1605 - 1685

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• Birth	23 May 1605	Whirwell, Wiltshire, England   [2]
  Gender	Male
  BIRT	Nettlecomb, Somerset, England   [4]
  Died	7 Sep 1685	Rehoboth, Bristol, Massachusetts   [2]
  Buried	7 Sep 1685	Newman Cemetery, East Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island   [5]
  Person ID	I6140	Wanicki/Rozhon and Kapusta/Jemiola
  Last Modified	27 Feb 2005 18:46:05
  Father	William CARPENTER, @, b. 1576, Horwell, Hampshire, England
  Mother	Alice UNKNOWN, b. Abt 1580, Salisbury, Wiltshire, England
  Family ID	F2378	Group Sheet
  Father	William CARPENTER, @, b. 1576, Horwell, Hampshire, England
  Mother	Priscilla BENNETT, b. 1578, Wiltshire, England
  Family ID	F2379	Group Sheet
  Family 1	Abigail SEARLES
  Children	1. William CARPENTER, b. 22 Nov 1631, Shelbourne, Wiltshire, England
  Family ID	F2377	Group Sheet
  Family 2	Abigail BRIANT, b. 27 May 1604, Shalbourne, Wiltshire, England
  Married	28 Apr 1625	Shelbourne, Wiltshire, England   [2]
  Children	> 1. Joseph CARPENTER, b. Abt 1626, Amesbury, Wiltshire, England   2. John CARPENTER, b. 1628   3. Abigail CARPENTER, b. 31 May 1629, Shelbourne, Wiltshire, England > 4. William CARPENTER, @, b. Abt 1631, England > 5. Joseph CARPENTER, b. Abt 1634, Shalbourne, Whitshire/Berkshire, England   6. Hannah CARPENTER, b. 3 Apr 1640, Weymouth, Norfolk County, Massachusetts   7. Samuel CARPENTER, b. 1643, Rehoboth, Bristol County, Massachusetts   8. Ephraim CARPENTER, b. 25 Apr 1651, Weymouth, Norfolk County, Massachusetts   9. Abiah CARPENTER, b. UNKNOWN   10. Abraham CARPENTER, b. UNKNOWN
  Family ID	F2372	Group Sheet

• Notes

  He accompanied his son, William, and daughter-in-law, Abigail, to America on the ship "Bevis," and returned to England on the same ship. William Carpenter, No. 16, born in England 1605, who came to America in the ship Bevis, the progenitor of the Rehoboth family is Generation 3 in this genealogy and his family will be No.7; from these No's the families will be continued in their order. William Carpenter No. 16, wife Abigail, had seven children viz: John No.17, William No. 18; Joseph No.19; Hannah No.20; Abiah No.21; Abigail No.22; and Samuel No. 23. From the foregoing No's the American Ancestry will be continued in the order as they will appear on this record. Directly under the head of the family will be given the name in each generation (one or more) as will appear with the individual number attached to each name as an index to the family, showing the line back to one of the five brothers, sons of William Carpenter named above, showing at a glance from which of the five the family descended, also where each name can be found in the individual line. A freeman of Weymouth 13 May 1640 and of Rehoboth 28 Mar 1645. Captain of the Colony. Some records given Abigail Sales (Searles) as wife and others Abigail Bennett, Ralph his brother is also listed as a spouse to Abigail Bennett. It is likely that this William was married twice. Abigail Bennett died in 1687 in Rehoboth. If this is true the first three kids are AS and others to AB. However, Ref shows his wife as being Abigail Briant, born 27 May 1604. Will dated 12 Apr 1659, proved 7 Feb 1659, he married in England, Abigail who died 22 Feb, 1687. On page 1318: His birth is listed as 25 MAY 1605. Records show that he was a fine writer, a man of affairs, possessed of much ability. Other Information includes but not limited to; Deputy to the General Court from Weymouth in 1641-43 and from Rehoboth in 1645, Constable in 1641. He was a close friend to Gov. William Bradford, who married his cousin Alice Carpenter. He bought the area now called Rehoboth (8 miles square) from the Indians. Proprietors' clerk from 1643-49. Contributed toward the expenses of King Phillips War. He was a Captain of militia. See also San Diego Family History Center book 929.273 C226c. This original typed copy contains descendants not included in the 1898 book. AFN LSD9-5L is apparently the same person with Baptism date as birth date. He was representative of Weymouth, in 1641 and 1643 and from the town of Rehoboth in 1645; constable in 1641. There is no doubt but that it was through the influence of Gov. Bradford and his wife Alice that William Carpenter of Weymouth was induced to come to New England; and by William Carpenter of Providence, the Seekonk Plain was pointed out to his cousin, William of Weymouth, on account of its adaptability as a tract of territory for a colony. During the two years residence in America of William of Providence, (before William of Weymouth came over), he must have