John Gardiner

M, b. 19 April 1661, d. 25 June 1738
FatherDavid Gardiner b. 29 Apr 1636, d. 10 Jul 1689
MotherMary Lingman b. 14 Sep 1636
     John was born on Tuesday, 19 April 1661 in the Town of Southold, Suffolk County, Long Island, New York. John married Mary King in the Town of Southold, Suffolk County, Long Island, New York. He inherited Gardiner's Island in the 29th year of his age, and became the third proprietor of the island. He was described by the seventh proprietor as being "hearty, active, robust" and as a generous and upright man. He also remarked that John was a good farmer who made many improvements on the island and gave large portions to his descendants.1 John's wife, Mary, died on 4 July 1707 in the Town of Southold, Suffolk County, Long Island, New York, leaving him a widower. John married 2nd Sarah Chandler on 2 September 1708 in Suffolk County, Long Island, New York. She was the widow of William Coit.2 John's wife, Sarah, died on 3 July 1711 in Suffolk County, Long Island, New York, leaving him a widower. John married 3rd Elizabeth Allyn after 3 July 1711 in Suffolk County, Long Island, New York. She was the widow of Alexander Allen. John's wife, Elizabeth, died before 4 October 1733 in Suffolk County, Long Island, New York, leaving him a widower. John married 4th Elizabeth Hedges on 4 October 1733 in Suffolk County, Long Island, New York. She was the widow of David Osborne.2 John made his will on 14 December 1737 at East Hampton, Suffolk County, Long Island, New York.

In the name of God, Amen : I, John Gardiner, of Easthampton, in the county of Suffolk, in the province of New York, Gentleman; being in good health of body and of perfect sound mind and memory, praise be therefore given unto Almighty God; but calling to mind the uncertainty of this transitory life, do therefore make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following, that is to say: First and principally, I commend my soul unto the hands of God that gave it and my body I commit to the earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my executors, hereafter named, nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the Almighty power of God. As touching such worldly estate, wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life, I give, devise and dispose of the same in the following manner. IMPRIMIS: I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth, my dearly beloved, the sum of five pounds in silver money at eight shillings the ounce Troy Weight, and two cows, if I have any at Easthampton at my decease. ITEM: I give and bequeath to my beloved daughter Hannah Chandler, the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds in silver money at eight shillings the ounce Troy Weight, to be paid her by my executors. ITEM: I give and bequeath unto my beloved daughter Elizabeth Greene, the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds in silver money at eight shillings the ounce Troy Weight, to be paid her by my executors. ITEM: I give and bequeath unto my beloved son, 7osegi Gardiner, the sum of fifty pounds in silver money at eight shillings the ounce Troy Weight. ITEM: I give and bequeath unto my beloved daughter, Sarah Treat, one hundred pounds in New England money. ITEM: I give and bequeath unto my grand-daughter, Dorothy Treat, the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds in New England money, to be paid her by my executors when she shall arrive to the age of eighteen years or marriage which shall first happen. ITEM: I give and bequeath to my grand-daughter, Sarah Treat, one hundred and fifty pounds in New England money, to be paid her by my executors when she shall arrive to the age of eighteen years or marriage which shall first happen. ITEM: I give and bequeath unto my grand-son, yonathan Treat, the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds, New England money, to be paid him by my executors when he shall arrive at the age of twenty-one years. But my will is that in case my grand-son, fonathan Treat, or either of his sisters aforesaid shall dye before they arrive to the age to receive their legacies, then their part so dying shall go to the survivor or survivors of them. ITEM: I give and bequeath unto the two daughters of my son John Gardiner deceased, namely Elizabeth and Yerusha, the sum of fifty pounds each in New England money, to be paid to each of them by my executors as they shall arrive to the age of eighteen years or marriage which shall first happen, but in case either of them dye before the time of the payment of their legacies, then all the said hundred pounds shall all be paid to the survivor of them two sisters. ITEM: I give and bequeath unto Samuel and Yohn Gray, the two sons of my daughter Mary Gray, deceased, the sum of one hundred pounds each in New England money, to be paid them by my executors as they shall either of them arrive to the age of twenty-one years; but in case either of them shall dye before they shall arrive to the said age, then the survivor of them shall have the two hundred pounds. ITEM: I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth, the daughter of my son, Samuel Gardiner, deceased, the sum of fifty pounds in New England money, to be paid her by my executors when she shall arrive to the age of eighteen years or marriage, which shall first happen. ITEM: I give and bequeath unto my grand-daughter Sarah Chandler, the sum of fifty pounds in New England money, to be paid h'er by my executors when she shall arrive at the age of eighteen years or marriage, which shall first happen. ITEM: I give and bequeath unto yohn Gardiner, the son of my son Jonathan Gardiner, deceased, the sum of one hundred pounds in New England money, to be paid him by my executors when he shall arrive to the age of twenty-one years. ITEM : I give and bequeath to my beloved son
David Gardiner, the sum of twenty shillings in New York money. ITEM I
give and bequeath unto my beloved friend, Mr. Nathaniel Huntting, of Easthampton, the sum of ten pounds to be paid him by my executors. ITEM: I give and bequeath unto my beloved nephew, Lion Gardiner, of Easthampton, aforesaid, the sum of ten pounds in New England money to be paid him by executors. ITEM: I give and bequeath unto my beloved nephew Giles Gardiner, of Easthampton, and to his heirs and assigns forever, the one-eighth part of a share of land throughout a certain tract or parcel of land lying in the township of Easthampton, aforesaid, commonly called Meantauck. ITEM: I give and bequeath unto Samuel Gardiner, the son of my son Samuel Gardiner, deceased, the one-quarter and the half quarter of a share of land running throughout a certain tract or parcell of land lying in the township of Easthampton, commonly known and called by the name of Meantauck as aforesaid, which quarter and half quarter of a share of land that I have given to my grandson, I give it unto him, his heirs and assigns forever. And my Will is during the minority of any of my legatees that the money given unto them be put out to interest until the time of each legatees payment by my executors and the profit that may arise upon the interest thereof shall be paid to each legatee according to the principal sum given to each of them in this my last Will and Testament. My Will further is that the rest of my personal estates, after my just debts and funeral charges are paid, that is not before disposed of, and shall not in this my last will and testament hereafter be disposed of; that is to say, all money, plate, debts owing to me at my decease, and all manner of movable effects, whatsoever and wheresoever they are or may be found belonging to me at my decease, my will is that my beloved son, y'oseph Gardiner, shall have the one-quarter part thereof, and the other three-quarters to be equally divided between my daughter Hannah Chandler and Elizabeth Greene. Finally, I nominate, constitute, ordain and appoint my beloved friends Nathaniel Huntting, Jun'r., and William Hedges, Jun'r., both of Easthampton, to be the executors of this my last will and testament, and I give to each of my executors the sum of three pounds in current money of New York, over and above their being paid for their trouble for the taking the care of my estate, and I do hereby utterly revoke and disannull all and every other former wills and testaments, legacies, bequests and executors by me in wayes before named, willed and bequeathed. Ratifying this and none other to be my last will and testament which contained on both sides of this sheet of paper. In witness whereof I do hereunto set my hand and seal, the fourteenth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and thirty-seven, in the eleventh year of the reign of King George the Second over Great Britain.3

