From Palmyra, NY to Palmyra, MI
Our Migrating Ancestors

While researching our Palmyra, Wayne County, NY ancestors we discovered that some had migrated to Michigan in the 1830's. Looking in the census records, we found them living in a town called Palmyra, MI and knew it had to be more than just a coincidence. What we found was a number of Wayne County, NY residents that purchased land (usually in lots of 80 acres) in Lenawee County, MI starting in the early 1820's. While many did settle on those lands, we also found a number of people who purchased land in Michigan but never left Wayne county. We can only guess that perhaps land was purchased as an investment to lease out or to give to their children as a wedding present. In our case, it was the father's name that appears on the deed but it was his daughter and son-in-law who settle in Palmyra, MI shortly after they wed.

"Although the first purchase of land in Palmyra Township was made October 7, 1823, by N. W. Wadsworth, settlers did not arrive until 1826 when Ezra Goff and Henry J. Paddock established their residence here. These two pioneers were soon followed by Timothy B. Goff, William Foster, Benjamin Mather, Americus Smith, Nathan Gibbs, Jr., Julius Gibbs, Daniel Clark, Lester P. Clark, Walter P. Clark, John Comstock, Wait Chapin, William Beldin, Benjamin Clark, Stephen Warner, Alonzo Mitchell, Horace Whitmarsh, Robert Craig, Orrin and Nathaniel Gleason, Dr. C. C. Robinson, Rueben Harvey, Gershom Noyes, Alexander R. Tiffany, Asahel Brown, George Colvin, Edwin Hollaway and Edward Underwood. Another early settler in Palmyra Township was William Fuller. Mr. Fuller purchased eighty five acres from the government at the rate of 85 cents per acre............."

"Historical Sketch of Palmyra, Michigan Through 1949" from the Lenawee County Historical Society Museum Archives
      Courtesy of Carol Stevens

From land deeds we learned that the Goff, Beldin, Gleason, Robinson, Fuller, Hathaway, and Field families came from Wayne County, NY.* A number of others came from surrounding counties. Many of these surnames can be found in the 1830 Federal Census, Lenawee County, MI. The township of Palmyra, Lenawee County, MI is enumerated for the first time in the 1840 Federal Census and listed the following residents:

Resources

* Bureau of Land Management Website www.glorecords.blm.gov

Suggested reading - "There Was A Place Called What???" In Lenawee County Michigan, by Carol Stevens

For more info about the book, and what's in it, check out Old Settlement and Post Office Names of Lenawee County

Be sure and visit Lenawee County, MIGenWeb!

Submitted by Ed & Sherry Golem. Please contact us with any corrections or additions.

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