William and Jane (Gill) Palmer
©Donna Meszaros
William Palmer, son of Reverend Joshua Palmer, was born about 1774 in South Carolina.[1] His birth probably occurred on the land his father owned on the Wateree River north of Camden.[2], [3], [4] When William was a teenager, the family moved eastward to Cheraw County, South Carolina, where Joshua was pastor of the Baptist church at the Lower Fork of Lynches Creek.[5] When William was about 19, his father took charge of a church on Duncans Creek in Laurens County, South Carolina.[6]
William owned land in Laurens County. A deed from Aaron Harlan to his son, Samuel Harlan, dated 1804, describes land on Duncan’s Creek, bordered in part by the property of William Palmer.[7] William’s land may have been given to him by his father, who had purchased land next to Aaron Harlan in 1793.[8]
William’s great-granddaughter, Belle Palmer, stated that William was married twice and had two sons, Joshua and Jerome, by his first wife. The sons were supposed to have “taken up river work and were last heard of in New Orleans.”[9] The existence of these two sons has never been confirmed, and it may be that Belle confused William with his father, Joshua, who had two sons.
The 1800 census of Laurens County, South Carolina shows William Palmer as head of a household with one male age 16-26, one female under 10 and one female 16-26.[10] Presumably this William was the son of Joshua, since they are listed in close proximity. If William was married twice, it appears he had a daughter by his first wife, instead of two sons, or the girl could have been some other relation to him or to his wife.
There is no mention of William being married twice in an 1883 biographical sketch of his son, Minor T. Palmer. According to that sketch he married Jane Gill, who was born about 1780 in Virginia.[11] Their marriage date was 18 August 1803.[12] Belle Palmer states that Jane was of French Huguenot heritage.[13]
Jane was probably the daughter of Jacob and Edy (Glidewell) Gill who moved to Laurens County in the 1790s. The Gills and the Glidewells were from Halifax County, Virginia. It’s not certain who the parents of Jacob Gill were, but Edy Glidewell was the daughter of Nash and Mary Glidewell. When Nash Glidewell died in Halifax County about 1795, he left his daughter Edy Gill a slave, Simon, who was already in her possession.[14] On the 1800 census of Laurens County, South Carolina, the family of Jacob Gill includes one slave.[15] In 1808, Jacob Gill died and in the inventory of his property were two slaves, “Samson” and a blind man named Sam.[16] In the estate sale, the administrator, Jesse Belton, bid $25 for the maintenance of Sam, but “Samson” was not part of the property sold.[17]
Sources differ about when William and Jane left South Carolina for Indiana, but the year was probably 1808. Their second daughter, Mary Ann, was born about 7 March 1808.[18] Her birthplace is given as Indiana on the 1850 census[19] and South Carolina in 1860.[20] The family settled a few miles west of the Ohio border in what was then Dearborn County. William’s name is included on a list of voters for territorial representative in 1809.[21] The area in which he lived became a part of Franklin County in 1811 and of Union County in 1821. William Palmer is listed among the taxpayers of Franklin County for 1811[22] and the records of the Court of Common Pleas show that he was appointed constable of the second township in November of that year.[23]
Edy Glidewell Gill either accompanied the Palmers to Indiana about 1808, or arrived afterwards. In 1816, the county deeds record the emancipation of a slave, Simon Gill. The emancipation document states that “Ede Gill”, widow of Jacob, deceased, knowing that her husband intended to free Simon Gill, “a man of colour” upon her death, gave Simon his freedom. Edy signed the document with her mark.[24] Simon was probably the slave bequeathed to Edy in her father’s will and the man known as “Samson” in the inventory of her husband’s estate.
The War of 1812 broke out just a few years after the family moved to Indiana. There were no actual battles in the Whitewater Valley, but forts and blockhouses were built for the protection of the settlers. In Franklin County the Indians were quite numerous so at least twelve blockhouses were erected and cabins were fortified.[25] William Palmer joined the militia as a private in Captain John Brison’s Company, 7th Regiment (Noble’s), and served from September 18 to October 12, 1813, according to a surviving muster roll.[26] No evidence has been found that he ever was awarded a pension or bounty land for this short period of service.
William owned land in Franklin County, but the date on which he acquired it has not been determined. On 20 November 1815, William and Jane Palmer sold 80 acres in the southwest quarter of Section 11, Township 11 North, Range 2 West to Jacob Alexander.[27] The property bordered Reverend Joshua Palmer’s land in the southeast quarter of Section 11, and Joshua Palmer Junior’s land in the northeast quarter of the same section.[28] In 1809 William’s brother-in-law, William Sparks, purchased land in Section 34 of the same township[29] and another parcel in Section 20 of the adjoining Township 11 North, Range 1 West.[30]
In 1814, William Palmer was involved in the emancipation of a slave owned by his former neighbor, James Blakely of Laurens County. William Cunningham Jr., agent for James Blakely of South Carolina, in consideration of $300 paid by William Palmer and Robert Flack of Franklin County, Indiana, released a mulatto man named William Trail from Blakely’s ownership.[31] James Blakely (1756-1837), was married to Nancy Sparks,[32] perhaps a relation of William Palmer’s brother-in-law, William Sparks. James was probably the same James Blakely who was one of the appraisers of Jacob Gill’s estate in Laurens County in 1808.[33]
William and Jane had ten children.[34] Eight of the children--five girls and three boys--lived to adulthood. These were Eda, Mary, Benjamin, Susan, Sarah, William, Minor, and Rebecca. Another daughter, Rachel, is said to have died young of snakebite.[35] The name of the tenth child is unknown.
