The oldest son of Jonathan and Judith (Bowen) Cole, was born in 1730. He was one of the early settlers of the town of Westmoreland, New Hampshire, and one of those to whom the charter of 1752 was granted. He settled on the "Canoe Meadow," in the south part of town, on the same farm where his descendants now live. He was for many years one of the most prominent men in the town in certain affairs, particularly in those pertaining to the church. The following is a transcript of some of the entries in the town records in which he is mentioned:
* July 16, 1661. Chairman of proprietors' meeting and one of a committee to lay out the divisions of the town.
* May 21, 1770. Chairman of a committee to rectify mistakes in the proprietors' book, and to decide all disputes of line between party and party to look all undivided lands belonging to the proprietors and report.
* January 26, 1777. Chairman of a committee to settle with the proprietors and any others who may have claims.
* May 26, 1779. One of a committee to price all undivided lands and dispose of the same and make a return.
* December 12, 1775. One of a committee chosen to instruct the representative.
* March 23, 1776. One of seven highway surveyors. On the same date he was chosen one of a committee to determine a site for a meeting-house, which was to be removed. (The committee reported the site on Park Hill.)
* April 10, 1776. One of a committee of three to hire preaching.
* March 12, 1777. One of committee of three to settle with selectmen at the close of the year, and one of a committee of five as committee of inspection.
* April 14, 1777. He was moderator of a special town meeting, and on same day was chairman of a committee for the settlement of claims.
* May 25, 1777. He was on a committee to state the price of sundry articles.
* July 8, 1777. Moderator at a special meeting. March 11, 1778. One of a committee of three to provide for the families of soldiers.
* May 7, 1778. One of committee to instruct A. Temple, representative to Concord, to form a government.
* October 26, 1778. Moderator at a special meeting.
* March 10, 1779. Surveyor of highways.
* November 3, 1779. Committee to appraise pews.
* December 3, 1779. On minister committee.
* March 8, 1780. Surveyor.
* June 5, 1780. On minister settlement committee.
* September 19. 1780. On committee to hire a minister.
* November 13, 1780. One of two delegates to a convention at Walpole.
* December 5, 1780. Delegate to a convention to be held at Charlestown, in January, 1781.
* February 8, 1781. Delegate to a convention at Cornish.
* April 16, 1782. One of a committee to give opinion relative to the Constitution, and also one of a committee to hire a minister.
* May 14, 1782 One of a committee to confer with the soldiers, and give each forty pounds in land or money; also on the committee to appraise Glebe lands.
* November 11, 1782. On the committee to expound the Constitution.
* May 7, 1783. On committee to hire a preacher.
* November 8, 1784. On committee to confer with the Rev. Mr. Davis.
* March 27, 1786. On committee to hire a minister.
* July, 1787. On committee to get a preacher.
For nearly all of his life he was one of the pillars of the Congregational Church, and for many years one of its deacons. In the early days of the settlement he was often annoyed by the Indians. He built a block house for the protection of his family and the families of his neighbors. Some years ago the site of this block house was determined by the uncovering of the well that was dug at that time.
He married Edith Davis, who was born in 1729, and died February 8, 1805. He died September 13, 1813, aged 85. Both he and his wife, as well as his father, were buried in the "River Burying Ground " in Westmoreland.
