WILLIAM COLE, farmer, of Chiddingstone (1747-1816).

William Cole was baptised on April 17th 1747 in Chiddingstone. On 13th February 1774 he married at Chiddingstone Mary Potter (1756-1823) and four weeks later his first child Elizabeth was baptised, on 12th March. From 1779 William Cole junior was a ratepayer in Chiddingstone. In 1787 William Cole of Bayleaves was paid by Chiddingstone parish for 20 loads of stones. This was probably the son rather than the father. William Cole junior paid Land Tax on Baileys (Bayleaves) from 1787, together with Joseph Potter, tenants of John Hyde, esq. William was probably the junior partner, but from 1809 to 1816 he was the sole tenant of Baileys. After his father's death in 1795 William may also have farmed at Little Hilders with his mother, but from 1804 to 1816 he was the tenant of Baileys, with a rate of £6-13s rising to £14-5s. Baileys is a large farm to the east of Little Hilders and its farmhouse today is a major exhibit at the Weald and Downland Museum.

In 1806 William was a juror for a court held for Kings Borough. He served as borsholder and bridgewarden for Kings Borough in 1812, and also as a churchwarden for Chiddingstone. From 1805 to 1808 he had been surveyor of the highways, Chiddingstone. He was listed in the Poll Book in 1802, and was therefore worth over £10 a year. He appears to have been much more successful in life than his elder brother.

In 1806 he employed Walter Smither, labourer, for a year, being described as Mr William Cole of Baileys Farm (Sevenoaks Petty Sessions 1815). In 1812 he took John Gasson for one year as a ward; John Gasson married his daughter Jane in 1815. In 1813, on the second day of Sevenoaks Fair, he hired Sarah Ingrams for a year (Sevenoaks Petty Sessions). In April 1812 the parish paid him £3-8s for 200 faggots and 2s for 2 lb hops for the workhouse.

When his mother died in 1811 William inherited the messuage and 4 acres near Chested, manor of Penshurst Halimote.

William Cole died on July 1st 1816 and was buried on July 6th, aged 69. There is a monument in Chiddingstone churchyard. After William's death his widow continued to farm Baileys until her own death on 3rd August 1823, aged 67. However in the post-Napoleonic period times were hard and she fell behind with her rates in 1820, 1822 and 1823.

William left a will (PCC). To each of his five daughters he left £100.To his wife and sons William and Joseph he left his messuage, land and blacksmith's shop situated in Penshurst, now occupied by William Potter and ?William Farmer. He left his personal estate and equipment and the lease of Baileys to his wife and after her decease to his four sons. Witnessed by William Wells, Joseph Potter and William Saxby.