Thomas Cole (died 1681) facts for kids

Thomas Cole (1622–1681) was an English politician who lived a long time ago. He was a member of the House of Commons, which is a very important part of the government in England, similar to a parliament today. He served there in 1656 and again in 1660.

Thomas Cole was born in 1622. His father was also named Thomas Cole, and his mother was Mary Waller. When he was older, in 1641, he began studying law at a place called Gray's Inn.

Cole's Early Political Life

Thomas Cole started his work in public service in the county of Hampshire. In 1650, he became a Justice of the Peace (JP). A Justice of the Peace was someone who helped keep law and order in their local area.

In 1656, Cole was chosen to be a Member of Parliament (MP) for Hampshire. This meant he represented the people of Hampshire in the Second Protectorate Parliament. This was a special time in English history when the country was not ruled by a king.

Serving in Parliament

In 1660, Thomas Cole was elected as an MP again. This time, he was chosen to represent two different areas: Petersfield and Winchester. It's not clear which area he chose to represent before Parliament ended.

Later Public Roles

After 1660, Thomas Cole continued his public service. In November 1660, he became a captain in the local militia for Hampshire. The militia was a group of citizens who could be called upon to help defend the area.

In 1662, he was again made a Justice of the Peace for Hampshire. The next year, in 1663, he became the High Sheriff of Hampshire. A High Sheriff was a very important official who was in charge of law enforcement in the county.

By 1667, Cole was a Deputy Lieutenant. This role meant he helped the main representative of the King in the county. In 1670, he also became a Justice of the Peace for Northamptonshire, another county where he lived later in his life.

Family and Later Years

Thomas Cole was married twice. His first wife was Elizabeth Harvey, whom he married in 1651. They did not have any children, and Elizabeth passed away in 1659.

In 1662, Thomas Cole married his second wife, Judith Tryon. She was a widow and had a son and a daughter with Thomas. After his second marriage, Thomas Cole mainly lived in Northamptonshire.

Thomas Cole passed away when he was 58 years old. He was buried in Liss on March 4, 1681.