Thomas Gardner (planter)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Gardner was an Overseer of the "old planters
" party of the Dorchester Company who landed, in 1624 at Cape Ann
, to form a colony at what is now known as Gloucester
. Gardner is considered by some as the first Governor of Massachusetts, due to his being in authority in the first settlement that became the Massachusetts Bay Colony
(which later subsumed the Plymouth Colony). John Tylly was the Overseer of the fishery (Tylly was killed in 1636 in the Pequot War
).
was doing well, having brought over adequate provisions and having had the proper skills, yet it was commercially unsuccessful due to rocky, infertile soil and poor fishing. In 1626, the Dorchester Company granted permission for Roger Conant, who had arrived in 1625 from Plymouth (via Nantasket) to assess the situation and to become the new Overseer, to move the colony.
moved with Conant to the mouth of the Naumkeag river while many members opted to return to England or to go south.
The new colony at Naumkeag was successful and was named Salem
in 1629 and, in Conant's words, laid the "foundation" for the Commonwealth. Those following Gardner and Conant as leader were John Endicott and John Winthrop
, respectively, as new planters.
Thomas and Roger continued to be considered old planters
who seemed to get little in the way of recognition from the religious leaders, such as Francis Higginson
. By the time of Winthrop, the influx into the area accelerated resulting in Mass Bay outgrowing, and annexing, Plymouth.
Gardner, and his sons, played several roles in the early development work. For instance, they did a lot of the early survey work laying out the area. As well, Thomas served on the court and oversaw highway work.
whose grand-daughter married a Gardner (ca 1450s, England). His mother was the sister of Minister John White who was instrumental in the Dorchester Company. Thomas was named an Overseer in the 1624 party that left Weymouth on its way to Cape Ann.
He had two wives, Margaret (c 1589 - 1659) and Demaris Sibley Shattuck (1597- 28 Sep 1674). With Margaret, he had six sons (Thomas, George, John, Samuel, Joseph, and Richard) and three daughters (Sarah, Seeth, and Miriam). In the spring of 1624, Gardner landed at Cape Ann with Margaret and the three sons who had been born in England. A fourth son was born in 1624.
Gardner died on 29 October 1674 and is buried in Salem.
His descendants have supported America in all of its armed conflicts from its beginnings, built America through arts/sciences, and are examples of the brain, and backbone (necessary, despite pretensions otherwise from certain perspectives), of the country. Many of Thomas' descendants, or their husbands, graduated from Harvard including its early Divinity School. In short, the phenomenal breadth of involvement with the arts, sciences, and trades covers the gamut.
, was buried with her husband.
One hundred and fifty graves were moved from this area to Harmony Grove Cemetery
when Grove Street was expanded in the 1840s.
, and Sandra Day O'Connor
.
. In 1635, Lion Gardiner
arrived in Boston. One of his legacies is Gardiner Island.
Thomas Gardner (Roxbury) (c. - 1638) arrived in 1635 and settled in Roxbury. He left a young son, named Thomas, and had the following descendants:
" and their experience. That is, Conant is credited with founding Salem and was then followed by Endicott and Winthrop. Also, cited motivations were largely more related to independence (religious
, economic,...) for the folks that moved to the new world than not.
Some sources describe that, though succeeding in Cape Ann
provided a struggle, Thomas Gardner, and his crew, were successful in maintaining themselves and their families. Conant, essentially, was sent because the old planters were not seen to be successful in London as expected. That is, the capitalists were calling for their profits.
Of course, Conant could not overcome the elements either. So, moving to Naumkeag was a good choice. And, Gardner may have been instrumental in that in many ways. For example, the old planters laid out the framework which supported the later influx of many emigrants from Europe, and elsewhere.
Now, many lessons from that time apply to current situations, and financial messes, and the hope is that future research acknowledges people, like Gardner and his party. Actually, that they were the backbone of the country that ensued, and that they contributed more than did any subsequent puppet of London, is one lesson.
Consider that events of a hundred years
later, supported by offspring of Gardner and the old planters and many others, demonstrated the problems with London's views. Gardner and party were just ahead of their time.
Not only was Gardner's party more tolerant and independent, they were of the type that contributes directly in ways that are incalculable (the bone and sinew of the country, noted one historian). Except, seeing how modern views have allowed infrastructural decay (by out-housing our backbone, for example), there may be many other lessons that we can learn from the old planters, and in places other than Massachusetts, to boot.
, and others.
In addition, there are the recordings of those who reported to London (list these) during this period. It may be that the "old planters
" were given essentially untrue descriptions due to the behavior of some and to the opinions of the Puritanical viewpoint. One of their more insightful, and talented, descendants, Nathaniel Hawthorne, provided, 200 years later, an allegorical sketch in his short work, "The Maypole of Merry Mount
" in regard to this theme.
Later renditions of the period came from recollections of members of the families who were there. Such material was gathered by historians of differing opinions (list Phippen, Trask, et al.)
As a case in point, there are different views about the roles of Gardner and Conant. Here, there has been some rectification, as Frank A Gardner, MD wrote, in the early 20th century, books for both families using extensive material gathered in the Essex Institute
.
Old Planters (Massachusetts)
Old planters are early settlers and are to be differentiated from explorers and new planters. In the United States, there were many early explorers and early attempts at settlements along the east coast....
" party of the Dorchester Company who landed, in 1624 at Cape Ann
Cape Ann
Cape Ann is a rocky cape in northeastern Massachusetts on the Atlantic Ocean. The cape is located approximately 30 miles northeast of Boston and forms the northern edge of Massachusetts Bay. Cape Ann includes the city of Gloucester, and the towns of Essex, Manchester-by-the-Sea, and...
