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64. WALTER PALMER (by c. 1589–1661)

The origins of Walter Palmer, the migrant ancestor, are unknown. He was born by about 1589, based on his first marriage. He died on 10 November 1661. His son-in-law Thomas Minor wrote in his diary, “sabath day the 10th of november 1661 walter palmer departed this world.” Walter married an unknown first wife by about 1614 and she died by about 1633. He married second Rebecca Short. [1]

Walter Palmer migrated to New England in 1629 in settled in Charlestown. In that year he was building on his two-acre lot on the east side of the town hill. [2]

On 28 September 1630 a coroner’s jury concluded that Walter was guilty of the manslaughter killing of Austen Bratcher. He was acquitted on 9 November. [3]

Walter was a freeman on 18 May 1631. He and his wife were admitted to the church in Charlestown on 1 June 1633. Walter was a selectman in Charlestown on 10 February 1634/5 and 12 February 1637/8. He was a constable on 11 July 1636 and 17 February 1636/7. He was on a committee to set wages on 28 November 1636. In 1638 Walter has eleven parcels of land in Charlestown. [4]

Walter moved from Charlestown to Rehoboth. He was propounded a freeman of Plymouth Colony on 4 June 1645 and was admitted on 28 October. Walter was a deputy to the Plymouth General Court from Rehoboth on 28 October 1645 and 1 June 1647. He was to be on a grand jury, but was fined for non-appearance, on 7 October 1651. He was a surveyor of highways on 4 June 1650. He was a constable on 3 June 1652. [5]

Walter Palmer and his family arrived in what is now Stonington between 1652 and 1654 and settled on the east bank of Wequetequoc Cove. The planters found traveling to New London to be difficult and wished to establish their own town and public worship. This was met with opposition because of the jurisdictional dispute between Connecticut and Massachusetts. The planters met for the first time at Walter Palmer’s house on 22 March 1657 with Rev. William Thompson of Braintree preaching. [6]

Walter wrote his will on 19 May 1658. He mentioned his wife and children by their first names. He left Jonas half of his farm in Seaconke for four years and after that it was to go to his son Gershom. He left the other half of his farm to his son William. His will was sworn on 25 February 1661/2 and proved on 11 May 1662. Inventory amounted to 1,644 pounds and five shillings and land and housing accounted for 661 pounds. [7]

65. REBECCA SHORT (say 1603–1671)

Rebecca Short was born say 1603. She died on 15 July 1671. [8] Rebecca, “a maid servant, she came in the year 1632 & was married to [ ] Palmer a godly man of Charlestown church.” [9]

Gershom Palmer appears in a 1668 census of the town of Stonington on behalf of his mother, Mrs. Rebecca Palmer. [10]

Children of Walter Palmer and his unknown first wife:

i. Grace Palmer (#101) was born about 1614. She married Thomas Minor.

ii. John Palmer was born about 1615. He died on 24 August 1677, age 62, unmarried. [11]

iii. Elizabeth Palmer was born say 1617. She married first Thomas Sloan. She married second William Chapman on 26 September 1677. [12]

On 29 March 1656 Elizabeth’s brother-in-law Thomas Minor wrote in his diary, “my Brother Sloan was heare.” [13]

iv. William Palmer was born say 1619. He died after 1672, and probably before 1677 when he was not mentioned in his brother John’s will. [14]

Children of Walter Palmer and Rebecca Short:

vi. Hannah Palmer (#93) was baptized on 15 June 1634 in Charlestown, Massachusetts. She married first Thomas Hewitt. She married second Roger Sterry. She married third John Fish. [17]

vii. Elihu Palmer was baptized on 24 January 1635/6 in Charlestown. He died on 5 September 1665 in Stonington. [18]

On 10 December 1661 Elihu was one of ten men who formed a venture to build a gristmill—the first mill of any sort in Stonington—at Wequetequock. [19]

