Benoni Gardiner

Benoni Gardiner

• Gender: Male
• Birth: say 1644 - Newport, Newport County, Rhode Island, Colonial America
• Death: say 1731 - at the home of his daughter, Bridget, South Kingstown, Kings County, Rhode Island, Colonial America
• Son of George Gardiner and Herodias Long
• Husband of Mary (unknown)

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Biography

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Gardiner-178

This profile is part of the Gardner Name Study

Benoni was born about 1644. He was the son of George Gardiner.[1] He passed away perhaps in 1731, perhaps in Portsmouth, at the home of his daughter, Bridget.[2]

He married Mary [3] at Newport, Newport, Rhode Island, USA[4]

Burial at Job Sherman's Family Farm Cemetery, Portsmouth, Newport, Rhode Island, United States

Mary died at the home of her son-in-law, Job Sherman.

Note: From Gardner History and Genealogy 1907, " Benony gave his age in testimony in 1727 as upwards of ninety. In 1671 he took the Oath of Allegiance. In 1679 he, with forty one others of Narragansett, signed a petition to the King, praying that he would put and end to these differences about the government.

In September, 1715, he and his wife Mary deeded son Nathaniel land, being the westernmost part of the farm where Benony now dwells, and on the same day deed son Stephen, dwelling house, orchard, etc. In 1713, he and Mary deed land to son Isaac. "

From Gardner History and Genealogy, p 31. "1671: took the oath of allegiance. 1679: he, with 41 others of Narrgansett, signed a petition to the King, praying that he would 'put an end to these differences about the government thereof,' &c. Sept. 1785, he and wife Mary deeded son Nathaniel land, being westernmost part of farm where Benony now dwells, and on the same day deeded son Stephen dwelling house, orchard, &c. 1713: he and wife Mary deeded land to son Isaac."

Family

Mary married Benoni Gardner and was mother of his children. Torrey called her "Mary [Dyer?] and placed that marriage at "by 1667, by 1671"[2]

Children include

1. Stephen Gardiner 1667 - 1743. Married Amy Sherman.
2. William Gardiner 1671 - 1732. Married Abigail Remington.
3. Nathaniel Gardiner abt 1673 - 1734. Married Mary.
4. Isaac Gardiner 1687 - 1746. Married Elizabeth Davis.
5. Bridget Gardiner 1687 - . Married Job Sherman.
6. Benoni Gardner 1696 - 1758. Married Sarah Rogers.

Disputed Items

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Gardiner-178

Various published and online account about Benoni Gardiner contain conflicted information about his birth, parentage and the ancestry/origins of his wife. Reports vary, too, regarding his death.

Benoni's reported testimony in 1727 claimed he was then "aged 90 years and upwards,"[5] but this would suggest he was not the son of Herodias, which is otherwise controverted because Benoni is included with her other children in conveyances to her Gardiner children.[6] In his work on the family, G. Andrews Moriarty (1944) provided still further reasoning and placed Benoni's birth as "1643-1645, and about 1644."[7]

An earlier genealogy by Mrs. Clara Gardner and John Milton Stanton placed Benoni's birth earlier (than 1644), calling his mother Sara Slaughter and suggesting the father, George Gardiner, the George Gardiner baptized 15 February 1599/1600 at Great Greenford, Middlesex, England, in turn a son of Rev. Michael Gardiner.[8] G. Andrew Moriarty found this association to be unsupported by the evidence the authors had presented and inconsistent with information about the New England immigrant. (Moriarty did not attribute parents nor an English marriage in his 1944 account of the Rhode Island immigrant, George Gardiner.[9])

Further as to his birth, WikiTree profiles have attributed various other dates, including one as "November 1, 1644" (at Newport) for which no corresponding reference was found. A bulletin board post seeking a reference for this birth vital data was made 20 July 2014, to which there was no response.

