The Carpenter Family in America 

We do not know positively that the two William Carpenters were related. Will it ever be known? We cannot say ---- Hopefully DNA studies will HELP solve this question, but we cannot say yes to that question...

          On March 16, 1639, the founders of the First Baptist Church in America were Roger Williams, Ezekiel Holyman, William Arnold, William Harris, Stukely Westcott, John Green, Richard Waterman, Thomas James, William Carpenter, Francis Weston, and Thomas Olney (these being the same persons named in the **Initial Deed, lacking names of Robert Coles and John Throckmorton). Benedict, in his “History of the Baptists,” gives an exceedingly interesting account of this event. He says, “the candidates for communion chose Ezekiel Hoyman,* a man of gifts and piety, to baptise Mr. Williams, and he in return baptised Mr. Holyman and the other ten.” As we read the history of Providence we can but note that nearly every one of these ten candidates at sometime or other showed that they were men of “gifts and piety.” From my earliest recollection I recall being told that William Carpenter was “a preacher” in England, and the fact that he performed the marriage ceremony at the wedding of his daughter is, I think, ample proof that he was recognized by his church as one of its “lay ministers.” Up to this date, 1638, the “Proprietors,” as they now began to be called, were living on their “Home Lotts,” situated conveniently near together for neighborly intercourse and mutual protection. These lots contained about six acres each and all fronted on the “Town Street” with a dividing line between the lots running east and west. William Carpenter’s lot was separated from the lot of Robert Coles by a highway. “Town Street” is now Main Street, and the highway is Meeting Street, so called because of the Friends’ Meeting House which now occupies William Carpenter’s lot. Immediately after the signing of the Initial Deed the Proprietors made division of their division. William Carpenter and his father-in-law, William Arnold, with Zachariah Rhodes,*, William Harris, and Robert Coles, for their shares were allotted a large tract at “Pautuxet,” where they at once made settlement. It was a beautiful meadow-land, about four miles southerly from Providence, bounded on the east by Narragansett Bay and on the south by the Pawtuxet River. In later years it was known as “Cranston”, and is now undergoing the changes consequent upon the rapid growth of Providence, which is yearly adding its acres to blocks of buildings. It was here that William Carpenter spent the remaining years of his life. *[Zachariah Rhodes married Joanna Arnold, a sister of the wife of William Carpenter; he died in 1665, and in 1667 she married Samuel Reape.] ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

**Note:**   To clear up confusion on the names of Pawtucket and  Pawtuxet  - Pawtucket is in the extreme northeast. The part of today's Pawtucket  is east of the Seekonk River that was originally part of Rehoboth, in Plymouth colony, MA. In 1862, that part of Pawtucket was ceded to RI .  Pawtucket is the city in Providence Co. northeast of Providence at Pawtucket Falls, incorporated in 1862.
    Pawtuxetis a village at the mouth of Pawtuxet River.  It is in the present cities of Cranston and Warwick. For our research, the original settlement was part of Providence but the settlers placed themselves under the protection of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The part north of the River was split off in 1754.
    This information was from Linda Matthew's Post to the RI Genealogical Web mailing list, from the Morris Co.NJ Library. It originally appeared on the RIGenWeb-L@rootsweb.com in 1997.  Linda noted there was alot of moving back and forth across the RI/CT boundary, so the same family can be found in both states. She also said that researchers not familiar with the RI geography and only looking at a map, might not find  Pawtuxet and just think it was a misprint for Pawtucket. They were and are very different place. Thanks so much, Linda, for making this easier to understand.

