Most
of the Cole family data being used as sources today is based on the
research of Opal R. Cole, of Rutherfordton, NC. I recently received a
copy of her research and while she did a great job of getting the Cole
family down on paper, there are a few errors in her work. This
occurs mostly in the earlier generations but to be safe, I would verify
everything if this is your family.
Mrs.
Cole states in her publication History of the John and Susannah
Cole Family that John is the son of Thomas Cole. She also
states, without mentioning any specific sources, that John and Susannah
were the parents of Joseph, Harriett, William, J. Newton, Susannah and
Isabella Cole. I believe these facts to be in error. Read through the
rest of this page and see if you don't agree...
John
Cole is a very common name. I have found no proof
that John Cole (1782-1871) was the son of Thomas Cole of Spartanburg
Co. SC.
Thomas names a son John in his will[i]
but that doesn't mean he is this John Cole. In fact, there is a
document[ii]
in the probate file that states that his son John is 'not of this
state'. Now I
know that Rutherford Co. is not in SC, however it's just across the
state line and close enough that he could
have been present to claim his inheritance. The other children listed
as 'not
of this state' were in Georgia and Tennessee. There was a John Cole in
Hall Co.
GA in 1830, born in SC with a daughter Susanna, with no proven heritage
as far
as I know.
I
believe that John Cole was the son of Joseph Cole, (1760/65-abt 1840).
When
examining the records for Joseph Cole, I find him in 1787 in York
Co., SC as administrator, along with James Venables, for the estate of
Hugh Bryson. (James Venables and his wife named a son Hugh.)
York Co. was just across the Broad River from Spartanburg County at
that time. In the 1790 census of York Co., Joseph has two males over
16, one male
under 16 and three females in the household. This is probably Joseph at
age 25-30 and possibly a brother or brother-in-law, son
John age about 8, and daughters Jane and Peggy and his wife. I can't
locate him in
1800, perhaps he is on the page of microfilm for York Co. that was
covered up and is unreadable. In 1810 he is in Rutherford Co., NC and
is over 45 as is his wife, with 2 sons 16-26 (John was already married)
one daughter 10-16, 3 dtrs 16-26 (Peggy was already married). In 1820,
Joseph and wife are over 45 with no other persons in the household.
In
1818 Joseph Cole witnesses the will of Elizabeth Brisco, along with
jurat Sucky Coal, executors John Cole and Phillip Henson. And in
1822 Joseph is named executor on Hugh Cole of Spartanburg's will along
with Charles Cantrell, witnessed by Thomas Henson, John Cantrell and
Thomas Robbins. Then in 1823 Joseph is listed as jurat. on Thomas
Hall's will along with John
Cole, witnessed by Thomas Henson and leaving property to William Owens,
husband of Peggy Cole in Rutherford Co., NC. Thomas Henson was married
to Jane Cole and later relocated to Haywood County, NC.
Susannah Cole married William Splawn in 1841, yet in the 1840 census, John Cole has no young females in his household. So where was Susannah?
I
believe Susanna was in the household of her grandfather,
Joseph Cole in 1830[v]
along
with her brother Joseph and one of her sisters, Milley & Isabella.
They
were all the children of Hugh[vi]
and Mary Cole of Spartanburg. Hugh's will dated 1823 (exec. Joseph
Cole) lists
these children plus Charles Jackson Cole, who I believe died young.
John and
Hugh are probably brothers.
John
Cole's wife was Susannah Robbins, daughter of William
Robbins and Sarah (and sister of my GGG Grandmother Elizabeth Robbins
who
married James Splawn). Their children were Harriet married John Roach;
William married
Nancy Cooper; and Isaac Newton married Martha Butler.
Hugh's
children were Joseph married Elizabeth Putman (had a son
named Hugh); Susannah married William M. Splawn (had a son named Hugh);
Milley Cole
married Wilson Putman, brother of Elizabeth (had a son named Hugh);
Isabella married
William D. Henson, and Charles Jackson Cole. In 1850 William and
Isabella Cole
Henson were in Haywood Co., NC, as were Wilson and Milley Cole Putman.
Susannah
Cole Splawn died after the 1860 census and had
the following children: James, Margaret, Jason, Hugh, Newton Iredell[vii]
and Elizabeth of which I'm sure. In 1870 Susannah was not on the census
and
there was a 14 year old Sarah (most likely the Elizabeth that was 7 in
1860, (my
family loves that Sarah Elizabeth combination!) and a 2 year
old Susan,
who I believe was an illegitimate daughter of Margaret. This Susan is
most
likely the Margaret Splawn, aged 12 living with Newton and Martha
Splawn in
1880 and listed as a niece.
[i] 12 Feb. 1816 - "Will & Testament"
I, THOMAS COLE of the State of South Carolina, Spartanburg District being sick in body, but of perfect mind & memory thanks be given unto God calling unto mind this mortality of my body & knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this my last will & testament that is to say principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul into the hand of almighty God that gave it and my body I recommend to the earth to be buried in a decent Christian order at the discretion of my executors. And as touching souch worldlt estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me with in this life, I give demise and disposes of the same in the manner and form following. -----
First I will that all such debts dues and demands as I owe in right of conscience to be well and truly satisfied by my Executors hereafter named.
