"George Gardner" is listed in the "Shrewsbury School Register, 1562-1596" (via online FindMyPast), which records him as being a pupil of the school in 1580 (page 65) and 1586 (page 105). According to Patrick Garner, "The enrollment age in the Tudor period ranged from 6 to 17 years of age, with 10/11 being the average". (http://www.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/garner/6430/)
George Gardner is listed in the online article "Richard Garner of Shrewsbury, England, father of John Garner of Virginia", by Patrick Garner, May 26, 2010, as follows (http://www.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/garner/6430/):
This is an update on what I have learned regarding Richard Garner of Shrewsbury to date. I am indebted to David Austerberry, a fellow member of the Shropshire Family History Society, for providing me with the complete Gardner extracts from the unpublished parish registers of St. Alkmund's and St. Julian's. (I already had those from St. Mary's and St. Chad's.) He also gave me his expertise on the Shrewsbury Gardners from whom he believes our Richard descends and why.
Let me say at the outset that I am convinced that the original surname was Gardiner and that family members and record keepers were simply inconsistent in its spelling. (The illiteracy of many of our ancestors contributed to this.)Thus, we have various members of the same family or descent recorded as Gardiner, Gardener, Gardner, Gardnor, Garner, Garnar, etc. One example of this phenomena are the St. Chad baptismal records of the children of John and Elizabeth Garner, who were contemporaries of our Richard (and probably related). They had thirteen children, of whom eleven survived. With two exceptions, both parents' names were entered in each baptismal record. Of the thirteen records, the name is rendered "Garner" in eleven, "Gardner" in one, and "Gardiner" in three. Another example: in John Garner of Virginia's 1702 will, his name was rendered as "Garner", but that of his wife Susanna, the executor, and that of his grandson William, a witness, were rendered as "Gardner".
After examining the records of all four parishes, it is evident that there were only two Richard Gardners living in Shrewsbury in the opening decades of the 17th century:
One was the Richard Gardner of St. Chad's parish, who was married to Katherine and whose son John was baptized in that parish in 1634. He may have been the father of another John who was baptized and buried in St. Julian's church in 1632. Richard has no baptismal record, as the St. Chad registers prior to 1616 have not survived. His lineage no doubt lies in those missing registers. He and his family disappear from the registers after the sole entry of the 1634 christening of his son.
The other Richard Gardner was a dyer and innkeeper of St. Mary's parish. He was the son of a John Gardner and the grandson of Richard Gardiner, the dyer of Frankwell. His ancestry is outlined in Herald's Visitation to Shropshire 1623. After 1623, we have the baptismal records of his three daughters: Mary (1636), Sarah (1638) and Mary (1644). He also had a daughter named Elizabeth who died in 1641, but have only her burial record. These are all in the St. Mary's parish registers. That he was their father, is also attested to in the Gardner pedigree by James Lawson and another Gardner pedigree prepared by Rev. Fletcher which I recently acquired from the Shropshire Archives. The Richard Gardner of St. Mary's parish died in Shrewsbury in 1646.
As the vital records of Richard's parents, siblings, and immediate forebears are probably lost with the missing St. Chad registers, I had to look for other records to find what information may exist about him and his ancestry. One advantage I had in evaluating any records I may find is that the Richard Gardner of St. Mary's parish was apprenticed in the Drapers Company in 1605, near or before the time when Richard Gardner of St. Chad's parish would have reasonably been born. Apprenticeships were typically entered in one's teens, which means that the Richard of St. Mary's was substantially older than the Richard of St. Chad's. Thus, the dating of a record would determine which of these two Richards it referred to.
I have found two records whose chronology would only fit the Richard of St. Chad's, not the Richard of St. Mary's:
The first is the admission of a Richard Gardener to the Shrewsbury School 13 December 1619. Among the Gardners who enrolled in the 16th and early 17th century, he is the only Richard. He was admitted into the third form (the lowest). The sucessful student was expected to progress to the first form before he left the school. The enrollment age in the Tudor period ranged from 6 to 17 years of age, with 10/11 being the average. His enrollment fee was 4 pence - not very much. This indicates that he was the son of a burgess of Shrewsbury town. This information (as well the data for all the Gardner enrollees for the period) was provided by Mike Morrough, the archivist for the Shrewsbury School.
