Harding Family Tree (Summary)

In general it is more accurate the more recent it becomes. Information on descendants of daughters and sons other than first surviving sons is usually less reliable. There are problems due to many children being either stillborn or dying shortly after birth. Until William Secundus, many Williams and Richards makes the precise relationships uncertain during that period.

I have used Elder and Younger for the grandfather and father of William Primus, both of whom were named Richard. The Christian names William Primus through to William Septimus for the (first born) Williams has been used regardless as to whether those terms were actually used at the time. Sextus was in fact registered at birth as Quintus. According to a note made by Septimus, “William Quintus Harding was found to be the Sixth Wm Harding and was therefore called William Sextus Harding about the age of 10 years and was therefore again Registered at the Library....1823 ...Certificate ?”.

What is shown from William Primus onwards appears to be accurate in substance. His parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts may not be in the order shown and it is possible, for example, that William Primus is the great nephew rather than grandson of Richard the Elder. There are documents purporting to go back further but they don’t look reliable and may be forgeries. What seem certain is that in the middle to later part of the 17^th century there was a blacksmith named Richard Harding who worked in Great or Little Packington.

The suggestion that the name “Harding” derives from the Forest of Arden which was close to the Packingtons may not be as fanciful as appears at first. It seems likely that up to the time of Richard Harding there would have been many generations of the family living around there since people of that class (artisan or agricultural worker) usually remained in the same area. One document claims that the family resided in the Forest of Arden at the time of the Norman conquest and that the Doomsday book showed land in the name of Harding in the Forest of Arden, Warwickshire. However, in an undated letter probably from Wm Sextus to his uncle Charles Harding, the former casts doubt on this and fears ridicule if Charles carries out his idea of adding details to the “stud book” – whatever that was!

It is also clear that the family improved its lot by marriage and by working for powerful local families in the Tamworth area. Also, marrying into the Peel family. The 2^nd Sir Robert Peel was Prime Minister 1834-35 and 1841-46. Both Hardings and Peels owned banks at the same time.

The connections (see separate pages) to Oliver Cromwell, Thomas Guy, Sir Robert Peel and the Chamberlains are well documented.

Andrew Carnegie has no family connection but the correspondence he had with Lord Ilkestone, a relation by marriage, is of some historical interest as is the Peel correspondence. This correspondence is not held anywhere else as far as I know.

1. Richard Harding the Elder ? - 1653

Assumed Grandfather of William Primus. He had a brother called William who had children.

Sometimes spelt Hardinge. Date of birth and marriage not known. Death per proof of will probably 1653. He had three sons Richard Harding the Younger, William (referred to as William of Hampton in Arden in Will of Richard Jnr and Thomas and a daughter, Susan.

He inherited the blacksmith’s business.

2. Richard Harding the Younger ? - 1682

Assumed father of William Primus. Dates of birth and marriage not known. Death may have been 1682. He is believed to have had five sons Thomas, Joseph, Richard, William and John. William was later referred to as William Primus because later immediate descendants, all called William, started adding, for example, Quintus, Sextus to distinguish.

3. William primus Harding ? - c1700 m Anne Pickard

Referred to as William of Tamworth in Richard Jnr’s will. Three sons and three daughters - William Harding (now referred to as Secundus). Richard, Anne, Mary, Joannah and Thomas

He is shown as joint Bailiff ie Mayor of Tamworth in 1677 (with Christopher Harthill) and 1688 (with Samuel Buckland)

In 1687 King James II confiscated municipal charters and “on 21 May [1687] it was ordered that William Harding should give up this charter [of Tamworth]. He accordingly carried it to London; and it was delivered to Mr Brent who had been authorized by James to receive it.” It seems that William Harding was not acceptable to James since he was not included in the remodelled corporation. In 1688, however, it returned with William Harding once more in office.

