Many thanks to a group of Box Family Researchers that have been sorting out the different Michael Boxes. Verna Stone prepared short histories for the Five Michael Boxes. This information can be found on the Box Family message board on Ancestry.com (formally RootsWeb.com): Message Boards (ancestry.com)
Our family descends from Michael Box who lived in Tippah County, Mississippi. His information is given below.
Michael Box of Tippah County, Mississippi
Michael Box, born about 1780, moved from Laurens County SC to Knox County, TN where his sons, James Francis, William, and Thomas were born. Michael married Mary Fulcher, daughter of Cason Fulcher, in about 1798 in Tennessee.
Wade in The Box Book indicates Michael Box was performing marriages in Knox County TN in 1809. By 1810, he was on the tax rolls of Madison County, Mississippi Territory (which became Madison County, Alabama) and his sons, John Box and Grief Johnson Box and his daughters Mary Box and Lydia Box were born in Alabama.
During the War of 1812, he was a private in the 16th Regt. of Mississippi Territory militia. He served with his brother-in-law, Grief Johnson, husband of half-sister, Mary Hellums Johnson. They were apparently good friends, because Michael would later name his youngest son, Grief Johnson Box.
In the 1815-1817 census of Mississippi Territory he was listed as Michael Box, 1 male over 21; 4 males under 21; 1 female over 21 and 2 females under 21; along with a Benjamin Box.
On Feb. 28, 1818, Michael Box, his wife, Mary, and Mary Hellums, were received into membership of Bethel Baptist Church in Tuscaloosa County, AL.
In the Census of 1830, Fayette County, AL, Michael Box, age 50 to 60, is listed along with his sons, William and John. The 1830 census for Michael lists the following household members (my guess to who they were in parentheses) : Males: 1 under 5 (?), 1 age 10-15 (Grief J. Box), 1 age 50-60 (Michael Box); Females: 1 age 20-30 (Lydia Box), 1 age 50-60 (Mary Box).
On August 2, 1838, Michael, William, and John Box made application for Land Patents on Quarter Sections of land in Tippah County, Mississippi. The Certificate Numbers were 961 for Michael Box and 962 for William Box and both were for land that had been previously assigned to Joseph Warren Mathews. On November 16,1840, Lewis Garret and Thomas Box obtained a Land Patent for Quarter Section that was located in the area that became Benton County, MS. On November 28, 1843, Grief Johnson Box obtained a Land Patent for a Quarter Section.
The 1840 Census of Tippah County, MS lists Michael Box, his sons Thomas, Grief J., John, and Elizabeth “Elspeth” Box, Michael’s daughter-in-law and widow of William Box.
Michael Box died intestate in 1841 according to Mississippi Supreme Court records and his wife, Mary, died shortly after. The court records also state that Michael's estate started probate in January term 1844 in Tippah County, MS. (Note: Son, Thomas, states his father, Michael died 20 Jan 1844 and his mother, Mary, died in Feb 1844. But since probate started in Jan 1844, the 1841 year of death given in the court records is probably correct.) Burial site is not known.
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| Michael Box Probate Notice Ripley advertiser, 27 Apr 1844, Ripley, MS |
In 1846, his son, Grief J. Box, as administrator of Michael Box’s estate was sued by Lydia Box McCollum as a daughter of Michael Box. The value of Michael Box’s estate at the time of his death was appraised at nearly two thousand dollars with debts totaling less than thirty five dollars.
Known children of Michael Box and his wife, Mary Fulcher Box:
Michael's son, Thomas Box, became a member of the LDS Church in Texas in 1856 and provided family information to the church that indicated his father, Michael Box, was the son of James and Mary Box. That would make Thomas's grandparents James and Mary Box. Thomas also stated he was a grand-nephew of Stephen F. Box and 2nd cousin to Rolan Box (son of John Morris Box). That would make his grandfather, James Box, a brother to Stephen F. Box and John Morris Box.
Known children of Michael Box and his wife, Mary Fulcher Box:
- James Frances Box: md (1) Jemima Babb - 4 children, (2) Elizabeth Matthews - 2 children, (3) Jane Goddard
- William M. Box: md Elspeth - children unknown
- Thomas Box: md (1) Clarkey Carpenter - 5 children, (2) Belinda Marden
- Mary Box Henderson: md Hugh Henderson - 9 children
- Lydia Box McCollum: md George McCollum - 5 children
- John Box: md Margaret - children unknown
- Grief Johnson Box: md Roenna Johnson - 10 children
Michael's son, Thomas Box, became a member of the LDS Church in Texas in 1856 and provided family information to the church that indicated his father, Michael Box, was the son of James and Mary Box. That would make Thomas's grandparents James and Mary Box. Thomas also stated he was a grand-nephew of Stephen F. Box and 2nd cousin to Rolan Box (son of John Morris Box). That would make his grandfather, James Box, a brother to Stephen F. Box and John Morris Box.
Upon James Box’s apparent death, his widow Mary Box, then married William Hellums, and was mother to Michael Box’s half brother, John Hellums and half sisters, Mary Hellums and Anna Hellums. William Hellums, his son, John Hellums, and Carson (Cason) Fulcher, father of Michael's wife, Mary, are all listed on the 1806 tax list for Knox County, Tennessee. Michael's son, Grief Johnson Box, married his half cousin, Roenna Johnson, daughter of half sister, Anna Hellums.
