Tombstone Tuesday~Hardy Sellers

Pvt. Hardy Sellers

b. 13 Dec. 1823

d. 15 Aug 1863

Hardy Sellers was born on 13 Dec 1823 to Phillip and Mary Sellers. He married Mary E. Hancock about 1845. This date is based on the birth date of their known First born Lauraetta Jane Sellers, b. 10 Sept. 1946.

By the start of the Civil War, Hardy and Mary had been married about 16 years and had seven children, all daughters.  Then in January 1861 the South succeeds; the Civil war begins and on August 12, 1862 Hardy Sellers enlists with Captain Kelly’s Company Chesterfield Light Artillery.[1]

A year and 3 days later Hardy Sellers died on 15 August 1863 in the hospital at Petersburg, Virginia. The above tombstone is at Hopewell Baptist Church Cemetery where Hardy’s wife Mary E. Hancock is buried. [2]

Mary Sellers was left with 7 daughters, ranging in ages from 3 to 14 to raise on her own.

http://www.fold3.com/image/#20|77211569

One other book that I reviewed is “Broken Fortunes", By Randolph W. Kirkland, Jr.. Mr. Kirkland states in his book that Hardy Sellers, Pvt, age 40, died 8/15/1863, Petersburg, VA and was buried at Blandford Church, Pbg., VA. [3]

That certainly makes sense since he died in a Petersburg hospital and no record has been found showing that his body was returned to Chesterfield County.

Hardy Sellers is my 3rd Great Grand Uncle.





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[1] Ancestry, "Civil War Service Records" database, Military Service Records (http://www.fold3.com/ : accessed 25 March 2013), entry for Hardy Sellers, Private; Captain Kelly’s Company Chesterfield Light Artillery; Confederate.
[2] Jim Tipton, Find A Grave, digital image, http://www.findagrave.com; Headstone for Pvt. Hardy Sellers; (13 December 1823–15 August 1863); Memorial # 66124540; Record of the Hopewell Baptist Church Cemetery; Chesterfield, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, USA; Accessed on 25 March 2013.
[3] "Broken Fortunes", By Randolph W. Kirkland, Jr., Published by The South Carolina Historical Society, Charleston, SC, 1995, Page 312. Hardy Sellers, Pvt, age 40, died 8/15/1863, Petersburg, VA and was buried at Blandford Church, Pbg., VA.