Benjamin H Gardner, III

(Excerpt from: Gardner History and Genealogy By Lillian May Stickney Gardner, Charles Morris Gardner

OHIO.

BENJAMIN GARDNER (6). Benjamin (5), Benjamin (4), Nathaniel (3), Benony (2), George (1).

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 Autibiography 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 (17761781), 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 in 1788. 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

291

Erie will be filled with inhabitants, and thereby free the western territory 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 inhabited 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 became 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 looking 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 Maysvillc. 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 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 it. They went on clearing, and in a few years the heavy timber gave 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 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 building 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 fireplace. 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 weather boarded 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 without difficulty with any of the heirs though there was then twelve children living."

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 account 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 southgrave 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. 

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.

FindAGrave Link: http://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Gardner&GSfn=Benj...

GEDCOM Note

There is a Revolutionary War Pension letter dated 11 May 1935 that puts the date of Benjamin Gardner's second marriage at Oct 1784 or 1785 with both dates given (and there are a dozen or more children after that). If Benjamin were born in 1760, he would have been about 20 as a father to Esther born about 1780.

Also, Benjamin served in the Revolutionary War for several tours:
from March 1, 1776 for nine and one-half months
from May 1, 1777 for five and one-half months,
from May 10, 1778 for two months, and
from September 15, 1779 for two months.

1790 US Census New York, Albany, Stephentown
Benjamin Gardner, Jr, one Free White Male 16 years+ (self), two Free White Males under 16, two Free White Females including heads of household, no other free persons, no slaves
Household then was Benjamin Jr, two sons (Simeon and Seth) and two females (wife Lucy and daughter Charlotte, but where was Esther? living with her maternal grandparents?)

1790 US Census
Name:Benjn Gardiner Junior
Event Place:Stephen Town, Albany, New York
Page Number:281
Line Number:9765
Affiliate Publication Number:M637
Affiliate Film Number:6
GS Film number:0568146
Digital Folder Number:004440870
Image Number:00287
"United States Census, 1790," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XHKP-VMH : accessed 02 Nov 2013), Benjn Gardiner Junior, 1790.

Benjamin Gardner, "United States Census, 1800"
Name: Benjamin Gardner
Event Place: Stephentown, Rensselaer, New York
Page Number: 103
Affiliate Publication Number: M32
Affiliate Film Number: 26
GS Film number: 193714
Digital Folder Number: 004440843
Image Number: 00104

"United States Census, 1820," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XHL3-73D : accessed 01 Sep 2013), Benjamine Gardner, 1820.
Name: Benjamine Gardner
Event Place: Byrd, Brown, Ohio
Page Number: 341
Affiliate Publication Number: M33
Affiliate Film Number: 86
GS Film number: 0181392
Digital Folder Number: 004093884
Image Number: 00192

"United States Census, 1830," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XHGJ-7TJ : accessed 01 Sep 2013), Benjamin Gardner, 1830.
Name: Benjamin Gardner
Event Place: Byrd, Brown, Ohio
Page Number: 395
Affiliate Publication Number: M19
Affiliate Film Number: 127
GS Film number: 0337938
Digital Folder Number: 004093937
Image Number: 00788

Twelve children living in 1846.

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.  pp 243-4.

