My family tree

The generations of the family are numbered from William Carpenter1 born about 1540. He will be called Generation 1. i n the American Ancestry. His name will be found in the English family No. 8, a great grandson of William Carpenter of H omme, in the Tyrconner line of Lord George Carpenter.203, pg 38 William was born in England in 1576. He came to America with his wife and son William, in the ship "Bevis, " in 1638, a nd returned in the same ship to England. He was a resident of London. He was the third son of William Carpenter, wa s a Carpenter by trade and resided in London. He rented tenements and gardens in Houndsditch. Being a Dissenter, he wa s driven to Whirwell to escape persecution, and took the opportunity to join his sons in emigrating to America. He wa s not contented on this side, however, and returned to England in the ship which brought him. 204 It is believed that William 1576 was born in London. He was a carpenter by trade, and rented certain tenements and gard ens, as mentioned in the will of John Carpenter, town clerk of London 1625. William later resided in Wherwell, England. William came to America on the Bevis in 1638, embarking at Weymouth. With him was his son William and his son’s famil y. The Bevis left Southampton, England on 5/1638 (some show this is when the ship arrived) for New England. Many geneal ogies showthat William, Sr. stayed here for 2 years, before returning to England. But this does not appear to be the ca se, it is now accepted that William, Sr. returned to England on the return voyage of the Bevis. It has been surmised th at William, Sr.came to America just to assure his son’s safe passage. Perhaps, as a Dissenter, William, Jr. had falle n into disfavor with powerful persons, and the past respect held for the Carpenter family influenced others in power t o allow him to leave. It isknown that their departure records were not submitted until after they had been at sea for s everal days. From Her Majesty's State Paper Office: "The list of the names of Passeng. Intented to shipe themselves, I n the Bevist of Hampton of CL. Tonnes, Robert Batten Mr for Newengland, And thus by vertue of the Lord Treasures warran t of the second of May with was after the restrayat and they some Dayes gone to sea Before the Kinge's Mat'es Proelamac on Came boto Sout'uon." The passenger listincluded: CARPENTER, William of Horwell/Wherwell 62, carpenter, William Jr. o f Horwell, 33, carpenter, Abigael 32, Carpenter children, 4 10 and under. Although William 1576 came to America, it is not believed that he stayed here, and therefore he is not considered to b e the first of our line in America.