Benjamin CARPENTER

On page 870 of the source shown below is an entry on John Decker Carpenter, son of Benjamin Carpenter and grandson of Major John Decker. This sketch contains some interesting background information on both of these men.

On February 28, 1776, John (or Johannes as he was called by the Dutch) Decker "was commissioned Major by the provincial Congress, and so prominent and bold did he become in his attacks upon the enemy, that a reward was offered for his scalp by the British Government. In the hope to secure this reward, the Indians, led by the infamous Brant, made a desperate attempt to capture him, but he escaped, though several of his comrades were killed. When the squad of red men came into the little village, [Decker's daughter] Margaret was in the schoolhouse with a number of other children, but fortunately none of them were attacked. She attained an advanced age, dying when 84 years old.

The entry for Henry G. Cuddeback on p. 968 indicates that Major John Decker purchased the tract of land near Deerpark (where the subject lived in 1895) from the Indians in 1732, giving as compensation various cooking utensils, powder, lead, etc. On 21 Dec 1848, George Cuddeback (father of subject) married Margaret Carpenter, daughter of John D. and Catherine (Westfall) Carpenter.

The entry for Levi Van Etten on p. 988 indicates that the first of the Van Etten family to locate in Deerpark was Anthony Van Etten, a son of Jacob and Antje (Westbrook) Van Etten. Anthony was baptized 12 Jun 1726. On 03 Aug 1750 Anthony married Hannah Decker, daughter of Thomas and sister of Major Decker. The father of the subject married Eleanor Carpenter 12 Dec 1811.

Settling in Orange County, Benjamin Carpenter secured the strip of land between the Neversink and Delaware Rivers, on the boundary line of NJ, PA and NY. This place was called Carpenter's Point, but is known at the present time as Tri States. At the junction of the two rivers he kept a ferry, an occupation in which he found considerable work, for all the travellers going westward crossed the Delaware at this point. He was nearly 70 years of age when he passed from this life."

Margaret's birthdate is shown on p. 896 of the source under an entry for Benjamin Van Fleet, who married Jane Van Etten, the eldest child of John and Margaret (Carpenter) Van Etten.

John Carpenter (Smith): Will date 2/16/1778 proved 2/19/1779 Precinct of Goshen, west side of Wallkill NYHS wills Vol 33 pg. 183. Wife not named but her clothes were to go to her duaghter - I assume she had died previously. He had blacksmith and gunsmith tools. Children: Richard Carpenter, Anna (the youngest), Phebe, Jesse, Asa, John (not of age). Brother Wait Carpenter. Friend Samuel Gale. Witnesses: Samuel Bayley, David Bayley, and John Conner. Will indexed as John Carpenter.

I have another reference, NY Calendar of Wills that has further information - Father: John died 1738 and Mother: Elizabeth. Then I have the will of a John whom I think might be the father, and my notes state that Seversmith says that this John's father was Samuel.

John Carpenter, house carpenter, Goshen OR Co. will date 29 Jan 1738/39 Probate Dec. 1, 1740. Wife Elizabeth to get "1/2 movable estate to bring up our children until the youngest is of age". Children John under 21 in 1738, Wait, Rebecca, unborn (1838) (Have wondered if this could be the missing Carman or Moses Carpenter, but about 10 years too early for our ca bds. Exec: Joseph Carpenter, Wait Smith, Jr. and Benjamen Carpenter Wit: Wm Smith, Soloman Smith, Wm Finn. Brothers named in will: Joseph, Samuel, Benjamin, and Timothy Carpenter.

I kinda thought that John Carpenter Smith's mother had remarried after his father died and he had taken the Smith name, another explaination might be that he was raised by one of the Smith's named in his father's will. Another explanation (given by Robin Carpenter of the same group) is that he was a 'smith' by trade, and the entry should have read John Carpenter, smith, but was later garbled to John Carpenter Smith.

Will of Weight Carpenter, Blacksmith, Sept 1784 Proved July 1, 1785 Wallkill Prect. Ul Co. Wife Mercy (see *Jeremiah Smith will below). Children Mary, Elizabeth m James White, Rebecca, Weight (probably m. 3 Nov. 1788 Pres. G. ch. Elizabeth Clark). Exec. Dr. Jonathan Sweezy and son in law James White. Wit: Jonathan McCamly, Nicholas Carpenter, Blacksmith, Elizabeth Smith.

NY Calendar of wills #1598 Jeremiah Smith of Or. Co. 1776/1783 Wife Elizabeth, Children Jeremiah, Elizabeth Veal, (Mercy), Dorothy. Grandsons: Jonas and Joel Smith, grand dau Dorothy and Elizabeth Veal, son in law Wait Carpenter. Wit: archibald McCurdy (sp.?), Phebe Denn, Wm Denn of Ul. Co. schoolmaster.

