Note: Material now arranged in chron order under Biography but needs re-write to boil it down, eliminate least useful sources, and avoid large quotations of material. Day-1904 23:17, 12 Sep 2017 (EDT)
JOSEPH CARPENTER, eldest son of William and Elizabeth (Arnold) Carpenter, was born about 1638 (aged 26 in 1664), probably at Providence Plantation (not 1635, in England), [4] and died intestate between 15 Feb 1682 and 15 Mar 1684 at Musketa Cove (then a plantation in Oyster Bay Township; now the town of Glen Cove, Nassau County), Long Island, Province of New York. [5]
The first mention made of him is at Providence, Rhode Island, where on 03 May 1656, he is witness to a deed from his uncle, Stephen Arnold, to his father.
The town records of Warwick, Rhode Island, show that he had a "corne mill" at the wading place near the Falls on the Pawtuxet river. Here he remained until 1677, although as early as 1663 he was at Long Island making negotiations for the purchase of land from the Indians at Oyster Bay. The Hempstead colony on Long Island resisted the attempts to settle at Oyster Bay, but finally allowed them to remain in peace.
He remained in Rhode Island until 1667, although as early as 1663 he was on Long Island negotiating with the Indians to purchase land at Oyster Bay. The Matinecock Indians sold 2,000 or 3,000 acres to Joseph on 24 May 1668 at what became know as Musketa Cove. On 30 Nov 1668, Nathaniel Coles, Abia Carpenter, Thomas Townsend & Robert Coles became his partners. They located their residence plots and laid out some of the highways and built a sawmill and a fulling mill. The grist mill was built about 1677 and remained in the proprietors ownership until about 1704." [6] [7]
The five aforementioned businessmen chose to retain the place-name by which the Matinecock Indians had known the area, and therefore styled themselves "The Five Proprietors of Musketa Cove Plantation." Musketa (also spelled "musquito") translates from the Matinecock's language to roughly mean "the place of rushes." [7]
Within a rather short time, "The Five Proprietors of Musketa Plantations" had dammed a small stream that ran through the valley, whose course is roughly paralleled by Glen Street today. This dam was located near the foot of Mill Hill, slightly northeast of the present fire department on a spot marked by a memorial plaque. [7]
On the dam was erected the saw mill, which by an early. covenant between the "Five Proprietors" was jointly owned by each of them, and a small grist mill which was constructed by Joseph Carpenter under the condition that he grind the grain of the other proprietors "well and tolle free for ever." [7]
(Millers were remunerated for their services by receiving a percentage of the finished flour as payment... usually about 10 per cent). [7]
The lumber produced by the saw mill found a ready market in New York City, which had used up most of the indigenous trees on Manhattan Island rather quickly. By 1679, just two years after Carpenter's purchase from the Indians was officially ratified by the colonial New York govemment, the mill was producing nine different thicknesses of boards and timber, as well as tile laths, shingle laths, wainscott, "feather-edged" boards for panelling, and custom-cut walnut for cabinet-making. [7]
A small portion of the mill's accounts were recorded in the "Musketa Cove Proprietor's Book," a hand-written record of the early settlers' land transactions and agreements. The accounts indicate that one of the major purchasers of Musketa Cove lumber was Jacob Leisler, a prosperous New York City merchant who would, in 1689, overthrow the colonial government of the colony and, in 1691, would be executed for treason. [7]
However, it appears that Leisler did not forget his acquaintances in Musketa Cove during his reign as ad-hoc governor in New York, he appointed Robert Coles as Captain in the Oyster Bay Militia." [7]
Each proprietor had a "home lott" of five acres set off on which to erect a dwelling. These home lots were situated on a street or highway that they called "The Place." The site of these homes on this street, which still bears the name, are very readily identified. On the "lott of Joseph Carpenter" the first house was built after the erection of a saw mill. It was occupied by him all his lifetime, was the birthplace of nearly all his children, and continued in the family for several generations. The plantation prospered, although its growth was retarded by King Philip's war. Following the erection of a saw mill he built a grist and fulling mill, agreeing with the other proprietors to grind their grain in return for the use of water power. In a few years the Oyster Bay settlement had its own town government, constable, overseers, justice of the peace and recorder. They held their own town meetings and elected their own officers until the organization of Queens county in 1683. They had many industries, and the records show Joseph Carpenter to have been the prime mover in their establishment, and that his energy and ability had made a thriving community from an humble beginning. [8]
