John Hardin, AKA John Hardin of Indiana, born about 1745, nephew  of Gabriel Hardin

We will now take up the story of John Hardin as he sold out  on 17 March 1778 and soon left Moore County. The evidence you will see suggests that John Hardin went to Burke County, NC, then to Washington County, Indiana. I don't know what constitutes proof. I will simply note what is on the record. It helps that John Hardin, son of Elisha, during an interview in his old age, confirms he was born 23 Jun 1798 in Burke County and that his father Elisha was born on Deep River about 1770.

First, there is DNA evidence that Indiana John Hardin is of the i1a genotype, the family of which I'm a part and am investigating. See test #107329 of Dennis Leon Hardin at hhhdna.com. I have corresponded with Dennis, and he vouches for his family tree in this way in the summer of 2012: "I was told [about the family tree] by my uncle, Don Korkowski, who was an attorney in Rantoul, Illinois, and married to my aunt, Eileen, who was a Hardin. Don told me that his uncle, Roy Hardin, a doctor, did the work. He was very studious and had an immense lilbrary. Don would visit him and listen as he would talk of the books and studies he had finished and one of those was his research into the Hardin Family history." Don write this story to Dennis in 2012: "We went to visit Uncle Roy about once a year and he would take me to his library. He would tell me stories about how he came to buy the individual books...About a year after Uncle Roy died we stopped to see his son on a farm in southern Indiana. I asked what happened to the libary and ... he said if I wanted all the books I could have them for $50. I gave him $100 and loaded approximately 700 books into my trunk...and drove back to Illinios. ... I built new shelves in the basement of our house to display the books."

In summary of the first point, there is personal knowledge of the family line from my ear back to Roy Hardin, and of the type I1a DNA from Dennis Hardin back to Roy Hardin. Roy Hardin descended from and researched the  Indiana Hardins.  Dennis posted Roy's 1950 outline of the family tree here. It is spotty, but the main characters and places are there. A descendanat of John Hardin of Washington County, Indiana, is genotype I1a, or I-M253.

Secondly, thanks to the sharing of an 1879 interview (rtf format), scanned from a book at Washington County Historical Society (pdf format)   sent by our relative Bernie Hardin (mebein2@gmail.com), we have it from the mouth of John Hardin of Washington County, Indiana (born 1798) that his father, Elisha Hardin, was born in Deep River, North Carolina about 1770. He means, of course, he was born on the shores of Deep River in Cumberland County, later known as Moore County. Below you will see that in 1770 land was deeded to John Hardin from Gabriel Hardin(g) on Deep River. I now have  little doubt that John Hardin of Indiana was the nephew of Gabriel Hardin of Moore County, North Carolina. The interview also is more than adequate proof of the existence of Henry Hardin as a son of Elisha and consequently verifies the connection of Bernie Hardin (FTDNA kit# 38600) to the I1a Hardins of Indiana.

It is not my goal on this Web page to compile the genealogy of John Hardin of Indiana, but to learn if there was a bridge between Moore County to Burke County to Indiana. The bridge has been made thanks to the cooperation of several researchers. However much of the nineteenth-century genealogy is done in the 1879 interview, in which John Hardin, son of Elisha, enumerates his brothers, sisters, father, mother, and children. In the interview three of John's siblings were named who had not been named by Roy Hardin, and they are child number 4, Henry; number 9, Elvira; and number 11, Clarissa. According to the 1879 interview, the children of Elisha were (in birth order):
Himself, John Hardin, June 23, 1798 in Burke County, North Carolina
Elizabeth Hardin.
Stephen Hardin, 1801-1874.
Henry Hardin, 1803- 1867.  19 July 1845. (Bernie Hardin comments Jan. 2017, Henry R. Hardin (my 3rd great grandfather) died 19 July 1845. At that time he was Sheriff of Christian Co., Illinois.)
Aaron Hardin, 1804-1841.
Sally Hardin, 1807, living.
William W. Hardin, 1809.
Matilda Hardin,1811-1833.
Elvira Hardin, 1813-1876.
Jane Hardin, 1815, 1838.
Clarissa S. Hardin 1817.
George W. Hardin, 1818.
FATHER AND MOTHER
Elisha Hardin, abt. 1770,Deep River, North Carolina.
Sallie Hardin, 1774, died at age 86.

