• Creator
  • Unknown
• Format
  • Manuscripts (documents)
• Type
  • Text
• Subject - Topic
  • Cataloochee (N.C.) -- Genealogy
  • Palmer family
• Source institution
  • Western Carolina University
• Source Collection
  • Cataloochee History Project
• Identifier
  • GSMNP_Cata-239_802

Family genealogy } Many centuries ago, men and women had only first names li~e Mary, Paul John, and James. Later surnamPs were given because of some family characteristics of some idea or head of the fcmi ly. In looking up the name Palmer we find that long ago a Palmer was a pilgrim whohad made a pilgrimage to the HOLY LAND. He carried a palm branch attached · to his staff or more frequently a corss made of two strips of palm leafs fastened to his hat as a sign or token that he had made a pilgrimage- thus how the name Palm --er was derived. These pilgrimages were made for religious motives to some place respected as sacred and connected in some way with the memory of Jesus. These sacred soots had theil' . counterpart in western Europe, especially in England, in the tombs of martyrs and saints, which were also regarded as sccred. ln the Canterbu :·y Tales, \·Witten in the 14th century by Chaucer, our first great English poet, we have a vivid description of one of these pilgrimages. The first Palmers that came to America are beleived to have emigrated from England in the 1600's. They sett.led first in Pennsylvania 1vhe1·e some of t~e~ remained. The ethers micrated to Virginia, Tennessee, and North Caroli na . Our f i rst know ancestor was John Pal mer, b. 1617 who l ived in Virginia. His father may have bee ~ Walter Palmer who was thought to have come to the United States in lt5 29 . John :s sen v:as Robert Palme:~ b. 1662, d. 1732, who married 1-'iartha Freeman (b. 1697) in l718. Their son wc.s George Palmer. Third Generat1on *George Palmer married Elisabeth Wyatt. (1718-1820) George Palmer moved to either Cumberland or Northumberland County, Virginia about 1760. Soon after the Revolutionary War began in 1775, George Palmer was ca pt ured by the British and was never heard of again. Fourth Generation George Palmer (son of Pobert ) . b. about 1719 in Vi rginia. ~·'tarried Elisabeth Wya tt (as soelled on tombstone) who was born 1718, died in 1220 in North Carolina at the age of 102 years. Dates and records, shO\'>' that she died on Big Sandy Mush, N.C. (possibly came there from Lincoln County, NC.) l. Patton (Patty) Palmer b. --- m. --- d.--- * 2. John Palmer married Reliance King, but another source, The Annals of Havwood Countybv ~!.C. Allen states that John Palmer married a Nellie Singief~n~ of Buncombe Co. N.C. 3. Jesse Palmer married Elizabeth Hoffman 4. Palmer (possibly in Lincoln County) Fifth Generation John Palmer (son of George) b. --- d. -- in rLC. Marriage uncertain to either Reliance King or Nellie Sinoleton. About 1806-8 John Palmer moved to Sandy Mush in N.C., no~ known as Big Sandy. * 1. 2. 3. 4. George Palmer m. Polly Starett Jesse Palmer m. Debora Hall Nancy Palmer m. James Wells b. ---d. 1911 b. j .. g 1794 d.--- Ruth Palmer m. ---- Burchfield 5. Jane Palmer m. Russel Tate Sixth Generation George Palmer (son of John who w~s a son of George) b. Jan. 15, 1794 d. Jan. 15, 1859. Married to Polly Starett, b. Jan. 24, 1801, d. 10- 10-1876 m. 1821 George moved from Sandy Mush and settled in Cataloochee, N.C. in Haywood Co. (now in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park) • in 1848. He was among the first to find a home in this section. