The Cobbs of Lincoln County, North Carolina

(And the surrounding area)

 

Chapter Three – 1860

 

 

 

Contents (In Chronological Order)

1860 Census – Lincoln County, North Carolina

1860 Census – Catawba County, North Carolina

1860 Census – Gaston County, North Carolina

1860 Census – Cleveland County, North Carolina

1860 Census – York District, South Carolina

 

 

 

LINCOLN COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA

 

 

No new unidentified Cobb families moved into the area during the 1850-1860 time span, however there are still a few people that are not yet identified.  Also, a good many marriages had taken place and a lot of children had been born since 1850.

 

 

01 June 1860 – Lincolnton Post Office

Robert Cobb

 

Age

37

Born

NC

Leana

 

 

39

 

NC

Harriet

 

 

16

 

NC

Henry

 

 

13

 

Gaston County

Frances (f)

 

 

10

 

Gaston County

Wesley

 

 

04

 

Gaston County

Georgiana

 

 

01

 

Lincoln County

 

 

This was Robert Cobb Jr, son of Robert Cobb Sr and Elenor “Ellen” Phillips, grandson of James Cobb and Sarah “Sally” Beach, and great grandson of Ambrose Cobb (Sr) from the 1790 census of Lincoln County.  He married Leanah Hope on 14 December 1841 in Lincoln County.  Considerable information is available on this family.

 

Robert was born about 1820 in North Carolina.  He alternately moved between Lincoln and Gaston counties.  He was living in the latter place as late as 1880, and disappeared thereafter.  Leana Hope Cobb was born 17 March 1821 in North Carolina, and died 30 March 1883 in Cherokee County, South Carolina.  She is buried in the old Blacksburg City Cemetery in Cherokee County. 

 

Harriet was born 26 June 1844 in North Carolina, and died 21 March 1883 in Cherokee County, South Carolina.  She is buried next to her mother.  She apparently died unmarried and without issue.

 

Lawson Henry Cobb was born August 1842 in North Carolina.  He married about 1871, probably in Lincoln County, to a Laura “Last Name Unknown”.  He was still living in Lincoln County in 1880, but sometime after moved to Cherokee County, South Carolina.  He was still living in Cherokee as late as 1920.  He and Laura had eight children and numerous descendants.

 

Sarah Frances Cobb was born September 1850 in North Carolina.  She married John W. Lemaster in Lincoln County on 06 February 1866.  They were still living in Lincoln as late as 1870.

 

William Wesley Cobb was born 11 April 1857 in North Carolina, and died 11 September 1935 in Cleveland County.  He was buried at Mountain Rest Cemetery at King’s Mountain in Cleveland County.  He was married twice ... (1) Sarah “Last Name Unknown” about 1878, by who he had seven children, and (2) Susan A. “Last Name Unknown” about 1898, by who he had one child. 

 

Georgiana Cobb was born 18 February 1860 in North Carolina, and died 05 March 1942 in Cleveland County.  She married John Monroe Hays about 1878.  They are also buried at Mountain Rest Cemetery.

 

John Cobb was born after this enumeration, in about 1865.  He married Blanche “Last Name Unknown” about 1885, and was living in Gaston County, North Carolina, as late as 1910.

 

13 June 1860 – Lincolnton Post Office

Joseph Cobb

 

Age

37

Born

Lincoln County

Margaret

 

 

33

 

Lincoln County

Beverly (m)

 

 

12

 

Lincoln County

John

 

 

06

 

Lincoln County

 

 

This was Joseph Cameron Cobb, son William Halsey Cobb and Jane Connely, and grandson of Clisby Cobb and Margaret Halsey Young.  He married Margaret Eliza Butts in Lincoln County on 25 October 1847.

 

09 July 1860 – Lincolnton Post Office

Jack Cobb

 

Age

40

Born

Lincoln County

Ann

 

 

30

 

Lincoln County

Ellen

 

 

17

 

Lincoln County

Rufus

 

 

16

 

Lincoln County

Elizabeth

 

 

12

 

Lincoln County

John

 

 

09

 

Lincoln County

James

 

 

08

 

Lincoln County

Sarah

 

 

04

 

Lincoln County

Henry

 

 

02

 

Lincoln County

 

 

This was John Cobb who married Anne Long on 07 February 1841, in Lincoln County.  He may have been the son of Robert Cobb Sr and Elenor “Ellen” Phillips. 

