William Harding (abt. 1680 - bef. 1752)

Born about 1680 in Northumberland, Colony of Virginia

Husband of Frances (Waddington) Harding — married about 1717 (to 1720) in Northumberland, Virginia

Descendants

Died before 18 Feb 1752 before about age 72 in Stafford, Virginia [uncertain]

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Mike Arledge [send private message] and Miles Arledge [send private message]

Biography

The following deed has incorrectly been used to prove that he was the grandson of Thomas Harding (abt.1635-bef.1674) and Anne Moseley.

1713 19 May: Deed from William Harding (1690-) planter of St. Stephens Parish to Samuel Robinson conveys land in Wicomico Parish, said land lately in the occupation of the said William Harding (1690-), it being part of a patent formerly granted to Edward Saunders, decd. called Saunder’s Quarter, which said Sanders devised to his son Ebenezer, who sold 200 acres to John Evans by deed dated 12 May 1685 who sold 100 acres of it to Richard Lewis on the 3rd day of June 1689 and the said Lewis --- by deed of assignment dated the 2nd day of March 1694 to Thomas Harding (1664-1691) from whom the said one hundred acres of land hereby bargained and sold descends unto the said William Harding (1690-).^[1]

The deed clearly states that the deed went to Thomas Harding (1664-1691) in 1694, long after the first Thomas Harding died. Because the younger Thomas Harding was also deceased, it is likely that the land was assigned to Thomas Harding (1664-1691)'s estate.

It is obvious that the following paragraph, from Dorothy Ford Wulfeck;'s book, is misleading at best and wrong at worst since Henry Harding (aft.1670-bef.1697) is nowhere mentioned in the deed: "He inherited land from his father, Henry Harding (aft.1670-bef.1697), which descended from his grandfather, Thomas Harding (abt.1635-bef.1674). He made a deed to Samuel Robinson for 100 acres in Wicomico Parish, part of Saunders Quarters bought by Thomas Hardin and from whom it descended by inheritance."^[2]

Date of Birth and Children's Date of Birth

For many decades, the year of birth of William Harding's three sons has been given as 1714 and 1717. Since no record of William's birth exists, researchers have used the dates of birth of his children to calculate his birthdate as 1692, making it just possible for him to be a son of Henry Harding (aft.1670-bef.1697) and Jane Aldridge. A close examination of the actual St. Stephens Parish Register shows clearly that William's sons were born in 1706 and 1707, not 1714 and 1717.^[3] Click on the link in the reference and look carefully at the way the numbers 0 and 1 are made in the handwriting used in the Register. The 1 is a straight line while the 0 is a thin but clear narrow oval. Look at other entries to see that this is true.

This has obvious consequences for the family of William Harding. If his children were born in 1706 and 1707, he cannot have been born in 1692. HIs birthdate will need to be at least ten years earlier or about 1682, making it impossible for him to be the son of Henry Harding (aft.1670-bef.1697).

The Probable Second Wife of William Harding

Although the name of William Harding's first wife appears to be lost to history, records exist to show that he may have married a second time around 1718, had one son, then lost his second wife either in childbirth or shortly thereafter.

There is a dense web of connections between the Harding, Waddington and Robinson families in Northumberland County, Virginia where research continues. Areas currently being explored:

Frances Waddington married Richard Robinson, who died in Northumberland County about 1716. Shortly thereafter a Frances Harding, widow of Richard Robinson, appears, followed quickly by an estate for her administered by Samuel Robinson. Was this Frances (Robinson) the mother of this William Harding's fourth son William Harding who married Patty Green? The dates in the following records show that Richard Robinson died before 16 June 1716 and Frances Harding his widow died after 20 January 1719/20, three and one-half years later, more than enough time for her to remarry and have a son bo0rn about 1718 .

