Abraham Harderet was the son of Martin Harderet and Rachel Fontaine or Le Maçon, daughter of Robert le Maçon, Sieur de la Fontaine, a refugee from the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre. The family were French Huguenots and the name was also written as "Hardret" and "Hardrett". In 1604 Abraham claimed that Queen Elizabeth had owed him £1,075, and he was appointed a jeweller to King James I, Anne of Denmark, and Prince Henry with an annual salary of £50.