The English Crusaders, on returning from the Holy Land, often bore a palm branch, and from this came to be called "palmers." The presence of the palm branch denoted zeal in the cause of the Crusade, and often meant the bearer had shown steadfastness of purpose and unusual courage in rescuing from the Saracens the Holy Sepulchre. When the English began to assume surnames may took the name of Palmer, and several became members of the nobility in England. It is recorded that one Norman soldier of the name received knighthood for his high courage in single combat with the Saracens. In America the family have continued to hold some of the most honorable positions in private and public life, and have been found in all walks of life.

(I) Walter Palmer is thought to have emigrated from Nottinghamshire, England, and many authorities have stated he was a brother of Abraham, as they were found in Charlestown, in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, about the same time, and their names many times appeared together on the records. Both were made freemen there May 14, 1634, by authority of the general court of Mass. Bay. His possessions were listed in 1638, in what was called a true record of houses and lands of the inhabitants of Charlestown. The two acres containing his dwelling house were in the "East Field," butting south on the Back street; he also had considerable other arable land, cows, etc. In 1637 he and his son John received their share of the division of land on the Mystic side, in which some land was saved for accommodation of "after comers." In company with William Cheeseborough, his lifelong friend, he agreed to prepare for a settlement to be called Seacuncke, which afterward became Rehoboth; this was thought to lie in Plymouth county, but was afterwards found to be in Bristol county. In 1645 the names was changed to Rehoboth. About 1652-3, Walter Palmer bought land in the vicinity of what is now Stonington, Connecticut, and became the owner of about twelve hundred acres. For some time they attended worship in New London, but finally were able to organize a church in the new settlement, and March 22, 1657, the first meeting was held in the house of Walter Palmer, afterwards in the houses of various others. They had supposed the settlement lay within Massachusetts, but afterwards became part of Connecticut, and after considerable discussion the boundary was determined, part of the settlement being in Mass., and part in Conn.
At the time Walter Palmer made his will, Stonington was under the jurisdiction of Suffolk county, Mass., from which fact his will is now to be found in Boston. He died in Stonington, Nov. 19, 1661.
He married in England, and his wife Ann was called Elizabeth to distinguish her from her mother; she died in England. He married (second) probably in Roxbury, Mass., Rebecca Short, and they joined the First Church of Charlestown. By his first wife his children were:
Grace, John, William, Jonas and Elizabeth.
By his second wife he had:
Hannah, born June 16, 1634.
Elihu, Jan. 24, 1636.
Nehemiah, Nov. 27, 1637.
Moses, April 6, 1640.
Benjamin, 1642.
Gershom.
Rebecca.

(II) Jonah or Jonas, son of Walter and Ann Palmer, lived in Rehoboth, and by the terms of his father's will inherited one-half the farm in Rehoboth, now in Bristol county, Mass. He married (first) May 3, 1655, in Rehoboth, Elizabeth, daughter of Francis Grissell (Griswold) of Charlestown, formerly of Cambride, Mass.; she died and was buried in Rehoboth, Feb. 11, 1691-92. Jonah Palmer married (second), Nov. 9, 1692, Abigail Titus, a widow, whose maiden name was Abigail Carpenter; she died March 5, 1709, and he died June 22, 1709.
Children, all by first marriage:
Hannah, born Nov. 8, 1657.
Samuel, see below.
Jonas, Mach 29, 1662.
Mary, Feb. 23, 1663.
Elizabeth.
Martha, July 6, 1666.
Grace, Oct. 1, 1668.

(III) Samuel, son of Jonah or Jonas and Elizabeth (Grissell) Palmer, was born Nov. 20, 1659, at Rehoboth, died Nov. 18, 1743, in Windham, Conn. He served in the Narragansett Swamp Fight in 1676, under Major William Bradford. In 1701, in company with three others, Samuel Palmer purchased land in Windham, Conn., from a Scottsman who had acquired a large tract and named the locality Scotland, in honor of his native country. March 17, 1702, Samuel Palmer sold his land, barns, orchards, and house in Rehoboth. His will is now on record in Willimantic.
He married (first) in Rehoboth, Elizabeth, daughter of Eldad and Mehitable (French) Kinsley; she was born Jan. 29, 1662, in Rehoboth, died May 16, 1717, in Windham. Samuel Palmer married (second) Dec. 6, 1717, Ann Durgy, who died Feb. 17, 1761, at the age of eighty years.
By first marriage his children were:
John, born March 26, 1682, died Jan. 5, 1683.
Samuel, Jan. 4, 1683.
John, twin to Samuel, buried July 15, 1683.
Mehitable, born April 11, 1686.
Nehemiah, March 11, 1688-89.
Benoni, July 27, 1690, buried July 28, 1690.
Mary, Dec. 17, 1691.
Seth, Feb. 11, 1694.
Elizabeth, Feb. 6, 1695-96.
Ebenezer, Oct. 21, 1699.
Mercy, Jan. 17, 1700-01.
Eleazer, see below.

(IV) Eleazer, son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Kinsley) Palmer, was born Jan. 10, 1702, in Rehoboth, Mass., died Feb. 4, 1783, in Scotland Parish, near Windham, Conn. April 5, 1744, Seth Palmer deeded over to his brother Eleazer his own rights in the estate of their father, Samuel Palmer, which had been given him by his father's will.
Eleazer Palmer married, March 28, 1723, in Windham, Conn., Mary, daughter of George and Elizabeth Lillie, who was born Dec. 25, 1702, in Lynn, Mass., died in Scotland Parish, July 9, 1768.
Children:
Zurviah, born Feb. 12, 1723-24; died March 20, 1728.
Eliphalet, May 25, 1725.
Eleazer, see below.
Mary, May 19, 1728.
Zurviah, Feb. 24, 1730-31.
Enos, July 12, 1732.
Marcey, Feb. 24, 1734-35.
Jerusha, April 9, 1737.
Mehitable, baptized Sept. 19, 1739.
Tryphena, born May 4, 1741.
Hannah, April 23, 1743.
Josiah, Feb. 10, 1744-45.