The second record was an apprenticeship list. Since many of the Shrewsbury Gardners were Drapers, I looked online for any evidence that our Richard was a member of that Company. The only Richard mentioned in the Drapers records I was able to find was the one of St. Mary's parish. However, I found an apprentice record for what appears to be our Richard in a book called Transactions of the Shropshire Archaelogical and Natural History Society, Vol. IV, 1881. (Google books) The chapter on "The Guilds of Shrewsbury" by Rev. W.A. Leighton contains excerpts from the records of the "Companie of Taylers and Skinners in the Town of Salop", including the apprenticeship lists. On page 230 is the following entry, the only Gardners on the list:
1621 Nov. 22. Richard Gardner s. of George Gardner of Shrewsbury deceased to Roger Cocke.(departed without freedom).
[Online source: https://books.google.com/books?id=cQAVAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA193&lpg=PA193&dq=the+guilds+of+shrewsbury,+by+w.a.leighton&source=bl&ots=7eBA_j4u98&sig=xDHy4R38vXVwYccVMUoSjfQ2Veg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwim7_DwuYHUAhVU4GMKHY2dA2EQ6AEILDAB#v=snippet&q=gardner&f=false]
The date is the date of indenture, that is, the date Richard entered into his apprenticeship. This tells us that his father was named George, who was "of Shrewsbury", i.e. a burgess of the town and who had died by Nov. 22,1621. An apprenticeship normally lasted 7 years and according to the bylaws of the company the apprentice had to be at least 24 years old to gain freeman status upon the completion of his apprenticeship. So Richard was probably in his teens. Roger Cocke was the man to whom he was apprenticed. However, this record also tells us that Richard left the apprenticeship before completing it. When, it does not say.
So the picture that emerges of Richard so far is this:
He was born in the St. Chad's parish of Shrewsbury, possibly in the suburb of Frankwell, probably in the first decade of the 17th century. His father was a George Gardner. He was admitted in the Shrewsbury School in 1619. By 1621, his father had died and in that year Richard entered into an apprenticeship with Roger Cocke in the Company of Taylers and Skinners [furriers] in Shrewsbury. Sometime during the next seven years Richard left the guild without becoming a freeman. What occupation or trade he subsequently pursued is not known.
He married Katherine, possibly as early as 1631, and may have fathered a son John in 1632, who did not survive infancy. Katherine bore him another son, John, in 1634. By 1637, Richard and his son John were present on Farrar's Island, Henrico County, Virginia. Katherine had died by then, the circumstances of which are not known. There exists no public record of Richard after 1637. John appears next in a 1650 land patent in Northumberland County.
George and Richard were very likely descendants of Richard Gardiner of Frankwell, but this cannot be proved at present, because of the missing St. Chad's registers. After having immersed myself in the known Gardner pedigrees and surviving parish records, my opinion is that is it more likely that George and Richard were collateral, rather than direct, descendants of the aforementioned Richard Gardiner, dyer, philanthropist and author of the first English book on horticulture in 1603 called "Profitable Instructions".Relationship Note: "George Gardner", the father of "Richard Gardner", was "deceased" by 22 November 1621. George's father could have also been named George and may possibly be the "Georg Garnar" who was buried in 1622 in Shrewsbury, as follows: The burial of "Georg Garnar of the Allmes Howse" is listed in the parish register of St. Chad, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England (FHL Book # 942.45, B4sl, V.15, page 20), which states that he was buried on 4 May 1622 in St. Chad, Shrewsbury. Further research into this possibility is ongoing.
Research Note: It has been suggested that "George the gardner of Frankwell" who was buried on 7 January 1637 in St. Mary, Shrewbury, is the same person as George Gardner who was born about 1573 and who attended Shrewsbury School in 1580-1586. However, the parish register of St. Mary states that "George" was "the gardner of Frankwell", not that his surname was "Gardner".
The marriage of "Willm. White" and "Magdaline Halliday" is listed in FamilySearch (FHL Film # 91083), which states that they were married on 19 December 1647 in Bishopwearmouth, Durham, England.
"William White" is listed in the christening of his two sons, as follows: 1) The christening of "William White" is listed in FamilySearch (FHL Film # 91083), which states that he was christened on 10 September 1654 in Bishopwearmouth, and that his father was "Wiliam White"; and 2) The christening of "Thomas White" is listed in FamilySearch (FHL Film # 91083), which states that he was christened on 26 July 1657 in Bishopwearmouth, and that his father was "Wiliame White".
The burial of "William White" is listed in the "National Burial Index for England & Wales Transcription" (via online FindMyPast), which state that he was buried on 9 July 1656 at St. Michael & All Angels, Bishopwearmouth, Durham, England.
Research Note: "William White" was born about 1622 and had at least two sons (William and Thomas) who were both christened in Bishopwearmouth, Durham. This William (b.abt.1622) may have been the son of another "William White" who was christened in 1595 in Bishopwearmouth. Further research into this possibility is ongoing.