learned about the soil and location. Soon after William of Weymouth landed, his attention was drawn to this location, probably by his cousin, and he commenced immediately to go to work to secure it; and there is no doubt but that William of Weymouth had as much or more to do in setting a colony there than any one of the proprietors. He was in the colony only three years when he was elected to the General Court of Plymouth and no doubt for the purpose of obtaining permission to make a purchase of this territory. In 1641 he was representative of Weymouth to the General Court, and through his influence the permission was granted. The Court conceded all that he asked as appears from an extract from the Proprietors Record. (See Vol. I., p.1) "Whereas, the Court of Plymouth was pleased in the year 1641 (thereabouts) to grant unto the inhabitants of Seekonk (alies Rehoboth) liberty to take up a tract of land for their comfortable inhabitant containing a quantity of eight miles square; and the Court was pleased to appoint Mr. John Brown and Mr. Edward Winslow to purchase the aforesaid tract of land of Asamacum, the chief of Sachems and owner thereof, which accordingly hath been effected, and the purchase made by the aforesaid inhabitants according to the Court order.." This was the same tract of land selected by Roger Williams when driven out of the Massachusetts Colony for a settlement, but when it was found to be in the limits of Massachusetts he removed to Providence RI At a proprietors meeting held in Weymouth before the emigration to Rehoboth, the latter part of the year 1613. William Carpenter was chosen Proprietor clerk. At a second meeting in Weymouth the same year, it was voted to divide the real estate of Rehoboth according to the person and value of each settler. The Town Records of Rehoboth commenced in 1643. The territory of the Town included what is now called Attleboro, Seekonk, a part of Cumberland, Swansey and East Providence. Many of the Carpenter residents of these towns are treated as being residences of the old Town of Rehoboth though they may reside in some one of the other towns. The estate of William Carpenter was valued at 254 pounds and 10 shillings. He served as Proprietor and Town Clerk from 1643 until 1649. William Carpenter of Weymouth witnessed and seems to have drawn the deed of a tract of land from the Indians to John Tower the elder. His autograph on the instrument to which it is attached is a most excellent specimen of the choreo- graphy of that age. (New England Register, Vol.1, p.137)" The legal business of the Town or Colony was done principally by him; he was accurate in all his business transactions. He paid at one time eight pounds and seventeen shillings and three pence towards the expenses of King Philips war. He was one of the committee to lay out a road from Rehoboth to Dedham, at an early day. In 1645, William Carpenter with others was chosen to look after the interests of the Town, and again in the same year William was chosen with others to hear and decide on grievances in regard to the division of the land by lots; in the same year he was chosen by the Town to represent them in the Court at Plymouth. In 1647 he was chosen as one of the directors of the Town; also again in 1655. In 1653 is the first that his name was written William Carpenter, Sr. His son William would be 21 at this date and was a resident of the Town. The first settlement of the Colony of Rehoboth consisted of 58 members from Weymouth, Mass., who drew lots on the division of lands, June 31, 1644. William Carpenter's name in that division stands as No.10. By a previous vote of the Proprietors in 1643 there was a mutual agreement that each man's allotment might be taken up according to his person and estate and also that each should bear his share of the public charges both for the present and future. In this list the name of Williams Carpenter individual No. 16 stood as No.48 and the value of his estate was estimated at 254 pounds and 10 shillings. The homes of this Colony were built in a semicircle around Seekonk Common and open toward Seekonk river. This semicircle was called "The Ring of the Town." At a meeting of the proprietors in 1644 it was voted that nine men should be chosen to order the prudential affairs of the plantation and that they should have the power to dispose of the lands in lots of 12, 8 or 6 acres "as in their discretion they think the quality of the estate of the person do require." This applies to houselots. It was further ordered that no person should sell his improvements "except to such as the Town shall