How can I prove this?

[Kathykins]

Hi all,

Sorry to bug everyone for help again, but I might have got my ever growing tree back another generation, and I'm wondering if it's perhaps too much of a leap of faith.

I know that the parents of Henry Cobb, born in 1798 and died in 1868, were John Cobb and Mary Jamieson, and I also know from another son's death certificate that John Cobb and Mary Jamieson were deceased before 1855.

There's an OPR for John marrying Mary in 1780 which gives his place of birth as Brechin. Now, here's where it gets a little hazy - assuming John was in his late teens when he married, I ran a search for any John Cobb born in Brechin around 1750, and low and behold, I found an OPR for a John Cobb born to Thomas Cob and Margaret Downie in 1765.

Here's the problem though - without the death certficate (since John died before 1855), is there any way to prove that the John born in 1765 and my John are one and the same? I'm not even sure they are, since it would make my John 15 when he marries, which seem incredibly young. Is it too unlikely to bother including in my tree?

Any suggestions?

[scooter]

Hi There,

Have you looked at the 1841 Census returns for Brechin? There are as follows:

Piece: SCT1841/275
Place: Brechin -Angus Enumeration District: 3
Civil Parish: Brechin Burgh
Folio: 13 Page: 5
Address: Little Brechin

COBB John M 77 Grocer B. Angus
COBB Margaret F 75 B. Scotland

Piece: SCT1841/275
Place: Brechin -Angus
Enumeration District: 2
Civil Parish: Brechin Town
Folio: 2 Page: 11
Address: Gallowhill

COBB Thomas M 60 Linen Hand Loom Weaver Angus
COBB Ann F 55 Angus
COBB John M 15 Linen Hand Loom Weaver Angus

Piece: SCT1841/275
Place: Brechin -Angus
Enumeration District: 1
Civil Parish: Brechin Burgh
Folio: 11 Page: 4
Address: Mavis Bank

COBB Henry M 40 Agriculturalist Angus
COBB Jean F 45 Angus
COBB Ann F 15 Angus
COBB John M 15 Angus
COBB David M 14 Angus
COBB WilliamM 14 Angus
COBB Peter M 10 Angus
COBB GeorgeM 8 Angus

Perhaps the first John is your man?

Hope this help.

Scott