The christening of "Magdalen Halliday" is listed in FamilySearch (FHL Film # 91083), which states that she was christened on 21 March 1624 in Bishopwearmouth, Durham, and that her father was "George Halliday".
The marriage of "Willm. White" and "Magdaline Halliday" is listed in FamilySearch (FHL Film # 91083), which states that they were married on 19 December 1647 in Bishopwearmouth, Durham, England.
Marriage Notes for William White and Magdaline Halliday-2953
The marriage of "Willm. White" and "Magdaline Halliday" is listed in FamilySearch (FHL Film # 91083), which states that they were married on 19 December 1647 in Bishopwearmouth, Durham, England.
The christening of "William White" is listed in FamilySearch (FHL Film # 91083), which states that he was christened on 10 September 1654 in Bishopwearmouth, and that his father was "Wiliam White".
The burial of "William White" is listed in the "National Burial Index for England & Wales Transcription" (via online FindMyPast), which state that he was buried on 6 July 1684 at St. Michael & All Angels, Bishopwearmouth, Durham, England.
The christening of "Willia [William] White" is listed in FamilySearch (FHL Film # 91082), which states that he was christened on 12 January 1594/1595 in Bishopwearmouth, Durham, England, and that he was of "Wer" (Weremouth).
The burial of "William White" is listed in the "National Burial Index for England & Wales Transcription" (via online FindMyPast), which state that he was buried on 7 February 1646 at St. Michael & All Angels, Bishopwearmouth, Durham, England.
"Mr. White" was "of" Bishopwearmouth, Durham, England, as his two probable children were christened in Bishopwearmouth, as follows:
1) The christening of "Annas Whyte" is listed in FamilySearch (FHL Film # 91082), which states that she was christened on 3 October 1591 in Bishopwearmouth, Durham, England, and that she was of "Wer" (Weremouth); 2) The christening of "Willia [William] White" is listed in FamilySearch (FHL Film # 91082), which states that he was christened on 12 January 1594/1595 in Bishopwearmouth, Durham, England, and that he was of "Wer" (Weremouth).
The christening of "Annas Whyte" is listed in FamilySearch (FHL Film # 91082), which states that she was christened on 3 October 1591 in Bishopwearmouth, Durham, England, and that she was of "Wer" (Weremouth).
The marriage of "Mr. William Lawton" and "Mrs. Elizth. Gardner" is listed in the parish register of St. Chad, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England (FHL Book # 942.45, B4sl, V.15, page 250), which states that they were married on 21 April 1655 in St. Chad, Shrewsbury.
The christening of "Elizabeth Garner" is listed in the parish register of St. Chad, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England (FHL Book # 942.45, B4sl, V.15, page 77), which states that she was christened on 10 May 1631 in St. Chad, Shrewsbury, and that her parents were "John Garner" and "Elizabeth".
The christening of "Elizabeth Garner" is listed in FamilySearch (FHL Films # 908235 and 1701330), which states that she was christened on 10 May 1631 in St. Chad, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England, and that her parents were "John Garner" and "Elizabeth".
The marriage of "Mr. William Lawton" and "Mrs. Elizth. Gardner" is listed in the parish register of St. Chad, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England (FHL Book # 942.45, B4sl, V.15, page 250), which states that they were married on 21 April 1655 in St. Chad, Shrewsbury.
Marriage Notes for William Lawton and Elizabeth Garner-2958
The marriage of "Mr. William Lawton" and "Mrs. Elizth. Gardner" is listed in the parish register of St. Chad, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England (FHL Book # 942.45, B4sl, V.15, page 250), which states that they were married on 21 April 1655 in St. Chad, Shrewsbury.
The marriage of "Richard Baytton" and "Mary Garnor" is listed in the parish register of St. Chad, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England (FHL Book # 942.45, B4sl, V.15, page 268), which states that they were married on 22 February 1657/1658 in St. Chad, Shrewsbury.
The christening of "Mary Garnor" is listed in the parish register of St. Chad, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England (FHL Book # 942.45, B4sl, V.15, page 111, which states that she was christened on 1 November 1636 in St. Chad, Shrewsbury, and that her parents were "John Granor" and "Elizabeth".
The marriage of "Richard Baytton" and "Mary Garnor" is listed in the parish register of St. Chad, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England (FHL Book # 942.45, B4sl, V.15, page 268), which states that they were married on 22 February 1657/1658 in St. Chad, Shrewsbury.
Marriage Notes for Richard Baytton and Mary Granor-2964
The marriage of "Richard Baytton" and "Mary Garnor" is listed in the parish register of St. Chad, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England (FHL Book # 942.45, B4sl, V.15, page 268), which states that they were married on 22 February 1657/1658 in St. Chad, Shrewsbury.
