The Palmer Twins

Susan B. and Jemima Palmer
(c) copyright 2018

In remote Bradford County, on the eastern edge of this Pennsylvania County, thirteen years and

nearly two months before the Battle of Fort Sumter began the fighting of the US Civil War, Justice of the Peace Calvin Stone performed a double wedding ceremony on  24 February 1848.  Two Coleman brothers (Oren and Homer) married to twin sisters (Susan B. and Jemima Palmer).

The history of the Palmer twins has been elusive and I have hit the proverbial "brick wall" with this family.  Some US Census records show them born in Pennsylvania and some show them born in New Jersey.  Jemima's death certificate indicates that she was born in New Jersey.  Since Susan is her twin sister, I assume that they were born in the same location, but was it Pennsylvania or New Jersey.  Somewhere along the way, I found information that led me to believe that they were born in Wantage, Sussex County, New Jersey - but I have not successfully "proven" that information.  I also found information leading me to believe that their father was Daniel Palmer and their mother Mary M. ? - but neither can I provide you with suitable sources.

Susan and Jemima Palmer Coleman
Binghamton, NY  (c) copyright 2018

Following the Civil War, Susan B. Palmer Coleman's oldest son, David, in an attempt to verify his claim for disability payments resulting from illnesses contracted during his enlistment term, submitted an affidavit to the State of Pennsylvania, signed by Daniel B. Palmer.  In this affidavit, Daniel Palmer states, I have known David Coleman since he was three years old, and have known him intimately ever since he came from the Army in 1865.  Was this David's grandfather - Susan and Jemima's father?  Or, was it a cousin or uncle?  The affidavit was signed in May 1888.  I can only speculate.

Susan and Jemima Palmer were born on 10 May 1830.  They married the Coleman brothers on 24 February 1848 in Pike Township, Bradford County, Pennsylvania.  Susan died on 16 October 1916, at the age of 86 in Binghamton, Broome County, New York.  Jemima died on 30 Jan 1926 in Mansfield, Tioga County, Pennsylvania, at the age of 95. 

So, if anyone has a clue upon which I can follow up, PLEASE HELP!
(c) copyright 2018

For more information on this family line, refer to Who Came Before - The Coleman Family.

Oren (Orrin, Orin) H. Coleman (1827-1903)

Orin H. Coleman
(c) Copyright 2018

Oren H. Coleman was my 2nd Great Grandfather.  During my research, I have found his name spelled as Oren, Orin, and Orrin.  He was born in Pike Township, Bradford County Pennsylvania on Friday, 9 March 1827 to Reuben L. Coleman and Jane Scott.  He was the 12th of 13 children (the 8th son).  At the age of 35, Oren was 5' 5" tall, had a dark complextion, dark eyes, and brown hair, and made his living as a farmer.

(c) Copyright 2018

On the evening of Thursday, 24 February 1848 (just shy of his 21st birthday), he married Susan B. Palmer (1830-1916).  At the same time, in the double wedding ceremony performed by Justice of the Peace Calvin Stone, his younger brother Homer Stephen Coleman (1828-1900) married Susan's twin sister, Jemima Palmer (1830-1926).  Note:  The Palmer Family accounts for one of the "brick walls" that I have in my research.  To the best of my knowledge, the Palmer twins were born in Wantage, Sussex County, New Jersey to Daniel Palmer (1810-?) and Mary M. _____ .  If you have any information on this Palmer family, your help would be greatly appreciated.  Oren and Susan lived in Herrick, Bradford County, Pennsylvania, and then in Albany, Bradford County, Pennsylvania.  In 1850, Oren made his living as a farmer and owned property in Bradford County valued at $300.  Oren's brother and his wife Jemima, were living with Oren and Susan in 1850 - Oren and Susan with their one year old son David; Homer and Jemima with their one year old daughter Frances.  The wedding photo on the right is a copy from a tin type.

Near the beginning of the Civil War, Oren enlisted into the 141st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry in Wyalusing, Bradford County, Pennsylvania on 19 August 1862 and, with others, traveled to Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania where he was "mustered in" on 2 September 1862.  

According to History of the 141st Regiment, by Rev. David Craft, the Regimental Chaplain, "on 25 December 1862, while cutting poles to build log tents, Orrin accidentally cut the fingers of his left hand with an axe, necessitating amputation of the first two fingers above the second joint.  Later he fought, and was wounded in the Battle of Chancellorsville.  He was treated at the Regimental Hospital at Carver Hospital in Washington, D.C. before being transferred to the 3rd Company, 2nd Battalion of the Veterans Reserve Corp.  Both he, and later his widow, Susan, received a veteran's pension."  Oren was a Private in Company A, 141st Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was mustered out on 15 November 1863.

Following the Civil War, Oren and his family operated a farm near New Era, Bradford County, Pennsylvania.  There is a stained glass window in the New Era Church memorializing Oren Coleman and his wife Susan.

