Migration to Washington County, Georgia
of Sons and Daughter of John Hardin of Chatham County

John Hardin Review: John Hardin is the probable son of Samuel Hardin of Brunswick County, Virginia (will 1732). John Hardin was born in that county likely in 1733. He moved across the line to Granville County, North Carolina where he bought land on Billys Creek in 1761.

John Hardin left Granville County in 1769 and by 1772 acquired land in southern Chatham County, North Carolina. He and his children - some of them grown with families - lived there fifteen years. His children dispersed between 1784 and 1800 except Nicholas, who went to Georgia between 1800 and 1805.

Known children:

Gabriel Hardin (b.bef. 1753) went to Pendleton District, South Carolina with his father.

Adam Hardin. Migrated to Washington County, Georgia.

Eve Hardin. (bef. 1772) Migrated to Washington County, Georgia. Married David Clay in Warren County, Ga.

Nicholas Hardin. Migrated to Washington County, Georgia later than the rest.

Robert M. Hardin b. 1761, m. Mary Deaton. (Speculative, from the 1806 Chatham County will of Hardin neighbor John Deaton.) See ../john-w-gabe.htm.

Useful Reference: $ Records of Washington County Georgia by De Lamar   Search Page

Adam Hardin, Eve Hardin, Nicholas Hardin, Valentine Hardin, and Isaac Hardin migrate to Washington County, Georgia

It has taken this writer several years to realize that plenty of evidence exists to show that the above named sons and daughter of John Hardin of Billys Creek, Granville County, NC, and later of Chatham County, NC, are one and the same Hardins who moved from Chatham County, NC and settled in old Washington County, Georgia around 1785-90. Another son Gabriel Hardin migrated in the 1780s from Chatham County to Pendleton District, SC and was the patriarch of the Pendleton SC and Anson NC Hardins. Isaac Hardin was the cousin of the other Hardins, being the son of Gabriel Harding of Moore County, NC. He stayed only months in Georgia before leaving for Union District, South Carolina in 1790, then appearing near his cousin Gabriel in Pendleton in 1800, followed by several decades in Greenville County. After 1820 Isaac Hardin then moved his family to McMinn County, Tennessee and was the patriarch of that southeastern Tennessee family.

Leaving Chatham County, North Carolina

March 1780 -Nicholas Harder was a chain carrier in a Chatham Co survey along the Cumberland county line.

1786 8 Nov - Both of John Hardin's 1784 grants of 100 and of 150 acres on Fall Creek were sold to NICHOLAS HARDIN. The sellers were JOHN HARDIN and SARAH HARDIN HIS WIFE. One of the witnesses was EVE HARDIN. The price was £25 for each parcel.

Note that Sarah Hardin was the wife of the John Hardin who bought land on Billy's Creek in Granville County in 1763.

1787 7 Nov; registered Nov 1788. Nicholas Harden sold the 100 acre tract on Fall Creek to Drury Parham for £100. Both seller and buyer lived in  Chatham County.

Oct. 8, 1790. BYRD BRASWELL to WILLIAM PARHAM, for 50 pounds, 100 acres near the Cumberland County line adjacent JOSEPH YARBOROUGH. Witnesses: JOHN WOMMACK and NICHOLAS HARDIN.

1790 US Census, Nicholas Harden 2M 16 and up; 1M under 16; 1F. (written p. 204)

1790 tax list for Chatham Dist.* Nicholas Harden: Poll 1, 300 acres.

1791 2 Aug - Nicholas Harden sold the 150 acre tract on Fall Creek to Richard Stevens for £150. Both seller and buyer lived in Chatham County.

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Chatham Co. N.C. Court Minutes 1781-1785, p. 22a, Session of 11 Nov 1782: "List of Insolvents Returned for the year 1781 in District 5, 6, and 7 by Joseph Rosser Deputy Sheriff, To Wit ...ISAAC HARDIN...

In the Moore County records Isaac Harden on Feb. 24, 1785 was appointed road overseer from the Chatham County line, indicating he lived in northern Moore County.

1800 Pendleton District, SC census: ISAAC HARDEN and wife, age 26-44, and 4 boys under 16. He was born after 1756. Because he appeared in the same county with John and Gabriel Hardin in two different states, it is easy to believe he is another son of John and brother to Gabriel, Nicholas, Adam, and Eve. But Isaac Hardin inherited one-ninth the Randolph County property of Gabriel Harding (of Moore County) and so is proven to be his son. His affairs involved the children of John: he applied for Georgia headright grants alongside Adam Hardin and David Clay, below.

Arrival in Washington County, Georgia

Your Web page author will attempt to either confirm or disprove these statements written in 1797 and 1927:

The State of Georgia, Department of Archives and History

I, Ruth Blair, State Historian and Director of the Department of Archives and History of the State of Georgia, do hereby certify, That the pamphlet, LAND GRANTS, 1784-1787 showing a list of the warrants issued by the Land Court for the County of Washington from its establishment to the sixth day of August, 1787, inclusive, shows on page 25 that Nicholas Hardin received 200 acres on headright; that Adam Hardin received 200 acres on headright (page 27); and that Isaac Hardin received 600 acres, distinction not shown (page 30). Said pamphlet, signed by Joseph Miller, O.W.C., Nov 16, 1797, is on file in this Department.

In testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of my office, at the Capitol, in the city of Atlanta, this 6th day of August in the year of our Lord One Thousand Nine Hundred and Twenty Seven and of the Independence of the United States of American the One Hundred and ___.

RUTH BLAIR, State Historian. (SEAL)

From "Historic Georgia Families," compiled by L.W. Rigsby, original 1925-1928, reprinted 1969, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, page 185. Source not stated, but Rigsby's major Hardin correspondent was Miss Willie Reynolds of Barnesville, Georgia, who in turn corresponded with Mrs. E.I. Howard, "grandaughter of Adam Hardin, Sr."  Rigsby also seems to have written a long Hardin postscript himself.

