William Cole (abt. 1633 - 1678)

Ancestors

Husband of Hester (Unknown) Cole — married about 1654 in Severn River, Anne Arundel County, Province of Maryland

Husband of Hannah (Unknown) Cole — married before 1666 in Anne Arundel County, Maryland

Husband of Elizabeth (Thomas) Talbott — married 1670 in West River, Anne Arundel County, Province of Maryland

Descendants

Died 30 Dec 1678 at about age 45 in Great Bonnerston, West River, Anne Arundel County, Province of Maryland

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Kenneth Kinman [send private message], Lanny Wren [send private message], and E J Gooden [send private message]

Biography

William was a Friend (Quaker)

There are several theories about the origin of William Coale of West River. According Lois Green Carr, a well-known historian of colonial Maryland, he was most likely an indentured servant that arrived in Maryland in the late 1640s or early 1650s with his brother, Thomas.^[1] He was definitely living in Maryland by 1657 when he is mentioned in a letter written by Robert Clarkson to Friends in London as having been convinced of the Friends message by Elizabeth Harris.

"One Tho. Cole & one Will Cole, haith both made open confession of the truth, likewise Henry Woolchurch & many other suffers."^[2]

Other theories also exist- The following is credited to Dave Cole:

William Cole was born in 1633 in the Puritan area near Jamestown, Virginia to William I and Sarah Cole. Not much is known about William's youth, but at the age of seventeen he picked up and moved with his family to St. Mary's County, MD in 1650. In 1650 land was being given away in 100-acre lots. ^[3]

And another states:

William Coale was born in Bristol, England in 1592. Quaker Minister came to Va. 1618. Later moved to Maryland. Wives: Hester____, (2), Hannah____(3) Elizabeth Thomas, daughter of Philip. ^[4]

William subsequently became an important minister in the early Quaker movement. He was instrumental in setting up the first Quaker meetings on the Western Shore of the Bay, at his home, West River Hundred in Anne Arundel County. In 1659, he and several other Friends challenged the provincial court by refusing to swear oaths to administer a Quaker orphan's estate. They lost their challenge, and the court stripped them of the estate to make an example of them. During the 1660's, William traveled throughout Virginia as an itinerant missionary with several other Friends. He was imprisoned for his efforts and one of his companions died in jail. ^[5]

Sometime near the end of the 1660's William married Elizabeth Thomas, the daughter of prominent Quaker converts: her father Phillip Thomas, had been one of the councilors appointed by the parliamentary commissions to govern Maryland in the early 1650's. In 1658 William refused to bear arms in the militia and was subjected to land penalties. In 1660 William moved his family to the West River in Ann Arundal County, MD. West River is 30 miles south of Baltimore on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay. He owned 150 acres called "GreatBonnerston".

Hester evidently died on or before 1666, because in 1666 he married Hannah Galloway, the widow of Richard Galloway, in Ann Arundal County, MD. John Cole (our direct Grandfather) was born in November 1669. Hannah died in November 1669 (probably died during childbirth). In 1670 William married for the third time, marrying Elizabeth Thomas, daughter of Phillip and Sarah Harrison Thomas. William II bought 500 acres on the Patuxet River called "Portland Manor" and another 100 acre tract called "Hickory Hills". At that time this was part of Calvert County (today it is Prince Georges County). In 1672 a dynamic English Found of Society of Friends visited William, which put them in 'hi-society' for that time. In 1676 William II moved from "GreatBonnerston" to "Portland Manor". William III took over the old homestead "GreatBonnerston" and William IV took over "Hickory Hills".

The following comes from the files of Wm.C.Hilles:

There was a spelling change of the family name between the second and third generations. The spelling in all known records connected directly with the life of the elder William is "c-o-l-e." Then, in his last will and testament (1669) the name appears as "C-o-a-l-e" at several places in the content and also in the signature by mark.

The life of William, has been characterized "as that of a true American pioneer, venturesome in spirit." In terms of land possession, he "planned for the future security and welfare of his family. He had an appreciation of greater freedom from higher authority and in the wider opportunity for personal enterprise.

