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The
Hardin Family is a large and diverse family group. The United States
Census Bureau, based on a test population of 6,290,261 valid records
taken from the 1990 census, estimated that .019 percent of the 1990
population was named Hardin, .016 percent was named Harding and .011
percent had the surname of Harden. Historically the spelling of the
name was often different for the same individual and court records
reflect Hardin, Harden and Harding. When recording The name
"Hardin" in public records a century ago many officials
substitute the letter "E" for the letter "I" in the
second syllable, resulting in "Harden." In England they spell
the name this way, and its root is Hareden or Hare-den. Harding, or
Hardynge, is a common English form. The name does not suggest a Gallic
origin but the Huguenot refugees brought with their French blood French
names. The consensus is that "Hardin" is a metamorphosis of a
French name, probably Hardouin. Through what changes its orthography
has passed since the Huguenots fled from France is to some extent a
matter of speculation.
Researching has revealed that there
were at least two separate Hardin families living in seventeenth
century Colonial America. One of these families was of English ancestry
and little is known by this writer regarding this clan. My family's
lineage can be traced back to seventeenth century France and the
persecutions of the Huguenots and their ensuing escape to Amsterdam and
the New World. The Honorable Martin D. Hardin, (1780 - 1823)
great-grandson of Mark Hardin, told General William Preston
"that anciently the name was Hardouin," as reported in the
book "Life of Ben Hardin," by F.P. Little. There is strong
evidence to support this early spelling, if as many believe Mark Hardin
is the son of Martin Hardewyn (an obvious Dutch phoneticization of the
French "Hardouin") and Madeleine du Sauchoy, daughter of the
Huguenots Marc du Sauchoy and Elizabeth Rossignol of New Amsterdam New
York.
To date I have been unable to establish when Martin Hardewyn arrived in
the New World. Records exists showing the birth of Madeleine as January
1656/57 in New Amsterdam, her father Marc du Sauchoy was born
in France in 1626 and was in America as early as 1655. Mark and
Madeleine were married on March 5, 1670/71 in New Amsterdam. Their
first child Isaac was baptized on May 15 1673 in the Dutch Reformed
Church in New Amsterdam. Their fifth child, our ancestor, Mark (Marcus)
Hardin was baptized on March 26, 1681 in Staten Island, New York. It is
this writers opinion that the above hypothesis of my ancestors
migration to the New World is correct or at least there is a
preponderance of evidence to support its accuracy over the other
theories recited below.
There are
other speculations about Mark's heritage, the following are a few
of these conjectures:
Mr. Lewis Wiley Rigsby in his book "Georgia Families" in
Chapter VIII entitled "Harden Hints and Genealogies"
describes the following as fact, but cites no documentation for
evidence. "Mark Hardin was born in Rouen, France, in 1660. When he
was about twenty-five years old, Louis XIV issued the Edit of
Restoration, October 20, 1685, which revoked the Edict of Nantes. Mark
Hardin was a Huguenot and immediately fled from France, settling in
either England or Wales. He married Mary Hogue. Also, spelled Hoge, but
whether the marriage occurred before fleeing France or after is
uncertain. Mark, after residing for a short while in England or Wales,
moved to Canada with his family. Because of the rigid winters they move
south and settled in Prince William County, Virginia (about 1706) where
he resided until his death in 1734." This story is often related
as a proven reality by a number of researchers, but to-date I have seen
no documentation supporting their narrative. I have problems with the
timeline presented by tis supposition. For example if Mark had been
born in 1660 as stated above and died in 1734 (his will was probated in
1735, a proven fact) he would have been 74 years old at time of death.
If the dates that are generally accepted as the birth dates of his
children are correct, then he would have been 50 years old at the time
of the birth of his first born, John Hardin in 1710, rather old for
starting a new family in a wilderness. Also he would have been at the
advanced age of 72 at the birth of his tenth child, Alis Hardin in
1732.
