EDWARD COLE, husbandman/labourer, of Chiddingstone (1761-1847).

Edward Cole was born on 4th September 1761 and baptised in Chiddingstone, the son of William and Ann Cole of Chiddingstone. When his father died in 1795 he received a part share in Little Hilders together with his brothers John and William. On December 2nd 1788 Edward married Ann Ward of Hever in Chiddingstone; Joseph Potter and Sarah Cole were witnesses. Ann was left £100 by her father Thomas Ward in 1809.

From 1793 to 1794 Edward was the ratepayer for Monks, formerly his father's. (Monks may well be part of Birch Hurst Farm). From 1795 to 1812 Edward Cole paid rates for The Brook and Sheffield Fields (later known as Birch Hurst Farm). In 1808 a house and 10 acres of land in Chiddingstone occupied by Edward Cole was offered for sale (Maidstone Journal) and from this year the owner was Francis Haynes, with Edward Cole continuing as tenant. He was succeeded there as tenant by his brother George in 1812.

Edward played some part in parish affairs. In 1793 his signature appears on the Chiddingstone overseers' accounts ie he was literate. In 1795 he was borsholder for Kings Borough. Between 1793 and 1818 he was paid by the parish to bring up a succession of pauper girls (cheap labour!).

In 1808 Edward was unable to pay his rates which may be the reason why the farm was sold. From 1817 he received relief from the parish. In 1819, for instance, the parish paid him £2-16s for digging stones and £1 towards his rent. In 1825 to relieve Edward Cole's family, being ill.

There are references in the Hever records that appear to refer to Edward Cole. He married Ann Ward of Hever, and his daughter Mary Ann was baptised there in 1789. In 1820 his son Edward was balloted for Hever. From 1818 he occupied a cottage and garden in Hever and Chiddingstone, his parish of legal settlement, paid his poor assessment to Hever parish.

Nowhere in the Chiddingstone overseers' and churchwardens' accounts is there a reference to Edward's wife Ann, though there are numerous references to Mrs Cole. Mrs Cole was clearly a midwife, and there are numerous references to her laying women (ie attending at childbirth). There is no sign of Ann Cole in the 1841 census and no record of her death.

In the 1841 census Edward Cole, aged 70, was living with Isaac Roffey at New House in Hever. Our Edward Cole would have been 80 in that year, but he does not show up elsewhere in the census so the above is probably the entry for our Edward with the wrong age. Edward Cole "of Brasted" was buried in Chiddingstone on January 10th 1847, aged 83 (actually 87). Maybe at that point he was living with his son William, of Reynolds Farm in Brasted detached.