Henry C. Palmer … maybe time to kill a Myth! (1 Viewer)

[Björn Bergenholtz]

Some info, regarding the man commemorated in the following birds:

● the extinct Laysan Crake (Zapornia) Porzana palmeri FROHAWK 1892 (here) as "Porzanula Palmeri"
● the extinct Greater Koa-Finch (Loxioides) Rhodacanthis palmeri ROTHSCHILD 1892 (here) as "Rhodacanthis Palmeri"
● the Puaiohi Myadestes palmeri ROTHSCHILD 1893 (here) as "Phæornis palmeri"

= the fairly unknown British collector Henry Charles Palmer (1866-1920), who after his services for Lord Rothschild 1889/1890–1893, returned to England, married and then emigrated to Australia in 1894 … but he was not "obscurely murdered on the Goldfields" of Australia "while panning for Gold" as the Myth tells us (an ending, stimulating to the imagination, retold and repeated in numerous books, articles, travel reports etc. etc., and most certainly on the internet, over and over, in various versions)!!!

Even the normally reliable NHM (here) keep the Tale alive!? No wonder so many bought it …

But instead of going on an adventurous Gold digging quest, Henry Palmer apparently worked, for the rest of his life, as a News Agent, in Petersham (today a suburb of Sydney)] and he seems to have died far less violently (but unpleasant enough), by "‘syncope’ – indicating a sudden drop in blood pressure resulting in the loss of consciousness and likely cardiac arrest", at Bowral Road, Mittagong, New South Wales, Australia, on the 8th February, 1920 … on his 54th Birthday!

At least if we´re to trust the following texts by the apparently well-researched "Birdwriter" Andrew Esposito; here and here (and there are quite a few other well-written and fascinating posts as well).

Disclaimer: This is based (almost) solely on those blog-posts! I haven´t checked Mr. Palmer myself any deeper. I just happened to find this info while checking and confirming the etymology of the exotic Common names; Akohekohe, Kakawahie and Puaiohi!

Take it for what it´s worth!

But I think it looks trust-worthy.

Björn

PS. The same Henry (Charles) Palmer is also commemorated in the Generic name Palmeria ROTHSCHILD 1893 (here):
● as in today's Critically Endangered Akohekohe Palmeria dolei (i.e. "Himatione dolei" WILSON 1891, here). [Rothschild's "Palmeria mirabilis", of 1893, was simply an adult specimen of the same species that Wilson already had described in 1891. See link, here. (I would assume yet another topic for Mr. Esposito!? Compare with other similar stories told in his blog-posts).]

PPS. What does Justin say? What´s your conclusion? Do you agree with Mr. Esposito? You´ve apparently looked into "Henry C Palmer" (in a long and lingering thread) on RootsChat (here, even with a Photo (!), here, of what is supposed to be the obscure Mr. Palmer!). As far as I can tell he was born in Cambridge (i.e. Soham), England.

/B

And just for the fun of it; attached, is a drawing from Rothschild's The avifauna of Laysan and the neighbouring islands : … (1893-1900), with Palmer among Frigate birds.
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[JustinJansen]

My information has by no means complete (did not work for years on this..... due to time lack). Andrew Esposito is way further then me, and he found even his grave at Rookwood Cementery in SW Sydney, he died at 8 February 1920 on his birthday and is in the same grave as Nelly Palmer died 7 May 1939.

In red is just unsorted text.

