John (Pamor) Palmer Sr. (1715 - 1785)

Born 1715 in Berkeley County, South Carolina

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 2 Jan 1785 at about age 70 in Berkeley County, South Carolina

Biography

John (Pamor) Palmer Sr. was a Civil Servant in the American Revolution.

John Pamor was the eldest son of Thomas Pamor and Elizabeth Saunders and was born in 1715 in what was then Craven County but is now known as Berkeley County, South Carolina. He married Marianne Gendron, a descendant of the French Huguenots who immigrated from France to South Carolina in the late Seventeen Century and had three sons: John, Peter, and Thomas.

When his father died in 1733, John Pamor inherited a sizable estate, including Gravel Hill Plantation. Through his judicious marriage and state grants he enlarged his real property holdings to more than 10,000 acres. He was also prosperous and involved in both local and state politics.

During the Colonial Period, one of the main exports of South Carolina was naval stores. Taking advantage of his vast holdings, John Pamor provided ship masts, lumber and turpentine to the British and amassed a large fortune. Because of his trade, he was widely known in the community and by his descendants as “Turpentine John” Pamor

During the Revolution, “Turpentine John” was too advanced in years to take an active part in that struggle. Both John and his brother Joseph Pamor, however, were ardent Whigs and earned the hatred of the Tories during that bitter partisan period. At some time during that conflict, both John and Joseph were seized by their enemies and were carried to Biggin Church, located near Moncks’ Corner, South Carolina. During this time, this church was used as a depot by the British. There, the two brothers were thrust into the dark and clammy confines of the Colleton family vault. Not so much as a blanket was given them to keep off the chilly air of their gloomy prison.

When they were eventually liberated from their dungeon, the brothers were so weakened that it took them two days to reach Gravel Hill, only ten miles away. Such was their condition and such their fear of further imprisonment that each took turns carrying the other on his back.

Turpentine John Pamor died on February 2, 1785, and his wife predeceased him. In his will, he stated: "I will and order that my three sons, instead of spelling their names Pamor, shall for ever hereafter spell their names Palmer." His sons followed their father's mandate changing the spelling of their names, but they retained the original pronunciation of the surname --which is pronounced as “Pah mah” and sounds like hammer. This pronunciation has been rigidly carried out by his descendants for many generations.

Biography by David J. Rutledge

Child listed in DAR record

• JOHN, JR m. ANN CAHUSAC

Slave Information

He received a slave named Cuff from the estate of Lambert Sanders.^[1]

His will referenced a list of 97 slaves.^[2]

Slaves of John Pamor

Gravel Hill Plantation in Berkeley County, South Carolina.

Sources

1. ↑ Probate: "South Carolina, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1670-1980"
   South Carolina Wills and Related Probate Matters, *land and Property Records, *public Records, Some *marriage Contracts, 1671, 1692-1868; Author: South Carolina. Probate Court (Charleston County)
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 9080 #1535075 (accessed 6 March 2022)
   Sarah Pamer probate.
2. ↑ Probate:"South Carolina, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1670-1980"
   Wills and Miscellaneous Probate Records, 1671-1868; Author: Charleston County (South Carolina). Probate Judge; Probate Place: Charleston, South Carolina
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 9080 #6725 (accessed 6 March 2022)
   John Pamor probate on 4 Feb 1785.

• DAR record https://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A086646
• Find A Grave: Memorial #146672297, Gravel Hill Plantation Cemetery, Bonneau, South Carolina
• South Carolina, Wills and Probate Records, 1670-1980, Author: Charleston County (South Carolina). Probate Judge; Probate Place: Charleston, South Carolina , Ancestry.com Operations Inc. (2015), South Carolina Wills