Saturday Night Genealogy Fun

Calling all Genea-Musings Fans:

It’s Saturday Night again –

time for some more Genealogy Fun!!

Here is your assignment, should you decide to accept it (you ARE reading this, so I assume that you really want to play along – cue the Mission Impossible music!):

1)  Have you found a common document or record (e.g., vital record, military record, probate record, etc.) that provided new and/or unique information to one or more of your ancestors?  How did it affect your research?  Please share your find.

For me, one of the documents that stands out when I think about breakthroughs or unique information is military pension files

My 2nd great grandfather, Albert Hutchinson served in Company D of the 1st Iowa Cavalry. In my early days of genealogy, I would send off to the National Archives for a copy of the military and pension files for my ancestors who served during the civil war. These files often contained information about the marriage and children of the veteran. Albert’s file contained information about his second wife and their son, but little mention of his first wife and their children. Or, so I thought.

At the time, I did not realize that the archives would select the portions of the file they thought I wanted to see. Little did I know that I needed to request a copy of the ENTIRE file. Only after receiving a second copy of the pension file — this time the entire file did I discover a document that contains the death date for his first wife: Julia Harding Hutchinson.

Image 78
County of Doniphan
State of Kansas

I Peter Miller of the County of Doniphan, State of Kansas
being first duly sworn do state upon my oath, that I have been act-
ively engaged in the undertaking business in Wathena Kansas, for the
past Twenty years, And on Jan 4th 1892 Albert Hutchinson Jr. son of
Albert Hutchinson purchased from me a  coffin in which to bury his
Mother, Julia Hutchison, wife of Albert Hutchison.

Peter Miller

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 10th Day of August 1911

Commission expires Sept 5th 1911 [? Bent]
Notary Public

Also in the file is a second document related tot he death of Albert Hutchinson

County of Doniphan
State of Kansas

I Peter Miller of the County of Doniphan State of
Kansas, being first duly sworn do state upon my oath that I have
been actively engaged in the undertaking business in Wathena Kansas,
for the past Twenty years; and on July 22nd 1896 Albert Hutchison Jr
Son of Albert Hutchison purchased from me a coffin in which to bury
his father

Peter Miller

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 10th day of August 1911
[?]
Notary Public

Commission expires Sept 5th 1911

Without the complete military pension file, I likely would not have found a source for the death of Julia Harding Hutchinson. Thus, I have gone back and hired a researcher to retrieve the entire military and pension files for my other ancestors who served during the civil war.

My Canadian Line

Do you have an immigrant ancestor that you keep forgetting is an immigrant? That’s the case with my HARDING line. My Harding ancestors trace back to New York. However, they were Loyalists and left New York for Canada. Thus, when my third great grandfather, William G. Harding appears in Iowa, he is actually an immigrant, having migrated from New Brunswick to the United States.

William Gillies Harding

William Gillies Harding was born in 1804 in Hampton, Kings, New Brunswick.¹

He purchased land being in the Long Reach in the parish of Westfield, County of Kings and Province of New Brunswick known as lot no. five on 17 Feb 1830.²

He sold land being 50 acres in the Long Reach on 25 Apr 1832 in Westfield, Kings, New Brunswick.³

William lived in Westfield Parish, Kings, New Brunswick in 1851.⁴ William G. Harding is listed as the head of household on the 1851 census. Also in his household was Caroline, Abel, Thomas, Abijah, Julia, Isabella and Henry Harding. According to the census, William was a 47 year old widow who was born in New Brunswick.

He lived in Racine County, Wisconsin in 1858.⁵ William G. Harding was listed in the 1858 Racine Wisconsin directory as boarding at Western Plank Road c(orner) of fourteenth.

He lived in Mount Vernon Township, Black Hawk, Iowa, United States on 1 Jun 1860.⁶ Wm G Harding was listed on the 1860 census as a 54 year old farmer who was born in New Brunswick living in Mount Vernon, Black Hawk County, Iowa. According to the census, Wm Harding owned $1200 real estate and $300 in personal property. Also listed in the household was Elizabeth Harding, a 38 year old female born in Scotland; Thomas Harding, a 21 year of farm laborer who was born in New Brunswick; Joseph Ponsford, a 19 year old farm laborer who was born in New Brunswick; Rachel Ponsford a 16 year old female who was born in New Brunswick; Henry Harding a 14 year old male born in New Brunswick; Walter Ponsford, a 13 year old male born in New Brunswick; Alexander Ponsford, a 10 year old male born n New Brunswick and Hattie Harding a 3 year old female born in Wisconsin.

William died on 15 Aug 1865 at the age of 61 in Mount Vernon Township, Black Hawk, Iowa, United States.^1,7

He was buried at Mount Vernon Cemetery in Waterloo, Black Hawk, Iowa, United States.⁸

William Gillies Harding and Elizabeth Fowler⁹ were married on 16 Sep 1830 in Westfield Parish, Kings, New Brunswick.^10–14

Elizabeth Fowler, daughter of [Unknown] [Unknown] and Thomas Fowler, was born in 1804 in Westfield Parish, Kings, New Brunswick.

She died on 29 Jan 1846 at the age of 42 in Westfield Parish, Kings, New Brunswick.

William Gillies Harding and Eliza Henderson were married after 1851.^15–17

Eliza Henderson was born about 23 Nov 1817 in Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom.^18–21

She lived in Mount Vernon Township, Black Hawk, Iowa, United States on 26 Jun 1860.⁶ Eliza was listed as Elizabeth Harding, a 38 year old female born in Scotland on the 1860 census.

She, was named as the widow of William Harding, receiving 1/9th of the proceeds from the sale of land by Julia Flewwelling on 22 Oct 1866 in Black Hawk, Iowa, United States.²²

Eliza purchased land being S 1/ SW 1/4 Section 27 Township 90 N Range 13 W of the 5th PM for $199 from Julia Flewelling on 3 Nov 1866 in Black Hawk, Iowa, United States.²³

She lived in Mount Vernon Township, Black Hawk, Iowa, United States on 29 Jun 1870.²⁴ Eliza Harding was listed as a 50 year old female head of household who was born in Scotland. Also listed in the household were Hattie C, a 12 year old female born in Wisconsin; Minnie O, a 6 year old female born in Iowa; Walter Ponsford, a 23 year old farmer born in New Brunswick; Rachael E Ponsford, a 25 year old female born in New Brunswick; and Alexander H. Ponsford a 21 year old male born in New Brunswick.

She lived in Mount Vernon Township, Black Hawk, Iowa, United States in Jul 1880.²⁵ Eliza Harding was listed as a 62 year old head of household on the 1880 census living in Mount Vernon Township, Black Hawk County, Iowa. According to the census, Eliza was born in Scotland. Also listed in the household were a daughter, Hattie, aged 21 and born in Wisconsin; daughter, Minnie, aged 16 and born in Iowa and son, Alexander Ponsford, aged 30 and born in New Brunswick.

Eliza lived in Mount Vernon Township, Black Hawk, Iowa, United States in 1885.²⁶ Eliza Harding was listed as a 66 year old female head of household on the 1885 Iowa census living in Mount Vernon Township, Black Hawk County, Iowa. Also listed in the household was 26 year old Hattie C Harding, 21 year old Minnie T. Harding and 33 year old Alexander H. Ponsford.

She signed a will on 18 Apr 1887 in Black Hawk, Iowa, United States.²⁷

She died on 23 May 1887 at the age of 69 in Black Hawk, Iowa, United States.^{19–21,28–29}

Eliza was buried on 25 May 1887 at Fairview Cemetery in Waterloo, Black Hawk, Iowa, United States.^19–20 Possibly Elizabeth Henderson

ENDNOTES:

1. Find a Grave, database and images, Find a Grave (www.findagrave.com : viewed online September 2016), memorial for William Gillies Harding (1804-1865), Find a Grave Memorial no. #38878689, created by Laura Tasset Koehn.

