Joseph Cobb

     No record has been found of Joseph in Virginia between his arrival in 1613 and the muster of Virginia settlers in February 1624/25 in which he is listed at Elizabeth City with his wife Elizabeth, who had come in the Bone Bess in August 1623. Both are given as aged 25, but Joseph was older. He does not appear in the census taken in February the year before, so he was apparently either missed or out of the country. He had possibly returned to England for his wife and two sons for whose passages, as well as those of four servants, and by his own right, he was granted land in 1637. (It was often years before patents were recorded).

Some think Joseph may have been married twice, others think only once.

Assuming the one wife theory ...

Since there is no record of Joseph between his arrival in Virginia in 1613 and the 1624/25 muster, he may have returned to England periodically, or once for a long period, married Elizabeth (who may or may not be surnamed Flinton) and fathered two sons before finally returning to Virginia with his family. He may have been out of the country again in 1623/24, during which time Elizabeth stayed with the Flintons and was incorrectly called Elizabeth Flinton in the census. This could account for there being no record of Joseph Cobb having been granted land under the status of Ancient Planter. (Those persons who arrived in Virginia before 1616, remained for a period of three years, and paid their own passage have been referred to as ancient planters. They received the first patents of land in the new world as authorized by Sir Thomas Dale in 1618 for their personal adventure).

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From Genforum http://genforum.genealogy.com/cgi-bin/pageload.cgi?joseph,cobb,amst...:

Joseph is said to have come to America on the ship "Treasurer", which arrived in Virginia in 1623. Elizabeth and sons Benjamin and Joseph arrived in 1623 as well on the ship "Bonnie Besse."

Also found here:

Reference to Joseph's father, Richard Cobb and wife Sybil Sheets; Richard was born Richard O'Connor in Ireland, and attended school at Oxford. Here he became interested in the religious wars taking place in Holland and moved there to fight for Holland. Here the surname was changed from O'Connor to Cobb (supposedly Dutch translation.)

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From website: who was born in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, in 1588. In 1613 he arrived in the Jamestown settlement in Virginia on the London Company ship, Treasurer. He settled on land east of the James River. He returned to England and then back to Virginia to prepare for the arrival of his family. His wife, Elizabeth Flinton, and their sons, Benjamin and Joseph, arrived in Virginia in 1625 on the Bonnie Bess. Elizabeth was the sister of a colonial physician named Pharoah Flinton. Pharoah Cobb, who was born sometime before 1641, was named for him. Joseph Cobb was granted 400 acres in Isle of Wight County, Virginia. His Will was executed in 1654, and is probated in Isle of Wight County Will Book A, page 520.

Jamestown was established in 1607 to find gold and a water route to the Orient. After the "starving time" winter 1609/10 during which only 60 the original 500 settlers survived, the London entrepreneurs who funded the settlement, started recruiting people with skills to survive. Joseph Cobb was classified as "a gentleman, entitled by rank to wear a sword and trained by experience to use one." [Ed. Is that the same as "licensed to kill"?]

Joseph was the the G-G-G-G-G-G Grandfather of John Thomas and son of RICHARD COBB, who was born in Aberdeen, Scotland. Richard was educated at Oxford University. Richard served Queen Elizabeth as a member of Henry Championís troop. In 1576 he married Sybil Sheets and settled in Holland.

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Joseph Cobb, the first of this family in Virginia came over on the "Treasurer" from London in 1613. Owned jointly by Captain Samuel Argall and others, the "Treasurer" is famous as the ship on which Argall made Pocahontas prisoner in 1613, taking her to Jamestown "for the ransoming of so many Englishmen as were prisoners of Powhatan..." (her father).

In the census of settlers taken in Virginia, 7 February 1624/25, Joseph Cobb made his muster in Elizabeth City County where many of the settlers were then living because of fear of the Indians.

Joseph Cobb received a grant of 400 acres of land in Isle of Wight County, Virginia, 4 August 1637, on a "branch of Warwicksquike River, now called New Town haven," and on the back creek .

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It is quite common to find males with biblical names in Joseph's lineage. The Joseph Cobb line seemed to remain concentrated in the tidewater region of Virginia, then migrated southward into the coastal counties of North Carolina, before ever beginning to move westward. Incidentally, in those times, someone that "went West" meant they were still probably somewhere East of the Mississippi River. It is speculated that Joseph Cobb immigrated to America, on religious grounds.