(V) Eleazer (2), son of Eleazer (1) and Mary (Lillie) Palmer, was born July 7, 1726, in Windham, Conn. On April 8, 1751, his father gave a deed of ten acres of land to his two sons, Eliphalet and Eleazer Jr.
He married (first) in 1756, Mary Bingham, who died Sept. 9, 1760; married (second) Nov. 8, 1770, Widow Mary Eaton, whose maiden name was Mary Allen.
Children by first marriage:
Twin daughters, born and died Nov. 30, 1756.
a son born and died Aug. 24, 1757.
Elizabeth, born Jan. 16, 1759.
By second marriage:
Zuriel, see below.
Beriah, born March 24, 1773, died April 5, 1773.
Mary, June 6, 1775, died Sept. 12, 1780.
Azel, Aug. 12, 1777.
Eunice, Feb. 27, 1781.
Eleazer, Sept. 1, 1785.

(VI) Zuriel, son of Eleazer (2) and Mary (Allen-Eaton) Palmer, was born Nov. 14, 1771, at Windham, Conn., died June 22, 1855, at Pierrepont, St. Lawrence county, New York. He followed the trade of shoemaker all his life. He was very religious, and served in the capacity of local Methodist preacher. He lived at Windham, Conn., some time after his marriage, and in 1810 moved with his family, first to Royalton, thence to Hubbardton, and Benson, Vermont, and later to Whitehall and Parishville, N.Y.
Oct. 23, 1796, Zuriel Palmer married Martha Morgan, born Jan. 7, 1775, in Windham, Conn., died March 31, 1853, at Pierrepont, N.Y.
Children:
1. Samuel Morgan, born Oct. 3, 1797, died whle serving in the army, at Sacketts Harbor, Jan. 2, 1815.
2. Julia, Nov. 13, 1799, died Nov. 18, 1802.
3. Lucius, Jan. 10, 1802, died 1881 in Washington, District of Columbia.
4. Lois, Feb. 3, 1804; married Harvey Eldridge; died at Pierrepont, N.Y. Oct. 3, 1842, leaving seven daughters.
5. John, Aug. 8, 1806, died 1879 at Russell, New York, leaving one son, Julius, who resides at Potsdam, New York.
6. David, Dec. 2, 1809, died about 1869, at Colton, New York.
7. Stephen Freeman, see below.
8. Mary Ann, June 8, 1815; married William Henry Goodrich; two daughters and one son, Frederick.
9. Juliette, March 31, 1817, died June 2, 1839, at Parishville, N.Y.

(VII) Stephen Freeman, son of Zuriel and Martha (Morgan) Palmer, was born March 6, 1812, at Hubbardton, Vermont, died April 6, 1907, at the home of his son, Samuel H. Palmer, in Ogdensburg, N.Y. He received a common school education in Whitehall, N.Y., whither his parents moved soon after his birth. Afterwards he followed the trade of blacksmith all his life until his retirement from active business. Living before the use of machinery was so prevalent in blacksmith and similar work, he became an expert in the art of making axes and other edge tools, which he manufactured by hand. In 1832 he located in Colton, New York, and lived there until his retirement about 1880, when he moved to Ogdensburg to live with his son. Stephen Freeman Palmer was a staunch Republican, and for many years held the office of justice of the peace in Colton. He was also a member of the Methodist church, being very active in this cause and a class leader.
Feb. 18, 1835, he married Harriet Juliana, daughter of Stoughton and Abigail (Paine) Cowles; she as born in Salisbury, Vermont, died Feb. 14, 1879, at Madrid, N.Y.
Children:
1. Samuel H., see below.
2. Henrietta, born Sept. 25, 1839, died April 21, 1843.
3. Stephen Freeman Jr., July 2, 1846, at Madrid, N.Y, is now [1910] engaged in lumber business at Ogdensburg.

(VIII) Samuel H., son of Stephen Freeman and Harriet J. (Cowles) Palmer, was born Aug. 12, 1837, at Colton, St. Lawrence county, New York. He went with his parents in childhood to Madrid, where he attended public school. Afterwards he attended Potsdam and Governeur Wesleyan academies, after which he taught school several years. In 1859 he removed to Ogdensburg to take charge of one of the schools there, and was in charge of that school two and one-half years. Mr. Palmer spent three years reading law in the office of Hon. Daniel Magone, and in 1863 was admitted to the bar. However, he did not begin the practice of law at this time, but instead embarked in business in the line of insurance, which he continued nine years.
Jan. 1, 1874 he purchased an interest in the St. Lawrence Republican and Journal, in company with H. R. James and Seth P. Remington, under firm name of James, Remington & Palmer, and has since been identified with the interests of that paper. He served fifteen years as supervisor of the town of Oswegatchie, and was three years chairman of the board; he held the office of town clerk five terms and was chairman of the school board at the time the project was carried through for an academy at Ogdensburg. Mr. Palmer has always been actively interested in public affairs, and whenever his business interests would allow worked zealously in the interests of the Republican party. He is now [1910] serving as postmaster of Ogdensburg, having served continuously since his appointment in 1897 by President McKinely. He is one of the public spirited men of the city, and is always the friend of progress and development of the city's resources. Mr. Palmer has been identified with the city of Ogdensburg from the beginning of his public career, and has the confidence and esteem of all who know him. He is a liberal supporter of all good causes, and an earnest member of the Presbyterian church. He is affiliated with the order of Ancient and Free and Accepted Masons.
Mr. Palmer married June 1, 1867, Martha P., daughter of Hiram and Caroline (Dimick) Packard, of Madrid.
Children:
Martha H. Packard.
Samuel D.
Harriett C., educated in public and academic schools, and has for several years been engaged in teaching; he is also a graduate of Emerson's Summer School of Oratory.

(IX) F. Packard, son of Samuel H. and Martha P. (Packard) Palmer, is treasurer and general manager of the St. Lawrence Republican; he graduated at Union College, Schenectady, N.Y. He married Jeanne Charles, born and educated in Paris; children: Marie and Harry Charles. They lost two children in infancy.

(IX) Samuel D., son of Samuel H. and Martha P. (Packard) Palmer, was also graduated at Union College, Schenectady; he is now editor of the St. Lawrence Republican.
He married Winifred Brown, of Ogdensburg.