Some researchers believe that Mark was not the first Hardin to come to
the "New World," that the Hardin family had been in Virginia
for several generations. Some circumstantial evidence supports this
supposition for example in October 1608 the ships "Mary and
Margaret" arrived at Jamestown. On board the ship under the
category of "Laborers" was one individual listed as
"Hardwyn" (no first name shown). Also on July 22, 1675, The
Bristol Register recorded the Virginia voyage of one "William
Hardin" as an indentured servant to Francis Rawles for four years.
Camilla Davis Trammell in her superb book called "Seven
Pines," recounts the history an immigration to Texas of Swan
Hardin and family. Her introduction of his ancestors to the "New
World" is as follows:
"1685 - Ann Hogue Hardouin arrived in America with five sons. She
was the wife of Marc Hardouin of Rouen, France, a French Huguenot who
left after the St. Bartholomew Massacre. Marc had five sons, one
drowned, two stayed in Virginia, one moved to Pennsylvania, and one
went to the Carolinas." She cites as her source for this story as
John Henry Brown's "Indian Wars and Pioneers of Texas,"
page 415. Several elements of the above narrative are dubious, but one
part is obviously in error. The "St. Bartholomew Massacre"
occurred on August 24, 1572, which was more than One Hundred (100)
years before the above reported flight of Marc Hardouin. It is possible
of course that what was intended was the "Edit of
Fontainebleu" also known as the "Edit of Restoration"
that revoked the Protestant (Huguenot) minority's right to worship.
This occurred in 1685 and generated a mass exodus of Huguenots from
France.
In reviewing Ms. Trammell's original source, Page 415 of John Henry
Brown's "Indian Wars and Pioneers of Texas" I find the
following description:
"The Hardin families are the descendants of a widow lady who
immigrated from France, landing in Philadelphia with four sons, John,
Henry, Mark and Martin Hardin. Her husband, during the internal
commotion in France, had to flee for his life. Whether they pursued and
killed him, or he died by other casualty, are unknown. His wife heard
no more of him after he bid her adieu and rode away. From the best
information that we can obtain, she was a Huguenot who came to America
to escape persecution by Louis XIV, in the year 1685. William Hardin,
the Grandfather of Frank Hardin, subject of this memoir, was a grandson
of this widowed lady." We cannot authenticate the accuracy of Mr.
Brown's recount of Frank Hardin lineage at this time. Nevertheless,
one statement is in error. William Hardin would have been the
"widowed lady's" great grandson. Assuming he is referring
to Colonel William Hardin of Franklin County, Georgia, father of Swan
Hardin and grandfather of Frank Hardin. Brown does not allude to the
"St. Bartholoew Massacre" in his writing, leading us to think
that Ms. Trammell supposedly used literary license at this point in her
chronicle. Another area of interest is that Ms. Trammell provides a
name to the "widow Lady, "Ann Hogue Hardouin", whereas
John Henry Brown does not, Perhaps Ms. Trammell has another source of
data not disclosed or her investigations uncovered these facts. One
does wonder at the unique middle name shown for "Ann Hogue
Hardouin." As the name "Hogue" is the alleged birth name
of Mary Hardin, the spouse of Mark Hardin, of Virginia, and our proven
ancestor.
Leaving the realm of conjecture and speculation we are able to
establish with a high degree of accuracy Mark Hardin's residences
for the last 28 years of his life. Beginning on April 7, 1707 when Mark
purchased a fifty (50) acre tract of land in Northumberland County,
Virginia from the heirs of John Multon, giving in consideration 5000
pounds of tobacco. (As gold and silver became scarce in the colonies,
and the use of wampum was terminated because of its complications, the
Chesapeake colonies were able to rely on tobacco as a means of
currency. Tobacco was the safest and most stable currency that the
Chesapeake colonies had or could have, and it always had a value in
exchange for gold.) The recording of this land transaction describe
Mark Hardin's residence as Wicomico Parish, Northumberland County,
Virginia. This deed was re-recorded by Mark Hardin on June 20, 1711,
and his residency at this time was also shown as the same. His
occupation was revealed as "carpenter" on the recorded
document. Thirteen years after date of purchase on November 14, 1720,
Mark Hardin and his wife Mary sold this land to John Pope, taking in
cnsideration one male "Negro" slave. Mark's wife, Mary
released her dower rights to the land, which suggest that Mark and Mary
may have been married on the date of the original purchase. This
certainly proves they were married at time of sale, November 14, 1720
when their residence was given as Richmond County, Virginia., probably
on one of two land grants obtained by Mark; to wit: 122 1/2 acres on
June 4, 1716 and 94 acres on December 23, 1716. Note! Mark's
residency at the time of these grants was shown as Northumberland
County, probably on the 50 acres purchased in 1707.
