The Cobb Family

Note: By 1650, there were two Cobb families firmly established in Virginia, within just a few miles of each other…the families of Ambrose Cobbs in what is now York County, and that of Joseph Cobb in Isle of Wight County. DNA analysis of descendants of both men has now clearly established these two families were UNRELATED. Source

While there is no written documents connecting Joseph Cobb to any other children other than those mentioned by name in his will, including Nicholas Cobb, in his book “Nicholas Cobb Descendants, Neighbors and Relatives, 1613 – 1983,” Joe H. Cobb states, “Of all the conjectures alluded to in this chapter the most plausible one is that which connects Nicholas Cobb to Joseph Cobb, the immigrant. The verdict is that Nicholas Cobb was “one of ‘ye said children that are left.” Through research of a variety documents, Joe H. Cobb deducted the following:

Nicholas Cobb was born around 1611.  He married Susanna Byrd.

Susanna was the daughter of Robert Byrd (1615-1675) and Susannah Clarke (1618-unkown). Robert Byrd was the son of Thomas Byrd (1600-1623) and Elizabeth Burgh (1600-1681).

Although Nicholas was a mariner in his early life, he later became a planter and was very involved in the administration of business and legal affairs in Isle of Wight.

In his book, Joe Cobb lists many references to Nicholas in the early records of Isle of Wight County, Virginia:

• In 1656 he was a witness to the transfer of a tract of land.
• Jan. 3, 1661 William Tooke assigned 900 acres of land to Nicholas Cobb.
• Jan. 31, 1662 Nicholas appears in the Surry County records as paying damages to John Richards. The reason for the payment is unknown.
• Oct. 9, 1662, Nicholas requested administration for the creditors of the estate of William Cooz.
• On Feb. 21, 1663, Nicholas patented 202 acres of land in Isle of Wight County. As was done back then, this was his financial reward for bringing people to the colony from England. This payment was for the transportation of his wife Susan and his daughters Mary, Susan and Jane and Jane Howard. Jane Howard’s identity is unknown but she could have been a servant.
• June 17, 1664, Nicholas patented 900 acres of land assigned to him by William Tooke.
• November 9, 1664 he purchased a piece of land called Rattlesnake Neck.
• November 1, 1666 he sold 150 acres to John Johns.
• March 4, 1667 he sold land to John Frizzel.
• July 23, 1667 he was appointed to be the attorney for handling the business of his friend who had just died, Samuel Davis. From the records, you can assume Nicholas and Samuel and their families were very close friends.
• In 1668 or 1669, Nicholas was an appraiser of the estate of John Bond.
• August 10, 1673, he sold land and the next day, he witnessed the selling of land.
• On July 3, 1678, he purchased 900 acres of land from Thomas Tooke.
• On October 21, 1681, he sold a tract of land.
• On July 10, 1684 he witnessed Dorothy Bond’s will and then was responsible for dividing her estate.

By May 8, 1686, Nicholas Cobb died suddenly before he had a chance to write his will. William Blunt and Richard and Sarah Bell testified as to Nicholas’ comments on his deathbed.

“William Blunt, aged 60 years or thereabouts…at the house of Mr. Nicholas Cobb the night he was taken sick and died being sent for by him, he decided to take notice of what he said…he did give his son Nicholas twelve pounds; and he did give his son Edward his land and to the heirs of his body lawfully begotten and for want of such heirs to his daughter Mary and the heirs of her body lawfully gotten; and he did give to is daughter Sarah twelve pounds, and his personal estate to his son Edward and his daughter Mary to be equally divided between them two and further sayeth not.” May 8, 1686

The children of Nicholas and Susanna Byrd were:

“North Carolina in 1695 was virtually a wilderness when John Hardy brought his family to the colony. Substantial settlement had begun only 30 years before. An educated man, John Hardy and his sons were destined to play a role in its development. John was a member of the House of Burgesses in early 1711 when they asked for aid from Virginia to help quell the Indian uprising.

In 1716, Governor Charles Eden appointed John Hardy as an assistant justice to Christopher Gale, Chief Justice. Over time, John Hardy served in other public positions including justice of the peace, tax collector, and juryman.” Thomas Phillips of Pitt Co., NC and Affiliated Families, by G. Howard and Shirley Brague Phillips, 1992, 81-84.

