The Coles–4th Installment

The story of the Coles takes another new turn.

Gold!

The cry of Gold! in the American West was reaching the East Coast.  William became anxious to join a group and find his fortune.  He was troubled about who would look after his family while he was gone, but Elizabeth assured him she could manage.  A large caravan was formed and William packed his meager belongings and as many supplies as could be managed.  Meat would be plentiful along the way, but flour, sugar, salt, and bedding had to be packed along.  It was time to go as the excitement grew with stories of gold to be found everywhere in the West.

Time went by with no word from William.  Elizabeth put her early training in sewing and nursing to good effect.  She tailored and became a licensed midwife doing her best to support her family of two young boys.  Elizabeth was very lonely and sad, missing William terribly.  Her sons gave her strength; and she was a devoted and loving mother. 

Tragedy struck the family.  Little John contracted measles and could not survive his illness.  He died March 11, 1852—only four years old.  Elizabeth was filled with sorrow.  Her boys were so very dear to her.

Several years passed and Elizabeth had almost given up hope that her William would ever return.  Many stories came back of caravans being attacked by Indians and killed crossing the Plains.  She was afraid this was William’s fate.

During this time of hardship, her mother and a sister, learning of her sorrow and her desperation over William’s long absence came over from England.  They stayed a year giving her support and comfort.  The relationship with Elizabeth’s father had not changed however; as her mother told her, her father had never forgiven her.  Elizabeth was one of five girls in the family, and she was the only one who ever disobeyed him. 

Next installment – The Fate of William

The Coles–3rd Installment

History of my father’s family, William and Elizabeth Cole, continues in the segment below.

The Land of Opportunity

Shortly after Thomas’ birth, William’s relatives from Ireland, the Sullivans, were making plans to sail to America.  Their stories of opportunity and a new life seemed agreeable to the young couple and they made plans to join the party.

William, Elizabeth and their baby, Thomas,  arrived in Boston  joining the Irish who had already arrived, found jobs and made a home in their newly adopted country.  Along with many other immigrants, they moved to Lawrence, Massachusetts.  Immigrants flooded into the United States in the mid to late 19th century, and the population of Lawrence abounded with skilled and unskilled workers from almost every nation in Europe: Ireland, France, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Poland, and Lithuania; French-Canadians from the provinces of Quebec, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island; and farm girls from all over New England.  Lawrence became known as Immigrant City very early in its existence.

William found work readily as a gardener and also as a blacksmith and carpenter.  The family was very happy with this new way of life and a second son, John, was born September 12, 1847.  Cousin Michael Sullivan and his wife, Catherine,  also had a son 11 years later born in Boston on October 15, 1858.  This new member of the family, John L. Sullivan, became the Heavyweight Champion of the World.   He had a remarkable record of 47 wins, one loss, and three draws which brought John L. international fame and close to $1,000,000 in prize money.  Considered the first American sports idol, John L. Sullivan was known during his time as "the man most men wanted to be."

Next segment…The Nation and William catch “gold fever”…

The Coles–2nd Installment

Yesterday, I gave you the preface to the story of my great-great grandparents, William and Elizabeth Buckingham Cole.  Today’s segment tells of the first event that changed their lives.

Falling in Love

Elizabeth’s parents estate was large and self supporting, many hired men taking care of the livestock and farming operations.  The gardens and flowers around the house was in the hands of an experienced young Irishman.

It was not long before the gardener began to look at Elizabeth in a very serious manner.  Flowers and fruit from the garden were given to her on many occasions.  The Irish in England were not looked upon as equals during the 1800’s and this “situation” was becoming very difficult for the Buckingham family.  The Irish gardener secretly asked Elizabeth to marry him; and the day came when Elizabeth gave her most surprising answer to the handsome, young Irishman named William Cole. 

In 1840, William and Elizabeth eloped and conducted the ceremony in London.  Elizabeth’s father, upon learning of the marriage, disowned his daughter never allowing her to return to her childhood home; and she was disinherited of any claim to the Buckingham property.

Not disheartened, the couple lived in London.  Young William Cole was always able to find work and they started their new life.  Before the year was up, they gave birth to a son named Thomas. 

