Sir John Cole, 1st Baronet facts for kids

Sir John Cole, 1st Baronet (who passed away in 1691) was an important Anglo-Irish politician. He was the second son of Sir William Cole (who died in 1653). Sir William was a key person in the Plantation of Ulster, which was a plan to settle people from England and Scotland in Ireland.

John's mother was Catherine Parsons. Her father was Sir Lawrence Parsons, a judge from Birr Castle. John's older brother, Michael, was an ancestor of the Earl of Enniskillen family.

Who Was Sir John Cole?

Sir John Cole was a Cavalier, which means he supported King Charles II of England during a time of great political change. He was the Governor of Enniskillen, a town in Ireland. In this role, he worked hard to support the King's interests.

Becoming a Baronet

Because of his strong loyalty to the King, Sir John Cole was given a special title. On January 23, 1661, he became a baronet of Newland. This title was part of the Baronetage of Ireland, a system of honors given by the British Crown.

His Political Career

Sir John Cole served in the Irish House of Commons, which was like the parliament in Ireland at the time. He was a Member of Parliament (MP) for County Fermanagh from 1661 to 1666.

He also held the position of Custos Rotulorum of Fermanagh from 1661 until his death. This was a very important role, as he was the chief keeper of the county's records and a senior justice of the peace.

Helping the King's Plans

In 1662, Sir John Cole was chosen to be one of the people who would put the Act of Settlement 1662 into action in Ireland. This Act was a law that helped decide who owned land after a period of conflict. In 1675, he became a member of the Privy Council of Ireland. This was a group of trusted advisors to the King in Ireland.

Sir John Cole's Family

Sir John Cole married Elizabeth Chichester. Her father was Lieutenant-Colonel John Chichester. Elizabeth's mother was Mary Jones, whose father was Roger Jones, 1st Viscount Ranelagh.

Sir John and Elizabeth had eleven children together. When Sir John Cole passed away, his oldest son, Arthur Cole, inherited his baronet title. Arthur later became Baron Ranelagh in 1715. However, Arthur did not have any children, so both titles ended when he died.

Marriages of His Daughters

Some of Sir John Cole's daughters also married into important families:

• His daughter Elizabeth married her cousin, Sir Michael Cole.
• Another daughter, Mary, married Henry Hamilton-Moore, who was the 3rd Earl of Drogheda.
• His third daughter, Frances, married Sir Thomas Domvile, 1st Baronet.