| Notes |
- Came to America 1632-3 with father James
"Apr 8,1634 it was agreed with James Cole that his son Hugh shall keep the cowes from Apr 15 to November and shall have for his pay fifty bushels of corn. He shall bring them up every morning to be milked and then carry back to feed and bring them home at night.
On the 1643 Plymouth list of men able to bear arms.[5]
On 6 Jun 1655, the grand jury presented "Hugh Cole, and Mary Foxwell, his now wife, in keeping company each other in an undecent manner, at an unseasonable time and place, before marriage." Hugh was fined 20s.[6]
He was made surveyor of highways at Barnstable and granted 100 acres of land at Acushauett. In 1667 with others he purchased of King Phillip 500 acres of land on the west bank of what was named for him, Coles River. He was a shipwright and civil engineer, and may of the tracts of land of Swansea were surveyed by him. He was a selectman of Swansea for many years, and was representative and deputy to the general court in the years, 1773,74,75,80,83,84,85,86, and 89.
He was for years the friend of King Phillip ( the Indian chief). Havng been requested by the Plymouth colony council to visit King Phillip and report the conditions made the following. "Swansea. Apr 1, 1671. Most honorable sirs; - yours I received this day whereby I perceive you desire to know what posture the Indians are in. I do not find them to continue in a posture of war as they have been. I went to mount hope last second day on purpose to see their proceedings and was in many of their houses, but saw nothing as intending to war. But asking them of their reason of continuing together at Mt. Hope, they answered, it was to see Phillip's child buried, and I have seen some return but the greater part of them are together. And they gave as the reason because the wind does so blow against them that they cannot go home with their canoes - not else. Rest assured I am yours to command what I am able.
"Oct 27, 1669" Hugh Cole Hugh Cole was granted fifty acres of land lying between Manneonest Point and salt marsh with all the appurtenances thereunto belonging unto him and his heirs forever. (page 149, vol. 3 Plymouth records). He was granted by the court respecting his father's grant, he being an ancient freeman. Six score acres of land between the Mattapoiset River and the bounds of Acushassett.
In June, 1675 at the commencement of the war with King Phillip, two of Hugh Cole's sons were made prisoners by the Indians and taken to Phillip at Mount Hope. Phillip ordered them set a liberty because as he said Hugh Cole had always been his friend. He sent word to Hugh that he could no longer restrain his warriors, and for him to take his family and immediately remove to Rhode Island. This he did and one hour afterward his home was in flames. While he had been on such friendly terms with Phillip, his was the first house burned and Gershom Cole was the first person killed. After leaving his home Hugh Cole located at Portsmouth, RI. The town records of Portsmouth show that, Oct 12, 1675, Hugh Cole was granted liberty to use some of the windfalls that are down to build a small frame and to make wheels for the use of the townsmen for their money. Savage says "Hugh was a sergeant in the war against King Phillip." After the war in his election as representative he is always spoken of as sergeant.
After the close of the war , 1677, he returned to Swansea and built a house a few rods from where Miss Abby Cole now lives (in 1900). The well walled by him on the bank of the Kickemuit River is still there. This part of the land has descended by will, no deed having been made for it; it has never passed out of possession of the Cole family and is now owned by Miss Abby Cole. Part of the land owned by him in Swansea is now a part of Warren. RI. He died in Swansea , Jan 22 1699 and was buried in the southern extreme of Meadow Neck, now known as Howland Meadow in Barrington in what is known as the Tyler Point Cemetery. He had ten children - the first seven were born in Plymouth, the other three in Swansea.
His land was still owned by the Cole family in 1908.
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Blood in the Earth
1628 - 1699