This site contains information on the successors (and ancestors) of the Harding family who were blacksmiths in Great and Little Packington, near Coventry in the 17th century.

Site updated 2023. This is a "New" Google site and should contain all that was on the original "Classic" Google site, plus added content since the transfer was made in late 2020. 

A starting point is to go to the Harding Family Tree (Summary) page.  That page is added to for additional generations in the Harding Family Tree (Detailed) page. Other pages provide information on the various connections often through wives  such as the Peel, Cromwell, Chamberlain, Bage families but also topics such as Banking and Church and Religion.

Of great interest is this page "Annette's Jottings" Also here.

She was the daughter of William Sextus and brother of Septimus. In them she sets out all she knows and has experienced of her ancestors. Some of what is shown may have come from her brother. 

Annette's Jottings contain many references to the Sir Robert Peel family to whom she related and the Peel Connection and Timeline page. The Timeline section contains many dates of the Harding family, Prime Ministers and Sovereigns as well as the Peel family.

Family Trees on Spreadsheets

These spreadsheets are designed to show the family trees. However, they may need some work to ensure they are clear in this new Google (Harding of Packington) website-

""Harding Family Tree.xlsx". Works well

At the bottom of this page, these attachments are shown. Anyone with Microsoft Office 2007 or later (and therefore able to download XLXS files) should be able to download these Family Trees PROVIDED THEY CLICK ON THE DOWN ARROW - NOT ON THE FILE NAME ITSELF (2022 may no longer work). Where a number is shown, it usually indicates the generation where, for example, William Primus Harding is 1, Richard the Elder, is -2, William Septimus is 7, Sonny Harding is 12 and so on:

"Harding Main Family Tree.." Having clicked on the down arrow to open this file, you will see that it opens with a page showing full known details of the Harding Family Tree up to the present day except for the descendants of  William Quintus Harding's siblings. If you click on the tab at the bottom of the page which is labelled "From William V" you will be presented with a page which shows the descendants of William Quintus Harding and of his siblings.

"Harding Family Tree Text..". Having clicked on the down arrow, you should be presented with a files showing all known members of the family from the Richard the Elder to the present day

"Early Harding Family Tree...". Having clicked on the down arrow, you should be presented with more detailed information on the earlier Hardings

A lot more work is needed to make these trees clearer and more comprehensive. At 22.11.16, the three files need to be combined so that they are on one file with the contents on 2 or 3 tabs. The content also needs to be checked for more recent information in the rest of the web site, not yet recorded on the spreadsheets.

Packingtons

Little and Great Packington are about 95 miles from the London end of the M1. To get there, drive 70.5 miles on the M1to J17, then onto the M45 for 8 miles when it becomes the A45. From there, the two “villages” are or were between 16 and 20 miles on the A45 on the right hand side. The A45 at that point is a busy dual carriageway. Little Packington can be reached by turning right after about 18 miles onto the A462 and taking a turn on the right after a couple of miles? Great Packington is shown as being approached from about mile 17 ie earlier. The right turn is via a slip road, onto the Maxstoke / Meridon Road towards Maxstoke.

I found no sign of Great Packington but it is shown as half way to Maxstoke. It is probably where there is a Golf and Country Club and Hotel. I believe there is a Church somewhere in some private grounds and that it is used for organ recitals.

Little Packington has a church which has been converted into a private house. It is easily visible from the road that is off the A462. There are gravestones in its garden. A notice on the gate says “Any person who wishes to visit or tend a particular grave in the former churchyard should apply in writing to The Owner, Bartholomew, Little Packington, Meriden, CV7 7HN”

Hampton Arden is reached by turning left instead of right on the A452 and then after a short distance, right. It has an old church and lots of graves though few or none that are more than 200 years old where the writing can be deciphered.