16 Facts About Walter Coles

Walter Coles was a Virginia planter, military officer and Democratic politician who served in the Virginia House of Delegates and in the US House of Representatives.

Walter Coles was born at Coles Ferry in Halifax County, Virginia, the son of the former Catherine Thompson, the second wife of Isaac Coles.

Walter Coles's father was a planter and legislator who served in the Virginia House of Delegates and Virginia's Ratification Convention of 1788, then in the US House of Representatives.

Walter Coles was named for either his great-grandfather, who had become provost of Wxford County, Ireland in 1703, or for an uncle, Walter Coles, who had represented Halifax County in the House of Burgesses and Virginia Senate.

Walter Coles's parents met during Isaac Coles' congressional service in New York City.

When Walter Coles was seven years old, his family moved to Pittsylvania County, where his father inherited land, then operated plantations using enslaved labor.

Isaac Walter Coles thought Pittsylvania County more healthful than his low-lying Halifax County plantation, which he left in the care of his eldest son Isaac Jr.

Walter Coles attended Washington College in Lexington.

Walter Coles's bride, Lettice Priscilla Carrington, was a daughter of Paul Carrington who had served in the Virginia Conventions of 1776 and 1788, before becoming a judge on the Virginia Court of Appeals.

Walter Coles established his home, which he called "Coles Hill", on that inherited land.

In 1830, this Walter Coles owned 56 enslaved people in Pittsylvania County.

In 1819 Walter Coles helped survey the Roanoke River nearer his plantations for the Roanoke Navigation Company, which sought to improve the navigability of the river, notorious for flooding, and which drained into North Carolina.

In 1833 Walter Coles again became one of Pittsylvania County's delegates, just before the congressional term described below.

In Congress, Walter Coles served on the Committee on Military Affairs or the Committee on the Militia, and became its ranking member by his second term.

Walter Coles died of pneumonia at Coles Hill on November 9,1857.

Walter Coles was buried at the family cemetery near Chatham, Virginia.