“John Hardy, at a court held October 7, 1695, proved the rights for importation of himself and his wife Charity, and children William Hardy, Mary Hardy, John Hardy, Jr., Thomas Hardy, and Jacob Hardy. John Hardy and his family resided at his home in Chowan, North Carolina, until his death, which took place sometime prior to 1719, when the will of his son John Hardy II was probated. John Hardy and his wife Charity lived in Chowan (later to become Bertie County) on what is believed to have been the Manor Plantation. All the children of John and Charity were born in England, before they immigrated to this country, as it is witness by the document of importation.” Saunders Colonial Records of N.C. and Vol 2, No. 1, N.C. Genealogical and Historical Register, 150.

On March 19, 1731, shortly after Henry Cobb married Mary Hardy, Henry sold the land his father Edward had left him in Isle of Wright with the exception of a small section that was 8 x 4 feet. That was the burial place of Edward. By 1739, Henry and Mary had moved to Bertie County where her family lived.

According to Joe H. Cobb’s book, Henry Cobb and his son Henry Jr. attended the sale of John Williams’ estate on August 11, 1758.

The items Henry Sr. purchased are an interesting look at the types of things that were important to people of that time:

Will of Henry Cobb

In the name of God, Amen. September the 29th 1763

I, Henry Cobb of North Carolina in the county of Bertie, planter, being very sick and weak of body but of perfect mind and memory, thanks be given to God, therefore calling to mind the mortality of my body, and knowing it is is appointed for all men to die, do make and ordain this my last will and testament, that is to say principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul into the Hands of God that gravest and my body I recommend to the earth to be buried in decent Christian burial at the discretion of my executors.

Nothing doubting but at the General Resurrection I shall rise with the same by he Mighty Power of God and as touching such worldly Estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me. I give and dispose of in the following manner, and first I will and positively order all my debts to be paid.

Imprimis, I give and bequeath to my loving wife Mary Cobb – land and plantation whereon I dwell. Likewise all my stock of cattle, hogs and horses (except one mare) and sheep and all moveable’s and household furniture during her life, and after her decease the said plantation I give to my son. John Cobb, and as for the as for the movables, after my wife’s decease I will that they be equally divided among all my children.

Item: I give and bequeath to my son, James Cobb, the land and plantation which I lately bought of William Cullifer, he helping to pay for it. I likewise give him that mare above excepted, she being a mare known by the name of “James’ Mare.”

Item: I constitute, make and ordain my loving ife y sole executrix of this my last will and testiments, ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testiment and I do hereby disallow, revoke, and disannul all and every other testaments, ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal the date above written.

Witnesses: William Hardy, Son of Lamb Hardy, Mary Vandaford, Abraham Morris

In Feb. 1764, Mary filed an inventory of her late husbands goods. Thankfully, Joe Cobb included that inventory in his book, because they give a very good glimpse at the life of a wealthy family in the Colonial United States in the late 1700s.

John Charles Cobb
My 6th Great-grandfather, 1750-1809

John Charles Cobb was born in Bertie County, North Carolina about 1750. He married his cousin, Sarah Capehart, about 1777.

More About Sarah Capehart

Sarah Capehart was the daughter of Michael Capehart and Frances Hardy. Michael was born in 1725 and died in 1785 in Bertie County, North Carolina.

Michael Capehart’s father was George Capehart who was born in 1695 in Bern, Switzerland and died in 1710 in Chowan County, North Carolina. He was married to Mary Shrock who was born in 1691 and died in 1716 in Bertie County.

Sarah’s mother, Frances Hardy, was the daughter of Lemuel “Lamb” Hardy and Elizabeth Parrott. Frances was born in 1734 and died in 1802 in Bertie County.

John referred to himself a cooper and a planter. He accumulated much land and, it appears, had a business making barrels and containers.

John is listed in the first U.S. Census:

Name: John Cobb
Birth Date: 1750
Birthplace: North Carolina
Volume: 31
Page Number: 192
Reference: Heads of fams. at the first U.S. census. NC. By U.S. Bureau of the Census. Washington, 1908. (292p.): 67, 79 1782 John Cobb listed as owning 300 acres of land, three horses, 11 cows and married. [Capt William Ashburn’s dist] also his brothers, are William and James.

