James Cole Jr

• Birth Notes
  • JAMES JR3 COLE (JAMES SR2, STEPHEN SR1) was born Abt. 1730 in New Castle, Delaware, and died May 19, 1794 in Coles Creek, Natchez District, Mississippi. He married MARY RENTFROE 1756 in Black Water River, Bedford County, Virginia, daughter of JAMES RENTFROE and ESTHER VAN BIBBER. She was born Abt. 1736 in Crooked Run, on the Shenandoah, Orange, Virginia, and died 1810 in Coles Creek, Natchez District, Jefferson County, Mississippi.
    
    Notes for JAMES JR COLE:
    As a child, James moved to the counties of Orange and Frederick, Virginia in the Shenandoah Valley between 1732-1737. In 1747, he moved to Lunenburg County (called Bedford County after 1754). In 1747, Janes Jr and his brother Stephen are found with their Uncle Mark Cole and the Rentfroes on the branches of the Black Water and Pigg Rivers in Virginia. On April 16, 1747, James Jr has 400 acres on both sides of Little Creek, a branch of the Black Water River. On March 28, 1748, he has 215 acres on both sides of Little Creek. On December 15, 1753, he has 400 acres on both sides of Story Creek, a branch of the Pigg River. James Jr, Mark Cole, James Sr Cole and Stephen Cole all lived on adjoining land at this time.
    
    In 1757/58, James and his brother Stephen moved to Bladen County, North Carolina. They lived there about 7 years and then moved to Craven County, South Carolina. On March 26, 1765, James Cole of Craven County in the Government of South Carolina, sells to William Rentfroe of Bedford County, Virginia, for 30 lbs,. a tract of land containing 215 acres in Bedford County, on Little Creek, a branch of Black Water River. This land was surveyed for James Cole Jr on March 28, 1748. The grant was issued on August 16, 1756. It was acknowledged by James Rentfroe Jr who was the attorney for James Cole.
    
    On October 10, 1757, James applied for land in Bladen County. One hundred acres on south side of Ashpole Swamp adjoining Richard Barfield. The land grant was issued on April 10, 1761. James conveyed this land to Thomas Robeson in 1765.
    
    On February 18, 1765, James Cole of Craven County in the Province of South Carolina appoints James Rentfroe Jr of the County of Halifax, Colony of Virginia, Power of Attorney to transact all business for him.
    
    
    James and his family arrived in Mississippi in March 1772. On moving to the Natchez District he is known as James Cole Sr. He and his family lived on Boyds Creek which was changed to Coles Creek in 1777. In 1799, the Natchez District was divided. The Coles Creek area on the north was named Pickering which changed to Jefferson County in 1802. His British Land petition says that James "arrived in this country with a wife and nine children."
    
    On September 10, 1784, James Cole signed an agreement with Osborn Sprigg of the District of Natchez and the Providence of Opelousas, Louisiana. The agreement reads, "James Cole Sr to take in his posession all the stock of mares and colts belonging to the said, Sprigg. To take such care of them as to increase and benefit the stock...for two years; at the end of which, James Cole to take one-fourth of the increase as his own." signed Osborn Sprigg and James Cole.
    
    Documents dating May 7, 1785, show James as an honorable, trustworthy citizen of the Coles Creek Community.
    
    From the Spanish Archives of the Indies, we have a census taken in Natchez District in 1792 showing the names: James Cole Sr, James Cole Jr, John Cole, Stephen Cole, Solomon Cole, Mark Cole and William Cole.
    
    In 1794, an inventory of the estate of the late James Cole, deceased as declared upon oath of Mary Cole, the widow, reads, "John Cole, the eldest son; Jacob Stampley and Captain Richard King, all of this District, Appraisers.
    450 acres of land...more or less (not a large estate)
    One negro man, supposed to be 35 years of age
    One grey horse, about 12 years old
    One cow and calf, One yearling heifer
    One two year old steer, 12 head of hogs
    One saddle One feather bed, sheets, furniture
    One large and one small iron pot and one bake oven
    Five wooden, common chairs; three pewter basins, 6 pewter plates
    Two pewter dishes - 3 earthen dishes
    Four knifes and forks
    One plough - two falling axes - one broad axe and three weeding hoes
    One old drawing knife, one foot adze - one frowe
    A small looking glass
    This inventory was taken on May 19, 1794.
    
    When the United State asserted its claim on the British Colony in the Natchez District, it ordered the land free and independent of Spanish rule. Winthrope Sargeant was named the first Misssissippi Territorial Governor in 1798. The Land Commission proceeded to confirm all land grants held by the settlers of early British and Spansih titles. A tithable-list was taken of all heads of households. From the list we can account for the surviving members of the Coles in the Coles Creek settlement in 1798. Living in Coles Creek, Natchez District in 1798: Mary Cole, widow; James Cole Jr; John Cole; Stephen Cole; Solomon Cole; Mark Cole. Living in the Homochitto River, Natchez District in 1798, William Cole. 

• Death Notes
  • Birth:    1762 in Ashpole Swamp, Bladen County, North Carolina
    Death:    1837 in Cow Bayou, Jefferson Co, Rep of Texas
    Sex:    M
    Father:    James Cole b. 30 Apr 1732 in Chester, Delaware Co., PA
    Mother:    Mary Rentfroe b. 1736 in New Castle, Delaware
        
    Burial: Mark Cole Cemetery near Vidor, Texas

• General Notes
  • JAMES JR3 COLE, b. Abt. 1730, New Castle, Delaware; d. May 19, 1794, Coles Creek, Natchez District, Mississippi.
    
    Lots of info on kids here:
    http://www.gencircles.com/users/jdhaydon/1/data/113566