SECOND ENTRY

(II) Gershom, younger son of Walter (q. v.) and Rebecca (Short) Palmer, was baptized in Charlestown, June 5, 1684. He received from his brothers Nehemiah, Moses and Benjamin, as part of their parents' estate, five hundred acres of land in Stonington. There was laid out to Lieut. Gerhom Palmer, May 3, 1693, fifty acres, one hundred acres, and again fifty acres of land. Dec. 13, 1708, he gave all his land to his sons George and Walter, they to allow him one-third the produce of the land, and allow him to dwell in the east end of his house, and to fulfill the agreement he had made with his "now wife" before marriage, that she was to have twenty pounds before his decease, but he stated that since he had been boarding his wife's two daughters, Hannah and Elizabeth Mason, for some time, he had caused different arrangements to be made.
Nov. 20, 1711, four hundred acres of land in the purchase of Cottapeset were laid out to Gershom Palmer. He married (first) at Stonington, Nov. 28, 1667, Ann, daughter of Captain George and Ann (Borodell) Dennison; her mother, Ann Borodell, was of a distinguished old English family, and from her dignified and gracious manner she was often called "Lady Ann," she was born May 20, 1649, and died 1694, in Stonington. Gershom Palmer married (second) Mrs. Elizabeth Mason, widow of Samuel Mason of Stonington, whose maiden name was Peck, members of a Rehoboth family of that name.
Gershom Palmer died Sept. 27, 1718.
Children, all by first marriage:
Mercy.
Gershom, see below
Ichabod.
Willam.
George.
Rebecca.
Ann.
Walter.
Elihu.
Mary.
Rebecca.

(III) Gershom Palmer (2) eldest son of Gershom (1) and Ann (Dennison) Palmer, born 1672, was baptized Sept. 3, 1679, in the First Church of Stonington; he died in Killingworth, Conn., in 1733-34. His father made a deed giving him land in Killingworth. William, brother of Gershom (1) Palmer, had left the land to his brother for one of his sons, and he ordered his son Gershom to go to Killingworth to live on this land in the house of William Palmer, which he accordingly did.
Gershom (2) Palmer married, it is supposed in Saybrook, Sarah, daughter of Captain John and Sarah Fenner.
Children:
Gershom.
John, see below
Anna.

(IV) John, second son of Gershom (2) and Sarah (Fenner) Palmer, was born in Killingworth, Conn., and removed to Pauling precinct, Dutchess county, New York. He married, Jan. 15, 1729, Mary Ward, born April 10, 1713.
Children:
Ann, born Nov. 10, 1730, died young.
Fenner, of whom further, see below.
John, May 25, 1737.
Gershom, Aug. 17, 1740.
Ann, Sept. 20, 1742.
Mary, Oct. 3, 1743.

(V) Fenner, eldest son of John and Mary (Ward) Palmer, was born Sept. 15, 1735, in Killingworth. No record of his death has been discovered, but he probably died in Rensselaer county, N.Y., where he settled with his family.
He was captain of the fifth company (Hoosick and Schaghticoke) 14th Regiment New York militia, and is said by tradition to have been a member of the McCrea rescue party sent out from Fort Miller during the revolution.
He married Lydia, supposed to have been a daughter of Joseph Buel, [transcriber's note: I think it's a Nathaniel Buell]. of Colchester, and East Hampton, Conn. Many members of this family went to Vermont and were intermarried with the Sailly family of Plattsburg. He joined the Baptist church at Dover Furance, May 27, 1758, adn his wife joined the same church July 6, following. She died May 18, 1778, in Rensselaer county, N.Y.
Children:
Sarah.
John, see below
Gershom.
Anna.
Nathaniel.
Peter.
Fenner.
Joseph and Benjamin (twins). Jerusha.
Most of these names were common in the Buel family, and a few in the Palmer family.

(VI) John (2) eldest son of Captain Fenner and Lydia Palmer, was born Nov. 29, 1757, at Dover, Conn (now New York) and died at Hoosick, N.Y., Jan. 24, 1843. He lived for a time with his son William in Plattsburgh, N.Y., whiether son John had gone about 1809-10, and the son William about 1830. he was an ensign in the 14th Regiment, serving under General Stark at the battle of Bennington, Aug. 16, 1777, and his second wife drew a pension in her old age because of this service. By occupation he was a farmer, and his last years were spent in Hoosick. He had five grandsons who served as soldiers in the civil war - four in the Union army, and one in the Conderate; Colonel William E. Haynes, of Fremont, Ohio; Major Buel Palmer and Lieut. Colonel Frank Palmer of Plattsburgh, N.Y.; Colonel Frederick Sailly Palmer, of Michgan, and Colonel John B. Palmer of Virginia, the last named in the Confedeate army.
He married (first) Aug. 28, 1776, in Hoosick, Mary Hill, born Sept. 25, 1757, died May 6, 1832; (second) in Columbus, Ohio, April 28, 1833, Olive Barnes, born Jan.2 6, 1776, in Litchfield, Conn. There were no children of the second marriage.
Those of the first marrige:
Lydia (died young).
Olive Lydia.
Anna.
John, mentioned below.
Fenner.
Mary.
Benjamin Ira.
Buel.
William, mentioned below.
Polly.
Hiram.
Ann Jane.

(VII) John (3) eldest son of John (2) and Mary (Hill) Palmer, was born Jan. 29, 1785, at Hoosick, and died Dec. 8, 1840, at Bermuda, in the West Indies. He settled in Malone, N.Y., where he practice law as county judge, and was elected to congress. Like his father, he adhered some years to the Baptist church, in which he had been baptized, but for many years of his life was identified with the Protestant Episcopal church, of which he became a member at Malone, with his wife. In politics he was a Whig.
He married, at Plattsburgh, March 7, 1812, Charlotte Teressa Sailly, born June 7, 1793, daughter of Peter and Marianne Adelaide (Geiller) Sailly, who came from France in 1785.
Children:
Marian.
Peter Sailly, mentioned below.
Eleanor Boynton.
Charles Lewis.
Mary Elizabeth.
John Boynton, mentioned below.
Charlotte.
Adalaide.
Julia.
Ann.
Frederick Sailly.
Ann Eliza.