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Joseph Cobb was born in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, in 1588. He married Elizabeth Flinton in 1609. In 1613 he arrived in the Jamestown settlement in Virginia on the London Company ship, Treasurer. Joseph settled on land east of the James River. He returned to England and then back to Virginia to prepare for the arrival of his family. His wife, Elizabeth Flinton, and their sons, Benjamin and Joseph, arrived in Virginia in 1625 on the “Bonnie Bess.” Joseph and Elizabeth Cobb settled in Elizabeth City. Elizabeth was the sister of a colonial physician named Pharoah Flinton. Pharoah Cobb, who was born sometime before 1641, was named for him. Joseph Cobb was granted 400 acres in Isle of Wight County, Virginia. His will was executed in 1654. Elizabeth died prior to April 10 1671

The Will of Joseph Cobb(s)

“This is the last will and testament of me, Joseph Cobbs, aged sixty years of age or thereabouts. Imprimis. I do bequeath unto my well beloved wife Elizabeth Cobbs, one parcel of land containing three hundred acres of land or thereabouts, commonly called Goose Hill Land. And further I do bequeath unto my well beloved wife all movables that are upon the said land, as cattle (to say) , seventeen head of cows and yearlings and three calves, with hogs, young and old, thirty-two or thereabouts. Provided she does marry, ye said children that are left shall have each a child’s portion, and so be divided between them. And further I do bequeath to my son, Benjamin Cobbs, one red cow and her calf. Item. And further I do bequeath to my son Pharoah Cobbs, one cow and her calf, Red. Item. And further I do bequeath to my daughter, Elizabeth Cobbs, one black cow and one black yearling. Item. This is my last will and testament, now living at the mercy of God on my death bed in good sense. As witness my hand this 1st day of March Anno Dom.” Joseph S. Cobbs

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b. 1588

   sailed on Treasurer from London in 1613 Owned by Capt Samuel Argall, others / Amsterdam, Netherlands

d. Mar 01 1653

   ship, Argall   made Pocahontas prisoner, 1613 / Isle of Wight, Virginia

m. Flinton, Planter Elizabeth

   1623 <circa>

   Isle of Wight, Virginia

   d. 1656

Cobb, Planter Joseph Joseph Cobb (son of Richard Cobb and Sybil Sheetz)47 was born 1588 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands47, and died March 01, 1652/53 in Isle of Wight, Virginia47. He married Elizabeth Flinton on 1623 in Isle of Wight, Virginia47, daughter of Pharaoh Flinton and Jane.

Includes NotesNotes for Joseph Cobb: [Massengill.FTW]

Name Suffix: I BOOK: "The Book of Generations" (rev. 3 Jun 2000) by Devereaux Dunlap Cannon III and Nancy Katherine Cannon Birth: Amsterdam, The Netherlands, in 1588. Migration: In 1 613 he arrived in Virginia on the London Company ship, "Treasurer" (1613). Set tled: on land east of the James River. He returned to England and then back to Virginia to prepare for the arrival of his family. His wife, Elizabeth Flinton, and their sons, Benjamin and Joseph, arrived in Virginia in 1625 on the "Bonni e Bess." Elizabeth was the sister of a colonial physician named Pharoah Flinton . Pharoah Cobb, who was born sometime before 1641, was named for him. Joseph Co bb was granted 400 acres in Isle of Wight County, Virginia.

WILL: executed in 1654, probated in Isle of Wight County Will Book A, page 520

SOURCE: LDS Church (2000) AFN: GJ96-0B Birth: Isle of Wight, Virg inia IGI: Batch #6142825 Bob MANNING (2001) family history

More About Joseph Cobb and Elizabeth Flinton: Marriage: 1623, Isle of Wight, Virginia.47

Includes NotesMarriage Notes for Joseph Cobb and Elizabeth Flinton: [Massengill.FTW]

SOURCE: LDS Church (2000) AFN Marriage Record Bob MANN ING (2001) family history Marriage: 1609

Children of Joseph Cobb and Elizabeth Flinton are:

1. +Pharaoh Cobb, b. 1624, Isle of Wight County, Virginia47, d. 1701, Nansemond County, Virginia47.

