This genealogical book comprises of a detailed investigative report debunking the legend of a massive unclaimed fortune supposedly belonging to the American descendants of William Carpenter. The text transitions from providing specific family lineages and historical biographies to a rigorous, firsthand account of an agent’s journey to London to verify the existence of a rumored two hundred million dollar estate held in the Bank of England. Through an examination of Chancery Court records, bank archives, and parliamentary returns, the author systematically proves that the “Carpenter claim” is a mythical fabrication perpetuated by predatory “claim lawyers” and fraudulent agencies. The narrative emphasizes the fallibility of ancient records, describing the poor preservation of parish registers and the strict legal barriers that often prevent individuals from accessing historical documents. Ultimately, the work serves as a cautionary tale against delusive “phantom estates”, urging families to value their documented pedigree over the pursuit of non-existent riches.
The following genealogies are presented within the manuscript:
Samuel Carpenter Family of Pennsylvania
Samuel Carpenter, born in 1650, arrived in Philadelphia from Barbadoes in 1682 or 1683, having previously suffered persecution in the islands for his refusal to bear arms as a Quaker. Upon settling in Pennsylvania, he became a close associate of William Penn and established himself as the most successful merchant and trader of his time in the province. He held numerous high offices, including Member of the Provincial Assembly, Member of the Council of State, and Treasurer of the Province, serving in the latter capacity until his death in 1714. His extensive holdings included the “Slate Roof House,” mills in Bristol and Darby, and a mansion on King Street; he married Hannah Hardiman in 1684, and his brother Joshua Carpenter was also a prominent figure who built Graeme Hall.
William Carpenter Family of Weymouth and Rehoboth, Massachusetts
This branch traces its American origins to William Carpenter, born in England in 1576, who departed Harwell and sailed from Southampton on the ship Bevis in 1638. He arrived in Weymouth with his son William (born 1605), his daughter-in-law Abigail, and four grandchildren, residing there until his death in the winter of 1659-1660. His son William moved from Weymouth to Rehoboth (Seekonk) in 1645 with the Reverend Samuel Newman to establish a settlement there, where he subsequently served as Town Clerk and as a deputy to the General Court at Plymouth. This line produced numerous descendants, including William (3), who served as Rehoboth's town clerk for many years, and Benjamin, who settled in Northampton and later Coventry, Connecticut.
Ephraim, Josias, and Timothy Carpenter of Long Island, New York
The Long Island family is recorded as descending from Ezra Carpenter of Wales, whose grandsons Ephraim, Josias, and Timothy, along with their sister Phoebe, emigrated to America in April 1678. Ephraim and Josias are listed as purchasers of land in the town of Oyster Bay (Mantinecock), Long Island, in January 1685, while their brother Timothy, who was only thirteen upon arrival, settled in Hempstead and entered the cooperage business because he was too young to participate in municipal affairs. Timothy later moved to North Castle in Westchester County, New York; although this lineage is distinct in some records, it is noted that this group may actually be a branch of the Massachusetts family.
William Carpenter Family of Providence, Rhode Island
William Carpenter of Providence was the eldest son of Richard Carpenter of Amesbury, Wiltshire, England, and settled in Providence with Roger Williams in 1636. He married Elizabeth Arnold, the sister of Benedict Arnold, the first Governor of Rhode Island, and became a leading figure in the colony, serving as a member of the Council and reputedly acting as a preacher and founder of the first Baptist Society in Providence. He died in 1685, leaving several children, including his eldest son Joseph, who removed to Long Island and purchased land at Mosquito Cove in 1668, thereby establishing a connection between the Rhode Island and New York Carpenter lines.
Genealogical and historical record of the Carpenter family
Contents
- Samuel Carpenter Family of Pennsylvania, page 3
- William Carpenter Family of Weymouth and Rehoboth Massachusetts, page 16
- Ephraim, Timothy and Josias Carpenter, of Long Island, New York, 20
- William Carpenter Family of Providence, Rhode Island, page 28
- Carpenter Fund Association, 36
- Carpenters of Mount Tavy, 66
Source
Usher, James, Genealogical and historical record of the Carpenter family : with a brief genealogy of some of the descendants of William Carpenter, of Weymouth, and Rehoboth, Mass., William Carpenter, of Providence, R.I., Samuel Carpenter, of Penn., and Ephraim, Timothy and Josias Carpenter, of Long Island : including a full, complete and reliable history of the Carpenter estate of England, New York City : James Usher, c1883.