, to form a colony at what is now known as Gloucester
Gloucester, Massachusetts
Gloucester is a city on Cape Ann in Essex County, Massachusetts, in the United States. It is part of Massachusetts' North Shore. The population was 28,789 at the 2010 U.S. Census...
. Gardner is considered by some as the first Governor of Massachusetts, due to his being in authority in the first settlement that became the Massachusetts Bay Colony
Massachusetts Bay Colony
The Massachusetts Bay Colony was an English settlement on the east coast of North America in the 17th century, in New England, situated around the present-day cities of Salem and Boston. The territory administered by the colony included much of present-day central New England, including portions...
(which later subsumed the Plymouth Colony). John Tylly was the Overseer of the fishery (Tylly was killed in 1636 in the Pequot War
Pequot War
The Pequot War was an armed conflict between 1634–1638 between the Pequot tribe against an alliance of the Massachusetts Bay, Plymouth, and Saybrook colonies who were aided by their Native American allies . Hundreds were killed; hundreds more were captured and sold into slavery to the West Indies. ...
).
Cape Ann
This area had been visited by the Plymouth group who had obtained a Patent and had fished in the area known as Gloucester. These visitors, from the south, had built structures for salting and temporary housing. The Gardner-led group, who were to settle the area via another Patent, succeeded in maintaining themselves after their landing. However, eventual disagreement between the Plymouth folks and the 'West Country' folks, due to Patent conflicts, came about. Conant, having first been at Plymouth, was instrumental in working out a compromise, part of which was moving the Dorchester group away. As well, the colony that had been planned for Cape AnnCape Ann
Cape Ann is a rocky cape in northeastern Massachusetts on the Atlantic Ocean. The cape is located approximately 30 miles northeast of Boston and forms the northern edge of Massachusetts Bay. Cape Ann includes the city of Gloucester, and the towns of Essex, Manchester-by-the-Sea, and...
was doing well, having brought over adequate provisions and having had the proper skills, yet it was commercially unsuccessful due to rocky, infertile soil and poor fishing. In 1626, the Dorchester Company granted permission for Roger Conant, who had arrived in 1625 from Plymouth (via Nantasket) to assess the situation and to become the new Overseer, to move the colony.
Salem
Some of the Old PlantersOld Planters (Massachusetts)
Old planters are early settlers and are to be differentiated from explorers and new planters. In the United States, there were many early explorers and early attempts at settlements along the east coast....
moved with Conant to the mouth of the Naumkeag river while many members opted to return to England or to go south.
The new colony at Naumkeag was successful and was named Salem
Salem, Massachusetts
Salem is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,407 at the 2000 census. It and Lawrence are the county seats of Essex County...
in 1629 and, in Conant's words, laid the "foundation" for the Commonwealth. Those following Gardner and Conant as leader were John Endicott and John Winthrop
John Winthrop
John Winthrop was a wealthy English Puritan lawyer, and one of the leading figures in the founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the first major settlement in New England after Plymouth Colony. Winthrop led the first large wave of migrants from England in 1630, and served as governor for 12 of...
, respectively, as new planters.
Thomas and Roger continued to be considered old planters
Old Planters (Massachusetts)
Old planters are early settlers and are to be differentiated from explorers and new planters. In the United States, there were many early explorers and early attempts at settlements along the east coast....
who seemed to get little in the way of recognition from the religious leaders, such as Francis Higginson
Francis Higginson
Francis Higginson was an early Puritan minister in Colonial New England, and the first minister of Salem, Massachusetts.-Biography:...
. By the time of Winthrop, the influx into the area accelerated resulting in Mass Bay outgrowing, and annexing, Plymouth.
Gardner, and his sons, played several roles in the early development work. For instance, they did a lot of the early survey work laying out the area. As well, Thomas served on the court and oversaw highway work.
Biographical information
Thomas Gardner was born in 1592 to Thomas and Elizabeth Gardner. According to records, his home was Dorsetshire, England. His father may have been a descendant of Owen TudorOwen Tudor
Sir Owen Meredith Tudor was a Welsh soldier and courtier, descended from a daughter of the Welsh prince Rhys ap Gruffudd, "Lord Rhys". However, Owen Tudor is particularly remembered for his role in founding England's Tudor dynasty – including his relationship with, and probable secret marriage to,...
whose grand-daughter married a Gardner (ca 1450s, England). His mother was the sister of Minister John White who was instrumental in the Dorchester Company. Thomas was named an Overseer in the 1624 party that left Weymouth on its way to Cape Ann.
He had two wives, Margaret (c 1589 - 1659) and Demaris Sibley Shattuck (1597- 28 Sep 1674). With Margaret, he had six sons (Thomas, George, John, Samuel, Joseph, and Richard) and three daughters (Sarah, Seeth, and Miriam). In the spring of 1624, Gardner landed at Cape Ann with Margaret and the three sons who had been born in England. A fourth son was born in 1624.
Gardner died on 29 October 1674 and is buried in Salem.
Descendants
The legacy of Thomas Gardner, from seven children, is wide, and varied, as one would expect for the many generations. Some (small sampling) of Thomas' descendants are as follows, grouped by category and in chronological order by birth.His descendants have supported America in all of its armed conflicts from its beginnings, built America through arts/sciences, and are examples of the brain, and backbone (necessary, despite pretensions otherwise from certain perspectives), of the country. Many of Thomas' descendants, or their husbands, graduated from Harvard including its early Divinity School. In short, the phenomenal breadth of involvement with the arts, sciences, and trades covers the gamut.
American patriots (and military)
- Capt John Gardner (c 1620, son) -- Chief Magistrate (1680-82 & 1684), Nantucket, MassachusettsNantucket, MassachusettsNantucket is an island south of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, in the United States. Together with the small islands of Tuckernuck and Muskeget, it constitutes the town of Nantucket, Massachusetts, and the coterminous Nantucket County, which are consolidated. Part of the town is designated the Nantucket...
