Samuel Carpenter

Samuel, the son of William and Abigail Carpenter lived in Rehoboth MA all his life. It was recorded that he advanced money to carry on "Phillips War". This may refer to the Wamponpag Indian leader which led the Indians in the worst New England Indian war, starting in 1675, when three Wamponpag Indian warriors were executed for the murder of a Christian Indian, an informer of an alleged Indian conspiracy against the whites. Phillip, Indian named Pometacom or Metacomet, the son of Mass.osoit, became the sachem of the Wamponpag Indians in 1662 and followed a peaceful policy for nine years, even though the Indians land was expropriated and they were pushed into a smaller and smaller area. When the 3 Indians were tried and executed he declared war. By 1676 however the whites gained strength and destroyed the Indians crops, captured their women and children, including Phillips wife and son. Finally, through bounties, an Indian traitor shot Philip near Bristol RI on Aug. 12, 1676. From all the gatherings, he was a man of fair ability, reliable, and a worthy citizen; probably not educated, as his father died when he was young, and the work of the farm which was given to him and his mother gave him no time for schooling.

Samuel was one of the purchasers in the North purchase, and land was allotted to him in the division of Feb. 5, 1671.

By the town council of Rehoboth it is agreed upon (as found on records of May 16, 1680) that William Blanding shall have one-half acre of land on the Common to build a house upon the edge of Rocky Hill. Lieut. Hunt, Samuel Carpenter and J. Peck were chosen to lay out the said land and set the expense of it and perfix the time when he shall build, which if he neglects, he shall forfeit the land to the town again.

I do not find Samuel acting as a Freeman until after the names of all the others have appeared in that capacity. From all the gatherings, he was a man of fair ability, reliable, and a worthy citizen; probably not educated, as his father died when he was young, and the work of the farm which was given to him and his mother gave him no time for schooling.

The will indicates that Samuel was the youngest by being the last named; and it appears that he was left under the care of his mother. They were apparently joint owners in the home farm.

Abiah did not have a house on the land given to him, and there was no indication that he had acquired a home for himself. The will provides that Samuel and his mother should assist him in building a house. The assistance of the mother would not have been required if Samuel had been of suitable age to have done the work. The circumstances tend to show that Abiah and Samuel were left under the directions and care of the mother, who proved to be a very capable woman. This view is confirmed by the will of William Carpenter as he gave to his wife, Abigail, the cloth in the house towards clothing herself and the children with her. Abiah and Samuel were the only ones of the family who were left at home, all the rest had homes of their own. Samuel gave at one time towards the expense of King Philip's war £11, 19 s., 5 d. Samuel and Abiah Carpenter, sons of Samuel, in connection with the settlement of their father's real estate, mention the name of their uncle John Carpenter (referring to John of Jamaica); also the names of Jacob and James, Sept.12, 1618, from which we have reason to infer that Jacob was then but had emigrated to parts unknown to the compiler. The following records relate to the settlement of Samuel's estate:

Know all men by these presents,- that I, Gilbert Brooks, and Sarah, my wife, of the Town of Rehoboth in the County of Bristol, do by these presents acknowledge the receipt in full and whole part of the third of the estate that was formerly Samuel Carpenter Senior's, deceased, of movables and stock, which is now divided between the said children. and amounting to the sum of £33, 6s. 8 d, likewise £3, 6s., 8 d.. in goods in lieu of her third part of a piece of land at Palmer's River, which the said Sarah had of her brother, John Readaway, as appears by deed of sale all of which amounted to £36, 17 s.. of which we, the said Gilbert and Sarah Brooks do fully acquit, discharge and exonerate William and Samuel Carpenter, administrators to the estate of the aforesaid Samuel Carpenter Senior, deceased, their heirs, executors or administrators of the full and whole part of her third of the said estate, excepting house and land.

In witness whereof, we, the said Gilbert and Sarah Brooks, both set our hands and seal this 20th day of January, 1687 or 1688.

The mark of Gilbert Brooks,-" B."

Sarah Brooks,-"S."

"Be it known unto all men by these presents that I, Gilbert Brooks, of the Town of Rehoboth, in the County of Bristol, Guardian unto Zachariah Carpenter and Abraham Carpenter, children to my beloved wife, Sarah Brooks, have received and had the day of making over the estate, and portions of the said Zachariah and Abraham, which was divided to them by the administrators of the estate of their father, Samuel Carpenter, late of Rehoboth, deceased, in lands and goods and utensils and money amounting to the sum of £58, 16 s., 6 d., of William Senior and Samuel Carpenter, administrators of the estate of the said Samuel Carpenter, deceased, hereby exonerating, acquitting and discharging the said administrators and their heirs, executors, and administrators of all due bequests and legacies due to the said children from their father's estate: to wit, both lands, goods and money, acknowledging ourselves fully satisfied, contented and paid.

In witness whereof, I, the said Gilbert Brooks do set my hands and seal this 17th day of December, "Anno Dom" 1688

The Mark of Gilbert Brooks,-" B."

Whereas Gilbert Brooks, late of Rehoboth, deceased, did on the 7th of December, 1688, retain the sum of œ58, 16s, 6d., in lands, goods, utensils, and money of William and Samuel Carpenter, administrators to the estate of Samuel Carpenter, formerly of Rehoboth, as guardian for two of the children of the said Samuel Carpenter; namely, Zachariah and Abraham Carpenter, as did appear by indication of particulars for which said Gilbert Brooks gave a receipt, as appears upon record upon the ninth and tenth pages of the (record) hook.

