Harding

      The Hardings of South Harford, Susquehanna Co. PA.
               The ancestors of THOMAS HARDING, first settler in SouthHarford,is taken from the book, The Hardings in America, by Wilbur Harding, published in 1925.Keystone,Iowa. Wilbur Harding was a Genealogical Register of the descendants of JOHN HARDING of England. The first part of this account starting with JOHNHARDING is furnished by Rev. Garfield Williams. The secondpart starting with PERRY GREEN HARDING is furnish by ROBERT A. KEMPSELL SR.
         RICHARD HARDING, was born abt. 1540, in Eng. His son JOHN,born 1567,at Essex,Eng. came to America, with his wife and children:RICHARD, John, Joseph, Lemuel, Amos and Oliver. arriving August 1623. JOHN died 14 Jan. 1637.
          RICHARD HARDING, was born 1583,at Boreham, Devonshire,England. He came to America with his parents, his wife and infant son August 1623. The family landed at Weymouth Landing,MA. He settled in Braintree,MA where son STEPHEN HARDING 1ST, was born in 1623. He died 18 Dec.1657. He left a second wife Elizabeth Adams and three children.
         STEPHEN HARDING 1ST, was born in 1623,at Braintree,MA.He settle in Providence,RI. He married BRIDGET ESTANCE,daughter of THOMAS ESTANCE and ANN in 1648. They joined the Baptist Church. They had seven children: Sarah, John,Stephen, ABRAHAM 1ST, Priscilla, Mary and Mercy. He died 10Feb. 1698.
        ABRAHAM HARDING 1ST, was born in 1656, at Providence,RI. He married DEBORAH, 18 Feb.1700 at Providence,RI where they lived. Their children: STEPHEN 3RD, Lydia, John,Mercy,Israel, Deborah and Thomas. He died 23 Nov. 1694 at Providence,RI.
       STEPHEN HARDING 3RD, was born 1681, at Providence,RI. He married ELIZABETH KNIGHT about 1716. Their Children:John, Abraham, STEPHEN 4TH, Thomas and Israel. He became a very wealthman in the shipping industry, owning several ships, He held the title of Captain. He later owned a farm at Waterford,CT (400 Acre). He was also a Tannier and Currier by trade. He died 31 May 1750, at 3RD Harford,CT.
       Abraham Harding 2nd., son of STEPHEN 3RD was born 14June 1720. at Warwick,Kent,RI. He married Anna Dolson in1741, at Waterford,CT. He moved to Orange Co.,NY, where he lived for a time, Anna died there in 1802.That year he moved to Clifford,Susquehanna,PA where he died in 1806. Abraham served in the American Revolution and was called Major. He was the ancestor of Warren G. Harding,President of the United States. (An excellent paper entitled "Ancestors of President Harding in relation to the Hardings of Wyoming Valley & Clifford,PA",by Clara Gardner Miller) pages 1-46 in the Proceedings Wyoming Historical & Biological Society Vol. 21, published 1930, is the bestfamily record as to the former President. This papercontains a detailed Bibliography of books on the Harding family.
       STEPHEN HARDING 4TH, was born 1723, at Warwick,Kent,RI. He married AMELIA(AMY) GARDNER 31 May 1748, at Warwick,Kent,RI. AMY was born 17 Feb. 1725, at Kingston,RI to STEPHEN GARDNER and FRANCES CONGDON. STEPHEN 4TH and AMY Children: THOMAS 7TH, Esther, Elisha, Amy, Lydia, Jemima,Stephen, Benjamin, Stukely, William, Israel, Micajah andJohn. STEPHEN 4TH died 11 Oct. 1789, AMY died 4 Jun 1804. both died at Exeter,Luz.,PA. they are buried at Jenkins-Harding Cemetery, West Pittston,Pa. In 1749, the family went to Waterford,CT. and was later a resident of Colchester,CT. He served in the French and Indian War in 1760 and was commission Captain of the 7th Co.
24th Regiment Connecticut Militia, formed in Wyoming Valley,Luzerne County,PA. during the revolution and served throughout the War

On 11 July 1754,he signed the Indian deed, which conveyed title to the Wyoming lands, tothe Susquehanna Company of Harford,CT.He was a member of the original company who came in 1762 to make settlement and in 1769 was one of the "First Forty Settlers". His name appears on the tax lists after 1770. He settled in Exeter Township,Luzerne,PA. in 1774. Two of his adult sons, Benjamin and Stukely were cruelly murdered by the Indians on 30 June 1778, Just prior to the Wyoming Masacure.
                                                         FAMILY ACCOUNT
       The story was told by Elijah Harding to his children, is that the two young men left the fort against the advice of others there. The two set out by boat to tend their corn fields around the bend of the Susquehanna River. The younger boy THOMAS went on horseback across the neck of land.They finished their hoeing and put their tools in the boat.They stuffed the bell on the horse and put the boy on its back and started him toward the fort. After they had pushed off, one remembered his shoes. When they went back for the shoes, The Indians attacked and killed them. THOMAS was Elijah grandfather.The fort surrendered 5 July 1778, The Indians had murdered almost all of them in the fort.
       AMY GARDNER HARDING, mother FRANCES CONGDON, was lineal descendant in the 14th generation from Edward 11, King of England, and was a great-granddaughter of FRANCES LATHAM,who was the mother of eight Governors of RI.
       THOMAS HARDING 7TH, was born 13 Apr. 1751, at Colchester,New London,CT. He came to the Wyoming Valley, PA with his father and family, and appears on tax lists after 1774. He was married to Grace Rogers about 1770. Their Children: Amasa, Stephen and Elisha. after her death in 1772 he married HANNAH STEARNS (STARK). Their Children: Benjamin, Thomas, PERRY GREEN, Jesse, James, Hurlburt, Israel, Hannah,Grace and Eunich. The family lived in the Wyoming Valley,PA until 1794. In that year, he sold to Moses Scovel, 160 acres of land in Exeter Township, bounded 320 rods along lands of Scovel, 160 rods along Kingston Township line, 320 rods along land of Ezra Olds.
       THOMAS HARDING 7TH, removed to Harford Township,Susquehanna,PA. in 1794 with his wife HANNAH and family and settled on the banks of Nine Partners Creek about three miles south of the village of Harford, and was the first settler in that location. He built a dam on the creek and erected a grist mill which he operated until his death. He died 11 May 1813, his sons Elisha and Stephen were appointed administrators of his estate. The Orphans Court Docket W.B.1,Page 2 describes him as "late of Harford Township".His wife HANNAH survived him.

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