Dr. Silvester Gardiner (June 29, 1708 – August 8, 1786) was a physician, pharmaceutical merchant and land developer of Maine. He is known for founding the city of Gardiner.
He was born in South Kingstown, Rhode Island, the son of William Gardiner and Abigail Remington.[1] After studying medicine in New York, London and Paris, Dr. Gardiner opened a practice in Boston, where he became a lecturer on anatomy. He actively promoted inoculation for small pox, for which he proposed and established a hospital in 1761. But he made his fortune importing drugs for distribution and sale. He contributed generously to the construction of Boston's King's Chapel, where he was a warden, and also to the compilation and publication of a prayer book. But he is most remembered for his purchase and development of over 100,000 acres (400 km2) of wilderness on the Kennebec River in Maine, where he founded what is today the city of Gardiner.[2]
Maine settlement
A proprietor of the old Plymouth Patent, his efforts to settle the territory were unceasing between 1753 and the American Revolution. He selected the location of Gardinerstown Plantation, established in 1754 at the head of navigation on the Kennebec River, at its confluence with the Cobbosseecontee Stream, which had falls to provide water power for industry. A millwright, carpenter and other workmen were induced to settle and build his town. He promoted immigration and land cultivation. He contributed a valuable library, and built the first Episcopal church in Pittston, from which Gardinerstown would be set off in 1760.[3]
When Gardiner moved from Massachusetts to Maine 1766, he compelled Isaac "Hazard" Stockbridge, a Black man whom he enslaved, to move with him. Stockbridge brought his free Black wife, Cooper Loring, and their children. Stockbridge used sabotage in attempts to gain freedom from Gardiner, killing one of his horses, setting fire to his home, and attempting to poison his family. Gardiner sent Stockbridge and his family to live on a remote portion the property, where he lived under little supervision until his death in 1780.[4]
Political leanings
In 1774, Dr. Gardiner added his name to a letter addressed to Massachusetts Royal Governor Thomas Hutchinson, affirming his allegiance to the Loyalist cause. When the British army evacuated Boston in 1776, Dr. Gardiner fled to Halifax, Nova Scotia. With few of his possessions, he then lived in Poole, England throughout the Revolutionary War.[5] In 1778, his name appeared in the Massachusetts Banishment Act, and his vast landholdings were confiscated. Even his personal collection of rare books were sold at auction. Because of an error in the confiscation of the Maine property, however, his heirs would be able to secure its return.[6]
Death
In 1783, Dr. Gardiner spent time in St. John's, Newfoundland, and in 1784 wrote a report enumerating its resources, advocating 11 reasons for settlement. In 1785, he returned to Newport, Rhode Island, where he died the following year and was buried under Trinity Church. The Christ Episcopal Church, built in 1820 beside the Gardiner common, bears his cenotaph.[7]
Family
He married three times, first to Anne Gibbins (or Gibbons) in around 1730, with whom he had all of his children prior to her death in 1771. His second marriage was to Abigail Eppes (née Pickman) sometime prior to his departure from Boston in 1776; she died on November 3, 1780, after they moved to England. His third wife was Catherine Goldthwaite, who was about 49 years younger than him; they married in February 1785. After Gardiner's death, Catherine married W. Powell of Boston.[8]
Webster, Henry Sewall (1913). Silvester Gardiner. Gardiner, Maine: The Reporter-Journal Press. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Silvester Gardiner.
