STONINGTON, CONNECTICUT

GRAVE of WALTER PALMER
1585 - 1661

Walter Palmer was born in England as early as 1585 and came to New England in 1628. With is brother Abraham and nine associates, he went from Salem, MA through the wilderness to a place calleb y the Indians, Mishawam. The next year they were joined by nearly one hundred people and laid the foundation for the town, which they named Charlestown, in honor of King Charles the First, Jan. 24th, 1629. It is claimed that Walter Palmer build the first dwelling house there, where he resided until 1643, when he removed to Plymouth Colony and helped organize the Town of Rehoboth. Walter Palmer was a prominent man and was admitted a freeman in Boston, May 18th, 1631. In 1652 he came to Stonington to reside at Wequetequock. He died Nov. 10th, 1661.
He married in England prior to coming to this country but the name and family of his wife has never been recorded. In the old church records of Roxbury, MA the following appears:
"Rebecca Short came to this county in the year 1632 and married Walter Palmer, a goodly man of Charlestown Church, joined Jan. 1st, 1633.

Photos taken by Margie Keller, 8/26/2004