Newport County, R.I. - Robert Gardner and the Trinity Church History

Robert Gardner was the son of George Gardner by his second wife, Lydia Ballou. He was born in 1662, probably in Newport. His father was an inhabitant of Newport in 1638, an ensign in Rhode Island troops, and a member of thelegislature.

Robert was Naval officer and collector of the port of Newport. He was an active churchman, as his name was on the petition to the board of trade, requesting aid in getting a clergyman for Newport; this was before the Society for Propagating the Gospel was formed in England ; before this time all missionary work had been done by the Government of England, as the church did not seem to know that she had anything to do with missions. This is a sad page in the history of the English church, her apathy in regard to missions. She had few, if any, foreign missionaries after the conversion of Germany. The name of Robert Gardner occurs in the following petition found in Arnold's history of Rhode Island:

"To his Excellency Richard, Earle of Belmont, Capt. Generall and Gov. in Chiefe in and over the provinces of Massachusetts Bay, New York and New Hampshire and the Territoryes thereon depending in America, and Vice Admiral of the same.
The humble Petition of the People of the Church of England now resident in Rhode Island
Sheweth,

That your Petitioners and others inhabiting within this Island having agreed and concluded to erect a church for the Worship of God according to the discipline of the Church of England, and tho' we are disposed and ready to give allthe encouragement we possibly can to a Pious and learned Minister to settle and abide amongst us, yet by reason we are not in a capacity to contribute to such an Hon'ble maintenance as may be requisite and expedient. Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray that your Lordship will be pleased so farr to favour our undertakings as to intercede with his Maj'ty for his gracious letters to this Government, on our behalfe to protect and encourage us, and that some assistancetowards the present mentenance of a Minister among us maybe granted as your Excellency in your great wisdome shall think most meet, and that your Excellency will also be pleased to write in our behalfe and favour to the Lords of the Council of Trade and Plantations, or to such Minister of State as your Excellency shall judge convenient in and about the premises.

And your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray, &c.

Gabriel Bernon,
Piere Ayroult,
Thomas Fox,
George Cuttler,
Wm. Pease,
Edwin Carter,
Fra. Pope,
Richard Howland,
Wm. Bimley,
Isaac Martindale,
Robert Gardner,
Thos. Paine,
Thos. Malleth,
Robert Wrightington,
Anthy. Blount,
Thomas Lillibridge."

This petition was delivered at Newport, 26th Sept, 1699.
The name of Robert Gardner also occurred in the following letter which is among the earliest documents extant relating to the Rhode Island Church, which is found in the Churchman's Year Book for 1870.

"The Ministers and Church Wardens of Rhode Island to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, instituted A. D. 1701,Rhode Island 29th Sept., 1702.

Honored Sirs :
We cannot forbear expressing our great joy in being under the patronage of so Honorable a corporation through whose pious endeavours, with God's assistance, the Church of England hath so fair a prospect of flourishing in these more
remote parts of the world, and amongst the rest of her small branches, ours also in Rhode Island. We therefore, Honored Sirs, beg leave to tell you that we look upon ourselves as under your pious care, and accordingly presume to trouble
you with small account of our affairs. Our church is but young, it not being four years yet compleat since we began to assemble ourselves together on that occasion ; upon which account the number of such men as can be relied upon to
defray the charges of it, is but small at present; altho' there is a good many that constantly attend our worship regularly. The place wherein we meet to worship is finished on the outside, all but the steeple, which we will get up as soon as we are able; the inside is pew'd well, altho' not beautified; we h.ive also got an altar, where we have had the communion administered twice to our great joy and satisfaction, causing rather to partake of that holy Sacrameut without those necessary conveniences that the tables in England are furnished with (well knowing that they add not to the worthiness of the guests) rather than be without it, not but we are sensible they add much to the decency and order of it. The place wherein we live is one of the Chief Nurseries of Quakerism, in all America, but now we have some reason to hope that the Reverend Mr. Keith by God's assisting his skill on that disease hath pretty well curbed (if not quite stopped) so dangerous a gangreene. Their behaviour to us outwardly is almost as civill as is consistent with their religion. Although slily and underhand,we are sensible they would pinch us iu the bud. But thanks be to God who hath putt it past their power in that he hath not only raised us up a Queene that is truly a nursery mother, but hath blessed us also with the protection of so honourable a Corporation; two such encouragements as (by the assistance of God's Grace) are able not only to invigorate our endeavors towards the Promoting of God's true Religion and worship, but flushed us likewise with the hopes of our Success.

Thus, Honor'd Sirs, we have laid before you the circumstances of our Church, delivering them into your hands to do for us what you think best, only begging Leave to assure your Honors that whatsoever favors you are pleased to bestow upon us towards the Promoting of our Church, shall be accepted with the humblest Gratitude and seconded with the utmost of our abilities, and so we remain Honor'd Sirs,

Your most Obedient Servants to command.
John Lookier.

Robert Gardner is buried in Trinity Church yard, near the east end of the church. The inscription on his tombstone reads as follows:

"Here lieth interred the body of Mr. Robert Gardner, Esq., who was one of the first promoters of the church in this place; he survived all his brethren and had the happiness to see this church completely finished. He was naval officer and collector of this port for many years, also employed in the affairs of this colony, and discharged his trust to satisfaction. He died ye 1st of May, 1731, the day of his birth, aged 69 years."

Robert's brother Joseph who married Catharine Holmes, had children, one of whom, William, was a warden of Trinity ; he married Mary Carr and was the father of Caleb Gardner and others.

Collections of the Rhode Island Historical Society July 1886 - Submitted by Barb Ziegenmeyer