The writer's mother |
Mr. Saburo Isogaya |
29 June 1983
I am compiling a biography of Henry Spencer Palmer for the Dictionary of Canadian Biography.
For your information, I am enclosing an obituary of Palmer, who died in Tokyo, 10 March 1893 (Should be 10 February 1893).
A member of the family visited Tokyo in 1934 and found that someone was putting fresh flower on his grave.
The last page of the obituary outlines his work in Japan.
I need some documentation to support this outline of Palmer's work in Japan.
On the subject of his grave, is it possible to find out if it is still there, who was caring for it, and if it is still being cared for?
Any help or advice would be very much appreciated.
Frances Woodward
Ms. Francis. Woodward |
On May 18, 1984, I left Japan, and initially visited Ms. Woodward at the U.B.C.Box. 8, Lanzville B.C.
Canada VOR2HO
March 8, 1984
Dear Cousin Higuchi
I was delighted beyond words to hear from Frances Woodward that the PALMER clan is far more extensive than previously thought!
This brings very warm regards from your Canadian cousin.
My brother Alec Rogers and I are the children of H.S.P.'s youngest daughter Irene. There are Mary Vivian and her sister, Marjorie Ferguson, both in their 80's who live in England, daughters of Evelyn Mary Bennett, another of H.S.P.'s daughters.
Bill Palmer who lived in California until his death about 10 years ago was the last of the Palmer males to have any children and his only offspring was a female as was the case with Uta (my grandmother) and H.S.P. (Frances sent me a copy of your family tree).
Unfortunately this spills the demise of the Palmer name.
Bill was the one who did all the genealogical work on the Palmers and I know he would have enjoyed meeting you.
I have told his widow Sherry of your existence and she is as excited as I.
If it hadn't been for such as Frances, we would probably never have discovered each other's existence!
I am writing to both Mary and Marjorie in England to tell them the news and called Sherry Palmer by phone as mentioned earlier.
Sincerely
Mary Huntley
The writer, Ms. F. Woodward & Mrs. Mary Huntley |
Mrs. W. Palmer & her sister |
Ms. Perry Palmer & the writer |
June 5 1984
Bicknoller
Taunton
Somerset
Dear Cousin Jiro Higuchi,
I have been watching with the greatest interest your correspondence with my cousin Mary Huntley, and also hearing about your meeting, and now I hope you will let me add the little I can tell you of our grandfather H.S.P.
All my mother (Evelyn) ever said was that she had kept house for him, so I imagine she was there when your mother was born!
After her father's death, she went down to Hongkong to fill a vacancy in the newly opened British Hospital as she was a trained nurse.
I think she had taken up nursing to escape from her unhappy lone life.
I wish I had more to tell you of family history, but my mother said very little about her father, which is sad when he was such a distinguished man.
I hope one day I may see the biography you are working on, and at least it is a great comfort that you are proud of him and have undertaken this labour of love.
With kind regards
yours sincerely
Mary Vivian
Mrs. Mary Vivian |
The writer, Mrs. Marjorie Ferguson & Family |
Chapter 5 | Note | Brief History of H.S. Palmer | Bibliography |