2. New Brunswick, Land Petitions, 1784-1845.  Film #846742 DGS 8632712. William G. Harding, 27 Feb 1830; Vol. U1: page 214; digitized images, FamilySearch http://www.familysearch.org : viewed online 2022.

3. New Brunswick, Land Petitions, 1784-1845.  Film #86743 DGS 8632792. William G. Harding, 25 April 1832; Volume W1: page 399; digitized images, FamilySearch http://www.familysearch.org : viewed online August 2022.

4. 1851 Canadian Census, Kings County, New Brunswick, Canada, Canadian census, Westfield, Kings County, New Brunswick, 1851 Image 9 of 90, William Harding; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online November 2017); Nova Scotia Archives and Record Management.

5. The Racine City Directory 1858 (Racine, Wisconsin: H. G. Winslow, Bookseller and Stationer, 1858), p. 35 (image 47), Harding; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online 4 August 2022).

6. 1860 U.S. Census, Black Hawk County, Iowa, population schedule, Mt. Vernon Township, Black Hawk County, Iowa, page 118 Image 7 of 10, household 54, Wm G. Harding; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online September 2016); NARA microfilm publication M653.

7. Probate Records, Black Hawk County Iowa (Waterloo, IA: Northeast Iowa Genealogical Society), #269 (Harding.IA.020)

8. Find a Grave, database and images, Find a Grave (www.findagrave.com : viewed online September 2016), memorial for William Gillies Harding (1804-1865), Find a Grave Memorial no. #38878689,

9. Bremer County, Iowa, : Book Q, p. 455-456, Julia Flewelling; FHL microfilm film # 1034287.

10. New Brunswick Marriage Registers, 1789-1889, William Harding / Elizabeth Fowler, 16 Sept 1830, Vol. 1, p 271; database with images, Family Search (www.familysearch.org : viewed online September 2016).

11. U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 database, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7836/). Yates Publishing. U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 : viewed online 4 August 2022.

12. “Index to Marriage Bonds 1810-1932,” database, Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, New Brunswick Canada (archives.gnb.ca : viewed online January 2018), William Harding.

13. “New Brunswick, Canada, Marriages, 1789-1950,” database, Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online March 2018), Elizabeth Fowler.

14. New Brunswick, Marriage bonds, 1810, 1815-1816, 1823, 1830-1831, 1832 (Jan.-Sept.).  Film #1412544 DGS 8214358. William Harding – Elizabeth Fowler, 6 Sept 1830; image 390; digitized images, FamilySearch http://www.familysearch.org : viewed online 7 August 2022.

15. Black Hawk County Iowa. 22 Oct 1866, Book Q page 455 (Harding.IA.003).

16. Harding, William G. entry, 31 Aug 1865 Black Hawk County Iowa Probate File, #269 (Harding.IA.007), . Hereinafter cited as Black Hawk County Iowa Probate File.

17. “Iowa, Select Marriages Index, 1758-1996,” Ancestry.com,  (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/60284/ : viewed online (November 2017), William G Harding – Eliza Henderson; Family Search.

18. Cedar Falls Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution, compiler, Death Records of Black Hawk County, Iowa 1880-1900 (Cedar Falls, Iowa: DAR, 1968), [Page]; FHL  840405, DGS 7901257, Item 6, image 319.

19. Find a Grave, database and images, Find a Grave (www.findagrave.com : viewed online September 2016), memorial for Eliza Harding (1817-1887), Find a Grave Memorial no. #82150379,

20. “Iowa, Deaths and Burials, 1850-1990,” Family Search, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : Mount Vernon Township, Sept. 2016 (viewed online), Eliza Harding.

21. “Deaths,” Iowa State Reporter (Waterloo, IA), 26 May 1887, page 7; digital image, NewspaperArchive (newspaperarchive.com : viewed online 5 August 2022).

22. Iowa, Black Hawk County. Deed records, 1853-1908.  Film #1034556 DGS 795355. Julia Flewelling, 22 Oct 1866; Vol. Q: pages 455-456; digitized images, FamilySearch http://www.familysearch.org : viewed online 6 August 2022.

23. Black Hawk County Iowa. Book P page 215, 216 (Harding.IA.008).

24. 1870 U.S. Census, Black Hawk County, Iowa, population schedule, Mount Vernon, Black Hawk County, Iowa, page 8 Image 8 of 26, household 52, Eliza Harding; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online September 2016); NARA microfilm publication T132.

25. 1880 U.S. Census, Black Hawk County, Iowa, population schedule, Mount Vernon Township, Black Hawk County, Iowa, ED 55, Page 10 Image 8 of 17, family 97, Eliza Harding; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online 9 September 2021); NARA microfilm publication T9.

26. Iowa, State Census Collection, 1836-1925, Hattie C. Harding, 1885; database with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online June 2018). Original Source: State Historical Society of Iowa.

27. Iowa, Wills and Probate Records, 1758-1997, Eliza Harding, 18 April 1887; database with images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : viewed online 14 September 2021). Original Source: Iowa, County, District and Probate Courts.

28. Probate Records, Black Hawk County Iowa, #1472 (Harding.IA.020).

29. Chapter, Death Records of Black Hawk County, Iowa 1880-1900, page 10, Eliza Harding.

Friday Finds

Another find in my HARDING files.

Early New Brunswick Probate Records, 1785-1835 by Hale, R. Wallace c1989

HARDING, George
Parish of Maugerville, Sunbury Co. Will dated 10 February 1807,
proved 22 January 1808.
Already made provision in some considerable degree for some chil
dren. Son Valentine HARDING 5 pounds. Son Jonathan HARDING half
of Lot 22 in Maugerville. Son John HARDING the lot where I live, Lot
24, he to pay my daughter Elizabeth MILES 100 Guineas sterling.
Daughter Elizabeth MILES all livestock and all Negro slaves or
servants. Granddaughter Elizabeth Ann HARDING my household furni
ture. Grandson George Horatio Nelson HARDING my bay mare.
Elijah MILES, John Murray BLISS, and son Jonathan HARDING execu
tors. Witnesses: Joseph CLARKE, John HAZEN, Philip WILLIAMS.

HARDING, William
City of Saint John, St. John Co. Will dated 6 January 1818, proved
30 March 1818.
Wife Leah use of all property, except the tan yard, for life, but not
to dispose of any part. Son Thomas the tan yard and all the grounds
and appurtenances lying in Dukes Ward now in his possession, con
sisting of three lots fronting on Germain Street and a lot on the corner
of Queens and Germain Streets. Residue of estate, after the decease
of my wife, to my children, being seven in number, George, William,
Thomas. Nancy, Sarah. Mary and Elizabeth as tenants in common,
subject that daughter Sarah, being left a widow, shall have the house
and lot in Duke’s Street. Granddaughter Sarah Ann, daughter of my
son John, 100 pounds at age 18. Sons George HARDING, William
HARDING and Thomas HARDING executors. Witnesses: Henry
STENING, Christopher BURNETT. Charles J. PETERS.

Hale R. Wallace, Early New Brunswick Probate Records, 1785-1835 (Bowie, Maryland: Heritage Books, 1989), page 198 – Harding.

William Harding Deeds

Do you have same name challenges in your tree? If you are like me, those challenges are throughout your tree. I’ve written before about the challenge of separating records for two men of the same name in the same location. However, another challenge that I face is a given name that is used generation after generation. My HARDING line is an example of this where the given name William appears in at least 4 generations.

When that is compounded by the siblings use of the name ‘William’ for their sons, it can become a struggle to figure out which record belongs to which William. The grantor/grantee indexes for land in New Brunswick illustrates this problem. It shows quite a few William Harding deeds.

