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This is the Thomas Gardner who is known as Thomas Gardner of Roxbury. His son is Thomas II or Thomas Jr. Naming his son Thomas as “Thomas Gardner of Roxbury” does not align with writings about the family, and confuses the record.

Note: Do not confuse the Gardner family of Roxbury with the Gardner family of Salem. They are two separate families with no known connections. Do not merge.

Biography

There is a lot of speculation about who his parents are, but no proof has been found as yet to support any theories.

Thomas Gardner was born in England. His birth year is only a guess. He came to America onboard the ship "Safety" in 1635 and settled in Roxbury.^[1]

Thomas is the ancestor of the "Brookline Gardner Family." He settled in Roxbury where he died in 1638, leaving a son, Thomas.^[2]

Paige's History of Cambridge states that Thomas Gardner, of Roxbury, died there Nov. 1638, leaving children Thomas and Peter.^[3]

Among the many descendants of this man, are Susannah (Boylston) Hall (abt.1708-1797), a great-great-granddaughter who married John Adams (1691-1761) and was the mother of the second president of the United States; Rev. Andrew Gardner of Lancaster, Mass.; Thomas Gardner (1724-1775) who was killed at Bunker HIll and Isaac Gardner Jr. (1726-1775) who was killed at the Battle of Lexington.^[4]

Research Notes

Great Migration Directory, p 126: Gardner, Thomas: Unknown; 1638; Roxbury [NEHGR 6:183; Dawes-Gates 1:308-9; Granberry 225-27]. (His son Peter came to New England in 1635 on the Elizabeth and also settled at Roxbury [GM 2:3:12-16; NEHGR 159:40-42].)

Sources

1. ↑ Cutter, William Richard. American Biography: A New Cyclopedia, Vol. 15. (1924); pg. 83.
2. ↑ Woods, Harriet F. Historical Sketches of Brookline, Mass. Boston. 1874; page 284
3. ↑ Paige, Lucius Robinson. History of Cambridge, Massachusetts. 1630-1877: Volume 2, page 557.
4. ↑ Gardner, Frank Augustine. Thomas Gardner, Planter (Cape Ann, 1623-1626; Salem, 1626-1674) and Some of Descendants: Salem, Massachusetts, Essex Institute, 1907; page 3