5926. Frances Billington
1Robert Charles Anderson, Great Migration Begins, NEHGS (Boston, 1995).
"From John Billington entry:
ii FRANCIS, b. about 1606 (deposed 10 July 1674 "68 years of age" [ MD 2:46, citing PCR 1:81]); in the Plymouth tax list of 25 March 1633 and 27 March 1634 assessed 9s. [ PCR 27]; m. Plymouth __ July 1634 "Christian Eaton" [ PCR 1:31]. She was CHRISTIAN (PENN) EATON, widow of FRANCIS EATON."2Harriet W. Hodge, revised by Robert S. Wakefield, Mayflower Families Through Five Generations, Family of John Billington (General Society of Mayflower Descendants, Plymouth, MA:2001), 21:5.
(says b. 1606 or 1609).3Robert Charles Anderson, Great Migration Begins.
"From John Billington entry:
ii FRANCIS, b. about 1606 (deposed 10 July 1674 "68 years of age" [ MD 2:46, citing PCR 1:81]); in the Plymouth tax list of 25 March 1633 and 27 March 1634 assessed 9s. [ PCR 27]; m. Plymouth __ July 1634 "Christian Eaton" [ PCR 1:31]. She was CHRISTIAN (PENN) EATON, widow of FRANCIS EATON."4New England Historical and Genealogical Register (New England Historical and Genealogical Society, Boston), Vol. 3, Page 334 (1849(.
lists Frances as purchasing land which became Middleborough.5Harriet W. Hodge, revised by Robert S. Wakefield, Mayflower Families Through Five Generations, Family of John Billington, 21:6.
(says Frances died 3 Dec 1684).6Harriet W. Hodge, revised by Robert S. Wakefield, Mayflower Families Through Five Generations, Family of John Billington, 21:6.
5927. Christian Penn
1Robert Charles Anderson, Great Migration Begins, NEHGS (Boston, 1995).
"From John Billington entry:
ii FRANCIS, b. about 1606 (deposed 10 July 1674 "68 years of age" [ MD 2:46, citing PCR 1:81]); in the Plymouth tax list of 25 March 1633 and 27 March 1634 assessed 9s. [ PCR 27]; m. Plymouth __ July 1634 "Christian Eaton" [ PCR 1:31]. She was CHRISTIAN (PENN) EATON, widow of FRANCIS EATON."2Harriet W. Hodge, revised by Robert S. Wakefield, Mayflower Families Through Five Generations, Family of John Billington (General Society of Mayflower Descendants, Plymouth, MA:2001), 21:6.
3Harriet W. Hodge, revised by Robert S. Wakefield, Mayflower Families Through Five Generations, Family of John Billington, 21:6.
5928. Henry Adams
1Burton W. Spear, Search for the Passengers of the Mary & John 1630 (Mary & John Clearing House, Toledo, OH 1992).
as to year of birth only.2Clarence A. Torrey, New England Marriages Prior to 1700 (Baltimore, MD, Genealogical Publishing Co: 1995).
3Clarence A. Torrey, New England Marriages Prior to 1700.
5929. Edith Squire
1Clarence A. Torrey, New England Marriages Prior to 1700 (Baltimore, MD, Genealogical Publishing Co: 1995).
2Clarence A. Torrey, New England Marriages Prior to 1700.
5930. James Penniman
1Robert Charles Anderson, Great Migration Begins, NEHGS (Boston, 1995).
ii LYDIA, bp. Boston 22 February 1634/5 [ BChR 279]; m. by 1653 Edward Adams (eldest child b. Medfield 12 July 1653; see COMMENTS below). iii JOHN, bp. Boston 15 January 1637[/8] [ BChR 281]; m. Braintree 24 February 166[4/]5 Hannah Billings [ BrVR 717]. iv JOSEPH, b. Braintree 1 August 1639 [ NEHGR 3:247], bp. Boston 29 September 1639 [ BChR 283]; m. (1) Braintree 25 September 1666 Waiting Robinson [ BrVR 717]; m. (2) Braintree 10 May 1693 "Sarah Stone, widow of Deacon John Stone of Watertown" [ BrVR 720]. v SARAH, b. Braintree 16 May 1641 [ NEHGR 3:247]; m. Dorchester 19 January 1663/4 Increase Robinson [ DVR 21]. vi BETHIA, b. say 1643; m. by 1673 John Allen [ SPR 6:160; TAG71:1-6]. vii SAMUEL, b. Braintree 14 November 1645 [ NEHGR 12:107]; m. Dorchester 6 January 1673/4 Elizabeth Parmenter [ DVR 23; BrVR 718]. viii HANNAH, b. Braintree 26 May 1648 [ BrVR 632]; m. (1) Taunton 4 February 1671 John Hall; m. (2) Taunton 4 June 1702 Samuel Haskins [ TAG 28:253-54]. ix ABIGAIL, b. Braintree 27 December 1651 [ BrVR 632]; m. Bridgewater 7 December 1670 John Cary [TAG 71:18]. x MARY, b. Braintree 29 September 1653 [ BrVR 632]; m. Braintree 4 April 1678 Samuel Paine [ BrVR 719].
