The False Royal Line of Thomas Gardiner b.ca. 1531-1590 of London, England

Occasionally I google the names of ancestors who are dead ends to see if someone else has broken through or is working on them.  I happen to descend from Thomas Gardiner and Katherine Benbowe of London, England.  They are covered in the Visitations of London and Essex where Katherine is given as Benbowe or Dembowe.  Their son Christopher married Jane Topp.

Thomas Gardiner is given as the son of a Robert Gardiner and grandson of a John Gardiner.

I found Thomas and Katherine today on a webpage with ancestors.  I was curious. It is called McCay/Stevens  Genealogy Pages.  Well, the red flag went up right away.  Katherine Benbowe's father is given as Richard Donbolde Benbowe born say 1530.  No one in England had middle names in the 16th century (and earlier). 

Thomas Gardiner is given as the son of John Gardiner and Agnes Hornsey and grandson of a Richard Gardiner.  That Richard was the son of a William John Gardiner b. 1459 and Helen Tudor.  Again a middle name in the 15th century.

Well, Tudor is quite the name to come across and indeed she is the illegitimate daughter of Sir Jasper Tudor, the Duke of Bedford and uncle to Henry VII of England.  Sir Jasper is the second son of Owen Tudor and Katherine of Valois, first Queen to Henry V and daughter of Charles VI of France.

Well, be still my beating heart.  What a line.  It took almost no time to tear this up.  Helen Tudor is indeed the illegitimate daughter of Sir Jasper Tudor.  She married a William Gardiner, citizen of London.  She had five children, one son and 4 daughters.  The son became a monk (Thomas Gardiner) and the Gardiner name dies out there.

So some enterprising genealogist has concocted a way to get from Helen and William to another Gardiner family, citizens of London.  I would have liked a Tudor line.

Comments

[Cfuture4u]

I believe just like Cardinal Wolsey, Stephen Gardiner, Kings Chaplain Thomas Gardiner
as well as half of London society, all had an unacknowledged wives and children.. When King Henry VIII was told Thomas Gardiner wasn't acceptable as head priest of the newly constructed Westminster Abby lady chapel, because he'd never been incepted in theology.. Henry was quoted.. I am your King and you will make him acceptable.. I was chatting with Thomas Gardiners modern contemporary at Westminster Abby also believe this may have been the case..