Henry was a representative from Newbury in 1667, 1674, 1676-80 before moving to Haverhill. Henry was one of the followers of Rev. John Ward who was the pastor of the first church in Haverhill. Henry along with several others from Newbury and Ipswich were looking for more land and proceeded up the Merrimack River in 1640 as far as the Little River that empties into the Merrimack a few miles below Mitchell's Falls. (3)

On 10 Apr. 1644 John Emery had a grant of 22 acres and 5 rods being his and Henry Palmer's portion of the "Divident" land in the great field beyond the new town.(6)

At the General Court in May 1647: "The town of Haverell having chosen Robert Clements, Henry Palmer and Thom: Hale to end small causes, they are alowed."(2)

The Court had prohibited Joseph Peasley and Thomas Macy of Salisbury from exhorting the people on the Sabbath in the absence of the minster. In 1653 Robert Pike of Salisbury declared that "such persons as did act in making that law, did break their oath to the country, for it is against the liberty of the country, both civil and ecclesiastical". For expressing himself Pike was disenfranchised by the General Court and fined. At the next court in May a petition was presented by a large number of the inhabitants of Hampton, Salisbury, Newbury, Haverhill and Andover praying that Pike's sentence might be revoked. One of the signers was Henry Palmer.(4)

In 1654 a law was passed prohibiting all persons except those specially lisenced from selling "any Indian or Indians, either wine or strong liquors of any sort" under a penalty of 20 s per pint! Henry was the only one lisenced in Haverhill to sell liquor to the Indians.(5)

In the Name and ffeare of God Amen I Henry Palmer of Haverill Upon Merimack River in the collony of the Massachusetts in New England being sick and weak in body butt sound and solled in my understanding and of a disposeing mind Doe make this my last will and Testament as followeth.

Haveing comitted my soule to Allmighty God the father of Spiritts and unto Jesus Christ my only saviour & Redemer by the Helpe of the holy Ghoste my comforter in all my troubles and Afflictions that have befalne mee in this world And touching the Disposall of my fraile body I comitt the care of my Interment to my Executors Hereafter mentioned to bee pformed in a Christian and Decentt maner and to bee layd by my Dear wife in Haverill Burieing place by Gods pmition

And for whatt Estate God hath Given mee in this world my will is thatt my Just Debts bee Honestly payd and Discharged and that my land bee Disposed of as is here after mentioned,

Ittm I Doe Give unto my Grand child John Dalton thatt peece of my East medow thatt lyeth on the East side of the River yt Runeth through thatt medow and I Also Give to John Dalton all my land in the upper and lower plaine more or less as itt is

Itt I Doe Give unto John Dalton two cowe comonages in the Towne of Haverill

Itt I Doe Give unto Elizabeth Ayers my Grand Daughter now the wife of John Clemante fower Acres of planting land lying northward of the Towne Joyning to the land of Robertt Swan, and one Acker of Accomadations,

Itt I Doe Give unto my Grand Son Samuell Ayers the uper peece of my East medow lying on the west side of the River, to Ad to whatt land he hath Alredy in possession.

Itt I Doe Give unto my Grand son Timothie Ayers the lower peece of my East medows lying on the west sid of the River with whatt other land hee hath already in possession

Itt I Doe GIve unto Zacarias whitte formerly my Servant Eleaven Acres of land in the ox comon Abuting upon the way thatt Goeth to the pond medow, or the vallue thereof as It shall be Apprized by two Indiferant men

Ittem I Doe Give Unto my Son Robert Ayers and my Daughter Elizabeth his wife, All my Spickett medows as itt is bounded in the Towne book of Haverill

Itt I Doe Give unto my sone and Daughter Ayers all my medow in thatt medows comonly called the west medows as iit is bounded in the Towne book and these medows att the Decease of my son Ayers to bee Equally Devided betwixt my two Grand children Samuell and Timothy Ayers

Itt I Doe Give unto my Son Robertt Ayers and my son Samuell Dalton my third and fourth Division of land with all other Rigts in the Towne of Haverill nott otherwise Disposed of

Itt I Doe Give unto my Son Samuell Dalton & to my Daughter Mehetabel his wife my Dwelling house & my House lott and orchyard as itt is bounded in the Towne book of haverill only my Son Ayers is to have the one halfe of the frute of the orchyard for five years and all the frute this year in consideration of paying of a Debt of five pound Due to mr. Russell, and all these pcells of land above mentioned I Doe Give to my children & Grand children as they are mentioned to them and their Ayers for Ever.

And I Doe Give unto my Daughter Elizabeth Ayers my Bed thatt I ly upon with all the furnituer there unto belonging

Ittem I Doe Give Unto my Son Samuell Dalton my best cloak & coate & my best sute and all the Rest of the movables within Dores and withoutt shall be Equally Devided between my two Daughters Exept one bras pott which I Give to Mehetable Ayers

And I make & Appoint my two Sons Robert Ayers & Samuell Dalton to bee my Exequetors to this my last will which I Signe & Seale this 10: July 1680.

Witness: Andru Grele, Sen., Thomas Eatton, Sen.
Proved in Ipswich court Sept. 28, 1680 by the witnesses.

Inventory taken July 17, 1680, by Thomas Whittier, Robert Clement, Robert Swan, sr. and John Griffing:

His House, House lott & orchyard containing six Acres....................................... 150 li
nine Comonages.............................................................................................. 36 li
his 3 pcells of East medow containing six Acres & Halfe..................................... 30 li
two Ackers of west medow.............................................................................. 20 li
foure Acres in the pond plaine.......................................................................... 4 li
five Acres in the lower plaine........................................................................... 20 li
five Acres in the upper plaine........................................................................... 15 li
fower Acres & halfe of Spicket medow............................................................. 35 li
aboutt two hundred Acres of 3d Division........................................................... 50 li
a peece of medow att Chineris pond.................................................................. 2 li
his fourth Division of land not yet laid out containing one hundred & 70 Acres..... 27 li
a peece of medow bought of steven Kent.......................................................... 4 li
11 Acres of land in the ox Comon..................................................................... 11 li
two Cowes & a two yer old Heffer................................................................... 10 li
13 sheep & 4 lambs......................................................................................... 16 li
his bed and other beding.................................................................................. 9 li
wearing cloathes wooling & linin, Hatts, stockins, shoes & Gloves...................... 18 li
3 yrds of sarge............................................................................................... 18 s
potts, pothooks, hake, slice, tongs, chafin dish, Grigioron, fire fork & tongs........ 2 li
3 puter dishes, 3 cups, two pots...................................................................... 1 li. 4s
one table, 4 chaires & stooles, box, chests & trunk........................................... 1 li. 10s
one bible & other Bookes............................................................................... 1 li. 10s
2 pitch forks, 2 Rakes, taylors tooles, an ax, wedg, Rings & a short Gunn........... 1 li
one stock of bees & one yong Swarme............................................................ 1 li
old tubes & other lumber................................................................................ 12 s
Total............................................................................................................ 456 li. 14s.

Attested in Ipswich court Sept. 28, 1680 by Mr. Samuell Dalton and Robt. Ayers, the executors.(1)

In 1683 the minister and 13 others voted to buy the house where Henry Palmer lived and died for the use of the ministry forever and to place the new meeting house upon the old site, but they were voted down by 34 others. The next year the parish voted to buy William Startin's home which was accepted. The vote to move into a new meeting house did not pass until 1698.

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