Captain Joshua Palmer of Virginia
and Union County, South Carolina
©Donna Meszaros
Another Joshua Palmer lived in South Carolina at the same time as Reverend Joshua Palmer. The two men have often been confused by researchers. This man was a Revolutionary War veteran and most of what we know of him comes from his application for a pension. In the application, dated 3 October 1832, he stated under oath that he was born in Amelia County, Virginia on 12 March 1750. He further stated that he enlisted in the war from Union County, South Carolina and served several tours of duty between 1775 and the end of the war, first as a volunteer, then as a draftee, then as a captain. He participated in a number of engagements, including the battles of Stono and Cowpens. He served at various times under Colonel John Thomas, Major Henderson, Captain Jolly, Colonel Wofford, Colonel Purvis, and Colonel Thomas Brandon. Finally, he stated that he lived in Union District when he entered the service, and had lived there ever since.[1] He made no reference to being a Baptist minister or of ever living in Indiana, things he surely would have mentioned if he had been Reverend Joshua Palmer.
The confusion might have started because of a sentence in Leah Townsend's book, South Carolina Baptists, 1670-1805, first written as her thesis in 1926 and later published as a book in 1935. Speaking of Baptist ministers who served in the Revolution from South Carolina, she states, "Joshua Palmer was in Brandon's Regiment."[2] Her source, given in footnote 10, is the series of books called Stub Entries to Indents Issued in Payment of Claims Against South Carolina Growing Out of the Revolution. Of the various volumes and pages mentioned in the footnote, only one, volume X, part II, page 14, relates to a Joshua Palmer. It refers to a payment made to "Josa. Palmer" on 13 April 1786 for duty in Brandon's regt.[3] Since we already know from his pension application that Captain Joshua Palmer served under Brandon, the payment must be to him, and not to Reverend Joshua Palmer.
Joshua lived near Love's Ford, located on the Broad River a few miles below where it meets the Pacolet River. The Broad River divides Union County on the west from Chester County on the east. Few people lived there in the 1770s. One author described it this way:
The confusion might have started because of a sentence in Leah Townsend's book, South Carolina Baptists, 1670-1805, first written as her thesis in 1926 and later published as a book in 1935. Speaking of Baptist ministers who served in the Revolution from South Carolina, she states, "Joshua Palmer was in Brandon's Regiment."[2] Her source, given in footnote 10, is the series of books called Stub Entries to Indents Issued in Payment of Claims Against South Carolina Growing Out of the Revolution. Of the various volumes and pages mentioned in the footnote, only one, volume X, part II, page 14, relates to a Joshua Palmer. It refers to a payment made to "Josa. Palmer" on 13 April 1786 for duty in Brandon's regt.[3] Since we already know from his pension application that Captain Joshua Palmer served under Brandon, the payment must be to him, and not to Reverend Joshua Palmer.
Joshua lived near Love's Ford, located on the Broad River a few miles below where it meets the Pacolet River. The Broad River divides Union County on the west from Chester County on the east. Few people lived there in the 1770s. One author described it this way:
In time of the Revolution, crossing at that place was difficult and not without danger to persons unacquainted with it. In addition to these perils, the country around it was in a wild and unsettled state. The low ground was covered with dense canebrakes, and the hills, which were many, were clad with vines and other undergrowth. Hence, this vicinity offered excellent shelter for fugitives during the period of Tory ascendency in South Carolina. At this time the ford was rarely passed, except by armed bands and the more adventurous persons in the vicinity. The Whigs of the neighborhood were accustomed to frequent the locality for the double purpose of concealment and to embarrass the movements of the enemy.[4]
