Nathaniel Bearding, Hartford Founder

Compiled by Timothy Lester Jacobs, SDFH Genealogist

NATHANIEL¹ BEARDING, HARTFORD FOUNDER was born abt. 1591 in England, and died 14 Sep 1674 in Hartford, CT. He married (1) ______ _____ bef. 1624 in England. She was born in England, and died bef. Aug 1659 in Hartford, CT (before second marriage of Nathaniel Bearding). He married (2) ABIGAIL GRAVES aft. Aug 1659 in Hartford, CT (aft. death of her 1st husband). She was born abt. 1610 in England, and died 26 Mar 1683 in Hartford, CT.

The ancestry, origin, and when and where Nathaniel Bearding emigrated to the American colonies is unknown. He was in Hartford in 1636, having land only “by the courtesie of The Towne.” In the Hartford land inventory of February 1639/40 he originally held: two acres and two roods on which his dwelling house stood with yards and gardens, located on east side of the road from the Old Oxpasture to the Cow Pasture; two acres on the east side of the Great River; three more acres on the east side of the Great River; and four acres, two roods, and sixteen perches in the Cow Pasture. He later acquired an additional six parcels of land.

He was chosen selectman in 1658 and surveyor of highways in 1666.

His will was dated 7 January 1674, and the inventory of his estate was taken 14 September 1674.

Genealogy: None, due to having only one child, daughter Sarah.