Sunday, October 11, 2009

The William Carpenter Family- US 1638 to Current

**Connected to the Joseph Kent Family Lineage at John Kent b. 8 Sep 1697**

Generation One:
William Carpenter- b. abt. 1605 at England; m. Abigail Carpenter Nee Unknown; d. February 1659 at Rehoboth, Bristol, MA at aged 54 years.
Their Children:
1. John b. about 1628 at England; m. Hannah Hope d. 23 May 1695 aged 67 years.
2. Abigail b. abt. 1630 at England ; m. 1659 John Titus, Jr; d. 5 March 1710 aged 80 years.
3. William b. abt. 1632 at England.
4. Joseph b. abt. 1634 at England; m. 25 May 1655 Margaret Sutton; d. bef. 6 May 1675.
5. Hannah b. 3 April 1640 at Weymouth, Norfolk, MA.; m. Joseph Carpenter; d. abt 1670 aged 29 years.
5. Abiah b. 9 April 1643 at Weymouth, Norfolk, MA; d. bef. 1702 aged 58 years
6. Samuel b, about 1644; m. 25 May 1660 Sarah Readaway; d; 20 February 1682/83 aged 39 years.

      William and Abigail came over on the Bevis in 1638 leaving Southhampton, England with William, Sr., the father. He returned to England after seeing William and Abigail settled. William of Weymouth and William of Providence were cousins. William of Providence was here two years earlier and is presumed to have assisted his cousin in adapting to the new land. William of Weymouth was also a cousin to Alice Carpenter who later married Governor Bradford. William Carpenter and Governor Bradford had a very close relationship, or at least it is presumed based on all their private and public dealings. 
       
     William was a farmer and was admitted a freeman 13 May 1640 at Weymouth, MA. He was a representative for Weymouth to the General Court in 1641 and 1643. He also held this position for Rehoboth in 1645. William purchased the Seekonk Plain.

     The Court of Plymouth in 1641 granted the inhabitants of Seekonk (aka. Rehoboth) liberty to take up a tract of land for their comfortable subsistence containing a quantity of eight miles square; and Court was pleased to appoint Mr. John Brown and Mr. Edward Winslow to purchase the aforesaid tract of land of Asamacum, the chief sachem and owner thereof, which accordingly hath been effected. And the purchase paid for y the aforesaid inhabitants according to the Court order. 1 p. 38

      This land was said to be the same land chosen by Roger Williams when he first driven out of the Massachusetts Colony. It was found to be in the Massachusetts limits and so he moved on to Providence, Rhode Island. In Weymouth of 1643, William was chosen proprietor’s clerk, and at a second meeting the same year, it was voted to divide the real estate of Rehoboth according to the person and value of each settler. Williams’s estate was valued at 254 pounds and 10 shillings. He also served as Proprietor’s and Town Clerk from 1643 to 1649. 

      With this position the legal business of the colony was completed by him. His transactions were all very accurate. Once he paid eight pounds, seventeen shillings, and three pence towards King Philip’s War expenses. He was on a committee to lay road from Rehoboth to Dedham. William’s name is in the division of land in the first settlement of the Colony of Rehoboth of 31 June 1644. The Colony was built in a semicircle around Seekonk Common and open toward the Seekonk River. The semicircle was called the “Ring of the Town”.

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 21at April 1659. 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, blessed 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 sublet, 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 m y concordance.
(4)-I give to my son William the young grey mare, or two yearling colts, and five pounds in sugar and 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 grammar, and Hebrew grammar. 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 him a year after my decease.
(6)- I give unto my son Joseph. Two f 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 Perkin’s works and of Barrows upon private contentions called harts divisions.
(7)-I give to Joseph a suit of better cloths, to be given at his mother’s discretion. And I give him a green serge coat. and ten pounds of cotton wool, and a match lock gun.
(8)- I give to give my daughter Hannah half of my Common at Pawtuxet, and one-third of my impropriate only my meadow expected. 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 give 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 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 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 not marry. 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, four cows. One bed and its furniture. One pot, one good kettle and one little and one skillet and half of the pewter 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 Pawtuxet, which remaineth, that which is left which 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. Burroughs Jewell of Contentment, the oil of Gladness.
(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 towards clothing herself and the children with her, and twine that she hath to serve towards house-keeping, 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 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 amount the children at the discretion of my wife and the overseers. Memorandum:- If my son Titus come and do possess 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 Overseers 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 280, 81, 82, and 83.
Pawtuxet , Rhode Island was called the Island.

