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Nathan Harding (1746–1828), son of Nathan Harding and Anna Brown
Thankful Clark (bp. 1758–1828), daughter of Daniel Clark and Deborah Lewis
Nathan, the son of Nathan and Anna Harding, was born on 19 December 1746 in Middletown.1 He was baptised on 15 March 1747 in East Hampton.2 He died on 29 July 1828, age 82, probably in Exeter, Otsego County, New York.3
Thankful, the daughter of Daniel and Deborah (Lewis) Clark, was baptised in May 1758 in Haddam.2,4 She died on 8 April 1828, age 73, probably in Exeter.3
Nathan and Thankful are buried in the Exeter Cemetery in Exeter.3
Map of Middlesex County, Connecticut, formed 1785.
In 1790 Nathan (or possibly his father) lived in Chatham in a household with three males over 16, five males under 16, and four females.5 The three males over 16 were proablably Nathan, Joseph and Chauncey; the five males under 16 were probably Daniel, Nathan, Jr., Clark and two who are unknown; the four females were probably Thankful, Deborah, Thankful, Jr., and one is unknown.
In 1800 Nathan lived in Chatham in a household with two males over 45, one female 26 to 44, one male 16 to 25, one male ten to 15, one female 16 to 25, and three females under ten.5 One of the males over 45 and the female 26 to 44 are Nathan and Thankful; the other male over 45 is unknown, possibly Nathan's father. The male 16 to 25 is probably Nathan, Jr., the male ten to 15 is unknown, the female 16 to 25 is probably Thankful and two of the three females under ten are probably Sarah and Drusilla, the other is unknown.
Nathan was chosen a member of the committee to seat the meeting house on 26 October 1807 in Chatham.2
In 1810 Nathan lived in Chatham in a household with one male and female over 45, a female ten to 15 and a female under 10.5 The children were probably Drusilla and Lois.
On 10 April 1820 Nathan Harding and his wife Thankful of Plainfield, Otsego County, New York sold land in the town of Plainfield to Luther Smith of Plainfield for 345.50 dollars. Nathan signed the deed; Thankful signed with her mark. It was recorded on 5 April 1831.6
After Nathan and Thankfuls sold their land in Plainfield, they probably moved to the neighboring town of Exeter, where their son Chauncey was living.
Note: East Hampton was incorporated as Chatham in 1767 and renamed East Hampton in 1915. East Hampton and Middletown are towns in Middlesex County, Connecticut.
Children of Nathan Harding and Thankful Clark: Names are listed in McPherson.7 The order is uncertain.
i. Joseph Harding was probably born about 1774. He died at sea.7
Joseph might be the Joseph who was "voted Oct. 31, 1797 abatment on Oliver Brainard's bill" at the church in Chatham.2
ii. Chauncey Harding was born on 8 January 1775 in Middle Haddam.7,8 He died on10 (gravestone) or 11 December 1876 in Iowa Falls, Hardin County, Iowa.3,8 He married first Anna Gates.7 Anna was born in 1786 in Middle Haddam.8 She died on 6 April 1819 in Richfield, Otsego County, New York.8 Chauncey married second Sally Martin.8 She was born on 3 November 1794 in Richfield.8 She died on 20 April 1885 in Iowa Falls.3,8
Chauncey and Sally are buried together in the Union Cemetery in Iowa Falls.3
Chauncey probably went to Ostego County in 1809.8 He had a household in Exeter in 1820 with one male 26 to 44, one male ten to 15, two males under ten and two females 16 to 25. In 1830 his household there included one male 40 to 49, two males 15 to 19, one female 30 to 39, one female 15 to 19, and one female five to nine.3
Chauncey's son Harry G. Harding married Salinda Rathbone Brainerd, the sister of the husband of his cousin Philena Ann, the daughter of Nathan Harding.7
iii. Daniel Harding was probably born in 1777. Daniel Harding from Chatham died on 8 August 1816, age 36, in Richfield.7,9 He married Betsy Strong of East Hampton on 27 September 1798 in East Hampton.2 Betsey, the daughter of Adonijah and Mary "Polly" Kellogg, was born about 1780.7 She was the granddaughter of Asahel and Betterus (Crouch) Strong of Colchester, Connecticut and Daniel Kellogg of Bolton, Connecticut.7 She died on 28 July 1816 in Richfield.7
Daniel could not have been born in 1880, as his death notice suggests, unless he was a twin of Nathan.
