More information on Obediah Hardesty
Obediah HARDESTY. Born on Jan 26, 1758 in Virginia. Obediah died in Glencoe,Meade Twp., Belmont Co., Ohio on Jul 29, 1830; he was 72. Buried in Turk/Hardesty Cemetery, Richland Twp., Belmont Co., Ohio. Occupation: Private, 1st Pennsylvania Regiment, Revolutionary War; Farmer.
Obediah Hardesty was one of George Washington's soldiers who spent the winter 1777-1778 at Valley Forge. He was wounded seven times in as many different battles. After the war, Obediah became a farmer and married "Polly from Paris" Mary Hilliard D'Aubelieul. Mary came to America with her father, who was likely a French "sutler" associated with Lafayette and the French Troops.
Payroll Book "A", one of the books of pay rolls of the Agents of the United States for the settlement of the pay of the Pennsylvania line in the Revolutionary War. Vol 172, pp. 211, 217, 221, 227. Page 211 states: Obadiah Hardesty_____, Eighth Regiment, 1780 & 1781, Appears in a Book* under the following heading: "We and each of us whose Names are hereunto subscribed, do acknowledge to have received from Major Thomas B. Bowen, and Captain Ereurius Beatty, Agents for the late Pennsylvania Line, the Several sums opposite to our Names, respectively, in Certificates dated July 1st, 1781, bearing Interest at six per Cent, from August 1st, 1780, signed by John Pierce, Commissioner, and described as below, being for the Balance of a settlement between the United States and us for Pay to January 1st, 1782." These certificates were for - 113 dollars 30 90ths, 80 dollars, 40 dollars 60 90ths, and 80 dollars.
In the Company Pay Roll of Morgan's Rifle Regiment, Continental Troops. Obediah Hardesty is listed as Private, Capt. Van Swearingen's Co. in the detached Rifle Regiment commanded by Col. Daniel Morgan. "This regiment was organized about June, 1777, and was composed of men selected from the army at large. - R. & P. 419,169." Some of the dates are unreadable, but there are eight sheets representing 10 months (Jan - Dec 1777) His pay was 6 2/3 dollars per month. This was a special elite group - tall and good shots.
Morgan's rifleman were a group of hand-picked sharpshooters. They were recruited by Daniel Morgan, a Virginia frontiersman and first cousin of Daniel Boone. In June, 1777, Washington had authorized Morgan to raise a special corps of 500 light infantrymen who were chosen for their marksmanship. Given the official name Rangers, they came to be known as Morgan's Riflemen. At the skirmish around Edge Hill, Morgan's riflemen were opposed by British Regulars, Hessians, Queen's Rangers, and a regiment of American Loyalists under Lieutenant Colonel, J.C. Simcoe.
Daniel Morgan picked men, who were over 6' tall, who could shoot the eye out of a "wild turkey" at a 100 yards. There was a time that George Washington came upon them, he was said to have gotten down off his own horse and walked thru the company of men shaking the hand of every man! He was so much in awe of them.
The first use of Morgan's Rifle Regiment was in harassing Howe's forces attempting to get to Philadelphia by land in Jun 1777 for which they were commended by Washington. When Howe withdrew from New Jersey the Riflemen were sent north the next month to assist at Saratoga. Their performance there was awarded by the Continental Congress with an extra month's pay.
The Riflemen followed Saratoga with a return to Washington's Army in Nov 1777 in time for their participation in the Battle of Chestnut Hill. From there they went on to Fort Stanwix and Oswego to protect New York's western flank from the British directed Indian forces returning to the main army at Ramapo in 1779.
Some of their military service records may be found in NARS Microfilm Series M246, Roll 133. The records are in poor shape and not indexed.
Index of the Continental Congress Papers, Vol#2: Lists seven Hardestys, including Obediah. Obediah is listed as going before the President of Congress on April 11, 1785, representing the Inhabitants of the Old Northwest with Francis, John and Richard Hardesty. (Document M247, r51, i41, v7, page 320)
We believe that Obediah came to Ohio in 1794, from Washington County, Pennsylvania, having purchased land in Jefferson County, Ohio and then sold that land when he moved, in 1796, to Belmont County. The earliest proof of residency is given by: "Obediah Hardesty: - Jacob Coleman of Belmont County, Ohio sells to Obediah. Wit: Elijah Dyson and Ralph Hardesty."
