| 14. | James* Cole was born about 1720 in New Castle Co, Delaware (son of James* Cole, Sr. (Immigrant) and Susannah* Rentfroe (or Renfro)); died on 19 May 1794 in Coles Creek Settlement, Natchez, Mississippi. Other Events and Attributes:
- Residence: Bef 1737, Orange and Frederick Co, Virginia
- Residence: 1747, Black Water River, Bedford Co, Virginia
- Residence: 1748, Mecklenburg Co, North Carolina
- Residence: 1758, Ashpole Swamp, Bladen Co, North Carolina
- Residence: Abt 1765, PeeDee River area, Craven Co, South Carolina
- Residence: Mar 1772, Natchez District, Mississippi; arrived in MS
- Residence: Oct 1772, Natchez District, Mississippi; arrived
- Possessions: 10 Sep 1784, Natchez, Mississippi and Province of Lousiana
- Residence: Abt 1790, Coles Creek, Natchez, Mississippi
- Possessions: 19 May 1794, Coles Creek, Natchez District, Mississippi; Inventory
Notes:
As a child, James moved to the counties of Orange and Frederick, Virginia in the Shenandoah Valley between 1732-1737. In 1747, he moved to Lunenburg County (called Bedford County after 1754). In 1747, Janes Jr and his brother Stephen are found with their Uncle Mark Cole and the Rentfroes on the branches of the Black Water and Pigg Rivers in Virginia. On April 16, 1747, James Jr has 400 acres on both sides of Little Creek, a branch of the Black Water River. On March 28, 1748, he has 215 acres on both sides of Little Creek. On December 15, 1753, he has 400 acres on both sides of Story Creek, a branch of the Pigg River. James Jr, Mark Cole, James Sr Cole and Stephen Cole all lived on adjoining land at this time.
In 1757/58, James and his brother Stephen moved to Bladen County, North Carolina. They lived there about 7 years and then moved to Craven County, South Carolina. On March 26, 1765, James Cole of Craven County in the Government of South Carolina, sells to William Rentfroe of Bedford County, Virginia, for 30 lbs,. a tract of land containing 215 acres in Bedford County, on Little Creek, a branch of Black Water River. This land was surveyed for James Cole Jr on March 28, 1748. The grant was issued on August 16, 1756. It was acknowledged by James Rentfroe Jr who was the attorney for James Cole.
On October 10, 1757, James applied for land in Bladen County. One hundred acres on south side of Ashpole Swamp adjoining Richard Barfield. The land grant was issued on April 10, 1761. James conveyed this land to Thomas Robeson in 1765.
On February 18, 1765, James Cole of Craven County in the Province of South Carolina appoints James Rentfroe Jr of the County of Halifax, Colony of Virginia, Power of Attorney to transact all business for him.
James and his family arrived in Mississippi in March 1772. On moving to the Natchez District he is known as James Cole Sr. He and his family lived on Boyds Creek which was changed to Coles Creek in 1777. In 1799, the Natchez District was divided. The Coles Creek area on the north was named Pickering which changed to Jefferson County in 1802. His British Land petition says that James "arrived in this country with a wife and nine children."
On September 10, 1784, James Cole signed an agreement with Osborn Sprigg of the District of Natchez and the Providence of Opelousas, Louisiana. The agreement reads, "James Cole Sr to take in his posession all the stock of mares and colts belonging to the said, Sprigg. To take such care of them as to increase and benefit the stock...for two years; at the end of which, James Cole to take one-fourth of the increase as his own." signed Osborn Sprigg and James Cole.
Documents dating May 7, 1785, show James as an honorable, trustworthy citizen of the Coles Creek Community.
From the Spanish Archives of the Indies, we have a census taken in Natchez District in 1792 showing the names: James Cole Sr, James Cole Jr, John Cole, Stephen Cole, Solomon Cole, Mark Cole and William Cole.
In 1794, an inventory of the estate of the late James Cole, deceased as declared upon oath of Mary Cole, the widow, reads, "John Cole, the eldest son; Jacob Stampley and Captain Richard King, all of this District, Appraisers.
450 acres of land...more or less (not a large estate)
One negro man, supposed to be 35 years of age
One grey horse, about 12 years old
One cow and calf, One yearling heifer
One two year old steer, 12 head of hogs
One saddle One feather bed, sheets, furniture
One large and one small iron pot and one bake oven
Five wooden, common chairs; three pewter basins, 6 pewter plates
Two pewter dishes - 3 earthen dishes
Four knifes and forks
One plough - two falling axes - one broad axe and three weeding hoes
One old drawing knife, one foot adze - one frowe
A small looking glass
This inventory was taken on May 19, 1794.
