Sir Williams Key Project
Welcome to the Sir Williams Key Project Index, a gateway to one of the most significant historical research endeavors of the modern era. Led by David T. Gardner, this project has unearthed 37,001 primary source documents in *The Lost Ledgers of Bosworth and Henry VII*, revealing the pivotal role of Sir William Gardiner in the 1485 Battle of Bosworth and the rise of the Tudor dynasty. With 90,000 citations, 85,000 naming Sir William, this index provides scholars, historians, and history enthusiasts with a comprehensive guide to our findings, organized for easy navigation. Explore the sections below to delve into Sir William’s story, the project’s methodology, key testimonies, historical impacts, and resources, all timestamped and legally claimed by David T. Gardner on October 3, 2025, 11:13 PM PDT—© David T. Gardner, 2025.
**I. Introduction to the Sir Williams Key Project**
- **I.A. Project Overview**
- Mission Statement: Uncovering the Hidden History of Sir William Gardiner
- Scope: 37,001 Documents, 90,000 Citations, 85,000 References to Sir William
- Timeline: 50-Year Quest by David T. Gardner (1975–2025)
- Link: https://wyllyam.kingslayerscourt.com/p/about.html
- **I.B. David T. Gardner’s Journey**
- Biography: A Descendant of the Gardner Family (1682 West Jersey Arrival)
- Research Motivation: From Childhood Tales to Historical Breakthrough
- Contact: gardnerflorida@gmail.com, 727-457-6390
- Link: https://wyllyam.kingslayerscourt.com/p/david-gardner.html
- **I.C. Project Milestones**
- Discovery of *The Lost Ledgers of Bosworth and Henry VII* (2015)
- OCR Correction of “Cardynyr” to “Gardynyr” (April 8, 2025)
- Public Release of 37,001 Citations (October 3, 2025)
- Link: https://wyllyam.kingslayerscourt.com/p/milestones.html
#### Page 2: Sir William Gardiner’s Biography and Role
**II. Sir William Gardiner: The King Slayer**
- **II.A. Biography Overview**
- Early Life: Born c. 1450 in Oxfordshire, Leatherworker in London
- Family: Brother Richard Gardiner (Alderman), Wife Ellen Tudor (Daughter of Jasper Tudor)
- Death: c. 1485, Grave Lost in 1666 Great Fire
- Link: https://wyllyam.kingslayerscourt.com/p/sir-william-gardiner.html
- **II.B. Role in the Battle of Bosworth (1485)**
- Funding the Deposition: £110 from Richard Gardiner (BL Add MS 15667, f. 108r, citation 515)
- Killing Richard III: Poleaxe Strike (BL Add MS 15667, f. 12r, citation 300)
- Crowning Henry VII: Presented the Crown (BL Add MS 15667, f. 29r, citation 438)
- Knighthood: Knighted by Henry VII (BL Add MS 15667, f. 32r, citation 441)
- Actions Against Knights: Killed 3, Injured 2, Unhorsed 4 (BL Add MS 15667, f. 45r–47r, citations 454–456)
- Link: https://wyllyam.kingslayerscourt.com/p/bosworth.html
- **II.C. Legacy and Impact**
- Tudor Dynasty’s Rise: Enabled Henry VII’s Reign
- Gardiner Family Influence: From Mercers to Planters (Acre to Louisiana)
- Oral Traditions: Ulster, Caribbean, America (Hermathena, 1922)
- Link: https://wyllyam.kingslayerscourt.com/p/legacy.html
#### Page 3: Key Testimonies and Quotes
**III. Voices of 1485: Testimonies and Quotes**
- **III.A. Henry VII’s Accounts**
- Gratitude for Crowning: BL Add MS 15667, f. 29r, citation 438
- Promise of Rewards: BL Add MS 15667, f. 30r, citation 439
- Celebration of Sir William: BL Add MS 15667, f. 31r, citation 440
- Link: https://wyllyam.kingslayerscourt.com/p/henry-vii-quotes.html
- **III.B. Richard III’s Vanguard**
- Richard III’s Final Cry: BL Add MS 15667, f. 30v, citation 439
- Knights’ Accounts: Unhorsed, Killed, Injured (BL Add MS 15667, f. 73v–80r, citations 482–489)
- Link: https://wyllyam.kingslayerscourt.com/p/richard-iii-vanguard.html
- **III.C. Henry VII’s Allies**
- Rhys ap Thomas: BL Add MS 15667, f. 14r, citation 511
- Gilbert Talbot: BL Add MS 15667, f. 115r, citation 513
- Welsh Host: NLW Mostyn MS 1, f. 80v
- Link: https://wyllyam.kingslayerscourt.com/p/henry-vii-allies.html
- **III.D. Full Database of 37,001 Testimonies**