DISCUSSION OF THE AFFIDAVIT: We have records of Nicholas Hardin busily trading land in Chatham County , North Carolina, between  1780 and 1786. Five years are unaccounted for between  1781 and 1785 when he could have gone to Georgia. But having received a land grant in Georgia, I can't believe he would go back to trading land in North Carolina as he did, then returned to Georgia with his family sometime around 1801.

In light of that, I believe the record-keepers of the 1920s may have made a mistake under pressure from the enthusiastic would-be Daughters of the American Revolution in complying with their DAR membership quest.  In the sources I have seen,  there was no Nicholas Hardin granted land in Washington County and vicinity -- ever.

WAS IT FACTUAL? We're told that records closest to the time being researched are generally more reliable. The above statement was written in 1927 after consulting historic but still derivative evidence of land grants from 1797 concerning grants 12 years previous. It is derivative because it is a list made 12 years after the fact. Three more steps separate us from the original: Ms. Blair's transcription; Mrs. Howard's transcription; and Mr. Rigsby's editing and printing. Do we trust the document as genuine, and does it exist today so we can read it ourselves?

What will it take to remove doubt and tell a true story? These things: (1) Finding original Georgia land grants, or a list of their recording; (2)Working out each person's time line and order of travels. When a person is in two places at the same time, an explanation must be sought; and (3) Ideally other Hardins in the area studied must be  explained.

MY IMPRESSION OF THE HARDIN MATERIAL IN RIGSBY'S "GEORGIA FAMILIES" by Travis Hardin, Huntsville, Alabama, revised March 2017
In Rigsby, claims are made, long family trees are published, and tales and histories are told with no source given, as a general rule. A writermay be sure of facts, but if he or she don't say where the facts can be found, no one can later check the unsourced material for accuracy. The Hardin researcher Miss Reynolds gathered and analyzed an amazing amount of material for her time, and so did Mr. Rigsby, but by today's knowledge, the various Hardin families are all mixed up in their minds. None of it can be trusted. Miss Reynolds gives the impression that she is going for Revolutionary War heroes, even if she has to invent kinships. It is certainly a good thing to propose theories, and maybe that was her intent, but in her story the Central Georgia Hardins ran up to Virginia to fight in a theater there, then fought again in Pennsylvania battles before returning home. Adam Hardin is totally unaccounted for in Chatham County, so we can't rule out his being a Revolutionary War soldier sometime between 1776 and 1784, and the others had gaps in the war years. If they served it was likely from Cumberlald or Chatham County. I have found no military reords with the names of Adam, Nicholas, or Isaac Hardin in those locations. If the reader finds additional records please let this writer know. 

USES FOR RIGSBY. He succeeded in naming John Hardin as the father of the Georgia Hardins. It is John according to my research too. Otherwise, all the material not already disproved can be useful as suggestions to be confirmed or refuted. For example, a tree may contain a child we don't know about. We re-run that research to confirm, to refute, or to leave the question open. We who have instant access to documents today can consult primary early historic documents and secondary lists that were only a dream in 1927. Most powerfully we have DNA testing today to help sort Hardins into their proper families. Let's continue to use documents and records written near the time, and let's cite those documents as sources, not "Rigsby, Georgia Families, 1927," or "Minnie Smith" unless Minnie Smith personally knows the old person or the old fact.

GEORGIA HEADRIGHTS AND BOUNTY GRANTS TUTORIAL

Beginning in 1783 a head of household living in Georgia could be granted 200 acres of land on his own head-right and fifty acres for each additional family member, including slaves, up to 1000 acres. To acquire a land grant, an applicant obtained a warrant of survey from the land court in the county in which he wanted land. The county surveyor then surveyed the land, made a plat of survey, and forwarded a copy of the plat to the Surveyor General to be recorded. The applicant then applied to the Governor's office for the grant after he paid all office fees. The grant was then issued and recorded. (This is the sanitized version. For details see References directly below.)
-Georgia's online Headright and Bounty Plats of Survey Information page.

Reference 1: Georgia Bounty Land Grants, the December 1954 Georgia Historical Quarterly article by Alex M. Hitz. At JSTOR.ORG. Six articles per month may be read online for free after the reader goes through the contortions of registering an account. Copies $$$

Reference 2: Georgia Bounty Land Grants,by Alex M. Hitz, (page 5) with additional material.

Reference 3: OurGeorgiaHistory article Georgia Headright Grants showing time line.

The references show the program changed often and had a huge amount of fraud, which might help to explain duplicate applications.

Analysis of 1780s Head Right Land Grants, Hardin and Related, shown below (text).

Also see Isaac Hardin on this site.

HEADRIGHT LAND GRANTS AROUND WASHINGTON COUNTY, GEORGIA 1784-1810, HARDIN AND SIMILAR. (IMAGES)

The below records come from Georgia, Headright and Bounty Land Records, 1783-1909 at familysearch.org

I1A HARDINS FROM CHATHAM COUNTY, NC

1785 Dec 5. David Clay Washington Co warrant of survey
David Clay is from Duplin County, NC. Future wife Eve Hardin from Chatham County, NC did not meet him until after his 1783 military discharge. They probably met in Georgia. He was single when he applied for 200 acres. This Warrant of Servey document begins the process and is not proof he followed through, registered, and lived on the land. It is proof that David Clay was in Georgia before 5 Dec 1785. There was no residence requirements to apply for headright grants.

1785 Clay, David, Washington County, 200 Acres, Watercourse: Buffalo Creek. Vol. F, p. 350, Record ID 15112.
From the Georgia colonial and Headright Plat Index, 1735-1866 at georgiaarchives.org/research

1785 Hardee, Isaac, Washington County, 600 acres, watercourse: Williamson Swamp. Volume F, p.365 Record ID 23565
From the Georgia colonial and Headright Plat Index at georgiaarchives.org/research

1786 Dec 1, Isaac Hardee, Washington Co, Governors Grant.gif

In the 1700s Hardin was sometimes misspelled Hardy or Hardee. Isaac Hardee was granted 600 acres in Washington Co by the governor, implying a family of 9 (including slaves).