- Capt Joseph Gardner (c 1620s, son) -- King Philip's WarKing Philip's WarKing Philip's War, sometimes called Metacom's War, Metacomet's War, or Metacom's Rebellion, was an armed conflict between Native American inhabitants of present-day southern New England and English colonists and their Native American allies in 1675–76. The war is named after the main leader of the...
casualty (his widow married Simon BradstreetSimon BradstreetSimon Bradstreet was a colonial magistrate, businessman, diplomat, and the last governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Arriving in Massachusetts on the Winthrop Fleet in 1630, Bradstreet was almost constantly involved in the politics of the colony but became its governor only in 1679...
) - John Gardner (c 1680s, great-grandson through George) -- Captain - Salem Company, French-Indian War
- Jonathan Gardner (c 1720s, 2nd great-grandson through Samuel) -- Commander of a privateerPrivateerA privateer is a private person or ship authorized by a government by letters of marque to attack foreign shipping during wartime. Privateering was a way of mobilizing armed ships and sailors without having to spend public money or commit naval officers...
, French-Indian War, Commander of MinutemenMinutemenMinutemen were members of teams of select men from the American colonial partisan militia during the American Revolutionary War. They provided a highly mobile, rapidly deployed force that allowed the colonies to respond immediately to war threats, hence the name.The minutemen were among the first...
, American RevolutionAmerican RevolutionThe American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
-- Described by William BentleyWilliam BentleyWilliam Bentley was an American Unitarian minister, scholar, columnist, and diarist....
thusly: A most useful Citizen, of amiable temper, inflexible integrity, and a sober friend to all useful, social & religious institutions. - Benjamin Balch (c 1730s, through daughter, Sarah) -- first ChaplainUnited States Navy Chaplain CorpsThe Chaplain Corps of the United States Navy consists of ordained clergy who are commissioned naval officers. Their principal purpose is to "promote the spiritual, religious, moral, and personal well-being of the members of the Department of the Navy," which includes the Navy and the United States...
, Continental NavyContinental NavyThe Continental Navy was the navy of the United States during the American Revolutionary War, and was formed in 1775. Through the efforts of the Continental Navy's patron, John Adams and vigorous Congressional support in the face of stiff opposition, the fleet cumulatively became relatively... - Nathaniel GorhamNathaniel GorhamNathaniel Gorham was the fourteenth President of the United States in Congress assembled, under the Articles of Confederation...
(c 1730s, through son, Richard) -- Signer of US Constitution - Samuel Gardner (c 1730s, through son, George) -- one of the consignees of the tea thrown in Boston HarborBoston Tea PartyThe Boston Tea Party was a direct action by colonists in Boston, a town in the British colony of Massachusetts, against the British government and the monopolistic East India Company that controlled all the tea imported into the colonies...
- Ebenezer Gardner (c 1740s, through son, Thomas) -- American RevolutionaryBattle of Fort CumberlandThe Battle of Fort Cumberland was an attempt by a small number of militia commanded by Jonathan Eddy to bring the American Revolutionary War to Nova Scotia in late 1776...
patriot (Col. Benjamin Foster's Regiment), builder of the Gardner House, Machias, Maine - Gideon GardnerGideon GardnerGideon Gardner was a U.S. Representative from Massachusetts.Born in Nantucket, Massachusetts, Gardner received a limited schooling.Gardner was a successful ship master, and later became a shipowner....
(c 1750s, through son, Richard) -- Whaler from Nantucket, U.S. Representative - William Balch (c 1770s, through daughter, Sarah) -- first ChaplainUnited States Navy Chaplain CorpsThe Chaplain Corps of the United States Navy consists of ordained clergy who are commissioned naval officers. Their principal purpose is to "promote the spiritual, religious, moral, and personal well-being of the members of the Department of the Navy," which includes the Navy and the United States...
, U.S.Navy. His father was first chaplain of the Continental Navy; his grandfather had been a chaplain in the Royal Navy. - Joseph Gardner SwiftJoseph Gardner SwiftJoseph Gardner Swift, the first graduate of the United States Military Academy, was born on 31 December 1783 on Nantucket Island, the son of Foster Swift and his wife, Deborah...
(c 1780s, through son, Richard) -- the first graduate of the United States Military AcademyUnited States Military AcademyThe United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City... - Samuel Knapp Gardner (c 1780s, through son, Samuel) -- Mariner, captured in War of 1812War of 1812The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, held in Dartmoor (HM Prison)Dartmoor (HM Prison)HM Prison Dartmoor is a Category C men's prison, located in Princetown, high on Dartmoor in the English county of Devon. Its high granite walls dominate this area of the moor...
His 3rd great-grandfather, Edward Woodman, was a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of MassachusettsAncient and Honorable Artillery Company of MassachusettsThe Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts is the oldest chartered military organization in North America and the third oldest chartered military organization in the world...
. - Rebecca Gardner (c 1780s, through son, Samuel) -- wife of Captain John Allen who died, in 1814War of 1812The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, POW, Dartmoor (HM Prison)Dartmoor (HM Prison)HM Prison Dartmoor is a Category C men's prison, located in Princetown, high on Dartmoor in the English county of Devon. Its high granite walls dominate this area of the moor... - William J. WorthWilliam J. WorthWilliam Jenkins Worth was a United States general during the Mexican-American War.-Early life:Worth was born in 1794 in Hudson, New York, to Thomas Worth and Abigail Jenkins. Both of his parents were Quakers, but he rejected the pacifism of their faith...
(c 1790s, through son, Richard) -- Mexican-American War, Fort Worth, TexasFort Worth, TexasFort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and... - Lucretia Coffin Mott (c 1790s, through son, Richard) -- early abolitionist, feminist, and co-founder of Swarthmore CollegeSwarthmore CollegeSwarthmore College is a private, independent, liberal arts college in the United States with an enrollment of about 1,500 students. The college is located in the borough of Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, 11 miles southwest of Philadelphia....
