Descendants of Reverend Joshua Palmer
of South Carolina and Indiana
Welcome to the Palmer Family History Web Site!
This web site is maintained by Donna Meszaros, a fourth great-granddaughter of Reverend Joshua Palmer. Joshua was an Englishman who settled in South Carolina as early as 1762. He was a farmer and a Baptist minister and served many churches in South Carolina. In 1807 he purchased land in what is now Union County, Indiana. His family and many members of his congregation soon joined him in their new home. From Indiana, the Palmer family spread to Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri. Today descendants can be found in almost every state, as well as in Australia and New Zealand. Read about him here.
Reverend Joshua Palmer has often been confused with Captain Joshua Palmer, a Revolutionary War veteran who was born in Virginia, enlisted in the war from Union District, South Carolina, and lived there until he died in 1835. Read about him here.
The purpose of this site is to publish what is known about our Palmer ancestors and to encourage the exchange of information among those researching the family.
We also have a Facebook page! Visit us at Family of William Palmer and Jane Gill.
Reverend Joshua Palmer has often been confused with Captain Joshua Palmer, a Revolutionary War veteran who was born in Virginia, enlisted in the war from Union District, South Carolina, and lived there until he died in 1835. Read about him here.
The purpose of this site is to publish what is known about our Palmer ancestors and to encourage the exchange of information among those researching the family.
We also have a Facebook page! Visit us at Family of William Palmer and Jane Gill.
Palmer Clanvention
The Palmer reunion, called the "Clanvention," was held annually from 1949 to 2014.
Photo Gallery
Visit this section to view portraits and brief biographies of some early members of the Palmer family.
Cemeteries
I have visited many of the cemeteries where our Palmer ancestors and their descendants are buried. I will add a page for each cemetery with its history, if I know it.
Historical Sites
In this section are photos of some sites that are of interest to the Palmer family.
Descendant Chart
View a 3-generation chart of the descendants of Joshua Palmer. Updates for 2012: Added spouses to the third generation. Click on the hightlighted names to link to biographies. So far I have documented the lives of Reverend Palmer and his three children: William, Mary Palmer Sparks, and Joshua Jr. I'm currently working on William's daughters Eda Palmer Morris Rust and Mary Palmer Cousland Wilkinson.
2018 DNA Update
In 2009 a 67-marker yDNA test was taken by Winfred Palmer, who passed away in 2011 at the age of 97. He was a third-great-grandson of Reverend Joshua Palmer through Joshua's son William (1774-1840). We now have the results of a 67-marker test recently taken by a fourth-great-grandson who is a descendant of Joshua's son Joshua (1784-184?). Comparison of the two tests at the 67-marker level shows only one difference, so we can definitely say that both men are descendants of Reverend Joshua. The haplogroup is R1b1a1b2, also known as R-M269. It is the most common European haplogroup.
The tests were taken through Family Tree DNA. The results have also been added to the Palmer yDNA Project. As of April 2018 there are no other close matches. To see the results, click on Y-DNA Results on the Palmer Project's home page. Scroll down to the group R1b1b2 l. Indiana. The kit numbers are 158723 and 266002. Winfred's yDNA results were also used for the Family Finder test. Unlike the yDNA test, which can only be taken by males, Family Finder can be taken by either sex. I have taken the test and the results suggest I am a third cousin to Winfred. That's close; I'm a second cousin once removed.
The tests were taken through Family Tree DNA. The results have also been added to the Palmer yDNA Project. As of April 2018 there are no other close matches. To see the results, click on Y-DNA Results on the Palmer Project's home page. Scroll down to the group R1b1b2 l. Indiana. The kit numbers are 158723 and 266002. Winfred's yDNA results were also used for the Family Finder test. Unlike the yDNA test, which can only be taken by males, Family Finder can be taken by either sex. I have taken the test and the results suggest I am a third cousin to Winfred. That's close; I'm a second cousin once removed.
©Donna Meszaros
** NOTICE: The biographies on this web site were written and the color photographs were taken by Donna Meszaros. Copies may be made for your own personal use, but please ask permission before posting them to other web sites.**
Sources for the information on this web site are available upon request.
Contact me with any questions, additions, or corrections.