Marina Turner Bryan1,2,3

Family Chart
ID# 71, (1811 - 1890)
FatherCol. Henry Hunter Bryan4,5,6 (23 Feb 1786 - 7 May 1835)
MotherElizabeth Ann Averett4 (30 Aug 1786 - 21 Sep 1824)

Key Events:

Birth: 18 Mar 1811, Robertson Co., Tennessee7,8,9
Marriage: 21 Nov 1827, William Hilliard Dortch (19 Oct 1805 - 12 Aug 1835)10,11,12
Marriage: 18 Jan 1843, Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee, Dr. Joshua Cobb (19 Apr 1809 - 7 Apr 1879)13,14,15
Death: 7 Dec 1890, Madison St., Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee16,8
Burial: 9 Dec 1890, City Cemetery, Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee17,18
ChartsDescendants of Gideon Cobb

Copyright Notice

Narrative:

     Marina Turner Bryan was born on 18 Mar 1811 in Robertson Co., Tennessee.7,8,9
     She was probably one of the four females under age 10 listed in the household of her father, Col. Henry Hunter Bryan, in the 1820 Federal Census of Montgomery Co., Tennessee.19
     Marina married first William Hilliard Dortch, son of Capt. Isaac Dortch and Martha Norfleet, on 21 Nov 1827.10,11,12
     Marina was named an heir in the will of her father dated 12 Jan 1835, to receive an equal share with her siblings of his slaves, land, and the proceeds of sale of his other property, after deducting the value of the two slaves, Lucy and Martha, he had previously given her.20
     Marina and William moved to Charlotte, Dickson Co., Tennessee, shortly before his death.
     Her husband died on 12 Aug 1835 in Charlotte, Dickson Co., Tennessee.21,22

Starting a Second Family --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---


     Marina married second Dr. Joshua Cobb, son of Gideon Dyer Cobb and Modena Chittenden Clark, on 18 Jan 1843 in Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee.13,14,15
     Marina and Joshua appeared on the 1850 Federal Census of Stewart Co., Tennessee, enumerated 5 Dec 1850, reporting real estate valued at $5,000. Their children Edwin, Marina, Mary, Virginia and Sallie were listed as living with them, as was his children by his prior marriage, Irene and Robert, and her sons by her prior marriage, George and William Dortch.23,24
     Marina and Joshua moved their family to Clarksville, in 1851.25,26,27 They appeared on the 1860 Federal Census of Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee, enumerated 7 Sep 1860, reporting real estate of $30,500 and person estate of $15,000. Their children Edwin, Mary, Marina, Virginia, Sallie and Gideon were listed as living with them. He also reported owning nine slaves ranging in age from 14 to 54, six males and three females, housed in two slave houses.28,29
     Marina loaned $225 on 2 Oct 1867 to R L Cobb & Sons, the firm owned by her husband's brother Robert and his sons Linah and Joshua. This was while the firm was having financial difficulties after the war. The two sons filed for bankruptcy on 29 Feb 1868, and it is unclear whether she ever recovered her money.30
     Marina and Joshua appeared on the 1870 Federal Census of Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee, enumerated 28 Jun 1870, reporting that she owned $15,000 in real estate and $500 in personal property. Their daughter Sallie was listed as living with them, as were the widower of their daughter Mary Aurelle, John Baker Tapscott, and his daughter Mary. Also listed was her son Dr. George C. Dortch, his wife Elizabeth Jane Worden, and their daughters Susan, Mina and Georgia.31
     Her second husband died on 7 Apr 1879 in the temporary County Court House (Baptist Church), Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee.32,33,34
Marina Cobb's Tombstone
photo by authors

     Marina was issued letters of administration for the estate of her late husband Joshua, on 30 Apr 1879 by the Montgomery County Court. She made a bond for $1,000, with her sons by her first marriage, William and Dr. George C. Dortch, as sureties. But no further record of the probate has been found.35,36

