Generation 7- Mic’s Brick Wall Ancestor-Sister of Keziah Willis 180+- 1839

Nancy’s parents were James M. Cobb born 1797 in Baldwin County, GA and his first wife, who has yet to be definitively identified. I am nicknaming her “Sister of Keziah Willis” for reasons stated in the next generation. The mother (Sister of Keziah Willis) probably died about 1839 giving child birth.

James M. Cobb was married two additional times and had children from both marriages. The Mt-DNA in those marriages was passed down from their respective mother’s to their own children rather than from “Sister of Keziah Willis” and will not match the Mt-DNA of Nancy Cobb and her children.

My Brick Wall Ancestor (who I refer to as)  “Sister of Keziah Willis”

There is no record of Nancy Cobb’s mother-at all. Not her first name, her maiden name, her birth date nor her death date. She likely died as a result of childbirth or complications, thereof, when her youngest son, Daniel J John Cobb, was born in Houston County in 1839.

As stated earlier Nancy’s father was James M. Cobb born 1797 in Baldwin County, GA. I have unable to discover a marriage record for Nancy’s mother and father, probably, due to it taking place in a county whose marriage records have been lost or burned.

Over the years, because Nancy was enumerated in the 1850 census in the household of James and Eliza (Guy) Brooks, I speculated Nancy’s mother may have been a Brooks or a Guy. Someone else on the Internet has speculated her name may have been Ann Holliman, however, I have never seen any evidence for any of these theories.

Due to me matching three descendants of Keziah Willis, wife of William F Cobb, on the Mt-DNA test, I have come to believe Nancy’s mother was an unknown and undocumented sister of Keziah Willis. Therefore, I have nicknamed Nancy’s mother “Sister of Keziah Willis”. Hopefully, further research will reveal her real name.

In addition, on Ancestry.com’s Thrulines autosomal program, I am matching several current day living descendants of two of Keziah Willis’ sisters, Pamela and Louisiana H(orton). I will mention more on these matches in the write-up of Susannah Miller below

Children of “Sister of Keziah Willis” and James M. Cobb were:

Lucretia Cobb age 18 (thus born 1832) Houston County, GA

Bernard S. Cobb age 16 (thus born 1834) Houston County, GA

Nancy Cobb age 14 (thus born 1836) Houston County, GA

Benjamin F. Cobb age 13 (thus born 1837) Houston County, GA

James M Cobb married his second wife, Eliza McNorton, 29 October 1844 in Muscogee County, Georgia and she died in January 1850 of child bed fever. The child she had been pregnant with was apparently Daniel J. John Cobb.

Eliza’s death really tore the family unit apart. I had to recreate the list of James’ children from his two families from three different homes.

In James’s 1850 enumeration at dwelling #5 there were:

Lucretia age 18 born in Houston County

Bernard L age 16 born in Houston County

Plus the three children born to Eliza (Norton)

At Thomas and Susannah (Miller) Willis’ home at dwelling #66 there were two Cobb children:

Lucinda age 19 born Houston County

Daniel J John age 11 born Houston County

And lastly, there were two Cobb children at William and Eliza (Guy) Brooks’ home at dwelling #128:

Nancy age 14 born Houston County

Benjamin F age 13 born Houston County

I am sure Lucretia L age 18 and Lucinda age 19 are both Lucreasy (Cobb)

James M and Eliza (McNorton) Cobb had three children, all born in Muscogee County, Georgia. They appear on the 1850 census enumerated with James M Cobb and all of them inherited a legacy from their grandfather, Eliza’s father with James M Cobb, their father as their guardian. Each of these three children would have inherited the Mt-DNA of their own mother.

Sarah A.T. born about 1845

Emeline A born about 1846

William F. born in 1849-1850