John Fox. Origin: Old Inhabitant.

John Fox’ daughter, Aliss, was born on New Providence 14 June 1775. There are several Foxes listed in the 1740 Census as living on New Providence. In fact, it is probable that their antecedent Ephraim Fox was one of the original Eleutheran Adventurers who arrived in the Bahamas in 1647. Although there are white, as well as mulatto or free negro Fox families listed in the 1734 Census, we believe that John Fox was likely “free black or mulatto.” John Fox was granted 60 acres in The Bight, Long Island (D-32), on 25 June 1788, though there is evidence that he was there long before that.

“J. Fox” is listed on the Lands and Surveys Map as the owner of 40 acres of land on Long Island in the Upper East Channel Cay—land that was granted 16 March 1790. This may have been John or Joseph Fox who also received an early Long Island land grant, but we do not know that for a fact. The Foxes and Knowles were two of the earliest Long island settlers, having arrived no later than 1776. Both families are presumed to have been persons of color, having lived in a tight knit community in Nassau, as mentioned by other historians. The first settlement on Long Island (with Fox, Knowles, and Simms families) was at The Crossing, now the south end of Salt Pond settlement.

A Loyalist John Fox from Georgia also received a land grant on Abaco listed in Homeward Bound. We believe, however, that the Long Island John Fox was an Old Inhabitant because Joseph and a Samuel Fox, both Old Inhabitants, also received land on Long Island.

References: JR, DM, HB.