March Tree

CHRISTOHER HARDINGHAM and ESTHER COOPER (8)

 

CHRISTOPHER HARDINGHAM. We know that the parents of Judith Hardingham, who married John Margerson, were Christopher Hardingham and Esther Cooper.

Christopher was born in Runton, a mile west of Cromer, where he later raised his own family. This is a village on the cliffs above the Norfolk coast.

Baptism. Holy Trinity, Runton.
1755 Aug 17  Christopher son of James & Mary Hardingham.
His mother was Mary Secker.
He was the second of eight children, and the only son.

His youngest son became an agricultural labourer, and it is likely that Christopher was one too.

Christopher married twice. His first bride was Mary Whiley.

They married in Marsham, 12 miles south of Runton. This was Mary’s home parish, but it is likely that she had moved further north when she met Christopher.
Marriage. All Saints, Marsham.
1777 Oct 12  Christopher Hardingham Single Man of the parish of Runton & Mary W(h)iley Single Woman of Marsham.
Both make their mark.
Witnesses: Joseph Blyth, Edward Delph.

They set up home in Runton. Here they had 7 children baptised.

Baptisms. Holy Trinity, Runton.
1778 Aug 27  Phillis
1780 Nov born 23, bapt 26  Mary
1782 Oct 30  James
1784 Oct born 5, bapt 11  Christopher
178 5 Dec born 5,  bapt 11  Christopher
The first Christopher evidently died, but we have not found his burial.
1787 Mar 26  Elizabeth
1790 Feb born 13, bapt 16  John Whil
His second name looks rather like Mary’s maiden name of Whiley.

There is a burial in 1790, but the Runton register gives very little information about the deceased.
Burial. Holy Trinity, Runton.
1790 Sep 23  Mary Hardingham a pauper.

This could be Christopher’s wife or his widowed mother. The latter may well have fallen into poverty after her husband died. On the other hand, the date is the same as the younger Mary’s last child’s baptism. She may have died as a result, though there is seven months between the two events.
Whether this is his first wife’s burial or not, Christopher was a widower when he married Esther Cooper.

 

ESTHER COOPER. The 1851 census tells us that Esther was born in Sheringham, in 1769-70. This is only one year out from the following.

Baptism. Upper Sheringham.
1768 Dec 4  Easter daughter of Thos and Margarett Cooper.
This is an interesting variant of Esther’s name.

Her mother was the widow Margaret Broda when she married Thomas Cooper, but we have been unable to find her maiden name.

Sheringham is a small town 3 miles west of Runton, on the Norfolk coast.

The census also tells us that Esther was formerly a washerwoman.

Marriage. Holy Trinity, Runton.
1796 Jan 7  Christopher Hardingham of this parish widower & Esther Cooper of the same, single woman.
Both make their mark.
Witnesses: Hannah Lawrance, Thos Thompson

They had seven children baptised in the church where Christopher himself was christened.

Baptisms. Holy Trinity, Runton.
1797 Jan 8 Judith
1798 Nov 4, 9  Frances
1801 Apr 5  Thomas
1804 May 2, 6  Mary
1807 Jan 28, 29  Elizabeth
1809 Sep 17, 17  Maria
1812 Jan 4, 7  Frances

Christopher died in the first year of Queen Victoria’s reign

Burial. Holy Trinity, Runton.
1838 Mar 17  Christopher Hardingham 84 yrs.

This was just too soon for the 1841 census, which would have told us Christopher’s occupation.

Esther lived long enough for both the 1841 and the 1851 censuses. She headed a household for the rest of her life, with younger members of her family living with her.

1841 Census. Next the Common, Runton.
Esther Hardingham   70               Y
Maria Hardingham       30               Y
Frances Hardingham    25               Y
Sarah Hardingham       7                Y
Maryann Hardingham  3                Y
Maria and Frances are Esther’s daughters. Sarah and Maryann are both Frances’s illegitimate children.

1851 Census. Easter Runton, Runton
Esther Hardingham      Head             Widow  81   FormerlyWasherwoman     Sheringham
Maria Hardingham       Daur              U           40   Dressmaker                       Runton
Frances Hardingham    Daur              U           38   Washerwoman                  Runton
Sarah Hardingham       Granddaur    U           17   Servant (out of place)       Runton
Mary Hardingham        Granddaur    U           13   Servant girl                       Runton
William Hardingham   Grandson                    6    Scholar                              Runton

William is yet another child of the unmarried Frances. Multiple births out of wedlock usually mean that the mother is a prostitute, but Esther was willing to give a home to Frances and her children.

She died in the same year as the previous census.

Burial. Holy Trinity, Runton.
1851 Dec 11  Esther Hardingham 81 yrs

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NEXT GENERATION: 7. MARGERSON-HARDINGHAM

PREVIOUS GENERATIONS: 9. HARDINGHAM-SECKER

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