Family of Walter Palmer

(This person can be viewed within the Melton/Sharp Ancestry Chart by clicking here)

1. WALTER¹ PALMER¹ was born Aft. 1585 in Yetminster, Dorset, England, and died November 10, 1661 in Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut. He married (1) ELIZABETH SMITH BREWSTER Abt. 1611 in England, daughter of UNKNOWN BREWSTER? or SMITH?. She was born Bet. 1568 - 1593 in Yetminster, Dorset, England, and died Bet. 1623 - 1629 in England. He married (2) REBECCA SHORT June 01, 1633 in Charlestown, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts, daughter of THOMAS SHORT. She was born Abt. 1607 in England, and died July 15, 1671 in Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut.

Notes for WALTER PALMER:

___________________________________________________________________

1. Much research has been done to connect Walter to an ancestral family. Some believe his family was connected to Sir Anthony Palmer - others believe John Palmer of Parham may be Walter's ancestry. Many records needed for proof have been destroyed or are missing and any records discovered have probably disproved any possibilities.

2. Walter Palmer, seeking religious freedom, sailed from Gravesend, Kent, England with his five children and Abraham Palmer(believed to be his brother) arriving in Salem, Massachusetts in June of 1629 in the "Four Sisters", one of a fleet of six ships that also included the "Talbot", "Lyons Whelp", "George Bonaventure", "Lyon", and "The Mayflower" (of the 1620 Pilgrimage). He initially went to Mishawum (Charlestown), Massachusetts where he was listed in the town records as one of the early settlers as follows: Reverend Francis Bright, Engineer Thomas Graves, Ralph Sprague, Richard Sprague, William Sprague, John Meech, Simon Hoyte, Abraham Palmer, Walter Palmer, Nicholas Stowers, John Stickline, and original settler (1625) Thomas Walford. Walter, with his brother Abraham, were made Freemen of Massachusets in 1634. In 1643 he later moved to Seakonk (Rehoboth), Massachusetts where he, William Chesebrough, Richard Wright of Braintree, and Alexander Winchester, were the founders. Of these Richard Wright was the dominant man. Walter joined William Chesebrough in 1652 in Stonington where he was one of the three early settlers to follow William. He settled on the east bank of the Wequetequock Cove

3. Walter was called a non-conformist, he had strong religious convictions which were contrary to the established Church of England. He felt the church had erred in continuing with the pageantry and formality of the Roman Church instead of returning to the simplicity of the early Christian Churches as they had been during their first three hundred years. This could be the reason no baptisms of his first five children could be found in England. He was a large man -- said to have been 6' to 6' 5", weighing 200 to 300 lbs. He was also a man of high integrity, honesty and ability -- these traits were passed on to his children. His sons carried on in the same manner, assuming responsibilities, serving as civic officers, becoming church members and some even became deacons of the Church.

4. From page 378, Volume III of Colonial Families of the United States of America:

Arms -- Or, two bars gules, each charged with three trefoils slipped vert, in chief 2 greyhound courant sable.

Crest -- A demi-panther rampant guardant, flames issuing from ears and mouth proper, supporting a palm branch.

Motto -- Palma virtuti.

5. Biography from Richard Anson Wheeler's, "History of Stonington, Connecticut, 1649 - 1900", (Press of The Day Publishing Company, 1900):

