The family members of one of Maitland’s earliest settlers are on a mission to find a fountain donated to the city by one of their ancestors in 1898 and to have the final resting place of two family members restored.
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A reunion of the Cobb family was held in Maitland recently and one of the burning questions was “where’s the family fountain?”
Alfred Cobb, who owned pastoral land across the city in the late 1800s and early 1900s served several terms on West Maitland Municipal Council and was also an active member of the Maitland Hospital Committee.
During his time as a councillor he donated and had erected at his own expense, a drinking fountain which was in front of Maitland Saleyards when they were opposite Maitland Hospital.
One of Alfred’s descendants, Mike Cobb of Gympie, said the family was also keen to restore the graves of John and Maria Cobb, which had been vandalised and fallen into a state of disrepair at the historic Glebe Cemetery at East Maitland.
“The graves have been desecrated with two large pillars pushed over onto the headstones,” Mr Cobb said.
In an email to Mr Cobb, Maitland City Council heritage officer Clare James said she had seen the monument at Glebe Cemetery and was amazed at the lettering skill on the headstones.
Ms James said it was one of only two sandstone monuments she had seen with lead lettering.
Mr Cobb has been talking to Ms James about the possibility of some restoration works being carried out.
“With the fountain, what we’re hoping is that council can track it down or at least let us know if it was disposed of. Both the fountain and the graves are vital parts of Maitland’s history and should be preserved,” Mr Cobb said.
“It would be nice to know where the fountain went, but I fear it probably finished up in the front of a bulldozer when it should have been preserved.”
Mr Cobb’s great-grandfather George James Cobb was the original owner of the property and historic homestead Anambah at Gosforth.
He was one of the city’s original settlers and owned 2100 acres surrounding the Gosforth site. He was buried at Campbell’s Hill Cemetery.
Former owner of Anambah House, Heather Berry, attended the reunion presenting early history on the Cobb family dating back to the 1700s, which she had researched during her time living in the historic home.
About Alfred Cobb
Alfred Cobb was born on January 11, 1833, at Maitland and died on October 5, 1916, at his home Bona Vista, Campbells Hill.
Alfred married Mary Ann Rae at Morpeth on December 12, 1855.
The couple had no children and Mary Ann Died on December 13, 1902, aged 69.
Alfred then married Mabel Olive Margaret Rae in 1903. Mabel was the daughter of Alfred’s first wife’s brother, Henry Rae.
She was born in Maitland in 1873 and died at Mosman in 1949.
The couple had two children: Alfred Allan Cobb born 1906 and died in 1980, and Marjorie Mabel Cobb born 1911.
Alfred (snr) owned the properties Melville, Maitland Vale and Mary Vale at Lambs Creek, but sold them. The only land he retained was some of the property Aberglasslyn.
Alfred was a member of the West Maitland Municipal Council for several terms and was associated with the Maitland Hospital Committee for many years.
During his time as a councillor, he donated and had erected, at his own expense, a drinking fountain.
It was erected at Campbells Hill opposite the saleyards and was presented by Alfred and Mary Ann Cobb to the ratepayers of West Maitland and handed over to the council on September 16, 1898.
The fountain had a drinking tap on either side and a trough for cattle and horses.
It was lit by a large lamp with two incandescent burners that threw a light at night on the surrounding darkness.
