riage. He was chosen to represent the town in the General Assembly for the years 1834, '35, and '36.
Nelson A. Miles. Soldier; b. Westminster, Mass., Augusts, 1839; academic education; mercantile pursuits in Boston; enlisted for the war, Sept. 9, 1861, as lieutenant in the 22d Mass. infantry; was commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel of the 61st New York Vols., May 31, 1862; made Colonel Sept. 30; was made Brevet Brigadier-General for gallantry at Chancellorsville; was advanced to full rank May 12, 1864; was made Major-Gen. Oct. 11, 1865; General Miles fought in all the battles of the army of the Potomac, save one, until the surrender of Lee. From 1869 to 1887 he was engaged in the West against hostile Indian tribes, with remarkable success. He now holds the highest rank as Major-General of the U. S. Army, and is in command of the land forces in the war with Spain. Gen. Miles is a direct descendant of Rev. John Myles, the founder of the Baptist Church of Swansea, in Barrington.
Hugh Cole. Born about 1627; son of James and Mary Cole, Plymouth; was registered at Plymouth in 1643 among "the males that are able to beare Armes from XVI Yeares old to 60 Yeares;" was admitted a freeman of the town of Plymouth in 1657, and of Swansea in 1670; married (1) Mary Foxwell of Scituate, Jan. 8, 1654.
Children:
| James Cole, b. Nov. 3, 1655, | Hugh, Jr., b. March 8, 1658, |
| John, b. May 15, 1660, | Martha, b. April 16, 1662, |
| Anna, b. Oct. 14, 1664, | Ruth, b. Jan. 8, 1666, |
| Joseph, b. May 15, 1668, | Ebenezer, b. 1671, |
| Mary, | Benjamin, b. 1678. |
Married (2) widow, Elizabeth Cooke, Jan. 1, 1693; m. (3) widow Morton, 1698; held offices as selectman, deputy, juryman for several years; was an accomplished land surveyor and a ship builder, and a large land owner.
In 1669 Philip sold to Hugh Cole and others, 500 acres of land in Swansea. This tract was on the west side of Cole's River, which took its name from Mr. Hugh Cole, who resided thereon previous to 1675. At the breaking out of the Indian war, two sons of Hugh Cole were made prisoners by the Indians and taken to Philip at Mount Hope. Philip, from his friendship for their father, sent them back with a message to Mr. Cole that he did not wish to injure him, but, as his younger warriors might disobey his orders, advised him to repair to Rhode Island for safety. Mr. Cole immediately made ready and started with all his family in a boat, when he beheld his house in flames. After the war, 1677, Mr. Cole returned and located on the east side of Touisset Neck, on Kickemuit River in Warren. The farm he owned and the well he dug in 1677 are yet in possession of his lineal descendants. Mr. Cole was a member of John Myles's Church and was an influential man in town and church. He died Jan. 26, 1699, leaving a large descent to perpetuate the name and
