Family History, Cobb Chart 0403 Reuben Cobb and (Elizabeth) Sarah Ann Brown

1861 Burton, Winfrith Newburgh, Dorset
1871 Buckland Newton, Dorset
1881 Main Street, Wool, Dorset
(probably in a Weld Estate cottage opposite the school)(Roger HAWKINS)
1891 Quai, Wool, Dorset
1901 Coombe Keynes, Dorset
Will of Reuben COBB
I REUBEN COBB of Coombe Keynes in the County of Dorset Brick and Tile Manufacturer and Farmer hereby revoke all testamentary dispositions heretofore made by me and declare this to be my last will I appoint George Dicker Senior of Wareham in the said County of Dorset Provision Merchant and Albert Ricardo Marsh of the same Builder (hereinafter called “my Trustees” which expression where the context admits includes the survivor and the Executors or Administrators of such survivor or other the Trustees or the Trustee for the time being hereof) to be the Executors and Trustees of this my will I bequeath to my wife Elizabeth Sarah Ann Cobb absolutely the Plate Plated Articles linen china glass books pictures prints furniture jewellery and articles of household or personal use or ornament and other Articles and effects of every kind which at my death shall be in or about my dwelling house I bequeath to my two sons Hezekiah George and Walter Reuben in equal share the business of brick and tile manufacturer and farmer now carried on by me at Coombe Keynes aforesaid together with all the stock in trade plant machinery horses harness and carts used in connection therewith but subject to the payment by them of an annuity of Thirty pounds to my wife during her life or until she marries again such Annuity to commence from my death and to be paid by equal quarterly payments And I declare that if either of my said sons shall decline to carry on the said business he shall in the first instance offer his share thereof together with the stock in trade belonging thereto to my other son for sale at a price to be determined by the valuation of an independent valuer to be nominated by my Trustees And my son to whom an offer of sale shall have been made as aforesaid shall be allowed seven days within which he must either accept or decline such offer And if he shall not accept the same within such a period he shall be deemed to have declined it and my other son may then proceed to sell his share of the said business and stock in trade to any other person or persons Provided always that in the event of one of my sons selling his share whether to my other son or to any other person he shall secure to the satisfaction of my Trustees the payment to my wife of one half of the Annuity of Thirty pounds aforesaid I devise and bequeath all my real and personal estate not hereby or by any Codicil hereto otherwise disposed of to my Trustees calling in and conversion for such period as they (without being liable to account) shall think fit My Trustees shall out of the money to arise from such sale and conversion and out of my ready money pay my funeral and testamentary expenses debts and death duties and shall invest the residue of the said money in or upon any of the investments authorised as investments for trust funds with power at their discretion to change such investments for others of a like nature My Trustees shall stand possessed of the investments hereinbefore directed to be made and of any part of my residuary estate remaining unconverted and of the annual income thereof Upon the trusts following that is to say Upon trust to pay the income thereof to my said wife during her life or until she shall marry again And from and after her death or second marriage in trust in equal shares for my two sons the said Hezekiah George and Walter Reuben and my daughter Anne Jane the wife of James Sturmey In witness whereof I have to this my last will and testament set my hand this thirteenth day of October one thousand nine hundred and twenty one
Reuben Cobb
Signed by the above named Reuben Cobb as and for his last will in the presence of us both here together who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses
H Broadbent Manager of Messrs Preston & Francis Solicitors Wareham
W C Bussell Wareham Dorset Solicitors Clerk
On the 20th day of June 1931 Probate of this Will was granted at Blandford
Directories - 1903, 1920 Reuben COBB Brickmaker, - 1923 COBB & Sons Brickmakers, - 1927 R COBB & Sons Brickmakers, Coombe Keynes, Dorset
Family bible shows birth date as 8 November 1859
Reuben and Annie lived in this cob and thatch cottage opposite West Coombe Farm. It was a simple two up and two down detached thatched cottage with the thatch arched over the upstairs windows. There was a chimney in the middle with open fires on either side. The front door was in the middle with the living room to the left and the 'best' room to the right used only for Sunday afternoons and special occasions. The walls were very thick and there were window seats in the window alcoves but there was not much furniture in there and what there was was very old. There were rugs and mats on an earthen floor but no sink or tap. Cooking was done on an open fire in the living room with the cooking pots hung on hooks or rails around it. At the back of the living room was an outhouse which contained among other things a hip bath which could be brought into the kitchen and in which it was possible to sit and have a bath. The water for it, of course, had to be heated in kettles and pots on the fire. The stairs went up from the living room and steps went up to the back door because the ground sloped from the back towards the front. There was a cupboard under the stairs where Annie used to store her apples picked from the garden. Water was obtained from a tap in the front hedge between the two cottages and water always came out white because of the chalk or line content. The cottage had a big garden with apple trees and a shed and outside toilet at the tip. Roger HAWKINS drew a sketch plan based on the description given by Walter COBB and Bet DOREY.
The old cottage was unfortunately allowed to deteriorate in more recent years and was eventually demolished. A modern much less attractive thatched cottage named 'Rooks' was built in it's place. It is further back from the road, is much taller in line with modern building regulations and the garden has been built up.
Reuben and Annie took in her father, Hezekiah BROWN, when he became ill and looked after him in their house. Reuben took over the running of the Brickworks from him.

