Church and Religion

Gaskell and Unitarian Connection

The Unitarian Church played an important part in life of the Harding family until (roughly) the end of the 19^th century.

The earliest reliable records of the Harding family start around the middle of the 17^th century and from that time, Hardings were part of the Unitarian faith. Also during much of that time, Unitarianism was outlawed as can be seen from this article about Mrs Elizabeth Gaskell (a relation by marriage?) which includes this about that church and explains why it is not immediately clear how the Unitarian chapel fits in with St Editha’s Church at Tamworth.

“During Elizabeth’s lifetime (1810-1865) British Unitarianism developed and changed

considerably. The law declaring denial of the trinity illegal was repealed in 1813, and by

1850 many of the old Presbyterian, General Baptist and other rational dissenting

congregations declared themselves to be Unitarian”.

I have not been able to establish what, if any, family relationship exists with Mrs Gaskell the novelist. She lived and was buried in Knutsford and her novel Cranford was seen as drawing upon Knutsford.

Charles Harding, the son of William Sextus Harding (and younger brother of Septimus Harding) lived at one time at Knutsford Lodge, Edgbaston and he married Ada Jane Long (1844-1926). Ada’s Mother was Mary Long nee Gaskell. Edgbaston is some distance from Knutsford.

In 2002, the grandson of the above Charles Harding (another Charles Harding) had at his request his ashes interred in the grave of his great grandparents Henry and Mary Long in the Unitarian Chapel graveyard in Knutsford just behind and to the left of that of Mrs Gaskell.

Attempts to go back further than Mrs Gaskell (the novelist) and Mary Long nee Gaskell have revealed little information so far. They were roughly the same generation but definitely not sisters.

Mrs Gaskell’s husband was William Gaskell (1805-1884) a distinguished Unitarian preacher. They married in 1832. He was the eldest of 6 or 7 children, the others being Elizabeth who became Mrs Holland, Samuel who died without marrying, Margaret and John who died in infancy and perhaps one other. His father, William Gaskell c1775-1819 was a sailmaker, his mother a house maid. See this article about Wm Gaskell's son, Samuel.

I have found nothing about Mary Long nee Gaskell’s ancestry.

Trustees of “the Old Meeting House”, Birmingham included Thomas Pemberton (who died 9.4.1873), William Sextus Harding, William Septimus Harding and Charles Harding (Septimus’s brother). Hardings, Pembertons and Rylands were also Chapel Wardens

Priestley Connection

Rev Joseph Priestley LLD FRS (1733-1794) was an influential scientist and clergyman. He also appears likely to be related to Rebecca daughter of Samuel Pemberton and the wife of William Quintus Harding.

Rebecca’s sister, Anne Pemberton married Samuel Ryland whose grandfather was William Ryland. Wm Ryland’s granddaughter (ie Ann’s 1^st cousin) was Elizabeth Ryland who married Joseph Priestley, the son of Rev Joseph Priestley

Annette’s jottings include this “When my father [William Sextus Harding] entered the school [Westminster], he was asked “What catechism he knew” and he said Priestley’s; the master said “ah that will not do here””. That would have been in about 1813 as he started there aged 6 or 7.