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
He received a slave named Cuff from the estate of Lambert Sanders.[1]
His will referenced a list of 97 slaves.[2]
Gravel Hill Plantation in Berkeley County, South Carolina.
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Categories: Berkeley County, South Carolina, Slave Owners | Gravel Hill Plantation Cemetery, Bonneau, South Carolina | Civil Service, American Revolution