Sarah (Smith) Harding (1679 - abt. 1774)

Born 31 Oct 1679 in Durham, Strafford, New Hampshire

Ancestors

Wife of Joshua Harding — married 26 Jun 1702 in Eastham, Barnstable County, Massachusetts

Descendants

Died about 1774 at about age 94 in Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts Bay Colony

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Biography

Mary Smith, and her only sister, Sarah, lived at the Inn which was kept by her father, James Smith, and their mother, Sarah (Davis) Smith in Oyster River, New Hampshire. The people lived in constant fear of attack from the Indians, French Canadians, as well as the Catholic Church. When Sarah's father was murdered by the Indians, Sarah's mother took her five children and moved into the garrison house with her brother, Ensign John Davis.

On 18 Jul 1694, some 200 Indians, led by 20 French Canadians and two Catholic Priests, attacked, without warning, the small, quiet village where Sarah, her mother, and her other siblings lived. The garrison house of Ensign Davis, Sarah's uncle, was quickly singled out and surrounded. One of the French leaders and a Catholic priest promised safety for he and his family if they surrendered. Taking them on their word, the bolted door was opened and the Indians burst through and slaughtered Ensign Davis, tomahawing him to death. His body was mutilated and as a final insult, his corps was scalped. Ensign Davis' wife and two of his children were also killed. The Ensigns other two girls were taken captive. When Sarah's mother saw what was happening, she shouted for her children to run for their lives out the back door. Fortunately, Mary, age nine, her sister Sarah, and brother John made their escape and hid in the woods. Sarah's brothers, James (1681-1694), and Samuel (1683-1694) were killed.

Twenty-eight of Sarah's closest relatives met their death that fateful morning. In all, 104 inhabitants were killed and 27 taken captive, with half of the dwellings, including the garrisons, pillaged and burned to the ground.

Birth and Family

Sarah (Smith) Harding was born on 31 Oct 1679, in Durham, Strafford County, New Hampshire. She was the daughter of James Smith, and Sarah (Davis) Smith.

Marriage

Sarah married Joshua Harding, on 26 Jun 1702, in Eastham, Barnstable County, Massachusetts Bay Colony.^[1]

Children

1. Theodore Harding, 1704–1737.

2. Seth Harding, 1708–1721.

3. Gideon Harding, 1711–1721.

Siblings

1. Mary (Smith) Freeman, (1676– ) .

2. John Smith I, (1676–1739) .

3. James Smith Jr., (1681–1694), murdered by Indians, 18 Jul 1694.

4. Samuel Smith, (1683–1694) , murdered by Indians; 18 Jul 1694.

5. John Smith, (1692–1729).

Death and Burial

Sarah passed away about 1774, in Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts Bay Colony.

Sources

1. ↑ Births, marriages, deaths, 1649-ca.1840; intentions of marriage, 1700-ca.1905, database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-8979-961C  : 30 September 2022), FHL microfilm 007009735, image 132, Eastham, Massachusetts, Volume 2, Births, & Deaths, 1654-1797, Page 67a.

• Stackpole, Everette S. and Meserve, Winthrop S. History of Durham, New Hampshire with Genealogical Notes, Volume Two. Durham N.H: Town of Durham?, 1913. Page 331.
• "Massachusetts, U.S., Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988," for Sarah Smith,

Orleans Records, 1637-1853; p. 342.

• "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPCZ-6FNM : 19 April 2021), Joshua Harding and Sarah Smith, 26 Jun 1702; citing Marriage, Orleans, Barnstable, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston; FHL microfilm 007010725.