(VIII) Peter Sailly, second child of John (3) and Charlotte T. (Sailly) Palmer, was born Sept. 20, 1814, in Plattsburgh, and died there in August 1890. In early life he spent a few years in the west, but returned to Plattsburgh, where he engaged in the practice of the law as a member of the firm of Palmer, Weed & Smith, and served as county judge of Clinton county. He worte a "History of Lake Champlain" which had a wide circultation. He was a member of the Episcopal church, and prominent in its management. In politics a Democrat, he was earnest in support of the govenment during the civil war, while his brother was a colonel in the Confederate army. Another brother was captain and later colonel in the Union army.
He married, at Malone, New York, Sept. 6, 1838, Margaret, daughter of Captain Sidney Smith, U.S.A. Her family was originally from Long Island. She died July 19, 1906, aged eighty-nine years. Of their eleven children, eight died young.
Survivors:
Sidney Smith, born June 26, 1846, resides in San Francisco, California.
Melanchon Smith, born 1853, died in Omaha, Nebraska, leaving two children - Pierce and Margaret.
Catharine, resides, unmarried, in Plattsburgh.

(VIII) John Boynton, seventh chld of John (3) and Charlotte T. (Sailly) Palmer, was born Oct. 13, 1826, in Plattsburgh, and died Dec. 10, 1893, in Florida. On account of delicate health he gave up his studies and went to Detroit, Michigan, about 1850, to engage in busienss. There he was in charge of warehouses and was interested in the shipping business. Later he settled at Richmond, Virginia, and served two terms as member of the national house of representatives. Settling in Mitchell county, North Carolina, he purchased a large estate and built a mansion which he occupied about six years. He made various voyages to Europe, and was interested in railroad operations, being vice-president of the Atlantic Coast Line, and was also intereted in banking, being president of two banks in Columbia, South Carolina. Owing to the disastrous effect of the civil war, nearly all of his furtune was swept away, but his business capacity and industry largely recovered his fallen fortunes. He became president of the Southern Security Company, which was a large owner of railroad properties, and was recognized as an able financier up to the time of his death, at the age of sixty-seven years.
Colonel Palmer was active in the councils of the Democratic party, and was an earnest Episcopalian in religion. He did much in promoting the welfare of the church, and was very highly esteemed by its dignitarires, having been called by one of its bishops a "perfect man."
In personal apperance, he was handsome and bore the marks of distinction.
He married, Oct. 12, 1852, Frances Marvin Kirby, daughter of Colonel Edmond and Eliza (Brown) Kirby (see Kirby VI). They had one son, Edmond Kirby Palmer, now [1910] residing in Columbia, South Carolina. Mrs. Palmer resides near Central Park in New York City, and is much interested in philanthropic work. She possesses a charming personality, and is able by her cheerfulness and kind precepts to aid and encourage others on their way through life.

(VII) William, fifth son of Ensign John (2) (q.v.) and Mary (Hill) Palmer, was born June 7, 1795, in Hoosick, where he passed his youth. As a lad he ran away and enlisted as a solider in the war of 1812, but served only a few months, as his father secured his discharge on account of his youth. He was subsequently a major of the New York militia in Rensselaer county, residing at Hoosick. He removed thence in 1831-32 to Plattsburgh. N.Y., where he died, Aug. 30, 1865. In 1836 he came into possession of a house lot on Peru street, which is still [1910] held by his descendants. He was extensively engaged in various enterprises in Plattsburgh, and as his sons grew up they received share of his business. His sword and Bible, as well as Ensign John Palmer's Bible, are still preserved in his home in Plattsburgh.
He married, March 3, 1816, at Hoosick, Ruth, daughter of John and Phebe (Peck) Haynes, and seventh in descent from Samuel Haynes, of Salem, Mass., whose son Jonathan Haynes, of Haverhill, Mass., was also his ancestor.
Children:
1. A daughter, died in early infancy.
2. George William, an attorney, was county judge and surrogate 1844; member of congress, 1856-8; counsel to Crete, 1861; in 1866 one of the seven judges and auditors of the international court for the suppression of the slave trade; married Frances, daughter of Judge Lynde, of Plattsburgh; children: Willaim, Helen M., Owen, Aldis, Charles G., Francis and Sterne Lynde. The second is an authoress, residing, unmarried,in Plattsburgh.
3. John H., a Baptist minister, pastor of the church at Hoosick, where he was born and died; he left sons William and Irving.
4. Major Buel, was a member of the 16th Regiment New York Volunteers, died in Montreal, and buried in Plattsburgh; he left four children: Sarah, James Bailey, Frances and Caroline Halsey.
5. Clinton was a sailor and died of fever in Mozambique.
6. Charles Edward, mentioned below.
7. James Henry, died of fever while on a western trip shortly after his marriage, and left a daughter, Anna.
8. Lieutenant Colonel Franklyn, served with 15th New York Regiment during the civil war, and was later a merchant and manufacturer of Plattsburgh; he left sons William Morgan and Franklyn Hall.
9. Julia Maria, died in West Chazy, widow of Victor Augustus Wood of that place.

(VIII) Charles Edward, fourth son of Major William and Ruth (Haynes) Palmer, was born Dec. 21, 1827, in Hoosick, and died Feb. 18, 1908, in Plattsburgh, N.Y., where he was a merchant, and a member of the Methodist church. With his family he attended the Episcopal church. He inherited his father's homestead.
He married, Sept. 17, 1863, Isabella Cheesewright, daughter of Captain John MacDemott, of the 91st New York Volunteers, and his wife Isalla Benns. They had two daughters, Isabella Frances and Ruth Louise.

(IX) Isabella Frances, daughter of Charles Edward and Isabella C. (MacDermott) Palmer, was born July 28, 1864, in Plattsburgh, and now [1910] resides in the paternal homestead there. She married, Dec. 18, 1890, Lieut. Colonel John H. Bertholf, a surgeon of the United States army, son of John Giles and Christiana Haring Bertholf, and sixth in descent from Rev. Gulliann Bertholf, first Dutch Reformed minister over New Jersey. They have a son, John Charles Palmer Bertholf, born Oct. 26, 1891, at Plattsburgh Barracks, New York.