After selling his land in 1815, William moved about ten miles west to Connersville in Fayette County. The 1820 census of shows William Parmer with one male under age 10, one male over 45, two females under 10, two females 10-16, one female 26-45, and one female over 45.[36] These were probably William, Jane, their son Benjamin, and their daughters Eda, Mary, Susan, and Sarah. The woman over the age of 45 may have been Edy Glidewell Gill. William’s sister, Mary Palmer Sparks, and her family were also residing in the township, where they had owned land since 1811.[37]
About 1827, William and his family moved again, this time to Illinois. A large area in the western part of the state, called the Military Tract, was designated as bounty land for the soldiers of the War of 1812. William's short service in the war did not qualify him for a land warrant, but he, like many other settlers, probably hoped to squat on the land and, if no one claimed it, eventually purchase it from the government. According to one story, when they first arrived, the Palmers lived “in part of Wheaton Chase’s father’s house.”[38] This man was Eli Chase (1785-1828), one of a large extended family of that name who came to Fulton County, Illinois from New York.[39] On 27 November 1827, Chase signed as a witness to an agreement between William Palmer and John Coleman.[40] Coleman had just purchased land a half mile north of Canton.[41] The agreement was that the two men would each put in half the work to build a cabin on Coleman's land. In exchange, William could live in the cabin for three years, could have the use of three or six acres of the surrounding land, and could keep any crops he raised on it, providing he cleared and fenced it. Coleman was to provide the timber for the fence and William was to make the rails and stakes. Two days later, William acknowledged receiving full consideration for Coleman's part of the bargain and agreed to finish the cabin by himself. [42]
By 1830 William had settled about 25 miles north of Canton, at what is now the village of Maquon, Illinois. William was a squatter, since the federal government had not yet offered the land for sale. The land had been the home of the Pottawatomie Indians. According to one history:
Along the banks of the Spoon river the Red Men found their Paradise. Its waters were filled with fish and mussels, while wild fowls haunted its banks, and deer and small game abounded in its woodland and prairie. It was called, in the Algonquin tongue, the language used by the Pottawatomie Indians, A-ma-quon-sip-pi, A-ma-quon meaning mussel, or mussel shell. The Indians used the shell as we do spoons for dipping up food. The word sip-pi means river, thus A-ma-quon-sip-pi meant Spoon river. Because of the Indians’ manner of pronouncing the first syllable of the word very short, it was difficult for the white man’s ear to catch the sound, and thus it was an easy step from A-ma-quon-sip-pi to Maquon. In a government report, in 1813, Brigadier General Howard speaks of several encampments on the “Maquonie” as the river was know at that time.
Amaquon village was situated on the S. E. quarter of Section 4, Maquon township. It was located near a hill, and near a fine spring of water; there was a garden and orchard on the hill north and a garden east of it. These gardens were fenced with jack oak trees. The trees of this orchard furnished fruit for Mr. Wm. Palmer, the first white man to build a house in Knox county. It was built on the top of the hill just beside where the main trails crossed.[43] The advent of William Palmer and family at the place where the village of Maquon is situated, seems to be the date from which all matters of importance in relationship to the township of Maquon are reckoned. This starting point is fixed at some time in the year 1827. Mr. Palmer seems to have been a typical pioneer. He is known as the “bee man,” as that seems to have been one of his favorite pastimes or means of support, or both. Mr. Palmer’s cabin was made of black hickory poles, and on all sides are said to have been Indian gardens. Just why the habitations of the redmen, at this point, are called gardens, is not explained for they were occupied only during the winter, and in the summer time the Indians went away to find better hunting-grounds to the west. They returned annually in the fall and remained during the winter until the year 1832, when, as one of the results of the Black Hawk War, they left forever. Mr. Palmer remained there five or six years, planted an orchard and cultivated the ground vacated by the Indians. His cabin, begin located on the Galena trails, afforded a stopping place for people passing back and forth. Mr. Palmer sold his cabin to one Nelson Selby and removed to St. Louis. This cabin was constructed very much like other cabins of that day. It was small, consisting of one room, practically without windows, and with but one door. The chimney, of course was made of sticks laid up, after the same manner in which the cabin itself was built, and then packed and plastered with mud so as to withstand the heat of the fire in the fireplace. Nevertheless there were frequent fires at Mr. Palmer’s mansion on account of the “burning out” of the chimney.[44] |
Another history comments that William was a “professional bee hunter, and as such traveled in advance of civilization.” [45] The process of bee hunting is described this way:
