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Joseph Cobb, my 1st cousin 4 times removed, was born on 7th September 1832 in Chelsea, London to Joseph and Emma Cobb (nee Britten).
In 1862, at the age of 30, Joseph junior (who worked in his father's Butcher's business in the Kings Road, Chelsea) apparently flew the nest and purchased the Butcher's business at 2, Sloane Street, Knightsbridge from his uncle John Britten. Father and son seem to have been in competiton with each other, with both of them running the following adverts in The West Middlesex Advertiser of Jun 28th & July 12th 1862:-
Joseph Cobb, Sen. Purveyor of Meat, 52 Kings Road, Chelsea, in returning thanks to his friends, respectfully solicits a continuance of that kind of support he has been favored with for the last 27 years. J.C. begs to state that, from his long experience with the markets, he is enabled to supply his neighbours and the public with meat at a price, for ready money, as would doubtless secure their permanent patronage.
J.Cobb, Jun., Butcher, 2 Sloane Street, Knightsbridge, S.W., (Nephew of the late Mr. Britten), Begs most respectfully to inform the Nobility, Gentry and Inhabitants of the surrounding neighbourhood, that he has purchased the Business carried on for so many years by his late uncle, situate as above, and hopes by strict attention to their commands, and by supplying the best quality of meat only, to ensure the same liberal patronage from them as was bestowed upon his predecessor.
Joseph junior ran his business in Sloane Street until his retirement in 1878, when he gifted it to his brothers and moved to Cromwell House in Hounslow, Middlesex where he spent the rest of his life. Joseph was the major beneficiary of the Will of his uncle, George Cobb, which was proved on 11th January 1878 and it would seem likely that this facilitated his retirement. Joseph married Emily Harriet Walter on 21st November 1865 at Isleworth parish church - they had no children.
"The Middlesex Chronicle" - Saturday May 31st, 1913 - Death of Mr. Joseph Cobb
The residents of Hounslow and neighbourhood will learn with the deepest regret that Mr. Joseph Cobb passed away on Thursday morning at his residence, Cromwell House, Staines Road, after a long illness. The late Mr. Cobb, who was in the 81st year of his age, came to Hounslow 38 years ago and took up his residence at Cromwell House, the fabric and environments of which he greatly improved. He acquired a large property and rate-paying interest in the district, and for 14 years worthily represented the parish on the Brentford Board of Guardians. Although he took no share in the other departments of local and parochial government, he was at the same time keenly concerned in other matters affecting the religious and social welfare of the community, and closely followed all events connected with those departments of public life.
He had always been a generous friend to the Hospital movement, for besides his liberal annual subscription, and numerous gifts to the institution, he was among the first to support any forward step towards extending its usefulness. On several occasions he sent donations of £100 and £50 to the funds, besides a contribution for the building of the new hospital; he always took the greatest interest in anything connected with the work.
He was also a liberal supporter of Church institutions and athletic associations, and of the local Philanthropic Society and his numerous public and private benefactions will be greatly missed.
For a long time he was an energetic adherent of the Conservative cause in the Division and gave many practical proofs of his earnestness and loyalty in furthering the interest of the Party, and when advancing years and failing health compelled his withdrawal from political activity, general regret was expressed by all who had been associated with him.
"The Middlesex Chronicle" - Saturday June 7th, 1913 - Funeral of Mr. Cobb
The funeral of the late Mr. Joseph Cobb who passed away at Cromwell House, Staines Road, on Thursday in last week in the 81st year of his age, took place on Tuesday afternoon and was marked with general signs of respect and sympathy in the district. About one o’clock the cortege started from the house, the arrangements being under the experienced superintendence of Mr. Thomas Woods, who was assisted by Mr. T.Woods Junior. The handsome polished oak outer case with massive brass fittings enclosing the remains in a shell and lead coffin, was borne on a Washington car enveloped with a mass of choice wreaths. Among these was a representation of a broken pillar, skilfully worked in white stocks, grasses and beautiful orchids from the Cromwell House Conservatory as a token from Mrs. Cobb. Immediately after the car, came a Victoria, laden with other floral tributes, and this was followed by a number of carriages with the following mourners.
