John Gardiner 3rd Lord (1661 - 1738)

Born 19 Apr 1661 in Gardiner's Island, New York

Ancestors

Husband of Mary (King) Gardiner — married 24 Jun 1687 in Southold, Suffolk Co., NY

Husband of Sarah (Chandler) Gardiner — married 2 Sep 1708 in New London, New London, CT

Descendants

Died 25 Jun 1738 at age 77 in Groton, Connecticut

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Biography

GARDINER, JOHN b. 19 April, 1661, d. at Groton, Ct., June 25, 1738, buried at New London, Ct., was third Proprietor, had four wives:^[1]

• 1st wife Mary daughter of Samuel King of Southold, born 1670, died July 1707.

1. Mary 4,
2. David 4 b. Jan. 3, 1691
3. John 4 b. 1693, grad. at Yale 1711;
4. Samuel 4 b. 1695;
5. Joseph 4 b. April 22, 1697;
6. Hannah 4 b. Dec. 11, 1699;
7. Mary 4 b. Sept. 1, 1702;
8. Elizabeth 4 b. 1703/4 in Boston, MA wife of Thomas Greene b: 04 June 1704/5 in Boston, MA. Married: 22 February 1726/27 in Boston, MA, daughter Mary Greene b: 01 May 1733/34

• 2nd wife Sarah Chandler Coit, dau. of John Chandler and widow of Wm. Coit, who was b. 19 Nov. 1696, and d. 3 July, 1711.

1. Sarah 4,
2. Jonathan 4 b. 1709;
3. Sarah 4 b. 1710, wife of Charles Treat.

• 3rd wife Elizabeth Allyn, b. Dec. 1, 1669, daughter of John Allyn, of Hartford, Ct. and widow of Alexander Allyn, of Windsor, Ct. who d. on Gardiner's Island.
• 4th wife Oct. 4, 1733, Elizabeth, daughter of Stephen Hedges, and widow of Daniel Osborn, who died May 19, 1747,

There were no children by 3d and 4th wives.

Spouse 1: Mary King 1669 – 1707 children:

• David 4th Lord Gardiner 1691 – 1751
• John Gardiner 1693 – 1724
• Samuel Gardiner Capt. 1695 – 1729
• Joseph Gardiner 1697 – 1752
• Hannah Gardiner 1699 – 1737
• Mary Gardiner 1702 – 1726
• Elizabeth Gardiner 1705 – 1744

Spouse 2: Sarah Chandler 1676 – 1711 children:

• Jonathan Gardiner Dr. 1709 – 1735
• Sarah Gardiner 1709 – 1744

Spouse 3: Elizabeth Allyn d/o John Allyn 1669 –

Spouse 4: Elizabeth Hedges 1683 – 1747

THE GARDINER FAMILY Winthrop's Journal of Boston, under date of Nov. 28, 1635, recites: "Here arrived a small Norsey bark of twenty-five tons, sent by Lords Say, &c. with one Gardiner, expert engineer or work base, and provisions of all sorts, to begin a fort at the mouth of Connecticut. She came through many great tempests, yet, through the Lord's great providence her passengers, twelve men and two women and goods, all safe."^[2]