While I likely need to retrieve all of these HARDING deeds, I’m starting with my third great grandfather who fortunately used his middle initial on at least some of his land transactions. Unfortunately, the first two deeds I acquired are between William G. Harding and another William Harding. While I could assume that this second William was the father of William G. Harding, I currently have no proof of that. I also have no proof that the William Harding in both deeds is the same person. Thus figuring out these land records is going to prove very challenging!

1830 Deed William Harding sells land to William G. Harding

New Brunswick Canada
Deeds

Vol. U
Film 846742
page 214

Willm Harding
Deed
William G Harding

No 5095 Know all men by these presents that I William
Harding Esquire of the Parish of Westfield in the County
of Kings and Province of New Brunswick Yeoman and
Elizabeth his wife for and in consideration of the sum of six hundred
pounds lawful money of the said Province to the said William Harding Esquir
in hand well and truly paid by William Gillies Harding of the Parish of
Westfield aforesaid farmer at or before the ensealing and delivery of these
presents the receipt whereof the said William Harding Esquire doth here
by acknowledge have granted bargained & sold and by these presents
do grant bargain and sell to the said William Gillies Harding his heirs

page 215
and assigns all that lot piece or parcel of ground situate lying and being in
the Long Reach in the parish of Westfield County of Kings and Province aforesd
known and distinguished as lot no five and bounded as follows on the lower
side by a poplar tree running North 45 degrees East (to reserved land belonging to
said William Harding Esquire) to a Rock Maple Tree marked with a blaze and
three hacks thence south 45 degrees East 135 chains thence north 45 degrees wet 60 rods till it
joins lot No 4 thence North 45 degrees West till it joins Saint Johns River containing
about two hundred acres more or less (a reservation being made of a piece
of land between lots & 6 containing 25 rods & 12 feet the upper boundary
lot No 6 is a pine stump lying between the piece of land and lot number 6 and
likewise of the new part of the house now n possession of William Harding
Esquire and one half of the barn situated on the said lot to the sole use
and behoof of the said William Harding Esq together with all and singular
the dwelling houses, farms and out houses buildings and fences therein (reservations
above excepted) and all and every of the appurtenances thereunto belonging to have
and to hold the said lot piece and parcel of ground with their and every of their
appurtenances unto the said William Gillies Harding his heirs & assigns to the only use
and behoof of the said William Gillies Harding his heirs and assigns forever
In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals this twenty
seventh day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred
and thirty.
William Harding (seal)
Elizabeth Harding (seal)
Signed Sealed & Delivered
in the presence of
Henry Nase
Joel Waters Junr
Westfield
KC
Be it remembered that on this 28th day of September
in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty personally
appeared before me Henry Nase Esquire Judge of the Inferior Court of
Common Pleas for the said County of Kings, William Harding Esquire
and Elizabeth his wife the grantors within the named, and do acknowledged
the foregoing instrument to be their act and deed & that they executed
the same freely & voluntarily for the purpose therein mentioned and
the said Elizabeth Harding being also by me examined and separate
and apart from her said husband acknowledged that she executed
the same freely and voluntarily without any fear threat or compul
sion of or from her said husband.
Henry Nase J.C.[I.]
Filed & Registered the foregoing Deed this 29th day of September 1830
Ninyon [Chatomes]
Register

1832 Deed William G Harding to William Harding

New Brunswick, Canada
Land Petitions, 1784-1845

V. W1-Y3 1785-1845
Film 86743 DGS 8632792

Volume W1
page 399

William G Harding
Deed to
William Harding Esq

No 5596 Know all men by these presents that
I William Gillis Harding of the parish of Westfield
and County of Kings and Province of New Bruns
wick Yeoman and Elizabeth his wife for and in consideration of the sum of
two hundred pounds of lawful money of the said province to the said
William Gillis Harding in hand well and [freely] paid by William Harding esq
his heirs and assigns all that piece and parcel of land situated
lying and being in the Long Reach in the parish of Westfield County
of Kings & Province aforesaid containing fifty acres bounded as
follows in the upper side by reserved land belonging to the said William
Harding Esquire and Measuring Fifteen Rods from a Certain rock
Maple Tree marked with a blaze and three Hacks down the River
St John to a certain stake thence South 45 degrees east 135 chains thence
North 45 degrees West 15 Rods till it joins the reserved land thence north
45 degrees west till it joins the River St John together with all and singular
the appurtenances thereunto belonging. To have and to hold the said
piece and parcel of land with all and singular the appurtenances unto
the said William Harding Esqr his heirs and assigns forever.
In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and
seals this twenty fifth day of April in the year o our Lord one thousand

page 400
thousand and thirty two
William G. Harding (seal)
Elizabeth Harding (seal)
Signed Sealed & Delivered
in the presence of
George Harding Junr
Abel Harding

Kings County
Be it remembered that on this 11th day of May in the year of
Lord 1832 personally appeared before me Henry Nase Esquire
one of his Majesty’s Justices of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas
for the said County William G. Harding and Elizabeth his wife and
acknowledged the same to be their act and deed by them executed
for the purposes therein contained and Elizabeth his wife being
by me examined separate and apart from her said husband
acknowledged that she executed the same freely and voluntarily
without fear threat or compulsion from her said Husband
Henry Nase – JCP

Recd & Registered the foregoing Deed this 20th day of October 1832
Ninyon Chalones – Register

Friday Finds

While digging thru my HARDING files, I found a photocopy of page 66 from the book, New Brunswick Loyalists: A Bicentennial Tribute by Sharon Dubeau.

Harding, George: from NY. He was a member of the corps of
Guides during the War. In COt 1783, he purchased land at Mauger-
ville, Sunbury Co. In a grant of 1786, he received land on Saint
John River, in the Long Reach, Westfield Parish, Kings Co. In 1795,
he was living in Burton Parish, Sunbury Co. and in 1801 was living in
Maugerville, Sunbury Co. A son was John.

Dubeau Sharon, New Brunswick Loyalists: A Bicentennial Tribute (Agincourt, Ontario: Generation Press, 1983), pae 66 – Harding.

Harding, William: from Newburgh, Ulster CO. NY. He joined
the British in 1776 and served as a pilot, as he had owned a sloop. IN
1782, he went to Annapolis, NS and arrived in NB. Apr 1783. He
settled first at Maugerville Sunbury Co. and later on Belleisle Bay,
kings CO. He had also received a townlot at Parrtown in 1784. In
1784, he was a claimant to the British government for losses suffered
in America. In 1803, he was a member of the Springfield Parish
Baptist Church, Kings Co. He died at Saint John 24 Mar, 1818, aged
72, and is buried in the Old Burial Ground. His wife was Leah
Gillies. two children were: John who died 17 Aug 1810, aged 23 and
Mary who married William Stenning in 1806 at St. John. (She died
in the late 1840’s at Milledgeville)

Dubeau Sharon, New Brunswick Loyalists: A Bicentennial Tribute (Agincourt, Ontario: Generation Press, 1983), pae 66 – Harding.

Two Wives

Have you ever tried to re-create your steps to a genealogy conclusion? As I’m working thru my research of my third grandfather, William G. Harding, I’m trying to re-create the research steps that has led me to conclude that he had two wives.

My research of William G. Harding’s family would have started with his daughter Julia. Researching Julia Harding Hutchinson is where my genealogy quest began. Her granddaughter, my grandmother, wanted to know where Julia was buried. Since my grandmother lost her mother at the age of 10, she knew very little about her mother’s family. The one piece of information that was recorded in the CURREY family Bible was that Winnie May (my grandmother’s mother) was born in 1871. The added location of birth was likely written in by my grandmother.