The burial of "Georg Garnar of the Allmes Howse" is listed in the parish register of St. Chad, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England (FHL Book # 942.45, B4sl, V.15, page 20), which states that he was buried on 4 May 1622 in St. Chad, Shrewsbury.
Research Note: George Gardner, the father of "John Garnar" and "Richard Gardner", was "deceased" by 22 November 1621. The father of George Gardner could have also been named George--and may be the "Georg Garnar" who was buried in 1622 in Shrewsbury.
Relationship Note: The shown parentage of this individual is a guesstimate based on duration, location and/or patronymics. Further research into this possible relationship is ongoing.
"John Gardyner" is listed in the Will of his father "John Gardyner" that appears in the "Registered wills and original wills, administrations and inventories, 1494-1860, and, act books, 1532-1638 for Diocese of Lichfield Episcopal Consistory Court" (FHL Film # 95393). The Will was written on 2 May 1567 and probated on 13 November 1567. The Will states that "John Gardyner" wanted to be "buryed in [the] churchyard of St. Julian" in Shrewbsury, and mentions the following individuals: "Margaret my wife", "my executor John Gardyner my son", "Thomas my son", "Richard my son", "Hughe my son", "Jane my daughter". The Will was witnessed by Thomas, Richard and Hughe Gardner.
"Rich. Gardiner de Salop [of Shropshire] = [married] Anna fil. et haer. [the daughter and heir of] Rich'i Horner" is listed in the "Gardiner of Shrewsbury" heraldic pedigree chart that is contained in "The Visitation of Shropshire, taken in the year 1623" and which was published in 1889 by The Harleian Society, Volume 28, pages 196-197 (online source: https://archive.org/details/visitationshrop00britgoog). Note: The birth year shown for this individual has been calculated or estimated.
Geographical Note from Wikipedia: "Salop is an old name for Shropshire, historically used as an abbreviated form for post or telegrams, it is thought to derive from the Anglo-French "Salopesberia". It is normally replaced by the more contemporary "Shrops" although Shropshire residents are still referred to as "Salopians". Salop however is also used as an alternative name for the county town, Shrewsbury, which also shares the motto of Floreat Salopia."
The burial of "Ann Gardner" is listed in the parish register transcript of St. Alkmund, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England (FHL Film # 510675), which states that she was buried on 10 March 1593/1594 in St. Alkmund, Shrewsbury.
"Rich. Gardiner de Salop [of Shropshire] = [married] Anna fil. et haer. [the daughter and heir of] Rich'i Horner" is listed in the "Gardiner of Shrewsbury" heraldic pedigree chart that is contained in "The Visitation of Shropshire, taken in the year 1623" and which was published in 1889 by The Harleian Society, Volume 28, pages 196-197 (online source: https://archive.org/details/visitationshrop00britgoog). Note: The birth year shown for this individual has been calculated or estimated.
The burial of "John Gardener" is listed in the parish register of St. Julian, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England (which burial record is viewable on FindMyPast, and is referenced in FHL Film # 510676, Item #1, page 23), which states that he was buried on 5 May 1567 in St. Julian, Shrewsbury.
The Will of "John Gardyner" appears in the "Registered wills and original wills, administrations and inventories, 1494-1860, and, act books, 1532-1638 for Diocese of Lichfield Episcopal Consistory Court" (FHL Film # 95393). The Will was written on 2 May 1567 and probated on 13 November 1567. The Will states that "John Gardyner" wanted to be "buryed in [the] churchyard of St. Julian" in Shrewbsury, and mentions the following individuals: "Margaret my wife", "my executor John Gardyner my son", "Thomas my son", "Richard my son", "Hughe my son", "Jane my daughter". The Will was witnessed by Thomas, Richard and Hughe Gardner.
"John Gardyner" is listed as being a "draper" in the 1545 Taxation of Shrewsbury, as found in the book "Shropshire Taxes in the Reign of Henry VIII (FHL British Book # 942.45, R4f, page 544).
"John Gardner" is listed in the Will of "John Gardner" that appears in the "Registered wills and original wills, administrations and inventories, 1494-1860, and, act books, 1532-1638 for Diocese of Lichfield Episcopal Consistory Court" (FHL Film # 95389). The Will was written on 28 February 1538/1539 and was probated on 23 March 1538/1539. The Will states that "John Gardner" was "of St. Chad, Shrewsbury", and mentions the following individuals: "Dawne my wife overseer", "John my son", "Thomas my son", "George my son", "my father John Gardner", and "Thomas Gardner kinsman overseer".
