William CARPENTER

1605 - 1685  (80 years)

• Name	William CARPENTER  [1]
  Birth	23 May 1605	Amesbury, Wiltshire, England   [1]
  Christening	22 Nov 1631	Wiltshire, England   [1]
  Gender	Male
  Arrival	1638	New England   [2]
  	Age: 33
  Probate	21 Apr 1639	Rehobeth, Bristol, Massachusetts,   [2]
  _FSFTID	GP9H-674
  _FSLINK	https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/GP9H-674
  _UID	84842E3F85194279BB10EBEFA932674E03A2
  Burial	1685	Pawtuxet, Warwick, Kent, Rhode Island, British Colonial America   [1]
  Death	7 Sep 1685	Pawtuxet, Warwick, Kent, Rhode Island, British Colonial America   [1]
  Person ID	I594766924	Carney Wehofer July 2025
  Last Modified	15 Jan 2025

  
  

  Father	Richard CARPENTER,   b. 14 Dec 1575, Amesbury, Wiltshire, England d. 7 Aug 1625, Ilchester, Somersetshire, England (Age 49 years)
  Mother	Alice KNIGHT,   b. 8 Oct 1583, Wiltshire, England d. 1607, Wiltshire, England (Age 23 years)
  Marriage	7 Aug 1603	Newton Tony, Wiltshire, England   [3]
  Family ID	F536728804	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Elizabeth ARNOLD,   b. 23 Nov 1611, Ilchester, Somerset, England d. 7 Sep 1685, Pawtuxet, Warwick, Rhode Island, British Colonial America (Age 73 years)
  Marriage	1 Nov 1635	Amesbury, Wiltshire, England   [2]
  Children	1. Joseph Arnold CARPENTER,   b. 1638, Pawtucket, Providence, Rhode Island, British Colonial America d. 1683, Oyster Bay, Nassau, New York Colony, British Colonial America (Age 45 years)   2. Lydia CARPENTER,   b. Abt 1638, Pawtucket, Providence, Rhode Island, British Colonial America d. 1 Oct 1711, Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, British Colonial America (Age ~ 73 years)   3. Ephraim CARPENTER,   b. 1640, Warwick, Providence, Rhode Island, British Colonial America d. 1703, Oyster Bay, Nassau, New York Colony, British Colonial America (Age 63 years)   4. Elizabeth CARPENTER,   b. 1640   d. Yes, date unknown   5. William CARPENTER,   b. 1642   d. 8 Jul 1723, Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, British Colonial America (Age 81 years)   6. Timothy CARPENTER,   b. Abt 1646, Cranston, Providence, Rhode Island, British Colonial America d. 19 Aug 1726, Pawtuxet, now, Cranston, Providence, Rhode Island (Age ~ 80 years)
  Family ID	F536728800	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	2 Jan 2023

  
  