- Emily Lee (c 1800s, through son, Richard) -- wife of U.S. Civil War General Daniel TylerDaniel TylerDaniel Tyler was an iron manufacturer, railroad president, and one of the first generals of the American Civil War.-Biography:...
- Elizabeth Cabot Blanchard (c 1800s, through son, George) -- wife of Robert Charles WinthropRobert Charles WinthropRobert Charles Winthrop was an American lawyer and philanthropist and one time Speaker of the United States House of Representatives....
- Edwin M. StantonEdwin M. StantonEdwin McMasters Stanton was an American lawyer and politician who served as Secretary of War under the Lincoln Administration during the American Civil War from 1862–1865...
(c 1810s, through son, Richard) -- Secretary of WarUnited States Secretary of WarThe Secretary of War was a member of the United States President's Cabinet, beginning with George Washington's administration. A similar position, called either "Secretary at War" or "Secretary of War," was appointed to serve the Congress of the Confederation under the Articles of Confederation...
, American Civil WarAmerican Civil WarThe American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25... - William Crowninshield EndicottWilliam Crowninshield EndicottWilliam Crowninshield Endicott was an American politician and Secretary of War in the Administration of President Grover Cleveland.-Life and work:...
(c 1820s, through son, Samuel) -- Secretary of War in the Administration of President Grover ClevelandGrover ClevelandStephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents... - Ebenezer Gardner Goldthwaite (c 1820s, through son, Samuel) -- son of Rebecca Gardner, served Andrew's Sharpshooters, 22nd Regt, Massachusetts Volunteers22nd Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry RegimentThe 22nd Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union army during the American Civil War. The 22nd Massachusetts was organized by Senator Henry Wilson and was therefore known as "Henry Wilson's Regiment." It was formed in Boston, Massachusetts, and established...
- Charles Jackson PaineCharles Jackson PaineCharles Jackson Paine was an American railroad executive, soldier, and yachtsman who was a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Biography:...
(c 1830s, through son, Thomas) -- Union GeneralUnion ArmyThe Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
, American Civil WarAmerican Civil WarThe American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. - Charles Francis Adams II (c 1830s, through son, Richard) -- Union GeneralUnion ArmyThe Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
, President of Union Pacific RailroadUnion Pacific RailroadThe Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman.... - Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr (c 1840s, through son, Thomas) -- American JuristSupreme Court of the United StatesThe Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
(with his father, members of the Dudley-Winthrop familyDudley-Winthrop family-Thomas Dudley:*Born: 1576, Yardley-Hastings, Northampton, England*Political position: Governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony 1634, 1640, 1645, 1650*Father of Anne Dudley who married Simon Bradstreet*Father of Joseph Dudley...
) - Stephen Minot Weld, Jr.Stephen Minot Weld, Jr.Stephen Minot Weld Jr. , a member of Boston's illustrious Weld Family, was a horticulturalist and much-decorated United States Army officer of the American Civil War.-Early life:...
(c 1840s, through daughter, Sarah) -- General, American Civil WarAmerican Civil WarThe American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
hero - Arent S. CrowninshieldArent S. CrowninshieldArent Schuyler Crowninshield was an rear admiral of the United States Navy. He saw combat during the Civil War, and after the war held high commands both afloat and ashore.-Biography:...
(c 1840s, through son, Samuel) -- admiralAdmiralAdmiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
of the United States NavyUnited States NavyThe United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, Civil WarAmerican Civil WarThe American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25... - Adolphus GreelyAdolphus GreelyAdolphus Washington Greely , was an American Polar explorer, a United States Army officer and a recipient of the Medal of Honor.-Early military career:...
(c 1840s, through daughter, Sarah) -- American PolarPolar- Science, technology, and mathematics :*Polar , a satellite launched by NASA in 1996*Polar , a strongly magnetic cataclysmic variable star system...
explorer, recipient of the Medal of HonorMedal of HonorThe Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her... - George William Coffin (c 1840s, through son, Richard) - Commander of 'Alert', Greely Relief ExpeditionAdolphus GreelyAdolphus Washington Greely , was an American Polar explorer, a United States Army officer and a recipient of the Medal of Honor.-Early military career:...
- Francis Cabot Lowell (c 1850s, through son, George) -- longtime United States federal judgeUnited States federal judgeIn the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
- Charles G. DawesCharles G. DawesCharles Gates Dawes was an American banker and politician who was the 30th Vice President of the United States . For his work on the Dawes Plan for World War I reparations he was a co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. He served in the First World War, was U.S...
(c 1860s, through daughter, Sarah) -- 30th Vice President of the United StatesVice President of the United StatesThe Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term... - Augustus Peabody Gardner (c 1860s, through son, George) -- Distinguished Service Medal (United States)Distinguished Service Medal (United States)The Distinguished Service Medal is the highest non-valorous military and civilian decoration of the United States military which is issued for exceptionally meritorious service to the government of the United States in either a senior government service position or as a senior officer of the United...
, Spanish American War - John Henry BalchJohn Henry BalchJohn Henry Balch was a United States Navy officer and a recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions in World War I.-Education:...
(c 1890s, through daughter, Sarah) -- United States NavyUnited States NavyThe United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, World War IWorld War IWorld War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Medal of HonorMedal of HonorThe Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
, Lieutenant, World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis... - Pierpont Morgan Hamilton (c 1890s, through son, Samuel) -- Medal of Honor winner
- Endicott PeabodyEndicott PeabodyEndicott "Chub" Peabody was the 62nd Governor of Massachusetts from January 3, 1963 to January 7, 1965.-Early life:...