In September 1809, John wrote his will. He died between the time he wrote his will and October 12, 1809

The Will of John Cobb

Wife Sarah Cobb – lend all my lands where I now live, and the land in the Pointy [sic] Woods where John Morgan now lives, all my Negroes [Charles excepted], furniture, etc. all for her support and that of my family.
Son Charles Cobb – cow, chest to be given him at his marriage, etc.
My Negro Charles and the balance of my stock are to be sold at my wife’s death.
Son John Cobb – land where I now live as far as the run of Eastermost Swamp.
At my wife’s death I give the land over the swamp to my son Charles, but if Charles marries before my wife’s death, he may have the chance of building and settling on this land.
Daughter Polly Cobb [wife of Henry Cobb] – cow, calf, bed, etc. which they have in their possession.
Daughter Cloe Gaskins – cow, calf, etc, which she has in her possession.
My land in the Poiney Woods is to be divided [at my wife’s death] between all my children: Polly, Charles, Cloe, Nancy, Morning, Fanny and John in equal shares.
All Negroes living at my wife’s death are to be divided among my children.
Bertie Co, NC – Will Abstracts by Gammon, John Cobb F-120, 8 Sept 1809 proved Nov 1809

The Children of John and Sarah Capehart Cobb were:

John Hardy Cobb
My 5th Great-grandfather, 1798-1880

John Hardy Cobb was born in 1798 in Bertie County, North Carolina. He married Harriet Warren Castellaw in 1821 in Bertie County a few years before they headed to Haywood County.

Harriet was the daughter of John Dawson and Zilphia Castellaw. Harriet’s brother was Thomas Jefferson Castellaw. More about the Dawson Family

Harriet Castellaw and John Hardy Cobb’s children included William Thomas Cobb, who was the father of Mary Etta Cobb, who was the mother of William Day Brantley, who was the father of Virginia Brantley, who was the mother of Shirley Ann Lovelace, who is my mother.

Harriet’s brother Thomas Jefferson Castellaw’s son was Thomas Jefferson Jr., who was the father of Bob Castellaw, who was the father of Elizabeth Castellaw, who was the mother of Robert L. “Bob” Williams, who is my father.

According to Joe H. Cobb, in their family Bible, John and Harriet Cobb recorded that they departed for Haywood County, Tennessee from Bertie County, North Carolina on March 6, 1834 and arrived April 22, 1834. The journey in a covered wagon took nearly 50 days. John Dawson Castellaw, Harriet’s father led many wagon trains from Bertie County to Haywood County then settled there himself in 1834. It’s very likely he was leading John and Harriet Cobb’s group through Tennessee.

John’s two sisters, Mourning Outlaw and Frances Steele and their families were already living in Haywood County when he arrived.

In 1835, shortly after arriving, John Hardy and Harriet’s seven-year-old daughter, Zilphia Elizabeth, died.

About a year after arriving, John Cobb became a constable. The first record of land purchased by John was in 1836. He purchased 50 acres from Miles Mezell for $125 on Dec. 29, 1836. Later John Cobb would become a school commissioner and a magistrate.

In 1838, another of their children, Monroe Clinton, died. He was two years old.

John Cobb continued to accumulate land and became very prosperous and leader in the community at the time. Both the Cobbs and the Castellaws along with the Brantley, Watridge, Lovelace, Marbury, Outlaw and other families settled and developed the land around what it now the Cobb family cemetery.

Henry Day Brantley described John Hardy Cobb to his grandson, L. A. Cobb. He said, “I remember your grandfather as being short in stature. His physique was of the roly-poly type. I remember him driving up to sales in a two wheel ox cart.”

In 1845, the Cobbs lost a third child when Robert Davis died at two years old.

In the census of 1850, John was 50, Harriet was 45 and living at home were their children; William (17), Adeline (11), Denison (9), and Harriet (4). John was listed as farming land valued at $1,000.

All but Harriett could read and write but none had attended school in the previous year.

In April 1859 John and Harriet sold their ¼ interest in two tracts of land to her brother, Thomas J. Castellaw. One tract of land “lay on the waters of the South Fork of the Forked Deer River.”

The other tract of land had had a portion sold by John and T. J. Castellaw to William Watridge.

One half acre of the land was not included in this sale for it contained the Cobb family cemetery.

John and Harriet’s hard work paid off in the decade between 1850 and 60. By the census of 1860, 62-year-old John listed the value of his real estate at $7,440 and the value of his personal property at $9,610.

He listed his occupation as “Esq & Farmer” rather than just farmer. Esq. was used in that time to designate an attorney. Simeon (20) and Harriet (15) had both attended school in the previous year.

