Captain Edmund Gardner

1784 - 1875  (90 years)  Submit Photo / Document

• Name	Edmund Gardner
  Title	Captain
  Born	8 Nov 1784	Nantucket, Nantucket, Massachusetts
  	In his autobiography he states he was born and raised in Nantucket however, some records indicate that he was born in New Bedford.
  Gender	Male
  Biographical Information	New Bedford, Bristol, Massachusetts
  		Edmund Gardner New Bedford Home. Edmund Gardner, of Nantucket and New Bedford: His Journal and His Family. Edited and compiled by John M. Bullard. Self published, New Bedford, Massachusetts 1958. Page (facing) 46.
  Occupation	At the age of 16, he became a mariner, sailing on a whaling ship the "Dove". His first command came in 1807 when he was asked to be the Captain of the ship "Union". On his 5th voyage of captain of the Union the ship was struck by a whale and sank. All hands survived. In 1815 as captain of the "Winslow" he took the place of the harpooner after he missed the whale. After harpooning the whale it caught Edmund in its jaws and mauled him. Several of the whale's teeth pierced his body. His skull was broken. His right shoulder and arm were badly broke. His right hand was badly mangled. As captain of the "Balaena" he made history when in 1819 when they became the first American whalers to visit the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii). Two islanders made the voyage with him back to Massachusetts becoming the first islanders to visit the continent. He retired from the sea in 1826
  		Captain Edmund Gardner showing his right hand mangled in a 1815 whaling incident. Edmund Gardner, of Nantucket and New Bedford: His Journal and His Family. Edited and compiled by John M. Bullard. Self published, New Bedford, Massachusetts 1958. Page (facing) 84.
  		Thar She Blows! (11) While many cultures and countries engaged in whaling this page is concerned with the history of the New England whaling industry. In no way should this be seen to justify modern whaling. Commercial whaling in the United States began in the 17th century in New England. The industry peaked in 1846–1852 when the availability of petrochemicals and over-hunting made the practice increasingly impractical. At one time whale oil was absolutely necessary. It's main uses were for household lighting and lubrication of machinery. There were alternatives to whale oil, but they were inferior in performance and cleanliness of burn. While the oil was the primary driver there were secondary products. The baleen some whales used to strain food from the sea were a secondary harvest. They were used in applications that would be accomplished in the modern world with plastic or steel. Simply put whale hunting allowed civilization to grow and prosper.
  Died	16 Sep 1875	New Bedford, Bristol, Massachusetts
  Headstones	Submit Headstone Photo
  Person ID	I61865	Nagel
  Last Modified	30 Nov 2021

  
  

  Father	Thomas Gardner, Jr,   b. 7 May 1736, Nantucket, Nantucket, Massachusetts ,   d. 10 Apr 1830, Nantucket, Nantucket, Massachusetts  (Age 93 years)
  Relationship	Birth
  Mother	Anna Worth,   b. 5 Aug 1741, Massachusetts ,   d. 1 Apr 1815, Massachusetts  (Age 73 years)
  Relationship	Birth
  Married	7 Feb 1760	Nantucket, Nantucket, Massachusetts
  Family ID	F18784	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Susanna Hussey,   b. 18 Jul 1784, Nantucket, Nantucket, Massachusetts ,   d. 7 Jun 1866, New Bedford, Bristol, Massachusetts  (Age 81 years)
  Married	25 Aug 1807	Nantucket, Nantucket, Massachusetts
  Children	1. Gardner  [Birth]   2. Gardner,   b. 1811, Nantucket, Nantucket, Massachusetts ,   d. 1817  (Age 6 years)  [Birth]   3. Thomas Gardner,   b. 13 Nov 1812, Nantucket, Nantucket, Massachusetts ,   d. 1817  (Age 4 years)  [Birth]   4. Charles Hussey Gardner,   b. 27 May 1814, Nantucket, Nantucket, Massachusetts ,   d. Bef 1817  (Age 2 years)  [Birth]   5. Paul Gardner,   b. 21 Jan 1816, Nantucket, Nantucket, Massachusetts ,   d. 1817  (Age 0 years)  [Birth]   6. Lydia Hussey Gardner,   b. 23 Apr 1818, Nantucket, Nantucket, Massachusetts ,   d. 18 Oct 1902  (Age 84 years)  [Birth]   7. Edmund Barnard Gardner,   b. 2 Mar 1822, Nantucket, Nantucket, Massachusetts ,   d. 1905  (Age 82 years)  [Birth]   8. John Hussey Gardner,   b. 2 Mar 1822, Nantucket, Nantucket, Massachusetts ,   d. 7 Feb 1854  (Age 31 years)  [Birth]   9. Anna Worth Gardner,   b. 16 Mar 1824, Nantucket, Nantucket, Massachusetts ,   d. 1885  (Age 60 years)  [Birth]   10. Susan Barnard Gardner,   b. 5 May 1826, Nantucket, Nantucket, Massachusetts ,   d. 29 Dec 1869  (Age 43 years)  [Birth]   11. George Gardner,   b. 27 Jul 1828, New Bedford, Bristol, Massachusetts  [Birth]   12. Mary Hussey Gardner,   b. 31 May 1830, New Bedford, Bristol, Massachusetts ,   d. Abt 1905  (Age 74 years)  [Birth]
  Last Modified	30 Nov 2021
  Family ID	F18785	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map		Born - 8 Nov 1784 - Nantucket, Nantucket, Massachusetts Biographical Information - - New Bedford, Bristol, Massachusetts Married - 25 Aug 1807 - Nantucket, Nantucket, Massachusetts Died - 16 Sep 1875 - New Bedford, Bristol, Massachusetts  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Photos

  Captain Edmund Gardner. Edmund Gardner, of Nantucket and New Bedford: His Journal and His Family. Edited and compiled by John M. Bullard. Self published, New Bedford, Massachusetts 1958. Page (facing) 30.