Timeline of John Hardin b ~1747

The birth date of John Hardin, in a history received at the Washington County Historical Society (Indiana) on March 20, 1984 from Virginia Miller, is said to be 1753. I thank Ann Bradford of the HFA for faxing me the handwritten history  (fill notes) in February 2014. The birthplace is said to be Burke County, NC. That is incorrect. The mistake is due to not following the family back to Deep River. I am not able to refine the birthdate further except to guess it may be earlier than the date accepted in Indiana-- more like 1747 if his eldest was born 1770. For the place of his birth see the whereabouts of his father who I reckon is either Samuel or Thomas Hardin, both of whom lived in Granville County, NC during the late 1740s. John is said in the above history to have died after 6 Aug 1833 in Washington County, Indiana. If John Hardin was truly born after 1748, then his father was not Thomas, who died in 1747, but Samuel Hardin, Jr. who died in 1753. 

Claimed children of John Hardin, Sr. in the above  handwritten history are: Stephen Elisha Hardin, 1775-1849, will prob. 18 May 1849; Aaron Hardin, 17 Dec 1789-17 Jun 1855;  John Hardin, Jr. 1795; Sarah Catherine Hardin; Stephen Hardin 17 Oct 1802-14 Sep 1825; Benjamin Hardin; "Probably more" "All born N.C." . (Note the long gaps between children.)

In Cumberland County, North Carolina (find deeds here: http://www.ccrodinternet.org/BookAndPage.asp)

John Hunnicutt sold land to John Hardin in Cumberland County on 29 July 1772 [Abstracts of Minutes of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions of Cumberland County, North Carolina, October 1755-January 1779, Volume 1, page 192].

On 22 January 1773, John Hunnicutt received a patent for 100 acres in Cumberland "on the lower side of Deep River joining Joseph Duckworth, Jr., the bank of said river and supposed lines of John McLendon or Gabriel Harden." [Colony of North Carolina 1765-1775 Abstracts of Land Patents, Vol. 2 by Margaret M. Hoffman, Patent Book 22, page 176] He sold this land on 3 April 1775 to John Harden in a deed recorded in Deed Book F, page 455, and witnessed by his sons Randolph and John Hunnicutt

Philip Alston purchased land from John Hunnicutt on 23 July 1776 in Cumberland which was obviously cut from larger land holdings as evidenced by a deed of 17 March 1778 in which Alston purchased from John Harden 80 acres "beginning at a Spanish oak a little below the Rocky Ford; thence along John Harden's and John Hunnicutt's line..." John Hunnicutt was a witness to the deed, which is recorded in Book F, page 480.

Research of Michael Motes at http://www.ncgenweb.us/cumberland/john.htm

On 17 March 1778 John Hardin sold all his land in Cumberland County. One tract was  adjoining Gabriel Hardin. The area did not become Moore County until 1784.

1778 John Hardin to Philip Alston (manuscript)
1778 John Hardin to Philip Alston (text)

Taxables
1805 Burke County List of Taxables, Capt. Jones' Old Company:
Stephen Hardon  1 poll
Elisha Hardon    Valuation 250, 1 poll

Capt. Newland's Company:
James Harden     1 poll

Capt. Armstrong's Company
William Hardin valuation 250, 1 poll
--NCGS Journal VIII p. 225

An 1814-1815 Burke County patent for 200 A. to Aaron Hardin

Aaron Hardin is a son, b. 1789, of John Hardin. Both later moved to Indiana.

An 1821-1822 grant to John Hardin 50 A. on a fork of Hew Creek. I can't locate the creek to study this John Hardin.

John Hardin Family by the Census -- 1810 Morganton, Burke County, NC

Free White Males Free White Females
Under 10         Under 10
10-15            10-15
16-25            16-25
26-44            26-44
45 & Over        45 & Over


page
312 HARDON, Moses 2-0-0-1-0  4-0-0-1-0 00 00 (comment: This is probably son of John of Rutherford (Hickory Creek/Tryon Resolution)
308 HARDIN, John  0-1-1-0-1  0-0-1-0-1 00 00 (comment: Either father of Moses or John of Indiana)

Hardin names in Moore County Court Records Aug 1784 to May 1787
(In the final version I will remove this section from the John Hardin page and leave it only on the Gabriel Hardin page. I leave it for fact-checking by the reader.)

