Excerpts from William Harding's Diary

1793 - WH born in Bideford, Devon, England, son of a blacksmith and keeper of Torrington Turnpike gate.

1800 - William loses mother when 7 years of age; loses father when 8. John Halls, blacksmith at Bideford, takes William to train as blacksmith.

1808 - John Halls dies.

1818 - William marries Harriet Wood. Harriet dies a year later. Wm. decides to go to Newfoundland where Samuel Cook and his brother William have an establishment.

1819 - Wm. arrives in Great Paradise, Newfoundland (June 4, 1819).

1820 - Marries Mary Brushett. Couple lives in house provided by the Master until end of Oct, 1820. Moves to household of Mary's stepfather John Purse and family in Burin Nov 18, 1820; received kindly by stepfather, his wife - Mary's mother -, brother, and sister.

1829 - John Purse and wife stricken with smallpox that took their eldest son of 21 years, Master of their Boat.' Ruined economically, family is separated. Stepfather John Purse moves in with a daughter and son-in-law. Mary Brushett's mother comes to live with WH.

"...The Fishing Room was divided between me and Philip Malzard," writes WH in his diary.

"...They had another son, George Purse, he shipped to Mr. Morris for the 12 months. The next year 1830 he came to Great Burin and shipped to Mr. G. Moulton to go mid-shipman of his boat to 'Cape St. Mary'..."

1830 - May 25, George Harding, son of William and Mary, is born.

1830 - end of August, George Purse, son of John, is taken ill at sea; "...was for days out of his mind, so that he continued to be so until he died ... on 3rd September 1830. I had to bear the expenses of his funeral..."

1833 - September 18, John Samuel Harding, third son, is born (in Burin).

1834 - October, WH moves to Little Salmonier, Burin Bay, "...to get a farm and some cattle."

1835 - Spring, WH, while sliding out wood, "...saw my wife's step-father /John Purse/ lying under a bush crying.... He said his son-in-law /Philip Malzard/ and daughter turned him out of doors and ... he should live with them no longer. I told him ... I would go to Philip Malzard and know what reason he had for turning him out..."

"...I found both Philip Malzard and his wife determined that he /John Purse/ should live with them no longer and that they would not live in his 'Room' at the Path End anymore."

1835 - April 6, WH takes John Purse and wife in his half of room at Path End and receives a deed from John Purse "to have full possession of all premises /upon John's death/ provided that WH support John Purse for rest of life.

1835 - Ann (Purse) Malzard, Mary Brushett's half-sister, dies Dec 5, leaving behind her five children.

WH household takes two of them until father /Philip Malzard/ can place them.

1836 - Spring, WH and family return to 'the home' (after a winter in the woods), "...having Mother and John Purse with me."

1838 - Mary Hennigar Harding born, June 14. (Named after Mrs. Hennigar, missionary's wife).

1838 - Dec 29, "...dear Mother died in her 76th year. She was blind for seven years and bedridden for four. Interred Dec 31, 1838."

1839 - Dec 20, John Purse dies, age 73.

1840 - Mar 9, Matthew Newport married Mary Anne Malzard.

1876 - Apr 22, 56^th anniversary of our marriage day.

1847 - Dec 31, John was born to John Pardy and Susan Malzard.

1861 - Sat Oct 12, Received a letter this evening from Jersey giving us the sad tidings of Philip Malzard being drowned.

1861 - Sun Oct 13, Was around to the post office to send a letter to John Malzard to Jersey.

1861 - Wed Dec 11, This fine day received a letter from John Malzard.

1862 - May 5, Received from Jersey two letters by the "Richard" Mr. Falle's vessel. Some seeds from John Malzard. O Lord, I thank

thee that he and his dear family are well.

Received two letters dated Feb 22 and Mar 27. Made an onion bed.

1874 - Thurs Jun 11, Went into the Salmonier. Breakfasted at Thomas Isaac's. Saw Mrs Jane Gallop from Codroy and wrote a letter for her and posted it and one for Grand Bank.

1874 - Thurs Jun 18, Fine morning but foggy at times. I was round and gave Daniel Dulentiz three letters to put in the Post Office for me and the money. One for Rev. James Cooke, Bideford, one for John Malzard, Jersey and one for Mr. Ayre, St John's.

1876 - Thurs Jun 1, Posted two letters one for John Malzard, Jersey, and one for George Tulk, Placentia Bay.

1876 - Tues Jul 12, Writing to Mr Brace and John Malzard.

1876 - July 24, Got five Temperance papers and a letter from John Malzard with a One Pound cheque in it for my dear wife, and a letter with Two Pounds in it for Mary Ann Newport and a returned letter I sent to Selina Isaacs.

1876 - July 25, Writing to Mr. Brace and to John Malzard and to Selina Isaacs.

1876 - July 27, Posted a letter with stamps on it for Mary Ann Newport to John Malzard. One for John Malzard for myself paid 6 cents, two for Selina Isaacs paid 12 cents.

1876 - Dec 27, This is the first night with Wm. Henry and Hennigar with whom I am to live. She and I paid a visit to my dear wife's grave.

1877 - Jan 10, Writing to Selina and Mrs. Coady and to Jersey.

1877 - Jan 12, Posted a letter for Selina and Mrs. Coady and John Malzard. Felt sick.

1877 - Mar 6, William Harding dies aged 83 years and 4 months.

Transcribed by Violet Hillier Hann, November 2000.