Elihu “died at twenty-nine years from a wound inflicted accidentally upon himself, on this wise. He was mowing marsh grass near the [Wequotequock] Cove, with a scythe, on the end of which was a spear, and seeing a fish (flounder) in the water, he turned his scythe quickly and thrust the spear in the fish, when the scythe caught upon his neck, cutting him so terribly, that after a time death resulted from the effects of the wound.” [20]

Elihu was a selectman of Sotherton in 1661 to 1663. [21]

viii. Nehemiah Palmer (#34) was baptized on 2 November 1637. He died on 17 February 1717/8 in Stonington. He married Hannah Stanton.

ix. Moses Palmer was born in Rehoboth. He died on 6 July 1701 in Stonington. He married Dorothy Gilbert. She died between 5 April and 9 July 1717 in Stonington. Dorothy is probably Manasseh Minor’s “aunt palmor,” who was buried on 16 April 1717. [22]

At a 10 May 1666 Court of Elections in Hartford, Mr. Thomas Stanton was asked to administer the freeman’s oath to Moses Palmer and others of Stonington. Moses appears in a 1668 census of the town of Stonington. He is on a 5 October 1669 list of freemen in Stonington. Mr. Moses Palmer was one of the nine founders of the Church of Christ in Stonington on 3 June 1674.  Dorothy, the wife of Moses Palmer, was admitted to the church on 2 December 1677. [23]

Moses Palmer, “being aged and finding my natural body decaying,” made his will on 16 December 1700 in Stonington. He mentioned his wife and children. Inventory of his estate was taken on 15 July 1701. The will was proved and his widow, Mr. Dorothy Palmer, testified to the inventory on 24 July 1701. Dorothy, relic of Moses Palmer, late of Stonington, made her will on 5 April 1717. It was proved on 9 July 1717. [24]

x. Captain Benjamin Palmer was born on 30 May 1642 and he was baptized on 6 June 1642. He died on 10 April 1716 in Stonington. He was buried on 12 April 1716. [25]

Benjamin’s gravestone in the Ancient Burial Ground in Stonington says: “Here lyeth the/Body of Benjamin / Palmer Captin/Who dyed/April the 10th/1716 in ye/74  year of his age.” [26]

At a 10 May 1666 Court of Elections in Hartford, Mr. Thomas Stanton was asked to administer the freeman’s oath to Benjamin Palmer and others of Stonington. Benjamin appears in a 1668 census of the town of Stonington. He is on a 5 October 1669 list of freemen in Stonington. [27]

During a jurisdictional dispute on between Connecticut and Rhode Island, it was reported on 16 June 1670 that the Rhode Island authorities had arrested John Frink, Benjamin Palmer and Thomas Bell and that Frink had been sent to a Rhode Island jail. On 21 June, Benjamin was sent by the Connecticut authorities to warn the people of Wickford next to Pettaquamscot to meet at the commissioners at Captain Hudson’s house. On his way, two men who were with him were arrested. [28]

Thomas Minor wrote in his diary, “about the 10th of Agust .1681 Benjamin palmer brought home his wife.” This is the only record of Benjamin having a wife. On 25 June 1700 Manasseh Minor wrote in his diary, “uncle beniman palmor cam home.” [29]

Benjamin was admitted to the first church in Stonington on 14 September 1701. On 28 August 1714 Benjamin Palmer’s confession was publicly read at the church in Stonington. [30]

On 20 November 1715 Manasseh Minor wrote, “ben palmor Cam hear.” [31]

xi. Gershom Palmer (#32) was born say 1644. He died on 27 September 1718. He married first Ann Denison. He married second Elizabeth (Peck) Mason.

xii. Rebecca Palmer married first Elisha Chesebrough of Stonington on 20 April 1665 in Stonington. Daniel was the son of Elisha Chesebrough. She married second as his second wife John Baldwin. [32]

Rebecca may be the Rebecca Baldwin who was admitted to the first church in Stonington on 13 November 1687. [33]

Endnotes

Revised January 13, 2023

© 2019 A. Buiter