Later in the eighteenth century figured John Palmer, an actor of very considerable talents belonging to the Drury Lane Theatre, born about 1742. In his profession he excelled. He died suddenly on the stage immediately after uttering the words, "There is another and a better world."

There arrived in Pennsylvania about 1684, John and Christian Palmer in the ship Providence of Scarborough, Robert Hopper master, and settled in Bucks county. No known relationship existed between these and the Concord settler, and as there has never appeared any tradition concerning an affinity, it is highly probable they sprang from distinct families in the mother country.

Savage, in his "Genealogical Dictionary of New England," gives the names of a great number of Palmers who settled in that region, and who doubtless are the progenitors of many of the name scattered through this country. One name that would be exactly contemporary with the Concord settler has this record: "John Palmer, born 1667, son of John of Situate, son of first John of Situate, who came to this country in September, 1635."

In the purchase that has given the name Nine Partners to a place and Meeting in Dutchess county, New York, one of the nine who entered into that extensive partnership was — Palmer, who doubtless was a Friend, and whose descendants are numerous throughout this country.

An Anthony Palmer was president of the Provisional Council of Pennsylvania and ex-officio governor from June 6, 1747, to Nov. 23, 1748; but from what family he was a descendant does not appear.

There were also settlers of the name in New Jersey. Smith, in his history of that State, mentions a John Palmer of Staten Island having, with others, a settlement on the Raritan about the Falls, and that "John Palmer was appointed, by Deputy-Governor Rudyard, as one of six persons whom he appointed as a council for East Jersey; in which he was continued till 1684, when a new council was appointed." There are doubtless numer

ous other accounts and incidents, more or less interesting, connected with the name, but not coming under notice, these may suffice, and I shall proceed to the consideration of John Palmer, who settled in Concord, Chester (now Delaware) co., Pa., previous to or about 1688.

A general tradition exists that John Palmer was either enticed or beguiled to leave the home of his mother in England (his father being dead) by those interested, to pay his way for the profit to result from his labor (a custom somewhat in Vogue at that time), and that he embarked from London and came to Pennsylvania, where he served a number of years at labor for his passage. No authentic records have been found to corroborate this tradition, but as it is very generally upheld by the elder members of the family, and as no other account is to be found as to his appearance in this country, it seems safe to give it a place in his history.

The first reliable account that appears of his doings is the purchase of one hundred acres of land, of the patent for which the following is a copy:

Copy of Patent to John Palmer, 1688.

By virtue of the commission granted by William Penn Proprietarie and Govenor of the province of Pennsylvania and counties annexed,

UNTO

William Markham Secrie Thomas Ellis John Goodson or anie two of us (The Secrie being one) wee send greeting, Whereas there is a piece of land in the county of Chester in Township of Concord Beginning att a corner marked post of John Roberts land then east northeast by ye same Four hundred & eightie perches, thence north northwest by a Line of trees thirtie four perches thence west southwest by a line of trees dividing this tract from George Stroud's Land four hundred & eightie perches thence south south-east by a Street or road thirtie four perches to

ye place of beginning Cont one hundred acres of Land Granted by virtue of a warrt from ye comm3 dated 24th of 1st mo" 1688 and laid out by ye surveyor generals ord' ye Sa day unto John Palmer purchaser and sa John Palmer requesting us to Confirm ye same by patent Know yee that by virtue of ye comm3 afores We have given granted and Confirmed and by these prent for Sa Wm Penn ye propr' wee do give grant and Confirm to him said John Palmer his heirs and assigns forever ye said one hundred acres of Land To have hold & enjoy ye Sa Lands for ye onlie use and behoof of ye said John Palmer his heirs and assigns forever To beholden of ye proprietarie and his heirs as of ye mannor of Springtowne in ye countie afores in free and common Socage by fealtie onlie, hee seating and improving ye same according to regulation, yielding and paying therefore to ye proprietarie and his heirs att and upon ye first day of ye first mo" in everie yeare att ye towne of Chester one english silver shilling or value thereof in our Curre' to such persons as shall be from time to time appointed for that purpose. In witness whereof wee have caused these press to be made patent att Philadelphia ye 26th day of seventh moth fourth yeare of ye reign of James ye second over England and being eight of ye proprietaries government anno domini 1688.

(Signed)

WM MARKHAM

JOHN GOODSONN.

It is probable that he contracted his marriage about this time, for although no record of it has been preserved, yet all my researches have pointed to this period as the time of its consummation. He married Mary Suddery (Southery), who was a daughter of Robert Southery, fuller by trade, late of Westbury, in the county of Wiltshire, Great Britain. Robert was the purchaser of two hundred and fifty acres of land in Thornbury, by deed bearing date the tenth and eleventh days of October, 1682. (See map.) But it is not certain he ever resided thereon. He died before 1688; who his wife was, or even her name, does not appear.

Mary had a sister Margery, who married John Hannum, and settled in Concord about half a mile north of her sister. They were the only children, and after their father's death they, with their husbands, disposed of his late possessions. These facts in relation to them are established by the deeds given in the disposition of their land, the first of which is dated the 1st day of the 1st mo., 1688, unto Nicholas Pyle, and is noticed in the courtrecords of the time, and more fully in a deed of release dated the 31st day of December, An. Dom. 1715, between John Palmer, yeoman, and Mary his wife, and John Hannum, yeoman, and Margery his wife, all of the township of Concord, county of Chester, Province of Pennsylvania, of the one part, and William Brinton, yeoman, of Birmingham, of the other part; in which it is fully set forth that "Robert Suddery in his lifetime became lawfully seized in his Demeasn as of fee of in the sa Two hundred and fifty acres of land with the appurtenances and Dyed seized thereof in his estate aforesaid after whose Decease the same Two hundred & fifty acres of land with the appurtenances Descended & came to the s Mary and Margery parties to these presents as the Daughters and only heir of him the said Robert Suddery."

It is likely John and Mary were Friends, for a time at least, for their older children appeared to have a right of membership in the Society, which was not the case with the younger ones until taken into Meeting, as will be noticed under their names. But the facts and traditions relating to that period indicate that they left the Society through the defection of George Keith, a minister, who went off because of non-agreement in doctrine, and that they soon after joined the Baptists. By records of the Baptist Society, which were in the possession of the late Robert Frame, Esq., of Birmingham, it appears that on 6 mo. 10th, 1697, Thomas Powell, John Palmer, etc., five in number, were baptized; also on 7 mo. 27, 1697, John Hannum, Margery Hannum, Mary Palmer, etc., ten in number, were baptized-all in Ridley Creek.