Notes:
1. Michael Box is often listed with the middle initial of "B". As you can see from the signature of the document below, the "B" appears to be his "mark" instead of his middle initial. He signed his name Michael (B) Box. The (B) was in parentheses with "his" written above the (B) and "mark" written below the (B).
Instead of signing documents with an "X" because he could not read and write, Michael used a "B" for Box.
2. Many online databases have our Michael Box of Tippah County, MS married to Mary Lawrence on 25 May 1837, Lowndes, MS. This is an error - Michael Box of Tippah County, MS was NOT married to Mary Lawrence. This marriage belongs to one of the other Michael Boxes - Michael J. Box.
Our Michael Box was married to Mary Fulcher and all of their children were born before 1837.
TIMELINE for Michael Box
1780: Born in Laurens, South Carolina. Parents may be James Box and Mary Box.
1798: Married Mary Fulcher (dau. of Cason Fulcher), probably in Tennessee
1799: Son, James Frances Box born in Tennessee
1801: Son, William M. Box born
1804: Son, Thomas Box, born 8 Aug 1804 near Knoxville, Knox, Tennessee
1806: Daughter, Mary Box born in Madison, Alabama
1807: Bondsman for Marriage Bond for Grief Johnson to Mary Hellums, Knox County, Tennessee, 24 March 1807
1807: Son, John Box born
1808: Daughter, Lydia Box born
1812: Military Service, Served in the War of 1812 from Mississippi Territory. During his military service, he served with Greef Johnson, who he would later name his youngest son after.
1816: Monroe County, Alabama Residence Tax List
1818: Michael Box and wife, Mary Box, were received into membership of the Bethel Baptist Church, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama on 28 Feb 1818. (John Hellums a founding member.)
1819: Son, Grief Johnson Box, born 1819 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama
1824: Fayette County, Alabama Voing precinct
1830: Fayette County, Alabama Census Males: 1 under 5 (?), 1 age 10-15 (Grief J.), 1 age 50-60 (Michael); Females: 1 age 20-30 (Lydia), 1 age 50-60 (Mary)
1838: 2 Aug 1838 Application for land patent in Tippah County, Mississippi
1840: Tippah County, Mississippi Census: Box, Michael 1 white male 60-70; 1 white female 60-70
1841: Death. Michael died intestate in 1841 according to Mississippi Supreme Court records (1846) and his wife, Mary, shortly after. The court records also state that Michael's estate started probate in January term 1844 in Tippah County, MS. (Note: Son, Thomas, states his father, Michael died 20 Jan 1844 and his mother, Mary, died in Feb 1844. But since the probate started in Jan 1844, the 1841 year of death given in the 1846 Mississippi State Supreme Court records is probably correct death year.)
1844: Probate started in Jan 1844.
Notes:
1. Michael Box is often listed with the middle initial of "B". As you can see from the signature of the document below, the "B" appears to be his "mark" instead of his middle initial. He signed his name Michael (B) Box. The (B) was in parentheses with "his" written above the (B) and "mark" written below the (B).
Instead of signing documents with an "X" because he could not read and write, Michael used a "B" for Box.
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| Michael Box signature: signed his name with a "B" |
2. Many online databases have our Michael Box of Tippah County, MS married to Mary Lawrence on 25 May 1837, Lowndes, MS. This is an error - Michael Box of Tippah County, MS was NOT married to Mary Lawrence. This marriage belongs to one of the other Michael Boxes - Michael J. Box.
Our Michael Box was married to Mary Fulcher and all of their children were born before 1837.
TIMELINE for Michael Box
1780: Born in Laurens, South Carolina. Parents may be James Box and Mary Box.
1798: Married Mary Fulcher (dau. of Cason Fulcher), probably in Tennessee
1799: Son, James Frances Box born in Tennessee
1801: Son, William M. Box born
1804: Son, Thomas Box, born 8 Aug 1804 near Knoxville, Knox, Tennessee
1806: Daughter, Mary Box born in Madison, Alabama
1807: Bondsman for Marriage Bond for Grief Johnson to Mary Hellums, Knox County, Tennessee, 24 March 1807
1807: Son, John Box born
1808: Daughter, Lydia Box born
1812: Military Service, Served in the War of 1812 from Mississippi Territory. During his military service, he served with Greef Johnson, who he would later name his youngest son after.
1816: Monroe County, Alabama Residence Tax List
1818: Michael Box and wife, Mary Box, were received into membership of the Bethel Baptist Church, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama on 28 Feb 1818. (John Hellums a founding member.)
1819: Son, Grief Johnson Box, born 1819 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama
1824: Fayette County, Alabama Voing precinct
1830: Fayette County, Alabama Census Males: 1 under 5 (?), 1 age 10-15 (Grief J.), 1 age 50-60 (Michael); Females: 1 age 20-30 (Lydia), 1 age 50-60 (Mary)
1838: 2 Aug 1838 Application for land patent in Tippah County, Mississippi
1840: Tippah County, Mississippi Census: Box, Michael 1 white male 60-70; 1 white female 60-70
1841: Death. Michael died intestate in 1841 according to Mississippi Supreme Court records (1846) and his wife, Mary, shortly after. The court records also state that Michael's estate started probate in January term 1844 in Tippah County, MS. (Note: Son, Thomas, states his father, Michael died 20 Jan 1844 and his mother, Mary, died in Feb 1844. But since the probate started in Jan 1844, the 1841 year of death given in the 1846 Mississippi State Supreme Court records is probably correct death year.)
1844: Probate started in Jan 1844.
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