You may not know that our line of Carpenters did not descend from those working at the profession of carpentry. This line is said to be descended from the De Melun Family. There was a knight (according to the story) by the name of William at the battle of Hastings, 1066 AD. In the midst of the battle he was crippled and he lost his sword. He was forced to fight on foot. He began swinging at his enemies with his battle axe. William survived the battle. His friends rewarded him with the title "Le Carpentier" His strength and ability with the English battle axe was associated with the strength and precision of the carpenter trade. William, the Knight of Melun became known as "William the Carpenter". His descendents became known as "of the carpenter" and later shortened to the surname, Carpenter.
John was Captain of the Jamaica Fusiliers in 1673 and was ordered with his company to defend St. James in lower Manhattan against the fleet of the Prince of Orange. Captain Manning, the Commander of St. James Fort surrendered after a short battle and was afterwards sentenced to have his sword broken over his head. See "History of Queens County" New York, NY 1888. John Carpenter, was one of the patentees of the town of Jamaica under the 'Dongon Patent" of 1680. He was taxed an assessment of 186 pounds. showing him to be the second wealthiest man in Jamaica, the wealthiest being Abraham Smith.
John and his brother-in-law, Nehemiah Smith, served as Overseers of the Poor. At the town meeting held in Jamaica on 29 January 1683, John was elected as a delegate to meet with representatives of the neighboring towns. The delegates met to choose a county treasurer on 2 April 1686. John, his brother--law, Nehemiah and Daniel Denton were elected Commissioners of Jamaica.
Captain John Carpenter was appointed a deputy in order to conduct business in New York City on 14 March 1689/90. See "Jamaica Town Records, p. 143. John Died 23 May 1695. His will names his wife, Hannah, his sons, John, Hope, *Samuel, and William, his daughter, Ruth, grandson, Solomon, grand daughters, Abigail Rhodes and Hannah Rhodes. In 1704, Hannah sold his house and land to their son, William Carpenter.
John was born in England and came to New England with his parents, on the sailing ship Bevis in 1638, when he was 10 years old. John lived in Rehoboth, MA with his parents and family until he was 17 years old. It appears he left home and traveled to Connecticut, working as a carpenter, which was his grandfather's and father's trade.
He traveled throughout the colonies and while in Jamaica, Queens, NY he met and married Hannah (Smith?) Hannah's father may have been William Smith, Magistrate of Queens, NY. John settled in Hempstead, NY though his first born son, John Jr. was born in Connecticut. See "Colonial Families of the United states of America".Vol. 5. John bought farmland in Hempstead, NY and in 1663 bought land in East Neck, NY. He settled in Jamaica, NY on 8 November 1665 according to "Colonial Families of Long Island" by Seversmith. This land served as the family residence for many years.
The story of this Carpenter line having descended from Herve DeMelun to William Carpenter of Rehoboth is a theory discussed by several Carpenter genealogists. Is it possible? Will we ever know? Some believe it is possible and some do not. I pass it on to you as an enchanting story.
"The boughs of no two trees have the same arrangement.
Nature always produces individuals, never produces classes."
Joshua Carpenter, son of Samuel Carpenter and Patience (Ide?) of Orange Co. NY was born in 1740. When Joshua was about 12 years old his father became very ill and died........
Samuel Carpenter's Will: New York Wills, 1744-1758
Page 279. "In the name of God. Amen, June 21, 1752, I, Samuel Carpenter, of Goshen, in Orange Co. being very sick. I leave my wife Patience all that part of my household goods that she brought to me when I married her, and furder I give a cow to her, and one third of all moveable estate, after debts and funeral charges are paid, and the use of 1/3 of what my lands will fetch. I leave my children Samuel, William, Abraham, John, Joshua, Richard, Abigail, and Martha, and one in the womb not yet born, all my real estate and the remainder of my removeables. My will is that all my real estate be sold by my executors, and the proceeds be divided when my eldest son is of age. I leave the bringing up of my children with my executors, Wait Smith, Jr., and Benjamin Carpenter."
.....Joshua grew to adulthood in Goshen and around 1770 he married Sarah Burt. Joshua and Sarah' farmed on a long ridge of land that ran along the road that went from Warwick to Florida, NY. Many of their children where born on the farm. They lived on this farm during the Revolutionary War. Joshua and most of his brothers were in the NY Militia during the war, as were several of Sarah's brothers. The following is part of a very interesting account of an event during the Rev. War that involved Joshua and his brother-in-law, James Burt..
