By Koltin Massie
Sterling Silver Cup gifted too Howell Cobb Jr from his Grandfather Confederate General Howell Cobb. The cup is Engraved, "Howell Cobb Jr from his Grandfather Howell Cobb 1868". (Courtesy of Koltin Massie Collection) Photo of Confederate General Howell Cobb.
In the annals of American history, the legacy of Confederate General Howell Cobb stands as a testament to the complexities of a nation torn asunder by civil strife. Yet, amidst the turbulence of war and its aftermath, there exists a poignant symbol of familial bonds and inheritance—a sterling silver cup that tells a story of lineage, resilience, and enduring legacy. Crafted in the year 1868, this exquisite cup bears the hallmark of exceptional craftsmanship, fashioned from gleaming sterling silver—a material synonymous with prestige and refinement. However, its true significance lies not solely in its material worth, but in the heartfelt inscription that adorns its surface—a testament to the enduring bond between a grandfather and his grandson.
Engraved upon the cup is a dedication that transcends the passage of time, a poignant message from Confederate General Howell Cobb to his beloved grandson, Howell Cobb Jr. It is a testament to familial love and legacy, a gesture imbued with the hopes and aspirations of a patriarch for the future of his progeny.
The cup stands as a tangible link to a tumultuous era in American history, where the nation grappled with the profound divisions of the Civil War and reconstruction. General Howell Cobb, a prominent figure in the Confederate cause, and prior the Governor of the great state of Georgia and a US House Speaker. While this is just a small piece of history, it apart of the Cobb family story. The cup was gifted to Howell Cobb Jr who was the son of John Addison Cobb and Lucy Pope Cobb. John served as Confederate Soldier in the 16th Georgia infantry and married Lucy in 1863. Having their first child Wilson Lumpkin Cobb in May of 1865. Howell Cobb Jr was the second son, Born May 29, 1868 in Athens, Georgia. The Cup engraved with 1868 for the year the it was gifted from General Howell Cobb to his grandson. Sadly only a few months after the gift was given General Cobb passed away from a sudden Heart Attack on October 9, 1868 while vacationing in New York. Howell Cobb Jr lived to manhood but sadly lived a short life as he was killed in an accident from an exploding engine while working on his plantation in September of 1897. He was only 27 years old left a wife and two children. Through the years the cup has survived and been preserved in beautiful condition standing as beautiful testament of family until making its way to the Koltin Massie Collection.
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