4. William secundus Harding 1670-1722 m Anne Blood

Often referred to as William Harding blacksmith. Also described as Ironmonger. He seems to have inherited the blacksmith’s business of his grandfather, Richard the Younger. He was appraiser of goods of Richard Blood

Married Anne Blood dau of Richard Blood (husbandman) and Johanna nee Vaughton. Johanna was an aunt of Thomas Guy (of Christ’s and Guys Hospital and MP for Tamworth from 1695 to 1705) and related to Oliver Cromwell. See Thomas Guy Connection and Oliver Cromwell Connection pages. They had two sons and 2 daughters: - William Tertius Harding, John, Mary and Anne

5. William Tertius Harding 1707-1757 m Mary Bradburn

Married Mary dau of John Bradburn of Winchester.

They had about 6 children. From here onwards, where known, the child, their spouse and children are shown. Names etc of grandchildren etc are often omitted but can be found on the Harding Family Tree (Detailed) page

5.1 Anne Harding 1739/40 (may have married a Mr Paget)

5.2. Mary Harding 1741 - m Joseph Paget of Loughborough. This Joseph Paget was the son of Joseph Paget and Johanna nee Alcock. Johanna was dau of Arthur Alcock and Mary nee Blood. Mary was the sister of Anne Blood who married Wm Secundus Harding. Had about 5 children

5.3.Charlotte Harding 1743 - ? m Rev John Byng a Unitarian minister, 2 Sons, 4 Dau

5.3.1. John Byng m Mary Harding dau of Wm Quartus

5.3.2 Mary Byng m William Paget.

5.3.3 Elizabeth Byng m Thomas Paget (cousins).

5.3.4 Thomas Byng

5.3.5 Annette or Anne Byng

5.3.6 Henrietta Byng m Joseph Paget

5.4. Sarah 1744 probably died at birth

5.5. Elizabeth Harding m J Horsely (and a Mr Paget?).

5.6. William (Quartus) Harding b 4.7.1750 d 1802 (see under 6)

6. William Quartus Harding 1750-1802 m Martha Tuffley. Banker and Woolstapler.

Married Martha Tuffley dau of Samuel Tuffley of Leicester. She later married again and became Mrs Willington. Mr Willington was the Town Clerk of Tamworth. 7 sons (2 of whom died in infancy), 2 daughters.

6.1. William (Quintus) Harding 1778 - 1870. (see under 7).

6.2. Mary Harding 1779-1866) Married John Byng 16.6.1800 (son of Rev John Byng and Charlotte nee Harding). 1 son 1 dau:

6.2.1 Charlotte Byng m J Bennett. 1 dau

6.2.2 John Byng m Eleanor nee Tunnicliff. 3 sons

6.3 Thomas 1780 - 1801 (who died in Hamburg)

6.4 Charles Harding 1782-1868. Married Ellen Willock of Bole Hall, Warks. Described as Charles Harding of Tamworth in 1884 picture of the three brothers ie William Quintus, Charles and Samuel Tuffley. Ellen was daughter of Rev Borlase Willock and his wife Anne Peel the only sister of the first Sir Robert Peel – see Peel Connection for Ellen’s antecedents incl Peels. 6 dau

6.4.1 Anne Harding 1807-1894 m William Sextus Harding

6.4.2 Emily Harding 1816 -1889 m William Henry Lee. 3 Sons, 2 Dau

6.4.3 Frances Augusta Harding 1825-1896 m Edward Cripps, surgeon.3 Sons, 4 Dau

6.4.4 Ellen 1809-1903, Charlotte 1810, Mary 1812-1877

6.5 Samuel Tuffley Harding 1784-1880 banker then solicitor. Married Mary Bage (no issue)

6.6 John Harding 1785-? probably of Burlington Bank, Bridlington. Married Maria Ridsdale. 3 Sons, 1 Dau

6.6.1 Edward Harding m Hentig. Referred to in Burkes as Banker, of Bridlington. 1 Son 1Dau

6.6.2 (Thomas) Tuffley Harding, lawyer, m Mary Forster b 1827, Southwell, Notts, dau of Dr Robert Thomas Forster and Elizabeth Clay

