Benjamin GARDNER

GEDCOM Note

OHIO.
BENJAMIN GARDNER (6). Benjamin (5), Benjamin (4), Nathaniel (3), Benony (2), George (i).
Benjamin Gardner, son of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Olin) Gardner, was born September 13, 1760, at Exeter, Washington County, Rhode Island. We have not the record of his first wife. His second was Lucy Hawks, born in Connecticut and probably emigrated to New York with her parents. No date of their marriage secured. As near as we can determine, and the record is not complete, the following were their children
Charlotte, born June 19, 1785; died November 28, 1853; married James Teller, Mar. 24, 1807.
Phineas, Simeon, married Phebe Precher, Dec. 15, 1808. Rodman, married Polly Worstell, Jan. 19, 1809. Clarissa, married Joseph Wright. Matthew, born December 5, 1790. Seth, born 1792. Lucy, born September 29, 1793. William, Henry, Clarissa, Abraham, born 1802. Benjamin, born 1804.
From Autobiography of Elder Matthew Gardner.
'
When he was but ten years old, which was about the year 1770, .his father moved to the State of New York. When about seventeen years of age he went into the Revolutionary army. He enlisted and served in Captain James Dennison's Company, 4th Regiment (1776- 1781), New York militia, commanded by Colonel Killian van Rensselaer.
After independence was gained and peace was secured, he returned home and settled on thirty acres of land.
Being a house carpenter by trade he devoted little time to the cultivation of his land, but supported his family principally by his trade.
When about forty years of age, and having a large family, he determined to go west. The territory, now called Ohio, was first settled in1788. At the close of the Revolution 243 officers of the army, mostly New England men, solicited Congress, through General Washington, to secure lands for them between the Ohio River and Lake Erie. In 1783 General Putnam said, "the country between the Ohio and Lake
.,
291GARDNER
292
Erie will be filled with inhabitants, and thereby free the western terri- tory from falling under the dominion of a foreign power." This was desirable, for, having no strong general government, foreign commanders kept defiant possession of forts on the very soil, now Ohio. The first settlers, formed under the grant of Congress, were led by General Rufus Putnam from Massachusetts and Connecticut and laid the foundation of the State of Ohio at the Muskingum River, now Marrietta, on the seventh day of April, 1788.
Cincinnati started in 1789, the same year the Constitution of the United States was adopted.
Then the lands from the Ohio river to the Pacific ocean were in- habited by Indians and wild beasts, excepting a very few distant forts and French posts or settlements in the valley of the Mississippi.
In 1800 Mr. Gardner sold his lease hold and started with his family for the northern territory of Ohio. This was two years before Ohio be- came a State. It was a beautiful morning on the first of September, 1800, when they started. It was regarded by many as impossible to succeed in such a journey with such a large family of small children, especially with his limited means. He had but one small wagon with three horses,and other means correspondingly limited. The country they had never seen, the route was new, and unknown till they approached it. There was then little communication with the wilderness west. Not only railroads and steamboats but turnpikes were unknown.
When they started many came to bid them farewell, and stood look- ing after them with tearful eyes until they passed beyond their view, while others accompanied them on horseback for miles before turning back. (None of this family ever returned to visit, except Matthew Gardner, and none of the Stephentown relatives ever again saw any of them save this one).
The mountains were difficult to climb, the streams were dangerous to ford, the undertaking was hazardous, and the journey was long. The weather was pleasant and the journey as prosperous as could be expected. They reached Pittsburg on the Ohio river by the first of October, just one month from the time they started. Pittsburg was a small village. They waited two weeks before they found a boat going down the river. They embarked on a flat-boat, the boats then used, with four other families; furniture, wagons, horses and all, crowded on one small flat-boat. The river was low, the progress was slow, sometimes they floated rapidly and sometimes they were long aground.
They were nearly four weeks going down to Limestone, a little village on the Kentucky side of the river. It had but few houses then. Limestone is now called Maysville. The reader will note the comparison of time required from Stephentown to Pittsburg, the route being over the mountains, with the time occupied to drift with the current a much less distance.
At Limestone Henry Hughes, a land trader, came to the boat to sell them land in Ohio. Mr. Gardner went with him to see the land. He liked it and traded him two horses for one hundred acres. He returned to Limestone and with his family proceeded on with the boat down the river, about twelve miles at a landing two miles below where Ripley now stands. They disembarked and the boat and its passengers went
