Priscilla (Grafton) Gardiner (abt. 1634 - bef. 1717)

Born about 1634 in England

Ancestors

Wife of John Gardner — married about 1653 in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts [uncertain]

Descendants

Died before 24 Apr 1717 before about age 83 in Nantucket Island, Nantucket, Massachusetts Bay

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Biography

Priscilla (Grafton) Gardiner immigrated to New England as a child during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640).

Priscilla was the daughter of Joseph and Mary Grafton.^[1] She was born about 1634, presuming she was about 20 when she married in 1654.

Priscilla married John Gardner^[1] on February 20 1653/4, probably in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts.^[2][3][4] They had twelve children:^[5]

1. John Gardner born 20 February 165(3?); married Susanna Green.
2. Joseph Gardner born 8 July 1655.
3. Priscilla Gardner born 6 November 1656.
4. Benjamin Gardner born 3 February 1658/9; died 23 August 1662.
5. Rachell Gardner born 3 August 1661; married (1) John Brown (2) James Gardner.
6. Benjamin] Gardner born 16 May 1664.
7. George Gardner d 16 April 1750; married Eunice Starbuck.
8. Ann Gardner born 30? February 1667/8; married Edward Coffin.
9. Nathaniel Gardner born 24 September 1668.
10. Mary Gardner born 27 May 1670; died 27 October 1767.
11. Mehitble Gardner born 24 November 1674; married Ambrose Dawes Jr.
12. Ruth Gardner born 26 January 1676/7; married James Coffin Jr.; died 4 October 1747.

She was named in her husbands will, 2 December 1705, and named executrix 2 October 1706. She died before 24 April 1717 when she was described as "lately deceased" when administration of her husband's will was transferred to their son, George. ^[6]

In 2009 a Memorial was placed in Founders Cemetery honoring the founding Mothers of Nantucket. Priscilla is shown as one of the Founding Mothers (see image). ^[7]

Research notes

Profile previously listed date of birth without source November 29, 1626.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Essex County, Massachusetts, Probate Records, vol 302, page 23. FamilySearch. Settlement of the estate of Joseph Grafton, Sr, which included a portion to Joseph Gardner, for his children by Priscilla.
2. ↑ Vital Records of Nantucket, Massachusetts to the Year 1850 (NEHGS, Boston, Mass., 1925-1928) Page 509. [Citing Wm. C. Folger's Collection of genealogical records for various Nantucket County families]
3. ↑ Massachusetts, Marriages, 1633-1850, Ancestry.com database, Dodd, Jordan, Liahona Research, comp,
4. ↑ Massachusetts, Compiled Birth, Marriage, and Death Records, 1700-1850 for Priscilla Gardner Nantucket Massachusetts, Compiled Birth, Marriage, and Death Records, 1700-1850 for Priscilla Gardner Nantucket Page 394
5. ↑ Frank Augustine Gardner, Thomas Gardner, Planter (Cape Ann, 1623-1626; Salem, 1626-1674) and Some of His Descendants (Salem: Essex Institute, 1907), 52-74 at 72-73, Internet Archive
6. ↑ Nantucket County Courthouse, Nantucket, Massachusetts, Probate Records, 1706-1867, 1:39, FHL microfilm 906832, img 28, FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-C9YY-X3WN-B
7. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 13 February 2021), memorial page for Priscilla Grafton Gardner (1656–1717), Find A Grave: Memorial #70946366, citing Founders Burial Ground, Nantucket, Nantucket County, Massachusetts, USA ; Maintained by 47117651 (contributor 47117651) .

See also:

• Coffin, Allen, 1881. The Coffin Family: the life of Tristram Coffyn, of Nantucket, Mass., founder of the family line in America. Hussey & Robinson, publishers, Nantucket, Mass., pages 53, 56
• Clarence Almon Torrey, New England Marriages Prior to 1700, 3 vols. (Boston: Massachusetts: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2011), 599, further cited as Torrey, New England Marriages (2011).

Acknowledgments

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