Solomon Palmer (abt. 1746 - bef. 1810)

Born about 1746 in New York [uncertain]

Husband of Mary (Unknown) Palmer — married before 1768 in New York

Descendants

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Alexandra Florimonte [send private message]

Biography

Solomon Palmer served with Cumberland County New York Militia during the American Revolution.

SOLOMON PALMER was born somewhere in New York approximately 1750 (parents and wife unknown). He farmed in Cumberland County, PA, in the 1770's, and served in the Cumberland County Militia in the Revolutionary War. He was in the 5th Battalion, 4th Class, from Derry Township. [1] This region became Mifflin County PA, and then (1800) Centre County, PA. He last appeared in the 1800 PA Census.

His children were FLOYD PALMER, BUDD PALMER, and (? CATHERINE PALMER). John Palmer may or may not be among Solomon's children. (FamilySearch has Solomon born either in Coxsackie, Greene Co, NY or Dutchess Co, NY. Also, FS references a baby daughter who died.)

"acc. to the Pioneers of Mifflin County (Stroup & Bell), p18, Solomon was listed in Wayne township (formed from Derry in 1782) as married taxable fr 1774-1789, and as having served in the 5th Batallion, Cumberland County Militia, 1777-1779." He was listed in that reference along with Nehemiah and Jonathan Palmer, who may or may not be related. [2]

One can see where and how Solomon was doing by the county and state tax lists from the times. According to the Wikipedia article, "The Pennsylvania Pound", "The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania issued Continental currency denominated in £sd and Spanish dollars, with 1 dollar equalling 7 shillings and 6 pence. The continental currency was replaced by the United States dollar at a rate of 1000 continental dollars = 1 U.S. dollar in 1793."

[3]

In 1778, Solomon was assessed £sd 4..7..8 for 67 acres, 1 horse, 1 cow and 2 sheep in Derry, Cumberland County.

In 1779, Solomon was assessed in Derry, £sd 200 for 100 acres of land, £sd 100 for one horse and £sd15 for one cow, for a total of £sd 315.

In 1781 Solomon was assessed £sd 67..10 in Derry, Cumberland County, for 50 acres, 2 horses and 3 cows.

In 1782, Solomon was assessed for 2 horses, 2 cows and 5 sheep in Derry, Cumberland County. ^[1]

However, Solomon Palmer was assessed in 1783 for 100 acres of land in Wayne Township. As Wayne Twp was formed from Derry in 1782, one wonders if it is the same place, just called a different name as townships were established from a larger Ward. ^[2]

In 1785 Solomon was assessed £sd 70 for 150 acres in Wayne. He was also assessed £sd 8 in State taxes. In 1786, Solomon paid £sd 6...2 in State Tax from Wayne, PA. He also was assessed £sd 74 for 100 acres, 2 horses and 1 cow. One thing that is interesting about this year is that another Palmer was also assessed, and was distinguished from Solomon by being called "Palmer of Philadelphia." This helps us to know that Solomon did not originate from Philadelphia.

In 1788, Solomon was assessed £sd 72..0 for 100 acres, 2 horses, one cow in Wayne, Cumberland, but in 1789, Solomon was assessed £sd 19 in Wayne Twp, Cumberland, for 2 horses and 1 cow, but not for land, as no acreage is listed. Perhaps he was getting ready to move, because in or around 1790, "Solomon (father of Floyd)", was listed as a founding resident of Potter Twp. in the assessments for that town. Potter was about 36 miles from Wayne, in the next valley to the northwest. This indicates that Solomon left Wayne at that time.

In that same year, 1790, he is listed in the census of Potter Twp., Mifflin County. He is named head of the household. In the family, there are 3 males of 16 and older, including the head of the family. There is additionally, one male under 16, and 3 females. The 3 adult males could be Solomon, Floyd and Budd; the younger male could be John, and the 3 females could be three wives, or Solomon's wife only and 2 other females, Catherine and ??. Additionally, from 1790 to 1810, David Koon, who is the (supposed) husband of Catherine Palmer, lives in the same place.

In 1798 Solomon and Floyd pay taxes in Potter Twp on 154 acres and 3 houses. It is not clear they own the property, because the reputed owner is a "Ja.s Simens".

In 1800, he is listed in the census of Potter Twp, Centre County. This time sons Floyd and Budd are listed separately, with their families.

In 1810, Solomon does not appear in the census, so it is presumed he has died.

Research Notes

In 1810 there does appear a Sally Palmer, head of household, a female of 45 or older, with three females age 10-15, and one male under ten. Whether or not this woman is related to Solomon is unknown. If she were the wife of Solomon, the young children could be grandchildren or hired help, although they are young for hired help.

FamilySearch has Solomon born either in Coxsackie, Greene Co, NY or Dutchess Co, NY. Also, FS references a baby daughter who died.

A good idea for future research would be to look up any sales of land for Nehemiah, Jonathan and Solomon Palmer in Derry Township or Wayne, Cumberland or Mifflin counties.

Sources

1. ↑ Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission; Records of the Office of the Comptroller General, RG-4; Tax & Exoneration Lists, 1762-1794; Microfilm Roll: 325
2. ↑ Ellis, Franklin and Hungerford, Austin N. History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys, embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia, PA: Everts, Peck & Richards, 1886. Pages 579-80.

• Tom Palmer email to Joyce Weaver July 7,

https://familysearch.org/tree/person/KXVB-MDF/details

[4]

• Pennsylvania, Tax and Exoneration, 1768-1801 for Solmon Palmer, Cumberland

Derry (1781) [5]

• Pennsylvania, Tax and Exoneration, 1768-1801 for Soloman Palmer, Cumberland

Derry (1778) [6]

• Pennsylvania, Tax and Exoneration, 1768-1801 for Solomon Palmer, Cumberland

Derry (1779) [7]

• Pennsylvania, Tax and Exoneration, 1768-1801 for Solomon Palmer, Cumberland

Derry (1781) [8]

• Pennsylvania, Tax and Exoneration, 1768-1801 for Soloman Palmer, Cumberland

Derry (1782) [9]

• Pennsylvania, Tax and Exoneration, 1768-1801 for Solomon Palmer, Cumberland

Wayne (1785) [10]

• Pennsylvania, Tax and Exoneration, 1768-1801 for Solomon Palmer, Cumberland

Wayne (1786) [11]

• Pennsylvania, Tax and Exoneration, 1768-1801 for Solomon Palmer, Cumberland

Wayne (1788) [12]

• Pennsylvania, Tax and Exoneration, 1768-1801 for Solomon Palmor, Cumberland,

Wayne (1789) [13]

• Pennsylvania, U.S. Direct Tax Lists, 1798 for Solomon Palmer, Northumberland, Lycoming, and Mifflin [14]

• Pennsylvania, Septennial Census, 1779-1863 for Solomon Palmer, Potters Twp, Centre County, (late Mifflin), ALL, 1800 [15]

• "United States Census, 1800," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHR4-HS1 : accessed 3 January 2018), Soloman Palmer, Potters, Centre, Pennsylvania, United States; citing p. 502, NARA microfilm publication M32, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 37; FHL microfilm 363,340.

• Pioneers of Mifflin County, page 18 [16]

[17]