Starting with that lone piece of information, I began to learn about Winnie’s family and was able to identify her mother as Julia Harding Hutchinson. The 1880 census record for Mitchell county, Iowa shows a 9 year old Winnie Huchardson living in the household of Albert and Julia Huchardson. Julia was listed as a 40 year old born in New Brunswick. Back tracing, Julia and Albert were found on the 1860 census living in Black Hawk County, Iowa where they were married in 1859.

Julia’s place of birth was a key fact that helped me begin to identify her siblings and parents. Also living in Black Hawk county, Iowa in 1860 was the Wm G Harding family. Wm G Harding’s birthplace was listed as New Brunswick. The household also included:

• Elizabeth Harding – age 38 and born in Scotland
• Thomas Harding – age 21 and born in New Brunswick
• Joseph Ponsford – age 19 and born in New Brunswick
• Rachel Ponsford – age 16 and born in New Brunswick
• Henry Harding – age 14 and born in New Brunswick
• Walter Ponsford – age 13 and born in New Brunswick
• Alexander H. Ponsford – age 10 and born in New Brunswick
• Hattie Harding – age 3 and born in Wisconsin

Hearing about a genealogy of the Harding family of New Brunswick, I purchased a copy. This two volume work by Mrs. Raymond Caron and Brenda Caron is a descendancy of George and William Harding of New York and New Brunswick. In addition, this work provides a lot of historical information about these two men and how they became Loyalists during the revolutionary war and their eventual removal from New York to New Brunswick. While I had grand hopes of finding Julia Harding in this work, I was somewhat disappointed.

Below is the information for the only Julia Harding that could fit with what I already knew about Julia Harding Hutchinson.

Following the numbering system, I located the information for William Gillies Harding in the book.

While the book identifies a mother for Julia, it only indicates 2 children for William Gillies Harding. It also implies that the family left New Brunswick for Wisconsin shortly after 1830. Based on this information, I should have been able to find a Julia Harding in the household of a William Harding living in Wisconsin in 1850. Instead, the only census record of the time that I’ve found placing a young Julia Harding born in New Brunswick in the household of a William Harding is the 1851 census for Kings County, New Brunswick. That census record has the following living in the household:

• William G. Harding – age 47
• Caroline Harding – age 20
• Abel Harding – age 18
• Thomas Harding – age 16
• Alijah Harding – age 14
• Julia Harding – age 11
• Isabella Harding – age 9
• Henry Harding – age 5

While the 1860 census for William G. Harding has a potential wife, Elizabeth, listed in the household, the 1851 census does not list an Elizabeth as a potential wife. In addition, the 1851 census record does not list any female old enough to be the mother of all of the other members of the household.

Thus, additional records are needed to prove or disprove that the 1860 census, the information from the book and the 1851 census all piece together one family. The obituary for Mrs. Eliza Harding helps to explain the household found in the 1860 census.

Deaths
Mr[s]. Eliza Harding, mother of Joseph and A. H. Ponsford, died at her residence, in Mt. Vernon twp., Monday morning at 6 o’clock, after a long sickness. Deceased was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1817, and came to this county with her husband, Wm. Harding, in 1858, and has resided on the same farm ever since. She leaves seven children, A. H. Ponsford, Mrs. W. H. Stickney, Minnie and Hattie Harding, all of this county, Jos. Ponsford and W. F. Ponsford of Kimball, and Mrs. Sarah Wilber, of Wisconsin.

“Deaths,” Iowa State Reporter (Waterloo, IA), 26 May 1887, page 7; digital image, NewspaperArchive (newspaperarchive.com : viewed online 5 August 2022).

Since several of the sons carry the PONSFORD surname, I believe that Eliza Harding’s marriage to Wm Harding was a second marriage. That would explain why there is an Elizabeth listed in the 1860 census but missing from the 1851 census.

During one of my trips to the Family History Library at Salt Lake, I discovered a deed that proves that the 1851 census and the 1860 census are the same family and that Eliza was the second wife!

Know all men by these presents; that Julia E. Flewwelling of
Nyack Rockland County New York have made constituted and
appointed and by these presents do make constitute and appoint
Abel Harding of Racine, State of Wisconsin my true and lawful
attorney for me and in my name, place and stead to sell my Farm
in Black hawk County, Iowa for the best price he can obtain for the
same either for all cash, or part cash and Bond and Mortgage
to secure the balance and to execute good and sufficient Deed to the
purchaser or purchasers thereof in my name and in my act an
Deed the proceeds of such sale to be divided into nine equal parts
and be distributed by my said Attorney as follows, one ninth to the wid
ow of William Harding of Waterloo Blackhawk County and one
ninth thereof to each of the eight children of said William Harding
viz: Caroline Spragg, Abel Harding, Thomas F Harding, Julia Hutch
ins, Isabella Palmer and Henry Harding (children by the first wife
of said William Harding) Hatty C Harding Minnie [T]Harding children
by his second wife should a mortgage be taken by my said attorney, I
authorize and empower him to arrange with the said children to take
the same on account of their share in such proceeds or to convert said
mortgage in cash by assigning the same, as he shall deem best, giving
and granting unto my said attorney full power and authority to do

page 456
and perform all and every act and thing whatsoever requisite and
necessary to be done in and about the premises as fully to all intents and
purposes, as I might or could do if personally present, with full power
of substitution and revocation, hereby ratifying and confirming all that
my said attorney or his substitute shall lawfully do or cause to be done
by virtue hereof.
In Testimony, Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal the 22d
day of October in the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty six
Julia E Flewwelling

W. S. Rev Stanit
$1.00 J E F Oct 22
1866
Sealed and delivered in the presence of
W. Mackay
Rose S Maquire

State of New York
City and county of New York
I Charles Nettleson Commissioner for
Iowa in New York do hereby certify that on this twenty third day of October
A.D. one thousand eight hundred and sixty six it was satisfactorily
proved before me by the oath of W. Mackay personally known to me
to be a credible and disinterested witness and to be the person whose
name is subscribed to the within instrument as a witness thereto
that Julia E. Flewwelling now absent her residence being in Nyack,
Rockland County, New York is personally known to him to be the identical
person whose name is affixed to the within Instrument appointor
and that the same was executed by the said Julia E. Flewwelling
whose name is thereunto subscribed as appointer in the presence of said
W. Mackay who subscribed his name to such instrument as a witness
thereof at the date therein mentioned.
In Testimony Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed
my official seal this 23d day of October A.D. 1866
Charles Nettleson
SS
Commissioner for Iowa in New York
Filed for Record Nov. 3d 1866 at 2 1/2 o’clock P.M.

Iowa, Black Hawk County. Deed records, 1853-1908. Film #1034556 DGS 795355. Julia Flewelling, 22 Oct 1866 Vol. Q: pages 455-456; digitized images, FamilySearch http://www.familysearch.org : viewed online 6 August 2022.

Thus, I believe the following:

• William G. Harding had two wives. The first is likely Elizabeth Fowler as identified in the Harding Genealogy and the second is Eliza, mother of the Ponsford children.
• The mother of Julia and her siblings Caroline, Abel, Thomas, Abigail, Isabella and William Henry, likely died before 1846 in New Brunswick and thus isn’t listed with the family on the 1851 census.
• Elizabeth Fowler Harding is not buried in Black Hawk County, Iowa but likely buried in New Brunswick.

While the Flewwelling deed provides a wealth of information, more records are needed to support this family.

