Hidden History #101

What's In A Name

Researching our Gardiner families for some thirty years now. I'm always left feeling someone has went to lengths white washing the Gardiner families ties to England's royal family from history. From the hard to believe pull yourself up by the boot straps, not sure who the real father of Bishop Stephen Gardiner was. To the marriage of William Gardiner to Ellen Tudor the natural daughter of the Duke of Bedford, Jasper Tudor. What sometimes seems conspiracy could also just as easily be written off as coincidence, or simply just later historical revisionism to promote the everlasting and greater glory of England's royal family. However If I've learned anything after 30 years of research into our family? The Gardiner family played a much bigger roll in the accent of the Tudor dynasty than they've ever been given credit for. Now using modern research methods and 21st century technology, we are now able to uncover some Hidden History of Family Gardiner. 

Commentary 
Today the internet is full of variations of the William Gardiner and Ellen Tudor story. Many of these stories without citation. Assertions William Gardiner was named John Gardiner, Ellen Tudor was really Helen Tudor. Bishop Stephen Gardiner (Steven Gardener) was their child, many of these stories appearing long before the internet, in an age when information was scarce, and books were expensive.. When a single assertion in print was used by a researcher as the gospel truth, and foundation of many hours of research.

It's time we put some of these outdated assertions to rest, and use modern research methods, logic, and citation to reconstruct lives lived over 500 years ago.. Using documents, and in some cases their own words. We will get some new insight into the Hidden History of the Gardener Family, and their connection to England's Royal family. We will use the life of Thomas Gardiner King's Chaplain Son and Heir, son of William Gardiner and Ellen Tudor to establish his paternity, and the true name of his brothers, sisters and of his parents as well as their relation to the Royal Family.


New Information

First and foremost was William Gardiner's name William or John, and was he married to Ellen or Hellen Tudor? According to William and Ellen's son Thomas Gardiner, as documented during the 1530 Heraldic Visitation to the north counties conducted by Sir Thomas Tonge, Norroy King at Arms. Thomas Gardener lists Willyam Gardiner as his father, and his mother as Ellen Teddur, bastard daughter of Jasper Duke of Bedford. To support this assertion we will use Thomas Gardener King's Chaplain Son and Heir Prior of Tynemeouth's own words, as documented by Sir Thomas Tonge in the 1530 Visitation to the North Counties.


THE MONASTERIE OF TYNEMOUTH
Be Yt Notid that Saint Oswyn, Kyng of Daire, in latyn written Rex Dareorum, founded furst the Monasteri of Tynmouth of Blak Monkes. And within certeyn yeres of his foundacion the Danys dystroied the said monastery, and so contynowed longe on edified, untill the tyme of the Conquerors commyng. And then Robert Mowbray, Erie of Northumberland, whiche cam in with the Conquerour, edified and founded the said Monastery of Tynmouth ageyn. And so he and hys yssue arn founders of the said monastery, of whom ys dyscendyd the right high and myghti prince, Thomas Duke of Norfolk.
ARMS. Gules, three crowns or.
These Be The Abmes of my Lord The Priour Of Tynmouth' whose name ys Gardener. And the said Priour ys descendyd of the noble Quene Kateryn, wyfe to Kyng Henry the Vth, and doughter to Charles Kyng of France. For the said Quene Kateryn was after maryed to Owayn Teddur, by whom he had yssue Edmond Erie of Richemond, and Jasper Duke of Bedford. Whiche Jasper begate a bastard doughter called Ellen, maryed Willyam Gardener, who was father to my said Lord Priour. 
able, a chevron between three bugle horns argent, stringed and mounted or.  
Be Yt Notid that Malcolyn Kyng Of Scotland was slayne at Andewik by Robert Mowbray, Erie of Northumberland, and Foundour of Tynmouth. And the said Malcolyn lyeth buried in the said Monastery of Tynmouth, in the Chapiter House 
Sable, a chevron between three bugle horns argent, stringed and mounted or. / Impalement. England, debruised by a bend sinister [untinctured], within a border azure charged with eleven martlets or.
  
Be Yt Notid that the said Priour Of Tynmouth hath geven unto me, Norrey Kyng of Armes of the North parties, this pedigre and armes of his awne reporte, whiche he woll offer me at all tymes to verefy and approve before the Kyng and his Counsaill, that this pedigre is true and the armes also.
~ Sir Thomas Tonge
^MDXXX

Thomas Gardiner provided Sir Tonge these arms, and we can clearly see the Gardener family arms impaling the arms of Jasper Tudor Duke of Bedford. A visitation and documentation of royal kinship was very serious business, and attaching the seal of the Duke of Bedford to the Gardiner family had to be approved by the King.. Using the Duke of Bedford's seal without authorization, could cost one their head. The above document and arms is the golden key. We could cite court proceedings and last will and testaments naming William Gardiner and Elyn Tedder, but we don't have to.. This documentation establishes beyond a reasonable doubt the paternity, and genealogy. Jasper Duke of Bedford, William Gardener, Ellen Tudor and Thomas Gardener are who they say they are.

 Being a royal bastard didn't hold the negative stigma in the 1500s as it does later in history. During these times being connected to the Royal family, even as a bastard was a badge of honor. However being royal bastards could explain why great lengths were taken at some point later in history to erase the history of these people, especially as they relate to the royal family. 

In William and Ellen's case, where did John come from? Anyone who has spent time researching this clan, knows the Gardiner clan uses William, and John extensively, either children named William John, or John William. Brothers John and William and even Jno, Johan or Jonathan who come of age, and just become John. We even name one child Jonathon or Jno, and his brother John. One of the Keys in researching the Gardiner clan, is to understand that a family can have 2 adult children named John, one is John ,and one is Jno or Johnathon. In this case however, it's my belief and court documents support.. When William died his children were raised by his brother John.. So when the same children are listed (Children of John Gardiner) in court documents? I believe this is where the confusion lays. 

The old English Latin in the document must be read and translated. (Custodia pueror' Joh'is Gardiner)  Custody of Children  John Gardiner or Guardianship of John Gardiner. So Bishop Stephen Gardiner appears not to be the brother of  Thomas Gardiner. However they may be cousins living in the same house, if this John Gardiner is the John Gardiner purported to be the Bishops father.  

Continuing Work
Moving forward in this series we’ll explore the life of William Gardiner's and Ellen Tudors only son, Thomas Gardiner, King’s Chaplain Son and Heir. Chamberlain of Westminster Abbey.

Foot Notes



Notes:

Author

David T. Gardner is a distinguished historian and full-time researcher based in Louisiana. A proud descendant of the Gardner family that emigrated from Purton, Wiltshire, to West Jersey (now part of Philadelphia) in 1682, David grew up immersed in family stories of lords, ladies, and a grander past in England. Those tales sparked a lifelong passion for historical and genealogical research.

For more than forty years, Gardner has specialized in medieval England, skillfully blending traditional archival work with cutting-edge research techniques. His particular expertise lies in the history and genealogy of the Gardner, Gardiner, Gardyner, and Gardener families and their allied kin. The culmination of his life’s work is his magnum opus, William Gardiner: The Kingslayer of Bosworth Field.

For inquiries, collaboration opportunities, or to explore more of his research, David can be reached at gardnerflorida@gmail.com or through his blog at KingslayersCourt.com — a welcoming online space for fellow history enthusiasts.


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