HISTORY AND GENEALOGY.
293
on down the river. There was no town then where Ripley now stands. They landed within a few miles of the property and soon reached their future home where everything was new and strange. They were all in good health except one son and daughter who had slight attacks of fever and ague which soon disappeared. Mr. Gardner rented a cabin to move into while he and the oldest boys built a cabin on their own land. The weather continued fine until after Christmas.
Having completed their new house, they moved into it about the first of January, 1801. The fine weather continued that year, there being no weather to prevent outdoor work.
What a contrast between this forest home where could be heard only the howling of wolves, the scream of panthers and the hooting of owls, with their former home in a thickly settled country, surrounded by friends! There were only two cabins within two or three miles of them. There was no ground to rent. There was none of the land cleared. Provisions were scarce and only to be procured at any price from a very great distance. His money was about all expended. The land was covered with heavy forest, principally with beach and poplar, which must be immediately cleared for crops to prevent starvation the coming year. All who were large enough commenced work. By spring they had nearly five acres cleared which was planted in corn and potatoes which sustained them the coming year. One of the greatest difficulties was to procure those things which the land would not produce. Salt cost from three to four dollars for a bushel of fifty pounds and other merchandise was proportionately high. They were forced to study economy and compelled to practice it. This laid the foundation of discipline that became characteristic of all the members of that family.
It was difficult to procure money to purchase a little and they were taught the lesson to make a little do.
Wild beasts were in abundance. Bears, deer and wild turkey supplied the table with meat till domestic animals were reared. Sheep and wool were not to be had, so the clothing was made of flax and hemp. Suits of these served for all seasons, summer and winter. The material was prepared by the father and boys and the mother and daughters manufactured the cloth, and made the garments. No shoes or boots were worn, but moccasins made of deer-skins, for they could get no leather. The deer-skin being spongy, absorbed the water from the ground and snow, so wet feet were a frequent occurrence. Yet they were stout and healthy.
Corn prevailed as the staple article of food; they preferred it. They did not eat wheat, it was called "sick-wheat," making those sick who ate
They went on clearing, and in a few years the heavy timber gave
it. place to orchard trees, and the wilderness to fruitful fields. The wants for food and clothing were plentifully supplied, but there were other wants. They had now passed the crisis for food and raiment and began to feel sadly the want of school and churches. There was no teaching, no preaching, no schools, no religious meetings. Mr. and Mrs. Gardner, while in. New York, had united with the Free Will Baptist Church; but.
it is said, on moving west Mr. Gardner had neglected his religion, though Mrs. Gardner retained her piety ; so that, though they were without
GARDNER
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church or school the children were encouraged by their mother's pious example. Mr. Gardner possessed many good traits of character. He was frugal and industrious. He kept each tool and farming implement in its place. He was kind to strangers and to the poor. His intellectual capacity was above the ordinary, and his memory was perfect. He was punctual and honest in business.
All of the family as they grew up professed religion which made the home pleasant. Mr. Gardner's intellect was of high order, and being a fair speaker he often opened and led the religious meetings, till the latter part of the summer of 1811. Then a difficulty arose between Elder Alexander (who had organized a church), and Mr. Gardner. The preacher did not like Mr. Gardner very well, for he was hard to please, and often called in question the things Mr. Alexander preached. Mr. Alexander's parents were Presbyterians. The Presbyterians were very particular to "remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy." Mr. Gardner made cheese, sometimes hours would be spent at this on Sunday mornings, the same as on other days. It was considered necessary to take care of the milk on Sunday. Mr. Alexander considered this a violation of the fourth commandment and considered Mr. Gardner responsible for it. The consequence of the hasty movement of Mr. Alexander was, that the church suffered a severe injury. Mr. Gardner was a man of determination and manifested much resentment.