 

 

CATAWBA COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA

26 June 1860 – Jacobs Fork Township

Henry Cobb

 

Age

36

Born

NC

Nancy

 

 

37

 

NC

Missouri

 

 

18

 

NC

Rufus

 

 

16

 

NC

Emeline

 

 

11

 

NC

James

 

 

02

 

NC

 

 

This was Henry Cobb, son of Robert Cobb and Elenor Phillips, grandson of James Cobb and Sarah Beach, and great grandson of Ambrose Cobb (Sr) from the 1790 census of Lincoln County, North Carolina.  He married Nancy Hilton / Helton on 16 December 1840 in Lincoln County.

 

Since the previous enumeration, son John M. has died.  He was born 23 June 1845, and died 01 July 1854.  He was buried at Wesley’s Chapel Methodist Church in Catawba County. 

 

During the War Between the States, son Rufus Franklin Cobb served in Company B, 42nd North Carolina Infantry Regiment.  He survived the conflict and married Frances J. “Caroline” Cathey about 1867.  They had four children before her death in 1892.

 

Daughter Emeline married H.H. Croson in Catawba County on 16 January 1868.

 

17 October 1860 – Sherrill’s Ford Township

Rufus Cobb

 

Age

32

Born

NC

Martha

 

 

31

 

NC

Charlotte

 

 

11

 

NC

Luther

 

 

09

 

NC

Nancy

 

 

07

 

NC

James

 

 

05

 

NC

Araminta

 

 

02

 

NC

 

 

This is William Rufus Cobb, son of Robert Cobb and Elenor Phillips, grandson of James Cobb and Sarah Beach, and great grandson of Ambrose Cobb (Sr) from the 1790 census of Lincoln County, North Carolina.  His wife’s was Martha “Patsy” Linebarger.  They married about 1848, probably in Lincoln County, where they were enumerated on the 1850 census.  Martha died in 1862, and shortly after on 20 July 1862, Rufus married Sophia P. Abernathy in Catawba County, and had seven more children by her.

 

08 November 1860 – Mountain Creek Township

John Cobb

 

Age

60

Born

NC

 

Sally

 

 

54

 

NC

 

Calvin

 

 

18

 

NC

 

Easton

 

 

14

 

NC

 

Caswell

 

 

25

 

NC

Deaf & Dumb

 

 

This was John Cobb, son of Benjamin M. Cobb and Violetta Morris, and grandson of Clisby Cobb and Margaret Halsey Young.  He married Sarah “Sally” Bumgarner on 18 April 1821 in Lincoln County, North Carolina.  Since the previous enumeration in 1850, a number of changes have taken place in the composition of this family household.

 

Son Benjamin Morris Cobb, a physician, married Catherine Lonergan on 08 June 1847, and moved to York County, South Carolina.  Daughter Rhoda married Caleb Link on 07 October 1851, and was living next door at the time of this enumeration.  Daughter Lavina married Patrick M. Clark on 27 January 1852.  Daughter Malinda married Peter Stroup on 19 December 1851, and moved to Lincoln County. 

 

Caswell was deaf and dumb, and as was typical in the age before the availability of social and rehabilitation services, he was cared for by relatives all his life.  He was still living as late as 1880, with his brother Calvin.  Easton Robert Cobb married Margaret C. Dellinger on 21 December 1870, but was deceased by 1880.

 

Calvin McKelvin Cobb enlisted in Company K, 46th North Carolina Infantry Regiment for service during the War Between the States.  He survived the war and married Martha C. Sigmon about 1867.  He lived in Catawba County until sometime after 1880, when he moved to Lincoln County.  He died in Lincoln in 1920.

 

08 November 1860 – Mountain Creek Township

Caleb Link

 

Age

30

Born

NC

Rhoda V.

 

 

30

 

NC

Pamphilia

 

 

06

 

NC

Olive

 

 

05

 

NC

Sarah

 

 

03

 

NC

Laura

 

 

02

 

NC

 

 

Rhoda was the daughter of John Cobb and Sally Bumgarner, above.  As stated, she married Caleb Link on 07 October 1851 in Catawba County.  There were five more children born after this enumeration ... Margaret V about 1861 ... Anna A. in 1862 ... Elizabeth J. in 1865 ... John R.J. in 1870 ... and Fanny C. in 1874.  This family was still living in Catawba County as late as 1880.

 

GASTON COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA

02 July 1860 – Crowder’s Creek Township

Margaret Cobb            age            60            born             Not Given

 

This woman is not identified.  She was in her own household, next door to a widow Isabella Ford, possibly a relative of the Barbara Ford who married James S. Cobb in 1858 in Cleveland County.

