For details of John Cole’s part in Grey’s First Expedition of New Holland click here.
| PERSONAL DETAILS | |
|---|---|
| Name/Alias | John COLES |
| Birth date and place | 5 Dec 1814, Chumleigh, Devon, England. |
| Baptism date and place | 27 Dec 1814, St Mary Magadalene Parish Church, Chumleigh, Devon. |
| Civil Census Residences | See Muster below (1841). |
| Trade | Wheeler |
| Physical Description | Height: 5 ft. 10½ ins. Complexion: dark. Eyes: brown. Hair: dark brown. |
| Marriage date and place | 7 Sep 1841 Holy Trinity Church, Adelaide, South Australia. |
| Spouse | Mary JORDAN. |
| Children | Grace b. 1845, Adelaide, South Australia. William b. 1847, Adelaide, South Australia. Mary b. 1849, Adelaide. Elizabeth b. 1854, Adelaide. Emily b. 1854, Penwortham, South Australia. John b. 1856, Penwortham, South Australia. Thomas Henry b. 1858, Watervale, South Australia. Annie Louisa b. 1860, Penwortham, South Australia. |
| Death date and place | 24 Apr 1886, Penwortham, South Australia. |
| Burial date and place | 26 Apr 1886, St Marks, Penwortham, South Australia. |
| Will and Probate | Week ending 29 May 1886 – see sidebar for notice in Adelaide Evening Journal. |
| Death Notices & Obituaries | SA Advertiser 26 Apr 1886. SA Register 27 Apr 1886. Adelaide Observer.8 May 1886. |
| ARMY SERVICE DETAILS | |
| Corps and Company | Royal Sappers & Miners. |
| Service No. and Rank | # ? Private. |
| Attestation date and place | 6 Jul 1835 Exeter, Devon. |
| Service/Campaigns | 5 Jul 1837 Left Plymouth on Lieutenant George Grey’s (83rd Regiment) first expedition of New Holland [northern Western Australia], 2 years 9 month. 21 Aug 1839 Left Port Louis, Mauritius 2 years 9 months on Grey’s second expedition of Western Australia. Feb 1840 Left Perth for South Australia. E J Eyre’s expedition of Streaky Bay area. 2 years 7 months. Remainder at home. |
| Musters | WO11-91 Australia, 4th Company, Woolwich (1841). |
| Promotions | Private to Acting Corporal (date unknown). Acting Corporal to Corporal (date unknown). |
| Medals, Clasps and Badges | |
| Casualty/Medical | From an accident whilst firing a salute in honour of the birth of the Duke of Cornwall, had the fingers on the right hand, and the distal ends of their metacarpal bones so comminuted that I was obliged immediately to amputate at the junction of the metal carpel with the carpel bones. I had also to amputate the two distal phalanges of the fore finger of the left hand. Signed Geo. Nash, Colonial Surgeon. |
| Courts Martial | None. |
| Discharge date and place | 17 Oct 1842 Adelaide, South Australia. |
| Length of Service | 7 years 104 days. |
| Chelsea Pension Reference | WO97-1148-160. |
| Post Discharge Residence | Adelaide, South Australia. |
| ARRIVAL IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA | |
| Ship | Beagle to Capetown. Lynher to Western Australia. |
| Departure and Arrival dates | Dep. Plymouth 5 Jul 1837. Arr. Hanover Bay 2 Dec 1837. |
| Occupations post-arrival in WA | Ranger of Crown Lands, South Australia [Government Gazettes 1850 onwards]. |
| Land Acquisition | None in Western Australia. |
| Newspaper Articles | Adelaide Observer, 8 May 1886. |
| Ship ex-WA | Unknown. |
| Departure date and destination | February 1840 to South Australia. |