Corps of Volunteers. James Wright, Downing Street, 23rd July 1779. A letter to Francis Cobb, Deputy of Margate, concerning raising companies of men and their suitable numbers to function. 1p., folio.

"Sir,
I am directed by Lord Warden to acquaint you that his Lordship having made an offer to His Majesty, of raising a Corps of Volunteers to consist of five Companies of sixty men each, [and] was informed by Lord Amherst, Commander in Chief, that the present establishment consists of 70 men per company without which number the corps would not be infilled to the proportion of non-commissioned officers or staff. His Lordship being desirous that the corps of Cinque Port Volunteers may enjoy all the advantages allowed to other corps; has directed that the Companies shall consist of 70 men each; which his Lordship does not doubt will meet the approbation and assistance of the Ports and their members. The bounty to be given to the men for enlisting has been fixed by His Lordship at seven guineas per man which he hopes will be found adequate to the purchase.

I am, sir, your most obed't hble servant. (Signed) James Wright."

Notes: Francis Cobb (1727-1802) founded the family fortunes, followed by his son Francis Junior (1759-1831). Each was deputy-mayor of Margate. Although, in principle, the Deputy was chosen anew yearly by the Mayor of Dover, from 1769, it was always a Cobb that was chosen. In 1779, Dover raised its defences in response to the American Wars of Independence, and Francis Cobb Jnr later took an active part in the Cinque Port defence during the French wars (1793-1815). The family worked as brewers, bankers, shipping agents, chandlers, coal merchants, insurance agents, ship owners, salvage experts, and owners of considerable property, including many licensed premises and outlets for the beer they brewed. These extensive holdings and the family's successive generations of official positions led to coining the description 'King Cobb'.