Biography

04/04/1769 - 07/28/1842

Nathan Palmer (Conventionalists (Democratic-Republican9)) Luzerne and Northumberland Counties 1808-1809 (Democratic-Republican9) Luzerne and Northumberland Counties 1809-1812

Early Life:

Nathan Palmer, born, April 4, 1769, Windham, Connecticut; son of Elihu and Lois Foster Palmer; moved, Wilkes-Barre, 1790; studied law, admitted, Luzerne County bar, 1794; gubernatorial appointment, prothonotary, clerk of the Courts of Quarter Sessions, and Oyer and Terminer of the Orphans' Court, 1800-1803; unsuccessful campaign, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1805; elected, Pennsylvania State Senate 1808-1812, unsuccessful reelection, 1812; treasurer, Luzerne County, 1813; appointed, trustee, Wilkes-Barre Academy, 1814; unsuccessful campaign, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1815; unsuccessful campaign, United States House of Representatives, Special Election, 1817; moved his family to Mont Holly, Burlington County, New Jersey; married, Jerusha Bradford Barstow Palmer, children, Volney B. Palmer, Strange N. Palmer; died, July 28, 1842, (aged 73), Mount Holly, Burlington County, New Jersey; interment, Saint Andrew's Graveyard, Mount Holly, Burlington County, New Jersey.

Pennsylvania Politics:

Appointed, Governor Thomas McKean, prothonotary, clerk of the Courts of Quarter Sessions, and Oyer and Terminer of the Orphans' Court, January 8, 1800-1803.

Unsuccessful campaign, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, Luzerne County, 1805.

Elected, Conventionalists (Democratic-Republican), Pennsylvania State Senate, 9th district, Luzerne and Northumberland Counties, 1808-1809; Democratic-Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 9th district, Luzerne and Northumberland Counties, 1809-1812; unsuccessful reelection, 1812.

Treasurer, Luzerne County, 1813.

Appointed, trustee, Wilkes-Barre Academy, 1814.

Unsuccessful campaign, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, Luzerne and Susquehanna Counties, 1815.

Unsuccessful campaign, United States House of Representatives, Pennsylvania District 10, Special Election, 1817.

Unsuccessful campaign, Pennsylvania State Senate, 9th district, Luzerne and Northumberland Counties, 1818. 

Legacy:

Family lore cites as a lineal descendant of Myles Standish. 

Grandfather Pennsylvania State Senate Speaker, Robert Moffett Palmer, Schuylkill County, 1859-1861. 

Robert Moffett Palmer  - Pennsylvania Senate Library (pasen.gov)

Cited:

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members P". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

A New Nation Votes (tufts.edu)

Nathan Palmer (1769-1842) - Find a Grave Memorial