Re: CARPENTERs of Guilford VT
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In reply to:
Re: CARPENTERs of Guilford VT
10/11/01
Dear Marg,
Thanks for your response.
I have a great interest in genealogy, but am just starting out at this kind of research, particularly as it regards the Carpenter family. We at the Museum have a good quantity of primary source materials on the various families related to Grace Carpenter Hudson. We often don't know who compiled the information, or how trustworthy the information is. However, I just thought I'd pass on briefly what I know about your family from our manuscript collection:
Our records show that the children of Cyrus Carpenter and Betsey Barney were the following (Again, dates and names may not be correct, but it's a start):
Betsy (b. 9/26/1793 - married Col. Prior Scott)
Cyrus (b. 12/29/1794)
Clarissa (b. 10/?/1796 - married Rev. Ezra Richmond)
Ira (b. 6/26/1798 - one document we have states that it was one of HIS sons, named Edwin, who went to Australia, another son to California. This does not match with what you've just told me!)
Justin (b. 9/25/1800 - This is Grace Carpenter Hudson's paternal grandfather, the father of her father, A.O. Carpenter)
Mark (b. 9/23/1802 - I believe he was a well known minister. His profession is sometimes listed as Justin's. Justin, however, was a newspaper owner, and lawyer.)
Amil (or Annie - I've found two different names for this person) (b. 7/20 or 21/1804)
Roxanna (b. 7/20 or 21/1806)
Sally (or Sarah - I've found two different names for this person) (b. 5/29/1808)
Mila (b. 1/4/1812)
Betsey Barney then died (no wonder after that many children in so few years!) around 1813, according to our records.
Cyrus Carpenter Sr. then married Betsey PUTNAM, and had the following children:
Caroline (b. 6/18/1816)
Edwin (b. 6/13/1819 - this is the father of Edwin P. Carpenter, the man who created the document that most of this information is from. He was a genealogy buff, as was Grace's twin brother Grant. They developed a correspondence regarding the family. Edwin P. seemed to be living in England during the time - c. 1920's/1930's.)
Gilbert (b. 1/10/1822)
As I mentioned before, Justin married Clarina Howard. Clarina divorced him at a time when divorce was rare, especially initiated by the woman. She claimed "extreme cruelty" as the cause. Legend has it that her father-in-law Cyrus, and some of her brother-in-laws stood up for her during the divorce proceedings against their own son/brother. We believe this bitter divorce propelled her into her career as a suffragette, and also explains why we have almost no records on Justin. Cyrus Sr.'s father was Benjamin Carpenter, apparently quite famous in Vermont.
Well, I must go. Hope this has been useful. Please do let me know if you learn any more about Justin.
Karen