Also I will to my beloved Son OBADIAH COLE, all my land, plantation where I now live, also I will my Negro woman "Ginny" and her increases hereafter to him, the Son OBEDIAH COLE. The Son OBEDIAH COLE doth hereby bind himself to take care of and maintain both his Father and Mother during his and their natural lives. Also I will to him two Cows and Calves and one feather bed. -- Also I will that my Horse, Cows, Hogs, Farming Utentials to be left in the hands of him, to support my family on together with my household furniture and in short every thing is to stay as it is during my own and beloved wife, life time only what is made use of to support upon. --
And then I will that the remander of my property to be equally divided amongest the rest of my lawful heirs, all only what I have above willed to my Son OBADIAH COLE.
My daughter PATSEY has received as follows
which is to
be reducted out of her part. One Horse; Twenty-Five dollars; One
Umbrella;
Seven and a Half dollars?; One Trunk; Seven dollars; and an equal
division is
my will only my Son OBADAIH COLE is to have what is above will to him
and the rest of my heirs is as follows:
VIZ
MARY ARDENDALE;
SARAH FONDREN;
GROVE COLE;
SUSANNAH COOPER;
NANCY GUYTON;
ELIZABETH DUBERRY;
JOHN COLE;
PATSEY KENADY;
THOMAS COLE.
-- And now I do appoint WILLIAM DEWBERY and THOMAS COLE as my worthy Executors of this Will and Testament and I do hereby uterly disanul and revoke and every other Testaments, Wills, Legacies, Bequest and Executers by me in any wise before made, conferming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament. In witness wherof I have hereunto set my hand ans Seal, this Twentieth of February in the year of our Lord, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Sixteen.
THOMAS ( X ) COLE
Signed Sealed delivered in the presents of:
THOMAS D. WENDALE <---Listed in 1820 Spartburg Census [Thomas Arendale]
SILAS ( X ) COOPER <---s/o David & Elizabeth COOPER
JAMES ( X) COOPER <---s/o David & Elizabeth COOPER
On 14 Mar. 1816 South Carolina Spartanburg District By WILLIAM LANCASTER, Ordinary
Whereas THOMAS COLE, late of said District, dec'd died leaving a Will with THOMAS COLE and WILLIAM DEWBERY Executors, therein named.
-- These are therefor to Cite and Admanish all Beyonn and paticulary the Kindrad and Legates of said deceased to appear before me on Tuesday after the first Monday in April next, to show cause if any that the said Will should not be "Proven" in Solemn form and the Execurers therein named quallify.
Given under my hand and Seal this Fourth day of March, 1816 and in the 40th year of the American Independence.
Wm. Lancaster, O.L.D.
[ii] Journal of the Ordinary 1818-1819
18 Aug 1818 Thos Cole & Wm Dewberry exrs. of estate Thos Cole decd appeared to settle the estate, produced from under the hand of Nancy Guiton & Polly Arendale that they would abide by settlement...Henry Kenedy, Richard Fondrin, Grove Cole, John Cole, & Edward Cooper not being in this state ... nine legatees; sum advanced by decd in his lifetime to his dtr Patsy Kenady.
[iii]
John
Cole, 25 May 1867, November 1871. Wife. Dau.-in-law Nancy Cole, her
youngest
son Dillard Cole. Dau. Harriet wife of John Roach. Son Newton Cole.
Exec. son
Newton Cole.
Wit. D.D. McDaniel, S. F. Blanton. F-36
Source: Rutherford County, NC Will Abstracts
1779-1910
Copyright 1982
Compiled by Grace Turner & Miles Philbeck, Jr.
[iv] Will file # 695 abstracted
Will of Hughe Cole of Spartainburg County...
to my well
beloved wife Mary Cole, all my lands, household furniture, etc. while
she
remains my widow, if she marries, the third is hers; to my two sons
Joseph Cole
and Charles Jackson Cole, the other two thirds; my wife's third at her
death,
the boys to buy sd. land, and to be divided between the three Milley
Cole,
Susanah Cole and Ezabellow Cold ... Joseph Cole and Charles Cantrell,
exrs
6 April 1822
Wit. John Cantrell, Thomas Robbins, Thomas Henson
[v]
1830 COLE
Joseph (60-70) Rutherford pg
535 2nd Regiment
male 10-15, 60-70;
females 5-10, 10-15, 60-70
[vi]
COLE,
HUGH
State: SC Year:
1820
County:
Spartanburg County Federal Population Schedule
Township:
100010- 30100 Page: 244
one son under ten (Joseph b. 1816) and three daughters
under ten (Susannah, Milley, Isabella) Charles Jackson would have been
born
after 1820. Hugh is 26-45, Mary is 16-26
[vii] Iredell came from the death certificate index file from Rutherford Co., NC
Copyright 2003 Tamara West Stevens