This information is a work in progress. It is not all verified, nor is it complete.

-Dave-

 

1796

Barnet Cole was born in Guildhall, Essex County, Vermont, on the 16th of March, 1796. He and his wife, Phoebe VanAlstyne, both descendants of Colonial pioneers, had settled Kirtland, Ohio.

 

1820

James Barnet Cole married Pheobe VanAlstyne on 15 Dec 1920

 

1821

Lucinda Ann Cole was born 7 Nov 1821 at Sheffield, OH

 

1823

Mary Ann Cole was born 27 Dec 1823, in Salisbury, PA

 

1826

Phoebe Amanda Cole was born 21 Aug 1826, in Kirtland, Oh

 

1827

Susan Ann Cole was born 18 June 1827, in Greece NY

 

1828

James Barnet Cole was born 22 Aug 1828, in Concord, OH

 

1830

Lucy Ann Maria Cole was born 15 Sept 1830, in Kirtland, OH

 

In October of 1830 they joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  The early records of the Church were destroyed so we have no record of their baptism. (Church Chronology by Andrew Janson II. 10

 

1831

In 1831 or 1832 they were called to help settle Jackson County, Missouri. Here they suffered all the persecutions of the Saints in that state.

 

1833

Moroni Cole was born 12 April 1833, in Independence, MO

 

The Prophet and the Saints had just passed through one of the most bitter persecutions in the history of the United States.  At gunpoint, mobs and militias had forced members of the church from their homes, had beaten them and stolen their livestock, had burned their homes and raped women, had threatened them with extermination, and had driven them, in winter, eastward across the state of Missouri and over the Mississippi River into Illinois, as well as northward into the Iowa territory.

 

It was not until persecutions in Missouri stretched across 1838 and deep into the winter of 1839 that the Prophet saw fit to instruct the Saints “to take statements and affidavits,” as we have seen (D&C 123:4).  In response, between 1839 and 1845 hundreds of Saints drew up affidavits with the intent of submitting them to government officials.

 

One affidavit comes from Barnet Cole.  A certain Moses Wilson and Robert Jonson called at Barnet Cole’s home and invited him to go out a pace with them.  They said that some gentleman wished to see him.  Once they were away from his home, Cole found himself in the presence of 40 or 50 armed men.  One of the men said, “[I]s this mister Cole?”  The reply was, “yes.”  At this moment they asked Cole if he believed the Book of Mormon, to which Cole replied, “Yes.”  They then took off his coat and Jaccoat and laid on ten lashes and told him to go home.

 

A little over a month later, a mob headed by Wilson & Jonson came to Cole’s house and gave him a second whipping and ordered him to leave the county or it would be worse for him.

 

 

1834

February 20, 1834 Lyman Leonard, Joseph Summers and Barnet Cole were severely beaten by a mob with sticks, in Jackson County, Missouri.

 

Clay County, Mo., Feb'y. 27, 1834.

Dear Brethren, the times are so big with events, and the anxiety of every body so great to watch them, that I feel somewhat impressed to write oftener than I have done, in order to give you more of the "strange acts," of this region. I have just returned from Independence , the seat of war in the west.  …

Before a crop is harvested, it becomes ripe of itself. The dreadful deeds now done in Jackson county, with impunity, must bring matters to a focus shortly. Within two or three weeks past, some of the most savage acts ever witnessed, have been committed by these bitter branches. Old Father Lindsey, whose locks have been whitened by the blast of nearly seventy winters, had his house thrown down, after he was driven from it; his goods, corn &c. piled together and fire put to it, but fortunately after the mob retired, his son extinguished it.

The mob has quit whipping, and now beat with clubs. Lyman Leonard, one of the number that returned from Van Buren, had two chairs broke to splinters about him and was then dragged out of doors, and beat with clubs till he was supposed to be dead; but he is yet alive. Josiah Sumner and Barnet Cole were severely beat at the same time. The mob have commenced burning houses, stacks, and we shall not think it out of their power by any means, to proceed to murder any of our people that shall try to live in that county, or perhaps, only go there.

Such scenes as are transpiring around us are calculated to arouse feelings and passions in all, and to strengthen the faith and fortify the hearts of the saints for great things. Our Savior laid down his life for our sakes and shall we, who profess to live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God; shall we, the servants of the Lord of the vineyard, who are called and chosen to prune it for the last time; shall we, yea verily, we, who are enlightened by the wisdom of heaven shall we fear to do as much for Jesus as he did for us. No; we will obey the voice of the spirit, that God may overcome the world.

I am a servant &c.

W. W. PHELPS.

TIMES AND SEASONS."TRUTH WILL PREVAIL."VOL. VI. NO. 17.] CITY OF NAUVOO, ILL. NOV. 15, 1845. [WHOLE NO. 126.HISTORY OF JOSEPH SMITH.CONTINUED.

 

 

1836

Laura Sarah Cole was born 4 Aug 1836, in Liberty, MO

 

1838

John Cole was born 8 June 1838, in Far West, MO

 

1839

According to Church Encyclopedia, (B.1 pp. 714) by Andrew Janson, Barnet Cole undersigned a document or covenant at Far West, Missouri on 29 January 1839, to stand by and assist each other to the utmost of our ability in moving from this state in compliance to the state authority.  The purpose of this document was to pool resources to help the very poor and those incapable of moving by themselves.

