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Recently, I made a special trip up to Evergreen Cemetery in Leominster, Massachusetts to see the grave of Joseph Palmer, a veteran of the War of 1812 and a member of the short-lived Utopian community “the Fruitlands”. I’m not much of a history buff, so why would I drive halfway across the state to seek out the grave of a man who died a century before I was born? It was too interesting of a story not to investigate.
The “Crime”
He was described as a kind and tolerant man, but life was not easy for Joseph Palmer after he moved to Fitchburg, Massachusetts in 1830. People would openly insult him, throw rocks at him, regularly break the windows of his home, and even cross the street so as not to be near him when he passed by. Even though he was deeply religious man who regularly attended church services, Palmer was publicly denounced during sermons by his pastor, Rev. George Trask, and even refused communion.
What awful thing had this small town butcher done to warrant such persecution? Joseph Palmer’s crime was that he was the only citizen in Fitchburg, Massachusetts who chose to wear a full beard, which (contrary to my vision of the 1800’s being a beard grower’s paradise) had been out of fashion in the United States since the time of the Pilgrims.
The Assault On Beard Mountain
In fact, Palmer was so reviled that in 1830, while walking out of the Old Fitchburg Hotel, he was attacked by four men who attempted to forcefully shave his beard on the grounds that his beard was immoral. Palmer was thrown on the stone stairs, and even though he was a muscular, 200 pound farmer, he was unable to repel the four men and resorted to stabbing two of his assailants in the legs with his jackknife. His attackers were only hurt badly enough to curtail their efforts, but Palmer was arrested and fined for committing an unprovoked assault. Even though he had the resources, he refused to pay the fine on principle, and was jailed as a debtor in the Worcester city jail. He spent over a year in prison, during which time he repelled two more attempts by jailers and prisoners who sought to shave his beard against his will.
Palmer would be quietly released thanks to the large amount of bad press that was generated by his story as it wound its way through the national newspapers, but he would refuse to leave until he could secure a proclamation that it was perfectly acceptable to wear a beard. He was never given that assurance, and he was eventually tied to a chair and carried out of the jail against his will.
The Aftermath
Joseph Palmer achieved national celebrity status at the time, and used his position to contribute time and money to the Temperance and Abolitionist movements. He would go on to circulate in New England intellectual circles with Transcendentalists like Emerson and Thoreau, and even appears as the character, Moses White in the Louisa May Alcott’s Transcendental Wild Oats.
Palmer died in 1873 at the age of 84, and on his grave in Leominster, Massachusetts is a picture of a man with long, flowing beard and the words, “Persecuted for wearing the beard”. He was one of the most ridiculed and persecuted men of his time simply because he chose to stand up against the herd in support of his right to wear a beard. Not ten years before Palmer’s death, Abraham Lincoln would be the first president of the United States to wear a beard in office.
The next time you’re feeling like a freak and thinking about giving up your individuality for a spot in the herd, remember: resistance is not futile, and sometimes freaks are only freaks because they’re ahead of their time.
April 14th, 2008 at 10:26 pm
I love hearing of the more obscure figures from history. And FH, being an avid fan of history, will love this - I emailed this post to him.
April 15th, 2008 at 11:33 am
You should write up an article and post it on Wikipedia.org. I couldn’t find any information out there about him, but he definitely sounds like someone who should be there.
April 17th, 2008 at 10:49 am
In your Life of Riley post I went searching for this guy, and Jacob is right, there really isn’t much info on him at all regarding his persecution.
I’m not big on history, but this was actually quite interesting.
May 1st, 2008 at 8:28 am
Wow, that was inspiring! I’m almost tempted to grow out my own beard now. For one thing, I wouldn’t have to shave my neck any more…
May 2nd, 2008 at 12:12 pm
I think I’ve found a new hero - “carried out of jail against his will” !
Joe Palmer, the man, the beard, the legend.
May 2nd, 2008 at 3:06 pm
WOW!!! Now there’s an entry. I am a history buff so stuff like this gets my blood flowing. He wasn’t just persistent but determined to be who he needed to be. How shameful that where ever he went someone told him who he should be but how inspiring it is to know he didn’t listen, in fact he boldly stood up for himself. Very, very nice entry as an example of individual integrity.
Austin of Sundrip Journals
May 2nd, 2008 at 11:46 pm
I thought you might like this quote here:
America wasn’t founded so that we could all be better. America was founded so we could all be anything we damned well pleased.
P. J. O’Rourke
May 3rd, 2008 at 12:03 am
…and today his great-great grandson continues to face persecution for “wearing a beard”.
Poor Tom Cruise. When will they ever learn the error of their ways?
May 3rd, 2008 at 2:44 pm
And I just thought I was lazy, I vote for the Joe Palmer Society. P. J. O’Rourke was a great man.
May 4th, 2008 at 1:54 am
Nice writing, thanks for this.
May 4th, 2008 at 11:11 pm
Badass! Long live the beard.
May 5th, 2008 at 11:59 am
Sounds to me like they let him off easy. Beards are the devil’s way of hiding a sinful face.
May 5th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
A sad yet inspiring article. I love anyone who will go against the herd. The sheeple that ridicule people that don’t conform to the stupidity the herd lives in.
Rock On ZZ Top!!!
May 6th, 2008 at 10:40 am
Thats an awesome story…I am growing a beard now! I love history like this, unfamiliar, unconventional…
May 6th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
It is not unfamiliar, unconventional - the common herd prosecutes nearly anybody that dares to be different.
