USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 11 > Part 11
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and the Prison of Convicts at Westminster. He died on the XIIth of May MCCCCXLII; and was buried before the chancel of the Church of Saint Peter, Cornhill, of which parish he was an inhabi- tant and a liberal benefactor. Thus his compre- hensive charity embraced all the necessities of his fellowmen, and the general conduct of his life exhibited the character of one who (in the words of Holy Writ) desired "To do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with his God."
(I) William Carpenter, the American progenitor, was born in 1605; his wife was Abigail; she died February 22, 1687; he died February 7, 1659, in Rehoboth, Massachusetts. He was a farmer. He was admitted a freeman of Weymouth, May 13, 1640; was representative of Wey- mouth in 1641 and 1643, and from the town of Rehoboth in 1645; constable in 1641. He was admitted as an inhabitant of Rehoboth, Massachusetts, March 28, 1645. In June of the same year he and others were made freemen of Rehoboth. Governor Bradford (who married his cousin Alice) manifested great friendship for William Carpenter and favored him in all his measures in the Plymouth Court ; and ever after that it appears, from all their dealings and transactions, whether private or public, that they were close friends. There is no doubt but that it was through the influence of Governor Brad- ford and his wife Alice that William Car- penter, of Weymouth, was induced to come to New England; and by William Carpenter, of Providence, the Seekonk Plain was pointed out to his cousin, Wil- liam Carpenter, of Weymouth, on account of its adaptability as a tract of territory for a colony.
During the two years' residence in America, of William Carpenter, of Prov- idence (before William Carpenter, of Weymouth, came over), he must have learned about the soil and location. Soon after William Carpenter, of Weymouth, landed, his attention was drawn to this location, probably by his cousin, and he
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commenced immediately to go to work to secure it; and there is no doubt but that William Carpenter, of Weymouth, had as much or more to do in settling a colony there than any one of the proprie- tors. He was in the colony only three years when he was elected to the General Court of Plymouth, and no doubt for the pur- pose 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 abstract from the Proprietors Record :
WHEREAS, The Court of Plymouth was pleased in the year 1641 (thereabouts) to grant unto the inhabitants of Seekonk (alias Rehoboth) liberty to take up a tract of land for their comfortable sub- sistence 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 Asamcum, the chief sachem and owner thereof, which accordingly hath been effected, and the purchase paid for 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 settlement, but when it was found to be in the limits of Massachusetts, he removed to Prov- idence, Rhode Island. At a meeting of the proprietors held in Weymouth before the emigration to Rehoboth, the latter part of the year 1643, William Carpenter was chosen proprietor's clerk. At a sec- ond 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 com- menced in 1643. The territory of the town included what is now called Attle- boro, Seekonk, a part of Cumberland, Swansey, and East Providence. Many
of the Carpenter residents of these towns are treated as being residents of the old town of Rehoboth, though they may re- side in some one of the other towns. The estate of William Carpenter was valued at two hundred and fifty-four pounds and ten shillings. He served as proprietor's and town clerk from 1643 until 1649.
William Carpenter, of Weymouth, wit- nessed 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 chirogra- phy of that age. 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 Phil- ip's War. He was one of the committee to lay out a road from Rehoboth to Ded- ham, 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 Wil- liam Carpenter was chosen with others to hear and decide on grievances in regard to the division of land by lots ; in the same year he was chosen by the town to repre- sent them in the court at Plymouth. In 1647 he was chosen as one of the directors of the town ; also again in 1655. The year 1653 was the first that his name was writ- ten William Carpenter, Sr. His son Wil- liam would be twenty-one at this date, and was a resident of the town.
