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4. COLONEL ELIAS SANFORD PALMER (1742–1821) (Ichabod, Ichabod, Gershom, Walter)

Elias Sanford Palmer was born on 14 March 1742 in Stonington and was baptized on 22 August 1742 in North Stonington. He died on 6 June 1821, probably in Stonington. He married first Phebe Palmer on 15 March 1761. Elias and Phebe are buried in the Palmer Cemetery in Stonington. He married second as her second husband Lucy (Randall) Breed of Stonington on 23 March 1794. [1] Lucy, the daughter of Captain John Randall, was born on 14 May in perhaps 1751. She died on 14 November 1831 and is buried in the Breed Cemetery in Stonington. She married first Amos Breed on 25 January 1768. Amos was born on 23 December 1744 and died on 30 March 1785. [2]

In the summer of 1776 the Connecticut Assembly ordered enlistments for seven battalions to be commanded by Brigadier General James Wadsworth to reinforce Washington’s army. The Assembly appointed Elias Sanford Palmer first lieutenant of Ebenezer Witter Jr.’s fourth company in Colonel Samuel Selden’s fourth battalion on 14 June 1776.  The battalion served in New York and Long Island and it experienced losses when it was caught in the retreat and panic of 15 September when New York City was abandoned. Elias S. Palmer appears as a first lieutenant in Selden’s Eighth Company in Harlem Heights on a 5 October 1776 return of officers fit for duty. He appears on a 20 December 1776 roll of the mileage money belonging to Captain Witter’s company. The brigade’s term expired in December 1776. [3]

Lieutenant Elias S. Palmer was appointed to a seven-person committee to “ascertain the number of men with the limits of each company, and proportion to each company the number of men to be raised in each company, & that each company shall raise their quota,” at a Stonington town meeting on 10 April 1777. [4]

In 1790 Elias headed a household in New London County made up of two males 16 and over, four boys under 16 and six females. In 1800 he headed a household in Stonington consisting of a man and a woman 45 and over, two men 26 to 44, two females 16 to 25, one boy ten to 15 and two other free persons (of unspecified race). In 1810 he headed a household in Stonington made up of a man and a woman 45 and over, a man and a woman 26 to 44, a male and two females 16 to 25, a boy and a girl ten to 15, three boys and one girl under ten and two other free persons. [5]

Elias was a selectman in Stonington in 1791 and 1793 to 1797. He was a representative from Stonington in 1794, 1796 and 1799. [6]

On 2 August 1791 Elias Sanford Palmer and William Palmer each proposed to pay 50 cents an acre for lots of land in Chenango township 19, on the west side of the Unadilla River, containing 250 acres. A certificate of purchase for lot 95 in township 19 on the west side of the Unadilla River, containing 250 acres of land in Brookville, Madison County was recorded on 3 April 1792. [7]

Elias Sanford Palmer purchased a soldier’s right of 600 acres, lot 64, in Manlius, Onondaga County, New York and left it to his sons Charles and Sanford. The lot was roughly bordered by what is now East Genesee Street on the south, the Erie Canal on the north, the Onondaga County Club on the west and the Fayetteville mall on the east. Charles settled on his half in 1812 and Sanford followed. The Palmer Homestead, completed in 1825, is located at what is now 7189 East Genesee Street in Fayetteville. It was occupied continuously by Elias’s descendants for 150 years and still exists today. [8]

Elias wrote his will on 17 February 1820. [9] His wife Lucy was to have the use and profits of one-third part of the farm he lived on, “running by the east line of the road thence south following the line fence to a large ash tree, standing by the brook the west side of the [illegible] swamp ... containing by estimation two hundred acres, be the same more or less, excepting [his] east barn and the lot adjoining it to the north.” Lucy was also have the use of the profits of the eastern part of the house that he lived in and half of the cellar under it as long as she did not remarry. She was also to have five cows and five calves and a horse worth 40 dollars. She was to keep the goods and furniture that she brought to the marriage, but only if she would indemnify his estate for any legacy due her from her first husband's will. She was to have the use of his clock as long as she did not move it from its then location. Elias left his son Noyes his lot number 95 in Brookfield and 500 dollars. He also left him his silver-headed sword, so long as Noyes maintained his brother David for life. He added, "Noyes is not to bring any demand against my estate of any kind, name or nature whatever and if said Noyes shall fulfill what I have ordered him as above written to be in full force, otherwise to be null & void."

