A History of Coventry, Orleans County, Vermont (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1859 edition. Excerpt: ... less woods. In the following June, Samuel Cobb's wifer (Silence Barney, b. Feb. 21, 1756, ) and his younger children, who had remained in Westmoreland while preparations were making for their reception, joined their husband and father in the wilderness, and the first settlement of Coventry was made complete. Tisdale Cobb's family consisted only of himself and wife (Sarah Pierce;) and Samuel's of himself, his wife, three sons, and four daughters. These fathers of the town were noteworthy men, and it will be amiss not to give some detailed account of them. Samuel Cobb was a native of Taunton, Mass., born Sept. 3d, 1753. He learned the blacksmith's trade, in which he became an ingenious and skilful workman. In early life he removed to Westmoreland, N. H., where he was one of the pioneer settlers. On the breaking out of the revolutionary war, he enlisted in the army of independence, and rendered efficient service as a soldier and a gunsmith. While in the army he acquired much distinction for his prodigious strength and his great skill in wrestling, an exercise in which our athletic ancestors very freely indulged. Tradition says that on one occasion when a wrestling match was held to determine the championship of that division of the army to which he belonged, he was victorious over all competitors. He was connected with Stark's army at the battle of Bennington, but did not engage in the fight, being occupied in repairing the disabled guns of the other soldiers. At one time, he and his brother Simeon were enrolled as minute men, and Simeon having ben summoned to the field, had prepared his knapsack and gun and was about to start, when Samuel thought he discovered some hesitation in his brother, and asked him if he would rather stay at home, to...