Comments

Thank you Pat, for your suggestions for progress with GEORGE PALMER's missing years. JOHN ROBINSON  has been an unknown so far, so that is another line I intend to pursue. The HAYMANS name occurs in Wick St Lawrence and Congresbury, and as you say appear in several generations of PALMER history, so another line to look at. Thank you for your advice and time.

An interesting observation.  The witnesses at weddings since 1754 are an important part of the ceremony.  Since Civil Registration began in 1837 it is more likely, like today, that the witnesses are friends or relations of the bride and groom.  However before that it is not uncommon for the Parish Clerk to be one of the witnesses.  He would be able to sign his name and would have been at the Church in order to fill in the details on the register.  It was not necessary to have the ability to sign - it was allowed to make a mark. Other regular members of the church can also appear as witnesses.

Witnesses can be a tremendous help in identifying relationships - don't overlook their importance. 

I'm loving these tales of the Weston Worthies - so much detail...Fascinating stuff!!

This is a longshot but I know members have a wealth of knowledge! 

Whilst going through one of Graham Payne's excellent church transcripts (Easton in Gordano to be exact)  I could not help noticing that the same people seemed to be witnesses at weddings time and time again.  In fact one gentleman witnessed some 64 weddings in 20 years.  May be Graham Payne has noticed this too when transcribing.  Just wondering if churches 'kept' people to witness weddings - or may be they were the ones who could write their name!!  Just wondered if anyone had observed this before or had any knowledge about these regular witnesses?  

I’m not having much joy with your PALMER conundrum! Looking at George PALMER (1828) and his family in later censuses I wondered if there was a relationship with their long-term lodger John RICHARDSON – could he have been George’s step-father?  However, I can find no trace of a marriage between John RICHARDSON and Elizabeth (Betsey) PALMER née HAYMANS.

Like you I have not found burials or remarriages for either George or Elizabeth PALMER.  If either of them had died could the other have moved in with members of their own family?  Do you know the names of their siblings? What happened to their parents?  Could they have been looking after them?

There are no sightings of them in the 1851 entries for either of the two Workhouses which catered for this area, Axbridge or Bedminster.

As the name HAYMAN occurs in two generations - are they connected?

There are other members researching PALMER - see Members' Surname Interests - perhaps one of them can help?

I see your problem!   Although you are asking about George PALMER born in 1807 - where was his son, George, in 1851?