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. *6. William M. Palmer. urn. b. 12-l, 1822 settled in California at the time of the Gold Rush. Ruth Elizabeth Palmer b. Mar. 9, 1824 d. Oct. 29, 1859 m. Jack Best. Julia C. Palmer b. Juoe 6, 1826 d. Dec : 18, 1875 urn. John A. Palmer b. Oct. 8, 1828 m. Minervia Caldwell Polly Ann Palmer b. Jan. 24, 1831 m. Allen Noland , lived on Fine·s Creek. Jesse R. Palmer b. Jan. 28, 1833 d. Sept. 8, 1895 m. Polly Ann Rogers from Fines Creek, N.C. They lived on Cataloochee. George LaFayette Palmer b. July 17 , 1836 d. April 28, 1910 m. Nancy Jane Caldwell in 1860 (b. Sept. 9, 1841) had ll children. ( p,'e \. - t1o J, 1 li I 9 o? ) .•: .I :·. ;.,. :;~~. ' . : \ I ' ··\ . ..~.. . I ' \-~- I · .. . : I ~ : . ' . . ·•. . ~ ~ ·.: . . .... ' · ·.";' First Generation of Palmers in Cataloochee 1. George Palmer, b., Jan. 15, 1794, in lincoln Co., N.C., d. Jan. 15, 1859 (Family Bible). ~1arried in 1821 in Buncombe Co., N.C. to Mary Ann (Polly) Starrett. She was probably the daughter of Alexander Starrett, who was a neighbor of George's father, John, in the Sandy Mush area. According to her gravestone, Polly was b. Jan. 24, 1801, but, with one exception, her age as listed in the census returns would place her birth .a s 1798 or 1799. She died Oct. 10, 1876 (Family Bible; gravestone Palmer Cemetery), George and Polly Palmer had seven (7) children: a. b. c. d. e. f. g. William M., b. Dec. 1, 1822 (Family Bible). An entry in the family Bible, dated March 19, 1841, reads: "This day William M. Palmer started to Mexico." A petition filed in Superior Court, Haywood Co., Nov. 18, 1875, regarding the estate of his sister Julia, states that he was, "when last heard from, a citizen of the State of California and that, after due diligence, he has not been heard from since the year 1865 or '66." (Abstract of Judicial Proceedings, Superior Court, Haywood Co., 1875·1884. For Decree of Final Confinnation and Final Decree, dated Feb. 27. 1884, see Orders and Decrees, 1, p. 278 - Jarvis l. Palmer, No. 224, File Box 28, N.C. National Park, Parkway, and Forests Development Division, N.C. State Archives, Raleigh, N.C.) Ruth Elizabeth, b. March 9, 1824, d. Oct. 29, 1859. Married A. Jackson Vess (or Vest), Aug. 25, 1850 (Family Bible; gravestone Palmer - cemetery; EMB, 1808-1870). Ju ~a Caroline, b. June 6, 1826, d. Dec. 18 (or Nov. ?), 1875 (Family Bible; gravestone Palmer Cemetery). Never married. John Alexander, b. Oct. 8, 1828, d. in 1860's. Married Minerva Caldwell of Fines Creek in 1848 (Family Bible; Haywood Co., Deed Bk. 7, fl. 372). Mary ~ (Polly), b. Feb. 24, 1831, d. __ ? __ • Married Allen Noland, Jan. 6, 18~8 (Fdmily Bible; EMB, 1808-1870). Settled in Fines Creek area. Jess~ Richeson, b. June 28, 1833, d. Sept. 8, 1895. Married Mary Ann (Polly) Rogers, daughter of Caroline (Fish) and Newton Rogers, of - Fines Creek, Feb. 15, 1854 (Family Bible; gravestone Palmer Cemetery; EMB, 1808-1870; Marriages, 1850-1921; Death Certificate Bk. 1, p. 47). George Lafayette ("Fate"), b. July 17, 1836, d. April 28, 1910. Married Nancy Jane Caldwell, daughter