Now, know ye, that I, the above, said William Carpenter, with the consent of Captain Nicholas Peck, guardian in trust committed to us by the Court of Bristol, for said children have received in full the said childrens' portion, the whole thereof as above said, and do honorably, fully, and strictly exonerate, acquit, and discharge the said Gilbert Brooks, his heirs, executors, and administrators and every of them by those presents.

Witness my hands and seal this third day of July, one thousand, six hundred and ninety-five.

(Signed) WILLIAM CARPENTER."

Gilbert Brooks who married Sarah the widow of Samuel Carpenter, paid at one time towards the expenses of King Philip's war £3, 15S., 10d. Gilbert Brook's was chosen deputy to attend the General Court at Plymouth in 1679 again in 1681. In 1680 he was one of the selectmen of Rehoboth.

The burying ground in Rehoboth, now East Providence, where many of the early members of the Carpenter family are now buried, was visited by the compiler in 1844 and '45. He spent several days in the yard, and found it in a very dilapidated, condition; many of the stones were fallen, and lay on the ground, grown over by bushes, grass and weeds, and the accumulations of soil, which completely concealed them from view. Others had tipped partly over, and were sunken into the ground, so that their inscriptions could not be read. As many were righted as could well be done in the short time the compiler was there. The stones on which the slab rested on which the Carpenter Cost of Arms was engraved, (the noted stone to the memory of Daniel Carpenter) had sunken into the ground so that the slab was very far from being level; some portions of it resting nearly, if not quite on the ground, devoid of any regular form. The stone of Daniel's wife Susannah was in the same condition.

When he next visited the yard, about 50 years later in 1893, he found the slab on Daniel Carpenter's grave, had been raised to its proper height and place, but his wife Susannah's remained nearly the same as seen in 1844. He also found the stones that marked our worthy father William Carpenter and his wife Miriam's grave, taken up out of the swamp of blackberry bushes and vines, and now they lie at the foot of Daniel and Susannah's graves, side by side, with the letter-side up. The letters were very distinct, as if recently cut.

On the last visit, some of the family lots showed that they had received special care by the descendants, and were in elegant condition, corresponding with the present style of family lots. It is at this burial ground that William Carpenter. No. 16, and wife Abigail are supposed to be buried, but the compiler was unable to find a stone that marked their graves. William resided here only about 13 years before he died, and must have been one of the first buried in this yard.

It is a beautiful piece of ground directly in front of the Newman Meeting house, only a few rods from it. The Chapel is still called the "Newman Meeting house." It has been renovated several times since occupied by the Rev. Mr. Newman. The Newman residence was not far from this church; both being in the central part of the Common, around which, in a semi-circle, the settlers built their houses.

The compiler was unable to find any stone that marked the grave of Samuel Carpenter, son of William No. 16. He found two stones among the vines (in '93) marked "S. C.", the letters being very plain, and concluded that one of them was probably for the head, and the other the foot stone of Samuel Carpenter, on which no dates could he found.

Only two of the five brothers were buried in this yard, John died at Jamaica, L. I., Joseph at Barrington or Swansea, Mass., and Abiah at Pawtuxet, R. I.

It was found recorded on the town book that the town of Rehoboth voted to fence this burying ground with stone in 1680, and this old stone fence still stands in very good condition.

Birth may be 1638 or 1643

He married Sarah Readaway on May 25,1660 at Rehoboth,MA. Daughter of James Redway of Hingham and Rehoboth,MA. The surname is alternately spelled a number of ways, including Redway, Reedaway, Readaway, Reedeway, Reedaway, Reddaway, and Reddeway. Sarah was the sister of Mary Readaway Carpenter. Sarah married, second, Gilbert Brooks, and she died Jan 8,1717/8 at Rehoboth.

Children: Samuel Carpenter Jr, Sarah Carpenter Perry(wife of Nathaniel Perry), Abiah Carpenter, James Carpenter, Jacob Carpenter, Jonathan Carpenter, David Carpenter, Solomon Carpenter, Zachariah Carpenter, and Abraham Carpenter. Inscription: "S. C."

• Updated from Find A Grave Memorial via son Jonathan Carpenter, Sr by SmartCopy: Mar 11 2015, 4:38:29 UTC

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Birth may be 1638 or 1643

He married Sarah Readaway on May 25,1660 at Rehoboth,MA. Daughter of James Redway of Hingham and Rehoboth,MA. The surname is alternately spelled a number of ways, including Redway, Reedaway, Readaway, Reedeway, Reedaway, Reddaway, and Reddeway. Sarah was the sister of Mary Readaway Carpenter. Sarah married, second, Gilbert Brooks, and she died Jan 8,1717/8 at Rehoboth.

Children: Samuel Carpenter Jr, Sarah Carpenter Perry(wife of Nathaniel Perry), Abiah Carpenter, James Carpenter, Jacob Carpenter, Jonathan Carpenter, David Carpenter, Solomon Carpenter, Zachariah Carpenter, and Abraham Carpenter. Inscription: "S. C."

• Updated from Find A Grave Memorial via son Lieut Samuel Carpenter, Jr by SmartCopy: Mar 11 2015, 2:23:36 UTC

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Representative Men and Old Families of RI. Vol 2, pg. 923

He bought land in North Purchase and also had land allotted to him in the division in 1671. He and Sarah had 10 children all born in Rehobath.