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. 2. John CARPENTER   b. 19 Oct 1652, Rehoboth, Massachusetts.
2. 3. William CARPENTER   b. 20 Jun 1659, Rehoboth, Massachusetts; d. 10 Mar 1718, Attleboro, Massachusetts.
3. 4. Priscilla CARPENTER   b. 24 Jul 1661, Rehoboth, Massachusetts.
4. 5. Benjamin CARPENTER   b. 20 Oct 1663, Rehoboth, Massachusetts; d. 18 Apr 1738, Coventry, Conn..

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

1. 2. John CARPENTER   b. 19 Oct 1652, Rehoboth, Massachusetts.
2. 3. William CARPENTER   b. 20 Jun 1659, Rehoboth, Massachusetts; d. 10 Mar 1718, Attleboro, Massachusetts.
3. 4. Priscilla CARPENTER   b. 24 Jul 1661, Rehoboth, Massachusetts.
4. 5. Benjamin CARPENTER   b. 20 Oct 1663, Rehoboth, Massachusetts; d. 18 Apr 1738, Coventry, Conn..

He moved to Woodstock, Conn., about 1690. By a vote of the Town of Woodstock in 1692, he was allowed two acres of land for every acre wanted in completing his home lot. He was employed in finishing the meeting house about 1692, by a vote of the Town of Woodstock. He had an estate amounting to two hundred and
thirteen pounds. It was this John who served during King Philip's War, and advanced money to carry on the same to the amount of Å“1, 18s., 6d. He was also in the Narragansett expedition in 1675. He was made Captain of a company in the French and Indian War from Woodstock, Conn.

There is no doubt but that his first wife, Rebecca Readaway, was a sister to Sarah Readaway, the wife of Samuel Carpenter and that they were the daughters of James Readaway. James Readaway gives by will to his grandson Eliphalet Carpenter, terming himself his grandfather, 16 acres of land more or less.
Eliphalet was an orphan proprietor of land in Rehoboth, Feb. 7, 1689 and inherited his proprietorship by will of his grandfather.

It appears that John remained in Rehoboth and Swansea and worked at his trade in different townships, as we find him in Rehoboth, Attleboro, Swansea, and Dedham, Mass., Woodstock, Conn., and other towns. He is called "John Carpenter of Dedham, Mass." He was in Swansea In 1689 when he sold out his real estate to John Butterworth, Sr., and it appears the next year, 1690, he went to Woodstock, Conn. John Carpenter Housewright) of Dedham, Suffolk Co. Mass., bought land in Woodstock, Conn., in 1708.

There is no doubt but that it is this John of Woodstock who married the widow Sarah Day. relict of Ralph Day who died Oct. 21, 1694. She was the daughter of Thomas and Hannah Fowler Fuller of Dedham, Mass. John Carpenter and his wife Sarah Day Carpenter were the administrators of the estate of Ralph Day. as
will be seen by the following order from the Judge of Probate of Suffolk County, Mass., to" John Carpenter of Dedham in the County aforesaid and Sarah his wife, (late Sarah Day and wife of Ralph Day, late of Dedham, bricklayer) administrators of the estate of Ralph Day, Suffolk County, Mass."

Sarah Fuller was born in Dedham, May 7, 1659 and was married to Ralph Day, Dec.6, 1682. John Carpenter's wife Sarah survived him and after his death married for her third husband Samuel Ward.

(The Woodstock Records state that Eliphalet Carpenter of Woodstock, Conn., was a son of John Carpenter of Dedham, Housewright.)

The following is a copy of a deed of sale of real estate willed to Miriam Carpenter by her late husband, William Carpenter, sold to Daniel Carpenter No.37, her son, and signed by her and John Carpenter, No. 31, her eldest son:

"That whereas William Carpenter, late deceased, did by his late Will and Testament give to his beloved wife, Miriam Carpenter, twenty pounds estate of commons, the Proprietors of the Town of Rehoboth both ordered and granted divisions of land to be laid out and surveyed by virtue of an order and agreement made by the Town of Rehoboth, bearing date the 4th of January, 1702 or 1703.
Know all men by these presents that I, Miriam Carpenter of the Town of Rehoboth, in the County of Bristol in the Province of Massachusetts Bay in New England, and John Carpenter of the Town of Woodstock in the County of Suffolk in the Province aforesaid -Know ye that we, the said Miriam Carpenter and John Carpenter do for our souls, our heirs, executors, administrators, bargain, sell, make over, and confirm unto Daniel Carpenter of the Town of Rehoboth and Province aforesaid, a lot of land that is now due to be laid forth by virtue of an order before mentioned; namely, four acres of land being in the first division, the
first lot is No. -; and that the said Daniel Carpenter, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns shall have good right and lawful authority to survey and lay out the said four acres of land when the turn comes and to record it to himself, his heirs and assigns as a good, perfect estate of inheritance; and we, the said Miriam and John Carpenter acknowledgeth our souls fully satisfied and contented and fully paid, and do, therefore, acquit and discharge the said Daniel Carpenter, his heirs and assigns forever. To the only proper use of the said
Daniel Carpenter, his heirs and assigns forever.