Joseph Cobb, the first of this family in Virginia came over on the Treasurer from London in 1613.4 Owned jointly by Captain Samuel Argall and others, the Treasurer is famous as the ship on which Argall made Pocahontas prisoner in 1613, taking her to Jamestown "for the ransoming of so many Englishmen as were prisoners of Powhatan..." (her father). Although Joseph Cobb was not granted land under the status of Ancient Planter in any record now surviving, his date of arrival in the colony would entitle him to be so classed.

No record has been found of Joseph's activities in Virginia between his arrival in 1613 and the muster of Virginia settlers in February 1624/25 in which he is listed at Elizabeth City with his wife Elizabeth, who had come in the Bone Bess in August 1623. Both are given as aged 25, but Joseph was older. He does not appear among the living (or dead) in the census taken in February the year before, so he was apparently either missed or out of the country. He had perhaps returned to England for his wife and two sons for whose passages, as well as those of four servants, and by his own right, he was granted land in 1637. (It was often years before patents were recorded).

The questions beg then, if Elizabeth Cobb, by that name, was in Virginia in August 1623, six months before the census was taken in February 1623/24, why does she not appear therein, and where was Joseph? An answer to the first question, accepted by some, rejected by others, is that Elizabeth Cobb in the 1624/25 muster appears as Elizabeth Flinton in the earlier census with two other Flintons, Pharow (Pharaoh) and Joane, who in 1624/25 were neighbors of Joseph and Elizabeth Cobb in Elizabeth City. If so, it follows that Joseph Cobb married twice, and probably both times to an Elizabeth as that is the name of his wife recorded on the 1637 patent. It seems a reasonable guess that Joseph was in Europe at the time of the first census, that he soon returned to Virginia with his family, and that his wife, if she survived the passage, soon died leaving Joseph free to marry Elizabeth Flinton before the second census. It should be noted however, that there is no direct proof that Joseph married more than once, or that he married Elizabeth Flinton. Nevertheless, circumstantial evidence does exist that supports both ideas.

Both Pharaoh and Joane Flinton appear in the muster, so a reasonable explanation for Elizabeth Flinton not appearing among the living or the dead in 1624/25, is that she had married. There were only about 1,232 persons living at 25 locations in Virginia at that time, but there were undoubtedly a number of men whose wives were named Elizabeth. However, only one, Joseph Cobb, had a wife Elizabeth and a son Pharaoh. That Pharaoh Cobb was named for Pharaoh Flinton is certain as there were no other men in the colony at that time by that name or any of its variant spellings. Therefore, it seems almost certain that Joseph Cobb married Elizabeth Flinton, but it doesn't prove the relationship between Elizabeth and Pharaoh Flinton. Some believe he was her brother; others, her father. However, if their ages as given in the 1624/25 muster are correct, Pharaoh was only eleven years older than Elizabeth, and therefore, could not have been her father. Futhermore, Pharaoh and Joane arrived in Virginia together in 1612, eleven years before Elizabeth. That they would have left their child behind for so long seems unlikely.

All this having been said, there is one more possible scenario that comes to mind. It could be called the one wife theory. As already mentioned, there is no record of Joseph between his arrival in Virginia in 1613 and the 1624/25 muster. Perhaps he returned to England periodically, or once for an extended period, married Elizabeth Flinton and fathered two sons before finally returning to Virginia with his family. He may have been out of the country again in 1623/24, during which time Elizabeth stayed with the Flintons and was incorrectly called Elizabeth Flinton in the census. This theory, if it has any merit, could account for there being no record of Joseph Cobb having been granted land under the status of Ancient Planter. (Those persons who arrived in Virginia before 1616, remained for a period of three years, and paid their own passage have been referred to as ancient planters. They received the first patents of land in the new world as authorized by Sir Thomas Dale in 1618 for their personal adventure).

