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| Friar Street - at the other end of the Shambles from St Swithun's |
The next question concerns the family of origin of John Hardman, Captain of the Mizzen Top. This has some of the elements of a mystery, something I enjoy in research. Given a possible baptismal record, how much evidence can I find for it being the John Hardman in question, my 3xgreat grandfather?
From his service records, John Hardman was born in Worcester on 13 August 1831. Even before I had these records, his various census returns suggested 1831-2. Using familysearch.org with his name, and place and year of birth came up with the following baptism at St Swithin Worcester:
John Hardman 5 September 1831 Parents: William and Elizabeth
This is consistent on three counts for his census returns, even down to the parish in 1871. Ancestry have his place of birth on the 1871 England Census transcribed as "St Isnelen", when I can make out St Swithin. Often, and especially in 18th century records, consistency in name, time and place is as good as it gets. But I did want to see if there was more evidence than this. Broadening the search, finds three more baptisms at St Swithin Worcester of children with these parents:
James Hardman 30 November 1827
Thomas Hardman 11 October 1829
Elizabeth Hardman 9 August 1833
Any of these might have left a record confirming that John Hardman baptized on 5 September 1831 grew up to become Captain of the Mizzen Top. Using a search in ancestry.com, I looked for records of each of these Hardmans with birthplace Worcester and their appropriate year of birth, and parent's names.
Among searches for records of the Hardman siblings from Worcester, I found census returns from Bristol for James Hardman, Labourer, born in Worcester 1827-28, and wife Mary Ann. These are consistent with James Hardman of the baptisms at St Swithin's, although I have no direct evidence for this.
Another set of census returns (1851 through 1881) for a Thomas Hardman, Tailor, unmarried, and born about 1829-30 in Worcester most likely is the Thomas of the St Swithin's baptism.
Women are more difficult to find after marriage, so I searched specifically for a marriage occuring between 1848 and 1860 for Elizabeth Hardman. I found this one solemnized 15 July 1850 at St George the Martyr Southwark.
Groom: John Green Winter / 21 / Bachelor / Draper / Suffolk Street
father: Robert Winter / Relief Officer
Bride: Elizabeth Frances Hardman / 17 / Spinster / / Suffolk Street
father: William Hardman / Provision Merchant
Signed: John Green Winter and Elizabeth Frances Hardman
Witnesses: Richd Bell and Jane Leicester
At least, it looks like Jane Leicester; and there is a note below the entry that she is a sister of Elizabeth Hardman. (However, I have not been able to find any records for her yet). Although name, age and father's name all match, Elizabeth is far from Worcester. However, the married couple are easy to locate in the 1851 England Census at Francis Cottage, Mile End Old Town:
John Green Winter Head Mar 20 Draper Haigh St Marylebone, Middlesex
Elizabeth Winter Wife Mar 17 Shambles Worcester
St Swithin's (these days St Swithun's, although now a redundant church) lies at one end of The Shambles in Worcester. Thus, the Elizabeth of the marriage record is quite possibly, the Elizabeth of the baptism record. Tentatively adding this to my tree notified me of other trees that might have the same person. One of these trees referenced a death registration in Glasgow for her in 1918 under the name Elizabeth Francis McDougall. Although I try to hold back from purchasing too many records outside of my ancestry subscription, I decided upon the marriage certificate for John Hardman and Amelia Hatt, and the death registration for Elizabeth Francis Hardman or Winter or McDougall. The former came by regular post from the General register Office, and the latter electronically from scotlandspeople.gov.uk.
First, the marriage certificate, from which my chief interest for now lies in the father of the groom. The marriage was solemnized on 8 August 1865 at the parish church in Grays, Essex:
Groom: John Hardman / 34 / Widower / Coastguard / West Tilbury
father: William Hardman / Provision Dealer
Bride: Amelia Hatt / 24 / Spinster / / Grays Thurrock
father: Thomas Hatt / Coastguard
signed: John Hardman and Amelia Hatt
witnessed: Cyprian Hatt, Eliza Booth, E Gaze, and Arthur Jeremiah Booth
Thus, it is all but certain that Elizabeth Hardman (who married John Green Winter) is the sister of John Hardman (my 3xgreat grandfather). The ages for Elizabeth and John at the time of marriage predict the years of birth which match the baptisms at St Swithin Worcester.
The second record is the civil death registration for Elizabeth Hardman.
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| Death registration for Elizabeth Frances Hardman or Winter or MacDougall |
Elizabeth 1918 F 85 William Hardman
Frances July years General Merchant
MacDougall First (deceased)
(Widow of 1st 11h a.m.
John Green Winter 12 Elizabeth Hardman
Excise Officer Falkland Mansions M.S. Willis
2nd Alexander MacDougall Glasgow (deceased)
Letterhead Printer
The death registration has a consistent occupation for William Hardman. A provision merchant/dealer traded in such foods as meat, cereals, fruit, and vegetables. A general merchant or grocer would have bought and sold foodstuffs plus any household items. It also offers a maiden name (M.S. = Maiden Surname) for his wife, Elizabeth Willis. The accuracy of this information depends on the memory of the informant, Elizabeth Frances's daughter, May V S Petrie (nee Winter).
In answer to my initial question seeking evidence for linking John Hardman, baptized at St Swithin, Worcester in 1831 with John Hardman, Captain of the Mizzen Top, I have (in addition to his name):
1. Date of birth of latter would make him a little over 3 weeks old at baptism;
2. Place of birth of latter alway given as Worcester, and even as St Swithin in
the 1871 Census;
3. Father's name is William Hardman;
4. Elizabeth Frances Hardman, born 1833-34 has father of same name and occupation, and she
corresponds to Elizabeth Hardman baptized at St Swithin's at a consistent
time, presumed sister of the John baptized same place in 1831).
As you see, I was able to add only a little to the evidence linking John Hardman, Captain of the Mizzen Top to John Hardman, baptized at St Swithin Worcester 5 September 1831. The question of Jane Leicester's identity remains. But I do believe I have some evidence for the fate of each of the children of William Hardman and Elizabeth Willis from the St Swithin's baptisms. Next up, William Hardman, his siblings and parents, and why Edith Hardman, John's daughter, has the middle name Simmonds.
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