THIRD ENTRY:

The English Crusaders, on returning from the Holy Land, often bore a palm branch, and from this fact came to be called "palmers." The presence of the palm branch denoted zeal in the cause of the Crusade, and often meant the bearer had shown steadfastness of purpose and unusual courage in rescuing from the Saracens the Holy Sepulchre. When the English began to assume surnames many took the name of Palmer, and several became member so the nobility of England. It is recorded that one Norman soldier of the name received knighthood for his high courage in single combat with the Saracens. In America the family have continued to hold some of the most honorable positions in private and public life and have been found in all walks of life.

(I) Walter Palmer is thought to have emigrated from Nottinghamshire, England, and many authorities have stated he was a brother of Abraham, as they were found in Charlestown, in the Massachusetts Bay Colony about the same time, and their names many times appeared together on the records. Both were made freemen there May 14, 1634, by authority of the general court of Mass. Bay.
His possessions were listed in 1638, in what was called a true record of the houses and lands of the inhabitants of Charlestown. The two acres containing his dwelling house were in the "East Field," butting south on the Back street; he also had considerable other arable land, cows, etc. In 1637 he and his son John received their share of the division of land on the Mystic side, in which some land was saved for the accommodation of "after comers."
In company with William Cheeseborough, his lifelong friend, he agreed to prepare for a settlement to be called Seacunke, which afterward became Rehoboth; this was thought to lie in Plymouth county, but was afterwards found to be in Bristol county. In 1645 the name was changed to Rehoboth. About 1652-3 Walter Palmer bought land in the vicinity of what is now Stonington, Connecticut, and became the owner of about twelve hundred acres. For some time they attended worship in New London, but finally were able to organize a church in the new settlement, and March 22, 1657, the first meeting was held in the house of Walter Palmer, afterwards in the house of various others. They had supposed the settlement lay within Massachusetts, but it afterwards became part of Connecticut, and after considerable discussion the boundary was determined, part of the settlement being in Mass. and part in Conn.
At the time Walter Palmer made his will, Stonington was under the jurisdiction of Suffolk county, Mass., from which fact his will is now to be found in Boston.
He died in Stonington, Nov. 19, 1661.
He married in England, and his wife Ann was called Elizabeth to distinguish her from her mother; she died in England. He married (second) probably in Roxbury, Mass., Rebecca Short, and they joined the First Church of Charlestown.
Children of first wife:
Grace, John, William, Jonas and Elizabeth.
Children of second wife:
Hannah, born June 16, 1634.
Elihu, Jan. 24, 1636.
Nehemiah, Nov. 27, 1637.
Moses, April 6, 1640.
Benjamin, 1642.
Gershom.
Rebecca.

(II) Jonah or Jonas, son of Walter and Ann Palmer, lived in Rehoboth, and by the terms of his father's will inherited one-half the farm in Rehoboth, now in Bristol county, Mass.
He married (first), May 3, 1655, in Rehoboth, Elizabeth, daughter of Francis Grissell (Griswold) of Charlestown, formerly of Cambridge, Mass.; she died and was buried in Rehoboth, Feb. 11, 1691-92. Jonah Palmer married (second), Nov. 9, 1692, Abigail Titus, a widow, whose maiden name was Abigail Carpenter; she died March 5, 1709, and he died June 22, 1709.
Children, all by first marriage:
Hannah, born Nov. 8, 1657.
Samuel, mentioned below.
Jonas, March 29, 1662.
Mary, Feb. 23, 1663.
Elizabeth.
Martha, July 6, 1666.
Grace, Oct. 1, 1668.

(III) Samuel, son of Jonah or Jonas and Elizabeth (Grissell or Griswold) Palmer, was born Nov. 20, 1659, at Rehoboth, died Nov. 18, 1743, in Windham, Conn. He served in the Narragansett Swamp Fight in 1676, under Major William Bradford. In 1701, in company with three others, Samuel Palmer purchased land in Windham, Conn. from a Scottsman who had acquired a large tract and named the locality Scotland, in honor of his native country. March 17, 1702, Samuel Palmer sold his land, barns, orchards and house in Rehoboth. His will is now on record in Willimantic.
He married (first) in Rehoboth, Elizabeth, daughter of Eldad and Mehitable (French) Kinsley; she was born Jan. 29, 1662, in Rehoboth, died May 16, 1717, in Windham. He married (second) Dec. 6, 1727, Ann Durgy, who died Feb. 17, 1761, at the age of eighty years.
Children by first marriage:
John, born March 25, 1682, died Jan. 5, 1683.
Samuel, Jan. 4, 1683.
John, twin to Samuel, buried July 15, 1683.
Mehitable, born April 11, 1686.
Nehemiah, March 11, 1688-89.
Benoni, July 27, 1690, buried July 28, 1690.
Mary, Dec. 17, 1791.
Seth, Feb. 11, 1694.
Elizabeth, Feb. 6, 1695-96.
Ebenezer, Oct. 21, 1699.
Mercy, Jan. 17, 1700-01.
Eleazer, mentioned below.

(IV) Eleazer, son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Kinsley) Palmer, was born Jan. 10, 1702, in Rehoboth, Mass., died Feb. 4, 1783, Scotland Parish, near Windham, Conn.
April 5, 1744, Seth Palmer deeded over to his brother Eleazer his own rights in the estate of their father, Samuel Palmer, which had been given him by his father's will.
Eleazer Palmer married, March 28, 1723, in Windham, Conn., Mary, daughter of George and Elizabeth Lillie, who was born Dec. 25, 1702, in Lynn, Mass., died in Scotland Parish, July 9, 1768.
Children:
Zurviah, born Feb. 12, 1723-24, died March 20, 1728.
Eliphalet, May 25, 1725.
Eleazer, mentioned below.
Mary, May 19, 1728.
Zurviah, Feb. 24, 1730-31.
Enos, July 12, 1732.
Marcey, Feb. 24, 1734-35.
Jerusha, April 9, 1737.
Mehitable, baptized Sept. 19, 1739.
Tryphena, born May 4, 1741.
Hannah, April 23, 1743.
Josiah, Feb. 10, 1744-45.

