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James Gardner

Birthdate:
Birthplace: Scotland (United Kingdom)
Death: September 14, 1739 (54-55)
Marshfield, Plymouth County, Province of Massachusetts
Immediate Family:

Husband of Mary Gould
Father of Jane Gardner; Mary Bass; Thomas Gardner; Elizabeth Fales; Deborah Goold and 3 others

Managed by: Private User
Last Updated:
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Immediate Family

About James Gardner

In 1632 the church leaders of Plymouth allowed the establishment of the First Church of Marshfield. This was one of seven of the original societies to be formed from the First Church of Plymouth and is the oldest continuing Trinitarian Congregational church in America.

On January 23, 1706 James Gardner married Mary "Polly" Thomas (1686 – 1746) in Gloucester, Essex, Massachusetts. She was the daughter of Col Nathaniel Thomas 1643 – 1718 (a judge of the Supreme Court) and Deborah Jacob 1643 – 1696. William Thomas (1638 – 1718 the uncle of Polly Thomas) donated land to the church near the present Winslow Cemetery. In 1706 they built a meeting house with a thatched roof. In 1707 Rev James Gardner was ordained and became the fourth Pasteur of the First Church of Christ in Marshfield. During his tenure he witnessed the remaining churches conversion to Unitarianism and the beginnings of the first great awakening.

Rev James Gardner and Polly Thomas had eight recorded children all born in Marshfield:

1) Jane Gardner 1708 – 1755, removed to Weymouth where she is buried and never married. The inscription on her burial monument reads: "Here lyes y Body of Mrs Jane Gardner Dau of y Rev Mr. James Gardner of Marshfield & Mrs Mary his wife who died May 5th 1755, Aged 46 years."

2) Mary Gardner 1710 – 1772 married Benjamin Bass 1694 – 1756 and remvoed to Hanover where she is buried. The inscription on her burial monument reads "Inscription: Mrs. Mary wife of Rev. Benjamin Bass & daut. of the Rev. Ja. Gardner former minister of Marshfield."

3) Thomas Gardner 1713. He may be the Thomas who married either Margaret Bryant in 1734 or Hannah Baker in 1736 both in Plymouth. But there is no evidence of this. If the later he may have been the father of Seth born 1745.

4) Elizabeth GARDNER 1715 – 1767 married first Nathaniel Thomas 1700 – 1745 and second Capt Timothy Fales 1690 – 1777 and died in Taunton. She and her second husband are buried in the North Burying Ground in Taunton.

5) Deborah Gardner 1719 – 1796 married first Micah Sampson 1717 – 1740 of Kingston and after he died and she married second Jacob Gould 1720 – 1804. Jacob Gould was appointed guardian of her minor son Micah Sampson Jr by the court (probate records). They moved to Weymouth where they had five more children. They retired to Falmouth, Maine where they are both buried. Her death was recorded in the Columbian Centinal: "At Falmouth, the 12 instant, Mrs Deborah Gould, wife of Jacob Gould, aged 79 years."

6) Dorothy Gardner 1721 – married Ezra Whitmarsh and removed to Weymouth.

7) James Gardner 1724 – no further record.

8) Lucy Gardner 1729 – 1739, died young in Marshfield with her father.

After his death his widow Polly married second to Captain John Goold (also Gould) 1672 – 1762 as his second wife. She and many of her children and grandchildren removed to Weymouth. Polly and her daughter Jane Gardner are both buried in Weymouth. Her burial monument reads "Here Lies Buried the Body of Madam Mary Good the Wife or Mr. John Goold and late the Widow & Relick of the Rev. Mr. James Gardner. Pastour of the First Church of Christ in Marshfield. Died January 17th" Her second husband John is buried in Hull.

  • Marriage to Mary Polly Thomas: (23 Jan 1706 — Age: 21) Gloucester, Essex, Massachusetts, USA
  • At first, our church met in homes,: (1706 — Age: 21) Marshfield, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA
  • Occupation: (1707 — Age: 22) Marshfield, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA
  • Burial: Marshfield, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA
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James Gardner's Timeline

1684
1684
Scotland (United Kingdom)
1708
November 16, 1708
Marshfield, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States
1710
January 31, 1710
Marshfield, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States
1713
November 19, 1713
Marshfield, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States
1715
February 20, 1715
Marshfield, Plymouth County, Province of Massachusetts
1719
October 9, 1719
Marshfield, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States
1721
January 21, 1721
Marshfield, Plymouth County, Massachusetts
1724
September 20, 1724
Marshfield, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States
1729
September 10, 1729
Marshfield, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States
1739
September 14, 1739
Age 55
Marshfield, Plymouth County, Province of Massachusetts