ADEN PALMER, SR.

Aden Palmer, Sr. was born in 1758 in Stonington, Connecticut, to Israel Palmer and Lois Brown. Both of these families have been traced to England. Aden's father died in 1769, when Aden was just nine years old.

From the documents of the Stonington Probate Court (LDS Microfilm 1032105): On 5 January 1773, Allen Breed and Stephen Brown, both of Stonington, posted a bond of 500 pounds to make Allen Breed the Guardian of Aden Palmer, minor son of Israel Palmer.

As a young man, Aden served in the Revolutionary War. According to his pension application, Aden enlisted in at Boston in January, 1776, as a private in the company commanded by Captain Christopher Smith in Colonel James Mitchel Varnum's Regiment under General Green, Rhode Island Line, of the Continental Establishment. Aden participated in the Battle of New York Island (the "Orchard Fight"), the Battle of Trenton, and the Battle of Princeton, NJ. He served for more than one year, being discharged at Springfield, near Morristown, NJ.

From David Hackett Fischer's book, "Washington's Crossing," more can be learned about Aden's military service. In August 1776, Varnum's Regiment took part in the unsuccessful Battle of New York as part of Nixon's Brigade in the Division of General Nathanial Greene. Aden was most likely present when Washington's defeated army left New York and retreated across New Jersey into Pennsylvania. By December of 1776, Varnum's Regiment had been placed in Hitchcock's Brigade as they prepared to cross the Delaware River back into New Jersey for a surprise attack on Trenton.

However, Aden was not with Washington as he made the famous crossing of the Delaware. He was part of a force which "had another assignment. Cadwalader and Daniel Hitchcock were to cross the Delaware at Bristol (PA) and land near Burlington (NJ), 12 miles below Trenton to serve as a diversion." But, conditions on the river proved too difficult for crossing, and Aden missed the American victory at Trenton on December 26, 1776. Varnum's Regiment managed to make the crossing on the following day and rejoined the main army at Trenton.

Aden did, on the other hand participate in the less-well-know Second Battle of Trenton on January 2, 1777, when the reinforced British and Hessian forces were unsuccessful in breaking the American defensive lines. Varnum's Regiment, as part of Hitchcock's Brigade, was placed on the critical left flank of Washington's forces, adjacent to the Delaware River. Later that night, after successfully repelling the British assault, Washington left a few men behind to make noise and tend fires while he silently withdrew his army--making a sweeping turn toward Princeton.

On January 3rd, while moving on Princeton, Washington's army encountered a British force headed for Trenton. In the ensuing battle, the British were forced to retreat, and Aden may well have participated in the successful bayonet charge led by Washington himself. Soon after this battle, the American forces went into winter quarters near Morristown. Here, Aden received his discharge after campaigning for more than a year. Undoubtedly, he then headed home to Connecticut.

In 1781, Aden married Lois Stanton, daughter of Daniel Stanton, in Preston (now Griswold), Connecticut. Together, the couple are believed to have had ten children: Anna (1778), Allen (1782), Aden Jr. (1785), Rowland (1787), Daniel (1789), Elisha (1791), Abel (1793), Lois (1795), Garner (1797), and Isaac (1800). The dates are taken from the Aden Palmer family bible and are thought to be correct, even though Anna's birth occurred several years before the wedding date. Other possible children are sometimes included (see, for example, the Thomas Minor Society), however the Walter Palmer Society lists only the ten included above.

It is not known if any of the children were born in Connecticut. At some point, the family moved northwest, as Aden is listed in the 1790 Census as living in Stephentown, Albany County, in eastern New York (southeast of Albany City). Males [over 16] = 1 = Aden; [under 16] = 5 = Allen, Aden Jr., Rowland, Daniel, and (?); Females = 2 = Lois and daughter Anna. Note that in 1791 Rensselaer County was formed from part of Albany County, including Stephentown. Thus, the birthplace of Aden's children is sometimes given as Rensselaer County.