 

CLEVELAND COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA

08 June 1860 – No Township Given

James Cobb

 

Age

43

Born

NC

Occ: Machinist

Barbara A.

 

 

24

 

NC

 

Alexander

 

 

20

 

NC

 

Columbus

 

 

17

 

NC

 

Sylvester

 

 

15

 

NC

 

Leroy

 

 

14

 

NC

 

Adline

 

 

12

 

NC

 

Laura

 

 

09

 

NC

 

James

 

 

03

 

NC

 

Albertus

 

 

01

 

NC

 

 

 

This is James S. Cobb whose parentage is not yet known.  The first positive identification of him on a region-wide census was in 1850 in Catawba County.  He married in Lincoln County on 05 February 1838, to Frances “Fanny” Hilton / Helton.  Fanny was born 09 September 1817 in Tennessee, and died in Catawba County on 04 November 1857.  She was buried there at Wesley Chapel Methodist Church.  James married Barbara Ann Ford in Cleveland County on 22 July 1858.  His first child by her was Albertus, shown above.  There were two more ... Andrew J. in 1862, and William Eugene “Wally” in 1866.

 

Sons Robert Alexander and F. Columbus Cobb enlisted in Company F, 23rd North Carolina Infantry Regiment for service during the War Between the States.  Columbus died 15 January 1863, in a military hospital in Richmond, Virginia.  Robert survived the war and spent the remainder of his life in Burke County.  

16 August 1860 – No Township Given

Caroline Cobb              age            21            born            NC

 

This was the daughter of the widow Nancy Cobb who first appears on the 1850 census in Cleveland County.  At this time Caroline was living in the household of one Sylvester Umphries / Humphries.  Her connection to him is unknown.

22 August 1860 – No Township Given

Nancy Cobb

 

Age

52

Born

NC

Betsy A.

 

 

28

 

NC

Jackson

 

 

not given

 

NC

Missineah

 

 

20

 

NC

Thompson

 

 

17

 

NC

Nancy

 

 

15

 

NC

Jessie (m)

 

 

15

 

NC

Lemuel

 

 

26

 

NC

Elizabeth

 

 

18

 

NC

 

 

This was the widow Nancy Cobb who first appeared on the 1850 census of Cleveland County, and mother of the Caroline Cobb, above.  Compared to the previous 1850 census we find ... Betsy A. here was listed as Elizabeth in 1850 ... Samuel (actually his name was Lemuel) has married Elizabeth Luezar Wilson, and is still living with his mother ... son Jacob is now listed Jackson ... and that Thompson Cobb here was listed as Thomas in 1850.

 

20 July 1860 – No Township Given

William Cobb

 

Age

55

Born

NC

Occ: Shoemaker

Martha

 

 

50

 

NC

 

John H.

 

 

23

 

NC

Occ: Carpenter

Nancy L.

 

 

20

 

NC

 

William W.

 

 

18

 

NC

 

Richard J.

 

 

16

 

NC

 

George S.

 

 

14

 

NC

 

Martha J.

 

 

10

 

NC

 

 

 

This was William Cobb whose parentage is not yet proven, but who I believe DNA analysis would confirm was a son of John Cobb, and grandson of Clisby Cobb and Margaret Halsey Young.  William is shown here married to his first wife Martha Harmon, who he married in Lincoln County on 15 February 1827.  Since the previous 1850 census, daughter Sarah Julia has married Robert W. Dixon and moved out.  Before the next 1870 census, this family would experience some far-reaching changes.

 

Son John Harmon Cobb married Vianna McDuffy Gardner in December 1860.  Son William married Frances Barnes about 1868.  Daughter Martha married Andrew Costner about 1869.  Son George Scott Cobb married about 1865, and moved to Union County, South Carolina.  Son Richard Jerry Cobb simply disappeared, as did daughter Nancy. 

 

Martha Harmon Cobb died in 1868, and shortly after William married the widow Catherine Collins Howell.

 

 

YORK DISTRICT, SOUTH CAROLINA

30 July 1860 – Fort Mill Township

B.M. Cobb

 

Age

38

Born

Lincoln County, NC

Occ: Physician

Catherine A.

 

 

34

 

Tipperary, Ireland

 

Charles A.

 

 

12

 

NC

 

Annie E.

 

 

10

 

NC

 

William I.

 

 

08

 

York District, SC

 

Mary F.

 

 

07

 

York District, SC

 

John W.

 

 

04

 

York District, SC

 

Thomas B.

 

 

03

 

York District, SC

 

George M.

