James Cole (abt. 1600 - aft. 1678)

Born about 1600 in Barnstaple, Devon, England

Husband of Mary (Tibbes) Cole — married 8 May 1625 in Barnstaple, Devon, England

Descendants

Died after Oct 1678 after about age 78 in Plymouth, Plymouth Colony

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James Cole migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See Great Migration Begins, by R. C. Anderson, Vol. 1, p. 420) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Disputed Origins

A previous version of this profile claimed, citing only "Marie Harrington, Benton, ME 04901," that he was son of William James Cole of London and Mary Feake, christened 25 July 1600 at Highgate or St Giles, Cripplegate, London. Anderson does not recognize these origins nor make any reference to a London presence.^[1]. These parents have been detached; reference to a London man of the same name have been removed. Please use G2G to discuss sources for his origins. Thank you.

Disputed Name of Wife

Although an early "myth" about James Cole claimed he married the daughter of a famous botanist Mathieu L'Obel (Mary Lobel),^[2] more recent published information cites records from Barnstaple, Devonshire, England that identify Mary Tibbes as the wife of James Cole. Robert C. Anderson (The Great Migration Begins) concurs with this information, and it was published by the Plymouth Plantation (an online exhibit which was a collaboration between the Plantation and the NEHGS, which is no longer online but has been archived).^[3]

Biography

James Cole was born about 1600, based on the date of his marriage. He married Mary Tibbes at Barnstaple, Devonshire, England on May 1, 1625.^[4] [The 1 May 1625 marriage date appearing in Anderson is a typo. The correct date is 8 May 1625, as appears in Thomas Wainwright, ed., _Barnstaple Parish Register of Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1538 A.D. to 1812 A.D._, 3 vols. in 1 (Exeter, 1903), 2:21, which was Anderson's source.] He died after October 1678. He is not the same man as or related to James Cole of Saco, Maine.

He migrated in 1633, originating at Barnstaple, Devonshire and residing in Plymouth following his arrival to New England.^[4]Filby says he arrived in Massachusetts about 1630.^[5]

He was listed in the 1632 census, page 253, for Plymouth, MA. though 1633 is used as the year of immigration. He was admitted as freeman the same year.^[6] His name appears upon the tax list of Plymouth in 1634; Jan. 2, 1636, he had a grant of ten acres of land; Jan. 2, 1637, the court deeded him seven acres of land to belong to his dwelling house. Three acres of land probably included all the land on the south side of Leyden Street, from the corner of Warren Street to the westerly line of the lot opposite the Universalist Church. His dwelling stood on the lot next below the Baptist Church. He was the first settler who lived on "Cole's Hill", as it is still known, the first burial ground of the Pilgrims. This land probably included the ground upon which rests Plymouth Rock. He had several grants of land thereafter. In September, 1641, he had a grant of fifty acres of land at Lakenham meadow. In October, 1642, he had a further grant of 1and at the same place. In 1662 a grant of land at Sacconet Neck. In 1665 he had thirty acres of land on the west side of the Namuet River. He was surveyor of highways in 1641, 42, 51, and 52; was constable in 1641 and 1644; and served on a number of juries. In 1637 his name appears upon a list of volunteers against the Pequot Indians.^[7]. In 1668 he sold most of his land to his son, James. In 1689 his son, James, Jr., sold it to William Shurtliffe.^[4]

His occupation was shoemaker and innkeeper. He was fined for disorder on the premises several times through the years as well as for selling wine to Indians.^[4]

James Cole died after October 1678 when his son sold land as "James Cole Junior." Savage claims "he was living in 1688, very aged."^[4] His wife Mary died after March 7, 1659/60.

James Cole and Mary Tibbes are the 6th great grandparents of Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

Trades and Tavern Ownership

He apparently followed several trades, being described in the court records as a sailor (1638), shoemaker (1661) and innkeeper (many references). He opened the first inn in Plymouth in a house owned by Edward Winslow, formerly owned by William Brewster in the center of town. James Cole appeared many times in Plymouth records for either being drunk or allowing others to become drunk in his house. Of particular interest is James Cole's apparent lack of church membership among the scores of early prominent settlers whose places of prominence in the community were usually paralleled by leadership roles within the church. Not only did James Cole appear to avoid church, but also operated a rather rowdy tavern. A later account describes the throwing of stools and general disturbance until early morning hours.

George F. Willison in "Saints and Strangers", Phx Libr 974.4 c117mo2, on page 346, indicates: "James Cole soon opened an ordinary on Cole's Hill, just above Plymouth Rock, later removing his casks and bottles to more ample quarters in Winslow's house, formerly Brewster's, conveniently situated in the very center of town at the corner of the street and the highway."

In September, 1640, the following order was passed:

"James Cole of Plymouth is prohibited to draw any wine or strong water until the next term of the General Court, and not then without special license from the court."

