Reynolds to Bob (Four letters)

1962 July 15 writes about sending Installment #2 with Photostat of the Lewis Girdler – Andrew Jackson commission, says that Bob is sitting on a treasure trove and advises getting copies made. Mentions John Girdler’s prayer book and transport food to Ireland. Asks if Bob has a copy of the Lindsey book “Marblehead Sea Captains…” and how rare the book is. Essex Institute has many family histories of the Gardners – John Girdler’s older brother, Richard, married a Gardner. The present day Gardners of Boston are the oldest, richests, proudest family: Mrs. Jack Gardner, John Lowell Gardner, Cabots and Lowells. All Gardners started with Thomas the Planter, in Salem. Reynold’s cousin, Charles Girdler Cawein, died and left him some family letters.

1962 July 29 says Bob is good on his word Reynolds got the Rebecca Gardner Dixey, Abel Gardner’s fourth daughter, stuff; Priscilla Gardner, the fifth daughter, letter and a letter from Mary B., the sixth daughter. Reynolds analyses the letters and has made suppositions about the relationships of Mary, John who died in debt, Frank, Kate, Jen, Tom, the death of Abel Gardner in 1872 and giving his house to Bob’s grandfather in 1874 – what house? Jane Bray Gardner, mother of Sarah Jane died in 1866, looks like Priscilla married twice, Dexter Belknap and Aunt Jennie benefactors of the Girdlers, a reference to Carrie Dixey, John Low, husband of oldest sister, and his ceramics business, aunt Jennie and Rebecca sailing together. Questions John Girdler and the Mazeppa incident mentioned in letter dated May 31, 1851 (see SC MS 0247.01.06.01) ship was sold June 3, 1851 to John Paty also uncle Richard Evans was a passenger on the ship. Mentions the ship Webster Samuel Knapp Girdler sailing on it, reference to Capt. Hammond, who has a descendent, Hammond Bowden still living in Salem. Again mention is made of Flying Cloud, its Capt. Creesy and Josh Prentiss one of the officers. (two page letter)

1962 August 3 to Bob and Betty from Girdler re: returning material and “a 300 cents” award to John Girdler slightly later than the $5 one Reynolds mentioned. Girdler says he has a print of the victory of Perry on Lake Erie which may have entered the family of Lewis Girdler shortly after the battle.

1963 April 13 to Bob from Reyn(olds) says living in Louisville with contact of the Louisville and Jeffersonville Girdlers gave him access to information that Bob hasn’t: John Girdler’s last voyage was on the Webster late November or early December 1851. “Buber Sam” is Samuel Knapp Girdler, first of John Girdler’s children by his first wife whose maiden name seems to be Knapp. Second wife, Sarah Jane Gardner Girdler, raised him as one of her own and later his half-sister, great aunt Jenny, left him money – he lived in California – Tom Sr. met him once. Sarah Jane and Richard refers to Bob’s great-aunt Jenny (Mrs. Dexter Belknap) and to Reynolds grandfather Richard Girdler, who must have been a behavior problem all his life. Richard Dixey is husband of Rebecca Gardner, younger sister of Sarah Jane Gardner, who later commands the R.H. Dixey (Bob has black and white print of this clipper ship). The Dixeys were some cuts above the Girdlers. Sarah Jane Girdler, was the older sister of Bob and Reyn grandfathers and wrote the book “Aunt Jane’s Travels.” She married a man from Canada, Dexter Belknap, who had a successful cement mill (this paragraph continues on what Aunt Jenny an “angel” did for her family). Richard Evans name comes up in the Mazeppa gold rush voyage. Lewis Girdler had 13 children all by same wife! Hannah Low was originally Hannah Gardner, first child of Abel Gardner by his first wife, and half-sister of Saran Jane Gardner – not a blood kin on John Girdler. As far as Reyn can tell Abel Gardner had no sons. Bob’s father told Reyn that there was some relationship with the famous Jack Gardner (John Lowell Gardner) whose wife was the famous “Mrs. Jack” painted by Sargeant and sole arbiter for years of Boston society. Her palace is now a museum in Boston. John Girdler bad bookkeeper and his voyages lousy – the Mazeppa gold rush voyage must have been a horror. (three page letter ends with hope that the two men can get together).