His ancestors were "0f pure Saxon stock". They came from Cambridgeshire where they lived and farmed for generations. The memory of one of them, Hugh Palmer, was "held in great respect by the veterans of the village as a great athlete and a good fair opponent in any sport" •1

He worked as a Hansard reporter in the House of Commons with Charles Dickens and his father. Vance Palmer thought that he may have been sent to Australia to spread the Guerney system of shorthand.

He emigrated to Australa in 1838. In Sydney he worked on the Sydney Morning Herald, then was shorthand writer to the Legislative Assembly •2 He wrote verse and contributed to the Bulletin.

The family was living in Liverpool Road in 1844, Liverpool St, Hyde Park in 1845, and at 17 Bay St. Wooloomooloo in 1860.

--Invalid Dates
Death: 1906 Or 1908

•1 Note written by daughter of James Hugh Palmer, Edith Palmer
•2 See Vance Palmer, Meanjin 2 1959