"During the Revolutionary War Mr. Burt. though young at its commencement, was a very active Whig, and Vigilant in defending his neighborhood against secret and open attacks of the Tories.....................At the time young Burt.was a lieutenant in the Military Company commanded by Cap't Minthorn..................While going through the woods on the side of a hill in front of a house he heard three distinct snapping of guns. He drew up his musket to fire; instantly thinking if he did he might be seen by the flash of his own gun. He then warned his neighbors Joshua Carpenter, Nathaniel Ketcham, Daniel Jayne, Samuel, Phillip, and Aziah Ketcham, Benjamin Whitney and a few others, started in pursuit. In the morning they found the Continental Troops down in the mountains. James and the others came suddenly upon the robbers and killed five of the seven."
The story goes on in a very interesting fashion and is well worth reading..
A larger version story of this event istold in
'The History of Orange County' Pub. Everts and Peck. 1881 P. 568.
*A part of which is added at the bottom of this page.
Joshua served as a private in the 4th Regiment, Orange Co. New York Militia, in John Minthorn's Company in July, 1777 and in Colonel John Hathorn's regiment for six weeks ending May 1781. Joshua's war records # 477, 306, 876 show that he was paid the following; 16S+8D, 11S+4D and 3L, 5S,9D.
"We the subscribes, do acknowledge to have received from Col. John Hathorn of Warwick, in Orange Co. NY, the several certificates as members, with the sum annexed to our name."
Among the signees; Joshua Carpenter - Sept. 3rd. 1784 Roll #8
In 1788 Joshua bought land in the newly opened tract in Tioga Co. (At the time this area was still Montgomery Co.) using his Rev. War Patent. He bought Lot # 89, which was a large tract of land. The requirement was that the land must be actively settled within seven years. By 1790, he no doubt had moved his family to Chemung Town, Tioga Co. as he is listed, with his family, as a citizen of the town in the 1790 US Census. Joshua is mentioned as early as May 22, 1788 in the election of officers for the newly formed town. At that time Joshua was elected Overseer of Highways for the Third District. This district began at the north edge of the Chemung River and extended north to the Finger Lakes area. Joshua was again elected to
be Overseer of Highways, District # 4, in 1791.
Later, Joshua's sons, Richard and William, bought land adjacent to their father. Richard's deed of trust is dated 4 Aug. 1804. On 26 April 1803, Joshua deeded land to his son Daniel, which adjoined William Carpenter's property, for the sum of $75:00. (Which was a very good price, most lots selling at that time for $600 to $800 dollars. When the 1800 US Census is studied, Joshua, Richard, William and Daniel are all living side by side. It looks as though the sons may have already been living on the properties before they purchased them.
On May 15, 1811, Joshua sold 100 acres of his land to Rossel Goff, Baptist Minister, so he could build a Baptist church. This Land Deed was recorded on May1, 1813 by Mr. Goff. It would not have been necessary for Joshua to be present at that time. We do not know the date of Joshua's death. We know his son Richard sold his land in 1813 and bought 100 acres in the Morris Reserve, Angelica, Allegany Co. NY in 1814. About this time many of Joshua's children left Elmira, Chemung Co., NY and moved to areas further west. It has been written that Joshua was buried at Pine City, Chemung Co. NY. We have no documentation for that statement. History tells us there was once a Carpenter Cemetery in that area. It's location has been lost.
Chemung, Montgomery Co.; Chemung Town, Tioga Co.; New Town, Tioga Co.; Newtown, Chemung Co. and Elmira, Chemung Co. are all the same area of New York. The names may change but the land stays the same, so the old saying goes.
"There is no limit to how complicated things can get, on account of one thing leading to another."
E. B. White
Over the years, genealogy has been rather hard on RICHARD A CARPENTER. At different times and by various genealogists, he has been assigned the wrong father, a non existent mother, and siblings who were actually his Uncles Joshua's children. His date of death has been stated as, "around 1810" or "abt. 1810". A statement by a relative that he "may have moved west" has been interpreted to mean the far West. Actually, Richard never left the State of New York. He moved 65 miles "west" of Elmira, NY, to Angelica, NY, in 1814. He remained an industrious farmer who raised and educated eight children in Allegany Co. New York.
