John Hardy (1833 - aft. 1891)

Born 1833 in Kirkby, Moorside, Yorkshire, England

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Ann (Foster) Hardy — married about 1851 in Meadowvale, Peel, Canada West

Descendants

Died after 1891 after age 58 in York, Ontario, Canada

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Biography

John was born In Kirkby Moorside, Yorkshire, the son of Lancelot Hardy and Ann Wood. His name has been a subject of much confusion. In records he has been called Jonadab, Jonadah, Johnadab, JD or just John. His baptism record ( April 29, 1833) listed him as Jehonadale Hardy but it is a transcript so therefore subject to misinterpretation. Since his uncle was Jonadab Wood, it is clear who he was named after. Jonadab moved to Canada between 1842 and 1844 with his parents. Although there is a record of him entering Canada in 1871, this was most likely returning from a trip as he is clearly in the 1861 Census for the Meadowvale area of Ontario, married, working as a carpenter, and with three young children. Look for him under John Hardy for this census. He married around 1851 a woman from Quebec named Mary Ann Foster. Jonadab remained in Meadowvale for we find him there in 1873, working as a shinglemaker. Some time later he moved to Toronto where he and his sons were merchants. John and Mary Ann had three sons and a daughter and Mary Ann lived with son John George Hardy in 1901 but the census listed her as a widow. And there the matter should be settled but instead there is a death record for 12 March 1906 of a "John Adolf Hardy". The original script shows the John and Adolf run together as if one word that actually might be Johnadab. This person, born in 1833 was married.

Shingle Factory of Johnadab Hardy

From the 1871 Census for Toronto Township, Peel County, Ontario under Industrial Establishments the Shingle Factory of Johnadab Hardy was mentioned. Johnadab invested $2000 in the business, was working 12 months of the year and employed 3 men over the age of 16 and 2 boys under 16. Wages for the year were $840. The factory was powered by steam at 16 hp. Raw material was 2,000 pounds of pine logs worth $1,000. The finished shingles were worth $2,000.

Sources

• England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975, Jehonadale Hardy
• 1841 England Census, Kirkby Moorside, Yorkshire, 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 mos.
• 1861 Census of Canada, Canada West, Peel, John Hardy 29, Caprenter, Mary Ann Hardy 28, William Hardy 8, John Hardy 5, Anne Hardy 3
• 1871 Census of Canada, Toronto, Peel, Ontario, JOHNADAB HARDY 40, carpenter, Mary Anne Hardy 40, William Hardy 16, John Hardy 13, Sarah Hardy 10, Lancelot Hardy 8
• Canada, City and Area Directories, 1819-1906, Toronto 1890, HARDY, JONADAB, h. 105 Argyle (note: in the 1896 directory from 102-106 Argyle were vacant lots, no Jonadab Hardy)
• 1891 Census of Canada, Toronto, Peel, Ontario, St. Stephen Ward, JD Hardy 57, lumber dealer, MA Hardy 57, wife, John Hardy 35, son, widower, Rennie Hardy 5, Geo Hardy 3
• Early Settlers Meadowvale by Mrs. Chadwick, 1956, additions Miss M. Castle