RICHARD COLE

Born on June 15th 1784 and baptised at Chiddingstone. On 10th January 1818 he married Sarah White at Hever. Witnesses: Elizabeth White, James Bedford. Previous to that he had been sworn in to the militia in 1803 as a substitute for William Cooke of Frienden Borough, and was soon promoted to corporal.

In 1819 Mary Cole, daughter of Richard and Sarah Cole was baptised in Hever. He was then a labourer, living at Pigdens, Hever. Further children were baptised in Hever in 1821 and 1826. Richard rented the south end of The Wilderness, house and garden, in Hever from 1821 to 1824 at £5 per annum. From March 1824 he was dependant on relief from Chiddingstone parish. Sometimes he or one of his children were ill; frequently there was no work. In June 1826 he was paid by the parish for grubbing up roots. There were gifts of shifts for his children (1829) and of a counterpane (1830).

In 1825 he was listed in Chiddingstone's Outdoor Relief Book with his family. He is described as a brickmaker employed by William Whittons, aged 40. His wife was aged 32. Children were Mary (5), John (3) and Jane (1). In 1831 he was described as a regular resident pauper.

In the 1841 census Richard Cole is living at Finch Green in Chiddingstone, as an agricultural labourer. He was aged 55 and Sarah was 48, both being born in Kent. Children: Mary (20), John (15), Jane (15), Richard (14), Joseph (13), Elizabeth (9), all born in Kent.

In the 1851 census Richard is living at Rensley Heath in Chiddingstone, as an agricultural labourer. He was aged 62 and his wife Sarah was 59. She was born in Hever but his place of birth was left blank. His children were Mary (30), Richard (25), Joseph (22), and there was a granddaughter Mary, aged 4, just visiting. Mary and Richard had been born in Hever and Joseph in Chiddingstone. Mary had been born in Penshurst. Jane (27) was a kitchen maid living at Stonewall Park with the Meade Waldo family.

There are numerous entries recording relief for Richard Cole during the 1830s. It would be easy to confuse him with his uncle Richard (1763-1840), who was also regularly receiving relief, but many of the references specify Finch Green. In July 1828 there was a gift to Richard Cole of Oakenden, which is probably him also. Calico and cloak for his wife, and in November 1828 a stove (Rev Boissier accounts).

Richard Cole does not appear in the 1861 census, but his wife does, living with her son Richard (36), a gardener. However Richard was still alive; he died in 1868 and his wife in 1862.