Thread: Are we related to Thomas Hardy?

What a brilliant offer! I hope mine get's picked!

I started on the family tree so many years ago, mainly to try and prove or disprove the belief that so many of our family members held - we were related to Thomas HARDY, the author/poet. One of their "facts" was that my grandfather and Thomas looked so alike they had to be related, so the hunt began.

The tree is locked in back to John Hardy, who is my 3 x g grandfather, and who according to all sources, was born in Mapperton, Dorset about 1790. According to my version he was brought by the stork and raised himself until he married!

Before I place out the actual facts that I have I should point out there are two Mappertons in Dorset. One is near Beaminster, and the other is near Almer. After extensive thinking it is believed he would have come from the Almer one as that is far closer to his marriage place in Corfe Castle, Dorset and to where his bride came from in Burton, Dorset (although I have hunted around the "other" Mapperton in case he was from there).

John HARDY was born about 1790 in Mapperton, Almer, DOR, UK and died on 23 Oct 1869 in Leigh, Wimborne, DOR, UK aged about 79. (I have a copy of his Death Certificate and Will)

John married Frances HALL daughter of Richard HALL and Mary CHAFFEY on 24 Aug 1811 in Corfe Castle, DOR, UK. (From Dorset OPC:24-Aug; John HARDY & Frances HALL Witnesses: Thomas Upward Jenkins, Sarah Bridle and ...........? Parsons)

Frances was born about 1789 in East Burton, Winfrith Newburgh, DOR, UK, was christened on 6 Apr 1789 in Wool, DOR, UK, and died Dec Q 1876 in Wareham District, Dorset, UK aged about 87. Another name for FRANCES was Fanny Fanney.

* They appeared on the Census in 1841: RG 7, 1841, Rollington, Corfe Castle, DOR.
* They appeared on the census in 1851 in Rollington, Corfe Castle, DOR.
* They appeared on the census in 1861 in Bashley, HAM, UK. With son William, g/d Sarah Bower & Jane Hounsell

They had nine children: Sarah, Henry, John, Elizabeth, Jane, WILLIAM, Frances, Richard and Ann.

* John worked as a Dairyman, Labourer, Farmer, Yeoman in 1815.
* John worked as a Dairyman in 1819 in Fossell, DOR, UK. Owermoigne (as shown on Dorset OPC on baptism of his son John)
* John worked as a Dairyman in 1823 in Langton Matravers, DOR, UK. (as shown on baptism for d Jane)

* Fanny appeared on the census in 1871 in Corfe Castle, DOR, UK. Woolgarston. Staying with son in law James Crocker and daughter Sarah
* Fanny received a benefit under a will John Hardy's Will in 1869 in Wimborne, DOR, UK.

I have checked every area and source I can think of, from Ancestry, FMP, any online sources that may be of help - and John does not appear to have parents! There are some Hardy's in Almer in the 1700's -
and in the nearby Winterbourne Zelstone, in particular a Joseph and Sarah - they had about five children in that time frame (a Robert and Herbert b 1799 and three other girls)- but no mention of a John!!

If you can become my Sherlock Holmes I will love you forever - dear g g g grandad has been a thorn in my side for over 30 years - I really would like to solve it before I pass over to the other side and solve it from that side - no use to the family over here though!!!!!

Thank you so much - I will keep my fingers and toes firmly crossed!

Marion

A site which may prove useful:-

Thomas Hardy his Parents and Family

Hello,
Thank you for all of the responses. I will reply individually in a moment. I did follow Thomas Hardy's tree at one point and got back as far as John Hardy and Jane Knight. They married in 1777 but it is on the old PAF system and I haven't entered any sources or details. I did have the fact they had four children, John, Thomas, and two Marys (both of the latter only lived for a very short period). The son John (b 1792) m Elizabeth Jenkins in 1815 and they had 7 children, so that seems to put that John out of the picture. The other son Thomas (b 1778) was married to Jemima and was of course the father of said Thomas plus six other children. Thomas senior was a well known womaniser, (I believe his son was not averse to pretty ladies either) but it still doesn't answer the 1790 John.

I haven't bothered in chasing up the wives too much as I felt that the likeness would come down the male line of Hardys but anything is possible I suppose!

Finbar - thank you for that link - I have a feeling that is where I picked up a couple of bits concerning Thomas Senior but he was too young to be the father of John. I have read two or three biographical books to find out more about their family as well.

Bandit - thank you so much for all of your work. I shall add the details you have found on the wives to the Thomas Hardy file (it's a long time since I used the PAF file!!) and update everything there. I do have the copies of the censuses - thank you for the offer though. The time frame would seem to suggest that if there is any relation it has to be back to John and Jane - but not so much Jane perhaps? I wish I knew where I go the info of their marriage! Somewhere I remember reading that Thomas (Snr) fell out with his Uncle John - but I have no idea if that piece of info is of any use or if it was truly factual.

You have no idea how much your hard work means - as I originally said this has been the bane of my life for over 30 years and one of the reasons I started in the first place - decades later I am still no further forward in proving or disproving the theory!

Marion

PS - I have a copy of his Death Certificate and his Will but that gives no clues.