1stCarriage: Mrs. Cobb (widow) and Miss Walter (niece).
2nd: Mr. Hewett Cobb (brother), Mr. George Aley Cobb (brother), Mr. George Cobb (nephew) and Mr. C.A.Walter (brother-in-law).
3rd: Mr. C.Fisher, Mr. W.Hardy, Mr. A.Eborell and the Rev. George Andrew Walter.
4th: Mr. John R. Knights, Mr. C. May, Mr. E.Cardwell and Mr. E. Newcomb.
5th: Mr. G. Lawrence, Mr. W. Garner and Mr. E.Beldam.
6th: Dr. H.Sydney and the Rev. H. Layton.
The private broughams of Dr. Sydney and Mr. J.R.Knights, and the motor cars of Mr. G.A.Cobb and Mr. W.H.Ellis of “Clovelly”, were also in the procession. The cortege proceeded by way of Staines and Hibernia Roads to the Church of St. Stephen, where the first part of the burial service was held, the choir of the church being in attendance with Mr. Sydney Rendell presiding at the organ. As the coffin was carried into the church and placed at the chancel step, the vicar, the Rev. H.Layton, recited the opening sentence of the burial office and also read the psalm: “Lord Thou hast been our refuge, from one generation to another”.
The appointed lesson was read by the Rev. G.A.Walter, Curate of St. Paul’s, Bedford, (nephew of the deceased) and this was followed by Cardinal Newman’s grand hymn: “ Lead kindly light”, sung to Dyke’s fine setting. The prayers of the office were said and this portion of the service concluded with the singing of the hymn: “On the Resurrection morning”. The coffin was borne back to the car and the cortege then went along the Hanworth, Bell and Lampton Roads to Heston Churchyard. The internment took place in a grave lined with moss, ivy and choice flowers, in the presence of the mourners already named and many other representative residents of the district. The Rev. H.Layton again officiated, the Committal Office was pronounced by the Rev. G.A.Walter, and at the close the Benediction was given by the Rev. F.W.A.Wilkinson, the Vicar of Heston. During the progress of the obsequies, the bells of St. Stephen’s Church, of Holy Trinity Church and Heston Parish Church were tolled.
The floral tokens were sent as follows:
Broken Pillar, Mrs. Cobb
Wreath, Mr. Hewitt Cobb
Wreath, Mr. & Mrs. George A. Cobb
Cross, Messrs. G. & A. and the Misses Cobb
Wreath, Mrs. Phillips
Wreath, Mr. C.A.Walter
Cross, Mrs. Ludlow
Wreath, Mrs. Ratcliffe
Cross, Miss Cooke
Cross, Mrs. E.Sutch Taylor
Cross, Rev. & Mrs. G.A.Walter
Cross, Miss E.Walter
Wreath, Mr. & Mrs. Ernest Cardwell
Wreath, Mr. & Mrs. W.Hardy
Wreath, Mr. & Mrs. Fisher
Oval Cushion of Roses, Mr. & Mrs. Chas. Fisher
Wreath, Mr. G.Lawrence & the Misses Smith
Wreath, Miss Williams
Wreath, Mrs. Starling
Wreath, The Maids & Men at Cromwell House
Wreath, Miss Pollock
Wreath, Mr. & Mrs. Charles Grant
Cross, Mr. & Mrs. Eborall
Wreath, Mr. & Mrs. & Miss May
Cross, Mr. & Mrs. Curtis
Cross, Mrs. & Miss Beldam
Cross, Mr. & Mrs. John Allen
Cushion, Mr. & Mrs. J.Knights
Wreath, Mr. & Mrs. Clark
Cross, Mr. & Mrs. Sydney Knights
Spray, Mrs. Ernest Knights
Wreath, Mr. & Mrs. William Garner
Wreath, Mrs. Cooke (Lustleigh)
Wreath, Mr. & Mrs. Ernest Beldam
Wreath, the Tester family
Heart, Mr. & Mrs. Ellis
Wreath, Mr. & Mrs. Slocock
Chaplet, Dr. & Miss Sydney
Cross, Mr. John Payne
Wreath, Messrs. G.Danels & Sons
Wreath, the Cricket Club
Bunch of flowers, Rhoda
In addition to those mentioned above, there were also present either at the service in St. Stephen’s Church or at the grave side, the following:
the Rev. L.Prout, Mrs. Layton, Mrs. W.H. Ellis, Mrs. Neale, the Misses Woods, Miss E. Butler, Miss Carter, Miss Ratcliffe, Miss Cooke, Miss Beldam, Mr. G.Danels, Mr. J.Payne, Mr. J.J. Bonnett, J.P. (Chairman of District Council), Mr. S.H.Slocock F.R.C.V.S., Mr. J.H.Stevens and Mr. H.K.Gotelee (secretary) and Mr. Robert Newman (treasurer) representing the Middlesex Agricultural & Market Garden Society, of which the late Mr. Joseph Cobb was a liberal supporter.
Mrs. Cobb desires through the columns of the “Middlesex Chronicle” to express her sincere and heartfelt thanks to all who have shown so much kind feeling and sympathy to her in her bereavement.
"The Times" - 31st July, 1913 - BEQUESTS TO CHARITIES
Mr. Joseph Cobb of Cromwell House, Hounslow, Middlesex who died on May 29th, aged 80, left estate of the gross value of £117,709, of which the net personalty has been sworn at £109,257. The testator left £500 to the Butchers’ Charitable Institution and £250 to the Vicar and Churchwardens of Heston, for the upkeep of the Churchyard; and, subject to his wife’s interest, £500 to the Hounslow Hospital, and £250 each to the United Kingdom Railway Officers’ and Servants’ Association, the Hospital for Incurables, the National Benevolent Institution and the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Fund.
Church of St. Leonards, Heston
Cross on base & kerb: Inscribed, "In loving memory/of/Joseph Cobb/born September 7th 1832/died May 29th 1913/also of /Emily Harriet Cobb/wife of the above/died October 31st 1919"
Dated 3rd December 1912 - Probate of the will was granted on 26th July 1913 to Emily Harriet Cobb, Charles Malcolm Fisher, Alfred Eborall and William Frederick Hardy the Executors.
"The Middlesex Chronicle" - Saturday Sept. l8th, 1920 - "Cromwell House Estate - Bought by the butchers"
In 1875 the late Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Cobb acquired the residence and grounds, and during their time the former was enlarged and artistically decorated, and the latter laid out in ornamental lawns, with pleasure and kitchen gardens. In connection with the forthcoming settlement of the butchers' pensioners here, is the interesting circumstance that Mr. Cobb was for many years one of the leading butchers of the suburbs, had a large establishment at Kensington, and was himself a most liberal supporter of the charity. For 38 years he lived a quiet life on this estate, freely dispensing of his wealth to all philanthropic and other deserving institutions in the district, especially to the local hospital. This institution received from him, in addition to annual subscriptions, various large sums for building, extension and maintenance and a handsome legacy at his death in 1913. Mrs. Cobb, who only passed away last year, followed the benevolent example of her husband, and she too bequeathed a substantial sum to the Hounslow Hospital and liberal legacies to the Hounslow, Heston and Whitton Philanthropic Society, to St. Stephen's Parish, and to other objects. It is thus in the fitness of things that so useful an agency as the Butchers' Benevolent Association should find homes of rest and comfort for their aged pensioners on this pleasant site, hallowed to the sacred cause of charity by so many deeds of kindness.
