Unlikely to show it at that date. I have seen the PR for this parish and do not recall occupations being entered as a matter of routine. Baptism were quite literally one line in the register. Name of child, names of parents and the date.
If Thomas & Martha had a child after 1813, then the occupation would be entered.
A Thomas Cole was buried in Portsmouth in 1827 - there is an admon for him at Hampshire Record Office. He was recorded as a victualler.
Thanks for your reply. John's father (Thomas) was a rigger (presumably something to do with ships) at the time of his son's marriage in 1846. I therefore think that the victualler and housepainter are probably not him!
I've found two more possible siblings for John - James and William, baptised 1803 and 1807 respectively at St. Mary's, Portsea (which is the church where John was married twice and had all his children baptised).
I think that John's parents were possibly Thomas COLE and Martha PLEDGE who married on 01 FEB 1798 at Portsea (submitted entry on IGI, no actual church given). Is there any chance that you could find this marriage entry (which may given Thomas's occupation)?
The marriage is recorded in St Mary's at Portsea, although it may have taken place at St John's which was a chapelry for St Mary's from 1788. I'm only working on a basic transcript so I do not know if his occupation is recorded - again it is not guaranteed because there is nowhere to specifically record it.
The relevant (extracted) batches for marriages at St. Mary's, Portsea, for that year are included on the IGI, but no sign of Thomas and Martha. The entries for St. John's only cover baptisms, so it seems very likely that the couple were married at the latter church.
I hope to make a visit to the RO later in the year, so will need to check this one out a little further!