Note: I have the above from two sources and each abstracts a little differently.

Samuel Capenter June 21 prov Nov1, 1752 Goshen Orange County. Wife Patience. Children Samuel, wm, Abraham, John, Joshua, Richard, Abigail, Martha, unborn. Real estate to be sold when eldest son of age and divided. Exec. Wait Smith, Jr., and Benjamin Carpenter to bring up his children. Wit: James Smith, Samuel Webb, Jonathan Webb, Proved Nov 1, 1752 (Again there is possibility of either Carman or Moses Carpenter) Abraham Henning, Judge, and Daniel smith, Thomas DeKay, Michael Johnson (I bet jackson), Hezekiah Howell, Ebenzer Seely, Jacobus Swartwout, John Westbrook, Jr., Justices, Fletcher Mathew, Clerk.

(I have notes that Samuel m. Elizabeth Allison (Seversmith) and Joshua m1. Hannah Ludlam (Seversmith) and m2. Sarah Burt (Eager pg 423)

Samuel Carpenter m. Elizabeth Allison **. Richard Allison will** Goshen 1767 w. Matha (Martha?). Ch. Joseph, John, Wm, Elizabeth m Samuel Carpenter***, Martha had a son: Richard Allison Carpenter ***, Margaret, youngest names: son in law Samuel Carpenter and brother in law John Wells execs. and Witnesses: James tyan, Timothy Owen, and James Carpenter proved 1767 *** from Wm's will 1797.

Well, here is Benjamin's will abstract of abstract. (I have a note that the will abstracts disagree, one names a son Benjamin and one names a John):

Benjamin Carpenter Goshen will dated 1764 Wife Mary - mention wife to support 6 youngest until ch. until Benjamin comes of age. Ch. Benjamin, Gilbert, Samuel, Sarah, Mary, Rhoda now in Calendar of wills we have the following children listed also: Elizabeth, Christian, Amy, Mary, and John. Cousin Samuel Carpenter. Wit: Henry Wisner, John Carpenter Smith, Isaiah Halstead proved 10/10/1767. From Seversmith I have Benjamin m. Eunice Stewart and Sarah m Nathaniel Cooley.

I have made a note to myself that this Benjamin's will was proved the same day as the will of John of Bloomingrove.

I have the will of John Coomes dated 1769 proved 1770 Jamaica Inkeeper Wife Kezia ch. Gilbert, Keziah, Sarah Ann, Annie, Mary m. Benjamin Carpenter (6/23/1753 NY marriages) Elizabeth m Henry Dawson. Names: Grandson JOHN CARPENTER Exec: sons in law, Henry Dawson and Joseph Robinson Wit: John Hinchman, Adrien Van Nosbtrand (?sp), Robert Hinchman.

I do not have a will for a TIMOTHY CARPENTER, One is mentioned in John Gale's will 1760 as having property in E Div. Gale's property is between Timothy Carpenter and Old Mr. Drake. One also listed as witness in Wm Jackson will 1746 with Moses Horton and Richard Allison (OC wills Vol 1 pg 6) and, as above, listed as a brother in John Carpenter will, 1738/9.

Apparently there was another Benjamin Carpenter living in the same area at the same time. Robin Carpenter (ANALYTIX@valley.net, of the Orange County Rootsweb list) pointed out that page 354 of Ruttenber & Clark gives a partial description of the family of Leonard Carpenter of Newburgh NY. His father is given as "Benjamin Carpenter who was born in England in 1730" who came to L.I. initially, but resided at the end of his life in Marlborough in Ulster County NY. His wife is given as Jane Leonard, daughter of Silas Leonard, minister at Goshen. Two of Benjamin Carpenter's SIX children's names are given; Jacob and Leonard.

Another list member (GALILEO15@aol.com) responds with more information, as follows. Benjamin CARPENTER: b. 1730 at Musketo Cove (Long Island), NY [some say he was born in England], d. 2 Sep 1793, m. Jane LEONARD 8 Dec 1760 in Newburgh NY. Jane LEONARD b. Newburgh NY c 1740-1742 [Jane LEONARD is mentioned in the 1742 will of her aunt, Mary HARRIS]. Her parents: Reverend Silas LEONARD (minister at First Presbyterian Church in Goshen NY) & Elizabeth HARRIS [m. 1739]. Children of Benjamin CARPENTER & Jane LEONARD [as listed on the FTM user home page of Anita Gauld]: