Rev. Andrew Gardner's Death

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Here is the account of the death of Reverend Andrew Gardner (the Pitcher line), as it was given in the Boston News Letter, No. 31, November 20, 1704: 

 

"Boston. In our Number 28, as we then received it, we gave you the account of the Death of the Rev. Mr. Gardner, Minister of Lancaster; and having since had a perfect and exact account of the same from Eye and Ear witness; we thought it expedient to insert it here, to prevent various reports thereof. And is as follows: 

 

"That a man being killed the day before, between Groton and Lancaster, and the Indians being seen the night before nigh the town, Mr. Gardner, (three of the men belonging to his Garrison being gone out of Town, and two of the remaining three being tyred with Watching and Travelling in the Woods after the Indians that day), being a very careful as well as courageous man, concluded to watch that night himself; and accordingly went out into the little watch-house that was over the Flankers, and there stayed till late in the night, whence and when he was coming down (as it was thought) to warm him. The man that shot him, who was not long before sleeping by the fire, came out and whether between sleeping and waking, or surprised with an excess of fear, fired upon him as he was coming down out of the watch-house through a little trap-door into the Flanker, where no man having the exercise of his Reason could suspect the coming of an enemy, or suspect him to be so when in a clear Moonlight he was so nigh him.

 

"Mr. Gardner (though his wound was in his Breast being shot through the vitals), came to the odor, bid them open it for he was wounded; after he came in he fainted away, but coming to himself again, asked who it was that shot him, and when they told him he prayed God to forgive him, and forgave him himself, for he believed he did not do it on purpose; and with a composed Christian frame of spirit, desired them that were bitterly lamenting over him not to weep but to pray for him, and comforted his sorrowful wife, telling her he was going to Glory, advising her to follow him; and in about an hour Dyed, leaving his sorrowful friends to lament the loss of so worthy and desirable a person."