The first settlement of the colony of Rehoboth consisted of fifty-eight mem- bers from Weymouth, Massachusetts, 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
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ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
man's allotment might be taken up ac- cording 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 William Carpenter, individual No. 16, stood as No. 48, and the value of his estate was estimated at two hundred and fifty-four pounds, ten shillings. The houses of this colony were built in a semicircle around Seekonk Common and open toward See- konk 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 twelve, eight, or six acres "as in their discretion they think the quality of the estate of the person do require." This applies to house lots. It was further or- dered that no person should sell his im- provements "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 and probably faced to- ward the South. William Carpenter, No. 18, and Samuel Carpenter, No. 23, were buried near the entrance to the church. The residence of William Car- penter, 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 tradi- tion and by some twelve or more button- wood 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 the time past and 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 Novem- ber until the first day of February, 18 pence per day and for the rest of the year 20 pence per day except in harvest ; for six oxen and one man seven shillings and six- pence per day, and for eight oxen eight shillings. The price fixed for wheat was four shillings and six pence per bushel. Wampum was fixed at eight for a penny."
William Carpenter and his wife Abigail were the parents of seven children, the first three of whom were born in England, the next three were born in Weymouth, and Samuel, the youngest, was born in Rehoboth, Massachusetts. They were: John, William, Joseph, Hannah, Abiah, Abigail, and Samuel.
(II) Abiah Carpenter was the twin brother of Abigail. They were born in Weymouth, April 9, 1643. The New Eng- land Register refers to "Abia daughter, and Abraham son, born February 9, 1643, children of William Carpenter." William Carpenter had by his wife Abigail a son and daughter born as stated above ; one of the two appears on the records sometimes as Abiah and sometimes as Abijah, but al- ways, on all records except the above, as a son and not a daughter. Abraham could not be the daughter, therefore our natural conclusion is that the name Abigail was given wrongly as Abraham when re- corded. The records of Rehoboth do not mention an Abraham, and in the will of William Carpenter we find Abigail men- tioned next after Abiah. We can come to no rational conclusion but that Abiah and Abigail were twins, born as stated above. Abiah was probably married, about 1659,
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as his son Abiah was admitted a freeman of Rhode Island in 1681. The indications are that he married for his second wife a sister of Ann Wickes, the second wife of Joseph Carpenter, of Mosquito Cove, Long Island, but have been unable to find any account of his marriage on the Rec- ords of the Providence Plantations.
William Carpenter, in his will, divided his real estate at Pawtuxet between Han- nah and Abiah, but gave the largest por- tion to Abiah, including the house lot on this land which he settled (probably the same land that William, his father, bought of Benedict Arnold, in 1652). Abiah was sixteen years of age when his father died, and about this time chose the calling of a mariner. Possibly it was for this reason that his father left him the "History of the World" in his will. Abiah and his wife were appointed guardians to Mary Baker, daughter of William and Mary Baker, in 1669, for which Abiah agreed to give Mary a cow calf in one year, the calf to be one year old. He took a receipt of William Baker and his wife Mary for a yearling heifer in 1669.
He testified before the Court-Martial which sat at Newport to try certain In- dians charged with being engaged in King Philip's designs, that Wenanaquabin, who had been living with him, went away from his house some time in May, 1675, and he did not see him again nor could he hear from him until towards winter. Wenanaquabin had been charged with be- ing at the wounding of John Scott in Providence. There was an attack made by the Indians on Carpenter's garrison in Pawtucket at Askaway, January 27, 1675, and they took a large number of cattle. Abiah Carpenter was fined twenty pounds for not serving on a jury. He was elected deputy in 1682, and was on the Grand Jury, December 13, 1687.
Joseph Carpenter, of Mosquito Cove, Long Island, (his brother-in-law), sold land to Abiah Carpenter, November 30, 1668. Abiah Carpenter deeded the same back to Joseph Carpenter, January, 1669. It is evident that Joseph Carpenter, of Mosquito Cove, deeded this land as a fight to induce Abiah Carpenter, his brother- in-law, to move to Mosquito Cove, which the latter declined to accept. It is very certain that Abiah Carpenter went with Joseph and Hannah Carpenter to Long Island, but after the death of his sister Hannah he returned to Pawtuxet. Hence the exchange of land, Abiah Carpenter having a house lot at Mosquito Cove which he deeded to Joseph Carpenter. (A copy of the deed from Joseph Carpenter, of Mosquito Cove, to Abiah Carpenter, of Pawtuxet) :
This instrument in writing declareth to all to whom it may concern that Joseph Carpenter, of Mosquito Cove on Long Island, within the Colony of His Royal Highness James Duke of York, do make and have made an exchange of lands with my brother-in-law, Abiah Carpenter, of Pawtuxet in Rhode Island Colony. The said land which I exchanged with my brother, Abiah Carpenter, is all my right of land and commonage which fell to me by my wife by will of her father, and also a third part of my land which lieth between the cove and the Pawtuxet River, and also five pounds to be paid at Michaelmas following the date thereof. I say I have made over from me, my heirs and assigns from all my right, title and inter- est of the above referred to lands, to my said brother-in-law, Abiah Carpenter, to him, his heirs and assigns forever and to hold as his or their own perfect right, title or interest and this as my real act I have herewith set my hand and seal in Oyster Bay, the 8th day of June, in the year of our Lord, one thousand six hundred and seventy-three and in the twenty-fourth year of the reign of our sov- ereign King Charles the Second.
