Person:Richard Carpenter (38)

Gene Zubrinsky writes: Among the children named in the will of Robert Carpenter of Marden (dated in 1607) are sons William and Richard. While it has been claimed that these were William1 Carpenter of Shalbourne and Richard Carpenter of Amesbury, there is no evidence whatsoever to support this. In fact, what evidence there is militates against it, as may be seen in Gene Zubrinsky's notes for (1) Richard Carpenter of Amesbury, MARRIAGE and COMMENTS sections (par. 2 in each), and (2) William Carpenter of Shalbourne, COMMENTS (par. 1). Found elsewhere in Zubrinsky's notes for these two men are the following additional facts that similarly cast doubt on the claim that they were sons of Robert of Marden: While the Marden Carpenters were sheepmen, William of Shalbourne was a carpenter and subsistence farmer, and Richard of Amesbury was a townsman, probably a tradesman (perhaps a carpenter like his son, William1 Carpenter of Providence). And although William2 Carpenter of Rehoboth (son of William1 of Shalbourne) and William1 Carpenter of Providence each had six sons and many more grandsons, none is named Robert. (end comment)

OLD NOTE: Richard was listed with his mother, as primary beneficiary and co-executor of his father's will. This makes him either the oldest in the family (Thus born abt 1575) or the youngest in sequence of listing in the will. I believe he was the eldest making him born about 1575. Why? If he was the youngest, being born about 1590/1595 then he would have been about 11 to 16 years of age in 1606, the year of his Father's will. Older would be better for legal matters, so birth about 1575 is possible.