John Cobb (1750 - 1837)

52 Ancestor Challenge - Challenge 47

Blake, King, Coleman, Pearce, Farmer, Mary (unknown), Lambden, Sarah (unknown), Knight, Ellis, Knight, Vincent, Butt, O'Ford, Arnold, Molton, Cotterell, Bartlett, Alderman, Shepherd, Sherwood, Elizabeth (unknown), Happerfield, Collins, Rawlings, Tanner, Dove, Morgan, Lywood, Lanham, unknown, Peck, Pincombe, Charley, Rowcliffe, Pearse, Rew, Moggridge, Siderfin, Kent, Gray, Hilton, Cobb, Sproxton, Routledge, Tweddle, Routledge, Routledge, (unknown) Buller, unknown, Beard, Hemsley, Welch, Brockhouse, Cheatle, Woodcock, unknown Taylor, unknown, Harborne, Lewis, Roberts, Croxall, Lawley, unknown

John Cobb (my 4x great grandfather), the son of John Cobb and Sarah Beilby, was baptized 29 Jul 1750 at Kilnwick on the Wolds, East Riding of Yorkshire (buried 5 May 1837 at Lund near Beverley). John Cobb and Sarah Beilby were  married 14 Nov 1745 at Lund near Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire. This birth registration as being correct is clearly established by the marriage registration for John Cobb and Ann Sproxton (image below) as being the correct John Cobb which states that John Cobb was born at Kilnwick and Ann Sproxton was born at Great Driffield.

Marriage registration for John Cobb and Ann Sproxton:

Marriage registration for John Cobb and Sarah Beilby:

John Cobb and Sarah Beilby baptized three children at Kilnwick on the Wolds:

Elizabeth baptized 22 Feb 1746
John baptized 29 Jul 1750 (and married to Ann Sproxton 24 Nov 1782 at Lund)
Benjamin baptized 16 Feb 1757

Kilnwick on the Wolds is 1.9 miles from Lund. I do have land records for John Cobb and will publish them here and they are all listed in the Land Tax assessments for the parish of Lund.

1812-1813 rate, John Cobb 7.5 pence
1812-1813 rate, Benjamin Cobb 5 pence

1813-1814 rate, John Cobb 5.5 pence
1813-1814 rate, Benjamin Cobb 3.5 pence

1815-1816 rate, John Cobb 5.5 pence

1816-1817 rate, John Cobb, 3.75 pence

1832-1833 rate, John Cobb 3.25 pence
1832-1833 rate, Benjamin Cobb 6.5 pence

1837-1838 rate, Late John Cobb 4.5 pence

1782 to 1837 list of proprietors and occupiers
John Cobb listed as proprietor and occupier and his rate 1 shilling 7 pence (varies)

Family history says that John was a farmer and the records bear this out. Benjamin is his younger brother and he is both a farmer and a shop keeper. John married Ann Sproxton 24 Nov 1782 at Lund:

What can I learn about John's parents John Cobb and Sarah Beilby? I know that they married 14 Nov 1745 at Lund.


Map of area (source Genuki)

Lund is surrounded by Middleton on the Wolds, Holme on the Wolds, Lockington, and Kilnwick on the Wolds.

There is a baptism for John Cobb at Lockington son of Benjamin and Mary Cobb 22 Dec 1708. That would make him 37 years of age when he married and is within a reasonable age for that. The forename Benjamin is interesting as John's brother is named Benjamin. This is the only baptism in the area around Lund that I have found and Lockington is 1.3 miles from Kilnwick.

Baptism for Benjamin Cobb son of Benjamin and Mary Cobb 22 Sep 1700 at Lockington.

I am unable to find any further information at Lockington for Benjamin and Mary Cobb other than burials in the 1730s although I can not for sure attach the burial of Mary Cobb widow to this particular couple.

There is a marriage of Benjamin Cobb and Mary Sanderson at Bishop Wilton 10 Jul 1694.  Bishop Wilton is 10 miles from Middleton on the Wolds and 12 miles from Lund.  Interesting and perhaps something to pursue in the future. There is a will probated at Londesborough for a Benjamin Cobb in 1728. There is a burial for a Benjamin Cobb yeoman 18 Apr 1728 at Londesborough. Londesborough is seven miles from Lund.