WALTER PALMER, the progenitor of the family of his name, who first settled in Stonington, Conn., came to New England as early as 1628, with his brother, Abraham Palmer, a merchant of London, England, and nine associates. They went from Salem, Mass., through a pathless wilderness to a place called by the Indians Mishawam, where they found a man by the name of Thomas Walford, a smith. Here they remained until the next year, when they were joined by nearly one hundred people, who came with Thomas Graves, from Salem and laid the foundation of the town, which they named Charlestown, in honor of King Charles the First, June 2q., 1629. It is claimed that Walter Palmer built the first dwelling house in Charlestown after it was organized as a township, on the two acres of land that were assigned and set to him by the authority of the new town. Walter Palmer's inclinations tended to stock raising and farming, but he soon found his land was inadequate to his business, notwithstanding which he continued to reside in Charlestown until 1643. During his residence there he purchased additional real estate, which he improved in his line of business as best he could. While thus engaged he became acquainted with William Chesebrough, who lived at the time in Boston and Braintree, whose business pursuits were similar to those of Mr. Palmer, and after repeated interviews and consultations, they both decided to remove to the Plymouth Colony, and did so remove their families and with others, joined in the organization of the town of Rehoboth, as an independent township, which was continued as such until they should subject themselves to some other government. Such an organization, largely composed of strangers and situated in a remote part of the colony, was not very well calculated to secure their approval. It does not appear that they intended to establish this new township wholly as an independent organization, for as soon as the preliminary steps necessary for its formation were taken, and after its organization was effected, they elected deputies to the General Court of Plymouth. Walter Palmer was a prominent man when he lived in Massachusetts, and was admitted a freeman there May 18, 1631, and held several local offices in that colony, and such was the estimation in which he was held by the first planters of Rehoboth and the confidence that they reposed in him, that his fellow townsmen elected him as their first representative to the General Court of Plymouth, and subsequently re-elected him to that office and also conferred upon him repeatedly the office of selectman and other local offices. His friend Chesebrough, not relishing the way and manner in which he was treated by the General Court of the Plymouth Colony decided to look farther westward for a permanent place of abode. He visited the then new settlement of New London, by the advice of Mr. John Winthrop, which after a thorough examination thereof, it did not answer his expectations, so he concluded to return homeward, and on his way came through the town of Stonington, Conn., where he visited the beautiful valley of Wequetequock, with which he was so well pleased that he decided to make it his future place of abode. When he reached home and described to his wife and family the situation and advantages of this valley, they all approved of it as a desirable place for their home. Mr. Chesebrough and sons immediately commenced operations for the erection of a dwelling house, fixing its site on the west bank of Wequetequock Cove. The salt marsh lands adjoining the cove furnished hay for the stock, and Mr. Chesebrough and Palmer and all the early settlers until they could clear up land and reduce it to cultivation by English grasses for their cattle. Mr. Chesebrough so far finished his house that he occupied it with his family during the year 1649, and so became the pioneer English planter of the new town now called Stonington.

The Connecticut General Court were not satisfied with his locating himself in the wilderness so far away from any English settlement, so they ordered him to report his proceedings to Maj. John Mason, which resulted in a compromise later on between him and said court, wherein and by which he was to remain in his new habitation on condition that he would induce a reasonable number of creditable persons to unite with him in organizing a new township as hereinbefore stated more at large.