• Notes

  Biography William Carpenter migrated from England to Colonial America. William Carpenter, son of Richard, was born in England, probably at Amesbury, Wiltshire (not Nettlecombe, Somerset), say 1610. William's date of birth is inferred from his probable age when he married. We do not have a birth or baptismal record. [2] William's place of birth and parentage is supported by a record found in the Providence Town records 1671 where William gives his dwelling house on Frogg Lane in Amesbury, Wiltshire to his sister "ffridgsett Vinsent". The record goes on to say that the house originally belonged to William's father Richard Carpenter. [3] Further evidence that William was born in Amesbury comes from parish records: "Robert Carpenter of the adjacent parish of Newton Toney named Richard Carpenter of "Aymsbury" among his legatees; a Richard Carpenter, presumably the same man and William's father, was buried at the latter place in 1625 (PCC 93 Kidd fol. 47; AmParReg.1:n.p.)." [2] 1637 Marriage to Elizabeth Arnold William married about 1637, probably at Providence, Elizabeth (Arnold) Carpenter (1611-after 1679). Some older sources suggest William married before emigrating to New England. For evidence that William Carpenter arrived in New England a single man and married about 1637 at Providence— not by 1635, in England— see Immigration, below. [2] For proof that Elizabeth Arnold was William's wife we look to William's will where he instructs sons Silas and Benjamin to "take ye whole & sole Care of Elizabeth my loveing wife their mother" (Providence Town Records 6:144). And another passage in the will referring to "my brother Stephen Arnold" (Providence Town Records 6:141). Other records— a deed from William's son Joseph to "my uncle Stephen Arnold," for example— further confirm Elizabeth's identity.[2] 1635 Immigration William immigrated to New England aboard the James is 1635. [4] [5] Eugene Zubrinsky beginning on page 3 of WILLIAM1 CARPENTER OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND (JAMES, 1635) explains in detail why it is now accepted that William arrived in Providence after his future wife, Elizabeth Arnold's family and married Elizabeth soon after arriving. [2] William Carpenter's Residences Amesbury, Wiltshire, England (probably from birth, say 1610); Salem, Massachusetts (probably) (1635); Providence, Rhode Island (ca. 1637; Pawtuxet section by 1642) (PrTR 1:3; DHRI 1:42– 43; [2] [6] William's Residence in Amesbury is discussed above with his birth and parentage. The passengers of the James mostly settled in Salem. There are no records of William while he was in Salem, but ironically, there are also no records of Roger Williams. [2] William left Salem for Providence 1637 and settled in the Pawtuxet section of Providence by 1642. It does not appear that William was one of the original settlers of Providence or an original founder of the Baptist Church there, but did settle within a year of the first twelve. [2] Zubrinsky uses a careful reading of the many town and land records that mention William and the letters of Roger Williams to reach these conclusions. He goes on to outline how William and his Father-in-law William Arnold were part of the Providence Plantation's move to be fully independent of Massachusetts. Further details are available on pages 5 and 6 of WILLIAM1 CARPENTER OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND (JAMES, 1635) [2] Occupation William was listed as a carpenter on the passenger list of the James.[7] Zubrinsky lits him as "Housewright and planter. His estate inventory contains many housecarpenter's tools, and a daughter of William Harris's recounts in a letter dated in 1708 that William Carpenter had built her father's house. Weeden's history of Rhode Island calls him "an Englishbred carpenter . . . from Amesbury"." [2] Public Offices William Carpenter of Pawtuxet was certainly literate, holding many important town offices, perfoming marriages and signing his property deeds. Here is a list of officies held by William: "He was one of four appointed by Boston authorities "to keepe the peace in [Pawtuxet]," 1642[– 1658?]; commissioner/deputy for Providence to Rhode Island General Court/Assembly, 1657/8, 1659, 1660, 1661, 1662, 1663, 1664, 1665, 1675, 1676, 1679; juror, General Court of Trials, 1657/8 (did not serve), 1661[/2], 1663, 1664; juror, Grand Inquest, 1658/9, 1663, 1665; warden (magistrate), General Court of Trials, 1660/1; Providence town-meeting moderator, June 1662, June 1665, September 1665, April 1666, September 1666, October 1670, December 1670, February 1670/1, April– September 1671; general assistant for Providence to Rhode Island General Assembly, 1665, 1666, 1667, 1668, 1669, 1670, 1671, 1672; Providence justice of the peace, 1665/6, 1667, 1668; Providence town councilman, January 1670/1, June 1673" [2] 1655 Providence, Rhode Island Freeman William is in the Providence section of the 1655 list of Rhode Island freemen and is also on a 1665 list of Providence freemen. [2] 1658 Gentleman Begining in 1657 William is refered to as 'Mr' denoting that he was a genteman, when he appeared as a commision for Providence at the Rhode Island General Court. The honorific Mr was not used in town records until 1667. William, his father-in-law and William Harris were consisdered ruthless land proprietors and were involved in many land schemes. [2] 1660 Importer of Liquors William also was involved in importing liquor to the colony. In May 1660, "William Carpenter and Zachariah Roades gave notice that they had Landed one Ancor of Liquors" (PrTR 2:26). (An anker/anchor was a cask or keg containing 8? imperial gallons.) [2] 1680 Will/Estate/Burial The will of William1 Carpenter "of Pautuxett in ye towneshipp of Providence," dated 10 February 1679/80 and proved (with codicil) 01 October 1685, names the following legatees (in order of first appearance): eldest son Joseph; daughters Lydia Smith and Priscilla Vincent; sons Silas (co-executor), Benjamin (co-executor), Timothy, and Ephraim; grandsons Ephraim Carpenter (eldest son of aforesaid son Ephraim, by first wife), William Carpenter [son of eldest son Joseph], and Joseph Smith (son of daughter Lydia); wife Elizabeth; granddaughter Susanna (sister of grandson Ephraim); and grandson Simon Smith (brother of grandson Joseph Smith) [8] [9] Others mentioned include brother-in-law Stephen Arnold and deceased son William. A codicil to the will, dated 15 March 1683/4, includes a section indicating that son Joseph is deceased and leaving his bequest to grandson Joseph [son of the deceased Joseph] (PrTR 6:147– 48). Almost all bequests are of land, rights to subsequent land divisions, and rights of commoning (entitlements to pasturage on and/or divisions of common land). In only one instance— twenty acres of upland to grandson Ephraim— is parcel size specified (PrTR 6:141– 42). Another bequest hints at the amount of acreage: "out of [sons Timothy, Silas, and Benjamin's share of rights to certain lands and meadows] one hundred acres of land to be [set out to grandson Ephraim Carpenter] . . . ; ye sayd hundred acres of land to be part thereof Meadow proportionably to Each hundred acres Contained in ye aforesd [share]" (PrTR 6:143– 44). This and the large number of bequests imply that the testator's lands and rights thereto amounted to many hundreds of acres. [10] William's estate (moveable goods only) was inventoried on 30 September 1685 and appraised at £22. Included are many carpenter's implements: various types and sizes of saws and augers; chisels, plane irons, gouges, drawing knives, and adzes; a wainscot plough; a burr (drill or chisel); and a spokeshave (PrTR 6:149– 50, 17:62– 63). Despite the modest value of William's personal estate, his tax assessments— on land and livestock (and by 1679, a saw mill he apparently owned with sons Silas and Benjamin)— were by 1650 among the highest in Providence [11] Burial in Providence William and Elizabeth were almost certainly buried on their homestead, in present-day Cranston [12] Children All of his children were born in the township of Providence, at least 4-8 (perhaps as many as 2-8) born at Pawtuxet; birth order slightly tentative.[2] Joseph Carpenter born ca. 1638 (aged 26 in 1664), d. Musketa Cove, Oyster Bay, Long Island, Province of New York, between 15 or 17 February 1682[/3] and 15 March 1683/4 Lydia Carpenter born say 1640, d. Warwick 01 October 1711 Ephraim Carpenter b. say 1642, died probably West Neck (in south Oyster Bay), between 20 February 1697/8 and 08 January 1702/3 Priscilla Carpenter born say 1644, died probably Providence about 15 November 1690. Timothy Carpenter, born say 1646, died Pawtuxet (Providence) 19 August 1726. Silas Carpenter (twin?), born ca. 1650– 1651 (aged 24 in 1675), died Pawtuxet (Providence) 25 December 1695 Carpenter-1674|Benjamin Carpenter]] (twin?), born say 1650– 1652, died Pawtuxet (Providence) 03 March 1710/1 William Carpenter born probably by 02 September 1653 (father 1st calls himself William Sr. on 02 September 1674), died probably Pawtuxet (Providence) between 27 April 1676 (last record of father as William Sr.) and 10 February 1679/80 (father's will calls him deceased) Additional Information Y-DNA Results of recent genetic testing coordinated by the Carpenter Cousins Y-DNA Project support this conclusion: Based on a number of 67-marker tests, "we can state with 95% confidence that the most recent common ancestor of the two groups [descendants of the Providence and Rehoboth Carpenters, respectively] was more than 2 generations before the immigrants and less than about 20. Therefore, the DNA testing has very nearly ruled out the often-repeated claim that the Williams were first cousins. The most likely estimate is about 7 generations, but that is a very rough estimate, and the 95% confidence interval is a more reasonable description of what the DNA is telling us" (Carpenter Cousins).[2] The Carpenter Cousins Y-DNA Project has conducted Genealogical DNA testing on twenty males with genealogical paper trails as of 2010. Nine males who have incomplete genealogical data but match genetically were placed in subgroup of Group 2/2A. These twenty nine males are genealogically and genetically descendants of the immigrant William Carpenter (born about 1610) who settled in Providence, Providence, Rhode Island from England. By a process of triangulation, their common ancestor's Y-DNA DYS markers were re-constructed. SEE: William Carpenter of Providence - Genetic Research The haplotype Y-DNA testing representative samples of member of Group 2 based on Single-nucleotide polymorphism with SNP testing reveals Haplogroup R1a1a1b1a. See also the 2016 ISOGG tree for the shorthand code of R-Z282. To see the current Group 2 Y-DNA markers, go to the main web page Table 1 then scroll down to Group 2. Each member has a an ID number. Clicking on the ID number takes you to the lineage page for that person. On the far right of each table may be a red arrow ( > ) indicating more markers are on the next table. There are 4 tables. Reconstructed DYS markers are shown by the common ancestor's name at the top of the table, and in this case William. The lineages for Group 2 can be accessed directly at: CarpenterCousins.com

  
  

• Sources

  [S1160] The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, FamilySearch Family Tree (http://www.familysearch.org), ((http://www.familysearch.org)), accessed 2 Jan 2023), entry for Joseph Arnold CARPENTER, person ID LTM9-B1V. (Reliability: 3). [S1160] The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, FamilySearch Family Tree (http://www.familysearch.org), ((http://www.familysearch.org)), accessed 2 Jan 2023), entry for William Carpenter, person ID GQX8-NTF. (Reliability: 3). [S1160] The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, FamilySearch Family Tree (http://www.familysearch.org), ((http://www.familysearch.org)), accessed 14 Jan 2023), entry for Richard Carpenter, person ID G4QV-CRX. (Reliability: 3).