Nathan Cole - Patriot

Nathan Cole

Revolutionary War Veteran
Patriot

Nathan and Judith (Colburn) Cole Family

(Nathan Cole is on the Wilson-Hatfield family tree)

The story of Nathan Cole begins in Freetown, Bristol County, Massachusetts when he was born on 31 Jul 1760 (or 30 Jul 1751). He was the son of William Cole and Elizabeth Luther. Although, Nathan is not included in the list of children for William & Elizabeth Cole in E.B. Cole’s book, The Cole Genealogy (pg. 62), Nathan's Revoluntionary War pension records indicate otherwise. Pension papers make the connection of Nathan to a brother William who also served in the war. William Cole's pension file also makes the connection to Nathan, and also to Gideon Cole & Royal Cole. Nathan lived next to William Cole according to the 1800 Census. Also, Nathan named three of his children after his siblings: Luther, Sabra, and William. The name of Luther could have been a namesake for his mother, Elizabeth Luther Cole’s maiden name.

Nathan served in the Revolutionary War in 1776 and 1778 in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.  He served from Rhode Island in 1776 for about six months. In about 1778 he moved to Hancock, MA, and again enlisted, serving at Springfield under Captain Enos Parker as one of the military stores guards. Nathan Cole appeared on a payroll for Capt. Enos Parker’s Company, detached from Berkshire Co. to guard the Springfield stores for 6 months from 1 July 1778 to 1 Jan 1779. He became sick, was sent home, and never recovered to return to service.

Nathan Cole

Revolutionary Muster Roll

To see a photo of a button from the jacket of Nathan Cole that he wore while serving in the Revolutionary War, click here

In addition to having to go to the National Archives in Washington DC, Nathan Cole's entire pension file can be viewed (from the comfort of your home) on Fold3.com and Ancestry.com.

Nathan married Judith Colburn, daughter of Joseph Colburn and Elizabeth Trask, on 15 Jan 1788 in Stafford, Tolland, Connecticut. Judith was born on 22 Jul 1767 in Stafford, Tolland, Connecticut. She was christened on 23 Aug 1767 in Stafford, Tolland, Connecticut. Judith’s application for a widow’s pension gives the following information:  According to pension papers, Judith was born Judith Colborn and married Nathan Cole in Stafford, Tolland County, CT, on 15 Jan 1788. The marriage was performed by a Justice of the Peace named Pinney, though Pinney's records were missing in 1846. She and Nathan had 8 children. Judith said she stayed 7 years in Hancock, Mass., then one year in Stephentown, NY before moving to Galway. Nathan d. 29 Dec 1826 in “Galloway,” Saratoga Co., NY.

Also in the pension file is the following affidavit from Ely Manning, which tells how Judith and Nathan met.
On 3 Oct 1846, Ely MANNING, age 65, appeared before a Cayuga Co., NY, Justice of the Peace to vouch for the marriage of Judith Colburn and Nathan Cole. Ely stated that he was born in the house where Judith Colburn lived and remained there until he was 7 years old, when his father moved them to Stephentown, NY. A few years later, his Aunt Judith Colburn’s sister, Mrs. Ward, moved to Hancock, about 9 miles from Stephentown. Ely visited there frequently, often staying several weeks. Judith Colburn came there to live for a year, when she met Nathan Cole. They were to have been married “in the fall of the year, but she was taken sick. After about a year, her father came from Stafford, CT, to take Judith back home with him. Nathan and Judith were thus married in Stafford."  Ely states that he was well acquainted with the Nathan, Judith, and their 8 children.

Information from the Cole Family Bible can be found here.  The bible belonged to son, Joseph Cole.