Living as a Widow --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---


     Marina appeared on the 1880 Federal Census of Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee, at Madison St., enumerated 18 Jun 1880. Her son George, his wife, and two of their children apparently lived close by as they are listed next in the census record.37
     In 1887, still living in the Clarksville home she had shared with her late husband, she was described as "one of the most interesting ladies of Clarksville – a lady of clear head, active brain, and particularly bright memory, keen perception, posted on current events and very entertaining, observing all the courtesies of society with charming grace."38
     Marina died on 7 Dec 1890 in Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee at age 79, at her residence on Madison St.16,8 She was buried on 9 Dec 1890 in City Cemetery, later known as Riverview Cemetery, Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee, next to her husband.17,18

Children:
     Children with William Hilliard Dortch:

  • Dr. George C. Dortch5,39,40 (abt 27 Nov 1828 - 10 Sep 1904)
  • William T. Dortch41,42,39 (23 May 1833 - 22 Aug 1913)

Children:
     Children with Dr. Joshua Cobb:

Citations

  1. [S729] Varkus, Compendium of American Genealogy, 3:570, shows name as Marina Turner Bryan.
  2. [S728] Montgomery Co. Marriage Register, vol. 1, pg 51, no. 492, Joshua Cobb to Maina T. Dortch, 18 Jan 1843.
  3. [S645] Titus, Picturesque Clarksville, pg 266, shows name as Mrs. Mariana T. Dortch, daughter of Henry H. Bryan, and page 300, shows Marina Bryan, daughter of Colonel Henry H. Bryan.
  4. [S10065] "Queries and Answers," pg 632.
  5. [S1023] "Death of Mrs. Cobb," Semi-Weekly Tobacco Leaf, 9 Dec 1890.
  6. [S1352] The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography, pg 214.
  7. [S2303] Kilbury-Cobb, "RE: Cobb Ancestry," e-mail to author, 15 Jun 2001, citing hand-written pages titled "From Joshua Cobb's Family Bible," provided by Lillian W. Sprout, granddaughter of Joshua Cobb, with notarized statement that they were from a Bible in her possession, shows date.
  8. [S3361] Marina T. Cobb grave marker, Riverside Cemetery, shows date.
  9. [S1023] "Death of Mrs. Cobb," Semi-Weekly Tobacco Leaf, 9 Dec 1890, shows date and county.
  10. [S1023] "Death of Mrs. Cobb," Semi-Weekly Tobacco Leaf, 9 Dec 1890, shows date.
  11. [S729] Varkus, Compendium of American Genealogy, 3:570, shows year.
  12. [S10065] "Queries and Answers," pg 632, shows married.
  13. [S728] Montgomery Co. Marriage Register, vol. 1, pg 51, no. 492, Joshua Cobb to Maina T. Dortch, 18 Jan 1843, shows date.
  14. [S49] Freeman, Family File "David and Deborah.GED," 31 Jul 1998, shows year, town, county, and state; reports 1870 census of Clarksville, Montgomery Co., Tennessee shows them apparently as heads of household.
  15. [S1023] "Death of Mrs. Cobb," Semi-Weekly Tobacco Leaf, 9 Dec 1890, shows date and as her second marriage.
  16. [S1023] "Death of Mrs. Cobb," Semi-Weekly Tobacco Leaf, 9 Dec 1890, shows name as date and at her residence on Madison St.
  17. [S3361] Marina T. Cobb grave marker, Riverside Cemetery.
  18. [S1023] "Death of Mrs. Cobb," Semi-Weekly Tobacco Leaf, 9 Dec 1890, shows funeral at 2:00 "this afternoon" and interment at City cemetery.
  19. [S10063] Henry H Bryan household, 1820 U.S. Census, Montgomery Co., Tennessee.