This is an entry at the time, of the arrival of Lion Gardiner in Boston in a "Norsey bark," which is the short for "a North Sea Boat." Historically the record is valuable, to show the small size of vessels then navigating the ocean, compared with those of the present day. It clearly shows the designs of the Lords, engaged in founding the Colony of Connecticut, and it establishes the reputation of Lion Gardiner as an "expert engineer," and fixes the date of his coming this side of the Atlantic. With him came from Woerden, a town in Holland, his wife Mary, daughter of Derike Willemson, whose aunt "was the wife of Wonter Leonardson old burgomaster." With him she went to the fort at Saybrook, at the mouth of the Connecticut river, and thence In 1639 to Gardiner's Island, where he established the first English settlement in the state of New-York, and thence in 1653 to East-Hampton. Curtiss C. Gardiner, Esq., of St. Louis, Missouri, has with great learning and deep research, compiled his discoveries regarding the life and career of Lion Gardiner, from whom he descended, and has gathered a full genealogy of the Gardiner family, which has been published. I compile this sketch of the family largely from his book, and make it the more brief because his record has rescued from oblivion interesting knowledge which was perishable. The character and career of Lion Gardiner as a large hearted, humane, devout, Christian puritan, patriot, warrior and statesman, seeing far in advance of his age, inspired with wider conceptions of the teachings of the Great Master, whose large benevolence, whose tender sympathy, whose chivalrous friendship, whose undaunted courage extorted the admiration and confidence of the savage, are forever inscribed on the enduring pages of history. It has adorned his memory with the garland of immortality. "The greater proportion of the family traced in this volume, have moved in the middle walks of life. Generally they have been respected citizens. Great honors and large wealth have not been the common heritage. On the whole, the family possesses an honorable record of both character and achievement." Thus Curtiss C. Gardiner, Esq., modestly closes his book entitled "Lion Gardiner and his Descendants." He could in justice to the family claim nothing less, and might fairly have claimed more. The strong sense of justice, the chivalrous regard for honor, the wide, far-seeing view, the generous heart, the adventurous enterprise, the good practical judgment, the patriotic impulse, that characterized the founder of the family in his Island home, very largely were transmitted to his descendants. The voice of detraction has sometimes been aimed at the Col. Abraham Gardiner of Revolutionary days, who was commissioned and acted under orders from British authority, to take from the inhabitants of his own and an adjoining town, the oath of allegiance. But he acted in so serviug, and they acted in so taking the oath, under a compulsion in law and morals, avoiding all contracts and all obligations. As a fact those taking the oath were most devoted patriots, and so deemed and so honored by their fellow countrymen thereafter. I find no reason to believe Col. Gardiner less patriotic than they were, or less so than his own son Nathaniel, the surgeon of the Revolution. The world has condemned Eastern Long Island unjustly, for yielding to compulsion. When the condemning world has suffered, as our forefathers suffered, and exhibited a loftier patriotism, or more devoted iove of country, we will credit the world as it would then merit. Unintentionally, in vindicating the good name of Col. Gardiner, I have stated the ground on which, to impartial minds, his cotemporaries of right should be exhonerated. The memories of my boyhood and the associations of my manhood plead for mention of an old and time honored friend. Samuel B. Gardiner, dec'd, was a schoolmate in Clinton Academy. As a boy I knew him--high souled, sympathetic, social, generous, friendly, by far the most effective declaimer of all his cotemporaries. With majestic presence, with swelling volume of voice, with impressive emphasis, with harmonious action, with graceful attitude, he recited selections from the great masters of poetry and eloquence, of ancient and modern times. His declamation was at once the admiration and despair of his school-mates. In manhood he developed more decidedly the noble qualities promised in his youth. He was the trusted adviser of his townsmen; honored with official position whenever he would consent to accept it; twice elected to represent Suffolk County in the Assembly of the Empire State. Inheriting the activities of his father, and the nobility of nature that signalized his mother, he was one of nature's noblemen. Friend of my youth and maturer years: I can not withold this poor tribute to thy name and memory. BRIDGE-HAMPTON, March 4th, 1897. H. P. HEDGES.^[3]

THE NARRATIVE OF JOHN GARD(I)NER OF GARD(I)NER ISLAND, ALIAS ISLE OF WIGHT, RELATING TO CAPTAIN WILLIAM KIDD Notwithstanding these expressions of confidence, Kidd suspected Bellomont's intentions and decided to leave his treasure in safe hands instead of carrying it to Boston with him. Now follows the documentary narrative of the only authenticated buried treasure of Captain Kidd and the proofs that he had no other booty of any account. At the eastern end of Long Island Sound is a beautiful wooded island of three thousand acres which has been owned by the Gardiner family as a manor since the first of them, Lionel Gardiner, obtained a royal grant almost three centuries ago. In June of 1699, John Gardiner, third of the line of proprietors, sighted a strange sloop anchored in his island harbor, and rowed out to make the acquaintance of Captain William Kidd who had crossed from Narragansett Bay in the San Antonio. What happened between them and how the treasure was buried and dug up is told in the official testimony of John Gardiner, dated July 17th, 1699.