John departed this life on Wednesday, 25 June 1738 in New London County, Connecticut. He was injured from a fall from his horse and died six days later.4 He was buried at New London, New London County, Connecticut, in the old burying ground. His will was probated on 1 August 1738 at Suffolk County, Long Island, New York. Letters of Administration granted to Nathaniel Huntting, Junior, and William Hedges, Junior.

Family 1

Mary King b. 7 Aug 1669, d. 4 Jul 1707

Family 2

Sarah Chandler d. 3 Jul 1711

Family 3

Elizabeth Allyn b. 1 Dec 1669, d. b 4 Oct 1733

Family 4

Elizabeth Hedges d. 19 May 1747

Citations

  1. [S318] Curtiss C. Gardiner, Lion Gardiner and His Descendants 1599-1890, page 96-97 - ...The following is an extract from a MS. record found among the papers of the seventh proprietor. Referring to the third propreitor, he says:
    "John was a hearty, active, robust man; generous and upright; sober at home but jovial abroad, and swore sometimes; always kept his chaplain; he was a good farmer and made great improvements on the Island; he made a great deal of money, although a high liver, and had a great deal to do for his four wives connections; he had an expensive family of children;he gave them, for those times, large portions."
  2. [S318] Curtiss C. Gardiner, Lion Gardiner and His Descendants 1599-1890, page 96.
  3. [S318] Curtiss C. Gardiner, Lion Gardiner and His Descendants 1599-1890, pages 101-104.
  4. [S318] Curtiss C. Gardiner, Lion Gardiner and His Descendants 1599-1890, page 96 - The Church records kept be Rev. Nathaniel Huntting at East Hampton, have the following: "John Gardiner died June 25, 1738, aged 77 years two months."