John Edward Hardwick (1719 - 1801)

Born 1719 in Darby, England

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 22 Jul 1801 at about age 82 in Halifax, Halifax, Virginia, United States

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Biography

Hostilities of the American Revolution began as early as 1775 which was before the signing of the Declaration of Independence which was put into action 4 July 1776. The Hardwick Family as well as the Palmer Family had established their homes in Southern Virginia, often referred to as southside Virginia. Being quite a distance from the first battles, southern Virginia was in a state of confusion. Men were being pressed into service sometimes before they could even establish roots. John Hardwick, having former connections with defending frontier colonies, was promoted to First Lieutenant of the Continental Line. John's son-in-law, Martin Palmer, Sr. (IV) was made a sergeant to serve under Hardwick. Palmer had several young children at the time. These children would not see their father, nor their Grandfather Hardwick, for long periods of time. Thus Palmer's children grew up in the hardest of times. Sargeant Martin Palmer would go into active duty in 1782. Lieutenant John Hardwick was an officer serving the Northumberland Militia. Hardwick was discharged before the end of the war. Therefore, he helped raise his grandchildren while their father was gone. He also entertained the children with his experiences. Likely, some of Mildred Hardwick's brothers were in the same situation as Martin Palmer. These were times that the smallest of houses were built of logs and served as "home" until the war was over and soldiers could return home.

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