Francis Carpenter1
M, b. 8 November 1728, d. 1785
| Father | Joseph Carpenter III b. 16 Oct 1685, d. 3 Jun 1776 |
| Mother | Mary Willett b. 21 Sep 1691, d. c 1737 |
Francis was born the 8th day of the 9th month 1728 at Reedy Vleigh, Musketa Cove, Queens County, Long Island, New York. Francis married Esther Helmne in 1767. Francis was adopted by his uncle Francis Willett of Boston Neck. His uncle had no children, thus Francis Carpenter became the heir to his adopted father's estate. Francis was a sea captain and during his voyages at least up until the Revolution, he made his home at the Helmne homestead. He moved to the Willett hometead after the war, before the birth of his youngest daughter in 1778. He was a sea captain. Francis departed this life in 1785 in Boston Neck, North Kingston, Rhode Island.
Family | Esther Helmne b. 1733, d. Jan 1817 |
Citations
- [S38] Daniel Hoogland Carpenter, History & Genealogy of the Carpenter Family In America From the Settlement at Providence, R. I. 1637 - 1901
, page 66 - no. 57 FRANCIS, 8, 9, 1728; pages 97-98 - no. 56 Francis Carpenter, son of Joseph,I9 was born at "Reedy Vly," Musketa Cove, 8d. 9mo. 1728. In his early boyhood he was adopted by his uncle Francis Willett of Boston Neck, North Kingstown, R. I. As this uncle had no children his estate was inherited by him. Like his brothers he was a sea-captain. In 1767 he married Esther, daughter of Judge James Helmne of Tower Hill, South Kingstown, R. I., and during the time of his voyages, or at least until the Revolution, he had his home at the Helmne homestead (still standing, 1880), and here all his children were born except Abigail, the youngest. He afterwards occupied the Willett property at Boston Neck. After the death of Captain Carpenter, which. occurred in 1785, a suit at law was commenced by the relatives of Francis Willett, urged on principally by Judith Perce, one of a family of spinsters, daughter of Simon and Martha Perce of Newport. This suit was finally decided in favor of Captain Carpenter's heirs.*
* During the progress of this trial Mrs. Carpenter and her son Willett, then a lad of about 13, went together on horseback to Boston to consult a lawyer, and to Plymouth to see the will of Mayor Thomas Willett, a feat which she used often to relate. She died January, 1817. She was born 1733..
A tradition of the family is that on this Boston Neck farm there was a house built and occupied by Theophilus Whalley, one of the regicide judges who fled to America at the ascension to the throne of Charles II.
Martha, wife of Simon Peirce (or Perce), was daughter of Andrew Willett, so sister to Ann and Mary, the two wives of Joseph Carpenter, No. 19.
The following are the children of Captain Francis Carpenter: ESTHER, born 1770, died 1855. Not married; WILLETT, born June 17, 1772; POWELL. No further record.
RowsE. No further record; SARAH. Died young.
ELIZABETH. Died young; JAMES, born April 15, 1774.
ADAM. Died unmarried; SAMUEL, born 1775. Was for many years clerk of Washington County, R. I.; SARAH, born 1779, died 184o. Not married; GABRIEL. Died unmarried; NATHANIEL. Nothing further; ABIGAIL, born 1778, died 1857. Not married.