Generation Two:
William- b. abt 1632 at England; m(1)5 October 1651 Priscilla Bennett; m(2) 10 December 1663 Miriam Seales at Rehoboth, Bristol, MA; d. 26 January 1702 at Rehoboth, Bristol, MA, aged 70 years.
M (1) Children:
1. John b. 19 October 1652 at Rehoboth, Bristol, MA; m(1) Rebecca Readaway; m(2) Sarah Nee Unknown Day;
2. William b. 20 June 1659 at Rehoboth, Bristol, MA; m. 8 April 1685 Elizabeth Robinson at Rehoboth, Bristol, MA; d. 10 March 1718 at Attleboro, Bristol, MA aged 58 years
3. Priscilla b. 24 July 1661 at Rehoboth, Bristol, MA; m. Richard Sweet at Rehoboth, Bristol, MA
4. Benjamin b. 20 October 1663 at Rehoboth, Bristol, MA; m.14 March 1691 Hannah Strong; d. 18 April 1738, aged 98 years.
M(2) Children:
5. Josiah b. 18 December 1664 at Rehoboth, Bristol, MA; m. 24 November 1692 Elizabeth Read; d. 28 February 1727 at Rehoboth, Bristol, MA aged 62 years
6. Nathaniel b. 12 May 1667 at Rehoboth, Bristol, MA.
7. Daniel b. 8 October 1669 at Rehoboth, Bristol, MA; m (1) 15 April 1695 Bethiah Bliss; m. 30 March 1704Elizabeth Butterworth; m(3) 12 December 1710 Margaret Thurston; m(4) 15 October 1718 Mary Hunt; m. Mary Nee Unknown Hyde; April 1756 at Attleboro, Bristol, MA; d. 14 September 1721 aged 51 years.
8. Noah b. 23 March 1672 at Rehoboth, Bristol, MA; m(1) 3 December 1700 Sarah Johnson; m. 22 May 1727 Ruth Follet (Talbott); m(3) 29 November 1745 Tabitha Bishop; d. April 1756 aged 84 years
9. Meriam b. 26 October 1674 at Rehoboth, Bristol, MA; 23 June 1691 Jonathan Bliss; d. 21 May 1706 aged 31 years.
10. Obadiah b. 12 March 1678 at Rehoboth, Bristol, MA; 6 November 1703 Deliverance Preston; d. 25 October 1749 aged 73 years.
11. Ephraim b. 25 April 1681 at Rehoboth, Bristol, MA; d. young
12. Ephraim b. 25 April 1683 at Rehoboth, Bristol, MA; m(1). 14 August 1704 Hannah Read; m(2) 24 March 1719 Martha Ide; d. 20April 1753 aged 69 years.
13. Hannah b. 10 April 1684 at Rehoboth Bristol, MA; m. 23 November 1703 Jonathan Chaffee
14. Abigail b. 15 April 1687 at Rehoboth, Bristol, MA12 November 1706 Daniel Perrin; d. 15 January 1781 aged 94 years.

       William was Town Clerk of Rehoboth, Bristol, MA 13 May 1668 until his death. (one year 1693 the exception). He was at General Court at Plymouth as a deputy in 1668 as well as Deacon of the church that year. He was on the committee to settle the bounds between the Town of Taunton and the north purchase in 1670. In 1682, he was the Clerk of the community of the north purchase. He was on a committee to sell the ,meeting house in 1683. On 26 May 1668 he drew his lot in the meadow. He served as surveyor for the 18 February 574 division of acres. He surveyed out 83 fifty acre lots.
     
     He was considered very intelligent and accurate in all of his business transactions and a reliable counselor in the colony., He had superior penmanship. The house was on the left hand side of the road leading to the East Providence, Providence, RI meeting house to Rehoboth, Bristol, MA. “Some fifty to sixty rods from the crossing of the ten mile river, on a rise of land, and was one of the pleasantest spots for a house in that locality. The estate amounted to 215 pounds 5 shillings, ad four pence. 1 p. 44

Inventory of the Estate of William Carpenter
Late of Rehoboth, Deceased.
Presented the 5th of February in the year 1702 or 1703
By,
John Butterwork
Moses Read
John WIllmarth
Item (1)- His wearing apparel. Woolen and Linnen                   10 pounds
Item (2)- In Money                                                                     2 pounds   13 shillings  4 pence
Item (3)- Four beds and furniture to them B. Std.                   21 pounds
Item(4)- Tablecloth, Napkins and sheets                                   7 pounds
Item (5) -Linen Yarn and Woolen yarn and wool                        2 pounds     6 shillings
Item (6)-Pewter, Earthen, and Glass bottles                            2 pounds   10 shillings
Item (7)- Brass Kettles and Pans and Skillet                             3 pounds
Item (8)- Iron pots, Andirons Frying pan and Tongs and Spitt   2 pounds     4 shillings
Item (9)- Books 3 pounds                                                                            10 shillings
Item (10)- Cross-cut Saw and other Tools and Bells                  1 pound     11 shillings
Item (11)- Compass to lay out land                                           2 pounds
Item (12)- 2 Guns and Swords and Ammunition                         2 pounds  10 shillings
Item (13)- A Saddle and Bridle and old iron                              1 pound      5 shillings
Item (14)- A Box Iron and Grind-stone and Hour glass                               12 shillings
Item (15)- In (pet hakes) Spinning Wheel and Cds                     1 pound      2 shillings
Item (16)-In Chests, Boxes, Tables and Chairs                         2 pounds   10 shillings
Item (17)- In Corn, Indian and English                                    10 pounds
Item (18) -In Pork, and Beef, Butter and Tallow                       4 pounds   10 shillings
Item (19)- In Wooden-ware and Lumber                                    3 pounds     5 shillings
Item (20)- In Tobacco, Flax, and Flax-seed and Salt                                 19 shillings
Item (21)- In Neat Cattle, Sheep, and in Hay                          28 pounds    10 shillings
Item (22)- In Horse kind, Swine, Two Cow-hides                        5 pounds    16 shillings
Item (23)- In Housing and Lands                                              96 pounds    12 shillings
Sum Total                                                                             215 pounds       5 shillings 4 pence

