1820: Charles Hardy, Louis Hardy, and Preston Hardy are enumerated. in jackson CO GA

Posted by: susan aldridge (ID *****2868)	Date: December 26, 2006 at 01:43:18
In Reply to: Re: Hardy---Edgefield, SC - Troop Co., GA and Alabama by Dorothy Fernandez	of 4998

Re: Preston Hardy b.abt 1777,VA, d.aft 1860,GA
Posted by: Sam Hardy (ID *****0286)        Date: November 24, 2005 at 18:37:11
In Reply to: Re: Preston Hardy b.abt 1777,VA, d.aft 1860,GA by Anita Hinson        of 4410

I have investigated the family of Preston Hardy at considerable length as a part of my search for the ancestors of Stephen Coleman Hardy, reportedly born 15 Aug 1813 in Georgia, died 1 Nov 1875 in Troup County Georgia.
Coleman Hardy's family (descendants of his daughter Sarah Elizabeth, who married Henry Drew Floyd of Troup County) have in their possession a letter dated August 11, 1858, written by Elizabeth Hardy of Madison County, Ga. to William B. Hardy at Wisdom's Store, Harris County, Georgia.
Based upon the contents of the letter, Elizabeth is clearly the daughter of Preston Hardy, and William is judged to be William Brantley Hardy, her brother. Descendants of William Brantley Hardy are known.

Studying the Federal Census' of Jackson County, Ga., 1820 ... 1850, several observations can be made:

1820: Charles Hardy, Louis Hardy, and Preston Hardy are enumerated.

1830: Howard Hardy is added. His dob. appears to be 1771 ...1780, the same as Preston and Lewis. Charles dob. appears to be 1761 ... 1770.
Preston's family includes 6 males in addition to Preston, and 5 females in addition to the person thought to be his wife.

1840: We now find Charles, Lewis and Preston, plus Josiah, Joseph W. and Charles F. Hardy. Howard is gone. Josiah, mentioned in Elizabeth's letter is a likely son of Preston. Joseph W. and Charles F. are likely sons of Charles. (Charles F. Hardy is the Charles Hardy showing a birth place of Florida- not his father Charles H.)

1850: Preston's enumerated family includes (himself), Betsy (Elizabeth), Benjamin, Martha, and Mary A. His wife is apparently deceased.
Lewis Hardy's enumerated family includes (himself), his wife Temperance, and a daughter Nancy.
Charles H. Hardy is not enumerated- he is likely deceased.
A (person named) Rose Hardy, born about 1792 in North Carolina appears, along with Martha E. L. Hardy, born about 1833 in Georgia.

1860: Charles F. and Joseph W. both continue to appear, along with their growing families.
Benjamin Hardy, Preston's son is listed as Head of Household; Preston is listed at age 84, along with Elizabeth and Mary A.
Ruphus and his wife Eliza A. appear in this census, as do Josiah, his wife Mary and sons Francis M. and William D.A.
Lewis Hardy, his wife Temperance and daughter Nancy are not enumerated. Lewis is likely deceased, and the whereabouts of his family is not known.
A Richard J. Hardy, born abt. 1836 in Georgia, his wife Louisa H. and daughter Louisa A. are enumerated (by Charles F. Hardy!).

Now, returning to Elizabeth's letter of 1858, the above census listings of Preston Hardy's family name many of his children. However, her letter provides additional insight:
-"As for John (an older brother born 1805 ..1810?), we don't know much about him. He never comes to see father at all. He lives within two miles of us."
-"Joseph and Nancy, living at Jefferson. They were well, all but the baby".
-"Josiah is living not far from Harris."
-"Large Rufus is living with Thomas Nix at the old Tom C. Bearny? place".
-"Rufus and Eliza were here last Sunday."
-"Benjamin rented ground of cousin Nathaniel Hicks."
-"Our dear sister Martha, we never expect to see her in this life".
The letter is signed on behalf of Maryann Hardy, Preston Hardy, Benjamin Hardy, and Elizabeth Hardy.