In 1800 Daniel headed a household in Chatham with one male and one female between 16 and 25 and one female under ten.5
Daniel was chosen collector in the Congregational church on 15 November 1802.2 He was chosen a member to seat the Meeting House on 28 October 1805.2
Daniel and Betsey apparently moved to Richfield and died not long after within days of each other.
iv. Nathan Harding was born on 10 January 1780 in Middle Haddam. He died on 17 September 1867 in West Winfield. He maried Philena Ann Clark.
v. Deborah Harding was perhaps born about 1781. She married Miner Hildreth of Glastenbury on 23 February 1797 in East Hampton.2 She may have died between 1800 and 1807. Miner was born about 1775 in Glastenbury.10 He probably died (possibly at sea) by 1807.
It is possible that Deborah was the first child, born say 1773. It is also possible that Deborah was born in the gap between Nathan and Clark's birth, say in 1781, although this makes her a young bride. It is also remotely possible that she was a twin of Daniel, whose birth is also not recorded.
Deborah was probably alive in 1800 when the census records her husband living with an apparent wife and child. She probably died by 1807, when she does not appear in the settlement records of her apparent husband's estate.
Miner appears to have been a seaman. He declared his U.S. citizenship to obtain a Seaman's Protection Certificate on 18 March 1799 in New London.10
In 1800 Miner headed a household in Glastonbury; it included a male and female 26 to 44, a male under ten and a female 45 and over.5
The estate of Miner Hildreth of Marlborough, who apparently died intestate, was probated about 1807. No family members are mentioned in the estate papers.11
vi. Thankful Harding was born say 1783/4. She married [as his second wife] Isaac Niles on 12 April 1804 in East Hampton.2 Isaac was born in 1780 in Colchester.12 He died in early 1843.11 He and Thankful are said to have divorced in the 1832, and that Thankful moved to Ohio and remarried.12 Isaac married first Almira Willey on 23 December 1800.7 Almira, the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Marshall) Willey, was born on 17 March 1779 and died on 12 September 1803.7
Thankful was probably born in the gap between Nathan and Clark, say in 1783/4.
In 1810 Niles headed a house hold in East Hampton with one male and one female 26 to 44 and one male and three females under ten.5 By 1820 Niles and Thankful had moved to Jefferson County and Niles headed a household in Ellsburg with one male and one female 26 to 44, one make ten to 15 and three males and two females under ten.5 In 1830 Niles headed a household in Orleans with one male and one female 50 to 59, one male 20 to 29, one male and one female 15 to 19, two males ten to 14 and one male and one female five to nine.5
Isaac Niles of Oswego, Oswego County made his will on 1 January 1843. He left debts due him to his unnamed wife and bequests to his sons Chauncey Niles and Ralph Niles of Clayton, Jefferson County. Probate was on 24 April 1843.7
vii. Clark Harding was born in late 1787 or early 1788. Clark, the son of Nathan, Jr., died on 8 August 1798, age ten years and seven months, in East Hampton.2
Clark died of measles.7
viii. Sarah "Sally" Harding was born say 1790. She married Seldon Rogers of East Haddam on 7 November 1807 in East Hampton.2
Sally was probably born in the gap between Nathan and Clark, say in 1785/6.
