The Family Garden

Notes

George HARDY

The first authentic record we find of this family (the Hardy Family) in Virginia is of George Hardy, who came to the Colony prior to 1636, at which date he is spoken of as a "Shipwright." In 1644 he patented 300 acres,and is 1648 500 acres, situated upon Lawne's Creek, in Isle of Wight County. He was the owner of the famous Hardy Mill, which was owned by the family for generations. He served as a member of the House of Burgesses from 1641-52. He was a liberal supporter of the Established Church. He made his will March 16, 1654, which was probated April 14, 1655; he names his loving wife to whom he leaves all of his land, housing, etc., and after her death to be divided between his kinsmen, George Hardy, Jr., Christian Wilson and Thomas Hardy; so he evidently left no issue.
*Source: "Colonial Families of the Southern States of America", A History and Genealogy of Colonial Families Who Settled in the Colonies Prior to the Revolution, by Stella Pickett Hardy, originally published New York,1911, Reprinted Genealogy Publishing Co., Inc. Baltimore, 1965,1968 & 1974.pg 261

WILL OF GEORGE HARDY

Will of George Hardy, dated March 16, 1654, proved April 14, 1655. After the decease of his wife all his land, housing and g. to be divided between his kinsmen George Hardy, Jr. and Christian Wilson, for lack of heirs of G. H. then to fall to Thomas Hardy and Christian Wilson.  My seal ring to my kinsman George, and my wife my other ring. "100 pds of tobacco towards the building of the Church in this parish in case it be built with Brick." To my kinsman George H. 3,000 lbs of tobacco to buy 2 servants. In case of return of 27 hds of tobacco I sent Home last year doth come in I then ordain that George Hardy "shall have a feather bed, Rugg sheets, and Blankets out of the produce of it, also I give him all my wearing apparel. Signed and Sealed in the presence of us Karby Kigan, Jno Jennings, George Woodward, John Pit Clk Cur."
*Source: Virginia Land Records, Isle of Wight County Deeds and OtherRecords Reproduction of actual records Virginia Vital Records #1,1600-1800's, Broderbund Software CD #174

George Hardy was Burgess from 1641 until his death in 1654. in 1636 in a patent to Peter Hayes, to whom he has assigned land, he is called "shipwright".  About 1647, he, together with Thomas Wombell and Peter Hayes, patented 1,100 acres of land, for the transportation of himself the second time and his wife the second and third time. And also one Christian Wilson who is mentioned later in his will. In 1648 he patented 500 acres ofland on Lawne's Creek next to Alice Bennett for the transportation often persons including himself and Thomas Hardy. George Hardy died in 1655 and in his will he bequeathed 1,000 lbs of tobacco towards the building of a church in the Upper Parish provided it be built of brick. He owned Hardy's mill on Lawne's Creek, the oldest mill mentioned in the records and noted for its lanog and continued operation. To his kinsman George Hardy he left his seal ring and requested his wife to look upon Thomas Hardy "as his next kinsman"...
*Source: Seventeenth Century Isle of Wight County Virginia, by John Bennett Boddie, Originally published Chicago, 1938, pg 225-226

Likewise, in Virginia, George Hardy, of Isle of Wight County, took an active part in public affairs. He served as a member of the House of Burgesses from 1641 to 1652. One of his descendants, Honorable Samuel Hardy, who was educated at William and Mary College and whose remains rest in Philadelphia with those of Innes, Tazwell, Macon, Reade and other gallant and patriotic Virginians, was a contemporary of George Washington. He served as a member of the House of Delegates in 1781,and was a member of the continental Congress from 1783 to 1785. He wasa lawyer and his magnificent power, it is said, placed his at once in the front rank of statesmen. He was a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses from 1772 to 1774...
*Source: "Hardy and Hardie Past and Present" Authors and Compilers H.Claude Hardy and Rev. Edwin Noah Hardy, 1935 Printed by The SyracuseTypesetting Co., Inc. Third printing, 1977 The Village Press, Inc.Concord, NH. 03301, pp. 18

He was probably the first to erect a grist-mill, which became quite famous, locally; and is still in operation and known as "Wrenn's Old Mill."

George Hardy (c.1577-c.1655)
Some individuals recorded as Bell or Bale in the Land Office seem to have later changed their names to Beale or Beall. All immigrants were entitled to 50 acres of land from the Provincial Government, and if they claimed the 50 acres, the said claim caused their names to be recorded in the Land Office. Manyimmigrants for cogent reasons, did not claim the 50 acres of land. Their failure to do so prevented any record being made of their arrival. (The listing below was found in the List for VIRGINIA)
RICHARD BELL 1648 patentee Geo. Hardy. Went to Isle of Wight Co.

