Matilda Hardy

1867 --- 1946

Matilda Hardy born 9 August 1867 Higham, Derbyshire, first child of Alfred and Lavinia Hardy. Matilda was born into a family that was well established in the area, her grandfather (William Hardy) managed a family business that dated back to the mid 1700's, that of Farming and Butchery.

Matilda was named after her grandmother on the Hardy side who was the daughter of Samuel Midgley the local School's Headmaster at one time, Matilda's Mother (Lavinia) was nee Cupit. The Cupits were more established in the Shirland area than the Hardys. On Matilda's maternal side her grandfather was Thomas Cupit he was a baker by trade and her Nana was an Hannah nee Kerry.

On the 15th of March 1870 Lavinia gave birth to a baby boy duly named Alfred after his father. And so as it would turned out that is the way it stayed, just the two children (Matilda and Alfred) living children born to Lavinia. In the year 1876 Lavinia was to face a battle for her life regards to an infection that attacked her right knee, and by December of that year she would lose her fight, She died on the 9th of December, causes of death Strumous disease of the right knee joint.

We can only imagine the devastation this event had on Matilda and the rest of the family, We can only surmise how the future was to unfold for our Matilda and family. So let's do that..1877 was just around the corner and after Lavinia's death a Young Shirland girl would play a major roll in the lifes of Matilda and her brother.

Susannah Pursglove born 16th of July 1861 at Shirland the 8th child of Thomas and Elizabeth Pursglove. Our records show that Susannah's father met his death on the 9th of April 1869, so at the tender age of 8 years our Susannah was fatherless. so with this back ground Susannah's life was moving by The Fates towards her destiny.

Sometime in October of 1877 at the age of 16 years 3 months Susannah found herself to be with child and just two days before her 17th birthday she was delivered of a baby boy (our Albert) a very nice birthday gift, On the 18th of November 1878 Susannah married Alfred Hardy at the Parish Church Eckington, Derbyshire.

At that time Alfred had opened a butcher's Shop in the village of Eckington just what the relationship between Alfred and his father was we do not know, But by the 1881 census we see that Matilda is at her Hardy's grand parents on census night age 13 years at this time. By 1891 census Matilda is 23 years old and her whereabouts on census night has not shown up.

The 1901 census has Matalda living at 215 Chesterfield Rd. Norton, Derbyshire, employed has a domestic cook, In the household Annie Turner 51 yrs. head widow living off her own means. Matilda Hardy 33 servant domestic cook single. Alice Sharman 29 yrs. servant single.

Hi Ray, probably not much use, but two Hardy Wills both of Norton are listed in extract form "mentionables". They may help, then again ... 1886 Henry HARDY mentions ; wife Ann Francis Henry HARDY James Turner HARDY 1890 Ann HARDY mentions; Mary Turner HARDY Francis Henry HARDY Emma Mason HARRISON James Turner HARDY from... Michael Spencer.

In July 0f 1905 we have the photo of Matilda showing her back in Shirland with her brother Alfred just how long Matilda stayed there we dont know but we do know that by 1908 she is in the employment of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Randall Thomas Davidson Archbishop of Canterbury

Archbishop: 1903-28

Born: 1848 Died: 1930 Burial place: Canterbury Cathedral, Kent

In 1908 Harriette Hardy the wife of Alfred and Matilda's sister in Law gave birth to a baby boy we are told by family connections that Matilda asked her brother to give the name of Randall to the new baby after her employer the Archbishop, so on the 3rd of January 1909 the baby was Christened, Stanley Randall Hardy at the St Leonard Church Shirland