 

The Millennial Star recorded the event as follows:  On Saturday, January 26, 1839, the citizens of Caldwell County met at Far West and appointed a committee of seven; viz., John Taylor, Alanson Ripley, Brigham Young, Theodore Turley, H. C. Kimball, John Smith, and D. C. Smith to draft resolutions respecting their removal from the State according to the Governor's order, and to devise means for removing the destitute.

 

On the 29th another meeting was called, when the committee reported through their chairman, John Taylor. The result was the adoption of a covenant to assist one another, which reads as follows:-

"We whose names are hereunder written do each for ourselves individually hereby covenant to stand by and assist each other to the utmost of our abilities, in removing from this State in compliance with the authority of the State; and we do hereby acknowledge ourselves firmly bound to the extent of all our available property, to be disposed of by a committee who shall be appointed for that purpose, for providing means for the removing of the poor and destitute who shall be considered worthy, from this country, till there shall not be one left who desires to remove from the State: with this proviso, that no individual shall be deprived of the right of the disposal of his own property for the above purpose, or of having the control of it, or so much of it as shall be necessary for the removing of his own family, and to be entitled to the overplus, after the work is effected; and furthermore, said committee shall give receipts for all property, and an account of the expenditure of the same."-Millennial Star, vol. 16, p. 730.

The committee on removal provided for were William Huntington, Charles Bird, Alanson Ripley, Theodore Turley, Daniel Shearer, Shadrach Roundy, and J. H. Hale, of which Wm. Huntington, was appointed chairman; Daniel Shearer, treasurer; and Alanson Ripley, clerk. A long list of names were signed to the agreement. 1

1 John Smith, Wm. Huntington, Charles Bird, Alanson Ripley, Theodore Turley, Daniel Shearer, Shadrach Roundy, Jonathan H. Hale, Elias Smith, Brigham Young, James Burnham, Leicester Gaylord, Samuel Williams, John Miller, Aaron M. York, George A. Smith, Daniel Howe, James Bradin, Jonathan Beckelshimer, David Jones, Wm. M. Fossett, James McMillan, Chandler Holbrook, Alexander Wright, William Taylor, John Taylor, Reuben P. Hartwell, John Lowry, Welcome Chapman, Solomon Hancock, Arza Adams, Henry Jacobs, James Carroll David Lyons, John Taylor, Don Carlos Smith, William J. Stuart, Isaac B. Chapman, Roswell Stephens, Reuben Hedlock David Holman, Joel Goddard, Charles N. Baldwin, Jesse N. Reed, Benjamin Johnson, Jonathan Hampton, Anson Call, Peter Dope, Samuel Ralph, Abel Lamb, Daniel McArthur, William Gregory, Zenas Curtis, John Reed, William R. Orton, Samuel D. Tyler, John H. Goff, Thomas Butterfield Dwight Hardin, Norvil M Head, Stephen V. Foot, Jacob G. Bigler, Eli Bagley William Milam, Lorenzo Clark, William Allred, Wm. Van Ausdall, Nathan K. Knight, John Thorp, Andrew Rose John B. Martin, Albert Sloan, John D. Lee, Eliphas Marsh, Joseph Wright, John Badger, Levi Richards, Erastus Bingham, Elisha Everett, John Lytle, Levi Jackman, Thomas Guyman, Nahum Curtis, Lyman Curtis, Philip Ballard, William Gould, Reuben Middleton, William Harper, Seba Joes, Charles Butler, Richard Walton, Isaac Kerron, Joseph Rose, David Foot, L. S. Nickerson, Moses Daley, David Sessions, Perry Green Sessions, Alford P. Childs, James Daley, Noah T. Guyman, David Winters, John Pack, Sylvenus Hicks, Horatio N. Kent, Joseph W. Pierce, Phineas R. Bird, Duncan McArthur, Allen Talley, James Hampton, Sherman A. Gilbert, James S. Holman, Andrew Lytle, Aaron Johnson, Heber C Kimball, George W. Harris, George W. Davidson, Harvey Strong, Elizabeth Mackley, Sarah Mackley, Andrew More, Harvey Downey, John Maba, Lucy Wheeler, John Turpin, William Earl, Zenos H. Gurley, Joseph W. Coolidge, Anthony Head, S. A. P. Kelsey, Moses Evord, Ophelia Harris, Zuba McDonald, Mary Goff, Harvey J. Moore, Francis Chase, Stephen Markham, John Outhouse, Wm. F. Leavens, Daniel Tyler, Noah Rogers, Stephen N. St. John, Francis Lee, Eli Lee, Benjamin Covey, Michael Borkdull, Miles Nehemiah Harmon, Daniel Cathcart, Gershom Stokes, Rachel Page, Barnet Cole, Wm. Thompson, Nathan Cheney, James Sherry David Frampton, Elizabeth Pettigrew, Charles Thompson, Wm. Woodland, Martin C. Allred, Jedediah Owen, Orren P. Rockwell, Nathan B. Baldwin, Truman Brace, Sarah Wixom, Lewis Zobriski, Henry Zobriski, Morris Harris, Absolom Tidwell, Alvin Winegar, Samuel Winegar, John E. Page, Levi Gifford, Edmund Durfee, Josiah Butterfield, John Killion, John Patten, John Wilkins, Abram Allen, Wm. Felshaw.-Millennial Star pp. 730, 731.

