Biography
B. about 1605 in Shalbourne, England
M. 1625 in Shalbourne, England
Wife: Abigail Briant
D. 7 Feb 1659 in Rehoboth, Massachusetts
Emigrated: May 1638 on the ship Bevis
William Carpenter was born in about 1605 in Shalbourne, England, a village in Wiltshire on the border with Hampshire. His father was also named William. In 1625, William married Abigail Briant in Shalbourne. Between 1626 and 1643, they had eight children.
William and his family migrated to America in May 1638 on the ship Bevis sailing out of Southampton with 61 passengers. They settled in the Plymouth colony in the town of Weymouth where William was representative to the General Court of Plymouth in 1641 and 1643. He joined a company of settlers at Weymouth, led by a Reverend Samuel Newman, that split off to form a new community called Rehoboth. At first the town didn't align itself with either Plymouth or Massachusetts Bay, but then voted to join the Plymouth colony. In 1645, William was elected a Rehoboth representative to the General Court. He was also named as one of those empowered to hear and decide on grievances in regard to the division of land by lots. In 1647 and 1655, he was one of the directors of the town. Besides serving the community, William worked as a carpenter.
William must have been well-educated because he had a substantial amount of books: Latin classics, Greek and Hebrew grammars, biblical concordances and some legal works. He specified which books went to each family member in his will, giving a sense that they were treasured by him.
William died February 7, 1659 in Rehoboth. He was buried in Old Rehoboth (Newman Church) Cemetery. It's been said that many of his male lineal descendants served in the American Revolution.
Famous descendants of William Carpenter include James A. Garfield, Raquel Welch, Louis Comfort Tiffany and Scott Carpenter.
Children:
1. John Carpenter ? B. about 1628, Wiltshire County, England; D. 23 May 1695
2. William Carpenter ? B. about 1631, Wiltshire County, England; D. 26 Jan 1703, Rehoboth, Massachusetts; M. (1) Priscilla Bennet (~1631-1663), 5 Oct 1651, Rehoboth, Massachusetts; (2) Miriam Searles (~1628-1722), 10 Dec 1663, Rehoboth, Massachusetts
3. Joseph Carpenter ? B. about 1634, Wiltshire County, England; D. May 1675; M. Margaret Sutton, 25 May 1655
4. Samuel Carpenter ? B. about 1637, Wiltshire County, England; D. 20 Apr 1637, Wiltshire County, England
5. Samuel Carpenter ? B. about 1638, Weymouth, Massachusetts; D. 20 Feb 1683; M. Sarah Readway, 25 May 1660
6. Hannah Carpenter ? B. 3 Apr 1640, Weymouth, Massachusetts
7. Abiah Carpenter ? B. 9 Apr 1643, Weymouth, Massachusetts
8. Abigail Carpenter ? B. 9 Apr 1643, Weymouth, Massachusetts; D. 5 Mar 1710; M. (1) John Titus; (2) Jonah Palmer (?-1709), 9 Nov 1692
Sources:
Representative men and old families of southeastern Massachusetts, J.H. Beers & Co., 1912
A genealogical history of the Rehoboth branch of the Carpenter family in America, Amos Bugbee Carpenter, 1898
Wikipedia article on the Rehoboth Carpenter Family
GeneaStar: Famous Family Tree and Genealogy [website]
- English Vicar Turned Puritan ? Reverend William Worcester
B. about 1601 in (probably) Rugby, England M. (1) 11 Feb 1627 in Olney, England Wife: Sarah Brown M. (2) 22 Jul 1650 in Salisbury, Massachusetts Wife: Rebecca Hall D. 28 Aug 1662 in Salisbury, Massachusetts Emigrated: about 1637 William Worcester was...
- From A Noted Yorkshire Family ? William Boynton
B. about 1606 in Knapton, England M. in England Wife: Elizabeth Jackson D. 8 Dec 1686 in Rowley, Massachusetts Emigrated: 1838 on the ship John of London William Boynton's family traces back many generations in Yorkshire, England. He was born in about...
- Questioning An Indian On Religion ? William French
B. about 1603 in England M. (1) in England Wife: Elizabeth (last name unknown) M. (2) 2 May 1668 in Billerica, Massachusetts Wife: Mary (Lathrop) Stearns D. 20 Nov 1681 in Billerica, Massachusetts Emigrated: 18 Jul 1635 on the ship Defence Many have done...
- Erasing His Name From A Petition ? Ezekiel Richardson
B. about 1602 in Westmill, England M. 25 Feb 1630 in England Wife: Susannah Bradford D. 21 Oct 1647 in Woburn, Massachusetts Emigrated: 1630 Ezekiel Richardson went against the authorities the Massachusetts Bay colony only to a degree, and changed his...
- Step-father To A Witch Trial Victim ? Ralph Hill
B. in England M. (1) in England Wife: unknown M. (2) 21 Dec 1638 in Plymouth, Massachusetts Wife: Margaret Toothaker D. 19 Apr 1663 in Billerica, Massachusetts Emigrated: before 1638 Ralph Hill's origins in England are untraceable to any particular...