1787, Hardy, Isaac, Wilkes County, 148 acres, watercourse not stated. Vol Q, p. 130, record ID 24042.
From the Georgia colonial and Headright Plat Index, 1735-1866 at georgiaarchives.org/research

1788, Harden, Adam, Washington County, 290 Acres, Watercourse: Sandhill Creek. Vol O, p. 85, record ID 24018.
From the Georgia colonial and Headright Plat Index, 1735-1866 at georgiaarchives.org/research

Sandy Hill Creek is entirely within present-day Washington County. It originates southeast of Tennille and runs southwest into the Oconee River. The markers (by GNIS) represent the source, the center, and the mouth.

1789 March 11. Theft of tobacco. Isaac Hardy was called into Wilkes Superior Court to answer a charge by John Lindsay, esq., that on or about Feb 20,1789 he took from him 3000 weight of tobacco worth three hundered pounds specie. He was ordered to appear on the fifth Tuesday in March to answer the charges. "Copy left March 11, 1789," reads the cover. Isaac Hardin lived in Union District, SC on the day of the time of the 1790 census, August 2. It is believable that he exited Georgia before the fifth Tuesday (March 31st. 1789), notwithstanding the below John Holden matter. It did not require Isaac's presence.
Wilkes County Court Records at sos state.ga.us

1789 Sep 6, Isaac Harden assigned 200A to John Holden in Wilkes

Isaac Harden obtained a warrant of survey in Wilkes County before 6 Sep 1789 and appeared not to follow through. His original request for 200 acres (indicating a single man) was subsumed in the request of John Holden for a warrant of survey for 1,800 acres "family head rights" plus "200 acres in assignment [in lieu?] of one old Warrant of Isaac Harden." Note the county is the same and the name is spelled the same as that of Adam Hardin (no Hart or Hardy). It will be hard to refute that this is the Isaac Hardin from Chatham and Moore Counties, NC.

images/harden-adam-wilkes-29oct1789-200A.gif
1789 Oct 29 Grant to Adam Harden. East of Greene and north of Warren, Wilkes County is a bit on the edge of where I expected to find the Hardins. But the name is right -- exactly right. This is not a warrant of survey, but a grant by the governor, George Walton. He received 200 acres, so was a single man. It will be hard to refute that this is the brother of Eve Hardin. Registered 10 Nov 1789, entered in vol. SSS page 566.

images/harden-adam-14jun1790-wash-co.gif
1790 Jun 14. This is the grant to Adam Harden by Governor Telfair of 290 acres in Washington County on Sandhill Creek. Sandhill Creek flows past the present town of Oconee in western Washington County. The plat shows the land was bounded by Anderson, Brasswell, Burke, Woods, and Williams. It was registered 16 June 1790. The 290 acres is the amount given as bounty land to certain lower-ranking militiamen or veterans as we would say today.

images/hardy-isaac-1790-wilkes-co.gif
1790 Feb 9, a grant to Isaac Hardy by Governor Telfair of 148 acres in Wilkes County. This may be Isaac Hardin misspelled, receiving the replacement land given to John Holden 5 months ago or a separate Isaac Hardy.The survey shows the land bounded by Phillips, Gordon, Elder, and Evans.

    If he's of our family, then at this point in time David Clay had requested 200 acres in old Washington County; Isaac "Hardy" was granted 148 acres in Wilkes County; and Adam Harden was granted 200 acres in Wilkes County and 290 additional acres in Washington County. Nicholas Hardin has not appeared in the records I've found. The trouble here is that Isaac Hardin was in Spartanburg County, SC in August 1790. I believe he was not in Georgia to receive and occupy this tract. I think he left Georgia before March 31, 1789. The land was registered 17 Feb 1790. I believe that was the date a clerk indexed it. Isaac Hardin did not have to be present on that date.

WILD GEESE

images/hart-john-1784-no-county.gif

images/hart-john-1784-resident-soldier-warrant.gif

1785 Feb 5 Nicholas Hughes, Washington Co Governor's Grant
I include this item as information. Nicholas Hardin seems to have come later.

1784, Harbeck (Harbuck), Nicholas, Washington County, 287.5 Acres, watercourse not stated, Vol. F p. 157, Record ID 23543. (note: a revolutionary war soldier and not a Hardin.)
From the Georgia colonial and Headright Plat Index, 1735-1866 at georgiaarchives.org/research

1784, Harbeck (Harbuck), Michael, Washington County, 287.5 acres, watercourse: Williamsons Swamp, Vol F p.140 Record ID 23507
From the Georgia colonial and Headright Plat Index, 1735-1866 at georgiaarchives.org/research

images/hardy-wm-1786-sep-richmond-co.gif

Governor Telfair's grant of 160 acres in the county containing Augusta, to William Hardy. Grant does not indicate head right or bounty land.

images/hart-samuel-wilkes-1787.gif

1787 May 16, a warrant requesting a survey was issued to Samuel Hart for 200 acres in the county of Wilkes. This may be one of our Hardins.

images/harton-thomas-wilkes-co-20sep1790.gif
1790 Sep 20. A grant of 250 acres by Governor Telfair to Thomas Harton. Harton is a distinct name and is not usually a misspelling for Hardin. But here it is for information.

images/hart-samuel-washington-co-1792.gif
1792 Feb 1. A warrant requesting 200 acres for Samuel Hart in Washington County. A single man. A possible misspelled Hardin. I don't know.

images/hardee-john-wilkes-camden-1794.gif

1794 Feb 3. A warrant requesting 500 acres for John Hardee in Camden County "in lieu of warrant renewed in Wilkes County in name of Walter Jackson." It appears from this that John Hardee applied for land in Wilkes County that was taken and he was switched to Camden County in furtherest southeastern Georgia. The acerage suggests a family of 7, including slaves if any.

