Lemuel "Lamb" Hardy

http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~lasleygw/genealogy/wc01/wc01_268.html

ID: I12293

Name: *Lemuel Hardy , Jr. 1

Sex: M

Birth: 20 MAY 1730 in Bertie County, North Carolina 2

Death: 8 FEB 1797 in Glasgow County, North Carolina

Burial: Memorial at Mewborn Cemetery, Greene County, North Carolina

Note:

Lemuel Hardy, Jr. and his brother Benjamin settled in Dobbs County, North Carolina by 1770 south of what is now the Jason community of Greene County. This is almost due east of Goldsboro, North Carolina just across the Wayne-Greene County line. Lemuel was listed in the 1769 Dobbs County Tax List.

Lemuel and Benjamin Hardy reportedly lived on Bear Creek which is along the border of western Greene County, northern Lenoir County, and eastern Wayne County. This is on NC 903 and RR 1505 which runs west from 903 to the Bear Creek area in northwestern Lenoir County.

Lemuel Hardy served in the Bertie County, North Carolina Militia as a Private during the Revolutionary War.

He is mentioned in the will of Governor Gabriel Johnston 16 May 1751:

" to wife Frances Johnson small plantation on Salmon Creek in the County of Bertie which I lately purchased of Lamb Hardy."

////////////////////////////////////////////

Lemuel Hardy has been given a DAR number by

the Daughters of the Amercian Revolution. DAR Ancestor # A050509

DAR Patriot Index, Vol. 2, 1990, p1309

"Lemuel born 5-20-1730 NC died 1799/1800 NC married Mary Sutton PS NC"

See NSDAR File Number 798563

//////////////////////////////////////////

Lemuel Hardy is a Patriot of the American Revolution and has been given a number by the Sons of the American Revolution

See NSSAR # 151584

See NSSAR File #251214, #099122, #14522.

///////////////////////////////////////

There is a tombstone for Lemuel Hardy, Jr. (II) and Mary Sutton in the Mewborn Cemetery, just northeast of Jason, North Carolina.

This located on NC 903 north of Jason and east on RR 1121.

///////////////////////////////////

From: Tom Hardy Email: THardy9388@aol.com

Re-discovering the Homes and Gravesites of

Lemuel Hardy II (1730-1797)

and Benjamin Hardy (1732-1790)

A Report of Possible Progress in Re-discovering the Homes and Gravesites of

Lemuel Hardy II (1730-1797) and Benjamin Hardy (1732-1790)

Greene County, NC

Thanksgiving Weekend 2001

My name is Thomas Wright Hardy, born and raised in Raleigh, NC, but now living

in Dobbs Ferry, NY. I am descended from the Lemuel Hardy line (I - IV). My

great-grandparents were George Mewborn Hardy and Lucy Ann Fields; my

grandparents were Thomas Lemuel Hardy and Elizabeth Foreman Hardy (of Johnston

County); and my parents are Wright Lupton Hardy and Jane McCarthy Hardy of

Raleigh. The following is based on family history research being conducted by my

sister, Gayle Hardy Franks of Garner, NC, my cousin, Gayle A. Hardy of Mebane,

NC, and myself, in collaboration with other Hardy researchers.

We have been interested in and collecting information on family history for a

number of years, relying heavily on the work that others in the extended family

have done. With so much research already done, it is sometimes hard for those of

us newer to the study to figure out how to make an important contribution to the

work. One of the things that has always intrigued us are the few references to

the location of the Lemuel Hardy II (1730-1797) and Benjamin Hardy (1732-1790)

plantations and gravesites in Greene County. While there seems to be general

agreement about the approximate locations of the sites, we have not been able to

find any eyewitness accounts more recent than David L. HardeeÆs visit in 1960.

So we had hoped to be able to visit them ourselves, and document for everyoneÆs

benefit whatever we might be able to find. An update of this mystery should be

of interest to all researchers of the Hardy and related families.

In a couple of preliminary visits to Greene County, and in email correspondence

with other researchers, we gathered information and opinions about the possible

location of these farms and gravesites. The consensus of people that we spoke to

was that no current researchers had ever been able to pin down these locations.

The only written accounts or clues weÆve seen are older accounts by David

Hardee, Elder Lemuel H. Hardy, and James Creech (as well as other people quoting

or referring to one of those three, such as Marjorie Sutton Oliver and Jessie D.

Hardy).

On Friday after Thanksgiving, we again visited Greene County. Our primary

purpose was to try again to find the home- and burial-sites of Lemuel Hardy II

(1730-1797), his brother Benjamin (1732-1790), and/or his son Lemuel III

(1779-1849). We decided to concentrate our search in a wooded area in the

extreme southwestern corner of Greene County. Based on the sources identified

above, our study of topographical maps of the area, and discussions of the

matter with other researchers, here is the reasoning that guided this decision:

There appears to be general agreement that Lemuel II and Benjamin settled on

Bear Creek, in SW Greene County, near the present Greene-Lenoir County line.