In the Civil War, two of John and Harriet’s sons, John Charles Warren and Simeon “Sim” fought in Company L of the Seventh Tennessee Calvary. The company was also known as “The Western Rangers.” One of the captains of the unit was Alex Duckworth who grew up a few farms away from the Cobb family.

Also serving in company L was the new husband of John and Harriet’s daughter Addie, Daniel Watridge and his brother Dorsey Watridge. More about the Watridge family

In October 1865, after the Civil War, John sold a tract of land to his son-in-law, Daniel, for $625.

John’s wife, Harriet, died in 1869 at age 64.

In 1873, John Hardy married Agatha White who was only 46. At the time he was 75. Agatha was the oldest daughter of John Bembery “Bem” and Penelope White who had come to Haywood County around 1831 along with Bembery’s brother, Charlton.

In November of 1873, John Cobb sold 40 acres of land to his son John C. W. Cobb for $500.

Another one of Bem’s granddaughters, Penelope Trottman White, married one of John Hardy and Elizabeth’s sons, John Charles Warren Cobb. Therefore, John Hardy Cobb had married the sister of his daughter-in-law, and one of his close friend’s granddaughters. Through this marriage, he and his son became brothers-in-law.

On April 8, 1880, six years after he married Agatha, John Hardy Cobb died. They never had children and it appears Agatha never remarried.

He was buried in the Cobb Family cemetery along with his first wife Harriet Warren Castellaw Cobb.

In the census of 1900, Agatha was listed as a 72-year-old “aunt” living with Murdock and Hattie Byrum. She was likely the great-aunt because they were 28 and 26 and had three small children: Ina, Alasy and Mirium. They lived next door to the Joe Marbury family.

Agatha would live to be 85 years of age and died on April 28, 1912.

John Hardy and Harriet Castellaw Cobb are of particular interest to be because their son William Thomas Cobb is my maternal third great-grandfather while their daughter, Mourning Adeline Cobb Watridge is my paternal second great-grandmother.

John and Harriet’s son, William Thomas Cobb, was the father of Mary Etta Cobb Brantley who was the mother of Willie Day Brantley who was the mother of Virginia Brantley Lovelace who was the mother of Shirley Lovelace Williams who is my mother.

John and Harriet’s daughter Mourning Adeline Cobb Watridge was the mother of Zula Zera Watridge Castellaw who was the mother of Elizabeth Castellaw Williams who the mother of Bob Williams who is my father.

The children of John Hardy and Harriet Castellaw Cobb were:

More about William Thomas Cobb and Elizabeth Temperance Outlaw Cobb:

George and Luday Perry Outlaw married in 1827/28 when she was 27 and he was 24. Around that same time, a bill was entered in the Nov. 26, 1828 session of the North Carolina general assembly “to alter the name and legitimate Andrew Jackson Perry of Bertie Co., NC, illegitimate son of George W. Outlaw; to be known as Andrew Jackson Outlaw.” Source

Luday Perry was born May 6, 1800 in North Carolina and died June 24, 1842 in Haywood County at the age of 42. She is buried in the Ararat Church cemetery in Huntersville, Tennessee near Brownsville. After her death, George moved to Earle, Arkansas.

George married Rowena Lindley in 1861 at the age of 56 but died in Earl a year later on April 11, 1861.

After George and Ludy’s daughter, Bet, had been married to Tom for a few years, in the late 1870s, Tom’s siblings all sold him their shares in the land their mother, Harriett Warren Castellaw had left all her children.

This land is where the Preston Brantley family would eventually live and farm and is now owned by Lynn and Sonny Cobb so it remains in the Cobb family.

At the time Tom Cobb acquired the entire property, the land was bonded on the north by land belonging to Daniel W. Watridge (my second great grandfather), on the East by J. C. W. Cobb (my third great uncle) and on the West by Thomas A. Lovelace (my third great grandfather). Tom and Bet’s first child died at seven months old in 1867.

By the time of the census of 1880, Tom Cobb is 47, Bet is 43 and living at home is Martha A. (12), Mary E. (9), Thomas A. (2) and a nameless baby girl who was 7 months old. Also living in the home was Tom’s sister Harriett A. White (34) and her children Minnie L (7), and Egbert O. (5). According to family history Harriet’s husband went to get some firewood and never returned home.

Tom died in 1898 and was burried in the Cobb Family Cemetery. Bet died sometime after 1920.

 

Do you have more facts, information or photos you would like shared here or do you see errors? Please let me know.

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