Individual Details

http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~carpenter/genealogy/manuscript.html

John Carpenter, second son of George Zimmerman, served three years as Sgt. of the Virginia State Line and fought in the battles of Brandywine and Yorktown. His warrant for Kentucky land was signed by Patrick Henry.
John married Elisabeth Spears, also from Rockingham County, Virginia, sometime in 1775.

Lists are incomplete, but the Kentucky Land Office records that Conrad Carpenter by Treasury Warrant took up 1755 acres of land in Lincoln County and John Carpenter under seven warrants took up about 2870 acres. Bearing in mind that Adam, George I and George II were also entitled to land warrants, we are then speaking of a large area. The Virginia Department of Archives certified that John Carpenter and Michael Delph requested delivery of land warrants for military service done by George Carpenter and Daniel Delph, both of whom died in the service before the expiration of their three years enlistments.

It is not known if all the settlers of Carpenter’s Station traveled in one group, but if not, they must have been closely spaced. The known members of the group were: Conrad Carpenter; Adam Carpenter; John Carpenter with his wife the former Elisabeth Spears; and John Frye, also a Revolutionary War Veteran, with his wife Katherine (or Catherine) Spears and their infant daughter, Leah, who was born November 11, 1778 in Rockingham County, Virginia.
Catherine Spears Frye and Elisabeth Spears Carpenter were sisters. Undoubtedly, there were also other families. Probably Jacob Spears, brother of Catherine and Elisabeth, went along too, although he may have met the group in Kentucky. He was a member of the military at Harrodsburg during the 1770’s, and he later farmed land owned by his father in Lincoln County, Kentucky. In 1781, Jacob Spears married Elisabeth Neely, one of the first recorded marriages in Lincoln County, Ky.

Sometime in 1785, John Carpenter died, leaving his wife, the former Elisabeth Spears (Catherine’s sister) and also three small children: George, born 1784, Margaret (Betsy) born circa 1781, and Mary (Polly). John’s untimely death was the first break in the circle of founding brothers. Whatever the cause, John’s will indicates that he knew death was approaching and he had ample time to make out his will so as to provide in a very loving manner for Elisabeth in her widowhood. Adam and Conrad Carpenter were executors of his will, Elisabeth the executrix. John signed his will on Nov. 19, 1784. The will disposes of 2550 acres of land to be divided among his wife and children except for 200 which he gave to Adam.

Excerpts from the will:
“I also lend unto my wife the plantation where on I now live (Note: the Station) during her widowhood or until my son arrives to the age of twenty-one years. I give and bequeath to my wife all my beds and such of my pots and ovens as she may choose to keep also a plow with Irons & Geers for two horses also my big(?) mare also four milk cows also six head of sheep also two good Breading sows also all my puter(pewter). It is my further will and desire that all the rest of my personal estate not here in before disposed of shall be sold by my executors and the moneys arising therefore to be equally divided between my wife & three children. I give and bequeath to my brother George Carpenter the sum of £10 to be payd him by my executors for the purposes of edicating of his children.” (Note: the George Carpenter referred to is George II who remained in Virginia. His sons were Jacob and John.)
“I also give and bequeath to my son George Carpenter my two negroes but I lend said two negroes to my wife Elisabeth Carpenter during her widowhood or until son George shall arrive to the age of twenty one years.” This is the first mention of slaves in the family holdings.

Spouse

Elizabeth Spears (1755 - 1832)

Father	George Carpenter ( - 1779)
Mother	Unknown ( - )
Sibling	George Carpenter ( - )