by Wayne J. Straight US332

woichi01@comcast.net

Joseph Mx, Two Famous Duelists, 1776 and Da Bronx  

I. Introduction: 

What could these four subjects possibly have in common? Mx family genealogy, that’s what! At one time or another, each of us has undoubtedly met someone who thinks genealogy is simply a dull recitation of facts and figures about dead relatives. But any genealogist worth his or her salt knows that it is an art inextricably linked with history, in all its many aspects (to include things geographical, climatic, societal, cultural, military and archaeological).

MxWorld’s story index is replete with examples of this relationship, such as US294 George Mollineaux's article on the Anti-Slavery Movement in America, published in the May 2008 issue. Entitled The Mullenix Family of Branford, Connecticut and Throg's Neck, New York between 1638 and 1790 (see VII Branford MX's: Flushing and Anti-slavery), the article recounts the anti-slavery sentiments of one Horsman Mx, who began a campaign which was the first step toward the abolishment of slavery among American Quakers; was the genesis for the growth of Abolitionism at large in America; and as an indirect consequence of the latter, led to the recent election of an African-American as the President of the United States. 

That article arose from George’s quest to find a familial relationship between his ancestor, Jesse Mullineaux (1776-1842), and the Branford, Connecticut, “Mulliners”. It also led to a collaborative research relationship between he and myself, during which time he discovered yet another historically significant set of Branford Mx family circumstances. Circumstances which bring us to today’s story, the heart of which is one Joseph Mullineux and an ambitious land deal gone-sour, which eventually required the legal services of Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr; was later aborted by the American Revolution; and is part of the early history of NYC’s northernmost burrough, the Bronx.

Unable to devote the time necessary to writing this story up, George has kindly allowed me to do so—although he edited as I wrote. At first blush, I thought I would be able to churn out a quick (and short) summary outlining the bare bones of the tale and then flesh it out with quotes from The Law Practice of Alexander Hamilton.  However, after rereading the many e-mails between George and myself as well as researching the background of the participants, I find myself unwilling (and unable) to give it such short shrift. Thus, I’ve broken it down into discrete segments narrated, as much as possible, in chronological order and amenable to serialization.

A final caveat: Since this is, first and foremost, a family genealogy newsletter vice an official history text (which would require a far better pedigree than I am able to provide at this time), I’ve eliminated the bothersome footnotes which make a story like this so cumbersome to write, and can so easily detract from an easy read. For those of our readers who want or need to see the actual sources, I’ve included a bibliography (see Appendix: Bibliography) at the end of the article.

Wayne J. Straight 

Note: This PBWiki folder consists of a series of articles written for the IMFA Newsletter. Links to the other sections of this particular folder are:

II Branford MX's: Genealogy
III Branford MX's: Geography
IV Branford MX's: Culture
V Branford MX's: Society
VI Branford MX's: Military
VII Branford MX's: Flushing and Anti-slavery
VIII Branford MX's: Extractions
IX Branford MX's: Mx vs Rodman

X: Branford Mx's: New York Obituaries—Molyneaux

XI Branford Mx's: Charles Green Letters to HB Mx

Appendix: Placename Equations
Appendix: Timeline
Appendix: Bibliography

Joseph Mx.doc

Possible Future Branford Mx articles:

The Two Thomas's

The Mulliner Chest

John Mx, son of Levi Mx and Ann Hinckley

Her-Story; The MX Women

The Mulliner Chest

Made in the 1640's by Thomas Mulliner of Totoket/Branford, Connecticut—the same Thomas Mulliner who gave rise to our illustrious clan—this chest was carved from native White Oak (Red Oak bottom boards). Its dimensions are 27 5/8" high x 51 5/16" wide x 23" deep. Color is dark red w/ shadow molds in dark green. It is currently housed at the Home Sweet Home Museum in East Hampton, New York.

It is arguably the oldest surviving example of American furniture.

Wayne Straight US332

Great-great-grandson of Paulina (Molyneux) Green

8X great-grandson of Thomas Mulliner of

Totoket/Branford, Connecticut.

Last updated by Wayne Straight US332, 5 March 2009

Copyright 2009 IMFA.   All rights reserved. Genealogists and family historians may use the information provided here freely. This page, and the information it provides, may not be copied for commercial use of any kind. While effort has been, and continues to be made for accuracy, information found herein should be verified against available records.