I have now tested with Ancestry.com and have matched several more Palmer descendants in that database. I'm waiting for results from a third company, 23and me. Still hoping to find a match with someone in England.
I recently received the results of a second yDNA test. This one was taken by a fourth great-grandson of Rev. Joshua Palmer, descended from Joshua's son Joshua Jr. Except for one difference on the CDY marker, the results are identical to the test taken in 2009 by the late Winfred Palmer. Winfred was a third great-grandson of Rev. Joshua and was descended from his son William. It's reassuraing to know that both men who took the test are descended from the same common ancestor. Still hoping to find a match in England to help determine Rev. Joshua's parentage.
Today I added pages for Drury Reynolds Cemetery in Illinois and for Lucky Valley and Peiro Bethel cemeteries in Woodbury County, Iowa.
I added a paragraph to Captain Joshua Palmer's biography about how I think he first came to be confused with Reverend Joshua. In 1926 Leah Townsend wrote a thesis called South Carolina Baptists 1670-1805. The thesis was published as a book in 1935 and remains an important source for anyone researching Baptists in that period and place. On page 178 she states that Joshua Palmer (meaning Rev. Joshua Palmer) was in Brandon's Regiment. If you look at the footnote for that statement, it leads you to Stub Entries to Idents Issued in Payment of Claims Against South Carolina Growing Out of the Revolution. In Volume I, Part II, page 14, there is an entry for "Josa. Palmer" receiving payment in 1786 for service in Brandons regt. Since Captain Joshua stated in his pension application that he served under Brandon, he must have been the one receiving the payment. The pension files might not have been available to Townsend she wrote her thesis. We're indebted to her for all the sources she was able to track down for Rev. Joshua.
I added a footnote (number 14) to Captain Joshua Palmer's page about two descendants of Reverend Joshua Palmer through his daughter Mary Palmer Sparks. They joined the DAR in 1938 based on Captain Joshua's service. The DAR has now declared that Mary Palmer Sparks was not a daughter of Capt. Joshua Palmer. I also added a pdf copy of Captain Joshua's 1791 deed.
Over the years I have taken many pictures of the cemeteries where our Palmer ancestors are buried. I am going to start posting them on the web site. If anyone wants copies of the pictures, just contact me. I'd love to know your connection to the family. Please don't post my pictures on your own web site or on Ancestry.com without asking permission. Thanks!
I added spouses to descendants in the fourth generation.
I researched Jane Palmer Bevis on Ancestry.com and found some family trees that indicate that her mother was Elizabeth Adair, daughter of James and Hannah Adair of Laurens County. James died intestate in August 1818, leaving property to wife Hannah, seven children, and four children of Elizabeth Parlmore (sic) in the right of their mother. Hannah Adair died in 1826, leaving a will in which she stated: "It is my will after the following sums are paid to some of my grand children, to wit, to Patsey GAMBLE, the sum of fifty dollars to be paid to her when she comes of age. To Jinny BEAVERS one cow and calf, and to all the rest of my grand children whose parents are now dead the sum of one dollar." Jinny Beavers must be Jane (Palmer) Bevis. The other Palmer children, if still living, are not named. If Elizabeth Adair was the first wife of William Palmer, she would have to have died before 18 August 1803, when William Palmer married his second wife, Jane Gill. Elizabeth's children are not named in her parents' estates. I suppose it's possible that she could have been married twice and William might not be the father of all of them.
I recently took the Family Finder DNA test through Family Tree DNA. This test allows you to discover connections to descendants of all 16 of your great-great grandparents. Imagine my surprise when my closest match was to a 3rd great-granddaughter of Jane Palmer, born 9 January 1801 in Laurens County, South Carolina. The only possible way we could be related is if Jane was the daughter of my 3rd great-grandfather, William Palmer (1774-1840). Family lore has it that William was married twice, but it is said that he had two sons by his first wife, Joshua and Jerome. The 1800 census of Laurens County shows his family with 1 male 16-26 (William), 1 female 16-26 (his wife?), and 1 female under 10 (his daughter?). Depending on when the 1800 census was taken in Laurens County, the child might be Jane. William's mother's name was Jane.
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AuthorI've been working on my Palmer ancestry for over 30 years now. It has been a wonderful adventure. Just when I think there's nothing more to discover, new information pops up! Archives |