BRYAN COLE of Westerham, victualler (1617-1688).

Baptised at Limpsfield on June 18th 1617, the son of Andrew Cole. By 1624 Andrew had moved to Westerham. In 1640, when he was 23 Bryan was employed as a servant to Sir John Gresham of Titsey, and on October 11th he married Margery Harrison, another servant. They had one daughter Ann who died in infancy, shortly followed by her mother (buried 15th May 1642), the baptism and burials taking place in Edenbridge. In 1641 Bryan signed the Protestation Returns in Edenbridge.

In 1643 Bryan Cole and his father took as apprentice Joan Mills, a poor child indentured by the parish of Westerham. In 1647 (May 10th) he married Frances Wells at Limpsfield and they had five children:
Elizabeth, baptized at Westerham March 24th 1648. He was married at this time!
David, born at Westerham May 10th 1649.
Bryan, born at Westerham July 10th 1651
Ann, born at Westerham May 6th 1654
Charles, born at Westerham July 13th 1656.
In 1647 Bryan became a ratepayer in Westerham Upland and continued paying rates until 1670. From 1648 he is listed in the Westerham manorial rolls as an inhabitant. In 1654 Bryan was described as a husbandman, but in 1660 he was a licensed victualler. In the Hearth Tax assessment of 1664 he was recorded as having three hearths.

Bryan was buried at Westerham on April 4th 1688, the funeral being attended by Elizabeth Gate.