Walter Hardy, my great granddaddy, was a sharecropper in the Courtland Virginia area. In 1880 at the age of 21 he made a legal agreement as follows:

1880 Southampton County, Virginia, Deed Book: 35,92

This Agreement made this 29th May 1880 between James R.Tyler of one part and Walter Hardy of the other part Witnesseth: That the said Tyler agrees to pay to the said Hardy the sum of forty dollars at the end of the Present year and to furnish the said Hardy a house to live in and to give the said Hardy one third part of the corn,fodder, peanuts, Tyler has in cultivation on his own account.

In consideration where of the said Hardy agrees to perform the duties of Servant for said Tyler during the year 1880 to cultivate the corn and peanuts, which the said Tyler has planted on his own account and to gather and prepare the same for market. All under the control and direction of said Tyler and the said Hardy agrees that should he take up any advances in supplies or money beyond the $40 that the said Tyler shall have a lien on his third of said crops to secure such advances and shall have the right to retain such part of his third as may be necessary to pay for such advances. The said Hardy agrees that should he get sick or otherwise be unable or fail to perform this part of this agreement, that the said Tyler shall have the right to supply such assistance as he may think necessary , and to pay for

the same out of what may be due or coming to the said Hardy. And it is understood that in the duties of

Servant the following services are specially to be performed. viz. to cut and have all firewood, to make fires, to feed and attend to the Stock and to do such other acts about the farm as the said Tyler may require. Witness the following signatures:

James R. Tyler

Walter Hardy

Southampton County in the clerk's office May 29th :1880 This writing between James R.Tyler and Walter Hardy was this day received and acknowledged by the parties to be their act and deed and admitted to record.

Teste: L.R.Eawards CC

1880 Jerusalem District Southampton County, Virginia Census

The 1880 census of Southampton County dated June 18, list Walter Hardy as follows:

Visit 534 House 534

Tyler J.R. W M 40 Deputy Clerk of Court (grandson of President Tyler)

Tyler Mattie W F 33 Sister Keeping House (granddaughter of President Tyler)

Rochell Jas.H W M 51 Uncle at home

Hardy Walter B M 21 Servant

By 1884, Walter, my father's granddaddy, was in another agreement:

1884 Southampton County, Virginia, Deed: 37, 664

This agreement made this 7th day of June in the year 1884 between J.P.Claud of the first part and Walter Hardy of the second part both of the County of Southampton State of Virginia. Witnesseth as follows:

Whereas the said Walter Hardy is engaged in or is about to engage in the cultivation of the soil and is desirour(?) that the said J.P. Claud shall during the present year make a certain advance to the said cultivators of the soil which the said J.P. Claud has agreed to do. Now this agreement Witnesseth

that the said J.P.Claud does hereby promise and agree to advance and furnish to the said Walter Hardy during the present year such monies provisions fertilizers and other supplies not exceeding the sum of forty dollars in amount as may be needful to enable the said Walter Hardy to cultivate and gather his crops proposed to be made the present year and the said Walter Hardy hereby gives and grants to the said J.P. Claud a lien upon all such crops as he may make the present year to wit, corn , fodder,peas,peanuts, cotton, and all other crops as to the payment for all such supplies and advances as may be actually made not exceeding the sum above stated. This agreement is made in pursuance of an act of the General Assembly of Virginia approved April 20, 1873. Witness own hands the 7th day of June 1884.

J.P. Claud

Walter Hardy

Southampton County in the Clerk Office June 12 1884 this agreement between J.P. Claud and Walter Hardy was this day received and acknowledged by said Claud and Hardy to be their act and as written to record.

Marriage Register, Courtland, Virginia Southampton County Book 6, 18

Two years later on April 7th 1886, Walter married Hilda Scott at Mt. Olive Church Southampton County. F.W. Bond(?) performed the ceremony. J.B. Prince who issued the marriage license certificate had a question as to the couple's color. He annotated Col?, Walter was 27, Hilda was 16 years old.Both were born in Southampton County. Walter was a farmer.(Marriage Register, Courtland , Virginia, Southampton County Book 6, 18).

In 1897, Walter, his uncle Booker Hardy and others purchased land, from J.B. Prince, the clerk who married him and Hilda, to use as a burying ground for Colored people.

