ANDREW COLE of Edenbridge, butcher (1556-1584).

Son of John Cole, baptised in Edenbridge on March 7th 1556. It was the normal custom to baptise a child soon after birth but in Andrew's case if he were born in 1556 some of his later actions happened at a remarkably early age. For instance in 1568 he was accused of having carnal knowledge of Agnes Stone; he would have been only 12 at the time. John Sone senior (the father-in-law of Andrew's sister), William Stanford senior, Jacob Dudley, Richard Cole (his uncle) and Robert Chamberlayne all testified in his behalf. (Act Book of the Bishop of Rochester).
Andrew married Joane Basset in Edenbridge on May 29th 1571, when he was apparently aged 15. They had three sons (James, William and Andrew) and a daughter (Agnes). The eldest son James, baptised in Edenbridge in 1575, had interesting godparents: Mr Askekue, my Lord Broughe's man (ie servant to Lord Burgh of Starborough Castle, Lingfield, presumably a customer), Timothy Challoner of London, and Katherine, wife of Alexander Cotty.

On 31st March 1584 James Brooker of Westerham, tanner, stole a lamb worth 11d from Andrew Cole.

Andrew Cole made a will on February 6th 1584, being sick, and was buried on September 20th 1584, aged 28. In this will (Drb) he made provision for his father, who was still alive, and obviously an invalid. He left to his wife his house beside the church gate wherein he was dwelling and also his tenements called Snowerhill in the market place of Edenbridge for ten years, after which his son James would inherit the house before the church gate, his son William would inherit Snowerhill and his third son Andrew would receive £6-13s-4d. Andrew signed the will with a mark. Witnesses were Robert Heath (I think it was his son who became Lord Chief Justice for England), William Holmden, John Palmer and Jane Cole. Jane Cole cannot be identified unless she is his sister Johane. As with Henry Cole there are more members of the family than are known from the records.
On May 8th 1585 John Wells of Edenbridge, butcher, entered into a bond for £50 before Robert Heath of Brasted, gent and William Holmden of Edenbridge, yeoman, the overseers of Andrew Cole's will guaranteeing that when he married Joan Cole the widow of Andrew they would bring up Andrew's children well and honestly. John Wells married Joan on 9th May 1585. In 1604 John Wells witnessed the sale of Rootes Croft from Reginald Holmden of Crowhurst to William Cole.