Mayflower Application

This line of Palmer – Baker was recently accepted by the Mayflower Society as a descendant to the Pilgrim John Howland. Here is the application and support documents used. The biggest challenge was generation 6 where it was argued that known Mayflower descendant Joseph Palmer, born in Stonington CT to Bethiah (Sturgis) Holmes, is the same Joseph Palmer who died in Northumberland NY. Here is the analysis:
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Evidence that Joseph Palmer of Northumberland NY is the son of Bethiah (Holmes) Palmer

1. Joseph Palmer of Northumberland comes from Stonington since his oldest known son was born there.
2. The research book “Palmer Family and Genealogy” by Byron S Palmer and Horace Wilbur Palmer gives Joseph Palmer’s birth as 14 Feb 1738 in Stonington, CT. This birth date is a month earlier than the baptism date of 30 Apr 1738 for Bethiah’s son.
3. From the published newspaper obituary, Eunice Palmer was born in 1737, near the baptism date of Joseph Palmer of Stonington.
4. Joseph and Eunice’s oldest known daughter was named Bethiah Palmer, presumably after Joseph’s mother, Bethiah Holmes. Bethiah is an unusual first name.

Evidence that Nicholas Palmer is the son of Joseph and Eunice Palmer

1. Anson and Jared Palmer, sons of Joseph Palmer, administered the estate of Joseph Palmer after Eunice, his wife, renounces.
2. Nicholas is brother to Anson Palmer, Bethiah (Palmer) Coplin and Rebecca (Palmer) Benjamin in the William & Bethiah Coplin Revolutionary War Pension File.
3. Nicholas is listed as son of Eunice Palmer in Eunice’s newspaper obituary
4. Nicholas and Jane Palmer sell 1/5 portion of Joseph Palmer estate along with sisters Bethiah and Rebecca and brother Jared’s oldest son, David.
5. Nicholas lives next to Joseph Palmer in 1800 US census in Northumberland NY

Evidence that Mary, wife of James Baker, is the daughter of Nicholas and Jane (Ross) Palmer

1. Named in Will of Nicholas Palmer as daughter Polly wife of James Baker of Cambria NY
2. James Baker and Nicholas Palmer bought land together in Gorham NY in 1824. James and Mary Baker along with Nicholas and Jane Palmer sold this land in 1831. James and Mary then moved to Niagara county.
3. 1855 and 1860 Censuses in Cambria NY list Mary wife of James Baker as born in Saratoga County, NY
4. Oldest child of James and Mary Baker of Cambria is named Palmer Nicholas Baker, named after Mary’s father Nicholas Palmer. Palmer is shown in 1860 living in Cambria NY with wife Lucinda. A child of PN and Lucinda Palmer is buried at the James and Mary family grave site in Cambria NY. Palmer N Baker death record in Michigan lists parents as James and Mary (Palmer) Baker.
5. Ethel (Neff) Baker, great granddaughter, describes a silver tablespoon that belonged to Mary Palmer Baker with initials MPB engraved on the handle.