The Gamgee Family Tree Hobbits being great ones for Genealogy and tracking the bloodlines, a family tree seemed very much in order. Map of the Gamgee family tree. Notes: Though it is not shown in the tree, Sam's sister Marigold married Rosie's brother Tolman (Jr.). This is an abbreviated tree as well, not shown are blood ties between the Cottons and the Gamgees (Rowan, wife of Hob Gammidge and Great-Grandmother of Samwise was also the sister of Rose, wife of Cotman and Great-Grandmother of Rose Cotton). In addition, branches of the Took family illustrating ties between the Bagginses and Brandybucks have been omitted to conserve space. Sources for this family tree include The Encyclopedia of Arda, The Complete Guide to Middle-Earth by Robert Foster and Appendix C of Lord of the Rings, most specifically pages 421 and 422. The family tree   image is orignal computer art by Orangeblossom Brambleburr.

 

The Life and Times of
Samwise Gamgee

Sam was raised in #3 Bagshot Row, a street of smials along Hobbiton Hill just below Bag End. He was born the third and youngest son of Hamfast Gamgee, more commonly known as "The Gaffer," and Bell Goodchild on April 6 (6 Astron), SR¹ 1380 (please see notes for full exploration of Sam's birthdate). Sam had two elder brothers (Hamson and Halfred), two older sisters (Daisy and May) and one younger sister (Marigold).

As a young hobbit Sam assisted his father in the care of the gardens at Bag End and was taught to read and write by Bilbo Baggins, who also taught him much Elven lore. Sam was friends with Frodo Baggins and was at least on friendly terms with Pippin Took, Merry Brandybuck and Fatty Bolger (who were Frodo's close friends).

By the age of twenty, Sam was performing the bulk of the work in the gardens of Bag End. He was also frequently guilty of eavesdropping, which is how he came to be a part of Frodo's quest, and it was through this eavesdropping as well that Merry and Pippin plotted to join the quest.

During the quest, Sam stayed with Frodo save the two-day period when Frodo was prisoner in the Tower of Cirith Ungol. He was present when the ring was destroyed and stayed close to Frodo until they returned to the Shire in SR 1419.

Sam married Rosie Cotton on May 1 (1 Thrimidge), SR 1420. Once married, it appears he began going by the surname Gardener, which was the family name from then on. Sam brought his bride to live in Bag End at Frodo's invitation. Sam's first child, a daughter named Elanor, was born on March 25 (25 Rethe), SR 1421. On September 29 (29Halimath) of the same year Frodo sailed into the west, leaving Bag End and all his posessions to Sam and his family.

In SR 1423 Sam's son Frodo was born, followed two years later (SR 1425) by his daughter Rose. His next son, Merry, was born in SR 1427, the same year that Sam was elected Mayor of the Shire for the first time. The term of Mayor was seven years, and Sam held the office for seven terms, a total of forty-nine years.

Sam fathered a total of thirteen children between the years SR 1421 and 1442. In SR 1442 the youngest child, Tolman, was born on the road to Gondor; Sam, Rosie and Elanor spent a year there. After Sam, Rosie and Tolman returned to the Shire, Elanor lived at Undertowers in western Eriador with her husband Fastred of Greenholm.

Sam finally stepped down as mayor in SR 1476, when he was ninety-six years old. Thirteen years later, in SR 1482, Rosie passed away on Midyear's Day (Lithe), near the end of June (Forelithe). On September 22 (22 Halimath) of the same year, Sam left Bag End (likely leaving his eldest son Frodo as heir). He visited his daughter Elanor at Undertowers and left her the red book before he sailed into the west. It is assumed he was reunited with Frodo across the sea.


A note on dates: The proper birthdate for Samwise Gamgee is not recorded, however, it is believed to have been April 6 (6 Astron) by the Shire Reckoning, which is also the date of the Elvish New Year (Yestarë) and the date of annual celebrations in Hobbiton². The year as well is not properly recorded; it has been laid down as SR 1382³, SR 1380⁴ and again as SR 1380⁵. For the sake of clarity, we will count from April 6,1380 as it is repeated; likely the date of SR 1382 was a scribal error as Hobbit records are quite thorough.

A note on names: The first name Samwise is an Anglicization of the name Banazîr, usually shortened to Ban; both names translate to "half-wise" in the common tongue. The last name Gamgee is also an Anglicization; the original Hobbit name was Galbasi, sometimes reduced to Galpsi. The name Gammidgy is a translation that was shortened further to Gamgee. Therefore, Samwise Gamgee's proper Hobbit name is Banazîr Galbasi⁶.