** A facsimile of this Initial Deed appeared in the “Providence Journal” on June 24, 1886, during the 250th Anniversary proceeding. This deed was hastily drawn up by Roger Williams, at the time of settlement, in which by initials he designates “his loving friends and neighbors” who are to have equal rights with himself. These friends/neighbors were twelve in number, and until Dec.23, 1661, this “Initial Deed” was all they had to show in the way of title to their holdings. On this date, a formal “Confirmatory Deed”* was given them by Roger Williams and his wife, intending thereby to make their titles secure, but in some unaccountable manner a part of the original settlers’ names were omitted, so, to remedy this, another deed was given in 1666 at which time Mr. Williams stated that the original “Initial Deed” was delivered on the 8th day of the 8th month, 1638. “Memorandum, That I.R.W. having formerly purchased on Canonicus and Miantonomi, this our situation or plantation of New Providence, viz. the two fresh rivers Wonas, and Moosh. and the grounds and meadows thereupon, in consideration of £30 received from the inhabitants of said place, do freely and fully, pass, grant and make over equal right and power of enjoying and disposing the same grounds and land unto my loving friends and neighbors SW. WA. TJ. RC. JG. JT. WH. WC. TO. FW. RW. and EH. and such others as the major part of us shall admit into the same fellowship of vote with us. As also, I do freely, make and pass over equal right and power of enjoying and disposing the said land and ground reaching from the aforesaid rivers unto the great river Pawtuxet, with the grass and meadow thereupon, which was Thomas Olney, Francis Weston, Richard Waterman, Ezekiel Holyman and such others as the major part of us shall admit unto the same fellowship of vote with us. As also I do freely make and pass over equal right and power of enjoying and disposing the lands and grounds reaching from the aforesaid rivers unto the great river Pawtuxet and the grass and meadows thereupon, which was so lately granted by the aforesaid Sachems to me. Witness my hand, Providence 22, 10 mo. 1666, so called. ROGER WILLIAMS In presence of us, John BROWNE, John SAYLES, Thomas HARRIS, Assistant.” 
There has been much skepticism toward the material below. As in every case, I believe you need to look at all printed material, either prove or disprove it. But I have been taught in over twenty years of classes that there is always some truth in every "tradition" - and you must use all material as clues in order for you to find the absolute truth - beyond any doubts....Some of the compilers from years gone by, may have embellished their works and it is up to us to figure out what is truthful about the individual material published. Please look at ALL the evidence and search for the truth. I am pleased to hear all the evidence and look forward to the sources and references used.

The Carpenter's, An Early Pioneer Family of Braxton County, West Virginia:         #94 on my ahnentafel chart.
    Compiled by Donna Maxwell Tivener, March 1998 - contributed to Carpenter Chronicles      This has been abstracted for space -

Jeremiah Carpenter was one of the first settlers of what is now Braxton Co.,(W)VA. He was the s/o William Carpenter, who was a descendant of the Carpenter family from New England.. William, who was the s/o Joseph Coles Carpenter. Joseph was scalped in an attack by the Mingo and Delaware Indians, which is said to have taken place in October, 1763. [However, the Virginia State Library says it was September 1750]. There were nine people killed in this raid along with William and took place on the Jackson River - Nicholas Carpenter, James Mayse, Nicholas Nutt, Stephen Sewell, James Montgomery, John Byrd, George Kincaid, a Mr. Boyle and Mr. Fry.

Joseph Coles Carpenter was the s/o Nathaniel Carpenter, b. 1668, d.1729 who was a native of Musketo Cove, Long Island, NY. Joseph settled in Allegheny Co.,VA in the spring of 1746 and he obtained 782 acres by patent or grant on 1 Jun 1750 from King George III. He returned for his family in NY after he cleared the land and planted his crops. When he and the family returned to VA, Peter Wright came with him and obtained a grant for the entire of what is now Covington, Botetourt Co.,VA. Then in 1792, Peter divided his land between his sons, John & William.

Old papers that are now on file in the Court House at Fincastle, Botetourt Co.,Va, is the information that the Carpenter pioneers of this region erected a stockade-fort as a refuge during Indian attacks. This was called "Fort Carpenter".

Family stories say that brothers, Jeremiah and Benjamin Carpenter, came with their families in the late 1700's, packing their belongings on the backs of their oxen. They followed creeks and valley paths through the wilderness until they reached what is now Centrailia, near the Braxton-Webster county line. Jeremiah Carpenter, age twelve,  was captured by the Shawnee Indians from the Ohio country. The Holcombe boy captured with him was killed. Jeremiah escaped from this village when he was about 18 or 19 and returned to his family.