accept of." It was also ordered that "the meeting house shall stand in the midst of the Town." It appears evident by tradition that the first meeting house was built in the old graveyard near where the tomb now is a probably faced toward the south. William Carpenter No.18 and Samuel No.23 were buried near the entrance to the church. The residence of William Carpenter No.16 appears by the description given in his will and by tradition to have been located in the "Ring" directly east of the meeting house. The "Ring" at the present time (1896) is indicated by tradition and by some 12 or more buttonwood trees that were set out at an early day in front of the houses, the stumps or roots of two of the trees are all that is left to indicate where William and his son Samuel resided. At a meeting the same year (1644) it was ordered "for time past and time to come that all workmen that have worked or shall work in any common work or for any particular person shall have for their wages for each day's work as follows: For each laborer from the first day of November until the first day of February, 18 pence per day and for the rest of the year 20 pence per day except in harvest." The price fixed for wheat was four shilling and sixpence per bushel. Wampum was fixed at eight for a penny. William Carpenter, Clerk The following are the names of Carpenters who held rights in the grant of Rehoboth in 1698: John Carpenter No. 31 John Titus, who m Abigail Carpenter No.22 William Carpenter, No. 18 William Carpenter, Jr. No.32 Samuel Carpenter No. 62 - Sons of Samuel Carpenter No. 23 deceased. It appears that Abiah Carpenter No. 64 - they were of age at this time and held rights in their own James Carpenter No.65 - name. Jonathan Carpenter No.67 David Carpenter No. 68 Solomon Carpenter No. 69 Zachariah Carpenter No. 70 Abraham Carpenter No. 71 Eliphalet Carpenter No. 98, deriving his right from his grandfather Readaway by will. Rebecca Carpenter probably dau. Of Abiah of Pawtuxet No. 31. Joseph Carpenter No. 45 - Benjamin Carpenter No. 46 Sons of Joseph No. 19 of Swansey, Mass. John Carpenter No. 47 - The last will and testament of William Carpenter, Senior. of Rehoboth, late deceased, exhibited before Captain Thomas Willett, Major Josiah Winslow, and Mr.. William Bradford, the 21st of April. 1695. Dated the 10th month, the 10th day of the month. "IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN, I William Carpenter, Sr. of Rehoboth. being in perfect memory at present, blested be God, do make my last will and Testament (1)-I give to my son John Carpenter one mare, being the old white mare, and my best dublet. and my handsomest coat, and new cloth to make him a pair of breeches (2)-I give unto his son beside twenty shillings to buy him a calf. (3)-I give to him Mr. Ainsworths upon the five books of Moses. Canticles and Psalms. and Mr. Brightman on revelation, and my concordance. (4~I give to my sot' William the young grey mare. or two }yearling colts, and five pounds. in sugar or wampum, and my (passett) coate, and one suit of apparel and Mr. Mahew on the four Evangelists upon the 14 chapters of Saule (or Paul). (5)-I give unto him my Latin books, my Greek grammer, and Hebrew grammer, and my Greek Lexicon, and I give him 10 (or 5) pounds of cotton wool: and to his son John, twenty shillings to be paid to him a year after my decease. (6)-I give unto my son Joseph, two of the youngest steers of the four that were bought to work this year; and to his son Joseph, twenty shillings, and to Joseph I give one of Perkins' works and of Barrows upon private contentious called harts divisions. (7)-I give to Joseph a suit of better cloths, to be given at his mother's discretion, and I give hint a green serge coat, and ten pounds of cotton wool, and a match lock gun. {8)-l give to my daughter Hannah half of my Common at Pawtuxet, and one-third of my impropriate, only my meadow excepted, and my home lot, and that land I had laid out to cousin that I had for the low land cousin Carpenter that I had by. (No doubt refers to exchange of land or land purchased of Joseph Carpenter son of William of Providence, RI) (9)-I to my daughter Hannah one yearling heifer, also I give Hannah her Bible, the practice of piety and the volume of prayer, and one ewe at the island, and twenty pounds of cotton, and six pounds of wool. (10)-I give to my son (Abijah) Abiah the rest of my land at Pawtuxet. and the meadow, after my decease; and his mother and Samuel to help him to build a house, because Samuel hath a house built already. Only if my wife marry again, she shall have nothing to do with