In 1810 Seldon headed a household in East Hampton with a male and female 16 to 25 and two males under ten.5
ix. Drusilla Harding was born about 1797 in Connecticut. Drusilla Barrett died "on or about" 8 September 1875.11 She married Unknown Barrell.7 Unknown Barrell is probably Jacob Barrett. Jacob was born about 1797 or 1798 in Connecticut. He died on 6 September 1887 in Dryden [in Tompkins County] New York.13
In all of their census entries, Drusilla and Jacob are described as being born in Connecticut. Drusilla is described as being an age consistent with having been born in 1797, except in the 1850 census where she is born about 1798. The entries suggest that Jacob was born about 1797 or 1798.
Jacob and Drusilla went to Locke, Cayuga County, New York about 1830, as in 1855 the census says that they were there for 25 years.14 They remained in Locke until at least 1875.
In 1850 Jacob and Drusilla were living with Mary A. Barrett, age 26, Louisa Watson, age 21, Burton H. Barrett, age 18, Charles Barrett, age six, and Martha Barrett, age four. Jacob was a farmer with real estate worth 1,000 dollars. In 1855 Jacob and Drusilla were apparently living alone. In 1860 they were living with Martha J., age nine months, and Jacob had real estate worth 800 dollars and a personal estate of 200 dollars. In 1866 they were living with the son Burton, age 33, their grandchild Martha Barrett, age nine, and Martha J. Brown, age five. Jcob was a wagon maker and Drusilla had has six children. In 1870 they were living with Martha J. Brown, age ten, and Jacob was a wagon maker with real estate worth 1,500 dollars and a personal estate of 400 dollars. In 1875 they were living with Burten, age 43 and a farm laborer, his wife Georgiana, and their grand children Fred W. and Janie [Martha J.] Brown, age 15.5,14
Drusilla made her will on 16 March 1868, leaving her entire estate to her husband, whom she named executor. Her will was proved on 21 February 1876 and administration was granted to Jacob Barrett of Locke.11
In 1880, Jacob was a widower living with his son-in-law Elijah Watson his daughter Louisa Watson in the hamlet of Maloreyville in Tompkins County, New York. Jacob had at last retired.5
x. Lois Harding was born on 4 July 1801 in Connecticut. She died on 1 August 1873. She married William Burgess about 1819.7,16 William was born on 6 February 1800 in Connecticut.3 He died on 9 June 1886, age 84, in Newark, New Jersey.3,13 He probably died at the home of his son Rush.
William and Lois are buried in the Blandford Cemetery in Petersburg, Petersburg City, Virgina. The inscription on Lois's grave says, "In Memory of Mrs. Louise Burgess, wife of William Burgess, who departed this life Aug 1, 1873, aged 72 years, 1 mo. 28 days."3
William was the son of Gideon Burgess and Sally French, the grandson of John Burgess and Urania Mowrey, and the grandson of John Burgess of Gloucester, Rhode Island.17 He was descended from Thomas Burgess, one of the earliest settlers of Sandwich, Barnstable County, Massachusetts.18 He appears to have been the second cousin of Nelson W. Aldrich, the famous politician and grandfather of Nelson Rockefeller.
When William was six, his parents moved to Herkimer County. He married Lois Harding when he was 19.15
In 1850 William, a 50-year-old innkeeper who was born in Connecticut, and Lois, 49 years old and born in Connecticut, were living in Richfield, Otsego, New York with their apparent sons William, age 20, John, age 18, Lewis, age 16, and Rush, age 12.5 Lewis ownded 225 acres worth 7,500 dollars. He had seven horses, one milch cow, nine other cattle and six pigs. He grew wheat, corn, potatoes and hay. 16
William and Lois moved to Virginia in 1852. He built large grist and saw mills, which he ran with his sons.15
In 1860 William, age 60 and born in Connecticult, and Lois, age 58, and born in Connecticut, were living in Dinwiddie, Virginia with their sons John, age 28, Lewis, age 26, Rush, age 22, and an apparent daughter-in-law and baby. William had real estate worth 4,000 dollars and a personal estate of 4,000 dollars; John was engaged in sawing and Rush was a farmer.5 In 1870 William, age 70 and born in Connecticut, and Lois, age 68 and born in Connecticut, were living in Petersburg, Virginia. William was a farmer and had real estate worth 10,000 dollars and a personal estate of 6,000 dollars.5 In 1880 William was an 80-year-old widowed farmer born in Connecticut. He was living with his son Clark and Clark's family in Namozine, a community in Dinwiddie County, Virginia.5
On 7 August 1886 Rush Burgess of Newark applied for administration of his father William Burgess's estate. He listed his co-heirs as William's son Clark of Virginia and Nathan Burgess of Herkimer County, New York.11
References:
1. "Connecticut: Vital Records (The Barbour Collection), 1630–1870," database with images, AmericanAncestors (2011, https://www.americanancestors.org/DB414/i/12576/211/24352578) > Middletown, images 211–2, from original typescripts, Lucius Barnes Barbour Collection, 1928.
