Hardy, Elias

  • DICTIONARY OF CANADIAN BIOGRAPHY ARTICLE: Ann Gorman Condon, “HARDY, ELIAS,” in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 4, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003–. https://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/hardy_elias_4E.html
  • DCB profile notes:
    • Lawyer and office-holder; b. c. 1744 at Farnham, England; m. Martha Huggeford of New York; d. 25 Dec. 1798 at Saint John, New Brunswick. Hoyt’s counsel in suit Gen Benedict Arnold vs Hoyt for slander.
    • Hardy himself drafted the angry, eloquent counter-petition, which, signed by 600 loyalists, accused the 55 of trying to secure all the best lands in Nova Scotia for themselves.
    • In 1783 Hardy decided to accompany the loyalist exiles who were resettling around the Saint John harbour area of Nova Scotia. There he encountered widespread discontent over the prejudicial manner in which the loyalist agents in charge of the settlements along the Saint John River were distributing the best commercial lots to themselves and their friends. At the request of a loyalist militia company, Hardy drafted a petition of grievances which accused the agents of favouritism in the distribution of land and supplies and threatened to take the case to London if a fairer system were not introduced.
  • United Empire Loyalist listed in Loyalist Directory: https://uelac.ca/loyalist-directory/detail/?wpda_search_column_id=10567
  • Find a GRAVE: Cannot locate.