"At this time there are no birth or death records that would prove that Richard Carpenter of Elmira, NY and Richard Carpenter of West Almond, Allegany Co. NY are the same Richard. However, Census and county land records, NY county history books, size, age, & gender of siblings, dates, and family history support this view."
Dawn Davies Carpenter
Richard A Carpenter
b. abt. 1771 Warwick, New York
d. aft. 1840 West Almond, New York
Married Mehetable __?__ abt. 1796
Children:
Born Elmira, NY
Daughter #1, Name unknownb. bef. 1800
Daughter #2, Name unknownb. bef. 1800
William S. Carpenter b. 1800 d. 1865
Richard E. Carpenter b. 1802 d. 1868
Samuel Carpenter b. 1804 d. 1873
*David H. Carpenter b. 1806 d. 1869
Margaret Carpenter b. 1807 d. 1809
Daughter #4, Name Unknown b. aft. 1810
*According to the 1810 Elmira, NY census a fifth son was born to Richard between 1800 and 1810. No information on this son has been found. He may have died at a young age.
Richard, the first born son of Joshua Carpenter and Sarah Burt, was born in a log cabin on his father's farm in Orange Co. NY. It was located on a long ridge that rose above the road that ran between Warwick and Florida, NY. His family lived on this land until Joshua moved the family to Newtown, Chemung Co. between 1788 and 1790. Richard most likely married while living in Newtown (Elmira) as he would have been between 17 and 20 years of age at the time of their move.
His wife's name was Mehitable, also spelled Mehettable on Chemung Co. land deeds. At this time, we do not know Mehetable's surname. In the 1810 Elmira Census, Richard and Mehetable had five sons and three daughters.
Richard sold his farm land in Elmira, NY in 1813. He bought 100 acres of land in newly opened territory which was held by the Morris Reserve. His land was in the planned town of Angelica, New York. Richard built one of the first frame houses in Angelica and moved his family from Elmira to Angelica in 1814. Five years later, Richard bought an additional 100 acres of land about 3 miles northeast of his Angelica farm at what is now called West Almond, NY and built a new, two story home. This home was still standing in the 1940's. This farm was the family home for three generations, until six brothers, grandchildren of Richard, left New York to homestead in Nebraska in the 1870's. (See 'Carpenter of Butler County' on the index page.) Richard and Mehetable lived on this farm well into their retirement in the 1840's. Richards son, Richard Ellison Carpenter, never married. He farmed the property during this time. The eldest son of Richard took a farm in Birdsall, NY, about one mile north of Richard's farm.. His descendants were many and some of them still live in the same area to this day. Samuel. the third son, was a blacksmith and also in his mid years bought Richard's original farm in Angelica and farmed there until his children were grown. *David, the youngest son, in the early 1830's, with his brother Richard, bought 100 acres of raw wooded land in West Almond, NY The land was attached to his brother William's farm on the south side. He cleared the land and started a dairy farm. (See; "Early NY Land Deeds" in the Index.)
* SOURCES::
* "Richard Carpenter is still recognized today as one of the earliest settlers in this area. "The well known pioneer settler Daniel Atherton kept the first tavern. Richard Carpenter with his sons, Samuel and Smith, David and Richard Ellison were among the first settlers." 'History of Allegany Co. Chapter XLV' by Geo. Morton
* " Richard came first to the town of Angelica, NY in 1814 from Elmira, NY and farmed a large piece of land (about 100 acres) which was situated right in the town. The Carpenter family home was built near where the river crossed Main Street. They built their home and resided there until Mr. Richard Carpenter bought land on Black Creek from Mr. Church." 'History of the Town of Angelica" by John S. Minard
* Other Sources; US Census; 1800, 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840. NY Census; 1855, 1865. Land Records; Chemung Co, Allegany Co., The Town of West Almond, 150 years. Carpenter Family History
"Guillaume I., of name, Viscount of Melun, was surnamed, Carpenter, because no weapon (opponents weapons that is) could be found that could resist the power of strikes. The heaviness of his (weapons) resulted in him being feared in combats. Grand Dictionaire Universel DU XIX Siecle Paris 1873 Tome 10 (p. 1488)
From Surname Web 'Origins ' Submitted by John R. Carpenter
Brief Biographies of John Carpenter, b. 1617,
Joshua Carpenter, b. 1740,
Richard A Carpenter, b. abt. 1771 and
"The Revolutionary War Experience of James Burt and Joshua Carpenter".
