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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Topic started by: Kathykins on Tuesday 18 December 07 08:36 GMT (UK)

Title: Is anyone researching Scottish Cobbs?
Post by: Kathykins on Tuesday 18 December 07 08:36 GMT (UK)
Hello all,

I'm very interested in the Cobb branch of my family, which is concentrated around Forfar and Angus from about 1750. It seems to be a fairly unusual name in Scotland, and according to my dictionary of Scottish surnames, the surname appears in Brechin, Angus around 1530. There's another group of Cobbs concentrated around Dorset in England that don't appear to be connected, but I'd be interested in hearing anything about any Scottish Cobbs and their origins.

Thanks!
Title: Re: Is anyone researching Scottish Cobbs?
Post by: sancti on Tuesday 18 December 07 10:19 GMT (UK)
There are over 300 Cobb/Cob marriage records on SP between 1553 and 1750. Had a quick look at some and they are around Perth/Dundee/ Angus areas
Title: Re: Is anyone researching Scottish Cobbs?
Post by: runningbear on Tuesday 18 December 07 14:53 GMT (UK)
hi pal,

sticking cobb into the 1841 census throws up 103 of them staying in angus,

most noteably:

ann...born c1766 lethnot & navar
christian...born c1757 dunnichen
john...born c1764 brechin


Joe
Title: Re: Is anyone researching Scottish Cobbs?
Post by: Kathykins on Wednesday 19 December 07 08:18 GMT (UK)
Thank you both. They do crop up in the census and the OPRs quite often, especially around the Perth and Dundee areas, it's just an interesting distribution and an unusual name.

I often wonder if all the Scottish Cobbs are descended from one family - the one mentioned in Brechin in 1530? Which of course begs the question where did that one come from!
Title: Re: Is anyone researching Scottish Cobbs?
Post by: snowolf on Thursday 20 December 07 20:04 GMT (UK)
 :)hello Kathykins,
thought i'd mention my dad's uncle was a "John Cobb" (farmer) from Brechin.
he was born in 1849...and died in 1923.
 also my dad has same name ,but "Cobb " being a middle name , and my brother also has same name .

take care
 Snowolf
Title: Re: Is anyone researching Scottish Cobbs?
Post by: Kathykins on Friday 21 December 07 08:17 GMT (UK)
Hi Snowolf,

I have a John Cobb in my tree born in 1849 - I'm not sure where though. He had a brother Alexander and a sister Mary Ann. I think he's a distant uncle of mine.

Maybe we should swap trees?
Title: Re: Is anyone researching Scottish Cobbs?
Post by: snowolf on Wednesday 26 December 07 14:51 GMT (UK)
 :) hi kathykins,
i'm sure we have the same guy !!..
 John Henry Cobb,married my dad's aunt & they had a farm in laurenckirk,
hi parents were "John Cobb" & "Isobel low" (married in 1848 , craigo ).
     Like you say he had a brother named "Alexander Low Cobb",born 1850,and sister "mary Ann" born 1852.

snowolf
Title: Re: Is anyone researching Scottish Cobbs?
Post by: Dawei on Friday 20 April 18 05:45 BST (UK)
yes! I am David Alexander Cobb. My grand father was born in Montrose and I am at present tracing this side of the family in Montrose.
Title: Re: Is anyone researching Scottish Cobbs?
Post by: isobelw on Friday 20 April 18 08:57 BST (UK)
Quite a few years ago I researched a Cobb family in Arbroath. James Cobb (1826-1912) was  originally from Menmuir in Angus. He was an army veteran and latterly a Tollkeeper in Arbroath. I have quite a lot of stuff on this family if it is of interest to you
Isobel
Title: Re: Is anyone researching Scottish Cobbs?
Post by: FintryGirl on Tuesday 11 September 18 02:14 BST (UK)
I have been researching Cobbs from Montrose for about 10 years. I decent from James Cobb and Jane Wickley, their son Anthony Cobb married Ann Fraser their child Lily Cobb married Edmund Bryson,  they would have been my father's grandparents. Their child Phyllis Bryson was my father's mother. She died very young. Would love to see photos of the Cobb family if anyone has anything. I have lots of documentation, one picture of her siblings. Thanks
Title: Re: Is anyone researching Scottish Cobbs?
Post by: Rosinish on Tuesday 11 September 18 03:11 BST (UK)
FintryGirl...

