(1)  Samuel Cole, born was born about 1597 in England, based on his estimated date of marriage, and died between 21 December 1666 when his will was made, and 13 February 1666/1667 when it was probated, in Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts.  He immigrated about 1630 to Boston, where he became an innkeeper.  On 4 March 1633/1634, Gov. Winthrop reported that "Samuel Cole set up the first house for common entertainment...."  He married Anne and in the fall of 1630 they were admitted to the Boston church as members #42 and #43.  She died about 1647.  [See Robert Charles Anderson's The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633 (Vol. 1), pp. 430-5 for more information]. Samuel and Anne were parents of:
 
 

        (2)  John Cole, born about 1626 in England, died 1707 in North Kingstown, Washington Co., Rhode Island; married 30 December 1651 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts, Susanna Hutchinson, christened 15 November 1633, Alford, Lincolnshire, England.
        John Cole was misrepresented twice in early records. On 5 September 1639 "Samuel Cole of Boston in N.E. g[ent]. placeth John Cole his grandchild apprentice to John Mylan of Boston aforesaid cooper for 7 years" from "1.1.1638." If this were really the grandchild of Samuel Cole, then the latter would have to be a generation older than otherwise required by the evidence, and so the record apparently errs in stating the relation. The marriage records for John Cole calls him "son of Isaac Cole," but the only known Isaac Cole of this early date was of Charlestown, and did not have a son John.
        In 1637 Anne Marbury Hutchinson, Susanna's mother, was tried by the General Court of Massachusetts, presided over by Winthrop, on the charge of "traducing the ministers." The trial was a travesty of justice; Hutchinson was found guilty, excommunicated, and banished from the colony. She moved with her husband and family to the island of Aquidneck, now part of Rhode Island, and after his death, she and her younger children settled in what is now Pelham Bay, Bronx, New York.
        Hutchinson and five of her children who had accompanied her to New England were killed in an attack by Indians in August 1643, but Susanna, who was about ten years old, was spared. She was carried away by the Indians and remained with them for four years. When a peace agreement was finally reached, she was returned to the Dutch, who still controlled New York.  By then she had forgotten her own language and people. Despite the traumatic events of her youth, Susanna apparently made the difficult readjustments and eventually married John Cole of Boston.
       John and Susanna were parents of:
 
 

        (3)  William Cole, born 13 July 1671 in Wickford, Washington Co., Rhode Island, died 17 September 1734 in North Kingstown, Washington Co., Rhode Island; married in 1791 at North Kingstown, Ann Pinder, born 1675 in North Kingstown, Washington Co., Rhode Island.  Parents of:
 
 

        (4)  Benjamin Cole, born 1716 in North Kingstown, Washington Co., Rhode Island, died 18 January 1812 in North Kingstown, Washington Co., Rhode Island; married 13 July 1747 in North Kingstown, Squcie "Excuse" Fones, born 23 February 1718/1719 in Jamestown, Rhode Island.
        The identity of Squcie Fones, the last child of Martha and Jeremiah Fones, whose birth was recorded without a name is determined from the will of Martha's step-son Capt. Jeremiah Fones, who names his half-sister Squcie Cole, and the will of Martha's son Samuel, who names his sister Squcie Place.  Her identity is also established by a deed. In Nov 1745 Thomas Place sold land to Scusie [sic] Place, widow to his brother Samuel Place. Her children Samuel, James and Hannah were named in the probate of the estate of Samuel Place. Her daughter, Squcie Place, was born posthumously.
        After Benjamin died, Squcie married Samuel Place.
        On 5 May 1747 Daniel Fones was appointed guardian to Samuel Place, Jr., and as the guardian of Samuel Place, Jr., sold the proerty of Samuel Place, Sr., deceased.
        In 1760 Benjamin Cole, son of William, and wife Scuse sold land to Jeremiah Hazard.
        Benjamin and Squcie were parents of:
 
 

