Benjamin Hardy (1768 - 1834)

Born 11 Aug 1768 in Tewksbury, Middlesex, Massachusetts

Ancestors

Husband of Phebe (Dane) Hardy — married 10 Nov 1794 in Andover, Essex, Massachusetts, United States

Died 16 Apr 1834 at age 65 in Greenfield, Hillsborough, New Hampshire, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Patricia Abbott [send private message]

Biography

BENJAMIN HARDY, b. at Tewksbury, 10 Aug 1768 son of James Hardy and Jemimah Palmer;^[1] Benjamin d. at Greenfield, 16 Apr 1834;^[2] m. at Andover, 10 Nov 1794,^[3] PHEBE DANE, b. at Andover, 18 Dec 1767 daughter of William Dane and Phebe Abbot;^[4] Phebe d. at Greenfield, NH, 12 Sep 1854.^[5]

Phebe and Benjamin started their family in Andover, but soon settled in Greenfield, New Hampshire where they had a farm. On 3 January 1800, Benjamin Hardy yeoman of Andover purchased sixty acres in Greenfield from Richard Towne for payment of six hundred dollars.^[6] In 1800, the household of Benjamin Hardy was five persons at Greenfield: one male 26 to 44, one female 26 to 44, and three males under 10.^[7]

Benjamin added to his land holdings over the years. On 3 January 1804, Benjamin Hardy yeoman was of Greenfield when he purchased 17 acres in Greenfield from Richard Gould for one hundred and seventy dollars. He purchased six acres from Paul Craigin in 1807 and fourteen acres from John Savage in 1810.^[8]

In his will written 13 April 1833, Benjamin Hardy bequeaths to his wife Phebe one hundred dollars, the use and occupancy of one-third of his real estate, and all the household furniture, one cow to be at her disposal, the use of a horse and carriage, and firewood to be brought to her door. Oldest son Benjamin receives two hundred dollars as does second son John Dean. Third son Herman receives two hundred and twenty dollars. Oldest daughter Phebe Richardson receives thirty-three dollars as does as does second daughter Betsey Bailey. Third daughter Hannah Hardy receives one hundred and fourteen dollars and a home in the family home as long as she lives single. Fourth son Hiram receives one-half of the real estate, one-half the stock, and one-half the farming tools as long as he carries on said farm in a husband-like manner. Hiram is responsible to pay and doctor’s and nurse’s bills for his parents and is responsible for debts of the estate. At the decease of both his parents, Hiram receives all the real estate. Hiram is also named executor.^[9]

In her later life, Phebe lived in the household of her son Hiram in Greenfield.^[10]

Children

Benjamin Hardy and Phebe Dane were parents of seven children, the first two births at Andover and the other children were likely born at Greenfield.

i BENJAMIN HARDY, b. about 1795; d. at Greenfield, 20 Jun 1879; m. about 1820, MEHITABLE HOLT, b. at Greenfield, 24 May 1799 daughter of William and Mehitable (Stiles) Holt; Mehitable d. at Greenfield, 1866.

ii JOHN DEAN HARDY, b. 24 Nov 1796; d. at Greenfield, 12 May 1875; m. 1st, about 1825, SALLY JAQUITH, b. 1803 daughter of Benjamin and Phebe (Ames) Jaquith; Sally d. at Greenfield, 9 Aug 1833. John m. 2nd, about 1834, his third cousin once removed (through Abbott line), HANNAH ABBOTT, b. at Greenfield, 7 Sep 1807 daughter of William and Hannah (Bailey) Abbott; Hannah d. at Greenfield, 1 Jul 1880.

iii HERMAN HARDY, b. about 1800; d. at Francestown, NH, 31 Aug 1865; m. at Francestown, 20 Jan 1828, RELIEF HOPKINS, b. at Francestown, 6 Apr 1804 daughter of William and Rachel (Brewster) Hopkins; Relief d. at Cambridge, MA, 19 Oct 1875.

iv PHEBE HARDY, b. about 1802; d. at Greenfield, 21 Jun 1833; m. at Malden, MA, 22 Nov 1828, LEWIS RICHARDSON, b. 3 Aug 1801 son of Jacob and Sarah (Lewis) Richardson; Lewis d. at Greenfield, 21 Aug 1878. Lewis married second Elizabeth Wade and third Charlotte Sprague.

v BETSEY HARDY, b. 30 May 1804; d. at Greenfield, 14 Jun 1873; m. about 1825, LEONARD BAILEY, b. at Greenfield, 20 Jun 1800 son of James and Dorothy (Worcester) Bailey; Leonard d. at Greenfield, 7 Jul 1885. After Betsey’s death, Leonard married Dorothy C. Mansfield 12 Jan 1874.

vi HANNAH HARDY, b. Sep 1808; d. at Greenfield, 13 Jan 1888; m. at Hancock, NH, 26 Jun 1834, her third cousin once removed (through Abbott line), HERMAN ABBOTT, b. at Greenfield, 23 Nov 1804 son of William and Hannah (Bailey) Abbott; Herman d. at Greenfield, 7 Dec 1891.

vii HIRAM HARDY, b. about 1810; d. at Greenfield, 7 Feb 1866; m. 1st, 1830, ABIGAIL DODGE, b. 1812 daughter of Levi and Keziah (Stanley) Dodge; Abigail d. at Greenfield, 21 Sep 1838. Hiram m. 2nd, about 1839, Abigail’s sister, MARIA DODGE, b. 1819; Maria d. at Greenfield, 17 Oct 1894.

Sources and Footnotes

1. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F4GG-YPP : 20 May 2022), Benjamin Hardy, 11 Aug 1768; citing Birth, Tewksbury, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston; FHL microfilm 007010701.
2. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/140232938/benjamin-hardy: accessed 14 November 2022), memorial page for Benjamin Hardy (1768–16 Apr 1834), Find a Grave Memorial ID 140232938, citing Old Meeting House Cemetery, Greenfield, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, USA; Maintained by Cheshire (contributor 47921031).
3. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPZH-HLRC : 11 May 2022), Benjamin Hardy and Phebe Dane, 10 Nov 1794; citing Marriage, Andover, Essex, Massachusetts, United States, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston; FHL microfilm 007010678.
4. ↑ Dean, Phebe [Dane. CR2], d. William and Phebe, Dec. 18, 1767. Andover Vital Records; https://ma-vitalrecords.org/MA/Essex/Andover/Images/Andover_B121.shtml
5. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/140233028/phebe-hardy: accessed 14 November 2022), memorial page for Phebe Dane Hardy (1767–12 Sep 1854), Find a Grave Memorial ID 140233028, citing Old Meeting House Cemetery, Greenfield, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, USA; Maintained by Cheshire (contributor 47921031).
6. ↑ New Hampshire Land Records, Hillsborough County, 88:154
7. ↑ Year: 1800; Census Place: Greenfield, Hillsborough, New Hampshire; Series: M32; Roll: 20; Page: 518; Image: 308; Family History Library Film: 218679
8. ↑ New Hampshire Land Records, Hillsborough County, 60:463, 88:156, 88:157
9. ↑ New Hampshire. Probate Court (Hillsborough County); Probate Place: Hillsborough, New Hampshire, volume 40, p 407
10. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MWZN-CCF : 22 December 2020), Phebe Hardy in household of Hiram Hardy, Greenfield, Hillsborough, New Hampshire, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).