Joseph Cole, Sr., was born May 3, 1716 in Swansea, MA. On May 1, 1738 he married Freelove Mason, the daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Barney Mason. Freelove was born November 14, 1720 in Swansea, Bristol, MA and died 1792 in Washington Co., VA. Joseph died April 22, 1785 in Washington Co., VA. It is believed that Joseph and Freelove are buried in Sinclair's Bottom Cemetery in the back under a pine tree. Between 1771 and 1774 Joseph moved to Washington County, VA and settled on the South Fork of the Holston River. Joseph and Freelove had seven children, Elizabeth, Joanna, Hugh Sr., Joseph Jr., Urania, Zacheus and Sampson.