Toward sorting out who's who and whether they're relatives or not. It is very tricky where two people of the same name live in the same county.

Tuesday Nov 16, 1784. Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions. Ordered that WILLIAM HARDIN known by the name of BUCK be appointed Constable in the District of Captain Hunnicutt's and was qualified accordingly.

Tuesday Aug 7, 1784. Ordered that ISAAC HARDEN be appointed overseer of the road from Chatham County line to John Preston's and that the same hand work on the same which formerly did.

Monday Feb 21, 1785. WILLIAM HARDEN (BUCK) sworn to attend the grand jury this term.

Tuesday Feb 24, 1785. Ordered that ISAAC HARDIN be appointed overseer of the road from Chatham County line to the fork of the roads and all the hands which used formerly to work on the same are appointed still to continue thereon.

Wednesday Feb ten, 1785. Ordered that WILLIAM HARDIN, BUCK, be allow'd the sum of fifteen shillings for his attending on the grand jury three days this term.

Thursday May Term 1785. Ordered that the Sheriff summon the following persons to attend next Court as Jurors To wit, ...WILLIAM HARDEN ... GABRIAL HARDEN JUNR.

Wednesday Aug term 1785. No. 1. In the suit the State against Matthews Davis the State fi fo  following Jury to wit- ... GABRIAL HARDEN ... WILLIAM HARDEN...they find the defendant not guilty.

Tuesday Nov session 1785. No. 7. State vs GABRIAL HARDEN JR. Tresspass. Jury ... find the defendant guilty. Ordered by the court to pay 50 shillings. (image 40 of 221)

Wednesday Nov session 1785. State vs. JOHN HARDEN JR. Petit Larceny. Jury...find the defentant guilty. Reason of arrest being fully repaid - Opinion of the Court that the defendant be acquited.

Wednesday Nov session 1785. William Poplin being accused of stealing a mare the property of JOHN HARDENs being examined Ordered that the trial be postponed till tomorrow Philip Alston being his security for his appearance in __.

Thursday Nov session 1785. William Poplen came into court and on a second examination suspected stealing JOHN HARDEN. More it was ordered by the court that he be acquited.

Thursday Feb session 1786.Ordered that James More be appointed overseer of the road in the room of ISAAC HARDEN the ensuing year.

Tuesday May session of 86. Following jury sworn, To wit...WILLIAM HARDEN...

Thursday Aug 7 86.  #6 The State vs. Grizell Carmikle. Petit larceny. Jury sworn To Wit: ... WILLIAM HARDEN...

#7 The State vs. JOHN HARDEN. Petit Larceny. Same jury as #7. Nolli Grosequi by order of the court.

Wednesday Nov session 1786. James Williams vs. WILLIAM HARDEN SENR. Debt.

Jury sworn ... and find for Plaintiff 210-15 __ __ month.

Thursday Nov session of 76. #6. James Williams vs WILLIAM HARDEN. Debt. Same jury as no. 5 and find for the Plaintiff. £3. Execution til next court.

Wednesday 21st Feb 1787. #6. Ann Davis vs. Wm. Seale. LEA. Jury sworn To wit: ... GABRIEL HARDEN ... and find for Plaintiff £1-5 -- Reasons offer'd Ordered new trial.

Tuesday 22nd May 1787. No. 3. JOHN HARDEN vs. William Poplen. JAB Default & __. Same Jury as No. 2 above. The Plaintiff. Damages? to £20 and costs.

22 May. #4 Stephen King vs. John Black. Slander __ __ __. Jury sworn, To wit: ...JOHN HARDEN... and find for Defendant.

Tuesday May 22nd 1787. A bill of sale from Joseph McGee to WILLIAM HARDEN SENR. was duly proved in open court by the oath of Joseph Robson and Ordered to be recorded. 

The Hardins in Washington County, Indiana

Sheckler Notes on the Washington County Hardins from 1984 that might interest that family's researchers. Rreceived from Ann Bradford of the HFA by TLH via fax Feb 2014 .

