Stricker Family Tree - Walter Palmer, Founder of Rehoboth, Massachusetts and Stonington, Connecticut

Walter Palmer - Founder of Stonington, Connecticut

Family Connection - 10th Great-grandfather of Roy Ellsworth Stricker

Tombstone of Walter Palmer

Walter James Palmer was born in Dorset, England, most likely in the town of Frampton, in 1585. There is some disagreement about his first wife's name - it may have been Ann or Elizabeth, but it is still a topic of argument in the genealogical community. 

Walter and his first wife had five children, all born in England:

        

        Grace          b. 1614      d. 1690

        John            b. 1615      d. Aug 24, 1667

        Elizabeth     b. 1617     d. 1677

        William       b. 1619      d. after 1672

        Jonah           b.1621       d. 1709

In 1629, Walter immigrated to Charleston, Massachusetts with his family. His wife died in 1630 and is buried in the Phipps Street Burial Ground in Charleston. 

Walter was made Freeman in Charlestown on May 18, 1631. "Freeman" means he was an approved member of the community with full rights, including the right to vote. 

He was Selectmen for Charlestown twice, and Constable twice. He also served on the committee to set wages in Charlestown. 

In 1633, Walter married Rebecca Short. They had seven children:

        Hannah        b. 1634   d. unknown

        Elihu            b. 1635   d. 1665

        Nehemiah    b. 1637   d. 1717

        Moses          b. 1640   d. 1701

        Benjamin     b. 1642   d. 1716

        Gershom      b. 1644   d. 1718

        Rebecca       b. 1646   d. 1713

In 1644, Walter and his family moved to what became Rehoboth, in Plymouth Colony. He was one of the founders, along with the Rev. Samuel Newman and William Sabin. The land was purchased from the Wampanoag tribal leader Massasoit. The name Rehoboth came form the Hebrew for "broad places". Rehoboth became an official town of Plymouth Colony in 1645. 

Walter and his family left Rehoboth in 1653 to be one of the original settlers of a town originally called Southerton along with William Cheeseborough, Thomas Minor (Grace Palmer's Husband), and Thomas Stanton. Southerton was renamed Stonington and was part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. In 1662, after Walter's death,  Stonington was included  in the Colony of Connecticut formed by royal charter. 

Walter died in Stonington on Nov. 10, 1661. His wife Rebecca died in Stonington on July 15, 1671. They are buried in Wequetequock Burial Ground in Stonington. 

An additional note  - there is a Walter Palmer Society. They have a Facebook group, and anyone who can cite their ancestry back to Walter Palmer can be admitted. Yes, I'm a member, I follow the group online for their posts about the history of the Palmer family. 

Walter Palmer > Grace Palmer > Clement Minor > Joseph Miner > Joseph Miner > Ezekiel Miner > John Miner > Phebe Miner > Elenora Moses > George Josiah Newland  > William Henry Newland > Gertrude Myra Newland > Roy Ellsworth Stricker

Walter Palmer is in yellow in the top tree. The center person of the top tree, Clement Miner, is in the second ring from outside at the bottom in the green section of the second tree. The center person of the middle tree, Phebe Minor, is in the second ring from outside, yellow section of the bottom tree.