David L. HardeeÆs account of visiting these homesites provides some clues as

to the physical appearance of the place in 1960 û e.g., the ôcemetery...on the

edge of a woods, where...sand had been dug out of surface pits..ö; the ôcotton

planted on the knoll where the home stoodö, and the ôcemetery across the road

from where the home stood...ö The general location described by Hardee is

consistent with the site that we planned to visit.

James CreechÆs indication that Lemuel IIÆs and BenjaminÆs plantations were

within two miles of present day Jason on Bear Creek (ô...see their graves over

there on Bear Creek, near Jason.ö) seems to argue that the lands were west,

and probably south-west, of Jason. A two mile radius circle drawn around Jason

covers a lot of territory, but if the plantations had been east of Jason, they

would have been described as being near a topographic feature other than Bear

Creek, such as Groundnut Creek or Falling Creek. Again, CreechÆs description

is generally consistent with the location we identified. We also know that

Lemuel II and Benjamin had mills on Bear Creek, again suggesting that their

homes and gravesites are in the general area that we set out to search.

Elder L. H. HardyÆs family history refers to Lemuel IIÆs home as being in the

ôsouthwest corner of Greene Countyö. He goes on to say that Lemuel III

ôsettled one-half mile east of his fatherÆs homestead but in Lenoir countyö.

Both of these bits of information are again consistent with this location.

Anecdotal accounts given by several residents of the Jason area û including

Baxter Hardy, Faye Sutton Hardy, Scott Sutton Hardy, Brad Fields, Marjorie

Sutton Oliver, and John Croom û indicate local knowledge of some gravesites

being located in this area.

Thus, on November 23, 2001, we met Baxter Hardy, Faye Sutton Hardy, and Marjorie

Sutton Oliver at the HardyÆs home in Jason. From there we drove south on Rt.

903, then right on SR 1505, to a point about + mile from Rt. 903. From there we

turned right into cotton fields, along the edge of the woods. We parked at a

point a little more than + mile north of Rt.1505, within a couple of hundred

yards of large buildings housing a turkey farm. We walked west into the woods

from this point. The edge of the woods was overgrown with briars and brambles,

but these thinned out as we got deeper into the woods, which appear to have been

logged sometime in the past. Approximately 300 yards into the woods, we found an

old graveyard, consisting of several tombstones, other carved markers, what may

be pieces of stone fencing or borders, and the remains of a small brick

structure. For readers who have US Geologic Survey topographical maps of this

area, look at the LaGrange quadrangle at the point just north of the

Greene-Lenoir county line. Using the grid numbers on the map, the cemetery is

located at approximately 46 X 17.5; about 1000 feet south of Mill Run, and

approximately + mile east of Bear Creek.

(Note that one could also reach this site from SR 1130, which is closer, but

would require crossing Mill Run. We donÆt know how difficult the terrain might

be. John Croom, who lives on SR 1130, told us on an earlier visit that he knew

of a cemetery in this general location, but that he didnÆt know who was buried

there. There is also a dirt road leading from Rt. 903 near the Greene/Lenoir

County line, but this is an entrance to the turkey farm and is gated.)

ThatÆs the good news. The bad news is that the cemetery is in very poor

condition. It has either been vandalized or incidentally damaged during logging

and/or farming. Only two headstones are legible, although others may become

legible with cleaning. These two belong to Jesse Hutchins Hardy (b. 9/6/1837, d.

2/6/1895) and his wife Martha Stanton Hardy (b. 3/25/1837, d. 3/2/1895). (An

entry on BJ's Genealogy Page indicates that these two are buried in the ôHardy

Family Cemetery, Greene Countyö, but no other graves are listed for that

cemetery). The markers for these two graves were apparently each constructed in

three sections: a base, the engraved headstone, and a carved monument. In both

cases, these three sections are now separated and lying close to one another on

the ground. The headstones are engraved as follows:

Jesse H. Hardy, son of Lemuel E. Hardy Born Sept. 6, 1837 Died Feb. 6, 1897

(there were other carved sentiments on all 4 sides, but not readable in

horizontal position found);

Martha Hardy, Dau. of Washington Stanton Born March 25, 1837 Died March 20,

1895 Loving Mother Wife of Jesse Hardy (writing on all sides but not fully

readable in found position).

There was one other upright stone, a small white headstone on the opposite

side of the brick structure, with the initials F. O. H. and no other

information. It is most likely the burial area of Jesse and MarthaÆs 3rd

child, Florence Ophelia, b. 6/13/1860, d. in 1862.

