compiled by
John L. Carpenter
PO Box 912
Walpole,NH 03608
e-mail me with errors
[Robert coles.GED]
Settled: in the Orleans part of Eastham.
Freeman: He was made freeman June 5 1651
Offices: he was deputy to Colony Court in 1653 and many years thereafter. In 1657 he was an assistant to the Governor and re-elected yearly till the union of the Colonies in 1692. Was one of the first selectmen of Eastham and many years a deacon of the church. Was captain of the militia and in 1685 was appointed Major.
Source: Doane Genealogy
John was born in 1627 in England and came over to America with his parents and 3 other siblings, in 1635 on the ship Abigail . He married Mercy Prence, daughter of Governor Thomas Prence (who came from Lechdale, England and sailed to America on the ship Fortune or Anne in 1621) and Patience Brewster (daughter of William Brewster who came over to America in The Mayflower in 1620.) His brother, Edmund married Mercy's sister Rebecca Prence.
He moved from Sandwich to Eastham, MA. around 1649-50 where he was mentioned as one of the earliest settlers with Governor Prence. He was early connected with the militia. John Freeman was frequently mentioned in public records, first as Lieutenant, then as Captain, and later as Major. In 1665, he was the ensign of the company at Eastham and in October 1659, confirmed as lieutenant of the "troop of horse" by the Colonial court. This was the only company of mounted soldiers in the Colony at that date. Command was given to Captain William Bradford of Plymouth.
For this company of mounted soldiers, Eastham was required to furnish three troopers; and Thomas Prence and Edward Bangs each "freely" agreed to furnish a man fully equipped. The Barnstable county regiment was placed under the command of Captain John Freeman, who was now commissioned Major. At that period there were no regimental officers known as colonel and lieutenant colonel. The highest commanding officer of a regiment then known was major. He also served in the Indian wars.
He was one of the Council of War and it seems, had seen some of the dangers of camp life during the war with King Philip. In a letter from Taunton, written June 8, 1675, to Governor Josiah Winslow, to whom he was an assistant, he wrote:
"This morning three of our men are slain close by one of our court of guard; houses burned in our sight; our men are picked off at every bush. The design of the enemy is not to face the army, but to fall on us as they have advantage."
In the same letter, he expressed his fears as to the people of Eastham defending themselves in case of assault, and urged the Governor "to give instructions how to manage things for their security" as he was of the opinion that the town had "not twenty good arms in it."
He was prominent in public affairs and to this day is regarded as one of the "Fathers of Eastham." No one of the early residents was held in higher esteem, and it is certain no one was longer in public employment and performed his duties so acceptably. Excepting Governor Prence, none held a higher position. His education, it is true, was inferior to several of his contemporaries in the little settlement. He was admitted a freeman in 1651 and the same year was one of the Grand jury from Eastham. He served 8 years as Deputy from 1654, 10 years as Selectman from 1663, two years as Assistant in the Governor from 1666-67, and in 1692, he was appointed to the Bench of the Court of Common Pleas. He held that office until "infirmities of age" rendered him incapable of further service, and he was succeeded by Captain Jonathan Sparrow on March 6, 1695. He was also a Deacon of the Eastham church.
In 1665, to settle a land dispute between William Nickerson and the Colonial government, John Freeman (along with some others) was granted some of William Nickerson's land. John deeded his share back to Nickerson in 1672. Major Freeman was a man of some means. He was quite a large landholder, not only in Eastham but also in Harwich. He bought out Gov. Prence's right to land he held as a "Purchaser or Old Comer", and much of it he deeded to his sons Thomas and John, after their settlement in that part of Harwich now Brewster.
compiled by
John L. Carpenter
PO Box 912
Walpole,NH 03608
e-mail me with errors
[Robert coles.GED]
Daughter of Governor Thomas Prence.
compiled by
John L. Carpenter
PO Box 912
Walpole,NH 03608
e-mail me with errors
1 BIRT
2 DATE 17 Sep 1614
2 PLAC Of Lancashire, England
1 BIRT
2 DATE 17 Sep 1614
2 PLAC Of Lancashire, England
1 DEAT
2 DATE bet 1670 and 1675
2 PLAC Plymouth, Plymouth, MA
1 DEAT
2 DATE bet 1670 and 1675
2 PLAC Plymouth, Plymouth, MAcompiled by
John L. Carpenter
PO Box 912
Walpole,NH 03608
e-mail me with errors
1 BIRT
2 DATE 1616
2 PLAC , Dorset, Eng
1 BIRT
2 DATE 1616
2 PLAC , Dorset, Eng
1 DEAT
2 DATE 1687
2 PLAC Eastham, Barnstable, MA
1 DEAT
2 DATE 1687
2 PLAC Eastham, Barnstable, MA
Custom Field:<_FA#> Cowles Book at History Center
Custom Field:<_FA#> See notes
_NAMS: Changed from Cole to Cowles
From the Genealogy Book by Frank Cowles 1887
There was in Hartford and then in Farmington, Conn. one John Cole, a
farmer, by some thought to be a brother to James, the cooper. To
distinguish himself and his family from the family of James, he varied
the spelling of his name. In the Farmington records the name is spelled
Collles, Colles, and finally in 1682 Cowles.
Custom Field:<_FA#> Cowles Book at History Center
Custom Field:<_FA#> See Notes
Custom Field:<_FA#> Died at daughters Hannah Stanley
Written on her headstone at Center Cemetery in Hartford, Conn.
Hannah Covles the wife of John Covlesof Hatfield aged about 70 yrs
dyed Mar 17 1683
The headstones have beenredone, we were in Connecticut in 2000.
Custom Field:<_FA#> Cowles Book at History Center
Custom Field:<_FA#> InternetWWW.FAMILYSEARCH.ORG
Custom Field:<_FA#> 1636Moved to Hartfort, Connecticut
Custom Field:<_FA#> Cowles Book at History Center
Custom Field:<_FA#> InternetWWW.FAMILYSEARCH.ORG
Custom Field:<_FA#> May 1634Arrived in Newtown, Massachusetts