Like a number of other Black Men who appear in Marblehead records, Cuff Gardner was from Rhode Island, specifically around the Kingstown area. Two Cuff Gardners appear on the 1777 Rhode Island Military Census Index. His military records place him as a fifer in the 1st Rhode Island Regiment, Col. Christopher Greene's Company. He first appears in Marblehead in an April 22, 1788 "A List of Negroes residing in this Town." This census includes names, if there are spouses and/or children, as well as if the individual was born in Massachusetts or Rhode Island. Cuff is listed as married with one child and all three are from Rhode Island. Two years later, in the 1790 United States Census, Cuff heads a household of 4 free non-White free persons. By the next census, he and his family are back in Rhode Island, living in North Kingstown (there are two Cuff Gardner's in the North Kingstown 1800 Census. One with a household of 4 and one with a household of 5). He is still there in the 1820 census, like the listing for a male over 45 years.

Bibliography:

1790 United States Federal Census of Marblehead.

1800 United States Federal Census of North Kingstown, RI.

1820 United States Federal Census of North Kingstown, RI.

Cuff Gardner Military Record, Record Group 93, National Archives and Records Administration, M881. Compiled service records of soldiers who served in the American Army during the Revolutionary War, 1775-1783.

"Marblehead April 22, 1788 A List of Negros residing in this Town," Marblehead Historical Commission, 2009-100-1os517."

1790 Census, Marblehead

1800 Census, North Kingstown, RI part 1

1800 Census, North Kingstown, RI part 2

1820 Census, North Kingston, RI