of Mary Ann (Nail and) and levi B. Caldwell in 1860. (Family Bible; gravestone Palmer Cemetery; Death Certificate Bk. 5, p. 169). Second Generation of Palmers in Cataloochee l.b . Ruth Elizabeth Palmer, eldest daughter of 1. above, b. March 9, 1824, d. Oct. 29, 1859. Married A. Jackson Vess (or Vest), son of Clarinda and Nathaniel Vess, Aug. 25, 1850. Ruth and Jack Vess were living in the home of her father at the time of the 1850 census. Settled in little Cataloochee in 1850's. They had four (4) children before her death in 1859. In 1860, Jack and the children were still living in little Cataloochee. Ruth and Jack's 4.children, all of whom were still living in 1875, were: (l) William M. l.. b. 1852, d • .J__. (2) ~1ary A. C. (Polly), b. 1853, d .J__ (3) Sarah l., b. 1855, d. ? (4) Jesse A., b. 1857, d. ? Moved to Tennessee, later to Texas. (Source: U.S. Census, 1840, 1850, and 1860 for Buncombe Co. and Haywood Co., ti.C.; Abstract of Judicial Proceedings, Superior 'court, Haywood Co., as in la . above. ' ' l .c . Julia Caroline Palmer, 2nd daughter of 1. above, b. June 6, 1826, d. Dec. 18, 1875, according to the Palmer Family Bible, but a Petition to Partition her estate, entered before the Superior Court (see la. above) and dated Nov. 18, 1875, indicates that she was deceased on or before that date. She came into Cataloochee with her father and mother, and on Se~l5, 1858, she bought a tract of 200 acres adjoining her father's land (Haywood Co. Deed Bk. G, p. 334). On Dec. 17, 1858, she ~eeded one acre of land to trustees "for a meeting house & School house for the M.E. Church South of the County of Haywood," the first church and school in Big Cataloochee (Haywood Co. Deed Bk . 10, p. 588). She lived with her father and mother, and after her father's death, in the household of her brother George Lafayette (Fate) Palmer until her death. ld . John Alexander Palmer: 2nd son of 1. above, b. Oct. 8, 1828, d. about 1869. Married Minerva Caldwell, of Fines Creek, in 1848. John and Minerva and their first child, Jane, were living in Cataloochee near his father at the time of the 1850 Census, but in February of that year, he had bought 100 acres on Panther Creek in the Fines Creek area (Haywood Co. Deed Bk. G, p. 528). He and Nerva (or "Nervy") settled on that place shortly thereafter. They were living there with their five (5) children at the time of the 1860 census. They had four (4) more children before his death. John and Minerva's nine (9) children were: (1) Jane Matilda A., b. March 18, 1849, d._?_. Harried S. W. Bell, Dec. 23, 1867 (Family Bible; mB, 1808-1870). (2) Sarah, b. 1853, d. __ ? __ . Married Jesse H. Davis of Cove Creek, Sept. 29, 1867 (EMB, 1808-1870). (3) George W., b. 1854, d. _?_ • (4) Jesse R., b. 1856, d. _l_ . (5) Julia, b. 1858, d. _]__. (6) William Riley, b. late 1860 or 1861, d. _l_. Married Lou Fry, of Fines Creek, Nov. 26, 1886 (Marriages, 1850-1921). (7) Mary, b. 1862, d. _l_. (Family Bible lists a Mary Ann 11alinda, b. April 30 .