(c 1920s, through son, George) -- the 62nd Governor of MassachusettsGovernor of MassachusettsThe Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the executive magistrate of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States. The current governor is Democrat Deval Patrick.-Constitutional role:...
from January 3, 1963 to January 7, 1965 - John Forbes Kerry (c 1940s, through son, George) -- Vietnam WarVietnam WarThe Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, United States Senator, presidential candidate in 2004 electionUnited States presidential election, 2004The United States presidential election of 2004 was the United States' 55th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2004. Republican Party candidate and incumbent President George W. Bush defeated Democratic Party candidate John Kerry, the then-junior U.S. Senator... - Others -- Edith RooseveltEdith RooseveltEdith Kermit Carow Roosevelt was the second wife of Theodore Roosevelt and served as First Lady of the United States during his presidency from 1901 to 1909.-Early life:...
(c 1860s), Samuel James Ervin (c 1890s)
Business
- Jonathan Gardner (c 1690s, through son, Samuel) -- his Great Pastures became Salem Woods
- John Lowell Gardner IJohn Lowell Gardner IIJohn "Jack" Lowell Gardner II was an American businessman, art collector, and philanthropist. He and his wife, Isabella Stewart Gardner, were patrons of the arts whose collection is now housed in the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, in Boston.- Background :Jack Gardner's mother, Catherine Endicott...
(c 1800s, through son, George) -- grandnephew of Col Timothy PickeringTimothy PickeringTimothy Pickering was a politician from Massachusetts who served in a variety of roles, most notably as the third United States Secretary of State, serving in that office from 1795 to 1800 under Presidents George Washington and John Adams.-Early years:Pickering was born in Salem, Massachusetts to...
, East IndiesEast IndiesEast Indies is a term used by Europeans from the 16th century onwards to identify what is now known as Indian subcontinent or South Asia, Southeastern Asia, and the islands of Oceania, including the Malay Archipelago and the Philippines...
trader, ship fleet owner (BarqueBarqueA barque, barc, or bark is a type of sailing vessel with three or more masts.- History of the term :The word barque appears to have come from the Greek word baris, a term for an Egyptian boat. This entered Latin as barca, which gave rise to the Italian barca, Spanish barco, and the French barge and...
, BrigBrigA brig is a sailing vessel with two square-rigged masts. During the Age of Sail, brigs were seen as fast and manoeuvrable and were used as both naval warships and merchant vessels. They were especially popular in the 18th and early 19th centuries...
, ClipperClipperA clipper was a very fast sailing ship of the 19th century that had three or more masts and a square rig. They were generally narrow for their length, could carry limited bulk freight, small by later 19th century standards, and had a large total sail area...
, Steamship) - Rowland Hussey MacyRowland Hussey Macy__notoc__Rowland Hussey Macy, Sr. was an American businessman who founded the department store chain R.H. Macy and Company.-Life and career:...
(c 1820s, through son, Richard) -- founder of Macy'sMacy'sMacy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States... - James A. Folger (c 1830s, through son, Richard) -- founder of Folger's
- Henry Clay FolgerHenry Clay FolgerHenry Clay Folger was president and later chairman of Standard Oil of New York, a collector of Shakespeareana, and founder of the Folger Shakespeare Library.-Early life:...
(c 1850s, through son, Richard) -- head of Standard Oil of New York
Academic/science/arts
- Sarah Gardner (c 1630s, daughter) -- wife of Benjamin Balch (son of John BalchJohn Balch HouseThe John Balch House , located at 448 Cabot Street, Beverly, Massachusetts, is one of the oldest wood-frame houses in the United States. It is now operated as one of the historic house museums of the Beverly Historical Society, and open June 1 to October 15, Tuesday through Saturday, 12:00 p.m...
, old planter)) - Mary Gardner (c 1660s, through son, Richard) -- wife of Jethro CoffinJethro Coffin HouseJethro Coffin House, also known as the Oldest House, is a saltbox house built in 1686 and located on Sunset Hill Road in Nantucket, Massachusetts, is the oldest house on Nantucket in its original location and is the only surviving structure from...
- Timothy Folger (c 1700s through son, Richard) -- studied the Gulf StreamGulf StreamThe Gulf Stream, together with its northern extension towards Europe, the North Atlantic Drift, is a powerful, warm, and swift Atlantic ocean current that originates at the tip of Florida, and follows the eastern coastlines of the United States and Newfoundland before crossing the Atlantic Ocean...
with his cousin, Benjamin Franklin - Abel Gardner (c 1700s, through son, Samuel) -- his grandparents (Israel and Elizabeth (Ha(w)thorne) Porter) led the effort to save the life of Rebecca NurseRebecca NurseRebecca Towne Nurse was executed for witchcraft by the government of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England in 1692, during the Salem witch trials. She was the wife of Francis Nurse, with several children and grandchildren, and a well-respected member of the community...
. Elizabeth's grandfather, Major William Hathorne, had come on the ArbellaArbellaThe Arbella or Arabella was the flagship of the Winthrop Fleet on which, between April 8 and June 12, 1630, Governor John Winthrop, other members of the Company and Puritan emigrants transported themselves and the Charter of the Massachusetts Bay Company from England to Salem, thereby giving legal...
with John WinthropJohn WinthropJohn Winthrop was a wealthy English Puritan lawyer, and one of the leading figures in the founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the first major settlement in New England after Plymouth Colony. Winthrop led the first large wave of migrants from England in 1630, and served as governor for 12 of...
. - Nathaniel BowditchNathaniel BowditchNathaniel Bowditch was an early American mathematician remembered for his work on ocean navigation. He is often credited as the founder of modern maritime navigation; his book The New American Practical Navigator, first published in 1802, is still carried on board every commissioned U.S...