"JAMES PENNIMAN
ORIGIN: High Laver, Essex
MIGRATION: 1631 on second trip of Lyon
FIRST RESIDENCE: Boston
REMOVES: Braintree
CHURCH MEMBERSHIP: "James and Lydia Pennyman" were admitted to Boston church as members #117 and #118, which would be late in 1631 [ BChR 15]. On 16 February 1639/40 "James Pennyman and Lydia his wife" were "recommended to the Church of Christ at Mount Wollystone" [ BChR 27].
FREEMAN: 6 March 1631/2 [ MBCR 1:367].
EDUCATION: On 12 August 1636 "James Pennyman" paid 5s. for the support of the schoolmaster [ BTR 160]. He signed his will. His inventory included "books" valued at 18s.
OFFICES: Boston fenceviewer, 9 February 1634[/5] [ BTR 1:3]. Petit jury, 19 February 1635[/6] [ BTR 1:8]. Braintree selectman, 1640, 1645, 1651-53 [ BrTR 1, 2, 5, 6]. Commissioner to end small causes for Braintree, 10 May 1643 [ MBCR 2:35].
On 27 January 1639[/40] James "Pennyman" and five others represented their neighbors at Mount Wollaston in an agreement with the town of Boston for 4s. an acre for every two acres of the seven acres formerly granted "to diverse, then of Boston, upon expectation they should have continued with us; and 3s. an acre for every acre that hath been, or shall be, granted to any others who are not inhabitants of Boston and ... all the said lands shall be free from any town rates or charges to Boston, and also from the country charges when the Mount shall be rated by the court ..." and liberty to accept the court's permission to become a town [ BTR 1:47; MBCR 1:291].
ESTATE: On 21 March 1636[/7] it was agreed "that our brother James Pennyman shall have leave for this year to mow that part of the marsh on the neck near unto his garden which he hath wontedly mown" [ BTR 1:16]. On 2 June 1637 it was agreed "that James Pennyman shall have the Hilsteade and the marsh ground under it as it shall be measured and bounded out at Charles Ryver, he allowing out of his allotment at Mount Woollystone seven acres for five" [ BTR 1:18].
On 22 February 1640[/1] "brother Peniman" had two and a half acres on the Knight's neck at Braintree for which he was to "pay after the rate of 12s. per acre for the town stock of Boston" [ BTR 1:59]. On 29 July 1644 land within the common fence at Braintree near the Knight's neck was sold to Sergt. Matson, James Penniman, Moses Payne, Francis Eliot for 5s. per acre to be paid to Mr. Henry Flint of Braintree for his own use "on consideration of his late great loss through the hand of God's providence by fire" [ BTR 1:80]. He was again ordered to pay for this land to Mr. Flint at the town meeting 30 September 1644, having failed to do so in a timely manner [ BTR 1:81].
In his will, dated 18 December 1664 and proved 31 January 1664[/5], "James Pennyman of Braintree" bequeathed "half my uplands, half my meadows, half my orchard, half my barns & outhousing, and all my dwelling house I do give unto my beloved wife, for her support & my lesser children with her"; "the other half I give unto my son Joseph, & if he think good, to improve it all for his mother's comfort ... I think it will be best if he marry & build near my wife"; "my moveable estate I also give wholly to my wife for her support & the education of my lesser children"; "and because God hath blessed me with many children I do commit it to my wife's discretion to do good unto them all, in as near a proportion as she can & to be most helpful to them that have most need"; at her death, to "my children so as to make them as equal sharers as she can"; "my first born, James, having been educated into such a way of living as he is having already had a portion ... [to] answer his double portion"; to "my youngest son Samuel & my three youngest daughters, I give £20 apiece if it be to be had at my wife's decease, or afore if need be, & such as are married, to be made up to such a sum if it be to be had" [ SPR 1:439-40].