Historical collections of Brown County, Ohio
Compiled by Carl N. Thompson
Edition reprint
Publisher s.n., 1969
“Benjamin Gardner, was born in Rhode Island, married in Connecticut, and revolted in New York. He came with his ten children and three horses and a small wagon to Limestone, where he traded two of the horses for 100 acres of land in Brown County. His son, Matthew needs no introduction. Benjamin is buried on the Russellville-Ripley Pike” p. 99
“Gardner, Benjamin--Has also been listed as Benjamin Gard, but thought to be the same person. Born at Exeter, R.I., on Sept. 13, 1760, died Mar. 1. 1840 and is buried in the Richey Cemetery, Sec. A., lot 1, grave 1 on U.S. Rte. 62, 3 miles from Russellville. Enlisted at 17 yrs. of age an served as a private in 1778 and Sgt. in 1779, in Capt. James Dennison’s Co., Col., John Beekman’s 4th Regt., N.Y. Militia. Discharged in 1783. Soldier moved to N.Y. State with his father, settled near the Mass.-N.Y. state line in Rensselear Co., N.Y. Married twice. His 2nd wife being Lucy Hawks, born in 1762 in Conn. Children: Charlottee, Phineas, Simeon, Rodman, Clarissa, Mathew, Lucy and Benjamin Mathew who was in the the War of 1812 (born Dec. 5, 1790 at Stephentown, N.Y., died Oct. 10, 1878). Married on May 20, 1813, Sally Beasley, born Sept. 2, 1794, in Va., died Sept. 20, 1869, the daughter of Jeptha and Sally Beasley. Soldier moved to Brown Co. about 1800. Farmer. Pensioned in 1883; served in the War of 1812; pioneer minister of the “New Light” Church. Ref.: Mrs. C. A. Lieberman and Natl. Nos. 100924 and 78130.” pp. 517-8
Title Historical Collections of Brown County, Ohio
Compiled by Carl N. Thompson
Contributor Brown County Genealogical Society
Edition illustrated, reprint
Publisher Little Miami Publishing Company, 2004
ISBN 1932250204, 9781932250206
Length 1340 pages

----------------------------------------
Be it remembered that on the 2nd day of April, 1840, the last Will and Testament of Benjamin Gardner, deceased, was produced in open court and proved by the oaths of Thomas Shrieves and John Gluse, the subscribing witnesses, thereto, which will together with the proof was ordered to be recorded and are in the words following to wit;

(excerpted)

In the name of God amen. I, Benjamin Gardner Senior of Byrd Twp, Brown Co, Ohio, being well convinced of the uncertainty of this mortal life, and the certainty of death, and being of sound mind and memory, blessed be God for the same, do make this my Last Will and Testament with regard to the things of this world it has pleased God to bless me as follows:

All my property, real, that is to say and and (?) of whatever kind, and money and moneys and farming tools of every kind, and carpentry tools and notes and obligations for money, I give to my wife Lucy during her natural life, together with all the household furniture and bedding and clothing of every kind, appointing her my sole executrix together with my son Mathew Gardner, his appointment agreeable to what shall herein written.

First to my daughter Charlotte Taller, I give and bequeath two dollars to be paid out of my estate.
To my son Simeon - my wearing cloths to be delivered to him one year after my death.
Also one hundred dollars to my son Simeon.
To my son Rodman - 40.00
To my son Mathew - 2.00
To my son Seth - 2.00
Daughter Lucy - 2.00
Daughter Lydia Waters - 80.00
Son Henry - 2.00
Son Phineus - 40.00
Daughter Clarissa Right - 80.00
Son Abraham - 2.00
Son Benjamin - 2.00

To Benjamin, son of Phillip Waters (husband of Lydia) 10.00
To Benjamin Right Gardner, son of Seth - 10.00
To Benjamin Jolly, son of dau Lucy - 10.00
To Benjamin son of Abraham - 10.00
To Benjamin son of Rodman 10.00
To Mathew son of Henry - 10.00

If there should not be money enough at my death and my wife’s death to pay the several sums to the above names annexed, there shall be a reduction in proportion to the sums annexed to each name. If there should be an increase of money it shall be added in proportion to the sums annexed to their names.

I will that all my honest debts be paid to my Executer out of my estate. I will that we shall be decently interred at our deaths. At mine and my wife’s death all lands and property shall be sold at public auction and the money paid agreeable to the statement as is written in this Will. We do appoint our son Mathew Gardner to execute this our Will.

