William Cobb, son of Joseph Cobb and Catherine Whitehead was born 1732 in Southampton County of the British colony of Virginia, in America. He was the oldest of seven children. He married Sarah Stancil in 1755 and they had five children. Unrest was growing with the mother country, England, over taxation, the lack of representation and the heavy hand of British troops. Anger evolved into rebellion and resulted in war. William joined his kinsmen in signing up with the fledging American army. He and his cousin, Jesse Cobb, served under the command of Col. Caswell who made reference of the Cobb cousins in his communication reports. There was a family connection. Caswell's second wife, Elizabeth Heritage, was a sister of Jesse Cobb's wife. William was commissioned an officer and served during the Revolutionary War as Lieut. William Cobb. Col. Caswell later became governor of the State. After the war, William and Sarah joined the migration from the coastal settlements to the higher piedmont country in North Carolina. Their children married and grandchildren were arriving. They were living in Martin County, North Carolina, in 1788 when William died. His widow, Sarah Stancil Cobb, was enumerated there in the census two years later living next door to her son, Capt. David Cobb and family.
1790 NORTH CAROLINA, Martin County, p. 67 - Cobb, Sarah, 1 female all ages, (widow of Lieut. William Cobb); 1 male under 16 years (grandson, David Cobb, Jr.). Next household - Cobb, David, 1 male 16 up, head of household (Capt. David Cobb); 2 females all age (2nd wife, Martha Bryant, and daughter, Charlotte, 1 yr).
Sarah Stancil Cobb drew a pension as a veteran's widow. She died in 1799.

Children:
1. William Cobb, Jr. 1756-
2. James M. Cobb 1758-
3. Capt. David Cobb 1760-1839
4. John Cobb, Sr. 1765-
5. Mary Cobb 1770-
- Blanche Keating Collie, descendant and family researcher