The inventory of "James Pennyman" was taken 27 September 1664 and totalled £505 3s., including real estate valued at £370: "his part of his lease of Mr. Hoffe's Necke," £15; "dwelling house," £45; "barn & stable & old house & orchard," £70; "thirty acres of land or thereabout lying near the mill pond," £70; "fifteen acres near Knight's neck," £30; "about eighteen acres nigh Weymouth Ferry," £55; "three acres by Goodman Parmenter's," £15; and "2 parcels of salt meadow being about 8 acres lying in the neck," £70 [ SPR 4:211].
On 23 May 1666, the General Court, in "answer to the petition of Lyddia, widow of James Pennyman, the Court, having read & perused her petition, as also the imperfect will of her late husband, with the order of the County Court of Suffolk made thereupon, see no cause to make any alteration in the premises, but leave the petitioner to act in this her trust according to the power already committed to her" [ MBCR 4:2:302]. On 13 October 1680, in "answer to the petition of Mrs. Margery Flynt, the Court do judge, that the payment & bond mentioned in the petition appearing to the administrators of James Pennyman's estate to satisfaction, the administrators are hereby empowered & ordered to pass deeds of sale in said Pennyman's name" [ MBCR 5:297].
In her will, dated 22 December 1673 and proved 27 July 1676, "Lidia Wight" noted that "as for that small portion of worldly goods which the Lord hath graciously given & left by the last will of my former husband James Penniman I have according to my best understanding faithfully performed his will & have truly paid unto my five daughters which are married, the full sum of twenty pounds to each of them," and bequeathed the £80 which was due to her from "my son Samuel Penniman which is the remainder of the price of the several parcels of land which I have sold to him as appears by deed" as follows: £20 to "my daughter Mary Penniman"; £10 to "my daughter Lydia Addams"; £10 to "my daughter Sarah Robinson"; £10 to "my daughter Bethiah Allen"; £10 to "my daughter Hannah Hall"; £10 to "my daughter Abigail Carie"; and £10 and a great kettle to "my daughter Mary Penniman"; "my son Samuel Penniman" to be sole executor and "my loving cousins Jacob Eliot and Theophilus Frary" to be overseers [ SPR 6:160].
The inventory of the estate of "the late deceased Lidiah Weight which was formerly the wife of James Penniman" totalled £109 11s., with no real estate included [ SPR 12:46].
BIRTH: Baptized Chipping Ongar, Essex, 29 July 1599, son of James and Annis (Wilcock) Penniman [ TAG 71:12-14].
DEATH: Braintree 26 December 1664 [ BrVR 639].
MARRIAGE: High Laver, Essex, 26 July 1631 Lydia Eliot, sister of JOHN ELIOT and JACOB ELIO , and daughter of Bennet Eliot of Widford and Nazeing, Essex. (The High Laver parish register omits her maiden name [ NEHGR 107:236; Waters 904-05].) She married (2) Medfield 7 [December?] 1665 as his second wife Thomas Wight.
CHILDREN:
i JAMES, bp. Boston 26 March 1633 [ BChR 277]; m. Boston 10 May 1659 Mary Cross [ BVR 71].
ASSOCIATIONS: His wife was sister of Rev. JOHN ELIOT and Philip Eliot of Roxbury, JACOB ELIOT of Boston, Francis Eliot of Braintree, Sarah (Eliot) Curtis, wife of WILLIAM CURTIS of Roxbury, and Mary (Eliot) Payson, wife of Edward Payson of Roxbury and Dorchester [ Eliot Gen 3-9]. COMMENTS: He was one of those Boston men to be disarmed in the Wheelwright controversy, 20 November 1637 [ MBCR 1:212]. On about 22 November 1637 "James Paniman" affirmed "that I have never consented to have my hand set to the Petition which gave offense to the Court, neither do I allow of it but do think it was done without warrant" [ WP 3:514].
In 1660 "James Penneman" was one of the inhabitants of Braintree who petitioned the General Court for the establishment of a new plantation, which became the town of Mendon [ MBCR 4:1:445].
The early Braintree vital records have been published in two different places, and the birth date for Samuel Penniman, son of James and Lydia, is given differently in the two locations [ NEHGR 12:107; BrVR 632]. The vital events for several years were recorded at one time, and as a result four of the Penniman children were entered together - Hannah, Abigail, Mary and Samuel, in that order. The information on the three daughters is identical in the two published versions, but the son is said in one place to be born "14:9:45" (i.e., 14 November 1645) [ NEHGR 12:107] and in the other "(1) (9) (1655)" (i.e., 1 November 1655) [ BrVR 632].