The reason I have made a difference in the sums annexed to their names is that some of them have received their portions, and some a part, and some not at all. I hereby renounce all Wills and Testaments except this.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I, Benjamin Gardner have hereunto set my hand and seal this the sixth day of December in the year of our Lord, One thousand eight hundred and thirty four.

Signed sealed and acknowledged in the presence of us at the request of the testator.

Signed
Benjamin (X) Gardner
His X

Witnesses
John Gluse (sp?)
Amos Baird
Thomas Schrieves

----------------------------------------
Autobiography of Elder Matthew Gardner

His Aged Father. —In February of 1832 my father, now in his seventy-third year, sent for me to come immediately to see him on special business. I went, of course. The business was of the most unpleasant character possible. Some two years before, he had leased his farm of about two hundred acres, with abundant stock —horses, cattle, etc., to Benjamin, his youngest son and namesake, Benjamin agreeing to return it in good order to my father at the end of five years, when the lease would expire. Benjamin, like some other younger sons, not having earned by labor the large property put into his hands, knew not its real value, but squandered it rapidly. The consideration of the lease provided that he was to support father and mother, which it was claimed that he had not done. He had disposed of nearly all the stock; raised very little grain or other products; and I found my parents almost destitute of some of the necessaries of life. My father requested me to accept power of attorney, and repossess him of the farm by taking it out of Benjamin's possession.

My Father's Mistake. —My father made a mistake, as parents generally do, in putting his property out of his power. Also, he did not consider that Benjamin, having never accumulated property, his former history did not warrant the expectation that he would either preserve what was put into his possession, or acquire property to replace it at the end of the five years. The lease did not prohibit Benjamin disposing of the stock as he pleased; and it was gone, and he was unable to replace or pay for it. The lease contained no provision that it should be void if he failed to comply with its provisions. These were serious difficulties, which increased my objections to taking any part in the matter. But father and mother insisted ; and from a sense of duty to my aged parents, I accepted the trust, and undertook the disagreeable task. My father advised immediate action by law, to dispossess Benjamin. I determined to have no lawsuit with my brother. I saw also that if I should go to law, he could keep possession during the five years, by the lease. A judgment for damages might be obtained, but he had nothing to pay the damages with. I finally persuaded him to leave the whole matter to arbitration. The result was that my father lost the stock, worth about $1,000; but father got possession of his farm again. Having straightened and arranged this business, I felt quite relieved, supposing that my attention there was no longer needed. Not so. Father and mother insisted that I should manage their business, renting the farm, and taking care of them. It seemed impossible. They were four or five miles from my home. It would require more time and attention than my own domestic cares. Besides, to please old people is sometimes difficult. The burden appeared too heavy for me; but, on consideration, I concluded that duty to parents is among the first religious requirements, and I complied with their request, taking upon me the care of them, and the management of all their affairs. This charge continued till father and mother both died, or about fourteen years from the time my father first sent for me to repossess him of his farm. In justice to myself, I must add that for all this labor and care I accepted no compensation from father or the estate. My father appointed me the executor and administrator of his will. By divine grace I closed all the business without difficulty with any of the heirs, though there were then twelve children living.

A. D. 1832. —The summer after I was sent for to visit my father, in February, to repossess him of his farm, my wife and I were very sick. We were taken about the first of August with bilious fever, and, to all appearance, were brought very near to death.

OHIO.

BENJAMIN GARDNER (6).
Benjamin (5), Benjamin (4), Nathaniel (3), Benony (2), George (1).

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 (177 f '- 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 fil tied in 1788. 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. 1783 General Putnam said, "the country between the Ohio and Lake

291

292

GARDNER

Erie will be rilled with inhabitants, and thereby free the western territory 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 inhabited 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 became 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 looking 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 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 Christina-.