Elias left his daughter Phebe Hall 30 dollars. He left his granddaughter Phebe Pendleton, the wife of William Pendleton, 100 dollars, a feather bed and furniture worth 45 dollars. He left his granddaughter Betsey Hall 100 dollars, a feather bed, furniture worth 45 dollars, as well as six silver tablespoons, six silver teaspoons and a gold necklace, together worth 35 dollars. He gave his grandson Palmer Hall 150 dollars and a horse worth 50 dollars. He left his daughter Betsey Swan 120 dollars and forgave 20 dollars that her husband Ziba Swan owed to him. He left their four children, Betsey, Ziba, Elias S. and Noyes, 100 dollars each. He left his unmarried daughter Rebecca 500 dollars and the use and profits of one half of the eastern part of his house and half of the cellar and use of the well and firewood so long as she remained single. She, too, was to be able to use the clock. He also gave Rebecca all of his furniture and moveable goods, except those given to his wife. He left his granddaughter Lucy Ann Breed six silver tablespoons and six silver teaspoons worth 24 dollars. He left his grandson Elias S. Palmer a horse and bridle worth 80 dollars.

Elias left his sons David and Roswell and his daughter Borodell one dollar each. He left his son Luther his farm and buildings, his salt marsh, his clock after his wife's death and the rest of his estate so long as Luther maintained Roswell and Borodell, if she did not marry. He left his sons Sanford, Noyes, Luther and Charles his wearing apparel. He asked that his silver spoons be monogramed with "E.S.P." He named Luther the executor of his will.

Elias’s will was proved on 30 June 1821; the inventory was presented on 1 July 1821 and Luther Palmer and Jonathan Minor posted bond on 3 July 1821. On 1 August 1821 Lucy Palmer declined to accept the provisions of her late husband’s will. [10]

5. PHEBE PALMER (1742–1793) (Joseph, George, Gershom, Walter)

Phebe Palmer was born on 3 September 1742 in Stonington. She died on 13 September 1793, age 51, in Stonington. She is buried in the Palmer Cemetery in Stonington. [11] She married as his first wife Colonel Elias Sanford Palmer.  

Children of Elias Sanford Palmer and Phebe Palmer, all births recorded in Stonington: [12]

i. Elias Palmer was born on 11 February 1762 and died in 1778. [13]

ii. Captain Sanford Palmer was born on 4 August 1763 and he died on 4 October 1828, age 65. He married Wealthy Grant on 10 February 1788 in North Stonington.  Wealthy, the daughter of Oliver and Borodell (Billings) Grant, was born on 5 October 1768 in Stonington. She died on 30 June 1831 in Manlius. Sanford and Wealthy are buried in the Fayetteville Cemetery in Fayetteville, Onandaga County, New York. [14]

Sanford served in Captain Prentice’s company for three months in 1782 and he was in a New London company in 1790. [15] In 1812 he settled near the village of Fayetteville in Manlius on his half of the lot left to him and his brother Charles. [16]

Sanford Palmer of Manlius signed his will on 10 August 1825. He mentioned his wife Wealthy, his daughters Phebe Palmer, Catura [?] Chapman and Sophie Hutchins and his sons Randall, Calvin G. [?], Sanford B., Noyes and Denison B. His will was proved on 15 January 1829. [17]

iii. Borodell Palmer was born on 5 March 1765. She died after 17 February 1820 when she is mentioned in her father’s will. Her father's will suggests that Borodell was impaired in some way.

