ABSALOM PALMER was born on 27 May 1821 in Okehampton, Devon, England, son of James Palmer and Elizabeth Doidge Worden. He died on 10 Jun 1893 in Leichhardt, NSW, Australia. He married GRACE INGERSON in 1847 in Okehampton Church of England Devon, daughter of George Ingerson and Mary Wadman. She was born in 1822 in Spreyton, Devon, England.

Absalom Palmer and Grace Ingerson had the following children:

1. JANE PALMER was born in 1848 in Okehampton, Devon, England. 
2. MARY ANN PALMER was born in 1850 in Okehampton, Devon, England. She married JAMES YEO in 1874 in Okehampton, Devon, England. He was born in 1854 in Barnstaple, Devon, England. 
3. ABSALOM PALMER was born on 10 Feb 1852 in Okehampton, Devon, England. He died on 01 Dec 1928 in Cabramatta, NSW, Australia. He married (1) EMILY HARRIETT WORTHY on 29 Dec 1887 in Waverley, NSW, Sydney, daughter of Henry John Worthy and Caroline Milgate. She was born on 01 Jun 1865 in Sydney, NSW, Australia. She died on 20 Feb 1951 in Cabramatta, NSW, Australia. He married (2) MARY ELIZA SMALE SLEEMAN in Jun 1873 in Bootle, Cumberland, England (10b, 1042). She was born on 15 Apr 1855 in Gunnislake, Cornwall, England. She died in Dec 1873 in Bootle, Cumberland, England. He married (3) BESSIE SLEMAN in Jun 1876 in Bootle, Cumberland, England (10b, 1013). She was born on 06 May 1857 in Gunnislake, Cornwall, England. 
4. JAMES PALMER was born in 1856 in Okehampton, Devon, England. 
5. EIZABETH PALMER was born in 1858 in Okehampton, Devon, England. She married HENRY CHOWEN in 1879 in Okehampton, Devon, England. He was born in 1847 in Musbury, Devon, England. 
6. GRACE PALMER was born in 1860 in Okehampton, Devon, England. She married ROBERT NOBLET in 1884 in Oldham, Lancashire, England. He was born in 1861 in Fenton, Staffordshire, England.
7. FANNY PALMER was born in 1862 in Okehampton, Devon, England. She married WILLIAM STONE in 1885 in Okehampton, Devon, England. He was born in 1858 in Hatherleigh, Devon, England. 

Notes for Absalom Palmer: 

The following England Census extracts provide information on the life of Absalom Palmer. Absalom lived primarily in the Okehampton area of Devon and worked as an agricultural labourer. It is interesting to note that in the 1871 census, he is able to afford a servant and support his own family and 2 nephews. This may have been due to the fact that his mother Elizabeth is also resident. 

Devon 1841 Census 

Parish of Inwardleigh, Devon Address Northcotts 

Samuel FRY, Male, 35, Farmer, In County

Catherine FRY, Female, 40, In County 

.... 

Absalom PALMER, Male, 15, Agricultural Labourer, In County 

.... 