The Carpenters became substantial landholders in this part of the Elk Valley and on nearby Holly River. Benjamin was killed by two Indians in his cabin and they also scalped his wife. When Jeremiah came home and found his brother, he got his wife and went up Laurel Creek to hide from the Indians in case they came back. They waded in the creek to avoid footpaths, to the mouth of Camp Run, where they hid under a shelf rock and shortly had their first son, Solomon. He was said to be the 1st white child born in Braxton Co.

Women had to be so stong in those days, the story was told that the wife of Jeremiah went after their cattle so she hid the children under the cabin floor. The cows had crossed Laurel Creek and when she got on the other side, a storm came up and the rain raised Creek waters. She took shelter until it passed, then even though, she knew how to swim, knew that she could not get across the raging waters. But afraid for the children, she herded the cows into the water, then the bull. She grabbed his tail and let him pull her across. The family was fine when she returned home.

Men also had to be extremely strong. Jeremiah killed an extral large elk for food but it was too heavy to carry home over the land. He skinned the elk, made a canoe out of the hide and floated the meat over the water, which was about twenty miles from where he shot the elk.

Reference: History of Carpenters of Fort Carpenter, 1746-1949, Chapter III; Virginia State Library & Archives; "Tales of the Elk River Country" with Carpenter stories recorded with Ernie Carpenter, published in Goldenseal, Vol.12, #2.

There are many of us trying to prove the parentage of Joseph Carpenter.  He was possibly b. ca 1693 probably in Musketo Cove, Long Island, NY. He poss. d. in Botetourt Co., VA on 25 Feb 1730. He is perhaps the Carpenter who built Fort Carpenter in the area of Jackson's River, near what is now Covington, VA. The name of his first wife is unknown and he poss. m/2 to Judith Scott, widow of John Scott. Guardianship bonds show that a Joseph was named as guardian of her two sons. I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has documentation or sources that might prove Joseph's parentage. It is believed  that he is the son of Nathaniel Carpenter and Tamar Wright Coles of Westchester Co., NY but we don't have proof of this.
           Can anyone help on this Joseph? We would like to hear from anyone who might have knowledge of this family and can give me documentation for the above.
(I have used his mother's maiden name of "Coles" with Joseph Carpenter, simply to keep all the Joseph's in this family straight. It has confused many people and so it is not a good idea to do this. (BBT)

TO ALL CHRISTIAN PEOPLE to whom this p'sent writing shall come or in any wise Ap¶taine: Be it know yt I Robert COLES of Muskeeto Cove in ye Bounds of Oysterbay in Queens County on Nassaw or Long Beach in ye Collony of New Yorke for & in ye Consid'ation of my Love & Affection to Nathaniel Carpenter of Muskeeto Cove aforesd, and yt ye sd Nathanial hath Married my eldest Daughter Tamer & for other good Causes & Consid'ations to  me ye sd Robert especially Moving HAVE GIVEN GRANTED Alienated, Infeoffed, Assigned & Confirm'd, And by these p'sents I ye sd Robert do Give, Grant, Alienate, Infeoff, Assigne & Confirme unto Nathaniel Carpenter aforesd (as a ffree Gift) A certaine tract or ¶cell of Woodland Lying & being in ye Bounds of Muskeeto Cove aforesd, And it is ye Second Lott in Number as it fell to me ys sd Robert being one of ye ¶priet's of sd Muskeeto Cove Lands, wch sd Lott is ye second Lott amongst ye Lotts laid out between ye ffresh Meadow & Littleworth Line, as is to be seen in a writing und' ye hands & Seales of ye ¶prie's of sd Land bearing Date ye 27th of December 1692: Together wth all my right Title & Interest Claime & demand whatsoevr wch I ye sd Robert now have or wch any of either of my Heires, Executrs or Assignes may hereaftr have of, to or in ye sd Granted Lott of Land wth all ¶fits, Issues, Comoditys, Timber Trees Swamps Meadows wth wtsoever to ye sd Lott is belonging or in any wise Ap¶taining TO HAVE AND TO HOLD unto him ye sd Nathaniel the sd Lott of Land wth ye Ap¶tences thereof to ye onn ¶¶ use & behoofe of him ye sd Nathaniel Carpenter his heires & Assignes forever, And ye sd Robert hath put ye sd Nathaniel into a Lawfull & peaceable possession of ye sd Granted Lott of Land & prmises by ye Dilivery of Turf & Twigg & by ye Dilivery of these prsents. And ye sd Robert doth for himself his Heires , Executrs & Assignes ffurther Covent & agree to & wth ye sd Nathaniel that it shall & may be Lawfull for him ye sd Nathaniel his Heires & Assignes quietly and peaceably to have hold, occupy, possess & enjoy ye sd Lott & prmises forever wthout ye Lawfull Lett hinderance or Molestation of him ye sd Robert Coles his Heires, Executrs or Assignes or any other ¶son or ¶sons Lawfully Claiming for, by or undr him or any or either of them Notwithstanding any former Gift, Grant, Mortgage or Sale wtsoever, and ye sd Robert doth hereby bind himself & his Heires to warrant & Defend ye sd Lott of Land to ye sd Nathaniel his Heires & Assignes forever according as before is expressed IN WITNES whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and Seal the Eighteenth day of Aprill in the year of our Lord one thousand Six hundred Ninety four
Signed sealed and dilivered in prsence of us                                   Robert Coles     O
John Newman:
John Townsend
    Day & Date abovewritten Robert Coles abovenamed came before me one of their Maties Justices of ye peace for Queens County &
Acknowledged this above written Deed to be real ---- deed -                                                   Nathaniel Coles