 

From Missouri, they went to Quincy, Illinois and later to Nauvoo and helped build that city.

 

As a young girl in Nauvoo, Phoebe Amanda was attempting to cross a muddy street when the Prophet Joseph Smith rode up on his horse.  He lifted Phoebe on his horse with him and helped her across the street.  During the conversation, Phoebe was promised by the Prophet that she could live as long as she wanted to live.  Phoebe died on 19 Jan 1916.  She was in her 90th year.  

 

1841

William Ether Cole was born 28 Jan 1841, Nauvoo, IL

 

1842

The Female Relief Society was organized.  The Prophet Joseph Smith said that the restored Church of Jesus Christ could not be perfect or complete without it.  Mother Phoebe, Lucinda, Mary Ann, and Phoebe Amanda were members of the Nauvoo Relief Society.

 

 

1843

Fanny Mariah Cole was born 24 April 1843

 

Fanny Mariah Cole died on 2 Aug 1843

 

1844

On 27 June 1844 Joseph Smith and Hyrum Smith were killed in Carthage jail by an armed mob of between 150 and 200 men.

 

Barnet Cole was one of the bodyguards of Joseph Smith at the time of the martyrdom.

 

Joseph Hyrum Cole was born 16 July 1844, in Nauvoo, IL

 

1845

Barnet Cole was ordained a High Priest 19 January 1845.

 

Joseph Hyrum Cole died on 27 July 1845

 

Barnet Cole and Phoebe VanAlstyne were endowed on 25 December 1845.

 

1846

Temple Index Bureau records indicate that Barnet Cole, born 16 March 1796, Guildhall, Essex County, Vermont, was sealed to Phoebe VanAlstyne 22 January 1846.

 

In February 1846 they, with their family of ten children, were driven from Nauvoo. They crossed the Mississippi River with the exiled Mormons and settled temporarily at Mount Pisgah, Iowa where their son, James Barnet, aged seventeen, joined the Mormon Battalion.

 

1848

Phoebe Amanda Cole married Nathaniel Stewart 3 May 1848, at Winter Quarters, (now Florence) NE

 

In 1848 James Barnet Cole reached Salt Lake Valley, after spending the winter of 1847-48 in the Sacramento Valley, working at Sutter's Mill. The rest of the family arrived in Utah in September 1850 by Wagon Train.

1851

In the spring of 1851 the Coles moved to Willard. James Barnet was then twenty- two years old and Moroni, another son, was eighteen. In 1851 and 1852 they built the first gristmill in Box Elder County. Not only did Barnet Cole construct the mill, he made his own tools and his own nails.  Barnet was a farmer, a miller, a blacksmith, a carpenter, and a cooper.  One of the tools that he made was a lathe with which he made their furniture.  He also made churns and butter bowls.


1854

In 1854 Moroni married Rhoda Ann Hubbard of Willard.

 

1856

In October 1856 James Barnet Cole was called to help rescue the belated Willie and Martin Handcart Companies. One night on their way, Cole dreamed that when they met the emigrants he saw a beautiful girl wearing a green veil, whom he married. He was so impressed with his dream that he related it to Brother Kimball who remarked that they would find no beautiful girls in green veils among those half frozen and starved emigrants. When they finally reached the suffering Willie Handcart Company, Brother Kimball noticed a girl with a green veil tied over her fur cap to keep her head warm. He exclaimed, "Brother Cole, there is your dream girl." A few days later, November 2nd, Lucy Ward, the dream girl, was married to James Barnet Cole at Fort Bridger. They stayed at Fort Supply the rest of that winter and came to Willow Creek the next spring, 1857. Here James helped his father in his blacksmith shop and gristmill.

1857

May 9, 1857 Barnet Cole died.

 

1858

On January 31, 1858 Lucy Ward Cole gave birth to a baby girl. That spring Johnston's Army came and all the homes and mills were prepared to be burned, if necessary and the Coles prepared to move south.  Sacks of flour from the mill were piled high in a covered wagon then the family moved to Provo.  After moving south the Coles never returned to Willard. James stayed in Utah County and Moroni went to Cache Valley, where he helped settle Richmond.  The old mill was destroyed by a flood in 1960 and is no longer standing.

There is record of Barnet's Patriarchal Blessing which confirms Barnet and Betsy as his parentage.

We have record of one brother, Jeremiah, believed to be slightly younger than Barnet.
Jeremiah and his son, William Cole, were the owners of the "Cole Circus."

When the circus enterprise was sold and the estates was to be settled, rumor has it that a great deal of money was left in an eastern bank for the heirs to claim but one son could not be found.