The home of Mr. Gardner was well located and ideal. The writer spent some time in studying the place where the first cabin was erected, which gave way to a more commodious structure. This second build- ing was erected about 1810. The timbers in this house are all hewn, and with the exception of the sills, doors and windows, are all there as
Mr. Gardner placed them with his own hands. It was the age of fireplaces, and every room has a good large fire-
place. The house was erected with a basement ; in this basement was built a large oven, used for baking for this large family. The crane is still in the fireplace on which hung the kettle that boiled and roasted the bear, deer and turkey. The house was intended to be a frame structure, but the timbers are so large they present the appearance of hewn logs weatherboarded and cased. The stone and brick walls of the basement and chimneys are in as good state of preservation as when erected.
One can not but contrast this building with the comforts it brought to the family, with that of the forest hut hastily erected to shelter the large family, that, but so recently floated down the Ohio river.
The record from which the preceding statements have been gathered closes when the subject was about fifty years of age, except what may be found on file at the office of Probate Court, Georgetown, Ohio.
Mr. Gardner made a will and appointed his son Matthew executor and administrator. We had hopes of finding a complete list of names of the children. The only records there, were an appraisement of the chattels and a few receipts given by Matthew Gardner as administrator, one of which is for a payment of the stone mason who built the stone work on the grave of the father. In the closing remarks in connection with his father's estate, Matthew Gardner says: "I closed all the business with-
out difficulty with any of the heirs though there was then twelve children living."
::
HISTORY AND GENEALOGY.
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The next record was secured from a grandson John W. Gardner of Ripley, Ohio, who visited his grandfather at his home. Mr. Gardner stated that his grandfather was totally blind and confined to his bed.
There came to the State of Ohio ten children, and there were born in Ohio two, of whom we have record.
This large family was most peculiarly separated. While some of them only lived a short distance from Brown County they were as effectually lost to each other as if they had gone to another continent.
The writer could scarcely believe that there could live in an adjacent county one branch of the family and not be known to the others.
Such was the condition. When Abraham Gardner removed to what was then Allen County, Ohio (now Auglaize County, having been organized since 1835), there was no communication that informed the family in Brown County. There seem to have been three groups of the children. Seth, Rodney, Clarissa and Lucy, living near Russellville, Brown County, Ohio. They associated and visited. Benjamin and Henry lived in the western part of Brown County, and near Feesburg. Matthew Gardner lived several miles south of the old homestead. There was evidently no communication or visiting between these three branches of the family for we have been unable to learn anything of the families of the different groups one from the other.
Each group seem to have been a law unto themselves. Each of the older members of the family possessed a knowledge of the location of the others, but did not impart it to their children that it could come down to the following generations. This has made the work of securing the information in connection with the children of this Benjamin Gardner a very difficult task.
The writer has no doubt but some of the families of this name in the western States are the descendants of the older boys of the family.
The records of this family are not complete and only by conversing with old settlers who personally knew them are we able to close the ac- count of the life of this colonial pioneer.
Located about three hundred yards south of the northeast corner of the farm, about two miles south of Russellville, Brown County, Ohio, on the west side of the road is the little cemetery where rests the body of Benjamin Gardner. Two graves of the old English style of erecting, stone vaults, are the evidences of two honest lives. On the stone of the south grave is inscribed
In memory of Benjamin Gardner, A soldier of the Revolution of 1776, Who departed this life March 1, 1840.
Aged 79 years, 5 months and 17 days. Inscribed on the stone of the north grave is
Lucy Gardner Consort of Benjamin Gardner Who departed this life January 12, 1846. Aged 83 years, 3 months and 14 days.
296
GARDNER
:
Lucy Hawks Gardner, wife of Benjamin Gardner, was born in Connecticut, September 29, 1762.
She was Benjamin Gardner's second wife. It is said of her that she was a very devout Christian woman, and all of her children loved her.
We are always sorry not to be able to say more about the useful life of these good mothers. We cannot but recall the hardships and solicitude of a mother while rearing such a large family under the difficulties and deprivations of the early days and remember the reverence due them and their memory.

