Hello,

This is to the Diane who posted the message relative to the Asa Cobb family.

My name is William Neal Cobb, and I am a retired dentist living in northeast Georgia. For quite a few years I have been one of four Cobb descendants researching a southern US branch of the New England Cobb family that descends from Henry Cobb known as the Elder Henry Cobb who came to Plymouth in 1629, lived in Scituate, MA and died in Barnstable, MA.

I descend from a group of Cobb Brothers (four or five) who showed up in Orange County, NC in the 1750's. After several years of exhaustive research, including DNA comparison with a known male descendant of the elder Henry Cobb our group has established that the brothers, Samuel, Cpt. Henry Cobb, Noah Cobb along with sisters Elizabeth and Mary were born to Henry Cobb and Jemima Morse in Pomfret, Windham County, CT in the 1730's. The father Henry Cobb was the son of Samuel Cobb and Elizabeth Taylor Cobb and the grandson of Henry the Elder Cobb and his second wife, Sarah Hinckley Cobb. Henry, the grandson, left Barnstable in the 1720's, settling in Windham County, CT. He evidently bought and sold real estate and acquired some wealth. He next showed up in the Beekman Patent in Dutchess County, NY where he traded in property there, too. It should be noted that Frank Dougherty initially identified the Henry Cobb of the Beekman Patent incorrectly as the Henry Cobb of Stonington, CT (a relative of the Henry of Windham County). I relayed some records of property transactions to Mr. Dougherty showing that it was the Henry Cobb from Barnstable by way of Windham County, CT that was in Dutchess and Westchester Counties in New York. Mr. Dougherty agreed and stated that he would correct his identification of the Henry Cobb in Duchess County.

The list of children listed as the children of Asa Cobb in Dutchess County, NY is eerily similar to the children born to Henry Cobb and Jemima Morse. When Henry and Jemima and their children left NY, they next show up in Orange County, NC. It is my opinion that they probably traveled from to NY to PA and then south along the Great Wagon Road into North Carolina, but I have no definitive proof of that. I do know that names of the Cobbs around Mt. Cobb in Lackawanna County, PA are almost identical to those of the Cobbs that ended up in NC. The names Noah and Asa are unusual, particularly in the south. I cannot account for the name Asa, but Noah was the name of Jemima Morse Cobb and her brother Cyprian Morse's father.

Mr. Thomas Sutton researched this NC family in a book that he titled, The Cobb Brothers Five. He identified the brothers as: Samuel, Henry, Noah, John and Asa. He did have some doubts as whether Asa might be a son of one of the older brothers, possibly Samuel, rather than a younger brother. These same names, along with Zyprian can be found in the Cobb families in Duchess County, NY and Lackawanna County, PA. Interestingly, Jemima Morse Cobb had a brother named Cyprian Morse.

I tend to agree with Diane that the NY/PA Asa Cobb clan are likely descended from the New England branch, and most probably from Henry the Elder Cobb.

I would be happy to assist with more detailed information and assist in this research in any way helpful. I have long felt that the Asa Cobb family was connected to the Barnstable Cobb family.

Best wishes,

Neal Cobb
ncobb681@windstream.net

The Cobbs around Mt. Cobb in Pennsylvania are definitely from the Asa Cobb family. There is also a tradition in my great grandmother's family (passed on by a great aunt who lived to a very old age) that one of the Cobbs in the family went south. I agree that the indications are that the Asa Cobb family in the Beekman Patent was related to the Henry Cobb group. What we need is someone in the male line to take a DNA test. Unfortunately, I don't know any male Cobb descendants in my line. Just my ancestor John Westley Cobb in Greenfield, PA had 13 sons. There should be lots of males around.

I am now almost seventy years old, and no one of even the much older generations of my Cobb family had any idea that our "southern" Cobb family had New England roots. Our anecdotal family legend was that we had come to VA in the 1700's and migrated south and west from there. When our group of Cobb researchers hypothesized that our Carolina Cobb brothers might have descended from Henry Cobb of Barnstable we could not find a paper trail to document that belief. Finally, I had my DNA compared with a known descendant of Henry the Elder Cobb who lived in Maine and whom I had never met. We were a perfect DNA match! This was definitive proof that our southern family descended from Henry the Elder Cobb.

If a male descendant of the Asa Cobb NY/PA family would do a comparative DNA test they could discover once and for all if they are related to the Barnstable, MA family of Henry Cobb.