Bee hunting was a very important part of the hunter’s business and generally was very successfully carried on and usually quite profitable. A bee tree marked was worth one dollar in most sections of this country. The hunter would catch a bee and keep it a prisoner for a while and then it would fly away and nearly every time it flew to the tree it made its home in. Another way was to make up a bee bait of anything sweet, often a piece of honey comb with sweetened water in it. They then made a little trough and put the bait in it and set it on a stump. The bees would find it in a little while and when loaded with the sweets would fly away to their tree which was some times a considerable distance away, but usually not more than two or three hundred yards. Still another way was to find a tree that they thought was probably a bee tree and then get in a position to view every part of it between the person hunting and the sun. If there were bees in it, they could be seen flying to and from the tree. When a bee tree was found, the next thing was to determine whether it was a strong colony or a weak one. If a strong colony the tree would be cut as soon as the bee food commenced to be scarce. If it was thought to be a weak swarm it was let alone another year. The bee hunter’s mark was as sacredly respected as was his mark on hogs or cattle. The honey was gathered and was a very helpful portion of the food. All that was over their needs was sold and the same was true of the bees wax after the honey was extracted.[46]
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Knox County was created in 1830. When the first court convened in the county seat at Knoxville, there were among the jurors William Palmer, Perry Morris, William Consland [Cousland] and Hiram Palmer.[47] Perry Morris[48] and William Cousland[49] were sons-in-law of William Palmer. Hiram Palmer was apparently not a relation. A Reverend Hiram Palmer, a Methodist minister, is said to have settled in section 7 of Cedar Township in 1828.[50] The 1830 census shows William Palmer as the head of a household with two males 5-10, 1 male 15-20, 1 male 40-50, 1 female under 5, 2 females 10-15, and one female 40-50.[51] (Since William was born about 1774, his age bracket should have been marked as 50-60.) Those enumerated were probably William, Jane, sons Benjamin, William, and Minor, and daughters Susan, Sarah, and Rebecca. The two oldest daughters, Eda and Mary, were married and their husbands, Perry Morris and William Cousland, are listed next to William Palmer on the census.
When the federal government offered the land in Knox County for sale, William bought the property he had been squatting on for eight years. On 25 May 1836 he purchased the east half of the northeast quarter of Section 4, Township 9 North, Range 3 East and the west half of the northwest quarter of Section 3, both in Township 9 North, Range 3 East for $1.25 an acre.[52] He then assigned his rights in the property to Nelson Selby, who received a patent on 3 November 1840.[53]
William moved west. On 8 January 1836, he had purchased 40 acres on the Mississippi River about two miles south of what is now Oquawka, Illinois. He did not remain there long. On 1 November 1837 he sold the parcel to his son, Benjamin Palmer, and his son-in-law, Lewis Huff.[54] In exchange, he purchased from them 53 acres in Drury Township in Rock Island County, Illinois.[55] He divided the land and conveyed it to his two younger sons, William Jr. and Minor, who were about 17 and 15 years old. By condition of the deed, ten acres were reserved from each parcel for William and Jane to use.[56] The family was living in Drury Township in 1840, when William Palmer was enumerated as a head of a household with one male 60-70, one male 15-20, one female 50-60, and one female 10-15.[57] Likely these were William and Jane with their two youngest children, Minor and Rebecca.
William died 25 October 1840 and Jane died 25 July 1846.[58] According to one family history, after William’s death Jane lived with her two youngest children, Minor and Becky (Rebecca) until they married, then went to live with her daughter Sallie (Sarah) Vanatta until her death.[59] Rebecca married before her mother died. She wed Jacob Underwood on 14 December 1845 in Rock Island County.[60] Minor’s wedding, however, was two years after Jane’s death. He married Caroline Tuel on 30 November 1848 in Rock Island County.[61]
One family history states that William and Jane died at Muscatine and are buried at “Sugar Grove near Muscatine”.[62] Muscatine, Iowa is across the Mississippi River from William’s land in Rock Island County. Sugar Grove is in Mercer County, almost 20 miles away from Drury Township. The 1850 census of Mercer County shows two of William and Jane’s children, Minor Palmer[63] and Sarah Palmer Vanatta,[64] residing in Perryton Township near Sugar Grove. Since William died in 1840, it seems likely that he was buried in Rock Island County or at Muscatine. If Sarah Vanatta was living in Mercer County in 1846 and Jane was living with her at the time, then Jane might have died and have been buried there. No markers have been found for William and Jane in the cemeteries of Muscatine, Sugar Grove, or Rock Island County.
Children of William and Jane (Gill) Palmer:
1. Eda Elizabeth Palmer, born 9 March 1805, probably Laurens County, South Carolina; died 9 November 1897, Oakland, Pottawattamie County, Iowa; married (1) Perry Morris 31 December 1820, Fayette County, Indiana; married (2) Jacob Rust 23 November 1843, Henderson County, Illinois
2. Mary Ann Palmer, born 7 March 1808, South Carolina or Indiana; died 26 March 1861, Center Township, Pottawattamie County, Iowa; married (1) William Cousland 27 April 1829, Peoria, Peoria County, Illinois; married (2) Levi B. Wilkinson 4 September 1850, Henderson County, Illinois.