1795, Harden, William, 250A. on Brier Creek in Warren County. Book VV page 116 of the Georgia Colonial Headright Plat Index. Perhaps a relative of Mark Hardin (not our family) who had a grant in Warren County.

images/hardin-martin-warren-co-1795-with-mark-hardin-jp.gif

1795 2 Feb and 1795 7 Dec. The second of these two items is a warrant by a land court requesting 330 acres in Warren County, suggesting a family of about 3. The county is just east of Hancock county and northeast of modern Washington County. The requester is Martin Hardin and one of the judges of the land court is his father, Mark Hardin. (Conceivably the requestor could be Mark Hardin's brother Martin b. 1755.) They are from the haplogroup r1b1b2, gold (hhhdna.com), and have French ancestry. The first of the two is a request of 200 acres in Warren County, indicating William Hardin is single. He may be the brother of J.P. Mark Hardin -- William Everett Hardin b. 1741 -- or he may be my relative. I include it for your study.

     Here I include a list of the children of Mark Hardin (1735). It may not be accurate or reliable; I copied it from someone.
Parents of Mark Hardin: Henry Hardin 1712-1794 m. Judith Lynch 1711.
Mark Hardin b. 1735 Va d. 1837 in Warren Co. Ga., m. Mary Hunter. Their children:
Henry Edward Hardin b. 1761 Johnston, NC;
Mark Warren Hardin, b. 1763 NC;
Martin Hardin b. 1765 NC; (the subject of the second warrant above)
James Hardin b. 1767 NC;
Mary Hunter Hardin b. 1769 NC;
Judith Hardin b. 1770 NC;
John Hardin b. 1771 NC;
Sarah Hardin b. 1775 NC.
Mark Hardin children by Martha Frances Newsome, second wife include:
Martha Newsome Hardin b. 1796 Warren, GA
Nancy L. Hardin b. 1798 Warren, GA
William S. Hardin b. 1800 Warren, GA

Siblings of Mark Hardin b. 1735 include:
Mary Hardin 1737 VA - aft 1796 GA;
William Everett Hardin 1741 Prince Wm VA - 1810 Franklin Co GA;
Elizabeth Hardin 1745 VA - 1845 VA;
Judith Hardin 1750 VA;
Martin Hardin 1755 VA - 1835 Bedford TN;
Henry Hardin 1757 VA - aft. 1832 Marion, Ind.;
Avarillah Hardin 1760 VA - aft 1830 Casey, KY;
Sarah Hardin 1761 VA.

Note, the above are included here as a reference to help unwind the families who might be found in the same counties as the I1a haplotype I am studying. Again the information is quickly gathered and may not be reliable, and certainly is not complete.

The next four items refer to William Everett Hardin of the above family, haplogroup r1b1b2, gold. Also see swan.htm on this site.

images/hardin-wm-1801-p1.gif
Georgia, Franklin County. Hardin, William.

"1801 Feb 4. This is to certify that on the seventh day of September 1789 the said Count of said County, granted unto William Harden his own family head rights for nine hundred acres of land and that he has only obtained one warrant for 250 acres and that the balance has not been issued. 4th Feby. 1801. D.C. Cleveland C.C.?

     "Book C Page 20

"William Hardin prays the Hon'l ___ Court will grant him one hundred acres as part of his family head rights be added to six hundred and fifty acres heretofore provided & issue in one warrant of 750 acres.
/s/ Wm. Hardin"

images/hardin-wm-franklin-1801p2.gif
To the Honorable Court of Franklin County your petitioner Prayeth your honours you would Grant him nine hundred acres of land; on his own Family head rights and that the Warrants Should issue in one
Petioner Will Ever Pray   /s/ William harden  

images/hardin-wm-franklin-co-1801-printed-form1.gif
1801 Apr 6. A warrant of survey is issued by the land court of Franklin Co. for 750 acres  for his own and family headrights.

images/hart-rubin-washington-1810.gif

1810 Aug 6. Land  Court of Washington County issues warrant for survey of 150 acres for Rubin Hart to be completed within 2 years. This cannot be the Rubin Hardin b. 1801,  son of Griffin Hardin of Pickens/Oconee County, SC. Hart is rarely a misspelling for Hardin, but it has happened.

images/hardin-isaac-1822.gif

1817 Mar 3 was the date of a warrant for Isaac B. Hardin for 19A. Surveyed on Mar 24, 1818, it was bounded by Harley Attoway and himself. The chain carriers were Richard Rogers and Henry Noland.1822 May 6 Isaac B. Hardin got a warrant from the land court in Burke County requesting a head right of 100 acres. On April 30, 1824 another 175 acres was surveyed and granted on Rocky Creek adjacent William Green. Recordings are in Book K page 368 and Book HHHH p. 223. Burke County is just south of Augusta, Ga. This Isaac B. Hardin is in Burke  for the 1830 census with 11 slaves and 28 total household persons. Probably not ours.

Their Beginnings in Georgia

This is a good place to talk about my intentions with respect to researching this group. My intention is to show evidence of where these East-Central Georgians came from. I hope you will credit this web site (samhardin.family) and this writer (Travis Hardin of Huntsville, Alabama) for the discovery that the Georgia Hardins came from Chatham County, North Carolina.  My second intention is to show that records are readily available nowadays that serve to clarify or refute some of the earlier unsuccessful attempts to identify that Georgia family.

Beyond that, I do not want to research this family very far beyond its original settlers. Researchers of the settlers' descendants can more accurately flesh out my meager findings.

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"William Allen of County of Warren in State of Kentucky appoints Adam Harden, attorney, to recover slave Betty and her 3 children. 28 Aug 1800. Rec. in Clerks Office - Superior Court in Book P folio 115. Thomas B. Rutherford, clerk." Some early depositions from De Lamar p. 137.

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LIST OF PERSONS LIVING WASHINGTON COUNTY WHO REGISTERED FOR THE DRAWING - 1805 LOTTERY

Persons entitled Bachelor 21 years or over, one year to draw,residence in Georgia, citizen of U.S. 1 draw.

Married man, with wife and/or child, one year residence in Georgia and citizen of U.S. 2 draws.

Widow with minor child, one year residence in Georgia. 2 draw.

Minor orphan, or family of minor orphans, with father dead and mother dead or re-married. 1 draw.

This list of those who registered to draw land for the 1805 Lottery has added significance because of the loss of the 1790, 1800, and 1810 census records of Georgia.

P=Drawer received land. B=No land was received.