Friends of Gardiner Heritage Museum
Works by or about Silvester Gardiner in libraries (WorldCat catalog)
March 02, 2023
silvester, gardiner, june, 1708, august, 1786, physician, pharmaceutical, merchant, land, developer, maine, known, founding, city, gardiner, 1772, john, singleton, copleybornjune, 1708, 1708, south, kingstown, colony, rhode, island, providence, plantationsdied. Dr Silvester Gardiner June 29 1708 August 8 1786 was a physician pharmaceutical merchant and land developer of Maine He is known for founding the city of Gardiner Silvester GardinerSilvester Gardiner c 1772 by John Singleton CopleyBornJune 29 1708 1708 06 29 South Kingstown Colony of Rhode Island and Providence PlantationsDiedAugust 8 1786 1786 08 08 aged 78 Newport Rhode Island Occupation s Physician drug merchant and land developerKnown forfounding Gardiner MaineSpouse s Ann GibbonsAbigail Eppes nee Pickman Catherine Goldthwaite Contents 1 Early years 2 Maine settlement 3 Political leanings 4 Death 5 Family 6 References 7 Further reading 8 External linksEarly years EditHe was born in South Kingstown Rhode Island the son of William Gardiner and Abigail Remington 1 After studying medicine in New York London and Paris Dr Gardiner opened a practice in Boston where he became a lecturer on anatomy He actively promoted inoculation for small pox for which he proposed and established a hospital in 1761 But he made his fortune importing drugs for distribution and sale He contributed generously to the construction of Boston s King s Chapel where he was a warden and also to the compilation and publication of a prayer book But he is most remembered for his purchase and development of over 100 000 acres 400 km2 of wilderness on the Kennebec River in Maine where he founded what is today the city of Gardiner 2 Maine settlement EditA proprietor of the old Plymouth Patent his efforts to settle the territory were unceasing between 1753 and the American Revolution He selected the location of Gardinerstown Plantation established in 1754 at the head of navigation on the Kennebec River at its confluence with the Cobbosseecontee Stream which had falls to provide water power for industry A millwright carpenter and other workmen were induced to settle and build his town He promoted immigration and land cultivation He contributed a valuable library and built the first Episcopal church in Pittston from which Gardinerstown would be set off in 1760 3 When Gardiner moved from Massachusetts to Maine 1766 he compelled Isaac Hazard Stockbridge a Black man whom he enslaved to move with him Stockbridge brought his free Black wife Cooper Loring and their children Stockbridge used sabotage in attempts to gain freedom from Gardiner killing one of his horses setting fire to his home and attempting to poison his family Gardiner sent Stockbridge and his family to live on a remote portion the property where he lived under little supervision until his death in 1780 4 Political leanings EditIn 1774 Dr Gardiner added his name to a letter addressed to Massachusetts Royal Governor Thomas Hutchinson affirming his allegiance to the Loyalist cause When the British army evacuated Boston in 1776 Dr Gardiner fled to Halifax Nova Scotia With few of his possessions he then lived in Poole England throughout the Revolutionary War 5 In 1778 his name appeared in the Massachusetts Banishment Act and his vast landholdings were confiscated Even his personal collection of rare books were sold at auction Because of an error in the confiscation of the Maine property however his heirs would be able to secure its return 6 Death EditIn 1783 Dr Gardiner spent time in St John s Newfoundland and in 1784 wrote a report enumerating its resources advocating 11 reasons for settlement In 1785 he returned to Newport Rhode Island where he died the following year and was buried under Trinity Church The Christ Episcopal Church built in 1820 beside the Gardiner common bears his cenotaph 7 Family EditHe married three times first to Anne Gibbins or Gibbons in around 1730 with whom he had all of his children prior to her death in 1771 His second marriage was to Abigail Eppes nee Pickman sometime prior to his departure from Boston in 1776 she died on November 3 1780 after they moved to England His third wife was Catherine Goldthwaite who was about 49 years younger than him they married in February 1785 After Gardiner s death Catherine married W Powell of Boston 8 Gardiner s first son John Gardiner 1731 1793 was Attorney General of Saint Christopher Island and father of John Sylvester John Gardiner 9 References Edit Hatch 341 J W Hanson History of Gardiner Pittston and West Gardiner Smith amp Company Hallowell Maine 1852 George J Varney Historical Sketch of Gardiner Maine Boston Massachusetts 1889 Stakeman Randolph October 1 1987 Slavery in Colonial Maine Maine History 27 2 73 74 Retrieved November 30 2021 Webster 1913 p 6 Louis Clinton Hatch editor Maine a History Volume 4 The American Historical Society 1919 Robert J Erskine Judge Lauren M Sanborn and Dr Elmer D Colcord The Gardiner Story published by The City of Gardiner Maine 1949 Webster 1913 p 8 Webster 1913 pp 8 9Further reading EditWebster Henry Sewall 1913 Silvester Gardiner Gardiner Maine The Reporter Journal Press Retrieved 13 April 2020 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Silvester Gardiner Friends of Gardiner Heritage Museum Works by or about Silvester Gardiner in libraries WorldCat catalog Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Silvester Gardiner amp oldid 1073701055, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
