Terry & Nancy's Ancestors

Family History Section

Person Page 178

Cornelia Barbour Mims1,2,3

ID# 1780, (1816 - 1875)
Family Chart

Parents:

FatherLinah Mims (14 Nov 1772 - btn 1847 and 1850)
MotherRebeccah Davis (abt 1786 - btn 1828 and Jun 1830)
AncestryThe Mins/Davis Family
Chart MembershipDescendants of Gideon Cobb
Descendants of Linah and Rebeccah (Davis) Mims
Family IndexesThe Cobbs of Pawlet Vermont
The Linah Mims/Rebeccah Davis Family

Key Events:

Birth: 1816, Richmond, Virginia,4,5,6
Marriage: 13 May 1835, Eddyville, Caldwell Co., Kentucky, Robert Livingston Cobb (b. 6 Oct 1805, d. Jun 1873)7,8,9,10
Death: 31 May 1875, Paducah, McCracken Co., Kentucky,11,12,13
Burial: 3 Jun 1875, Riverview Cemetery, Eddyville, Kentucky,14
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Narrative:

Cornelia Barbour Mims was born in 1816 in Richmond, VirginiaG.4,5,6
     She moved to Christian Co., Kentucky, with her parents, Linah Mims and Rebeccah Davis, about 1817 or 1818.15,16 She was probably one of the three females under age 10 listed in the household of her father, Linah Mims, in the 1820 Federal Census of Hopkinsville, Christian Co., KentuckyG.17
     She was named an heir in the will of her grandmother, Jane Clendenin, dated 10 Jul 1824, to receive a child of a young slave given to her brother Davis.18
     Her mother died between 1828 and Jun 1830, when Cornelia was about 13 years old.19,20,21,22 She was probably one of the two females age 10 to 15 listed in the household of her father in the 1830 Federal Census of Christian Co., KentuckyG.23
     Cornelia apparently moved to Caldwell Co.G, were her older brother, John, was living. He had moved there before 1830, and had prospered there. It seems likely that she and all her surviving siblings moved to brother John's household not long after 1830, perhaps after he married in the fall of 1831.23,24
     Cornelia married Robert Livingston Cobb, son of Gideon Dyer Cobb and Modena Chittenden Clark, on 13 May 1835 in Eddyville, Caldwell Co., KentuckyG.7,8,9,10
     She was probably the female age 20 to 30 listed in the household of her husband Robert in the 1840 Federal Census of Caldwell Co., KentuckyG.25
     Cornelia and Robert appeared on the 1850 Federal Census of Caldwell Co., KentuckyG, enumerated 13 Sep 1850, reporting real estate valued at $10,600. Their children Robert, Linah, Joshua, Sam, and Bobella were listed as living with them, as was his brother, Gideon Dyer Cobb Jr., and her sister, Rebecca E. Mims. There were also 11 slaves, four females ranging in age from 9 to 75, and seven males, ages 4 to 30.26,27
     Cornelia and Robert appeared on the 1860 Federal Census of Eddyville, Lyon Co., KentuckyG, enumerated 10 Jul 1860, reporting $20,000 in real estate, and $32,635 in personal property. Their children Robeson, Linah, Joshua, Bobella, and Mark were listed as living with them, as were her sister, Sarah Jane Mims, and Russel Mims, who is unknown. "Russel" may have been a misspelling of "Russer" the likely middle name of Davis R. Mims, nephew of Cornelia and Sarah, but he was listed in 1860 with his father in Arkansas. There were also 14 slaves, 11 of them males, in two slave houses. Two of the females, aged 21 and 22, were reported to be fugitives from the state.28,29
     Cornelia and Robert moved to PaducahG about 1870 and he retired from active business.30,31 They appeared on the 1870 Federal Census of Paducah, McCracken Co., KentuckyG, enumerated 11 Jun 1870, reporting that she had real estate of $10,000 and personal estate of $1500. Their children Linah, Joshua, Bobella, and Mark were listed as living with them, as was their son Robert, his wife Virginia Walker and their children, Robert, Virginia, and Cornelia. Also in the household were her sister, Sarah Jane Mims, her sister Rebecca's son, David D. Mitchell, and a married mulatto couple who were domestic servants.32
     Her husband died in Jun 1873 in Paducah, McCracken Co., KentuckyG.33,34,35
     Cornelia died on 31 May 1875 in Paducah, McCracken Co., KentuckyG, at age ~59, at her home.11,12,13
     Her funeral was held on 3 Jun 1875, in EddyvilleG at the home of Willis Benson Machen, husband of her niece Victoria, who was daughter of her brother John.36 She was buried on 3 Jun 1875, in Eddyville, Kentucky, probably in the Cobb plot in Riverview Cemetery, although no stone for her has been found there.14

Children:
      Children with Robert Livingston Cobb

Robert and Cornelia have been reported to have had three children in addition to those listed here, all apparently dying young.37
  1. Maj. Robert H. Cobb+ (May 1836 - 20 Jul 1914)
  2. Linah Mims Cobb (abt 1838 - 21 Apr 1904)
  3. Joshua Clark Cobb+ (7 Jul 1839 - 22 Dec 1895)
  4. Henry Cobb (Apr 1842 - Jul 1846)
  5. Sarah T. Cobb (29 Nov 1843 - 11 Aug 1847)
  6. Sam Glenn Cobb (abt 1846 - bef 1860)
  7. Gideon D. Cobb (27 Mar 1847 - 8 Dec 1847)
  8. Bobella Cobb+ (3 Sep 1848 - 20 Oct 1922)
  9. Mark Tyler Cobb (abt 1852 - 18 Nov 1905)