1818 Map of Georgia

Clay, Chalender
    Orphans of:        B
  David Clay          BP (Two draws so he was married and one-year Georgia resident. One draw received land.)
   Pierce Clay         BB
Hardee, Thomas    BB
Harden, Adam       BB
Harden, John        PB (Two draws so he was married and one-year Georgia resident. One draw received land.)
Harden, Nicholas   BB
Hardison, Thomas   B
Hardy, Alan            BB
    Alan Jr.             B
    James               B
    John                 BB
(De Lamar, p. 31.)

Source De Lamar: Ancestry.com. Records of Washington County, Georgia [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2006. Original data: De Lamar, Marie. Records of Washington County, Georgia. Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2000.

Gleanings from "Records of Washington County, Georgia" compiled by Marie De Lamar and Elisabeth Rothstein; and Other Hardin Records in Old Washington County

Chapter: Headrights and Bounty Grants

P. 2: "The Act of February 25, 1784 ... was passed primarily to create and open up Franklin and Washington Counties... A large section in what later became Greene County was reserved exclusively for bounty grants to men who had served refugees and militiamen.

P. 7: Headright and bounty grants; the date of the first grant is shown.
Clay, David     1786
Clay, Percibal     1799

Hardee, Collins     --
Hardee, Isaac     1786
Hardie, William     1816

Chapter: "Extant Serveyor's Records" -- p. 85: A land survey exists for Wm Hadon in Washington County dated 1 Nov 1790. Adjoining owners are listed as Hardon and Tabar.

"Some Marriages" 108: Nancy Harden m. Randol Adkins 11/22/1838
109: Elizabeth Harden m. Rolli Boatright 10/13/1840
114: William R. Hardin m. Elizabeth Smith 12/3/1846
122: Rebecca Hardin m. Shadrack Tootle 1/3/1842
110: Pierce Clay m. Mary Ray, 11/11/1841
114: Sarah Clay m. Turner R. Hitchcock 4/15/1838
114: Emily Clay m. Joseph Harris 5/24/1845
124: Elizabeth Clay m. William Watkins 3/3/1844

"Tax Defaulters" 131: Voll Harden in Capt. Irwin's District, 1791
137: "William Allen of County of Warren in State of Kentucky appoints Adam Harden, attorney, to recover slave Betty and her 3 children. 28 Aug 1800.
Rec. in Clerks Office -- Superior Count in Book P folio 115 Thomas B. Rutherford, Clerk."

1820 Heads of Families. 50: William Clay, Pierce Clay.
1830 Heads of Families, 54: William Clay, John Clay.

1840 Heads of Households: William Clay
1850 Census Index : William Clay

Militia Muster Rolls 1793 p. 98:David Clay under Capt. McKensey, Capt. Wm. Smith

p. 99: 1793 Peave Clay under Capt. McCavy
p. 101: A list of Captain Edmond Hopson's Company of first class Militia from the 13 Regiment Washington County, 1814: William Clay.

Georgia Hardins by Family

Isaac Hardin in South Georgia

See the headright land records and see Adam Hardin, who acquired land at the same time and place as Isaac Hardin. It is a surprising find to see that Isaac traveled from Chatham County, NC to Washington County, Georgia in the period before 1789, when we were already surprised to discover other relocations:

In 1790 Isaac Hardin was in Union District, SC; in 1800, Pendleton District, SC; in 1810 and 1820, Greenville County, SC; and by 1830 had moved to what may have been his final home, McMinn County, Tennessee.

We notice from the head rights images that he received an authorization to begin a survey in Georgia on 6 Sep 1789, but he may not have followed through on it, since he was in Union District, SC when the census man came calling the first week of August 1790 -- 11 months later.

In Union Co SC in 1790 there were 3 males 0-15, 3 males 16 and over, and 3 females. It can be interpreted from this that he had 2 boy born before 1774, 3 boys born after 1774, a wife, and 2 girls.

John Mike Hardin of Savannah, Tennessee has pointed out that same family must have been with Isaac earlier that year when he departed Wilkes County, Georgia. The man in Wilkes  applied for 200 acres and thus was single. Therefore there are two Isaac Hardins, he proposes: The one with the family who went from Chatham County NC to Union District SC; and a single Isaac Hardin still from the Chatham Hardins.

I think the timing works if there is but one Isaac Hardin. Isaac either went to Georgia with his single cousins Adam and Eve as a single man, leaving his family with relatives elsewhere, or he took his family and requested and received only 200 acres.

Nicholas Hardin

Nicholas Hardin was sold land by his father John Hardin in Chatham County, NC, which he then sold by 1800. Nicholas went to Washington county, Georgia later than the rest. Nicholas was present for the 1805 Georgia Land Lottery.

Georgia Journal 1814 Apr 13
"Washington Co.
ELIZABETH HARDIN and William Smith has applied for letters of admr'
on the estate of NICHOLAS HARDIN...signed John Irwin..Clerk.."
source: Georgia Journal, 1808-1818, Transcribed by Joyce McMurray. Accessed 26 Mar 2014

From the above notice about the death of Nicholas Hardin we know he was in Washington County, Ga. and that Elizabeth was likely his wife, and William Smith is likely a son-in-law.

Nicholas Hardin, Jr.
Nicholas Hardin (Jr.) and Frances Smith, marriage license granted 4 August 1830,  license no. 2376.
Oglethorpe County Marriages "White" Vol 1 1794-1832, Index, p. 252. Image 142 of 198 at Ancestry.com, Georgia Marriage Records from Select Counties, 1828-1978.

Nicholas Hardin appears on five lines in the 1836 Washington County, Georgia tax list. Each line described property in a different county. 
Washington County: Watercourse Lines, St.; adjacent Strine; 270 acres; 1 poll, 2 slaves.
Wash/Cass: Watercourse Sand Hill, adjacent Wood; 100 + 160 acres. Cass became Bartow. It is on the east side of Floyd County.
Stuert [Stewart]: 202 1/2 acres.
Floyd: 160 acres.
Line 5 is N. Hardin and Co. The company has $2800 stock in trade.

