James Cole and Mary Lobel married in 1624.
Their first children, James and Hugh,
were probably born in London, England.
They came to Saco, Maine in 1632 and in
1633 located in Plymouth, Mass. where he was
admitted as a freeman the same year.
He was a sailor. His name appears on the
tax list at Plymouth in 1634. On Jan. 2,
1636 he had a grant of ten acres of land.
On Jan 2, 1637, the court deeded him seven
acres of land to belong to his dwelling
house. Three acres probably included all
land on the south side of Leydon Street,
from the corner of Warren Street to
the westerly line of the lot opposite
the Universalist Church. His dwelling
stood on lot next below the Baptist Church.
He was the first settler of, and lived
on "Cole's Hill", the first buriel
ground of the pilgrims. This land
probably included the ground upon which
rests Plymouth Rock. In Sept. 1641,
he had a grant of 50 acres of land at
the same place. In 1662 he had a grant
of land at Sacconet Neck. In 1665
he had 30 acres of land on the west
side of Namuet River. He was a
surveyor of highways in the years 1641,
1642, 1651, and 1652. He was constable in
1641 and 1644. In 1637 his name
appears upon a list of volunteers against
the Pequot Indians. Soon after his
arrival at Plymouth, he opened the first
inn or public house of Plymouth, and one,
if not the first, in New England(Public House).
This house was kept open by him
and his son James till 1698.
In 1668 he sold to his son, James, the land
down to and including, the lot upon
which stands the Baptist Church. In 1689, his son
James sold it to William Shurtliffe.

Background courtesy of The Background Boutique.