A book of Civil War Letters written to his family by John J. Hardin of Livonia, Ind. exists on the Web, courtesy of compiler Earl R. Boston, copier Fred J. Renolds, the Wayne County Public Library, and archives.org. The book is called "CIVIL WAR LETTERS OF JOHN J. HARDIN OF LIVONIA, INDIANA, A CAPTAIN IN COMPANY E, 23RD INDIANA INFANTRY 1861-1864." John J. Hardin was a son of John Hardin b. 1798, who was the narrator in the pioneer-pickings-1879-hardin.pdf on this site. The Indiana yankee soldier was a fourth cousin of the rebel Cherokee County, Alabama private Milton A. Hardin whose letters I've reprinted on this site.

Who is Ichabod Hardin?

A biography of Elisha Hardin appeared in the 1896 book "A Memorial and Biographical Record of Iowa - Vouume 2"  The book can be found at books.google.com. The author is probably F. M. Drake.

Here is the Elisha Hardin biography on two excerpted pages (678-679). It is a non-searchable graphic PDF. Here is my summary of his dates and his ancestors' as published. I think the author interviewed Elisha Hardin and possibly his children, so Elisha is the source for genealogical purposes.

"A native of Indiana, he was born in the vicinity of Hardinsburg, Washington County, February 22, 1822. His father, John Hardin, was born in North Carolina, July 5, 1795... After his marriage he and his wife began their domestic life in Washington county, but subsequently removed to Elfingham county, Illinois, where the father died in 1885, in his eighty-eighth year. His wife passed away at the same place, in the eighty-second year of her age. The paternal grandfather of our subject, John Hardin, was born and reared in North Carolina, but spent his last days in Indiana. He was of Scotch-Irish extraction. His father was Eichabud [Ichabod] Hardin, who emigrated from England to the United States and reared a family of thirteen sons, all of whom reached years of maturity."

The father of John Hardin, Sr. of Deep River, according to an interview from the lips of great-grandson Elisha Hardin, was Eichabud Hardin. Is the story reliable?

Source 1: On this and my other Gabriel Harding pages, you see actual Cumberland / Moore County land records from the time of the transaction place Gabriel Hardin (b. abt. 1710) and John Hardin (b. abt. 1747) directly adjacent.

Source 2: A few years before 1896, Elisha Hardin, age 74 and quite lucid said his paternal great-grandfather was named Ichabod, that Ichabod emigrated from England and in the American colonies reared 13 sons, all or whom reached maturity.

Discussion.

Direct versus indirect evidence. It is conclusively established by microfilm of original documents that John Hardin Sr. bought land directly beside Gabriel Harding on Deep River, NC., then sold out and got a grant in Burke County. Proximity over a decade indicates John is a son or close relative of Gabriel. That close relative could be brother Thomas d. 1749, brother Samuel, Jr. d. 1753, or an unknown Eichabud. No other record of that name has surfaced.

The indirectness of the 1896 statement is that the fact is passed down through 3 generations. (John Hardin Sr, who obviously knew who his father was, told John, Jr. who told Elisha who told the interviewer. The father Eichabud would have been dead around a hundred years before his name was told by Elisha Hardin. Does the reader know who his or her great-grandfathers are through family history? I was told mine's name by my grandfather -- once -- so I suppose it is possible and even normal to know your great-grandfather's name.

The story is told like a popular cliché. An author of a genealogy help book once said that she more than once has seen the cliché of the man who immigrated from England and came from a very large family of sons, all of whom lived. As soon as I find that, or a refutation, I will post it.

Emigration from England. A breadcrumb trail and DNA evidence lead to a common American I1a (I-M253) ancestor, and that seems so far to be Samuel Hardin of Brunswick County, Virginia (will 1732). Samuel Hardin lived in the American colonies long enough to buy a farm and raise children to young adulthood. His birth I guess at 1690 or before. Although his father or mother may have come to the James River from England as a headright immigrant, Samuel's move toward the interior prompts me to guess he is second generation. I don't think Samuel came directly from England. Certainly his son Gabriel or a son named Ichabod did not -- making that part of the story untrue.

Nature of the publication. A biographical publication can be boastful, just like a county history that makes its subject county sound like heaven. I think Elisha's account is interesting and consistent and truthful -- until he gets to his great-grandfather's story.

Concluding the discussion, we need to keep in mind the possibility of an Ichabod Hardin in the I-M253 haplogroup.