The other pieces of stone in the cemetery are scattered about in what at first

appears to be haphazard fashion, though there may be patterns that arenÆt

immediately apparent. There are saplings growing throughout, and a thick

covering of fallen leaves and moss covers the sandy soil around the area. Many

of the carved stones are covered with this moss, which may hide additional

inscriptions. The total area that is readily identifiable as a cemetery covers

approximately 500 square feet, though the actual size may be substantially

larger than that. There is also what appears to be the remains of an old road,

running east to west through these woods just south of the cemetery. This seems

to be a continuation of the turkey farmÆs dirt road mentioned above, and may in

earlier times have provided the route between Bear Creek and communities to the

east (Jason, TysonÆs Marsh, etc.) This may also be the road mentioned in David

L. HardeeÆs account of his visit in 1960.

By the time we had looked around the cemetery and the surrounding area, it was

rather late in the day, and we had unfortunately failed to bring any equipment

that would have helped to clear the area. So we had to abandon that dayÆs

efforts, with a promise to return to do more exploring and restoration.

Part of the significance of finding, and hopefully restoring, this cemetery has

to do with the historical importance of Jesse Hutchins Hardy and Martha Stanton

Hardy themselves.

Jesse Hutchins Hardy and Martha Stanton Hardy

While generations of HardyÆs have continued to live and work the land in this

area up until the present, Jesse Hutchins Hardy might be considered the last of

the great Hardy planters who farmed in Dobbs, Greene, and Lenoir counties from

the pre-Revolutionary period until just after the Civil War. He married, on July

19, 1855, Martha Ann Stanton, daughter of Washington M. and Sallie Mae Stanton.

Jesse H. was the youngest son of Lemuel Hardy III, was the last of his sons to

die, and was the one that had the copy of Lemuel III's will authenticated and

accepted by the court in 1885 (the 1844 original having been destroyed in a

court house fire in 1876). He appears to have consolidated at least some of the

lands that had been inherited by his older brothers. For example, he inherited

land from his brother Levi when he died childless in 1850, and purchased his

brother BenjaminÆs land in 1860.

Jesse petitioned the Greene County Superior Court in 1885 to authenticate his

fatherÆs will. One wonders why he needed to do this, especially in 1885,

thirty-six years after his fatherÆs death. The courthouse fire may be the

reason, but why wait 9 years after the fire? Another explanation might be that

Lemuel IV, JesseÆs brother and a major heir of Lemuel III, had died with many

children but without leaving a will. But Lemuel IV died in 1863, more than 20

years before this issue came before the court. A possible explanation is that a

family dispute over land had arisen between Jesse H. and his nephews and nieces,

and that the dispute was in some way ameliorated by the authentication of Lemuel

IIIÆs will.

We havenÆt yet examined land and estate records to determine what happened to

JesseÆs land after his death. One clue is Marjorie Sutton OliverÆs assertion

that her grandfather, Richard Walters Sutton Jr., purchased a 360 acre farm

south of Jason on present-day Rt. 903 from Jesse Hutchins Hardy in 1896.

However, if Ms. OliverÆs date for this transaction (1896) is correct, then it

would have been approximately one year after JesseÆs death (2/6/1895). One

wonders if JesseÆs heirs sold off this and perhaps other portions of his land

after his death. This and other issues related to Jesse H. Hardy need further

research (see list of questions at the end of this document).

Could this cemetery also be the resting place of Lemuel II, Benjamin, and/or

Lemuel III?

We believe that this cemetery may be significant in that it could be the resting

place of either Lemuel II, his brother Benjamin, or Lemuel III (whose location

is also a mystery). At the very least, we believe that this cemetery is located

in close proximity to the old homesteads of Lemuel II and Benjamin. We believe

this for the same reasons, listed above, that we chose to search this area in

the first place. The discovery of the readily identifiable gravestones of Jesse

H. and Martha S. Hardy naturally lends credence to the idea that other Hardys

might be buried here, but also raises some additional questions about how the

family moved about and disposed of land over the years.

Our theory is that Jesse H., at some point in adulthood, settled on what had

been his grandfather's or granduncle's land, perhaps because one of his older

brothers (probably Levi) had occupied or was occupying his father's house

further east. (Remember that Lemuel III is said to have established his

plantation to the east of Lemuel IIÆs land, and that Lemuel IIIÆs will left his

ôhome plantationö to Levi.) If this is true, Jesse and Martha might have

occupied the former home of either Lemuel II or Benjamin, at least one of which

was apparently still standing as late as 1870, according to an account related

by David L. Hardee. It would then be reasonable to assume that Jesse and Martha

were buried at the same place, or near the same place, where Lemuel II and

Benjamin were buried. If this is correct, then the restoration of this cemetery

takes on even greater family and general historical importance.

