Robert John Palmer

Robert John Palmer
Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives
In office
1876–1878
Personal details
Born(1849-01-18)January 18, 1849
South Carolina, U.S.
DiedMay 12, 1928(1928-05-12) (aged 79)
New York, New York, U.S.
Resting placeRandolph Cemetery
SpouseJulia Simons
RelativesDave Chappelle (great-great-grandson)

Robert John Palmer (born January 18, 1849 – May 12, 1928) (there are multiple reported birth and death dates all within the same month)[1] was a tailor and politician born into slavery in South Carolina.[2] Palmer was a state representative from 1876 to 1878 and had a tailor shop opposite the post office on Main Street in Columbia, South Carolina.[3][4]

He had a daughter, Rosina C. Palmer, with Julia Simons in Columbia in the 1870s.[5] He subsequently married Adelaide Perry and had eight children.[3] After Adelaide died he married Leila P. Bruce January 12, 1913.[5]

He is the great-great-grandfather of stand-up comedian Dave Chappelle.[6]

He is buried in Randolph Cemetery along with eight other Reconstruction Era legislators.[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Robert John Palmer (1849-1928) - Find A Grave..." www.findagrave.com. Retrieved 2021-02-06.
  2. ^ Bryant, Lawrence Chesterfield (June 1, 1967). "Negro Legislators in South Carolina 1868-1902". School of Graduate Studies, South Carolina State College – via Google Books.
  3. ^ a b Deas-Moore, Vennie (September 18, 2012). Columbia, South Carolina. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9781439610909 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ vitabrevis.americanancestors.org
  5. ^ a b "South Carolina leaders". July 2020.
  6. ^ Child, Christopher Challender, "South Carolina leaders". July 1, 2020.
  7. ^ National register of Historic Places - Randolph Cemetery. 12 Dec 1994. Retrieved 31 May 2020.