Ebenezer Cobb

Narrative:

     Ebenezer Cobb was born on 25 Feb 1785 in Pawlet, Vermont.^1,6,7 He was probably one of the three males under age 16 listed in the household of his father, Ebenezer Cobb, in the 1790 Federal Census of Pawlet, Rutland Co., Vermont.¹⁵ He was probably one of the two males age 10 to 15 listed in the household of his father in the 1800 Federal Census of Shelburne, Chittenden Co., Vermont.¹⁶ He married Rhodah Farnsworth, daughter of Reuben Farnsworth and Anna Kellogg, and sister of the man his sister Susanna married a year earlier, on 8 Dec 1808 in Burlington.^8,9,10
     Ebenezer appeared on the 1810 Federal Census of Shelburne, Chittenden Co., Vermont, with a household consisting of one male one age 16 to 26 (himself), one female under 10 (daughter Clarissa), and one age 16 to 26 (wife, Rhodah Farnsworth). His parents were evidently living close by, as they are listed preceding in the census record.¹⁷
     Ebenezer was a soldier in the war of 1812. He was a corporal of marines aboard the gunboat Borer in the Battle of Plattsburg, New York, on 11 Sep 1814, where he was wounded. That battle, also known as the Battle of Lake Champlain, was a land and naval engagement, in which the British were defeated. The defeat denied them of any claim of possession of the area in the negotiations shortly afterwards that resulted in the Treaty of Ghent which ended the war.^18,19,20
     Ebenezer appeared on the 1820 Federal Census of Shelburne, Chittenden Co., Vermont, with a household consisting of three white males under age 10 (sons Reuben, Henry and George), one age 26 to 45 (himself), one white female under age 10 (daughter Mary), two age 10 to 16 (Clarissa and another), and one age 26 to 45 (wife Rhodah). They were apparently living close to his parents, as his father is listed just above him in the census record.²¹
     On 3 Jul 1826 Ebenezer's mother, Elizabeth Lathrop, filed a request with the Chittenden District Probate Court to appoint him as administrator for the estate of his late father.²² The younger Ebenezer posted a bond of $2,000 with the probate court on 6 Jul 1826, with his sister Susanna's husband Holden Farnsworth acting as surety.²³
     Ebenezer and Rhodah moved to Waterbury, Vermont, about 1826, then to Grand Isle, then to Lawrenceville, New York.²⁴ (See map.) Ebenezer appeared on the 1840 Federal Census of South Hero, Grand Isle Co., Vermont, with a household consisting of one male age 5 to 10 (son Charles), one age 10 to 15 (Hiram), one age 20 to 30 Henry or George), one age 50 to 60 (himself), and one female age 20 to 30 (daughter Clarissa), and one age 50 to 60 (wife Rhodah). It appears that his daughter Mary and her husband George Pearl lived close by, as he is listed four lines before in the census record.²⁵
     After the death of his wife in 1845, Ebenezer apparently lived with his children, first back in Burlington, then in Wisconsin. He appeared on the 1850 Federal Census of Burlington, Chittenden Co., Vermont, in the household of Abraham Mackridge and Clarissa Cobb, his daughter and her husband.²⁶ He appeared on the 1860 Federal Census of Clinton, Rock Co., Wisconsin, in the household of his son Hiram and Elizabeth Campbell, his wife.²⁷
     He was a farmer.^28,29,30,31
     Ebenezer died on 17 Dec 1868 in Clinton, Wisconsin, at age 83.^11,12,13,14