Harden of Harrybrook

THE HARDENS OWNED 1,436 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY ARMAGH

HENRY HARDEN JP DL (1710-51), married Catherine Hartford, and was father of

JAMES HARDEN (1741-1805), High Sheriff of County Armagh, 1792, who wedded Mary, daughter and heiress of W Walker, of Ballybreagh, County Armagh, and had issue,

Henry, b 1774; Captain, Armagh Militia; High Sheriff of Co Armagh, 1782;
ROBERT, of whom hereafter;
John, b 1789; Captain, 17th Foot;
Mary Anne, m William Gray, of Graymount;
Catherine.

The second son,

ROBERT HARDEN JP DL (1781-1840), of Harrybrook, County Armagh, High Sheriff of County Armagh, 1809, espoused, in 1804, Ann, daughter of John Hardy, of Loughgall, County Armagh, and had issue,

JAMES, his heir;
William (1810-89);
Henry (1811-42);
Robert Acheson (1815-70);
Archibald (Rev);
George Wellington, died in infancy;
Charles John, died in infancy;
Sarah; Mary; Sophia Catherine; Anne Eliza.

The eldest son,

JAMES HARDEN JP DL (1805-61), of Harrybrook, High Sheriff of County Armagh, 1850, married, in 1844, Annabella, daughter of Colonel Lloyd Edwards, of Nanhoron, Caernarvonshire, and had issue,

Robert Acheson, died unmarried 1864;
RICHARD JAMES, succeeded his brother;
Frederick John, Lieutenant-Colonel;
George, Lieutenant-Colonel.

Mr Harden was succeeded by his eldest son,

RICHARD JAMES HARDEN JP DL (1846-1918), of Harrybrook, High Sheriff of County Armagh, 1871, who wedded, in 1872, Annie Johnstone, daughter of Joseph Atkinson JP DL, of Crowhill, County Armagh, and had issue,

JAMES EDWARDS, his heir;
Robert Atkinson;
George Frederick;
Kathleen Annie.

Mr Harden was succeeded by his eldest son,

JAMES EDWARDS HARDEN JP (1873-1945), of Harrybrook, High Sheriff of County Armagh, 1940, Major, 3rd Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers, who espoused, in 1904, Letitia Grace Campbell, eldest daughter of Robert Nutter Campbell Connal, of Glasgow, and had issue,

JAMES RICHARD EDWARDS, his heir;
Esmé Grace; Amy Margaret.

Major Harden was succeeded by his son,

JAMES RICHARD EDWARDS HARDEN DSO OBE MC DL (1916-2000), of Harrybrook and Nanhoron, Major, Royal Tank Regiment, who married, in 1948, Ursula Joyce, daughter of Captain Gerald Murray Strutt, and had issue,

DAVID JAMES, his heir;
Thérèse Annabella; Carolyn Emily.

Major Harden's son and heir,

DAVID JAMES HARDEN (1954-),  married, in 1983, Bettina Clare Lascelles Tayleur, MBE, daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel Brian Charles Lascelles Tayleur, and had issue,

EDWARD RICHARD;
Matilda Clair.

At least three members of the Harden family were Deputy Lieutenants for the county at the same time as the second, third and fourth EARLS OF GOSFORD (all named Archibald Acheson), Lord-Lieutenants of County Armagh.

HARRYBROOK HOUSE, near Tandragee, County Armagh, is a two-storey country house of ca 1834.

It has a long, low front with Wyatt windows, a small, central, pediment gable and a pillared porch.

The side elevation is irregular.

Major Harden inherited Nanhoron in 1953.

Harrybrook (Buildings of County Armagh)

He sold Harrybrook in the 1956 and the family now lives permanently at their Nanhoron estate in Carnarvonshire.

First published in June, 2017.