The earlier date is preferred here, even though it would mean that the children were entered out of birth order. If Samuel really was born in 1655, then there would be an unexplained gap in the list of children of about five years, from about 1643 to 1648, and he would be marrying at age eighteen. Neither of these circumstances is impossible, but a birth year for Samuel of 1645 is more likely. Reference to the original would settle this matter. In 1977 Benjamin Parker Richardson Jr. entered a caveat against the identification of Edward Adams as the husband of Lydia Penniman [ TAG 53:37-38], since the will of her father does not name her at all and the will of her mother merely calls her Lydia Adams without naming her husband, and an alternate claim that the wife of Edward Adams was a Lydia Rockwood or Rockett had been made by Abner Morse. We do know from the mother's will that Lydia did marry an Adams, and a search of Torrey's New England Marriages Prior to 1700 reveals no other Adams this early with wife Lydia. The only evidence in favor of the Rockwood identification is the choice by two of the children of Nicholas Rockwood of Edward Adams as their guardian. This could happen for other reasons than an Adams-Rockwood marriage, and so Edward Adams is retained as the husband of Lydia Penniman.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: Clifford L. Stott has discovered the origin of James Penniman in Chipping Ongar, Essex, and has also provided evidence and careful arguments for the identity of the spouses of James Penniman's daughters [ TAG 71:12-18]."2Robert Charles Anderson, Great Migration Begins.
(From the entry for James Penniman): MARRIAGE: High Laver, Essex, 26 July 1631 Lydia Eliot.
5931. Lydia Elliot
1Robert Charles Anderson, Great Migration Begins, NEHGS (Boston, 1995).
MARRIAGE: High Laver, Essex, 26 July 1631 Lydia Eliot.
From the entry for James Penniman:2The American Genealogist.
"The last will & Testament of Ludia Wight Being through gods mercy in good memorye & understanding according to that measure the lorde hath given mee & yet my bodily infirmities putting mee in mynde that I have not longe to Continue in this world therefore in order to the finishing what concerns me I doe make this my last will as followeth First & above all things I doe committ my Soule into the hands of my gracious god in Jesus Christ to dispose of me & accomplish for the good pleasure of his grace for my present & eternal estate & after my decease my body to be decently buryed according to the discretion of my loving husband & friends & as for that Small portion of worldly goods which the lord hath graciously give & left by the last will of my former husband James Penniman I have according to my best understanding faithfully performed his will & have truly paid unto my five daughters which are married, the full Summ of Twenty Pounds to each of them & as for what remains in my hands which is cheifly a bond of Eighty pounds from my Son Samuel Penniman which is the remainder of the price of the several parcels of land which I have sold to him as appears by deede, I doe will that my daughter Mary Penniman shall have Twenty Pounds well & truly paid according to my former husbands will & then the remainder which is Sixty Pounds shall be paid Tenn Pounds to my daughter Lydia Addams & Tenn Pounds to my daughter Sarah Robinson & Tenn Pounds to my daughter Abigail Carie & Tenn Pounds & my great kettle to my daughter Mary Penniman & also my wearing apparrell & household stuffs at my husband Wights house my will is that as neare as may be there be equally divided unto my Six daughters & I doe Constitute & appointe my Son Samuel Penniman to be my Executor & doe also request my Loving Cousins Jacob Eliot and Theophilus Frary to be overseers unto this my will as doe witness my hand this Two & Twentieth day of December in the yeare of our Lord 1673. Lydia Wight & a Seale Witnesses Edward West Ephraim Wight."
5934. Thomas Wight
1Edmund West, comp., Gene Pool of Individual Records (database online, Ancestry.com, Provo, Utah: 2000).
"Mary Wight
Birth: 27 January 1646-- Norfolk, Dedham, MA
Death: 7 March 1692 -- Medfield, Norfolk, MA Spouse: Thomas Ellis
Parents: Thomas Wight, Alice Roundy Pepper."
5935. Alice Roundy Pepper
1Edmund West, comp., Gene Pool of Individual Records (database online, Ancestry.com, Provo, Utah: 2000).
"Mary Wight
Birth: 27 January 1646-- Norfolk, Dedham, MA
Death: 7 March 1692 -- Medfield, Norfolk, MA Spouse: Thomas Ellis
Parents: Thomas Wight, Alice Roundy Pepper."
5936. Walter Palmer
1Robert Charles Anderson, Great Migration Begins, NEHGS (Boston, 1995).