(V) Eleazer (2), son of Eleazer (1) and Mary (Lillie) Palmer, was born July 7, 1726, in Windham, Conn. On April 8, 1751, his father gave a deed of ten acres of land to his two sons, Eliphalet and Eleazer Jr.
He married (first) in 1756, Mary Bingham, who died Sept. 9, 1760; married (second) Nov. 8, 1770, Widow Mary Eaton, whose maiden name was Mary Allen.
Children of first marriage:
Twin daughters, born and died Nov. 30, 1756.
A son, born and died Aug. 24, 1757.
Elizabeth, born Jan. 16, 1759.
Children by second marriage:
Zuriel, mentioned below.
Beriah, born March 24, 1773, died April 5, 1773.
Mary, June 6, 1775, died Sept. 12, 1780.
Azel, Aug. 12, 1777.
Eunice, Feb. 27, 1781.
Eleazer, Sept. 1, 1785.

(VI) Zuriel, son of Eleazer (2) and Mary (Allen-Eaton) Palmer, was born Nov. 14, 1771, at Windham, Conn., died June 22, 1855, at Pierrepont, St. Lawrence county, New York. He followed the trade of shoemaker all his life. He was very religious, and served in the capacity of local Methodist preacher. He lived at Windham, Conn, some time after his marriage, and in 1810 moved with his family, first to Royalton, thence to Hubbardton, and Benson, Vermont, and later to Whitehall and Parishville, New Yor.
Oct. 23, 1796, Zuriel Palmer married Martha Morgan, born Jan. 7, 1775, in Windham, Conn., died March 31, 1853, at Pierrepont, N.Y.
Children:
1. Samuel Morgan, born Oct. 3, 1797, died while serving in the army, at Sacketts Harbor, Jan. 2, 1815.
2. Julia, Nov. 13, 1799, died Nov. 18, 1802.
3. Lucius, Jan. 10, 1802, died 1881 in Washington, District of Columbia.
4. Lois, Feb. 3, 1804; married Harvey Eldridge; died at Pierrepont, N.Y. Oct. 3, 1842, leaving seven daughters.
5. John, Aug. 8, 1806, died 1879, at Russell, N.Y., leaving one son, Julius, who resides at Potsdam, N.Y.
6. David, Dec. 2, 1809, died about 1860 at Colton, N.Y.
7. Stephen Freeman, mentioned below.
8. Mary Ann, June 8, 1815; married William Henry Goodrich; died 1843, at Benson, Vermont, leaving two daughters and one son, Frederick.
9. Juliette, March 31, 1817, died June 2, 1839, at Parishville, N.Y.

(VII) Stephen Freeman, son of Zuriel and Martha (Morgan) Palmer, was born March 6, 1812, at Hubbardton, Vermont, died April 6, 1907, at the home of his son, Samuel H. Palmer, in Ogdensburg, N.Y. He received a common school education in Whitehall, N.Y., whither his parents moved soon after his birth. Afterwards he followed the trade of blacksmith all his life until his retirement from active business. Living before the use of machinery was so prevalent in blacksmith and similar work, he became an expert in the art of making axes and other edge tools, which he manufactured by hand.
In 1832 he located in Colton, N.Y., and lived there until his retirement about 1880, when he moved to Ogdensburg to live with his son. Stephen Freeman Palmer was a staunch Republican and for many years held the office of justice of the peace in Colton.
He was also a member of the Methodist church, being very active in this cause and a class leader.
Feb. 18, 1835, he married Harriet Juliana, daughter of Stoughton and Abigail (Paine) Cowles; she was born in Salisbury, Vermont, died Feb. 14, 1879, at Madrid, N.Y.
Children:
1. Samuel H., mentioned below.
2. Henrietta, born Sept. 25, 1839, died April 21, 1843.
3. Stephen Freeman Jr., July 2, 1846, at Madrid, N.Y., is now (1910) engaged in lumber business at Ogdensburg.

(VIII) Samuel H., son of Stephen Freeman and Harriet J. (Cowles) Palmer, was born Aug. 12, 1837, at Colton, St. Lawrence county, N.Y. He went with his parents in childhood to Madrid, where he attended publics school. Afterwards he attended Potsdam and Gouverneur Wesleyan academies, after which he taught school several years.
In 1859 he removed to Ogdensburg to take charge of one of the schools there, and was in charge of that school two and one-half years. Mr. Palmer spent three years reading law in the office of Hon. Daniel Magone, and in 1863 was admitted to the bar. However, he did not begin the practice of law at this time, but instead embarked in business in the line of insurance, which he continued nine years.
Jan. 1, 1874, he purchased an interest in the St. Lawrence Republican and Journal, in company with H. R. James and Seth P. Remington, under firm name of James, Remington & Palmer, and has since been identified with the interests of that paper. He served thirteen years as supervisor of the town of Oswegathchie, and was three years chairman of the board; he held the office of town clerk for five terms and was chairman of the school board at the time the project was carried through for an academy at Ogdensburg. Mr. Palmer has always been actively interested in public affairs, and whenever his business interests would allow worked zealously in the interests of the Republican party. He is now (1910) serving as postmaster of Ogdensburg, having served continuously since his appointment in 1897 by President McKinley. He is one of the public-spirited men of the city, and is always the friend of progress and development of the city's resources. Mr. Palmer has been identified with the city of Ogdensburg from the beginning of his public career, and has the confidence and esteem of all who know him.
He is a liberal supporter of all good causes, and an earnest member of the Presbyerian church. He is affiliated with the order of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.
Mr. Palmer married, June 1, 1867, Martha P., daughter of Hiram and Caroline (Dimick) Packard, of Madrid.
Children:
Martha H.
Harry H.
F. Packard, mentioned below.
Samuel D., mentioned below.
Harriett C., educated in the public and academic schools, and has for several years been engged in teaching; he [sic?] is also a graduate of Emerson's Summer School of Oratory.

(IX) F. Packard, son of Samuel H. and Martha P. (Packard) Palmer, is treasurer and general manager of the St. Lawrence Republican; he graduated at Union College, Schenectady, N.Y.
He married Jeannne Charlus, born and educated in Paris.
Children:
Marie and Harry Charlus.
They lost two children in infancy.

(IX) Samuel D., son of Samuel H. and Martha P. (Packard) Palmer, was also graduated at Union College, Schenectady; he is now editor of the St. Lawrence Republican. He married Winifred Brown, of Ogdensburg.