If Lemuel III's home was indeed further east, then maybe he's buried further

east as well. (According to Marjorie Sutton Oliver, James Creech believed that

one of the LemuelÆs homes and gravesites was in an area just west of present SR

1122, which is east of Rt. 903. Our very brief visit to this site yielded

nothing but scratches from briars û future explorers there should be intrepid

and well-equipped with machetes.) It might also be possible that Lemuel III was

buried in the "family cemetery", and it may be that it is this Hardy Family

Cemetery that we re-discovered over Thanksgiving weekend.

Father: *Lemuel (Lamb) Hardy , Senior b: BET 1695 AND 1700 in Chowan County, North Carolina

Mother: *Elizabeth Parrott b: 1702 in Chowan County, North Carolina

Marriage 1 *Mary Sutton b: 6 OCT 1746 in Bertie County, North Carolina

Married: BET 1760 AND 1762 in Bertie County, North Carolina

Children

Sarah Hardy b: 24 OCT 1763 in Dobbs/Greene County, North Carolina

John Hardy b: 1765 in Dobbs/Greene County, North Carolina
Winifred Hardy b: 29 JUN 1765 in Dobbs/Greene County, North Carolina
Sutton Hardy b: 1766 in Dobbs/Greene County, North Carolina
Edith Hardy b: 1768 in Dobbs/Greene County, North Carolina
William Parrott Hardy b: 1771 in Dobbs/Greene County, North Carolina
*Mary Hardy b: 1773 in Dobbs/Greene County, North Carolina
Martha Hardy b: 1775 in Dobbs/Greene County, North Carolina
Anne Hardy b: 1776 in Dobbs/Greene County, North Carolina
Lemuel E. Hardy III b: 3 FEB 1779 in Dobbs/Greene County, North Carolina
Elizabeth Hardy b: 1780 in Dobbs/Greene County, North Carolina
Nancy Hardy b: 4 MAR 1782 in Dobbs/Greene County, North Carolina
Benjamin Hardy , Sr. b: 1784 in Dobbs/Greene County, North Carolina
Thomas Hardy b: 1790 in Dobbs/Greene County, North Carolina
Sources:

Title: Records from Ms. Ima Eula Mewborn, Daughters of American Colonists Approved Application

Title: Heritage of Wayne County, Wayne County Historical Association, 1982, page 265

Find A Grave : http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=55449207

GEDCOM Source

U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. <i>Find A Grave</i>. Find A Grave. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi. 1,60525::0

GEDCOM Source

1,60525::11150878

GEDCOM Source

U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. <i>Find A Grave</i>. Find A Grave. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi. 1,60525::0

GEDCOM Source

1,60525::11150878

GEDCOM Source

@R-2138556601@ North Carolina, Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,9061::0

GEDCOM Source

Probate Records, 1728-1844, 1848-1961; Indexes, 1868-1961; Author: North Carolina. Superior Court (Bertie County); Probate Place: Bertie, North Carolina 1,9061::800188

GEDCOM Source

U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. <i>Find A Grave</i>. Find A Grave. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi. 1,60525::0

GEDCOM Source

1,60525::11150878

GEDCOM Source

@R-2138556601@ North Carolina, Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,9061::0

GEDCOM Source

Probate Records, 1728-1844, 1848-1961; Indexes, 1868-1961; Author: North Carolina. Superior Court (Bertie County); Probate Place: Bertie, North Carolina 1,9061::800188

GEDCOM Source

U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. <i>Find A Grave</i>. Find A Grave. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi. 1,60525::0

GEDCOM Source

1,60525::11150878

GEDCOM Source

@R-2138556601@ North Carolina, Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,9061::0

GEDCOM Source

Probate Records, 1728-1844, 1848-1961; Indexes, 1868-1961; Author: North Carolina. Superior Court (Bertie County); Probate Place: Bertie, North Carolina 1,9061::800188

GEDCOM Source

@R-2138556601@ Ancestry Family Trees Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. This information comes from 1 or more individual Ancestry Family Tree files. This source citation points you to a current version of those files. Note: The owners of these tree files may have removed or changed information since this source citation was created.

GEDCOM Source

Ancestry Family Trees http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=18670103&pid...

GEDCOM Source

@R-2138556601@ Ancestry Family Trees Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. This information comes from 1 or more individual Ancestry Family Tree files. This source citation points you to a current version of those files. Note: The owners of these tree files may have removed or changed information since this source citation was created.

GEDCOM Source

Ancestry Family Trees http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=18670103&pid...