6.6.2.1 Mary Anne (or Marianne) Harding m Bridlington, 21.8.1834 Dr Robert Thomas Forster d. 9.2.1851. A notice in the London Gazette of 31.12.1867 records him as a partner with Edward Ridsdale Harding Edwin Smith and William Faber in the banking firm of Harding & Co. 3 Sons , 6 Dau

6.6.2.1.1 Thompson Forster b. 1835

6.6.2.1.2 Maria Louisa Forster b. 1839 Southwell, Notts m Anthony Pemberton Hobson

6.6.2.1.3 George Forster b. 1841

6.6.2.1.4 Nona Forster b. 1841

6.6.2.1.5 Reinhold Forster b. 1844

6.6.2.1.6. Katherine Forster b. 1846

6.6.2.1.7 Florence Forster b. 1847

6.6.2.1.8 Helen Forster b.1849

6.6.2.1.9 Mary Elizabeth Forster b. 1851

6.6.2.2 George Harding barrister m Martha or Margaret – no issue

6.7 Ann Harding 1787 - ?. Married Charles Woolley Bage (See Bage connection) 6 Children

6.7.1 Robert Bage (uncertain) 1813 - 1851. Surgeon. m Lydia C O’Reilly, dau of Carlos O’Reilley.1 Son, 2 Dau

6.7.2 Edward Bage 1816-1890 m Anna Newsom Godwin . 4 children.

6.7.3 Caroline Marianne Bage 1819 - ? m Edward Evans. 4 Sons 2 Dau

6.7.4 William Bage b 1820 p 1887 Civil Engineer m Harriet Evans 3 dau

6.7.5, 6.7.6 Mary and Charles

6.8, 6.9 Samuel and Harkshaw died at birth

7. William Quintus Harding 1778-1870 m Rebecca Pemberton

Married Rebecca dau of Samuel and Mary (descendent of Grosvenor family) Pemberton 1779-1854. 1 son, 1 daughter

7.1. Caroline Harding 1801- 1889 m Henry Talbot jnr of Franche House, Warks also see under Grosvenor. 2 Dau

7.1.1 Caroline Margaret Talbot died young

7.1.2 Edith Caroline Talbot 4 sons, 2 dau

7.2. William Sextus b 27.6.1806 m Anne Harding (see under 8)

8. William Sextus Harding 1806-1896 m Anne Harding

Solicitor m Anne nee Harding (a cousin who was the eldest daughter of Charles Harding of Bole Hall, Warks). See under 6. 2 sons, 3 daughters

8.1. Annette Harding 1836 -1910. Spinster. Wrote long jottings on family in 1900. At the time of her death she lived at Harborne Lodge, 60 Binswood Avenue, E., Leamington Spa the contents of which were auctioned.

8.2. William Septimus Harding 1838 - 1915 (see under 9)

8.3. Charles Harding 1839 -1904. Lived Knutsford Lodge and Copeley Lodge, solicitor. Married Ada Jane Long. Ada’s parents were Henry and Mary nee Gaskell who were buried in the Unitarian Chapel in Knutsford where their great grandson Charles Harding was, at his request, buried (behind and to the left of the novelist, Mrs Gaskell). 1 son 2 dau

8.3.1 Ethel Mary Harding 1871 - 1933. Married (Georg) Herman Fiedler. 2 dau

8.3.2 Emily Rebecca Harding 1872 - 1907. Married Richard Peyton. Issue died young

8.3.3 (Charles) Copeley Harding 1873 - 1942. Solicitor. Married Louise Alva Victoria Woods Beckman (singer under name of Louise Alva). 1 son 1 dau

8.4. Emily Rebecca Harding 1841 - 1872. Married Richard Peyton, manufacturing, issue died young. Richard Peyton married again to Harriet Long, the sister of Ada Jane nee Long (wife of Charles Harding)

8.5. Flora Harding 1845 - 1876 m John Arthur Talbot, solicitor. Flora was John Talbot’s 2^nd wife. 2 sons, 2 daughters

8.5.1 Hilda Gertrude Talbot 1870 - ? m Geoffrey W Thompson 1895 (brother of Sydney Thompson, husband of her sister (Emily) Maud) 3 dau 1

