2. Grace PALMER (Walter ) was born 9 May 1608 in England. She died 31 Oct 1690 in Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut and was buried in Wequetequock Burying Ground, Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut.

HISTORY OF STONINGTON CT, by Wheeler, page 507.
WALTER PALMER, by Doris Palmer Buys, page 44.
THE GROTON AVERY CLAN, THE AVERYS OF GROTON.
VITAL RECORDS OF STONINGTON, CT., Vol. 1, page 78.
    Minor, Grace, Mrs., d. Dec. 31, 1690.

REFERENCES: Genealogy:PG/p. 20---Dr. BS{/p. 2---PF/pp. 9, 10---Savage/Vol. 3, p. 216---HIST. STON./1916, pp. 466, 507.
Grace Palmer was born in England between 1608 and 1610. She became a member of the First Church in Charlestown, Middlesex Co., MA on 1 Jun 1632 with her father and setep-mother, Rebecca. She married Thomas Minor who was born in Chew Magna, Sommerset Co., England on 23 Apr 1608. He came in John Winthrop's fleet which landed at Capt Ann, now Salem, Essex Co., MA on 12 Jun 1630.
Thomas Minor received lot 18 in the first division of land at Mystic side, now Charlestown, MA. on the sixth of the first month 1637. His future father-in-law Walter Palmer, receiving lot 15. From Charlestown Thomas Minor migrated, first to Hingham, where four of his children were born and thence to Stonington, New London Co., CT. where he bought a large tract of land lying on the border of Wequetequock Cove, in 1652. He thereon built his house. In 1645 he went to New London, CT, where he had a grant of one home lot and built a house, but sold the whole to settle at his final abode in Stonington, where he met with some difficulty. By the fact that a grant of three hundred acres of land from the town of New London to Governor Haynes and sold later to his father-in-law being found to cover Thomas Minor's lot. He, however, signed the coveyance, qualitfing it by the reservation that he should inhabit the place until he should have time to erect another dwelling at Mistupet, he held a very prominent place in all the stirring events which ensued in the settlement of this plantation where he died 23 Oct 1690. Grace also died in Oct 1690, and is said to have been born in the same year as her husband. A long stone of rough granite lies in the Ancient Burial Ground at Wequetequock, hwich bears the inscription "Here Lyeth the Body of Lieut. Thomas Miner, aged eighty three years, departed 1690". Thomas Minor and family located themselves at Quimbog and at Tongwonk.

Researching this line is [email protected]

Grace married Thomas MINOR, son of Clement MINER, on 23 Apr 1634 in Charlestown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Thomas was born 23 Apr 1608 in Chew Magna, Somerset, England. He died 23 Oct 1690 in Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut and was buried in Wequetequock Burying Ground, Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut.

HISTORY OF STONINGTON CT, by Wheeler, page 507, 466, 467.

THOMAS MINOR DESCENDANTS, by John Augustus Miner, pp. 15, 17.
     He embarked for the Colonies aboard the Lyon's Whelp, sailing from Gravesend, EN on 25 Apr 1629, and arrived at Salem, MA in the middle of July 1629.
    Very shortly after his arrival in Salem (then called Pequot harbor),there was a serious outbreak of Typhus, and Thomas moved on to Watertown. His stay there was brief also; from Watertown, Thomas moved on to Charlestown where in 1632 he became a founder of the First Church, his name appearing 34th on the roll. Two years later was granted four acres of land at the line of Newtown (now Cambridge), and by 1637 owned a 10 acre plot.
    On 4 March 1633/34, Thomas was made a freeman, and on 23 April 1632 he married Grace Palmer, daughter of Walter Palmer of Charlestown. Two years leter in 1636 the young couple moved once again settling in Hingham, MA, where they remained until 1645.
    In 1645 Thomas joined John Winthrop Jr.'s colony of Massachusetts Puritains in the settlement of New London, Conn.