When the United State asserted its claim on the British Colony in the Natchez District, it ordered the land free and independent of Spanish rule. Winthrope Sargeant was named the first Misssissippi Territorial Governor in 1798. The Land Commission proceeded to confirm all land grants held by the settlers of early British and Spansih titles. A tithable-list was taken of all heads of households. From the list we can account for the surviving members of the Coles in the Coles Creek settlement in 1798. Living in Coles Creek, Natchez District in 1798: Mary Cole, widow; James Cole Jr; John Cole; Stephen Cole; Solomon Cole; Mark Cole. Living in the Homochitto River, Natchez District in 1798, William Cole.
On June 5, 1806, Mary Cole, widow of James, sold to Moses Higgins, "title to that part of land on which I now live, 120 acres for $150.00. All my stock of horses, hogs, horned cattle and household furniture."
Mary Rentfroe Cole's probate of her will was held on March 17, 1810.
http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/c/o/l/Darlene-Cole-Fresno/GENE1-0003.html
Residence:
Per "Sunlight on the Southside" pg 84, (from Steve Matthews via email) shown in Deloney's List, Meckenburg, NC titheables were:
Timothy Johnson
James Johnson .........4
Aquilla Gilbert ....... 1
Walter Mathews ........ 1
James Rentfro ......... 1
Joseph Rentfro ........ 2
Peter Vanbeber and
Isaac Vanbeber ...... 2
James Cole, Junr. ..... 1
Robt. Jones and
Thos. Jones ......... 2
William Rentfro ....... 1
Residence:
James and his family arrived in Mississippi in March 1772. On moving to the Natchez District he is known as James Cole Sr. He and his family lived on Boyds Creek which was changed to Coles Creek in 1777. In 1799, the Natchez District was divided. The Coles Creek area on the north was named Pickering which changed to Jefferson County in 1802. His British Land petition says that James "arrived in this country with a wife and nine children."
http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/c/o/l/Darlene-Cole-Fresno/GENE1-0003.html
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http://www.libertychapelcemetery.org/files/family/travel.html.
.
Early Migration Trails.
From the Pee Dee River Valley, NC
to Cole's Creek and Curtis Landing The pioneers to the new "Natchez Country" would leave the Pee Dee River area of SC/NC and travel about 200 miles using pack-horses to the Holston RIver in northeastern Tennessee. They traveled via the South Carolina State Road (North) on the Warriors Path. They continued on the Catawba Trail to the Wilderness Road Fort near Kingsport, Tennessee. (Some of the present day towns and cities they would pass through were: Cheraws, SC; Wadesboro, NC; New Salem, NC; Lenoir, NC; Blowing Rock, NC; Boone, NC; Hampton, TN; Johnson City, TN; and Kingsport, TN. The automobile driving distance today would be over 250 miles.).
At the Wilderness Road Fort they secured/built flat boats. The flat boats were sturdy with one end enclosed for protection from the elements. The flat boat had to be designed to allow for the women, children, food, bedding and household items. They had to transport a milk cow, chickens, horses, hunting dogs and farm implements. Once aboard the flat boats they followed the Holston River to the Tennessee River which they entered near Knoxville, TN. (They traveled near present day towns of Surgoinsville, TN; Chalk Level, TN: Cherokee Lake; Buffalo Springs, TN; and Mascot, TN).
Indian attacks were a frequent occurrence. The pioneers always had to be prepared. The women often steered the boats while the men fought the Indians. Some used chairs as shields, holding against their chests as protection from the Indian arrows. Following the Tennessee River they reached the Ohio River near Paducah, KY. (On this leg they traveled near present day towns of Dayton, TN; Chattanooga, TN; Scottsboro, AL; Guntersville, AL; Decatur, AL; Florence, AL; Savannah,TN; Perryville, TN; Sycamore Landing, TN; Eva, TN; Aurora, KY; and Lake City, KY) From Paducah the flat boats floated down the Ohio River where they entered the Mississippi near Cairo, IL. (This is near present day Metropolis, IL; and about 30 miles south of Cape Girardeau, MO)..