As to his death, WikiTree profiles have attributed a range of dates as 27 January 1731, 16 November 1729, and 1731. His place of death has been reported on WikiTree as both Kingston, Washington, Rhode Island, and Portsmouth, Newport, Rhode Island. A survey of AmericanAncestors and FamilySearch historical records for supporting references was unsuccessful. (A bulletin board post will be created.)

Finally, WikiTree attributes two different ancestries to the wife of Benoni Gardiner. (Yet other conflicted ancestries are noted in print.) Benoni's wife reportedly died 1729/1730 "[10]

In one of the conflicted WikiTree accounts, she is Mary Jane Eldred, daughter of Samuel Eldred and Elizabeth Miller. This marriage was disputed by Gardner and Stanton in 1937 who noted "recent research by an Eldred genealogist" saying this "reveals the fact that Mary Eldred was born in 1646 and died in 1712, years before the death of Benoni's wife."[11] The Gardiner-Eldred marriage association is also disputed in a 1983 work by George C. Davis (published by Pettaquamscutt Historical Society). Davis reported Samuel Eldred's daughter Mary probably married Rouse Helme.[12]

The alternate conflicted marriages reports Benoni's wife as Mary Stanton, without further reference. Any number of Gardiner genealogies report Benoni's wife's maiden name is unknown. Until documentation is provided and/or more is provided regarding this marriage and/or ancestral connection, the report she was a Stanton seems suspect.

Notes

From Gardner History and Genealogy p. 31

• Benony Gardner, son of George and Herodias (Hicks) Gardner, Died 1731. Married Mary __. She was born 1645; died November 16, 1729, at the home of her son-in-law, Job Sherman, at Portsmouth.
• Benony Gardner was born possibly about 1647. In 1727 he gave his age in testimony as upwards of ninety.
• In 1671 he took the oath of allegiance.
• In 1679 he, with forty-one others of Narragansett, signed a petition to the King, praying that he would "put an end to these differences about the government thereof," &c.
• September, 1785, he and wife Mary deeded son Nathaniel land, being the westernmost part of farm where Benony now dwells, and on the same day deeded son Stephen dwelling house, orchard, &c.
• In 1713, he and wife Mary deeded land to son Isaac".

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1636c: Benoni, a son of George and Sara (Slaughter) Gardiner, was born in England. He was an infant when his father emigrated to New England. It is supposed that he died in 1731. He married Mary, last name unknown. "Gardiner-Gardner Genealogy Including the English Ancestry of George Gardiner, Immigrant Ancestor of Newport, Rhode Island and Many of His Descendants" by Clara Gardner Miller and John Milton Stanton; p. 33; The Tuttle Publishing Company, Inc.; Rutland, Vermont; 1937 (HeritageQuest)

We know little of the life of Benoni Gardiner until he, with four other sons of George Gardiner, viz., Henry, George, Jr. William and Nicholas, bought a part of John Porter's share in the Pettaquamscutt Parchase in what is now South Kingston (Washington) Rhode Island and he settled there (Early History of Narragansett, by Potter, p. 308). "Gardiner-Gardner Genealogy Including the English Ancestry of George Gardiner, Immigrant Ancestor of Newport, Rhode Island and Many of His Descendants" by Clara Gardner Miller and John Milton Stanton; p. 33; The Tuttle Publishing Company, Inc.; Rutland, Vermont; 1937 (HeritageQuest)

1671, May 19: Benoni took the Oath of Allegiance to the King. He had previously lived at Newport and undoubtedly had sworn allegiance there, but moving to another part of the colony, was required to repeat the oath before bring admitted an inhabitant. "Gardiner-Gardner Genealogy Including the English Ancestry of George Gardiner, Immigrant Ancestor of Newport, Rhode Island and Many of His Descendants" by Clara Gardner Miller and John Milton Stanton; p. 33; The Tuttle Publishing Company, Inc.; Rutland, Vermont; 1937 (HeritageQuest)