• 1862). (8) John H., b. 1866, d. ? . (This is perhaps the John Palmer, age 24, who n~rried Martha Fulbright, of Crabtree, on March 15, 1890, Marriages, 1850-1921). (9) Melissa C., b. 1869, d. _]__ . (The Petition on their behalf entered in Superior Court in Nov. 1875, noted in la. above, lists JesseR., G.W., W.R., H.C., and J.H. Palmer • and JaneS. Bell and Julia Low as seven of these children who are heirs of John A. Palmer, deceased.) ·i e. Mary Ann (Polly), 3rd daughter of 1. above, b. Feb. 24, 1831, d. ? in the 1860's. They lived in the Fines Creek area . Allen and Polly ~oland had six (6) children: (1) Laura L., b. July 4, 1849, d. ? (2) Julia C., b. Oct. 9, 1851, d. ? (3) Maria A.T., b. Dec. 6, 1854, d. ? Married Turner Bennett. Married Allen Noland, Jan. 6, 1848. He was born about 1815 and died (4) Sarah E., b. April 15, 1858, d. _]_ • (5) William, b. 1861, d. _1_. (6} Jane, b. 1864, d. __ ? __ . (The first four childr~n are listed in the Palmer Family Bible, and all are in the U.S. Censuses for 1850-1870.) lf . Jesse Richeson Palmer, 3rd son of 1. above, b. June 28, 1833, d. Sept. 8, 1895. Harried Mary Ann (Polly) Rogers, Feb. 15, 1854. He came into Cataloochee with his father and took out the first Palmer deed - 150 acres on June 8, 1857. From that date until 1894, the ~ear before he died, he purchased more than 1000 acres of land in Cataloochee. He was a very active Methodist layman, and his widow, Mary Ann, conveyed to trustees of the Big Cataloochee M.E. Church South, in exchange for $20 that she herself had subscribed, one and one quarter acres of land as the site for a new church- now Palmer's Chapel (Haywood Co. Deed Bk. 10, p. 482.) Jesse and Polly Ann had thirteen (13) children: (1) William Alexander, b. Sept. 11, 1856, d. Oct. 31, 1927 (Death Certificate Bk. 14, p. 132; gravestone Palmer Family Cemetery). Married. March 2, 1888, Milia ("Mil ie") Magdala Ca 1 dwe 11, daughter of Andrew and Charlotte l~at ilda (Owens) Ca 1 dwe 11 . (Marriages, 1850-1921). "Milie" was b. May 20, 1871, d. Sept. 12, 1962 (Death Certificate Bk. 49, p. 232). William A. Palmer served several terms as sheriff of Haywood Co. His wife, l·lilie, operated a store and served as postmistress for Nellie Post Office in Cataloochee. (2) George Newton, known as "Turkey George," b. Jan. 24, 1858, d. Jan. 16, 1939 (Death Certificate Bk. 26, p. 107; gravestone Palmer Family Cemetery). Married, Feb. 13, 1890, Alice Cumi Caldwell, daughter of Andy and Charlotte Matilda (Owens) Caldwell (Marriages, 1850-1921). Alice was b. May 27, 1873, d. Sept. 28, 1947 (Gravestone, Palmer Family Cemetery). (3 ) Hary C. (Polly), b.l860, d. ? • Married, as his 2nd wife, William H. Leatherwood, of Jonathan's Creek, later sheriff, tax collector, and deputy clerk of the Haywood Co. Superior Court. He was the administrator of her father Jesse's estate (W.C. Allen, Annals of Haywood County, p. 330, and Estate Records). (4) Robert James, b. Jan. 1861, d. __ ? __ . Married Rachel Caldwell, Dec. 12, 1884 (Marriages, 1850-1921). (5 ) Julia Tolitha, b. 1862, d. __ ? __ • Married C.M. Carpenter (who was a l·lethodist minister in l·laggie in 1911). (6 ) Margaret, b. 1864, d. __ ? __ . Married Rev. Thomas f. Gibson. (7) Jesse Frank, b. Dec. 20, 1865, d. April 21, 1925 (Death Certificate Bk. 12, p. 57; his gravestone in Palmer Family Cemetery gives date of birth as Dec. 20, 1864). Married Jan. 30, 1900, Louise ("Lou") Caldwell, daughter of William Jarvis Harrison Caldwell and Susannah Adeline (Woody) Caldwell (Buncombe Co. Marriage Register, Hale, 1851-1937}. Lou married, 2ndly, Thomas King. She was