John Farmer

Beacon "Vol. II No. 6" and "Vol. III No. 1" used an annals format to present material. We want to continue with that format for a few more times, as a chronological layout can be helpful for relating material and for determining places to fill in. And, we can see who said what when.

At the same time, as "Vol. II No. 6", we started a bibliography which has been updated a couple of times. The idea here is to make the references available through on-line access as much as possible. Where we cannot, we'll cut an image (see this example - I saw TAG 30:156 misquoted (it turns out) many places and decided to go look for myself one day -- we'll make it part of the procedure to show originals).

Farmer on Gardner

Today, I added John Farmer's book. He is the one who everyone has pointed to in studies that followed his. But, John published in 1829, so he was there long before later writers (for instance, Savage was 30 years later; Perley was 100 years later; on the other hand, Felt was two years earlier - he the one of the Salem Annals which has many references to the contributions of the Gardners; Folger says that the Gardners were from Dorset), and his work has some things are of interest to our endeavors.

Too, John shows his own set of references in the Preface (Hubbard, Hutchinson, etc.). Here is a pointer to the book: Farmer, John (1829) A Genealogical Register of the First Settlers of New England (digitized copy via Google).

The image on the right is from the book's page on various Gardners. The Gardiner entries were on the just prior page. 

There are a couple of things to note. John said that Gardner came from Scotland. Note, though, that, he's talking two Thomas' in the sense that Dr. Frank mentioned in his book (see this post). I have seen many references to Thomas (the father of John, Richard, Samuel, Sarah, etc.) coming over with his father (note: I'll start to collect these in a later post). 

---

At some point, the annals bits will be merged together. As well, there will be smaller ones devoted to a theme (sound like a database application in the making?). One on-going effort will be a survey of material and work by individuals. Suggestions (and help) are welcome. 

Remarks:

07/12/2015 -- Okay, turtle speed. But, we get there. Announcing a new project: Sherborne, Dorset. No doubt, it is about time. When finished with the data collection and analysis, we will present the strongest story (the prerogative of the family) that the facts, and abductive reasoning, will support. As such, we hope to demonstrate some very much needed research viewpoints.

10/13/2014 -- Tabula raza, and more, will be of concern.

08/25/2013 -- On a site dealing with descendants of Alice Freeman, Abigail Gardner is on the list due to marrying John Wise. Hence, her father and grandfather are there, too. Thomas (before 1595 to 1638), father of Thomas and Peter. The site, by Chris Chester, is wonderful in its use of sources; too, I really like the format. We need to do something similar for the Thomas Gardners.

08/22/2013 -- The start of a look at what was what in early Salem (and New England) as far as Gardners is concerned.

06/15/2013 -- John Farmer wrote that Thomas was from Scotland. Origins are, and will be, a focus.

Modified: 07/12/2015

Endless genealogies

Could have used the title: Anything new under the sun?

---

I got into the subject matter from reading a post at the Nutfield Genealogy blog about the Top 40 sites (of which NG is one) as rated by Family Tree magazine. I had earlier run across another site mentioned in the post: (stale pointer to Dick Eastman's Newsletter removed).

As I revisited Eastman's site, I looked at a few posts. One that caught my eye mentioned Adam and Eve. We all have run across family trees that purport to go back that far. Eastman points (stale pointer removed - time limit) to a couple of papers that ought to be required reading. Here, I must add a pointer to one important article: Robert C. Gunderson, Feb 1984 (scroll to the second article on the page). His message is to not go back prior to 1500 (AD, of course).

We can let scholars fill in the pieces earlier than that. However, at this time, the Merovingians (ca 450-752) are about as far back as experts can follow documented sources.

Gunderson also counselled that we ought to fill in our trees as much as possible coming forward.

---

As an aside, Gunderson quotes Paul (c. 5 to 67) which is where the subject comes in. Look at this page to see various translations of the Biblical text:
             http://bible.cc/1_timothy/1-4.htm
What struck me was the "endless" concept used in the context of "genealogies" (showing just how old is the interest in ancestors - who begat whom).

But, we can see this interest even earlier, to wit Chronicles (350-300 BCE). But, even earlier, we had Genesis (written 500s BC).

---

So, if there was an interest 2500 years ago, what do we know, or have, now that is truly different. Science/Technology comes to mind. Anything else?

Hint: Based upon your world view, you would answer, lots of things. The question is do any of these have anything to add to the genealogists' mixed bag?

