Edward adopted my great grandfather, Benjamin Palmer.

He was born in Ireland about 1813 and married Benjamin's aunt Ann Banfield Lee (or Ley) on 02 March 1837 in Mylor, Cornwall. The parish records give his occupation as "Mariner" and his residence as Ireland

In the 1841 Census he was a "Preventive Man", part of a force raised to combat smuggling, which eventually became part of HM Coast Guard. The couple were living in Strand, East Teignmouth, Devon. They had no children.

After Benjamin's father died about 1853 Edward and Annie adopted the three year old child.

Soon after, Edward was posted to Clontarf, Dublin. According to the 1858 Dublin Directory he was living at Rutland Place in North Dublin. His occupation was listed as Coastguard.

By 1869 the family moved to Richmond Place, Dublin, and Edward had been promoted to Officer (Chief Boatman)

In January 1866, when the young Benjamin enlisted in the Royal Navy shortly after his fifteenth birthday, it was Edward and Annie who signed the parental consent form required in view of his age.

Edward died on 14 December 1869 in Eccles Street, North Dublin, the address of the Mater Misericordie Hospital.

Edward appears to have been held in high esteem by his new family. Benjamin named his second son Edward Joseph Maddock Palmer in memory of his adoptive father, and his half sister, Cordelia Ann Rowe, named one of her sons Edward Maddox Rowe.

During his time at Teignmouth he was commended for his bravery
"... In 1843 the crew of a vessel wrecked in a storm at Tynemouth (sic) were saved solely by the heroism of Mr Edward Maddock ...... who, regardless of the frightful sea that prevailed, went along the line from the shore to the vessel, and when he got on board worked the "endless whip" which the terror stricken and weakened crew were totally unable to do ..."