Nathan and Judith had the following children:

1) Rev. Luther Cole was born on 22 Jun 1790 in Hancock, Berkshire, Massachusetts. Veteran of the War of 1812. "In the summer or fall of 1812 Luther Cole volunteered & entered the service and was gone till about March 1813 when he came back sick & was doctored by Orpha Miller Dake's father."
Luther married Mary (maiden name unknown at this time) about 1815 in New York. Mary was born on 15 Sep 1789 in Vermont.
Luther became a Baptist Preacher and was ordained in 1823 in Enosburgh, Franklin, Vermont. .He died on 9 Apr 1871 in Enosburgh. Mary died almost a year later on 2 Mar 1872. They are both buried in Enosburgh Center Cemetery, Franklin County, Vermont.
Luther and Mary had no known children.

Rev Luther Cole Obituary

St Albans Messenger, 21 April 1871

2) Sabra Cole was born on 15 Aug 1792 in Hancock, Berkshire, Massachusetts. She died after 1860. Sabra married Amos H. French about 1818 in New York. Amos was born about 1780 in Connecticut. Sabra and Amos French had two sons.

*3) Nathan Cole Jr. (our ancestor) was born on 8 Sep 1794 in Hancock, Berkshire, Massachusetts. He died on 5 May 1870 in Taylor, Iowa and was buried in the Graceland Cemetery.
Nathan married (1) Anna Margaret Goble, daughter of James Goble and Nancy Mary Pollard, on 24 May 1818 in Jerusalem, Ontario, New York. Anna was born on 27 Jan 1795 in Wyoming, Pennsylvania. She died on 14 Jul 1850 in Parke, Indiana. She was buried on 15 Jul 1850 in Old Rockville Cemetery. Nathan then married Anna's widowed sister, Abigail Goble "Abby" on 14 Aug 1850 in Parke County, Indiana. Abigail was born on 13 Apr 1808 in New York and died in 1889 in Bigelow, Holt, Missouri. Nathan Cole Jr was the father of twelve children.

4) Joseph Cole was born on 20 Dec 1796 in Galway, Saratoga, New York. He died on 16 Oct 1871 in Nunda, Livingston, New York. Joseph Cole was a member of the Nunda Baptist Church. Joseph married Rhoda Gifford, daughter of John Gifford and Ruth Wilcox, on 21 Mar 1823 in New York. Rhoda was born on 8 Mar 1800 in White Creek, Washington, New York and died on 25 Apr 1894 in Nunda, Livingston, New York.  Joseph and Rhoda Cole had one son.

Joseph Cole Death Notice

Wellsville Genesee Valley Free Press, 25 Oct 1871

5) Elizabeth Cole, called Betsey, was born on 8 Jun 1799 in Galway, Saratoga, New York. She died on 4 Feb 1880 in Ira, Cayuga, New York. She was buried in Ira Hill Cemetery, Cayuga, New York. Elizabeth married Abram Phillips about 1820 possibly in Cayuga County, New York.  Abram was born on 28 Feb 1795 in New York. He died on 24 Feb 1878 in Ira, Cayuga, New York. He was buried in Ira Hill Cemetery, Cayuga, New York. Betsey and Abram had one adopted son, George, who died at age 19 years.

6) Judith Cole was born on 10 Jan 1802 in Galway, Saratoga, New York. She died after 1880 in , Potter, Pennsylvania. Judith married Elijah Hill about 1819 in New York. Elijah was born in 1796 in Mayfield, Fulton, New York. He was christened on 6 Sep 1796 in Reformed Dutch Church, Mayfield, Fulton, New York. He died after 1880 possibly in Potter, Pennsylvania. Judith and Elijah had six known children.

7) Roxena Cole was born on 30 May 1804 in Galway, Saratoga, New York. Roxena married Russell Westcott, son of Ezekiel Westcott and Lydia Forbes, about 1830 in New York. Russell was born about 1805 in Clarendon, Rutland, Vermont. He died on 5 May 1894 in Eau Claire, Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Roxena and Russell had two adopted children.

Roxena Cole Wescott Obituary

Eau Claire Daily Press, 11 Aug 1883

8) William A. Cole was born on 13 Mar 1810 in Galway, Saratoga, New York. William married Emaline Houten about 1830 in New York. Emeline was born 1815 in Vermont. Both supposedly buried in Bridgeton, Parke County, Indiana.  They were the parents of 13 children.