Prudence "Molly" Gardner

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF STONINGTON, County of New London, Connecticut, from its first settlement in 1649 to 1900, by Richard Anson Wheeler, New London, CT, 1900, p. 634

Prudence Molly West was the daughter of William West 1745 and Nancy Anna Babcock.

William West was a descendant of Mayflower Passenger George Soule (through Susannah Soule, Thomas West, Timothy West).

William West was a sea captain, who died at sea in October 1800.

Prudence West was born in Stonington, New London, Connecticut. The circumstances of her moving to Otsego County, New York are not known.

In 1797 she married Sullivan Gardner, the son of Sullivan Gardner 1753 and Lucy Champlin in the area of Morris-Exeter in Otsego County, New York. Sullivan Gardner had also moved with his family from Rhode Island to Otsego county, so Prudence may have known him in Rhode Island. Sullivan is found in the 1800 census in Burlington, Otsego along with many other Gardners.

Sullivan served in the War of 1812 as a Private in Dutton's 2nd Regiment of the New York Militia.

During the war, his son Christopher was born in 1812 in Onedia County, according to the 1855 census. This is just slightly north of western Otsego County.

After the war it appears Sullivan relocated to Brookfield, Madison, New York, the county west of and adjacent to Otsego County. Brookfield was on county line adjacent to Otsego county.

Sullivan was active in religion. He was baptised in 1797 by Rev. Nash (see Reverend Nash Journal). He hosted David Marks for the Seventh Day Christian Church at Brookfield.

It may have been that he or/and his father Sullivan was familiar with John Cottrell. John Cottrell had also moved from Rhode Island to the Brookfield area. John Cottrell was descended from a long line of Cottrell's that had been instrumental in the Seventh Day Baptist church in Rhode Island.

Apparently the Seventh Day Christian church was started in the Brookfield area. This church had somewhat different beliefs that the Seventh Day Baptists in Rhode Island.

Sullivan's third daughter, Prudence, married the third son of John Cottrell, Solomon Gates Cottrell, in 1831 in Brookfield.

About 1836-1837, Sullivan moved to Cherry Creek, Chautaugua County. There he was a Deacon for the newly organized Christian Church. He lived in Cherry Creek until his death in 1857.

Children of Sullivan and Prudence West:

George Gardner 1804, possible probate records Chautaugua County,

Mary G Polly 1805 married Varnum Sheldon in Brookfield, and stayed in this area when Sullivan moved to Cherry Creek,

Prudence 1806, married Solomon Cottrell at Morris-Exeter, Otsego County, New York, later moved to Newstead, Erie County, New York,

Frank 1808, possibly Frances in Georgetown, Madison, NY 1840 and Hamilton, Madison, NY 1850, with children Ira and Miles. Miles later married Susannah Gardner, the daughter of Chistopher C, Miles' niece.

Polly 1810,

Christopher C 1812, moved with Sullivan to Cherry Creek, married Orilla Darbee, 1836, in Dayton, Cattaraugus County. (Dayton is is very close to Cherry Creek, they are both across from each other on the Cattarugus-Chautaugua County borders). Christopher's family lived in Cherry Creek, until he died in 1905.

John Gardner 1815.

Unfortunately very little is known of children George 1804, Frank 1808, Polly 1810, John 1815 at this time by the author.

Family links:

Parents:

 William West (1745 - 1800)

Spouse:

 Sullivan Gardner (1778 - 1857)*

Children:

 Christopher C Gardner (1812 - 1905)*

• Calculated relationship

Burial: Cherry Creek Central Cemetery Cherry Creek Chautauqua County New York, USA Plot: 4