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Family of Frederick Peter HARDWICK and Elizabeth P MEARS

Frederick Peter HARDWICK b. 1725~⁸⁴⁰ at Werternburg, Germany⁸⁴¹. d. 1797 Sep 9⁸⁴⁰ at Quincy, MA⁸⁴¹. bd. Christ Church Burial Ground, Quincy, MA⁸⁴⁰.
Elizabeth P MEARS b. 1733⁸⁴⁰. d. 1789 Nov 26⁸⁴⁰ at Quincy, MA⁸⁴¹. bd. Christ Ch Burial Ground, Quincy, MA⁸⁴⁰.

Married⁹⁴⁴ 1760 Sep 11⁹⁴⁴ at Christ Ch, Quincy, MA⁹⁴⁴.

The marriage record⁹⁴⁴ for Frederick Hartwick & Elizabeth Mears lists them "both of Braintree."

In the late 1600s and early to middle 1700s, the prosperus Middle Rhine region of the Holy Roman Empire was repeatedly invaded by the French. The resulting devastation and famine drove thousands of Germans ("the poor Palatines") from their country. England tried to settle many of them in England, Ireland and the Colonies. The Hartwick family of Quincy, MA, was one group of Palatine Germans who immigrated from Holland to New England between 1751 and 1753.

From NEHGR, Vol 40:323, a quotation for the Boston Weekly News-Letter, Thur, Sep 21, 1752 - "Last Tuesday arrived here a Ship from Holland, in which Mr. Crellius, with near 300 Germans, Men, Women and Children, some of whom are to settle at Germantown, and the others in the Eastern Parts of this Province. - 'Tis said that near 50 children have been born on board the Vessel during their Passage."

Following a failure of the glass works at Germantown in 1752, a promoter Joseph Palmer petitioned the courts for a lottery to raise funds for the establishment of other industries, as well as to have affected workmen to be exempted from impress and military duty. Sprague⁸⁴¹ mentions information fron the Mass. Archives 15A p 266 of a return of the list of men to be so exempted. Among those names were John Peter Hardwig, Henry Hardwig, John Hardwig, Philip Hardwig alias Fredereick Peter Hardwig, and Adam Hardwig. It is assumed that the latter were all sons of the former John Peter Hardwig.

Charles Adams' "History of Braintree, Mass." (Cambridge; Riverside Press, 1891) Chap XIX, p 287, mentions, speaking of the Palatine Germans in Quincy at the time, they mostly "went … eastward." Sprague⁸⁴¹ observes, with regard to the Hardwicks, that a list of the earliest members of Christ Church (Quincy) in 1764 indicates only the name of Frederick Hardwig appears.

It is assumed that the aforementioned Frederick Hardwig was John Peter Hardwick, the progenitor of the "Quincy" Hardwicks, of whom there are many. Records abound for many Hardwicks in the area, and the Frederick Peter Hardwick of this profile is assumed to be the son of said John Peter Hardwig. Frederick also appears in some records as Henry - the death record¹⁷⁷⁴ for his son Henry Hardwick lists his parents as "Henry & Elizabeth Hardwick."

Mass VR²⁶¹³ lists child Adam's mother as Elizabeth Hardwick. Elizabeth's last name at the time of this marriage appears in the marriage record⁹⁴⁴ for Elizabeth and Frederick Hardwick. The headstone⁸⁴⁰ for "Mrs Elizabeth P Hardwick Wife of Mr Frederick Hardwick," has her age at death as 56, providing an estimate of her birthdate.

Sprague⁸⁴¹ has Frederick's wife as Mary Elizabeth P Mears, possibly the Mary Elizabeth Bebsten who married⁹³⁷ Dec 24, 1752, George Mearsh.

Child 5. Charles

Charles' parents "Frederick & Eliz'a Hardwick" are listed¹⁷⁷⁴ in his death record.

Child 7. Elizabeth

Sprague⁸⁴¹ has Elizabeth married Nov 1, 1795 at Quincy, Edward Hall.

Children of Frederick Peter HARDWICK and Elizabeth P MEARS: