M. (1) 5 Oct 1651 in Rehoboth, Massachusetts2
Wife: Priscilla Bennett
M. (2) 10 Dec 1663 in Rehoboth, Massachusetts3
Wife: Miriam Searles
D. 26 Jan 1703 in Rehoboth, Massachusetts4
William Carpenter was skilled at using a pen as well as a saw, and during a period of his life, he was appointed as his town’s clerk.
William was born in 1631 to William Carpenter and Abigail Briant, baptized on Christmas Day in Shalbourne, England,1 which is in Wiltshire. He was one of eight children. When William was seven years old, the family migrated to America aboard the ship Bevis.5 The ship’s passenger list includes 4 children in the family and one servant, suggesting they weren't poor. The family settled in Weymouth, Massachusetts, then moved to Rehoboth in 1644 as a founding family of that community.6
On October 5, 1651, William married Priscilla Bennett.2 Priscilla died on October 20, 1663 giving birth to their fourth child.7 William then married Miriam Searles on December 10, 1663.3 They had nine children born between 1664 and 1687.
William worked as a carpenter and owned a “long Cross cut saw,”6 but his other profession was as town clerk of Rehoboth, a service he performed for almost 35 years, from 1668 until his death. It is said he was noted for his exceptional handwriting.6 During his time as clerk, he was a deacon in the church, a deputy to the General Court at Plymouth, an overseer of the highways, a constable, and a magistrate.8 He was also appointed to settle boundary disputes.8
Example of William's handwriting in Rehoboth records.
William wrote his will on November 10, 1702,6 and he died on the following January 26th.4 His will was proved in April with his estate valued at over £215; among his possessions were several books and a compass for surveying land.6 He was buried at Newman Cemetery, which is in present-day Rhode Island. Descendants of William include singer Amy Grant.9
Children by Priscilla Bennett:
1. John Carpenter — B. 19 Oct 1652, Rehoboth, Massachusetts;10 D. 1695, (probably) Woodstock, Connecticut;11 M. Rebecca Readaway11
2. William Carpenter — B. 20 Jun 1659, Rehoboth, Massachusetts;12 D. 10 Mar 1719, Attleboro, Massachusetts;13 M. Elizabeth Robinson (1657-?), 8 Apr 1685, Rehoboth, Massachusetts14
3. Priscilla Carpenter — B. 24 Jul 1661, Rehoboth, Massachusetts;15 D. after 9 Jun 1744, (probably) East Greenwich, Rhode Island;16 M. Richard Sweet16
4. Benjamin Carpenter — B. 20 Oct 1663, Rehoboth, Massachusetts;17 D. 18 Apr 1738, Coventry, Connecticut;18 M. Hannah Strong (1671-1762), 4 Nov 1690, Northampton, Massachusetts19
Children by Miriam Searles:
1. Josiah Carpenter — B. 18 Dec 1664, Rehoboth, Massachusetts;20 D. 29 Feb 1728, Rehoboth, Massachusetts;21 M. Elizabeth Read (1668-1739), 24 Nov 1692, Rehoboth, Massachusetts22
2. Nathaniel Carpenter — B. 12 May 1667, Rehoboth, Massachusetts;23 M. (1) Rachel Cooper (~1671-1694), 19 Sep 1693, Rehoboth, Massachusetts;24 (2) Mary Preston (~1674-1706), 13 October 1695, Attleboro, Massachusetts25
3. Daniel Carpenter — B. 8 Oct 1669, Rehoboth, Massachusetts;26 D. 14 Sep 1721, Rehoboth, Massachusetts;27 M. (1) Bethiah Bliss (?-1703), 15 Apr 1695, Rehoboth, Massachusetts;28 (2) Elizabeth Butterworth (1682-1708), 30 Mar 1704, Rehoboth, Massachusetts;29 (3) Margaret Thurston (~1687-1718), 12 Dec 1710, Rehoboth, Massachusetts30
4. Noah Carpenter — B. 28 Mar 1672, Rehoboth, Massachusetts;31 D. 7 Jun 1753, Attleboro, Massachusetts;31 M. (1) Sarah Johnson (1677-1726), 13 Dec 1700, Rehoboth, Massachusetts;32 (2) Ruth Follett (?-1745), 22 May 1727, Rehoboth, Massachusetts33
5. Miriam Carpenter — B. 16 Oct 1674, Rehoboth, Massachusetts;34 D. 21 May 1706, Rehoboth, Massachusetts;34 M. Jonathan Bliss (1666-1719), 23 Jun 1691, Rehoboth, Massachusetts35
6. Obadiah Carpenter — B. 12 Mar 1678, Rehoboth, Massachusetts;36 D. 25 Oct 1749, Rehoboth, Massachusetts;37 M. Deliverance Preston (?-1767), 6 Nov 1703, Rehoboth, Massachusetts38
7. Ephraim Carpenter — B. 25 Apr 1684, Rehoboth, Massachusetts;39 D. 20 Apr 1743, Rehoboth, Massachusetts;40 M. (1) Hannah Read (~1682-1717), 14 Aug 1704, Rehoboth, Massachusetts;41 (2) Martha Ide (1683-1756), 24 Mar 1719, Rehoboth, Massachusetts42
8. Hannah Carpenter — B. 10 Apr 1685, Rehoboth, Massachusetts;43 M. Jonathan Chaffee, 23 Nov 1703, Rehoboth, Massachusetts44
9. Abigail Carpenter — B. 15 Apr 1687, Rehoboth, Massachusetts;45 D. 15 Jan 1781;46 M. Daniel Perrin (1682-?), 12 Nov 1706, Rehoboth, Massachusetts47
Sources:
1 Baptismal record of William Carpenter, England, Wiltshire, Church Records, 1518-1990, FamilySearch.org
2 Marriage record of William Carpenter and Priscilla Bennett, Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001, FamilySearch.org
3 Marriage record of William Carpenter and Miriam Searles, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
4 Death record of William Carpenter, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
5 Passenger list of the Bevis, FamilySearch.org
6 A genealogical history of the Rehoboth branch of the Carpenter family in America, Amos Bugbee Carpenter, 1898
7 Death record of Priscilla Carpenter, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
8 Representative men and old families of southeastern Massachusetts, J.H. Beers & Co., 1912
9 FamousKin.com listing of William Carpenter
10 Birth record of John Carpenter, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
11 Find-a-Grave listing of John Carpenter
12 Birth record of William Carpenter (younger), M., T. C., V. & T. R.
13 Find-a-Grave listing of William Carpenter IV
14 Marriage record of William Carpenter and Elizabeth Robinson, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
15 Birth record of Priscilla Carpenter, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
16 Find-a-Grave listing of Priscilla (Carpenter) Sweet
17 Birth record of Benjamin Carpenter, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
18 Death record of Benjamin Carpenter, Connecticut, Deaths, 1640-1955, FamilySearch.org
19 Marriage record of Benjamin Carpenter and Hannah Strong, Massachusetts, State Vital Records, 1638-1927, FamilySearch.org
20 Birth record of Josiah Carpenter, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
21 Find-a-Grave listing of Josiah Carpenter
22 Marriage record of Josiah Carpenter and Elizabeth Read, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
23 Birth record of Nathaniel Carpenter, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
24 Marriage record of Nathaniel Carpenter and Rachel Cooper, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
25 Marriage record of Nathaniel Carpenter and Mary Preston, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
26 Birth record of Daniel Carpenter, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
27 Death record of Daniel Carpenter, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
28 Marriage record of Daniel Carpenter and Bethiah Bliss, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
29 Marriage record of Daniel Carpenter and Elizabeth Butterworth, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
30 Marriage record of Daniel Carpenter and Margaret Thurston, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
31 Find-a-Grave listing of Noah Carpenter
32 Marriage record of Noah Carpenter and Sarah Johnson, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
33 Marriage record of Noah Carpenter and Ruth Follett, M., S. V. R.
34 Find-a-Grave listing of Miriam (Carpenter) Bliss
35 Find-a-Grave listing of Jonathan Bliss Jr.
36 Birth record of Obadiah Carpenter, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
37 Find-a-Grave listing of Obadiah Carpenter
38 Marriage record of Obadiah Carpenter and Deliverance Preston, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
39 Birth record of Ephraim Carpenter, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
40 Death record of Ephraim Carpenter, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
41 Marriage record of Ephraim Carpenter and Hannah Read, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
42 Marriage record of Ephraim Carpenter and Martha Carpenter, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
43 Birth record of Hannah Carpenter, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
44 Marriage record of Jonathan Chaffee and Hannah Carpenter, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
45 Birth record of Abigail Carpenter, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
46 Find-a-Grave listing of Abigail (Carpenter) Perrin
47 Marriage record of Daniel Perrin and Abigail Carpenter, M., T. C., V. & T. R.
