RECAP from Part 1: It still continually frustrates me that I cannot find any trace of Abraham Palmer, father of Vianna Palmer who married Amos Hamby in Christian County, Kentucky on 1 January 1822.

It is important to note that Vianna was born in South Carolina, c1805 and that her husband’s family also hailed form South Carolina.

I have uncovered two facts regarding this mysterious Abraham Palmer:

1. He clearly signed his name when he gave permission for Vianna to marry Amos Hamby.
2. One Abraham Palmer married Polly Parker alias Collins on 17 December 1826, also in Christian County, Kentucky.

There is also an Alpheus Palmer living at the same time in Christian County, Kentucky. He married Obedience Cavender, 20 April 1824, died in Christian County in 1874 and apparently had no children with Obedience or his second wife.

Alpheus was born c1794 in Connecticut and migrated probably first to Virginia before heading west to Kentucky. He has no known ties to South Carolina, either.

This mystery has led me down the rabbit hole of identifying the other Palmers who lived in Christian County from 1810-1830, which have fallen into two separate family groups, apparently unrelated, but both of whom came from Virginia.

The second Palmer family, who actually settled in Christian County, Kentucky before Isaac Palmer’s kin was that of Edward Palmer, also from Virginia.

Edward Palmer’s birth year is unknown, but possible c1740 if son Drury was born c1770 and was listed third among the children named in Edward’s 1823 will.

This family appears in the 1810 census of Hopkinsville, Christian, Kentucky as:

Male – 45+
Female – 45+
Male – 16-25
Female – 16-25
Male – 10-15

There are also 17 “others” who would be enslaved persons.

Edward Palmer wrote his will on 23 February 1823 and it was ordered to be recorded in court with John Lander appointed as estate administrator, when all three of Edward’s executors (George Torian and Peter Torian along with widow Esther Palmer) declined to serve.

However, thankfully, his will was recorded as it provides a complete accounting of his immediate family. His wife’s maiden name is said to be Esther Marrow/Morrow.

Given that son Drury predeceased his father (He died no later than January 1823 per court rrecords), but Drury’s heirs are listed third among Edward’s children, it appears the children were named in birth order in their father’s will.

For those interested in images of Edward Palmer’s will, it is recorded in Will Book C:504-505, Christian County, Kentucky and viewable on FamilySearch.

Children:

1. James, born c1766; died after February 1823; he was taxed for 330 acres in 1815, but was gone by 1816.
2. Susanna, born c1768; married Peter Torian, 23 November 1789, Virginia, with James Palmer as bondsman, probably in Halifax County, Virginia
3. Drury, born c1770; died before January 1823, Christian County, Kentucky; married Mary (MNU). His heirs were named (Drury, William, Daniel M., Esther, Catherine, Martha and Harriet) in a lawsuit against the heirs of James McDonald, deceased. (Deed Book Q:596)
4. Ursula, born c1772; married Charles McCarty, 22 January 1793, Halifax County, Virginia, who was apparently widowed by the time of the 1830 census of Christian County. He was aged 60-70, so born 1760-1770 and of an age to be married to Ursula.
5. Martha, born c1780; married George Torian, 22 September 1801, Halifax County, Virginia, who died before the 1830 census when Martha was enumerated as head of household. She was 40-49 years old, so born between 1780-1790. She might have been a second wife, as George Torian married Sally Ragland, 24 November 1794, also in Halifax County, Virginia, unless this was a second George Torian.
6. Mary (Polly), born c1774; married Abner Boyd, 26 January 1795, Halifax County, Virginia; died after February 1823. Her father must have had doubts about her husband and he specifically said her bequest was up to her to use as she saw fit.
7. Elizabeth, who married Mr. McCarty, and had a son, Edward, who was given a bequest in his grandfather’s 1823 will.
8. Arabella, born c1790; died after 23 February 1823; married Samuel Arbuckle, 19 March 1812, Christian County, Kentucky. Her father is named as Edward Palmer.

Here ends the family sketch of Edward Palmer and, once again, I am left with no clues tying this family to my Abraham Palmer. Ugh!