"Joh'es [Johannes] Gardiner de Salop [of Shropshire] = [married] Margaretta fil. [the daughter of] Joh'es [Johannes] Berkley" is listed in the "Gardiner of Shrewsbury" heraldic pedigree chart that is contained in "The Visitation of Shropshire, taken in the year 1623" and which was published in 1889 by The Harleian Society, Volume 28, pages 196-197 (online source: https://archive.org/details/visitationshrop00britgoog). Note: The birth year shown for this individual has been calculated or estimated.
Geographical Note from Wikipedia: "Salop is an old name for Shropshire, historically used as an abbreviated form for post or telegrams, it is thought to derive from the Anglo-French "Salopesberia". It is normally replaced by the more contemporary "Shrops" although Shropshire residents are still referred to as "Salopians". Salop however is also used as an alternative name for the county town, Shrewsbury, which also shares the motto of Floreat Salopia."
The burial of "Margrett wife [of] John Gardener [a] Coiser" is listed in the parish register transcript of St. Julian, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England (FHL Film # 510676, Item #1, page 27), which states that she was buried in April 1569 in St. Julian, Shrewsbury. Note: This burial record is also viewable on FindMyPast., which shows that "Margett wyffe of John Gardener, cors [possibly a coiser or couriser--or a chauffeur or courier]" was buried in April 1569 in St. Julian, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England.
"Margaret" is listed in the Will of her husband, "John Gardyner" that appears in the "Registered wills and original wills, administrations and inventories, 1494-1860, and, act books, 1532-1638 for Diocese of Lichfield Episcopal Consistory Court" (FHL Film # 95393). The Will was written on 2 May 1567 and probated on 13 November 1567. The Will states that "John Gardyner" wanted to be "buryed in [the] churchyard of St. Julian" in Shrewbsury, and mentions the following individuals: "Margaret my wife", "my executor John Gardyner my son", "Thomas my son", "Richard my son", "Hughe my son", "Jane my daughter". The Will was witnessed by Thomas, Richard and Hughe Gardner.
"Joh'es [Johannes] Gardiner de Salop [of Shropshire] = [married] Margaretta fil. [the daughter of] Joh'es [Johannes] Berkley" is listed in the "Gardiner of Shrewsbury" heraldic pedigree chart that is contained in "The Visitation of Shropshire, taken in the year 1623" and which was published in 1889 by The Harleian Society, Volume 28, pages 196-197 (online source: https://archive.org/details/visitationshrop00britgoog). Note: The birth year shown for this individual has been calculated or estimated.
"Thomas Gardyner" is listed in the Will of his father "John Gardyner" that appears in the "Registered wills and original wills, administrations and inventories, 1494-1860, and, act books, 1532-1638 for Diocese of Lichfield Episcopal Consistory Court" (FHL Film # 95393). The Will was written on 2 May 1567 and probated on 13 November 1567. The Will states that "John Gardyner" wanted to be "buryed in [the] churchyard of St. Julian" in Shrewbsury, and mentions the following individuals: "Margaret my wife", "my executor John Gardyner my son", "Thomas my son", "Richard my son", "Hughe my son", "Jane my daughter". The Will was witnessed by Thomas, Richard and Hughe Gardner.
"Hughe Gardyner" is listed in the Will of his father "John Gardyner" that appears in the "Registered wills and original wills, administrations and inventories, 1494-1860, and, act books, 1532-1638 for Diocese of Lichfield Episcopal Consistory Court" (FHL Film # 95393). The Will was written on 2 May 1567 and probated on 13 November 1567. The Will states that "John Gardyner" wanted to be "buryed in [the] churchyard of St. Julian" in Shrewbsury, and mentions the following individuals: "Margaret my wife", "my executor John Gardyner my son", "Thomas my son", "Richard my son", "Hughe my son", "Jane my daughter". The Will was witnessed by Thomas, Richard and Hughe Gardner.
"Jane Gardyner" is listed in the Will of her father "John Gardyner" that appears in the "Registered wills and original wills, administrations and inventories, 1494-1860, and, act books, 1532-1638 for Diocese of Lichfield Episcopal Consistory Court" (FHL Film # 95393). The Will was written on 2 May 1567 and probated on 13 November 1567. The Will states that "John Gardyner" wanted to be "buryed in [the] churchyard of St. Julian" in Shrewbsury, and mentions the following individuals: "Margaret my wife", "my executor John Gardyner my son", "Thomas my son", "Richard my son", "Hughe my son", "Jane my daughter". The Will was witnessed by Thomas, Richard and Hughe Gardner.