GARDNER, JAMES [SSNE 4922]

Surname

GARDNER, GARDINER, GAIRDNER, GÄRDENÄR, GIERDNER, GIERNER, GERNER, GERDNER, GERDENER, GERDENN, JERN, JERNER, JERDNER

First name

JAMES, JAKOB, JACOB

Nationality

SCOT

Social status

BURGESS

Text source

James Gardner [SSNE 4922] was a burgess of Stockholm during the first half of the seventeenth century. James Gardiner had a brother, William [SSNE 6709], who was a burgess in Åbo in Finland. He also apparently was the brother of Robert Gardiner [SSNE 6710] another burgess of Stockholm, and indeed of one 'Albreckt' (Albert?) [SSNE 7695].

However, we have not been able to link him definitively with George Gardner [SSNE 7352], although it is likely they may have been related (uncle and nephew, perhaps?). Several other Gerdners/Gardners/Gardiners were living in Sweden and Finland at this time. Robert Gardiner [SSNE 2300] and William Gardiner [SSNE 2301] served as officers in the Swedish-Finnish army at this time, and so far no definitive links to either the Stockholm or Åbo Gardiners have been found. There is also a Jacob Garden [SSNE 4681], who was a burgess in Gothenburg.

One letter contains the signatures of a Jacob and a James Gardner [SSNE 4937] side beside, clearly indicating they are two separate individuals: 'One particular letter of Jacob Merser [SSNE 4839] was co-signed by William Merser [SSNE 4923], Jacob Gardiner [SSNE 4922], Ignatius Menner, Jurgen Garden Junior (George Gardner junior, [SSNE 4924]), James Gardiner [SSNE 4937], Robert Smidt [SSNE 4938]. It is not clear what the relationship, if any, between these men might be. George junior may possibly be George senior's son, or James Gardner's son.

There was a James Gardner was a burgess and a shipowner who wrote two undated letters to Axel Oxenstierna which can be found in Riksarkiv. Unfortunately the letter is not transparent as to whether he was a Stockholm burgess and the man being discussed here, or the "other" Jacob who co-signs a letter with this James. A letter to Queen Christina from Jacob mentions that his brother is already dead [c.1644?]. Jakob is mentioned in another letter from 22/07/1644 by Robert [?]. Jakob himself wrote further letters to Queen Christina on 22 July and 6 August 1647 where he mentions a dispute with Albrekt/Albert Smidt, the date 29 November 1644 and the sum of 13,204 Rixdaler.

This may be the same Jacob Gerdner/Gerner noted several times in Stockholm city records. He swore the burgess oath in Stockholm on 10 May 1619. The Stockholmsstads tänke böcker list 'Jacob Järnn' in 1620 for the first time as an innkeeper in Gamla Stan, at Rosenkrantzen, and he appears listed as such every year until 1637.  He was also registered as a tax-payer residing in the town in 1628 and 1631, at a house on what is today called Brända Tomten(where Kindstugatan and Själagårdsgatan meet). James Gardner was still registered living at that house in 1637.

The Scots not infrequently appear in the Stockholm magistrate records due to acts of violence. James Gardner accused Salmon Castens of having abused his hospitality at his inn in March 1625. Indeed, so had Albert. Apparently Castens has cast aspersions against several of Gardner's customers, and specifically used derogatory terms about a German individual. Castens claimed that it was the German private, one Private Kettell, who had struck him and had run off with his hat, coat and sword. James Gardner agreed that Private Kettler had arrived drunk at the inn and started decrying the Scots as "blackguards" before approaching Castens. Another Scot, David Anderson, testified that neither James Gardner nor Albert were involved until the tussle broke out and then only stepped in to bring peace. Another man, Augustin Cassiodores testifed that Castens arrived bloodied and requesting water, asking the hostess to lock the door to save his life. Castens went off to find the night watchguard and broke a door at the establishment while looking for his tormentor. Apparently a young boy servant of a Scottish officer was present and Castens struck him on the mouth, causing him to bleed and hurled abuse at him regarding his nationality. The Stockholm magistrates decided to fine Castens 60 marks and 6 'm' for striking the boy.

In May the following year, 1626, there is an account of a certain David, who was James Gardner's "cellar boy" (ie who worked at the inn) who complained about the night watchman attacking him one night, wounding him grievously in the face, as he was trying to get a fellow Scotsman named Hercules Cremont (!) home to his accommodation at Scottish burgess James Erskine's [SSNE 781] house (seemingly after a night at the pub). However, the night watchman had already given his version of events, and had explained that the two Scotsmen (specified as such) had thrown stones at him and shouted at him "as though they were insane", and that one of the two Scots fell onto the cobbles. David had apparently drawn his sword, slashing about before seeking refuge in the cellar. The night watchman similarly took out his weapon and swung it about. David believed that the night watchman had been egged on by "burwården" (the jailor?) - which the night watchman agreed was true. David and the watchman wanted to take the other Scotsman and place him the jail but the "burwården" would not allow this. In the end the magistrates decided that both the watchman and the "burwård" should be thrown in jail and whoever caused the wound should be banished, or pay the barbersurgeon to tend the wound.

A case involving William Mitchell [SSNE 7351] begins in October 1626 when Mitchell presents a letter from Danzig to the Stockholm magistrates which concerns issues regarding a particular skipper and James Gardner. Seemingly Mitchell presented skipper Matthias Ellers with a "sea letter" and paid him to ship some iron. The skipper claims that Mitchell entrusted a servant boy with the iron, who then sold it in Stralsund for 500 daler and then was robbed. The thief was dealt with in Danzig. Mitchell denies it all, but the court decides to wait until James Gardner can appear. James Gardner, along with Jöran Gerdner (George Gardner, probably junior? [SSNE 4924])  are still noted as involved in a case against Scottish merchant William Mitchell in 1627.

In 1628 Jacob Gardner appears as one of two Stockholm burgesses who had lent fellow burgess Thomas Glenn [SSNE 6132] 1500 daler. This issue reappears in the city records for 1632.  

Sources: Swedish Riksarkiv,Biographica Microcard, E01412 4/7; Biographica Microcard, E01642 4/8. Letters signed by Jakob Merser in November 1648; SRA, Register Over Brevskrivare i Enskilda Samlinger; Oxenstierna Samlingen Skrivelser till Axel Oxenstierna B:1; Svenska Riksradets Protokoll, vol.2, p.216; Stockholmsstads tänke böcker, 1619, p. 49; Stockholmsstads tänke böcker 1624-1625, (Stockholm, 1979), pp.243-244; Stockholmsstads tänke böcker, 1626 (Stockholm, 1990), p.70, 202, 205, 261, 264; Frans de Brun, 'Vinstugor och värdshus i Stockholm i början av 1600-talet', Samfundet St Eriks Årsbok 1922, ed. Gustaf Upmark, (Stockholm, 1922), p.46; F.U. Wrangel, Stockholmiana I-IV, (Stockholm, 1912), pp.229-233 Curt Haij, 'Skottar i Stockholm under 1600-talet', unpublished list of names, Hintze biblioteket, Genealogiska Föreningen, Sundbyberg, Stockholm. Thanks to Ardis Dreisbach for this information.

 

See also various correspondence in Riksarkivets ämnessamlingar. Personhistoria https://sok.riksarkivet.se/bildvisning/A0069653_00167#?c=&m=&s=&cv=166&xywh=-735%2C638%2C7641%2C4406

HouseinStockholm

Service record

SWEDEN, STOCKHOLM?

Arrived 1619-05-10

Departed 1648-12-31

Capacity BURGESS, purpose CIVIC, INNKEEPER, NAVAL?