Biography
Well-Read Man in Early New England ? William Carpenter
B. about 1605 in Shalbourne, England
M. 1625 in Shalbourne, England
Wife: Abigail Briant
D. 7 Feb 1659 in Rehoboth, Massachusetts
Emigrated: May 1638 on the ship Bevis
William Carpenter was born in about 1605 in Shalbourne, England, a village in Wiltshire on the border with Hampshire. His father was also named William. In 1625, William married Abigail Briant in Shalbourne. Between 1626 and 1643, they had eight children.
William and his family migrated to America in May 1638 on the ship Bevis sailing out of Southampton with 61 passengers. They settled in the Plymouth colony in the town of Weymouth where William was representative to the General Court of Plymouth in 1641 and 1643. He joined a company of settlers at Weymouth, led by a Reverend Samuel Newman, that split off to form a new community called Rehoboth. At first the town didn't align itself with either Plymouth or Massachusetts Bay, but then voted to join the Plymouth colony. In 1645, William was elected a Rehoboth representative to the General Court. He was also named as one of those empowered to hear and decide on grievances in regard to the division of land by lots. In 1647 and 1655, he was one of the directors of the town. Besides serving the community, William worked as a carpenter.
William must have been well-educated because he had a substantial amount of books: Latin classics, Greek and Hebrew grammars, biblical concordances and some legal works. He specified which books went to each family member in his will, giving a sense that they were treasured by him.
William died February 7, 1659 in Rehoboth. He was buried in Old Rehoboth (Newman Church) Cemetery. It's been said that many of his male lineal descendants served in the American Revolution.
Famous descendants of William Carpenter include James A. Garfield, Raquel Welch, Louis Comfort Tiffany and Scott Carpenter.
Children:
1. John Carpenter ? B. about 1628, Wiltshire County, England; D. 23 May 1695
2. William Carpenter ? B. about 1631, Wiltshire County, England; D. 26 Jan 1703, Rehoboth, Massachusetts; M. (1) Priscilla Bennet (~1631-1663), 5 Oct 1651, Rehoboth, Massachusetts; (2) Miriam Searles (~1628-1722), 10 Dec 1663, Rehoboth, Massachusetts
3. Joseph Carpenter ? B. about 1634, Wiltshire County, England; D. May 1675; M. Margaret Sutton, 25 May 1655
4. Samuel Carpenter ? B. about 1637, Wiltshire County, England; D. 20 Apr 1637, Wiltshire County, England
5. Samuel Carpenter ? B. about 1638, Weymouth, Massachusetts; D. 20 Feb 1683; M. Sarah Readway, 25 May 1660
6. Hannah Carpenter ? B. 3 Apr 1640, Weymouth, Massachusetts
7. Abiah Carpenter ? B. 9 Apr 1643, Weymouth, Massachusetts
8. Abigail Carpenter ? B. 9 Apr 1643, Weymouth, Massachusetts; D. 5 Mar 1710; M. (1) John Titus; (2) Jonah Palmer (?-1709), 9 Nov 1692
Sources:
Representative men and old families of southeastern Massachusetts, J.H. Beers & Co., 1912
A genealogical history of the Rehoboth branch of the Carpenter family in America, Amos Bugbee Carpenter, 1898
Wikipedia article on the Rehoboth Carpenter Family
GeneaStar: Famous Family Tree and Genealogy [website]
- English Vicar Turned Puritan ? Reverend William Worcester
B. about 1601 in (probably) Rugby, England M. (1) 11 Feb 1627 in Olney, England Wife: Sarah Brown M. (2) 22 Jul 1650 in Salisbury, Massachusetts Wife: Rebecca Hall D. 28 Aug 1662 in Salisbury, Massachusetts Emigrated: about 1637 William Worcester was...
- From A Noted Yorkshire Family ? William Boynton
B. about 1606 in Knapton, England M. in England Wife: Elizabeth Jackson D. 8 Dec 1686 in Rowley, Massachusetts Emigrated: 1838 on the ship John of London William Boynton's family traces back many generations in Yorkshire, England. He was born in about...
- Questioning An Indian On Religion ? William French
B. about 1603 in England M. (1) in England Wife: Elizabeth (last name unknown) M. (2) 2 May 1668 in Billerica, Massachusetts Wife: Mary (Lathrop) Stearns D. 20 Nov 1681 in Billerica, Massachusetts Emigrated: 18 Jul 1635 on the ship Defence Many have done...
- Erasing His Name From A Petition ? Ezekiel Richardson
B. about 1602 in Westmill, England M. 25 Feb 1630 in England Wife: Susannah Bradford D. 21 Oct 1647 in Woburn, Massachusetts Emigrated: 1630 Ezekiel Richardson went against the authorities the Massachusetts Bay colony only to a degree, and changed his...
- Step-father To A Witch Trial Victim ? Ralph Hill
B. in England M. (1) in England Wife: unknown M. (2) 21 Dec 1638 in Plymouth, Massachusetts Wife: Margaret Toothaker D. 19 Apr 1663 in Billerica, Massachusetts Emigrated: before 1638 Ralph Hill's origins in England are untraceable to any particular...