that land. (11)-I give to my daughter Abigail, one young mare, a three-year-old bay mare, and if the mare should be dead at Spring, she shall have fifteen pounds in her stead. within one year after my decease. (12)-I give twenty shillings to John Titus, his for to be paid a year after my decease: but if John Titus comes to dwell and take the house and land, which I sent him word he shall have if he come, then. he shall have the land and not the money. (13)-I give to my son Samuel, one-half of my land which I now live upon. (and two pens of the young sheep, two cows, one bull) and he now lives on, with his furniture, and half of my working tools; and Abiah the other half; and Samuel to have one book of Psalms, a Dictionary and a gun, and my best coat and one ewe at the island. (14)-I give to my wife the other half of the land I now live upon, her lifetime, and the use of my household stuff, carts, and plows, if she marry not. But if she marry, she shall have a third part in my land, and Samuel, the rest; and she shall have four oxen, one mare, which is called the black mare, farrows, one bed and it's furniture, one pot, one gun, 1 kettle and one little and one skillet, and half of the powder her lifetime, and then to give it up to the children, and if she does not marry, to have the rest of my land at Pawtucket, which remaineth, that which is left when is not given to my daughter Hannah, and that which is left Abiah to have after my wife's decease, if she marry to have it the next year after. (15)-I give to my wife those books of Perkins called Christ's Sermon on the Mount, the good Bible, Buroughs Jewell of Contentment, the oil of Cladness. (16)-I give her two hundred of sugar. (17)-My wife is to have the room I now lodge in, and the chamber over it, and to have liberty to come to the fire and do her occasions, and she shall have the meadow that was made in John Titus lot because it is near, and she is to have a way to the swamp through the lot. And if John Titus come, Samuel is to have two acres out of his lot that is not broken up, and my wife is to have the rest: and Samuel to break it up for her. Also I gave to my wife (corn) towards housekeeping, and the cloth in the house toward the clothing herself and children with her, and wine that she hath to serve towards housekeeping, and three acres at the Island. (18)-I give to Abiah a yearling mare colt, being the white mare's colt, and one yearling, heifer and Dr. Jarvis's Catechism, and Helens History of the World, and one ewe about my wife's occasion when she was at the Island. (Abiah was to care for her when at the Island} (19)-When the legacies are paid out, the remainder is to be disposed among the children at the discretion of my wife and the overseers. Memorandum: - If my son Titus come and do possess the land, I said he should have as namely the house, land and orchard, and corn. Joseph had the land in two divisions, the fresh meadow, salt one last laid out, and not the fresh I fenced in, and to pay the rates for, for that he do agree, and if he go from it, he shall not sell it to any but his brother Samuel or his mother. This is my Will and Testament, to which I set my hand William Carpenter of Rehoboth The day and year before written (20)-I make my wife the Executrix, and my Overseer to be Richard Bowen, and John Allen is to be helpful to my wife, and I appoint my brother Carpenter to help, and to have ten shillings for their pains. This will was attached this 21st day of April, 1659 Thomas Willett Josiah Winslow William Bradford Plymouth, 7th February, 1669. The foregoing is a true copy from Plymouth Colony Records. Wills, Vol.2, Pages 80,81,82,and 83. Per. William S. Danforth Registry According to this will of William Carpenter (No.16.wife Abigail) he owned real estate at Pawtuxet, RI, called "The Island" which he divided between his daughters Hannah and his son Abiah. Part of this land he purchased from Benedict Arnold and part from his cousin Joseph, the son of William of Providence. It appears that the land referred to was owned by William of Rehoboth in company with William and Joseph of Providence and occupied by them without any division lines except those made by nature. Pawtuxet is some four or five miles from Providence and was included in that colony. Rehoboth being about eight miles from Pawtuxet on the east side of Seekonk river easterly. William of Rehoboth would have to pass through Providence to reach Pawtuxet unless he went by water. The Island referred to is made by a bend in the Pawtuxet River, water not only running around it, but through it from bank to