Sources:

1. Hiram Currey, Hiram Currey Family Bible (New York: American Bible Society, 1880); Marcia Philbrick, Seneca, KS, Family Record — Marriages “Hiram M. Currey and Angelina Jane Burke was married at Weston Missouri by the Rev. J. B. Write on the 3d day of August 1856”
2. Mrs. Raymond Caron, author, Life and Times of George and William Harding: Newburgh, New York 767-1783 and Saint John, New Brunswick, Brenda Beryl Caron, 2 volumes (Westmont, Quebec: B. B. H. Caron, maybe 1980), Vol. 2 page 89 #2262 Julia Melinda.
3. 1860 U.S. Census, Black Hawk County, Iowa, population schedule, Mt. Vernon Township, Black Hawk County, Iowa, page 118 Image 7 of 10, household 54, Wm G. Harding; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online September 2016); NARA microfilm publication M653
4. 1851 Canadian Census, Kings County, New Brunswick, Canada, Canadian census, Westfield, Kings County, New Brunswick, 1851 Image 9 of 90, William Harding; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online November 2017); Nova Scotia Archives and Record Management
5. “Deaths,” Iowa State Reporter (Waterloo, IA), 26 May 1887, page 7; digital image, NewspaperArchive (newspaperarchive.com : viewed online 5 August 2022).
6. Iowa, Black Hawk County. Deed records, 1853-1908. Film #1034556 DGS 795355. Julia Flewwelling, 22 Oct 1866 Vol. Q: pages 455-456; digitized images, FamilySearch http://www.familysearch.org : viewed online 6 August 2022.

Friday Finds

While working on research notes for my third great grandfather, William Harding, I started going thru some of my ‘old’ records and discovered a marriage bond for William Harding and Elizabeth Fowler.

I believe I obtained this document during a trip to the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. Since I don’t have enough information to craft a good citation, I decided to see whether FamilySearch had the record available as a digitized image.

And I found it!

While the contract with FamilySearch prevented me from downloading a copy of the bond, I was able to attach it to William Harding and Elizabeth Fowler.

Marriage bonds, 1810, 1815-1816, 1823, 1830-1831, 1832 (Jan.-Sept.)
Film 1412544 – DGS 008214358

Image 390

Know all Men by these presents, that we
William Harding William Waters Parish of West-
field and County of Kings and Elijah Spragg – Parish of
Springfield County of Kings

and Province of (something scribbled thru Province) New Brunswick, are held and firmly bound unto our Sovereign
Lord George (something scribbled thru George) the Fourth, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, KING, Defender of the Faith, $c., in the sum of
Five Hundred Pounds of lawful money of the said Province, to be paid to our said
Lord, the King, his Heirs or Successors; for which payment well, and truly to be
made, we bind ourselves and every one of us by himself, for and in the whole, our
Heirs, Executors and Administrators, and every of us, firmly by these Presents.
Sealed with our Seals, dated the Sixth day of September
in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty
and in the first year of His Majesty’s Reign.

The Condition of this Obligation is such, That if there be not, or
shall not at any time hereafter appear to have been at the date thereof, any lawful
Let or Impediment, by reason of any Pre-Contract, Consanguinity, Affinity, or any
other lawful means whatsoever, but that the above bounden

William Harding and Elizabeth Fowler
of the same place (Spinster)

may lawfully Solemnize Marriage together, and in the same afterwards lawfully re-
main and continue like Man and Wife according to the laws in that behalf provided ;
and if the said Marriage be not celebrated in case the said parties, or either of them,
be under the age of twenty-one years, without the consent of the Parents or Guar-
dians of the Party so being under the said age of twenty-one years, then this Obli
gation to be void, otherwise to remain in full force and virtue.

William Harding

Sealed and delivered
in the presence of

[Sebation Henry]
William Waters
Elijah Spragg

New Brunswick, Marriage bonds, 1810, 1815-1816, 1823, 1830-1831, 1832 (Jan.-Sept.). Film #1412544 DGS 8214358. William Harding – Elizabeth Fowler, 6 Sept 1830 : image 390; digitized images, FamilySearch http://www.familysearch.org : viewed online 7 August 2022.

William Gillies Harding Descendants

William Gillies Harding (abt 1803-15 Aug 1865)

+Elizabeth Fowler (1804-29 Jan 1846)

. . . . 2-Caroline Harding (8 May 1831-17 Mar 1895)

. . . . +Fred Spragg (abt 1830-19 May 1863)

. . . . . . . . 3-George Frederick Spragg (24 Oct 1857-16 Dec 1878)

. . . . . . . . 3-William H. Spragg (1 Oct 1854-1933)

. . . . . . . . +Martha Peterson (Aug 1863-)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Edith Spragg (9 Mar 1885-1950)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-William Earl Spragg (26 May 1888-25 Feb 1937)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Edward Vernon Spragg (25 Aug 1891-26 Feb 1957)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Blanche Spragg (Mar 1895-)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Florence Pearl Spragg (26 Nov 1899-21 Jun 1903)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Clarence Harold Spragg (19 Jun 1903-1 Nov 1981)

. . . . . . . . 3-John B. Spragg (19 Nov 1858-12 Oct 1886)

. . . . . . . . +Mary Louise Nicol (22 Jan 1862-1942)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Bertie Spragg (6 Sep 1880-8 Dec 1882)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-John Brunswick Spragg (29 Oct 1886-26 Dec 1949)

. . . . . . . . 3-Charlotte Spragg (12 Nov 1860-1939)

. . . . . . . . +Charles Stewart (1837-1931)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Frederick Stewart (abt 1879-)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-William Lawrence Stewart (7 Apr 1884-10 Dec 1972)

. . . . . . . . 3-Winfred Spragg (31 Jan 1862-13 May 1862)

. . . . . . . . 3-Caroline Spragg (6 Apr 1863-15 Mar 1918)

. . . . . . . . +Perry W. Southwick (17 Jan 1860-12 Oct 1913)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-George Southwick (12 May 1883-)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Perry W Southwick (29 Aug 1886-10 Nov 1938)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Earnest Southwick (10 Apr 1890-22 Apr 1935)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Caroline Elizabeth Southwick (4 Jul 1893-24 Jan 1955)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Clarence W Southwick (9 Jul 1903-2 Sep 1951)

. . . . +Levi Orcutt (-)

. . . . . . . . 3-Mabel Ann Orcutt (6 Jul 1872-25 May 1952)

. . . . . . . . +William Clinton Bingham (Oct 1867-1934)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Chester Levi Bingham (12 Jan 1895-18 Apr 1960)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Grace Irene Bingham (5 Aug 1897-30 Mar 1980)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Harold Ervin Bingham (3 Jun 1900-6 Jan 1935)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Sharlott Carrie Bingham (11 Feb 1908-1984)

. . . . 2-Abel Harding (30 Apr 1833-13 Nov 1906)

. . . . +Cynthia Gertrude Edwards (Sep 1846-2 Jun 1926)

. . . . . . . . 3-Edna Harding (abt 1866-16 Aug 1930)

. . . . . . . . +William C. Allen (1864-30 Oct 1940)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Cecil Allen (abt 1885-)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Jessie MaE Allen (24 Jun 1886-24 Dec 1944)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Alice A. Allen (Jul 1889-15 Feb 1947)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Addie A Allen (12 Jul 1889-16 May 1913)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Flossy B Allen (23 Jul 1893-)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Donald William Allen (10 Jul 1900-13 Nov 1964)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Dollie Allen (abt 1901-)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-John Allen (abt 1903-)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Wilbur Harry “Tink” Allen (6 Jun 1905-7 Mar 1964)

. . . . . . . . 3-Lettie Mae Harding (Sep 1867-1934)

. . . . . . . . +Edwin B. Hawley (1856-22 Jun 1925)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Fred Orville Hawley (15 Aug 1886-1 Feb 1964)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-William Harding  Hawley (16 Dec 1901-26 Dec 1988)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Birdie Jennie Hawley (4 Oct 1899-21 Feb 1996)

. . . . . . . . 3-Clara Jane Harding (abt 1872-23 Jul 1943)

