Sergeant Hugh Cole

1628 - 1699  (~ 70 years)

• Name	Hugh Cole
  Title	Sergeant
  Christening	29 Jun 1628	Barnstaple, Devon Co., England
  Gender	Male
  Immigrant	1633	England
  	Ship: unknown Arrived: 1633 Plymouth, Massachusetts
  Military Service	1675	Portsmouth, Newport Co., Rhode Island, USA
  	King Philip's War unknown
  Death	22 Jan 1699	Swansea, Bristol Co., Massachusetts, USA
  Burial	Tyler Point Cemetery, Barrington, Bristol Co., Rhode Island, USA
  Notes	Hugh Cole was baptized on 29 June 1628 in Barnstaple, Devonshire, England. He moved with his family at age five or six to Plymouth, Massachusetts. The early records of Plymouth show him on a 1643 list of men able to bear arms. He was also paid 50 bushels of corn by the town of Plymouth in 1634 for tending the cows of the townspeople - bringing them up every morning to be milked, taking them to feed, and bringing them home at night. In contrast to his parents, Hugh Cole had fewer encounters with the courts for violating the laws, became a prominent citizen and founder of a new town, and also became a prominent church leader. He married Mary Foxwell on 8 January 1654/5 in Plymouth. Despite a later showing of good character, Hugh was fined 20 shillings in 1655 when he and his wife were found guilty of "keeping company each with other in an undecent manner, at an unreasonable time and place, before marriage." Hugh Cole's first seven children were born in Plymouth. In 1668 he moved his family to Swansea and built a home on the west bank of the Mattapoisett River, now called Cole's River. His brother John also moved with him to Swansea. Hugh Cole negotiated land purchases with the Indians and was also an experienced surveyor. He was active in the management of the town, being chosen surveyor, serving as a selectman from 1672 to 1675, deputy to the Plymouth Colony General Court in 1673, 1674 and 1675, and a member of the Swansea Prudential Affairs Committee in 1672. He also served several times as a juror. Various accounts have been written concerning Hugh's relationship with the Indians. Although he was a frequent visitor to the Indian camp and had peaceful dealings with King Philip, Philip was charged with incivility toward Hugh in 1671. Hugh also sued King Philip for 200 pounds for breach of a land sale agreement which he later settled. Hugh warned Plymouth Colony leaders in 1671 that he had observed the Narraganset Indians repairing guns and making weapons. Subsequently Hugh was asked by colony officials to visit the Wampanoag Indian camp and report back to them concerning the activities there. Hugh observed a number of strangers at the Indian camp and reported this back to colony officials. Several published sources give various accounts of the kidnapping of two of Hugh's sons by the Indians shortly before the outbreak of King Philip's War. Supposedly King Philip ordered members of his tribe to return the children to their home. Legend also reports that King Philip warned Hugh of the impending attack by the Indians at the outbreak of the war, enabling Hugh to remove his family from Swansea before the Indians attacked. Hugh's home was one of the first burned in the attack. Hugh's family remained in Portsmouth during the war. Although Hugh Cole's record of military service during King Philip's War is unknown, he was frequently recorded as Sergeant Hugh Cole afterward. Upon his return to Swansea Hugh rebuilt his home at a new location. He was again elected selectman and deputy and resumed his active role in town affairs. Hugh and Mary Cole had twelve children. The date of Mary's death is not known. Hugh married twice after Mary's death and he died in Jan 1699/1700. He was buried in Tyler Point Cemetery in Barrington, Rhode Island. There is no marker on his grave. Hugh's brother John, born 21 November 1637, was also one of the original proprietors of Swansea, but was not as active and prominent in town affairs as his brother. He Married Elizabeth Ryder, daughter of Samuel Ryder of Yarmouth. They had four children. John died in 1677 in Swansea. His daughter Elizabeth married our ancestor William Hammond of Swansea on 10 Jan 1695.
  Person ID	I1114	OurNorthernRoots | Andrew's Ancestor
  Last Modified	4 Nov 2015

  
  

  Father	James Cole,   b. 25 Jul 1600, Highgate, London, England d. 1692, Plymouth, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts, USA (Age 91 years)
  Mother	Mary Lobel,   b. 1604, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France d. 1659, Plymouth, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts, USA (Age 55 years)
  Family ID	F1909	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Mary Foxwell,   b. 1635, Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, USA d. Swansea, Bristol Co., Massachusetts, USA
  Marriage	8 Aug 1654
  Children	1. James Cole,   b. 8 Nov 1655, Plymouth, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts, USA d. Rhode Island, USA   2. Hugh Cole,   b. Mar 1658, Plymouth, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts, USA d. 17 Feb 1738, Swansea, Bristol Co., Massachusetts, USA (Age ~ 79 years)   3. John Cole,   b. 15 May 1660   d. 25 Jun 1748 (Age 88 years)   4. Martha Cole,   b. 16 Apr 1662   d. 1711 (Age 48 years) + 5. Hannah Cole,   b. 14 Oct 1664, Swansea, Bristol Co., Massachusetts, USA d. 23 Jun 1704, Swansea, Bristol Co., Massachusetts, USA (Age 39 years)   6. Ruth Cole,   b. 8 Jan 1666, Swansea, Bristol Co., Massachusetts, USA d. 17 Mar 1718, Warren, Bristol Co., Rhode Island, USA (Age 52 years)   7. Joseph Cole,   b. 18 May 1668, Swansea, Bristol Co., Massachusetts, USA bur. Kickemuit Cemetery, Warren, Bristol Co., Rhode Island, USA   8. Ebenezer Cole,   b. 5 Aug 1671, Swansea, Bristol Co., Massachusetts, USA d. 4 Sep 1719 (Age 48 years)   9. Mary Cole,   b. 1676, Swansea, Bristol Co., Massachusetts, USA d. 10 Mar 1756, Swansea, Bristol Co., Massachusetts, USA (Age 80 years)   10. Benjamin Cole,   b. 1678, Swansea, Bristol Co., Massachusetts, USA d. 29 Dec 1748, Swansea, Bristol Co., Massachusetts, USA (Age 70 years)
  Family ID	F9226	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	27 Jan 2014

  
  

• Event Map		Christening - 29 Jun 1628 - Barnstaple, Devon Co., England Immigrant - Ship: unknown Arrived: 1633 Plymouth, Massachusetts - 1633 - England Military Service - King Philip's War unknown - 1675 - Portsmouth, Newport Co., Rhode Island, USA Death - 22 Jan 1699 - Swansea, Bristol Co., Massachusetts, USA Burial - - Tyler Point Cemetery, Barrington, Bristol Co., Rhode Island, USA  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set