HARDING ANCESTORS


Thomas Harding was born in about 1525 of Mucklestone, Staffordshire, England. He married Anne.


Mucklestone is a village in Staffordshire, about four miles from the market town of Market Drayton. The village is associated with a battle in the War of the Roses in 1459: "According to legend, Queen Margaret of Anjou is said to have watched the defeat of her forces from the church tower, before fleeing on horse-back. It is said that Margaret employed the local blacksmith, William Skelhorn, to reverse the shoes on her horse to disguise her getaway. An anvil said to have belonged to Skelhorn stands in the churchyard to commemorate the event." (www.wikipedia.com)


Mucklestone

Mucklestone


Thomas was a witness to the will of William Gydlow of Mucklestone in 1574, and an appraiser for his inventory.


Thomas Harding appraiser 1599

From the inventory of Richard Heathe, 1599:
"This is the true & perfecte inventorye of all & singler the goodes and cattelles of Richard Heath of the parish of Moccleston the daye of his death prysed by
John Pyckin, Robt Acton & Thomas Hardinge the sixte daye of Aprill Anno Dom 1599"


Thomas acted as an appraiser for the inventory of Richard Heathe of Mucklestone in 1599, along with Robert Acton and John Pyckin. Thomas was also an appraiser for the inventory of William Powell of Mucklestone in 1600, along with Robert Acton and William Higgins.


Anne died and was buried 3 April 1612 in Mucklestone.


Anne Harding burial

Burial record for Anne Harding in Mucklestone:
"The third of Aprill was buried An Harding wife of Thomas Harding"


Thomas died and was buried 16 April 1625 in Mucklestone. The burial entry notes that he was about 100 years old at the time of his death.


Thomas Harding burial

Burial record for Thomas Harding in Mucklestone:
"The xvj of Aprill was buried Thomas Harding plus minus centum annum"


Thomas and Anne had the following children:


1. Richard, christened 28 April 1567 in Mucklestone.


*2. Alice (Alls), christened 26 February 1568/9 in Mucklestone; married John Ferrington September 1592 in Mucklestone.


3. Edward, christened 11 March 1572 in Mucklestone; buried 14 December 1634 in Mucklestone.


4. Elnor, christened 10 May 1574 in Mucklestone; married Thomas Whitmore 2 February 1619 in Mucklestone.


5. Thomas, christened 2 August 1580 in Mucklestone; married Elizabeth.


6. An, (shown as filia Thome Harding) married Yeuen Brucke 2 October 1603 in Mucklestone; had daughter An.



SOURCES: Mucklestone parish register; will of William Gydlow of Mucklestone, 1574; inventory of Richard Heathe of Mucklestone, 1599; inventory of William Powell of Mucklestone, 1600.


EARLIER HARDINGS

  • Anthony Harding was buried 3 April 1612 in Mucklestone.
  • There is a earlier entry in the Lichfield and Coventry will index for "Richd Herdyng, Muccleston" dated 9 May 1541, without an associated will. Perhaps this is Thomas Harding's father.


SOURCES: Lichfield and Coventry will index, www.findmypast.com; Mucklestone parish register.