. . . . . . . . +Frank Merrill (-)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Ada R Merrill (Jan 1892-)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Hazel B Merrill (Nov 1894-)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-James Abel Merrill (13 Dec 1896-10 Oct 1954)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Vivian Marie Merrill (16 Feb 1900-)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Sidney Clifford Merrill (abt 1903-25 Oct 1941)

. . . . . . . . 3-Nina Belle “Mina” Harding (24 Nov 1876-1964)

. . . . . . . . +Albert Halverson (May 1863-10 Jan 1927)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Jenny Halverson (16 Sep 1895-)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Lloyd Halverson (Apr 1897-)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Marie Halverson (abt 1904-)

. . . . . . . . 3-Grace Elizabeth Harding (10 Aug 1880-1906)

. . . . . . . . +Edward Quenell (8 Aug 1880-7 May 1952)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Hilda Edna Quenell (28 Oct 1903-27 Jun 1985)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-William James Quenell (31 Aug 1902-25 Jul 1986)

. . . . . . . . 3-Lola Harding (15 Mar 1883-8 Jun 1971)

. . . . . . . . +John Beauchemin (-14 Apr 1933)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Milton Seymore Bushman (8 Dec 1902-1966)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Kenneth G Bushman (abt 1909-)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Nina Beauchemin (abt 1912-)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-August Able Bushman (19 Aug 1919-3 May 1964)

. . . . . . . . +Samuel Niles (12 May 1871-14 Jun 1950)

. . . . . . . . 3-James Earl Harding (13 Jun 1885-19 Nov 1947)

. . . . . . . . +Pearl Spaulding (10 May 1885-1963)

. . . . . . . . +Anna Augusta Ewald (Jul 1886-30 Jan 1925)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Earl Leroy Harding (14 Dec 1911-24 Nov 1986)

. . . . . . . . 3-Martha Gertrude Harding (3 Oct 1888-21 Oct 1931)

. . . . . . . . +Leslie H Corbett (abt 1883-)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Ralph Harding Corbett (13 Sep 1911-15 Nov 1932)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Shirley Ruth Corbett (abt 1920-15 Jul 1986)

. . . . 2-Thomas Harding (abt 1834-18 Nov 1885)

. . . . +Mary E. Brine (14 Jul 1852-10 Dec 1885)

. . . . . . . . 3-James Franklin Harding (10 Jan 1872-28 Apr 1962)

. . . . . . . . +Laura M Betts (Jan 1880-1923)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Thomas Carl Harding (19 Nov 1903-7 Feb 1946)

. . . . . . . . +Carrie Edith Wilson (11 Mar 1888-1957)

. . . . . . . . 3-Addie Harding (abt 1875-19 Jan 1910)

. . . . . . . . 3-Maude Mabel Harding (abt 1876-)

. . . . . . . . +Clayton Earnest Cook (abt 1871-)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Raymond Cook (1893-1894)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Guy Clayton Cook (22 Apr 1895-1 Apr 1949)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Harry Harding Cook (21 Jun 1897-6 Nov 1974)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Milton James Cook (Apr 1900-8 Dec 1904)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Marie Cook (3 Feb 1903-24 Feb 1997)

. . . . . . . . +Conrad C. Funk (14 Feb 1865-1 May 1951)

. . . . . . . . +Harvey William Dean (1873-1945)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Harold Harvey Dean (5 Jun 1908-14 May 1991)

. . . . 2-Abigail Harding (abt 1837-)

. . . . 2-Julia Harding (1840-4 Jan 1892)

. . . . +Albert Hutchinson (abt 1838-22 Jul 1896)

. . . . . . . . 3-Gertrude Hutchinson (12 Jul 1860-1 Oct 1914)

. . . . . . . . +Johann Georg Layer (5 Feb 1850-30 Oct 1913)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Lidia Marie Layer (28 Apr 1878-3 Feb 1942)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-May Louisa Layer (7 Apr 1880-7 Jul 1881)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Ernest H. Layer (23 Mar 1884-2 Feb 1885)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Albert John Layer (1 Apr 1888-23 Jun 1936)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-_____ Layer (30 Nov 1898-31 Dec 1898)

. . . . . . . . 3-Albert G. Hutchinson (9 Jun 1862-11 Apr 1922)

. . . . . . . . +Mary Anna Baker (abt 1863-aft 1922)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Mary Lidia Hutchinson (4 Aug 1892-5 Aug 1985)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Rachel Hutchinson (Aug 1890-)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Ray Gillis Hutchinson (21 Aug 1892-14 Feb 1942)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-John William Hutchinson (14 Apr 1895-16 Mar 1939)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Sarah Elizabeth Hutchinson (27 Aug 1897-26 Mar 1976)

. . . . . . . . 3-William Henry Hutchinson (2 Mar 1865-15 May 1936)

. . . . . . . . +Mary Ella Hall (abt 1870-14 Jun 1950)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Ella May Hutchinson (abt 1890-)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Alzeda Hutchinson (12 Aug 1892-30 Dec 1964)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-William M. Hutchinson (7 Oct 1892-12 Jun 1952)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Ruth Hutchinson (28 Jun 1897-2 Jul 1930)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Ruby Grace Hutchinson (20 Jun 1898-20 Dec 1918)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Jennie Hutchinson (Jun 1899-12 Mar 1954)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Thomas Guy Hutchinson (28 Aug 1901-12 Jan 1962)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Elmer Leroy “Roy” Hutchinson (26 Feb 1905-20 Sep 1967)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-_____ Hutchinson (6 Mar 1907-)

. . . . . . . . 3-Frederick Hutchinson (abt 1867-)

. . . . . . . . 3-Cary Hutchinson (abt 1869-)

. . . . . . . . 3-Winifred Mae “Winnie” Hutchinson (6 May 1871-23 Sep 1913)

. . . . . . . . +Hiram Miles Currey (23 Oct 1866-15 Sep 1943)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Infant Currey (18 Apr 1892-10 May 1892)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Henry Currey (25 May 1893-20 May 1906)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Herbert Miles Currey (3 Apr 1895-20 Apr 1971)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Hiram Currey (11 Aug 1897-24 Jan 1898)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Myrtle Irene Currey (11 Jan 1899-23 Jul 1970)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Mary Lela Currey (17 Aug 1901-8 Dec 1977)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Winnie Letha Currey (30 Jun 1903-11 Feb 1992)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Earnest Oran Currey (5 Apr 1906-25 May 1979)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Alma Jean Currey (5 Apr 1912-7 Sep 1989)

. . . . . . . . 3-Elnora Hutchinson (21 Sep 1874-21 May 1921)

. . . . . . . . +Zachariah Northern (5 Sep 1866-29 Jun 1952)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Maude Mulida Northern (5 May 1890-21 Jun 1949)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-James Northern (Feb 1892-)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Claud Northern (abt 1893-)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Hazel S. Northern (21 Mar 1900-30 Sep 1976)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Jessie Northern (15 Dec 1910-15 Feb 1988)

. . . . . . . . 3-Guy Thomas Hutchinson (29 Feb 1876-12 Feb 1946)

. . . . . . . . +Ida Pasha Belle _____ (29 Jul 1888-9 Jan 1961)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Dorothy L. Hutchinson (21 Nov 1912-Dec 1979)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Ethel Belle Hutchinson (18 Jul 1921-25 Apr 1935)

. . . . . . . . 3-Francesca Hutchinson (Jul 1879-)

. . . . . . . . 3-Howard Hutchinson (1881-27 Mar 1905)

. . . . . . . . 3-Elvira Hutchinson (abt 1884-)

. . . . 2-Isabella Harding (31 Aug 1844-27 Dec 1900)

. . . . +Samuel B. Palmer (10 Jul 1836-21 Jan 1926)

. . . . . . . . 3-Isadora Palmer (9 Feb 1862-11 Sep 1925)

