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According to "Westchester County: A Biographical History," the Gedney family arrived in Salem, Massachusetts in 1635 from Lincolnshire, England. The book doesn't mention the name of that first Gedney but what I've found online shows John Gedney arriving in Salem, Massachusetts in 1637. The problem is there were two John Gedney's arriving in Massachusetts in 1637. One was the John Gedney I've listed below and the other was a John Gedney who was 19 years old in 1637 and a servant of John Pierce. (This Gedney appears to have lived in Boston.) The younger John Gedney was a single man when arriving in Massachusetts but I've seen very confusing marriage records for John Gedney and I wonder if the records of these two men have been "mixed up." One other note of interest - click here for a good article about the Gedney name on GenForum.com.
JOHN GEDNEY was born about 1603 in England and died August 5, 1688 in Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts. He married 1) SARAH BARTHOLOMEW. She was born about 1612 in England and died about 1648 (probably a result of childbirth) in Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts. He married 2) KATHERINE CLARK, widow of William Clark; 3) MARY PRINCE, widow of James Prince.
Notes for JOHN GEDNEY
John, Sarah and their first three children immigrated to America, May 10, 1637, on the ship MARY ANNE out of Yarmouth (England). John was listed as a weaver of Norwich, England.
John mentions his "daughter-in-law" Rebecca Putnam in his will. Some researchers say that Rebecca was his step-daughter, daughter of his 3rd wife, Mary Prince and married to John Putnam, Jr. Others say Rebecca was the wife of ELIJAH. I don't know which is correct.
Children of JOHN GEDNEY and UNKNOWN are:
ELEAZER GEDNEY (JOHN GEDNEY1) was born about 1642 in Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts and died 1683 in Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts. He married 1) ELIZABETH TURNER, June 6, 1665, daughter of ROBERT TURNER and ELIZABETH FREESTONE. She was born April 13, 1648 in Massachusetts and died 1677 in Massachusetts. He married 2) MARY PATTASHALL/PATESHALL, June 6, 1678. She was born unknown and died 1716 in Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts.
Notes for ELEAZER GEDNEY
For information on Eleazer Gedney's house and a picture, click here.
Notes for ELIZABETH TURNER
Elizabeth's brother, Capt. John Turner, built the House of Seven Gables in Salem, Massachusetts.
Children of ELEAZER GEDNEY and ELIZABETH TURNER are:
JOHN GEDNEY (JOHN GEDNEY1) was born about 1637 in England and died 1684 in Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts. He married 1) SUSANNAH CLARKE. She was born about 1643 in Essex County, Massachusetts and died February 19, 1727 in Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts.
Child of JOHN GEDNEY and SUSANNAH CLARKE is:
BARTHOLOMEW GEDNEY (JOHN GEDNEY1) was born about 1640 in Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts and died 1697/98 in Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts. He married HANNAH CLARKE, October 22, 1662 in Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts, daughter of WILLIAM CLARKE and KATHERINE BUNCE. She was born November, 1643 in Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts and died January 4, 1696 in Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts. He married 2) ANNE STEWART, about 1697.
Child of BARTHOLOMEW GEDNEY and HANNAH CLARKE is:
ELEAZER GEDNEY (ELEAZER GEDNEY2) was born March 18, 1666 in Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts and died October 27, 1722 in Mamaroneck, Westchester County, New York. He married MARY ANNA MOTT, daughter of ADAM MOTT and ELIZABETH REDMON. She was born 1670 in Nassau County, New York and died September 25, 1750 in Mamaroneck, Westchester County, New York.
Child of ELEAZER GEDNEY and MARY ANNA MOTT is:
RUTH GEDNEY (ELEAZER GEDNEY2) was born May 24, 1672 in Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts and died August 23, 1737. She married HABAKKUK GARDNER, March 22, 1696, son of THOMAS GARDNER and MARY PORTER. He was born unknown and died February 3, 1732.
Children of RUTH GEDNEY and HABAKKUK GARDNER are:
JOHN GEDNEY (ELEAZER GEDNEY3) was born about 1695 in Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts and died 1769 in Westchester County, New York. His wife's name is unknown but it's apparent she died before he did as she isn't mentioned in his will.
Notes for JOHN GEDNEY
There is some contradiction regarding the year John died. According to Westchester County: A Biographical History, John died when his son, John Jr., was only two years old. That would mean he died in 1765. However, his will is dated February 24, 1769 and proved March 28, 1769 so that would give a death year of 1769. I must agree with his will on the death year and the article in the book must be wrong regarding John's son's age when he died.
Children of JOHN GEDNEY and UNKNOWN are:
RUTH GEDNEY (ELEAZER GEDNEY3) was born about 1691 in Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts and died after 1738 in Mamaroneck, Westchester County, New York. She married POLYCARPUS NELSON, son of JOHN NELSON and HENDRICKJE DIRCKSE VAN DER VLIET. He was born July 21, 1680 in Long Island, New York and died December 19, 1738 in Mamaroneck, Westchester County, New York.
Children of RUTH GEDNEY and POLYCARPUS NELSON are:
BARTHOLOMEW GEDNEY (ELEAZER GEDNEY3) was born about 1720 and died 1775 in White Plains, Westchester County, New York. He married MARGARET WEEKS.
Notes for BARTHOLOMEW GEDNEY
Since he doesn't mention any children in his will, it appears he and Margaret didn't have children. Or they died before he did. Or I just don't know their names.
MARTHA GEDNEY (JOHN GEDNEY4) was born unknown and died before 1781 in Westchester County, New York. She married ELISHA COVERT, son of ISAAC COVERT and ELIZABETH HORTON. He was born about 1720 and died 1781 in Westchester County, New York.
Notes for MARTHA GEDNEY
Since Martha isn't mentioned in Elisha's will, it is assumed she died before he did.
Children of MARTHA GEDNEY and ELISHA COVERT are:
MARY GEDNEY (JOHN GEDNEY4) was born unknown and died unknown. She married MONMOUTH HART in 1778, son of JOSEPH HART. He was born 1752 in Westchester County, New York and died unknown.
Children of MARY GEDNEY and MONMOUTH HART are:
