This plaque to
William Harding - was erected by his trustees in the Parish Church of St Mary's, Aylesbury.

About William Harding

William Harding, described as a Yeoman of Aylesbury, died late in 1718 and the Charity arises from his will, which was proved on the 19^th February 1719.

It is believed that he was a bachelor and the eldest of seven children born to William and Elizabeth Harding. It is assumed that he was born about 1643, (during the Civil War many records were not kept or were destroyed). 
The other six children in the family were born between 1645 and 1660.

His house, still standing, on the terrace opposite Walton Pond, was sold in the 1920's to the Anglo Swiss Milk Company and was the residence of the manager, according to an article in The Bucks Herald on Friday 4^th October 1929. That article also states that  "This is an extremely useful Charity and many successful tradesmen and craftsmen in Aylesbury had their start in business life by being apprenticed to a trade through this Charity." 

About his original Will

His will made provision for Sarah, widow of his only brother John, who had predeceased him, and after her death all his lands at Aylesbury, Walton, Broughton, Bierton, Stoke Mandeville and Princes Risborough were vested in some five trustees.

The trustees were instructed to:
Spend some Forty Shillings yearly for the buying of coats on St. Thomas's Day for the poor men and women inhabiting Walton.

The Will also declared:
That on the first Monday of May and November each year the Trustees should select children of poor parents in Aylesbury and Walton to be apprenticed to persons who were "honest and of good morals and well skilled in their trades."

They were also instructed:
To buy clothes for the same poor boys and girls, the clothes and apprenticeship payments not to exceed Ten Pounds per annum for any child.

We are told that the original Will is in the Public Records Office at Kew and the original Probate is held by the local solicitors who administer the Charity.