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Biographical/Historical:
Samuel Augustus Palmer was born June 26, 1827 in South Carolina. He came to Florida with his parents in 1829. Before the Civil War, Palmer studied to be a jeweler with Benedict Brothers in New York. Returning to Florida in 1856, he married Mary Rebecca Gassaway and resided in Monticello. The Palmers had five children: Thomas Augustus, Henry Edwards, Mary A., Martha G., and William Gassaway Palmer.
Palmer enlisted in Company H, Third Florida Infantry Regiment on April 24, 1862. This unit was eventually assigned to the Confederate armies that fought in the western theater of the war. Palmer spent much of his military career either on the sick list or serving as a clerk or nurse. By late 1864, Palmer had apparently recovered sufficiently to rejoin his regiment in its invasion of Tennessee. Union troops captured him on December 16, 1864 near Nashville and imprisoned him for the remainder of the war at Camp Douglas, Illinois.
After the war, Palmer returned to Monticello and worked as a watchmaker. Two of his sons, William G. and Thomas A. moved to Jacksonville, and Henry E., moved to Tallahassee. His wife Mary died on July 15, 1884 and Palmer died on February 13, 1918.
Summary:
The collection contains the Palmer family papers, which consists of scattered correspondence. The collection can be divided into pre-Civil War, Civil War, and post-Civil War documents. The pre-Civil War correspondence includes two letters from S.A. Palmer to his wife, dated 1856 and 1857. Palmer wrote both letters at Thomasville, Georgia; penning the first shortly before their marriage and primarily discussing wedding plans. Of interest in the second letter, dated May 19, 1857, is mention of an upcoming ball to honor the Thomasville Guards, a local militia unit.
The Civil War letters all date from 1863. Samuel Augustus Palmer wrote them from camps in Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi. He writes about his own health, his concern for his family and business, his desire to return home, and the military situation in the area.
The post-war correspondence dates primarily from 1883 to 1884. Also, there is a 1915 letter written to Henry E. Palmer and several undated letters believed to be postbellum. The 1883-1884 letters are between Mary Palmer in Monticello and her sons, William and Thomas, who were working in Jacksonville. The letters include general family and home news, including reports on the condition of William's hunting dogs and information on crops.
Finding Aids:
Folder listing available. 0
Additional Physical Form:
Reproduction Note:
Photocopies.
Location of Originals/Duplicates:
Originals in possession of donor.
Associated Materials:
Other records relating to Samuel Augustus Palmer are in Collection N2017-59, Augustus Palmer and Mary S. Archer records, 1852, 1865.
Language Notes:
Ownership/Custodial History:
Publication Note:
General Note:
Electronic Records Access:
Subject Access Fields:
Palmer, Henry Edwards, 1866-1944 Palmer, Mary Rebecca Gassaway, 1838-1884
Confederate States of America. Army. --Florida Infantry Regiment, 3rd. Confederate States of America. Army. --Thomasville Guards.
Civil War (Fla.) Family Florida Women History 19th century Florida
Jefferson County (Fla.) Monticello (Fla.) Thomasville (Ga.) United States History Civil War, 1861-1865
Added Entries
Palmer, Henry Edwards, 1866-1944
Palmer, Mary Rebecca Gassaway, 1838-1884
Palmer, Samuel Augustus, 1827-1918
Palmer, Thomas Augustus, 1859-1920
Palmer, William Gassaway, 1861-
for detailed listing.