Ebenezer Cole is recognized by the Daughters of the American Revolution as a “patriot,” meaning he provided patriotic service to support the Revolution. He is Marion “Bud” Renschler’s 5th great-grandfather.
Ebenezer Cole, son of Ebenezer and Mehitable (Luther) Cole, was born on October 27, 1715, in Swansea, Bristol County, Massachusetts. Swansea, located about 40 miles south of Boston, was founded in 1662. Ebenezer’s grandfather, Hugh Cole, was among the town founders and also involved in King Philip’s War with the local Indians. The entire village was burned during that war.
Ebenezer married Prudence Millard on January 9, 1737, at Barrington, Bristol County, Massachusetts. They had twelve known children, including Edward, born on October 25, 1751, at Warren, Bristol County, Rhode Island.
Warren was ceded to Rhode Island from Massachusetts in 1747. In May 1758, Ebenezer was appointed to the office of Justice of the Peace for the town. He also served as a deputy from Warren, Rhode Island, to the Rhode Island General Assembly in 1760, 1762, and in 1770.
The following was taken from the book The Descendants of James Cole of Plymouth 1633. “In 1762, Ebenezer Cole purchased a tract of land in the heart of the town of Warren and built a house for hotel purposes. This house afterwards became one of the famous hotels of New England. It was kept by the Cole family, Ebenezer, Benjamin, and George Cole, for over one hundred and twenty-five years. In 1778, General Lafayette assumed command of the ports about the island of Rhode Island and, for a time, was encamped in Warren. He was a frequent guest at Cole’s Hotel. Ebenezer Cole died in 1799,[sic] and was succeeded in business by his son Benjamin, or as he was commonly known, Colonel Cole. There were two large brick ovens. The size of them may be judged when it is stated that at a large dinner, twenty pigs were roasted in the ovens.”
Ebenezer was one of the founders of the First Baptist Church of Warren. In 1763, he began framing the building. It was about 44 feet square with a four-sided hip roof surmounted with a small belfry, in which was placed a ship bell, with the rope hanging directly down in the center of the middle aisle. A weather vane was mounted atop the belfry. There was no porch, and the building was never painted. The communion table, used bimonthly, was brought to the church from Cole’s Hotel. Ebenezer was elected one of the first deacons of the church in 1764 and served until his death.
On May 25, 1778, the church, along with its parsonage and college building, was burned by the British. After the fire, Deacon Cole found the weather vane in the ashes and took it to the attic of his hotel, where it remained for many years.
By the time of the Revolution, Warren, Rhode Island, was a prosperous maritime community. There was a shipyard, and Warren sailors were engaged in coastal transport, the West Indies trade, the slave trade, and some whaling. The revolution nearly ruined the town; there was chaos and near starvation. Business was destroyed, twenty-three vessels were lost, shipyards were empty, farms were neglected, and the population was destitute. In May 1778, the British and Hessians raided the town, burned buildings, destroyed ships, looted and vandalized homes and businesses. About 60 people were taken captive. The young men were sent aboard the notorious prison ship Jersey, where some died. Of course, these tactics only inflamed the populace and furthered revolutionary zeal.
In 1778, General Lafayette assumed command of the ports of Rhode Island and, for a time, was encamped in Warren. He was a frequent guest of the Cole Hotel. From The History of Warren, Rhode Island, the following was taken: “The gallant French officer Lafayette was very popular with the townspeople. Tradition states that he was extremely partial to the old-fashioned Rhode Island johnny-cakes baked on a board at the hostelry of Ebenezer Cole, famous throughout the colonies for its good cheer.” Johnny-cake is a flat cornbread now baked in a cast-iron skillet.
Ebenezer, too old to serve in the army, was a member of the local militia company, which served when called upon, similar to the National Guard. He enlisted on August 3, 1780, in a militia company that answered an alarm to defend Trenton and other Massachusetts towns. He served for only a few days until the alarm was over. He was 65 years old at the time. He probably served at other times when called, but many records of the local militias are lost. Two of his sons, Ebenezer and Benjamin, served the American cause during the Revolution.
A British vessel sunk in Newport’s harbor was raised by local men, and Ebenezer Cole purchased a portion of the wreckage. He built a barn from some of the timbers and was very fond of pointing out the landmark to guests at his hotel.
When Ebenezer died, his son Benjamin took over the hotel. It remained in the family for 125 years. In March 1893, the Hotel was partially destroyed by fire and later demolished.
It is known that Ebenezer owned slaves, which was common in Warren. The 1774 census of Rhode Island lists Ebenezer owning one slave. Shamefully, he also owned a slaver (a ship used in the slave trade). Interesting how people who were willing to fight for their own freedom denied it to others.
Ebenezer died July 9, 1798, at the age of 83 years. He was survived by ten children, 53 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren, and one great, great-grandchild. He was buried in the North Burial Ground at Warren, Rhode Island.