George Cole, Great Marlow

Grave reads:

George Cole died Apr 18 1834 aged LXIV years (64!)

And wife Mary who died Feb 19th 1817 age ?? years

Grave mentions that George was late of Royal.....but Royal what can't be made out!

Research Notes:

The "Royal..." Was  referring either to his time in the Royal Artillery or his time at the Royal Military College at Remnantz West Street where he was a Sergeant instructor to the cadets. To find out more about life for the cadets there please read this post. After the College moved from Marlow in 1812 George set up a  private day school for boys where Liston Hall is today in Chapel Street. He was a fervent Wesleyan so perhaps would have been pleased to know that the site of his home and school became a Primitive Methodist chapel after his death (before becoming Liston Hall). In fact George was credited with actually starting Methodism in Marlow by persuading the preacher who visited Henley every week to make a stop at Marlow too. Early meetings were held in an unglamorous location- under a tree by the "Common Slough" which was at the junctions of Spittal, Chapel and Dean streets in Marlow. 

To read a detailed post about the life of the military cadets George taught see Charlotte's post here.

Index to church and religion related history posts for Marlow here.

Grave photos and transcriptions index here.

More posts about historic residents of Chapel Street indexed here.

Researched and written jointly by Charlotte Day and Kathryn Day. Photo by Kathryn.

Sources Included: 

Charlotte's transcription of the original surveyor's notes for the 1833 Parochial Assessment of Great Marlow.

South Bucks Standard 2nd September 1898. British Library Archives, via the BNA.

The Methodist Times. January 1902.

© Marlow Ancestors. You are welcome to use this material for family or local history purposes with credit to this blog.