Devon 1851 Census 

Parish of Okehampton, Devon, England Address North Lane 

Absalom PALMER, Head, M, Male, 30, Agricultural Labourer, Okehampton, Devon

Grace PALMER, Wife, M, Female, 29, Spreyton, Devon 

Jane PALMER, Daur, U, Female, 3, Okehampton, Devon

Mary Ann PALMER, Daur, U, Female, 1, Okehampton, Devon 

Anna HARVEY, Vistor, W, Female, 65, Charwoman, Thrushelton, Devon 

Devon 1861 Census 

Parish of Okehampton, Devon, England Address Painters Court 

Absalom PALMER, Head, M, Male, 39, Agricultural Labourer, Okehampton, Devon

Grace PALMER, Wife, M, Female, 38, Spreyton, Devon 

Mary Ann PALMER, Daur, , Female, 11, Scholar, Okehampton, Devon

Absalom PALMER, Son, , Male, 9, Scholar, Okehampton, Devon

James PALMER, Son, , Male, 5, Scholar, Okehampton, Devon

Elizabeth PALMER, Daug, , Female, 2, Okehampton, Devon 

Grace PALMER, Daug, , Female, 8 mths, Okehampton, Devon 

Devon 1871 Census 

Parish of Inwardleigh, Devon, England Address Lurchadon 

Absalom PALMER, Head, M, Male, 49, Ag Labourer, Okehampton, Devon

Grace PALMER, Wife, M, Female, 48, Spreyton, Devon 

Mary Ann PALMER, Daur, U, Female, 21, Okehampton, Devon

James PALMER, Son, U, Male, 15, Mason, Okehampton, Devon

Elizabeth PALMER, Daur, , Female, 12, Okehampton, Devon

Grace PALMER, Daur, , Female, 10, Okehampton, Devon 

Fanny PALMER, Daur, , Female, 8, Okehampton, Devon

Elizabeth PALMER, Mother, W, Female, 85, Sourton, Devon

Anthony PALMER, Nephew, , Male, 8, Okehampton, Devon**

George PALMER, Nephew, , Male, 3 mths, Inwardleigh, Devon**

Samuel MILLS, Servant, U, Male, 18, General Servant, Sourton, Devon

Inwardleigh, a parish, in the union of Oakhampton, hundred of Black Torrington, Black Torrington and Shebbear, and N. divisions of Devon, 32 miles (N. W. by N.) from Oakhampton; containing 715 inhabitants. This parish, which is situated near the rivers Okement and Torridge, and on the road from Oakhampton to Exeter, and on that through Hatherleigh to the north, comprises according to computation 7120 acres, principally arable land; 1300 are common or waste. Stone of good quality for building is quarried, and also for mending the roads. . . The church is an ancient structure, with a square tower. There is a place of worship for Wesleyans; and a school is supported by subscription."

From 1844 Lewis' Topographical Dictionary of England

** it is not clear which brother Anthony and George Palmer were the sons of.

Devon 1881 Census

Parish of Okehampton, Devon, England

Address 6 Geens Cottages

Absalom PALMER, Head, M, Male, 59, Farm Labourer, Okehampton, Devon

Grace PALMER, Wife, M, Female, 59, Spreyton, Devon

Gilbert INGERSON, Son, W, Male, 36, Farm Labourer, Bow, Devon

Grace PALMER, Daur, U, Female, 21, Domestic Servant, Okehampton, Devon

Fanny PALMER, Daur, U, Female, 18, Domestic Servant, Okehampton, Devon

George PALMER, Grand Son, , Male, 10, Scholar, Okehampton, Devon

Gilbert INGERSON, Grand Son, , Male, 8, Scholar, Spreyton, Devon

Alice INGERSON, Grand Daur, , Female, 5, Scholar, Spreyton, Devon

Absalom Palmer came to Australia, presumably after the death of his wife around 1888, given that his death certifcate states he had been in the colony of NSW for 5 years at his death in 1893. The move to Australia seems unusual, considering that Absalom would have had family in Devon and would have made the 3 month voyage at an age around 68. The move was obviously to be with his son Absalom as both appear to be living at 176 Francis St, Leichhardt, prior to his death. On the night of Friday the 9th of June, 1893, Absalom fell into a quarry in Francis St which detail is provided in the Sydney Morning Herald, Monday June 12th 1893:

"Absalom Palmer, 74 years of age, lately residing in Francis St Leichhardt, was found dead on Saturday, in a quarry at the side of the street named, close to his home. The discovery was made by a man named William Walton, also a resident of Francis St. He informed the police, and the body was removed to the South Sydney Morgue. It was lying in a pool of water, and there was a severe scalp wound on the head. It is not known how the deceased got into the quarry, but it is summised that he fell over the edge while on his way home Friday night"

His death certificate states the cause of death as Asphyixia from drowning and shock from having fallen from a height of 15 ft into a waterhole. An inquest into the death was held on the 12th** and returned a verdict of accidentally drowned.

Absalom was buried on the 12th of June at the Necropolis, Church of England portion. His son Absalom Palmer provided details on the death certificate.

Notes for Grace Ingerson:

Grace Ingerson was born in Spreyton, Devon. 

"Spreyton is a village with several neat Houses, on a lofty eminence, about 8 miles E. by N. of Okehampton, and 17 miles W. by N. of Exeter. Its parish contains 3600 acres of land, and 404 inhabitants. The manor was held, for a long period, by the Talbots, whose heiress carried it in marriage to the Kelly family in the reign of Henry VI. It was sold to various freeholders during the last century, and now belongs to Messrs. W.H. Battishull, W.C. Cann, G.L. Gowin, Jno. Norris, Geo. Cann, the Rev. G. Hole, the Rev. R. Holland, and a few smaller owners. Fuidge House, the seat of J. Norris, Esq., is a neat cemented structure, and is pleasantly situated, as also is Barton, the seat of W. H. Battishull, Esq. The Church (St. Michael,) is a plain structure, with a handsome tower, containing five bells, and commanding extensive views in which 30 parish churches are seen."

From 1850 White's Devonshire Directory