James Cole was born in London, England in 1626.
He came with his father to Plymouth,
Mass. in 1633. He was married first, Dec. 23,
1652 to Mary Tilson. He was married second,
to Abigail Davenport. He moved to
Scituate, Mass. and from there to York,
Maine and then probably to Kennebunk,
Maine - where he remained but a short time
as he was admitted as a freeman of Plymouth,
Mass. in 1654. He was a surveyor of
highways in Plymouth in 1656. He held
office again in 1678 and 1685. He was
the representative for Plymouth
in 1690. He purchased property from
his father in 1668, including the inn,
which business he kept for many years.
Judge Sewell, in his diary under the date
of March 8, 1698, says, "I get to Plymouth
about noon and stop at Cole's. This house
was built by Governor Winslow and is
the oldest in Plymouth. "James
died at Plymouth in 1712.
James Cole, oldest son of James, the Plymouth
innkeeper, was probably born in England
and came to the colony when a boy, with
his father. Date of his birth-probably about
1625 as he is on the list of those
able to bear arms in 1643 along with
younger brother, Hugh. He married
Dec 23, 1652-Mary Tilson-at Scituate,
Mass. and there his oldest child was born.
He soon moved to York, Maine and, perhaps
in 1654, to Kennebec, for among the
inhabitants of Kennebec who took the
oath of fealty to Plymouth Colony on May 23,
1654, was James Cole.
Background courtesy of The Background Boutique.
