The Harding Family

Contents

1. Introduction
   1. The Rev. Samuel Harding senior
   2. The Rev. Samuel Harding junior
2. Landowners
   1. Manor of Deopham of the Dean & Chapter of Canterbury
   2. Manor of Deopham Hall
   3. Manor of Shadwells otherwise Cockerells
3. Note
4. Footnotes

Introduction

There were two priests called Samuel Harding who appear in the records of all three courts active in Deopham.

The Rev. Samuel Harding senior

The Rev. Samuel Harding senior moved from Pirton in Hertfordshire to take up the role of rector of Great Ellingham in 1631. He died in 1639, whereupon his widow Jane inherited his properties until her death in 1681. She was buried in Rockland.

The Rev. Samuel Harding junior

The Rev. Samuel Harding junior was ordained a deacon in 1642 and then spent several years as vicar of St. Stephen’s Norwich. In 1662 he was appointed rector of Barford parish, as is confirmed by the following list of clergy on the south wall of the church:-

Photo: G. Sankey, November 2025

The “A.M.” after his name signifies Artium Magister, the Latin for Master of Arts i.e. M.A.
The Rev. Samuel Harding junior held the post as rector of Barford until 1693.
He died on October 26^th 1694 in Great Massingham.¹

Landowners

Manor of Deopham of the Dean & Chapter of Canterbury

The Rev. Samuel Harding senior appears in the courts of the Manor of Deopham of the Dean & Chapter of Canterbury where he was a freehold tenant paying rent, but not under copyhold obligations. He did not appear at the Court sessions and was accordingly fined for his non-appearance – as for example the Court of the Manor of Deopham of the Dean & Chapter of Canterbury held on September 24^th 1638.
Following his death in 1639, his widow Jane inherited his properties, until her death in 1681. The Rev. Samuel Harding junior then took over her property – some 3½ acres.
The death of the Rev. Samuel Harding junior was announced at the Court of the Manor of Deopham of the Dean & Chapter of Canterbury which was held on September 24^th 1695. It was recorded that Samuel Levuld acquired this land,

Manor of Deopham Hall

In the records of the Manor of Deopham Hall, there is a reference in the Court of September 3^rd 1733 to Samuel Harding (junior)’s will having been used at an earlier Court held on October 1^st 1695. This Court of 1695 recorded that Samuel Harding owned 10½ acres of copyhold land of this Manor which passed to Samuel Levold according to the will of Samuel Harding.

Manor of Shadwells otherwise Cockerells

The Hardings also appear in the records of the Courts of the Manor of Shadwells otherwise Cockerells where they are listed as tenants of the Manor.

At the Court held on October 15^th 1627 the Rev. Samuel Harding senior and his wife Jane acquired 1 acre of copyhold land in Hawfield in Deopham.
The Rev. Samuel Harding senior and his wife Jane acquired 3 roods of copyhold land in Haughfield in Deopham at the Court of October 14^th 1629 from Francis Bubbing. There are further mentions of him as a member of the Inquisitores Ex Officio from 1630 onwards – for example, the Court held on October 16^th 1638. This is the last time that he was mentioned before his death the following year.

Note

There is a table of the key events in the lives of the Hardings here.

Footnotes

1. These events are taken from the Church of England Clergy Database. ↩︎

Date	Change
11/11/25	Rewritten
5/11/25	Published