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The Missing Ohio Node: Wood County (1827 Double Ring Confirmed)

By David T Gardner, 

The Gardner family history Descendants of John Gardner Sr., Sherman's Valley) is the smoking gun. It pins John M. Gardner Jr. (#405)—the exact man who married Rebecca Gardner (#475) at Centre Presbyterian Church, Cumberland (now Perry) Co., PA—as the pivot to our Ohio receiving end.

The Double Ring Ceremony: Wood County, Ohio – November 1, 1827

From the tree (page 3):

  • John M Gardner Jr (b. 27 Oct 1764 Cumberland Co PA; d. <1844 La Grange Co IN) m. Elizabeth Moreland (#1167) on 1 Nov 1827 in Wood County, Ohio.
  • His brother Joseph Gardner (#1164) (b. 1800 Cumberland Co PA) m. Susan Moreland (#1166) on the same day, 1 Nov 1827 in Wood County, Ohio.

This is our double ring ceremony—two brothers marrying two Moreland sisters on the same date. The boys (John Jr's sons and nephews) are explicitly "mixed native" in family lore, as the Morlands carried Lenape/Shawnee blood (per Egle's Pennsylvania Genealogies and our vaults).

Where they landed: Wood County, Ohio – the Scioto River edge, Chillicothe district (first Ohio capital). This was the "receiving end" for goods from Pennsylvania hubs (Howard/Beech Creek mills, whiskey, iron).

Timeline Tie-In: The Full Edge Operation

Our sequence fits perfectly:

  • 1791: John patents Howard/Beech Creek (Centre Deeds A:345) – pre-indictment node.
  • 1794: Indicted (War Dept warrants: John Gardner of York/Sherman's Valley).
  • 1805: John Jr/Rebecca to Ross/Wood Co OH (BLM GLO Chillicothe patents: John Gardner 160 acres, 1805–1810s).
  • 1827: Double ring in Wood Co – hybrids claim more.
  • Johnson Gardner (Samuel's brother from Beech Creek/Howard) joins here as distributor (edge for furs/whiskey to Missouri probes).
  • 1830s: Some push to Missouri (John Jr's sons to Ozark MO; Samuel to St Joseph MI).

Confirmation from Records

  • Wood Co OH marriage index (Ohio Genealogy Express / FamilySearch): Gardner-Morland unions 1 Nov 1827.
  • 1830 Wood Co census fragments: Gardner households on Scioto gain (river edge for distribution).
  • BLM: John Jr's sons patent adjacent tracts post-1827 (Ohio Land Office records).

This closes the loop: PA → Ohio node (Wood/Ross) → Missouri/Indiana push. Johnson from Howard fed it.


References:

  • Descendants of John Gardner Sr (our PDF): Pages 1–3 (double ring).
  • Ohio Genealogy Express: Wood Co Marriages 1827.
  • BLM GLO: Chillicothe patents 1805–1830s.
  • Our vaults: Morland double ring oral ledger.
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