iv. Phebe Palmer was born on 9 August 1766 and she died on 22 September 1858. She married as his second wife Captain Lyman Hall on 27 November 1796 in Stonington. Lyman, the son of Joseph Hall, was born on 30 August 1761 in Westerly and died on 4 November 1842 in Westerly. He married first Eunice Pendleton. Eunice, the daughter of Captain John Pendleton, was born on 26 August 1766 and died on 31 March 1794. Phebe and Eunice are buried in the Riverbend Cemetery in Westerly. [18]

Lyman enlisted in February 1776 and served in Colonel Joseph Noyes’s Rhode Island Regiment between 1776 and December 1779. He then entered the privateer service, was captured and imprisoned on the British ship Good Hope in New York Harbor for four months. [19]

“Capt. Lyman Hall was of large stature and was remarkably strong.” [20] He was a mariner in the whaling trade. [21]

Letter requesting a pension for Phebe (Palmer) Hall,
widow of the Revolutionary War pensioner Captain Lyman Hall,
Westerly R.I. Jan. 22 18[5?]7

Dear Sir
…

Mrs. Hall, the applicant, was the second wife of Capt. Lyman Hall deceased, now his widow and daughter of the late Col. Elias Sanford Palmer of North Stonington, sister of the present Luther Palmer, and mother of Capt. Palmer Hall [illegible]; she is left with small means of support in her old age, mostly dependent on her children, a very respectable old lady, and it is believed entitled to the benefit of the aforesaid [illegible] her husband having been a pensioner.

I state the above facts not knowing whether you are personally acquainted with the applicant herself, but believe you well know her connexions; and if your engagements will permit, I request you will enquire at the Pensions Office and ascertain the state of Mrs. Hall's application and under such assistance as you can, to promote gaining her request.

I shall be glad to her from you at your earliest convenience, much obliged.

Your Obt. Svt., W. Knight, Hon. Nathan F. Dixon, Washington

v. Elizabeth Palmer was born on 19 March 1768 and she died on 22 January 1853. She married Ziba Swan of Stonington on 31 January 1790 in Stonington. Ziba, the son of Jesse and Elizabeth (Baldwin) Swan was born on 17 November 1767 in Stonington. He died in 1847. Elizabeth and Jesse are buried in the Greenwood Cemetery in Oakland County, Michigan. [22]

In 1799 Ziba and Elizabeth moved to Pine Street in Albany. Ziba was a member of the Albany Mechanics Society and in 1800 and 1801 he purchased a grocer’s license from the city. In 1807 he is said to have left Albany for Syracuse. [23]

Ziba Swan was a private in Mosley’s Detached Riflemen, New York militia, in the War of 1812. [24]

In 1821 Dr. Ziba Swan of Albany purchased land in Michigan. He later donated some of it for the Greenwood Cemetery. [25]

In 1850 Elizabeth Swan, 80 years old and born in Connecticut, was living in Bloomfield in Oakland County. She had real estate worth 2,000 dollars and was living with Elizabeth Swan, age 50 and born in Connecticut, and three other people. [26]

vi. Roswell Palmer was born on 23 October 1769. He died after 17 February 1820 when he was mentioned in his father’s will. His father's will suggests that Roswell was impaired in some way.

vii. Major General Noyes Elias Palmer (#2) was born on 20 April 1771. He died on 23 April 1858. He married first Esther Palmer. He married second Hannah Rhodes.

viii. David Palmer was born on 7 January 1773. He died after 17 February 1820, when he was mentioned in his father’s will. His father's will suggests that David was impaired in some way.

ix. Luther Palmer was born on 25 November 1774. He died on 22 February 1864, age, 89. He married first Sarah ‘Sally’ Kenyon on 12 December 1799. Sallie was the daughter of Joshua and Mary (Cross) Kenyon of Westerly. She died on 28 July 1815, age 38, and is buried in the Palmer Cemetery in Stonington. Luther married second Sarah Wells.  Sarah was the daughter of Thomas Wells of Hopkinton. Luther and Sarah Wells are buried in the Pendleton Hill Cemetery in North Stonington. [27]

