Puritans, Plagues, and Promises Section 2

By William E. Cole

Plagues in sixteenth century England ravage London’s citizens. Cole, Clarke, and Collier surviving family members emerge and persevere to pursue freedom, liberty, and new opportunities. While mourning those lost, their strong Puritan faith enables them to celebrate God’s protection for those who lived. These narratives are accounts of courage in the face of painful adversity that show how even tragic circumstances can turn into inspiration with the Promises of new beginnings. Lessons we can learn from even today.

• Language: English
• Publisher: William E. Cole
• Release date: May 26, 2023

Book preview

Puritans, Plagues, and Promises by William E. Bill Cole

Early Book Reviews

Historians, scholars, and genealogists are going to love this book. The narrative style of writing is engaging and the level of detail throughout is exceptional. Great job!

Jeff Evans, Professional Indexer for twenty-five years.

Having a family tree is good, but telling an ancestor’s story breathes life into the names, dates, and places representing a real person. Bill’s book masterfully shows how this is done. He skillfully weaves the fabric of his 16th and 17th century Cole ancestors’ lives and makes one feel what it was like to be a Puritan in those perilous times. After numerous close calls with the authorities and plagues, the Coles decide the best course of action was to get the family to the emerging Plymouth Colony. He fixes a clear image of that experience on the reader’s mind where once there was a hazy idea. Highly recommended.

Michael J. Cole, retired Brigadier General, U.S.A.F.

Beginning in the small English village of Weedon Bec with an introduction to a previously unknown ancestor, Bill Cole grabs his readers and leads them on a journey through time and English history. As we follow the Cole, Clarke, and Collier families from England to America, it becomes clear that like all of us, we are shaped by events around us. An excellent storyteller, Bill is meticulous in his research, and thorough in his description of the times. He certainly cracked the code of the elusive Cole family and more. I highly anticipated this book on many fronts: as a personal family historian, archivist, Mayflower descendant, avid reader and yes, Cole descendant. Puritans, Plagues and Promises did not disappoint!

Patricia M. Donohoe, former Vice President, Eastham Historical Society.

As a descendant of Jane (Yates) (Clarke) Collier, through daughters born to both her Clarke and Collier husbands, I am more than a bit biased in my interest. It was difficult waiting for my chance to read Bill’s book. Bill’s excellent articles in the Mayflower Descendant (Volumes 69 and 71) had introduced me to details of the Yates, Clarke, Arnold, Collier, and Cole families. But those detailed research articles were just an appetizer to the meal which is this book. Bill does an excellent job in establishing a series of themes and then making history come to life through stories involving a series of interconnected people who lived out that history. Bill’s approach includes weaving plenty of details into the story he has crafted. While on my first pass through the book, I found myself drawn to hasten my pace, having made the decision that I would be rereading this book to be able to spend sufficient time on the notes and excerpts from the historical documents which Bill had so painstakingly included in this book. As a descendant and researcher of these people, I also know that my copy of this book is going to become flagged with many post-it notes highlighting all sorts of things.

Ronald E. Benson Jr., Ph.D., genealogical researcher and author

[including Discovering more about Lieutenant Marcus Cole… Nutmegger (Vol. 45), and Philip and Chloe (Cole) Goff… OGSQ (Vol. 54)].

Puritans, Plagues, and Promises

Cole, Clarke, and Collier

in England to America

William E. Bill Cole

Copyright © 2023 by WILLIAM E. COLE

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author.

Limit of Liability/Disclaimer of Warranty: While the publisher and author have used their best efforts in preparing this book, they make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this book and specifically disclaim any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. No warranty may be created or extended by sales representatives or written sales materials. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for your situation. You should consult with a professional when appropriate. Neither the publisher nor the author shall be liable for any loss of profit or any other commercial damages, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, personal, or other damages.

PURITANS, PLAGUES, AND PROMISES

Cole, Clarke, and Collier in England to America

by William E. Bill Cole

1. HIS036020 History / United States / Colonial Period (1600-1775)

2. BIO006000 Biography & Autobiography / Historical

3. REF013000 REFERENCE / Genealogy & Heraldry

ISBN: 979-8-88636-019-6 (hardcover)

ISBN: 979-8-88636-020-2 (paperback)

Cover designer: Lewis Agrell

Printed in the United States of America

Smashwords Edition

Authority Publishing

13389 Folsom Blvd #300-256

Folsom, CA 95630

800-877-1097

www.AuthorityPublishing.com

Dedication

Dedicated first to my grandfather, Perry Ogden Cole (1870-1967). An important role model in my youth, he taught me the importance of God and family in one’s life. My relationship with him stimulated my interest in genealogy.