Thomas Stanton, the interpreter general of New England, was the first to join Mr. Chesebrough in the new settlement, and obtained a grant from the General Court in March, 1650, of six acres of planting ground on Pawcatuck River, with liberty to erect a trading house thereon, with feed and mowing of marsh land, according to his present occasions, giving him the exclusive trade of the river for three years next ensuing. Mr. Stanton located his six-acre grant on the west bank of Pawcatuck River, .around a place known as Pawcatuck rock, upon which grant he erected his trading house; and subsequently built him a dwelling house thereon, to which he moved his family in 1651, establishing it as his permanent place of abode, where he lived the remainder of his days. (For further particulars see Stanton family). William Chesebrough, in pursuance of his arrangement with the General Court, invited his friend Walter Palmer, then living in Rehoboth, to come and join him here in the organization of another new township. While Mr. Palmer was considering this proposition, Thomas Miner, who had married his daughter Grace, and was then a resident of New London, was also invited to join the new settlement, which he did, by obtaining a limited grant of land of the town of New London, which he located on the east bank of Wequetequock Cove, and built him a dwelling house thereon, to which he moved his family in the year 1652. The town of New London at the time claimed jurisdiction of the town of Stonington and had granted large tracts of land to William Chesebrough and Thomas Miner, and being anxious to assist Mr. Chesebrough in his efforts to induce a suitable number of prominent men to unite with him in settling a new township here, induced Gov. Haynes to accept of a grant of land of three hundred acres, for a farm lying east and southeast of Chesebrough's land, on the east side of Wequetequock Cove. This grant bore date April 5, 1652. Walter Palmer, who was then prospecting for a tract of land suitable for farming, with salt marsh grass land for his stock, ascertained that Gov. Haynes's grant covered the land he wished to obtain, and so visited the governor, with his sonin-law, Thomas Miner, and his eldest son, John Miner, who had previously learned that the Haynes grant of land embraced in its boundaries his son-in-law's land. But after a friendly interview with the governor, Walter Palmer purchased his grant of land in Stonington, by a contract deed which was witnessed by Thomas and John Miner, agreeing to pay the governor one hundred pounds for the place, with such cattle as Mr. Haynes should select out of Walter Palmer's stock. If any disagreement should arise, as to the price of the stock, it should be decided by indifferent persons. Their contract recognized the title to the house and lands occupied by Mr. Miner, and was dated July 15, 1653. Thomas Miner, Sr., was selected to put Mr. Palmer in possession of the land purchased of Gov. Haynes, and did so by a written instrument, embodying therein a conveyance of his own land, and dwelling house, included in the boundaries of the Haynes land (to Mr. Palmer), reserving the right, however, to occupy his said house until he could build another at Mistuxet, now known as Quiambaug, in Stonington. So 1653 marks the time when Walter Palmer came to Stonington to reside. He and his friend Chesebrough lived within a stone's throw of each other, and after life's fitful fever was ended, departed this life, and both lie buried in the old Wequetequock burial place, with Thomas Stanton, the interpreter general of New England. Walter Palmer was a man well advanced in life when he came to Stonington to reside with his family. He was born in London, England, as early as 1585, and at the time of his settlement here had reached the rugged steep of life's decline. The rough exposure of pioneer life, with its deprivations, seriously affected his health, which was so much impaired that as the chill November days had come, "the saddest of the year," he was gathered not to his fathers, but laid to rest in the old Wequetequock burial place, dying Nov. l0, 1661. Of his family, it may be said that he married in England, long before he came to this country. The name of his first wife has never been recorded. He m. 2d, Rebecca Short, who came to this country in 1632. They were joined in marriage June 1, 1633.

____________________________________________________________________

HISTORY OF STONINGTON CT, by Wheeler, page 504, 505, 506, 507, 508.

WALTER PALMER OF CHARLESTOWN AND REHOBOTH, MA & STONINGTON CT, a 400-Year (1585-1985) Family History, Compiled, Edited, Typed and Partly Researched by Doris Palmer Buys. pages 1 thru 44.

To America 1628/9 on the "Four Sisters"

AMERICAN ANCESTRY - Vol. XI (1898) by Joel Munsell's Sons-Pg 152-3.

THE GRANBERRY FAMILY by Donald Jacobus (1945)

GENEALOGICAL & FAMILY HISTORY OF THE STATE OF CT. by William Cutter, p. 133-4 EXTINCT PEERAGES by Burke (1831) pages 555-7.

THE PEIONEERS OF MASSACHUSETTS by Charles Pope - page 342.

NEW ENGLAND REGISTER - Vol. II (1857) - pages 39 - 40.

THE PALMERS - page 7 - 9.

HISTORY OF THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF STONINGTON, CT 1674-1874" By Richard Wheeler (1875)

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF STONINGTON by Richard A. Wheeler - pages 504 to 527. HISTORY OF NEW LONDON by Frances M. Caulins (1860)-pgs 102-105, 284-526.

REGISTER OF PEDIGREES Edited by John Reynolds Totten - pg 53.

THE COMPENDIUM OF AMERICAN GENEALOGY - Vol. VII by Frederick Virkus p 872 STONINGTON CHRONOGOGY 1649-1949 -By William Haynes - pgs 12-15. 26-27.

COLONIAL FAMILIES OF THE UNITED STATES - by George MacKenzie - pg 377-8.

CAR-DEL SCRIBE - pages 7, 17-18.

HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CT" by D. Hamilton Hurd - pgs 653-4.