        (5)  Benjamin Cole, born on 18 November 1751 in North Kingstown, Washington Co., Rhode Island; married on 18 November 1783 in North Kingstown, Patience "Patty" Martha Wightman, born 15 May 1759 in North Kingstown, Washington Co., Rhode Island, died 21 December 1841 in Hebron, Washington Co., New York, a descendant of Edward Wightman, who was burned at the stake in England by King James I as punishment for his religious beliefs -- the last man to be so punished in all England.
        Benjamin, Jr., enlisted at North Kingstown in the Revolutionary War when he was about 23 years old.  The "History of Washington and Kent County, of Rhode Island," by J. B. Cole, states that Benjamin Cole, Jr., was the son of Benjamin and Squse Cole, of North Kingstown, although the date of birth given for him in this source (1759) is incorrect. In his Revolutionary War pension application in 1832, he declared that he was 81 years old, which would place the year of his birth at around 1751, which is in agreement with vital records of North Kingstown, and Benjamin's gravestone record, "Died Oct. 26, 1839, age 87 years, 11 months."
        In 1794, Benjamin moved with his family from North Kingstown to Washington Co., New York and settled near
Hebron.  He was a wheelwright by trade, and remained in Washington County for some twenty years. In 1803 was recorded the sale by Benjamin and Martha of their land in Rhode Island to their brother-in-law, Stephen Northrup and his son-in-law, Samuel Northrup. According to Kingstown Land Evidence, 1868-1718,  where the land transaction is noted, "said Benjamin, Jr. was the son of Benjamin and Squse Cole."
        About 1795, Squse Smith and family also moved to Hebron from North Kingstown, Rhode Island. She was the wife of Fones Smith, who had died in North Kingstown before she left. She was a half-sister to Benjamin, Jr., being the daughter of Samuel Place and Squse Fones, who was  Benjamin, Jr.'s mother by her second marriage, to Benjamin Cole, Sr. Squse Smith continued to live in Hebron, Washington Co., until she passed away in 1822. She was buried in the tiny Grimes Hill cemetery, north and west of Hebron. Her inscription reads, "In memory of Squse, wife of Fones Smith, died July 20, 1822, in the 78th year of her age."In 1814, they moved to Jefferson County, New York and settled on a farm north of the Town of Adams, near Honeyville.  Benjamin and Martha joined the Honeyville Church of Christ, by letter, in 1829, (rebuilt 1838 edifice at right).
        Benjamin was blind for many years, and finally had to give up farming, and he and Martha went to live with their son Joseph and his wife Fannie, on a farm near Smithville.
        On 21 August 1832, Benjamin Cole, then residing in Jefferson County, made application in the Town of Adams for a pension based on his service performed in the Revolutionary War.  He was too frail to make the 12 mile journey from his home to the courthouse, so he sent his representative, Benjamin Wright, to speak for him.  He indicated that he participated in no battles, but was the bearer of a letter from the hand of General Lafayette, to Col. Tillinghast, under whom Benjamin was serving at the time.  The pension papers were returned at least once, apparently due to some clerical oversight, and there seems to have been some delay in getting the first pension payment to Benjamin, as evidenced by a letter from his representative to the War Department, dated 17 December 1833. However, based on his service of 12 months and 15 days, a Certificate of Pension was issued to Benjamin Cole on 15 May 1833 at the rate of $41.56 commencing 4 March 1831 and payable semi-annually.
        Benjamin and Martha lived in Smithville in the Town of Adams for several years. Benjamin died on 26 October 1839. Most accounts say that he died in Adams, Jefferson County, NY, and that Martha took her deceased husband to Hebron, possibly to be buried beside his half-sister (the above-mentioned Squse Smith), and stayed on until her death, so she could be buried there too. There are gravestones for both Benjamin and Martha in Grimes Hill (or Smith) Cemetery, Hebron, Washington Co., New York
        However, it would have been most unusual to transport a body from Jefferson to Washington County in 1839. Also, in Martha's application for a widow's pension detailed below, there is a reference to "Benjamin Cole, late of Hebron" that could be interpreted to mean that Benjamin had lived in Hebron just before his death. He had lived there some 25 years earlier, but would that make him "late of Hebron?"  On the other hand, if Benjamin could not travel even 12 miles from his home to the courthouse in 1832, then how could he have travelled from Adams all the way to Hebron a few years later? It is possible that the clerk recording the proceedings just assumed that Benjamin Cole was "late of Hebron," and wrote it that way.  Landmarks of Oswego County (Syracuse: D. Mason, 1895) contains a "family sketch"of the Coles which says that "Joseph purchased a farm  and his parents resided with him until a few years before his [Benjamin's] death, when they went back to their old home in Washington county, where they died.  More research is needed into the circumstances and place of Benjamin Cole, Jr.'s death.
        Whatever the case, Martha did clearly spend her last years in Washington County, New York. In 1840, she petitioned the court at Salem to have Benjamin's pension paid to her. She stated in her petition that her name previous to her marriage to Benjamin Cole, Jr. was Martha Whitman, and that they were married 18 November 1783, in North Kingstown, Rhode Island. The only known person living who had witnessed the marriage, her sister Sally Reynolds, made a deposition to that effect, but the deposition was destroyed in a fire before it could be forwarded to the Pension Office, and meanwhile Sally Reynolds died. Martha's application was still being rejected as late as 2 February 1841, and she died in December of the same year without ever receiving a widow's pension.
        The inscriptions on the tombstones at Grimes Hill Cemetery are as follows:

Benjamin Cole, died 24 October 1841, ae 82 years, 11 mths
"Peace to the Ashes of the Faithful Dead"

Martha Cole, died Dec. 2, 1841, ae 82 years.
"Blessed are the Dead Which Have Died in the Lord."

