Person:William Palmer (136)

In 1817 William wrote to his uncle, John Neilson, in Quebec, asking about the possibilities of emigrating. His uncle replied that, at 21, William was too old to find successful employment in Canada. (John Neilson had emigrated at age 16.) [Source: Neilson correspondence at Library and Archives Canada]. William later went to Pictou, in Nova Scotia, where he died at the age of 31.

1. ↑ Letters: John Neilson to William Neilson, etc.

   Information that nephew William Palmer, who had expressed an interest in joining his uncle in Quebec, was in Pictou and died there. (correspondence in Neilson correspondence, Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa)

2.   Balmaghie Stone 281, in Mitchell, Alison. The Stewartry of Kirkcudbright monumental inscriptions pre 1855. (Edinburgh, Scotland EH1 2JL: Scottish Genealogy Society, c1990-)
   Vol 1, chap 4, p 52.

   William Palmer late in Ern-Genoch died 11 Feb 1837 aged 70;
   children: Mary, 25 Feb 1792 infant;
   Agnes, 7 Feb 1802 aged 18mths;
   Jean, 19 Aug 1816 aged 14;
   son William, died North America Oct 1826 aged 31;
   widow Margaret Neilson, 16 Nov 1851 aged 84;
   daughter Margaret, died Gatehouse 10 Sep 1871 aged 67;
   daughter Mary, died Gatehouse 13 May 1891 aged 82.