Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/137

 VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

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way to the seat of war. He served three months and was honorably discharged. He then enlisted as sergeant in Sleeper's Tenth Massachusetts Battery, and was severely wounded in the mouth by a minie ball at Auburn, Virginia, October 13. 1S63. \Miile on furlough with his wound, he was pro- moted to second lieutenant. Sixteenth Mas- sachusetts ISattery, later on to first lieuten- ant, in which he served until the close of the war. He then had command of Marble- head Light Infantry, in which he served as captain. On July 6, 1869, he was ap- pointed by General Butler as secretary. Eastern Branch National Soldiers' Home, at Togus, Maine. He remained three and a half years, and was then transferred to the Southern Branch at Hampton, Virginia, as governor, which position he held until his death on August 24, igoi, having served in this capacity twenty-eight years. He is buried at Arlington, Virginia.

His wife, Abbie P., daughter, Harriet L., and son, Herbert B., survive him. After his death, the officers and members of the home and other organizations erected a bronze monument on the home grounds, on the four sides of which are the following in- scriptions :

First: Philip Trasker Woodfin, governor from 1873 to 1901, Southern Branch Na- tional Home for Disabled Volunteer Sol- diers, born April 26, 1840; appointed gov- ernor January 16, 1873 '< ^'^^^ August 24, 1901.

Second : Military Order Loyal Legion, L^nited States Commander, District of Co- lumbia, 1888 to 1901 ; corporal Eighth Mas- sachusetts Infantry Militia in service of the United States, April 30, 1861 ; honorably mustered out August i, 1861, re-enlisted August I, 1861 ; sergeant Tenth Battalion, Massachusetts Light Artillery, September 9, 1862; honorably discharged for promotion March 19, 1864; first lieutenant Sixth Bat- talion, Massachusetts Light Artillery, March 24, 1864; honorably mustered out June 27, 1865.

Third: Past Right Eminent (irand Com- mander, Grand Commandery, Knights Templar, of Virginia, 1898; Master Mason St. Tammany Lodge, No. 5, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of Hampton, Vir- ginia ; Companion St. John's Chapter, No. 57, Royal .'\rch Masons, Newport News, \'irginia ; past eminent commander Hamp-

tcn Commandery, No. 17, Knights Templar, 1 89 1 to 1899.

I'ourth : Deputy Commander G. A. R., Department of Virginia and North Carolina, 1881-1883; worthy beloved and steadfast comrade, our tribute in fraternity, charity and loyalty; Encampment No. 91, 1861- 1865 ; colonel commanding Encampment No." 91, 1891-1892-1894, ably serving its highest interest with fraternal devotion, with broad charity, and steadfast patrio- tism.

Thomas Jordan Coles. The Coles family has been prominent in England for many generations, one branch of the name taking up Irish residence. The crest of the Coles family is a serpent entwined about a pil- lar.

The great-great-grandfather of Thomas J. Coles, John ( i ) Coles, was born in Enniscor- thy. Ireland, in 1706, and immigrated to Vir- ginia about 1730. His mother was a Miss I'hilpot, a relative of Sir Philpot Curran, the noted Irish wit and barrister. John Coles married, in 1733, Mary, of Hanover county, Virginia, daughter of Isaac and Mary (Dab- ney) Winston. Isaac Winston, a member of an ancient English family, came from Winston Hall in England. A few years after the departure of John Coles for Amer- ica, his younger brother, William Coles, came to Virginia, married Lucy Winston, a younger daughter of Isaac Winston, and settled at Coles Hill in Hanover county, Virginia. Sarah, another daughter of Isaac Winston, married Colonel John Henry, and was the mother of the great patriot, Patrick Henry. William Coles, mentioned above, brother of John Coles, was the grandfather of Dolly Madison, wife of the fourth presi- dent of the United States, her mother's maiden name being Mary Coles.

John ( I ) Coles was one of the first set- tlers of Richmond, Virginia, assisting Colo- nel William Byrd in surveying and laying out the town. On Colonel Byrd's original survey of Richmond many of the most valuable lots bear the name of John Coles, land which today is valued at many thou- sands of dollars. In his will he bequeathed a large share of these lots to his youngest son, Isaac, then a baby, who afterward sold them for a piece of fine linen and a race horse. John Coles became a wealthy and influential man in the colonv, although he