2. "Connecticut, U.S., Church Record Abstracts, 1630–1920," database with images, Ancestry (2013: https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/3032) > vo. 48 Haddam, image 112; vol. 26 East Hampton, image 285–8.
3. "Nathan Harding," webpage, Findagrave (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/183810985/nathan-harding), inscription: "Mr. Nathan Hardin died July 29 1828 in his 83 year;" "Thankful Hardin," webpage, Findagrave (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/849666094/thankful-hardin), inscription: "Mrs. Thankful wife of Nathan Hardin died April 8 1828 in her 74 Year." "Chauncey Harding," webpage, Findagrave (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18833085/chauncey-hardin); "Sally Martin Hardin," webpage, Findagrave (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18833070/sally-hardin); "William Burgess," webpage, Findagrave (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/william-burgess), dates on gravestons; "Mrs. Louis Bemis Harding Burgess," webpage, Findagrave (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/29185684/louis-bemis-burgess).
4. Mayflower Families Fifth Generation Descendants, 1700–1880," online database, AmericanAncestors, vol. 16, part 2, 356–7, citing Mayflower Families Through Five Generations: Descendants of the Pilgrims who landed at Plymouth, Mass., December 1620 (Plymouth, MA: General Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1975–2015).
5. United States Federal Census. Databases with images, Ancestry (2004, 2009, 2010):
1790 (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/5058) > CT > Middlesex > Chatham, image 4 (Nathan)
1800 (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7590) > CT > Middlesex > Chatham, image 10. (Nathan), image 11 (Daniel); CT > Hartford > Glastenbury, image 6 (Miner Hildreth).
1810 (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7613) > CT > Middlesex > Chatham, image 2 (Isaac Niles), image 8 (Seldon Rogers)
1820 (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7613) > NY > Otsego > Exeter, image 2 (Chauncey); NY > Jefferson > Ellsburg, image 2 (Isaac Niles)
1830 (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/8058) > NY > Otsego > Exeter, image 7 (Chauncey); NY > Jefferson > Orleans, image 5 (Isaac Niles)
1850 ( https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/8054) > NY >Otsego > Richfield, image 4 (William Burgess); NY > Cayuga > Locke, image 11 (Jacob Barrett).
1860 (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7667) > VA > Dinwiddie > District 1, image 64 (William Burgess); NY > Cayuga > Locke, image 29 (Jacob Barrett).
1870 (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7163) > VA > Petersburg > Petersburg Ward 6, image 98 (William Burgess); NY > Cayuga > Locke, image 24 (Jacob Barrett).
1880 (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6742) > VA > Dinwiddie > Namozine > 083, image 1 (William Burgess); NY > Tompkins > Maloreyville > 226, image 2.
6. "United States, New York Land Records, 1630–1975," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/2078654) > Otsego > Deeds 1830–1831 vol. SS–UU, images 739–749 (Nathan and Thankful to Luther Smith).
