1. Walter¹ Palmer⁽³⁷⁶⁶⁾ was born in Nottinghamshire, England 1585. This may have been Nottinton, County Dorset, but researchers have not found him in either place. Walter died 10 Nov 1661 Stonington, New London, CT. Pope's "Pioneers of Massachusetts" says he died at Sothertowne, Suffolk Co., MA. Also, a death date of 16 Nov. 1661 has been cited. His body was interred Stonington, New London, CT, Wequetequick burial ground.⁽³⁷⁶⁷⁾ A monument has been erected in this old cemetery to the memory of the four founders of Stonington: William Chesebrough, Walter Palmer, Thomas Miner, and Thomas Stanton.

He married five times. He married Esther ??. He married Ann (Elizabeth) ?? in England, before 1609. Some sources say about 1614. (Additional notes for Ann (Elizabeth) ??⁽³⁷⁶⁸⁾)

He married an unknown person in England, before 1629. He married Rebecca Short 1 Jun 1633. Rebecca was born in Nottinghamshire, England about 1607. Rebecca died 15 Jul 1671 Stonington, New London, CT. In the Roxbury church records "Rebeckah Short a maid servant, she cane in the year 1632 & was married to [blank] Palmer a godly man of Charlestown church." It is thought that her parents may have died enroute to the new country and she was placed with a family while aboard ship.

He married Rebecca Short in MA, 1 Jun 1633. Rebecca was born in Nottinghamshire, England about 1607. Rebecca died 15 Jul 1671 Stonington, New London, CT. In the Roxbury church records "Rebeckah Short a maid servant, she cane in the year 1632 & was married to [blank] Palmer a godly man of Charlestown church." It is thought that her parents may have died enroute to the new country and she was placed with a family while aboard ship. A Puritan who came from Nottinghamshire, Eng., in 1628; landed in Salem, Mass., and came to Stonington, Conn., in the fall of 1649. FWith others, formed the town of Charlestown, Massachusetts and was there from 1629-1643. His interests tended to stock raising and farming, and because he needed more land for his ventures, he joined with William Chese brough of Boston and Braintree, Massachusetts and they moved their families to Plymouth Colony. There they joined in the organization of the town of Rehoboth, Massachusetts. Walter was a prominent man in Massachusetts and was admitted freeman there 18 May 1631, held local offices (constable 1633), and was elected by planters of Rehoboth as first representative of the General Court of Plymouth. He later joined his friend William Chesebrough in Stonington, Connecticut, settling on Wequetequock Cove in 1653.

Walter Palmer and Ann (Elizabeth) ?? had the following children:

2 i. Elizabeth² Palmer.

3 ii. Grace Palmer⁽³⁷⁶⁹⁾ was born in Charlestown, Suffolk Co., MA 9 May 1612. Grace died 12 Oct 1690 Stonington, New London, CT. She married Thomas Minor 23 Apr 1634. Thomas was born in Chew Magna, Somersetshire, England 23 Apr 1608. Thomas⁽³⁷⁷⁰⁾ was the son of Clement Minor. Thomas died 23 Oct 1690 Stonington, New London, CT.

4 iii. John Palmer was born in England about 1615. John died 24 Aug 1677 in Charlestown, Suffolk Co., MA. He died unmarried and left the bulk of his estate to his brother Jonas and sister Elizabeth. He was admitted a freeman of Massachusetts colony in 1639.

5 iv. William Palmer⁽³⁷⁷¹⁾ was born in England about 1619. William died after 1672. He bequethed his property to his brother Gershom Palmer as he died unmarried without children. He resided in Charlestown and Rehoboth, Massachusetts and in Stonington and Killingly, Connecticut.

6 v. Jonas Palmer⁽³⁷⁷²⁾ was born in Rehoboth, Bristol, MA about 1621. Jonas died 22 Jan 1709 in Rehoboth, Bristol, MA. He married Elizabeth Grissell Griswold in Rehoboth, Bristol Co., MA, 3 May 1655. Elizabeth was born in Cambridge, MA about 1637. Elizabeth⁽³⁷⁷³⁾ was the daughter of Francis Griswold and Mary ??. Elizabeth died 1691/1692.

Walter Palmer and Rebecca Short had the following children:

7 vi. Rebecca Palmer⁽³⁷⁷⁴⁾. Rebecca died 2 May 1713 Stonington, New London, CT. She married twice. She married Elisha Chesebrough Stonington, New London, CT, 20 Apr 1665. Elisha⁽³⁷⁷⁵⁾ was the son of William Chesebrough and Anne Stevenson. Elisha died 1 Apr 1670 Stonington, New London, CT. He was christened Boston, Suffolk Co., MA, 4 Jun 1637. She married John Baldwin 24 Jul 1672. John was born about 1635. (Additional notes for John Baldwin⁽³⁷⁷⁶⁾) John died 19 Aug 1683.

She was christened Stonington, New London, CT, 1 Jun 1647.

8 vii. Hannah Palmer⁽³⁷⁷⁷⁾ was born in Charlestown, Suffolk Co., MA 15 Jun 1634. Hannah died Stonington, New London, CT. She married three times. She married Thomas Hewitt, Huet 26 Apr 1659. (Additional notes for Thomas Hewitt, Huet⁽³⁷⁷⁸⁾) He disappeared on a trading mission to the West Indies. She married Roger Sterry Stonington, New London, CT, 27 Dec 1671. (Additional notes for Roger Sterry⁽³⁷⁷⁹⁾) Roger died before 1680. She married John Fish Stonington, New London, CT, 25 Aug 1681.

9 viii. Elihu Palmer⁽³⁷⁸⁰⁾ was born in Charlestown, Suffolk Co., MA 25 Jan 1636. Elihu died 5 Sep 1665 Stonington, New London, CT. In his will he gave property to his nephews.

+ 10 ix. Nehemiah Palmer was born 23 Nov 1637.

11 x. Moses Palmer⁽³⁷⁸¹⁾ was born in Charlestown, Suffolk Co., MA 6 Apr 1640. Moses died 6 Jul 1701 Stonington, New London, CT. He married Dorothy Gilbert before 1672.

12 xi. Benjamin Palmer⁽³⁷⁸²⁾ was born in Charlestown, Suffolk Co., MA 30 May 1642. Benjamin died 10 Apr 1716 Stonington, New London, CT. His body was interred Stonington, New London, CT.

+ 13 xii. Deacon Gershom Palmer was born about 1644.

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