Generation Three:
Nathaniel- b. 12 May 1667 at Rehoboth, Bristol, MA; m(1) 19 September 1693 Rachel Cooper at Rehoboth, Bristol, MA; m(2) Mary Preston 17 November 1695; m(3) 8 July 1707 Mary Nee Unknown Cooper; m(4) Mary Bacon
M(1) Children:
1. Nathaniel b. 8 July 1694 at Rehoboth, Bristol, MA; d. 1 May 1709 at Rehoboth, Bristol, MA aged 14 years.
M(2) Children:
2. Ezekiel b. 29 June 1696 at Rehoboth, Bristol, MA; m. 8 January 1719 Sarah Ide; d. 7 December 1771 aged 73 years.
3. Ezra b. 20 March 1698 at Rehoboth, Bristol, MA; 28 November 1723 Elizabeth Greenwood;
4. Elijah b. 22 January 1701 at Rehoboth, Bristol, MA; d. 18 May 1727 at Rehoboth, Bristol, MA aged 26 years.
5. Dan b. 9 June 1703 at Rehoboth, Bristol, MA; m. 5 December 1728 Mary Wiswell; d. 2 May 1748, aged 45 years.
6. Rachel b. 29 March 1705 at Rehoboth, Bristol, MA; m. 30 March 1726 John Kent at Rehoboth, Bristol, MA.
M(3) Children:
7. Mary b. 14 November 1709 Rehoboth, Bristol, MA; d. 11 December 1709 at Rehoboth, Bristol, MA.
8. Nathaniel b. 14 November 1709 at Rehoboth, Bristol; d. 7 December 1709 at Rehoboth, Bristol, MA.
9. Mary b. 19 April 1711 at Rehoboth, Bristol, MA; d. 8 May 1712 at Rehoboth, Bristol, MA.

     Nathaniel was elected town representative in 1724, 1729, 1733 and 1735. He served four year terms. He made his will in 1740 and it does not seem to have been probated but signed and sealed in the regular form.

In it he mentions his son Ezekial Carpenter, his rights in Wrentham” To his son Ezra he received in addition to what he had been given real estate, money and other minor articles as his square barrel gun,, great andirons, Iron Peal, his best hat, great coat, three fine shirts, and silver shoe buckles.
He left his daughter Rachel Kent, in addition to what he had formerly given her, land and money and various articles: Namely his negro boy, named Dick: two beds and bedsteads, with the furniture belonging to them; one of the beds he then occupied: the other bed stood in the chamber with calico curtains and quilt belonging to it: one-half of the sheets in the house and also those upon the beds: a case of drawers that stood in the lower room: two chests and half the chairs: warming-pan: box iron and heaters: the round table: two thirds of the pewter: all iron pots and kettles and skillet (with exception of the largest iron kettle) that is all the brass kettles and skillet: the shay and the tackling there to belonging: a callominco gown and the largest portion of his late wife’s linen, and the cheife of all his said wife’s wearing apparel: all the wool in the house not disposed of: half of the molasses: a pair of chains: and a cow.
He gives to his son Dan ( in addition to what he had formerly given him) land and money; he also gave him a right and a held in the Town of Ashford, in the Colony of Connecticut, and he appoints him as his executor.
He also find that he gave to the first church in Rehoboth, a good tanker, (Tankard) and another tanker to the church of Attleboro to be purchased out of his estate
Signed Nathaniel Carpenter---       witnesses by Noah Carpenter 1 p. 53


Sources:
1. A Genealogical History of the Rehoboth Branch of the Carpenter Family In America, Amos Carpenter, Press of Carpenter & Morehouse, Amherst, MA 1898.
2. Rehoboth Vital Records
3. Weymouth Vital Records
4. Attleboro Vital Records
5. History of Weymouth Massachusetts, 4 Vols. (Boston: Weymouth Historical Society; 1923). Vols. 1 & 2: Historical; Vols. 3 & 4: Genealogy of Weymouth Families by George Walter Chamberlain, repr. 1984.

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