MIGRATION: 1629 FIRST RESIDENCE: Charlestown REMOVES: Rehoboth 1644, Stonington 1653 CHURCH MEMBERSHIP: On 1 June 1633 Walter "Pamer," Rebeckah his wife and Grace "Pamer" their daughter were admitted to Charlestown church [ ChChR 8]. FREEMAN: 18 May 1631 (his absence from the 19 October 1630 list of those wishing to be free may have been a consequence of his pending trial for manslaughter) [ MBCR 1:366]. Propounded freeman of Plymouth Colony 4 June 1645 and admitted 28 October 1645 [ PCR 2:84, 89]. OFFICES: Charlestown selectman, 10 February 1634/5, 12 February 1637/8 [ ChTR 12, 34]. Constable, 11 July 1636, 17 February 1636/7 [ ChTR 22, 24]. Committee to set wages, 28 November 1636 [ ChTR 23]. Deputy to Plymouth General Court from Rehoboth, 28 October 1645, 1 June 1647 [ PCR 2:94, 117]. Grand jury (fined for non-appearance), 7 October 1651 [ PCR 2:172]. Rehoboth surveyor of highways, 4 June 1650 [ PCR 2:155]. Constable, 3 June 1652 [ PCR 3:8]. ESTATE: In 1629 "Walter Pamer & one or two others ... began to build in a straight line upon their two acre lots on the east side of the Towne Hill ... this was the beginning of the East Field" [ ChTR 2]. Surrendered five acres of land Mystic Side, 1635 [ ChTR 14]. Granted four shares of hayground in 1635, increased to five [ ChTR 19, 20]. Had five acres of land Mystic Side, 1637 [ ChTR 27]. Had five and a quarter cow commons, 1637 [ ChTR 32]. In the 23 April 1638 Mystic Side allotments received parcels of thirty, sixty-five and five acres [ ChTR 37]. Had six and a quarter cow commons in the stinted common, 30 December 1638 [ ChTR 42]. On 28 May 1638 "Walter Palmer desired two or three parcels of hayground for his son for one cow's hay, was granted rather to have a hay lot among the rest at Mr. Wilson's Point" [ ChTR 39]. In the 1638 Charlestown Book of Possessions Walter Palmer held eleven parcels: "two acres of land ... in the East Field ... with a dwelling house and other appurtenances"; "five acres of arable land ... in the East Field"; "milch cow commons six and a quarter"; four acres in the Line Field; eight acres of meadow in Mystic Marshes; four acres of meadow in Mystic Meadows; five acres of woodland in Mystic Field; five acres of meadow on the west of Mount Prospect; three acres of meadow on the northwest of Mount Prospect; thirty acres of woodland in Mystic Field; and eighty-six acres in Water Field [ ChBOP 23-24]. His dwelling was in the East Field, as commemorated in the town records: "Walter Pamer & one or two more shortly after [sometime in 1629] began to build in a straight line upon their two-acre lots on the eastside of the Town Hill & set up a slight fence in common that ran up to Thomas Walford's fence; this was the beginning of the East Field" [ ChTR 2]. In his will, dated 19 May 1658, sworn 25 February 1661[/2] and proved 11 May 1662, Walter Palmer bequeathed to "my son John a yoke of three year old steers and a horse"; to "my daughter Grace 20s."; to "all my grandchildren 20s. apiece"; to "my son Jonas half the planting lot at the new meadow river by Seaconcke, & the lot between John Butterwoth's according to the four score pound estate & the use of half the housing & half of the whole farm for four years"; to "my son William the other half of the same farm at Seaconck forever, and to take Robert Martine or some other skillful man & to divide the housing & the whole farm in two equal parts & to take his own & dispose of it as he pleaseth ... also a mare with her foal, two red oxen & a pair of steers of three year old apiece, four cows & a musket with all such things as are his own already"; "the other half of the farm at Seaconcke I give to my son Gersham forever after the end term of four years"; residue to "my loving wife, whom with my son Elihu I make my full executor to pay my debts & to bring up my children & to pay them their portions ... but in case my wife shall marry again before my children are brought up & their portions paid, then my three sons Elihu, Nehemiah & Moses to enter upon the farm & estate & to pay unto their mother £10 per annum during her natural life & the land & estate duly valued to be equally distributed among my children Elyhu, Nehemia, Moses, Benjamin, Gersham, Hannah & Rebecca with consideration of the £10 yearly