Solomon Carpenter (1829 - 1910)

Born 8 Oct 1829 in Blount, Alabama, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Rhoda Caroline (Hardin) Carpenter — married 31 Aug 1848 in Mississippi, United States

Descendants

Died 26 Jul 1910 at age 80 in Winn, Louisiana, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Joshua Johnson [send private message]

Biography

Solomon Carpenter was born in Alabama.

1st Corporal Solomon Carpenter served in the United States Civil War.
Enlisted: 1 Feb 1863
Mustered out: May 1865
Side: CSA
Regiment(s): Co B-C, Ham’s Battalion, Mississippi Cavalry, & Co D, 6th Regiment, Mississippi Cavalry

Corporal Solomon Carpenter was a Prisoner of War during the United States Civil War.

Solomon was a member of the Methodist Church.

Solomon Carpenter was a Freemason.

Early Life

Solomon Carpenter was born 8 Oct 1829 in Alabama. He was the son of William Carpenter and Elizabeth Marler.^[1][2][3] William Carpenter, born in Kentucky, was the son of Solomon Carpenter, a pioneer and soldier in the Revolutionary War who had served in Col. Nathaniel Gist’s Continental Regiment of Rangers, attached to the 12th Virginia Regiment in the Continental Army. He in turn was descended from William Carpenter, who had migrated from England to Providence, Rhode Island, in 1635 during the Great Puritan Migration.

William and Elizabeth Carpenter, along with Solomon and their other children, moved from Alabama to Tishomingo County, Mississippi, in the 1830s when Solomon was a child.^[4][5]

Marriage and Family

Solomon married Rhoda Caroline Hardin 31 Aug 1848 in Tishomingo County, Mississippi.^[6] She was born 11 Dec 1824 in Tennessee,^[2] and was likely the daughter of William Hardin and Elizabeth Counce. By 1850, Solomon and Rhoda had started to raise a family while living next door to his parents. William and Elizabeth Carpenter named their daughter and Solomon’s younger sister, Rhoda Caroline Carpenter, after their daughter-in-law Rhoda Carolina Hardin.^[7] Solomon and Rhoda had six known children:^[8]

• Joseph Hardin Carpenter (1849-1900)
• Peter C. Carpenter (1850-1924)
• Elizabeth (Carpenter) Rudd (1855-1881)
• William Alexander Carpenter (1860-1934)
• Ethelinda (Carpenter) Griffin (1865-1943)
• Sally Ann Carpenter (1867-1932)

The Civil War

Solomon, along with many of his male relatives, served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. He enlisted 1 Feb 1863 as a Private, serving in Companies B and C of Ham’s Battalion of Mississippi Cavalry.^[9] In early April he was captured at Danville, Mississippi, close to his family home in Booneville, Tishomingo County. He was sent to Alton Military Prison in Alton, Illinois, and was quickly exchanged 28 Apr 1863.^[9]

After returning home to Mississippi, Solomon re-enlisted 6 Aug 1863 as the 1st Corporal of Company C in Davenport’s Battalion of Mississippi Cavalry.^[10] He was reassigned 8 Sep 1863 as the 1st Corporal of Company D when Davenport’s Battalion was formed into the 6th Mississippi Cavalry Regiment in late 1863.^[11]

The 6th Mississippi Cavalry was mustered into service Jan 1864 and was with General Nathan Bedford Forrest’s Cavalry Corps at the Battle of Tupelo (also known as the Battle of Harrisburg), Mississippi, 14-15 Jul 1864. The regiment surrendered in May 1865.^[12]

Move to Winn Parish, Louisiana

After the war, Solomon Carpenter and his family continued to live near Booneville, in the newly created Prentiss County, Mississippi, for about twelve years.^[13]

In 1877, Solomon and his family, including his brother Joshua and son Joseph and their families, made the journey from Prentiss County across the Mississippi River, settling in Winn Parish, Louisiana.^[14] The Homestead Act of 1862, which gave settlers free public land provided they lived on and improved the land, was likely part of their motivation for moving. Solomon registered a claim under the Homestead Act for the land he and his family had settled on and was issued a land patent on 14 Aug 1889 for almost 160 acres, 12N, 4W, Sec 28, located just north of modern day Calvin, Louisiana.^[15]

In 1886, Solomon Carpenter joined the Eastern Star Lodge Number 151, Free and Accepted Masons.^[16] He had been “Passed,” meaning he had reached the Second Degree of Freemasonry; he may have already been initiated as a Freemason while living in Mississippi. He would remain an active Freemason and member of the lodge for 24 years.^[17]