    Recorded for Joseph Carpenter of Oyster Bay:
Novembr 7th 1668
    This prsent wryting testifyeth that we the Indian Proprietors of Matinicock upon Long Islan undr the protection & patronage of his Highnes James Duke of Yorke, do acknowledg to have bargained sould & made over, unto Joseph Carpenter of Potuxen of Rhoade Island Colony his heires & assignes, a certaine parcell of Woodland containing a hundred acres, lying upon the North side of the Musketooe Cove, wth a square myle of timber, & grazing, on the South syde of the said Cove, the meadowns & all the Creeke Thatch excepted, lying or Being about the said Cove, & also a square myle of timber & grasing at the head of the said Cove, ioyning to the said hundred acres the prmisses above menconed wth all priviledges, of fishing, fowling, hunting, mineralls according to Law, wthin the said hundred acres; Wee the said Proprietors does by theise prsents engage orselves, or heires successors or assignes to make good the said sale, unto the said Joseph his heires, or assignes against all prtences or pleas that shall or may be made against the said Purchase, by any Indian or Indians, whatsoever, & engaging our selves to or utmost endeavour to make good the said Sale, against all Claymes whatsoever having received a valuable Consideration, as is specified upon a Bill obligatory from the said Joseph, as witness or hands the day & date above wrytten in the 20th yeare of the Kings Raigne.
    Signed sealed and Dilivered in ye
prsence of us.                                                                              The Marke of    X   Asseton
    Robert Williams                                                                      The Marke of   X  Arompes
    Nicholas Simkins                                                                     The Marke of   X  Seher
    Jn Underhill                                                                           The Marke of   X  Atehen
    Nicholas Wright                                                                      The Marke of  X   Chascaneman
State of New York
Office of the Sec'y of State:      SS:
    I have compared the preceding copy of Deed with the record thereof in this office in Book Number 3 of Deeds at page 25 and I do HEREBY CERTIFY the same to be a correct transcript therefrom and of the whole thereof.
    Witness my hand and the seal of office of the Secretary of State, at the City of Albany, this thirteenth day of March one thousand nine hundred and eight.
                                                                                                                                                                M. A. Fitzgerald
                                                                                                                                                        2d Deputy Secretary of State
   ( Cal.Hist. Mss. II, 34, XXIV, 59)  27 Feb 1675. Petition of Inhabitants of Musketoe Cove and Mattinicock, L. I.  for a preference in purchasing land near them, and order thereupon.
    ( N. Y. Col. Mss., Liber XX. 79)  <From Photostat of original entry in Council Minutes>.
Land purchased by the Governor for and on the behalfe of his Royall Highnesse from the Indyan Proprietors
    A large Tract of Land Lyeing onthe west Side of Delaware River neare the Falls, as by the Deed bearing date Septr 20th 1675 doth appeare. There was payment made for the same in Wampom & Goods to the value of <blank>

                You can reach Bette at      toppline@comcast.net