Held following Anne Arundel Co., MD estates, which were named in his will to wife & children. These included: "Portland Manor," "GreatBonnerstum" (on West River), "Hickory Hills."

Children:

William was the father of four sons from 3 different wives, two of whom were named William. The oldest William was called Jr. in Quaker records. Their births are recorded in the Quaker records of the West River Monthly Meeting.

William Jr. of Hester b. 21st day of 7th month 1655

William III of Hannah was b. on the 20th day of the 8th month 1667

Samuel of Elizabeth b. 9th day of 2nd month 1676 ^[6]

Phillip of Elizabeth b. 6th day of the 7th month 1673, m. Cassandra Skipwith.

Elizabeth of Elizabeth b. 30th day of the 6th month 1671 ^[7]

Having three Williams in one family gets very confusing. I believe when the father was alive the sons were called William Jr. and William the younger. Once the father died the eldest was called William and the youngest changed to William Jr.

Quaker minutes record the marriage of William Cole Jr. to Elizabeth Sparrow on the 5th month 1689.

Abstract of Will

William Coale of ye County of Ann Arundell in the Province of Maryland . . .

I give to my son William Coale born of ye body of Hester my wife all my land known by ye name of Great Bonnerstone lying in West River in ye county of Anne Arundell according unto the metes and bounds contained in my land patent for the same bearing date of 26 FEB 1659 to him & his heirs forever with one feather bed, curtains & mattress of a price of 7 pounds with two pairs of sheets, one man servant I now have for a term he shall have to serve this to be delivered ye next shipping after my decease with two cows & two breeding sows.

I give to my second son Wm. Coale begotten of ye body of Hannah my second wife, one hundred acres of land, part of ye land known by ye name of Hickory Hills being ye lower part next to Pautuxant River to him & his heirs forever, with one feather bed & curtains and a valance of ye price of 7 pounds, two pairs of sheets together with ye sum of 4,000 pounds of tobacco when he attains unto age of one & twenty, with one man servant, two cows with calves, or calves by their sides, two brooding sows and 4,000 pounds of tobacco when he attains ye age of two & twenty.

I give to my son Samuel lawfully begotton of ye body of my wife Elizabeth 8,000 pounds of tobacco to be paid unto him when he shall attain ye age of one & twenty together with two man servants, one of them my negro known by ye name of Jack, if he shall then be alive, or in case of his mortality, one able man servant, a now hand for ye term he shall have to serve, also 200 acres of land part of Portland Mannor (?) next unto Pautuxant River & so downward unto him & his heirs & for want of such heirs to come & descend unto Phllip my son & his heirs lawfully begotten, and if ye sons should die without issue my will is ye said land descend unto ye next heirs male of ye Coales & for want of such heirs male to go unto ye next heir female.

I give to my son Phillip born of ye body of my wife Elizabeth 300 acres of land ye Resurvey (?) of Portland Mannor after ye decease of Elizabeth my wife & unto his lawfullly begotten heirs. . . (same statement about heirs as for Samuel) I also will unto my son Phillip two men servants one of them my negro known by ye name of Roger if he shall then be alive & if not then one now (unreadable) he shall have to serve together with two cows with calves or calves by their sides & two breeding sows, a feather bed & curtains of furnture of ye value of seven pounds & two pair of sheets & 8,000 pounds of tobacco.

I give to my daughter Elizabeth 8,000 pounds of tobacco ye one half to be paid next fall after her marriage & ye other half within one year after or at ye age of sixteen together with one feather bed, curtains & valance of ye price of seven pounds & two pair of sheets.

Lastly, I appoint my well beloved wife, Elizabeth Coale my sole & whole executor of this my last will giving unto my said executor my now dwelling plantation and three hundred acres of land adjoining unto her own proper use & behoofe during her natural life after ye expiration theirof to descend unto my son Phillip.