3. Benjamin F. Palmer, born 1 February 1814, Franklin County, Indiana; died 6 November 1881, Pottawattamie County, Iowa; married Albina M. White 20 November 1836, Oquawka, Henderson County, Illinois
4. Susan Palmer, born 23 July 1817 in Indiana; died 10 May 1874, Pottawattamie County, Iowa; married Lewis Huff 26 December 1830, Knox County, Illinois
5. Sarah Caroline Palmer, born 13 February 1819, Indiana; died 7 April 1901, Brush Prairie, Clark County, Washington; married Gearshom Vanatta 5 October 1833, Knox County, Illinois
6. William Palmer, born about 1820 in Indiana; died after 1841
7. Minor Thomas Palmer, born 22 March 1822, Fayette County, Indiana; died 26 August 1882, Pottawattamie County, Iowa; married Caroline Tuel 30 November 1848, Rock Island County, Illinois
8. Rebecca Ann Palmer, born after 1822, Indiana; died about 1846, probably Rock Island County, Illinois; married Jacob Underwood 14 December 1845, Rock Island County, Illinois
9. Rachel Palmer, died young
10. Another child, died young
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When the federal government offered the land in Knox County for sale, William bought the property he had been squatting on for eight years. On 25 May 1836 he purchased the east half of the northeast quarter of Section 4, Township 9 North, Range 3 East and the west half of the northwest quarter of Section 3, both in Township 9 North, Range 3 East for $1.25 an acre.[52] He then assigned his rights in the property to Nelson Selby, who received a patent on 3 November 1840.[53]
William moved west. On 8 January 1836, he had purchased 40 acres on the Mississippi River about two miles south of what is now Oquawka, Illinois. He did not remain there long. On 1 November 1837 he sold the parcel to his son, Benjamin Palmer, and his son-in-law, Lewis Huff.[54] In exchange, he purchased from them 53 acres in Drury Township in Rock Island County, Illinois.[55] He divided the land and conveyed it to his two younger sons, William Jr. and Minor, who were about 17 and 15 years old. By condition of the deed, ten acres were reserved from each parcel for William and Jane to use.[56] The family was living in Drury Township in 1840, when William Palmer was enumerated as a head of a household with one male 60-70, one male 15-20, one female 50-60, and one female 10-15.[57] Likely these were William and Jane with their two youngest children, Minor and Rebecca.
William died 25 October 1840 and Jane died 25 July 1846.[58] According to one family history, after William’s death Jane lived with her two youngest children, Minor and Becky (Rebecca) until they married, then went to live with her daughter Sallie (Sarah) Vanatta until her death.[59] Rebecca married before her mother died. She wed Jacob Underwood on 14 December 1845 in Rock Island County.[60] Minor’s wedding, however, was two years after Jane’s death. He married Caroline Tuel on 30 November 1848 in Rock Island County.[61]
One family history states that William and Jane died at Muscatine and are buried at “Sugar Grove near Muscatine”.[62] Muscatine, Iowa is across the Mississippi River from William’s land in Rock Island County. Sugar Grove is in Mercer County, almost 20 miles away from Drury Township. The 1850 census of Mercer County shows two of William and Jane’s children, Minor Palmer[63] and Sarah Palmer Vanatta,[64] residing in Perryton Township near Sugar Grove. Since William died in 1840, it seems likely that he was buried in Rock Island County or at Muscatine. If Sarah Vanatta was living in Mercer County in 1846 and Jane was living with her at the time, then Jane might have died and have been buried there. No markers have been found for William and Jane in the cemeteries of Muscatine, Sugar Grove, or Rock Island County.
Children of William and Jane (Gill) Palmer:
1. Eda Elizabeth Palmer, born 9 March 1805, probably Laurens County, South Carolina; died 9 November 1897, Oakland, Pottawattamie County, Iowa; married (1) Perry Morris 31 December 1820, Fayette County, Indiana; married (2) Jacob Rust 23 November 1843, Henderson County, Illinois
2. Mary Ann Palmer, born 7 March 1808, South Carolina or Indiana; died 26 March 1861, Center Township, Pottawattamie County, Iowa; married (1) William Cousland 27 April 1829, Peoria, Peoria County, Illinois; married (2) Levi B. Wilkinson 4 September 1850, Henderson County, Illinois.
3. Benjamin F. Palmer, born 1 February 1814, Franklin County, Indiana; died 6 November 1881, Pottawattamie County, Iowa; married Albina M. White 20 November 1836, Oquawka, Henderson County, Illinois
4. Susan Palmer, born 23 July 1817 in Indiana; died 10 May 1874, Pottawattamie County, Iowa; married Lewis Huff 26 December 1830, Knox County, Illinois
5. Sarah Caroline Palmer, born 13 February 1819, Indiana; died 7 April 1901, Brush Prairie, Clark County, Washington; married Gearshom Vanatta 5 October 1833, Knox County, Illinois
6. William Palmer, born about 1820 in Indiana; died after 1841
7. Minor Thomas Palmer, born 22 March 1822, Fayette County, Indiana; died 26 August 1882, Pottawattamie County, Iowa; married Caroline Tuel 30 November 1848, Rock Island County, Illinois
8. Rebecca Ann Palmer, born after 1822, Indiana; died about 1846, probably Rock Island County, Illinois; married Jacob Underwood 14 December 1845, Rock Island County, Illinois
9. Rachel Palmer, died young
10. Another child, died young
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[1] “M. T. Palmer,” History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa (Chicago: O. L. Baskin, 1883), 71. Although Minor didn’t know his father’s exact date of birth, census records support his estimate of 1774. William was under 16 on the 1790 census, and thus born no earlier than 1775. On the 1820 census he was in the “45 and above” bracket and thus born no later than 1775.