Additional Data In the census of settlers taken in Virginia, 7 February 1624/25, Joseph Cobb made his muster in Elizabeth City County where many of the settlers were then living because of fear of the Indians. His muster included himself Joseph Cobb, aged 25, in the "Treasoror", 1613, Elizabeth Cobb, aged 25, in the "Bone Bes", 1623, and John Snowood, aged 25, vessel and year of arrival not stated.1,5,6

In 1629 the Court ordered Joseph Cobb, Gent. and Mr. Farrar Flinton, to appraise the goods of Thomas Clarke who died at sea on the Elizabeth of London, May 1625.7

Joseph Cobb received a grant of 400 acres of land in Isle of Wight County, Virginia, 4 August 1637, on a "branch of Warwicksquike River, now called New Town haven," and on the back creek parting it from the land of John Vaslers, due for the personal adventure of himself, wife, Elizabeth, two sons Joseph and Benjamin, and four servants;8 Click to view image renewed 1 September 1643.9,10 Click to view image Few of the land grants even to the earliest planters were recorded before 1635.11,3,12

In an Act of Assembly, 6 January 1638/39, Joseph Cobb was named as a tobacco viewer from "the Indian feild to the Levie neck."2

In 1642, Isle of Wight was divided into two parishes. The Upper Parish was to extend from Lawne's Creek to the eastern side of the Bay, the creek dividing the plantation of Samuel Davis and Joseph Cobb in Isle of Wight County.3

Joseph Cobbs made his will 1 March 1653/54, "aged sixty years," in Isle of Wight County mentioning wife Elizabeth Cobbs and children Benjamin Cobbs, Pharoah Cobbs and Elizabeth Cobbs.13,2 Click to view image

Whereas Pharaoh Cobbs and Ann his wife by their deed dated 10 April 1671, confirmed to George Williams a tract of land in L.P. [Lower Parish, Isle of Wight County, Virginia] which land was sold by Pharaoh Cobbs and Elizabeth, his mother to Saml. Haswell and is now in the possession of Richard Reynolds, Jr., and Eliz. his wife the dau. of the said George Williams and lawful inheritrix. Now, we Richard Hutchins and Elizabeth. His wife, the dau. of Joseph Cobbs, Jr., dec. the eldest son of Joseph Cobbs, Sr., dec. for 1000 lbs. tbco. sell to Richard Reynolds, Jr., and confirmed by Richard Hutchins and wife Eliz. of Western Branch Nansemond County. 10 April 1671.14,15

Indenture, 9 July 1693, between Richard Hutchins and Elizabeth. His wife of Western Branch Parish in Nansemond County and Col. Arthur Smith of Lower Parish. Richard Hutchins and Elizabeth., his wife, dau. and only heir of Joseph Cobb, the Younger who was son and heir apparent of Joseph Cobb, the Elder, now both deceased, for consideration of 2250 lbs. tbco. paid by Col. Smith, deeds him 130 acres [Isle of Wight County, Virginia] adj. Smith, running to Mr. Hardins and Cobbs, to Pharaoh Cobbs to John Hole. (signed) Richard (RH) Hutchins.16 Children of Joseph Cobb and Elizabeth (—?—) (Cobb)

• Joseph Cobb Jr.+11 d. 10 Apr 1671
• Benjamin Cobb+17 d. b 1 May 1679

Children of Joseph Cobb and Elizabeth Flinton

• Elizabeth Cobb17
• Pharaoh Cobb+ 1 d. b 31 May 1701

Joseph Cobb and Elizabeth Flinton children...Joseph Cobb, Joseph Cobb, Bejamin Cobb, Benjamin Cobb, Elizabeth Cobb, Ambrose Cobb, Daughter Cobb, Joseph Cobb, Joseph Cobb, Pharaoh Cobb, Elizabeth Cobb, Jane Cobb, Elizabeth Cobb, Robert Cobbs, Benjamin Cobb, Elizabeth Cobb and Nicholas Cobb

Birth: 1588 - Reusel, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands Death: Mar 31 1653 - Colony of Virginia, British Colonial America Parents: Richard Cobbs, Sybil Sheets Spouses: Elizabeth Cobb (born Flinton), Jebrah Cobb Children: Benjamin Cobbs, Joseph S Cobbs Jr, Elizabeth Barham (born Cobbs), Pharoah Cobb, Elizabeth Hutchins (born Cobb), Nicholas Cobb Sr., Sarah Cobb [or] Nicholas Cobb, Pharoah Cobb, Elizabeth Cobb, UNKNOWN Cobb, UNKNOWN Cobb, Jane Cobb, Ambrose Cobb, Joseph Cobb, Benjamin Cobb Siblings: William Cobb, Ambrose Cobb, Edmund Cobb, Ellen Tylman (born Cobb), Joseph Cobb