PALMER, Henry Charles - English. B. 8-02-1856, Old, Northamptonshire - D. 8-02-1920, Mittagong, New South Wales, Australia. His mother was Eliza. He married with Nellie (or Nelly) Taylor at 1893 at St. Barnabas Church in Cambridge. They became three daughters and one son (1894 – 1903) in Australia. Although a well-known collector at Hawaii, large parts of his life remain obscure. Walter Rothschild contacted him during 1889/1890 to collect specimens for him at the Chatham Islands. So he went by early 1890 towards these remote islands, and collected here. Rothschild was so pleased with the consignments that he instructed him to precede to Hawaii. His collecting activities here lasted to August 1893 and no less than 1.832 skins where secured. He went here with George Campbell Munro. He returned sick during August 1893 towards England. By October 1893 he was a Cambridge and married here. He and his wife took the P&O liner Rome at 12-04-1894 towards Sydney. He settled at 296 Parramatta Road, Petersham a suburb from Sydney. Here he became newsagent and stationer at the same address. He died at Mittagong southwest of Sydney.
°It. Analyzing his collecting records, the data found here give his following itinerary; In 1889 various locations in California where visited in February and an odd date is given for December 1885 for California. His long journey started at 1 May and June 1890 at the Chatham Islands, to arrive 25-12-1890 at Kauai and remained here till 24-04-1891, May he was found at Bird Island and at Kauai, the island Laysan was visited at 10-06-1891 till 03-07-1891, in July he collected Kauai and at Midway island (16 till 19-07-1891) he the continued to Hawaii and visited this from 11-09-1891 till 20-12-1891. In 1892 little is found except that he collected at the early part (February-March) at Hawaii island, the at Kaui Island at the end of March, Maui in 6-31 October, Lanai 07-26 Nov 1892, and Molokai 17-12-1892 till 11-02-1893 Molokai, Kauai 24-03-1891 & 02-07-1893, Oahu 04-04-1893 till 09-06-1893 and Nuhau Island 27 Jul 1893. 1891 visited Midway between 11 and 19 July.
°Com. W.L. Rotschild described; Puaiohi (Small Kuai Thrush) Myadestes palmeri (1893); Great Koa Finsch Rhodacenthis palmeri (Rothschild 1892)
F.W. Frowhawk described; Laysan Crake Porzana palmeri (1892) Lectotype AMNH 546191
The genus Palmeria (Rothschild 1893) consisting out of one species Akohekohe (Crested Honeycreeper) Palmeria dolei (S.B. Wilson 1891) is commemorated for Palmer.
°Typ col. W.L. Rotschild described; Laysan Albatross Diomedea immutabilis (1893) Holotype AMNH; Laysan Duck Anas laysanensis (1892) Lectotype AMNH; New Zealand Pigeon Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae chathamensis (1891) Lectotype AMNH; Millerbird Acrocephalus f familiaris (1892) Lectotype AMNH; Puaiohi Myadestes palmeri (1893) Holotype AMNH
G.M. Mathews described; Fairy Prion Pachyptila turtur huttoni (1912) Lectotype AMNH
E. Hartert described; Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralagus chathamensis (1927) Holotype AMNH
Anthus novaeseelandiae chathamensis (Lorenz von Liburnau 1902), HOLOTYPE: AMNH
Laysan Rail
Greater Koa-Finch
Lesser Koa-finch
Greater Amakihi
Maui Parrotbill
Bishop’s OO
°Col. -3 At leiden extinxt Kona Grosbeak Laysan Crake Porzana palmeri (Frohawk, 1892) Olomao or Lanai Thrush Myadestes lanaiensis lanaiensis (Wilson, 1891) Kamao or Large Kauai Thrush Myadestes myadestinus (Stejneger, 1887) Synomym Loxops wolstenholmei (Rotschild 1893) = Loxops rufa (Bloxam). Specimens (known) present in foreign collections: Berlin: - Chloridops kona (2), Moho braccatus, Hemignathus procerus; BMNH: - 3 millerbirds, 1 Bishop’s Ou; AMNH: - 537 skins; USNM: - 1
°Bio. Rothschild W 1895. Note on the Loxops of Oahu. Novitates zooloicae 54.
1893[Photographs Taken on Palmer's Expedition for Walter Rothschild in the Chatham Islands and Hawaiian Islands, 1890-1893].

 

[Björn Bergenholtz]

Thanks Justin!

That was quick! Except for the birth year this confirms what Mr. Esposito claim!

= Henry Charles Palmer (1866–1920), British collector (for Walter Rothschild) from 1889–August 1893; in California 1889, on the Chatham Islands 1890, the Hawaii Islands 1890–1893 and a last, short stop at Midway, in 1893, before he returned to England … and onwards, as told in post No. 1.

