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Fanny, or Frances Creamer, was born in Cross Hall Bedforshire, according to the 1851 census. To date, no record of her birth has ben found but in August 1798, she married Robert Hardy, a drover, at the Parish Church of Swaton, Lincolnshire.

However, Fanny and Robert were not destined for a long and happy life together as in 1805, Robert died leaving his widow with two small children and another one on the way. His will, proved 17 May 1805, made provision for Fanny and the children, leaving £130 to be invested and the interest to be paid to Fanny 'towards the maintenance' of their children, William and Elizabeth and the unborn child. Further provision was made to pass £50 to William and £40 to Elizabeth and the unborn child on attaining the age of 21.

1805 was a traumatic year for Fanny Creamer Hardy. She buried her husband in January, gave birth to a second daughter, Mary, in July and lost her eldset child William, aged four years, in December. However, happier times were ahead when in February 1806, Fanny Creamer Hardy became Fanny Creamer Manning, on her marriage to Robert Manning. Fanny and Robert Manning remained together for the next 40-odd years until Robert Manning died in 1851. Fanny moved to live with her daughter in Partney, North Lincs, dying there in 1858.

The Creamer surname was continued among Fanny's daughters and grand-daughters as a middle name for some decades after her death but eventually died out in the family. At the time of writing the search for Fanny Creamer's origins goes on.

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