WALTER PALMER, by Doris Palmer Buys, page 48, 49. 50.
    TM was appointed military sergent; and was one of the first deputies to the General Court from his area, in 1650 and 1651. In May of 1649 by Colonial appointment he served as a magistrate, or justice, in the Town of New London and thereafter when he resided in Stonington he held these same positions representing that Town.
    In 1652 TM took up a tract of land east of and adjoining the Wequetequock Cove, on which he erected a house in the area which became known as Stonington.
    Grace and Thomas Minor apparently removed to Stonington after the birth of their 9th child, Samuel, who was born 4 mar 1653/3 in New London; their 10th and last child, Hannah, was born 15 Sept 1655 in Stonington.
    By the arrival there in 1653 of Grace's father, Walter Palmer, the town was firmly established and thus the foursome, William Chesebrough, Thomas Stanton, Thomas Minor and Walter Palmer, became forever known as the "founders of Stonington".
    TM was captain of the Stonington Militia in 1665 and a lieutenant in the Narragansett Campaign of King Phillip's War in 1675-76 and took part in the "Swamp Fight" near Kingstown, RI. In Stonington he received grants of acreage which were given to those who had performed distinguished public service; his land there totalled at least 150 acres.
    He was Chief Military officer of the Mystic Trainband in July 1665. He previously had been granted 200 acres of land in Pequot (New London) by the Court. He was selected Commissioner in dealings with the Indians and settlers inasmuch as he had mastered the language of the Indians so he could act as interpreter in dealings between them and the white settlers.

ONE BRANCH OF THE MINER FAMILY, by Lillian Lounsberry (Miner)Selleck, page 4.

A PLANTING OF NEW ENGLAND, by John A. Miner, p. 21.
    Thomas Minor died at Stonington, CT, on 23 Oct 1690. He is buried in the Wequetequock Cemetery. Lying on his grave there is a long granit rock with an inscription reading;
    "Here lyeth the body of Lieutenant Thomas Minor aged 83 years. Departed 1690."
    Nearby stands a monument commemorating his services to Stonington and that of his associates Chesebrough, Stanton and Palmer. Grace, wife of Thomas, died 31 December 1690.

Researching this line is [email protected]

  Sources: Thre Great Migration Begins; The Groton Avery Clan; The Averys of Groton.
  Migration: Has five pages on Thomas and his family, beginning on page 1262. Lists his 10 children.

5. Jonah PALMER (Walter ) was born about 1620/1621 in England. He died 22 Jun 1709 in Rehoboth, Bristol Co., Massachusetts.

Jonah married Elizabeth GRISSELL, daughter of Francis GRISWOLD, on 13 May 1655.

7. Hannah PALMER (Walter ) was christened 15 Jun 1634 in Charlestown, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts. She died after 25 Aug 1681 in Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut.

HISTORY OF STONINGTON CT, by Wheeler, page 418 & 419.
    Pending the session of the General Court of Connecticut in 1670, a hearing was had for the consideration of a petition of Mrs Hannah Hewitt, the widow of Thomas Hewitt, for liberty to marry again, setting fortha that she had not heard from her late husband for the space of eight years, and better, and her neighbors also testifying that the said Hewitt had so long been absent and that they had not heard of him, or the vessel or company he went with since their departure. "The court having considered the premises, declare that the said Hannah Hewitt is at liberty to marry again if she see cause."
    So on the 27th day of December 1671, she was united in marriage with Roger Sterry. He d. before 1680; she m. 3d. John Fish Aug. 25, 1681, she being his 3d wife.

WALTER PALMER OF CHARLESTOWN & REHOBOTH, MASS. & STONINGTON, CONN., Compiled, Edited, Typed and Partly researched by Doris Palmer Buys, page 77.
    She was bapt. 15 Jun 1634 in First Church in Charlestown, MA (The First Record-Book  of The First church in Charlestown" page 202 records the baptism of "Hanna Palmer the daughter of Gualter Palmer and of Rebeckah his wife" as reprinted in and issue of NEHGR, Volume 25, page 147, in April of 1871) The first daughter and first four sons of this couple were born during the years they resided together in Charlestown, MA, from June 1633 until 1643.
    Hannah removed with her parents to Rehoboth, MA, in 1643 and thereafter to Stonington CT, in 1653. She married (1st) Thomas Hewitt on 26 Apr 1659 in Stonington; he was lost at sea and on 27 Dec 1671 Hannah married Roger Sterry who died before 1680; she married 3rd John Fish on 25 Aug 1681 as his 3rd wife.