GENEALOGICAL DICT. OF THE FIRST SETTLERS OF NEW ENGLAND by James Savage GENEALOGY OF THE DESCENDANTS OF WILLIAM CHEESEBROUGH OF BOSTON, REBOBOTH, MA by Anna Chesebrough Wildey.

GENEALOGICAL GLEANINGS IN ENGLAND - page 326-7.

PALMER RECORDS by Noyes F. Palmer (1881)

ELDRED AND ASSOCIATED FAMILIES, Researched by: Catherine Matson & Clarice McNiven, Compiled by: Carol & Susan Matson, pp. 98.

Walter Palmer came to America in 1626 and settled first in Salem with his brother, Abraham. Rebecca came to America in 1632 and settled in Roxbury, MA. Walter and his brother, along with others, founded the town of Chaarlestown, named in horor of King Charles I. Walter built the first dwelling-house in Charlestown after it was made into a township. He was a prominent man in Massachusetts and was admitted a Freeman there 18 May 1631. His records in the book of "Possessions of Charlestown" state he had 158 acres of land. On 24 Aug 1643 several men had agreed to found a new town. They met in Weymouth and prepared for the settlement of a place which was to be at Seacuncke. The new planters proposed to start a township which should be independent of the other organizations until they could decide upon a government, but in 1645 they were assigned to the jurisdiction of the Plymouth Colony, and Walter Palmer was sent to represent them at their General Court. This assignment was made by the "United Commissioners of the two Colonies" that is the Plymouth Colony and the Massachusetts Bay Colony. At the beginning of the country all those who landed in Plymouth were combined as the Plymouth Colony, that was those who came between 1620 and 1630. Those who started to come in 1630 and landed in Boston settled what was known as the Massachusetts Colony. This assignment was called instead of Seacuncke, Rehoboth which was the beginning of the State of Massachusetts. The name of Rehoboth was selected by their Pastor Rev. Samuel Newman who said "The Lord has made room for us." In 1643 the proprietors of the new town agreed to give the value of their estates, that the amount of land might be in proportion to their ability to pay and Walter gave the amount of 419 pounds. In the year 1645, young John Winthrop was commissioned by the Great and General Court to begin the new settlement of New London, Conn. He urged Mr. Chesborough to take part in there. Whereupon Mr. Cheseborough journeyed from Rehoboth down through Connecticut to view the land and supposing that it was part of the Mass. territory he applied for and received 2299 acres. He quickly induced Walter Palmer to join him. With his family, except son Jonas, Walter started south in 1652/3, bought land on the east bank which is now Stonington, Conn. This was found to cover a part of the tract which had been formerly sold to Thomas Minor who had married Grace, eldest daughter of Walter, and came to Charlestown very soon after his father-in-law had settled there. The Governor made an agreement 15 Jul 1653 Walter should give for the place such cattle that Thomas Minor should select out of Walter's stock. This contract recognized the title to the house and land at first sold Thomas Minor. The rest of Walter's purchase was on the south of this land and his whole tract was 1200 acres. Until 1654/5 the planters of this new town attended worship in New London, Conn., but the frequent rough weather, the difficulties of going such a long distance, being obliged to cross two rivers, made the people very desirous to hold a meeting in their own territory and this gave rise to the extremely large, the spirit of industry existed to a degree never excelled and it follows that these families and the descendants have left their impression upon the world and made the world better for their sojourn here.

Walter's estate was over 1656 pounds, a very large sum. The old burial ground was set apart by him and there he lies. A granite stone pillar about 1 1/2 feet square and 9 feet high is thought to mark his grave, no inscription remains but it lies in the midst of a long line of Palmer graves. His name is inscribed on one face of the modern shaft erected in 1899 to the memory of the four early settlers. Walter Palmer's name on this pillar faces the main part of town.

