HISTORY:

William was born in England in 1605, married Abigail in England, fathered four children before 1638, came to New England with his father, wife, children, and one servant in 1638 on the "Bevis".

William was admitted a freeman of Weymouth, Mass on May 13, 1640; was represenative of Weymouth in 1641 and 1643, and from the town of Rehboth in 1645; in June of the latter year he was made a freeman of Rehoboth. In 1645 William Carpenter, with others, was chosen to look after the interests of the town; the same year he was chosen by the town to represent them in court at Plymouth. In 1647 he was chosen as one of the directors of the town and again in 1655. In 1653 is the first time that his name was written as William Carpenter, Sr. His son William,would be twenty-one at this time, and was a resident of the town. About 1642 he was commissioned captain by the General Court of Mass.

The land of William Carpenter, of Weymouth, was described on the town record about 1642-44, and in CARPENTER & ALLIED FAMILIES p. 13, in considerable detail; it includes 2 acres in the west field, four acres in the mill field, 18 acres near the fresh pond, three acres, four acres, and four acres, all in "Harrisses Rainge", and 2 acres of fresh marsh.

"William Carpenter, Sr. of Rehoboth," made his will "10th month 10th day" (probably December 10, 1658); it was proved April 21, 1659. He bequeathed to his son John, "one mare, being the old white mare, and my best dublet, and my handsomest coat, and new cloth to make a pair of breeches," "twenty shillings to buy him a calf," and a number of books. Bequests to his other children included various parcels of land, a number of horses, colts, oxen, steers, sheep, also Latin, Greek and Hebrew books.

William Carpenter married, probably in England, Abigail, who died February 22, 1687; her husband's will shows clearly that she, "mother" of Joseph who was born in England, was living in 1658.

Children:

1. John Born in England about 1628, and died probably in Jamaica, Long Island, May 23; married Hannah.
2. William born England about 1631 or 1632.
3. Joseph, born probably about 1633, died in May 1675, married May 25, 1655 to Margaret Sutton.
4. Hannah, born at Weymouth, April 3, 1640, married Joseph Carpenter.
5. Abiah (twin) born at Weymouth, April 9, 1643, died before 1702.
6. Abigail (twin) born at Weymouth, April 9, 1643, married in 1659 to John Titus.
7. Samuel, born probably in 1644, died February 20, 1682-83, married May 25, 1660 to Sarah Readaway.

@@Savage: "Freeman (Weymouth) 13, May 1640; Represenative 1641 and 1643; died winter of 1659/60; Will dated Dec. 10, probated Feb. 7 following; names son John, and his son, but this brother, nothing is seen after, William and his son John; and gives to son of John Titus, which --- mother's testator's died. But I fear some incongruency of time will hardly be reconciled. "<Savage, as you can see, has it all mixed up......NKT..>

@@GENA. REG. OF SOCIETY OF COLONIAL WARS, p. 370 & Index of Ancestors, p. 89: "Carpenter, Capt. William 1605-1659, Rehoboth, Mass. Deputy 1641-43 & 45. Capt 1642, "father erronuosly identified by Savage, NKT>

@@NEW ENGLAND MARRIAGES PRIOR TO 1700; p. 136: "Carpenter, William (2nd) (1605-1687), in England, born 1628; Weymouth/Rehoboth,"<This seems to refer to John Carpenter, born 1628 being married in Rehoboth...confusing...NKT...>

@@Demos, p. 63; William Carpenter of Rehoboth, while making his first son (Samuel) his chief heir, did not forget his second one (Abiah). Samuel and Carpenter's widow were especially directed to help Abiah to build a house, because Samuel hath a house built already. "ref. Mayflower Descendant XIV, 231. NOTE by NKT: Demos apparently made an assumption here which is not true if, in fact, this is OUR Abiah and his father William.

@@Demos, p.75: William Carpenter of Rehoboth left his house to his son Samuel, with the stipulation that his widow "is to have the Rome I now lodge in and the Chamber over it and to have liberties to come to the fire to Doe her occations." ref. Mayflower Descendant XIV, 232. NOTE by NKT: same as above.

REFERENCE:
CARPENTER & ALLIED FAMILIES by A.I. Carpenter 1936, p. 13 & 15.
DEMOS, John "A LITTLE COMMONWEALTH" 1970 pp. 64 & 75.
DICTIONARY OF NEW ENGLAND by Savage, VOL I, LXV, p. 65.
GENEALOGICAL DICTIONARY OF FIRST SETTLERS OF NEW ENGLAND, VOL I, (1860) by Savage p. 337.
GENEA. REG. OF SOCIETY OF COLONIAL WARS, p. 370 & Index of Ancestors p. 89.
NEW ENGLAND HIST & GENEA.REG. VOL XIV, p. 336 & VOL LXV, p. 65.
NEW ENGLAND MARRIAGES PRIOR TO 1700, p. 136.
REHOBOTH BRANCH OF THE CARPENTER FAMILY by Amos B. Carpenter, p. 38-50.
SAINTS & STRANGERS by Willison.
SHIPS & PASSENGER RECORDS-Complete Book of Imigrants 1607-1660 by Coldham.
WEYMOUTH HISTORICAL SOCIETY Publication No. 2, pp. 254-287.

Notes imported from World Family Tree, Vol 16, #1532
21 Apr 1659, Rehoboth, Bristol, MA