Catherine Thompson Coles

Catherine married Baldwin Matthews Payne in 1827. Baldwin (son of Philip Payne and Elizabeth Dandridge) was born on 11 Dec 1796; died in 1832/1887. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography, Volume V

Name: Thomas Jordan Coles (cont.)

Colonel Isaac Coles, son of John (1) and Mary (Winston) Coles, was born in Richmond, Virginia, March 2, 1747, died on his plantation in Pittsylvania county, Virginia, June 3, 1813, and is there buried. He was educated at William and Mary College, Williamsburg, Virginia, was a colonel of militia during the revolutionary war, and was a member of the Virginia legislature in 1783-84-85-87. He was a member of the convention which met in Richmond in June, 1788, to ratify the new Federal Constitution, and there voted against its ratification. He was a member of the first United States Congress which met in New York City in 1789 and there "voted against the adoption of the Constitution as it came from the hands of its framers, for he saw the poison under its wings." It is also on record that he voted to "abolish the slave trade," although a large land-owner and slave-holder himself, while his brother-in-law, Elbridge Gerry, of Massachusetts, voted to continue it. He held his place in Congress until 1797, and while a member of the Philadelphia Congress he voted "to locate the seat of government on the banks of the Potomac. "He was twice married, (first) in 1771, to Elizabeth, died in 1781, daughter of William Lightfoot, of Charles City county, Virginia. They had three children, only one of whom lived to maturity, Isaac (2), who built and lived at a place called Springwood, near Houston, Halifax county, Virginia, and was the grandfather of the late Hon. Paul C. Edmunds and Captain Henry Edmunds, of Halifax county. Colonel Isaac Coles, Sr., married (second) in January, 1790, Catherine Thompson, a "New York belle and beauty," whom he met while attending the New York Congress. She was a daughter of James and Catherine (Walton) Thompson, of New York, and a descendant of the Beekmans. Her sister, Ann, had previously married Elbridge Gerry, of Massachusetts, an old bachelor at the time of his marriage. Elbridge Gerry was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, governor of Massachusetts, member of Congress, vice-president of the United States at the time of his death in 1814, and was once sent abroad on an important diplomatic mission with Pinckney and Marshall. Catherine Thompson, second wife of Colonel Isaac Coles, Sr., was born in New York City in 1767, died in Pittsylvania county, Virginia, in 1848. being buried by the side of her husband. They were the parents of a large family, of one of whom, Walter, further mention is made. Colonel Isaac Coles, Sr., during his political career, lived on the plantation in Halifax county, Virginia, inherited from his father, located at Coles' Ferry on the Staunton river, and about 1800 moved to Pittsylvania county, Virginia. His home in this locality was a plantation of five thousand and fifty-seven acres, which land he had purchased from Philip Lightfoot, a cousin of his first wife. His reason for disposing of his Halifax property was two-fold; because of the malarial conditions there prevalent, which affected both his health and that of his family, and because of financial embarrassment, for the political positions that had taken such a large share of his time had been honorary or with small remuneration attached and wide inroads had been made upon his finances during his long public service. Colonel Isaac Coles, Sr. was known as a great wit and entertaining raconteur, and in the declining years of his life prominent men from all parts of the country journeyed to his home to enjoy his unmatched hospitality and the gleams from the intellect that time had not deprived of its luster.

Died:
"Coles Hill", Pittsylvania Co., VA

Isaac married Catherine Thompson on 2 Jan 1790 in New York City, New York, New York, USA. Catherine (daughter of James Thompson and Catherine Walton) was born in 1767 in New York City, New York, New York, USA; died in 1848 in Pittsylvania County, VA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Immigration: Abt 1730, Virginia, USA

Notes:

Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography, Volume V

Name: Thomas Jordan Coles

The Coles family has been prominent in England for many generations, one branch of the name taking up Irish residence. The crest of the Coles family is a serpent entwined about a pillar.

