We have read of Hardy Lassiter, a free man of color born about 1780, who died in what is now Wilson County in 1853. Hardy Lassiter had a son, Hardy Lassiter Jr. (1828-?), but also had grandsons, great-grandsons, and even great-great-grandsons named Hardy Lassiter, who carried his name out across the United States.

We have already met Hardy Lassiter (1864-1928), who migrated to Arkansas as an Exoduster. This man was the son of Green Lassiter, nephew of Hardy Lassiter Jr., and grandson of Hardy Lassiter Sr. 1864 Hardy’s son Hardy Lassiter was born about 1886, just before the family went west.

In this post, we will follow the Hardy Lassiter who migrated to Georgia, and in a later post, we will meet a Baltimore Hardy Lassiter. Georgia Hardy was the son of Silas Lassiter, first cousin of Arkansas Hardy, and grandson of the first Hardy.

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In the 1860 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: Silas Lassiter, 38, farmer; wife Orpie, 34; children Sallie, 12, Mary, 11, James, 9, John, 7, Elizabeth, 5, Penina, 4, Hardy, 3, Silas, 1, and George, 2 months; and Delphia Simpson, 14. Silas reported $490 in real estate and $155 in personal property.

In the 1870 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farm laborer Silas Lassiter, 47, and children Ophelia, 25, Mary, 20, Elizabeth, 16, Handy, 14, Penninah, 15, Silas W., 12, Milly, 8, and Jerusha, 4.

On 27 January 1884, Hardy Laster married Elizabeth Jenkins in Pierce County, Georgia. [We cannot be sure, but it appears Lassiter migrated to south Georgia to work in the turpentine industry.]

In the 1900 census of Blackshear, Pierce County, Georgia: turpentine chipper Hardy Laster, 51; wife Lizzie, 37; and children Trudy, 15, Janie, 11, Gaynell, 9, Colier, 7, Earnest, 5, and Draroza, 3. All were born in Georgia except Hardy.

In the 1910 census of Blackshear, Pierce County, Georgia: farmer Hardy Laster, 53; wife Elizabeth, 38; and children Vanelia Neal, 19, and Collier, 17, Earnest, 15, Deargie, 13, Jessie D., 4, and Sylvestus, 2; and grandson Alonzo Washington, 5.

In 1917, Ernest Lassiter registered for the World War I draft in Hernando County, Florida. Per his registration card, he was born 10 August 1897 in Little Rock, Arkansas; his father was born in Wilmington, North Carolina; he worked for Central Cypress Company, Centralia, Florida; and his nearest relative was Hardy Lassiter, Blackshear, Georgia.

Janie Sims died 15 November 1918 in Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida. Per her death certificate, she was 28 years old; was born in Blackshear, Georgia, to Hardy Laster; was married to Jesse Sims; worked as a laundress; and was buried in Blackshear.

In the 1920 census of Blackshear, Pierce County, Georgia: machine shop laborer Hardy Laster, 68; wife Elizabeth, 46, cook; and son Sylvester, 13.

Hardley Lassiter died 20 November 1922 in Blackshear, Pierce County, Georgia. Per his death certificate, he was born 3 March 1851 in North Carolina to Sirlis and Orphia Lassiter; was married to Eleziabeth Lassiter; worked as a laborer; and was buried in Blackshear Colored Cemetery.

Vanilla Chisholm died 25 July 1927 in Manhattan, New York, New York. Per her death certificate, she was born in 1897 to Hardy Lassiter and Elizabeth Jenkins; was married to Jon J. Chisholm; worked as a hairdresser; and was buried in Blackshear, Georgia.

Georgia, U.S., Marriages from Select Counties, 1828-1978, database on-line, http://www.ancestry.com; Georgia, U.S., Death Records, 1914-1940, database on-line, http://www.ancestry.com.