[2] South Carolina, “Colonial Land Grants (Copy Series),” database, South Carolina Department of Archives and History (http://www.archivesindex.sc.gov/Default.html accessed 30 September 2008), entry for Joshua Palmer, 1762, citing series S213184, vol. 7:267, item 1.
[3] South Carolina, “Colonial Land Grants (Copy Series),” entry for Richard Marks, 1764, vol. 10:238, item 2.
[4] South Carolina, “Colonial Land Grants (Copy Series),” entry for Joshua Palmer, 1767, vol. 19:40, item 2.
[5] Leah Townsend, South Carolina Baptists, 1670 to 1805 (1935; reprint; Baltimore: reprinted for Clearfield Co. by Genealogical Publishing Co., 1990), 102.
[6] Leah Townsend, South Carolina Baptists, 1670 to 1805 (1935; reprint; Baltimore: reprinted for Clearfield Co. by Genealogical Publishing Co., 1990), 228.
[7] Laurens County, South Carolina Deed Book, H:155; FHL microfilm 24,083.
[8] Laurens County, South Carolina Deed Book, E:255; FHL microfilm 24,082.
[9] Belle Palmer, “Palmer History” (typescript, 1958), p. [1]; privately held by Donna Meszaros, Phoenix, Arizona. Isabel “Belle” Palmer of Oakland, Iowa was a great-great granddaughter of Rev. Joshua Palmer.
[10] 1800 U.S. census, Laurens District, South Carolina, p. 209 (stamped), William Palmer; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 1 October 2009); citing National Archives microfilm M32, roll 50.
[11] History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa (Chicago: O. L. Baskin, 1883), 71.
[12] Horace Wilbur Palmer, “Palmer Families in America,” typescript, p. 7011; FHL microfilm 176,585.
[13] Belle Palmer, “Palmer History” (typescript, 1958), p. [1]; copy held by Donna Meszaros, Phoenix, Arizona. Isabel “Belle” Palmer of Oakland, Iowa was a great-great granddaughter of Rev. Joshua Palmer.
[14] Halifax County, Virginia Wills, 1792-1797 (Miami Beach, Florida: TLC Genealogy, 1991), 38-40.
[15] 1800 U.S. census, Laurens District, South Carolina, p. 211 (stamped), Jacob Gill; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 1 October 2009); citing National Archives microfilm M32, roll 50
[16] “A True & perfect Inventory of the goods & Chattels & personal Estate of Jacob Gill Deceased appraised by Us Whose Names are Under Written this 12th day of March 1808,” Laurens County Will Book C-1:307; FHL microfilm 24088.
[17] “A Memorandam of the Property Sold of Jacob Gill deceased by Jesse Belton administrator of the sd Deceased,” no date; Laurens County Will Book D-1:31; FHL microfilm 24088
[18] Mary Wilkinson’s grave marker in Oak Lawn Cemetery, Oakland, states that she died 26 March 1851 at the age of 53 years and 19 days.
[19] 1850 U.S. census, Township 11 N 5 W, Henderson County, Illinois, p. 47 (stamped, back), Mary Cousland; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 28 December 2008); citing National Archives microfilm M432, roll 109.
[20] 1860 U.S. census, Center Township, Pottawattamie County, Iowa, p. 123, Mary Wilkinson; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 28 December 2008); citing National Archives microfilm M653, roll 338.
[21] "Petition to Congress by Citizens of the Territory," Territorial Papers of the United States, Volume 7, The Territory of Indiana, 1800-1810 (Washington: GPO, 1939), 691.
[22] Willard Heiss, Indiana Source Book: Genealogical Material from The Hoosier Genealogist, 1967-1972 (Indianapolis: Family History Section, Indiana Historical Society, 1981), 207.
[23] Maurice Holmes, Court Records of Franklin County, Indiana (Shelbyville, Indiana: M. Holmes, 1987), 6, citing Franklin County Court of Common Pleas Minute Book B:32.
[24] Shirley Keller Mikesell, Early Settlers of Indiana’s “Gore” 1803 to 1820 (Bowie, Maryland: Heritage Books, 1995), 82, citing Franklin County, Indiana Deed Book B:313.
[25] Chelsea L. Lawlis, “The Great Migration and the Whitewater Valley,” Indiana Magazine of History 43 (June 1947): 126.
[26] Compiled service record, William Palmer, Pvt., Captain John Brison’s Co. of Militia, 7 Regt., Indiana Territory; Carded Records, Volunteer Organizations, War of 1812; Records of the Adjutant General’s Office, 1780s-1917, Record Group 94; National Archives, Washington, D.C.
[27] Union County, Indiana Deed Book A:247; FHL microfilm 1571488.
[28] Margaret R. Waters, Indiana Land Entries: Cincinnati District, 1801-1840 (1948; reprint; Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 2003), 65.
[29] Ibid, 66.
[30] Ibid, 26.
[31] Shirley Keller Mikesell, Early Settlers of Indiana’s “Gore” 1803 to 1820 (Bowie, Maryland: Heritage Books, 1995), 83, citing Franklin County, Indiana Deed Book B:336.
