CAPT. SETH COLE was b. Feb. 4, 1825, in Warren, R. I. He was the son of Elijah and Mary (Esterbrooks) Cole. In 1843 when but 18 years of age he commenced seafaring, which occupation he followed through the remainder of his life, with the exception of five or six years. His first five years on the ocean were spent in the whaling business and the remainder in mercantile services. He first became shipmaster in 1850. During the Civil War his vessel was seized and burned near New Orleans; goods all confiscated and himself taken prisoner; taken to Richmond, Va., and put in Libby Prison, where he remained about a year, or until April, 1864, when he was exchanged for Fitz Hugh Lee, then a prisoner at Point Lookout. His family home had been for many years at Fall River, Mass., but they rem. to ‘Meriden, in 1857. In 1868 he purchased a farm and his family removed to Cornish where he spent three or four years, and then again betook himself to seafaring, until his death, Sept. 11, 1877, which occurred on his homeward passage from Calcutta. He was buried at sea. He had m. July 6, 1848, Maria L. Raynsford, b. March 7, 1825, dau. of David and Maria (Fitch) Raynsford. She d. April 14, 1885.
Children:
i. MARY M., b. in Fall River Sept. 4, 1849; d. in Meriden, June 20, 1866.
2. ii. SETH RAYNSFORD, b. in Fall River, Feb. 11, 1851.
iii. LIZZIE M., b. in Meriden Aug. 6, 1857; m. Jan. 25, 1881, Frank D. Wiley. Had six children. (See Wiley.) She d. in Claremont. May 30, 1897.