At Cairo, IL the flat boats embarked on the "mercy" of the mighty Mississippi River for the rest of the journey to the "Natchez Country." (They traveled near present day towns like Hayti, MO; Cathursville, MO; Heloise, TN; Osceloa, AR; Memphis, TN; Helena, AR; Rosedale, MS; Greenville, MS; Lake Providence, LA; and Vicksburg, MS) South of Rodney one group of pioneers steered the flat boats into Boyd's Creek (now Cole's Creek) for the 15 mile trip to Curtis Landing on the South Fork of Cole's Creek. Other pioneers continued on to Natchez or Wilkinson County steering their flat boats up St. Catherine's Creek, the Homochitto River or Buffalo River..
These pioneers had made a trip of approximately 1400 miles by flat boat on water. The total miles traveled by horse-pack and flat boat would be about 1650-1700 miles..
Upon arrival it was necessary to fell trees and build log houses quickly. Fields needed to be cleared and cultivated. The survival for the first year was dependent on the family's ability to fish and hunt. Squirrel, deer, ducks, and wild turkey were the family's fresh meat..
One of the pioneer families who had a British land grant in Jefferson County included James Cole who arrived October, 1772 with the paperwork finalized in 1776. Richard Curtis who arrived in 1780..
In 1779, an expedition under Don Bernardo de Galvez, Spanish governor of Louisiana Territory, captured the British Fort in Natchez. After the fall of the British at Baton Rouge, General Galvez negotiated the surrender of the English Fort Panmure in Natchez on September 21, 1779. The Spanish, with generous land grants, gave the residents opportunity to move to Opelousas Post in early 1780.
Residence:
Residence Oct 1772 Natchez District, Mississippi
"Family tradition says, that 'James Cole with neighbors and kin came to the Natchez Country,' Mississippi on flat boats, by floating down the Holston, Tennessee, Ohio, and Mississippi Rivers.'
"From the records of the West Florida Land Petition, we know that James Cole arrived October 1772, with a wife and nine children."
Cole Foot Prints, p 29
Possessions:
p 6 Agreement. 10 Sep 1784 Osborn Sprigg, of District of Natches and Province of Louisiana, and James Cole, Jr., of same, agree that James Cole take into his possession all the stock of mares and colts that said Sprigg may have and take such care of them as to increase and benefit said stock, ... for two years, at the end of which James Cole to take one-fourth of the increase as his own. James (X) Cole, Osborn Sprigg, ack before Trevino.
The Natchez Court Records, 1767-1805 by May Wilson McBee
pg 135
http://books.google.com/books?id=yvJw1hHgSLMC&pg=PA115&lpg=PA115&dq=green,+province+of+west+florida&source=bl&ots=-PhXvwnRzr&sig=UyLpAOAD_6BqmGrQBlpgUxY2Cfc&hl=en&ei=tAIUTYznK8K88gbewKy7Dw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CFcQ6AEwCA#v=snippet&q=hayes&f=false
Residence:
Natchez Records 1767-1805 by May Wilson McBee
Page 357 (no preview available)
William Ferguson to Thos Marston Green, 348 acres on Cole's Creek, b. by lands of John Smith, James Cole, Ben Stanley, and Benj. Roberts, for $350. ...no preview available for this page
page 80
1790. William Ferguson to Thomas Marston Green, 348 arpents b. by John Smith, James Cole, Benj. Stampley, Benj. Roberts, for $350 paid. Wit: Eben Rees. ...no preview available for this page
Possessions:
In 1794, an inventory of the estate of the late James Cole, deceased as declared upon oath of Mary Cole, the widow, reads, "John Cole, the eldest son; Jacob Stampley and Captain Richard King, all of this District, Appraisers.
450 acres of land...more or less (not a large estate)
One negro man, supposed to be 35 years of age
One grey horse, about 12 years old
One cow and calf, One yearling heifer
One two year old steer, 12 head of hogs
One saddle One feather bed, sheets, furniture
One large and one small iron pot and one bake oven
Five wooden, common chairs; three pewter basins, 6 pewter plates
Two pewter dishes - 3 earthen dishes
Four knifes and forks
One plough - two falling axes - one broad axe and three weeding hoes
One old drawing knife, one foot adze - one frowe
A small looking glass
This inventory was taken on May 19, 1794.
http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/c/o/l/Darlene-Cole-Fresno/GENE1-0003.html
James* married Mary* Rentfroe about 1754 in Black Water River, Bedford Co, Virginia. Mary* (daughter of James* Rentfroe, Sr and Esther* Van Bibber) was born in 1736 in Crooked Run, on the Shenandoah, Orange Co, Virginia; died in 1810 in Coles Creek Settlement, Natchez District, Jefferson Co, Mississippi. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
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Abt 1809 - Bef 1845 (~ 35 years)