b. Sept. 2, 1879, d. feb. 4, 1968 (Death Certificate Bk. 55, p. 268). (8) Sarah M., b. 1866 or 1867, d. ? • Married, Feb. 4, 1885, Doctor L. Caldwell, son of Levi B. and Mary Ann (Nailand} Caldwell · (Marriages, 1850-1921) . - {9) Elizabeth P., b. Sept. 20, 1869, d. July 15, 1896 (Her gravestone in Palmer Family Cemetery gives year of birth as 1871, but she is named in the 1870 Census). Never married. (10) Burdine (or Berdine), b. about 1872, d. __ ? __ • Married John W. Carpenter. (11) Rachel, b. April 1873, d. __ ? __ . Married, in 1890, John Cagle. (12} Thomas L., b. Aug. 15, 1874, d. Jan. 26, 1920. Married, April 9, 1899, Callie Evans. She was born Jan. 1871 and was still living at the time of his death (Death Certificate Bk 7, p. 94; l~arriages, 1850-1921). (13) Ella (Lura?), b. April 1877, d. ? . Married, July 25, 1897, Silas Carmine Caldwell, son of David Marion and Eliza (Cagle) Caldwell (Marriaqes, 1R50-lQ21L snas-wil<; h. Aoril 7. 1R77 ri 111111, 1or.o rn .... ~., rn .. tifiqt,. nt- M: n 11) l g. George L~fayette ("Fate"}, b. July 17, 1836, d. April 28, 1910. Married, in 1860, Nancy Jane Caldwell, daughter of Levi B. and l~ary Ann (Nalla~d} Caldwell. Nancy Jane was b. Sept. 9, 1841, d. Nov. 22, 1918 (Family Sible; gravestones, Palmer Family Cemetery;. Death Certif1cate Bk. 5, p. 169). "Fa t e" and Nancy Jane Palmer had twelve (12} children: (1) Mary Elizabeth, b: March 23, 1862, d. Sept. 17, 1912 (Family Bible; gravestone, Palmer Family Cemetery). Married, March 16, 1879, Stephen L. Woody, son of Jonathan H. and Malinda (Plerrmons) ~loody (Woody Family Bible; Marriages, 1850,-1921). Stephen, or "Uncle Steve", Woody was b. Jan. 1. 1853. d. Feb. 5. 1943 (Woody Family Bible; Waynesville Mountaineer, Feb. 11. 1943). (2) Harriett Ann (Hattie}. b. Oct. 28. 1863. d. March 4. 1900. l~arried Will Jarrett, Dec. 23. 1887 (Family Bible}. (3) George H. (or "Creek George"}. b. Nov. 3. 1865, d. Feb. 14. 1946. Married (1st}. on March 31. 1887, Sarah Russell, daughter of David and Elizabeth (Brown) Russell, of Fines Creek (Family Bible; Death Certificate Bk. 33, p. 165; Marriages, 1850-1921). Sarah was b. April 1, 1868. and d. July 19, 1888 (Gravestone, Palmer Cemetery), After her death, George married (2nd) her twin sister, Martha Suphina Russell, on Oct. 26. 1889 (Marriages, 1850-1921). According to her death certificate, Martha was b. April 1, 1867, d. March 7, 1938. but her date of birth should be 1868 (Death Certificate Bk. 25, p. 158). The ages on their marriage licenses and in the 1870 and 1900 censuses indicate clearly that Sarah and Martha Russell were both born in 1868, (4} Laura P., b. March 15, 1867, d. ? . Harried Carl M. Jarrett on Feb. 24, 1887 (Family Bible). (5) Wi ll iam Hiram (Will}, b. March 1, 1869, d. Dec. 17, 1951 (Family Bible; Death Certificate Bk. 38, p. 146}. Harried, Oct. 25. 1895. Eleanor (Ellender} Noland, daughter of Joseph and Josephine (Howell) Noland. Ellender, as she was called, was b. Nov. 28, 1872, d. July 12, 1966 (Death Certificate Bk. 53, p. 265). (6} Maria (or Mariah) Love. b. Oct . 19. 1871, d. Jan. 30. 1961 (Family Rible; Death Certificate Bk. 48. p, 194). {7) Jesse , who died in childhood. The Family Bible lists a JesseR •• who died Sept. a. 1895, aged 3 years and 3 months, but the date should probably be 1875. The gravestone for a Jesse R. in the family cemetery reads: Aug. 14, 1873-May 18, 1875. • {8) John Marion, b. Jan . 