Family Search The Cole(s) and Tilbury Lines
Profiles of some Ancestors
Mary Ann Cole (nee Harding)
The photograph shown below is the only known copy of Mary Ann and was taken by G West Artist and Photographer who had studios at Godalming and Haselmere. It shows her as a beautiful victorian lady with a peaceful expression.
Mary Ann was the daughter of Oliver Harding and Ann (nee Veneer) who lived at Witley in Surrey.
She was born in 1844 and had a brother George born in 1847 and sister Rosanna born in 1849.
Ann clearly received some level of education as her marriage certificate was neatly signed in copperplate writing. On the day of her marriage she was 31 years old and her address was shown as Thursley, which may have been the residence of her employers, as her occupation was stated as "servant".
Her husband, James Cole, a labourer was illiterate and could only "leave his mark" in the form of a cross on the marriage certificate. However, James clearly held strong socialist views as he refused to "doff his cap" when meeting the Lord of the Manor.
Mary Ann and James were later associated with Charterhouse Public School; he as a gardener and she used to make sweets and sell them to the boys from a small stall positioned near the main entrance gates to the school.
Mary had five children. Three daughters named Florence, Alice and Rose Annie and two sons James born on 28th October 1882 when Mary Ann was 38 years old and William, the eldest child born 13th May 1877.
Mary Ann died when the children were young and her husband died in 1896 when James was fourteen and Florence 18 or 19. Florence must have played an important role in the Cole family, carrying out the domestic duties and acting as a mother to James
Mary Ann Cole (nee Harding)