Hardee Branch

The Hardee Branch of our tree begins with the marriage of Susannah Hill-Tyson and Col. John H. Hardee. Susannah was the daughter of Mathias Tyson (1635-1683) and Susannika Needham-Andrews Tyson (1634-1702). Susannah was my 7th great aunt.

Susannah was born on 16 Jul 1701 in Pitt County, North Carolina. She passed away on 08 August 1785 in Greenville, Pitt County, North Carolina. Col. Hardee passed away on 12 Dec 1784 in Greenville, Pitt County, North Carolina.

Col. John H Hardee and Susannah Hill-Tyson had the following children:

Isaac Hardee born on 22 May 1734. He died on 09 Jan 1760.

Elizabeth Tyson-Hardee born on 19 Dec 1737. She died on 25 Mar 1805 in Greenville, Pitt, North Carolina. She married John Simpson. He was born on 08 Mar 1729 in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts. He died on 01 Mar 1788 in Greenville, Pitt, North Carolina.

The Hardee Branch of our tree spans nine (9) generations here in the United States, originating in Pitt County, North Carolina along with several other branches of our family.

Colonel John H Hardee was one of the most prominent Hardee's of Colonial and Revolutionary days.

He was Colonel of the Colonial Militia, a Captain before his company was divided in 1775 and was among the first rank and file of the founders of Pitt County, North Carolina.

The old home site is near Greenville, North Carolina, where his grave may still be seen before its destruction was known as the "Old Court House" because the first courts that were held in Pitt County were held in his house until the court house could be built. The first court house, prison, pillory and stocks were built on his lands. The freeholders met at his house to elect vestrymen of the newly erected parish to be known as St. Michaels, Parish.

After serving several terms as chairman of the Committee of Public Safety, he was chairman of the first meeting of freeholders to meet in opposition to the British Crown. He was Justice of the Peace, a member of the River and Roads Committee and a member of the Assembly.

John was very closely associated with General John Simpson of Revolutionary fame, who married his daughter, Elizabeth Hardee. When his company was divided in 1775 and chose officers for the two companies he became a Colonel.

There is little of direct military importance connected with his leadership of troops in the revolution as he was 68 years old in 1775, and died before the surrender of Lord Cornwallis. However, the part he played seemed to be more of a political than of a direct military nature, as his name is found subscribed to various documents and pleas for help and supplies both to the Governors of North Carolina and Virginia.

John Hardy and his wife Charity lived in Chowan on what is believed from his son's will to have been the Manor Plantation. They had only the five children mentioned in their right of Importation. This fact is born out by the will of his son John Hardy II, abstracts of which are quoted, as it is believed to be one of the most eloquent of Colonial Testaments.

It is not clear from Colonial records just where the spelling of the name was changed from Hardy to Hardee. Only a small percent of the family have changed to the "dee" and all of those with whom the writer has come in contact are descendants of Colonel John Hardee of Pitt County, North Carolina.