John Gardner (abt. 1750 - 1805)

Born about 1750 in Chester, Pennsylvania [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Violet (Porter) Gardner — married 13 Oct 1767 in Middletown, Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Husband of Mary Richardson (Douglass) Gardner — married 1784 in Tredyffrin Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States

Descendants

Died 1805 at about age 55 in Leesburg, Loudoun, Virginia, USA

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Alison Gardner [send private message]

Biography

Colonel John Gardner served with Chester County Militia, Pennsylvania Militia during the American Revolution.

John Gardner is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A043797.

"... John listed as Sgt and Col in Revolutionary war b 1750 in Chester, PA, m 1767 Violet Porter, he d 1805 (corrected from 1905) Leesburg, Loudoun Co, VA. He fought in the Revolutionary War as an officer in Washington's army and was given a military grant of land in Ohio after the war. His war record shows he served as private and sergeant in the 7th, also known as the 3rd and 7th. He also fought in the 5th Virginia Regiment, commanded by Col Alexander McClenachan, Col. Febriger. Muster roll of the company for the period from 12-1776 to May 1778 and is borne on subsequent rolls until 3-1789. Reported to be enlisted 2-3-1777 to serve 3 years and having been appointed sergeant 4-1-1778, served full term." ^[1][2]

"John Gardner was a man of fine form and agreeable manners. He commanded a company of scouts in the Revolution, and was very daring, and many acts of bravery and feats of horsemanship were related of him by his contemporaries long after the close of the war. He had two desperate encounters with the Doanes, one at the Arren tavern, and one at the Eagle, and he would frequently take his company long rides at night to break up meetings of Tories and outlaws. After the war, such was his popularity that he was unanimously elected sheriff of Chester County.

"At the expiration of his term of office he removed with his family to the South, and we have no further account of them." [we now know it was to Leesburg Virginia that he relocated. -Fr. Martin] ^[3]

There is also reference to him on a muster roll from 1780. See photo. ^[4]

As all of his children up to Isaac were born in Pennsylvania, but Isaac was born in Virginia, it seems probable that he moved his family to Virginia between 1784 and 1787. Only one of his children, his son Francis, died in Virginia.

Note: a portrait of John Gardner as well as his sword from the Revolutionary War were in the family up until when Richard Gardner was a boy. We believe they were stolen.

Research notes

DAR lists his wife as Mary Douglass Howell.

Name Sarah Jordan Event Type Death Event Date 15 Jan 1882 Event Place 5th Ward, Youngstown City, Mahoning, Ohio, United States Residence Place 5th Ward, Youngstown, Mahoning, Ohio Gender Female Age 87 (cause of death: old age) Marital Status Widowed Race white Race (Original) white Birth Year (Estimated) 1795 Birthplace Penna Father's Name John Gardner (mother not listed) Citing this Record

"Ohio, County Death Records, 1840-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F6F4-CHG : 9 March 2018), John Gardner in entry for Sarah Jordan, 15 Jan 1882; citing Death, Youngstown, Mahoning, Ohio, United States, source ID v 2 p 124, County courthouses, Ohio; FHL microfilm 906,671.

Name John GARDNER Census 1790 Location Bart, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States Original Text Record Type Census Series M637 Origin 8 Archive Roll Number 568148 Line Number 38134 Volume Name PA Page 185 United States 1790 Census. Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014. (Original index: United States Census, 1790. FamilySearch, 2014.) https://www.americanancestors.org/DB541/r/269818354

From Ancestry "John Gardner died 12 August 1806 in Leesburg where he was visiting friends after delivering a load of grain to Alexandria, VA. He is buried in a cemetery in Leesburg, but the location is unknown. I have this information from a book written by Florence Moore of Charles Town, VA, now deceased. Submitted By ChrisRuizGardner"

Sources

1. ↑ Need a reliable source for service in Virginia.
2. ↑ Denise Allis http://www.genealogy.com/forum/regional/states/topics/va/32026/
3. ↑ Futhey, J. Smith. History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with Genealogical and Biographical Sketches, Volume 2, Chester County, PA: J. Smith Father Heritage Books, 1881. p 573.
4. ↑ https://www.fold3.com/image/3312332?terms=%22Col.%20John%20Gardner%22

• Sons of the American Revolution
• Revolutionary War service records
• "United States Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL6Y-ZDJV : 15 March 2018), John Gardner, 05 Dec 1776; citing 05 Dec 1776, Pennsylvania, United States, citing NARA microfilm publication M246. Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Services, 1980. FHL microfilm 830,363.
• "Pennsylvania Births and Christenings, 1709-1950," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V2V7-RGF : 11 February 2018), John Gardner in entry for Francis Gardner, 20 Mar 1769; Christening, citing FORKS OF THE BRANDYWINE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, , CHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA; FHL microfilm 503,559.
• "Pennsylvania Births and Christenings, 1709-1950," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V2V7-RPZ : 11 February 2018), John Gardner in entry for James Gardner, 27 Mar 1771; Christening, citing FORKS OF THE BRANDYWINE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, , CHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA; FHL microfilm 503,559.

• http://www.saundersfamilyhistory.com/images/Chapter%207%20-%20The%20Douglass%20Family.pdf

• DAR Ancestor #: A043797

Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed 05 Apr 2024), "Record of John Gardner", Ancestor # A043797. Service: PENNSYLVANIA Rank(s): COLONEL Birth: 1750 CHESTER CO PENNSYLVANIA Death: 1807 LEESBURG LOUDOUN CO VIRGINIA Service Source: PA ARCH, 2ND SER, VOL 14, PP 90, 91, 94, 113, 114, 118, 126 Service Description: 1) ALSO CAPT, 1LT, CHESTER CO MILITIA