to be paid to their mother, but if my loving wife pay their portions according to their discretion & my three sons Elihu, Nehemiah & Moses possess the land, they shall give £20 apiece out of the land to my son Benjamin besides his mother's portion in three year's time"; if "Elyhu, Nehemiah or Moses decease before they have any years, Benjamine is to succeed in their part of the farm and give to my daughter Elizabeth two cows" [ SPR 1:383]. The inventory of the estate of "Walter Palmer now deceased at Sothertowne in the county of Suffolke" was taken the last of March 1662 and totalled £1644 5s., including "housing and lands" valued at £661 and "goods at New London, Seaconcke & the Dutch" valued at £120 [ SPR 4:128]. BIRTH: By about 1589 based on estimated date of first marriage. DEATH: Southerton (later Stonington, Connecticut) "Sabbath day the 10th of November 1661 Walter Palmer departed this world" [ Minor Diary 47]. MARRIAGE: (1) By about 1614 _____ _____; she died by 1633. (2) By 1633 REBECCA SHORT "a maid servant, she came in the year 1632 & was married to [blank] Palmer a godly man of Charlestowne church" [ RchR 77]. (Wyman claims that Walter and Rebecca were married 1 June 1633 [ Wyman 507], but there is no record of the marriage and this was the date they were admitted to the Charlestown church.) She died Stonington 15 July 1671 ("Saturday at night Mother Palmer departed this life" [ Minor Diary 93]). CHILDREN:
"ORIGIN: Unknown
With first wife:
i GRACE, b. about 1614 (aged 53 in 1667 [ TAG 24:43, citing WMJ 764]); m. Charlestown 23 April 1634 THOMAS MINOR (this place and date given in several secondary sources, but primary source not found [ Savage 3:216; Wyman 675]).
ii JOHN, b. about 1615 (d. 24 August 1677 aged sixty-two years [Wyman 508, citing lost gravestone]); John Palmer was receiving grants of land in Charlestown as early as 1635, and in the 1638 Book of Possessions had four parcels; that he was the son of Walter is shown by his will [MPR Case #16388]; unm.
iii ELIZABETH, b. say 1617; m. (1) before 29 March 1656 Thomas Sloan ("my Brother Sloan was here" [ Minor Diary 18]); m. (2) 26 October 1677 William Chapman ("I married our sister Elizabeth Sloan" [ Minor Diary 145]).
iv WILLIAM, b. say 1619; d. after 1672 (when brother Gershom had more than one son, since William indicated in his will that Gershom should settle "one of" his sons on William's land [ Wyman 507]) and probably before 1677 (when his brother John does not name him in his will [MPR Case #16388]), but certainly before 27 March 1697 [Wyman 507, citing Gershom's deed].
v JONAH, b. say 1621; m. (1) Rehoboth 3 May 1655 Elizabeth Grisell (marriage record does not give bride's name [ReVR 276]; on 9 November 1655 "Jonas Palmer and Elizabeth Palmer of Rehoboth" sold to William Bullard, for a consideration part of which was to be paid to "Hannah Grissell daughter of Francis Grissell of Charlestown aforenamed deceased," land in Charlestown "by the last will and testament of the said Francis Grissell deceased given and bequeathed unto the said Elizabeth Palmer" [MLR 1:152-53; Wyman 447]); m. (2) Rehoboth 9 November 1692 Abigail (Carpenter) Titus [ ReVR 276], daughter of William Carpenter and widow of John Titus [ TAG 70:198-200, 204].
.....
Along with WILLIAM CHEESEBOROUGH, Thomas Stanton, George Dennison and his son-in-law THOMAS MINOR , Walter Palmer was one of the founders of Stonington, Connecticut, and he and many of his descendants played a leading role in the life of that town."2Website, http://www.walterpalmer.com/Walter_Palmer_Bio.htm.
"Biography of Walter Palmer
Walter Palmer, probably the son of Walter and Elizabeth (Carter) Palmer was likely born in the village of Yetminster, Dorsetshire, England sometime around 1585. Although he was married in England and fathered five children, the name of his first wife is unknown.
As a Separatist Puritan, in an effort to seek religious freedom, on April 5, 1629 he sailed from Gravesend England on a boat called "Four Sisters" - one of six ships; the others being the Talbot, Lyons Whelp, George Bonaventure, Lyon, and The Mayflower.
Walter arrived in Salem, Massachusetts on June of 1629 and settled in Charlestown Massachusetts with his five children and Abraham Palmer, possibly his brother.