Once again: thanks!

Björn

PS. Regarding the birth (and place) also see the latest post on RootsChat (links also in post No.1).
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[Björn Bergenholtz]

Here's a small post (from NHM) linking Henry C. Palmer to both Cambridge, England and Petersham, N.S.W., Australia (here).

It does look like Mr. Esposito is correct!

 

[Björn Bergenholtz]

Today's HBW Alive Key:

palmeri […]
● Henry Charles Palmer (1866-1920) English collector for Lord Rothschild in California 1889, Chatham Is. 1890, Hawaiian Is. 1890–1893, and Midway 1893, emigrated to Australia 1894 (Björn Bergenholtz and Justin Jansen in litt.) (Phaeornis, Porzanula, Rhodacanthis).
[…]

PALMERIA
(Drepanididae; Ϯ Crested Honeycreeper P. dolei) Henry Charles Palmer (1866-1920) English collector for Lord Rothschild in California 1889, Chatham Is. 1890, Hawaiian Is. 1890–1893, and Midway 1893, emigrated to Australia 1894 (Björn Bergenholtz and Justin Jansen in litt.).

Thanks James, but no Credit is needed on my Part on this one. Andrew Esposito and Justin are the two that deserves it. They are the ones who digged into this issue. I just happened to find those web-pages, simply fumbling about, googling around, the internet.

But I´m sure glad we cracked this one!

 

[Andrew Esposito]

Hello Bjorn & Justin,

I'm glad to see some interest in Henry Palmer. Justin was the inspiration with all the genealogical work on rootchat backed by a savvy research team. I was researching for my book, Killing Paradise, about rare/extinct birds of Hawaii, particularly of the late 19th century at the time and luckily was based in Sydney.

I also have done a lot of research on Scott B. Wilson. As mentioned, my blog www.birdwriter.com contains a lot of posts related to the topic. I also regularly tweet @ birdwriter on conservation, rewilding etc.

If anyone would like any details on Hawaiian bird discoveries, extinctions, conservation and the people involved please either start a thread on Bird Forum on email me direct on [email protected]. I'm happy to share any information and always interested in any discussion.



Best regards

Andrew

 

[Fred Ruhe]

If anyone would like any details on Hawaiian bird discoveries, extinctions, conservation and the people involved please either start a thread on Bird Forum on email me direct on [email protected]. I'm happy to share any information and always interested in any discussion.



Best regards

Andrew

Well, I am very interested in extinct Hawaiian birds, can we disuss them on the bird paleantology subforum ?


All the best,

Fred

 

[Björn Bergenholtz]

Hi Andrew!

Welcome to BirdForum and especially to the Bird Name Etymology sub-forum!

Your knowledge of most issues connected to Hawaii will be of great help!

Glad you joined in!

Björn

PS. Have you found anything contradictory on the English ornithologist and collector "Scott Burchard Wilson (1865–1923)" ... ?

... I also have done a lot of research on Scott B. Wilson. ...

 

[Taphrospilus]

But The Eponym Dictionary of Birds still claimed thy myth:

Hawaiian Honeycreeper genus Palmeria Rothschild, 1893
Greater Koa Finch Rhodacanthis palmeri Rothschild, 1892 EXTINCT
Laysan Rail Porzana palmeri Frohawk, 1892 EXTINCT
Palmer's Thrush Myadestes palmeri Rothschild, 1893 [Alt. Small Kauai Thrush, Puaiohi]
Henry C.Palmer (d. 1894/1895) was Australian and probably a sailor, but very little is known about him. Rothschild (q.v.) employed him as a collector and sent him to the Chatham Islands late in 1889. A year later he collected in Hawaii (1890–1893) and sent back a considerable number of skins from which Rothschild named 18 new species and subspecies. He worked in Hawaii with a couple of New Zealanders as assistants - George Munro (q.v.) (until March 1892) then Ted Wolstenholme (q.v.). Having left Hawaiii he made a short vist to England (presumably to Tring among other places) and then returned to Australia. Here he went to the goldfields, where he was reportedly murdered.

So take it for what's worth.