Also dedicated to the great-grandson, Hunter Justin Cole, of my brother, Norman Harold Cole. Born in 2015, the year my English origins research project started, Hunter is the thirteenth great-grandson of Daniel Cole (1614-1694). Daniel Cole emigrated from England to America’s Plymouth Colony during the Great Puritan Migration to New England from 1620-40. With findings revealed in Puritans, Plagues, and Promises, Hunter is the seventeenth-generation male Cole descendant in our family’s branch. Our Cole family history now dates back more than five hundred years—a half millennium.

Contents

Acknowledgements

Prelude

Introduction

This Author’s Hope for You

A Note on Technical Conventions

SECTION TWO: PLAGUES

Chapter 5: Plagues Ravage Southwark’s Families

Chapter 6: A Cole Family of Northamptonshire

Chapter 7: New Beginnings for Families Cole, Arnold, and Collier

Chapter 8: Plagued by Transitions, Trials, and Testing

Endnotes

About the Author

Primary Sources

Acknowledgements

I acknowledge generations of researchers and writers whose dedicated work and findings have guided me throughout my quest. Two years after my English origins research project launched, I contacted several Cole cousins to share some early breakthrough findings.

We have stood on the shoulders of many Cole genealogy giants who have invested countless hours and energy of research to get us to this point. Now we need to pick up the genealogical baton!¹

Many historians, scholars, and genealogists wrote works that continue to influence our understanding of the past. What follows is a listing of authors whose publications I relied upon to propel me to complete this publication. I apologize in advance for leaving anyone out. Listed in chronological sequence and referencing the year of just one work for each person, my acknowledgement is for their many contributions, scholarship, and dedication to building up the knowledge base in our field. If you see some you do not recognize, make a concerted effort to find their works. As my friend and colleague, Bud Gardner, co-author of a best-selling book, wrote, When you write, your words echo down the ages.²

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RESEARCH SPONSORS

A few individuals and organizations financially sponsored this research project as it progressed. First and foremost, I acknowledge and give special thanks to Scott L. Semans, my nephew. His interest, encouragement, and financial support contributed heavily to this work’s completion and images acquisition. The American Society of Genealogists awarded me a grant in 2022. Alicia Crane Williams, a fellow of ASG, spearheaded my application, which was greatly appreciated. Two client organizations, Kitchen Mart, Inc. of Sacramento, California, and Abacus Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning, and Electrical in Houston and Austin, Texas, encouraged me and supported my research. A sincere thank you to the leaders of both organizations: Dave and Tamara Hollars and Alan O’ Neill. You are very special people and leaders. I am blessed to have you as close friends.

SPONSORS

This publication includes original source record images not previously published from as early as 1550. In part, these historic genealogical breakthrough images are brought to you by the following organizations and individuals who sponsored at least one image:

American Society of Genealogists.

Abacus Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning, & Electrical in Houston, Texas.

Kitchen Mart, Inc. of Sacramento, California.

Ronald E. Benson, my distant cousin.

David Charles Cole, my sixth cousin.

John Anholm Cole, in memory of his father, Jeffrey Anholm Cole, my first cousin.

Michael John Cole, my Y-DNA cousin.

Stephen Dandridge Cole, my eighth cousin.

Anne Cole Linscott and brother, James Stuart Cole, in memory of their father, Charles Henry Cole, Jr.

John and Patricia Donohoe, my distant cousin.

Dave and Tamara Hollars, my clients and friends.

Claire Diane Jaynes, my niece, in memory of her mother, Diane Cole Semans.

Alan O’Neill, my client and friend.

Scott L. Semans, my nephew.

Jerrine A. Stanbury, my distant cousin.

DONORS

Additional thanks are extended for donations from my friend and business colleague, Harold C. Krause; my friend and researcher, Richard Cameron Williams; and cousins Sharon Stevens and Sandra Cole Roe.

ENCOURAGERS

Others have encouraged me as I researched and began sharing my findings. Many volunteer their time and talents for their respective organizations. Thank you all!

ENGLAND’S ARCHIVES STAFF

In my historic genealogical presentations, whether in person or virtual, I often reference England’s underutilized treasure troves containing hidden genealogical gems. Without archives’ staff who preserve, care for, and help researchers access their holdings, publications like this one would be impossible. Despite challenging shutdowns for long stretches during the COVID-19 pandemic, staff members in England’s archives have been exemplary. Each group held records for genealogical mysteries that were long thought to be unsolvable. Sincere thanks and appreciation are due to all of them.