On September 28, 1630 there was recorded a "Jury called to hold an inquest on the body of Austine Bratcher." It found "that the strokes given by Walter Palmer, were occasionally the means of the death of Austin Bratcher, and so to be manslaughter. Mr. Palmer made his psonall appearance this day (October 19, 1630) & stands bound, hee & his sureties, till the nexte court." At a court session of "a court of assistants, holden att Boston, November 9th 1630" numerous matters were taken up and disposed of, including the trial of Walter Palmer and one other item of interest: "it is ordered, that Rich. Diffy, servt. To Sr. Richard Saltonstall, shal be whipped for his misdemeanr toward his maister." "A Jury impannell for the tryall of Walter Palmer, concerning the death of Austin Bratcher: Mr. Edmond Lockwood, Rich: Morris, Willm Rockewell, Willm Balston, Christopher Conant, Willm Cheesebrough, Willm Phelpes, John Page, Willm Gallard, John Balshe, John Hoskins, Laurence Leach, /The jury findes Walter Palmer not quilty of manslaughter, whereof hee stoode indicted, & soe the court acquitts him." The above is the first discovered reference to William Chesebrough, one of Walter's closest friends.
Walter became very prominent in the affairs of Charlestown, holding public office and is listed among the first group of men who took the Oath of Freemen on May 18, 1631. The original list included, "Mr. Roger Conant, John Balche, Ralfe Sprage, Simon Hoyte, Rick: Sprage, Walt (Walter) Palmer, Abraham Palmer, Mr Rich: Saltonstall, Rich: Stower, Czekiell Richardson, Wm Cheesebrough.
Walter was married for a second time to Rebecca Short of Roxbury on June 1, 1633. They were married in Roxbury Church, of which she was a member and Rev. John Eliot its Minister. She was one of the first members of his church upon her arrival in America in 1632. Roxbury was generally settled by the people from Essex and Hertfordshire under the leadership of the Rev. John Eliot who had been the Vicar of Nazeing. Reverend Eliot's records of the Roxbury First Church state: "Rebeckah Short, a maide srvant, she came in the yeare 1632 and was married to Walter Palmer a Godly man of Charlestown Church." Rebecca was to give birth to seven additional children giving Walter a total of twelve.
In 1635 Walter was elected a Selectman of Charlestown, and in 1636 Constable. On March 26, 1638 he received an additional land grant "a true record of all such houses and lands as are possesed by the inhabitants of Charlestown" - - prepared by Abraham Palmer listed the possessions of Walter Palmer as follows: "Two acres of land in the east field, 'butting south on the back street,' with a dwelling house and another aptinances "five acres of arable land, milch cow commons six and a quarter, "four acres, more or less in the life field, "eight acres of meadow lying in the Mystic Marshes, "Four acres of woodland in the Mystic Field, "Five acres of meadow on the west of Mount Prospect, "Thirty acres of woodland. "Eighty-six acres of land scituate in the waterfield." On May 13, 1640 a committee was required to be appointed in every town to appraise all livestock. The committee for Charlestown was comprised of "Czechi: Rich'dson, & Walter Palmer.."
On August 24, 1643, Walter Palmer and his good friend William Chesebrough, whose fortunes closely coincided during their lives left Charlestown along with other planters and started a new settlement at a place known as "Seacuncke" (Black Goose). His home was located along the 10 Mile River in an area called Sowams. The area was to become independent of other organizations until they could decide on a government. At a meeting in 1643, before a division of land had been made other than for house-lots, those attending were required individually to give the value of their estates, in order that the allotments of land might be made accordingly. Will. Cheesebrough was listed 450 pounds and Walter Palmer at 419 pounds.
Walter was one of the nine members of the First Board of Selectmen chosen December 9 1644. On the second and ninth day of June, 1645 Walter Palmer and William Cheseborough were on lists concerning lots to be drawn for divisions of land. Walter's name seemed to appear in every group selected for any purpose, which seems to indicate his high standing in the community.
May 26, 1647 Chosen committee for the Court
May 19, 1651 Chosen Grand Juryman
May 24, 1652 Chosen Constable
On June 4, 1645 Seacuncke was renamed Antient Rehoboth (a town by the river) and assigned itself to The Plymouth Colony. Richard Wright was the first Deputy to be elected to represent Rehoboth to the Court at Plymouth, however he had been a strong advocate of the Massachusetts Bay Colony rather than the Plymouth Colony, and refused to acknowledge that the final decision was in favor of the Plymouth Colony. Admitted a Freeman on October 28, 1645, Walter Palmer was immediately sworn in as a Deputy in Wright's place.
