Barent Gardenier c.1776-1822

Barent Gardenier was probably born in 1776, because the baptismal records of the Kinderhook, New York Dutch Reformed Church show that he was baptized on July 26, 1776. It is reported that he received a liberal education prior to his legal studies at the Litchfield Law School in Connecticut. Following his law studies, he was admitted to the New York bar, and he began his law practice in Kinderhook, Columbia County, New York. He later also practiced law in Kingston, Ulster County, New York.

As a lawyer, Gardenier became quickly interested in politics, and was appointed or elected to several local offices. In the federal election of 1806, Gardenier was elected to the Tenth United States Congress as a Federalist. He was reelected in 1808, and served his full term in the Eleventh United States Congress, until March 1811. Gardenier distinguished himself in the United States Congress as an excellent orator.

Gardenier also held some strong views on many political issues, and as a result came into conflict with some of his fellow politicians. He had a serious disagreement with fellow Congressman George W. Campbell related to an 1808 embargo. The disagreement became so heated that Gardenier challenged Campbell to a duel, which subsequently took place on the famous Bladensburg, Maryland dueling field. Gardenier might have won the verbal debate, but he lost the more critical physical duel, and was dangerously wounded. Luckily, Gardenier recovered, and his constituents rewarded him by reelecting him to his second term in the United States Congress.

Although it was reported that Gardenier fully recovered from his duel in 1808, his apparent early death on January 10, 1822 may have been the result of his dueling injuries in 1808. If his 1776 birth date is correct, then he died at the rather young age of 45. Gardenier was married to Sarah Lawrence around 1800. Sarah also went by the name of Sally and Elisabeth. It is not known whether these were her second or third or alternate names. Gardenier was buried below the floor of the First Reformed Dutch Church in Kingston, Ulster County, New York.