Palmer's wife Joanna was the stepdaughter of Benjamin Laker, who
emigrated to the
Carolinas in the 1680s from
England, an associate of
Thomas Grantham and signer of the 1663 edition of the Standard Confession of Faith. According to Elder John T. Albritton: [Palmer] was said to have been a native of
Maryland, was baptized in
Delaware, and ordained in
Connecticut. He was some time in
New Jersey, and removed thence to Maryland, and thence to
Perquimans County, NC. He belonged to the General Baptists, and was actively engaged in the work of the ministry for many years in this State, traveling over a large portion of Eastern Carolina, winning converts wherever he went. While in Maryland, Palmer served the First Baptist Church in
Baltimore County. Around 1727, Palmer founded North Carolina's first Baptist church at Perquimans (present day
Shiloh) in
Camden County. Palmer and his wife Joanna were indicted by the North Carolina provincial courts for their ministry. It is generally accepted that Palmer died in 1747. ==References==