Walter along with several others were also dissatisfied over the townspeople voting to consolidate with Plymouth Colony. He was in favor of an alliance with The Massachusetts Bay Colony. Prior to 1653 John Winthrop Jr. who had been granted land in that part of Connecticut known as The Pequot Country by The Massachusetts Bay Colony urged William Chesebrough, also one of those dissatisfied with The Plymouth Colony to settle in New London. Upon examination, William Chesebrough preferred that part of the country known by the Indians as Wequetequoc. He applied for a grant of 300 acres which was soon increased to 2300 acres. He then induced Walter Palmer and Walter's son in law Thomas Minor to join him there. Walter bought land on the East Bank of Wequetequoc Cove. It would appear that the land was originally placed in the name of Thomas Minor and later vested in the name of Walter Palmer.
In August of 1652 Thomas Minor built a house for his father-in-law Walter Palmer on the opposite side of Wequetequoc Cove from William Chesebrough. In 1653 Walter, Rebecca and children Elizabeth, Hannah, Elihu, Nahemiah, Moses, Benjamin, Gershom and Rebecca moved from Antient Rehoboth to their new home. Thomas Minor and his wife (Walter's oldest daughter) Grace with eight children of their own settled nearby in a house built by Thomas in Mistuxet (Quiambaug).
In the following years, Walter acquired additional land south of his location and on the eastern slope of Togwank, and on both sides of Anguilla Brook totaling about 1200 acres. On February 25, 1654 Walter was granted 100 acres of upland and also 100 acres in and about "Porkatush" (Pawcatuck). This land later became that of his sons.
During the first four years in Wequetequock Cove, Walter and his family had to travel 15 miles and across two large rivers to New London to attend church. On September 1, 1654 the first petition of the Stonington settlers for a separate town and church was refused by the General Court of Connecticut. On March 22, 1657 the first religious service was held in Stonington in the home of Walter Palmer with the Reverend William Thompson being the minister. Religious services were continued in various homes until May 13, 1661 when a meeting house was erected.
After a lengthy struggle with both the Connecticut and Massachusetts General Courts, the settlers succeeded in achieving local government. Their first efforts were then devoted to electing town officers and to the erection of a meeting house which was first used in September of 1661, just two months before Walter's death.
Walter was one of the first settlers to serve as Constable and on October 19, 1658 was appointed "to a committee to conduct the prudential affairs" along with five others. The 300-year Stonington Cronology by Haynes aptly describes Walter Palmer as the "Patriarach of the early Stonington settlers...(who) had been prominent in the establishment of Boston, Charlestown and Rehoboth, ...a vigorous giant, 6 feet 5 inches tall. When he settled at Southertown (Stonington) he was sixty-eight years old, older than most of the other settlers."
Walter Palmer died in Stonington on November 20, 1661 and is buried in the Wequetequock burying ground. A rough wolf stone about 9 feet in length covers his grave. The inscription probably added later reads "W. Palmer 1585-1661". The stone lies in the midst of a long line of graves of his children and grandchildren. Nearby is a large monument erected in the memory of the four founders of the area - William Chesebrough, Thomas Minor, Thomas Stanton and Walter Palmer. Rebecca Palmer probably died shortly before June 5 1684. The only known record is the division by sons Nehemiah, Moses and Benjamin of land on that date which "our father left for our mother to divide"."
website of the Walter Palmer Society.
5938. Francis Griswold
1Robert Charles Anderson, Great Migration Begins, NEHGS (Boston, 1995).
v JONAH, b. say 1621; m. (1) Rehoboth 3 May 1655 Elizabeth Grisell (marriage record does not give bride's name [ReVR 276]; on 9 November 1655 "Jonas Palmer and Elizabeth Palmer of Rehoboth" sold to William Bullard, for a consideration part of which was to be paid to "Hannah Grissell daughter of Francis Grissell of Charlestown aforenamed deceased," land in Charlestown "by the last will and testament of the said Francis Grissell deceased given and bequeathed unto the said Elizabeth Palmer" [MLR 1:152-53; Wyman 447]); m. (2) Rehoboth 9 November 1692 Abigail (Carpenter) Titus [ ReVR 276], daughter of William Carpenter and widow of John Titus [ TAG 70:198-200, 204]."
"From the Walter Palmer entry listing his children:
5946. Francis Godfrey
1James Savage, Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, Genealogical Publishing Co. (Baltimore, 1969), 266.
2Clarence A. Torrey, New England Marriages Prior to 1700 (Baltimore, MD, Genealogical Publishing Co: 1995), 307.
3New England Historical and Genealogical Register (New England Historical and Genealogical Society, Boston), 7:179.
Justin Winsor, "Abstracts of the Earliest Wills" (Francis' will refers to his daughter, "Elizabeth Carye").