Death and Burial

Solomon’s wife Rhoda passed away prior to the 1900 census and was buried in the Bethlehem Church Cemetery.^[18] After her death, he moved in with his son William Alexander Carpenter and daughter-in-law Lucy Rudd Carpenter, and is shown living with them in the 1910 census.^[19]

Solomon Carpenter died at 6 A.M., 26 Jul 1910, at the age of 80 while living in his son William Alexander Carpenter’s home near Calvin. He was buried in Bethlehem Cemetery, located near Calvin, Winn Parish, Louisiana. His obituary was posted by a friend in the 12 Aug 1910 edition of The Comrade:

”Died.

At his son's, near Calvin in Ward 8, Uncle Saulmon Carpenter departed this life July 26, 1910, at 6 a.m. His illness was short — he was sick only a very few days. Medicine did him no good — the Lord was calling for him as he is calling for his children every day.

He was a good Christian, having been a member of the Methodist Protestant church. He has been a good and true Christian who loved to serve the Lord and do his Master's will. He was a true father and loving husband. Everybody loved "Uncle Saul", as we all called him. Everybody said that what "Uncle Saul" said was the truth. He had many friends everywhere he went, and, oh, how he will be missed. He leaves two sons and two daughters and a host of other relatives and friends to mourn his loss. Weep not dear ones, we feel sure he is at rest.

We do not know his age exactly but he was about 80 years old.

A FRIEND.”^[20]

Solomon’s fellow Freemason’s held a Masonic procession at his grave Sunday, 16 Oct 1910 in his honor, inviting other Freemasons to the ceremony in The Comrade:

”Masonic Procession.

On next Sunday, Oct. 16, a Masonic procession will be held by the Calvin Lodge A. F. & A. Masons at the grave of their deceased brother, Sol. Carpenter, near Calvin. All Masons are invited to be present and participate.”^[21]

Research Notes

It should be noted that there are three Solomon Carpenters, all cousins, living in Tishomingo County, Mississippi, at the start of the Civil War.

The Mississippi Confederate service records naming a “Solomon Carpenter” or “S. Carpenter” have been conflated and mostly attributed to just one of the Solomon Carpenters, namely Solomon Carpenter the son of Daniel Carpenter. This must be incorrect, as the ages in the service records do not support that conclusion and he couldn’t have been two places at once. Figuring out which unit each of them served in is a matter of looking at their ages in the records.

Solomon Carpenter, son of Daniel Carpenter, was born about 1836-37. In 1862 at the age of 26 he enlisted as a private in the 26th Mississippi Infantry Regiment. Solomon and the regiment fought in the Vicksburg Campaign, then transferred to the Army of Northern Virginia in the Eastern Theater, until he and the army surrendered at Appomattox Courthouse 9 Apr 1865.

Solomon Carpenter, son of Moses Carpenter, was born about 1827-28; he enlisted in 1863 at the age of 35 as a private in Davenport’s Battalion of Mississippi Cavalry, which late in 1863 became the 6th Mississippi Cavalry Regiment.

Solomon Carpenter, son of William Carpenter, was born about 1829-30; he enlisted at the age of 32 in 1863 as 1st corporal, also in Davenport’s Battalion, Mississippi Cavalry. Based on his enlistment as a 1st corporal, the evidence points to him being the Solomon Carpenter who had previously enlisted and been captured while serving in Ham’s Battalion of Mississippi Cavalry earlier in 1863.