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From all of us ancestor searchers to the staff of archives, libraries, and other repositories worldwide, we collectively say thank you. We, and our descendants, are eternally grateful.

RESEARCH TEAM

A hearty thanks and job well done is due to my English research partner, Nicola Waddington, M.A. Waddington is a registered archivist who heads up a UK Archives and Community History Consultancy firm, Archives Alive. Nicola has partnered with me from the very beginning of my English origins research project. We decided to give it a try right after she told me she doubted if she could help me. Our skills proved to be complementary. We each brought different ways of looking at clues and facts obtained. For one who is not a genealogist, her contributions enabled historic genealogical breakthroughs that might never have occurred without her. Eight years after we started our work together, she may know as much about Plymouth Colony, its people and history, and the Great Puritan Migration to New England as do many seasoned American genealogists and researchers.³

Also acknowledged for a job well done is Simon Neal, M.A., AGRA. Simon transcribed and translated many primary source records in old English and Latin that Nicola and I uncovered. One record discovered was so difficult to decipher and interpret, we translated it four times with four different experts for comparison purposes. Simon’s work proved to be the most accurate. Excellent work, Simon! Thank you.

THANKS TO THREE SPECIAL LADIES

Stephanie Chandler heads up Authority Publishing, located in Folsom, California. Puritans, Plagues, and Promises is my third publication with her team. She is also Founder and CEO of the Non-Fiction Author’s Association. Thanks, Stephanie, to you and your team. Much appreciated!

Dr. Ellen A. Koehler, Ph.D. in Intellectual and Cultural History, is an independent scholar⁴ and Worship Pastor of Epiclesis, an Ancient-Future Faith Community in Sacramento, California.⁵ Ellen is a friend and colleague who has stuck with me through thick and thin to help make this book a reality. For more than a year, she has coached me with manuscript reviews, fact-checking, stylistic advice, and grammar corrections. Thank you, Ellen!

To my wife, Kristy L. Cole, love and kisses! She is an angel. Kristy has tolerated my countless hours and sacrificed much to allow me the freedom, flexibility, and focus to accomplish this all-consuming passion. She is the love of my life. This year, we celebrate our Golden Wedding Anniversary. Thank you, dear!

A LEGACY AND LABOR OF LOVE

I have often said this is my legacy project. This labor of love is the culmination of a lifetime quest to find my roots in England. Thank you, Grandpa Cole, for inspiring me to venture on this path and persevere to provide this legacy work. For my fellow researchers and genealogists, my five Cole nephews and nieces, many great nephews and nieces, and several great-great nieces and nephews, plus countless other Cole, Clarke, and Collier descendants—cherish the information. As you will discover, we owe much to those who went before us. Enjoy and Cheers!

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¹ William E. Cole, personal archive, email 2 February 2017.

² Jack Canfield et al, Chicken Soup for the Writer’s Soul (Deerfield Beach: Health Communications, 2000): 256.

³ Nicola Waddington, M.A., Archives Alive, http://www.archivesalive.co.uk.

⁴ Clerestory Notes. https://www.clerestorynotes.com.

⁵ Our Pastors, Epiclesis: An Ancient Future Faith Community. https://epiclesis.org/our-pastors/.

Prelude

Good King Cole,

And he call’d for his Bowle,

And he call’d for Fidler’s three;

And there was Fiddle, Fiddle,

And twice Fiddle, Fiddle,

For ‘twas my Lady’s Birth-day,

Therefore we keep Holy-day

And come to be merry¹

Did King Cole really exist? I’ve often said that my ultimate genealogical goal would be to connect my Cole line to him. In February 2015, I found myself committed to an ambitious project. Already a seasoned genealogical researcher, sitting in my office over a cup of coffee, I was struck by one glaring question: With all the great genealogists and researchers who came before me, why wasn’t anyone able to crack the code regarding the Cole ancestry? What were they missing, and why? For generations, researchers have searched in vain for the English origins of three brothers: Job, John, and Daniel Cole, plus Daniel’s wife Ruth. In 2007, David Charles Cole wrote,

The English forebears of Daniel Cole may never be known with certainty.² Tragically, we may [also] never know the lineage of Ruth, the matriarch . . . [and] faithful wife of Daniel for more than 50 years who nurtured and raised their 11 children under difficult and harsh conditions. Ruth died on December 15, 1694 at age 67, one week before Daniel died at age 80.³

Prior genealogists proposed that Ruth Cole’s maiden surname, not indicated in