Carpenter and his friends saw great potential in their new community. They constructed a saw mill and a gristmill across what is now known as Glen Cove Creek. The harbor was ideal for shipping lumber to New York City and the creek was dammed to provide power for the mills. Their goal was furnish New York City with lumber for the construction of housing. The site for the saw mill had many congenial conditions - a fine stream, opportunity for a short dam, and easy access to navigable water at high tide. [8]
The proprietors and their families built their homes near the campfires of the Indians along a street atop a hill overlooking the saw mill. They were blessed with the brave spirit of the pioneer. They were not afraid to work long hours to mold the raw materials of nature into the finished products needed to build a civilization. While each had land for his own homestead, much of the land was maintained as common space for the grazing of cattle. The first settled street in Glen Cove, called "The Place" still survives today. [8]
The lumber produced by the saw mill found a ready market in New York City. By 1679, two years after Carpenter's purchase from the Indians was officially ratified by the colonial New York government, the mill was producing nine different thickness of boards and timber, as well as tile laths, shingle laths, wainscot, "feather-edged" boards for paneling, and custom-cut walnut for cabinet-making. [8]
The exports of the lumber industry were not the sole source of income, however. Colonial Governor Lord Bellomont wrote in 1699 to the Board of Trade in London describing Musketa Cove as one of the top four ports for smuggling on all of Long Island. Goods smuggled to avoid the high import taxes demanded by Mother England included brandy, rum and wine. [8]
By this time the tiny group of settlers had grown considerably. A contributing factor to the sudden influx of settlers was King Philips’s War, which drove many out of New England for fear of their lives. In less than a decade after its settlement, the community of Musketa Cove had among its population carpenters, weavers, wool spinners, saddlers, tailors, millers, shipbuilders, and many tradesmen. They had their own town government, constable, overseers, Justice of the Peace and Recorder. [8]
Some of the mill's accounts were recorded in the Musketa Cove Proprietor's Book, a hand- written record of the early settlers' land transactions and agreements. Musketa Cove Proprietors’ Book is an outstanding primary record; its pages contain a copy of the Andros Patent of 1677; references to minor land disputes with the Matinecock Indians, and family records of the Coles, Thornycraft and Carpenter families. [8]
Some of the earliest entries are dated 30 Nov 1668; listed are certain Articles of Agreement signed by the five proprietors. The Proprietors agreed that “no trees shall be cut for pipe staves except as agreed upon by vote of the majority; no one shall put out hogs or cattle for summering except as agreed on by majority vote; only by vote of the majority shall any highway be built, lots laid out or fences erected.” [8]
Most Musketa Cove residents were at first uninterested in taking an active part in the Revolution. Prior to the incredible rout of the Patriot Army during the Battle of Long Island in August of 1776, more than 70 per cent of the local inhabitants attempted to remain neutral; of the remainder, only 12 per cent took the Patriot side, the other 18 per cent remaining loyal to English rule. But after the defeat of Washington's army at the Battle of Long Island in 1776, the fires of patriotism were lit. The local militia was reorganized as the "Musketa Cove Company of the Loyal Queens County Militia." Its officers wore red uniforms, with blue facings and silver buttons. [8]
Long Island was one of the few places in North America that the British held uncontested throughout the Revolution, and as a result, dozens of British Provincial Corps (armed loyalists) and Hessian regiments were stationed on Long Island, housed in homes abandoned by Patriots who had fled the area. The population of Musketa Cove in the decade after the Revolution grew to nearly 250. [8]
After Hannah died he married Ann (or Anna) Weekes, probably at Oyster Bay, by 02 Sep 1674. She was baptized in the Dutch Church at New York in 1647 (or at New Amsterdam (now New York City) Colony of New Netherland, on 09 Jul 1651. She was the daughter of Francis and Elizabeth (Luther) Weeks of Salem and Dorchester, Massachusetts; Providence, Rhode Island; New Amsterdam; Gravesend, Long Island; and Oyster Bay. [4]. She died at Musketa Cove after 24 Jun 1713 (perhaps by 12 Aug 1713),
Ann's father, Francis Weekes, was with Roger Williams in the canoe when he first landed at Providence. He and his wife were early settlers of Hempstead, Long Island, where they were heavily fined for "entertaining Quakers," and soon after removed to Oyster Bay.
Joseph died during the "sickly season" of 1683. The place of his burial is not known. [1]. His father, William, added a codicil to his will describing his son as deceased. Joseph was last known living on 17 Feb 1682/3 when he occurs in the proprietors records of Musketa Cove.