Aden seems to have moved his family from Stephentown to Charleston, Montgomery County, NY (northwest of Albany City). According to Susan Moore, Hornby Town Historian, Aden's son, Abel, was born in Charleston in 1793. Besides Abel, one of Aden's granddaughters, Eliza Palmer, was born in Charleston (1812). Aden's son, Allen, was married in Charleston in 1804. Also, John Stanton, the half-brother of Aden's wife, was in Charleston from about 1790 until 1816 when he moved his family to Hornby, Steuben County.

The 1810 US Census of Montgomery County includes an Adam Parmer who is probably Aden. Besides the fact that "Palmer" was often mistakenly recorded as "Parmer," the enumeration occurs on the same page (26) as the aforementioned John Stanton. Included are: Males [over 45] = 1 = Aden; [16-25] = 3 = Rowland, Daniel & Abel; [10-15] = 2 = Garner & Isaac: Females [over 45] = 1 = Lois; [10-15] = 1 = daughter Lois. The other older children had probably left home by this time.

It seems very likely that Aden and John Stanton moved their families from Charleston to Steuben County, NY, at the same time. Aden Palmer appears in the "Historical Gazetteer of Steuben County, New York" by Millard F. Roberts, published 1891. This source indicates Aden was an early settler to the town of Hornby in Steuben County. The town was originally founded in 1814. According to the text, "James S. Gardner, Chester Knowlton and Aden Palmer settled in the 'Palmer' settlement in 1816."

The Palmer Settlement was located about 1.5 miles south of Hornby village where the east-west Rogers Road crosses the north-south Painted Post Road (now Hornby Road or County Road 41). According to a 2007 map prepared by professional land surveyor J. Patrick Moore of Corning, NY, Aden settled on the northwest corner of the intersection, Caleb Gardner the northeast corner, and Chester Knowlton the southeast corner. The following year, Wendall Rhoda occupied the southwest corner of the intersection.

The Mach 2207 issue of "Hornby Unearthed," a newsletter published by the Hornby Historical Society, includes an interesting article by J. Patrick Moore entitled, "3rd Settlement of the Town of Hornby -- Intersection of Rogers Road with Hornby Road." Moore describes the history of the area and property ownership. He also hints at how Aden acquired and then lost his land. "The Pulteney Land Office in Bath, NY, would usually land contract with these early "settlers", especially since they did not have the means to buy parcels of land outright. They were responsible for paying taxes on their parcels, together with interest and principle on the contract. Typically, the cost of land was between $2 ~ $3 per acre. Deeds to the parcels were never issued until the contract was paid in full. This made it convenient and cost effective for the Land Office to declare the contracts void in the event of nonpayment. This way they avoided the expense of foreclosures.

"Considering a farm might be 50 ~ 100 acres in size and the settler was required to occupy and improve the property, typically within 6 to 12 months, the burden on these pioneers was enormous. They had to clear the land for planting of their crops as well as build their home and barn. Quite a feat in the stone & clay soil of Hornby and one might say 'a tough row to hoe'. Wheat was the main crop of the day....the raising of cattle was another source of income. The Land Agent would usually accept wheat and cattle as payment on the settlers' debt, but it was a long and difficult trip to Bath.

"Payments were few and far between, if at all. About 1813 the Land Office had burdened the settlers even more by charging compound interest on most land contracts. Many of the settlers' debt grew so large that they defaulted on their contracts and lost not only the land, but all of the improvements thereon."

This was probably the fate of Aden Palmer and his family. "Sadly, he may have fallen a victim to the financial strains placed upon him and other settlers by the Pulteney Land Office." On 11 May 1818, Aden applied for a government pension, based on his Revolutionary War military service. In this claim he is listed as a resident of Painted Post, now in "reduced circumstances." He signed his statement with his mark. Pension Certificate No. 17,434 was issued to Aden at a rate of $8.00 per month, commencing 11 May 1818. He received $174.45 in arrears, and a pension to 4 September 1820.