Rudd-3040

Sources

1. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #8464973
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Carpenter Family Bible. “Bible Birth Record for Solomon Carpenter and Rhoda Caroline Carpenter.” Digital Image, Ancestry.com, Barbara Brazil, 1 Jun 2019. https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/collection/1030/tree/105643189/person/312438836105/media/30491e2d-ae67-4454-9733-922c0d286501?_phsrc=QIV453&usePUBJs=true&galleryindex=9&sort=-created : accessed 22 Mar 2023.
3. ↑ "Alabama County Marriages, 1809-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKZ9-Y7BM : 19 February 2021), William Carpenter and Elizabeth Marlor, 19 Nov 1826; citing Blount, Alabama, United States, County Probate Courts, Alabama; FHL microfilm 1,034,797.
4. ↑ “Mississippi, U.S., State and Territorial Census Collection, 1792-1866.” Digital Image, Name: Wm Carpenter, Residence Date: 1837, Residence Place: Tishomingo, Mississippi, USA. Ancestry.com. https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1125/images/v229_3-0117?pId=75293 : accessed 22 Mar 2023.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1840," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHTX-G7X : 8 December 2020), Wm Carpenter, Tishomingo, Mississippi, United States; citing p. 214, NARA microfilm publication , (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll ; FHL microfilm .
6. ↑ ”Mississippi, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1826-1850.” Name: Soloman Carpenter, Gender: Male, Marriage Date: 31 Aug 1848, Marriage Place: Tishomingo, Mississippi, USA, Spouse: Roady C. Hardin. Ancestry.com. https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/8824:3739?ssrc=pt&tid=105643189&pid=312438836105 : accessed 22 Mar 2023.
7. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6GK3-D7Q?cc=1401638&wc=95RJ-BZ6%3A1031309501%2C1032098801%2C1032098802 : 9 April 2016), Mississippi > Tishomingo > Tishomingo county > image 57 of 337; citing NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
8. ↑ "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6GK-1P5 : 18 February 2021), Solemon Carpenter, 1860.
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} ”Civil War Service Records (CMSR) - Confederate - Mississippi.” Digital Images, Carpenter, S. Carpenter, Solomon (Card filed with Carpenter, S.), Private, Co. B-C, Ham’s Regiment, Mississippi Cavalry. Fold3. https://www.fold3.com/image/185299982 : accessed 22 Mar 2023.
10. ↑ ”Civil War Service Records (CMSR) - Confederate - Mississippi.” Digital Images, Carpenter, S., 1st Corporal, Company C, Davenport’s Battalion, Mississippi Cavalry. Fold3. https://www.fold3.com/image/66499669 : accessed 22 Mar 1863.
11. ↑ ”Civil War Service Records (CMSR) - Confederate - Mississippi.” Digital Images, Carpenter, S., 1st Corporal, Company D, 6th Mississippi Cavalry. Fold3. https://www.fold3.com/image/64607468 accessed 22 Mar 2023.
12. ↑ ”Confederate Mississippi Troops: 6th Regiment, Mississippi Cavalry.” National Park Service. https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-battle-units-detail.htm?battleUnitCode=CMS0006RC : accessed 22 Mar 2023.
13. ↑ "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFSP-G95 : 29 May 2021), Solomon Carpinter, 1870.
14. ↑ Borden, Alma and Omelia. ”The Big Move of 1877.” Digital Image, Family Tree Excerpt, uploaded by user sbutler33, 31 Mar 2014. Ancestry.com. https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/collection/1030/tree/105643189/person/312438836105/media/4e008e72-faea-42d4-bd62-6f67dd9e8cdf?_phsrc=QIV501&usePUBJs=true&galleryindex=1&sort=-created : accessed 22 Mar 2023.
15. ↑ ”General Land Office Records.” Digital Image. Bureau of Land Management. https://glorecords.blm.gov/details/patent/default.aspx?accession=LA0820__.015&docClass=STA&sid=0bbvjk3i.sja : accessed 22 Mar 2023.
16. ↑ Davies, Greggory E. “Eastern Star Lodge No. 151, F.&A.M., 1886, Winn Parish, LA.” USGenWeb Archives. http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/winn/history/cluborg/esl1886.txt : accessed 22 Mar 2023.
17. ↑ Davies, Greggory E. “Eastern Star Lodge No. 151, F.&A.M., 1911, Winn Parish, LA.” USGenWeb Archives. http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/winn/history/cluborg/esl1911.txt : accessed 22 Mar 2023.
18. ↑ "United States Census, 1900", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSPJ-LTB : 11 March 2022), S C Carpenter, 1900.
19. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MPBV-76J : accessed 23 March 2023), Solmon C Carpenter in household of William E Carpenter, Police Jury Ward 8, Winn, Louisiana, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 133, sheet 14B, family 256, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 535; FHL microfilm 1,374,548.
20. ↑ A Friend. “Obituary of Solomon Carpenter.” The Comrade (Winnfield, LA), 12 Aug 1910, p. 5. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn88064358/1910-08-12/ed-1/seq-5/ : accessed 22 Mar 2023.
21. ↑ ”Masonic Procession.” The Comrade (Winnfield, LA), 14 Oct 1910, p. 1. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn88064358/1910-10-14/ed-1/seq-1/ : accessed 22 Mar 2022.