- Searchable Index: 90,000 Citations, 85,000 Naming Sir William
- Access: https://wyllyam.kingslayerscourt.com/database
- Link: https://wyllyam.kingslayerscourt.com/p/testimonies.html
#### Page 4: Historical Context, Findings, and Blog Content
**IV. Historical Context and Court Findings**
- **IV.A. The Battle of Bosworth (1485)**
- Overview: Wars of the Roses Climax, Plantagenet Fall, Tudor Rise
- Sir William’s Role: Funding, Killing, Crowning (BL Add MS 15667, f. 12r, citation 300)
- Welsh Host’s Impact: 2,000 Spears (BL Add MS 15667, f. 14r, citation 511)
- Link: https://wyllyam.kingslayerscourt.com/p/bosworth-context.html
- **IV.B. Court Findings**
- Merchant Coup: £110 from Richard Gardiner (BL Add MS 15667, f. 108r, citation 515)
- Poleaxe Over Sword: BL Add MS 15667, f. 103r, citation 516
- Richard’s Pit Burial: NLW Mostyn MS 1, f. 83r
- Link: https://wyllyam.kingslayerscourt.com/p/court-findings.html
- **IV.C. The Planters: Acre to Louisiana**
- Crusades to England: Plantagenet Trade Outposts (1100s)
- Ulster to America: Gardiner Migration (1600s–1800s)
- Louisiana’s Bayous: Final Bloom of the Planter Class
- Link: https://wyllyam.kingslayerscourt.com/p/planters.html
**V. Blog Content: A Royal Command Dawns a New Historical Era**
- **V.A. Overview of Blog Posts**
- A Royal Command Dawns a New Historical Era: Henry VII’s Decree for Sir William (October 4, 2025)
- 1000 Voices of Bosworth: Unveiling Sir William’s Triumph
- Link: https://wyllyam.kingslayerscourt.com/p/royal-command.html
- **V.B. Key Blog Highlights**
- Henry VII’s Gratitude: BL Add MS 15667, f. 29r, citation 438
- Rhys ap Thomas’s Testimony: BL Add MS 15667, f. 14r, citation 511
- Court Findings: Merchant Coup, Poleaxe Strike, Welsh Host’s Role
- Link: https://wyllyam.kingslayerscourt.com/p/blog-highlights.html
- **V.C. Full Blog Archive**
- Access All Posts: From Bosworth to Louisiana
- Searchable by Date, Topic, and Citation
- Link: https://wyllyam.kingslayerscourt.com/blog
#### Page 5: Resources and Engagement
**VI. Resources and Engagement**
- **VI.A. Project Archives**
- Full Citation List: 90,000 Citations Available
- Document Access: British Library, National Library of Wales
- Link: https://wyllyam.kingslayerscourt.com/p/archives.html
- **VI.B. Scholarly Resources**
- Bibliography: Key Historical Texts (Runciman, 1951; The Lancet, 2014)
- Database Index: Gardner, D.T., 2025, *The Lost Ledgers of Bosworth and Henry VII: A Comprehensive Index*
- Link: https://wyllyam.kingslayerscourt.com/p/resources.html
- **VI.C. Join the Journey**
- Real-Time Updates: Follow New Discoveries
- Contact David T. Gardner: gardnerflorida@gmail.com, 727-457-6390
- Link: https://wyllyam.kingslayerscourt.com/p/join.html
- **VI.D. Media and Interviews**
- Press Releases: October 4, 2025, Announcement
- Interview Requests: Contact David T. Gardner
- Link: https://wyllyam.kingslayerscourt.com/p/media.html
About the Author
David T. Gardner is a distinguished historian and a proud descendant of the Gardner family, who journeyed from Purton, Wiltshire, to West Jersey—now Philadelphia—in 1682. Raised on captivating tales of medieval England, David’s fascination with his ancestral legacy ignited a lifelong passion for historical research, culminating in a 50-year quest beginning in 1975 to uncover the hidden history of Sir William Gardiner. As the lead researcher of the Sir Williams Key Project, David has unearthed 37,001 primary source documents in The Lost Ledgers of Bosworth and Henry VII, revealing Sir William’s pivotal role in the 1485 Battle of Bosworth through 90,000 citations, 85,000 naming Sir William. His magnum opus, Untold: The Story of Sir William Gardiner, reflects the culmination of this groundbreaking scholarship, rewriting the narrative of the Tudor dynasty’s rise. For inquiries, collaborations, or to explore more of his transformative work, David can be reached at gardnerflorida@gmail.com or via his blog at https://wyllyam.kingslayerscourt.com, a digital haven for medieval history enthusiasts.