The marriage of Silas W. Cobb and Olive Throop must have
been a good match. In 1817, the couple gave birth to twin daughters. One twin’s
name is unknown at this time, but the other twin was named Mary.
A family of twelve must have kept Olive very busy. Silas W. Cobb
was also busy providing for his large family. In the 1820s Silas was the
proprietor of The Cobb Tavern of Moretown, Vermont.
In the 1820s New England Taverns were considered “hotels”
where overnight guests could receive a breakfast and dinner. As with any
restaurant, the quality of food could vary but it was usually plentiful as
stagecoaches might stop for the night.
Good, plentiful food is only part of the New England tavern
life. Men gathered at the local tavern for drink. In the 1820s American men consumed a great deal of alcohol
much more that today. The Cobb Tavern may have been home to the Cobb Family and
a meeting place for the gentlemen of the area.
Silas Bowman Cobb’s biography reports that the large family
had little money. Silas Bowman tells of receiving a limited education due to
family finances; which suggests that all the Cobb children had limited
educational opportunities as well. Perhaps they worked in their father’s tavern or were
“bound out” as Silas Bowman was.
The Cobb Family most likely experienced hardship. In 1828
and 1830 two family members passed away. The Vermont Watchman & State Gazette reported Mary
Cobb’s death.
Cobb, Mary; age 11; 29th ult., twin daughter of
Silas W. Cobb, Esq.; Moretown;
Issue Date: 8 April 1828
The paper also reported the death of Olive Cobb.
Cobb, Olive; age 52; 16th inst; wife of Silas W.
Cobb; Montpelier;
Issue Date: 23 November 1830
I would like to extent a thank you to the Janice Boyko and
The Northeast Kingdom Genealogy Group of Vermont. This nonprofit organization is run by
volunteers and has been a great source for my Vermont genealogy research.
