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| The residence of Joseph Palmer, Esq., second son of Capt. John Palmer of St. Stephen's. He married Eliza, eldest daughter of Peter Porcher of Peru, the brother of Col. Thos. and Major Samuel Porcher, and had six sons and six daughters, all of whom with one exception lived to maturity. They were, 1. Elizabeth wife of David Gaillard of Belmont. (37). 2. Anne, wife of William Cain. (5 ) 3. Henrietta, wife of Samuel Gaillard of the Rocks. (38) 4. John Gendron. who married Catherine, daughter of Francis Marion of Mount Pleasant. (25). 5. Peter P. Palmer. who married Harriott Palmer, daughter of John Palmer of St. Stephen's, the brother of Joseph. 6. Maham Palmer, who married Matilda, daughter of Rev. Charles B. Snowden. 7. Esther Simons, who married Dr. John Sanders Palmer of St Stephen's. 8. Samuel, who died unmarried. 9. Marianne, who married Samuel J. Palmer of St. Stephen's. 10. Joseph Palmer, who married Miss Allen of Richmond, Va. 11. Keating Simons. 12. Martha, who died in childhood. Mr. Palmer was a man of very marked and very admirable character; active, enterprising and energetic, he not only shrank from no labor, but seemed to abhor a life of indolence; public spirited and benevolent, he was always ready to labor and to think for others, and utterly free from selfishness, to postpone his own gratification to promote the comfort and interest of others. Few persons have ever had so many trusts confided to them a? executors : and none have ever discharged them more assiduously or more faithfully. It must be remembered that the duty of an executor in the country was not confined to the marshalling of assets, paying of testator debts, and making safe investments of the remainder to the benefit of the heirs—the country executor became the manager of the plantation and was charged with all the cares and vexations of such a position. He was obliged to assume responsibilities which were sometimes hazardous. An executor who marshals assets, pays debts and invests safely, and has his accounts regularly audited is certainly acting safely for himself; but he may doom the subjects of his trust to poverty when the exercise of energetic benevolence might save every thing. I knew an instance in a neighboring district, where the debts of the testator amounted to $108.000.00, and his assets to $110,000.00 — the executor might have paid the debt, and turned the heirs over to poverty, but lie knew and lie felt that lie was appointed by Ins deceased friend for a very different purpose. He acted as the friend of his wards, and when they came to manhood delivered to them their father's property unimpaired and unembarrassed. Such a man was Mr. Joseph Palmer. None of his wards ever complained of dereliction of duty on his part. |
| His home was the abode of the
most liberal, but unostentatious hospitality. At a time when the roads
were
thronged -with travellers, his house, which was conspicuous from the road. attracted strangers as well as friends, and all were considered equally entitled to its sacred rites. It was the characteristic of his race to be impulsive, so that whilst he was a warm friend, he could be a bitter enemy; though he frequently expressed himself with a warmth, and even violence which gave him on occasions an appearance of harshness. This trait in his character gave his wife a few hours of pain, and a life long merriment on the following occasion: The Rev. Mr. Tshudy of the lower Parish had been so indiscreet as to preach a political sermon, which of course gave offence. Mr. Palmer was so offended that he declared the parson should never enter his house. As they lived more than twenty miles apart, there seemed not much likelihood of his ever being called upon to execute his threat. One day whilst lie was absent from home. Mr. Tshudy drove up to the door, and craved tile enjoyment of a night's hospitality. Mrs. Palmer was in agony. She remembered the warmth of her husband's expressions; she knew that he felt deep anger at the course of the parson; but she knew not how to advise him to seek another lodging, and yet she dreaded the explosion of her husband's anger when he should return and find so unwelcome a guest. Mechanically, she invited him in. It happened that several persons came in to spend the night, and it was a question how all were to be provided with beds. But the dread of the scene which might occur on her husband's return deprived her of the ability to think of any thing else. It was night before she heard the tread of his horses' feet approaching the door. She ran out to meet him, told him who was his guest and prayed for mercy. D—n him, said he, is he here? Instantly he remembered the sacred claim of hospitality. Entering the drawing room. he courteously saluted his guests, distinguishing the unconscious parson above the rest. Whenever in after life he would utter rash and harsh expressions, his wife would archly remind him of his violent treatment of Mr. Tshudy. The splendid mansion on this tract was completed in 1820. Mr. Palmer died in 1842, and was almost immediately followed by his wife. Dr. Joseph Palmer is the present proprietor. |
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