Remarks:

05/04/2020 -- It's time to grasp the bullet and lay out the new ideas that are so much wanting. To do that, we have to reflect on the past: Vanity genealogy.  Then, we can go forward wisely.

06/23/2015 -- Gosh, a couple of years between posts: Auras, etc. Removed links to stale pointers; updated others.

08/22/2013 -- The start of a look at what was what in early Salem (and New England) as far as Gardner is concerned.

Modified: 05/04/2020

American Indians

After running across several sites with pertinent information, I'll start to post these here.

• http://www.nativeamericandeeds.com/default.html - "The specific purpose of this project is to bring focus to the subject of the American Indian Deeds as recorded in Essex County and also to the American Indian population, which was living here in the 17th Century. "
• http://www.neara.org/ - The site for the New England Antiquities Research Association.

---

There will be lots to collect about the Gardners and the prior residents. For instance, the King Philip's war was a threshold event, many ways. During that troubled time, Nantucket was peaceful,  with the Gardners playing a large role in this.

---

The focus remains the very early times. Lots to look at. Any volunteers want to cover other areas?

Remarks: Modified: 02/27/2021

02/27/2021 -- Changed to using American Indian. 

Heritage Society communities

We did mention the group before (see Ebenezer of Maine), but the group (HSC) needs its own post. They have met in April every year now (for awhile) in DC which is Cherry Blossom time. So, DC is a madhouse (in many more ways during the events). While many visitors are out looking at the blooming sites, others are holed up in meeting rooms talking ancestors and tasks related to their groups.

Or, they're talking the absence of youth in the meeting (or the lack of interest in the younger folks for these themes). Of course, the HSC events are held during the school year. So, that explains some of the absence.

Having been in the area during D.A.R. times (just before July 4, every year), though, makes one wonder if that would be not a great time, either. Hot and humid are the watchwords. A tradition talks about how those who were posted to DC (swamp city?), especially during the summer, required tropic's pay. 

The HSC is on Facebook, and elsewhere, if someone wants more information.  

---

Heritage has several meanings, and, with people, we have both nature and nurture. The prime focus here has the biological flavor, however the other aspect shows up to with all of the "step" relationships that one will find in almost every family. People died young; their spouses remarried; the left-behind kids still needed to be raised.  

So, one could think of an "auxiliary" unit that ought to attach to all of these groups that recognizes the contribution of the ancestors to the offspring of their step-child. Of course, such would require dealing with various types of tangled relationships. 

Here is an early example that I put for Thomas on Wikipedia (almost). Note that I put it under degrees of separation. In many cases, it is very close (as in, an infant spent his/her whole lifetime under the tutelage (supposedly -- hopefully? -- a good one) of a "step" parent through no choice), and, in many cases, that type of thing caused confusion in family tree work. 

Remarks:

04/09/2013 -- Naturally, dealing with this type of thing would cause increases in cardinality and complexity. Yet, the world never has been a simple place.

01/12/2019 -- Added in an image for the HSC so that we could add the post to the image index.

Modified: 01/12/2019

Gardner's Beacon, Vol. III, No. 1

See Vol. III, No. 1 of Gardner's Beacon for a continued look at the legacy of Thomas and Margaret () Gardner using an Annals format. This time the focus is on the period prior to the arrival in 1623/24, for the most part considering the context and motivations of the arrival. Future looks will be at the Dorchester Company and then at Thomas and Margaret, specifically.

---

The best known immigration event in the U.S., to many, is that of the Pilgrims and their Mayflower voyage. Too, Jamestown got recent recognition with the 400th anniversary of the settlement's start. In both of these attempts, the people involved endured a lot of hardship and suffering. It took years to become what might be considered successful.

We, across the distance of time, can easily ignore the troubles and look at the accumulated glory. After all, the majority of U.S. educated people can tell us the stories behind the first Thanksgiving, even if some of the details may be a little off the mark.

The fact is that New England, which was North Virginia, did not offer an easy time for any early settlement attempt. We will look at some of these over a fifty year period.

English transisitons

Aside: The original intent was to cover +/- fifty, but there is just too much information for that. So, we'll continue with this theme for awhile in the Beacon. Some of the views will cover a wide expanse of time while others are expected to zoom in on a particular period or series of events. There were many changes going on in England and the world. The image depicts changes on the throne for the period that would cover the life of Thomas and two generations before.

