Solomon Palmer

• Death Notes
  • 
    Both dates Approximate
    Born: Southwark England
    Died: Wilkes Co, GA
    

• General Notes
  • 
    born in New Jersey; died in Wilkes, GA
    
    Solomon Palmer was born in 1729, some say, in Southwork, England. Between 1729 and 1756, Solomon and his wife, who's name is not known, came to America and first settled in the New Jersey area.  The oldest child, John Palmer was born in New Jersey in 1761, and Solomon II was born on "the Eastern part of Jarsey." Whether Solomon was born in England or America is not known and his birth place has not been proven to the satisfaction of this writer.
    
    Solomon and his family moved from the New Jersey area to North Carolina and later moved to Wilkes County, Georgia.In 1773, Solomon, his wife, and five sons and one daughter, ranging in age from twelve years to nine months, from North Carolina, received 450 acres on the North Fork of the Ogeechee River in Wilkes County. These dates correspond to the record that I found in the National Records Depository in Atlanta in the Revolutionary War Pension Claim for John Palmer and his wife, Susannah.
    
    Solomon was in the Revolutionary War and listed on the Certified List, Georgia Troops from Wilkes County.  On August 27, 1779, he appeared as a witness and gave evidence in behalf of the State of Georgia against several people who aided the British. This is surely Solomon I and not Solomon II as II would have only been 16 years of age in 1779.  In John and Susanna Palmers' Revolutionary War statement is the words that "the father of John and Benjamin died soon after war." If this be the case, Solomon would have died about 1785 or 1786.
    
    Solomon received several land grants in addition to the one in 1773. These are as follows:
    
    1.  On February 2, 1784, Solomon was granted 250 acres  in Wilkes County.
    2.  On September 25, 1784, Solomon was granted 550 acres by the Council of Georgia.
    3.  On October 22, 1784, he was granted 200 acres in Wilkes County.
    4.  On December 31, 1784, he was granted 287 1/2 acres in Washington County.
    5.  He was granted 200 acres in 1785 in Wilkes County.
    6.  In 1786, he was granted 400 acres.
    
    On March 12, 1785, Solomon deeded to Reuben Ballard 250 acres, being part of the original grant of 550 acres dated September 25, 1785, which was located on the Mill Branch of Fishing Creek in Wilkes County.  I found in the old plat book in Wilkes County a copy of a warrant dated the 4th of October 1785 for 400 acres on the waters of Fishing Creek.  It was recorded December 1785.
    
    Also an original land grant is listed as follows: "State of Georgia. Wilkes County This is to certify that Sol. Palmour hath steadfastly done his duty, from the time of passing an Act at Augusta, Ga. Wit, on the 20th of August, 1781, until the time of Expulsion of the British from this state; and the said Sol. Palmour cannot, to my knowledge or belief, be convicted of plundering or distress-- the county; and is therefore, under the said Act, entitled to a Bounty of Two Hundred and Fifty Acres of good Land, free from taxes for ten years.  Given under my Hand, at Savannah This 2nd Day of Feby, 1784. Elijah Clark, Col. By his order W. Freeman"
    
    Solomon's will was recorded in Vol. DD, page 65, 66 covering the period 1779 to 1792, Wilkes County.  This will book, was destroyed by fire and is lost to history.  He probably died between 1783 and 1786. The exact date of his death may never be known since the will book was destroyed. In late 1792, Solomon, Jr., Jonathan, Benjamin, John, and William all appear in the Pendleton District of South Carolina.  It is not likely that they would all have moved if either their Mother or Father were still alive.
    
    We also find a John Palmer who was married to the daughter of John Edwards in Wilkes County.  As early as 1787, John was married to Sarah Edwards and is named in the estate of John Edwards.  The Edwards family was from Jones County, North Carolina.  Could this be the place that Solomon and his family lived in North Carolina?  Could this John Palmer be his father or brother?  We know that Solomon and almost every generation since have named at least one of their sons, John.
    
    During April 1998, a person named Bennett called me from Ohio.  He is descended from Joshua Bennett who was born in New Jersery, moved to North Carolina, Georgia, South Carolina and Kentucky.  He was a revolutionary war soldier.  In his pension file he mentions his "Cousin John Palmer". In John Palmers penison file he has a book with the words "William Bennett, his book, 1771."
    
    Was this Solomon married to a daughter of William Bennett?