SECOND GENERATION. Ch. of John Palmer (No. 1) and Mary Southery. 2. John, b. about the year 1690, but the exact date does not appear. He was known by the appellation of John Palmer, Junior, and it is a traditional story that being an only son his parents were fearful that their name might suffer the fate of his mother's; but subsequent events no doubt relieved their minds on this score. He m. Martha Yearsley 4 mo (June) 9, 1714, dau. of John and Elizabeth, who came from Middlewich, Eng. land, A. D. 1700, and settled in Thornbury, Chester co., Pa. (See map.) Martha was b. 4 mo. (June) 14, 1696, and hence crossed the ocean quite young with her parents. They brought a family of five children, to wit: a son John (who m. Sarah Conway), and four daughters: Elizabeth, who m. Moses Key 12 mo. 18, 1701; Martha as above; Sarah and Hannah. The elder John Yearsley d. in 1708, and Elizabeth his wife d. 3 mo. 25, 1728. The proceedings in relation to John and Martha's marriage are set forth in the following extracts from the records of Concord Monthly Meeting of Friends: "At a Monthly Meeting held at Chichester Meeting-house the 13 day of the 7th mo., 1714. "John Palmer junr & Martha Yearsley appeared here and Declared their intentions of Marriage it being the first time. Thomas Peirson and Henry Oburn are appointed to make Inquiry into his Clearness relating to marriage, and make report to the next meeting." "At a Monthly Meeting held at Concord Meeting-house the 11th day of the 8th mo., 1714, 66 John Palmer & Martha Yearsly appeared here & continued their intentions of marriage, it being the second time, & he producing a Certificate from his Parents of their consent they requesting this Meeting's allowance or concurrence herein. "Therefore this meeting leaves them to proceed according to the good order of Truth. Edward Bennet & William Brainton are appointed to attend the marriage and make report to the next meeting." At the next monthly meeting "Those Persons that were appointed to attend the marriage of John Palmer & Martha Yearsley make report that it was accomplished orderly at the meeting-house at Concord." Their marriage certificate as recorded by "Friends" is here appended: "Whereas John Palmer Jun' of Concord in the County of Chester, yeoman, and Martha Yearsley of Thornbury in the s'd County, spinster, have published their intentions of marriage in two monthly meetings of the People called Quakers belonging to the said town of Concord &c. and the said meetings after mature Consideration and having made enquiries finding nothing to ye Contrary but that the said Parties were clear from all others on the account of marriage and that Parents and Relations on both sides were Consenting there to, Did Therefore allow of ye said marriage. These therefore may Certify whom it may Concern that for ye Consumation of ye said marriage the said John Palmer and Martha Yearsley appeared in an assembly of the aforesaid People met together for that end and purpose at the MeetingHouse in ye s'd town of Concord the fourth day of ye ninth month in the year one thousand seven hundred and fourth-teen. S'd John Palmer standing up in ye s'd assembly taking the said Martha Yearsley by ye hand took her to be his wife and promised to be to her a Loving and faithful husband until the Lord please to separate them by death, and the said Martha Yearsley took the s'd John Palmer to be her husband and promised to be to him a Loving and faithful wife until the Lord please to separate them by Death, and as a Confirmation thereof the said John Palmer and Martha have hereunto set their hands. She according to the Custom of marriage assuming the Surname of her husband. And we whose names are here subscribed being present at ye s'd marriage In witness thereof have hereunto set our hands the day and year above written. They remained in good standing in the Society all their lives, and their names frequently occur in the business of the Meeting, especially as witnesses to numerous marriages. John followed the occupation of farming, at first on the farm bequeathed by his father, and subsequently on land purchased by him in the western part of Concord. (See map.) This tract of land, containing one hundred and seventy-five acres, he purchased of Henry Pearce and Sarah his wife by deed bearing date the 9th day of the 9th month, A. D. 1712, it being part of an extensive tract taken up by John Hazelgrove previous to 1703; but they probably did not remove thither until about 1748, at which time they gave the home-place to their son Moses by a deed of gift, stating the act to be from "the natural love and Affection they bear to him, as well as for his better preferment in the world." A view of the old house and surrounding land is given opposite. John appears to have taken an interest in the affairs going on around him, and was one amongst others to be early concerned in schools. By his will, which is here annexed, it is apparent that of ten children which were born to him, only four were living when he made it, and that he either had given his two daughters a share of his estate in his lifetime, as he had his son Moses, or thought that they did not need much. Copy of John Palmer's Will, proved May 16th, 1771. · I John Palmer of the Township of Concord in the County of Chester and Province of Pennsylvania calling to mind the uncertainty of my time in this world Do make this my my last will and testament in Mannor following that is to say Imprimis, My will is that all my just Debts and Funeral charges be paid as soon as conveniently may be after my decease by my executors hereinafter named and apointed Item I give and devise to my son John Palmer all and singular my Mesuage Plantation and tract of Land Situate in Concord aforesaid containing One Hundred and Seventy five acres be the same more or less to hold to him the said John Palmer his hairs and Assigns forever, He paying out of the same Land Premeses unto his Mother Martha Palmer the sum of Five Pounds yerely and every year during her widdowhood and no longer as allso to alow her his said mother the Liberty of aney part of my Dwelling House to live in which part shee shall think fit to chose with ground Suficient for a Gardian and Aples out of my Orchard for her own use as also Neresery Firewood and the Keeping one Horse and one cow with |