On March 4, 1722 Mark Hardin received a land grant containing 642 acres
located on "Elk Run" in Stafford County, Virginia. The
documentation for this transaction reveals Mark's residency as King
George County, Virginia. Further investigation revealed that the area
where Mark's earlier land grants of 1716, namely the 122 1/2 and 94
acre tracts previously in Richmond County had been included in a new
county named King George County in 1720.
On page 56 Grant Book A and dated 13 July 1724 is a recorded land grant
to Mark Harding of King George County, Virginia for a tract of land
containing 232 acres on Dutchman's Run in King George County,
Virginia. The tract was adjoining the lands of Alexander Beach, Joshua
Butler, Benjamin Berryman and Mark's 642 acre tract
Dated October 2, 1733 is the
Deed from Mark Hardin of Hamilton Parish and Prince William County,
Virginia to James McDonnell of Hamilton Parish and Prince William
County, Virginia. Transferring for 50 lbs current money a certain tract
of land containing 354 ½ acres. Said tract was located upon one of the
branches of the Marsh commonly known by the name of Jeffry Johnson
Marsh, is also known by the name of Dutchmans Run. Mark's ownership
appeared by separate deeds granted to him to wit: First from the
Proprietors Office for 122 ½ acres adjoining the lands of Jeffery
Johnson and to Charles Emmons's corner. Second the tract being
granted by Robert Carter Esq. for 232 acres adjoining on the lands of
Alexander Beeches and Joshua Butler.
On October 14, 1733 there is the Deed executed by James McDonnell of
Hamilton Parish and Prince William County, Virginia to Mark Hardin of
Hamilton Parish and Prince William County, Virginia. Transferring for
50 pounds current money a tract of land containing 300 acres on the
East Side of the south branch of Kettle Run. Said tract adjoined the
lands of Capt. Thomas Barber and Wm. McBee. Martha, wife of the above
James McDonnell, relinquish her right of Dower of in and to said lands
and premises. There is evidence that this James McDonnell was
Mark's son-in-law. See Mark's last will and testament regarding
his bequest to his daughter Martha McDonnell.
Mark was residing in Prince William County, Virginia when he executed
his Last Will and
Testament on March 16, 1734 and was still there when the will was
probated on May 21, 1735. Although records don't indicate the exact
day of his death, one can assume it occurred shortly before the date of
the will's probate in May, 1735. At the time of his death Mark
owned a total of 942 acres all located in Prince William County,
Virginia. The land was given to his children as follows:
John Hardin - 232 acres in Prince William Co., Virginia, part
of the 642 acre tract acquired by Mark Hardin by land grant on March 4,
1722.
Martin Hardin - 210 acres in
Prince William Co., Virginia, part of the 642 acre tract acquired by
Mark Hardin by land grant on March 4, 1722
Mark Hardin
And
Mark Hardin's wife Mary's dower portion -
200 acres in Prince William Co., Virginia, part of the 642 acre tract
acquired by Mark Hardin by land grant on March 4, 1722
Henry Hardin - 200 acres in
Prince William Co., Virginia part of the 300 acre tract purchased from
James McDonnell on October 14, 1733
Elizabeth Hardin - 100
acres in Prince William Co., Virginia part of the 300 acre tract
purchased from James McDonnell on October 14, 1733
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