Town Clerk









William was elected Town Clerk of Rehoboth May 13, 1668 and held the office until his death with the exception of one year, namely, 1693. He was sent to the General Court of Plymouth as deputy in the year 1668; was chosen Deacon of the church in the same year; was one of the committee to settle bounds between
the Town of Taunton and the north purchase in the year 1670; and Clerk of the community of the north purchase in the year 1680; and one of the committee to sell the meeting house in the year 1683; and was defendant in Court of Plymouth in the year 1668. He was sent as deputy to the Plymouth Court in the year 1690;
and was one of the purchasers of the North Purchase, and drew his lot in the meadow May 16, 1668.

At a meeting of the Purchasers of the North Purchase,Feb. 18, 1685, it was voted that there should be a division of fifty acres to each shareholder. William Carpenter was the chosen surveyor. At this time he surveyed out 83 fifty-acre lots.

He was a man of superior ability, accurate in all of his business transactions, and a reliable councellor in the colony; and he was noted also for his superior penmanship. His house stood on the left hand side of the road leading from the East Providence meeting house to Rehoboth, Mass., 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. His estate amounted to 215 pounds, 5 shillings and four pence.

The stones that marked the graves of William Carpenter and his wife, Miriam have been taken up and removed and now lie at the foot of Daniel Carpenter and his wife Susanna's graves, with the letter side up, the lettering apparently as perfect as when first made, and plainly readable.

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 lb sh P

Item (1) - His wearing apparel Woolen and Linnen 10
(2) - In Money 2 13 4
(3) - Four Beds and furniture to them 21
(4) - Tablecloth Napkin, and sheets 7
(5) - Linen Yarn and Woolen yarn and wool 2 6
(6) - Pewter Farthen and Glass Bottles 2 10
(7) - Brass Kettles and Pans and Skillet 3
(8) - Iron pots, Andirons Frying pan and longs and Spi
(9) - Books 3 10
(10) Cross cut saw and other tools and Bells 1 11
(11) Compass to lay out land 2
(12) 2 Guns and Swords and Amunition 2 10
(13) A Saddle and Bridle, and old iron 1 5
(14) A Box Iron and Grindstone, and Hour glass 12
(15) In (pet hakes) Spinning Wheels and ods 1 2
(16) " Chests, Boxes, Tables and Chairs 2 10
(17) " Corn, Indian and English 10
(18) " Pork and Beef, Butter and 1 allow, 4 10
(19) " Wooden ware and Lumber 3 5
(20) " Tobacco, Flax, and Flax seed and salt 19
(21) " Neat Cattle, Sheep, and in Hay 28 10
(22) " Horse King, Swine, two cow hides 5 16
(23) " Housing and lands 96 12
Sum Total 215 4 4

John Butterwork
Moses Read
John Willmarth
Granted Coat of Arms in 1663.

1. Josiah CARPENTER b. 18 Dec 1664, Rehoboth, Massachusetts; d. 28 Feb 1727.
2. Nathaniel CARPENTER b. 12 May 1667, Rehoboth, Massachusetts.
3. Daniel CARPENTER b. 8 Oct 1669.
4. 1. Noah CARPENTER b. 28 Mar 1672, Rehoboth, Massachusetts.
5. Mariam CARPENTER b. 16 Oct 1674; d. 21 May 1706.
6. Obadiah CARPENTER, @ b. 12 Mar 1677, Rehoboth, Massachusetts; d. 25 Oct 1749.
7. Ephraim CARPENTER b. 25 Apr 1681, Rehoboth, Massachusetts.
8. Ephraim CARPENTER b. 25 Apr 1683/1684, Rehoboth, Massachusetts; d. 20 Apr 1743.
9. Hannah CARPENTER b. 10 Apr 1685, Rehoboth, Bristol, Massachusetts; d. Rehoboth, Bristol, Massachusetts.
10. Abigail CARPENTER b. 15 Apr 1687, Rehoboth, Massachusetts; d. 15 Jan 1781.

Farmer

1. John CARPENTER b. Abt 1630, England; d. 23 May 1695, Jamaica, Long Island, New York.
2. 2. William CARPENTER, @ b. Abt 1631, England; c. 22 Nov 1631, Shalbourne, Wiltshire, England; d. 26 Jan 1703, Rehoboth, Bristol, Massachusetts; bur. Rehoboth Cemetery, East Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island.
3. Joseph CARPENTER b. Abt 1634, Shalbourne, Whitshire/Berkshire, England; c. 6 Apr 1634, Shalbourne, Whitshire/Berkshire, England; d. 6 May 1675, Swansey, Bristol County, Massachusetts; bur. 8 May 1676, Barrington, near One-Hundred-Acre cove..
4. Samuel CARPENTER, [infant] c. 1 Mar 1636, Shalbourne, Whitshire/Berkshire, England; bur. 20 Apr 1637, Shalbourne, Whitshire/Berkshire, England.
5. Samuel CARPENTER b. Abt 1638, Rehoboth, Massachusetts; d. 20 Feb 1683, Rehoboth, Bristol County, Massachusetts.
6. Hannah CARPENTER b. 3 Apr 1640, Weymouth, Norfolk County, Massachusetts; d. 1671, Mosquito Cove, Long Island; bur. Between 1670 and 1673, Oyster Bay, Nassau County, New York.
7. Abigail CARPENTER, [twin] b. 9 Apr 1643; c. 31 May 1659, Shalbourne, Whitshire/Berkshire, England; d. 5 Mar 1710, Rehoboth, Massachusetts.
8. Abiah CARPENTER, [twin] b. 9 Apr 1643, Weymouth, Massachusetts; d. Abt 1702.

Carpenter.









William was born in England in 1576. He came to America with his wife and son William, in the ship "Bevis, " in 1638, and returned in the same ship to England. He was a resident of London. He was the third son of William Carpenter, was a
Carpenter by trade and resided in London. He rented tenements and gardens in Houndsditch. Being a Dissenter, he was driven to Whirwell to escape persecution, and took the opportunity to join his sons in emigrating to America. He was not contented on this side, however, and returned to England in the ship which brought him.

Source: "Genealogical & Family History of Western New York." Lewis, 1912: Page 1252, 1253, 1318.

1. 4. William CARPENTER, @ b. 23 May 1605, London, Co. Middlesex, England; d. 7 Feb 1659, Rehoboth, Massachusetts.

1. 5. Abigail BRIANT c. 27 May 1604, Shalbourne, Whitshire/Berkshire, England; d. 22 Feb 1686, Rehoboth, Massachusetts.