Ancestry of John Cobb:

1. Elizabeth BLAKE
2. Helen Louise PINCOMBE (b 18 Oct 1916) - Westminster Township Middlesex County Ontario Canada
3. John Routledge PINCOMBE (b 10 Sep 1872)- Lobo Township Middlesex County Ontario Canada
4. Grace GRAY (b 22 Mar 1839) - London Township Middlesex County Ontario Canada
5. Robert GRAY (b 3 Nov 1810) - Etton Yorkshire England
6. Elizabeth COBB (b 24 Aug 1783) - Lund near Beverley Yorkshire England
7. John COBB (b 29 Jul 1750) - Kilnwick on the Wolds Yorkshire England
8. John COBB  (b 22 Dec 1708) - Lockington Yorkshire England

9. Benjamin COBB

Hearth Tax - Roehampton University project

The Hearth Tax project at the Roehampton University has now added East Yorkshire information. This is an incredible resource for looking at East Yorkshire Riding in 1672. The Hearth Tax is a listing of householders in England of the 1660s and 1670s and provides an insight into the status of individuals (i.e. their property).

http://www.hearthtax.org.uk/

All of my East Yorkshire Riding people can be found in the hundred / wapentake of Harthill Bainton Beacon and specifically the Constabularies / Wards of Great Driffield and Little Driffield, Etton, Hutton Cranswick, Holme on the Wolds, Cherry Burton, Lund near Beverley, Kilnwick, Skerne, Watton, and Barmby on the Moor.

The lists also reveal to me that some of my surnames were indeed somewhat unique with only a couple of members listed for each particular surname. In particular Sproxton, Beilby, English, and Garratt belong to this group. My other surnames of Grey/Gray, Cobb, Harland, Wilkinson, Hilton, Constable, and Stephenson are also listed although in greater numbers.

I have found a Robert English at Barmby on the Moor who may be my ancient ancestor. Dorothy English married Richard Sproxton 15 Nov 1716 at Hutton Cranswick. Her parentage is unknown to me.

Cobb at Lund and Kilnwick, East Yorkshire Riding

Elizabeth Cobb married Robert Gray 13 Jan 1806 at Lund (near Beverley), East Yorkshire Riding. Elizabeth was baptized 24 Aug 1783 at Lund near Beverley the daughter of John Cobb and Ann Sproxton who were themselves married  24 Nov 1782 at Lund near Beverley.


The Cobb/Sproxton family information was one of my great finds at the Family Search Library in Salt Lake City. Although the information does appear on the IGI the surname Sproxton was listed as Sprowston and solving this error lead me other records which were very helpful in sorting out my Cobb line.


Today, I want to transcribe the records that I collected in 2008 (yikes it has been that long) for this family.


I collected a list of the Churchwardens and did not find any Cobb families listed at Lund before the 1780s. in 1786 Benjamin Cobb was a Churchwarden (and in 1787). The Cobb family are not listed on the Tax Assessment before this time. John Cobb farms continuously in this area from the 1780s until his death in 1837 at which time Benjamin Cobb takes over his land.


Prior to living at Lund the Cobb family were at Kilnwick, identified by the priest at the marriage of John Cobb and Ann Sproxton as his parish.


Robert Gray was described as of the parish of Etton in 1806 when he married Elizabeth Cobb who was described as of the parish of Lund (indeed she was baptized there).


