James Dyer Cobb

Narrative:

     James Dyer Cobb was born in 1825 in Monroe Co., New York.^7,8,9 James and Margaret were twins.^6,4 He was probably one of the two males under age 5 listed in the household of his father, Gideon Cobb, in the 1830 Federal Census of Brighton, Monroe Co., New York.¹⁷ He was probably one of the two males age 10 to15 listed in the household of his father in the 1840 Federal Census of Brighton, Monroe Co., New York.¹⁸ He appeared on the 1850 Federal Census of Brighton, Monroe Co., New York, in the household of his parents.¹⁹
     James married Elizabeth M. Hammond, daughter of John S. Hammond and Bessie Miriam [surname unknown], between 1850 and 1855.^10,11,12
     James and Elizabeth appeared on the 1855 State Census of Brighton, Monroe Co., New York, enumerated 6 Jun 1855.² They appeared on the 1860 Federal Census of Brighton, Monroe Co., New York, enumerated 3 Feb 1860, reporting real estate valued at $2,000.²⁰
     James and Elizabeth appeared on the 1870 Federal Census of Brighton, Monroe Co., New York, enumerated Jul 1870, reporting real estate valued at $15,000 and personal estate of $2,000. His cousin Jane Thankful Cobb, daughter of his father's brother Horace, was listed as living with them, as was Hannah M. Eder, an 18-year-old domestic.²¹
     James and Elizabeth appeared on the 1875 State Census of Brighton, Monroe Co., New York, reporting that they lived in a brick house valued at $3,000.²² They also appeared on the 1880 Federal Census of Brighton, enumerated 5 Jun 1880. Hannah M. Eder, a household servant, was listed as living with them on both occasions.²³

A Successful Farmer --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     He was a farmer.^{19,20,21,23,6} In the 1860 census he reported having 21 acres, valued at $2,000, and $400 worth of tools and implements. He reported five horses, three milch cows, three other cows, and five swine, valued at $700. He reported that he had produced 60 bushels of wheat, 100 of corn, 300 of oats, 30 of peas and beans, 75 of potatoes, 137 of barley, and $25 worth of orchard products in the year ending 1 Jun 1860. He had also produced 300 lb. of butter and 20 tons of hay and slaughtered $280 worth of livestock.²⁴
     In the 1870 census he reported having 100 acres, valued at $15,000, and $300 worth of tools and implements. He paid no wages. He reported six horses, three milch cows, and one swine, valued at $700. He reported that he had produced 195 bushels of winter wheat, 100 of corn, 145 of oats, 92 of barley, 95 of Irish potatoes, $50 in orchard products, and $50 in market produce in the year ending 1 Jun 1870. He had also produced 40 tons of hay and slaughtered $362 worth of livestock, for a total value of $1,663.²⁵
     In the 1880 census he reported owning 80 acres of tilled land and two of meadow, valued at $20,000, tools and implements worth $400, and $800 worth of livestock. He reported that he had spent $100 in repairing fences in the prior year, $15 for fertilizer, and $400 for 104 weeks of hired labor. He reported three horses, four milch cows and one other cow which had dropped four calves and produced 150 gallons of milk and 800 lb. of butter the prior year, four swine, and 35 chickens that had produced 200 dozen eggs. He reported that he had produced 200 bushels of corn on five acres, 240 of oats on four acres, 170 of wheat on seven acres, 320 of potatoes on 3 acres, and 300 of apples, worth $75, on 125 trees on two acres. He had also produced 26 tons of hay on 20 acres, with another 45 acres of grassland not mown. He had cut 15 cords of wood worth $40, for a total value of all products of $1,025.²⁶

The Housekeeper's Daughter --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     James's land, located just outside the city limits, was estimated to be worth $40,000 in 1881. For reasons not now known, "it was deemed advisable that the property should not remain" in his hands. He deeded it to another party, who deeded it to Elizabeth. He said later they had an agreement that she would make a will leaving the property to him if he survived her, which she did on 12 Jan 1881.^27,28
     In Jul 1881 a daughter was born into the James and Elizabeth's household, by all accounts to their long-time maiden housekeeper, Hannah M. Eder. But for reasons unexplained, the daughter was known as Bessie May Cobb.^29,30
     James and Elizabeth appeared on the 1892 State Census of Brighton, Monroe Co., New York, Their housekeeper, Hannah M. Eder, was listed as living with them, as was Bessie May Cobb, the housekeeper's daughter.³¹
     Five days before her death, James and Elizabeth had a "misunderstanding," and she called in a lawyer to draft a new will, dated 18 Aug 1894. It left him only a life estate in the property, with the property going to Bessie after his death. Further, the girl was to receive $3,000 in cash.^27,28
     His wife died on 23 Aug 1894 in Highland Ave., Brighton, New York.^32,33,34
     After Elizabeth's death James filed suit in equity court claiming he was the owner of the property, and her later will was invalid. While the suit was pending Hannah M. Eder had that will presented for probate.²⁷ On winning his suit before the state Supreme Court, James had his wife's earlier will admitted for probate on 4 Mar 1896.³⁵
     James left a will dated 17 Jan 1899, in which he left all his property to Hannah M. Eder, the family's long-time housekeeper.³⁶ He died on 26 Jan 1899 in Brighton, New York, at his home on Highland Ave.^13,14,15 He was buried on 28 Jan 1899 in Mount Hope Cemetery, Rochester, Monroe Co., New York, with his wife.¹⁶
     James's will was submitted for probate 20 Mar 1899. His sisters Maria and Frances, contested it, claiming he was not capable of making a will at the time. They presented testimony that he had said he had drunk a pint of whisky a day for 50 years, and had been seen drinking that much for some time.^36,37 On 6 Sep 1899 the judge delivered a decision rejecting the contest. In his decision the judge said that evidence of the deceased's drinking merely reiterated well-known fact and was not sufficient to establish incapacity. He also noted that his wife had named the housekeeper as a beneficiary in her will. He ordered the contestants to pay costs.³⁸