(Signed) JOSEPH CARPENTER.
We find by the marriage record of his son, Joseph Carpenter, that Abiah Car- penter died previous to 1702. Land was
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ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
sold by Oliver Carpenter, the son of Abiah Carpenter, in 1699, the deed of which states that Abiah was then deceased. We have not been able to learn, by records or tradition, to whom or at what time Abiah Carpenter was married, but we find that his son Abiah was admitted as a freeman of Rhode Island in 1681, which indicates that the son was born in 1660 or before.
(III) Oliver Carpenter, one of the eight children of Abiah Carpenter and his wife, was born about 1675, at Pawtuxet, Rhode Island; he died in 1727. His residence was at North Kingston, Rhode Island. His wife's name was Sarah. He owned real estate in several townships, as ap- pears by his will. He deeded to his broth- er, Joseph Carpenter, for love, March 18, 1705, six acres of land at Pawtuxet which belonged to his honored father, Abiah Carpenter, deceased. On July 27, 1724, he deeded land to his son, Christopher Car- penter, of East Greenwich. On Novem- ber 23, 1724, he deeded land to his son, John Carpenter, of Warwick-130 acres in East Greenwich. In 1727, he was ad- ministrator to the estate of his son, Oliver Carpenter, at East Greenwich. His son Oliver probably died after his father's will was made and before his father died.
Abstract of the will of Oliver Carpen- ter, wife Sarah. Will was proved No- vember 20, 1727; his wife Sarah was the executrix. His friend, Jeremiah Gould, overseer. To son Oliver £10, he having considerable estate. To son Solomon £10. To son Abiah a legacy at age. To son Thomas a farm in East Greenwich where William Sweet dwells. To son Joshua £200 at age. To the youngest sons (names not mentioned) £200 each when they come of age. To daughter Sarah and a daughter, name not legible, £200 each. To a daughter, name not legible, £ 150.
Sarah Carpenter, relict of Oliver Car- penter, married (second) Robert Hall.
(IV) Christopher Carpenter, second of the nineteen children born to the marriage of Oliver and Sarah Carpenter, was born about 1718. He probably married Mercy Taylor (or Roberts) in South Kingston, Rhode Island. They resided in East Greenwich. In 1737 they went to Mary- land. He was a blacksmith by trade. He built the first house on the Carpenter farm in West Greenwich, Rhode Island, which still remains in the family. He was the father of ten children, born at East Green- wich and Kingston, Rhode Island.
(V) Robert Carpenter, third son of Christopher and Mercy Carpenter, was born March 5, 1722, in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. He married (first) Charity Roberts, October 26, 1755; married (sec- ond) Mercy. Robert Carpenter, of King- ston, enlisted as a corporal in the Conti- nental Army, in Captain Keith's company, Colonel Michael Jackson's regiment ; served from April 24, 1777, to October 7, 1777 ; reported killed October 7, 1777 ; en- listed again in the Continental Army, Cap- tain Aaron Gray's company, Colonel Pyn- chon's regiment ; enlisted for three years, February 9, 1778. He was the father of six children, all born in East Greenwich.
