PALMER, Nathaniel (c.1661-1718), of Fairfield, Stogursey, Som.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1660-1690, ed. B.D. Henning, 1983
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

10 May 1699
Dec. 1701

Family and Education

b. c.1661, 2nd but 1st surv. s. of Peregrine Palmer, and bro. of Thomas Palmer. educ. Winchester 1675; Trinity, Oxf. matric. 22 Mar. 1678, aged 17; M. Temple 1678. m. c.1682, Frances (d. 14 May 1712) da. of Sir William Wyndham, 1st Bt., of Orchard Wyndham, Som., 2s. 4da. suc. fa. 1684.1

Offices Held

J.p. Som. 1683-Feb. 1688, Oct. 1688-?d., dep. lt. 1684-7, 1689-?d.; commr. for assessment, Som. and Suss. 1689-90; col. of militia ft. Som. by 1697-?d.2

Biography

Palmer’s long parliamentary career began within a few months of his inheritance of his father’s Somerset and Sussex estates. In 1685 the ‘truly loyal’ party in Bridgwater were eager to elect him, but Palmer preferred to stand for Minehead where he was duly returned. He was not an active Member of James II’s Parliament, being named only to the committee for the bill to prevent the export of wool. As the reign progressed, Palmer’s allegiance to the Court diminished and as an Anglican he refused his consent to the repeal of the Test and Penal Laws. In November 1688 he was among the first to join the Prince of Orange at Exeter. He sat again for Minehead in the Convention and voted to agree with the Lords that the throne was not vacant. His only committee was again on a bill to prevent the export of wool. Under William III and Anne he generally voted with the Tories, but he signed the Association in 1696. He died on 16 Jan. 1718, aged 57, and was buried at Stogursey, being succeeded by his eldest son, MP for Bridgwater between 1715 and 1734.3

Ref Volumes: 1660-1690

Author: Irene Cassidy

Notes

  • 1. HMC Portland, iii. 352; Harbin, Som. Members, 181.
  • 2. Q. Sess. Recs. (Som. Rec. Soc. xxxiv), p. xv; Som. RO, Q/JC99, 100; CSP Dom. 1690-1, p. 358; Cal. Treas. Bks. xvii. 752; Eg. 1626, f. 39.
  • 3. CSP Dom. 1685, p. 54; Hatton Corresp. (Cam. Soc. n.s. xxii), 106; CJ, x. 52; M. I. Stogursey.