river, dividing it into three lots, suitable for grazing and mowing, the streams fencing it so that sheep and cattle could not wander. Probably their was no spot in all that region from which so much profit could be derived as it was well suited for keeping sheep and cattle both winter and summer. As William Carpenter of Rehoboth lived only about 13 years after the settlement of that colony it is very strange that he should buy land outside of it unless he had some friend to advise him of the value of such a purchase. It is also very strange that William of Providence should take a partner from another colony unless one for whom he had a very strong friendship. Can there be any doubt in the mind of the reader who was meant by William of Rehoboth when he appointed "Brother Carpenter" to be helpful to his wife in settling the estate or who was meant by "cousin had by?" It could be no other than Joseph the son of William Carpenter of Providence, RI We have more conclusive evidence of the relationship in the record of a purchase of real estate by William Carpenter of Rehoboth from William Carpenter of Providence. The deed of this purchase is on the Records of Warwick, RI, in which deed William Carpenter of Providence is called "cousin." In the will of William Carpenter of Rehoboth, William Carpenter of Providence is called "brother Carpenter" and his son Joseph of Providence is called "cousin." About 1642, William Carpenter (No.16), (born in 1605) was appointed Captain for one or more years by the General Court of Massachusetts at Boston. This appointment was made necessary by the attempt of Samuel Gorton and his followers to seize portions of the lands included in the Providence Plantations, claiming them as their own by right of purchase from the Indians. The Providence colonists disputed this claim knowing that they rightfully held the lands through a deed from the Indians to Roger Williams and his 13 associates. Anticipating trouble and knowing that they were to weak to deal with Gorton without the aid of a military organization, the colonists applied for protection. The following abstract of extracts taken from the historical account of the troubles of that time, (1642), will explain more fully the conditions of affairs. "William Carpenter of Providence, Benedict Arnold, Robert Cole and William Arnold appeared before the General Court at Boston and yielded themselves and their lands to be governed and protected by the Massachusetts Colony and were accepted by that Colony. In answer to their complaints Samuel Gorton and his associates were summonsed to appear before the General Court of Massa- chusetts, but they refused to recognize its authority and did not obey the summons. Gorton was accordingly informed that Commissioners would be sent to Shawomet to investigate the whole matter in dispute and that they would be attended with a sufficient guard to protect them from violence or injury. When the notice that they were on the way reached Gorton and his followers at Shawomet they dispatched a letter to the Commissioners giving them to understand that if they came in any way hostile, they came at their peril. During the troubles which followed there was blood spilled on both sides." * * * "Samuel Gorton and his followers came to Pawtuxet from Aquidneck and were received in a friendly manner although not accepted as residents of the Providence Plantations. They were taken into the houses of the colonist who, in some instances, gave them an undivided right in their lands. Gorton soon became very turbulent and over-bearing, claiming to be the legal owner of that territory. The meadow lands in the bend of the Pawtuxet river, which supplied the new settlers with hay and pasturage were the cause of the contention which followed. This tract of land was within the limits of the Providence Plantations and was bought by Roger Williams and his 13 associates from Canonicus, Chief of the Narragansetts, who gave them a good and valid title. The colony of Providence being weak, Gorton took advantage of their weakness and bought the same tract of the Indians and thought to maintain his pretended rights by force and also continued to harvest the grass, etc. to the damage of William Carpenter of Providence and others. In 1643 or 1644 troops were sent from Massachusetts at arrest Gorton and his followers, but being resisted by them the troops were ordered to open fire which brought them to submission and they were taken to Boston and imprisoned." The following copy of records will explain more fully the complaints of the colonists. The ancient spelling, punctuation, etc. have