I plan to keep looking for a male Cobb from the north eastern Pennsylvania group that descends from Asa Cobb who was supposedly the son of Asa. My line runs from his son Ziphron/Cyprian. Most of that group went to the same area (same one Mt. Cobb is in). My guess would be that some people went from there south. Apparently, one of them was in Pennsylvania even before 1800. No one has tried seriously to link this line to Henry because of the old story that the first Asa was from "Lands End, Cornwall." I doubt that story. There doesn't seem to be any proof. It showed up in an old genealogy column and everyone latched onto it. The story that he was a mariner whose ship was destroyed/confiscated may be true.
If you ever run across a descendant of the New York Asa whose family went to Pennsylvania, please let me know. I think the counties involved are Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wayne.

Should I encounter a known male descendant of Asa from NY/PA, I will certainly recommend that they contact you.

Perhaps the Cornwall origin for Asa Sr. is another of those anecdotal stories that get repeated to the point that they are accepted as genuine. At any rate, it would be good to unravel the connection, if any, between these two Cobb lines that have such similar naming patterns.

Good Morning,
I have been reading some ot these post recently. Sorry I have not responded earlier but this is a busy time of the year for me.
I have reason to believe that I am a Cobb male descendant of Asa Cobb (B:1750) who settled in and for whom Mount Cobb, Pa. Is named. The only reason I do not state it categorically is I am unable to find a birth certificate on my Gfather so far. I have family documents stating the connection to his father including a baby book written by my mother when I was born (66 yrs. Ago). Unfortuneatly this is not evidence that generally will be accepted. Having said that it comes to me as follows:

Asa Cobb I (b:1701) in question
Asa Cobb II (B:1725) in question
GGGGGFAther--- Asa Cobb III (B:1750) the Mount Cobb Asa
GGGGFather--- Asa cobb IV (B: 1781) (Moved to Crawford County, Ohio)
GGGFather--- Asa Cobb V (B: 1805) (Moved to Porter County, Indiana)
Ggfather--- John Cobb (B: 1853) Moved to St. clair county, Mo then to Osage County, Okl
Gfather---- Frank Cobb (B: 1882) Moved to Oklahoma County, Oklahoma
Father --- Ora cobb (B: 1912)
Me--- Jerry Cobb (B: 1942)

I took a trip back in 2005 to the east coast stopping at each known area on my way occassionaly picfking up some things which tend to support the connection to Asa I, and II. As follows:


****This First I originally Info I received in a letter and have no better docs. *****
Lewis Cass Cobb of Bucyrus, Ohio wrote before 1892:
"Great great grandfather Asa Cobb was born in 1701. He was captain of a whaler in 1768."
The earliest account of him is that he and his four sons sailed along the coast from Newfoundland to New York. They finally went up the Hudson River and settled in Columbia Co, New York. It is here where the old captain died and the family went their separate ways. Captain Asa Cobb was from Land's End, England. Captain Asa Cobb I, born in the year 1701, is the direct head of the line of Cobbs we are connected with.
On the trip down from Newfoundland, they struck a whale, which got away from them, died and sank. The following morning they discoered it afloat near the shore, whereupon it was claimed by the Govenor as the property of the King. The Captain was detained at New York, but finally sold his ship, and he with his four sons went up the Hudson River, and settled in Columbia County, New York.
After he died, Howell Cobb went to Georgia. Lovell and Ebin went to the Carolinas. Asa Cobb II settled in Orange county New York. It is also listed that they landed in New York in 1766 per Boston Transcript 3 Jan 1934: "(7683) Cobb. Can anyone give information on Captain Asa Cobb, B: 1701, landed in New York in 1766 going to Columbia County, New York with his four sons Asa, Lovell, Howell, and Ebin? Where did he come from, or any information before 1766" H.J.C.

