collecting the seeds of a Smith tree
Born around 1772, Mark Cole was the son of William Cole, though little else is known about his early family life, including the identity of his mother. Circumstantial evidence hints that William may have been residing in Halifax County, Virginia, or Rowan County, North Carolina, when Mark entered the world. By 1779, when Mark was... Continue Reading →
Middle names can serve as a treasure trove of clues for genealogists, often acting as subtle breadcrumbs that link generations and reveal familial connections. In the case of John Cole and William Cole, two men who migrated to Virginia and North Carolina in the 18th century, the use of middle names among their descendants provides... Continue Reading →
In an age when literacy rates varied widely, the ability to sign one’s name carried immense significance. For many, a signature was more than just a name on paper—it was a declaration of identity, status, and intent. In legal agreements, from land deeds to estate settlements, signing one’s name or marking with an “X” determined... Continue Reading →
Emerging from the Chester-New Castle Cooridor in the early 1700's, the Cole family’s legacy is stitched together through scattered historical documents, that tell the story of a family that were early pioneers along the developing Great Wagon Road, becoming early settlers and planting seeds of growth across the vast expanse of colonial America. Circuit Court... Continue Reading →
Stephen Cole presumably arrived in Pennsylvania sometime between 1716 and 1718. While the exact details of his journey remain elusive, traces of his family begin to appear in the Chester County, Pennsylvania and New Castle County, Delaware areas during this time. It is possible that Stephen, alongside his presumed siblings Mark, James, John, William, and... Continue Reading →
digging our roots 