Hello Cousins,
Below is an ancestral snapshot of a Carpenter Minute Man who fought the Hessians (German
mercenary soldiers fighting for the British Crown) during Christmas of 1776 some 242 years
ago! I also provide some more interesting tidbits on him.
Do you have a favorite ancestor to share a snap shot about? Feel free to post it here!
Here is an ancestral snapshot of Ezra Carpenter-9442 who was born on 25 March 1753 in
Attleborough (Attleboro), Bristol County, Massachusetts. He died on 1 July 1841 in
Foxboro, Norfolk, MA and was buried in the Rock Hill Cemetery there.
Being one of the Minute Men of Foxboro, Ezra was in the field ditching, when he received
the news about the Battle of Lexington. He left his spade (shovel) in the ditch he was
working on and hastened home. There with his step-mother's assistance he packed his
knapsack and at sunset on that April 19, 1775 he started on foot for the seat of war. He
walked as far as Walpole where he halted to rest and turned in for the night, but
didn't sleep a wink as he says "I was so excited and anxious to fight the
red-coats." In the morning he pushed on to Dedham where his regiment was stationed
and in two days they marched to Boston.
In April to June 1775 American Colonial Forces besieged the British Armed Forces in
Boston. On June 17, 1775 the British Forces defeated the American Forces, breaking the
siege, during the Battle of Bunker Hill in Charlestown, which is just north of Boston
proper.
While we call it the battle on Bunker Hill, that particular hill was only peripherally
involved in the actual fighting. While it was the original objective of the British axis
of attack, the majority of the heroic struggle took place on the adjacent hill which later
became known as Breeds Hill.
While Ezra was at the Battle of Bunker Hill as a soldier, his regiment was not on the
British main line of attack to relieve the siege. Yet, he was near enough to get grazed by
a stray musket ball that pierced his clothing but only grazed his skin. That lead ball
traveled farther hitting and killing a cow.
He was with General Washington on the Delaware River crossing and the attacks on the
Hessian Troops on Christmas Day and Boxing Day in and around Trenton, New Jersey in 1776.
Later in life with pride, he spoke of his sufferings with the cold, hunger and about his
sore cold feet from wearing worn-out shoes.
MILITARY: Summary
He enlisted in Capt. Oliver Pond's company, in Col. J.S. Read's regiment, May 1,
1775; served eight months; Wrentham company. Ezra Carpenter enlisted again as private in
Samuel Crowell's company, Col. Hawes' regiment, Sept. 25, 1777; served one month,
five days; marched on a secret expedition; Ezra
Carpenter enlisted again as private in Samuel Crowell's company, Col. Hawes'
regiment, Sept. 25, 1777; served one month, five days.
And it is mentioned that he marched on a secret expedition but the details are not given.
Anybody have a clue on this?
ARTICLE: - includes Burial place!
http://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/he-s-one-of-us/article_a7d280ff-7d02-...
'He's one of us'
Rehoboth Minutemen to honor Revolutionary War soldier from regiment
BY JIM HAND SUN CHRONICLE STAFF Nov 9, 2010.
FOXBORO - Revolutionary War re-enactor Al Soucey was leafing through a book on the war a
few months ago, when he saw a mention of Ezra Carpenter of Foxboro from the 13th
Continental Regiment - the same regiment Soucey's Rehoboth Minutemen re-enact.
"I thought, 'Hey, he's one of us,'" said Soucey, a captain in the
re-enactor regiment.
He started to further research Carpenter and found his pension application stating he
served under Capt. Oliver Pond of Wrentham.
Carpenter missed the battle at Lexington and Concord, but witnessed the battle at Bunker
Hill and took part in Washington's crossing of the Delaware and several other
battles.
He also wintered at Valley Forge.
Two younger brothers also fought in the war.
Soucey said he found out Carpenter was from Foxboro and owned a home on South Street,
which still stands.
But, nobody seemed to know where he was buried.
"You can't imagine how hard it is to find these guys," Soucey said.
"It's easy to find the famous people, but it's hard to find a private because
there are no records."
Soucey, an Attleboro resident, put another re-enactor, Tom Dietzel of Foxboro, on the
case.
Dietzel said an 1890 book on the history of Foxboro stated Carpenter was buried about a
mile from his home. Rockhill Cemetery met the criteria.
He searched the cemetery three times before coming across a white marble tombstone with
the engraving of a solider on it. It was Carpenter.
"It was great to connect with someone we are re-enacting," Soucey said.
Carpenter apparently no longer has relatives in the area, so the regiment is adopting his
gravestone for maintenance and will mark it on special occasions such as Memorial Day and
Veterans Day.
At 10 a.m. Saturday, the regiment will gather at the grave to place a plaque touting
Carpenter's service. The public is invited.
Meanwhile, Soucey said he is still searching for Oliver Pond's burial place.
GRAVE: images
Ezra Carpenter
Birth: unknown
Death: 1 Jul 1841
Burial: Rock Hill Cemetery, Foxboro, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, USA
Memorial #: 20450094
Inscription:
One of the minutemen of 1776,served his country three years in the war of the
revolution,crossed the Delaware with Genl Washington, a true citizen,Patriot and
christian.
Gravesite Details Husband of Margaret and Mary
Family Members
Spouse
Mary Daniels Carpenter 1759-1852
Children
Daniels Carpenter 1795-1880
Created by: Deborah A Smith (46582517)
Added: 14 Jul 2007
URL:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/20450094/ezra-carpenter
Citation: Find A Grave, database and images (
https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 29
November 2018), memorial page for Ezra Carpenter (unknown–1 Jul 1841), Find A Grave
Memorial no. 20450094, citing Rock Hill Cemetery, Foxboro, Norfolk County, Massachusetts,
USA ; Maintained by Deborah A Smith (contributor 46582517) .
NOTE: I provided suggestions for an update.
One last tidbit, please see:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ezra_Carpenter_House
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to All!
And may your second day of Christmastide, aka Boxing Day, be memorable also!
John R. Carpenter
La Mesa, CA USA
Carpenter Cousins Project - Our main support page!
https://carpentercousins.com