But, London would not be their home for long…

The Coles–1st Installment

Occasionally, I dabble in genealogy.  I do mean, dabble.  I obsessively dig for information, hit a wall and flounder; then, try to pick up the trail a few weeks later.  And, it is difficult to pick one thread to follow back.  I jump from the de Bords, back to the Coles, and over to the Main family.  It is all so addictive.  The family story that got me hooked on genealogy is the story of William and Elizabeth Buckingham Cole, my great-great grandparents.  I think you will find it as fascinating as I did and for the next few weeks I will share their story as told by my great aunt, Florence Cole Weeks; she was the granddaughter of Elizabeth Cole.

William and Elizabeth Cole

This story is more about the life of Elizabeth Buckingham Cole than William, as our lives were guided for many years by her ever ready help and sacrifice.  She was a most heroic and courageous woman.  She let her heart guide her in a very dedicated sacrifice that paved the way for her serious determination in full life and love for a man, not knowing what was to come.

She was born to Mary and William Buckingham on April 17, 1821 at their estate in Devonshire, England.  These parents belonged to the upper class of large estate owners and wealthy.  They were classed with the titled of England, all were raised in the tradition of the classes according to education and social relations.  School was conducted by tutors in the house; all were trained in some “trade”, such as music, sewing and handwork.

Our Elizabeth became very skilled in sewing and nursing.  Later in life she became a licensed midwife when a time required her help.  In later life, nursing helped her save and support her family.  Her life up to age of 17 was not too eventful.  But, that would change.

Ma and Pa Kettle

Just down the road from our place is the small town of Chimacum, Washington.  Just a few buildings at an intersection make up the town, but what is remarkable about the place are two former residents, Ma and Pa Kettle.  Yep, they were real people living here in our county—a hillbilly couple with fifteen children.  If you are not familiar with them, Ma and Pa Kettle are comic film characters of the successful film series of the same name, produced by Universal Studios, in the late '40s and '50s.

Ma and Pa Kettle were featured by Betty MacDonald in her 1945 best-selling novel, The Egg and I.   (Chimacum has a road called the Egg and I.)  The success of the novel spawned the 1947 film The Egg and I starring Claudette Colbert and Fred MacMurray, also co-starring Marjorie Main and Percy Kilbride as Ma and Pa Kettle.

The little grocery store in Chimacum has actual photographs of the Kettles posted on their wall.   And the actors portraying the couple do resemble the originals.   Read the book and watch the movies—they are a hoot!

Some locations across the country have famous historical figures…we have Ma and Pa Kettle. 

Living Aboard

For over 30 years, our dream was to live aboard a boat.  The boat of choice was a trawler over 40 feet, preferably a Nordhavn or a Krogen.  Both are full displacement and able to take to the seas.  We took lessons, chartered a vacation in the San Juan Islands on a Nordhavn, and owned several smaller boats (26 foot, 31 foot)—giving us the basics to know how to operate a larger boat.  When it came down to making retirement living choices, the cost of living aboard was beyond our means.  I know others will live aboard a boat much smaller and older, but for us, having a newer, well maintained, and roomier sea-worthy boat for traveling the open water was a must. 

It still hurts a little when you walk through the boat of our dreams.

Absence

Sorry for the absence.  I have been in a bit of a funk lately.  A few months back my knee started acting up.  The last two hikes (attempted over the last two weeks) I get to 4 miles and the knee locks up and is painful to bend.  Going downhill is the worst.  Same thing with golf, I walk nine holes and the knee seizes up.  So, I have been putzing around the house (still cleaning out closets) and doing some watercolor.  Doctor appointment is scheduled the first week of November.   Up until two days ago, the autumn weather has been glorious; this lay-up is frustrating when there are trails to be walked.  Lots of spectacular colors out there.

Part of deal when our parts start to age.  I am a firm believer that you have to keep moving to stay young.  Get the repairs needed, pick yourself up and keep on trucking. 

And not to worry I will get going and start the journaling again.  There are so many interesting and fun activities around here—impossible to stay in this mood for long.