******The Following excerpted by me in 2005. apparently at this time (I believe 1878) they believed in the Asa I/II connection and the whaling story**********

FAMILIES OF Crawford County, Ohio
Excerpted: Page 83

Asa Cobb III was b. ca 1750 in Quaker Hill, Dutchess Co, N.Y. and died Mar. 24, 1828 (Note: Asa actually died in 1808 JwC) in Luzerne Co. (now Lackawwana Co.) Pa. Sarah (Stephens) Cobb was b. Apr. 9, 1753 d. Apr. 9, 1816. Asa Cobb III was in the Rev. War from Ulster Co., N.Y., in Capt. Isaiah Vails’s Co. of Militia, under command of Lt. Col. Newkirk, from Col. James McClaughry’s Regt. Moved ca 1790 from N.Y. to Mount Cobb and Cobb’s Gap in the Moosic Mountains, east of Scranton, Pa. Asa Cobb built a 16-room log house, which was used as a tavern. One of Asa’s sons, John, later built a 23-room home, using the logs in the original building, which had sliding doors, windos and shutters (unique at that time). Asa and Sarah (Stephens) Cobb had 11 children: Asa IV; John; William; Sarah; Noah; Henry; Sipron; Theodore; Ebenezer; Abigail; Angeline. The parents of Sarah (Stephens) Cobb were Eliphalet Stephens and Elsie Holloway.

FAMILIES OF Crawford County, Ohio
Excerpted: Page 83

Asa Cobb III was a son of Asa Cobb II. Asa Cobb II and his wife had 3 children: Asa III m. Sarah Stephens; Ziprion m. Merion Hunt; Joseph m. Abigail Stephens.
Asa Cobb II was a son of Capt. Asa Cobb, who was a captain of a whaler. In 1766, while with his 4 sons: Asa, Howell, Lovell and Ebin, near N.Y. he struck a whale, which got away, died and sank. The Cobbs discoered it afloat near the shore, but the Govenor claimed it as property of the King. They sold their ship, went up the Hudson River and settled in Columbia Co., N.Y.

It is also listed that they landed in New York in 1766 per Boston Transcript 3 Jan 1934: "(7683) Cobb. Can anyone give information on Captain Asa Cobb, B: 1701, landed in New York in 1766 going to Columbia County, New York with his four sons Asa, Lovell, Howell, and Ebin? Where did he come from, or any information before 1766" H.J.C.

Now, as to part of the Cobb Family moving south:

Unfortuneatly I can not find the note presently but I know I have seen somewhere of the 4 sons listed for Asa I (B:1701) that of the three Lowell, Howel and Ebin 1 stayed in New York and 2 moved to North Carolina where one or both moved further south. I have personally always wondered if Howell is the one that moved south, probably to Georgia. You probably know of The Howell Cobb of Georgian that was a Civil War General and also a cabinet member of one of the presidents. He may be a descendant of Asa 1 since that seems to be an unusual name for the times in the south.

I have other things if anyone is interested I am perfectly willing to share but remember that most will follow my direct line.

Any one wishing to answer may need to contact me directly. Not sure.

blujgroup@hotmail.com

Regards,
JwC

According to her tombstone in Willow View Cemetary, Elizabeth Brundage died 6 Nov 1831 at the age of 39y 11m. This would mean she was born in January 1792 or if this is approximate, maybe December 1791. She is identified as the wife of John Cobb so this is the correct Elizabeth Brundage. She is buried next to a son of Parmenus and Lillis (Brundage)Brundage. This means that she was almost certainly a grandchild of James Brundage and Phoebe Seaman(s). My guess is that she was a sister of Parmenus rather than Lillis because Lillis father lost his first wife in 1791 and remarried in 1792. There is some first name confusion because James Brundage (Parmenus father) and his wife Phoebe Ogden had a daughter who is listed as Elizabeth Francis who was older than our Elizabeth and married someone else. However, she called herself Francis, so possibly our Elizabeth was using a middle name.

I think I may be able to help you. Contact me at drickard5653@bellsouth.net

Have you considered being a part of the COBB DNA database that now numbers in excess of 280.

My line is Henry "elder" - Samuel - Henry & Jemima -
Samuel (1732) born in Pomfret, CT - ASA born in Owen County, KY in 1799. - Thomas - Jasper (Jack) - Newt - Harry D. - and L.C. (born in 1941).

The test is not that expensive and information can be found at [ ancestory.com ]. I did the Y-46 chromosome test.

Unfortunately, being female, my DNA would not be of much help. A probable descendant of Asa has just added his DNA to the Cobb group and it does not seem to be a match to anyone else. We will need more male descendants to contribute to be certain. There certainly should be some out there. My ancester, John W. Cobb, had 17 children (mostly male) by two wives and other family members had many sons also. The family stayed in Luzerne/Lackawanna Co. PA for quite a while. After that, most seem to have moved to Ohio or Indiana and then further on.