It would be helpful to others if you could post more info. regarding dates which may help your own research?

Annie
Title: Re: Is anyone researching Scottish Cobbs?
Post by: A.McGowan on Monday 20 April 20 21:28 BST (UK)
I have only recently joined the site, so excuse me if my response is no longer relevant.

I am researching a Cobb from Angus County, who was the mother of:

Henry Bruce Cobb Ellenband, born 7 April 1907 at Glasgow (illegitimate)
Father: Maurice Henry Ellenband, Advertising Contractor (b. Salford 1873, m. 1918, d. 1939)
Mother: Joan Cobb, Table Dresser.

I have followed a number of false trails (name variations, many Cobbs), but I may now have identified the mother as:

Joanna Cobb Donald, born 13 March 1876 at Rescobie, Forfar (illegitimate)
m. Christina Donald, Domestic servant
f. not shown

I believe she appears in the household of John and Sarah Cobb at Macgregor St, Brechin in the census for both 1881 (Joanna, age 4) and 1891 (Joan, 15). In both, she is shown as granddaughter, which suggests that one of sons in the house was the father.

In the 1901 census Joan Cobb is at 1901  Newmarket, Suffolk (Servant, 21). It says she’s from Brechin, the family home. Perhaps she did not know her true birth details.

I have not traced her in the 1911 census. However, her son is recorded at 'Harborne', Moorend St, Cheltenham, the home of Thomas Parker (58), his wife, and 3 daughters. His name is shown as
Hendry Bruce Cobb Ellinband (spelling differences), aged 3, a visitor.

Joan Ellanband (spelling difference) appears in the 1913 and 1914 Electoral Rolls for Glasgow at 1407 Argyle St.

In formation suggests that Joan and her son lived for some time in Gloucestershire where, at some point, he becomes known as Bruce Hayden. Around 1925, he and his mother, who is now known as Joan Wilson, move to Sussex with a William Wilson.

William Wilson was a car dealer in Shoreham and Joan ran a cafe. Her son, Bruce Hayden, got into journalism - he had a chess column in the West Sussex Gazette 1929-32.

William Scott Wilson died (55) 21 October 1935 at Shoreham, Sussex.
Joan Wilson died (80) 16 September 1961 (80) at Molesey, Surrey.
Bruce Hayden died 25 October 1997 at Kingston, Surrey.    

I have no record of a marriage by Joanna/Joan to the father of her child, Maurice/Morris Ellenband.
Neither do I have a record of a marriage to William Wilson.

In the 1939 Register, Joan Wilson gave her dob as 10 March 1880, which doesn't fit with anything in Scotland's National Records.

A fascination story about William Wilson appeared in The Worthing Herald of 26 October 1935, giving considerable information about his background, including his birth in Dundee. I won't list all the details here, but I am happy to share them (and anything else) with anyone who is interested.

I am following up with that research, which included the fact that he had a brother who served with Liverpool Police and who had retired with the rank of Superintendent shortly before Wilson's 1935 death. 

Any help or suggestions appreciated.
   



 

 
Title: Re: Is anyone researching Scottish Cobbs?
Post by: Pat in Dundee on Thursday 06 May 21 00:41 BST (UK)
Hello,

I have recently done some research on the Cobbs of Dundee and Brechin, some of whom are buried in the small Cemetery at Old Mains, Dundee, near where I live. Its been fascinating - and I found a court case where a 'cousin german' challenged the will of the very rich David Cobb, writer 1812-1892. He and his relatives are here at my website http://genesontheweb.co.uk/g17/p17568.htm
Title: Re: Is anyone researching Scottish Cobbs?
Post by: cartside on Thursday 06 May 21 13:35 BST (UK)
Thanks, Pat. I had come across the Cobbs involved in that story and realised that they were not connected to my research. I looked at your link-impressive!