events

Promoting Historic Preservation, Education and Patriotism


	Cavett Station Chapter Knoxville, Tennessee

	Daughters of the American Revolution


	Revolutionary War Soldier Honored

On July 21, 2007, two hundred and twenty-seven years after John Fox, Sr., took a British musket ball in his left side at the Battle of Kings Mountain, his bravery and patriotism were honored by a local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, who placed a historical marker on his grave.

The Battle of Kings Mountain was a turning point in the Revolutionary War. In 1780, General Cornwallis gave command of the Loyalist militia to Major Patrick Ferguson, who challenged the Patriot leaders to lay down their arms or he would “lay waste to their country with fire and sword”. Chapter members place a wreath on the grave of revolutionary war soldier, John Fox, Sr. These words merely incited the Appalachian frontiersmen to take the offensive. John Fox was among those who answered the call, as he served as a Private in Captain Joel Lewis’ Light Horse Company. Joining other units from Tennessee and North Carolina, they crossed over the

Cavett Station Chapter members place a wreath on the grave of Revolutionary War soldier, John Fox, Sr.

mountains and thoroughly routed

the Loyalists. These “Over Mountain Men” inspired the Patriots, who had suffered many military defeats in this region. The Battle of Kings Mountain set off events which culminated in the surrender of Cornwallis’ army at Yorktown the next year, thus ending the Revolutionary War.

On July 21, 2007, Cavett Station Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution dedicated a Revolutionary War Patriot marker at the John Fox grave site. More than 50 people gathered at the tiny cemetery on Emory Road where the Revolutionary War Patriot was laid to rest in 1840. Twelve descendants of the patriot, ranging from 94 year old Kincer Fox to 5 year old James Kenneth Dyer, came to honor their heroic ancestor. Twelve Cavett Station Daughters attended the ceremony, including John Fox descendant Thelma Hickey, as well as representatives from five of the seven DAR Chapters of Knox County. Chapter members gather around the newly dedicated marker at the gravesite of John Fox, Sr.

Under clear blue skies, nine members of the Volunteer State Veterans Honor Guard posted the colors, conducted a flag folding ceremony and paid tribute to John Fox with a volley of gunfire over his grave.

Special guest was Lynn Fox, a 4th generation descendant of Fox, Sr., and member of John Rice Irvin Chapter Sons of the Revolution. Mr. Fox, a well-known local historian and storyteller, attended the ceremony in period dress and gave a tribute to his ancestor.

Long forgotten, the grave of John Fox, Sr., was rediscovered by his great-grandson Kincer Fox of Maryville, who developed an interest in genealogy after he retired. His research led him to the overgrown and neglected Fox family cemetery situated on rising pastureland north of Emory Road. Through his efforts, the cemetery was cleared and is now maintained by his son, Joe Fox.

The DAR encourages the recognition and remembrance of our Revolutionary Patriots. Because of men like John Fox, Sr., ordinary men called upon to accomplish the extraordinary, generations of Americans have enjoyed the freedoms for which they so valiantly fought.

Written by Alycia Truett


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