Talland Church Headstones

Ledger Stone 28

~ Slate ~ The top line of this relatively short inscription is missing, it could, possibly, be hidden underneath the adjoining bench plateform; the script is clear roman text, deeply scribed.

~ Orientation ~ North/South ~ North Aisle ~ 140 x 80cm // 4’7″ x 2’8″

The baptism records of William Harding (1749-1824) show he was born to ‘Cath, of St Veep’, and described as a ‘base child’, which usually means he was illegitimate; no father’s name was documented. 

William married Rebecca Lamb (1757-1832), also of St. Veep, 16 Nov 1775, with William being described was a Yeoman. In 1783, he was Church Warden at Talland Church, so taking up the running of Hendersick Farm between those years.

Frank Perrycoste writes in Talland Parish Records that William Harding of ‘Henderzick’ give apprenticeships to Reginald Toms in 1786, Thomas Gill in 1796 and Thomas Soady in 1803. “It was the practice to provide for poor children by apprenticing them to farmers, who were bound to lodge and feed and clothe them and teach them their work in return for their services”. Frank Perrycoste describes, in the Talland Parish Records, the clauses in detail; the final guarantee was to provide “double apparel of all sorts, good and new, that is to say a good new Suit for the Holy-days and another for the Working- Days.”

The Will of William Harding, Gentleman of West Looe, was proved 13 October 1824 and mentions many of his family members: Wife Rebecca Headstone No 86 and five children, including his son Joseph Harding Headstone No 12 and daughter Catharine Elford, her daughter also called Catharine is buried inside the church Ledger Stone 27