OBITUARY for JOSEPH PALMER
1806-1885
(from Boonville Herald 4/30/1885)
brother of Mary Palmer, mother of Jane Avery; father of Achsah Avery, wife of James; and Eliza Avery, wife of John

At New Hope, Cayuga County, NY Joseph Palmer, 
formerly of Boonville, dies in the 79th year of his age.

This aged father in Israel was born near Petersborough, NH [other records say MA] September 7, 1806.  He spent his childhood years in New Hampshire and afterward, having been diligent in business and having won the reputation of being a self-made man and conscientious in all his dealings, went to Fulton Co., NY where he was married to Miss Betsey Blood, a member of a prominent family of Fulton.

Mr. Palmer, now 21 years of age began to more particularly make his mark as an honest upright citizen.  The fruits of his marriage to Miss Blood were 9 children, 6 of whom are still living. Benjamin, Mary, Elizabeth and James are now dead, the 2 former having died in childbirth.  James, a volunteer in the late war, was killed in the army while bravely fighting in his country's defense [at Gettysburg, PA].  

The children now living are Achsah J., wife of James Avery, of New Hope; William H. of Rome, NY; Martha A., widow of the late John Cole of Northville, Fulton Co.; Eliza M., wife of John Avery of Rockland, MA; Betsey M., wife of Stephen Cleveland of Ilion, NY; Henry V. of Mansfield, PA.

At a later day, Mr. Palmer located at Boonville, Oneida Co., NY where Mrs. Palmer died in her 62nd year of her age.  She was well known as an efficient laborer in the cause of her Heavenly Master as was her husband, who never lost sight of the crown which had so many years been in waiting for him.  A few years after the death of his sainted wife he moved to Cayuga Co., NY and became a member of the family of James Avery, his son-in-law where he remained until his death.  

Sorely afflicted in body as a result of old age, his faith was sufficient to bear him up amid all his infirmities.  Consciousness of duty was a lesson and a study which as a father he had ever tried to impress upon his children's minds.  His efforts were rewarded by the faithful attention bestowed upon him by Mr. Avery's people at the closing scenes of his life.  His death was not the result of any particular disease but a continued season of infirmities.  Justice to his family, his neighbors and his God were his full aims and objects in life.  The funeral services were observed April 17, at New Hope, Rev. O. R. Howe of the M. E. church officiating.  The remains were interred in the New Hope Cemetery.

Joseph Palmer was a stone mason by trade.
The above news article was supplied by Janet Palmer Fentress, a descendant of Benjamin Palmer, the twin of Joseph, both brothers of Mary Palmer Avery, mother of Jane Avery Ward