A forward from another Mail List. ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> . > This is one of those "if this is true, then this must be true..." situations > but I think I've found William T.Cole's parents. However, according to files > on Rootsweb, researchers disagree in some areas. My thanks to Valerie Freeman > for pointing the way to some of the answers. > > In Coweta Chronicles, pp. 643-644 is the story of James C. Cole and his wife, > Emily Sharp, and their sons Joseph R. and James W. Cole. > > James C. Cole, we have already established, was the first son of my William > T. Cole and Mary Ann Owen. At the end of this story is mention of William T. > Cole. Here is an excerpt: > > "Dr. William T. Cole, paternal grandfather of Joseph R. and James W. Cole, > was born in Alabama on November 15, 1827. Having lost his mother when ten > years > old he came to Meriwether county, Georgia, and made his home with his brother, > Robert Cole**. He worked in a carriage shop until nineteen years of age when > he set up a shop of his own. He was married November 14, 1847, to Mary Ann > Owen, who was born in Meriwether County. > > "Maternal grandparents were Elias Sharp and Elizabeth Vance Sharp who were > married May 7, 1835. > > "Great-grandparents were Jesse Cole and -----; and Ceadman (sic*) Pendleton > Owen and his wife Lottie Allen Owen." > *Should be Coleman Pendleton Owen. > > This means, then, that William T. Cole was the son of a Jesse Cole. Two > census reports of Jesse Cole (Jr.), son of William T., reflect the statement > that > William was born in Alabama. > > These family stories in "Chronicles" were written by local people and the > first publication date was 1928. I don't know how reliable the research is. No > sources or references are given. However, in 1928, many of these people were > still alive and contributed first-hand experiences in some cases. > > The Robert Cole** mentioned above was in Meriwether County (as R.S. Cole) and > has a bio in "Georgia Memoirs," written in 1895 (see bios on Meriwether > GenWeb Archives). He, also was a son of Jesse Cole, as stated in William's > story > above and in Georgia Memoirs. However, Robert's story goes a step farther and > names grandparents: > > "R. S. Cole is a grandson of Robert and Elizabeth (Fambrel) Cole, Virginians, > who were among the early settlers of Newton county, Ga., and later moved to > Coweta county, where, in Newnan, Mr. Cole died. Their son, Jesse, who had > accompanied his parents from Virginia to Newton county, married Miss Elizabeth > Crawford, a daughter of William T. and Elizabeth (Shanklin) Crawford, natives > of > South Carolina, who were among the early settlers of Henry county, Ga. One > son, > Taylor Crawford, served in the Mexican war under Gen. Taylor. R.S. Cole, the > son of Jesse and Elizabeth Cole, was born in 1820, in Newton county, and > reared on the farm in Henry county, coming to Meriwether county in 1842. His > educational opportunities had been very limited, and he began life for himself > with > but very little to start with; but by determined effort and persistent > industry he has acquired wealth and influence. His large farm consists of > 1,500 acres > of land, in splendid condition. He has a beautiful home, and he and his > family enjoy the respect of all who know them. His wife, who he married in > 1841, > was Miss Nancy Ward, born in Meriwether county in 1819. She is a daughter of > Obadiah and Susan (Fambrel) Ward, the former a native and constant resident of > Meriwether county. Mr. Cole belongs to the masonic fraternity, and he and Mrs. > Cole are both faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They are the > parents of six children: William T., Franklin, Elisa, John, Jesse and Sallie." > > There are probate records from 1896 for this Robert in Meriwether County and > records for his wife in 1897. She left a will and confirms the names of the > children, above. (Will Book B, p. 499). His administrators were S.F. Culpepper > and E.A. Russell. Her executors were William T. Cole (her son) and Eliza Parks > (her daughter). > > So we know that Jesse Cole, father of William T. and Robert Cole of > Meriwether, was the son of Robert and Elizabeth Fambrel/Fambrough Cole ... and > so was > Robert Duke Cole (R.D.) and Matthew Cole, the two brothers who were involved > in > manufacturing in Newnan. Therefore, R.D. and Matthew Cole were William T. > Cole's uncles, and that fact explains William's going into business with them, > if > only for a few years. > > There appears to be a conflict in the name of Jesse Cole's wife, shown above > in "Memoirs" as Elizabeth Crawford. Some have her as Martha Arnold and say > they were married in Hancock County. This agrees with what Carole has been > saying > about her Martha Cole, wife of a Jesse Cole. > > Carole, some of the info you have shared seems to have come from a pension > record or something similar. You have a great deal of detail about Jesse. Do > you > mind sharing your source? Maybe Martha could be a second wife? maybe > Elizabeth Crawford was Jesse's first wife and died when my William was 10 > years old, > as related in "Chronicles"? This would have been about 1837 since William was > born in 1827. > > Maybe if we all out our heads together we can come up with some answers to > our differences. > > Thanks for any ideas, help, whatever, > Judy K in Newnan > .>