thanks, Cary Boyd
I’m grateful too. Thank You! Signed a desc of Edward 1829-30 Fulton, KY