HENRY PALMER1 was born in England ca 1601 and married there before 1627, Elizabeth (). He came to New England before
1637, was an educated man and held numerous offices. Living in Newbury in 1637, he was sworn a freeman June 22, 1642, and was
a Justice of the Peace for Haverhill in April 1662 and in subsequent years, as late as 1672. In April 1650 he was discharged from
training because of "bodily infirmities", instead to pay 3s, 4d. yearly to the Haverhill military company.

Between 1648 and 1674 he served numerous times on the juries, several times as foreman, and in regard to a court case in 1654
spoke out: "He yt justifies the wicked and condemnes the just both are abomination to the Lord." to which Robert Haseltine replied:
"doe not account a man wicked till you Pve him soe." (Essex Court Files) Palmer was often an arbitrator and an appraisor, and
deputy for Haverhill to the General Court in 1667, 1674, and from 1676 to 1679.

December 17, 1677, he deeded to his grandson, Timothy Ayer, 18 acres in Haverhill, part of his "second division" near Gills Lake.
His will divided his land between his two daughters and their families: probated September 28, 1680, the will mentioned his
grandchildren, John Dalton, Elizabeth Ayers Clement and Samuel and Timothy Ayer. Mr. Palmer survived his wife who died in
Haverhill, November 22, 1664.

Children

1. ELIZABETH PALMER2 (Henry1) was born in England
ca 1627; died in Haverhill April 24, 1705. She
married, February 27, 1650, Robert Ayer2 of Haverhill.
SEE AYER FAMILY.
2. Mehitable2, born ca 1630 in England, died after
1683. About 1652, she married Samuel Dalton. In
1680 she inherited her father's homestead and orchard,
and November 26, 1683, married (2) as his
second wife, the Rev. Zachariah Symmes. She had
at least one son, John.
3. Bathshuah2, prob. b. ca 1641; d. Feb. 26, 1654. 186