---

Comparatively, though it has been couched, by many, as being otherwise, the Cape Ann venture, led by Thomas Gardner, was successful in several ways. For one, those there made it through the winter. Then, they established themselves, built a great house, put up other dwellings, made plantings, and more. They were healthy enough to be rambunctious when relating to those who may have wanted to encroach (to wit, Roger Conant's peacemaking role). And, they did go on to found Salem.

In fact, when Winthrop showed up in 1630, he feasted on strawberries from Cape Ann. Most likely, these had been cultivated. He also was wined (or beer'd) and dined in a house (see Wikipedia) that was the first of its type in New England.

---

Be that as it may, to understand the origins, we need to look at those earlier times of exploration and of trial residence that went on for several decades. This look is not conclusive; to be comprehensive is beyond the scope of any Beacon issue. There is an intent to fund necessary research to fill in gaps about the lives of Thomas and Margaret including looks at the contexts, situations, and collateral families.

References:  see Sources (Current Issue)  

Remarks:

09/28/2014 -- A week ago, the record for the marriage of Thomas Gardner and Margaret Friar was discovered in Sherborne by John Cook of Minneapolis, Dorset files. This sets a type of focus. Looks as if some transcription work might be in order.  

03/18/2014 -- More thoughts on Cape Ann, Thomas and Margaret, and, not least, strawberries.

03/23/2013 -- Beacon issue, Vol. III, No. I, is available. 1st Edition still there in PDF format. This issue looks at events prior to the arrival. Looking at the arrival and early times in more detail makes it even a stronger thought that the group was overlooked and denigrated. That statement is not meant only in relation to Thomas. The whole group had their position in history lost. We'll re-look at all that has been said and reconstruct, as needed, a view that ought to be left for future historians to discuss.

03/21/2013 -- 1st edition (or draft) migrated in order to get all the pieces into place. The completion of edits will be noted by the removal of the watermark.

Modified: 09/28/2014

Origins - motivations

We brushed upon origins a few times: Historical genealogy, How many wives?, and Black death.The first post of this blog asked about the ancestry of Thomas and Margaret.

As mentioned in the last post, we are looking at different periods that relate to lives of Thomas and Margaret. And the period right around the arrival (+/- 50 years) is a current focus.

And, motivation for leaving is always a concern. This post looks at an issue that culminated around the time of Thomas' great-grandfather. The influence from the particular conflict was deep. In fact, about that time, over a century of conflict came to an end.

Of course, after the peace, turmoil continued which we'll get into. For now, let's consider the case of the bickering cousins. In a sense, all the conflicts on UK (and related areas on the continent) soil were of this type. However, this one had very close cousins at each other's throat (extreme sibling rivalry -- gosh, are we any better today?).

So, it was a blood war, but not between rival clans. No, it was cousins vs cousins. There is not any reason to see this as unusual, as we'll also look at many conflicts between brothers before we're done.

People beheaded
War of the Roses

Aside: In looking at origins, this particular topic is important but is not the only one. We're starting with it due to entanglements. I don't know just how much we appreciate the reality on this side of the pond. That gaming has taken up the theme, partly encouraged by the Game of Thrones series (I liked the first two books; am not a gaming type; haven't seen any of the TV stuff), may tell something. Go to Google (or Bing), and look at War of Roses (images) and note the gaming interest.

So, this image has a list of people who were beheaded during the period of the War of the Roses. It's not a short list, by any means (see the Wikipedia page). The two images on the side are the following: Choosing of the roses (below) and The execution of Edmund Beaufort, 4th Duke of Somerset (above). Edmund is in both of these paintings. He's on the right of the Choosing scene and the main character in the other. But, this is only a list of the noble class victims. There were many other casualties, such as the Two Princes. Too, what was the havoc wrought upon the general populace, of all of the classes?

---

This is one little example. Does England look to be a pleasant place to be? One can appreciate the dreams of freedom that pushed people off its shores, even if these were illusory at the time (did you know that there were early hippies - Merry mount). Yet, there was a less oppressive nature in group that came with Thomas and Margaret than later (of course, about now, we need to mention that Plymouth's involvement will be covered, to boot). It was not long before a hammer was sent over (another whole story). One can also understand the appeal of the Quaker point of view which figured heavily in Thomas' later life through the influence of his last wife and in the lives of some of the progeny.

So, we've barely kicked off a look at origins with a brief touch on motivations.

---

As said before, whatever the motive, Thomas came here, raised a family thereby leaving a legacy, supported the founding of the civilization that became the U.S., and has tales to tell about his life and character. It is for us to discover these and preserve them for posterity.