7. Family Genealogies
Gladys Redfield McPherson, Ancestry of Addie Clark Harding: Daughter of Abner Clark Harding, Jr., and Maud McCain (Chicago: unknown, 196-?), 90. (Joseph and Clark's deaths, Chauncey's birth and first marriage, Drusilla and Lois's marriages)
Lucy Abigail Brainard, The Genealogy of the Brainerd-Brainard Family in America (Hartford, CT: Hartford Press, 1908), 127. (Chauncey's son Harry's marriage)
Benjamin Woodbridge Dwight, The History of the Descendants of Elder John Strong, of Northampton, Mass. (Albany: J. Munsell, 1871), 199–200, 216. (Daniel's death and his wife's birth, death, parents and grandparents)
Henry Willey, Isaac Willey of New London, Conn., and His Descendants (New Bedford, MA: printed for the author, 1888), 54–55. (Isaac Niles' first marriage and will; his first wife's birth and death)
8. Portrait and Biographical Album of Warren County, Illinois (Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1886), 491. This source refers to Chauncey as "Chancy."
9. "Connecticut, U.S., Hale Collection of Cemetery Inscriptions and Newspaper Notices, 1629–1934," database with images, Ancestry (2012, https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2900) > Connecticut newspaper notices > vol. 1, image 193.
10. "U.S., New England Seamen's Protection Certificate Index, 1796–1871," database, Ancestry (2015: https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/70764), entry for Miner Hildreth.
11. Probate Records
"Connecticut, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1609–1999," database with images, Ancestry (2015: https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/9049) > Hartford > Probate Packets, Hall–Hildreth, 1741–1880, images 1113–26, Minor Hildreth.
"New York: Abstracts of Wills, Admins. and Guardianships, 1787–1835," database with images, AmericanAncestors (2006) : Oswego, images 491, 637, Isaac Niles.
"New York, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1758–1999," database with images, Ancestry (2015, https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/8800) > Cayuga > Records of Wills, vol. Y–Z, 1875–1878, image 136, Drusilla [Harding] Barrett; Cayugaa >Letters Testamentary and Administrations, vol. L–M, 1872–1877, image 843, Drusilla [Harding] Barrett.
"New Jersey, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1609–1999," database with images, Ancestry (2015: https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/8796) > Essex > Applications for Administration, vol. 3–4, 1886–1891, image 62. William Burgess.
12. "Pioneer Family of Isaac Niles,"Welcome to Jefferson County, New York (US GenWeb Project website) http://jefferson.nygenweb.net/nilesp.htm : accessed 12 August 2021).
13. State Death Indexes
"New York, U.S., Death Index 1852–1956, database with images, Ancestry (2017, https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/61535), entry for Jacob Barrett.
"Virgina, U.S., Deaths and Burials Index, 1853–1917," database, Ancestry (2011, https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2258), entry for William Burgess.
14. "New York, U.S., State Census, 1865," database with images, Ancestry (2014, https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7218) > 1855 > Cayuga > Locke > all, image 7, line 44 left-hand side; 1865 > Cayuga > Locke, image 14, line 40 left-hand side; 1875 > Cayuga > Locke, all, image 5, line 31 right-hand side.
15. Robert Alonzo Brock and Virgil Anson Lewis, Virginians and Virginia, vol. 2 (Richmond: H.H. Hardesty, 1888), 683.
16. "U.S., Selected Federal Non-Population Schdules, 1850–1880," database with images, Ancestry (2010, https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1276) > NY > Agriculture > 1850 > Otsego > Richfield, images 1–2, line 25.
17. National Society of the Daughters of the Revolution, Lineage Book, vol. 56 (Washington, D.C.: Judd & Detweiler, 1922), 153.
18. Michael Burgess and Dean Burgess, "Dancing with DNA: The Triumphs and Tribulations of a Y Chromosome DNA Project," New England Ancestors Magazine 6 (Holday 2005): 45–46.
1911 map from Rand McNally at My Genealogy Hound (http://www.mygenealogyhound.com/maps/Connecticut-Maps/CT-Middlesex-County-Connecticut-1911-Map-Rand-McNally.html).
Last revised: 19-Sep-2021