No reason is given for the passing of this order, and the privilege of selling liquors was given to another person until 1645. Because of the inconvenience to travelers in having no liquor to be sold at the inn, the above order was rescinded. A very colorful history of his tavern operations is given at OUR COLE ANCESTORS by Rita Jacobs. James continued to operate an inn even without his liquor license. He was apparently financially successful and acted as surety on bonds at various times and loaned money. James Cole also appeared numerous times in court records as either plaintiff or defendant in various actions involving business contracts and debt collections.

On October 2, 1650 he was presented by the Grand Jury for assault and battery, but he was acquitted. On June 7, 1657, the court granted to him ten pounds for the repair of his inn. "The court having given unto James Cole of Plymouth the sum of ten pounds towards repairing the house he now liveth in, so that it may be fitted for an Ordinary, for the entertainment of strangers." In 1659 the court again paid Cole 10 pounds for improvements in his "ordinary."

In 1654 his boat was pressed for an expedition against the Dutch, but the plan was abandoned.

Death

James Cole's death went unrecorded and there was no probate. In Oct 1678, his son James Cole Junior sold land. Implying that there was still a James Cole Senior. ^[8]Savage stated that he was living in 1688 very aged.^[9]

Family and Children ^[4]

James Cole married Mary Tibbes in Barnstaple, Devonshire on May 1 [_recte_ May 8 (see above)], 1625, and had four children. She died after March 7, 1659/60. Children of James and Mary Cole:

1. James was baptized at Barnstaple, Devonshire on February 11, 1626/7. He married Mary Tilson at Plymouth on December 23, 1652. married by September 1698 to Esther _____. and in 1700 or thereafter to Abigail _____. (See TAG 67:243-45)
2. Hugh was baptized at Barnstaple on June 29, 1628. He married January 8, 1654 to Mary Foxwell at Plymouth.
3. John was born about 1630. He may have been the John Cole whose inventory was taken at Portsmouth, Rhode Island on December 15, 1676.
4. Mary was born about 1632. She married John Almy by 1668; John Pococke by June 28, 1677.

According to the "Truth about the Pilgrims" by Francis R. Stoddard, Phx Libr 973.22 st63t, the James Cole who was born in 1629 was the father of Joanna Cole who married Thomas Howland, (a grandson of John Howland, passenger on the Mayflower) and their son, Consider Howland, inherited his grandfather's inn (Cole's Inn), when his father, James 1629, died in 1709.

Virkis "Compendium of American Genealogy, Vol II" Phx Libr 929.10923 v764a shows: "Cole, James, born 1600 from Eng. to Saco, Me 1632; settled at "Cole's Hill", Plymouth, Mass 1633; in Pequot war; surveyor of highways, m. Mary, dau Mathieu Del'Obel, physician to William of Orange and James 1, G.Dau of Jean Del'Obl, French lawyer.

Sources

1. ↑ Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Volumes I-III, 3 vols., New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1995), p 420 https://www.americanancestors.org/DB393/i/12107/420/235176243
2. ↑ Cole, Ernest Byron The descendants of James Cole of Plymouth 1633 (New York: Grafton Press, 1908)
3. ↑ Profile of James Cole, Plimoth.org; references Great Migration Begins (webpage archived by Wayback Machine, captured 7 June 2017.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5} The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Volumes I-III. p. 240.subscribers
5. ↑ Filby, P. William, ed.. Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s. Farmington Hills, MI, USA: Gale Research, 2009. Place: Charlestown, Massachusetts; Year: 1630; Page Number: 426. link (members)
6. ↑ "List of Freemen of Massachusetts, 1630-1691" by Lucius R. Paige, Phx Libr 929.374 p152c
7. ↑ The Descendants of James Cole of Plymouth - by Ernest Byron Cole 1908
8. ↑ Anderson: Pilgrim Migration also Great Migration. p. 422 https://www.americanancestors.org/DB393/i/12107/422/23894781
9. ↑ Savage, James. A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England Showing Three Generations of Those Who Came Before May, 1692. Vol. I-IV. (Boston, MA, USA: 1860-1862)

See also:

• Robert C. Anderson. The Pilgrim Migration. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2004.
• John O. Austin. Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island. Albany, 1887. Reprint. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1969.
• Janet K. Pease and Robert S.Wakefield. “Additions to the Family of Hugh2 Cole (ca.1627–1699) of Swansea, Mass.”The American Genealogist 64(1989): 139–141.
• Robert S. Wakefield and Alice H. Dreger. “The Wives and Children of James2 Cole (circa 1625–1709) of Plymouth, Massachusetts.” The American Genealogist 67(1982): 243–45.
• Savage, James. A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England (Boston, Little, Brown and Company, 1862) Volume #1, Pgs 416 - 429

COLE, JAMES, Plymouth 1633, first occup. of the little hill, where the early pilgrims had been bur. was that yr. at Saco, [incorrect] perhaps, as in Haz. Coll. I. 326, or Folsom, 33, 125; by w. Mary, had James; Hugh, b. a 1632, bef. ment.; John; Mary, wh. m. John my. He kept an inn from 1638 to 1660, and he was liv. in 1688, very aged

• http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=34205577 Extensive biography.