(c1770s, through son, Thomas) -- autodidactic mathematician - Mayhew FolgerMayhew FolgerMayhew Folger was an American whaler who captained the sealing ship Topaz that rediscovered the Pitcairn Islands in 1808. Only one of 's mutineers was still alive: Alexander Smith, whose alias was John Adams....
(c 1770s, through son, Richard) -- rediscovered Pitcairn IslandsPitcairn IslandsThe Pitcairn Islands , officially named the Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands, form a group of four volcanic islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. The islands are a British Overseas Territory and overseas territory of the European Union in the Pacific...
in 1808 - Lydia Jackson (c 1800s, through son, George) -- wife of Ralph Waldo EmersonRalph Waldo EmersonRalph Waldo Emerson was an American essayist, lecturer, and poet, who led the Transcendentalist movement of the mid-19th century...
- Nathaniel Ha(w)thorneNathaniel HawthorneNathaniel Hawthorne was an American novelist and short story writer.Nathaniel Hawthorne was born in 1804 in the city of Salem, Massachusetts to Nathaniel Hathorne and the former Elizabeth Clarke Manning. His ancestors include John Hathorne, a judge during the Salem Witch Trials...
(c 1800s, through sons, Thomas and George) -- American author, descendant of John HathorneJohn HathorneJohn Hathorne was an executor in the Salem witch trials, and the only one who never repented of his actions. He was also a merchant in Salem, Massachusetts....
.
- Ezra CornellEzra CornellEzra Cornell was an American businessman and education administrator. He was a founder of Western Union and a co-founder of Cornell University...
(c 1800s, through son, Richard) -- founder of Cornell universityCornell UniversityCornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions... - Charles Sanders Peirce (c 1830s, through daughter, Seeth) -- philosopher and mathematician
- John Lowell Gardner IIJohn Lowell Gardner IIJohn "Jack" Lowell Gardner II was an American businessman, art collector, and philanthropist. He and his wife, Isabella Stewart Gardner, were patrons of the arts whose collection is now housed in the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, in Boston.- Background :Jack Gardner's mother, Catherine Endicott...
(c 1830s, through son, George) -- John's wife founded Isabella Stewart Gardner MuseumIsabella Stewart Gardner MuseumThe Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum or Fenway Court, as the museum was known during Isabella Stewart Gardner's lifetime, is a museum in the Fenway-Kenmore neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, located within walking distance of the Museum of Fine Arts and near the Back Bay Fens... - Phillips BrooksPhillips BrooksPhillips Brooks was an American clergyman and author, who briefly served as Bishop of Massachusetts in the Episcopal Church during the early 1890s. In the Episcopal liturgical calendar he is remembered on January 23...
(c 1830s, through son, Richard) -- author of a well-known carolO Little Town of Bethlehem"O Little Town of Bethlehem" is a popular Christmas carol. The text was written by Phillips Brooks , an Episcopal priest, Rector of the Church of the Holy Trinity, Philadelphia. He was inspired by visiting the Palestinian city of Bethlehem in 1865. Three years later, he wrote the poem for his...
. - Lilla Cabot PerryLilla Cabot PerryLilla Cabot Perry was an American artist who worked in the Impressionist style, rendering portraits and landscapes in the free form manner of her mentor, Claude Monet. Perry was an early advocate of the French Impressionist style and contributed to its reception in the United States...
(c 1840s, through son, George) -- American artistArtistAn artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only... - Endicott Peabody (educator)Endicott Peabody (educator)The Reverend Endicott Peabody was the American Episcopal priest who founded the Groton School for Boys , in Groton, Massachusetts in 1884. Peabody served as headmaster at the school from 1884 until 1940, and also served as a trustee at Lawrence Academy at Groton...
(c 1850s, through son, George) -- headmaster for Franklin D. RooseveltFranklin D. RooseveltFranklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
and Theodore RooseveltTheodore RooseveltTheodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
at GrotonGrotonGroton is the name of several places :In England:*Groton, Suffolk**Groton WoodIn the United States of America:*Groton, Connecticut, a town**Groton , Connecticut, within the town*Groton, Massachusetts*Groton, New Hampshire*Groton , New York... - Anna Parker Lowell (c 1850s, through son, George) -- wife of Abbott Lawrence LowellAbbott Lawrence LowellAbbott Lawrence Lowell was a U.S. educator and legal scholar. He served as President of Harvard University from 1909 to 1933....
- Robert FrostRobert FrostRobert Lee Frost was an American poet. He is highly regarded for his realistic depictions of rural life and his command of American colloquial speech. His work frequently employed settings from rural life in New England in the early twentieth century, using them to examine complex social and...
(c 1870s, through son, George) -- four Pulitzer Prizes for PoetryPulitzer Prize for PoetryThe Pulitzer Prize in Poetry has been presented since 1922 for a distinguished volume of original verse by an American author. However, special citations for poetry were presented in 1918 and 1919.-Winners:... - Julian Lowell Coolidge (c 1870s, through son, George) -- chairman of the Harvard UniversityHarvard UniversityHarvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
Mathematics Department - Gilbert Hovey GrosvenorGilbert Hovey GrosvenorGilbert Hovey Grosvenor , the father of photojournalism, was the first full-time editor of National Geographic Magazine, serving from 1899 to 1954. Grosvenor is credited with having built the magazine into the iconic publication that it is today...
(c 1870s, through daughter, Sarah) -- first editor of the National Geographic MagazineNational Geographic MagazineNational Geographic, formerly the National Geographic Magazine, is the official journal of the National Geographic Society. It published its first issue in 1888, just nine months after the Society itself was founded... - Erle Stanley GardnerErle Stanley GardnerErle Stanley Gardner was an American lawyer and author of detective stories, best known for the Perry Mason series, he also published under the pseudonyms A.A. Fair, Kyle Corning, Charles M. Green, Carleton Kendrake, Charles J...
