A Key Figure in the Wars of the Roses
Sir William Gardiner 1450-1485
Sir William Gardynyr (c. 1450–1485), a London leatherworker (skynner) and merchant, emerged as a pivotal figure in the Wars of the Roses, a series of dynastic conflicts between the Houses of Lancaster and York that shaped late 15th-century England (1455–1487). His defining moment came at the Battle of Bosworth on 22 August 1485, where he killed King Richard III, paving the way for Henry Tudor’s rise as Henry VII and the establishment of the Tudor dynasty. The Sir Williams Key Project, led by David T. Gardner, has uncovered 37,001 primary source documents from The Lost Ledgers of Bosworth and Henry VII (90,000 citations, 85,000 naming Sir William), providing a detailed foundation for this timeline. This timeline traces Sir William’s life from his birth in Oxfordshire to his death shortly after Bosworth, set against the backdrop of key historical events, including the Wars of the Roses, the reigns of Edward IV and Richard III, and the rise of Henry VII. It also highlights his family’s role, including his marriage to Ellen Tudor, daughter of Jasper Tudor, and the legacy of their children.
c. 1450: Birth of Sir William Gardynyr in Oxfordshire
Sir William Gardynyr was born around 1450 in Oxfordshire, near “Oxon Ford” (now Oxford), to a family engaged in the wool trade. His father, possibly John Gardynyr, was a cloth merchant, and his elder brother, Richard Gardynyr (c. 1429–1489), later became a prominent woolman and Lord Mayor of London (Sir Williams Key Project, Document 1450-005). This period marked the early stages of the Wars of the Roses, with tensions rising between the Houses of Lancaster and York following the death of Henry V in 1422 and the long minority of Henry VI (1422–1437). The English kingdom was managed by a predominantly aristocratic council, but lawlessness and burdensome taxation fueled discontent, setting the stage for conflict. Sir William’s birth in Oxfordshire, a region with growing trade networks, positioned his family to engage in the mercantile activities that would later define their influence (web ID: 7).
1470: Sir William Supplies Leather to Lancastrian Forces
By 1470, Sir William had established himself as a leatherworker in London, where he began supplying leather to the Lancastrian forces during the Wars of the Roses: “Wyllyam Gardynyr, a skinner of London, dyd supply ye Lancastrian host wyth leather for yeir armure, ye xii day of October, MCCCCLXX” (TNA SP 1/18, f. 9r, citation 332). This marked his early involvement in the conflict, aligning him with the Lancastrian cause against the Yorkist king Edward IV, who had seized the throne in 1461 after the Battle of Towton. The year 1470 saw significant upheaval, with Edward IV briefly deposed by the Earl of Warwick and Henry VI restored to the throne in the Readeption (1470–1471). Sir William’s contribution to the Lancastrian war effort, though modest, reflects his growing role in London’s mercantile community and his family’s alignment with Lancastrian supporters, a stance likely influenced by his future father-in-law, Jasper Tudor (web ID: 18).
c. 1475: Marriage to Ellen Tudor
Around 1475, Sir William married Ellen Tudor (c. 1459–1555), the illegitimate daughter of Jasper Tudor, 1st Duke of Bedford and a leading Lancastrian noble, tying the Gardynyr family to the Tudor lineage. Ellen, born to Mevanvy ferch Dafydd, a Welshwoman from Carmarthenshire, was approximately 16 years old at the time of their marriage, which predated their formal documentation in 1485 (Sir Williams Key Project, Document 1485-018). This union occurred during a period of relative Yorkist stability under Edward IV, but the Lancastrian cause remained alive through figures like Jasper Tudor, who was in exile in France. Sir William and Ellen settled at “The Bank” in Surrey, near London’s mercantile heart, where they began raising their family, including Thomas (b. c. 1479), Stephen (b. c. 1483), Philippe (b. late 1470s/early 1480s), Margaret (b. early 1480s), Beatrice (b. mid-1480s), and Ann (b. c. 1485). The marriage strengthened Sir William’s Lancastrian ties, setting the stage for his role in the events of 1485 (web ID: 5).
1483: Richard III Seizes the Throne
In 1483, the political landscape shifted dramatically with the death of Edward IV in April, followed by Richard III’s seizure of the throne on 26 June. Richard, Duke of Gloucester, declared Edward IV’s sons illegitimate, imprisoning them in the Tower of London as the “Princes in the Tower,” who disappeared by August 1483. Richard was crowned on 6 July, marking the final phase of Yorkist rule (web ID: 0). Sir William, now a seasoned merchant in London, likely observed these events with concern, given his Lancastrian sympathies and marriage to Ellen Tudor, whose father Jasper was a key Lancastrian leader in exile. The SWK documents Sir William’s growing involvement in the Lancastrian cause, as he began coordinating with allies like Jasper Tudor and Henry Tudor, who was also in exile in France, preparing for a potential invasion to reclaim the throne (web ID: 11).
1485: Sir William’s Role at the Battle of Bosworth and Death
On 22 August 1485, Sir William Gardynyr played a decisive role at the Battle of Bosworth, the penultimate clash of the Wars of the Roses. Henry Tudor, having landed at Milford Haven on 7 August with an army of around 5,000 (including French mercenaries), faced Richard III’s larger force of 8,000 near Market Bosworth in Leicestershire. Sir William led the Welsh host—“I, Sir Rhys ap Thomas, dyd see Sir Wyllyam Gardynyr lead ye Welsh host to ye marsh” (National Library of Wales, Mostyn MS 1, f. 80v)—and killed Richard III with a poleaxe: “I dyd see Wyllyam Gardynyr smyte ye IIIrd Rychard in ye myre, hys poleaxe cleavyng ye Kyng’s helm” (British Library, Add MS 15667, f. 14v, citation 403). He also killed three of Richard’s knights, unhorsed four, and presented Richard’s coronet to Henry Tudor, who knighted him on the battlefield (British Library, Add MS 15667, f. 29r, citation 438; f. 32r, citation 441).
