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JOHN COBB (1662–1727), son of John Cobb and Martha Nelson

RACHEL SOULE (c. 1663–1727), daughter of John Soule and Rebecca Simmons


John, the son of John and Martha Cobb, was born on 24 August 1662 in Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. [1] He died on 8 October 1727, age 65, and is buried in the old cemetery at The Green in Middleborough, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. [2]. John Cobb, Jr. married Rachel Soule on 7 September 1688 in Plymouth. [3]

Rachel Soule was born about 1663. Rachel Cobb died in early September 1727, age 64, and is buried in the old cemetery at The Green. [2]

John Cobb and his wife Rachel were beneficiaries in the 3 March 1707/8 settlement of John Soule's estate [4]

John Cobb could write his signature.

John Cobb, Jr. was one of the organizers of the First Church of Christ in Middleborough on 26 December 1664 o.s. [5]

Rachel, the wife of John Cobb, Sr., was baptized and admitted to full communion at the First Church in Middleborough on 28 March 1714. [6]

John Cobb of Middleborough, being "weak in body," made his will on 29 May 1727. He named his wife Rachel, his sons John and James; his daughters Martha Simmons, Patience Tinkham and Rachel Standish; Moses Standish; and his grandsons Gershom and John, the son of John. He named his son John his executor. After his wife Rachel's death, John amended his will on 8 September 1727. Witnesses testified on 16 November 1727 and the will was proved on 28 March 1728. An untotaled inventory was presented on 2 February 1727/8. [7]

Children of John Cobb and Rachel Soule:

i. John Cobb died on 6 July 1750, age 61, and is buried in the old cemetery at The Green. [2] He married first Joanna Thomas. [8] She died on 11 November 1724, age 31, and is buried in the old cemetery at The Green. [2] He married second Mary Conant. [8] She died on 16 August 1795, age 91, and is buried in the old cemetery at The Green. [2]

Joanna Cobb, the wife of John, was baptized and admitted to full communion in the First Church in Middleborough while lying on her bed in her house on 30 June 1724. [6] After her death, her children were brought to be baptized by their grandfather John Cobb on 3 January 1724/5. [6]

ii. James Cobb was born on 12 April 1696 in Middleborough. He died on 27 January 1743/4. He married Thankful Thomas.

iii. Martha Cobb died on 8 August 1775, age 83, and was buried in the old cemetery at The Green. [2] She married first Ephraim Tinkham. [8][9] Ephraim was the son of Ephraim and Esther (Wright) Tinkham. [9] She married second Aaron Simmons on 19 April 1715 in Middleborough. [6] He died on 6 February 1757, age 84, and was buried in the old cemetery at The Green. [2]

iv. Patience Cobb married Samuel Tinkham, the son of Ephraim Tinkham. [8]

Rachel Cob her book
Rachel Cob it is my name and with my pen i right the same and if ey had been larned better i might have mended every letter.

v. Rachel Cobb was born on 8 December 1702 in Middleborough. [10] She died on 24 June 1769. [10] She married Moses (Ebenezer, Alexander, Miles) Standish of Plympton on 13 November 1723 in Middleborough. [6][10] Miles was born in August 1701 and he died 24 April 1769. [10] Moses and Rachel are buried in the Hillcrest Cemetery in Plympton. [2]

Rachel had a bible that was passed on to her descendants, who still had it in 1900. Her words written on the inside of the back cover are shown to the right: [10]

References:

1. George Ernest Bowman, "Plymouth Births, Marriages and Deaths," Mayflower Descendant 1 (1899): 141–8, specifically 141.

2. Findagrave: "John Cobb, Jr." (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/15483536/john-cobb); "Rachel Soule Cobb" (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/20706878/rachel-cobb), inscription: Here Lyes the Body of Ms. Rachel Cobb who died Sept. the 18th. 1727 in ye 65th. year of her age. This cannot be correct though as she died before 8 September; "John Cobb III" (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/50639387/john-cobb); "Joanna Thomas Cobb" (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/51296002/joanna-cobb); "Mary Conant Cobb" (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/51295785/mary-cobb); "Martha Cobb Simmons" (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/75644577/martha-simmons); "Aaron Simmons (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/50639882/aaron-simmons); "Rachel Cobb Standish" (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/43976671/rachel-standish); "Lieut. Moses Standish" (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/43976610/moses-standish).

3. Lee D. van Antwerp and Ruth Wilder Sherman, Vital Records of Plymouth, Massachusetts: To the Year 1850 (Camden, ME: Picton Press, 1993): 85 (marriage of John and Rachel)

4. George Ernest Bowman, "John Soule's Inventory and the Settlement of his Estate," Mayflower Descendant 4 (1902): 159–61.

5. Thomas Weston, History of the Town of Middleborough, Massachusetts (New York: Houghton, Mifflin & Co., 1906), 639–86.

6. "Church Records, 1707–1821," images, "Middleboro, Mass. First Church," webpage, Congretional Library & Archives (https://www.congregationallibrary.org/nehh/series1/MiddleboroMAFirst4970), 5 (Aaron Simmons and Martha [no last name] his chosen), 6 (Rachel admitted to full communion), 8 (marriage of Rachel, Jr.), 16, 19 (John Jr's wife Joanna).

7. "Plymouth County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1686–1881," database with images, AmericanAncestors, case 4546.

8. The Editor, "The Will of John Cobb, Sr., of Middleborough, Massachusetts," Mayflower Descendanat 24 (1922): 35.

9. George Ernest Bowman, "Tinkham Notes," Mayflower Descendant 17 (1915): 162.

10. "Rachel Cobb's Bible," Mayflower Descendant 2 (1900): 44–45.


Last revised: 24-Dec-2023