Adam Hardin

I find no record of Adam Hardin in Chatham County, NC. But I am persuaded he's a son of John Hardin because his name is an analog of Eve, and because he appears in Washington County, Ga. and vicinity about the same time as Isaac Hardin and Eve Hardin. In 1789 Isaac and Adam received grants in the same county, Wilkes, nearly simultaneously -- in September and October.  Studying Adam further in Georgia should reveal more ties.

Timeline of Adam Hardin

Putnam County was Creek Land until 1803. Putnam was created from Baldwin on December 10, 1807. This gives some structure for learning when Adam Hardin made it his home.

1820 census, he was over 45 thus born before 1775.

1830 census, he was age 60-69, thus born 1761-1770.

Adam Hardin Summary

1817 Georgia Property Tax Digest, Putnam County, Ga. Captain Jesse Little's District
Name:  Adam Harden Polls: Land first quantity: Second quantity: Third quantity: Pine Land:    County: Water Courses: Fr Whom Granted: Whom it Joins: No. of Land:	Line 1 18 -- 100 202.5 -- Putnam 3 Mile Br Lawson Etc Wynn --	Line 2 18 -- 204.5 -- -- Putnam BeaverDam Moore Bass --
Citation: Ancestry.com. Georgia, Property Tax Digests, 1793-1892 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Original data: Georgia Tax Digests [1890]. 140 volumes. Morrow, Georgia: Georgia Archives.  Frame 138 of 174.See record at ancestry.com

1820 US Census, Putnam County, Ga., Capt. William Jerneghans District. Aug 7, 1820
ADAM HARDEN 2M<10; 1M 16-25; 1M >45; 3F 10-15; 1F >45. Totle all persons 20.
SLAVES 1M <14; 1M 14-25; 1M 26-44;  7F<14; 2F 14-25;  total slaves 12.
Note  the head and his wife were born before 1775.

1830 US Census, Putnam County, Ga., Capt. Richard Wrights District
ADAM HARDEN 1M 60-69; 1F<5; 1F 15-19; 1F 30-39; 1F 60-69. Total all persons 9.
SLAVES 1M 24-35; 1F 10-23; 1F 24-35; 1F 36-54; Total slaves 4.
Note the head and his wife were born 1761-1770.

WILL OF ADAM HARDIN 19 NOV 1836 PUTNAM CO. GA. WILL IN PDF
Familysearch.org, Georgia, Probate Records 1742-1990 - Putnam Estates 1800-1928, roll Grimes to Hardin, frames 690-698. Transcribed by Travis Hardin, Huntsville, Alabama, Nov. 2014

State of Georgia, Putnam County
In the name of God Amen. I Adam Hardin of said county and state ... do make this my last will and testament, which I wish to be executed after my death by my Executor to be hereinafter named.
First...soul to God
Second...Debts be paid...And that my land Known by lot No. in the Dist. of Putnam County and said state be sold if necessary to pay those debts.

Third I give to my son Atkinson T. Hardin all my negroes, to wit, Elizia & her child Vine and all her other increase. Charity, Paul, Nanny & Easter -- All their increase. I also give him all my stock, Kitchen & household furniture and the farm I now live on in Putnam County and all other property I may have at my death.

Fourth. I give all the above property to my son A. T. Hardin to have at my death after my debts are paid.

Fifth To my children John, Adam & Hutson Heardin Mary Roberts Linney Stevenson Sarah Spivey's heirs & William Heardin & Sandlin Hardin's heirs I have already given as much property as a reasonable share - would amount to. & therefore I give them nothing now, but such property as they have accured. I now confirm the gifts to each.

Lastly - I declare this to be my last will and testament and I do hereby Constitute and Appoint my son Atkinson T. Hardin my executor to convey fully into effect this my last will.

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the 19th day of November the year of our lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty six.

[scrawled] /s/Adam Harden

Signed in the presence of
Robt Roby
James Pealy?
J. E. Ward J.P. 

On cover: [name unreadable] to record 6 March 1837. Wm Q. Carter, C.C.C.
On cover: Adam Hardin Will, 1836, Recorded.

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Adam Hardin (Jr.) married Risciller [Priscilla] Adams Nov 1818 in Hancock County, Georgia. License issued Nov 2, 1818. Executed between 5 Nov and 12 Nov 1818. "Execution date" and "Executed by" is blank or was erased.
-Page 28, line 53, Hancock County Court of Ordinary Marriage Records 1808-1879 Index. Image 41 of 270 at Ancestry.com, Georgia Marriage Records from Select Counties, 1828-1978.

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Free Narration, Sons of Adam Hardin

Adam Hardin b. bet. 1761-1770. D. 1837

    He reports in 1820 that he was born before 1775. In 1830, between 1761-1770.

Adam Hardin moved from Washington County, Georgia to Putnam County not long after it was carved from Indian territory and became a prosperous farmer. His son William was also prosperous when he died intestate in 1819. William had slaves, cotton, and household effects.

Adam Hardin's will was written 19 Nov 1836 and received 6 Mar 1837. No wife was mentioned, therefore she was probably deceased. His children were, in listed order:
    Atkinson T(abor) Hardin b. 1811
    John Hardin b. bet. 1780-1790 (Troup Co 1830)
    Adam Hardin, Jr. b. bet. 1790-1800 (Troup co 1830) 1810-1820 (1840 census Sumner County, Ga.)
    Hudson or Hutson Hardin
    William Hardin's heirs (he died intestate 1819) Newly transcribed! - 1819 Administration of Estate of William Hardin, son of Adam (PDF)
    Sandlin Hardin's heirs (he bought cloth from Hudson's store Feb 15, 1819, so was alive at tjat time)
    Mary Hardin Roberts
    Linney Hardin Stevenson
    Sarah Hardin Spivey's heirs
All Negroes went to Atkinson T. Hardin. They were Eliza and child Vine; Charity; Paul, Nanny; and Easter. All property went to Atkinson. The other children were said to have already received a reasonabe share.