1679 (before) "Benoni and George, Jr. purchased 400 acres of land of the Pettaquamscutt Purchasers. Benoni was the owner of many more acres of land than figure in these two purchases. Much of it lay on and around Tower Hill and some on the borders of Point Judith Pond stretching towards what is now Narragansett Pier. 1679, July 29, Benoni Gardiner was one of 43 Narragansett men who signed a petition to the King, praying that he would "put an end to these differences about the government thereof, which hath been so fatal to the prosperity of the place, animosities still arising in people's minds, as they stand affected to this or that government. "Gardiner-Gardner Genealogy Including the English Ancestry of George Gardiner, Immigrant Ancestor of Newport, Rhode Island and Many of His Descendants" by Clara Gardner Miller and John Milton Stanton; p. 33; The Tuttle Publishing Company, Inc.; Rutland, Vermont; 1937 (HeritageQuest)

1687, September 6: Benoni Gardiner was taxed £00-05-03. "Gardiner-Gardner Genealogy Including the English Ancestry of George Gardiner, Immigrant Ancestor of Newport, Rhode Island and Many of His Descendants" by Clara Gardner Miller and John Milton Stanton; p. 33; The Tuttle Publishing Company, Inc.; Rutland, Vermont; 1937 (HeritageQuest)

1705, September 18: Benoni and wife, Mary, deeded to son Nathaniel "in consideration of the Love and affection which they bear unto their son Nathaniel," 100 acres of land "being the west half of farm where Benoni now dwells." "Gardiner-Gardner Genealogy Including the English Ancestry of George Gardiner, Immigrant Ancestor of Newport, Rhode Island and Many of His Descendants" by Clara Gardner Miller and John Milton Stanton; p. 33; The Tuttle Publishing Company, Inc.; Rutland, Vermont; 1937 (HeritageQuest)

1705, September 18: On the same day they deeded to their son Stephen, a dwelling house, orchard, etc. In these deeds Benoni is called "yeoman." "Gardiner-Gardner Genealogy Including the English Ancestry of George Gardiner, Immigrant Ancestor of Newport, Rhode Island and Many of His Descendants" by Clara Gardner Miller and John Milton Stanton; p. 33; The Tuttle Publishing Company, Inc.; Rutland, Vermont; 1937 (HeritageQuest)

1705, November 17: Benoni, Henry, George, Jr., William and Nicholas Gardiner, with John Watson, sold to John Potter 410 acres of land in South Kingstown (bounded partly by a branch of Point Judith Pond) for £150-00-00, "said sum to be paid to Thomas Hicks of Flushing, Long Island." As this Thomas Hicks is supposed to have been a son of John and Horod (Long) Hicks, much speculation has arisen over the payment of this money to him, nothing in the public or family records explaining it. "Gardiner-Gardner Genealogy Including the English Ancestry of George Gardiner, Immigrant Ancestor of Newport, Rhode Island and Many of His Descendants" by Clara Gardner Miller and John Milton Stanton; p. 33; The Tuttle Publishing Company, Inc.; Rutland, Vermont; 1937 (HeritageQuest)

1713, May, Benoni and wife, Mary, deeded land to Isaac Gardiner, their son, for which he paid the sum of £156-00-00. Peleg Mumford and Daniel Mac Koone, before Christopher Alien, Justice. (North Kingstown Records, II:108) "Gardiner-Gardner Genealogy Including the English Ancestry of George Gardiner, Immigrant Ancestor of Newport, Rhode Island and Many of His Descendants" by Clara Gardner Miller and John Milton Stanton; p. 33; The Tuttle Publishing Company, Inc.; Rutland, Vermont; 1937 (HeritageQuest)