"THE NARRATIVE OF JOHN GARD(I)NER OF GARD(I)NER ISLAND, ALIAS ISLE OF WIGHT, RELATING TO CAPTAIN WILLIAM KIDD.

That about twenty days ago Mr. Emmot of New York came to the Narrator's house and desired a boat to go to New York, telling the Narrator he came from my Lord at Boston, whereupon the Narrator furnished Mr. Emmot with a boat and he went for New York. And that evening the Narrator saw a Sloop with six guns riding an Anchor off Gardiner's Island and two days afterwards in the evening the Narrator went on board said Sloop to enquire what she was.

And so soon as he came on board, Capt. Kidd (then unknown to the Narrator) asked him how himself and family did, telling him that he, the said Kidd, was going to my Lord at Boston, and desired the Narrator to carry three Negroes, two boys and a girl ashore to keep till he, the said Kidd, or his order should call for them, which the Narrator accordingly did.

That about two hours after the Narrator had got the said Negroes ashore, Capt. Kidd sent his boat ashore with two bales of goods and a Negro boy; and the morning after, the said Kidd desired the Narrator to come immediately on board and bring six Sheep with him for his voyage for Boston, which the Narrator did. Kidd asked him to spare a barrel of Cyder, which the Narrator with great importunity consented to, and sent two of his men for it, who brought the Cyder on board said Sloop. Whilst the men were gone for the Cyder, Capt. Kidd offered the Narrator several pieces of damnified[2] Muslin and Bengali as a present to his Wife, which the said Kidd put in a bagg and gave the Narrator. And about a quarter of an hour afterwards the said Kidd took up two or three (more) pieces of damnified Muslin and gave the Narrator for his proper use.

And the Narrator's men then coming on board with the said barrel of Cyder as aforesaid, Kidd gave them a piece of Arabian gold for their trouble and also for bringing him word. Then the said Kidd, ready to sail, told this Narrator he would pay him for the Cyder, to which the Narrator answered that he was already satisfied for it by the Present made to his wife. And it was observed that some of Kidd's men gave to the Narrator's men some inconsiderable things of small value which were Muslins for neck-cloths.

And then the Narrator tooke leave of the said Kidd and went ashore and at parting the said Kidd fired four guns and stood for Block Island. About three days afterwards, said Kidd sent the Master of the Sloop and one Clark in his boat for the Narrator who went on board with them, and the said Kidd desired him to take ashore with him and keep for him a Chest and a box of Gold and a bundle of Quilts and four bales of Goods, which box of Gold the said Kidd told the Narrator was intended for my Lord. And the Narrator complied with the request and took on Shore the said Chest, box of Gold, quilts and bales goods.

And the Narrator further saith that two of Kidd's crew who went by the names of Cooke and Parrat delivered to him, the Narrator, two baggs of Silver which they said weighed thirty pound weight, for which he gave receipt. And that another of Kidd's men delivered to the Narrator a small bundle of gold and gold dust of about a pound weight to keep for him, and did present the Narrator with a sash and a pair of wortsed stockins. And just before the Sloop sailed, Capt. Kidd presented the Narrator with a bagg of Sugar, and then took leave and sailed for Boston.

And the Narrator further saith he knew nothing of Kidd's being proclaimed a Pyrate, and if he had, he durst not have acted otherwise than he had done, having no force to oppose them and for that he hath formerly been threatened to be killed by Privateers if he should carry unkindly to them.

The within named Narrator further saith that while Capt. Kidd lay with his Sloop at Gardner's Island, there was a New York Sloop whereof one Coster is master, and his mate was a little black man, unknown by name, who as it is was said, had been formerly Capt. Kidd's quartermaster, and another Sloop belonging to New Yorke, Jacob Fenick, Master, both which lay near to Kidd's Sloop three days together. And whilst the Narrator was on board with Capt. Kidd, there was several bales of Goods put on board the other two Sloops aforesaid, and the said two Sloops sailed up the Sound. After which Kidd sailed with his sloop for Block Island; and being absent by the space of three days, returned to Gardner's Island again in Company of another Sloop belonging to New York, Cornelius Quick, Master, on board of which were one Thomas Clarke of Setauket, commonly called Whisking Clarke, and one Harrison of Jamaica, father to a boy that was with Capt. Kidd, and Capt. Kidd's Wife was then on board his own Sloop.

