index

There are four principal branches of our family. On the paternal side are the Coxes and the Pates. On the maternal side are the Manuels and the Mains. Until the late 20th century, all four branches mostly had resided in South Carolina since the 18th century, and either emigrated directly to South Carolina or are ambiguously associated with other entry points. The Pates are an exception, being first found in 18th century North Carolina before migration to South Carolina around 1850. Some of the Coxes left South Carolina for Georgia in the 1890s.

The Coxes branch into the Cribb, Kennedy and Watts families. These in turn associate with the Turner, Andrews, Dukes, Fears and McGraw families. Of these, the Kennedy family can be traced to its roots in Antrim County, Ireland. The Pates branch into the Stubbs family and two North Carolina divisions of the Pate family. The Pate family is Scottish in origin, but has not yet been directly traced to that country. The Stubbes appear to have come from England. Geographically, most of the early Coxes, Pates and their associated families lived in what are today Marlboro, Marion, Williamsburg, Sumter, Kershaw, and Fairfield Counties in South Carolina.

Until 2009 it was assumed that the Coxes emigrated from England to America; this is indeed often true for many other Cox families. However, our paternal DNA tests are consistent with derivation from the "Forest Finns" who lived in central Sweden during the early 17th century. During the period from 1638 to 1655, groups of Swedes and Forest Finns emigrated to America and settled along the Delaware River, establishing the short-lived New Sweden colony. This subject, and its technical basis, is more fully discussed elsewhere in this document.

The Manuels branch into the Harter, Williams and Matthews families. The origin of the Manuel family is unclear; paternal DNA tests would perhaps clarify its origins. The Harter family can be easily traced to its roots in Germany. The Mains branch into the Brant, Priester, Cope and Bishop families; its origin is also unclear. The Priester and Brant families came from Germany. Geographically, most of the early Manuels, Mains and their associated families lived in what are today Barnwell, Orangeburg, Beaufort, and Allendale Counties in South Carolina.

This index organizes our direct ancestors in terms of the four principal family branches: Cox, Pate, Manuel and Main. The lateral position of an individual's index listing corresponds to an approximate generational placement in the overall family tree (see the Cox Tree ), with left-most being the youngest generation.