been retained as being of interest to the reader. "So now there was one Robert Coles and John Greene who were Two of ye 13 purchasers of pautuxet lands; Robert Coles being a fauerrt of gortons gave him half of his undevided lands at pautuxet: & John Greene one of this chiefe prossolightes gave gorton half of his devided lands at pautuxet. So by vertue of thise gifts. Gorton & many of his companey went & built houses at papawuinepaug in pautuxet purchis;&gorton & his companey perceived yt pautuxet mens deeds from myantenomy to bee weeke, thay bought patuxet lands againe over ye heades of those men that had dwelt there three or four year before, who had bought ye sayd lands of socannanco ye true howner and sachim of pautuxet lands - but gorton & his companey who becoming as bad and insolent & turblent as himself; an so thay beeganne to warne William Arnold and William Carpenter (of Providence) that had dwelt there four year before they came there, that they shoud begone or else they must be there tennants; & much other wiked & insolent behavior, insomuch that William arnold and Carpenter (of Providence) were forced to subject themselves to ye massachusets; and Robert Coles who had given gorton half his undevided land at pautuxet, perceuid that hee was like to loose all, hee Joyned with William Arnold & William Carpenter (of Providence).& so subiected themselves and their lands to ye Gouernmcnt of ye mashatuset together. but gorton & his companey grewe more insollent & wicked then ever thay were, insomuch that those three men made their complaint & puttitioned the massatusets for help& sucker against them. where upon ye Gouernor & aaistatnta) of ye massahcuscts sent a warrant vnto gorton & his companey in this manner as followeth : Where as william arnold and Robart Coles & others haue lately put them-selues & their famelies lands & estates vnder ye protection & Gouernment of this Jurysdiction: & haue since complained to vs, That you hane vpon pretence of a late purchise from ye Indiana you goe about to depriuc them of their lawfull intrest confirmed by four years posession & otber-wise to molest them : We thought good therefore to wright to you on their behalfe to giue you notice that thay & their lands being yi'der our Jurisdiction. we are to maintayne them in theit lawft:+f Rirht~ If Å“her'(wre you have any Just titell to anything thay posaesse, you may proceed against them in our court, where you shall havc equal Justice; but if you shall proseed to any violence, you must not blame vs if we shall take a like course to right them John Winthrop Gourener Thom Dudley Ye 28. of ye 8th m - 1642 - Ri -bellingham Incr: nowell." William Carpenter, then of Weymouth, no doubt received his commission as Captain from the Governor of Massachusetts about 1642, at the time of these difficulties and was called upon to act for the protection and ownership of the Pawtuxet lands. In this way their value and desirability and the profit arising from the mowing and pasturage came under his observation. The meadow land in the bend of the Pawtuxet river was called in the will of William Carpenter of Rehoboth, "The Island." It appears that soon after these difficulties William Carpenter of Providence and Benedict Arnold became the owners of the Meadows, and Benedict Arnold sold his undivided right to William Carpenter of Rehoboth, Mass., which lands were given. in the will of William Carpenter of Rehoboth, to his daughter Hannah and son Abiah. In 1638 a conveyance called the "Towns Evidence" passed between the Indian Sachems Canonicus and Miantonomah and Roger Williams, and then the whole land was conveyed to his twelve associates, reserving a thirteenth share for himself-Roger Williams. By agreement a portion of the tract was set apart and not to belong to the "common lands" of the town of Providence. In the will of William Carpenter of Rehoboth of his land at Pawtuxet to his daughter Hannah: "Gives her one-third part of my impropriate." The above extract from the records explains what land was meant in the will by "impropriate." His grave marker is an ordinary field stone with the initials "W.C." carved with "1658" chiseled below it. Over 300 of his male descendants (230 proven as of August 1996) served America in the Revolutionary War. No other American colonial man had as many.

• Sources

  [S47] Hicks-Schliesser Connection of Ancestors & Extended Family. [S41] Don Ryan, Cushing/Carpenter Families and Family Search; Family Search, Amos B. Carpenter, (Carpenter Memorial). [S46] Family Search: Ancestral File. [S43] TEIncNJ@aol.com. [S44] Ken Warkentin.