Individual Details
William Carpenter
( - 7 Sep 1685)
Early Records of Providence state that William Carpenter of Wherewell (Horwell) England along with his son William, his son's wife, and 4 children left from Southampton on the ship Bevis and arrived in Boston in 1638.
Last Will & Testament dated 10 Feb 1680. Proved 1 Oct 1685. Names children, wife, Elizabeth, and three grandchildren.
He was the last survivor of the 13 Pawtuxett Purchasers.
Genealogical & Historical Record of the Carpenter Family, by James Usher, New York, 1883
This book states that a Richard Carpenter of Amesbury, Wiltshire, England, was the father of William Carpenter. William was his eldest son. William settled at Providence with Roger Williams, 1636. He swore allegiance in Providence, 1666.
William married Elizabeth Arnold, sister of Gov. Benedict Arnold, the 1st Governor of Rhode Island. He was a member of the Council and said to be a found of the first Baptist Society of Providence. He died 7 Sep 1685.
Carpenter's will was dated 10 Feb 1679/80 and names his eldest son Joseph, daughter Lydia Smith, daughter Priscilla Vincent [who had married William Vincent, 31 May 1670] and sons, Silas, Benjamin, Timothy, and Ephraim. And the oldest son of Ephraim, also named Ephraim, born of his first wife. He named his brother Stephen Arnold [brother-in-law] and a grandson Anillion Carpenter. He left a bequest to Elizabeth, his beloved wife. He also named Susanna, sister to the grandson Ephraim, not yet 21. There was codicil to the will, 15 Mar 1683/4 when he revoked the bequest to his son Ephraim, instead giving his portion to the grandson Ephraim and his sister Susanna.
In a deed of gift to his sister Fridgsweet Vincent, he mentioned his father Richard had left property to him in Amesbury in the County of Wilts., England, "a house in Frog Lane". Dated 4 Dec 1671.
Events
| Death | 7 Sep 1685 | Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island |  | ||
| Marriage | Elizabeth Arnold | |
Families
| Spouse | Elizabeth Arnold (1611 - ) |
| Child | Joseph Carpenter ( - ) |
| Child | Silas Carpenter ( - 1695) |
| Child | Benjamin Carpenter ( - 1711) |
| Child | Lydia Carpenter ( - ) |
| Child | Priscilla Carpenter ( - ) |
| Child | Timothy Carpenter ( - ) |
| Child | Ephraim Carpenter ( - 1698) |
Endnotes
1. The Early Records of the Town of Providence. 21 Volumes commissioned by the City Council to be collected and printed from the early records of the town. (Snow & Farnham City Printers), Vol. XIV Deed Book 1 p.273-276.
2. The Early Records of the Town of Providence. 21 Volumes commissioned by the City Council to be collected and printed from the early records of the town. (Snow & Farnham City Printers).