"The Coale Family; Nine Generations" puts his birth as being in 1547. Compared with the marriage date, and the birth dates of their children, and his fathers' birthdate cir 1546, the 1572 date appears more reasonable. "British Roots of Maryland Families" indicates that he was admitted to Pembroke College in 1589, received his BA in 1593 and his MA in 1598. Source "Biog. History of Cambridge University Alumni". Again, reasonable in relation to a 1572 birth date. However, "The Coale Famile: Nine Generations" indicates that he enrolled in Corpis Christi College on 1569. Reasonable in relation to the 1547 date but impossible with the 1572 date. (Both colleges were a part of Cambridge University) It is possible that the author of "The Coale Family; Nine Generations" has confused Humphrey Coles' birthdate and education with that of his Father, William Cole (Cir1546-1611).

Appeared in 1569 as a young man of 21 or 22, enrolling at Corpus Christie College, Oxford University. Although facts about his early life are unavailable, "it seems probable that he came from a rural home where the elders stood for a progressive state under the Queen." At Corpus Christi, he came under the influence of the most advanced English learning in his day, and also of the new liberal, or Puritan, movement in the English Church. After finishing the regular four-year course, he remained for a fifth year, and at the close he was elected a Fellow, or permanent member, of the controlling body of his school.

From 1579, he was located in London, where he served as rector in two parishes - first, in the shipping section by the Thames; then, in the mercantile district of Cheapside. During this period "he would have had much contact with business life. He was closely associated with Church leaders, among who the conservatives and liberals still fought, sometimes bitterly, for control."

Following nine years in London, he relocated to a "quiet rural parish at Tillingham, in Essex, some forty miles northeast of London, close to the North Sea. Here he stayed from 1588, when he became Vicar of Tillingham Parish, until his death in 1624. This parish was under the control of St. Paul's Cathedral in London. "At Tillingham Humphrey found an ancient church edifice, which, at a time considerably earlier, had been sadly despoiled of valuable furnishings; and he took leadership in a very pleasing restoration." He was devoted to his church and to his faith. He extended his religious activities with a lay partner by acquiring co-patronage of the parish of Great Okeley, a short distance up the coast. Thus he held control rights, including the power of appointing rectors. He applied this authority by naming a clerical son-in-law to this post. Humphrey was an avid farmer - both with crop production as well as animal husbandry.

His was reported to be clear until near the end of his life at 77 years of age. In a fitting tribute to the long, dedicated service to his parish at Tillingham, there was installed in a side chapel of the Tillingham churce, "a lovely stained-glass window of three panels. The inscription beneath, still to be read today, memorializes him as 'Priest and Vicari'
(Above biographical statement taken from Map Story of Nine Coale Generations..., Willis Branson Coale, Santa Clara, California)

DEATH: Will probated: 17 May 1624, Essex, England
Will Signed: 04 November 1623, Essex, England