Biography of Mary Gardiner 1627-1665

On or before 26th February 1627 Mary Gardiner was born to Thomas Gardiner (age 36). She was baptised on 26th February 1627 at Greenford Magna, Middlesex.

Around 1630 [her future husband] Henry Wood 1st Baronet (age 32) and Anne Webb were married.

John Evelyn's Diary. 1st November 1650. Took leave of my Lord Stanhope (age 16), going on his journey toward Italy; also visited my Lord Hatton (age 45), Comptroller of his Majesty's Household, the Countess of Morton (age 41), Governess to the Lady Henrietta (age 6), and Mrs. Gardner (age 23), one of the Queen's maids of honor.

In November 1651 Henry Wood 1st Baronet (age 54) and Mary Gardiner (age 24) were married at Paris [Map]. The difference in their ages was 29 years.

John Evelyn's Diary. 17th November 1651. I went to congratulate the marriage of Mrs. Gardner (age 24), maid of honor, lately married to that odd person, [her husband] Sir Henry Wood (age 54): but riches do many things.

In 1652 [her father] Thomas Gardiner (age 61) died.

In 1663 [her daughter] Mary Wood Duchess Southampton was born to [her husband] Henry Wood 1st Baronet (age 65) and Mary Gardiner (age 35).

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 26th October 1663. Thence to Westminster Hall [Map] with Creed, and spent the morning walking there, where, it being Terme time, I met several persons, and talked with them, among others James Pearce Surgeon, who tells me that the Queen (age 24) is in a way to be pretty well again, but that her delirium in her head continues still; that she talks idle, not by fits, but always, which in some lasts a week after so high a fever, in some more, and in some for ever; that this morning she talked mightily that she was brought to bed, and that she wondered that she should be delivered without pain and without spueing or being sicke, and that she was troubled that her boy was but an ugly boy. But the King (age 33) being by, said, "No, it is a very pretty boy".-"Nay", says she, "if it be like you it is a fine boy indeed, and I would be very well pleased with it". The other day she talked mightily of [her husband] Sir H. Wood's (age 66) lady's (age 36) great belly, and said if she should miscarry he would never get another, and that she never saw such a man as this Sir H. Wood in her life, and seeing of Dr. Pridgeon, she said, "Nay, Doctor, you need not scratch your head, there is hair little enough already in the place". But methinks it was not handsome for the weaknesses of Princes to be talked of thus.

On 17th March 1665 Mary Gardiner (age 38) died of smallpox. On 1st April 1665 she was buried at Westminster Abbey [Map].

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 17th March 1665. This night my Lady Wood (age 38) died of the small-pox, and is much lamented among the great persons for a good-natured woman and a good wife, but for all that it was ever believed she was as others are. The Duke (age 31) did give us some commands, and so broke up, not taking leave of him. But the best piece of newes is, that instead of a great many troublesome Lords, the whole business is to be left with the Duke of Albemarle (age 56) to act as Admirall in his stead; which is a thing that do cheer my heart. For the other would have vexed us with attendance, and never done the business.

On 25th May 1671 [her former husband] Henry Wood 1st Baronet (age 73) died without male issue. Baronet Wood extinct. On 31st May 1671 he was buried at Ufford, Suffolk. His daughter [her daughter] Mary Wood Duchess Southampton (age 8) was his heir. In view of the great wealth she was to inherit she was betrothed to [her future son-in-law] Charles Fitzroy 1st Duke Southampton 2nd Duke Cleveland (age 8), an illegitmate son of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland (age 40) and Barbara Villiers 1st Duchess of Cleveland (age 30). On her father's death she went to live with Barbara Villiers 1st Duchess of Cleveland. They, Mary Wood Duchess Southampton and Charles Fitzroy 1st Duke Southampton 2nd Duke Cleveland married 1679 but she died a year later from smallpox.