1800 Census
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nyrensse/census15.htm
Gardner, Benjamin 0 0 2 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 0
2 FWM 16-26;
1 FWM 45+ (Benjamin);
1 FWF >10;
1 FWF 16-26;
1 FWF 45+ (Elizabeth)

History of the town of Greenwich
At the third recorded meeting of the church, held July 10th,
1775, Nathan Tanner, afterward pastor, united with the church.
The record describes the meeting in the following language:
" This is a day to be remembered, whereas there has been difficulties and disputes, and divisions with and between Nathan Tanner and some of the members now travelling in unity, which hold with Elder James Rogers and particularly between Tanner and Joseph Reynolds, all which difficulties and disputes are removed and done away, and the said Nathan Tanner enlisted as a member of the church with us, it being a day of the manifestation of God's power." At a church meeting held October 7th, 1775, it was "voted by the church that Nathan Tefft and Harper Rogers and Joseph Reynolds go as messengers of this church to Pownal at a conference to be held there to inspect into the character of Elder Benjamin Gardner. This was the first council in which the church took an}' part. At the next meeting after this, the church by vote resolved to withdraw fellowship from Mehitable Rogers, who appears to have been the first member excluded from the communion of the church." At a meeting held January 6th, 1776, the messengers sent to Pownal, made return that "they were admitted as members of the conference held at Pownal on Novemlier the 9th day, 1775, to inspect into the character of Elder Benjamin Gardner, and after hearing a number of evidences and considering thereof, it was resolved by the members in conference that Elder Gardner's character stand impeached by the evidences, considering him in the character of an Elder, which appears in his lewd and unsavory discourse and wanton conduct toward the female sex."

“The Military Secretary, War Department, Washington D. C.:
War Department, the Military Secretary’s Office, Washington, D. C.
Respectfully return to C. M. Gardne, Detroit, Mich.:

It is shown by the records of this office that one Benjamin Gardner, rank not stated, served in Captain James Denison’s Company, Fourth Regiment (1776-1781) New York Militia, commanded by Col. Killian Van Renssellaer, Revolutionary War. A company payroll dated Albany, June 4, 1777, shows that the company was employed in quelling an insurrection in the northeast part of the Manor Renssellaerwick, and bears the following items concerning the soldier: ‘Time of entering the service, April 17, 1777; time of leaving the service, April 24,

Number of days in service, 8.’

The record also shows that one Benjamin Gardner, Jr., rank not stated, served in the same regiment, but the period of service is not indicated.

His name appears on an undated receipt roll, which shows that certificate No. 3 for 6 pounds, 5 shillings, issued by the Treasurer of the State of New York, pursuant to an Act of the Legislature passed April 27, 1784, was received for service performed by him in this regiment. Nothing relative to the subject of inquiry had been found of record.

F. C.,
The Military Secretary.”

Benjamin Gardner, son of Benjamin and Mary (Howland) Gardner,
was born about 1731, at Exeter, R. L, died Feb 2.' 1809. at Stephentown.
N. Y.; married Elizabeth Olin. She was born in Rhode Island,
1737;
died at Stephentown, N. Y., March 4, 1813. Both are buried on the old
homestead farm at Stephentown, now owned by Rufus Sweet.
Their children, born in Exeter, R. I., were
:
Simeon, born Oct. 22, 1754.
Alice, born May 6, 1756.
Mary, born Jan. 31, 1757.
Benjamin, born Sept. 13, 1759; removed to Ohio.
Elizabeth, born Sept. 12, 1761.
Rowland, born Sept. i, 1763.
Nathaniel, born Ott. 11, 1765.
"^-
Caleb, born Feb. 14, 1768.
Olin, born at Stephentown, N. Y., is buried beside his parents.

