Alumnus, Trustee Emeritus Traces Family Tree to Declaration of Independence

Alumnus, Trustee Emeritus Traces Family Tree to Declaration of Independence

Fifty-six men committed treason against the United Kingdom and its King George III in 1776 by signing the Declaration of Independence of the United States.

At least one had such a common name that one of his co-signatories challenged his commitment to their cause, according to a story that's now been passed down for two and a half centuries: How many Charles Carrolls were there in what had heretofore been known as the British Colonies? How much was this one really putting at risk?

"Without hesitation he went back and added 'of Carrollton' to his signature," Jeff Cole said. "And what he had to risk was considerable, as he was one of the wealthiest men in the colonies."

The story is of particular interest to the alumnus and former trustee of The University of Toledo. As the United States approaches the semiquincenntennial anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on Saturday, Cole has been reflecting on his personal ties to this history as a descendant of the bold signer who became known to posterity as "Charles Carroll of Carrollton."

"It's a neat talking point," Cole said. "One of my ancestors signed the Declaration."

The Carroll family looms large in the early history of Maryland and the United States. Charles Carroll, one of the wealthiest landowners and most influential politicians of his day, counted among his contemporary relatives Daniel Carroll, another politician who signed both the Articles of Confederation and the U.S. Constitution, and John Carroll, who became the first Catholic bishop in the United States and a founder of Georgetown University.

Charles Carroll went on to be one of his state's first senators to the newly established U.S. Congress. But he's arguably best known for his involvement in the Second Continental Congress that produced the Declaration of Independence. Because he was the last living signer of the document for a period of about six years before he died at age 95 in 1832, he became one of the best-known signers behind Founding Fathers like John Adams and Thomas Jefferson - feted around the country, according to Cole.

He grew up with stories of these early American Carrolls.

"It's been passed down generation to generation that we're part of this family," he said. "My grandparents would always talk about it. They knew Mary Carroll, who would have been my great-great-great-grandmother. She was born in Maryland."

Mary Carroll eventually moved to Ohio. Cole, for his part, is a lifelong Toledoan.

He graduated from St. Francis de Sales School before enrolling at his hometown University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in communication in 1989 and a master's degree in education in 2006. He began his professional career at UToledo, where he worked as an admissions counselor and a development director, and he retired as senior director of corporate communications at Dana Inc., the automotive manufacturing supplier on the Fortune 500 that's headquartered in Maumee, in 2024.

Cole also served on the UToledo Board of Trustees between 2014 and 2020, and he currently sits on the UToledo Foundation Board of Trustees.

He reflected on his formative years as a Rocket.

"My experience at UToledo was about far more than earning a degree," he said. "I didn't just have professors and advisers; I had mentors. Many were giants in the fields of journalism, public relations and higher education who took a personal interest in my success. They challenged me, believed in me and opened doors I didn't even know existed.

"Looking back, the greatest gift they gave me wasn't just knowledge - it was opportunity," he continued. "They connected me with experiences that stretched my abilities, broadened my perspective and prepared me for challenges I would later face throughout my career. That combination of exceptional mentorship and real-world experience gave me the confidence, skills and perspective that prepared me for a career far beyond what I could have imagined."

Cole said he always looks forward to family festivities and fireworks for the Fourth of July. While his celebration will look largely the same this year, he said he appreciates the added significance of the 250th anniversary of the United States - and his family ties to its history through Charles Carroll of Carrollton.