On the 1784 tax lists of Morgan Township, Washington Co., Pennsylvania we find Richard HARDESTY & Hezekiah HARDESTY and in 1785 we find Obediah & Hezekiah HARDESTY. The Bethlehem Township, Washington Co. Pennsylvania tax for 1785 shows John HARDESTY, state tax 2.10, & county 2.01. ( Tax Lists of Washington Co., PA 1784-85, 1793, including present day Washington & Greene Counties and parts of Allegheny and Beaver Counties. From the Original records for the Washington Co., PA) 1786 has Bethlehem Township John HARDESTY with state tax of 3.7 1/2 & county tax 2.9, 1787 has John HARDESTY with state tax 2.4 3/4, county 1.4 2/4, in 1788 John HARDESTY has 250 acres of land taxed at 10, 2 horses taxed at 7 & 2 cows taxes at 3.22. The last year he was found in the Bethlehem Tax list was 1789 when he paid 2.4 state tax. No record of him was found in 1790 Washington Co., Pennsylvania. The deed & estate indexes were searched but no record of him was found. (Searches made at the Washington Co court house, Library, & Law Library.) In 1800 Finley Twp. we find Francis HARDESTY a tailor, Richard HARDISTY, a farmer, and in Amwell Twp. Robert HARDISTY a farmer. 1810 U. S. Census Fayette Co., Pennsylvania, Franklin Twp. 1027 1/2. Susanna Hardesty 01000 00001 00 1021 1/2. Francis Hardesty 01101 12010 00
The list of Lands Belonging to Residents in Belmont County for Taxation in 1802 lists "Obediah Hardesty July 2, 1800 on McMahon's Creek". The 1805 Richland Twp. Residents Tax List shows Obediah Hardesty with 280 acres at R3T5S35. Obediah also shows up in the 1806, 1807, 1809, 1820 and 1830 Federal Census in Richland Twp., Belmont County, Ohio.
We find John HARDESTY, Obedia HARDESTY, Francis HARDESTY & Richard HARDESTY'S signatures on this document along with many others. To the honorable the president of the honorable congress of the United States of America. The petition; of us the subscribers now residing on the western side of the Ohio humbly showeth our great full acknowledgments to these patriots of our country who under divine providence is surely directed and stand the helm of government in that great and unmarked conflict for liberty bringing to a happy period the trouble of the states laying the foundation by the most satisfactory means of the most glorious form of government any people on earth could ever yet boast of and that we have one thing more at heart then the safety and happiness of the common wealth an all its members from the highest to the smallest station in life unwilling to act anything directly or indirectly that is of a public nature without the consent and advice of the legislature not withstanding when the joyful sound of peace had reached our ears we had seance enough left us to support the crying sisters of our families occasioned wholly by being exposed to the congress of a trust and savage country on an open frontier where the most of us had the misfortune to reside through the whole continuance of the war where the only recourse was to sit confined in forts for the preservation of our lives by which we were reduced almost to the lowest ebb of poverty, the greatest part of us having no property or lands our stocks reduced almost to nothing our care seemed _ _ but viewing as it appeared to us an advantage offering of vacant lands which with the alarming newsitys we were under joined with the future prospect of bettering our circumstances invited us to enter on there lands fully determined to comply with every regulation of the legislature which we know to be our Indigramibb duty paramount with in of future happiness we sat content in the enjoyment of our family moral thinking our selves safe under the protection of government when on the fifth of this instant we were visited by a commission of men sent by the commandant at fort McEntook with orders from government on purpose to dispossess us and to destroy our dwellings which the executed in part when the first set out but our principles and our duty to government obliged us to make an offer of preforming the task ourselves which was agreed to on conditions it were executed against the nineteenth of this instant by which order it now appears our conduct in letting have as considered by the legislature to be principal to the common good of which we had not the first conseption till now we are greatly destrought in our present circumstances and hereby pray if you in your wisdom think proper to grant us liberty to rest where we are and to grant us the preference to our actual settlements when the land is to be settled by orders of government where we shall count it our interest to be subject to such laws and regulations as the legislature in there wisdom may think proper to prescribe consistent with the rights and privileges of the good people of those states which you in your wisdom grant we your petitioners as in duty bound shall ever pray. April the 11th 1783.