(VI) John Carpenter, second child of Robert and Charity (Roberts) Carpenter, was born February II, 1758. He married Sally Stone. He probably married (sec- ond) Charity. He was the father of ten children, the youngest of whom was Amos.
(VII) Amos Carpenter, youngest child of John and Sally (Stone) Carpenter, was born in West Greenwich, Rhode Island, August 23, 1793. He married (first), June 19, 1813, Mary Bailey, born February 29, 1792 ; died August 3, 1855, a daughter of Joseph Bailey. He married (second), May, 1856, Eunice Bailey, sister to Mary, born April 6, 1802, died December 31, 1887. The Baileys were an old Rhode Is-
76
BAILEY.
Arms-Ermine, three bars wavy sable.
Crest-A demi-lady habited gules, holding in her dexter hand a tower, in her sinister a laurel branch vert.
CHANDLER.
Arms-Chequy argent and azure, on a bend sable three lions passant or, a canton argent, a sinister hand couped at the wrist gules.
Crest-A pelican in her piety sable, the nest vert ( Fairbairn).
Motto-Ad mortem fidelis. (Faithful unto death.)
CHILD.
Arms-Gules, a chevron ermine between three eagles close argent. (Another or.)
Crest-An eagle with wings expanded argent, enveloped around the neck with a snake proper.
Motto-Imitari quam invidere.
.
slis residence hoodle Island. (V) Robert Carpenter, third son of Chry topfel ai | Mewy Carpenter, was r 1. He owned it wn hip. a apeople March 5, 17 2, in Fast Greenwich, " Weded to his broth- . lda- >kyswarsu soydrmigmattiasuxbharity
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(IV) Christopher Carpenter, second of the nineteen children born to the marring of Oliver and Sarah Carpenter, war born about 1718. He probably married M rcy Taylor for Roberts) in South Kingston, Rhode Island. They resided in East Greenwich. In 1737 they went to Mary- land. Ile was a blacksmith by trade He built the first house on the Carpenter farm in West Greenwich, Rhode Island, which still remains in the family He was the father of ten children, born at East Creen- wich anl Kingator Rhode Island.
Tlf: Amos Carpenter, youngest ch'l of John and Sally (Sinne) Carpenter, was . torn in West Greenwich. Rhode Island, August 23, 1793. He married (first), Jan 17, 1813, Mary Bailey, bory February 20 1,92; died Augu t 3, 1855; & daughter f Joseph Badey. He married (second] May, 18,6. Eunice Bailey, sister to Mary burn April 6, 1802, died December 31. 1887. Th Baileys were an old Rhode
Bailey
AD MORTEM FIDELIS
Chandler
IMITARI
DERE
QUAM IN
Child
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
land family, William Bailey, the Ameri- can ancestor, having come from London, England, and settled in Newport, Rhode Island, as early as 1655. Joseph Bailey, a resident of West Greenwich, was a Rev- olutionary soldier.
Amos Carpenter was a man of fine phy- sique and varied attainments, being skilled as a shoemaker, cooper, and carpenter. During the depression of business in 1837 the family removed to a farm in the east- ern part of Pomfret (now Putnam), Con- necticut, where a family of six girls and three boys were brought up in the strict- est Puritan ways. Amos Carpenter died December 29, 1872.
(VIII) John Anthony Carpenter, son of Amos and Mary (Bailey) Carpenter, was born June 23, 1828, in West Green- wich, Rhode Island. During his boyhood he assisted in the work of the farm, and attended the district school. He attended Wilbraham Academy for a short time, and in 1846 went to Woodstock Academy for one term. In the winter of that year he commenced teaching school, which oc- cupation he followed for nearly twelve years with marked success. Some of his classes in mathematics were remarkable even in those days when the "three R's" received so great a part of the energies of both teacher and pupil. He inherited from his father a fine constitution, a nat- ural adaptability to any kind of work, and a capacity for hard, unremitting labor.