1727c: Benoni Gardiner, calling himself "a sojourner at Portsmouth," gave his age, in testimony, as ninety and upward. In "The Gardiners of Narragansett" the comment is made: "But this would have made the date of his birth 1637, before his mother (supposedly Horod Long) was left by her first husband. Consequently it must be an error." Another Gardiner Genealogist says: "It may well be thought that be (Benoni) did not come so near as his brother Henry, in counting his age." (See p. 27 voider Henry, No. 3.) In this fashion have the genealogists disposed of his testimony. In the former book mentioned) Mrs. Robinson gives his birth year as 1647, thus making him younger than Henry; yet in the next chapter die places Mm as the bead of the second generation where everyone knew he belonged. "Gardiner-Gardner Genealogy Including the English Ancestry of George Gardiner, Immigrant Ancestor of Newport, Rhode Island and Many of His Descendants" by Clara Gardner Miller and John Milton Stanton; p. 33; The Tuttle Publishing Company, Inc.; Rutland, Vermont; 1937 (HeritageQuest)

• One might reflect that one of the meanings of the name "Benoni" means "child of woe/sorrows" so it is possible he was names Benoni as his mother may have died during his birth on board the ship sailing to New England. (ed.)

1731c: Benoni Gardiner, died at South Kingston Village (Kings) Rhode Island Colony. "Gardiner-Gardner Genealogy Including the English Ancestry of George Gardiner, Immigrant Ancestor of Newport, Rhode Island and Many of His Descendants" by Clara Gardner Miller and John Milton Stanton; p. 33; The Tuttle Publishing Company, Inc.; Rutland, Vermont; 1937 (HeritageQuest)

References

1. "History of Montville-Formerly the North Parish of New London 1640 - 1896" by Henry A. Baker; p. 545; The Case, Lockwood, Brainard and Company; Hartford, Connecticut, 1896 (974.602 M769B ACPL)
2. "The Gardiners of Narragansett: being a genealogy of the descendants of George Gardiner the colonist, 1638" by Caroline E. Robinson; privately printed; Providence, Rhode Island; 1919 (HeritageQuest)
3. "Gardner History and Genealogy" by Lillian May and Charles Morris Gardner; p. 31; The Erie Printing Company; 1907 (CS71.G226)
4. The Gardiners of Narragansett: being a genealogy of the descendants of George Gardiner, the colonist, 1638.  By Caroline E. Robinson. Ed. with notes and index by Daniel Goodwin.  Published 1919 by The Editor in Providence, R.I . Page 2. "Benoni Gardiner was born before 1645 and died about 1731. He married Mary. Nothing has, as yet, been trustworthily discovered concerning Mary's parentage."
5. https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/LVF7-5YN/benoni-gardner-1636-...
6. http://www.mirkil.com/Genealogy/getperson.php?personID=I24&tree=GardT
7. https://www.whosyerdad-e.com/families-mno/tree/minor.ged/individual...
8. https://www.ancestry.com/genealogy/records/benoni-gardiner-24-1hq45t3
9. https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LVF7-5YN
10. Benoni Gardner in entry for Isaac Gardner, "Rhode Island, Births and Christenings, 1600-1914"
11. https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/LVF7-5YN/benoni-gardiner-1645...
12. Updated from WikiTree Genealogy via mother Herodias Porter (born Long aka Gardner, Hicks) by SmartCopy: Dec 2 2014, 14:49:34 UTC'
13. https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Benoni_Gardiner_%281%29 cites
    1. William E. Wright, in Wright, William E. Ancestors and descendants of William Browning Greene and Mary Hoxsie Lewis: with allied families. (Baltimore [Maryland]: Gateway Press, c1993) pp 110-111, 1993. “ -8 Jul 1727 Deposition of Benony Gardner of South Kingstown, sojourner in the town of Portsmouth being about 90 years old testifieth ... to his knowledge that the highway leading from Sawcatuket in Kingstown up to the ceder swamp was laid out upon a straight line ... himself being then present and ... Also the land formerly belonging to William Howland within the said purchase which is now near 70 years ago & the lying out of the same. ... [South Kingstown Land p. 191]”
14. Robinson, Caroline E., The Gardiners of Narragansett: being a genealogy of the descendants of George Gardiner, the colonist, 1638 (Providence, Rhode Island, 1919) Page 4 < GoogleBooks >; Page 11