The following records from the National Archives, show a letter dated as written on June 8, 1925 to: Ada Hardesty, 504 Highland Ave., Fort Thomas, KY
Madam:
I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim S. 46362, it appears that Obediah Hardesty enlisted, the date and place not stated, served during the Revolution and to its close at which period he was a private in Captain John Finleys Company, First Pennsylvania Regiment.
He was allowed pension on his application executed August 12, 1828, while a resident of Belmont County, Ohio. He died July 29, 1830.
There is no data on file as to his family. The above noted is the only soldier by that name found on the Revolutionary War records of this Bureau.
Respectfully, - Wilder S. Metcalf - Commissioner
Handwritten records in the files show the following: For the purpose of obtaining the benefits of the act, as entitled by an act for the relief of certain surviving officers and soldiers of the Army of the Revolution, approved on the 15th of May 1828, I Obediah Hardesty, of the County of Belmont, in the State of Ohio, do hereby declare that I enlisted in the Continental 1st Division of the Army of the Revolution, for service during the war, and continued in its service until its termination; at which time I was a Private in Captain John Finleys Company, in the First Regiment of the Pennsylvania 1st Division. And I also declare that I afterwards received certificates for the reward of eighty dollars; to which I was entitled under a resolve of Congress before the 15th of May, 1778. And I further swear that I was not on the 15th day of May 1828 in the Pension files of the United States.
Witness my hand on this 16th day of August in the year 1828.
Obediah Hardesty (his mark)
Before me, Jim Scatterday, a Justice of the Peace in the County of Belmont in the State of Ohio, personally appeared this day, Richard Hardesty and James Caldwell(?) of ????? County, who did solemnly make oath that Obediah Hardesty by whom the foregoing declaration was subscribed to is genuinely reputed and believed to have been a soldier in the Army of the Revolution in the manner therein stated. Witness my hand on this 16th day of August in the year 1828.
Same source (photocopies from Roger Cox) also give copies of other St. Clairsville Library genealogy data, among them the references to Richard HARDESTY, the same name as a witness who signed Obediah's petition for a pension from the Revolutionary War. This Richard Hardesty was in Belmont County in 1795, came from now Martin's Ferry [W. Virginia] with an ox team."
>From Hardesty research by Helen W. Wallace, "Correspondence Volunteer" for the Belmont Co. Chapter OGS, (again from papers from Roger Cox), there are (among other items) lists of lands owned by Hardestys. From a list for taxation in 1802 (p. 149) there is Obediah Hardesty, 2 July 1800 on McMahon's [Creek]... and in 1803's list (p. 154) Obediah Hardesty ("&?") John Hardesty - Wheeling Creek, Richard Hardesty, Wheeling, Francis Hardesty, Ohio ("River?"). On the 1805 residents tax lists there are "Obediah Hardesty - 280 acres R3T5S35, John Hardesty - 100 acres R3T6S24, Francis Hardesty - 116 acres R2T4S32, and Richard Hardesty - 309 acres R3T6S23." (These sections are all very near each other in and around the areas of Glencoe, Neff's Landing, and Stewartsville. JRW) Further, the history of Richland Township says that a Richard Hardesty probably was the first settler in this area of Belmont County, settling in 1795.
Index of Rev War Pension App's: "p 499, Hardisty, Obadiah, Penn., Bounty Land Warrant 9644 - 100 acres - Rt. issued 10/26/1791 No papers prior to 1855"
Land Records of Belmont County - Indenture ("agreement to sell property") by Obediah Hardesty and wife Mary, of Richland Twp., Belmont County, for $900 to Abraham Engle, Aug 27, 1804. Vol. A, p. 285.