(c 1880s, through son, Richard) -- author, creator of Perry MasonPerry MasonPerry Mason is a fictional character, a defense attorney who was the main character in works of detective fiction authored by Erle Stanley Gardner. Perry Mason was featured in more than 80 novels and short stories, most of which had a plot involving his client's murder trial... - Frank A. Gardner MD (c 1880s, through his son, Samuel) -- Physician and Historian. Member of Essex InstituteEssex InstituteThe Essex Institute in Salem, Massachusetts, was "a literary, historical and scientific society." It maintained a museum, library, historic houses; arranged educational programs; and issued numerous scholarly publications...
, Old Planters Society, Old Salem Chapter of the Sons of the American RevolutionSons of the American RevolutionThe National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution is a Louisville, Kentucky-based fraternal organization in the United States...
. Among his great-grandparents were Nathan & Mary (AyerMary ParkerFor other articles about people named Mary Parker, see Mary Parker Mary Parker of Andover, Mass., was executed September 22, 1692, with several others, for witchcraft in the Salem witch trials. She was 55 years old and a widow. Mary's husband, Nathan, died in 1685...
) Parker (6th) and John & Elizabeth (StrattonRoyal DescentA royal descent is a lineal descent from a monarch. Royal descent is sometimes claimed as a mark of distinction and is seen as a desirable goal of genealogy research. Pretenders and those hoping to improve their social status have often claimed royal descent and, as a result, fabricated lineages...
) ThorndikeJohn ThorndikeJohn Thorndike was one of the first founders of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.Thorndike was a farmer and cowherd from Great Carlton, Lincolnshire, England. He and his wife Elizabeth Stratton were among the emigrants who sailed to America on the Arbella in 1630. The Thorndikes settled in the area...
(7th). - Edmund WilsonEdmund WilsonEdmund Wilson was an American writer and literary and social critic and noted man of letters.-Early life:Wilson was born in Red Bank, New Jersey. His father, Edmund Wilson, Sr., was a lawyer and served as New Jersey Attorney General. Wilson attended The Hill School, a college preparatory...
(c 1890s, through son, George)-- man of letters - C. W. GraftonC. W. GraftonCornelius Warren Grafton was an American crime novelist. He was born and raised in China, where his parents were working as missionaries...
(c 1900s, through daughter, Seeth) -- Attorney, Author. - Others -- Charles Austin Beard (c 1870s), Ezra PoundEzra PoundEzra Weston Loomis Pound was an American expatriate poet and critic and a major figure in the early modernist movement in poetry...
(c 1880s), Rita HayworthRita HayworthRita Hayworth was an American film actress and dancer who attained fame during the 1940s as one of the era's top stars...
(c 1910s), George PlimptonGeorge PlimptonGeorge Ames Plimpton was an American journalist, writer, editor, and actor. He is widely known for his sports writing and for helping to found The Paris Review.-Early life:...
(c 1920s), Richard ChamberlainRichard ChamberlainGeorge Richard Chamberlain is an American actor of stage and screen who became a teen idol in the title role of the television show Dr. Kildare .-Early life:...
(c 1930s)
Burial
Thomas was buried on Gardner Hill near present day Boston Street and Grove, in Salem. Others buried in the same location included Seeth, his daughter, and Abel, his grandson. Abel's wife, Sarah Porter Gardner, whose mother was the sister of John HathorneJohn Hathorne
John Hathorne was an executor in the Salem witch trials, and the only one who never repented of his actions. He was also a merchant in Salem, Massachusetts....
, was buried with her husband.
One hundred and fifty graves were moved from this area to Harmony Grove Cemetery
Harmony Grove Cemetery
Harmony Grove Cemetery is a cemetery in Salem, Massachusetts. It was established in 1840 and is located at 30 Grove Street.The cemetery includes the Gothic revival Blake Memorial Chapel of 1905.-Notable burials:...
when Grove Street was expanded in the 1840s.
Degrees of separation
Through his second wife, Damaris, Thomas' influence could be expanded through the shrinking world (small world) argument. Among his stepchildren's descendants, one can find Thomas Stearns Eliot, John Marshall HarlanJohn Marshall Harlan
John Marshall Harlan was a Kentucky lawyer and politician who served as an associate justice on the Supreme Court. He is most notable as the lone dissenter in the Civil Rights Cases , and Plessy v...
, and Sandra Day O'Connor
Sandra Day O'Connor
Sandra Day O'Connor is an American jurist who was the first female member of the Supreme Court of the United States. She served as an Associate Justice from 1981 until her retirement from the Court in 2006. O'Connor was appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1981...
.
Other Gardner families
There were several Gardner families concurrent with Thomas, the planter. Richard Gardiner was passenger on the MayflowerMayflower
The Mayflower was the ship that transported the English Separatists, better known as the Pilgrims, from a site near the Mayflower Steps in Plymouth, England, to Plymouth, Massachusetts, , in 1620...
. In 1635, Lion Gardiner
Lion Gardiner
Lion Gardiner , an early English settler and soldier in the New World, founded the first English settlement in what became the state of New York on Long Island. His legacy includes Gardiners Island, which is held by his descendants.-Early life:...
arrived in Boston. One of his legacies is Gardiner Island.
Thomas Gardner (Roxbury) (c. - 1638) arrived in 1635 and settled in Roxbury. He left a young son, named Thomas, and had the following descendants:
- Mary Gardner (c 1640s) -- sister of Abigail, grandmother of John AdamsJohn AdamsJohn Adams was an American lawyer, statesman, diplomat and political theorist. A leading champion of independence in 1776, he was the second President of the United States...
- Abigail Gardner (c 1650s) -- wife of John Wise (clergyman)John Wise (clergyman)John Wise was a Congregationalist reverend and political leader in Massachusetts during the American colonial period...