1897 Southampton County, Virginia, Deed Book: 44, 605

This deed made May 27, 1897, between J.B. Prince of one part and B.G.Jenkins, N.M. Darden, J.W.Epps, Walter Hardy, Jas(JAMES) H.Blow, Booker Hardy, Trustees of the other part Witnesseth that in consideration of five dollars in hand , paid, the said party of the first part does grant and convey with general warranty unto the said Trustees and their successors in office forever one parcel of land situated on the left of the public road leading from Courtland to the residence of Prince and nearly opposite the residence of B.F. Mclemore containing about one acre it being 70 yards square and being designated at the four corners by a piece of rail road iron at each corner In trust to hold said piece of land for a burying ground for the colored people of this immediate section. It is understood that no colored people or person shall be buried in said burying ground if a majority of the trustees shall object therein Witness the following signatures and seal.

J.B. Prince seal

Virginia

In the Clerks Office of Southampton County Court May 27, 1897 the foregoing deed was this day presented And acknowledged in the office by the said Prince to be his act and deed and admitted to record.

Teste: B.F. Mclemore CC

I was not successful in identifying my relatives on a visit to the burial ground in June of 1997. My grandmother Virgie Claud Hardy, Walter's son John and others are buried there. The names on most of the tombstones are illegible.

1900 Jerusalem District, Southampton County, Virginia Census

By June 6, 1900, in the Southampton County Virginia Jerusalem District, Walter and ILda (as Hilda is now listed ) have four children. Ilda's mother and stepfather reside in the next dwelling.

In dwelling number 86 visit 88 :

Hardy Walter Head of household B M Nov 1859 40 M 13 M= Married

Ilda Wife B F Apr 1871 29 M 13 5 4

Irene Daughter B F Oct. 1887 12 S

John W Son B M Aug 1889 10 S

Jas R. Son B M Sept 1891 8 S

Mary J Daughter B F Oct 1896 3 S

Walter was a laborer at the Rail Road Depot. He could read and write. Walter did not have any months of unemployment. He owned his farmland free of mortgage. Daughter Irene and son John(my grandfather)

were at school.

In Dwelling number 87 visit 89:

Scott Junius Head B M Mar 1848 52 M 10

Scott Sarah Wife B F Oct 1849 52 M 10

1910 Jerusalem District, Southampton County, Virginia Census

In the 1910 Southampton County Jerusalem District Census , Ilda(Hilda) and the children were described as "M" for mulatto. Walter and Ilda had a new son, Russell. Walter, John and James were laborers during odd jobs. Mary J. was a farm laborer during general farm work. The enumerator spelled the Hardy name as "Hardie". The 1910 census is as follows:

Visit 269 House 296:

Hardie Walter Head M B 50 M1 24 6 5 (Married once, father of 6 children 5 living)

Ilda wife F Mu 40 M1 24 6 5

Irene daug F Mu 23 S

John W. son M Mu 19 S

James R. son M Mu 18 S

Mary J. daug F Mu 13 S

Russell son M Mu 4 S

Visit 271 House 299:

Ilda's mother and stepfather are residing a few stops down.

Scott June Head M B 66 M1 35 (number of years married)

Sarah wife F B 65 M1 35 4 4 (number of children and number living)

June was a laborer during odd jobs. Neither June nor Sarah could read or write.

The 1910 census identifies Ilda and her children as mulattoes. Perhaps the color of Ilda's skin was the reason why County Clerk J.B. Prince had a problem identifying her as colored when he granted the Marriage License certificate to Walter Hardy and Hilda Scott on 6 April 1886. Race determination was based on the opinion of the census enumerator.

1920 Jerusalem District, Southampton County, Virginia Census

Walter's oldest son, John Walter, my grandfather, is now married with four children and living on High Street. Walter and Ilda reside at the next dwelling and Ilda's mother and stepfather reside three dwellings down. The 1920 Jerusalem District, Southampton Count Census recorded on 8 January, is as follows:

Visit 62 House 63:

Hardy John W. Head R M B 30 M (O or R states if Home is owned or rented)

Virgie wife F Mu 22 M

Gertrude daugh F B 4 S

Verlee daugh F B 2 S

John son M B 10/12

John and Virgie both could read. Both were born in Virginia. John Walter was farming on his own account during general farming. John worked at farm number 4.

Visit 63 House 64:

Hardy Walter Head O F M B 59 M

Ilda wife F Mu 47 M

Robert James son M B 28 S

Russell son M B 14 S

Walter owned his home free of mortgage. He could read and speak English. Walter was farming on his own account during general farming. Walter worked at farm number 5.

Visit 66 House 68:

Scott June Head O F M B 65 M (June should be 72 years of age).

Sarah wife F Mu 72 M

June nor Sarah could read or write. June was employed at the Feed House as a wageworker. Both June and Sarah spoke English.