Lancelot Hardy (1793 - 1874)

Born 1793 in West Heslerton, Yorkshire, England

Ancestors

Husband of Ann (Wood) Hardy — married 11 Nov 1824 in Sherburn in Elmet, York, England

Descendants

Died 17 Apr 1874 at about age 81 in Meadowvale, Peel, Ontario, Canada

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Pat Miller [send private message]

Biography

Lancelot was born in 1793, between January 1 and April 17 (*). He was baptized June 26, 1796 in West Heslerton, Yorkshire.

All Saints Church, West Heslerton

His mother was Hannah Hardy, his father unknown. He had a sister Judith, also with an unknown father. She was born in November 1794. Hannah Hardy's parents were Christopher Hardy and Judith Booth so Hardy was her maiden name. Lancelot was a miller by trade. He married Ann Wood in 1824 and the couple had at least eight children. In 1841 they were living in the Township of Farndale which is known today for the daffodils that bloom each spring for seven miles along the River Dove. This was a beautiful part of Yorkshire that has been filmed many times. There must have been other reasons why they left Yorkshire for Canada. The Hardy family settled in Meadowvale, a village northwest of Toronto between 1842 and 1844. Their youngest child, Maria, was born in Meadowvale and Ann Wood Hardy died soon after, possibly as a result of childbirth. Lancelot likely remarried around this time. He passed away in April 1874 and was buried in the Churchville Cemetery.

Churchville Cemetery

Second Marriage

The likely second marriage of Lancelot Hardy was to Jane Tricker, born abt. 1823 in Easton, Suffolk, England to James and Sarah Tricker. The Tricker family emigrated to the Toronto area in the 1830's. It is currently believed that Lancelot Hardy, age 51, married Jane Tricker, age 21, around 1844 after his first wife Ann Wood died. Lancelot worked as a miller, had small children at home and would need help. A child of Lancelot and second wife Jane, named Sarah Jane Hardy, was born around 1844. After Lancelot's death in 1874, Jane Hardy, widow, age 51, married William C. Carthew, widower, age 43, in 1876. Jane's parents on this marriage record (Ontario, Canada, Marriages 1801-1928) were James and Sarah Tricker. JANE HARDY CARTHEW, birth 1823, death 20 April 1902 (Canada, Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current) was buried in Churchville Cemetery. Her daughter Sarah Jane Hardy who married William Hallan is buried with her. This headstone is located beside the 1874 headstone for Lancelot Hardy. Piecing this together has been difficult. The western section of Toronto Township 1851 census records are missing and this is where Lancelot and Jane Hardy lived. A marriage record for Lancelot and Jane or the birth record for Sarah Jane Hardy have not been located yet. The marriage record for Sarah Jane Hardy to William Hallan (12 Feb 1863) lists her parents as L. Hardy and Jane Hardy and the witness as William Miller (husband of Lancelot Hardy and first wife Ann Wood's daughter, Jane Hardy Miller). The 1861 census lists Lancelot's age as 50 when he would be nearly 70, while the ages of wife Jane and daughter Sarah Jane are accurate. Yet is not likely his son Lancelot Hardy Jr. married Jane Tricker. There is a marriage record for this Lancelot marrying Frances Snowden in 1853 and an 1861 Census record for this couple and their children.

Obituary

April 18, 1874, Meadowvale, Death of Mr. Hardy We regret to report the death of Mr. Lancelot Hardy, who died in this village yesterday, at the advanced age of 81. Mr. Hardy was one of the earliest settlers in this section; and from his integrity and sterling worth, had endeared himself to all with whom he was acquainted. He leaves an unusually large and respectable connection to mourn his death.

Sources

• England, Select Births and Christenings 1538-1975, Baptism LANCELOT HARDY, age 3, mother Hannah Hardy, West Heslerton, Yorkshire
• England, Select marriages, 1538-1973, LANCELOT HARDY, Ann Wood, 11 Nov 1824, Sherburn in Elmet, York, England
• 1841 England Census (note: transcription reads Sandor Hardy but actual record reads Lancelot), Farndale Township, Kirkby Moorside, Lancelot Hardy 45, miller, Ann Hardy 40, Joseph Hardy 16, Lancelot Hardy 13, William Hardy 11, Jonadab Hardy 9, Jane Hardy 6, Ann Hardy 2, Mary Hardy, 2 mo(nths)
• Canada, Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current (*) He was age 81 at death according to his gravestone. Since he died April 17, 1874, that reveals a birth date from January to April of 1793.
• Wikipedia.org FARNDALE , North Yorkshire
• Globe and Mail Newspaper, April 18, 1874, Death of Mr. Hardy, Meadowvale

Possible father for Lancelot through DNA

Ancestry has suggested a possible father for Lancelot because my DNA matches a descendant of the brother of this man and there seems to be no other explanation for the match. His name was Jonathan Hardy (same surname but not related to Lancelot's mother Hannah Hardy). He was Baptized in Farlington, Yorkshire 28 Oct 1770. Jonathan Hardy and Hannah Hardy appear to have conceived Lancelot before Jonathan's 9 Sep 1792 marriage to Sarah Bentley. Jonathan had four children with Sarah. When Hannah had Lancelot Baptized at age 3 there was no father listed. But if this DNA connection is correct, the father was a married man living in Easingwold with his wife.

Update: Now my DNA matches a descendant of another brother of Jonathan Hardy, his brother George and now his brother John.