In February 1891, Oren and Susan moved to Binghamton, Broome County, New York, where they lived the remainder of their lives.  Oren died of cardiovascular disease on 8 August 1903 at the home of his daughter Mrs. Florence Corbin, 238 Court Street, Binghamton, Broome County New York.  He was 76 years of age.  Oren is buried in the Floral Park Cemetery, Johnson City, Broome County, New York.

Oren Coleman and Susan Palmer had the following children:

1. David O. Coleman, born 26 November 1848, Bradford County, Pennsylvania.  He married (1) Carrie Pipher, before 1884; married (2) Orpha D. Shores, 1886, Bradford County, Pennsylvania; died 13 April 1923 at the Veteran's Home in Bath, Steuben County, New York at the age of 74.  He is buried in the Floral Park Cemetery, Johnson City, Broome County, New York.  David also served in the Civil War.  He was a Private in 64th Pennsylvania Volunteers, 4th Regiment, Pennsylvania Cavalry.
2. Mary A. Coleman, born 10 October 1850 in Bradford County, Pennsylvania.  She married Joseph R. Billings on 10 October 1876.  She died at the age of 64 on 19 August 1901 in Binghamton, Broome, New York and is buried in the Floral Park Cemetery, Johnson City, Broome County, New York.
3. Florence S. Coleman, born 7 November 1854 in Bradford County, Pennsylvania.  She married Ludlow Delanson Corbin on 14 January 1871 in Monroeton, Bradford County, Pennsylvania.  She died at the age of 65 on 30 November 1919 in Olcott, Niagara County, New York.  She is buried in the Floral Park Cemetery, Johnson City, Broome County, New York.
4. Homer Coleman was born on about 1856 in Bradford County, Pennsylvania.  He died at the age of 9 on 26 November 1865.  He is buried in New Era Cemetery, New Era, Bradford County, Pennsylvania.
5. Martha Coleman, born 14 September 1858 in Furnace Centre, Bradford County, Pennsylvania.  She married (1) _____ Rhinvolt, and (2) Lucian H. Doud.
6. John Wesley Coleman (my great grandfather), born 27 August 1861 in Terry Township, Bradford County, Pennsylvania.  He married (1) Mary Josephine Arnold on 9 November 1886 in Binghamton, Broome, New York.  The ceremony was performed by her father, Reverend Andrew Jackson Arnold; (2) Theodora B. Berrian after 1930 in Punta Gorda, Charlotte, Florida.  He died at the age of 85 on 18 May 1947, in Punta Gorda, Charlotte County, Florida.  He is buried in the Indian Spring Cemetery, Punta Gorda, Charlotte County, Florida.
7. William H. Coleman, born 15 May 1870, New Era, Bradford County, Pennsylvania.  He married Inez M. Reddington.  He died at the age of 64 on 16 January 1935 in Towanda, Bradford County, Pennsylvania.  He is buried in the Floral Park Cemetery, Johnson City, Broome County, New York.

Many sources were used in the preparation of the above including, but not limited to:

1. Research notes of Clayton Worden Coleman
2. Multiple US Census Records
3. History of the 141st Regiment, by Rev. David Craft, the Regimental Chaplain
4. Death, Pension, Will records
5. Find-A-Grave

(c) copyright 2018

I hope that this information is useful.  If you have any constructive comments, additional information, and/or suggested corrections, please leave a comment.  Source references are appreciated.  For more information on this family line, refer to Who Came Before - The Coleman Family.

Introduction

Our family history encompasses much more that a list of ancestors, their birth/death dates, etc.  And it reaches well beyond a straight line along the paternal line.  The subject of this blog focuses on my maternal Coleman family line.

If you have even a little experience with family histories / genealogy, you will already have found that this is not "an exact science."  Often, you will be forced to speculate, guess, and estimate information based on the best information available to you at the time.  This means that you may have made a mistake - if someone provides you with better data, admit that you made a mistake, correct it, and thank the other person for their help.  The further back you travel into your family history, the more people you will find who have traced their own families back to a common ancestor.  Therefore, some of them may have more accurate data, photos, documents, etc. that were not available to you.

It is my belief that this information should be freely shared.  The more people who have accurate data on your ancestors, the more likely that it will survive!

I have recently published a Coleman Family Genealogy book titled Who Came Before - The Coleman Family.  It was first published in November 2017, and I have already found additional information that is not contained therein.  No family history is ever "complete."  There is always more, even if you cannot find it - you hit the proverbial "Brick Wall."

So, as I move forward with this blog, I plan to share information about individual people in my Coleman family history.  I encourage you to review the information provided and compare it to the information that you have.  If you find it useful to your research, great.  You may find that we share a common connection.  If you have questions, ask.  If you think my research may be incorrect, tell me and tell me why - share your sources so that I and others can consider them and make any appropriate changes.  If you have additional information - share it here so that others in our extended family can learn more.  Please, however, be kind.  We all make mistakes - sometimes "stupid" mistakes.  It doesn't matter how much experience you have, you can still make mistakes.

My Coleman Family research begins in 1598 in Evesham, Worcestershire, England, with Thomas Coleman (my 8th great grandfather).

I hope you enjoy this adventure, and I look forward to your feedback.