Person Page - 104

     Mary was born circa 1601 at Worden, Holland.¹ She was the daughter of Dirck Willemsz Deurcant and Haechgen Bastiaens. She married Lion Gardiner before 1635 at Worden, Holland.^2,3 Mary died in 1655 at East Hampton, Suffolk County, Long Island, New York.³

      The name Duercant, in its variety of spelling, is mentioned in the records as early as 1418, for on 27 February of that year Willem Duercant attaches his own seal to a document in behalf of the sheriff of "Gherwerscoep" (about 4 miles N.E. of Woerden in the province of Utrecht) who possibly had no seal of his own. This seal has Willem b. Duercant's name on it, and shows a fess and in chief a label with three points. During the following century another Willem Duercant is mentioned on 6 June 1519 a a landgenoot (landowner)in the landcourt district of Naaldwijk, 12 miles W.N.w. of Rotterdam, in a charter in the same collection as above. And about 50 years later there must have been again another Willem Duercant, whose son Dirck Willemsz. Duercant (the father of Lion Gardiner's wife) was in 1603 schepen at Woerden. According to the Orphan Chamber record Willem Duercant had tow other sons besides Dirck, viz. Pieter and Elbert Duercant.
     
      The parents of Lion Gardiner's belonged to the magistrate families of the small city of Woerden, at that time in the Province of Utrecht, at present in South Holland. Dirck was a schepen there in 1603 but died prior to 7 October 1607. His wife Haechje Bastiaens had a brother Pons Gerritsz.
     
     



He married Haechgen Bastiaens before 1601 at Holland.¹ Dirck died before 1605 at Holland.²

     Haechgen died. Haechgen was born.¹ She married Dirck Willemsz Deurcant before 1601 at Holland.¹

     
      "Cloth of Gold"
     
     
      It is a well authenticated fact that on or about 27 June 1699, Captain William Kidd, of pirate fame, visited Gardiner's Island. then in possession of it 3rd proprietor, John Gardiner (3) (grandson of Lion); and that, in exchange for certain supplies furnished him, Captain Kidd gave to John and his wife presents of cloth of various sorts, and placed in John Gardiners care, to be subsequently called for by Kidd, several bales and boxes containing gold, silver, jewels, and cloth of various sorts. After the arrest of Captain Kidd, John Gardiner reported to the government authorities the existence of this deposit, and subsequently turned it over to a government committee appointed to receive the same and took their formal reciept therefor.
     
     
      Among the gifts presented to John Gardiner and his wife Mary King was undoubtedly the "Cloth of Gold" (or "Kidd Blanket") which on account of the incidents attached to its acquisition became an heirloom in the family; and this heirloom, by the varying influences of family history, has passed from the possession of those bearing the Gardiner name and is now in the possession of the heirs of the late Mrs. Joseph Hobson, of Washington, D.C..
     
     
      It has also been said that the wife of John Gardiner Mary King was requested to roast a pig for Captain Kidd. She being afraid to refuse him, cooked it very nice, and he was much pleased with it, he then made her a present of this silk ("Cloth of Gold"), which she gave to her daughters. Which is true, whether it is in being; we know not; but this was handed down through the generations.
     
     


John was born on 10 April 1661.¹ He was the son of David Gardiner and Mary Herringman. John died on 25 June 1738 at Groton, Connecticut, at age 77.²