Robert Carpenter (1722 - 1777)

Born 5 Mar 1722 in Rhode Island Colony

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 7 Oct 1777 at age 55 in Saratoga, New York, USA

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Biography

Robert was born in 1722. Robert Carpenter ... He passed away in 1777. ^[1]

^[2]Robert Carpenter was born 5 March 1722 in E. Greenwich, RI, and died 7 October 1777 in the Saratoga, NY second battle of Bemis Heights (Ref. MA01, SA02). He was the son of Christopher Carpenter and Mercy Roberts Taylor. He married Charity Allice Roberts 26 OCT 1755 in E. Greenwich, RI. She was born 1726/1733 in Warwick, Kent Co, RI. He married Mercy Roberts in 1762 in West Greenwich, RI. She was born about 1747 in West Greenwich, RI. At the time of his enlistment in the Continental Army Robert appears to have been a resident of Palmer, Massachusetts. Palmer is approximately 60 miles west of Boston, MA. He is referenced in the publication "History of the Town of Palmer, Massachusetts" as enlisting for town of Palmer. (Author: J.H. Temple Pages: 653 Pub. Date: 1889 ISBN: 1933828064).

^[3]His service records also mention Kingstown. This reference may be a reference to an earlier part of his life. Available records indicate Robert was born in E. Greenwich, RI E. Greenwich, RI is approximately 60 miles southwest of Boston. E. Greenwich, RI is also about 60 miles southeast of Palmer, MA. E. Greenwich, RI today is part of the bay area complex of Providence, RI and is within 5 miles of North Kingstown, RI. It is my speculation that the reference to Kingstown in his military service records may be a geographical distinction made by Robert about his birthplace or early childhood home.

^[4]It would appear that Corporal Robert Carpenter was serving in the proper unit participating in this famous Breymann Redoubt assault co-lead by Generals Benedict Arnold and Ebenezer Learned. It would appear that Robert and his unit was moved into placed in the general buildup of Massachusetts Continental Line soldiers and participated in the combined actions of the Battle of Saratoga. Robert Carpenter is reported as having been killed in the action of October 7th. This action was primarily an afternoon of action which was broken off at sunset. It is noted that post battle accounts seem to indicate that approximately 70 soldiers died during the night of October 7, 1777. Robert could have been killed outright in the assault and/or died of his wounds during the evening hours. We do not have a known record of his burial location. He may be buried in a mass grave at the battlefield. Other unrelated accounts of cemetery development in the area indicate that wagons full of dead soldiers stacked like cordwood were transported to a local cemetery for burial.

NOTE: Palmer MA was formerly known as Kingstown during colonial times. According to The History of Palmer, p 140, when the residents petitioned to have their community formally named, the governor inserted the name Palmer instead. It is likely references to Kingstown are to Palmer MA not Rhode Island. [1]

Sources

1. ↑ Entered by Ronald Yates, Jun 6, 2012
2. ↑ Entered by Ronald Yates, July 11, 2016
3. ↑ Entered by Ronald Yates, July 11, 2016
4. ↑ Entered by Ronald Yates, July 11, 2016

Acknowledgements

• Ronald Yates, firsthand knowledge.