WILLIAM COLE

Born September 5th 1799, and baptised in Chiddingstone, the son of Edward Cole and Ann Ward. In 1823 he was balloted to serve in the militia, but a man was found to replace him. On 9th July 1823 he married Matilda Luckins at Hever. Witnesses were Edward Cole and Caroline Moore.

From 1831 William was living at Whistlers Farm, Brasted detached, also described as How Green or Whistlers Green. He received relief on numerous occasions in 1831-32. In the 1841 census he was living at Reynolds farm, Brasted detached, and was described as an agricultural labourer, aged 35. His wife Matilda was 30, and his children were Mary (15), Emily (15), Edward (13), Jane (12), Matilda (9), Joshua (7), Hester (5), all born in Kent.

During the 1840s William received further charity. In May 1841 he petitioned the squire, Henry Streatfeild, and received 5s. In June 1841 a subscription was raised to pay for his wife to consult Mr Hammond, Blackfriars Road, London, concerning a bad arm. She spent time in hospital. In June 1845 there was a subscription to buy him a cow.

In 1851 William was living at Little Whistlers, Brasted detached. He was an agricultural labourer, aged 51, Matilda, his wife, was 46, and both were born in Chiddingstone. Their children were Jane (21, Downe), Matilda (19, Brasted), Hester (14, Brasted), William (9, Brasted), Harriet (6, Brasted).

In 1861 William Cole was running a grocer's shop, presumably in Brasted detached. He was now 61. Matilda was 59 and now said that she had been born in Downe. There was Jane (31, now born in Brasted), William (19), and Harriet(17). Possibly the places of birth of Matilda and Jane were transposed in 1851.

In 1871 Matilda is dead. William was a widower, aged 71, a shopkeeper. With him lived Jane Crowhurst, (41), his daughter and her husband John, (29), and William's daughter Harriet (26).

There is a monument in Hever churchyard to William Cole of Reynolds Farm, who died in February 1875, aged 75, and his wife Matilda, who died in 1870, aged 6..(?)