Lease.
This indenture made the sixteenth day of January in the yeare of our
Lord 1787 Between Stephen Van Rensselaer Esq. Lord and Proprietor
of the Manor of Rensselaer Wick in the County of Albany of the ist
part and Benjamin Gardner of the County of Albany of the 2nd part.
Witnesseth, That for in consideration of the sum of five Shillings
Lawful Money of the State of New York to him the said Stephen Van
Rensslear now paid and more especially for and in further consideration
of the Rent Covenants Conditions Provisions and Agreements hereinafter
refered contained and expressed he the said Stephen Van Rensselaer
Hath Granted Bargained And Sold Aliened Released & confirmed &
by these Presents Doth Grant Bargain and Sell Alien Release And
Confirm unto the said Benjamin Gardner in his actual Possession now
Being by virtue of a Lease thereof by Indenture to him made bearing
Date and Day before the Date hereof and by Force of the Laws trans-
fering of titles into Possession & to his Heirs & Assigns forever—All
that certain Tract of Land or farm Situated, lying & being in the said
Manor on the East side of Hudson's River butted bounded & described
as follows to wit
Saving & always excepted to the said Stephen Van Rensselaer his
Heirs and Assigns out of the present Grant & Release all Mines &
Minerals that are now or may be found on the premises hereby granted
& released & also all the Creeks Kills Streams & Runs of Water & so
much ground within the Same Premises as he the said Stephen Van
Rensselaer his heirs & assigns think requisite and appropriate at any
Time hereafter for the erection of Mills Dams & any Works & Build-
ings whatsoever for the convenient working of the said Mines or for the
Use of the said Mills & the said Benjamin Gardner for himself his Heirs
Executors Administrators & Assigns doth hereby covenant & agree to
& with the said Stephen Van Rensselaer his Heirs & assigns that the
said Benjamin Gardner his Heirs and assigns Elxecutors 81 Administra-
tors shall and will forever hereafter well and faithfully pay & deliver
the Rent and Quality & Quantities of Wheat or Species so by the above
condition secure at the Time and Times therein mentioned to the said
Stephen Van Rensselaer his Heirs & Assigns he the said Benjamin
Gardner his heirs & assigns will faithfully discharge & pay all Taxes
charges or Assessments ordinary or extraordinary taxes charges or
assessments or to be taxed charged or assessed upon the said hereby
released Preimses.
In testimony whereof the Parties to tlie Presents have hereunto
interchangeably set their Hands and Seals the Day and year first above
written.
Sealed and delivered in the
presence of
I. A. Magely,
Benj. F. Egberts.
Benjamin Gardner.
Lease
Benjamin Gardner 129 acres and
108 Rods 10% Bushels of wheat yearly. :

“Benjamin Gardner served New York in the Revolution with a zeal worthy of his ancestors, who left England ninety years before that for conscience sake. He came to Brown in 1800, with several children, among whom was Matthew Gardner, who left the Quaker faith of the family and became the leading local apostle, founding the Christian church, between the Miami and Scioto.”

Abstracts of all Wills of Rensselaer County, New York 1794-1850
by Ralph David Phillips
Vol I
New York City 1938
Gardner Benjamin Stephentown
Wife Elizabeth
Sons Simeon, Benjamin, Howland, Nathaniel, Caleb, Olin.
Daus. Else Brockway, Elizabeth Harrington, Sarah Northrup, Margaret Congdell, Ann Harrington, Eunice Williams
Exec. son, Olin.
Wit. Eber Moffitt, Claudius Moffet, Hsea Moffitt
Date Dec 10, 1803 Probated Feb 2, 1809

http://stephentowngenealogy.com/research/willabstracts/
GARDINER (Gardner), Benjamin
Wife – Elizabeth
Sons – Somson (or Simeon); Benjamin; Howland; Nathaniel; Caleb; Olin
Daughters – Else Brockway; Elizabeth Herrington; Sarah Northrup; Margaret Congdell; Ann Herrington; Eunice Williams
GrSon – Uriah Bentley
Exec – Son, Olin
Wit – Eber Moffitt; Claudius and Hosea Moffitt
12/10/1803 Prob. 2/4/1809 Vol. 3 Page 159

http://image1.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=26234660
Birth: 
1731
South Kingstown
Washington County
Rhode Island, USA
Death: 
Feb. 2, 1809
Stephentown
Rensselaer County
New York, USA

Family links: 
 Parents:
  Benjamin Gardiner (1705 - 1749)
  Mary Howland Gardiner (1710 - ____)

 Spouse:
  Elizabeth Olin Gardner (1737 - 1813)*

 Children:
  Benjamin Gardner (1760 - 1840)*

• Calculated relationship

Burial:
Stephentown Baptist Cemetery
Stephentown
Rensselaer County
New York, USA

Created by: Ryan Curtis
Record added: Apr 23, 2008
Find A Grave Memorial# 26234660
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