Looking for Cobb Family in My Line (VA/WV/NC/KY)
by Doug Park - Descendant of Park Pioneer Settlers in VA/WV, NC and KY
Hi, folks....here is a copy of a letter I've sent to Cobb Family members in
KY....if any of you are in my line or allied families, please contact
me. Or if you would like to exchange info or can help me with locating the
burial place of Ebenezer Park (1747-1839) and Tabitha Mills (1752-1826),
please let me hear from you too.
November 1, 1999
Dear Cobb Family Member,
My name is Doug Park and I currently live in Fayetteville, NC where I am
assigned to Pope Air Force Base with my wife and 4 children. Although, I
live in North Carolina, 6 generations of my Cobb and 7 generations of my
Park Family have lived primarily in the Irvine, Richmond, and Wagersville
areas of Kentucky beginning in 1795 when my 4th Great Grandparents
(father's maternal side), Hon. Jesse Cobb, Sr. (1769-1836) and Edith Oldham
(1773-1836) came to Kentucky from Caswell Co., NC. The following year, my
fraternal 5th Great Grandparents, Ebenezer Park (1747-1839) and Tabitha
Mills (1752-1826), came to Madison County on horseback with their 10
children from Salisbury, North Carolina (Rowan Co.).
The purpose of this letter is to reach out and contact other Cobb family
members in the Great Commonwealth of Kentucky, like you, to exchange family
history (genealogical info), particularly if our lineage makes us
cousins. Although I have found the graves of Jesse Cobb and Edith Oldham,
I am also very interested in finding the long lost graves of my Pioneer
Grandparents, Ebenezer and Tabitha. Nell Park Gum in her 1929 book, "Park
of Kentucky" writes that Ebenezer died on Drowning Creek in Madison
County. Ebenezer's Grandson, George W. Park (1829-1919) (married to Patsy
Collins) through his son, Eli Park (1787-1858) married to Winnaford
Dillingham (1795-1854), supposedly kept a diary and recorded the exact date
and time of Ebenezer's death in his bible. Below is my direct line,
beginning with Jesse Cobb and Edith Oldham, and the link-up with my Park
side of the family. Ebenezer Park, migrated from NJ to Frederick Co., VA
in 1735. He arrived in Salisbury, NC from VA in 1771 and married Tabitha
Mills there on Jan 6, 1772. I am also closely related to the Durham Family
of Kentucky on my father's maternal side, if any of you are part of or
interested in this line as well.
My father, William Henry Park II of Bowie, MD, an Honorary Kentucky
Colonel and a past President of the Kentucky Society of Washington, DC, was
born in Richmond, KY. His sister, Martha Lamb, has lived most of her life
in Danville, KY. I had the opportunity to perform some field research in
Estill, Madison, Boyle, Lincoln and Clark Counties this past June with my
father. During this time, we located and explored ancient cemeteries,
where we found the graves of many of our Cobb and Park ancestors;
historical landmarks; conducted interviews; and viewed land tracts and
homesteads owned by the Cobb and Park families. The results of this work
were compiled into a more than 50 page trip report entitled "Park and Cobb
Family Summer Field Research and Expeditionary Project I (Over 90 hours and
1,700 miles of driving), Estill, Madison, Boyle, Lincoln and Clark
Counties, 9-14 June 99". A copy of it can be found in the Estill County
Library. My father and I are preparing to release Edition II, which
contains updated and expanded information and will once again, provide a
copy of this newest release to the Estill County Library. I am eager to
receive and freely share information on our Park Family.
My Direct Cobb Line:
Jesse Cobb (1769-1836) m. Edith Oldham (1773-1836) (4th Great Grandparents)
-NC/KY
Richard Cobb, Sr. (1818-1900) m. Mary Minerva Park, (3d Great Grandparents)
- KY
Richard Cobb, Jr. (1860-1931) m. Tabitha Taylor Phelps (1862-1938) (2d
Great Grandparents)
Minerva "Mamee" Cobb (1886-1974) m. Milton J. Durham (1883-1966) (Great
Grandparents)- KY
Elveree Collins Durham (Dolly) (1912-1989) m. William Holton Park
(1900-1980) (Grandparents) - KY
William Henry Park II. (1930- ) m. Frances Theresa Bell (1932- )
(Prioriello) (Father and Mother)- KY/MD
**William Douglas Park (Myself) (1959- ) m. Pamela Rae Long (1959- )
(Myself and wife) MD/WV/NC
Note: Mary Minerva Park is a grandchild of Ebenezer Park and Tabitha Mills
(My 5th Great Grandparents) through their son, Col Eli Park (1787-1858) m.
Winnaford Dillingham 1795-1854). She also links my Park and Cobb ancestors.
My Direct Park Line:
Dr. Roger Parke, Sr. (1654-1731) m. Anne Pattison (8th Great Grandparents) - NJ
John Parke I. (1674-1757) m. Sarah Smith (1675-1759) (7th Great
Grandparents) NJ/VA
John Park II. (1707-1758) m. Mary Davis (1710-1771) (6th Great
Grandparents)- VA
Ebenezer Park (1747-1839) m. Tabitha Mills (1752-1826) (5th Great
Grandparents)- VA/NC/KY
John Park (1772-1828) m. Mary (Polly) Peeler ((1774- )(4th Great
Grandparents)- NC/KY
Jonah Park (1806-1884) m. Malinda Wagers (1810-1862) (3rdGreat
Grandparents)- KY
John McMonegal Park (1827-1901) m. Martha Cobb (1835-1911)(2nd Great
grandparents) - KY
William Henry Park I. (1860-1932) m. Eleanor Simpson (1865-1944) (Great
Grandparents)- KY
William Holton Park (1900-1980) m. Elveree Collins Durham (1911-1989)
(Dolly) (Grandparents)-KY
William Henry Park II. (1930- ) m. Frances Theresa Bell (1932- )
(Prioriello) (Father and Mother)- KY/MD
**William Douglas Park (Myself) (1959- ) m. Pamela Rae Long (1959- )
(Myself and wife) MD/WV/NC
Note: Martha Cobb above is Henry Cobb's (brother to Richard Cobb, Sr., my
3d Great Grandfather listed in Cobb lineage) daughter married to John
McMonegal Park, my 3d Great Grandfather, father's fraternal side. Martha
is one of several key links between my Cobb and Park ancestors.
Thank you for your attention. I really hope to hear from you! If you need
or have any info regarding my Cobb or Park lines, the burial place of my
5th Great Grandparents or our field research, please contact me at:
Major Doug Park, USAF
7809 Expo St.
Fayetteville, NC 28311
(910) 823-9157 (Home)
(910) 394-7260
E-mail: ParkFamilyHeritage(a)Worldnet.att.net
Or my father at:
William H. Park
12312 Starlight La.
Bowie, MD 20715
(301) 464-1608
E-mail: Coffee5(a)erols.com
Sincerely in the Spirit of Our Cobb Family,
Doug Park
My Park and Cobb Family Home
Page: http://home.att.net/~parkefamilyheritage/index.html