John and Mary (Dyson) Maddox 3 moved from St. Mary’s County, Maryland to Culpeper County, Virginia in 1774. Two of their children, Sarah Sally Maddox 4 (1742-1821) and Notley Maddox III 4 (1731-1820) also moved to Culpeper County, Virginia. John and Mary had a farm at Sandy Hook on the Rappahannock River in Culpeper County, Virginia. This information was contained in a letter written by Matthew Maddox, Jr. 5 in 1849, in this letter he did record some of the Maddox Family History. The modern day location of this farm is now in Rappahannock County, Virginia. Rappahannock County, Virginia was formed from Culpeper County, Virginia in 1833 and the modern day location of Sandy Hook is now called Huntly, Virginia.
John and Mary ran the farm and they had orchards as a main source of income. The two story house which they lived in is still standing. The property was bought by a couple who have replaced the Sandy Hook sign and re-built the house, using all of the old structure that they could save.
John Maddox 3 enlisted in the Culpeper Minute Men during the American Revolutionary War. The unit was formed from men from Orange County, Culpeper County and Fauquier County, Virginia and consisted of 350 men. The unit was organized 17 July 1775. They adopted the motto, “Liberty Or Death” and “Don’t Tread On Me”, their flag had a rattlesnake with 13 rattles on it.
The Culpeper Minute Men fought in the first battle on Virginia soil at a place called “Great Bridge” on 9 December 1775. Great Bridge was located in Norfolk County, Virginia at the time.
No sooner were they formed than the companies of the Culpeper Minute Men were absorbed into regiments of the Continental Line (Colonial Army) , this happening in October 1776.
Two of John’s sons, Matthew Maddox, Sr. 4 and Notley Maddox III 4 served in the American Revolutionary War.
John Maddox 3 had a will, dated 25 May 1772, Proved 19 October 1785 found in Will Book C, page 141 in Culpeper County, Virginia.
In this will he left everything to his wife, Mary (Dyson) Maddox who he also appointed as the Executrix. and the will was signed by his mark.
Mary (Dyson) Maddox had a Will, dated 5 June 1786, proved 16 April 1787 in a court for Culpeper County, Virginia. The will was proved by Matthew Maddox, Sr. 4 on 16 April 1787. This Will is found in the Will Book, Culpeper County, Virginia on pages 229 and 230. The court clerk was John Jameson.
In the Will Mary (Dyson) Maddox bequeathed to her children the following.
To her son, Samuel Maddox 4, twenty Shillings, her son, Notley Maddox III 4, Twenty Shillings, her son, Thomas Maddox 4, a horse called Fly, her daughter, Mary Maddox 4, a gold Guinea, her daughter, Sarah Sally Maddox 4, a saddle, spice motor and a square of black silk cloth, her daughter, Margaret Maddox 4, one Negro fellow called Harry and a bed.
The rest of the estate and land were left to her son, Matthew Maddox, Sr. 4 and she also left him one slave called William.
Some unmarked graves were located on the John and Mary (Dyson) Maddox 3 property and we believe that they are the graves of John Maddox 3, his wife, Mary (Dyson) Maddox, his son, Notley Maddox III 4 and his wife, Susannah (Burch) Maddox. No burial records have been located to document this claim.