On 20 October 1820, Aden made a further attestation of need which listed all his worldly goods: "I have no Real Estate whatever. Personal Estate: one cow, one pot, one kettle, one frying pan, six cups and saucers, Abt six knives & forks, six plates, six spoons, two pails, one axe, one shovel & tongs, two chairs, one table, two chests. My family consists of two persons, my wife and myself. In consequence of the Gravil with which I am afflicted, I have not been able to do any work for some years. My wife Louis [sic] is Sixty-two years old and is able to do a little housework. We live with our son by whom we are supported and on whose bounty and charity we rely for our living. My son with whom I live is on a new piece of land but which is not yet paid for nor has he any property to enable him to maintain myself and wife."

Aden Senior is listed in the 1820 Census as living in Painted Post, Steuben County. This probably does not represent a move from Hornby, rather that Hornby was located in Painted Post Township (Susan Moore). Aden Senior's family is given as: Males [over 45] = 1 = Aden; [26-45] = 1 = probably Abel; [16-25] = 1 = probably Garner: Females [over 45] = 1 = Lois; [16-25] = 1 = probably daughter Lois. Also living in Painted Post were Allen, Aden Junior and Daniel--most probably his sons. The same census shows a William Palmer living in Bath--perhaps a relative. Aden is shown as one of the Brethren in the 1820 document, "Articles of Faith of the Baptist Church of Christ," in Painted Post, along with his wife's half-nephew, Amasa Stanton.

In the 1825 New York State Census, Aden and his wife are shown as residing in Painted Post along with one other male, probably one of his younger sons. Also listed in Painted Post are sons Allen, Rowland, Daniel and Abel. Aden Jr. is listed in Tyrone, and there is a Samuel T. Palmer shown in Prattsburg, probably no relation.

Aden Senior is listed in the 1830 Census in Hornby, as Aden Parmer. Both he and his wife, Lois, are given in the age range 60-70. Also in Hornby at this time were his sons Allen, Aden Junior, Daniel, Abel and Isaac. Note that in 1826, Hornby Township was formed from the northern segment of Painted Post, so this was probably not a physical move.

The Patriot Files of the Daughters of the American Revolution indicate Aden died in 1832 in Painted Post, Steuben Co., while the Thomas Stanton Genealogy says 1830 in Hornby, Steuben Co. His death is given as 6 June 1832 in the pension application of his wife, Lois: inscribed on the Roll of Albany (5604), 8 July 1840. Lois was granted a pension of $40 per annum, commencing 4 March 1836. She received $160 in arrears and a semi-annual payment of $20.

Information on his descendants (other than Aden, Jr.) comes from a copy of the family Bible attested to by Jonathan Kimball (husband of Lois Palmer); Census records; two Internet sources, the Walter Palmer Society and Peter L. Palmer; and Susan Moore, Hornby Town Historian. Susan's husband, J. Patrick Moore, authored the article and map of the Palmer Settlement. Copies of Aden's pension records were provided by Carole Palmer Hare, a descendant of Isaac and a certified member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

• Married: 1 FEB 1781 in Preston, New London Co., CT ²

1. Anna PALMER b: 2 JUN 1778 in Stephentown, Albany Co., NY
2. Allen PALMER , Sr. b: 16 NOV 1782 in Stephentown, Albany Co., NY
3. Aden PALMER , Jr. b: 15 MAR 1786 in Stephentown, Albany Co., NY
4. Rowland PALMER b: 18 MAR 1787 in Stephentown, Albany Co., NY
5. Daniel PALMER b: 19 MAR 1789 in Stephentown, Albany Co., NY
6. Elisha PALMER b: 19 JUL 1791 in New York
7. Abel R. PALMER b: 25 SEP 1793 in Charleston, Montgomery Co., NY
8. Lois PALMER b: 26 JAN 1795 in Montgomery Co., NY
9. Garner PALMER b: 12 OCT 1797 in Montgomery Co., NY
10. Isaac PALMER b: 24 JUN 1800 in Montgomery Co., NY
11. William PALMER

1. Title: LDS Ancestral File
   Repository:
   Media: Book
2. Title: Aden Palmer Family Bible, copy from Carole Palmer Hare
   Repository:
   Media: Book