In 1880  A. Tabor Hardin was a merchant in Rome, Floyd County, Georgia, being there since before 1840. Several sons of Aaron Hardin, Sr. of Pendleton District, SC, settled in that county. Aaron Hardin, Sr. was a first cousin of A. Tabor Hardin. I do not know if the two sets of Floyd County Hardins knew each other, since the first cousins parted ways in Chatham County NC about 1787 when they were boys. In 1860 A. T. Hardin was a postmaster in Rome, was 49 (b. 1811) and was born in Georgia. In the 1864 census, A.P. Hardin in the 919th Militia Dist. said he was 52 (b. 1812) and born in Georgia. In 1850 in Floyd County,  A. T. Hardin also reported an 1811 birth. In 1840 A. T. Hardin in dist. 949, Floyd Co., Ga. had 4 slaves and 5 free colored. Of the free, 2 were marked age 55-100 and 2 were marked over 100. "A. Tabor Hardin" was buried in Old Seventh Ave. (Oak Hill) Cemetery, Rome, Georgia. He died Feb 20, 1889 at age 78. (b. 1811) (Floyd County, Georgia Cemeteries typewritten). His wife Rebecca Cloud Hardin is buried in the same cemetery according to  a Floyd County Hardin compilation by Lil Prather. Rebecca died Aug 9, 1882 at age 66 (b. 1816).  This agrees with, for example, a Rome, Georgia 1860 listing for Rebecca as age 43 (b. 1817). In 1870 "Akins T. Hardin" and Rebecca lived in Rome. In 1880 Hardin and Norton were grocers at 11 Broad Street, Rome. (Roy Bottoms, Rome, Ga. in "NW Ga Hist & Gen Soc Inc. Quarterly" vol 16 no. 1, winter 1984.)

It now seems that Atkinson Tabor Hardin was the youngest son of Adam Hardin. He was age 25 when his father's will was written. After his father's death Atkinson Tabor Hardin went briefly to Henry County, Georgia where he was found in the public recordsas clerk of court, possibly the Inferior court, having joined his cousin William Henry Hardin, clerk of Superior Court, who went to Henry County around 1821, according to researcher Reggie Barton (top of this page). Within three years of his father's death A. Tabor Hardin, as he liked to call himself, had moved from Henry County to Rome, Georgia with his slaves and his young family.

Eve Hardin

Eva Hardin Clay's Revolutionary War Pension Application number W6690 provides lots of good sworn information about her life -- first that her maiden name is HARDIN. When I refer to "PA" as a source it means this Pension Application no. W6690. If a page number follows, it is the page number assigned by Fold3.com, source for the original handwritten documents.  

Original application (80 pages): http://www.fold3.com/image/14670396/ ($)
Will Graves transcription: http://revwarapps.org/w6690.pdf
Eileen Babb McAdams transcription: http://www.georgiagenealogy.org/wilkinson/claypension.html
McAdams' "Welch Witch Woman" story: http://www.georgiagenealogy.org/wilkinson/eve.htm (compare Rigsby's "Historic Georgia Families")

EVE HARDIN and DAVID CLAY TIMELINE, MAINLY FROM THE PENSION APPLICATION

[Her name was spelled "Eva" in most of the pension application and "Eve" elsewhere. Here I use them interchangeably.]

1770, Eva Hardin born. (Wilkinson County Ga 1850 census, p.366, "Evey Clay" age 80.)

1771-1780 Eva Hardin born. (329th district, Wilkinson County Ga 1840 census p. 311, "Eave Clay" age 70-79.)

1772, Eva Hardin born about.  (She was about 83 in 1855). (Eva) p.5

1778, Eve Hardin was born. She was age 14 at marriage. (Eva deposition of 14 July 1852) p.51

Her name before marriage was Eva Hardin. (herself p.5) (Mary Hancock p.75)

Eve was not married to David Clay prior to his leaving the service. (Eva) p.8

1789 or 90 the couple were married in Warren County by J.P. Hatcher. Mary Hancock who was then 12 or 13 and resided in that county. (Mary Hancock )  p.48

1792 Sep 26. Married to David Clay by John Hatcher, J.P., Warren County, Georgia. (Eva) p.8

1792 or before.  David Clay and Eve were married in Warren County near the Shoals of Ogeechee by John Hatcher, J.P. (Henry Holland, who was present) p.40          

1792 latter part of the year the couple were married in Warren County. Affidavit of July 14, 1852 of William and Mary John in Wilkinson County, who have known the couple over 50 years.  p.44 

1794 Jan 1. Marriage took place before this date, viz. at the time above stated. (Eva) p.8

1791. Mary Johns became acquainted with Eva and Clay. The first three children were Robert, Pearse and Sarah. (Mary Johns) p.10

1796 May. Mary Johns married, before which she waited on Eva's first three children. Mary Johns first knew the couple in Washington County, after which they all moved to Wilkinson County. p.10

1803. Birth of son Peyton Clay. (Peyton Clay, about age 50 in his 1853 deposition) p.73

1838 July 7. U.S. Congress, "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows." p.8

1850 Dec 23. Deposition in Tattnall County of Henry Holland, age about 98. p.40

1851 June 6. From Tattnall County Eve Clay appoints George W. Collins of Tattnall County her attorney. p.42

1852 July 14. Eva Clay Deposition in Wilkinson County. p. 51

1853 May 10. From Wilkinson County, gives Washington lawyer Beale her power of Attorney. p. 71

1853 Aug 15. Mary Johns deposition at Wilkinson County. p.10

1853 Aug 17. Eva Hardin Clay deposition in Wilkinson County, Ga. p. 8

1855 Mar 3. Bounty land act approved.

1855 Mar 29. Eva Hardin Clay deposition (re:bounty land) in Wilkinson County, age about 83. p.5

Veteran's widow was pensioned at the rate of $23.53 per annum commencing March 4th, 1848. p.2

 DAVID CLAY TIMELINE

From the Roster of Revolutionary Soldiers in Georgia, Volume 1, by McCall, Georgia DAR:
DAVID CLAY, b. Duplin Co, NC, about 1756; d. Wilkinson Co., Ga.,, 1818. Served as private N.C. Troops under Capt. Hall and Capt. Komegay. Widow applied and received pension 1852. Mar. 1792, EVE HARDIN (1772-1855).