1. Joseph, "the eldest son," inherited the estate and title of his father
2. A daughter, married William Thornecraft
3. Tamsen, married John Williams
4. William, born about 1666
5. Nathaniel, said to have been the first white child born at Musketa Cove, Oyster Bay, Long Island; married Tamar, eldest daughter of Robert and Mercy (Wright) Coles
6. Hannah, married Jacob Hicks. [1]
7. Ann, married Joseph Weekes
8. Benjamin, married Mercy, daughter of Robert and Mercy (Wright) Coles, sister of the wife of his half brother, Nathaniel
9. John (posthumous child), married Martha Feake [1]
These children were all prominent in the plantation, and some of them joined in the exodus from Oyster Bay to "the Main," as Westchester County was then called, and were among the first settlers at Rye, North Castle, Bedford, Harrison and Mamaroneck. Other families leaving about 1700 were the Coles, Weekes, Lallings, Wrights, Townsends, Cocks and many others.[1]
(III) Joseph (2), eldest child of Joseph (1) and Hannah (Carpenter) Carpenter, was born about 1660, at Pawtuxet, and inherited the paternal estate, operating a mill and the plantation. There is a tradition that he was drowned trying to save the mill in a freshet. At any rate he died between 09 Sep 1687, and 1692. His wife Ann was probably a daughter of Thomas Thornycraft. Records of two sons have been found: Joseph, mentioned below; Thomas, born 15 Aug 1687. [1]
(IV) Joseph (3), eldest son of Joseph (2) and Ann Carpenter, was born 16 Oct 1685, at Pawtuxet, the date being recorded at Oyster Bay, New York, probably to authenticate his heirship to one-fifth of the Musketa Cove patent. Five days after he came of age he deeded to his uncles, William and Nathaniel, farms in that section. His adult life was passed at Oyster Bay, and in 1707 he instituted suit to recover property in Rhode Island formerly belonging to his great-grandfather, William Carpenter. This suit was successful. He resided on the homestead at Pawtuxet until about 1715, when he sold out and moved across the Cove to Lot No. 1, in the division of 1681, which is now in the village of Sea Cliff. His house was burned by lightning in 1747-8, after which he sold the land for o225 and retired to the village of Jericho, where he died 03 Jun 1776, at the house of his grandson, Joseph Carpenter. He was a sincere member of the Friends Society, often occupying places of trust and responsibility in the town and was noted for his charitable character. To his benevolence many worthy persons were indebted for substantial aid at the proper time. He married (first) in 1707, Ann, daughter of Captain Andrew and Ann (Coddington) Willett. She died 09 Feb 1709, and he married (second) in 1711, her sister Mary, born 21 Sep 1691. She was a grand-daughter of Colonel Thomas Willett, born 1610, at Borley, Hertfordshire, England and came to Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1629. Later he was at New Amsterdam, and was the first English mayor appointed over the city of New York, 1665. The Dutch soon after reoccupied New Amsterdam, and he retired to Swansea, Massachusetts, where he died 04 Aug 1674. He was a man of much character and ability and still has numerous descendants in the vicinity of New York. He married (third) in 1636, Mary, daughter of John Brown, a pioneer of Plymouth, Massachusetts. [1]
Andrew, son of Thomas and Mary (Brown) Willett, was born at Plymouth, and was a merchant at Boston, whence he removed about 1680 to Rhode Island. As early as 1692 he returned to Boston and occupied a residence on Boston Neck which was built by his brother-in-law, John Saffin, speaker of Massachusetts assembly. While residing in Rhode Island he represented Westerly in the general court. He married Ann, daughter of Hon William Coddington of Newport and, among their children were daughters Ann and Mary, who married successively, Joseph Carpenter, as above noted.
(V) Ann, daughter of Joseph (3) and Mary (Willett) Carpenter, born 24 Sep 1716, died 1803, married 08 Oct or 23 Dec 1737, at Oyster Bay, Samuel Underhill of that town (see Underhill IV). [1]
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C > Carpenter > Joseph Carpenter
Categories: Day-1904 Jack Day In Process
Son of William Vincent Carpenter and Elizabeth Peake (Arnold) Carpenter --- The Vincent & Peake used as parent middle name comes from bad genealogy where someone used mother's maiden names as middle names. Thus they are bogus and misleading. See Carpenter Sketches at: https://carpentercousins.com/carplink.htm
CAUTION: This duplicate is the Joseph Carpenter of Providence, RI and NOT FROM Rehoboth, MA!
Carpenter-2060 Carpenter-15329
The last two are clearly duplicates with slight changes. Use Carpenter-629 as the base along with information from Carpenter Sketches as a guide.
https://carpentercousins.com/carplink.htm - regarding Joseph2 of Providence, Carpenter line.
CAUTION: He is not Joseph Carpenter of William Carpenter of Rehoboth.
copyright 1912 & reprinted 1994. Mr Cutter has info concerning this family but it looks as if it conflicts with some info so I am only citing the source for others reference