In 1857 Mr. Carpenter took charge of the counting room and stores of M. S. Morse & Co., where he was employed un- til July, 1866. He was then chosen cash- ier of the First National Bank, which po- sition he held for forty years. On Octo- ber 1, 1866, he was chosen treasurer of the Putnam Savings Bank, which had been organized but a short time, and had then between $100,000 and $200,000 in de- posits. He held the office of treasurer
about eight years, when the deposits ex- ceeded $1,000,000. By statute no person could be simultaneously cashier of a na- tional bank and treasurer of a savings bank with deposits amounting to $1,000,- 000, and Joseph Lippitt was chosen treas- urer, Mr. Carpenter remaining one of the trustees until his death.
Mr. Carpenter was always a Republican and an active party worker ; he was chair- man of the Republican Town Committee through the War of the Rebellion and for some time prior thereto, and in those try- ing times he spent much time and labor in the upbuilding of the party. He was elected judge of probate for Putnam Pro- bate District in August, 1863, and held that office for thirty-five years. He had the high compliment many times of being nominated by the caucuses of both Re- publican and Democratic parties, and but one decision made by him was appealed from and carried to the Superior Court. He was the first warden of the town fire district, and assisted in getting it in work- ing order. He was also one of the first school visitors of the new town of Put- nam, and held that office many years.
Mr. Carpenter was active in the interests of improvement in schools, churches, and general town and city affairs, and was always willing to pay his share of all ex- penses. He had the management as ad- ministrator or executor of the settlement of many large estates. several of over $100,000 and one of over $1,000,000 with- out being required to give bonds. He was trustee and guardian for several large estates and managed them with great ex- actness and fidelity and to the perfect satisfaction of the parties interested. Mr. Carpenter always had the full confidence of his townspeople, and his integrity was never questioned.
John Anthony Carpenter married (first) Ann Elizabeth Williams, March 30, 1852 ;
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she died August 19, 1856. He married (second) Marcia J. Chandler. To Mr. Carpenter's first marriage two children were born: I. Nancy Jeanette, born Oc- tober 9, 1853, died March 26, 1854. 2. Byron Williams, born May 13, 1856, the namesake of his maternal grandfather ; he married (first) Maria Louisa Aldrich, February 15, 1876; she died July 5, 1884; he married (second) Mrs. Emma M. Good- speed, August 16, 1885; she died May 22, 1890; he married (third), December 20, 1890, Mary A. Moffitt ; he has one daugh- ter, Elizabeth W. (Carpenter) Roedel- heim. By his second wife, Marcia J. (Chandler) Carpenter, Mr. Carpenter had three children, all now living in Putnam : I. Jane Elizabeth, born March 10, 1866, married Edgar Morris Warner, clerk in the Superior Court for Windham County ; they are the parents of three children, all now living in Putnam, Connecticut, name- ly: Frances Lester (Warner) Hersey, born July 19, 1888; Gertrude Chandler Warner, born April 16, 1890; John A. Carpenter Warner, born July 12, 1893. 2. Annie Chandler, born December 28, 1867; she married, November 8, 1895, Chester Elisha Child, previously mentioned, a lumber dealer, and they are the parents of four children, namely : Ruth Carpenter Child, Bertha Elizabeth Child, Edith Whitney Child, Donald Ezra Child. 3. John Frederick, born April 9, 1870, a lawyer; he married (first), December 27, 1893, Alice M. Sharpe, and they were the parents of three daughters, namely : Paul- ine S. Carpenter, Alice Maud Carpenter, Mary Carpenter; he married (second) Elizabeth L. Cornwell.
scended from John Carpenter, of 1303. William Carpenter, the great-grandson of William Carpenter, of Homme, was the direct ancestor of the Tyrconnel Carpen- ters; and his third son, William Carpen- ter, was the' progenitor of the Rehoboth branch of the family.
The following list will show the line of Tyrconnel Carpenters, commencing with John Carpenter, of 1303.
John Carpenter, born about 1303, mem- ber of Parliament.
Richard Carpenter, son of John Car- penter, born about 1335, a goldsmith.
John Carpenter, Sr., son of Richard and brother of John Carpenter, town clerk of London.
John Carpenter, son of John Carpenter, Sr., born about 1410.
William Carpenter, son of John Car- penter, born about 1440, died in 1520. (The William of Homme.)
James Carpenter, son of William Car- penter.
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