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As related in Joshua's pension application, he participated in the Battle of Cowpens, which took place on 17 January 1781 about 35 miles northwest of Love's Ford. We don't know when Joshua returned home, but his house, or that of one of his relatives, was apparently the site of the capture of some enemy soldiers:
On the evening of the next day after the battle of Cowpens, a party of some fifty or sixty British troops, who had succeeded in making a safe retreat that far, were moving on towards Love's Ford. Their object was to reach Cornwallis' camp, in York District. Some distance from the river their leader turned off the road to the house of a Mr. Palmer to get directions.[5]
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The British officer was disarmed by William Sharp, who then gathered his men and pursued the enemy. They managed to capture thirty or forty men, whom they delivered as prisoners of war to General Daniel Morgan.[6]
Although Joshua was living in Union County as early as 1775, the earliest land record found for him is dated 30 April 1787. A tract of 120 acres was surveyed for Joshua Palmer “situated in the District of Ninety Six on the so. side of Broad River on the Cedar Islands & the Islands near Loves ford.” [7] He purchased another tract in Union County on 10 June 1791. This tract contained 250 acres and was also described as being near Loves Ford.[8] Modern maps locate Loves Ford on the Broad River south of the city of Lockhart.[9]
Joshua Palmer appears on the U.S. census of Union County, South Carolina from 1790 to 1830:
1790
1800 1810 1820 1830 |
2 males 16 and over, 2 males under 16, 5 females, and 1 other person who was not a slave[10]
3 males under 10, 2 males 16-25, 1 male 45 and over, and 1 female 26-44 [11] 1 male 10-15, 1 male 16-25, 1 male 45 and over, 1 female under 10, 2 females 10-15, 1 female 26-44, and 4 slaves [12] 1 male 16-26, 1 male 45 and over, 1 female under 10, 1 female 16-26, 1 female 45 and over, 4 persons engaged in agriculture, 6 male slaves under 14, 1 male slave 26-45, 3 female slaves under 14, 2 females slaves 26-45 [13] 1 male 30-40, 1 male 70-80, 1 male slave under 10, 2 male slaves 20-24, 1 male slave 24-36, 3 female slaves under 10, 1 female slave 10-24, 2 female slaves 24-36 [14] |
Joshua wrote his will on 1 May 1835. In it he named his wife Rhoda, sons William, Vardy, Purr [Permenas], Richard, Joshua, and Thomas; daughters Martha Cudd, Lutecia McDaniel, and Ann Davis; grandson Robert Smith; and three slaves.[15] He did not mention a daughter named Mary Sparks, a known daughter of Reverend Joshua Palmer.[16] Captain Joshua Palmer died in December 1835 and is buried at Skull Shoals Baptist Church.[17] The church is located south of Gaffney, South Carolina. A photograph of Joshua's gravestone can be viewed at the Find a Grave website, memorial # 15886574.
Virginia Copeland Jantz states that the wife Rhoda mentioned in Joshua’s will was Rhoda Porter, widow of Jedithan Porter. She married Joshua on 7 December 1830, when Joshua was 80 and she was 76. Jantz states that Rhoda was the daughter of Ellis and Ann (Rudd) Palmer.[18] Her first husband, Jedithan Porter, had a will dated 1804 in Union County. In the will he called his wife Rhoda Handcock Porter. Children named in the will were Avis, Nancy, Edward, Elisha, Cier, John, Lotty, Omia, Jedithan, Hancock, Russel, and one child not yet born.[19]
A Rhody Palmer of Union District made a will on 14 May 1836 in which she named as heirs six children of her son John P. Porter: Frances, Martha Ann, Emaline, John P., Hosea H., and Lemuel T. She died before 31 October 1841, when the will was presented for probate.[20]
Captain Joshua Palmer and Reverend Joshua Palmer lived about 40 miles apart. We don't know if they ever met, but there was probably a general awareness that there were two men with the same name. When Rev. Joshua purchased 46 acres of land in Laurens County from Thomas and Ruth Adkins on 19 August 1793, the deed referred to him as minister of the Gospel.[21] When he bought another 150 acres from Matthew Gaston on 23 November 1794, he was called clergyman.[22] On the 1800 census he was listed as Revd Joshua Palmer.[23]. This may have been done to distinguish him from Captain Joshua.