  20. [S8704] Will Books, Montgomery Co., Tennessee, G:222-3, will of Henry H. Byran, July term 1835.
  21. [S10082] Wm. H. Dortch obituary, National Banner and Nashville Whig, shows date and town.
  22. [S729] Varkus, Compendium of American Genealogy, 3:570, shows year 1834.
  23. [S642] Joshua Cobb household, 1850 U.S. Census, Stewart Co., Tennessee.
  24. [S643] Joshua Cobb, owner, 1850 U.S. Census, Stewart Co., Tennessee, slave schedule.
  25. [S1015] "Death of Dr. Cobb," The Chronicle, 12 Apr 1879, shows he moved to Clarksville in 1851.
  26. [S645] Titus, Picturesque Clarksville, pg 267, shows iron businesses, and retired about 1866.
  27. [S944] Davis, Folk Finders, citing Clarksville City Directory 1859-1860, shows occupation as physician and address.
  28. [S640] Joshua Cobb household, 1860 U.S. Census, Montgomery Co., Tennessee.
  29. [S641] Joshua Cobb, owner, 1860 U.S. Census, Montgomery Co., Tennessee, slave schedule.
  30. [S3266] J. C. Cobb, bankruptcy, petition; Schedule A-3, unsecured debts.
  31. [S626] Joshua Cobb household, 1870 U.S. Census, Montgomery Co., Tennessee.
  32. [S2023] Montgomery Co. Court Minutes Book, 29:157, shows date, that he was stricken during the session and died "in very few minutes."
  33. [S1015] "Death of Dr. Cobb," The Chronicle, 12 Apr 1879, shows he died while attending court "Monday last;" the preceding Monday was 7 Apr.
  34. [S1016] "Quarterly Meeting of the County Court," The Chronicle, 12 Apr 1879, shows that the Court was meeting at the temporary Court House (the Baptist Church).
  35. [S8704] Will Books, Montgomery Co., Tennessee, S:165, bond of M. T. Cobb and W. J. Dortch, 30 Apr 1879.
  36. [S2023] Montgomery Co. Court Minutes Book, 29:186-7.
  37. [S1902] Mrs. M. T. Cobb household, 1880 U.S. Census, Montgomery Co., Tennessee.
  38. [S645] Titus, Picturesque Clarksville, pg 268.
  39. [S645] Titus, Picturesque Clarksville, pg 268, 300.
  40. [S729] Varkus, Compendium of American Genealogy, 3:570.
  41. [S10085] William T. Dortch obituary, Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle.
  42. [S1015] "Death of Dr. Cobb," The Chronicle, 12 Apr 1879.
  43. [S642] Joshua Cobb household, 1850 U.S. Census, Stewart Co., Tennessee, shows them in same household, apparently as parent and child.
  44. [S640] Joshua Cobb household, 1860 U.S. Census, Montgomery Co., Tennessee, shows them in same household, apparently as parent and child.
  45. [S3345] Mary Aurrelia Tabscott grave marker, Riverside Cemetery, shows her as daughter of Joshua & Marina T. Cobb.
  46. [S1015] "Death of Dr. Cobb," The Chronicle, 12 Apr 1879, shows Joshua and Marina were the parents of Mrs. Tapscott.
  47. [S1015] "Death of Dr. Cobb," The Chronicle, 12 Apr 1879, shows Joshua and Marina were the parents of Mrs. Jessop.
  48. [S2675] Presidents, Soldiers, Statesmen.
  49. [S1015] "Death of Dr. Cobb," The Chronicle, 12 Apr 1879, shows Joshua and Marina were the parents of Mrs. R. Williams.
  50. [S5368] Jennie Cobb Williams, Certificate of Death.
  51. [S1023] "Death of Mrs. Cobb," Semi-Weekly Tobacco Leaf, 9 Dec 1890, shows Mrs. Bryce Stewart as her daughter.
  52. [S5369] Sallie West Stewart, Certificate of Death.
  53. [S10062] Gideon Clark Cobb obituary, Clarksville Chronicle.
  54. [S1015] "Death of Dr. Cobb," The Chronicle, 12 Apr 1879, shows Joshua and Marina were the parents of a son who died in childhood.