REFERENCES: Genealogy: PG/p.25---Dr. BSP/p. 7-PF/p.16---STER./pp. 4,5 HIST. STON. pp.418, 419.
    Hannah was evidently born early in May or in early June of 1634, based on the fact that she was baptised in the First Church of Charlestown on 4th month 15th day 1634 which according to the time meant 15 Jun 1634. Whe went with her parents to "Antient" Rehoboth and Stonington, where she married her first husband Thomas Hewitt. He established a West India Trade and in the year 1662 started out on a voyage and was never heard from again.
     His widow, Hannah, petitioned the General Court of Connecticut for liberty to re-marry, and this was granted on 27 Dec 1671, and she married her second husband Roger Sterry. There is no record of his death other than that he died previous to 1680, and that she then married for her third husband John Fish on 25 Aug 1681 and in turn was his third wife. There is an interesting ante-nuptial contract among the Stonington records, made at the time of his final marriage to Hannah Palmer. He was at the time the schoolmaster at Stonington and acted temporarily as town clerk. He was a land surveyor, and himself owned considerable grants of land. Both John Fish and his son Samuel, were among the volunteers who joined the esxpedition against King Philip in 1675, and were present at the Great Swamp fight. At his death his son Samuel was his principal heir. Hannah probably resided her entire life in Stonington.

DESCENDANTS OF CAPTAIN THOMAS HEWITT OF STONINGTON, CONN.. Compiled by Virginia Hewitt Watterson, 1996. Found in the Joseph Smith Library, Salt Lake City, Ut. Page 1.

Researching this line is Ginny Hewitt at [email protected]
Researching this line is Lawrence H. Bentley at [email protected]
Researching this line is Scott R. Cunningham at Scott@customstaffing,com

Hannah married (1) Thomas HEWITT, son of Thomas HEWITT, on 26 Apr 1659 in Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut. Thomas was born 1630 in England. He died 1662 in the sea.

HISTORY OF STONINGTON CT, by Wheeler, page 418 & 419.
    So far as is known from reliable sources, Thomas Hewitt, who was a seafaring man, was the first person of the Hewitt name that made Stonington his abiding place. The first we know of him is from the diary of Thomas Miner, Sr., who speaks of him as in command of his vessel in Mystic River in the year 1656, where he was receiving the surplus products of the early planters here, in exchange for Boston goods. In his business transactions he made the acquaintance of Walter Palmer, whose daughter, Hannah Palmer, he married April 26, 1659. In order to make Stonington his abode for life he purchased a tract of land on the east side of Mystic River. The land embraced the present site of the Elm Grove Cemetery in Stonington, CT, on which he erected a dwelling house of primitive dimensions, pending which he continued his coastal trade, extending his business to the West Indies. During the year 1662 he purchased a cargo of neat stock, sheep and poultry, designed for the West Indies market, with which he set sail for that place, expecting a pleasant voyage and successful exchange of his cargo for goods in merchandise suitable for the inhabitants of this region round about. Months and years passed, and no glad tidings came of his safe arrival in the West Indies, nor any trace of him anywhere, which forced the conclusion upon his wife and friends, that amid some fearful storm, his vessel had foundered and all on board had found a grave in the cold, dark, heaving sea.

THE DESCENDENTS OF EZEKIEL MAINE, by A. A. Aspinwall, pp. 103.
    Thomas-1 Hewitt was early of Scituate, MA. He was a seafaring man. Captain of a sailing vessel - Removed to Stonington CT, where he married April 26, 1659, Hannah daughter of Walter and Rebecca (Short) Palmer.