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 animal- were reared. Sheep am! 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 garment-. No shoes or b were worn, but moccasins made of deer-skin-, for they coul 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 thi . who it. They went on clearing, and in a few years the heavy timber place to" orchard trees, and the wilderness to fruitful held-. The w.v for food and clothing were plentifully supplied, but there \\ her wants. They had now passed the crisis for food ami raiment ami began to feel sadly the want of school and churches. There w no preaching, no schools, no religion- meetings. Mr. and Mr-. Gardi while in New York, had united with the Free Will Baptist Church: I it is said, on moving west Mr. Gardner had neglected his Mrs. Gardner retained her piety; so that, though they were without

294

GARDNER

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 building 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 fireplace. 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 weather boarded 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 without difficulty with any of the heirs though there was then twelve children living."

HISTORY AND GENEALOGY.

295

The next record was secured from a grandson John \Y. 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 l>o\s 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 account 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. ≤ »n the stone of the southgrave is inscribed :

In memory of Benjamin Gardner,

A soldier of the Revolution of 1770,
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. il
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.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GScid=2297725&GRid...

Benjamin H Gardner, III

http://www.swarthmore.edu/library/friends/hazard/fhlresults.php
last name first name, event, meeting, note, year, month, day, call number, volume, page, id
Gardner, Benjamin, dis, Hudson & Chatham, mou, 1796, 9 , 22, H 855, 1.2, 128, 27162 
and
Gardner, Barshaba, recrq, Hudson & Chatham, w of Champlain. See also H 855 Vol 2.1 pg 197 1799 4 25 H 855 1.2 280 27161

dis -- disowned, disowned for
"Such are to be treated with, as are guilty of lying, drunkenness, swearing, cursing; together with every other immoral or scandalous practice: and when persons are guilty in these respects, or any of them, after being treated with by the overseers or other concerned Friends, if they be brought to a sense of the iniquity thereof, such offenders are without improper delay, to remove the candal, and clear, as much as possible, our holy profession therefrom, by acknowledging and condemning the offense, in writing, under their hands, to the satisfaction of the Monthly Meetings, to which they belong. And if any such offenders refuse so to acknowledge and condemn their faults, the said meetings ought speedily to testify against them."- Discipline (1819)

mou -- married out of unity
One of the parties was not a member of the Society of Friends, or was a member of another branch of Friends.

recrq -- received by request
A "convinced" Friend was accepted as a member by request.

This does not fit:
"Rhode Island, Births and Christenings, 1600-1914," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F872-QSW : accessed 18 Mar 2014), Benjamin Gardiner in entry for Thomas Gardiner, 11 Aug 1775; citing , reference ; FHL microfilm 908270.
Name: Thomas Gardiner
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 20 Jun 1775
Birthplace: MIDDLETOWN,NEWPORT,RHODE ISLAND
Death Date: 11 Aug 1775
Father's Name: Benjamin Gardiner
Mother's Name: Elizabeth
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: C50104-1
System Origin: Rhode_Island-ODM
GS Film number: 908270

Question posted:
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=772186239505954&i...

Looking into the Benjamin Gardner-Susanna Northrup family, I realized later that he was of Zebulon Gardiner son of Ezekiel, Nicholas, Nicholas, and George husband of Herodias Long.
http://www.myheritage.com/matchingresult-47eb87fa4c2c9ce0dde0d6e408...

https://sites.rootsweb.com/~maberksh/towns/hancock/cc-marriage.htm
Early Marriages in Hancock, MA
from the Cooke Collection
as found at the Library in Pittsfield, MA
Source Link: https://www.geni.com/documents/view?doc_id=6000000205657312334label=@S1927@
Source Link: https://www.geni.com/documents/view?doc_id=6000000205657312336label=@S1929@
Source Link: https://www.geni.com/documents/view?doc_id=6000000205657312313label=@S1928@
Source Link: https://www.geni.com/documents/view?doc_id=6000000205657312338label=@S134@
Source Link: https://www.geni.com/documents/view?doc_id=6000000205657312315label=@S1008@
Source Link: https://www.geni.com/documents/view?doc_id=6000000205657312317label=@S71@