The Cobb Family

Elder Henry Cobb was of Plymouth, 1632, and of Barnstable, 1639. He married for his second wife, Sarah Hinckley, daughter of Samuel Hinckley. Henry Cobb had a large family of sons and daughters, among them was Samuel, born Oct. 12, 1654. Samuel married Eliza Taylor, Dec. 20, 1680, had sons and daughters, among them Johnathan, born December 25, 1694.

Johnathan married Sarah Hopkins, daughter of Stephen Hopkins, Jr., who was the son of Giles, who came in the Mayflower with his Father Stephen Hopkins, the Pilgrim. Johnathan and his wife, Sarah, had sons and daughters, among them, Johnathan, born 1708, married a daughter of Scotter Clark, 1738. Scotter Clark was the son of Andrew Clark, who was the son of Thomas Clark, who came in the Anne 1623.

Johnathan also had children, among them Elkanah, you great grandfather, born 1757, who married a daughter of Nathan Foster, and had three sons and six daughters, among them was Jerusha Foster Cobb, who married Edward C. Clark, and your grandfather, Nathan Cobb, was her brother. The three sons were Scotter, Elkanah and Nathan. Elkanah Cobb, your great grandfather, at the age of 16 went privateering in the war of the Revolution, and was taken prisoner and confined in Dartmon Prison, Halifax. He and a comrade made their escape, captured a boat and made their way home. Afterwards, he built a number of boats or vessels at a place in Eastham called Silver Springs, and engaged them in the business of whaling and bank fishing. One of his vessels was named the "Relsider," and was commanded by his son, Scotter Cobb, your grandfather, Nathan Cobb's brother.

From Cape Cod, Mass. to Cobb's Island, Va. Nathan F. Cobb was born the 15th day of Dec., 1797 at Eastham, Mass., and came to Northampton County, Va., 1837, where he opened a Yankee store on the Seaside road about a mile from Cobbs Station; in the May following he purchased Cobbs Island from Hardtime Fitchett for one hundred dollars cash and a two-horse wagon load of salt. The salt was made on Cobbs Island, Va. There were no buildings on the island but the Elder Cobb proceeded to built what is now known as Tammany Hall and used as servants quarters. The building was framed on Cape Cod. The elder Cobb was married three times, first wife being Nancy Doane, the second, Esther Carpenter, and the third, Mrs. Nancy Richardson. Cobbs Island was probably first called Sand Shoals, and on the Government Chart of today the Inlet goes by that name. The Elder Cobb promptly opened the Island as a public resort, primarily for sportsmen. The first steamboat which landed at Cobbs Island was the "Osceola," Capt. Mitchell from Washington, D.C. The place has ever since been a favorite resort for sportsmen. In addition to running the hotel and gunning and fishing, the Cobbs, up to war, did a considerable business in wrecking with an old time Cape Cod fishing boat known as the "Fivehanded Boat." They did much wrecking, depending largely on anchors and hawsers, this at times proved quite remunerative. They saved many a life and it was just such work as this that led to the establishing of the U. S. Life Saving Service Station. They never charged one cent for saving lives or personal property, and always made bargains with Captains of vessels as to what should be paid for saving vessel or cargoes and it is the most wonderful record with fifty or more vessels stranded off the Island, no person was ever drowned, either in storm or while bathing in the surf. It is true that on a vessel stranded in the night some of her crew were frozen in the rigging and by the explosion of boiler in a steamer, other casualties occurred but no one was ever drowned off of Cobbs Island, and there has been but one fire on the Island in its history. The first vessel ever stranded here and boarded by the Cobbs was the schooner "Columbia," from Charleston, S.C. for Baltimore, Md., and loaded with lumber,. This was about 1839. There were on board six men and the Captain's wife. They were together with the vessel and cargo all saved. From this lumber was built in part the residence now occupied by Mr. Luther Nottingham on the Main Land. The Schooner "Hannibal," Capt. William Morse went ashore and was a total loss. They were three days in rescuing the crew. The cargo of Haxall Mills in Richmond, Va., was in great part saved.

A thrilling adventure in which John Doughty was saved from a watery grave. Albert Cobb with John Doughty and George Brown had taken Mr. James Hamilton Easter, of Baltimore, Md., to Old Point Comfort in the sloop, "Josephine," and were on their return to Cobbs Island. A heavy gale was blowing and both Brown and Cobb wanted to turn back but Doughty persisted in going, saying that he must get to Cobbs Island to meet a payment that was due upon his boat. Seas were running mountain high and they were determined to run into Smith Island Inlet. Cobb had climbed into the rigging to look for the best waters when a fearful sea struck the Josephine, so immense was the wave that it struck Cobb in the rigging. Brown seeing the approaching sea lassoed himself fast. Doughty was swept overboard. Brown threw coils of rope to him and among other things an oar, but Doughty seemed dazed and was soon lost to view. The next day all the beaches were searched for the lost man and was finally given up for dead. About ten days later, to the astonishment of everybody on the Island, Doughty made his appearance and it seemed to his friends that he had risen from the grave. When Doughty came to himself the oar which had been thrown to him was nearby and he clung to it. He drifted, he said, through five miles of breakers and after being in the water for five hours was picked up by a schooner bound for Alexandria, Va. He was too weak to be put ashore and was carried to Alexandria.

Some of the vessels stranded off of Cobbs Island that were rescued by Cobbs brothers, before the establishing of the U. S. Life Saving Service: The schooner "Columbia," schooner "Frank," brig "Tremont," ship "Blanchard," schooner "Pradle," schooner "Damontine," schooner "Gassebus," from Maine to Jacksonville, Fla., schooner "Purdy Smith," of New York, United States Coast Survey schooner "Hetsel," blown up, six men killed, ship "Luna," of Baltimore, brig "Massachusetts" of Boston, ship "International," of United States, loaded with ammunition, schooner "Ingle," from Rock Port, Maine, to Alexandria, Va., schooner "Empire," of New York, 1861, two men froze to death, schooner "George Bartall," schooner "Alexandria Blue," total loss, crew saved, schooner "Grant," of Philadelphia, schooner "Martha Collins," Captain washed overboard but saved, three-masted schooner "John A. Bailey," schooner "Minerva Wright," schooner "John T. Grice," schooner "Louis Spanier," of Centerville, Mass., brig "John Gibbons," of St. Johns, New Foundland, schooner "Trudell," schooner "Morning Light," steamer "Ironsides," total loss, crew saved, steamer "Antelope," fishing smack "Priscilla Anne," bark "Crickett," schooner "Harry Lee," schooner "William B. Jenkins," schooner "Thomas Woolsey," schooner "Paunee," brig "Sarah Graves," schooner "George Todd," ship "Anne Eliza," schooner "Enoch Pratt," of New York.