The two men may have known of each other through their connections to the Harlan family. When Reverend Joshua bought land in Laurens County from Thomas and Ruth Adkins, his neighbor, Aaron Harlan, purchased100 acres of the same parcel.[24] In 1806, Joshua Palmer, his son-in-law William Sparks, and Bennett Langston signed as witnesses to Aaron Harlan’s will.[25] Aaron's brother, George, lived in Union County.[26] After George died in 1798, his widow, Rebecca (Bogan) Harlan, married, as his second wife, Colonel Thomas Brandon, Captain Joshua Palmer's commanding officer in the Revolutionary War.[27]
See also my comparison of the signatures of Reverend Joshua Palmer and Captain Joshua Palmer.
Children of Captain Joshua Palmer, based on names listed in his will dated 1 May 1835. Order of birth unknown:
1. William Palmer
2. Lutitia Palmer, married ____ McDaniel
3. Richard Palmer
4. Thomas Palmer
5. Ann Palmer, married Aaron? Davis; land of Aaron Davis mentioned in will
6. Martha Palmer, married Carter? Cudd
7. Joshua Palmer
8. Parmenas "Purr" Palmer
9. Vardy Palmer
10. Daughter Palmer, apparently deceased before the will was written. Married ____ Smith; grandson Robert Smith mentioned in will.
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[1] "Selected Records from Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Lane Warrant Application Files,” database, ProQuest, HeritageQuest Online (access through participating libraries : accessed 12 October 2008), entry for Joshua Palmer, S.C., S21912.
[2] Leah Townsend, South Carolina Baptists, 1670 to 1805 (1935; reprint; Baltimore: reprinted for Clearfield Co. by Genealogical Publishing Co., 1990), 178, note 10.
[3] A. S. Salley, Jr., editor, Stub Entries to Indents Issued in Payment of Claims Against South Carolina Growing Out of the Revolution (Columbia, S.C., printed for the Historical Commission of South Carolina by The State Company, 1925), X, pt. 1, p. 14, FHL microfiche 6046914.
[4] J.D. Bailey, Some Heroes of the American Revolution (Spartanburg, S.C.: Band & White, Printers, 1924), 277.
[5] Ibid., 277.
[6] Ibid., 277-278.
[7] South Carolina, “Colonial Land Grants (Charleston Series),” database, South Carolina Department of Archives and History (http://www.archivesindex.sc.gov/Default.html accessed 30 September 2008), entry for Joshua Palmer, 1787, citing series S213190, vol. 20:346, item 2.
[8] Union County, South Carolina Register of Mesne Conveyance, C:118, FHL microfilm 255060.
[9] Latitude 344620N, longitude 0812719W
[10] 1790 U.S. census, Union County, South Carolina, p. 43, col. 1, Joshua Palmer; digital image, ProQuest, HeritageQuest Online (access through participating libraries : accessed 25 October 2008); citing National Archives microfilm M637, roll 11.
[11] 1800 U.S. census, Union County, South Carolina, p. 223, Joshua Palmer; digital image, ProQuest, HeritageQuest Online (access through participating libraries : accessed 25 October 2008); citing National Archives microfilm M32, roll 50.
[12] 1810 U.S. census, Union County, South Carolina, p. 412, Joshua Palmer, digital image, ProQuest, HeritageQuest Online (access through participating libraries : accessed 25 October 2008); citing National Archives microfilm M252, roll 61.
[13] 1820 U.S. census, Union County, South Carolina, p. 239, Joshua Palmer Sr., digital image, ProQuest, HeritageQuest Online (access through participating libraries : accessed 25 October 2008); citing National Archives microfilm M33, roll 121.
[14] “1830 United States Federal Census,” database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 9 October 2008), entry for Joshua Palmore, Union, South Carolina.
[15] South Carolina, “South Carolina Will Transcripts (Microcopy No. 9) database, South Carolina Department of Archives and History (http://www.archivesindex.sc.gov/Default.html accessed 13 October 2008), entry for Joshua Palmer Sr., citing series S108093, reel 27, frame 656.
