Lieutenant John Hardeman, III

Additional Curators Notes

We have a case of dueling cousins as experts on the Hardeman family tree. On the one hand, we have Michael Farmer Hardeman (claiming descent from John and Dorothy through Thomas Hardeman and Mary Hardin Perkins), an author specializing in Georgia and Colonial American history.

On the other hand, we have Nicholas Perkins Hardeman, Ph.D. (claiming descent from Thomas Hardeman, patriarch), a professor of history at Cal State Long Beach.

M.F. Hardeman believes that most Hardeman history is based on "family lore," and not on documented fact. He does not accept family lore that the Hardemans of North Carolina and Tennessee are descended from the Hardeman-Eppes marriage of c.1685 in Virginia. He does not accept the surname of Edwards for Dorothy, wife of John Hardeman, as there are no primary sources to prove it. His views and his version of the family history can be found at http://michalfarmer.com/hardeman/page1.html.

N.P. Hardeman, on the other hand, accepts "family lore" if it makes historical sense, when no documents can be found to prove or disprove it. The early Hardeman family in Virginia is documented. The missing piece is primary source documents listing the children and grandchildren of the Hardeman-Eppes union. His version of the family history can be found in his book, "Wilderness Calling: The Hardeman Family in the American Westward Movement, 1750-1900," published by the University of Tennessee Press in 1977.

For now, until such time as any proof more solid than "family lore" can be found, as curator for this part of the Hardeman line, I will leave John Hardeman WITHOUT parents and his wife Dorothy WITHOUT a maiden name.

Maria Edmonds-Zediker, Volunteer Curator, July 17, 2013

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Many "facts" about John Hardeman have been perpetuated in the family lore and in scholarly texts that cannot be proven by primary sources. He has also been confused with other John Hardemans who lived in Virginia and North Carolina around the same time.

According to author Michael Farmer Hardeman (hereinafter MF Hardeman), John Hardeman was born circa 1720. He married Dorothy in or near Goochland County, Virginia c. 1748. John and Dorothy had nine children: Thomas, Ester, Elizabeth, Dorothy, Jane, John, Judith, Susannah, and Lydia or "Liddy." His will was made 29 August 1774 and it was never recorded. The will is among the loose papers in Guilford County, North Carolina.

John Hardeman patented land, 1 August 1745, in Goochland County, Virginia, and that 1745 patent is the earliest record found for this John Hardeman. His name appears on several other deeds, and in 1749, Dorothy relinquished dower rights when he sold property in Cumberland County.

John Hardiman was assessed one tithe in Goochland County, June 1747, on the Tithe List taken by Archibald Cary. John was credited with 1 tithe as he had no slaves or sons of age. In 1748, John Hardeman was included in the Goochland County, Virginia, tithable list as overseer for Richard Williamson's List. John Hardiman and son, Thomas, now age sixteen, are included in the List of Tithables taken by Peter Perkins for the year 1767, in Pittsylvania County, Virginia.

John Hardeman sold his land in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, and moved to Guilford County, North Carolina, in 1773. Guilford County, North Carolina, was formed in 1770 from Rowan and Orange Counties. Randolph County was formed in 1778 from Guilford County. Rockingham County, North Carolina, was formed in 1785 from Guilford County. Rockingham County borders Henry and Pittsylvania Counties, Virginia, and Stokes County, North Carolina. The neighborhood where John Hardeman lived in Guilford County, was put into Rockingham County, North Carolina, when it was formed in 1785.

In 1957 William K. Hall published Descendants of Nicholas Perkins of Virginia. Mr. Hall stated that John Hardeman’s wife was Dorothy Edwards. He gave no authority for this statement. Many historians have relied upon his work since publication,.

According to author Nicholas Perkins Hardeman (hereinafter NP Hardeman), John was the son of John Hardeman Jr. and wife Henrietta Taylor. Their son John was born c.1716, became a cooper like his father, and, at age 31, married the Irish immigrant Dorothy Edwards. The couple moved to Goochland County, Virginia. According to NP Hardeman, the couple had two sons and seven daughters. His list of children is not exactly the same as MF Hardeman's list - Deborah, Thomas, Susannah, Elizabeth, Jane, Judith, John, Esther and Lydia.

Please see this source for more information: http://michalfarmer.com/hardeman/page1.html. MF Hardeman explains what he believes are errors other histories of the Hardeman family.

Children of John Hardeman and wife Dorothy:

• Thomas Hardeman, born c. 1751, married Mary Perkins and had 14 children.
• Ester Hardeman, born c. 1752, married John Everett
• Elizabeth Hardeman, born c.1754, married William Stone
• Dorothy Hardeman, born c.1758
• Jane Hardeman, born c. 1760
• John Hardeman, born c.1762
• Judith Hardeman, born c.1765
• Susannah Hardeman, born c.1766
• Lydia Hardeman, born c.1769

Will of John Hardeman

Original will of John Hardeman, unrecorded wills, Guilford County, North Carolina:

• In the name of God amen I John Hardeman of Guilford County North Carolina being weak in body and calling to mind that it is appointed for all men once to die and now being in perfect sense and memory do make this my last will and testament revolking all others. First I give my soul to God that gave it recommend my body to be buried in a Christian burial. I give and bequeathe and I lend to my well beloved wife all my estate real and personal during her life and widowhood after all my just debts are paid and at her death or marriage my will and desire is that all my P estate lent to my wife Dority as above be equally divided between my children viz. Ester Elisabeth Judeth, Dority Jane John Liddy Susannah that Esters part be lent to her during her natural life and then to be given to the heirs of her body and my will and desire is that on division of my estate an equal children part be more in value than the negro woman I have given to my son Thomas my will and desire is that he shall have an equal part of such over plus. I appoint my wife Dority and Peter Perkins executor of this my last will and testament in (torn) whereof I have ~ to set my hand and seal this 29th day of Augt 1774 signed and sealed and delivered. /s/ John Hardeman. In presents of Robert Crockett, Elisabeth Bostick, Salley Crockett.