25. 1875, d. March 10, 1950 {Family Bible; Death Certificate Bk. 37, p. 175). Married, June 24, 1894, Siler (or Ciller) Lockman, daughter of Warren and Eliza (Williams) Lockman {Marriages, 1850-1921). Siler was b. in Buncombe Co. on April 25, 1875, and d. March 20, 1945 (Death Certificate Bk. 32, p. 44). (9) James Manson, b. July 23, 1876, d. Aug. 21, 1955 (Family Bible; Death Certificate Bk. 42, p. 165). His delayed birth certificate lists date of birth as July 22, .1876 {Delayed Birth Certificates Bk. 32, p. 44). Married Annie Nicholls, May 14, 1911 {Marriages, 1850-1921). She died before he did. {10) Polly L. , b. May 22, 1878, d. ? • {Family Bible; Delayed Birth Certificates Bk. 15, p. 281). Married Will Justice on March 31, 1887, according to the family Bible, but surely the year is in error. (11) Harley Robinson, b. June 23, 1880, d.<"'?"''!'~ramily Bible.) Never married. (1 2) Jarvis Linton, b. Feb. 2, 1882, d. May 13, 1946 (Family Bible; Death Certificate Bk. 33, p. 194). Married, May 1924, Velma "Maggie" Childers , daughter of Alden and Margaret (Kimsey) Childers. Velma was b. Aug. 21, 1894 .• d. Aug. 30, 1961 (Death Certificate Bk. 48, p. 193; interview with her son, J. Linton Palmer, Jr., July 11, 1977).

This 187.5-acre tract 239 in Cataloochee was owned by George N. Palmer. While, in general, the Great Smoky Mountains region was sparsely populated, the Cataloochee Valley remained an exception. By 1900, the population of Cataloochee had grown to 1,000 residents living in hundreds of log and frame homes. A few historic buildings have been preserved on site, including two churches, a school, several homes, and outbuildings. The North Carolina Park Commission was tasked with purchasing land for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and people living in Cataloochee were among those displaced. Cataloochee families continue to return for annual reunions. In 2001, the National Park Service re-introduced elk into the valley.

• Creator
  • North Carolina Park Commission
  • Grossman, Charles S., 1900-1972
  • Exline, Edouard E., 1905-1960
  • Sloan, W. N.
  • Wilburn, Hiram Coleman, 1880-1967
  • Unknown
• Format
  • Land surveys
  • Manuscripts (documents)
  • Maps (documents)
  • Photographs
  • Portraits
• Type
  • Text
  • StillImage
• Date
  • Date original: 1880; 1918; 1928; 1930; 1935; 1939;
  • Date digitized: 2015-09-22
• Extent
  • Dimension: 3" x 4" - 11" x 8.5"
  • Pages: 65 pages
• Subject - Topic
  • Abstracts of title
  • Acquisition of property
  • Barns
  • Couples
  • Dwellings
  • Government purchasing of real property
  • Land titles -- North Carolina -- Cataloochee
  • Land titles -- Registration and transfer -- North Carolina -- Haywood County
  • Landowners -- North Carolina -- Haywood County
  • Portraits, Group
  • Real property -- North Carolina -- Haywood County -- Maps
  • Reports
  • Wooden fences
• Location
  • Haywood County (N.C.)
  • Great Smoky Mountains (N.C. and Tenn.)
• Source institution
  • Western Carolina University
• Source Collection
  • Cataloochee History Project; Historic Photographs Collection;
• Identifier
  • GSMNP_Cata-239
• Repository
  • Great Smoky Mountains National Park