Researching this line is cscox@gci.net

Researching this line is Nancyann Norman at nancn@exis.net

Researching this line is Shannon Rathbun at rathbun@tir.com

More About WALTER PALMER:

Burial: Wequetequock Burying Ground, Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut

Occupation: farmer

Religion: 1632, First Church of Charleston, MA

Notes for ELIZABETH SMITH BREWSTER:

Researching this line is cscox@gci.net

1. The Wildey source records "Ann (or Elizabeth) _______".

Elizabeth was called Ann to distinguish her from her mother according to Fred Carlisle, secretary of the Historical Society of Detroit, Michigan. His source was Emily Leavitt's "Palmer Groups", page 15, published 1901.

However, the Smith and Brewster association is not confirmed and many researchers do not even acknowledge her given name(s).

More About WALTER PALMER and ELIZABETH BREWSTER:

Marriage: Abt. 1611, England

Notes for REBECCA SHORT:

History of Stonington CT, by Wheeler, page 506.

Rebecca came to this country in 1632

Walter Palmer, by Doris Palmer Buys, page 20.

"On 1 June 1633 Walter, his daughter Grace, and his future wife, Rebecca Short, joined Charlestown First Church, Rebecca transferring from the Roxbury Church. She may have been one of the young people whose parents died on the voyage to America and who were put in the care of some family here -- 'bound out' until they were of age. Unlike the Southern states, New England would accept no women of uncertain origin, and the fact that Rebecca was immediately admitted a member of the Roxbury Church and became the wife of an important man shows that she was not an ordinary maid servent."

Page 47,

Rebecca Short (daughter of Thomas Short. (according to research manuscripts of Dr. Byron Smith Palmer) a member of the Roxbury Church. The Rev.

John Eliot was Minister of the Church where they were married. (the handwritten manuscripts of Dr. Palmer have no reference.)

DIARY OF THOMAS MINOR, by Thomas Minor, page 104.

Died 15 Jul 1671.

More About REBECCA SHORT:

Burial: Wequetequock Burying Ground, Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut

Marriage Notes for WALTER PALMER and REBECCA SHORT:

Married in Roxbury Church, Charlestown, Boston, Suffolk County, MA by Rev. John Eliot.

More About WALTER PALMER and REBECCA SHORT:

Marriage: June 01, 1633, Charlestown, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts

Children of WALTER PALMER and ELIZABETH BREWSTER are:

i. GRACE² PALMER, b. May 09, 1612, Yetminster, Dorset, England; d. October 31, 1690, Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut; m. THOMAS MINOR ^2,3, April 23, 1634, Charlestown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts; b. April 23, 1608, Chew Magna, Somerset, England; d. October 23, 1690, Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut.

ii. JOHN PALMER, b. Abt. 1617, England; d. August 24, 1677, Charlestown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.

iii. WILLIAM PALMER, b. Abt. 1619, England; d. 1697, Killingworth, Massachusetts.

iv. JONAH PALMER, b. Abt. 1621, England; d. June 22, 1709, Rehoboth, Bristol Co., Massachusetts; m. ELIZABETH GRISWALD, May 03, 1655, Rehoboth, Bristol Co., MA; b. Abt. 1637, Cambridge, Middlesex Co., MA.

More About JONAH PALMER:

Immigration: June 1629, in the "Four Sisters" from Gravesend, Kent, England to Salem, Essex Co., MA

More About JONAH PALMER and ELIZABETH GRISWALD:

Marriage: May 03, 1655, Rehoboth, Bristol Co., MA

v. ELIZABETH PALMER, b. Abt. 1623, England.

Children of WALTER PALMER and REBECCA SHORT are:

vi. HANNAH² PALMER, b. Bef. June 15, 1634; d. Aft. August 25, 1681, Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut; m. (1) THOMAS HEWITT, April 26, 1659, Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut; b. 1630, England; d. 1662, at sea; m. (2) ROGER STERRY, December 27, 1671, Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut; b. 1630, England; d. December 27, 1671, Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut; m. (3) JOHN FISH, August 25, 1681, Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut; b. England; d. Abt. 1687.

Notes for HANNAH PALMER:

HISTORY OF STONINGTON CT, by Wheeler, page 418 & 419.