Recording as this my last will before expressed I do also give unto my loving wife & executor after my just debts are paid & these legacies delivered all my remaining estate whether goods or merchantable tobacco or money in England unto her own proper use. In confirmation of which I have hereunto set my hand & seal the 25th day of October 1678.

(The signature is spelled Wm Cole with a word that looks like Joalode after it. Each time the name was written in the will it was spelled Coale).

Presented to the court by Samuel Land & Thomas Francis 24 FEB 1678/79. ^[8]

William Coale, Sr., d. 30th Day of 10th month, (this was December in Quaker calendar). This is under the heading "Deceased Members of Baltimore Monthly Meeting, 1674-1800.^[9]

Sources

1. ↑ Carr, Lois Green. Colonial Chesapeake Society. University of North Carolina Press, 1988 (pages 242-243, 246, 254-255).
2. ↑ Kelly, J. Reaney. Quakers in The Founding of Anne Arundel County Maryland, Baltimore, The Maryland Historical Society 1963.
3. ↑ http://www.mesatop.com/cole/homepage.htm - Steve Cole
4. ↑ Early Immigrants to Virginia from the 1500s and 1600s
5. ↑ Kelly, J. Reaney. Quakers in The Founding of Anne Arundel County Maryland, Baltimore, The Maryland Historical Society 1963.
6. ↑ Wright, ibid
7. ↑ Wright, F. Edward. Anne Arundel County Church Records of the 17th and 18th Centuries. Westminster, Md.: Willow Bend, 2002. Print.
8. ↑ Maryland Colonial Wills Liber 9/92
9. ↑ Peden, Henry C., Jr. Quaker Records of Northern Maryland: Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Abstracts from the Minutes 1716-1800. Westminster, Maryland: Willow Bend Books, 2006. Page 163.

See also:

• www.megjohn.info/genealogy/uncleged/com194.html
• The Founders of Anne Arundel and Howard Counties, Maryland, by: J.D. Warfield, A.M. (Philip Thomas, pg. 46)
• Mackenzie, George Norbury, and Nelson Osgood Rhoades, editors. Colonial Families of the United States of America: in Which is Given the History, Genealogy and Armorial Bearings of Colonial Families Who Settled in the American Colonies From the Time of the Settlement of Jamestown, 13th May, 1607, to the Battle of Lexington, 19th April, 1775. 7 volumes. 1912. p 189.
• Kinard, June. comp.. Early Immigrants to Virginia from the 1500s and 1600s, [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2000. Original data: Published by The Researchers, PO box 39063, Indianapolis IN. 46239-0063.
• Source: S101 Author: Ancestry.com Title: England & Wales Christening Records, 1530-1906 Publication: Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Repository: #R1
• Source: S12 Author: Gale Research Title: Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s Publication: Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc, 2010.Original data - Filby, P. William, ed. Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s. Farmington Hills, MI, USA: Gale Research, 2010.Original data: Filby, P. William, ed. Passenge; Repository: #R1
• Source: S122 Author: Ancestry.com Title: Web: Virginia, Find A Grave Index, 1607-2012 Publication: Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Repository: #R1 [undocumented; new page and new cemetery as of 2022]
• Source: S180 Author: Gale Research Title: Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s Publication: Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc; Repository: #R1
• Source: S51 Author: Ancestry.com Title: U.S. Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783 Publication: Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007.Original data - Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M246, 138 rolls); War Department Collection of Revolutionary War Records, Record Group 93; N; Repository: #R1
• Source: S71 Author: Jackson, Ron V., Accelerated Indexing Systems, comp. Title: Maryland Census, 1772-1890 Publication: Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1999.Original data - Compiled and digitized by Mr. Jackson and AIS from microfilmed schedules of the U.S. Federal Decennial Census, territorial/state censuses, and/or census substitutes.Orig; Repository: #R1
• Family Data Collection Births
• "Quakers in the founding of Anne Arundel County, Maryland : Kelly, J. Reaney" Archive Internet Archive. Accessed 31 Mar. 2024.