New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-08-11
PALMER FAMILY REUNION.

ENGLAND TOWN THRoNGED WITH VISITORS
SPEECHES, POEMS AND OTHER EXERCISEs-TmE
GATHERING SUCCESSFUL.
fFROM SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRmUNEI
STONINGroN, Conn, Aug. 1O.-The visitor to
this staid New England town would be fully just-
he'd In addressing any one whom he might meet in
the street to-day Mr. Palmer" The street
urchirs salute every passer with this title and
when one Of a crowd of corner loungers near the
postoilice called ont " Mr. Paimerw this morning
not less than fifteen turned toward the
speaker The Stonngton brought a hundred MEM
bers of the family last night, ana the trains this
morning were al crowded. Palmer lemonade is
for sale on the street corners and the boot blacks
will give you Palmer shine" for no more than
the usual fee. The hotels and boarding houses are
crowded, and many persons slept last night on cots
in the parlor of the Hotel Wadawanuck. Tonight
Is expected that cots will be ppt mp in the hotel
hall and Office, and perhaps on the broad vcranda.
One quotation from Shakespeare. Where do the
pamers lodge, beSeech ycu9' has been often on
the lips of the committee which has charge of
entertaining visitors.
All this is on account of the reunion of the Palmer
family which began to-day, and will be continued
through tomorrow. This date was chosen because
August 10 is the anniversary of the battle of Sto-
nington, the principal event in the history of this
quiet borough Stonington's glory departed with
the decline of the whale fishery business Time was
when thirty whalers sent out from here each
year. Every family had both n personal and
pecunary interest in this business, and Stonington
fourished and its people grew rich But that era of
prosperity passed. Later, visions of popularity as
a summer resort dawned upon the people but Sto-
hlngton was overshadowed by the nearness of Watch
HILL distant only five miles sail. This reunion
was started by the Connecticut descendants of
Walter Palmer, who settled in Stonngton i'm 1853
ana died here eight years later; but much of its
success is due TO the efforts of Mr. Moves t. Palmer
of Jamaica l.. L.. who has collected a large number
of facts in connection with the genealopv of the
various branches of the family. Mr. f. II. Palmer
of Montviile Conn, is the president of the reunion
MI a. D Palmer, IT,, the secretary of record, Mr.
IL. Clay Palmer the treasurer, and Mr.. Ira H.
Palmer the corresponding secretary. Mr. Moves F.
Palmer has served as the Committee on Invitation.
and has sent out over 1000 invitations
The headquarters of the reunion are at Bravton
Hail. just across the street from the shaded lawn of
the Wadawanuck register has been kept here
and at 3 o'clock this afternoon about 400 names
had been put down, These, however do not repre-
sent more than one third of the Palmers who are
here Among the names on the register are the fol-
lowing: General George w. Palmer and wife.
Colonel ana Mrs. j. L. Meredith, A. w Palmer
Lauren Redfeld, Gideon Palmer, DIR. Corydon Pal
mer DR.. Delos Palmer, Dr. Eugene Palmer and Ste
phen Wray of Newly ork w. II. Palmer Mrs j. A.
Palmer Van Valsor, Miss j. A. Palmer Mrs J. A.
Palmer Clayton, Lorn Palmer wife and two
daughters, Justus Palmer, Joseph Cutler and wife
and Josiah Palmer, of Brooklyn: George w
Palmer of East New-York; Aianson Palmer oi
Astoria; DIR. James G. Palmer and wife of New
Brunswick, n. j.; and Jay Palmer, of East New
York. Some names registered from as distant
points as Illinois and Texas.
large tent with open sides has been erected in
the western part of the near the railway sta
ton, and only few blocks from the Hotel Wada-
wanuck, and here the public exercises were held
to-day. Seats were provided for over a Thousand
persons, and all occupied before the exercises
began. 1t was not until 1920 a m. that the Hon
f. n. Palmer raped upon the desk and called the
assembly to order. Upon the platform was seated
good number of ladies and gentlemen all presrim
ably bearing the name of Palmer or descendants of
persons bearing that name. Among them were the |
toliowing the Rev 4. G. Palmer D. d. of Stor ing |
ton; NJ Ira II. Palmer of Stonnglon; ex Gov |
Governor +. Is. Loomis, of New-Iondon: state
senator Alexander :. Palmer. of Stoniugton; the |
Kew g. Is. Minor, OF Trenton, \. j.; and DIR. Cory |
h0h palmer; Judge k \ Wheeler. of StoningtOn:
Slr. Moves F. Palmer; Mr. Francis A. Palmer Of |
New-l ork; Mr. Lorn Palmer. of Brooklyn, and |
After music by the Norwich City Blnd prayer
was offered by the Rev. Dr. f. b. Palmer The
chairman then introduced the Rev. DR. A. q.
Palmer, the father of Mr.. A. NJ Palmer. the we'll
known manager OF the Union Square Theatre who
made an address OF welcome lie said that u1ed
credit was due to Mr.. Elisha II. Palmer of Mout-
VILE, who had been chiefly instrumental in arrang-
ng the reunion, and hoped that one res nit of the
reunion would be a permanent organization of the
family. An address was also made by President r |
II. Palmer He il the best of hIImor and was |
frequently applauded
here was good deal of disappointment AT the
tbSahCe of General Grant who Is "A direct descend
mt of Walter Palmers oldest daughter and who
lad promised to be present pant OF one day at
east Arrangements had been made for a special |
ram To bring HIM from NcW-lork to Stonmrton
ne nc, Was tIhpelleI TO Toe absent, however ON ac-
cunt OF the death of his brother. On Monday Mr. |
ra ii. Palmer received the following dispatch i'm |
eSpouse to one which he sent TO the ex President
IN Saturday:
20 NETWORK, August 8.
Domestic reasons will prevent my attending the
"loi he''nlon' L. ;. GRANT.
This dispatch was read by Ira H. Palmer inst he
ore the close of the morning exercises As the |
audience was dispensing bright little paper called
ne fdsm6 dttte. found many buyers. Ii Is an |
bounced as published monthly 10y Henry r. Palmer |
boy OF thirteen "A son of Mr.. Ira III. Palmer III il |
eNoted exclusively to the interests Of the Palmer
amlN This number, which is said to be Volume
No. |" contains y full report OF the address
elivered by the Rev. DIR. Palmer this morning
The afternoon exercises were even more largely |
TENDED than those of the morning. They bt can
WITH the PLAYING of Home Sweet Homeh lDv the
'and. Then came AN interesting historical address
" Judge Ii. \. Wheeler: II is was devoted manly
q an account of the life of Walter Palmer whose
tlgln Is somewhat involved in obscuritN. He cam.
rom Nottlnghamshlre, England, to Charlestowu |
lass., IN 1929 under patent the Plymouth |
,ouncL; lie was widower with five children
race, William, John, Jonah, and Elizabeth In
,harlestown he married Rcbecca Short, of Boston
here he remained until 1913, when he went 10
'ehoeot6 IN the Plymouth Colony. In 1853 he
anne To Stonngton then called Pawcatuckl where |
- llyed during the rest of his life. lie died Noyem-
er 10 1861. While in Rehoboth h represented
nat town III the Colonia Court for two wears
-lter ne came TO Stonlngton he took an active and
fomlnont part IN the affairs of TIE town Nv his
scohl VIE ne had seven children-llannah. Elihu