Header: This is the Master Profile for Martin Palmer of King William County.
Curator Note from Erica Howton (3/19/2021):
Married 4 times. 1) Mary 2) Rachel Jones 3) widow Corker 4) widow Robins
Where did Rachel Jones go?
She is seen as mother of Mary Key in some places including the FindaGrave.
Presently, Martin Palmer, of King William County Captain Martin Palmer is attached to the following wives:
Mary, 1st wife of Martin Palmer (mother of Mary as noted above)
Elizabeth, widow of Richard Croshaw
widow of William Corker
Mary, widow of Thomas Robins
"Capt Martin Palmer married four times.
His first wife was Mary, whom he married in England and who died sometime before Feb. 26, 1867/68.
His second wife was Rachel Jones, whom he had married by Feb., 26, 1667/68, and she was the daughter of Rice (or Reece) Jones and widow of Capt. Richard Croshaw.
His third wife was the widow of Capt. William Cobbs (or Corben) [SIC: CORKER], whom he had married by Jan. 14, 1667/68.
His fourth wife was the widow of Dr. Thomas Robins, who he had married by Feb. 24, 1678/79."
KATHRYN BROWN BOOK.
"Also called Capt. Martin Palmer in earlier records. He came to America with his wife Mary _____ and daughter Mary, to York Co., Virginia in 1653, with Joseph Croshaw as patentee. York County had been formed as an original Shire in 1634. Major Palmer died about 1702 in King and Queen County or King William County, Virginia (County names were changing that year).
He willed his land ("Kentuckie") to his son Martin Palmer Jr. (William and
Mary Quarterly).
Marriage 2 Rachel (Jones) Croshaw
Married: bef Feb. 1667/1668
Marriage 3 Corker
Married: BEF 1677/1678 in York County, Virginia
Marriage 4 Robins
Married: 24 FEB 1678/1679 in York Co., Virginia
SOURCES for marriages:
1."Early Virginia Immigrants" p, 247 Martin Palmer and Mary, his wife, 1653 by Joseph Croshaw, York Co.
2. "Marriages of Some VA Residents", p. 151, 152 Before 1667/8, widow of Capt. Richard Croshaw. "Valentine Papers" p. 906 identifies her as Rachel Jones, daughter of Rice Jones
3. Same: Before 1677, widow of Capt. Wm. Corker
4." Valentine Papers" p. 907 Before Feb. 24, 1678/9 widow of Dr. Thomas Robins
There are too many children attached.
Marriage to Rachel Jones is controversial.
Elizabeth, widow of Richard Croshaw = Elizabeth, widow of Capt. Richard Croshaw, called “Rachel Jones” in the curator note,
Mary, widow of Thomas Robins = widow Robins
https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~palmerpaths/genealogy/pg6814.html
Martin Palmer of King William County with wife Mary appear first in 1653 with Joseph Croshaw as patentee. Martin was born about 1625 in England. He soon became quite important in the colony and as patentee brought over a large number of persons. In 1658 he received a grant of 1300 acres in New Kent County and again other grants in 1661 and 1665 for transporting persons. His wife Mary died and he married three more times and died about 1702, leaving, as far as we can ascertain, one son, Martin Palmer Jr., whose birth is given as 1660. Martin Sr. was called Captain and later Major, and is first found in the records of York Co. , then Kent Co., and later in King William Co. bout probably resided all of the time in King William Co. as this county was taken from New Kent and New Kent from York Co.
So all the kids are going away except Mary Key & Martin Palmer, Gent. unless someone can post something different, like a source.