Born 1759 or after. An estimation by William Johns in a 15 Aug 1853 deposition. p.11

Henry Holland of Tattnall County, b. about 1752, was acquainted with David Clay in NC. p.40

Enlisted from Duplin County, NC for 5 years, continued in service for 7 years.(Eva) p.8

Private in the Army in company commanded by Nathaniel Greene.(Eva) p.8

Private in the company commanded by Capt. [Jacob.p.53] Kornegay in the War of the Revolution. (Eva) p.5

1781 Dec 14. David Clay was allowed £9 for his Militia service by the Army Commissioner of Wilmington District in a payroll. Sep 8, 1854 letter from NC Comptrollers Office. p.29

1782 and other dates he was paid for services to the military. A certificate from the N.C. Comptroller dated Mar 10, 1855 shows payments made to David Clay. p.20   

Was at Wilmington (where he had the measles). (Eva) p.8

Was at Charleston and Beach Island. (Eva) p.8

Was discharged at Kinston. (Eva) p.8

Fought with Henry Holland and was discharged at the close of the war near Charleston by General Greene. (Henry Holland) p.40

1818 Aug. Died in Wilkinson County. (Eva) p.8

Excerpts from the Eva Clay Pension Application Folder

[PEYTON CLAY AFFIDAVIT from Pension Application p. 73]
State of Georgia, Wilkinson County.
On this 17th day of August AD 1853 appeared before me Peyton Clay, Son of David Clay deceased and Eva his widow, aged about fifty years a resident of Said County who being duly sworn according to law declares. that there is no record of the marriage of his father and mother, in the Clerks office in the County where they were married, or church registry or family record of their marriage, or record of the birth of his children, in his knowledge, and that his father could not write.
/s/ Paten Clay

[HEADSTONE LETTER Dec 19, 1924 p.70]

Dec 19, 1924
In reply refer to QM 293 A-C, Clay, David

The Commissioner of Pensions
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:
In order that a headstone may be provided for the grave of the decedent appearing below, The Quartermaster General requests that the correct military services and the spelling of the name be supplied this office from the records of the Pension Bureau:
Pvt. David Clay
Rev. War
Served 7 yrs. as Pvt. in N.C.Continental Line
Under Capt. Evans, 10th Regt. 1782.
Died: August 1818

Yours very truly, R. P. Harbold, Major, Q.M.C., Assistant.

[MRS TOM CLAY DAWSON GA 1914 LETTER OF INQUIRY SHOWING CHILDREN p.60-61]
Oct 21, 1914
Pension Commissioner, Washington, DC
Dear Sir:
I'm seeking this information Want to know if you can furnish with copy of service rendered by my ancestor David Clay a revolutionary soldier. Also if he drew a pension for said service. If please furnish me with same for D.A.R. papers.
David Clay, married Eve Hardin in Warren Co Ga and he died in Wilkinson Co Ga. Do not know his death date or marriage date would appreciate it if you would give me this datta.
His children were
Louis Robert Clay married Judith Jones
Edmond Peirce Clay m. Sarah Jones
Peyton Clay m. Nancy M. Jones
Sarah Clay m. James M. Katheer

Mrs. Tom Clay, Church Street, Dawson, Ga.
(She cites no authority for children's names and spouses.)

Valentine Hardin

A detailed analysis of Valentine Hardin and wife Margaret Castleberry; with comments on Adam, Eve, and Nicholas Hardin by descendant Reggie Barton. (Docx) 
Kindly sent by its author in 2016 to this website's author.

Another Hardin researcher, Reggie Barton, has considerable evidence that Valentine Hardin is a brother to Adam, Eve, and Nicholas. He lived on Sandhill Creek in Washington County. The name “Vall. Harden” is found on a list of tax defaulters for Washington County, GA in Capt. Irwin’s District for 1791.

Roster of Revolutionary Soldiers in Georgia, Volume 1, by McCall, Georgia DAR, presents a Valentine Hardin connection in the entry for EZEKIEL CLOUD. "Cloud was b. Wilkes Co. N.C., 1762; d. Henry Co., Ga. 1850. Served as private, Ga. Line. Received pension for his service 1831. Mar. ELIZABETH HARMON.
Children (known):
1. Nancy (Ann) mar. Col. William Hardin (son of Valentine and Margaret (Castleberry) Hardin); a Sol. of the War of 1812. They lived at New Echota (house built for the Moravian Missionaries). 7 children.
2. Levi, mar. Elizabeth Brown.
3. Mary Elisabeth, mar. Jacob Hale Stokes."

Entries for Valentine Hardin in Crumpton's 2-volume set Wilkes County land records:

1. For a warrant dated 7 Dec 1786, Val was listed as a Chain Carrier for a 350 acre plat (#2368).
2. For a warrant dated 4 Dec 1786 for the same landowner for the same 350 acres (#3330D).

In both cases the full name, Valentine Hardin, was written.

-Dan Crumpton, “Wilkes County, Georgia, Land Records, Volumes One and Two,” 2014-2015, via my April 2019 corrrespondent  Bill Schulz, elbonian@live.com. To order see CrumptonPlats.com
"The interesting thing," says Bill Schulz, "looking at the map, is that the property was right next door to a 200 acre plot with the name of Adam Hardin on it. So, Val was presumably visiting his brother when the surveyor showed up and asked for a volunteer chain carrier."

Various John Hardins in east Georgia, possibly in the family

JOHN HARDIN, DECEASED, OF OGLETHORPE COUNTY, EARLY 1800s

The first page with text is the G and H portion of an index. Among the entries are "Hardin, John, dec'd. Almost all the names are marked deceased. The next page includes the date September 23, 1830. The page following starts listing Oglethorpe County marriages with the first date being 18 Sep 1806.   Oglethorpe County Marriages "White" Vol 1 1794-1832, Index, p. 252. Image 142 of 198 at Ancestry.com, Georgia Marriage Records from Select Counties, 1828-1978.

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Travis Hardin, ke3y at comcast dot net