[32] Mildred Brownlee, “Laurens District Wills, Vol. E, 1836-1839,” Carolina Herald 14 (Spring 1986): 22.
[33] Sara M. Nash, Abstracts of Early Records of Laurens County, South Carolina, 1785-1820 with Name Index and Revolutionary War Service (Fountain Inn, S.C.: ?, 1982), ?
[34] “M. T. Palmer,” History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa (Chicago: O. L. Baskin, 1883), 71.
[35] Belle Palmer, “Palmer History” (typescript, 1958), p. [2]; privately held by Donna Meszaros, Phoenix, Arizona. Isabel “Belle” Palmer of Oakland, Iowa was a great-great granddaughter of Rev. Joshua Palmer.
[36] 1820 U.S. census, Connersville, Fayette County, Indiana, p. 12 (stamped), William Parmer; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 28 December 2008);); citing National Archives microfilm M33, roll 15.
[37] Margaret R. Waters, Indiana Land Entries: Cincinnati District, 1801-1840, 85. William Sparks entered land in the southeast quarter of Section 36, Township 14 North, Range 12 East (Connersville Township) on 1 November 1811.
[38] Belle Palmer, “Palmer History” (typescript, 1958), p. [1]; privately held by Donna Meszaros, Phoenix, Arizona. Isabel “Belle” Palmer of Oakland, Iowa was a great-great granddaughter of Rev. Joshua Palmer.
[39] Record of Eli Chase (1808-1851) Son of Stephen Chase and Orryanna Rowe ; (http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ckph/elichaserecord.html ; accessed 10 August 2012)
[40] William Palmer v. John Coleman, Fulton County, Illinois Circuit Court, January 1829 term, case no. 121.
[41] Harvey Lee Ross, The Early Pioneers and Pioneer Events of the State of Illinois (Chicago: Eastman Brothers, 1899), 67.
[42] William Palmer v. John Coleman, Fulton County, Illinois Circuit Court, January 1829 term, case no. 121.
[43] Albert J. Perry, History of Knox County Illinois: Its Cities, Towns and People (Chicago: S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1912) 1:45.
[44] Ibid, 1:451.
[45] Charles C. Chapman, History of Knox County Illinois (Chicago: Blakely, Brown & Marsh, Printers, 1878) 105, 496.
[46] William M. Cockrum, Pioneer History of Indiana (Oakland City, Indiana: Press of Oakland City Journal, 1907), 336-337.
[47] Charles C. Chapman, History of Knox County Illinois,131.
[48] “Index to Indiana Marriages Through 1850,” database, Indiana State Library (http://208.119.135.17/db/in_marriages_1850/marriages_search.asp : accessed 26 December 2008), entry for Edah Palmer and Perry Morris, Fayette County, Indiana, 31 December 1820.
[49] “Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900,” database, Illinois State Archives, (http://www.ilsos.gov/GenealogyMWeb/marrsrch.html : accessed 26 December 2008), entry for Mary Ann Palmer and William Courland (sic), 27 April 1829, citing Peoria County, Illinois, [Marriages] Vol. 1:5, license 32.
[50]Albert J. Perry, History of Knox County Illinois: Its Cities, Towns and People, 1:448.
[51] 1830 U.S. census, Knox County, Illinois, p. 514 (upper left-hand corner), William Palmer; digital image, : Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com ; accessed 11 December 2008); citing National Archives microfilm M19, roll 24.
[52] “Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales Database,” Illinois State Archives (http://www.ilsos.gov/GenealogyMWeb/landsrch.html : accessed 26 December 2008), entry for William Palmer, T9N, R3E, S4; citing Vol. 696:137.
[53] U.S.Bureau of Land Management, “Patent Search,” database, General Land Office Records (http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/PatentSearch : accessed 28 December 2008), entry for William Palmer and Nelson Selby, Quincy office, doc. no. 8158.
[54] Warren County, Illinois Deed Book, 4:551; FHL microfilm 1,377,881.
[55] Rock Island County, Illinois Deed Book, B:482; FHL microfilm 1,415,934.
[56] Ibid, B:486.
[57] 1840 U.S. census, Rock Island County, Illinois, p. 250 (stamped, back), Wm Palmer; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 8 December 2008); citing National Archives microfilm M704, roll 68.
[58] “M. T. Palmer,” History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, 71.
[59] Genevieve Howard, “Family History” (typescript, 1984), p. [1]; copy in the possession of Donna Meszaros, Phoenix, Arizona. Two-page typescript on Everton Publishers' form A3. At the end of page 2 is the statement, "Copied from Win Palmer's notes. 1984." Genevieve Howard (1910-2003) was great-great-great granddaughter of Rev. Joshua Palmer. She resided in Rapid City, South Dakota.
[60] Rock Island County, Illinois Marriage Book A:27; FHL microfilm 1,428,580, item 4.
[61] Ibid, A:37.
[62] Genevieve Howard, “Family History,” p. [1];
[63] 1850 U.S. census, Mercer County, Illinois, p. 397 (stamped), dwelling 722, family 722, Minor Palmer; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com ; accessed 11 December 2008); citing National Archives microfilm M432, roll 120.
[64] Ibid, dwelling 721, family 721, Gursham Vannatta.