FOURTH ENTRY:

(II) Gershom, youngest son of Walter (q.v.) and Rebecca (Short) Palmer, was baptized in Charlestown, June 5, 1684. He received from his brothers Nehemiah, Moses and Benjamin, as parat of their parents' estate, five hundred acres of land in Stonington, Conn. There was laid out to Lieut. Gershom Palmer, May 3, 1693, fifty acres, one hundred acres, and again fifty acres of land. Dec. 23, 1708, he gave all his land to his sons George and Walter, they to allow him one-third the produce of the land, and allow him to dwell in the east end of his house, and to fulfill the agreement he had made with his "now wife" before marriage, that she was to have twenty pounds before his decease, but he stated that since he had been boarding his wife's two daughters, Hannah and Elizabeth Mason, for some time, he had caused different arrangements to be made.
Nov. 20, 1711, four hundred acres of land in the purchase of Cottapset were laid out to Gershom Palmer.
He married (first) at Stonington, Nov. 28, 1667, Ann, daughter of Captain George and Ann (Borodell) Dennison; her mother, Ann Borodell, was of a distinguished old English family, and from her dignified and gracious manner she was often called "Lady Ann;" she was born May 20, 1649, and died in 1694, in Stonington. He married (second) Mrs. Elizabeth Mason, widow of Samuel Mason, of Stonington, whose maiden name was Peck, member of a Rehoboth familyh of that name.
Gershom Palmer died Sept. 27, 1718.
Children, all by first marriage:
Mercy, Gershom (mentioned below), Ichabod, William, George, Rebecca, Ann, Walter, Elihu, Mary and Rebecca.

(III) Gershom (2), eldest son of Gershom (1) and Ann (Dennison) Palmer, born 1672, was baptized Sept. 3, 1679, in the First Church of Stonington; he died in Killingworth, Conn. in 1733-4. His father made a deed giving him land in Killingworth. William, brother of Gershom (1) Palmer, had left the land to his brother for one of his sons, and he ordered his son Gershom to go to Killingworth to live on this land in the house of William Palmer, which he accordingly did.
Gershom (2) Palmer married, it is supposed in Saybrook, Sarah, daughter of Captain John and Sarah Fenner.
Children:
Gershom, John (mentioned below) and Anna.

(IV) John, second son of Gerhom (2) and Sarah (Fenner) Palmer, was born in Killingworth, Conn., and removed to Pauling precinct, Dutchess county, N.Y.
He married, Jan. 15, 1729, Mary Ward, born April 10, 1713.
Children:
Ann, born Nov. 20, 1730, died young.
Fenner, mentioned below.
John, May 25, 1737.
Gershom, Aug. 17, 1740.
Ann, Sept. 20, 1742.
Mary, Oct. 3, 1743.

(V) Fenner, eldest son of John and Mary (Ward) Palmer, was born Sept. 15, 1735, in Killingworth. [Transcriber's note: at birth his given name was "Prince." See Palmer, Barbour Collection.
No record of his death has been discovered, but he probably died in Rensselaer county, N.Y., where he settled with his family.
He was captain of the fifth company (Hoosick and Schagticoke), 14th Regiment New York militia, and is said by tradition to have been a member of the McCrea rescue party sent out from Fort Miller during the revolution.
He married Lydia, supposed to have been a daughter of Joseph Buel, of Colchester and East Hampton, Conn. Many members of this family went to Vermont and were intermarried with the Sailly family of Plattsburg.
He joined the Baptist church, at Dover Furnace, May 27, 1758, and his wife joined the same church July 6 following. She died May 18, 1778, in Rensselaer county, N.Y.
Children:
Sarah, John, Gershom, Anna, Nathaniel, Peter [MINE], Fenner, Joseph and Benjamin (twins), and Jerusha. Most of these names were common in the Buel family, and few in the Palmer family.

(VI) John (2), eldest son of Captain Fenner and Lydia Palmer, was born Nov. 29, 1757, at Dover, Conn. (now New York0, and died at Hoosick, New York, Jan. 24, 1843. He lived for a time with his son, William, in Plattsburg, N.Y., whither his son John had gone about 1809-10, and the son William about 1830. He was an ensign in the 14th Regiment, serving under General Stark at the battle of Bennington, Aug. 16, 1777, and his second wife drew a pension in her old age because of this service. By occupation he was a farmer, and his last years were spent at Hoosick. He had five grandsons who served as soldiers in the civil war - four in the Union army and one is the Confederate; Colonel William E. Haynes, of Fremont, Ohio; Major Buel Palmer and Lieut. Colonel Frank Palmer, of Plattsburg, N.Y.; Colonel Frederick Sailly Palmer, of Michigan, and Colonel John B. Palmer, of Virginia, the last named in the Confederate army.
He married (first), Aug. 28, 1776, in Hoosick, Mary Hill, born Sept. 25, 1757, died May 6, 1832; (second) in Columbus, Ohio, April 28, 1833, Olive Barnes, born Jan. 26, 1776, in Litchfield, Conn. There were no children of the second marriage.
Children of first marriage:
Lydia (died young); Olive Lydia; Anna; John (mentioned below); Fenner; Mary; Benjamin Ira; Buel; William (mentioned below); Polly; Hiram; Ann Jane.

(VII) John (3), eldest son of John (2) and Mary (Hill) Palmer, was born Jan. 29, 1785, at Hoosick, and died Dec. 8, 1840, at Bermuda in the West Indies. He settled in Malone, New York, where he practice law, served as county judge, and was elected to congress. Like his father, he adhered some years to the Baptist church, in which he had been baptized, but for many years of his life was identified with the Protestant Episcopal church, of which he became a member at Malone, with his wife.
In politics he was a Whig.
He married, at Plattsburgh, March 7, 1812, Charlotte Teressa Sailly, born June 7, 1793, daughter of Peter and Marianne Adelaide (Geillier) Sailly, who came from France in 1785.
Children:
Marian; Peter Sailly (mentioned below); Elearnor Boynton; Charles Lewis; Mary Elizabeth; John Boynton (mentioned below); Charlotte Adelaide; Julia; Ann; Frederick Sailly; and Ann Eliza.