8.5.2 (Emily) Maude Talbot b Aug 1871 m Sidney P Thompson (brother of Geoffrey Thompson, husband of her sister Hilda). No issue

8.5.3, 8.5.4 Guy and Arthur Talbot died young

9. William Septimus Harding 1838-1915 m Laura Sargant

JP. Solicitor in Birmingham. Married 1966 Laura nee Sargant. See under Sargant connection. 6 sons:

9.1 William Octavius Harding 1867 - 1867

9.2 Capt William Grosvenor Harding b 26.7.1868 – 1907 m Nora Macnamara, widow, dau of John Bayford Butler. 1 son, 1 dau

9.2.1 Nora Maye Devereaux Laura Harding 1898 – 1971 m Alan Arthur Dams (“Peter”) son of Canon Dams. 1 son, 1 dau

9.2.2 Humphrey Harding (died young? Not shown on all trees)

9.3 Reginald Tuffley Harding 1870 - 1917. Solicitor

9.4 George Arthur Harding 1871 - 1946, m Alice Maude Collins. 3 sons:

9.4.1 (William Arthur) Basil Harding 1908 - ? Mushroom farmer m Mary Joyce Jenner (Mollie) 1 son, 1 dau

9.4.2 Reginald Stephen Harding 1911 - 1911

9.4.3 Noel Drummond Harding 1912 – 1981

9.5 Cecil Redfern Harding 1874 – 1927. Stock Jobber.

9.6 Laurance Harding 1879 - 1966 (see under 10)

10. Laurance Harding 1879-1966 m Florence Howe

Solicitor. Married Florence Howe, dau of Charles John Howe. See Howe Connection. 1 Son, 2 Dau:

10.1 Joan Harding 1905 – 1964 m Robert Edward Colquhoun Swann. 1 son 1 dau

10.1.1 Jeremy Swann (changed surname to Swann-Fitzgerald-Lombard) 1930 - m (1) Shirley Marshall m (2) Wendy Fitzgerald Lombard. 2 sons, 2 dau

10.1.2 Joanna Caroline Swann 1936 - 2006 m Ian Osmond son of Revd Osmond. 2 sons

10.2 John Grosvenor Laurance Harding see under 11

10.3 Naomi Harding 1916 - 1984 m and div’d Thomas Evelyn Price

11. John Grosvenor Laurance Harding 1908-1996 m Rachel Fenwick

Solicitor m Rachel dau of Herbert George Fenwick. m Rachel Fenwick (1913-2006) at Higham, Suffolk 4.3.1937. Rachel was co-author with Mary Dyson of “A Book of Condolences”. See this page Fenwick and other Northumberland Families on this website. Also, the website Fenwick of Lambton which now contains all the information we have gathered about that family. 3 sons

11.1 Nicholas John Harding 1937 - see under12

11.2 Anthony Laurance Harding 1937 - 1937

11.3 Andrew Guy Harding 1946 - 2022

12. Nicholas John Harding 1937- m Sarah Newton

Chartered Accountant m Sarah Diana Newton. 1s 3dau

12.1 Jessica Zoe Harding.1968 m Gareth Thomas. 2 sons

12.1.1 Alexander Nicholas Harding 2003 -

12.1.2 William Thomas Harding 2007 -

12.2 Clarissa Julia Harding 1970 - m Shane McCormack. 1 dau

12.2.1 Katie Sarah McCormack 2000 -

12.3 Alexandra (Sasha) Kate Harding 1972 - m Marcel Jeremy Weisselberg 1 son, 1 dau

12.3.1 Max Sullivan Harding (father Marcel Jeremy Weisselberg) 2000 -

12.3.2 Sally Martha Harding (father Marcel Jeremy Weisselberg) 2002 -

12.4 Samuel Richard Harding 1974 - (see under 13)

13. Samuel Richard Harding 1974-

2s 1dau

13.1 Amber May Fudge (mother Mari-Sian Fudge) 1999 -

13.2 Sonny Anthony (mother Amie Mcguinness) 2004-

13.3 Edward James (mother Helen Place) 2013 -