Remarks:

04/04/2025 -- David T. Gardner has been exercisting Grok with prompts and reports finding documents that support his claim about Wyllym Gardynyr (see King Slayer Court blog). ... We have begun to incorporate changes into the structure and context of the blog. See Restart, somewhat. 

08/11/2020 -- We have used categories in the post. We also have used pages which allow some structure. Then, we have the other media to consider. One thing is definite, we will have lists of important topics. On these, we will find Origins and Motivations.

07/21/2020 -- The theme carries on in our work.

07/16/2016 -- Related work: Gardiners and Gardners.

07/12/2015 -- Okay, turtle speed. But, we get there. Announcing a new project: Sherborne, Dorset. No doubt, it is about time. When finished with the data collection and analysis, we will present the strongest story (the prerogative of the family) that the facts, and abductive reasoning, will support. As such, we hope to demonstrate some very much needed research viewpoints.

02/12/2014 -- The motivations theme will arise, recurrently, as we look at telling the stories.

06/15/2013 -- John Farmer wrote that Thomas was from Scotland. Origins are, and will be, a focus.

03/31/2013 -- The recent Gardner's Beacon issue looks at priors. On the War of Roses, not only were the participants blood relatives, they were Christian, ostensibly. So, an Easter thought is in order: was not their behavior as far from what Christ would have wanted as was possible? Then, again, how close to such an ideal was the Crusader behavior of their ancestors? 

Modified: 04/04/2025

A few considerations

We have had two posts dealing with descendants: The kids (Sept 2010) and Two generations (Oct 2010). Both of these posts used material from the work of individuals who have taken the time to post on rootsweb which has been around awhile. There are other sites, to boot. One can use these build composite trees.

Bevan's work is an example. He has merged multiple lines from the work of others. But, he does not have Thomas and Margaret.

Now, taking the work at rootsweb, a query on Thomas who died in 1674 brings up 822 trees (822 at the time of the original post; today (7/19/18) it's 966). Of those 822, 722 have Margaret as wife. But, and here is the catch, of the 722, only 255 have sources. Following along with D.A.R. and the Hereditary Society Community (HSC), we ought to require sources. At the same time, we ought to allow expansions of a tree that are conjectural.

A lot of this rootsweb work may have been done by Thomas descendants. Many others may have been done by people looking at collateral families. Or, someone may have included the Gardners just to be complete. How much of it is believable?

One task might be to take Dr. Frank's numbering and then extend it to about three or four generations. Or, we could pick a time, say 1812, as the end of a span.

So, two basic issues are the technical aspects and verification. The former ought to leverage upon work that has been done on the computer for the past few decades. The latter may be more problematic.

In any case, one basic notion is to fund research on a continuing basis in a manner that persists across future generations. To accomplish that, it would be nice to have a reasonable starting point. Lots to look at and do.

---

So, a slow build via incremental means has been the focus so far. As suggested by the Backbone category, there are many lessons to learn of a varied nature that is not small in breadth. One focus of late has been looking back across the pond, mainly to get acquainted with things. Hence, the focus of the next Beacon will be along that line, albeit in a brief fashion.

Many see posts almost like twits (tweets?) which have a small temporal footstep. We could see them as something that, at some point, could be pulled into a book. Of course, to do such a thing right would require major editing, but that is part of the work (editors exist for that purpose). The content would be there, though, which is the key.

---

Too, there are several ways to communicate. Mass e-mailing will be limited. Annoucements will be by the TGS site and the TGS Forum. Right now, the TGS Forum is using a blackboard approach. Just like with the blog, there are several ways to support discussions. It would be good settle on a method that is effective with which to carry forward.

Remarks: Modified: 07/19/2018

03/02/2013 -- What's New at the TGS site will post things of interest. The main page will provide the last change date for the What's New page.

03/04/2013 -- Forgot to put the pointer to rootsweb. Today, there were 821 trees to this query: Surname (gardner), Given name (thomas), Death year (1674). Now, a slight change to the Death year of +/- 5 years increased the count to 897. If the TGS was going to be effectively used for this type of database entry, it would be by providing a place where one could get the facts, as they are best known. At this point, doing such a thing would require technical support as well as continuing scholarly work of a sponsored nature. Also, identify the Hereditary Society Community properly.

07/19/2018 -- Changed the rootsweb link. It was out for a few months and is slowly coming back. Which ought to motivate thoughts about continuity. In 2017, we put in a new site (which will work with the original one): TGSoc.org. Also, our main theme will be: Culture, history and technology (of which we will find genealogy, genetics, and a lot more).