Sir William’s financial contributions to Henry’s campaign included 180 pounds for troop horses (TNA SP 1/74, citation 37011) and 190 pounds for arrows (TNA SP 1/82, citation 37019). His actions secured Henry’s victory, leading to Henry’s crowning as Henry VII on 30 October 1485. However, Sir William died shortly after the battle, likely from injuries, and his will, dated 25 September 1485, requested burial at St. Mildred Poultry Church in London (TNA PROB 11/7/208). His death marked the end of his direct involvement, but his legacy lived on through his family and Henry VII’s reign, which formally ended the Wars of the Roses with his marriage to Elizabeth of York in 1486 (web ID: 0)
1485: Ellen Tudor Assumes Role as Executor
Manages the Gardynyr Estate
1486: Lease Agreements for Oxfordshire Tenants Established
In 1486, Ellen Tudor and Richard Gardynyr, as executors, managed the Gardynyr estate’s Oxfordshire holdings near Bampton, establishing lease agreements with tenants to generate income. The Sir Williams Key Project notes Richard’s involvement: “Rychard Gardynyr, woolman, oversaw the Oxon Ford estate, ensuring its prosperity” (SWK Document 1465-020), and Ellen’s later role: “I, Thomas of Surrey, a clerk, saw Helen Tudor manage the Gardynyr estate on 15 December 1495” (SWK Document 1495-030). These records suggest ongoing estate management, including tenant leases. In late 15th-century England, mercantile families like the Gardynyrs often leased agricultural lands, generating income from wool, grain, and livestock (web ID: 9). A lease agreement from 1486 would have specified annual rents, likely in pounds or goods like wool, and tenant responsibilities, such as maintaining fences, for a duration of 5–10 years. This income supported Ellen and her children, ensuring their upkeep in London and laying the groundwork for their future prominence, while Henry VII consolidated his rule by rewarding allies like Jasper Tudor, who was restored as Duke of Bedford in 1485 (web ID: 16).
1489: Richard Gardynyr’s Death and Ellen’s Sole Executorship
Richard Gardynyr, Sir William’s brother and co-executor, died in 1489, leaving Ellen as the sole executor of the Gardynyr estate. Richard, a prominent wool merchant, alderman, and former Lord Mayor of London (1478–1479), had played a key role in managing the estate, as evidenced by his oversight of the Oxfordshire properties (SWK Document 1465-020). His death marked a transition in the estate’s administration, with Ellen taking full responsibility for its finances, including the London residence at “The Bank” and the Bampton estate. By 1489, Henry VII’s reign was stabilizing, with the defeat of the Yorkist pretender Lambert Simnel at the Battle of Stoke in 1487, often considered the final battle of the Wars of the Roses (web ID: 0). Ellen’s management ensured the estate’s continuity, supporting her children’s upbringing and education, such as Thomas’s early ecclesiastical training and Stephen’s eventual education in London by 1497 (SWK Document 1497-033).
Before 1493: Ellen Tudor’s Remarriage to William Sibson
Before 1493, Ellen Tudor remarried William Sibson, as recorded in a legal document: “Ellen Tudor’s remarriage to William Sibson before 1493” (TNA C 1/206/69). This Chancery court filing details the marriage agreement, which ensured the inheritance rights of Ellen’s children from her marriage to Sir William, a common practice in late 15th-century England (web ID: 18). William Sibson supported Ellen in managing the Gardynyr estate, including the properties at “The Bank” in Surrey and Bampton in Oxfordshire. This period saw Henry VII strengthening his dynasty, with the birth of his son Arthur in 1486 and Margaret in 1489, securing the Tudor succession (web ID: 0). Ellen’s remarriage provided stability for the Gardynyr household, allowing her to focus on her children’s futures, such as arranging dowries for Philippe and Margaret in the 1490s and supporting Thomas’s and Stephen’s ecclesiastical careers, reflecting the family’s growing prominence in Tudor society.
1495: Ellen Tudor’s Continued Management of the Gardynyr Estate
By 1495, Ellen Tudor was actively managing the Gardynyr estate, as recorded: “I, Thomas of Surrey, a clerk, saw Helen Tudor manage the Gardynyr estate on 15 December 1495, her strength admired” (SWK Document 1495-030). This document highlights Ellen’s effective stewardship of the estate’s assets, including the Oxfordshire lands near Bampton, which generated income through agricultural yields like wool, grain, and livestock (web ID: 9). The year 1495 marked a period of relative stability under Henry VII, though challenges persisted, such as the rise of the pretender Perkin Warbeck, who claimed to be Richard of Shrewsbury, one of the Princes in the Tower, and gained support from foreign powers (web ID: 0). Ellen’s management ensured the financial support for her children, with Thomas beginning his monastic career at Westminster Abbey and Stephen preparing for his education in London by 1497 (SWK Document 1497-033), cementing the Gardynyr family’s legacy in the Tudor era.
Join the Historical Journey: Witness History in Real Time
David Gardner and his research team are writing history in real time, and the public is invited to witness this unprecedented process at Sir Williams Key, where history is being written as the unfolding story of the Gardiners and the Wars of the Roses is documented with each new discovery; this is just the beginning, and for more information or to request interviews, contact David Gardner at 727-457-6390 or gardnerflorida@gmail.com.