Person Page 646

The Palmer family migration in America can be traced from Maine to California, though for our family it stops in Colorado. This family, and the families joined to it through marriage, embody the pioneer spirit at its finest, beginning with the move from England to a new world, spreading out from there and continuing on all the way through to the trek westward in covered wagons.The Palmers left their mark along the way. They will be included in the Pilgrim era as well as the Old West era. William Palmer, one of the early Pilgrim era settlers, was among the founding families of Hampton, N. H., and along with the others, has a commemorative stone and plaque in that city's Founder's Park (see photos.)We know a lot about some of these people, and not a lot about others. But through their lives and the lives of those who accompanied them, we can learn a bit more about ourselves and the heritage we carry within us. I am proud beyond words to be among the descendents of these people.The earliest history of this Palmer family begins with William Palmer who is first found in the Phillimores "Norfolk Parish Registers, Marriages" Vol 3 p. 88. The following marriage entry from the parish registers of Ranworth:"William Palmer, p. Ormsby and Mary Stanforth 30 Jan 1606This record is the first marriage of William Palmer, and Mary would be the mother of all his children except Joseph and Mary.William Palmer's children as near as they are ascertainable are as follows:1. Martha Palmer born 1618 in England and died 7 February 1700-01 in Watertown, Massachusetts (Watertown records, 2nd book, p. 21) married 1637 Captain John Sherman. Married 2nd husband ---------Bowman.2. Edward Palmer baptized 29 March 1623 in England.3. Christopher Palmer born 1627 in England. Married Susanna Hilton, daughter of Edward Hilton.4. Robert Palmer born about 16295. Joseph Palmer born 16446. Mary Palmer born ? (per William Palmer's will)We do not know whether his wife, Mary, came to America with him, but are inclined to believe that she did not and that the Ann Palmer who came to America on the ship "Amite" on 13 October 1635, age 29 years,1 was his second or subsequent wife. As to William's birth, we believe he was born about 1585-89 in Ormsby (Norfolk Co.) England.In the rent roll of Ormsby Manor (Norfolk County) England, we find the following names among those who held leases or paid rent for lands pertaining to the Ormsby Manor in 1610; Henry Dow, William Estow, Robert and William Marston, John Moulton, Thomas Moulton, William Moulton , Thomas Judo. Robert Page and William Palmer, (who is styled "gentleman").The records in the Archdeaconry Court of Norwich, Norfolk County, England, show that on 28 July 1636 one William Palmer of Ormsby, St. Margaret Parish was presented for not attending church, and was cited to appear on 26 September, following. On his failure to appear he was excommunicated. He is not found later in the records at that place and there seems to be little doubt that he is identical with the William Palmer of Newbury and Hampton. This may be his reason for coming to America.The following men of Newbury were received as inhabitants of Hampton on 7 Oct. 1638.2 Richard Singleterry, Thomas Moulton, John Moulton, Nicholas Busbe, William Palmer, William Boston and Abraham Toppan. [Editor's note: The following passage appears in the History of Newbury, showing a slightly different set of names:]Another plantation was begun upon the north side of the Merrimack called Salisbury, another at Winicowett, called Hampton.The reverend Stephen Bachiler and his company, who had received permission from the general court, October, 1638, when united together by church covenant, commenced a settlement at Winicowett. He was at this time residing in Newbury. On Mr. Rawson's request, the place was called Hampton. The following persons, residents of Newbury, went with Mr. Bachiler. John Berry, Thomas Coleman, Thomas Cromwell, James Davis, William Easton, William Fifield, Maurice Hobbs, Mr. Christopher Hussey, Thomas Jones, Thomas Marston, William Marston, Robert Marston, John Moulton, Thomas Moulton, William Palmer, William Sargent, and Thomas Smith. Smith, however, soon returned to Newbury. A few went to Salisbury.3On 22 May 1639 the General Court granted to Hampton the right to choose a constable and other town offices and send a deputy to the General Court. 4 Hampton did choose town offices without delay and selected Christopher Hussey, William Palmer and Richard Swain as Justices "to end all business under 20 shillings for this year."On 24 Dec. 1639 the town of Hampton granted land to fifteen persons, including William Palmer, who was granted 100 acres. A further grant was made in June 1640. He was made a freeman 13 March 1638-39.On 4 May 1644 William Palmer and two others were chosen "wood reeves" to protect the forests. On 23 December 1645-6 shares in the cow common were granted to the proprietors of house lots, and William Palmer was granted three shares.On 10 March 1645-46 William Palmer of Hampton, called "Yeoman" deeded to his daughter Martha and her husband, John Sherman, of Watertown, Massachusetts, his dwelling and house lot and all other land in Newbury of about 20 acres and also all his house and lands in Hampton of about 110 acres of upground, meadow and marsh, most of it already laid out, as mentioned in the town books of Hampton, with all comage. in consideration of a release by his said daughter a parcel of land in Great Ormsby in old England in which she had an interest to the value of 105 pounds.5 This deed was acknowledged by rum on 12 March 1645-46.6 William Palmer died between March 1645-47. The Newbury Vital records show Ann Palmer, widow, married Francis Plummer (a widower) 30 March 164- in Newbury. This last figure we assume should be 7. The Essex Quarterly Court-Records Vol, 1, p. 349 show that Christopher Palmer on behalf of Ann Palmer, widow of William Palmer of Hampton conveyed by deed, house and lands which belonged to William Palmer in Newbury, to William Sawyer, and Francis Plummer of Newbury, gave his consent under date of 6 October 1647 as her husband.1. Founders of New England by Drake in N.E. Vol. 14, p. 3562. Hampton Town Records Vol. 1 page 13. A sketch of the history of Newbury, Newburyport, and West Newbury, from 1635 to 1845, p. 294. Hampton Town Records Vol. 1. p. 258.5. Essex Quarterly Court Records Vol. 2 p. 3496. See also N.H. Vol. 51, p. 311 and N.E. Vol. 69, p. 342.
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Yeoman, Newbury, proprietor; was one of the first persons licensed by the Gen. Court of Mass. to begin a plantation at Hampton, 6 (7) 1638. Frm. March 13, 1638-9. Comissioner for minor trials; lot layer. Contracted with the town in 1640 that his son Stephen should take care of the herd of calves. Son Edward had land grant in 1641. He conveyed all his property in Hampton and NewburyMarch 10, 1645 to John Sherman of Watertown and Martha, his daughter, Sherman's wife, in lieu of an inheritance in Great Ormesby, Eng which belonger to her.
He m. Grace, widow successively of John Sherman and Thomas Rogers; she survived him and m (fourth) Roger Porter of Watertown; she died June 3, 1662, ae about 70 years; beq. to her daughters Elizabeth, wife of DanielSmith, and Martha,wife of John Sherman, and their children, and to her brother, John Coolidge. John and Martha Sherman sold their share in his estate in 1661 to his youngest son Joseph Palmer.

Died young.

Not in father's will.

The ship Fortune with Master Thomas Barton, arrived at Plymouth on November 9, 1621, just a few weeks after the First Thanksgiving. This passenger list is based on the 1623 Division of Land, the passenger list compiled by Charles Edward Banks in Planters of the Commonwealth, and by the information found in Eugene Aubrey Stratton's Plymouth Colony: Its History and its People, 1620-1691.