Distant Cole cousins in the USA from DNA and research

How far back can the English Cole Pottery family line be traced in America? This page follows the search through DNA evidence and early American records, while questioning whether the family may be connected to the founder of the well-known American Cole Pottery brand.

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by Bruce Bennett, a Cole descendant, from DNA results and research

DNA evidence

A male descendant of the Tottenham Cole family kindly provided a DNA sample for y-chromosome testing to try to find other Cole men who match him, and thus an ancestor we both share.

There were several matches, all in America, who all seem to be descendants of a Henry Cole who died in Connecticut in 1676.

It is not known where Henry was born but from the early records it seems it was probably somewhere in England. As to when, his precise date of birth is debated by the American researchers, but ranges from 1615 to 1627, depending on the source.

It is unclear who his parents were. According to one researcher, his family were in Whitechapel, England, between 1630-1640, and he had an uncle James Cole, one of the founders of Hartford, USA, who corresponded with Nehemiah Wallington, a puritan in Whitechapel during those years. It may be that this Henry was born in 1615 in Whitechapel, the son of a Thomas Cole. We know nothing more than the name of this Thomas Cole.

Evidence from the American will of James Cole

From the will of James Cole in America dated 1652, we do know that Henry was his cousin/nephew, James being a cooper of Hartford, who, having no male issue, gave Henry half his cooper tools in his will when he died in 1652. Henry, like James was a cooper by trade. A cooper is someone who makes wooden barrels.

The parish register of Hartford has an entry, Henry [Hinery (sic)] Cole married Sarah Rusco 1626-1688 on 10 Dec 1646 in Hartford, Connecticut daughter of William Rusco of Hartford. The couple had a dozen children.

Henry’s lands were recorded in Hartford in 9 June 1654. He is on the list of householder and proprietors at Middleton on 22 March 1670 and was rated at £115. In 1673 he purchased more land in Middletown, Connecticut. He moved from Middletown to Wallingford, Connecticut soon after 1673 and died there on 10 Dec 1676.

According to the Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, Sarah, Henry's wife, was born about 1626 probably in Billericay UK, daughter of William Ruscoe, born 1594. She emigrated with her family in 1635 on the Increase and by 1679, as a widow, had married Robert Bull.

Conclusion

The closeness of the DNA match makes it likely that our common Cole ancestor would be an earlier generation than Henry (bc.1615-1676) and, if Henry was born in England, would probably have lived in England. Both the American line and our line have the surname Cole as far back as they can be traced.

Were our American cousins potters?

As far back as we have traced in England, the 1730s, we were connected to the pottery trade. Our line in USA, going back to Henry Cole born about 1615, does not seem to include any potters.

There is a Cole family of potters in North Carolina in which at least six generations and 18 individual potters are known. Their first Cole documented as a potter was Raphard (1799–1862) and the line can be traced back to Stephen Cole baptized in 1659 in Twickenham, London. However, no DNA testing has been done and there has been no connection to our Cole family found.

Cole Pottery in America

'Cole Pottery' in the USA is a well-known brand, and it would be nice to know whether it was started by one of our distant cousins. Would any male descendant like to help us find out through DNA testing? We would love to hear from you via the contact page.

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