John Hardwick

John married Elizabeth Morgan on December 3rd, 1798 in Northumberland County. They went on to have at least 11 children. According the Elizabeth Dos Passos' 1973 article in the Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine, John lived near Carmel Church and donated four acres of land to be used for the cemetery, but this statement seems to conflict with later facts.

In 1801 John bought land from his cousin who was also named Stuart Redman and agreed to a payment plan. In 1809 Redman, who lived in Delaware, wrote to another cousin of his and John's named Allen S. Dozier, a lawyer in Westmoreland. Redman revealed that John had visited Delaware in the summer of 1807 and begged to be released from the payment plan because he had needed to sell many slaves to settle the estate of his father and was in bad financial shape. Redman agreed to cancel the original bond and to begin charging John rent. By the time of the letter John had not made any rent payments and Redman asked Dozier to use legal means to remove their cousin from the land. In 1812 Dozier sold the land to the Pridham brothers for $600. The property was described as being at the intersection of Northumberland, Richmond and Westmoreland Counties and containing 200 acres.

In August of 1810 the census listed John Hardwick in Westmoreland County. Household members were listed as; four males under 10, one male 26-44, three females under 10 and one female 26-44. Seven slaves were also listed.

In October of the same year John and Elizabeth sold 58 3/4 acres of land in Northumberland County to James Harrison for 88 pounds, two shillings and six pence. The property was described as bordering lands of Daniel Harrison, Thomas Self and Capt. Samuel Cralle. On the deed John signed his name and Elizabeth marked her signature with a X.

John served in the Richmond County 41st Virginia Militia during the War of 1812. He signed on as a corporal but was demoted to private. During the war the Northern Neck was the target of several coastal raids by the British. The county militias were asked to engage the British and protect property, even though they were usually under equipped and over matched.

In the 1820 census the family was listed in Richmond County and described as; two males under 10, two males 10-15, one male 26-44, three females under 10, two females 16-25 and one female 26-44. Three slaves were listed and four people were marked as working in agriculture.

The 1830 census again listed the family in Richmond County. Family members were listed as; one male 5-9, one male 10-14, one male 20-29, one male 50-59, one female 5-9, one female 10-14, one female 15-19 and one female 50-59. Two slave were also listed. Elizabeth died in 1833.

At the time of the 1840 census only John, age 60-69, and one son, age 20-29, are listed in the household along with six slaves.

According to on-line family trees that appear well researched, John died on October 2nd, 1841 in Richmond County. I have not been able to locate a will and his burial location is unknown.