Departed this life, at his residence, in Oxford, on Thursday evening the 28th ult. Mr. Thomas Cole, aged 92 years. His days were industriously spent in the pursuits of agriculture. He was exemplary in his morals, and just in his dealings. The war of time had so enfeebled his nerves that he was confined to his bed nine days before he death and we may with propriety quote the words of the poet as applicable:

"Of no distemper, of blast he died,
But fell like an autumn fruit that mellow'd long,
Ev'n wondered at because he falls no sooner,
Fate seem'd to wind him up for fourscore years,
Yet freshly ran he on twelve winters more,
Till, like a clock worn out with eating time,
The wheels of weary life at last stood still."

Mr. Cole was born at Voluntown(now sterling)in Windham county, Conn. on the 25th August, 1735, and in December, 1757, was married to Miriam Kinne, of the same town,
with whom he lived the remainder of his days; he has now left her a widow in the 90th year of her age. They have had ten children, five of whom are now living. Nine of them had issue. Their grandchildren now living are fifty-eight; their great-grandchildren are eighty-two, and their great-great-grandchildren are five; making in all of the four generations, one hundred and fifty. [Chenango Republican, Oxford, NY, November 9, 1827]




From "Wisconsin Saga"
by Helen Cole Sainton:

Thomas Cole died in Oxford, N.Y. on October 25, 1827 and his wife Miriam died just two months later, on December 15th.

Thomas and Miriam's married life was almost seventy years. Nine of their children married and had children. Their living descendants were 150; namely, children 9, grand-children 58, great-grandchildren 82, and great-great-grandchildren 5.


The Chicago Republican of November 27, 1827, had the following regarding Thomas Cole:

His days were industriously spent in the pursuits of agriculture. He was exemplary in his morals and just in his dealings. The wear of time had so enfeebled his nerves, that he was confined to his bed nine days before his death: and we may with propriety quote the words of the poet as applicable:

"Of no distemper, of no blast he died'
But fell like Autumn fruit that mellowed long;
E'en wondered at, because falls no sooner.
Fate seemed to wind him up for four score years,
Yet freshly ran he on, twelve winters more,
Till like a clock worn out with beating time
The wheels of weary life at last stood still."

Surely a grand old man, a patriarch of the Biblical type. Oxford still has Coles living there, and memorial fountain in the park was presented to the city by one of the family, in memory of Calvin and Fayette (Balcom) Cole.

Thomas Cole married Miriam Kinne in 1757. One of their ten children was Samuel, who was the father of Calvin Cole, who was the father's grandfather. The main branches of the family in this country were descended from the other son, Amos, and Samuel. Amos married Lucy Clark Burnham in 1816 in his 57th years: she was his fourth wife. He died in Sherburne, N.Y. in 1852 in the 93rd year. One of the descendents of Amos was the well-known musician, Rossitter Cleason Cole, of Chicago, who was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Thomas' father John and his family settled in Reneboth, now Secunk, Rhode Island. The son married first, a sister of the great man, Benjamin Franklin. She died, and he then married Miss Mary Bowen. One of their six children was Thomas, who was born in Sterling, Connecticut, on August 25, 1735, and it is from Thomas that our line is descended.

* The complete genealogy was compiled by William H. Cole, of Baltimore, and was completed in 1894.