JOHN COLE, butcher, of Chiddingstone (1745-1812).

He was baptised in Chiddingstone on February 28th 1746. On August 22nd 1776 he married Elizabeth Denman of Hever at Chiddingstone, witness William Piggott. John Cole appears to have left Chiddingstone and set himself up as a butcher in Downe, but he can't have stayed there long because his children were baptised at Hever (1777), Brasted (1781), and Chiddingstone (1784 onwards).

1779 John Cole of Downe, butcher, and his wife Elizabeth sold certain properties in Chiddingstone and Penshurst (including Skipreed). Elizabeth was one of three daughters and co-heirs of Mary Denman, wife of John Denman of Edenbridge, and the daughter of William Streatfeild of Rensley's Heath, Chiddingstone. The manorial roll of Chiddingstone Cobham 1794 states that John Denman who lately held of the lord of the manor in right of his deceased wife Mary, the daughter of William Streatfeild, deceased, the moiety of two acres of meadow in Bourn Mead and Clover Mead in Chiddingstone is dead. The said moiety descended to John Denman's three daughters Mary, wife of George Randall, Sarah, wife of Thomas Shorey, and Elizabeth, wife of John Cole, who later alienated the land to William Piggott.

In 1778 John Cole appears from the Land Tax records to have been for a time the owner of the "White Hart". This is odd because the "White Horse" had belonged to John Denman who left it to his sons.

In 1803 John succeeded his mother as ratepayer for Little Hilders and continued so until his death in 1812, being succeeded by his brother William. John died and was buried on April 17th 1812, aged 67. He seems to have left his widow in poverty. Payments were made to relieve widow Cole in Chiddingstone from February 1814 and Elizabeth was the only available candidate. From 1814 to 1819 she was paid 2s a week, then there was a pause, but from 1826 to 1835 she was paid regularly, and also received faggots and clothing. From 1831 she was probably living in the village workhouse; before that in 1829 she may have been living with her son Richard at Finch Green. She was buried at Chiddingstone on July 21st 1839, aged 88.