John PALMER[1] was born in 1826A, in Ireland, to [FNU] PALMER2, A and [FNU] [LNU]2, A. He is stated to been a brother of Blaney Palmer3.
On 23 May 1843, aged about 17, he immigrated from Ireland to Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States on the ship named [Bark] John KerrC. In 1843, aged about 17, John Palmer was naturalizedC in Indiana, United States.
In the United States Census taken on 9 October 1850, aged about 24, in Otter Creek Township, Ripley, Indiana, John Palmer is listed in the household of William H. Smith4 and with the occupation of Cooker.
United States Census for 1860, 1870, and 1880 John Palmer is listed to be living in Center Township, Osgood, Ripley County, Indiana. Each of these census reports has John listed with the occupation of farmer and being able to read and write. Blaney and John Palmer were also neighbors.
OTTER VILLAGE.
... John Palmer wants to buy two good horses to work in his stone quarry.
Source: Osgood Ripley County Journal; 14 April 1881 - Page 2
John Palmer is listed with Samantha Nancy Gray [Dickerson]5,E as his spouse on the 1860 through 1880 US Census reports. They did not marry until 28 Fe 1873 in Versailles, Ripley, Indiana, United States. They may have been in a common law marriage prior to 1873 and had a civil marriage for other, perhaps legal, reasons later.
John died 15 April 1885, aged about 58, in Ripley, Indiana, United States. According to his death notice, in the local newspaper, he died from paralysis (a stroke).
CZ.[??]
John Palmer died at his home Saturday morning, April 15; was buried Sunday, the 16th, at 3 o'clock p.m.
Source: Osgood Ripley County Journal; 23 April 1885 - Page 2
John Palmer, after a short sickness, paralysis, died Saturday morning at 8 o'clock and was buried Sunday afternoon on his farmE. Mr. Palmer was an old resident of Center township, locating here in the sixties, since then engaged in quarrying stoneG with Peter Maschino4. His age was 58 years.
Source: Versailles Republican; 23 April 1885 - Page 6
John Palmer was buried on 16 April 1885 in Ripley, Indiana, United StatesE. John and Samantha Nancy Gray [Dickerson] Palmer were the parents of six to seven known children: David L. [Gray] Palmer6, James Sylvanus Palmer6, John Palmer6,H, William Jesse Palmer6, Robert Martin Palmer6 and Sarah I. Palmer6.
Notations of Carol A. Wells-Perlaky:
A People often cite a christening record for a John Palmer, born 22 Dec 1822 in Larne, Antrim, Ireland to a William Palmer and Jane Morton for the above John's birth. John Palmer, however, has consistently been listed, starting with his immigrating to America, with an birth year of 1825 or 1826. His age, shared in his death notices, also help support the 1825/1826 birth year. Therefore I, on my side, do not officially cite the particular christening record for Blaney's brother and broadly listed him to being born in Ireland. Vania Howell (vaniahowell76 on Ancestry) has an online family tree where she listed John Palmer to being to born in Larne and shared the basis of that was "Per the Violet Tophe Papers, Ripley County Historical Society, Versailles, Indiana". Interestingly a John Palmer immigrated from Londonderry to New York, in 1843, aboard the Superb and his birth year was estimated to being 1822 ... could that been the Antrim John Palmer? Hm.
B Parents remain, technically, as "unknown", although the more popular theorized couple, often listed as "being" his, and Blaney Palmer's, parents are William Palmer and Jane Martin. The 1822 christening record mentioned in the prior notation has some wondering if the handwriting transcription was in error or something and the mother's maiden name being Martin versus Morton. Blaney Palmer Sr.'s post, on this site, I shared about the theories, and theorized names, for the brothers. I also have two separate blog posts, about Sandford Palmer and Mary Ann Davies being their paternal grandparents and, when I revisited the Sandford Palmer Sr. thoughts, how the brothers did not appear to follow Irish naming tradition when it came to their children, which has it hard to say if William Palmer and Jane Martin were their parents or not..
C There were several John Palmers who immigrated to the United States. The John Palmer, arriving in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, is closer in age thoughts to the John Palmer in my family tree.
D Have to double check to make sure this is the correct John Palmer. This would have him preceding Blaney in going to Indiana and, in fact, making pretty much a straight beeline to Indiana, whereas it is a known Blaney went to Butler County, OH area between 1843 to 1848 as Blaney married Eliza Ann Reed7 in that area then they went to Ripley County, IN where John Palmer would also be residing at.
E Samantha Nancy Gray [Dickerson] listed her maiden name as Dickerson and father's name for the first time, in terms of a paper trail I have comes across for her, on the marriage record, John Palmer did not list his parents.
F A memorial page for him, on Find A Grave, states John Palmer was buried in Otter Village Cemetery (also known as Tanglewood Cemetery) and that there is not a headstone or marker for his grave site. I am not certain if part of the family farm is included in the cemetery OR if his remains were later moved to the cemetery after Samantha or some of his children's passing OR if it is assumed he was buried there, since Samantha was, but he is still buried somewhere on what used to be part of his land.
G Although John Palmer was consistently listed, in the United States Census reports, to his occupation being "Farmer", the newspaper advert from 1881 I came across help support he had been in the quarrying business as shared in his death notice and also family stories about him.
H Child's existence could be questioned?
Relationship to Carol A. Wells-Perlaky:
1 Maternal 3x Great-uncle
2 Maternal 3x Great-grandparent
3 Maternal Great-great-grandfather
4 None to my knowledge
5 Maternal 3x Great-aunt through marriage
6 Maternal Cousin 3-times removed
7 Maternal Great-great-grandmother
Sources for Research on Blaney Palmer Sr.:
· Supplemental Index to Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at Atlantic and Gulf Coast Ports (Excluding New York), 1820-1874
· Index to Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving atPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, 1800-1906
· Record about Naturalization on Ancestry
· Find A Grave memorial pages for John Palmer, his wife, and children
· United States Census in Otter Creek Township, Ripley County, Indiana; Occupation: Cooker
· United States Census in Center Township, Ripley County, Indiana; Occupation: Farmer
· United States Census in Center Township, Ripley County, Indiana; Occupation: Farmer
· United States Census in Center Township, Ripley County, Indiana; Occupation: Farmer
· Osgood Ripley County Journal
· Versailles Republican
· Ancestry.com online message boards and family trees
· Rootweb forums
· Genealogy forums
Updated in May 2018 to share ancestry links as I did not have those in 2016 to share and to also include a notation about one of the children. Links to the two articles about Sandford Palmer were added in the notations about John's parents.