[2] South Carolina, “Colonial Land Grants (Copy Series),” database, South Carolina Department of Archives and History (http://www.archivesindex.sc.gov/Default.html accessed 30 September 2008), entry for Joshua Palmer, 1762, citing series S213184, vol. 7:267, item 1.
[3] South Carolina, “Colonial Land Grants (Copy Series),” entry for Richard Marks, 1764, vol. 10:238, item 2.
[4] South Carolina, “Colonial Land Grants (Copy Series),” entry for Joshua Palmer, 1767, vol. 19:40, item 2.
[5] Leah Townsend, South Carolina Baptists, 1670 to 1805 (1935; reprint; Baltimore: reprinted for Clearfield Co. by Genealogical Publishing Co., 1990), 102.
[6] Leah Townsend, South Carolina Baptists, 1670 to 1805 (1935; reprint; Baltimore: reprinted for Clearfield Co. by Genealogical Publishing Co., 1990), 228.
[7] Laurens County, South Carolina Deed Book, H:155; FHL microfilm 24,083.
[8] Laurens County, South Carolina Deed Book, E:255; FHL microfilm 24,082.
[9] Belle Palmer, “Palmer History” (typescript, 1958), p. [1]; privately held by Donna Meszaros, Phoenix, Arizona. Isabel “Belle” Palmer of Oakland, Iowa was a great-great granddaughter of Rev. Joshua Palmer.
[10] 1800 U.S. census, Laurens District, South Carolina, p. 209 (stamped), William Palmer; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 1 October 2009); citing National Archives microfilm M32, roll 50.
[11] History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa (Chicago: O. L. Baskin, 1883), 71.
[12] Horace Wilbur Palmer, “Palmer Families in America,” typescript, p. 7011; FHL microfilm 176,585.
[13] Belle Palmer, “Palmer History” (typescript, 1958), p. [1]; copy held by Donna Meszaros, Phoenix, Arizona. Isabel “Belle” Palmer of Oakland, Iowa was a great-great granddaughter of Rev. Joshua Palmer.
[14] Halifax County, Virginia Wills, 1792-1797 (Miami Beach, Florida: TLC Genealogy, 1991), 38-40.
[15] 1800 U.S. census, Laurens District, South Carolina, p. 211 (stamped), Jacob Gill; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 1 October 2009); citing National Archives microfilm M32, roll 50
[16] “A True & perfect Inventory of the goods & Chattels & personal Estate of Jacob Gill Deceased appraised by Us Whose Names are Under Written this 12th day of March 1808,” Laurens County Will Book C-1:307; FHL microfilm 24088.
[17] “A Memorandam of the Property Sold of Jacob Gill deceased by Jesse Belton administrator of the sd Deceased,” no date; Laurens County Will Book D-1:31; FHL microfilm 24088
[18] Mary Wilkinson’s grave marker in Oak Lawn Cemetery, Oakland, states that she died 26 March 1851 at the age of 53 years and 19 days.
[19] 1850 U.S. census, Township 11 N 5 W, Henderson County, Illinois, p. 47 (stamped, back), Mary Cousland; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 28 December 2008); citing National Archives microfilm M432, roll 109.
[20] 1860 U.S. census, Center Township, Pottawattamie County, Iowa, p. 123, Mary Wilkinson; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 28 December 2008); citing National Archives microfilm M653, roll 338.
[21] "Petition to Congress by Citizens of the Territory," Territorial Papers of the United States, Volume 7, The Territory of Indiana, 1800-1810 (Washington: GPO, 1939), 691.
[22] Willard Heiss, Indiana Source Book: Genealogical Material from The Hoosier Genealogist, 1967-1972 (Indianapolis: Family History Section, Indiana Historical Society, 1981), 207.
[23] Maurice Holmes, Court Records of Franklin County, Indiana (Shelbyville, Indiana: M. Holmes, 1987), 6, citing Franklin County Court of Common Pleas Minute Book B:32.
[24] Shirley Keller Mikesell, Early Settlers of Indiana’s “Gore” 1803 to 1820 (Bowie, Maryland: Heritage Books, 1995), 82, citing Franklin County, Indiana Deed Book B:313.
[25] Chelsea L. Lawlis, “The Great Migration and the Whitewater Valley,” Indiana Magazine of History 43 (June 1947): 126.
[26] Compiled service record, William Palmer, Pvt., Captain John Brison’s Co. of Militia, 7 Regt., Indiana Territory; Carded Records, Volunteer Organizations, War of 1812; Records of the Adjutant General’s Office, 1780s-1917, Record Group 94; National Archives, Washington, D.C.
[27] Union County, Indiana Deed Book A:247; FHL microfilm 1571488.
[28] Margaret R. Waters, Indiana Land Entries: Cincinnati District, 1801-1840 (1948; reprint; Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 2003), 65.
[29] Ibid, 66.
[30] Ibid, 26.
[31] Shirley Keller Mikesell, Early Settlers of Indiana’s “Gore” 1803 to 1820 (Bowie, Maryland: Heritage Books, 1995), 83, citing Franklin County, Indiana Deed Book B:336.
[32] Mildred Brownlee, “Laurens District Wills, Vol. E, 1836-1839,” Carolina Herald 14 (Spring 1986): 22.