, early Patriot, an inspiration for the Declaration of IndependenceUnited States Declaration of IndependenceThe Declaration of Independence was a statement adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, which announced that the thirteen American colonies then at war with Great Britain regarded themselves as independent states, and no longer a part of the British Empire. John Adams put forth a...
, son of Joseph and Mary (Thompson) Wise. Mary was daughter of Alice Freeman Thompson ParkeColonials and the peerageOne group of the immigrants who fled the turmoils of England had other than commoner ancestry. Some of these had ties to royal families in their ancestry...
. - Col Thomas GardnerThomas GardnerCol. Thomas Gardner was an American political figure and soldier.Gardner was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He was a descendant of Thomas Gardner of Roxbury...
(c 1720s) -- hero of Bunker HillBunker HillBunker Hill may refer to:* A hill in Charlestown, Massachusetts** Battle of Bunker Hill, a battle American Revolutionary War fought near the hill in Charlestown, Massachusetts** Several American ships named after the Battle of Bunker Hill, including:...
, after whom Gardner, MAGardner, MassachusettsGardner, Massachusetts is a city in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 20,228 as of the 2010 census. Gardner is home to Dunn State Park, Gardner Heritage State Park, Lake Wampanoag Wildlife Sanctuary, and Mount Wachusett Community College.-History:Named in honor of...
is named.
Economic considerations
Many views have been expressed about the political aspects of the "Old Planters (Massachusetts)Old Planters (Massachusetts)
Old planters are early settlers and are to be differentiated from explorers and new planters. In the United States, there were many early explorers and early attempts at settlements along the east coast....
" and their experience. That is, Conant is credited with founding Salem and was then followed by Endicott and Winthrop. Also, cited motivations were largely more related to independence (religious
English Dissenters
English Dissenters were Christians who separated from the Church of England in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries.They originally agitated for a wide reaching Protestant Reformation of the Established Church, and triumphed briefly under Oliver Cromwell....
, economic,...) for the folks that moved to the new world than not.
Some sources describe that, though succeeding in Cape Ann
Cape Ann
Cape Ann is a rocky cape in northeastern Massachusetts on the Atlantic Ocean. The cape is located approximately 30 miles northeast of Boston and forms the northern edge of Massachusetts Bay. Cape Ann includes the city of Gloucester, and the towns of Essex, Manchester-by-the-Sea, and...
provided a struggle, Thomas Gardner, and his crew, were successful in maintaining themselves and their families. Conant, essentially, was sent because the old planters were not seen to be successful in London as expected. That is, the capitalists were calling for their profits.
Of course, Conant could not overcome the elements either. So, moving to Naumkeag was a good choice. And, Gardner may have been instrumental in that in many ways. For example, the old planters laid out the framework which supported the later influx of many emigrants from Europe, and elsewhere.
Now, many lessons from that time apply to current situations, and financial messes, and the hope is that future research acknowledges people, like Gardner and his party. Actually, that they were the backbone of the country that ensued, and that they contributed more than did any subsequent puppet of London, is one lesson.
Consider that events of a hundred years
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
later, supported by offspring of Gardner and the old planters and many others, demonstrated the problems with London's views. Gardner and party were just ahead of their time.
Not only was Gardner's party more tolerant and independent, they were of the type that contributes directly in ways that are incalculable (the bone and sinew of the country, noted one historian). Except, seeing how modern views have allowed infrastructural decay (by out-housing our backbone, for example), there may be many other lessons that we can learn from the old planters, and in places other than Massachusetts, to boot.
History and its lessons
Different historical sketches about this period of time show just how difficult are the issues related to retrospective views, especially when the principal players are not available for vetting via interview. As we have seen with history, those with the written record are often considered the prime purveyors of the facts of the situation. In this case, we have the records of John Endicott, John WinthropJohn Winthrop
John Winthrop was a wealthy English Puritan lawyer, and one of the leading figures in the founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the first major settlement in New England after Plymouth Colony. Winthrop led the first large wave of migrants from England in 1630, and served as governor for 12 of...
, and others.
In addition, there are the recordings of those who reported to London (list these) during this period. It may be that the "old planters
Old Planters (Massachusetts)
Old planters are early settlers and are to be differentiated from explorers and new planters. In the United States, there were many early explorers and early attempts at settlements along the east coast....
" were given essentially untrue descriptions due to the behavior of some and to the opinions of the Puritanical viewpoint. One of their more insightful, and talented, descendants, Nathaniel Hawthorne, provided, 200 years later, an allegorical sketch in his short work, "The Maypole of Merry Mount
The Maypole of Merry Mount
"The Maypole of Merry Mount" is a short story by Nathaniel Hawthorne. It first appeared in Twice-Told Tales, a collection of short stories, in 1837.- Plot synopsis :...
" in regard to this theme.
Later renditions of the period came from recollections of members of the families who were there. Such material was gathered by historians of differing opinions (list Phippen, Trask, et al.)
As a case in point, there are different views about the roles of Gardner and Conant. Here, there has been some rectification, as Frank A Gardner, MD wrote, in the early 20th century, books for both families using extensive material gathered in the Essex Institute
Essex Institute
The Essex Institute in Salem, Massachusetts, was "a literary, historical and scientific society." It maintained a museum, library, historic houses; arranged educational programs; and issued numerous scholarly publications...
.
External links
- Thomas Gardner Society
- Thomas Gardner, planter Google search with timeline
- Gardner family Google search with timeline
- Higginson, TW [1900]. The Alliance between Pilgrim and Puritan in Massachusetts. Old Planters Society address. (Officers pg 19, Member list pg 21)
- Goff, J [2007]. Looking at Salem's beginnings: The White and Gardner family contributions.
- Salem Preservation, Inc Newsletter. Reporting historic preservation developments in the greater Salem area.
- The Beginnings of New England (Bibliographical Note)