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[This information is from Vol. IV, pp. 1456-1458 of Hudson-Mohawk Genealogical and Family Memoirs, edited by Cuyler Reynolds (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1911). It is in the Reference collection of the Schenectady County Public Library at R 929.1 R45. Some of the formatting of the original, especially in lists of descendants, may have been altered slightly for ease of reading.]
The first authentic record of Walter Palmer, born 1585, (the American ancestor of the Palmers of Troy, herein considered) is found in Charlestown, Middlesex county, Massachusetts. January 26, 1638, Abraham Palmer was chosen by the town "for keeing [keeping?] the Towne Booke." In his "Book of Possessions," page 31, was recorded "The possessions of Walter Palmer within Charlestowne." His acres were described as "Two acres in the East Field," and thus through his many parcels of land, January 6, 1637, Walter and son John shared in a division of lands on "Mystic Side." He and his close friend, William Cheseborough, were among the original proprietors and settlers of "Seacuncke" (Rehoboth), until in 1645 Walter Palmer represented the new town at the general court of Plymouth Colony. In 1643 he gave in the value of his estate as 419 pounds. In 1645 young John Winthrop induces William Cheseborough to New London to begin a settlement there. He viewed the land and selecting a large tract in the Pequot county called "Wequeteguoc" quickly induced Walter Palmer to join him. With his entire family excepting son Jonas, he started south in 1652-53, buying land on the east bank of Wequeteguoc Cove. He secured twelve hundred acres in the neighborhood. Troubles arose between Massachusetts and Connecticut, which were unsettled for years, but finally in 1665 the name was changed to Stonington and the territory awarded to Connecticut. In 1668 an act for the census was passed and on this were the names of Gershom, Moses and Benjamin Palmer, Gershom signing for Mrs. Rebecca Palmer. Walter Palmer's will was made May 19, 1658. At the general court heard May 11, 1762 [1662?], the will was filed and approved.
Walter Palmer married (first) in England, Ann ———— (called Elizabeth to distinguish her from her mother). He married (second) (it is thought in Roxbury, Massachusetts, where she had been admitted a member of the Rev. John Elliot's First Church) Rebecca Short. They both joined the First Church of Charlestown in 1632, and his daughter Grace was admitted the same date. He died in Stonington, November 10, 1661. Children by first wife:
Children by second wife:
(II) Deacon Gershom, eleventh child of Walter Palmer and sixth by his second wife, Rebecca (Short) Palmer, was baptized in Charlestown, Massachusetts. He acquired a large amount of land, most of which he deeded to his sons before his death. He married (first) in Stonington, November 28, 1667, Ann, daughter of Captain and Ann (Borodel) Denison. Her mother was of a good English family and from her Mrs. Palmer inherited such stately and gracious manners that she was commonly styled "Lady Ann." She was born May 20, 1649, died in Stonington, 1694. He married (second) Mrs. Elizabeth Mason (maiden name Peck), of Rehoboth, Massachusetts. Children by first wife:
(III) George, son of Deacon Gershom and Ann (Denison) Palmer, was baptized in Stonington, May 29, 1680, died May 28, 1728. He married, March 11, 1711, in Stonington, Hannah, born May 31, 1694, daughter of Joseph and Frances (Prentice) Palmer. She survived him and married (second) William York. Children:
By her second husband, Mrs. Hannah Palmer had Amos, Molly and Jonathan York.
(IV) Rev. Gershom (2) Palmer, son of George and Hannah (Palmer) Palmer, was born in Stonington, October 12, 1725, died November 6, 1810. He was a minister of the Gospel. He was located at what is now Griswold, New London county, Connecticut. He married, November 5, 1747, Dorothy Brown, born in Preston, Connecticut, where she died March 1, 1808. Children:
(V) Rev. Reuben Palmer, son of Rev. Gershom (2) and Dorothy (Brown) Palmer, was born in Stonington, June 12, 1759. He was ordained first an elder of the Baptist church of Preston and while there called to the old Baptist church in Montville, New London county, Connecticut. He served until he was publicly installed, December 25, 1798, and from then until his death, April 22, 1822. He married, November 16, 1780, Lucretia, born in Preston, November 12, 1764, died in Montville, August 15, 1855, daughter of Caleb and Hannah (Barnes) Tyler. Children:
(VI) Peter Avery, son of Rev. Reuben and Lucretia (Tyler) Palmer, was born in (Montville), New London county, Connecticut, May 11, 1801, died at Lansingburg, New York, January 28, 1892. He removed from his Connecticut home when twenty-two years of age, and located at Le Roy, New York, as one of the first settlers and took a prominent part in the building up of the town. While here he became interested in the stove business and invented various types of stoves and appliances, among which were the elevated oven stove, and the rotary grate. In 1858 he removed to Troy on account of the manufacture of his stoves and established the firm of Peter A. Palmer. He was a Republican in political sympathy and a citizen held in high esteem. In 1875 he removed to Lansingburg, where he resided the remainder of his life. He married, September 2, 1821, at New London, Connecticut, Naomi Caulkins, born December 5, 1803, died in Lansingburg, New York, May 27, 1892. Children:
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