*Source: Colonial Families of the United States Descended from the Immigrants,  Author: Fiedler M. M. Beall, Call Number: CS71.b384, This book contains the genealogy of Bell, Beal, Bale, Beale, Beall colonialfamilies who arrived before 1700. Most of the individuals originatedfrom England and Scotland who are now settled in Maryland. FROM DATACOLLECTED AND EDITED BYLIEUT.-COLONEL FIELDER M. M. BEALL, U. S. ARMY,Printed by Chas. H. Potter & Co., Inc.Washington D.C. 1929. pp.10-11&15

Sarah Jackson (Elizabeth, Alice Pierce) married Arthur Smith II, who with his wife gave to George Hardy deeds for the land on Blackwater in Isle of Wight County, 1666, the deeds reciting that Sarah, wife ofArthur Smith II and Mary the wife of George Hardy were daughters of Richard Jackson and granddaughters of Alice Bennett.
*Source:  Isle of Wight Co., Wills & Deeds, #1 pp.69, 70, Val. Pps. II595

IMMIGRATION RECORDS
The following persons are listed as being immigrated by Geo. Hardy,Tho. Wombwell and Peter Hall, Isle of Wight Co in 1648:

Richard Bell, Mary Booth, Tho. Clanc, Ann Garner, Tho Greene, David Greene, Edwd. Halt, Geo. Harvey and wife, Eliza. Holmes, Pete Medcalfe, John Mouser, John Olivee, Robert Ward, Scpian Wilson, Ann Clarke, James Louder, Ann Peeroy, Ellin Sleeve, Tho Soopson, Wm Taylor, John Taylor, Antho. Tyngle.

Gerard GORE

HE was an Alderman of London.
from the LDS website:
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Husband's Name
Gerard GORE (AFN:9GC8-8V)
Born:  1516  Place:  London, Middlesex, England
Died:  11 Dec 1607  Place:
Married:  1550  Place:
Father:  John GORE (AFN:9GC8-B7)
Mother:
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Wife's Name
Ellen DAVENANT (AFN:9GC8-92)
Born:  Abt. 1518  Place:  London, Middlesex, England
Died:  13 Feb 1607/1608  Place:
Married:  1550  Place:
Father:  Ralph DAVENANT (AFN:9GC8-DK)
Mother:
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Children
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1.  Sex  Name
M  John GORE (AFN:V9H1-2J)
Born:  Abt 1541   Place:  Of, London, Middlesex, England
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2.  Sex  Name
M  Ralph GORE (AFN:9GC8-5C)
Born:  Abt. 1542   Place:  Southall, Middlesex, England
Died:  Sep 1637   Place:
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3.  Sex  Name
M  Paul GORE (AFN:V9H1-4V)
Born:  Abt 1560   Place:  Of, Magherabegg, Donegal, Ireland
Died:  Sep 1629   Place:
Buried:    Place:  Abbey Church, , Donegal, Ireland

John GORE

He was Lord Mayor of London. *Source: Internet

Ralph GORE

From the LDS site:
Ralph GORE (AFN: 9GC8-5C)
Sex:  M
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------
Event(s):
Birth:  Abt. 1542
Southall, Middlesex, England
Death:  Sep 1637
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------
Parents:
Father:  Gerard GORE (AFN: 9GC8-8V)
Mother:  Ellen DAVENANT (AFN: 9GC8-92)
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Marriage(s):
Spouse:  Agnes YOUNG (AFN: 9GC8-6J)
Marriage:

Richard GORE

From the LDS site:
Occupation:  M.P. for London
He died leaving 8 daughters
Richard GORE (AFN: 158R-0R4)
Sex:  M
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Event(s):
Birth:  Abt. 1586

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Parents:
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Marriage(s):
Spouse:  Mary ALBANY (AFN: 158R-0SB)
Marriage:  Abt 1610
Of, London, Middlesex, England

Robert GARNETT

Robert being the father of Thomas Garnett is not a proven fact.  This parentage was orignally suggested by David Garnett, a famous English writer, in the 1930s.  There was a Thomas Garnett recorded in the parish registers of Kirby Lonsdaleas, England as a son of Robert Garnett.  This Robert Garnett was a descendent of an Anthony Garnett of Castle Dairy.  Mr. David Garnett suggested this might be same Thomas Garnett of the Virginia Colony.  It is included here only as a research guide - not a fact.