In witness whereof the said Miriam Carpenter and John Carpenter both set their hands and seal this twenty-first day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and three.

The mark of Miriam Carpenter - "M"
2(Signed) JOHN CARPENTER.

Farmer









A QUIT CLAIM DEED FROM BENJAMIN CARPENTER, then residing in Northampton, Mass., to a portion of the estate left him by his honored father, William Carpenter of Rehoboth, to his brother, Nathaniel Carpenter:

Dated, June 22, 1708, and in the seventh year of the reign of our Soverign Lady Anne, by the grace of God, Queen of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, etc.

(Signed) BENJAMIN CARPENTER.

A QUIT CLAIM DEED from the aforesaid Benjamin Carpenter, "now of (Coventree) Coventry, in the colony of Connecticut, late of Northampton of the county of Hampshire, and formerly an inhabitant of the Town of Rehoboth in the county of Bristol, in New England: (Housewright) sells the remaining interest in real estate that fell to him by the Will of his honored father, William Carpenter, to his brother, William Carpenter, of Rehoboth.

Dated, July 1, "Anno Domini" 1700.
(Signed) BENJAMIN CARPENTER.

Don Ryan, Cushing/Carpenter Families

Farmer

1. 16. Edward CARPENTER   b. 5 Oct 1705, Rehoboth, Massachusetts; d. 24 Feb 1771.
2. 17. Obadiah CARPENTER   b. 16 Feb 1707, Rehoboth, Massachusetts; d. 6 Jan 1764, Attleboro, Massachusetts; bur. Attleboro, Massachusetts.
3. 18. Nehemiah CARPENTER   b. 28 Sep 1708, Rehoboth, Massachusetts; d. 19 Mar 1711/1712, Rehoboth, Massachusetts.
4. 19. William CARPENTER, @   b. 26 Jun 1711, Rehoboth, Massachusetts; d. 23 Aug 1768.
5. 20. Nehemiah CARPENTER   b. 24 Jun 1714, Rehoboth, Massachusetts; d. 19 Oct 1715, Rehoboth, Massachusetts.
6. 21. Deliverance CARPENTER   b. 29 May 1717.
7. 22. Josiah CARPENTER   b. 8 Oct 1719; d. 1746, Cumberland, R.I..
8. 23. John CARPENTER   b. 7 Mar 1726/1727; d. 26 Apr 1754, Rehoboth, Massachusetts.

Farmer

Farmer

Baptist minister

1. 24. William CARPENTER   b. 7 Nov 1735, Attleboro, Massachusetts; d. 5 Apr 1736.
2. 25. William CARPENTER, II @   b. 21 Jan 1736/1737, Attleboro, Massachusetts; d. 1784.
3. 26. Samuel CARPENTER   b. 21 Apr 1739, Attleboro, Massachusetts; d. 22 Apr 1739, Attleboro, Massachusetts.
4. 27. John CARPENTER   b. 6 Jun 1740, Attleboro, Massachusetts.
5. 28. Ebenezer CARPENTER   b. 4 Jun 1742, Attleboro, Massachusetts; d. 15 Mar 1743.
6. 29. Peter CARPENTER   b. 4 Mar 1743/1744, Attleboro, Massachusetts; d. 1807, Norton.
7. 30. Ebenezer CARPENTER   b. 22 Jun 1746, Attleboro, Massachusetts.
8. 31. Samuel CARPENTER   b. 20 Oct 1748, Attleboro, Massachusetts.
9. 32. Abigail CARPENTER   b. 8 Jun 1750, Attleboro, Massachusetts.
10. 33. Isaac CARPENTER   b. 23 Sep 1752, Attleboro, Massachusetts.
11. 34. Sarah CARPENTER   b. 28 Sep 1754, Attleboro, Massachusetts.

Farmer

William was a farmer and a collector of the town of Norton for a sum agreed upon by the town to raise men for the military service in 1779. "It appears from the records that he left a handsome property to his last wife of real estate, mills, etc. She was a part owner of a steam water and water power and was molested in her rights by Noah Dean and Hazekiah Briggs for which they were put under bonds of $100 not to molest her rights of using one half of the water on the easterly end of the dam now erected for running a cutting mill."

1. 35. William CARPENTER, III @   b. 25 Jun 1760, Norton, Massachusetts; d. 25 Aug 1837.
2. 36. John CARPENTER   b. 12 May 1767, Norton, Massachusetts; d. 14 Mar 1813.
3. 37. Elizabeth CARPENTER   b. 22 Feb 1779, Norton, Massachusetts.
4. 38. Samuel CARPENTER   b. Abt 1780, Norton, Massachusetts.
5. 39. Ebenezer CARPENTER   b. 15 Jun 1781, Norton, Massachusetts.
6. 40. Sarah CARPENTER   b. 14 May 1783, Norton, Massachusetts.

Farmer