May 7th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
The more things change the more they stay the same. (Herd mentality)
May 8th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
Little glimpses of historical information like this make it worthwhile surfing. Thanks so much.
May 11th, 2008 at 8:03 pm
I have turned down several positions with companies because they required me to shave off my full beard. One prospective employer told me that the reason they do that is because beards indicate you are trying to hide something and not trustworthy. I told him, “Yeah… that’s why they crucified Jesus and Santa is a pedophile” as I left his office. Joseph Palmer needs a postage stamp and an apology.
May 13th, 2008 at 1:32 am
This was well written and enjoyable, most of the great men of history wore beards. Only politicians like Bush and company dare not for they fear it would prevent them from telling so many of their blatant “bald-faced-lies”.
May 13th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
I wish men still grew out their beards, at least a little
May 15th, 2008 at 7:04 am
I am especially appalled at the ridicule he endured by his fellow church-goers.
As a man with a full beard, here is my personal story and belief:
Growing up, I was always unhappy with my lack of a predominate chin.
Once, as a young adult, while looking in the bathroom mirror,
I cursed my chin and popped it with a hair brush. It was then that I heard
that “small quiet voice within” say to me, “But, I gave you whiskers.”
And I remember saying aloud, “Ah-ha! so you did!!!”
From then on, I have had moustaches, goatees, etc., and 90% of the time
I have had my chin designed in some fashion with “fur” of various length.
I have often thought about the fact that only from the neck up does hair
continually grow to excessive length. No where else on the body does
hair do this. It has a sort of encoded length and stops there.
But above the neck, man can create all manner of appearances by the
length and style of hair and whiskers he chooses. So, therefore I look
upon whiskers and head hair as a “make-up” kit from God. I believe he
designed us and gave us a few options in how we choose to appear.
One is to view God’s designs as perfect so therefore having hair follicles
on the male face cannot be viewed as a mistake to be eradicated.
I never saw any commandment: Go forth and shave!
May 18th, 2008 at 12:15 am
This mans courage and strength is so awesome! Why do some ppl have to be so lame and evil! Its a beard! Everymale grows hair there, its only natural and yea- where did god ever say-”Face hair is a sin!”
Its so messed up that so many ppl can think like this and hurt someone over such small insignificant choice differences. He wasnt hurting anyone! Stuff like this still happens all the time
Is this world ever gona grow up!!
May 23rd, 2008 at 2:29 pm
This is such a great post. Thanks for the story.
I’ve been wearing a man-beard ever since the 9th grade, so for about 11 years now (shaved only once in 10th grade…for some reason, amateur boxing requires no facial hair). I detest the though of looking at myself in the mirror without hair covering my chin and surrounding area. I guess I have a little spirit of Joseph Palmer inside of me.
Perhaps he should be made the Patron Saint of Beards, because I am pretty sure there isn’t one yet.
May 25th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
Love that hulihee beard. Think that style was popular in the 1800’s. ??
May 28th, 2008 at 12:20 am
Hey, I’m glad you liked the Beard Revue post on you… you ought to put them in your blog roll for a while. I love the site, by the way.
June 9th, 2008 at 9:20 am
whoa, that’s far out! If I was male I’d grow a beard in tribute to this guy! Brilliant
June 9th, 2008 at 7:39 pm
For those wishing to learn more about Joseph’s Palmer courageous struggle for the simple right to wear a beard in the intolerant New England of the 1820s and 30s, “Chapter IV” of Clara Endicott Sears book “Bronson Alcott’s Fruitlands” tells the story nicely. It is also a very interesting book in general and explains fully how and why the great “Fruitlands” project of founding a “second Eden” failed so quickly. Oh poor MRS. Alcott!!
June 13th, 2008 at 10:18 am
Yeah, everyone was shocked some years back when I grew me a Van Dyke -type of beard. The fact is, without it I’d be a babyface, and given I’m approaching 30 and employed in charge of a big unit, it not only makes me feel good and look more like I want me to, it gives me credibility. Thanks goes to mr. Palmer & co who’ve made having a beard not so sinful. Also, given my music taste and my way of viewing life, it sort of indicates in a way who I am. The beard is not going, at least for a good while. And if it ever should the reason will have to be a damn good one.
June 27th, 2008 at 6:33 am
Have you guys seen http://www.movember.com.au?
It’s an awesome charity in Australia to raise awareness for men’s health issues like prostate cancer and the like.
I live in Germany now, so can’t fundraise from here (they wear moustaches for other reasons here)
So any Ausies out there might want to check it out, or it could be another great topic…
Thanks for posting…
July 19th, 2008 at 11:26 am
Vive la résistance!
September 2nd, 2008 at 7:22 pm
The man is an inspiration. We are all individuals and unfortunately, for the most part, you would never notice. As a society, we still frown upon those who dare to show their “unique individuality” . How many times have you looked down at some one that was dressed in a gothic style or perhaps wore some type of clothing which reflected their religious beliefs? Livig so close, I may visit his grave and give him an appause.
September 21st, 2008 at 8:58 am
Wow! This was new to me as I’ve never heard of such a thing happening before! Good God I hope this ideal doesn’t resurface it’s ugly head…I’ll end up in jail too…
September 29th, 2008 at 9:55 am
I made a little thing (an Ode to Joseph Palmer) on my art program and placed it on my myspace with a link to this blog! I average about 10,000 hits per year on my MySpace site…. thanks for the information on this quiet hero!