(VIII) Peter Sailly, second child of John (3) and Charlotte T. (Sailly) Palmer, was born Sept. 20, 1814, in Plattsburgh, and died there in August, 1890. In early life he spent a few years in the west, but returned to Plattsburgh, where he engaged in the practice of the law as a member of the firm of Palmer, Weed & Smith, and served as county judge of Clinton county. He wrote a "History of Lake Champlain" which had a wide circulation.
He was a member of the Protestane Episcopal church, and prominent in its management.
In politics a Democrat, he was earnest in support of the government during the civil war, while his brother was a colonel in the Confederate army. Another brother was captain and later colonel in the Union army.
He married, at Malone, N.Y., Sept. 6, 1838, Margaret, daughter of Captain Sidney Smith, U.S.A. Her family was originally from Long Island. She died July 19, 1906, aged eighty-nine years.
Of their eleven children, eight died young.
Survivors:
Sidney Smith, born June 26, 1846, resides in San Francisco, California.
Melanchon Smith, born 1853, died in Omaha, Nebraska, leaving two children - Pierce and Margaret.
Catherine, resides, unmarried, in Plattsburgh.

(VIII) John Boynton, seventh child of John (3) and Charlotte T. (Sailly) Palmer, was born Oct. 13, 1826, in Plattsburgh, and died Dec. 10, 1893, in Florida. On account of delicate health he gave up his studies and went to Detroit, Michigan, about 18450, to engage in business. There he was in charge of large warehouses and was interested in the shipping business.
Later he settled at Richmond, Virginia, and served two terms as member of the national house of representatives. Settling in Mitchell county, North Carolina, he purchased a large estate and built a mansion which he occupied about six years. He made various voyages to Europe, and was interested in railroad operations, being vice-president of the Atlantic Coast Line, and was also interested in banking, being president of two banks in Columbia, South Carolina.
Owing to the disastrous effect of the civil war, nearly all of his fortune was swept away, but his business capacity and industry largely recovered his fallen fortunes. He became president of the Southern Security Company, which was a large owner of railroad properties, and was recognized as an able financier up to the time of his death, at the age of sixty-seven years.
Colonel Palmer was active in the councils of the Democratic party, and an earnest Episcopalian in religion. He did much in promoting the welfare of the church, and was very highly esteemed by its dignitaries, having been called by one of its bishops a "perfect man." In personal appearance he was handsome and bore the marks of distinction.
He married, Oct. 12, 1852, Frances Marvin Kirby, daughter of Colonel Edmond and Eliza (Brown) Kirby (see Kirby VI).
They had one son, Edmond Kirby Palmer, now (1910) residing in Columbia, South Carolina.
Mrs. Palmer resides near Central Park in New York City, and is much interested in philanthropic work. She possesses a charming personality, and is able by her cheerfulness and kind precepts to aid and encourage others on their way through life.


(VII) William, fifth son of Ensign John (2) (q.v.) and Mary (Hill) Palmer, was born June 7, 1795, in Hoosick, where he passed his youth. As a lad he ran away and enlisted as a soldier in the war of 1812, but served only a few months, as his father secured his discharge on account of his youth. He was subsequently a major of the New York militia in Rensselaer county, residing at Hoosick. He removed thence in 1831-32 to Plattsburgh, New York, where he died, Aug. 30, 1865.
In 1836 he came into possession of a house lot on Peru street, which is still (1910) held by his descendants. He was extensively engaged in various enterprises in Plattsburgh, and as his sons grew up they received shares in his business. His word and Bible, as well as Ensign John Palmer's Bible, are still preserved in his home in Plattsburgh.
He married, March 3, 1816, at Hoosick, Ruth, daughter of John and Phoebe (Peck) Haynes, of Salem, Mass., whose son Jonathan Haynes, of Haverhill, Mass. was also his ancestor.
Children:
1. A daughter, died in early infancy.
2. George William, an attorney, was county judge and surrogate, 1844; member of congress 1856-8; counsel to Crete, 1861; in 1866 one of the seven judges and auditors of the international court for the suppression of the slave trade; He married Frances, daughter of Judge Lynde, of Plattsburgh. Children: William, Helen M., Owen Aldis, Charles G., Francis and Sterne Lynde. The second is an authoress, residing, unmarried, in Plattsburgh.
3. John H., a Baptist minister, pastor of the church at Hoosick, where he was born and died; he left sons William and Irving.
4. Major Buel, was a member of the 16th Regiment, New York Volunteers, died in Montreal, and buried in Plattsburgh; he left four children: Sarah, James Bailey, Frances and Caroline Halsey.
5. Clinton was a sailor, and died of fever in Mozambique.
6. Charles Edward, mentioned below.
7. James Henry, died of fever while on a western trip shortly after his marriage, and left a daughter, Anna.
8. Lieut. Colonel Franklyn, served with 15th New York Regiment during the civil war, and was later a merchant and manufacturer of Plattsburgh; he left sons, William Moragn and Franklyn Hall.
9. Julia Maria, died in West Chazy, widow of Victor Augustus Wood, of that place.

(VIII) Charles Edward, fourth son of Major William and Ruth (Haynes) Palmer, was born Dec. 21, 1827, in Hoosick, and died Feb. 18, 1908, in Plattsburgh, N.Y., where he was a merchant and a member of the Methodist church. With his family he attended the Episcopal church.
He inhabited his father's homestead.
He married, Sept. 17, 1863, Isabella Cheesewright, daughter of Captian John MacDemott, of the 91st New York Volunteers, and his wife Isabella Benna. They had two daughters, Isabella Frances and Ruth Louise.

(IX) Isabella Frances, daughter of Charles Edward and Isabella C. (MacDermott) Palmer, was born July 28, 1864, in Plattsburgh, and now (1910) resides in the paternal homstead there.
She married, Dec. 18, 1890, Lieut. Colonel John H. Bertholf, a surgeon of the U.S. Army, son of John Giles and Christiana Haring Bertholf, and sixth in descent from Rev. Guliann Bertholf, first Dutch Reformed minister over New Jersey. They have a son, John Charles Palmer Betholf, born Oct. 26, 1891, at Plattsburgh Barracks, New York.

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