DESCENDANTS OF CAPTAIN THOMAS HEWITT OF STONINGTON, CONN., Compiled by Virginia Hewitt Watterson, 1996. Found in the Joseph Smith Library, Salt Lake City, UT. Page 1.
    The ancestry of Thomas Hewitt, a sea captain, has yet to be discovered. He probably came from England or Ireland, and possibly from one of the coastal towns since he took to the sea for his livelihood. The first record of him in the Colonies is from the diary of Thomas Miner, which mentions Thomas Hewitt in 1656 as having command of the ship n the Mystic River. He was a trader taking surplus products from the early Connecticut planters in exchange for goods from Boston. Thomas purchased a tract of land on the east side of the Mystic River, in present day Stonington, Conn., to use as a home base when he was not at sea. There he built a primitive dwelling house. Through his trading transactions, Thomas was aquatinted with the planters in the area. Walter Palmer, one of the wealthy planters, has a daughter who became Thomas Hewitt's wife.
    HANNAH PALMER was born in Charlestown, Mass. in 1634, daughter of Walter Palmer and his 2nd wife, Rebecca Short. The First Church of Charlestown recorded Hannah's baptism on 15 Jun 1634. Walter moved his family to Rehoboth, Mass. and by 1653 had settled in Stonington, Conn. Thomas Hewitt married Hannah Palmer on 26 Apr 1659 a Stonington. (Wheeler).
    Thomas continued his coastal trading business and extended it to include the West Indies. In May 1662, he sailed from Mystic River with a cargo of livestock and poultry, which he purchased to trade for goods in the West Indies. The ship was lost at sea and Thomas was never heard from again. Hannah and their two infant sons waited months and years for his return. It was finally concluded that the ship floundered and sank during a storm. Before the General Court of Conn. in 1670, Hannah presented a petition to allow her, as a widow, the liberty to marry again. She and neighbors testified that not a word had been heard of Captain Thomas Hewitt or his vessel or his company from the time they left eight years before. The court granted Hannah's petition. The following year, on 27 Dec 1671, she married Roger Sterry. Two children were born to them. Roger died sometime prior to 1680 and Hannah married a 3rd time, on 25 Aug 1681, to John Fish as his 3rd wife. Hannah lived in Stonington the rest of her life. No report has been found of her date of death.
Sources:
Vital Records of Stonington, Connecticut
Richard Anson Wheeler, HISTORY OF STONINGTON, CONN., New London: 1900, pp. 418, 419 & 508.
Doris Palmer Buys, WALTER PALMER OF STONINGTON, CONN., Fallbrook, Ca., 1986, p. 77.
James Savage, GENEALOGY DICTIONARY OF NEW ENGLAND, Baltimore: 1909, Vol. II, pp. 490 & 491.

Researching this line is Ginny Hewitt at [email protected]
Researching this line is Nancyann Norman at [email protected]
Researching this line is Lawrence H. Bentley at [email protected]
Researching this line is William Hewitt at [email protected]
Researching this line is Scott R. Cunningham at Scott@customstaffing,com

Hannah also married (2) Roger STERRY on 27 Dec 1671 in Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut. Roger was born 1630 in England. He died 27 Dec 1671 in Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut.

DESCENDANTS OF CAPTAIN THOMAS HEWITT OF STONINGTON, CONN.. Compiled by Virginia Hewitt Watterson, 1996. Found in the Joseph Smith Library, Salt Lake City, Ut. Page 1.

WALTER PALMER OF CHARLESTOWN & REHOBOTH, MASS. & STONINGTON, CONN., Compiled, Edited, Typed and Partly researched by Doris Palmer Buys, page 77.
    Following the lapse of eight years, his widow petitioned the General Court of Connecticut in 1670 for permission to marry again and her petition was granted. On 27 Dec 1671 Hannah and roger Sterry were merried and had two children before he died previous to 1680.

Hannah also married (3) John FISH on 25 Aug 1681 in Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut. John was born in England. He died about 1687.