1. Whitman "Whit" Valentine, born 28 June 1784 in Warren, Rhode Island, died 17 December 1875 in DeFiance, Ohio; married first Hannah Dewey, died 8 March 1832, age 43 years, buried in Honeyville Cemetery, Honeyville, Adams, Jefferson Co., New York; married second Wealthy Cory Wicks/Weeks.  The foundation of a large stone between Hannah and daughter Rachel is probably that of Whitman.  Whitman and Hannah were parents of:
1. Rachel, died 22 November 1831, age 18 years, buried with her mother in Honeyville Cemetery, Honeyville, Adams, Jefferson Co., New York.
2. Susannah; married Seth Duell.
3. Polly, born on 11 February 1789 probably in North Kingstown, Washington Co., Rhode Island, died on 23 September 1859, buried in the front of Honeyville Cemetery, Honeyville, Adams, Jefferson Co., New York; married on 25 February 1808 in Hebron, Washington Co, New York, David Dewey, born on 31 December 1786 in Hartford, Washington Co., New York, died 7 February 1827, age 41, in Adams, Jefferson Co., New York, buried in Honeyville Cemetery, Honeyville, Adams.  He was a farmer in Warren Co., New York, and moved to Washington Co. in 1813, then in June 1825 to Adams.  She married second James Jenkins, born on 6 December 1785, died on 26 August 1876.  AMong their children were:
1. Joel Dewey (pictured below), born 22 February 1810, Adams Center, Adams, Jefferson Co., New York, died 1 April 1889 in Oneida, Madison Co., New York; married Eliza Greene (pictured below), born 30 November 1809 in Adams Center, Adams, Jefferson Co., New York, died 24 October 1885 in Adams Center, Adams, Jefferson Co., New York.  Parents of:
1. Melvil Dewey, (pictured below), born 10 December 1851 in Adams Center, Adams, Jefferson Co., New York, died 26 December 1931 in Lake Placid, Highland Co., Florida. He invented the Dewey Decimal System, founded the American Library Association, started the first professional library journal, and was the most noted figure in the field of library science during his time.
2. Hiram (at right), born 6 September 1813, died 13 October 1883 in Watertown, Jefferson Co., New York.  On 13 September 1832 he married Sylvia Marble, born 5 February 1814, died 17 September 1845 in Town of Orleans, Jefferson Co., New York.  Sylvia's father Nathan Marble later married Betsey Taylor, widow of Merchant Carter of Town of Orleans.
3. Rebecca, born 5 September 1815 in Town of Alexandria, Jefferson Co., New York, died 27 November 1898 in Town of Orleans, buried in Omar; married Alanson Jeremiah Greene, born 23 November 1815 in Adams, died 13 June 1892 in Town of Alexandria, buried in Omar.  Parents of:
1. Bradley Jeremiah Green, born 17 May 1841 in Jefferson Co., New York; married 24 January 1867 in LaFargeville, Jefferson Co., New York, Adelaide Lousie Evans, born 9 September 1846, daughter of Abner Evans and Clarissa Carter, daughter of Merchant Carter and Betsey Taylor.
4. David Jesse, born 26 May 1820, died 25 January 1884; married in 1851 Julia A. Tanner, born 11 March 1831, died 1892; they are both buried in Grove Cemetery, LaFargeville, Jefferson County, New York.  Julia's funeral on 5 May 1892 was attended by Michael J. Diepolder, keeper of Rock Island Lighthouse, whose mother-in-law Amanda (Cole) Kilborn was David J. Dewey's first cousin. Michael married Amanda's daughter Mary Kilborn, and their daughter married Floyd Carter, grandson of Merchant Carter and Betsey Taylor.
4. Rebecca, born 1790/1791, died 23 September 1859, age 87 years, on the same day as her sister Polly (Cole) Dewey; married a Mr. Barton; married Christopher Smith.
5. Samuel, born 1786 in Warren, Rhode Island, died 15 October 1857, age 71 years, in Adams, Jefferson Co., New York; married first Betsy, died 16 August 1813; married second Rebecca.
6. Martha
7. Betsey
8. Joseph, mentioned below
9. Sally

Joel Dewey (1810-1889)

Melville Dewey (1851-1931)

Eliza Greene (1809-1885)