History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, page 249: Obediah Hardesty settled very early of the farm now owned by Isaac Wells heirs. It is said of Mr. H. that he was one of the kindest-hearted pioneers in this region, and when new settlers came in he was the first to visit them. He called to see if they stood in want of any of the comforts of life, telling them to call at his house for anything they should happen to need. He was noted for his liberality and kindness.
History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, page 250: The Supervisors for the Year 1809: James Starr, Samuel Spriggs, Robert Thompson, Reese Boggs, Alexander Young, Obediah Hardsty, Andrew Dickey, Joseph Morrison and Thomas Smith.
"Letters Testamentary on the estate of Obediah Hardesty deceased": appointment of Crawford Welsh as executor. (Aug. 2, 1830) appointment of appraisers Henry Meek, William Nichol, and Hance Wiley. Hance Wiley being a neighbor, and some of whose sons married Warrens, some of whose siblings were married to Hardestys.
Petition for deed for property which Obediah sold in 1828 to one Phillip Laning, which Laning sold to one John Ault, but for which a deed transfer was not made before Obediah died. The land was 4 acres in section 35 of Township 5, Range 3, which is shown on the 1879 plat map adjacent to McMahon's Creek in the town of Glencoe.
Nancy Ann Hardesty, born 1799, is also listed as possible daughter of Obediah, but there is not "proof" of this.)
(William Hardesty, born about 1812, is also listed as possible son of Obediah, but there is no "proof" of this, and his date of birth would make him considerably younger that Obediah's other children.)
Nov 1832, Crawford WELSH executor of Obediah HARDESTY, dec'd. Petition to make deed. Filed 10-1-1832. On 3-5-1828 tract of four acres between said Obediah HARDESTY and Jesse CAMPBELL was contracted to Philip LANNING; said LANNING on 11-26-1830 assigned his interest to John AULT son of Michael AULT. Children of Obediah HARDESTY, dec'd; Urias HARDESTY, Solomon HARDESTY; Lewis (?) HARDESTY; Rebecca wife of Ralph HARDESTY; Elizabeth wife of John HATCHER; Mary wife of Thomas JAMES; Sarah wife of Daniel WARREN; and Catharine wife of Jesse CAMPBELL.(Belmont County, Ohio Partition Records 1832-1833.)
>From "Belmont County before 1830," Pages 146 & 148, the "Black Records" (named for an old black volume of records found by a judge or clerk that the authors then listed, tax lists for 1802, '03, '04, & '05: Hardesty, Richard - Jul 3, 1800, Wheeling ["creek?"], deed, 147, .58 - 30/100 Hardesty John - Jul 3, 1800, Wheeling, deed, 100, .40 Hardesty, Obadiah - Jul 21, 1800, McMahon's Creek, deed, 290, 1.16 Hardesty, Francis- Jul 21, 1800, Ohio [river], bond, 116, .23 - 20/100
Richard and John Hardesty arrived and/or filed a deed for property on the same day, July 3, 1800, near Wheeling Creek, and they both had deeds for their property?
Obediah and Francis arrived/filed deeds the same day, July 21, 1800. Obediah by deed, Francis by bond. Obediah's land was on/near McMahon's Creek, Francis' land along the Ohio River?
Will of Obediah Hardesty:
In the name of God Amen, I, Obediah Hardesty, of the County of Belmont and
State of Ohio being at present weak in body, but of sound mind and memory
before God for his mercies, but calling to mind the state of Mortality
knowing that man is mortal and born to die. Do make Constitute and appoint
his my last will and testament first reckommending my soul to Almighty God
the giver and my Body to Be Buried in a Christian like manner after my
Demise----and as regards my real and personal Estate which it pleased God to
bless me with while on earth my Desire is for it to be Distributed in manner
and form following that my first debts and Funeral Expenses be paid, my
Desire is that then my son Solomon Hardesty shall have one Hundred Dollars to
be paid out of my estate by my Executor who will hereafter be appointe in
this my will.---The balance of all my real and personal Estate I will and
bequeath unto my Dear and Beloved wife Mary Hardesty, so long as she liveth
and at the Decease of my Dear and Beloved wife, my will is that all the
estate Both real and personal be sold at Public sale and Divided among my
Beloved Children as follows: My Urias Hardesty to have tree Dollars in
addition to what he has received the balance to be equally Divided among my
Children by name as follows: Rebeccah Hardesty, Keziah Hatcher, Lewis
Hardesty, Solomon Hardesty, Sarah Warren, Catherine Campbell, Mary Iiams, and
I do hereby appoint Crawford Welsh of the Count and state aforesaid sole
Executor of this my last will and Testament hereby revoking all other wills
by me make in Witness where of I have hereunto set my hand and seal the
Eleventh Day of May in the year of our Lord one Thousand Eight Hundred and
Thirty.
