Robert Jonathan Coles (1840 - 1890)

Born 3 May 1840 in Wilson, Tennessee, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Eva Ann (King) Coles — married 6 Aug 1866 (to before 20 May 1884) in Obion, Tennessee, United States

Husband of Ella J Catherine (Carraway) Coles — married 20 May 1884 in Obion, Tennessee, United States

Descendants

Died 18 Apr 1890 at age 49 in Elbridge, Obion, Tennessee, United States

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Biography

Military Service of Robert Jonathan Coles:

Although presumably present for the early battles in which his unit participated, Robert J. Coles spent most of the last two years of the Civil War in Union prison camps. He enlisted Jun 25, 1861 as a 1st Sgt. in Co. G, 22nd Tennessee Infantry Regiment and probably participated in the Battles of Belmont, Shiloh, Richmond (KY), and Murfreesboro. On June 16, 1862, his unit, the 22nd Regiment, was merged with the 12th Tennessee Infantry Regiment to become the 12th Consolidated Tennessee Infantry Regiment. During his tenure with these regiments he rose to the rank of 1st Lieutenant. On February 3, 1863 1st Lt. Coles was captured by Union troops at Huntington, TN and was first sent to Forts Donaldson/Heiman/Henry, and then on to Louisville, KY on February 6, 1863. He was transferred from Louisville to Camp Lew Wallace, OH on March 9, 1863, and then on to Camp Chase, OH where he was received on March 10, 1863. From Camp Chase he was sent to Fort Delaware, arriving April 10, 1863. On April 29, 1863 he was forwarded to City Point "for exchange."

In late 1862, Col. Henry Clay Greer had started recruiting a cavalry regiment in western Tennessee. Although needing men, the Adjutant General's office refused to recognize this unit, or to muster it into Confederate service. Col. Greer, and his men, therefore acted as partisan rangers, raiding Union forces and supply lines as the opportunities presented themselves. It was not until February 1864 that Greer's Regiment was finally recognized and accepted into the Confederate armed forces. It was designated as the 20th Tennessee Cavalry Regiment and placed under the overall command of Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest.

The record is unclear at this point, but after he was exchanged, Robert J. Coles did not return to his former unit, but instead joined Greer's Regiment of Tennessee Cavalry as a private. He did not remain a free man for long, however. On June 23, 1863, about two months after he was exchanged, Pvt. Coles was again captured by Union troops, this time in Carroll Co., TN. He was sent to Columbus, KY, and then on to Alton, IL where he arrived July 30, 1863. From Alton he was transferred to Camp Douglas, IL, being received there on August 24, 1863. It was in Camp Douglas that he was to remain as a prisoner of war for the better part of the next two years. On March 23, 1865, and near war's end, he was sent across country to Point Lookout, MD, arriving there March 31, 1865. On June 10, 1865 he took the oath of allegiance and was released. Records describe him as being a resident of Carroll Co., TN, fair complexion, black hair, brown eyes, and 5'-11" tall.

Upon his release, Robert J. Coles returned briefly to Carroll Co., TN, but almost immediately thereafter moved to Obion Co., TN where he married and remained for the rest of his life.

By Mr. Paul M. Crocker

Cole/Coles Notice

Robert Jonathan was born Coles, but after the Civil War he began to use the surname Cole, as did others in their fractured family. Thus, his children often used the surname Cole, as well as Coles.

Sources

• "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCD4-P74 : 12 April 2016), Robert J Coles in household of Thomas C Shepherd, Carroll county, part of, Carroll, Tennessee, United States; citing family 1780, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
• "Tennessee Marriages, 1796-1950," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XDQ2-5JQ : 11 February 2018), Robert J. Coles and Eva A. King, 06 Aug 1866; citing Obion,Tennessee, reference ; FHL microfilm 1,007,235.
• "Tennessee, County Marriages, 1790-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKHM-6LRZ : 6 November 2017), Robert J Coles and Eva A King, 06 Aug 1866; citing Obion, Tennessee, United States, Marriage, p. , Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville and county clerk offices from various counties; FHL microfilm 1,007,235.
• "Tennessee State Marriage Index, 1780-2002," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VNX5-QCQ : 4 December 2014), Robert I Coles and Eva A King, 06 Aug 1866; from "Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002," database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2008); citing p. 245, Obion, Tennessee, United States, Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville, Tennessee.
• "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDZT-TTT : 2 October 2019), R I Coles in entry for Harry King, 1870.
• "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDW3-9MV : 15 July 2017), Robert Cole, Cravens School House, Obion, Tennessee, United States; citing enumeration district ED 111, sheet 160D, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,255,274.
• "Tennessee Marriages, 1796-1950," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XD7W-CHM : 11 February 2018), R. J. Coles and Kate Carroway, 20 May 1884; citing Obion,Tennessee, reference ; FHL microfilm 1,007,236.
• "Tennessee, County Marriages, 1790-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKHM-X7ZN : 5 November 2017), R J Coles and Kate Carroway, 20 May 1884; citing Obion, Tennessee, United States, Marriage, p. , Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville and county clerk offices from various counties; FHL microfilm 1,007,236.
• "Tennessee State Marriage Index, 1780-2002," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VNXJ-GKM : 4 December 2014), R J Coles and Kate Carroway, 20 May 1884; from "Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002," database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2008); citing p. 104, Obion, Tennessee, United States, Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville, Tennessee.
• "Tennessee, Confederate Pension Applications, Soldiers and Widows, 1891-1965", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q571-Q3YQ : 31 October 2018), Robert Jonathan Coles, 1891-1965.