Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-22

Cyclists Touring Club. of which we are also
members, We felt 1t our duty 10 take charge of
them, in which arrangement they gracefully
acquieseed And so, hand in hand, We de-
scended upon France. E. T. s.
AMONG MUsTY RECORDS
Curious VIII and Epitaph Of Famous Dick
Cole.
corespondencs Of The Evening Star
COLONIAL BEACH,
WEsTAoRELANp COUNTY Va,
August Is, 1891.
''old King Cole was . merry old soul.
Amerry old soul was he.'
INDEED. IT SEEMS THAT ALL THE COLE
u family were a jolly set, and for that matter
now are, when we come to think Of those we
know. One Of the pleasant jaunts from this
interesting and popular summer resort is by
steamer down the broad Potomac to Nominy
river; few hours trip, cool and refreshing
on hot day rs We could wish. From
the placid waters, picturesque and classic
shores Of Nominy to Montrose, the county
seat OF Westmoreland Is a short drive over a
smooth road. Here among the moth-eaten aud
musty records Of the county, among the oldest
In the commonwealth, through the courtesy of
the venerable clerk We were permitted 10 see
Renaissance Of one OF the Cole family. West
moreland was the FIRST home OF the Coles on
this continent. The first mention Of West
moreland county is an act Of the grand as
sembly Of Virginia held in July, 1853, by which
1T is ordered that the bounds Of the county
of westmoreland be as followette (vizt) from
Machoactoke river where Mr.. Cole lives: And
SO upwards to the falls Of the great river Paw
tomske above the Necostins towne."-lst Hen
nings Statutes at Large, page ISL.
This Mr.. Cole was q great merchant and
planter and his hospitality was un-
bounded, many traditions Of which sur
vfve to the present day. His last will
and testament found among the records OF the
county, but hard to decipher owing to the
quaint old English style in which il was written,
shows that he possessed the characteristics of
the family, but religious with ALL Extracts
| from this will not uninteresting as
showing the manner and customs Of the
| earlier colonists, and that this testator was
q true representative Of the "old King
| Cole family, humorous and fond Of good living.
After the usual commencement his will pro-
ceeds. Il give and bequeathe or rather render
God who hath created IL and my body to We
earth to be christianity buried as folls.,
hopeing in and. through ye meritorious
death Of his deare son and or most
blessed savior both body and soule at We last
t.umps will meet as"ins and be reunited and
Then after bequeathing all his large landed
estates and personal effects to his well be-
loved wife" among which he enumerates all
my servants, Negroes and English Of which
he proceeds as follows:
Item, 1t is my will and desire vt may be
Inferred upon Poynt Plaisant upon my
plantacon where now live in . neate coffin Of
black Walnut IL conveniently TO be had and
IT grave stone Of Black Marble be with all
convenient speed sent for out of England with
my coate armour engraveu In brasse and under
1t this epitaph:
CURIOUS HPrrArH.
"Here lies Dick Cole grievous sinner,
That died little before dinner,
Yet hopes in heaven to find place,
To satiate his soul with grace.
stem, will vt my gravestons be raised with
Dutch Bricks above 8 foot from yeground and
my grave to be paled in with post
and rails Of locust and white oak
boards OF double substance and undr YIN
Locust ground sills." He further provides
that If his wife sells the lands that the vendee
be obliged forever to keep in repair his grave
and he proceeds: Item, I will vt ye ablest
minister to be secured have forty shill: to
ring enammelled with black with this
motto in it engravsn 'Sequimur.' also to have
gloves and lone scarfa" item, desire INV Lo
friends Cap. John Hull. Cap. John Lee, Mr.
Jno Mattrome and Mr. Lewlings be entrusted
to bear me to my grave and that they have each
a gold ring every way equal with vt have
willed ys minister and gloves and lone scarfs
and vt ye rest of my COMPANY, men
and women We shall be invited have gloves and
ribons according TO ye custom IN like casee and
earnestly entreat my esteemed friends TO see
ys soiemnities OF my enterment performed &C.
cording to ye manner and forms above set
forth, and Sic Domino in manus tuas comitto
1858.
NO ONE KNOWS HIS BURIAL PLACE.
Evidently this Dick Cole was . good liver
and, being Of strong faith and earnest religious
convictions, expected to be compensated here
after for the dinner he would have by dying
history, but, notwithstanding the provisions Of
his will that his grave be forever kept in re-
pair. no one knows where he lies buried.
This may be accounted for by the codicil to his
will. which shows that his life was not alto
gether one Of unalloyed bliss. and he rather
resents the interference Of Providence with his
"Mr. Richard Coles codicil 70 his will:
"Decemb'r ye Soth, 1870. 1t having pleased
God OF late to crosse me- In ye world BY losses and
therefore desire noe funeral nor interment
more than ordinary" The clerks Office Of
Westmorsland county contains many interest |
ing records bearing upon the carly history of |
our country ana showing the manners ana Il
customs of the colonists. but il 10 10 be re- |
GREETED that they are not better preserved. |
Rats and moths and mildsw have done thar /
work.
MAxrHo FAMILY rRHfs.
This being one Of the oldest ssttlsd counties
In the country, and descendants of the earlier /
settlers having gone north. south and west the
clerk Il kept busy tracing the families u those /
fortunate ones who have gone Oh and made
fortunes and now want to hand down an
i,lustrious sncestry and family tree sloag With
whispered in and around the clerks once that
more Of thoss who. lie Topsy, Just groved
mp So" were making family trees than others
From Colonial Beach - center many inter-
esting points can b visited and seen IN outings
By land and .vatsr, the birthplaces and homes
Of mon Who have made illustrious The pages Of
earlier ~ wsl - later history II our country.
Wss>ooeeland vas The cradle q many great
nen, Sat unfortunately for the country, ~
nArked N ed oentlsnaa, 'rhsy I'll had % 20
oU05 - - 81 GRooonn1a" L,