. . . . . . . . +Ireneous Payne Burbank (28 Dec 1853-2 May 1936)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Herschel Burbank (16 Jan 1897-1897)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Charles P Burbank (16 Jan 1898-25 Jan 1898)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Verna May Burbank (12 Dec 1893-30 Dec 1969)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Frank Henry Burbank Sr (12 Jun 1891-19 Jul 1934)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Estella Maude Burbank (10 Mar 1888-)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Vernon Burbank (30 Nov 1899-30 Nov 1899)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-George Samuel Burbank (17 Jan 1885-1 Jun 1906)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Hazel Irene Burbank (21 Dec 1904-26 Dec 1992)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Penny Mable Burbank (2 Feb 1883-30 Apr 1883)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Minnie Malida Burbank (19 Oct 1879-6 Mar 1883)

. . . . . . . . 3-Olive Palmer (26 Feb 1865-22 Sep 1927)

. . . . . . . . +John W. Stanley (1856-)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-John W Stanley (24 Oct 1885-)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-LeRoy Stanley (Jun 1890-25 Mar 1916)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Elmer Walter Stanley (24 Oct 1885-12 Apr 1922)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-William Brooks Stanley (30 May 1881-6 Oct 1927)

. . . . . . . . 3-Emma Abigail Palmer (abt 1868-22 Sep 1944)

. . . . . . . . +James William Kelley (20 Aug 1861-24 Oct 1933)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Jessie Mae Kelley (Jan 1892-16 Feb 1919)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-James Robert Kelley (7 Jan 1903-16 Jun 1964)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Ralph W Kelley (4 Jul 1890-21 Nov 1935)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Archie Richmond Kelley (10 May 1888-16 Oct 1963)

. . . . . . . . 3-Walter Palmer (1 May 1870-15 Feb 1932)

. . . . . . . . +Millie Amelia Snowden (16 Jan 1876-15 Sep 1955)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Elmer L Palmer (2 Jun 1893-16 Mar 1963)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Everett Joy Palmer (5 Nov 1895-)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Florence Mae Palmer (25 Aug 1900-31 May 1987)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Ruby Florine Palmer (1902-1930)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Earl E. Palmer (14 Jan 1905-14 Jul 1936)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Carl H. Palmer (10 Aug 1908-25 Aug 1986)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Ray A. Palmer (20 Mar 1916-4 Mar 1945)

. . . . . . . . 3-Sophia Palmer (abt 1875-)

. . . . . . . . +Robert T. Burns (-)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Myrtle Burns (Dec 1896-)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Eva Ruth Burns (5 May 1898-6 Jul 1985)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Irene “Rene” Burns (7 Feb 1902-4 Jan 1980)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Lester Burns (27 Feb 1903-5 Jun 1972)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Robert T Burns (19 Sep 1904-8 Apr 1905)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Neal Eugene Burns (27 Dec 1906-6 Jan 1966)

. . . . . . . . +James Morey (1873-)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Myrtle Leona Morey (7 Mar 1890-5 Aug 1964)

. . . . . . . . 3-Frank Palmer (22 Nov 1875-)

. . . . . . . . +Mary Elizabeth Evans (14 Oct 1879-25 Aug 1969)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Frank Leroy Palmer (22 Jul 1898-8 Jul 1900)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Fred Isma Palmer (29 Aug 1900-22 Apr 1975)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Geneva ” Eva” Isabel Palmer (28 Sep 1902-25 Jul 1978)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Thelma Mae Palmer (22 Dec 1905-Feb 1979)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Carl George Palmer (2 Sep 1908-10 Apr 1973)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Lena Marie Palmer (11 May 1911-3 Apr 1984)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Mary Mildred Palmer (1914-18 Jan 1917)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-William Palmer (29 Nov 1916-18 Jan 1917)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Walter E. ” Bill” Palmer (8 Mar 1918-25 Aug 1994)

. . . . . . . . 3-Irene Isabelle Palmer (30 Aug 1878-4 Sep 1940)

. . . . . . . . +Harvey Roberts (-)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Alva Joy Roberts (1 Jul 1897-1 Feb 1936)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Samuel Roberts (Sep 1899-)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Edith Mae Roberts (6 Oct 1902-2 Apr 1986)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Jesse  Roberts (1906-)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Alida Jean Roberts (27 Jun 1910-8 Jun 1966)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Irene Roberts (abt 1914-)

. . . . . . . . 3-Jesse Cecil Palmer (2 Mar 1882-16 May 1944)

. . . . . . . . +Mary L. Bossung (Oct 1879-31 Jul 1947)

. . . . . . . . +Ollie Harding (-)

. . . . 2-William Henry Harding (15 Apr 1846-15 Apr 1917)

. . . . +Sarah M. Orcutt (abt 1852-)

. . . . . . . . 3-Jesse Harding (28 Feb 1869-May 1939)

. . . . . . . . 3-Ida B. Harding (28 May 1874-28 Feb 1949)

. . . . . . . . +James Vinsonhaler (18 Mar 1869-24 Nov 1957)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-William Henry Vinsonhaler (27 Sep 1897-21 Nov 1953)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Gertrude Vinsonhaler (8 Feb 1900-26 Oct 1960)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-James Harold Vinsonhaler (19 Sep 1903-25 Nov 1963)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Wilma Vinsonhaler (abt 1908-)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Maurice Vinsonhaler (9 May 1910-29 May 1984)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Lola Vinsonhaler (4 Sep 1916-19 Dec 2006)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-James H. Vinsonhaler (abt 1924-)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Leonard S. Vinsonhaler (abt 1925-)

. . . . . . . . 3-William Edward Harding (23 Jun 1877-10 Feb 1954)

. . . . . . . . +Violet Mae Spicer (10 Jul 1884-9 Oct 1919)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Goldie Harding (1904-)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Bertha Harding (1909-)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Ollie Harding (abt 1914-)

. . . . . . . . 3-Grace Harding (Nov 1890-)

. . . . . . . . +Russell Conwell Bennett (15 Feb 1894-Apr 1973)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-William Russell Bennett (30 Aug 1922-13 Oct 2016)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Jack Bennett (1918-)

+Eliza Henderson (abt 23 Nov 1817-23 May 1887)

. . . . 2-Hattie C. Harding (Sep 1857-)

. . . . +William H. Everts (10 Jan 1855-21 Jun 1929)

. . . . . . . . 3-Harry Henderson Everts (2 Mar 1889-Dec 1970)

. . . . . . . . +Mary Belle Mitchell (1895-1977)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Dorothy Jane Everts (18 Aug 1920-8 Jul 1991)

. . . . . . . . 3-Irl A Everts (17 May 1892-4 Apr 1945)

. . . . . . . . +Genevieve D Brallier (-)

. . . . . . . . 3-Agnes M. Everts (12 May 1897-10 Feb 1920)

. . . . . . . . 3-Minnie Everts (4 Oct 1900-10 Jun 1968)

. . . . . . . . +Vergil Glen Dixon (-)

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Lyle G. Dixon (-)

. . . . 2-Minerva E. Harding (Apr 1864-24 Sep 1938)

Harding ThruLines

Are you a fan of Ancestry’s ThruLines or a naysayer? Since I believe ThruLines can be a valuable tool, I’m willing to research descendants of my ancestors and to make corrections in my tree when my additional research identifies issues.