In 1850 Luther, age 74, lived in North Stonington with Sarah, 58, Phebe, 32, Robert, 21, Julia, 19 and Harriet, 17. He had real estate worth 9,000 dollars. In 1860 he was an 85-year-old farmer in North Stonington with real estate worth 8,000 dollars and a personal estate of 500 dollars. He was living with Phebe, 38, Julia, 32, and Robert, 28. [28]

Luther Palmer of North Stonington made his will on 28 July 1859. He left the old farm that had belonged to his father Elias S. Palmer to his first wife’s children and the farm that he was living on to his last wife’s children. His witnesses testified on 4 August 1864. [29]

x. Priscilla Palmer was born on 20 May 1778. She died on 19 August 1806 and is buried in the Breed Cemetery in Stonington. She married her stepbrother Deacon Elias Breed on 4 January 1804. [30] Elias, the son of Amos and Lucy (Randall) Breed, was born on 12 March 1782. [31] He died on 6 December 1849. He married second Elizabeth “Betsey” Randall. Betsey, the daughter of Thomas and Molly (Chesebrough) Randall was born on 17 August 1784. She died on 22 October 1868. Elias and Betsey are buried in the Mount Hope Cemetery in Norwich, Chenango County, New York. [32]

xi. Charles Palmer was born on 20 February 1780.  He died between 28 January 1854, when he wrote a codicil to his will, and 5 April 1854, when his niece Servilla Palmer testified that she had witnessed this. He married Asenath Main.

On 4 July 1805, Charles settled on his half of the lot left to him and his brother Sanford. [33] In 1810, 1820 and 1830 he appears in the census, heading a household in Manlius. In 1850 he was a 71-year-old farmer living in Manlius with his wife Asenath, age 61 and Servilla Palmer, age 25. He had real estate worth 18,000 dollars. He owned four horses, five milch cows, 15 other cattle, 45 sheep and six pigs. He grew wheat, Indian corn and oats. [34]

Charles Palmer of Manlius signed his will on 14 January 1853 and added a codicil on 5 April 1854. He mentioned his wife Asenath; his sons Jerome B., Luther M., Paul M., Charles, Jr. and Henry D.; his daughters Asenath, the wife of Aaron Wing, deceased, and Elizabeth, the wife of Orrin Gilbert; his niece Servilla Palmer; his son Luther’s wife Sara; His son Henry’s children Asa Cady Palmer and Harriet Bertrice Palmer. [35]

xii. Rebecca Palmer was born on 26 November 1782. She might be the Rebecca Weaver who died in 1871 and is buried in the Riverside Cemetery in Shalersville, Portage, Ohio. This Rebecca may be the Rhoda [!] Palmer of North Stonington who married Stephen B. Weaver of Farralie, New York on 22 July 1821. Stephen was born on 22 June 1777 in Rhode Island. He died on 11 September 1858 and is buried in the Riverside Cemetery. [36]

Rebecca was living, unmarried, on 17 February 1820 when her father wrote his will.

In 1850 Rebecca, 68 and born in Connecticut, was living with Stephen B. Weaver, a 73-year-old farmer born in Rhode Island with real estate worth 2,500 dollars, in Shalersville. With them lived Adam, 31, Ahameros (?), age 38, and Charlotte, age 33. In 1860 Rebecca was living with her apparent son Adam Weaver, a farmer with real estate worth 10,220 dollars and a personal estate of 2,070 dollars, in Shalersville. In 1870 Rebecca was living with Adam, who was a farmer with real estate worth 16,400 dollars and a personal estate of 2,700 dollars, in Shalersville. [37]

Endnotes

Revised November 8, 2019

© A. Buiter 2019