Pending the session of the General Court of Connecticut in 1670, a hearing was had for the consideration of a petition of Mrs Hannah Hewitt, the widow of Thomas Hewitt, for liberty to marry again, setting fortha that she had not heard from her late husband for the space of eight years, and better, and her neighbors also testifying that the said Hewitt had so long been absent and that they had not heard of him, or the vessel or company he went with since their departure. "The court having considered the premises, declare that the said Hannah Hewitt is at liberty to marry again if she see cause."

So on the 27th day of December 1671, she was united in marriage with Roger Sterry. He d. before 1680; she m. 3d. John Fish Aug. 25, 1681, she being his 3d wife.

WALTER PALMER OF CHARLESTOWN & REHOBOTH, MASS. & STONINGTON, CONN., Compiled, Edited, Typed and Partly researched by Doris Palmer Buys, page 77.

She was bapt. 15 Jun 1634 in First Church in Charlestown, MA (The First Record-Book of The First church in Charlestown" page 202 records the baptism of "Hanna Palmer the daughter of Gualter Palmer and of Rebeckah his wife" as reprinted in and issue of NEHGR, Volume 25, page 147, in April of 1871) The first daughter and first four sons of this couple were born during the years they resided together in Charlestown, MA, from June 1633 until 1643.

Hannah removed with her parents to Rehoboth, MA, in 1643 and thereafter to Stonington CT, in 1653. She married (1st) Thomas Hewitt on 26 Apr 1659 in Stonington; he was lost at sea and on 27 Dec 1671 Hannah married Roger Sterry who died before 1680; she married 3rd John Fish on 25 Aug 1681 as his 3rd wife.

REFERENCES: Genealogy: PG/p.25---Dr. BSP/p. 7-PF/p.16---STER./pp. 4,5 HIST. STON. pp.418, 419.

Hannah was evidently born early in May or in early June of 1634, based on the fact that she was baptised in the First Church of Charlestown on 4th month 15th day 1634 which according to the time meant 15 Jun 1634. Whe went with her parents to "Antient" Rehoboth and Stonington, where she married her first husband Thomas Hewitt. He established a West India Trade and in the year 1662 started out on a voyage and was never heard from again.

His widow, Hannah, petitioned the General Court of Connecticut for liberty to re-marry, and this was granted on 27 Dec 1671, and she married her second husband Roger Sterry. There is no record of his death other than that he died previous to 1680, and that she then married for her third husband John Fish on 25 Aug 1681 and in turn was his third wife. There is an interesting ante-nuptial contract among the Stonington records, made at the time of his final marriage to Hannah Palmer. He was at the time the schoolmaster at Stonington and acted temporarily as town clerk. He was a land surveyor, and himself owned considerable grants of land. Both John Fish and his son Samuel, were among the volunteers who joined the esxpedition against King Philip in 1675, and were present at the Great Swamp fight. At his death his son Samuel was his principal heir. Hannah probably resided her entire life in Stonington.

DESCENDANTS OF CAPTAIN THOMAS HEWITT OF STONINGTON, CONN.. Compiled by Virginia Hewitt Watterson, 1996. Found in the Joseph Smith Library, Salt Lake City, Ut. Page 1.

Researching this line is Ginny Hewitt at GinChip@aol.com

Researching this line is Lawrence H. Bentley at larrybentley@csi.com

More About HANNAH PALMER:

Christening: June 15, 1634, Charlestown, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts

Notes for ROGER STERRY:

DESCENDANTS OF CAPTAIN THOMAS HEWITT OF STONINGTON, CONN.. Compiled by Virginia Hewitt Watterson, 1996. Found in the Joseph Smith Library, Salt Lake City, Ut. Page 1.

WALTER PALMER OF CHARLESTOWN & REHOBOTH, MASS. & STONINGTON, CONN., Compiled, Edited, Typed and Partly researched by Doris Palmer Buys, page 77.

Following the lapse of eight years, his widow petitioned the General Court of Connecticut in 1670 for permission to marry again and her petition was granted. On 27 Dec 1671 Hannah and roger Sterry were merried and had two children before he died previous to 1680.