WALTER PALMER OF CHARLESTOWN & REHOBOTH, MASS. & STONINGTON, CONN., Compiled, Edited, Typed and Partly researched by Doris Palmer Buys, page 77.
    Hannah married 25 Aug 1681 John Fish as his 3rd wife and continued to reside the remainder of her life in Stonington. She was about the age of forty-seven when she married for the 3rd time and had no children by John Fish. His surviving children were by his first wife.
    John Fish was a land surveyor and laid out some of the public grants in Stonington; his brother-in-law, Gershom Palmer, was associated with him in such work in 1680 and 1681. (Wheeler page 371) When and where Hannah died has not been ascertained.

9. Nehemiah PALMER (Walter ) was christened 23 Nov 1637 in Charlestown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. He died 17 Feb 1717 in Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut and was buried in Wequetequock Burying Ground, Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut.

THE NEW ENGLAND HISTORICAL & GENEALOGICAL REGISTER, Vol. XII, 1859, page 28. FIRST CHURCH CHARLESTOWN, MA, page 204 at 149, in the 1871 edition.
    Bpt. 23 Nove 1637

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Nehemiah married Hannah STANTON, daughter of Thomas STANTON and Ann LORD, on 20 Nov 1662 in Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut. Hannah was born 1644 in Hartford, Hartford Co., Connecticut. She died 17 Oct 1727 in Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut.

m. Nehemiah Palmer Nov 20 1662

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10. Moses PALMER (Walter ) was born 6 Apr 1640 in Charlestown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. He died 6 Jul 1701 in Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut.

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Moses married Dorothy GILBERT, daughter of John GILBERT and Amy LORD, on 1672. Dorothy was born 1650. She died 1717.

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12. Deacon Gershom PALMER (Walter ) was born 16 Jun 1644 in Rehoboth, Bristol Co., Massachusetts. He died 27 Sep 1718 in Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut and was buried 30 Sep 1718 in Wequetequock Burying Ground, Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut.

HISTORY OF STONINGTON CT, by Wheeler, page 509.

WALTER PALMER OF CHARLESTOWN AND REHOBOTH, MA & STONINGTON CT, a 400-Year (1585-1985) Family History, Compiled, Edited, Typed and Partly Researched by Doris Palmer Buys, pages 103-4.
    Following the path of his parents, brothers and sisters, Gershom was devoutly religious and he and his wife, Ann, were admitted 19 Aug 1677 to the First Congregational Church at Stonington (known as "The Road Church") according to the church records.
     In 1675 Gershom Palmer, then aged theiry-one years, particiated in King Philip's War and served as a lieutenant of a Stonington company. The Pyron Plamer typescript manuscripts, page 997, "His name appears as a soldier in that war on the records of the town of Voluntown, which town was given by the General Court of Conn. to the soldiers of that war."
    The comprehensive account of that conflict was written by George Madison Bodge, A.B. in his book entitled "Soldiers in King Philip's War" reprinted in 1976 by Genealogical Publishing Co., of Baltimore, Maryland. In a chapter headed "The Narraganset Townships, Grantees and Claimants" page 406, is recorded on 10th December 1675 a proclamation was made to the soldiers, in the name of the Governor of the Mass. Colony that "if they took the fort and drove the enemy out of the Narraganset country, . . . they should have a gratuity of land, besides their wages."
    On 4 June 1685 (ten years later) a petition was presented to the General Court in session at Boston for the grant of land which had been promised byt many years passed before this was accomplished.
    On 5 June 1684 Gershom received from his brothers Nehemiah, Moses and Benjamin, 500 acres of land in Stonington as part of their father's estate. (Town Records, Vol. 1, page 129).
    