[33] Sara M. Nash, Abstracts of Early Records of Laurens County, South Carolina, 1785-1820 with Name Index and Revolutionary War Service (Fountain Inn, S.C.: ?, 1982), ?
[34] “M. T. Palmer,” History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa (Chicago: O. L. Baskin, 1883), 71.
[35] Belle Palmer, “Palmer History” (typescript, 1958), p. [2]; privately held by Donna Meszaros, Phoenix, Arizona. Isabel “Belle” Palmer of Oakland, Iowa was a great-great granddaughter of Rev. Joshua Palmer.
[36] 1820 U.S. census, Connersville, Fayette County, Indiana, p. 12 (stamped), William Parmer; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 28 December 2008);); citing National Archives microfilm M33, roll 15.
[37] Margaret R. Waters, Indiana Land Entries: Cincinnati District, 1801-1840, 85. William Sparks entered land in the southeast quarter of Section 36, Township 14 North, Range 12 East (Connersville Township) on 1 November 1811.
[38] Belle Palmer, “Palmer History” (typescript, 1958), p. [1]; privately held by Donna Meszaros, Phoenix, Arizona. Isabel “Belle” Palmer of Oakland, Iowa was a great-great granddaughter of Rev. Joshua Palmer.
[39] Record of Eli Chase (1808-1851) Son of Stephen Chase and Orryanna Rowe ; (http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ckph/elichaserecord.html ; accessed 10 August 2012)
[40] William Palmer v. John Coleman, Fulton County, Illinois Circuit Court, January 1829 term, case no. 121.
[41] Harvey Lee Ross, The Early Pioneers and Pioneer Events of the State of Illinois (Chicago: Eastman Brothers, 1899), 67.
[42] William Palmer v. John Coleman, Fulton County, Illinois Circuit Court, January 1829 term, case no. 121.
[43] Albert J. Perry, History of Knox County Illinois: Its Cities, Towns and People (Chicago: S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1912) 1:45.
[44] Ibid, 1:451.
[45] Charles C. Chapman, History of Knox County Illinois (Chicago: Blakely, Brown & Marsh, Printers, 1878) 105, 496.
[46] William M. Cockrum, Pioneer History of Indiana (Oakland City, Indiana: Press of Oakland City Journal, 1907), 336-337.
[47] Charles C. Chapman, History of Knox County Illinois,131.
[48] “Index to Indiana Marriages Through 1850,” database, Indiana State Library (http://208.119.135.17/db/in_marriages_1850/marriages_search.asp : accessed 26 December 2008), entry for Edah Palmer and Perry Morris, Fayette County, Indiana, 31 December 1820.
[49] “Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900,” database, Illinois State Archives, (http://www.ilsos.gov/GenealogyMWeb/marrsrch.html : accessed 26 December 2008), entry for Mary Ann Palmer and William Courland (sic), 27 April 1829, citing Peoria County, Illinois, [Marriages] Vol. 1:5, license 32.
[50]Albert J. Perry, History of Knox County Illinois: Its Cities, Towns and People, 1:448.
[51] 1830 U.S. census, Knox County, Illinois, p. 514 (upper left-hand corner), William Palmer; digital image, : Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com ; accessed 11 December 2008); citing National Archives microfilm M19, roll 24.
[52] “Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales Database,” Illinois State Archives (http://www.ilsos.gov/GenealogyMWeb/landsrch.html : accessed 26 December 2008), entry for William Palmer, T9N, R3E, S4; citing Vol. 696:137.
[53] U.S.Bureau of Land Management, “Patent Search,” database, General Land Office Records (http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/PatentSearch : accessed 28 December 2008), entry for William Palmer and Nelson Selby, Quincy office, doc. no. 8158.
[54] Warren County, Illinois Deed Book, 4:551; FHL microfilm 1,377,881.
[55] Rock Island County, Illinois Deed Book, B:482; FHL microfilm 1,415,934.
[56] Ibid, B:486.
[57] 1840 U.S. census, Rock Island County, Illinois, p. 250 (stamped, back), Wm Palmer; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 8 December 2008); citing National Archives microfilm M704, roll 68.
[58] “M. T. Palmer,” History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, 71.
[59] Genevieve Howard, “Family History” (typescript, 1984), p. [1]; copy in the possession of Donna Meszaros, Phoenix, Arizona. Two-page typescript on Everton Publishers' form A3. At the end of page 2 is the statement, "Copied from Win Palmer's notes. 1984." Genevieve Howard (1910-2003) was great-great-great granddaughter of Rev. Joshua Palmer. She resided in Rapid City, South Dakota.
[60] Rock Island County, Illinois Marriage Book A:27; FHL microfilm 1,428,580, item 4.
[61] Ibid, A:37.
[62] Genevieve Howard, “Family History,” p. [1];
[63] 1850 U.S. census, Mercer County, Illinois, p. 397 (stamped), dwelling 722, family 722, Minor Palmer; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com ; accessed 11 December 2008); citing National Archives microfilm M432, roll 120.
[64] Ibid, dwelling 721, family 721, Gursham Vannatta.
** NOTICE: The biographies on this web site were written and the color photographs were taken by Donna Meszaros. I don't mind if you make copies for your own personal use, but please ask permission before posting them to other web sites.**