More About ROGER STERRY and HANNAH PALMER:

Marriage: December 27, 1671, Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut

Notes for JOHN FISH:

WALTER PALMER OF CHARLESTOWN & REHOBOTH, MASS. & STONINGTON, CONN., Compiled, Edited, Typed and Partly researched by Doris Palmer Buys, page 77.

Hannah married 25 Aug 1681 John Fish as his 3rd wife and continued to reside the remainder of her life in Stonington. She was about the age of forty-seven when she married for the 3rd time and had no children by John Fish. His surviving children were by his first wife.

John Fish was a land surveyor and laid out some of the public grants in Stonington; his brother-in-law, Gershom Palmer, was associated with him in such work in 1680 and 1681. (Wheeler page 371) When and where Hannah died has not been ascertained.

More About JOHN FISH and HANNAH PALMER:

Marriage: August 25, 1681, Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut

vii. ELIHU PALMER, b. Bef. January 25, 1635/36; d. September 05, 1666, Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut.

More About ELIHU PALMER:

Christening: January 25, 1635/36, Charlestown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts

viii. NEHEMIAH PALMER, b. November 27, 1637, Charlestown, Boston, Suffolk Co, MA; d. February 17, 1716/17, Stonington, New London Co., CT; m. HANNAH LORD STANTON, November 20, 1662, Stonington, New London Co., CT; b. 1644, Hartford, Hartford County, CT; d. October 17, 1727, Stonington, New London Co., CT.

ix. MOSES PALMER, b. April 06, 1640, Charlestown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts; d. July 06, 1701, Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut; m. DOROTHY GILBERT, 1672; b. 1650, Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut.

More About MOSES PALMER and DOROTHY GILBERT:

Marriage: 1672

x. BENJAMIN PALMER, b. May 30, 1642, Charlestown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts; d. April 10, 1716, Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut.

Notes for BENJAMIN PALMER:

THE NEW ENGLAND HISTORICAL & GENEALOGICAL REGISTER, Vol. XII, 1859, page 28.

More About BENJAMIN PALMER:

Burial: Wequetequock Burying Ground, Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut

Christening: June 06, 1642, Charlestown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts

xi. GERSHOM PALMER, b. Bef. June 16, 1644, Rehoboth, Bristol Co., MA; d. September 27, 1718, Stonington, New London Co., CT; m. ANN DENISON, November 28, 1667, Stonington, New London Co., CT; b. Bef. May 20, 1649; d. November 17, 1706, Stonington, New London Co., CT.

Notes for GERSHOM PALMER:

HISTORY OF STONINGTON CT, by Wheeler, page 509.

WALTER PALMER OF CHARLESTOWN AND REHOBOTH, MA & STONINGTON CT, a 400-Year (1585-1985) Family History, Compiled, Edited, Typed and Partly Researched by Doris Palmer Buys, pages 103-4.

Following the path of his parents, brothers and sisters, Gershom was devoutly religious and he and his wife, Ann, were admitted 19 Aug 1677 to the First Congregational Church at Stonington (known as "The Road Church") according to the church records.

In 1675 Gershom Palmer, then aged theiry-one years, particiated in King Philip's War and served as a lieutenant of a Stonington company. The Pyron Plamer typescript manuscripts, page 997, "His name appears as a soldier in that war on the records of the town of Voluntown, which town was given by the General Court of Conn. to the soldiers of that war."

The comprehensive account of that conflict was written by George Madison Bodge, A.B. in his book entitled "Soldiers in King Philip's War" reprinted in 1976 by Genealogical Publishing Co., of Baltimore, Maryland. In a chapter headed "The Narraganset Townships, Grantees and Claimants" page 406, is recorded on 10th December 1675 a proclamation was made to the soldiers, in the name of the Governor of the Mass. Colony that "if they took the fort and drove the enemy out of the Narraganset country, . . . they should have a gratuity of land, besides their wages."

On 4 June 1685 (ten years later) a petition was presented to the General Court in session at Boston for the grant of land which had been promised byt many years passed before this was accomplished.