Northumberland County, Virginia Records

1716 16 Jun: Page 188 the Last will and Testament of Richard Robinson dec presented by Frances Robinson, his exec and proved by John Wortham, Thomas Robinson and Samuel Robinson1716 15 Sep: Frances Robinson executor of will of Richard Robinson^[4]

1719/20 20 January Samuel Robinson in administration of Frances Harding (2-1 came into court and made oath that the said Frances died with no will (probate granted)^[5]

1719/20 17 February Inventory of the estate of Frances Harding (2-1) formerly Frances Robinson was presented to the Court by Samuell Robinson and on his motion it admitted to record. ^[6]

1719/20 17 February Pursuant to an order of the Northumberland County Court dated ye 20th Day of January 1719/20 wee the subscribers being sworn by Capt. Richard Spann did appraise the Estate of Frances Harding (2-1), formerly Robertson, decd. in money as follows: (List of estate items valued at 30 pounds, 7 shillings, 2 pence.) Taken by Thomas Gille, Charles Nelms, Samuel Blackwell, Samuell Robinson.^[7]

1719/20 17 Feb: Page 96 This inventory of Frances Harding (2-1), decd., formerly Frances Robertson, was exhibited into Northumberland County Court by Samuell Robinson, admr of the said dec upon oath and on his motion it is admitted to record.^[8]

1720 16 June Judgment is granted to Thomas Harding III (1-8) against estate of Frances Harding (2-1) dec, in the hands of Samuel Robinson, admr of the said decd for the sum of three hundred pounds of tobb to which he hath made oath. Ordered that the said Samuell Robinson adm as aforesaid pay the said sum of three hundred pounds of tobb to the said Thomas Harding III (1-8) with costs at Execution.^[9]

1720 16 June Judgment is granted to Mr. Charles Hobson executor of Thomas Hobson against the estate of Frances Harding (2-1) in the hands of Samuel Robinson admr of the sd deced in the sum of 400 pounds of tobacco.^[10]

DNA

Information on the autosomal DNA and Y-DNA descendants of Thomas Harding (abt.1635-bef.1674) and Anne Mosely and other Harding families of the Northern Neck of Virginia can be found at Hardin DNA Project.

Y-DNA Results

The Y-DNA Harding Project on familytreedna.com has extensive records of Y-DNA (passed only from father to son) for hundreds of men tested. It is divided into approximately 25 haplogroups, which are groups of genetically connected men. This material has been placed on the HHHDNA site ([2]) (Follow this link to visit) Descendants of Henry Harding (abt.1690-abt.1737) and William Harding appear in two separate unrelated groups, which means that they cannot be brothers and in fact cannot be related going back many hundreds of years. Henry's descendants are in Group R1H (8 men) and William's are in Group R1F (12 men).^[11] Extensive research has been done on all the lines for these two groups and will be posted in the Harding DNA Project on WikiTree.

Research Notes

This William Harding is a difficult research subject. Very few records can be directly tied to him except the records of the births of his three sons, Charles, Francis and Thomas. Even the death date given for him in 1752 in Stafford County cannot be tied directly to this man.

A William Harding of St. Stephens Parish (discussed above) sold land in 1713 to Samuel Robinson, whose connection to the Robinsons and the rest of the Hardings is not clear. The land (see deed above) was deeded to a Thomas Harding in 1694 when the only Thomas Harding was recently deceased in 1691. Unfortunately the deeds for this period are missing.

Thomas Harding, son of the William Harding in this profile, is said to have married Hannah Hopkins because he had a son Hopkins Harding. ^[12]

Sources

1. ↑ Northumberland County Deeds and Wills, Book F 1710-1713 Page 283
2. ↑ Hardin and Harding of Virginia and Kentucky compiled by Dorothy Ford Wulfeck.
3. ↑ FamilySearch St. Stephens Parish Register [[1]]
4. ↑ Northumberland County Virginia Court Orders Book 7 Page 188
5. ↑ Northumberland County Virginia Court Orders Book 7 Page 353
6. ↑ Northumberland County Virginia Court Orders Book 8 Page 1
7. ↑ Northumberland County Virginia Deeds and Wills Book G Page 96
8. ↑ Northumberland County Virginia Deeds and Wills Book G Page 96
9. ↑ Northumberland County Virginia Court Orders Book 8 Page 19
10. ↑ Northumberland County Virginia Court Orders Book 8 Page 20
11. ↑ HHHDNA Public site, includes details on dozens of different Harding families. http://www.hhhdna.com/hhh.htm
12. ↑ All records referred to in this section are from the Deed and Will books and Court Order books of Northumberland County, Virginia, approximately 30 to 40 entries, perhaps more, still being studied.

Acknowledgments

• WikiTree profile Harding-1187 created through the import of DE Lewis Family Tree.ged on Mar 4, 2012 by David Lewis. See the Changes page for the details of edits by David and others.
• Thank you to Elaine Jeffries for creating WikiTree profile Harding-1615 through the import of Turley_McCormick _ Davis_Barke.ged on Apr 6, 2013.