The Genealogy of one Vermonter, Darrell A. Martin

William was born in Ryegate, Caledonia County, Vermont, on 9 August 1805.^1,2,3,4,5 He was the son of Hugh Gardner and Mary Nelson. He was "of" Ryegate, Caledonia County, Vermont, on 15 April 1829.⁶ He married Eliza Nelson in Newbury, Orange County, Vermont, on 15 April 1829. William was 23, and Eliza was just a few days short of 17 years old.^7,8,9,6,10 William was a head of family, age 20 to under 30, in the 1830 Census taken in Ryegate.¹¹ In 1832 William was living in a log house in Boltonville. The Methodist society for a time held meetings, in the summer seasons, in a barn on his farm "at the upper end of 'Scotch Hollow'."¹² William was a head of family, age 30 to 40 engaged in agriculture, in the 1840 Census taken in Newbury. He was a head of household in the 6 August 1850 census taken in Newbury, as "William Gardiner" a farmer age 44; his real estate was valued at $500, the equivalent of $10,900 in the year 2000; Eliza Nelson resided in the same household, as "Eliza Gardiner" age 38; as did Horatio W. H. Gardner, a student age 16; Mary H. Gardner, a student age 14; John R. Gardner, a student age 13; George N. Gardner, a student age 10; Lydia Gardner, a student age 7; Nancy Jane Gardner (who died a child), a student age 5, "died since June"; Eliza Gardner (who died young), age 2; and Nancy Jane Gardner, age 4/12.⁸ He was a head of household in the 4 August 1860 census taken in Newbury as "Wm. Gardiner" a farmer age 54; his real estate was valued at $1,000 and his personal property at $599, the equivalent of $32,600 (total) in the year 2000; Eliza Nelson resided in the same household, as "Eliza Gardiner" age 48; as did John R. Gardner, a farm laborer age 22; George N. Gardner, a farm laborer age 20; Lydia Gardner, a house worker age 17; Abbie Ellen Gardner, as "Abba E." a student age 13; Nancy Jane Gardner, as "Jane" a student age 10; Rebecca Gardner, a student age 8; and Eliza Belle Gardner, as "Lizzey B." age 4.⁹ He was a head of household in the 7 June 1870 census taken in Newbury a farmer age 64; his real estate was valued at $1,000 and his personal property at $500, the equivalent of $19,700 (total) in the year 2000; William and his son Horatio lived next door to each other; Eliza Nelson resided in the same household, as "Eliza Gardner" keeping house at age 57; as did Hugh N. Gardner, a farm laborer age 38; Rebecca Gardner, age 17; and Eliza Belle Gardner, as "Eliza Belle" age 14.⁷ William died on 15 October 1879 in Newbury at age 74.¹³