1880 Coombe Keynes, Dorset
1881 Main Street, Wool, Dorset as Ann (probably in a Weld Estate cottage opposite the school)(Roger HAWKINS)
1891 Quai, Wool, Dorset as Annie
1891 17 September Wool, Dorset (Roger HAWKINS)
1901 Coombe Keynes, Dorset as Sarah Ann
Will of Elizabeth Sarah Ann Cobb
THIS IS THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT of me ELIZABETH SARAH ANN COBB
of Coombe Keynes in the County of Dorset Widow I revoke all Wills by me at any time heretofore made and declare this to be my last will I appoint my son WALTER REUBEN COBB and my son-in-law JAMES STURMEY to be the EXECUTORS of this my Will and Trustees thereof I bequeath my silver watch and chain and my gramophone to my granddaughter Margaret Ethel Cobb absolutely I bequeath all the rest of my jewellery and my wearing apparel to my daughter Annie Jane Sturmey absolutely I bequeath the sum of Twenty pounds to my said son Walter Reuben Cobb absolutely for his absolute use and benefit I give devise appoint and bequeath all the rest residue and remainder of my estate and effects both real and personal unto my Executors and Trustees Upon Trust to sell call in and convert into money the same with power to postpone such sale and conversion and after payment thereout of my just debt funeral and testamentary expenses to hold the residue thereof Upon Trust for such of my grandchildren who shall be living at my death and who shall attain the age of twenty one years in equal share absolutely In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 26th day of January One thousand nine hundred and thirty three
E S A Cobb
Signed by the said Elizabeth Ann Cobb and for her last Will in the presence of us who at her request in her presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses
Robert C Howie Solicitor Wareham
W N Fowles Clerk to Messes Preston, Redman & Co Solicitors, Wareham, Dorset
On the 16th day of April 1940 Probate of the Will was granted at Blandford
Parents - Hezekiah BROWN - Brickmaker, and Elizabeth Jane STOKELY Information about the BROWN family can be obtained from the book “A Backward Glimpse of Wool” by Alan BROWN
In 1902, 1909, 1917 and 1931 Reuben COBB was one of the Church Wardens at Holy Rood, Coombe Keynes, Dorset. In 1899 he had been present at the meeting for reappointing the Overseers and had signed the minutes.
Information from Roger HAWKINS
NAME OMITTED
The Family Bible omits the name Elizabeth. On Marriage Certificate she is shown as Sarah Ann BROWN, on birth certificate of Reuben Walter she is shown as Annie COBB. Known as Aunt Annie to Alan BROWN's family.

1881 Main Street, Wool, Dorset age 2 months (probably in a Weld Estate cottage opposite the school)(Roger HAWKINS)
1891 Quai, Wool, Dorset
1901 Tower House, Upway, Melcombe Regis, Dorset. Housemaid to Francis DRURY (48?) Lt Colonel Indian Army born India, his wife Marigete born Trinidad, West Indies and children Hyacinth (7) and Enid (6) both born Meerat, India. Other servants were Elizabeth PITT (71) Housekeeper born Bristol, Gloucestershire and Louisa YEATMAN (17) Cook born Kingston, Dorset

Information from Roger HAWKINS - Family bible shown name as Lavina

1891 Quai, Wool, Dorset as George
1901 Coombe Keynes, Dorset as George
1908 Coombe Keynes, Dorset

Address - Wool, Dorset (Roger HAWKINS)

1901 Coombe Keynes, Dorset
1913 Coombe Keynes, Wareham, Dorset
1915 Lime Kilns, Coombe Keynes, Dorset
1924 Lime Kilns, Coombe Keynes, Dorset
1935 Lime Kiln Farm, Dorset (Kelly's Directory)
1939 Lime Kiln Farm, Dorset (Kelly's Directory)
1944 West Coombe Farm, Coombe Keynes, Dorset (Roger HAWKINS)

This is a Chart for Reuben Cobb and (Elizabeth) Sarah Ann Brown