        (6)  Joseph Cole, born on 5 December 1798 in Washington Co., New York, probably in Hebron; married Fannie A. Haskins, born 1799 or 1800 in Hebron, Washington Co., New York, according to herson Harrison's death certificate.  According to Landmarks of Oswego County, New York (1895), Joseph and Fannie came to the Town of Adams, Jefferson Co., New York, in 1818, bringing his parents, Benjamin & Mary [Martha] with him.  Joseph purchased a farm and his parents resided with him until a few years before his [Benjamin's] death, when they went back to their old home in Washington County, where they died.  On 19 March 1843, at age 43, Fannie died and was buried in Honeyville Cemetery, Honeyville, Adams, Jefferson Co., New York, with Joseph's brother Valentine Whitman Cole's family.  The inscription on her tombstone says: "My weeping friends remember me, And you, my children dear, And live to God, that when you die You may with Christ appear."
        Joseph moved to Sandy Creek, Oswego Co., New York, where he bought land.  He made several moves in the town, owning different farms.  He subsequently married Amanda "Mandy" Eliza Haskins, born 26 June 1808 in Fort Ann, Washington Co., New York.  She was sister of Joseph's first wife and widow of Horace Levins Noble of Hannibal, Oswego County -- the town in which her parents resided.
        Joseph and Amanda were enumerated in the 1850, 1860, and 1870 censuses of Sandy Creek as husband and wife.  In 1850, Amanda's daughter from her first marriage, Nancy (Noble) Wilcox, was living in the Cole household with her two young children and had apparently returned from Wisconsin recently.  1870 marked the first census year in which the couple lived by themselves.  Joseph died that year and Amanda followed him in 1889.
        A full list of the children of Joseph Cole has been preserved in a most unlikely source. On 5 November 1905, his son Harrison, who was applying for a pension for Civil War service, was required to provide proof of his birth; since no birth certificate or town vital record existed, he had the local Justice of the Peace, John J. Hollis, examine and testify concerning the contents of the Family Bible belonging to "the late Joseph Cole, father of Harrision Cole."  The Justice "found the said Bible printed or dated Cooperstown NY 1828 Published by H G Phinney Publishers.  That in or about the center of the said Bible I find recorded the births of the aforesaid Joseph Cole's children named as follows."  These records were received at the U.S. Pension Office on 17 November 1905 and today are housed in the pension application file for Harrison H. Cole at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.
 

Cole-Dewey Family Plot Honeyville Cemetery, State Road, Adams, New York

From Left: Three unknown Cole children in one grave; empty lot (prob. intended for Joseph Cole); "Fanna" A., wife of Joseph Cole; David Dewey; Polly Cole; Rachel, dau. of Wightman & Hannah Cole; space (prob. site of Wightman's grave); Hannah, wife of Wightman Cole; Harrison, son of Ebenezer Dewey.

Children of Joseph Cole & Fannie Haskins (according to a 1905 certified transcript of the Family Bible):

1. Calvin H., born 10 September 1822
2. Nancy M., born 1 June 1824
3. Amanda B., born 15 December 1828 in Town of Adams, Jefferson Co., New York, and died 15 September 1913 age 83 years 9 months, according to the vital records of the Town of Orleans, Jefferson Co., New York, which also identify her parents; married Maj. Samuel Kilborn, born 25 March 1807 in Plainfield, Otsego Co., New York, died 31 March 1881 in town of Orleans, Jefferson  Co., New York.
4. Lyndon Joseph "L.J.", farmer, born 22 March 1835 in Jefferson Co., New York, enlisted for three and a half years in the 24th Cavalry, Co. G. during the Civil War according to the Town Clerk's Records of Soliders & Officers for Sandy Creek, Oswego Co., New York, for which he served as captain.
5. Sina(?), born 12 December 1837
6. Harrison H., (at right), farmer, was born 8 October 1840, according to Landmarks of Oswego County, New York (1895).  The farm of ninety acres in Sandy Creek on which he was living at the time of writing had been purchased by him in 1869 and perhaps had belonged to his father.  Harrison engaged in general farming, dairying, and kept from thirty to forty stand of bees in 1895.  In September 1862, he enlisted in the 147th Infantry, Co. E., New York Volunteers, during the Civil War according to the Town Clerk's Records of Soliders & Officers for Sandy Creek, Oswego Co., New York, and served until the close of the war.  He was leader of the 3rd Brigade Band, 3rd Division, Sixth Corps, and later led "Cole's Cornet Band" in Sandy Creek.  They were at Gettysburg, where several of his band were killed, at Fredericksburg, all through the Wilderness, and many others.  In 1868, he married Arabella Wilds, daughter of James and Mariah Wilds of Sandy Creek.  By 1895, Harrison had been town collector sixteen years in succession.  He and his wife attended and supported the Congregational church.  He was a member of Post Barney No. 217 G.A.R.

1. Mary A., born about 21 November 1844 in Sandy Creek, Oswego Co., New York.
2. Benjamin "Jay B.", born about 14 March 1849 in Sandy Creek, Oswego Co., New York, came to WIlliamstown, Oswego Co., and settled in 1871.  In Landmarks (1895) it was said of him "He has been a teacher for twenty-four terms in the village school, and was also school commissioner six years.  For the past five years he has been in the insurance business."