Genealogical and Family History
of the
STATE OF MAINE

Compiled under the editorial supervision of George Thomas Little, A. M., Litt. D.

LEWIS HISTORICAL PUBLISHING COMPANY
New York
1909.

[Please see Index page for full citation.]

[Transcribed by Coralynn Brown]

[Many families included in these genealogical records had their beginnings in Massachusetts.]

COLE There were numerous early immigrants in New England bearing this cognomen and their descedants have spread throughout the United States, and have borne their part in the general development and progress of the nation. They have occupied conspicuous positions upon the bench, in the medical profession, in the pulpit and in the various lines of industry praticed by the American people. (I) William Cole was born about 1580 and was past midlife when he arrived in America. He was probably a follower of Rev. Wheelwright and very likely accompanied him on the journey to this continent. He is found of record as early as Jan. 23, 1627, where he had a grant of a house lot of two acres at Mount Wollaston, near Boston. He was in Exeter, N. H. in 1639, and the next year in Hampton, N. H. In June of that year he was granted forty acres in the last-named town and had one share of the commons there in 1646. He seems to have removed to Wells, Maine, while still retaining his ownership in Hampton. He appears to have been constable in Wells in 1645 and subscribed to the oath of allegiance to the Mass. Colony in 1653. He returned to Hampton in his old age and died there May 16, 1662, in his eighty-second year. His first wife was Elizabeth, daughter of Francis Doughty, of England. No record shows her death. He had a second wife, Eunice, who was a reputed witch and who survived him until Oct., 1680. Children included: John, Nicholas, William, and undoubtedly several others. (II) Nicholas, son of William and Elizabeth (Doughty) Cole, was born 1636, as shown by a statement of his age thirty years later. He resided in Wells and Kittery, Maine, and signed a petition to Cromwell in 1656, and was constable at Kittery in 1658. In 1664 he was appointed to operate a ferry for Cape Porpoise. A record of three of his children is found, namely Nicholas, Jane and Ann. Doubtless there were several others, but the destruction of early dates in the section where he lived and the general confusion of authorities in that early period makes it impossible to identify them. (III) Thomas Cole, born about 1668 and resided in Kittery, was without much doubt a son of Nicholas Cole. He married Martha, daughter of Christian and Hannah Remick, who was born Feb. 20, 1669. The date of her death does not appear, but Thomas Cole had for a second wife Lydia who administered his estate in 1725. Children: Daniel, Hannah, Abner, Asahef, Remick, Jerusha, Charity, Abel and Robert. (IV) Abner, second son of Thomas and Martha (Remick) Cole, was probably born in 1700. He was married Oct. 13, 1731, to Patience, daughter of John and Margaret (Shepherd) Spinney. She was born Dec. 3, 1713, and was therefore a little past eighteen years old at the time of their marriage. Both died in 1791 in Kittery. Children: Abner, Mary, Samuel, Timothy, Josiah, Joseph, Obadiah, Susannah and Eleanor. (V) Obadiah, sixth son of Abner and Patience (Spinney) Cole, was born Jan. 12, 1749, and settled in Cornish, Maine, where he was a taxpayer in 1794. All the town records succeeding that year were destroyed by fire in 1865 and this makes it impossible to learn anything of the wife and children of Obadiah Cole. (VI) Robert Cole, who was undoubtedly [trans note: in other words this is a guess] a son of Obadiah Cole above mentioned, was born May 15, 1785, in Cornish, Maine, where he passed most of his active life, and died April 15, 1831, in Levant, Maine. His wife, Nancy (Thompson) Cole, was born Nov. 13, 1790, died Oct. 7, 1864, in Cornish. Children: Augustus, Benjamin T., James, Robert, Nancy, Elizabeth, Sarah, John Thompson, Isaac T., Olive, Harriet and Caroline. (VII) John Thompson, fifth son of Robert and Nancy (Thompson) Cole, was born Aug. 8, 1822, in Cornish, Maine, and died in Kenduskeag, same state, Dec. 13, 1890. When he was but two years old the family moved to Levant and afterward Kenduskeag, where the remainder of his life was spent. He was educated in the public schools and at Charlestown Academy, and learned the trade of carpenter. He was the owner of a small farm which he cultivated in connection with building operations. He was a Congregationalist in religion and a Republican in politics. During the civil war he enlisted as a soldier, but was rejected because of some physical imperfection. He was married in 1846 to Abby Given Simpson. Children (8 of whom survived): Lucy Robinson, the eldest, is the wife of Walter Berry, of Bangor, Maine. Annie and Ada were twins, the latter dying in infancy, the former is now deceased and was the wife of Charles Gilman, of Brownville. Junius Melvin resides in Bangor. Lewis Simpson died in childhood. Lilliam receives further mention below. Isena is Mrs. Willis Goodwin, of Charlestown, Maine. Fred Lincoln and John Butler reside in Kenduskeag. Ernest Luville is a citizen of Everett, Mass. Ethel May has her home in Kenduskeag. (VIII) Lillian, fourth daughter of John T. and Abby G. (Simpson) Cole, was born Oct. 31, 1854, in Kenduskeag, and receied a liberal education. She was married July 3, 1889, to Manley R. Morgan, of Guilford, Maine, and has a daugther, Ruth Morgan, born May 22, 1893, who is a student at the Guilford high school. For thirteen years previous to her marriage, Mrs. Morgan was a teacher in the public schools of Bangor.