 

 

7M

 

York District, SC

 

 

 

This was Benjamin Morris Cobb, son of John Cobb and Sarah Bumgarner, grandson of Benjamin M. Cobb and Violetta Morris, and great grandson of Clisby Cobb and Margaret Halsey Young.  He married Catherine A. Lonergan on 08 June 1847, in Catawba County, North Carolina.  For some unexplained reason, she and their first two children were not enumerated with him on the 1850 census.  They had one more child after this census, Edmund Lonergan Cobb in 1865.  Before the next census in 1870, son Charles married Mary Ann Frew.  Also, Benjamin died 15 June 1868 in York District.  His birth date is officially marked as 19 February 1822.

 

08 September 1860 – Hickory Grove PO

G.W. Cobb

 

Age

45

Born

NC

Occ: Shoemaker

Caroline

 

 

35

 

SC

 

James

 

 

17

 

SC

 

Sallie

 

 

15

 

SC

 

Nancy

 

 

13

 

SC

 

Rachel

 

 

11

 

SC

 

Elizabeth

 

 

09

 

SC

 

Jane

 

 

05

 

SC

 

Rebecca

 

 

03

 

SC

 

 

 

This was George Washington Goforth Cobb, one of the three men grouped together by some researchers as brothers and sons of a William Cobb and Elizabeth Goforth.  The reader is referred to the previous chapter for a detailed analysis of this claim, and why it is erroneous.  George and Margaret Caroline Childers were already married by 1840, per the census of York District, and all their children were born there. 

 

This enumeration represents the last record for half of this family.  George enlisted in Company B, 12th South Carolina Infantry Regiment for service during the War Between the States.  He was captured and died while a prisoner on 25 November 1863 at Point Lookout, Maryland.  Son James was still living in York County in 1870, as was sister Elizabeth who had married James M. Elliott.  Daughter Margaret was still living in York in 1870, in the household of the Elliott family.  Daughter Sarah “Sally” married Hiram Moss about 1865 and moved to Union County, South Carolina, taking sister Rachel along with them.

 

17 September 1860 – Hickory Grove PO

James Cobb

 

Age

53

Born

SC

Occ: Blacksmith

Jinsy

 

 

40

 

SC

 

Martha

 

 

27

 

SC

 

Elizabeth

 

 

19

 

SC

 

William G.

 

 

25

 

SC

Occ: Shoemaker

Rosalinda

 

 

14

 

SC

 

James

 

 

12

 

SC

 

Thomas

 

 

08

 

SC

 

John

 

 

06

 

SC

 

Lowry

 

 

12

 

SC

 

Harris

 

 

02

 

SC

 

 

 

This was James Cobb, another of the three men popularly grouped together as being sons of William Cobb and Elizabeth Goforth.  It is quite possible that this man and George G.W. Cobb, above, were in fact brothers.  They were born within a reasonable time span, in South Carolina, and both were trained craftsmen by profession, particularly as Shoemakers. 

 

26 September 1860 – Hopewell PO

John G. Cobb

 

Age

47

Born

NC

 

Occ: Farmer

Rocinda

 

 

39

 

York District, South Carolina

 

 

Mary L.

 

 

14

 

York District, South Carolina

 

 

Martha

 

 

12

 

York District, South Carolina

 

 

James

 

 

09

 

York District, South Carolina

 

 

John

 

 

05

 

York District, South Carolina

 

 

William

 

 

04

 

York District, South Carolina

 

 

Joseph

 

 

03

 

York District, South Carolina

 

 

Martha

 

 

87

 

Virginia

 

 

 

 

This was John G. Cobb, the third man commonly found grouped with James and George G.W. Cobb as brothers, and sons of a William Cobb and Elizabeth Goforth.  Again, the reader is referred to the previous chapter to see why this claim is erroneous.  DNA analysis has shown that the descendants of this man share the same ancestry as the Ambrose Cobb (Sr) found on the 1790 census of Lincoln County, North Carolina.

 

Comparing this enumeration to the last one in 1850, the only significant change is that daughter Elizabeth is no longer found in family household.  Being born in 1839, it is quite likely that she had married and moved out.  Before the next census in 1870, wife Rocinda will have died, and John will have married a woman named Rachel by who he will produce no more children.  Also by 1870, daughter Mary will be gone.  Otherwise this family will be intact.

 

There were no Cobb families in Burke, Rutherford, Cherokee, or Mecklenburg counties in 1860.  There were Cobbs in Greenville District, South Carolina, that are identified and had no connection to the families involved in this study.

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