Parish Registers for Lund near Beverley


Baptism of Elizabeth daughter of John Cobb yeoman 24 Aug  1783

Baptism of Benjamin son of Benjamin Cobb shopkeeper 22 Feb 1788

Baptism Ann daughter of John Cobb yeoman 13 Mar 1791

Baptism John son of John Cobb yeoman 18 Jan 1793

Baptism Jonathan Marshall son of Benjamin and Jane Cobb labourer 20 Sep 1815

Baptism Benjamin son of Benjamin and Jane Cobb publican 18 Aug 1817

Baptism Jane daughter of Benjamin and Jane Cobb publican 11 Oct 1821

Baptism Thomas son of Benjamin and Jane Cobb inkeeper 5 Nov 1823

Baptism Mary Ann daughter of Benjamin and Jane Cobb publican 21 Nov 1825

Baptism John son of Benjamin and Jane Cobb publican 16 Sep 1827

Baptism Sarah daughter of Benjamin and Jane Cobb publican 7 Feb 1830

Baptism Ann Emma daughter of Benjamin and Ellen Cobb tailor 18 Apr 1846

Baptism Charles Arthur son of Benjamin and Ellen Cobb tailor 3 June 1849

Baptism Jane Elizabeth daughter of Thomas and Frances Cobb wheelwright 18 Jun 1854


Marriage of Benjamin Cobb of this parish batchelor and Ann Harrison of this parish spinster married in this church by banns on the twelfth day of February in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty one by me William Mosey Vicar. This marriage was solemnized between us Benjamin Cobb (signed) and Ann Harrison (signed) in the presence of William Bonwer and Thomas Holdsworth.


Marriage of John Cobb of this parish (born at Kilnwick) and Ann Sproxton of this parish born at Great Driffield married in this church by banns the twenty fourth day of November in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty two by me William Mosey Minister. This marriage was solemnized between us John Cobb (signed) and Ann Sproxton (signed) In the presence of John Wilson and Benjamin Cobb.


Marriage of Benjamin Cobb of this parish batchelor and Jane Marshall of this parish spinster were married in this church by banns this tenth day of November in the year one thousand eight hundred a fourteen by me F Lundy Vicar. This marriage was solemnized between us Benjamin Cobb and Jane Marshall. In the presence of Thomas Parkin and Thomas Holdsworth.


Marriage solemnized in the Parish Church of Lund 24 Dec 1847 between Thomas Cobb and Frances Ullyott both of full age, batchelor and spinster, wheelwright and  none, Benjamin Cobb father publican and Mark Morton father labourer witnesses William Kirby and Elizabeth Vary.


Burial of Jane Cobb 6 Apr 1878 aged 60 years

Burial Benjamin Cobb 14 Oct 1878 14 months

Burial Benjamin Cobb 10 May 1822 68 years

Burial Robert Cobb 29 Apr 1826 91 years

Burial John Cobb 5 May 1837 87 years

Burial Ann Cobb (wife of John Cobb) 21 May 1838 77 years

Burial Jonathan Marshall Cobb at Driffield 8 Aug 1850 35 years

Burial Jane Cobb 24 May 1852 64 years


Benjamin Cobb and John Cobb above were brothers and children of John Cobb and Sarah Beilby who were married 14 Nov 1745 at Lund near Beverley (IGI). Their family


From the IGI

Elizabeth baptized 22 Feb 1746 at Kilnwick

John baptized 29 Jul 1750 at Kilnwick; buried 5 May 1837 at Lund near Beverley

Benjamin baptized 16 Feb 1757 at Kilnwick; buried 10 May 1822 at Lund near Beverley


These were the only children that I found baptized to John and Sarah Cobb at Kilnwick. Why they baptized children at Kilnwick and married at Lund is a mystery as I have still not located the area in which they farmed since John is referred to as a yeoman.


I should have carried on looking back into the registers at Lund to find this marriage but will do that another time.


Kilnwick Parish Registers

Baptism Elizabeth the daughter of John Cobb 22 Feb 1746

Baptism John the son of John Cobb 29 Jul 1750

Baptism Benjamin Cobb the son of John Cobb 16 Feb 1757


Lund Parish Registers

Marriage John Cobb and Sarah Beilby both of this parish were married 14 Nov 1745


Great Driffield

Baptism Sarah Beilby daughter of John Beilby 6 Nov 1720


Benjamin Cobb had many many descendants whereas I think that Elizabeth Cobb was the only descendant of John Cobb his brother. I have not yet found any information on her younger brother John or her sister Ann.


Transcribe the land records the next time for Lund, Etton and Cherry Burton.