An Account of the Revolutionary War Event Experienced by James Burt and Joshua Carpenter, taken from p. 568 of "The History of Orange County, New York
"Hon. James Burt was born at Bellvale, Oct 25, 1760, the youngest of ten children. The various and important offices held by him from time to time, through the course of a long life, are evident of the esteem with which he was held by his intelligent fellow citizens. He was a member of the Assembly several years, a member of the state senate for twelve, and three time an elector of President and Vice President. (He voted for Jefferson, Madison, and Harrison.)
During the Revolutionary War Mr. Burt, though young at it's commencement, was a very active Whig, and vigiligant in defending his neighborhood against the secret and open attacks of the Tories. We relate one instance among many others. A man by the name of Johnston, who had been an English sea captain, lived in a stone house in the village of Warwick. The house belonged to Mr. William Wisner. Johnston was a silversmith and followed that business at the time. Supposing him in position of money and other valuable property, his house was attacked one rainy night by eleven Tories, some of whom belonged in that vicinity. Two sisters and two Negro boys were living with him at that time. The robber broke into the house, and Johnston, while defending himself most manfully, received a cut in the shoulder from a sword, which totally disabled him. One of the Negro boys and a Mr. Coe had been out eeling that night, and just at this time were returning home. As they approached the house, the Tories saw them, and thinking the settler were descending upon them, decamped, taking with them all the valuables of the house, and among them a very valuable sword. At this time young Burt was a lieutenant in a military company commanded by Capt.Minithorn, and his brother Daniel Burt, Jr., came over from the village to inform him of the affair, and to direct him to warn out his company forthwith and to go in pursuit of the robbers. It was dark and rained in torrents. He started to go as far as Bellvale, and while going through the woods on the side of the hill in front of his house he heard three distinct snapping of guns.
He drew up his musket to fire, though he saw no one; but instantly thinking if he did he might be seen by the flash of his own gun and be shot down by the robbers, refrained and passed on. Having warned out his neighbors Joshua Carpenter. Nathaniel Ketcham. Daniel Jayne, Philip, Samuel, and Azariah Ketcham, Benjamin Whitney, and a few others, they started in pursuit. In the morning they found some Continental troops down in the mountains, who went with them. The company took one side of the mountain and the soldiers took the other, who came suddenly upon the robbers while together eating in the woods, fired upon them and killed five of the eleven. Here they found many of the stolen articles and Johnston's sword. The six fled, but one of them was shot through the leg, taken and put in jail. The five continued to flee down towards New Jersey, hotly pursued by all who turned out to help capture the Tory robbers. Three of the five were killed during the chase, and two only of the eleven were thus far escaped. The two found their way to Hackensack, and there they found a couple of horses, were pursued again, and one was shot and killed, the other wounded.
_______________________
Carpenter/Davies & Related Families
! At the bottom of this page is the Obit for Maj. General John Hathorn as transcriped by his 4th great granddaughter; Gayle Hawthorn.
DIED
At his residence in Warwick, Orange County, on the evening of Sunday the 20th Inst. Major General John Hathorn, age 76. Few men have passed through the scenes of life with more with more honor to themselves.. and the advantage of their county than the deceased. Early embracing the Whig principles of the revolution, he remained firm and undaunted though those stormy and perilous days that tried men's souls. At the close of that eventful struggle, he was chosen a Delegate to represent this country in the first convention held in the state to form a constitution and he there contributed essentially to the organization of our government. Possessing a sound and discriminating mind - pure and disinterested patriotism - with much suavity of manners, he enjoyed in an eminent degree, the confidence of distinguished men of those days. After the organization of our government, he continued to occupy various and important stations, and for nearly thirty years he represented his country in the State legislature and Congress of the United States; in all these important situations he discharged his various duties with the strictest fidelity. He has now descended to the tomb to repose with venerable Clinton, his early patron and friend, and other illustriousness men in whose memory posterity will ever hold in grateful remembrance.
THE OBITUARY OF MAJOR JOHN HATHORN
Feb, 28, 1825 Goshen Independent, Goshen, NY
Transcribed by his 4th Great Granddaughter, Gayle G. Hawthorne
Although Major John Hathorn is not relationed to this family, Joshua Carpenter served under him in in the Revolutionary War and named one of his sons in honor of Major Hathorn.
b. 1672 m.1691
