The ownership history of the first two parcels of land that reached Gabriel Hardin is presented by Morgan Jackson in "The Families of Northern Moore County" page 1, item 5:

1748 September 30 -- land grant number 260 and 966, Bladen County North Carolina. Joel McClendon received 300 acres located south of Deep River 2 miles above Buck Creek on Rocky Ford. (Editor's note: deeded to James Barton 1754 then 270 acres on Cannon Landing to James Russell 1756 then James and Mary Russell deeded 220 acres to Gabriel Hardin 1762. James Barton deeded 80 acres to James Muse Senior 1755 then Charles Finley deeded 80 acres to Sterling Carroll 1760 then to Gabriel Harden 1764 at Rocky Ford then to John Harden 1770.

Extract: Cumberland County NC Deed Book 2 page 123. View local PDF copy (Online at ccrodinternet.org)

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DATE: 28 Apr 1762

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SELLER: James Russell of Cumberland County. Mary Russell, wife of James Russell, gives all her right of dower.       

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BUYER: Gabriel Hardin of Lunenburg, Province of Virginia

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CONSIDERATION: 200 £ proclamation money

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ACRES and DESCRIPTION: 220A. more or less. lying on the So. Side of Deep River, beginning at a sugartree, then along a straight line to a red oak; then along a line to a white; along a line to a Sugar tree at the upper end of the land; then down the River to the first station. 

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WITNESS: Sterling Carroll, Charles Finley, Susana Finley

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RECORDED: Cumberland County, May Court, 1762 Recorded Rich'd Wove, C.C.

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COMMENT BY TLH: This was bought by Gabriel while he still lived in Lunenburg County, Virginia.

Extract: Cumberland County NC Deed Book 2, page 358 (view local PDF copy) and 359 (view local PDF copy) (Online at ccrodinternet.org)

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DATE: 15 May 1764

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SELLER: Sterling Carroll of Cumberland County  

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BUYER: Gabriel Hardin of Cumberland County

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CONSIDERATION: 50 £ proclamation money

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ACRES, DESCRIPTION: 80 A. in Cumberland County.  Beginning at a Spanish Oak at the Rocky Ford, thence along the patent line to the Spring branch; thence down the sd. Branch to a cower tree; thence along a row of marked trees to a Sugar Tree on the River, thence down the River to the first station. Sig: Sterling Carroll. 

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WITNESS: No witnesses recorded.

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RECORDED: Recorded May Court 1764 Rich'd Wove C.C.

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COMMENT BY TLH: Recording is at top of p. 359

Extract: Cumberland County NC Deed Book 4 page 96 (view local PDF copy) (Online at ccrodinternet.org) (view p. 97)

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DATE:20 Oct 1770

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SELLER: Gabriel Harding of Cumberland County. Name variation: Gabriel Hardin

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BUYER: John Harding of same. Name variation: John Hardin

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CONSIDERATION: 50 £ proclamation money.

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ACRES, DESCRIPTION: 80A, being in the county of Cumberland: Beginning at a Spanish Oak at the Rocky Ford thence along the patent line to the Spring Branch then down the said Branch to a Corner tree thence along a row of Marked trees to a sugar tree on the River Bank thence down the River to the beginning.

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WITNESS: (P. 97)
Thomas Rutherford
James Russell

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RECORDED: (P. 97) North Carolina, Cumberland County, October Court, 1770

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COMMENT BY TLH: This is Gabriel's sale to his likely nephew that I have called New John and Indiana John. New to Cumberland/Moore County in 1770.

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Extract: Cumberland County NC Deed Book 6 page 298 (view local PDF copy) (Online at ccrodinternet.org)

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DATE: 24 Oct 1775

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SELLER: Joseph Duckworth     

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BUYER: John Hardin

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CONSIDERATION: £70 proof money

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ACRES and DESCRIPTION: 195 A. in Cumberland County south of Deep River. Beginning at an elm on the  West bank near about John Carroll's land and thence No. 60 W 44 chains and 73 links among a black oak, hiskory, and pinar? parmutorse? thence No. 10 E __ chains and 73 links to a stake ____ a pine ____ Thence So. 80 E. to and beyond a hickory to the ____ bank 42 chains and 50 links, then downthe river to the beginning Containing 195 acres.

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WITNESS: ___ by the oath of L.W. Donald

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RECORDED: Thomas Rutherford, C.C.

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COMMENT BY TLH:

Extract: Cumberland County NC Deed Book 6 page 480 (local copy) (Online at ccrodinternet.org) (p. 481, p. 482 local copy.)

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DATE: 17 Mar 1778

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SELLER: John Hardin of Cumberland County

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BUYER: Philip Alston of Cumberland County

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CONSIDERATION: £ 200/4/50 current money of the state of NC

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ACRES, DESCRIPTION: 80 A. more or less, beginning at a Spanish Oak a little below the Rocky Ford thence along John Harden's and John Hunicutt line to the Spring branch thence down the S. Branch to Gabriel and John Hardin's Corner thence a direct corner to a shugar tree against the lower end of the Island thence down the Mandirs [meanderings] of the river to the first station. Also one other parcel or tract deeded from Joseph Ducksworth to John Hardin laying on the South Side of Deep River, beginning at an Elm on the River bank running thence No. 50 Wt. 44 chains and 70 links to a black oak hickory and pine, thence no. 44 chains and 73 links to a stake among three pines, thence S. 30 Et. to the bank of the river 42 chains and 50 links, thence down the river to the beginning, containing one hundred and ninty five acres including in both parts two hundred and seventy five acres _____  ____ more or less by a deed of bargain and sail? together with all woods and woods profits [etc, etc.]                       Signed: John Harden

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WITNESS: Jno. Gordon
John Hunnicutt
Daniel Gould

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RECORDED:

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COMMENT BY TLH: The recording is on top of page 481: July Term 1778  then was the __ ___ of this deed in open Court  ... proved by the oath of Jas. Gordon and ordered to be recorded. W Randi__

John Hardin seemingly signed his own name. The name "Goodman" is alone at the bottom of the deed.

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