HARDING

Joseph Harding was born in Woodchester, England in January of 1846 to William Harding and Mercy Alder. I have not included them on this page, as most of the information about them has proven difficult to verify. As such, little is known about Joseph's childhood, but on the 26th of June, 1865, he married Harriet Mills, and they would go on to have 5 children. Joseph was a gardener early in their marriage, but eventually became a milkman and grocer with his own small store. He passed away in 1928 at the age of 82.

Joseph and Harriet's children:

Charles Henry Harding, 1866 - 1929

Elizabeth Annie Harding, 1870 - 

Harriet Alice Harding, 1875 - 1930

Edith Harding, 1877 - 1951

George Harding, 1886 - 1960

Charles was born in Woodchester, England in 1866. At just 17 years old, he married Clara Herbert, and the two had 5 children. The first two were born in England, but in 1888, the family removed to Canada, and there, they had three more children before Clara was institutionalized. She died of exposure in 1910, and he married Barbara Strachan the following year. It is unknown how Charles and Barbara met and married so quickly, but in speaking with relatives who knew Barbara, two theories have been presented: they may have met on a ship travelling from England to Canada while Charles was returning from visiting family and Barbara was making her solo journey to Canada, or, they may have met in Canada when Charles was seeking a nanny and Barbara was seeking a job and home. In any case, the two quickly married, and had three children of their own. It is unknown what Charles did for a living in England, but after settling in Alberta, he became a book-keeper, civil servant, and alderman. Charles died of stomach cancer in 1929.

Charles and Clara's children:

Charles Henry Norris Harding, 1885 - 1958

Phillip Albert Harding, 1888 - 1955

Percival Herbert Harding, 1890 - 1984

Frank Ernest Harding, 1892 - 

Beatrice Ethel Harding, 1895 - 1970

Charles and Barbara's children:

Margaret Edina Harding, 1912 - 2009

Mavis Clara Harding, 1914 - 2014

Frederick Norman Harding, 1917 - 1971

Is it possible to mourn someone you never met and know very little about? I don't know the answer to that, but writing about Frederick is always a little bittersweet. Born on the 31st of December, 1917, the youngest child of Charles and Barbara, Frederick had half-siblings that were old enough to be his parents. On the 26th of December, 1941, he married Hilda Joule; a year and a half later, he enlisted to serve in WWII. He was wounded on the Dutch border in 1944,  and after being treated in England, was sent home. In January of 1947, the only child of Frederick and Hilda was born, and passed away on the same day. In December of that same year, Hilda also passed away. 

It is unknown exactly when and how they met, but in 1951, Frederick married Joyce Stalker, or, as I liked to call her, Nana. He worked as a mail carrier, and they raised four daughters (one of whom is my mom) together in Lethbridge, Alberta. Frederick, my grandfather, passed away in 1971, 9 years before I was born. 

Frederick and Hilda's children:

Frederick Charles Harding, 1947 - 1947

*Frederick and Joyce's children are not listed here for privacy reasons, as they are all living.