The great-great-grandfather of Thomas J. Coles. John (1) Coles, was born in Enniscorthy, Ireland, in 1706, and immigrated to Virginia about 1730. His mother was a Miss Philpot, a relative of Sir Philpot Curran, the noted Irish wit and barrister. John Coles married, in 1733, Mary, of Hanover county, Virginia, daughter of Isaac and Mary (Dabney) Winston. Isaac Winston, a member of an ancient English family, came from Winston Hall in England. A few years after the departure of John Coles for America, his younger brother, William Coles, came to Virginia, married Lucy Winston, a younger daughter of Isaac Winston, and settled at Coles hill in Hanover county, Virginia. Sarah, another daughter of Isaac Winston, married Colonel John Henry, and was the mother of the great patriot, Patrick Henry. William Coles, mentioned above, brother of John Coles, was the grandfather of Dolly Madison, wife of the fourth president of the United States, her mother's maiden name being Mary Coles.

John (1) Coles was one of the first settlers of Richmond, Virginia, assisting Colonel William Byrd in surveying and laying out the town. On Colonel Byrd's original survey of Richmond many of the most valuable lots bear the name of John Coles, land which today is valued at many thousands of dollars. In his will he bequeathed a large share of these lots to his youngest son. Isaac, then a baby, who afterward sold them for a piece of fine linen and a race horse. John Coles became a wealthy and influential man in the colony, although he died comparatively young. In addition to his Richmond property he owned vast landed estates in different parts of the colony, granted him by the King in consideration of services rendered the Crown. He was a colonel of militia and in some old records is also spoken of as major. He was a devoted adherent to the Church of England, and was one of the founders of the famous old St. John's Church, of Richmond, being buried under the chancel of that church. Not many years ago, in the course of some repairs that were being made in the church, there was found under the chancel, among other remains, a brass coffin-plate bearing the name of John Coles. He was church warden from the founding of the church until the day of his death, which occurred in 1747. At that time, the church and state being closely allied, the churchwardens controlled civil and military as well as church affairs, and in consulting old records it is found that John Coles wielded considerable influence in both church and secular affairs. His death in October, 1747, followed the birth of his son. Isaac, by a few months, and in his will he left an immense tract of land in Albemarle county, Virginia, to his son, John (2), willing to his sons, Walter and Isaac, vast estates on the Staunton, Dan, and Bannister rivers in that portion of Brunswick county, Virginia, which was afterward set off as Halifax county, also bequeathing to them other property. His daughters received good estates, Mary, married Henry Tucker, and has many descendants, and Sarah, who married General George Muter, having no children. John (2) Coles married Rebecca Tucker, and built and resided at "Enniscorthy," Albemarle county, Virginia, named after the old home in Ireland whence his father had come. John (2) Coles was the father of Governor Edward Coles, and his descendants have been prominent in many states of the Union, high office and honor coming to many. Mary (Winston) Coles, born in 1721, died in 1758, married (second) a Mr. Donald.

Died:
"Enniscorthy", Albemarle Co., VA

John married Mary Ann Winston in 1733 in Hanover County, Virginia, USA. Mary (daughter of Isaac Winston and Mary Ann Dabney) was born in 1721 in Hanover County, Virginia, USA; died on 24 Oct 1758. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

James married Catherine Walton. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Walter married Alice Philpot. Alice died in Inniscorthy, Ireland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Birth: Abt 1681, Hanover County, Virginia, USA
• Birth: 1682, Hanover, VA
• Death: Abt Feb 1760, Hanover County, Virginia, USA; Age: 80
• Will: 6 Feb 1760, Hanover County, Virginia, USA
• Probate: 6 Mar 1760, Hanover County, Virginia, USA

Isaac married Mary Ann Dabney about 1706 in Virginia, USA. Mary (daughter of John Dabney) was born on 1 Feb 1680 in Hanover County, Virginia, USA; died on 6 Mar 1760 in Hanover County, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Name: Mary Dabney
• Birth: 1685, Hanover County, Virginia, USA
• Death: 6 Mar 1760, Hanover County, Virginia, USA