ELDRED AND ASSOCIATED FAMILIES, Researched by: Catherine Matson & Clarice McNiven, Compiled by: Carol & Susan Matson, pp. 102.
    Gershom Palmer on 5 Jun 1684 received from his brothers, Nehemiah, Moses and Benjamin 500 acres of land in Stonington, CT as a part of their partent's estate. Also on 3 May 1693 was laid out to Lt. Gershom 50 acres, then 100 acres, and then another 50 acres. On 23 Dec 1708, he have his sons George and Walter all his farm, they to allow him, for the rest of his natural life, one-third of the produce of the land, to dwell in the east end of the new dwelling house, and they were to fulfill the agreement he made his new wife, Elizabeth, before their marriage. This agreement was drawn up 1 Nov 1707, but on 16 Jun 1718 he made another deed, in which he states that he had, before marriage, agreed to give his wife 20 pounds before his own deceased and that he had ordered his sons to pay this, but since he had been boarding his wife's 2 daughters for some time he had caused different arrangements to be made. Ann (Borodell) Denison's mother, Mrs. Ann Denison, was of a fine old family and from her, young Ann inherited such stately and gracious manners that she was commonly called "Lady Ann."

Researching this line is [email protected]

Gershom married (1) Ann DENISON, daughter of Captain George DENISON and Ann BORODELL, on 28 Nov 1667 in Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut. Ann was christened 20 May 1649 in Roxbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts. She died 17 Nov 1706 in Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut and was buried 18 Nov 1706 in Wequetequock Burying Ground, Stonington, New London Co., Conn..

DENISON GENEALOGY, by Denison, Peck & Jacobus, page 1, 2.

THE NEW ENGLAND HISTORICAL & GENEALOGICAL REGISTER, Vol. XII, 1859, page 27.

WALTER PALMER OF CHARLESTOWN AND REHOBOTH, MA & STONINGTON CT, a 400-Year (1585-1985) Family History, Compiled, Edited, Typed and Partly Researched by Doris Palmer Buys. pages 106.
    Most published records give the year as 1694 as the year of the deathof Gershom's first wife, Ann, merely adding that he thereafter married the widow Mrs. Elizabeth (Peck) Mason. The Wheeler Chronology of families, page 461, in Stonington gives 30 Mar 1705 as the date of death of Elizabeth's husband, Jamor Samuel Mason and the year 1699 as the birthdate of her last child by him.
    Manasseh Minor's Diary records for 20 March 1704/5 'mr John masan departed." and also records for 17 November 1706 "Deaken pallmors wife dyed;" and on 18 November "She was buryed."
    page 109.
    The January 1859 publication for the New England Historical and Genealogical Society (the Register) had an article by J. D. Champlin, Jr., of Stonington entitled "Ancient Burial-Ground at Stonington" in which he set forth the inscriptions taken from some of the very early markers in the Wequetequock Burial Yard, pages 23 to 29. In addition to those of Thomas Miner and his wife, Grace Palmer Miner, those included some of particular interet to those descended from Deacon Gershom Palmer although his was not included:
    "A rough unhewn stone, about fourteen inches wide and six feet long, and nearly imbedded in the turf, is supposed to mark the resting palce of Ann, wife of Gershom Palmer, it is inscribed simply -- Ann Palmer

Researching this line is [email protected]

Gershom also married (2) Elizabeth PECK.

wps

13. Rebecca PALMER (Walter ) was christened 1 Jul 1647 in Rehoboth, Bristol Co., Massachusetts. She died 2 May 1713 in Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut.

Rebecca married (1) Elisha CHESEBROUGH, son of William CHESEBROUGH and Anna STEVENSEN, on 20 Apr 1665 in Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut. Elisha was christened 4 Jun 1637 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts. He died 1 Sep 1670 in Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut.

Rebecca also married (2) John BALDWIN, son of Sylvester BALDWIN and Sarah BRYAN. John died Aug 1683 in No Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut.

Researching this line is Bert (Bertha Baldwin Onderchain) at [email protected]
    John Baldwin moved to Milford. He married and had a son and his wife died. The son went to England, and died there. John moved to New London, Conn. Then he came to North Stonington where he married Rebecca Palmer, widow of Elisha Cheseborough, and daughter of Walter Palmer.
    They moved to here Cheseborough lands in North Stonington. She had a son, Elisha Cheseborough, and they had other kids, including Theophilus Baldwin who was born in June 1683 and John Baldwin died in August.