Genealogical notes of Barnstable families - citizen hylbom blog

178 GENEALOGICAL NOTES OF BARNSTABLE FAMILIES.
sons, bap'd Nov. 25, 1759, named Edward, (born Nov. 6,
1752) G-ershom and Josiah. Gershom the father was a
very honest, upright man, a weaver. In the summer
months he was employed in the fishing business, and the
remainder of the year in weaving, &c. His widow in 1776
married Nathaniel Lothrop, his second wife, and she had
by him a daughter Susan, who married Eleazer Cobb, Jr.
She died in 1812 or 13, aged about 80. Her son Edward
was a carpenter, married Jan'y 29, 1778, Hannah Hallett of
Yarmouth, removed in 1782 to Westborough, where he died
Oct. 27, 1819. He had ten children. Gershom was a
mariner and taken a prisoner by the English during the
Revolution. He returned to Barnstable about the year
1793, and it is said that he returned to England married
and^had two children there. Josiah went to Boston to
learn a shoemaker's trade, but disliking the trade left. It
is supposed that he was lost at sea.*
IV. John, born 17th Nov. 1709. Removed to Plymouth.
V. Hannah, 29th Aug. 1711, married Jan'y 29, 1734, David
Childs of Barnstable.
VI. Thankful, 10th July, 1714, married Oct. 14, 1746, David
Dimmock.
VII. Anne, 8th Dec. 1716, died 4th Nov. 1720.
VIII. Josiah, twin brother of Anne.
IX. Edward, 2d Nov. 1718.
X. Mary, 14th June, 1721, married first, Isaac Gorham, Sept.
2, 1742, and second, James Churchill, Feb. 3, 1756-7.
Jesse Cobb was a loyalist or tory. He was one of the party
who assembled on the evening of the night when the liberty pole
in Barnstable was cut down. Jesse was called on by the company
to compose a notice to be posted up, and he dictated the following,
impromptu
Your Liberty pole,
I dare be bold,
Appears like Dagon bright.
But it will faU,
And make a scrawl.
Before the morning light.
Jesse was seventy years of age when he dictated the above,
and it indicates that he was ready, and possessed more wit than
we have given him credit for. The Liberty pole stood in front of
the public house of Mrs. Abiah Crocker, where the willow tree
now stands. It stood on a knowl or small hill there which has
*The account of the family of Gershsom Cobb I obtain from tbe records, a manuscript
of one of the descendants, and other sources. Respecting the third Gershom (son of Gershom
and Sarah) I rely on the manuscript which seems to be corroborated by the Pi-obate
records. Gershom Cobb, Jr.'s inventory is dated Jan'y 23, 1733, showing that he died soon
after his maiTiage.