On 5 June 1684 Gershom received from his brothers Nehemiah, Moses and Benjamin, 500 acres of land in Stonington as part of their father's estate. (Town Records, Vol. 1, page 129).

ELDRED AND ASSOCIATED FAMILIES, Researched by: Catherine Matson & Clarice McNiven, Compiled by: Carol & Susan Matson, pp. 102.

Gershom Palmer on 5 Jun 1684 received from his brothers, Nehemiah, Moses and Benjamin 500 acres of land in Stonington, CT as a part of their partent's estate. Also on 3 May 1693 was laid out to Lt. Gershom 50 acres, then 100 acres, and then another 50 acres. On 23 Dec 1708, he have his sons George and Walter all his farm, they to allow him, for the rest of his natural life, one-third of the produce of the land, to dwell in the east end of the new dwelling house, and they were to fulfill the agreement he made his new wife, Elizabeth, before their marriage. This agreement was drawn up 1 Nov 1707, but on 16 Jun 1718 he made another deed, in which he states that he had, before marriage, agreed to give his wife 20 pounds before his own deceased and that he had ordered his sons to pay this, but since he had been boarding his wife's 2 daughters for some time he had caused different arrangements to be made. Ann (Borodell) Denison's mother, Mrs. Ann Denison, was of a fine old family and from her, young Ann inherited such stately and gracious manners that she was commonly called "Lady Ann."

Researching this line is cscox@gci.net

More About GERSHOM PALMER:

Burial: September 30, 1718, Wequetequock Burying Ground, Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut

Notes for ANN DENISON:

DENISON GENEALOGY, by Denison, Peck & Jacobus, page 1, 2.

THE NEW ENGLAND HISTORICAL & GENEALOGICAL REGISTER, Vol. XII, 1859, page 27.

WALTER PALMER OF CHARLESTOWN AND REHOBOTH, MA & STONINGTON CT, a 400-Year (1585-1985) Family History, Compiled, Edited, Typed and Partly Researched by Doris Palmer Buys. pages 106.

Most published records give the year as 1694 as the year of the deathof Gershom's first wife, Ann, merely adding that he thereafter married the widow Mrs. Elizabeth (Peck) Mason. The Wheeler Chronology of families, page 461, in Stonington gives 30 Mar 1705 as the date of death of Elizabeth's husband, Jamor Samuel Mason and the year 1699 as the birthdate of her last child by him.

Manasseh Minor's Diary records for 20 March 1704/5 'mr John masan departed." and also records for 17 November 1706 "Deaken pallmors wife dyed;" and on 18 November "She was buryed."

page 109.

The January 1859 publication for the New England Historical and Genealogical Society (the Register) had an article by J. D. Champlin, Jr., of Stonington entitled "Ancient Burial-Ground at Stonington" in which he set forth the inscriptions taken from some of the very early markers in the Wequetequock Burial Yard, pages 23 to 29. In addition to those of Thomas Miner and his wife, Grace Palmer Miner, those included some of particular interet to those descended from Deacon Gershom Palmer although his was not included:

"A rough unhewn stone, about fourteen inches wide and six feet long, and nearly imbedded in the turf, is supposed to mark the resting palce of Ann, wife of Gershom Palmer, it is inscribed simply -- Ann Palmer

Researching this line is cscox@gci.net

More About ANN DENISON:

Burial: November 18, 1706, Wequetequock Burying Ground, Stonington, New London Co., Conn.

Christening: May 20, 1649, Roxbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts

More About GERSHOM PALMER and ANN DENISON:

Marriage: November 28, 1667, Stonington, New London Co., CT

xii. REBECCA PALMER, b. Bef. July 01, 1647; d. May 02, 1713, Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut; m. (1) ELISHA CHESEBROUGH, April 20, 1665, Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut; b. Bef. June 04, 1637; d. September 01, 1670, Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut; m. (2) JOHN BALDWIN, July 24, 1672, Stonington, New London Co., CT; b. October 28, 1635, Wendover, Buckinghamshire, England.