[16] In 1938, Irene McDaniel Titus and her sister Agnes McDaniel Whelchel, both descendants of Reverend Joshua Palmer throught his daughter Mary Palmer Sparks, joined the Daughters of the Revolution based on the service of Captain Joshua Palmer. The DAR has now declared that Mary Palmer Sparks was not a daughter of Captain Joshua Palmer. See the DAR Genealogical Research System http://services.dar.org/public/dar_research/search/?Tab_ID=0 . Click on the Ancestor tab and enter Joshua Palmer and SC for the state. Agnes McDaniel Whelchel's DAR national number is 306341. Irene McDaniel Titus's number is 309381. Irene wrote History of the McCray Family (Indianapolis: I. M. Titus,1950). A copy is available in the Family History Library in Salt Lake City at 929.273 A1. It has also been microfilmed: film number 874445 Item 13. The book includes a chapter on the Palmer family. A copy in the DAR Library in Washington, D.C. includes a supplement Irene wrote in 1979. The call number for the DAR copy is FAMILIES MCCRAY TITUS A#40955 c.1,
[17] Mrs. E. D. Whaley Sr., Union County Cemeteries: Epitaphs of 18th and 19th Century Settlers in Union County, South Carolina and Their Descendants (Greenville, S.C.: A Press, 1976), 242.
[18] Virginia Copeland Jantz, Woodall, Paulk, Porter and Allied Families Including Byars, Sanders, Giles and Finucane Families (Knoxville: Tennessee Valley Publishing, 2007), 178-183.
[19] South Carolina, “South Carolina Will Transcripts (Microcopy No. 9) database, South Carolina Department of Archives and History (http://www.archivesindex.sc.gov/Default.html accessed 13 October 2008), entry for Jedithan Porter, citing series S108093, reel 27, frame 210.
[20] South Carolina, “South Carolina Will Transcripts (Microcopy No. 9) database, South Carolina Department of Archives and History (http://www.archivesindex.sc.gov/Default.html accessed 13 October 2008), entry for Rhody Palmer, citing series S108093, reel 27, frame 742.
[21] Laurens County, South Carolina Deed Book, E:255; FHL microfilm 24,082.
[22] Laurens County, South Carolina Deed Book, E:454.
[23] 1800 U.S. census, Laurens District, South Carolina, p. 22 (stamped, lower left corner), Revd Joshua Palmer; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 9 October 2009); citing National Archives microfilm M32, roll 50.
[24] Laurens County, South Carolina Deed Book, E:255.
[25] Alpheus H. Harlan, History and Genealogy of the Harlan Family and Particularly of the Descendants of George and Michael Harlan Who Settled in Chester County, Pa., 1687 (Baltimore: Lord Baltimore Press, 1914), 93-94. Joshua’s last name is printed as “Galmer” in this book.
[26] Ibid., 91.
[27] Mrs. John Bennett Boddie, editor, Historical Southern Families (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1967), 13:202.
[2] Leah Townsend, South Carolina Baptists, 1670 to 1805 (1935; reprint; Baltimore: reprinted for Clearfield Co. by Genealogical Publishing Co., 1990), 178, note 10.
[3] A. S. Salley, Jr., editor, Stub Entries to Indents Issued in Payment of Claims Against South Carolina Growing Out of the Revolution (Columbia, S.C., printed for the Historical Commission of South Carolina by The State Company, 1925), X, pt. 1, p. 14, FHL microfiche 6046914.
[4] J.D. Bailey, Some Heroes of the American Revolution (Spartanburg, S.C.: Band & White, Printers, 1924), 277.
[5] Ibid., 277.
[6] Ibid., 277-278.
[7] South Carolina, “Colonial Land Grants (Charleston Series),” database, South Carolina Department of Archives and History (http://www.archivesindex.sc.gov/Default.html accessed 30 September 2008), entry for Joshua Palmer, 1787, citing series S213190, vol. 20:346, item 2.
[8] Union County, South Carolina Register of Mesne Conveyance, C:118, FHL microfilm 255060.
[9] Latitude 344620N, longitude 0812719W
[10] 1790 U.S. census, Union County, South Carolina, p. 43, col. 1, Joshua Palmer; digital image, ProQuest, HeritageQuest Online (access through participating libraries : accessed 25 October 2008); citing National Archives microfilm M637, roll 11.