Obediah (x) Hardesty
Signed Sealed published and Delared by the above named Obediah Hardesty to be
his Last will and Testament in the presents of us who have hereunto
Subscribed our names as Witnesses in the presents of the Testator.
----Crawford Welsh, George Meeks
The State of Ohio, Belmont County.
The foregoing Will of Obadiah Hardesty being brought into Court. Crawford
Welch, one of the subscribing witnesses thereto being called came into Court,
and being sworn in open court (unreadable) and saith, that he saw the
Testator subscribe said Will that Witnesses subscribed the same as a witness
in the presence of the said Testator. That the said testator when he
subscribed the said Will, was of sound mind and memory, of full age and not
under any restraint.
At the same time and place came George Meek another of the subscribing
Witnesses to said Will, and being sworn says that he saw the Testator
subscribe said Will that Witnesses subscribed the same as a nitness in the
presence of the said testator--that the said testator, when he subscribed the
said Will was of sound mind and memory of full age and not under any
restraint.
Thereby certify that the foregoing testimony was taken in Open Court at
special session there of held in St. Clairsville on the 31st day of July A.D.
1830, and was by the Court Ordered to be recorded.
In Testimony where of I have herunto set my hand this 11 day of August A.D.
1830. ---Peter Tillman, Clerk
Family Records:
In memory of Obediah Hardesty who departed this life July 26th, 1830, age
seventy two years.
On Nov 12, 1784 when Obediah was 26, he married Mary Polly PARIS
(D'AUBELIEUL), daughter of James PARIS, in Virginia. Born abt 1764 in France.
Mary Polly died in Belmont Co., Ohio on Oct 18, 1832; she was 68. Buried in
Turk/Hardesty Cemetery, Richland Twp., Belmont Co., Ohio.
Notes Received from Roger Cox, 1/21/97 & from Becky McPeak 1/22/97. Regarding
Mary "Polly" Paris:
It appears that her real name may have been "Mary Hilliard D'Aubolieul."l
(possibly De au Boulogne). One older query asked for the name of her father
"___ Paris," a sutler with LaFayette's army.
No reply that may have been forthcoming was given, however a later reference
from D.A.R. applications gave the information that "...Obediah's wife was
named "Mary" in his will, and "family tradition" says that she was the
daughter of a French soldier, and that since nobody could pronounce her name,
she was called 'Polly from Paris.' A query in Genealogy & History Mag., July
15, 1941, p. 44, query No. 3574 [see above] says that she was born in
Virginia, the daughter of a French 'sutler,' in 1764. Some family letters say
her name was something like Hilliard D'Aubolieul..."
According to the Estate of Mary Hardesty, Will Book E, page 428:
"And whereas our Court of Common Pleas of said County at the term thereof
held at St. Clairsville on the 5th day of November AD 1832 trusting in your
care..."
"...hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at St.
Clairsville the 19th day of Nov. A.D. 1832 John C Tallman deputy Clerk"
Family Records:
Polly Consort of O. Hardesty departed this life October, 1831, age sixty
seven years.
They had the following children:
2 i. Urias (1784-1848)
3 ii. Rebecca (~1785-~1850)
4 iii. Cassandra Elizabeth "Kaziah" (1786-1852)
5 iv. John (1790-1818)
6 v. Lewis (1793-~1880)
7 vi. Solomon (1795-1841)
8 vii. Sarah (1796-1874)
9 viii. Catherine (~1798-)
10 ix. Mary Polly (1805-1907)