James MERRITT

James Merritt's will of March 1797, lists his children; Sylvanius, Obediah, Silas, John, Mark, Molly, James, Lewis, Nancy, Sally & Priscilla. James is listed in Bute, Warren & Moore Counties later his widow and children moved to Wilson Co. TN.
Source: "Merritt Families of No. Carolina, 1700-1850" by Lynne Turner

Moore County, NC
James Merritt 1797 names Ann wife, Sylvanus, Obadiah, Liles, John, Mark, Molly, James, Lewis, Nancy, Sallie, Priscilla and Rhoda
Source:  Abstracts of North Carolina Wills

His father may have been a Stephen Merritt from Scotland.  Source:  Internet

Children of James and Nancy Merritt (source:  Kindred Konnections)
John - b: 1770 m. Arundel, Elizabeth Betsy
Mark - b: 1771 m.  Coggins, Sarah Sally  
Mary Molly - b: 1772  m.  Caraway, Moses  
James - b: 1773 m.  Coggins, Mary Polly
Lewis - b: 1775
Nancy - b: 1777 m. Ragsdale, Daniel Dan - b: 1766
Sarah Sally - b. 1779
Priscilla - b. 1781
Rhoda - b. 1785
Obadiah - b. 1787
Silas - b. 1790
Sylvanus -  b. 1795
Samuel - b. unknown

Nancy Ann COGGIN

Died from a cold at 101 years. She was living with her son, Lewis and Rhoda , her daughter, when she died. Her date of death was provided by Lewis.??  Source:  Kindred Konnections

Mary Ann MERRITT

She married Moses Carraway about 1802 in NC.   Source:  The Descendants of Coggin (Cogan), John by Roy J. Coggin - updated April 2001

Silas MERRITT

He married Nancy Edwards.  Source:  The Descendants of Coggin (Cogan), John by Roy J. Coggin - updated April 2001

Nancy MERRITT

She married Dan Ragsdale.  Source:  The Descendants of Coggin (Cogan), John by Roy J. Coggin - updated April 2001

James MERRITT Jr

He married Mary Coggin, daughter of James Coggin (his 3rd cousin).   Source:  The Descendants of Coggin (Cogan), John by Roy J. Coggin - updated April 2001

Sarah MERRITT

She married Daniel Ragsdale, son of John Ragsdale and Rebecca Mitchell, in 1803 in Moore Co, NC.  Source:  The Descendants of Coggin (Cogan), John by Roy J. Coggin - updated April 2001

John MERRITT

He married Elizabeth Arundel about 1802 in TN.  Elizabeth was born about 1786 in TN.  Source:  The Descendants of Coggin (Cogan), John by Roy J. Coggin - updated April 2001

Priscilla MERRITT

She married Asa Ragsdale.  Source:  The Descendants of Coggin (Cogan), John by Roy J. Coggin - updated April 2001

Sylvanus MERRITT

He married Priscilla Bennett.  Source:  The Descendants of Coggin (Cogan), John by Roy J. Coggin - updated April 2001

1850 Wilson County, Tennessee Census, District 21, p. 176
(copy in files)
Sylvanus Merritt, age 55, b. N.C.
Priscilla, age 45, b. N.C.
Hixsy, age 19, b. Tenn
Emeline, age 17, b. Tenn
Lewis, age 13, b. Tenn
Burrell, age 10, b. Tenn
Martha, age 7, b. Tenn

Paul GORE

From the LDS website:
Paul GORE (AFN: V9H1-4V)
Sex:  M
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------
Event(s):
Birth:  Abt 1560
Of, Magherabegg, Donegal, Ireland
Death:  Sep 1629
Burial:
Abbey Church, , Donegal, Ireland
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Parents:
Father:  Gerard GORE (AFN: 9GC8-8V)
Mother:  Ellen DAVENANT (AFN: 9GC8-92)
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Marriage(s):
Spouse:  Isabella WYCLIFFE (WICKLIFFE) (AFN: V9H1-C3)
Marriage:  Aft 1607, , , Ireland

Isabella WYCLIFFE

from the LDS website:
Isabella WYCLIFFE (WICKLIFFE) (AFN: V9H1-C3)
Sex:  F
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------
Event(s):
Birth:  Abt. 1564
<, , , Ireland>
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Parents:
Father:  Francis WYCLIFFE (AFN: V9H1-9Q)
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Marriage(s):
Spouse:  Paul GORE (AFN: V9H1-4V)

James GORE

He was a  Planter.  *Source:  Internet