[11] 1800 U.S. census, Union County, South Carolina, p. 223, Joshua Palmer; digital image, ProQuest, HeritageQuest Online (access through participating libraries : accessed 25 October 2008); citing National Archives microfilm M32, roll 50.
[12] 1810 U.S. census, Union County, South Carolina, p. 412, Joshua Palmer, digital image, ProQuest, HeritageQuest Online (access through participating libraries : accessed 25 October 2008); citing National Archives microfilm M252, roll 61.
[13] 1820 U.S. census, Union County, South Carolina, p. 239, Joshua Palmer Sr., digital image, ProQuest, HeritageQuest Online (access through participating libraries : accessed 25 October 2008); citing National Archives microfilm M33, roll 121.
[14] “1830 United States Federal Census,” database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 9 October 2008), entry for Joshua Palmore, Union, South Carolina.
[15] South Carolina, “South Carolina Will Transcripts (Microcopy No. 9) database, South Carolina Department of Archives and History (http://www.archivesindex.sc.gov/Default.html accessed 13 October 2008), entry for Joshua Palmer Sr., citing series S108093, reel 27, frame 656.
[16] In 1938, Irene McDaniel Titus and her sister Agnes McDaniel Whelchel, both descendants of Reverend Joshua Palmer throught his daughter Mary Palmer Sparks, joined the Daughters of the Revolution based on the service of Captain Joshua Palmer. The DAR has now declared that Mary Palmer Sparks was not a daughter of Captain Joshua Palmer. See the DAR Genealogical Research System http://services.dar.org/public/dar_research/search/?Tab_ID=0 . Click on the Ancestor tab and enter Joshua Palmer and SC for the state. Agnes McDaniel Whelchel's DAR national number is 306341. Irene McDaniel Titus's number is 309381. Irene wrote History of the McCray Family (Indianapolis: I. M. Titus,1950). A copy is available in the Family History Library in Salt Lake City at 929.273 A1. It has also been microfilmed: film number 874445 Item 13. The book includes a chapter on the Palmer family. A copy in the DAR Library in Washington, D.C. includes a supplement Irene wrote in 1979. The call number for the DAR copy is FAMILIES MCCRAY TITUS A#40955 c.1,
[17] Mrs. E. D. Whaley Sr., Union County Cemeteries: Epitaphs of 18th and 19th Century Settlers in Union County, South Carolina and Their Descendants (Greenville, S.C.: A Press, 1976), 242.
[18] Virginia Copeland Jantz, Woodall, Paulk, Porter and Allied Families Including Byars, Sanders, Giles and Finucane Families (Knoxville: Tennessee Valley Publishing, 2007), 178-183.
[19] South Carolina, “South Carolina Will Transcripts (Microcopy No. 9) database, South Carolina Department of Archives and History (http://www.archivesindex.sc.gov/Default.html accessed 13 October 2008), entry for Jedithan Porter, citing series S108093, reel 27, frame 210.
[20] South Carolina, “South Carolina Will Transcripts (Microcopy No. 9) database, South Carolina Department of Archives and History (http://www.archivesindex.sc.gov/Default.html accessed 13 October 2008), entry for Rhody Palmer, citing series S108093, reel 27, frame 742.
[21] Laurens County, South Carolina Deed Book, E:255; FHL microfilm 24,082.
[22] Laurens County, South Carolina Deed Book, E:454.
[23] 1800 U.S. census, Laurens District, South Carolina, p. 22 (stamped, lower left corner), Revd Joshua Palmer; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 9 October 2009); citing National Archives microfilm M32, roll 50.
[24] Laurens County, South Carolina Deed Book, E:255.
[25] Alpheus H. Harlan, History and Genealogy of the Harlan Family and Particularly of the Descendants of George and Michael Harlan Who Settled in Chester County, Pa., 1687 (Baltimore: Lord Baltimore Press, 1914), 93-94. Joshua’s last name is printed as “Galmer” in this book.
[26] Ibid., 91.
[27] Mrs. John Bennett Boddie, editor, Historical Southern Families (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1967), 13:202.
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