Gabriel Hardman

Gabriel Hardman
Biographical information
Full name	Gabriel Hardman
Physical information
Gender	Male
Skin color	tanned
Affiliations
Occupation	Clerk
Religion	Quaker
Family members
Parents and Siblings	Silvia Higgins (ex-wife) Patience Hardman (daughter) Prudence Hardman (daughter) Chastity Hardman (stepdaughter)
Book appearances
Written in My Own Heart's Blood
Written in My Own Heart's Blood
Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone
Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone

Gabriel Hardman is the first husband of Silvia Higgins.

Personal History

Gabriel and Silvia met in Philadelphia, where he was a clerk earning very little money. The two were approximately the same age. He was not born a Quaker but converted later in life, though he married Silvia as a Quaker. The couple had two young daughters, Patience and Patience and at some point settled in a house 5 miles outside of Philadelphia.

During this time, the family were practicing Quakers, they used plain speech and attended meetings. However, Gabriel disagreed with the Quaker position on the American Revolution, and supported the rebels rather than the loyalists. This frightened his wife who was worried he and the family might come to harm over his opinions.

Sometime in early 1776 or late 1775, Gabriel was kidnapped by the Shawnee, unbeknownst to his family. During this time, he attempted to escape and the Shawnee punished him by chopping his foot in half. From there, he was sold as a slave to a band of Mohawk. At some point, he was freed but chose to remain with the Mohawk.

Events of the Novels

Written in My Own Heart's Blood

Main: Written in My Own Heart's Blood

Gabriel is not present, but is mentioned as an absentee husband and father to the Hardman women.

Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone

Main: Go Tell The Bees That I Am Gone

In 1779 Gabriel is traveling with a group of Mohawk lead by Joseph Brant. By this point, he has adopted Mohawk dress and lapsed from his faith, though he still uses plain speech. He has also married a Mohawk woman and had two children with her.

He is shocked to see Silvia, and angered when she tells him that she's had another child in his absence, a child that is plainly not his. They argue, with her telling him in no uncertain terms that she had been forced to sleep with men for money to ensure his daughters' survival. He tells Silvia he does not blame her for her actions, but clearly resents her. He is overjoyed to see Prudence and Patience again, but demands to keep them with him, something Silvia refuses.

Gabriel attempts to persuade Silvia to return with him, saying he can have both her and his existing wife according to Mohawk tradition, but she refuses. Instead, she announces she intends to divorce him under Quaker religious rules. Gabriel challenges Silvia on custody of Prudence and Patience, saying that under English law, the father has full custody of any children. However, Ian tells Silvia that this is not the case under Mohawk tradition. Silvia forcefully announces that she intends to take all three girls and might let him visit at some point in the future, suggesting he comfort himself with his new children. She leaves for the Ridge without informing Gabriel of their destination, though he likely knows due to his connections with the Sachem and the Mohawk. Gabriel's actions after this are unknown.

Physical Appearance

He has a twisted foot due to half of his foot being cut off with an ax by the Mohawk. His face bears the mark of starvation and hardship, though faded by the time he reunites with his wife. He is very tanned due to lifestyle. He has fine but thinning hair.