And Quick remained with his Sloop there from noon to the evening of the same day, and took on board two Chests that came out of Kidd's Sloop, under the observance of this Narrator, and he believes several Goods more and then Sailed up the Sound. Kidd remained there with his Sloop until next morning, and then set sail intending, as he said, for Boston. Further the Narrator saith that the next day after Quick sailed with his Sloop from Gardner's Island he saw him turning out of a Bay called Oyster Pan Bay, altho' the wind was all the time fair to carry him up the Sound. The Narrator supposes he went in thither to land some Goods.

JOHN GARDINER. Boston, July 17th, 1699. The Narrator, John Gardiner, under Oath before his Excellency and Council unto the truth of his Narrative in this sheet of paper. ADDINGTON, Sec'ry."

This artless recital has every earmark of truth, and it was confirmed in detail by other witnesses and later events. Before we fall to digging up the treasure of Gardiner's Island, carried ashore in the "Chest and box of Gold," it is well to follow those other goods which were carried away in the sloops about which so much has been said by John Gardiner. No more is heard of that alluring figure, "the little black man, unknown by name, who as it was said had been formerly Capt. Kidd's Quarter-Master," but "Whisking" Clarke was duly overhauled. All of the plunder transferred from Kidd's sloop to those other craft was consigned to him, and some of it was put ashore at Stamford, Conn., in charge of a Major Sellick who had a warehouse hard by the Sound. Clarke was arrested by order of Bellomont and gave a bond of £12,000 that he would deliver up all to the government. This he did, without doubt, but legend has been busy with this enterprising "Whisking" Clarke.

John Gardiner's sworn statement of the goods and treasure left with him by Kidd. Governor Bellomont's endorsement of the official inventory of Kidd's treasure found on Gardiner's Island.

source: The Book of Buried Treasure by Ralph Delahaye Paine Gutenberg.org

Sources

1. ↑ Lion Gardiner, and His Descendants, with Illustrations [1599-1890] - Edited, with Notes Critical and Illustrative, by Curtiss C. Gardiner, United States: A. Whipple, St. Louis 1890 pp. 96, 101, 104 - John Gardiner Archive.org
2. ↑ Winthrop's Journal of Boston, under date of Nov. 28, 1635 - pp. 165-166 Lyon Gardiner Archive.org
3. ↑ Entered by A Fabry.

• Lion Gardiner, and His Descendants, with Illustrations [1599-1890] - Edited, with Notes Critical and Illustrative, by Curtiss C. Gardiner, United States: A. Whipple, St. Louis 1890 pp. 96, 101, 104 - John Gardiner Archive.org
• Find a Grave Memorial - John Gardiner FindaGrave
• History of Long Island from Its Discovery and Settlement to the Present ..., Volume 2 By Benjamin Franklin Thompson, pp. 378-381: "Of the Descendants of Lyon Gardiner" GoogleBooks
• The Book of Buried Treasure by Ralph Delahaye Paine Chapter II "CAPTAIN KIDD IN FACT AND FICTION" Gutenberg.org

See Also:

• The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Boston, Mass., New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1874, Vol. 6, p. 77 - 84: Captain Kidd (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2018.) AmericanAncestors.org subscribers$ and Archive.org
• The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record. New York, NY: New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, 1919, Vol. 50, p. 17 - 25 The Kidd-Gardiner "Cloth of Gold" and "Pitcher" by John R. Totten (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2011.) AmericanAncestors.org subscribers$ and Archive.org

Acknowledgments

• WikiTree profile Gardiner-464 created through the import of PaulAncestry.ged on Jan 26, 2012 by Joyce Rosnel. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Joyce and others.
• Thanks to A Fabry for starting this profile. Click the Changes tab for the details of contributions by A and others.
• This person was created through the import of HOAGUE.GED on 22 May 2011.