As I’m currently researching the descendants of William G. Harding (1803-1865), I’m struggling with his son Abel Harding (1833-1906) and his descendants. At this point, I have identified the children of Abel Harding and Cynthia Gertrude Edwards as follows:

• Edna Harding (1866-1930) – md William C. Allen
• Lettie Mae Harding (1867-1934) – md Edwin B. Hawley
• Clara Jean Harding (1872-1943) – md Frank Merril in 1890 in Pipestone, MN
• Nina Belle Harding (1876-1964) – md Albert Halverson in 1894 in Yellow Medicine, MN
• Grace Elizabeth Harding (1880-1906) – md Edward Quenell in 1901 in Rulo, NE
• Lola Harding (1883-1971) – md John Beauchemin in Rulo, NE
• James Earl Harding (1885-1947) – md Anna Ewald in Anacortes, WA
• Martha Gertrude Harding (1888-1931) – md Leslie H Corbett

Hoping that I have this family correct, I decided to check my ThruLines for William G. Harding that go thru Abel to see if I have DNA data to support the family. Since my brothers also tested, I have three sets of ThruLines.

My ThruLines

DC ThruLines

LivingT ThruLines

At first glance, I have matches thru the 7 daughters. As an additional test, I analyzed each of these matches and compared the shared CMs for the matches with the expected results from the Shared CM project.

Looking at this data, it may support the following daughters: Edna, Lettie Mae and Martha G. Because quite a few of these matches share a very low number of cM, I can’t use this data as ‘PROOF’ that I have the family correct.

Even though this doesn’t ‘prove’ the family, it also doesn’t disprove any of the family. Thus, I need to do more digging to try and locate additional information for this family.

Merged Abels

Do you ever feel like you’ve made a mistake in your genealogy research that seems almost impossible to undo? That’s how I feel right now with my research of Harding descendants.

I recently wrote about my confusing to Abel Hardings who are actually first cousins in my Multiple Abels post. As I’ve been researching the descendants of William Gillies Harding, I’ve discovered that there is a third Abel Harding. At this time, I only have an 1870 census record to identify this third Abel.

• Abel Harding, age 36, living in Racine, Racine County, Wisconsin in 1870 – son of Abel Guilford Harding and Ann Nase
• Abel Harding, age 36, living in Fremont, Fayette County, Iowa in 1870 – son of William Gillies Harding and Elizabeth Fowler; Also listed in the census was a wife, Centhy, and two children Edna, age 3 and May, age 2
• Abel Harding, age 29, living in Bremer County, Iowa with a wife named Cynthia and two children Ida, age 4 and Ella, age 2

1870 Racine County, Wisconsin

1870 Census Fayette County, Iowa

1870 Census Bremer County, Iowa

Even though there is an age difference, the two Abel Hardings on the 1870 census in Iowa appear to have been merged on FamilySearch. FamilySearch shows Cynthia Harding as Cynthia Gertrude Edwards, born in 1848 in New York. This matches the information for Cynthy Hading in the Fremont County census. When it comes to the children, it appears they have been merged. Edna and Ida becomes Edna Ada Harding while May and Ella becomes Ella Mary Harding.

In 1880, the census for what is likely the 2nd Abel Harding shows the following family living in Mitchell County, Iowa.

• Abel Harding, age 48, born New Brunswick
• Cynthia Harding, age 33, born New York
• Ada Harding, age 14, born Iowa
• Mary Harding, age 13, born Iowa
• Clara Harding, age 8, born Michigan
• Lina Harding, age 3, born Iowa

1880 Census Mitchell County, Iowa

This 1880 census record caused me to assign the name, May Mary Harding to the second child. Whether I copied that from someone else or whether they copied that from me, it appears on 58 Ancestry trees.

Many of these trees also include the name ‘Lettie’. By using the name, Lettie Harding, I was able to find additional records to piece together her family.

After doing some digging on FamilySearch, I was able to locate what is likely this same family.

So far, I haven’t found additional information on the third Abel Harding.

However, I have been able to document Lettie Mae Harding Hawley’s family. (Endnote numbers at end of each fact.) Much more research will be required to make sure that I’m not making mistakes again.

Name: Lettie Mae Harding (GC7W-JS2)

Sex: Female
Father: Abel Harding (LJKW-BX4) 1833-1906
Mother: Cynthia Gertrude Edwards 1846-1926

Individual Facts
Birth Sep 1867 Iowa, United States 2–3

Residence 1870 (about age 3) Fremont, Iowa, United States 1

Residence 19 Jun 1880 (about age 12) Cedar Township, Mitchell, Iowa, United States 4

Residence 1895 (about age 28) Vinton, Benton, Iowa, United States 5

ChildParent-Parent 4 Oct 1899 (about age 32) Birdie Jennie Hawley (GC7W-KHX); Clear Lake, Deuel, South Dakota, United States 6

Residence 1900 (about age 33) Clear Lake, Deuel, South Dakota, United States 3

ChildParent-Parent 16 Dec 1901 (about age 34) William Harding Hawley (GC7W-VWG); Deuel, South Dakota, United States 7

Residence 1910 (about age 43) Seattle, King, Washington, United States 8

Residence 1920 (about age 53) Clear Lake, Deuel, South Dakota, United States 9

Alt. Name Mary Hawley (GC7W-JS2) 10

Residence 1931 (about age 64) Fort Ripley, Crow Wing, Minnesota, United States 10

Death 1934 (about age 67) South Dakota, United States 2,11

Burial Hillcrest Cemeter, Estelline, Hamlin, South Dakota, United States 2

Marriages/Children

Edwin B. Hawley (GC7W-GFB) 1856-1925
Children Fred Orville Hawley (G8DL-QHR) 1886-1964
William Harding Hawley (GC7W-VWG) 1901-1988
Birdie Jennie Hawley (GC7W-KHX) 1899-1996

Endnotes:

1. 1870 U.S. Census, Fayette County, Iowa, population schedule, Fremont, Fayette County, Iowa, page 5 Image 5 of 13, household 56, Harding Abel; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online January 2018)
2. Find a Grave, database and images, Find a Grave (www.findagrave.com : viewed online 1 November 2020), memorial for May Hawley (1867-1934), Find a Grave Memorial no. #46625124, created by L Nystrom, citing HIllcrest Cemetery, Estelline, Hamline County, South Dakota; accompanying photograph by L Nystrom, May Hawley.
3. 1900 U.S. Census, Deuel County, South Dakota, population schedule, Clear Lake, Deuel County, South Dakota, ED 129, Sheet 2B Image [Image] of [ImageTotal], family 46, E. B. Hawley; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online 1 November 2020)
4. 1880 U.S. Census, Mitchell County, Iowa, population schedule, Cedar Township, Mitchell County, Iowa, page 18 Image [Image] of [ImageTotal], household 180, Abel Harding; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online January 2018); NARA microfilm publication T9
5. “Iowa, State Census, 1895,”State Historical Society of Iowa, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online (1 November 2020), May Hawley.
6. Social Security Administration, “Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007,” database on-line, Ancestry, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/60901/ : viewed online 1 November 2020), Birdie J Grothaus.
7. “South Dakota, Birth Index, 1856-1917,” database, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online 16 October 2021), William Harding Hawley.
8. 1910 U.S. Census, King County, Washington, population schedule, Seattle, King County, Washington, enumeration district (ED) ED 58, Sheet 20A, family 44, Edwin Hawley; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online 16 October 2021); NARA microfilm publication T624.
9. 1920 U.S. Census, Deuel County, South Dakota, population schedule, Clear Lake, Deuel County, South Dakota, ED 126, Sheet 2A Image 3 of 18, family 29, E. B. Hawley; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online 16 October 2021)
10. Find a Grave, database and images, Find a Grave (www.findagrave.com : viewed online July 2018), memorial for Martha G Harding Corbett (1888-1931), Find a Grave Memorial no. #150778946, created by Merrily Lawson, citing cremated, ;, Martha G Harding Corbett.
11. South Dakota, Death Index, 1879-1955, Lettie M. Hawley, 18 March 1934; database with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online 16 October 2021). Original Source: Index to South Dakota Death Records, 1905-1955.