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.

Harding Puzzle Piece

Have you ever thought that your efforts researching your family history were similar to putting together a jigsaw puzzle? When I started my genealogy research, I was working with the family stories and documents that my grandmothers provided. Gathering that information and piecing it together was like putting together the border of a puzzle.

As I began to gather information from other sources, it was like turning pieces colored side up. As I evaluated that information, I was able to begin putting the pieces together into family groups. Sometimes, I found that it takes negative evidence, or pieces that just don’t seem to fit, to help put that family together.

When trying to figure out who Julia Harding Hutchinson’s mother was the clues from ‘negative evidence’ were very helpful. The 1887 will for Eliza Harding was one of those pieces of evidence.

#1472

Will of Eliza Harding, Deceased
In the name of God amen.
I Eliza Harding of the Township of Mt Vernon in
Black Hawk County State of Iowa being of sound mind
and memory to make publish and declare this my
last will & testament in manner following, viz
First, I give and bequeath to my son A. H. Ponsford
the farm in said Mt Vernon Township now occupied by
me and known as the homestead and containing eighty
acres to be held used and enjoyed b him to & for his
sole and exclusive use and benefit forever subject
however to be payment of the charges hereinafter men-
tioned and which are t be & remain a charge on said
land until the same are removed by full payment & sat
isfaction
Second I give and bequeath to my daughter Hattie
C. Harding the sum of two hundred dollars to be paid to
her by my said son A. H. Ponsford within four years after
my decease and I do further direct that my said
daughter shall have the right to retain her home on
the first above mentioned home farmso long as she shall
desire a home or until she shall have acquired a house
of her own or shall have married.
Third, I give & Bequeath to my daughter Minnie T. Harding
the sum of Two hundred dollars to be paid to her by the
said A. H. Ponsford in manner and form as is provided
in the last foregoing provision and I do also direct
that she shall have the right of keeping and maintain
ing a home on said home farm so long as she may
desire or shall need such home.
Fourth – I give and bequeath to my won Walter
Ponsford the sum of twenty five dollars to be paid
to him by the said A. H. Ponsford in manner & form so
as is provided in the last foregoing provision

Fifth I give and bequeath to my son Joseph
Ponsford the sum of Twenty Five Dollars to be paid
to him by the sad A. H. Ponsford in manner & form
as is provided in the last forgoing provision

Sixth – I direct that the personal property of
which I may be possessed at the time of my decease
shall be held & received by my children and shall

page 251
be by their divided & distributed among them as they
may decree best
Seventh – I give and bequeath to my daughter
Rachel Stickney of Cedar Falls Iowa the sum of
twenty dollars to be paid to her by the said A. H. Ponsford
in manner as is mentioned in the two last foregoing
provisions (the 4th & 5th)
Eighth – I give and bequeath to my daughter
Sarah the sum of five dollars to be paid to her
in the manner & form as provided in the last
foregoing provision.
Ninth – I name nominate & appoint my said
son A. H. Ponsford executor of this my last will &
Testament hereby revoking any all former or other
wills by me made. In witness whereof I have
hereunto set my hand this 18th day of April AD 1887
Eliza Harding

We whose names are hereunto subscribed as witnesses
do hereby certify that the foregoing instrument consist
ing of three pages was on the day of the date thereof
signed and declared by the said Eliza Harding to be
her last will & Testament in the presence of us who
at her request and in her presence & in the presence
of each other have hereunto subscribed our names
as witnesses.
William Evverts
S H. Packard

State of Iowa
Black Hawk County
I A. J. Edwards Clerk of the
District Court of the State of Iow in and for said Black hawk
County do hereby certify that the foregoing Will of Eliza Harding
deceased was on the 26th day of September 1887 duly proved
and admitted to probate and record in said District
Court in accordance with law.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set
my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at my
office in Waterloo in said County on this 26th day of
September AD 1887
A J Edwards
Clerk District Court Black Hawk Co Iowa

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.

Eliza’s will appears to name her children:

• A. H. Ponsford
• Hattie Harding
• Minnie Harding
• Walter Ponsford
• Joseph Ponsford
• Rachel Stickney
• Sarah

While this will appears to list the children of Eliza Harding, my ancestor, Julia Harding, is visibly absent from this will. Also missing from this will are the siblings of Julia identified in other records: Caroline, Abel, Thomas, Abigail, Isabella and William Henry. In 1887, Julia and her siblings were married and scattered between Bremer County, Iowa, and Richardson county Nebraska.

While this will would suggest that these are two separate Harding families, the 1860 census record for the Wm G Harding household in Mount Vernon Township, Black Hawk County, Iowa is one puzzle piece tying the families together. The Wm G Harding household in 1860 included the following people:

• Wm G Harding, age 54 and born in New Brunswick
• 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

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

This 1860 census record appears to combine most of Eliza’s children and some of Julia’s siblings in the household of Wm G Harding. Using a birth place of New Brunswick as a clue, the Harding family was found on the 1851 census living in Westfeld, Kings County, New Brunswick.

• William G Harding – male – widowed – age 47 – native – farmer
• Caroline Harding – f – single – age 20 – native
• Abel Harding – M – single – age 18 – native
• Thomas Harding – M – single – age 16 – native
• Abigail Harding – F – single – age 14 – native
• Julia Harding – F – single – age 11 – native
• Isabella Harding – F – single – age 9 – native
• Henry Harding – male – single – age 5 – native

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

This 1851 census record lists Julia and her siblings in the household of William G. Harding. Eliza Harding is not listed on this record. Nor are any of the Ponsford children. Also absent from this record is a potential mother for the Harding children.

These two pieces of negative evidence, Eliza’s will which does not mention Julia and the 1851 New Brunswick census which does list Julia but does not list Eliza, are the basis for my current conclusion that Eliza is not the mother of Julia Harding.

However, I need additional evidence.

• Marriage record for William G. Harding and Eliza
• Census record for Eliza and her Ponsford children in 1850 or 1851
• Eliza’s marriage record to a Ponsford
• Death and/or burial records for William Harding’s first wife
• Death an/or burial records for the father of the Ponsford children

Unfortunately, my puzzle will not be complete until I locate these hidden pieces of the puzzle.