Joanna Eames

of Lisbon, Connecticut and Exeter, Rhode Island

       Joanna Eames was born on August 14, 1802 in Lisbon, Connecticut. She was the seventh child of Comfort and Joanna (Penry) Eames.

       On June 15, 1824, at the age of 21, Joanna married Asher Palmer, a 29-year-old widower with four very young children to raise and a farm to run. According to Norwich town records, the marriage was performed by Rev. William S. Palmer. Joanna and Asher's first child, my 3rd great-grandmother, Hannah Emeline, was born a little more than 9 months later.

        During the twenty-seven years of their marriage, Joanna and Asher had twelve children, most of whom survived to adulthood. Counting Asher's four children from his previous marriage, Joanna raised 16 children.

Joanna and Asher Palmer had the following children:

        Asher's father, Uriah Palmer, died in 1832. In his will, Uriah made Asher, and Asher's mother Elizabeth, executors to the estate. Asher inherited all of Uriah's real estate lying in Exeter and Hopkinton, Rhode Island. The family then moved to Exeter, where seven of the twelve Palmer children were born (Emily, Caroline, William, Henry, Sarah, Horace and Edwin).

        By 1850, Asher and Joanna moved just over the Rhode Island border to Griswold, Connecticut. The family appears in the 1850 Census for Griswold, Connecticut, with children Jared, Emily, Caroline, William, Henry, Sarah, Horace and Edwin.

        Joanna and Asher's son, Jared, died at the age of nineteen on November 27, 1851. Asher died one month later, on December 24, 1851. He was fifty-five years old. Joanna, age forty-seven, still had seven children between the ages of three and eighteen living at home. She raised them all on her own, although two of her sons, William, age 25, and Horace, age 20, died in 1863 during the Civil War.

        Asher and Joanna were buried at the Ames Cemetery in Lisbon, Connecticut, along with several of their children (Jared, William, Horace and others).

        Joanna and Asher's tenth child and youngest daughter, Sarah Harvey Palmer, wrote poetry, some of which was published. Sarah wrote the following poems for her mother:

In this poem, Joanna's name is spelled with
the first letter of each stanza.

ACROSTIC

J-ourneying on o'er life's rough way
O-ever be faithful from day to day
A-nd ever remember that this world of sorrow
N-eeds many a prayer for each tomorrow
N-ever forget that thy Savior is near
A-nd will love you and help, while journeying here.

P-ain and sickness and sorrow here
A-ll must endure, but, never fear,
L-eft early alone in the battle of life
M-any trials and troubles thou hast met in the strife
E-ver lend to the Lord a listening ear
R-emember he'll help you while journeying here.

[written between 1880 and 1882]

BIRTHDAY POEM

Dear Mother, eighty years old today!
Your children have gathered to say
That they have journeyed from far and near
To celebrate Mother's eightieth year.

And, dear Mother, over your hearth and home
Lights and shadows have come and gone
The loved and lost; for dear Mother wait
Watching for you at the Beautiful Gate.

Though your hair is whitened and thinned by time
Yet your form is erect; as in your prime;
And you have known many hopes and fears
Mid the lights and shadows of eighty years.

Your sons and daughters a tribute bring
Your children's children your praises sing
May He who has lengthened out your days
Tenderly watch o'er all your ways.

May God keep you from sickness, pain and tears
Till your days are lengthened to a hundred years
And when on earth our days are all told
Above may our names be found enrolled.

Aug. 14th 1882

 

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