Citations

  1. [S3376] "Commander of the Famous Cobb's Battery", pg 309, shows name as Cornelia Barbour (Mims) Cobb.
  2. [S3235] Obituary for Mrs. Cornelia B. Cobb, unknown newspaper, 2 Jun 1875, shows name as Mrs. Cornelia B. Cobb, relict of Robt. L. Cobb, and daughter of Col. Linah Mims.
  3. [S732] Caldwell Co. Marriage Records, loose papers, bond of Robert L. Cobb and Fransis Hey Dallam, 12 May 1835, and License, dated same day, both show name as Miss Cornelia Mims.
  4. [S3235] Obituary for Mrs. Cornelia B. Cobb, unknown newspaper, 2 Jun 1875, shows year, city, and state.
  5. [S1820] Robert L. Cobb household, 1850 U.S. Census, Caldwell Co., Kentucky, shows age 33, and state, as Virginia.
  6. [S1950] Battle, Kentucky - A History of the State, pg 291, shows city and state, as Virginia.
  7. [S732] Caldwell Co. Marriage Records, loose papers, bond of Robert L. Cobb and Francis Hey Dallam, 12 May 1835, shows intended to be married shortly, and License, dated same day, has return showing marriage solemnized 13 May 1835.
  8. [S726] Caldwell Co. Marriage Bonds, Book A, Robert G. Cobb to Miss Cornelia Mims, 13 May 1835, shows date.
  9. [S49] Freeman, Family File "David and Deborah.GED," 31 Jul 1998, shows date, town, county, and state.
  10. [S1820] Robert L. Cobb household, 1850 U.S. Census, Caldwell Co., Kentucky, shows both in household.
  11. [S3235] Obituary for Mrs. Cornelia B. Cobb, unknown newspaper, 2 Jun 1875, shows date, as 31 May 1875, at her residence in "this city."
  12. [S1289] Register of Deaths, Commonwealth of Kentucky, 1875, McCracken Co., Cobb, Mrs. Cornelia, shows date, as 29 May 1875, and town.
  13. [S1042] Connelley, History of Kentucky, pg 497, shows year, as 1877, town, and county.
  14. [S3235] Obituary for Mrs. Cornelia B. Cobb, unknown newspaper, 2 Jun 1875, shows she will be buried in the old family burying ground at Eddyville, Ky, but no such cemetery is known. Three of her children who died young, as well as her husband's parents and many of their descendants, are buried in a family plot at Riverview Cemetery, and her brother John is buried in an adjacent plot.
  15. [S2532] Christian Co. tax lists, 1817, Linah not found; 1818, book not found; 1819, pg 67 Linah Mims; he also shown on may following years.
  16. [S2030] Perrin, County of Christian, Kentucky, vol 1, pg 281, shows Mr. Mimms came from Virginia about 1816-17, and settled about one mile west of Means' Spring; pp 277-8 describe location and settlement of that place.
  17. [S584] Linah Mimms household, 1820 U.S. Census, Christian Co., Kentucky.
  18. [S2021] Christian Co. Wills D:181-3.
  19. [S2021] Christian Co. Wills D:181-3, specifies that Davis is to receive a slave girl, but that his mother was to receive "the use and benefit of said negro during her natural life." So it appears Rebecca was still living.
  20. [S1820] Robert L. Cobb household, 1850 U.S. Census, Caldwell Co., Kentucky, shows daughter Rebecca as age 21.
  21. [S1489] John Eaker household, 1860 U.S. Census, Graves Co., Kentucky, shows daughter Rebecca as age 32.
  22. [S585] Linah Mims household, 1830 U.S. Census, Christian Co., Kentucky, shows no adult female in the household.
  23. [S585] Linah Mims household, 1830 U.S. Census, Christian Co., Kentucky.
  24. [S4057] Caldwell Co. tax lists, 1830, pg 39, shows John in Caldwell Co.
  25. [S1795] R. L. Cobb household, 1840 U.S. Census, Caldwell Co., Kentucky.
  26. [S1820] Robert L. Cobb household, 1850 U.S. Census, Caldwell Co., Kentucky.
  27. [S1745] Robert L. Cobb, owner, 1850 U.S. Census, Caldwell Co., Kentucky, slave schedule.
  28. [S1811] Robert L. Cobb household, 1860 U.S. Census, Lyon Co., Kentucky.
  29. [S1675] Robert L. Cobb, owner, 1860 U.S. Census, Lyon Co., Kentucky, slave schedule.
  30. [S1042] Connelley, History of Kentucky, pg 497, shows year, as 1870.
  31. [S628] Robert L. Cobb household, 1870 U.S. Census, McCracken Co., Kentucky, shows occupation as retired merchant.
  32. [S628] Robert L. Cobb household, 1870 U.S. Census, McCracken Co., Kentucky.
  33. [S7347] "Mr. Robert L. Cobb," Clarksville Chronicle, 21 Jun 1873, shows "a few days ago" and city.
  34. [S3235] Obituary for Mrs. Cornelia B. Cobb, unknown newspaper, 2 Jun 1875, shows he had died nearly two years before she did, 31 May 1875.
  35. [S1042] Connelley, History of Kentucky, pg 497, shows year, as 1875, city, and state, and that his wife survived him only a few months and died in 1877.
  36. [S3235] Obituary for Mrs. Cornelia B. Cobb, unknown newspaper, 2 Jun 1875, shows date, as "tomorrow," city, state, and home of Col. Willis B. Machen.
  37. [S3235] Obituary for Mrs. Cornelia B. Cobb, unknown newspaper, 2 Jun 1875, shows she had twelve children, five then living, listed as Robert, Linah, Joshua, Mark, and the widow of John B. Saunders.

 

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Compiler: Terry Reigel
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