Thomas Carpenter (1752-1847)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Carpenter, born November 2, 1752 at Salem, New Jersey
, died July 7, 1847 at Carpenter's Landing, New Jersey
, served as an Ensign
and Adjutant
in Colonel Samuel Dick
's Regiment, 1776-1778, and Paymaster
for the New Jersey Militia and Quartermaster
(or Commissary
) of the First Battalion of Salem troops, New Jersey Continental Line, 1778-1782, in the American Revolutionary War
.
Carpenter was a descendant of Samuel Carpenter
(1649-1714), Deputy Governor of colonial Pennsylvania. He was a member of the Society of Friends, or Quakers which influenced, and distinguishes, his non-combat service in the Revolutionary War. In 1771 he transferred his membership from the Salem, New Jersey
Friends Meeting House
to the Philadelphia Friends Meeting House
. He returned to New Jersey prior to April 13, 1774, the date on which he married in Salem to Mary Tonkin of Gloucester County, New Jersey
. After the Revolution, he moved to Carpenter's Landing, New Jersey
and engaged in the manufacture of glass
there and at Glassboro, New Jersey
in partnership with a nephew of his wife, Colonel
Thomas Heston; the partners were described as "two 'fighting Quakers' who had given gallant service for the American cause in the Revolution." On May 18, 1808 Carpenter's son Edward acquired his father's share of the original Glassboro glassworks and the firm of Heston & Carpenter became known as Edward Carpenter & Co., Olive Works. On August 14, 1800, Thomas Carpenter and Samuel Tonkin witnessed a land transaction between two residents of Gloucester County, New Jersey involving land located in Harrison County, Virginia
.
Salem, New Jersey
Salem is a city in Salem County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the city population was 5,146. It is the county seat of Salem County, the most rural county in the state of New Jersey. The name Salem is related to the Hebrew word shalom, meaning "peace".The town and...
, died July 7, 1847 at Carpenter's Landing, New Jersey
Carpenter's Landing, New Jersey
Carpenter's Landing in Gloucester County, New Jersey, is a 17th-century mercantile settlement located at the head of sloop navigation on Mantua Creek. In the 1860s, it was described as "a place of considerable trade in lumber, cordwood, etc., and contains one tavern, two stores, 30 dwellings and a...
, served as an Ensign
Ensign
An ensign is a national flag when used at sea, in vexillology, or a distinguishing token, emblem, or badge, such as a symbol of office in heraldry...
and Adjutant
Adjutant
Adjutant is a military rank or appointment. In some armies, including most English-speaking ones, it is an officer who assists a more senior officer, while in other armies, especially Francophone ones, it is an NCO , normally corresponding roughly to a Staff Sergeant or Warrant Officer.An Adjutant...
in Colonel Samuel Dick
Samuel Dick
Samuel Dick was an American physician who was a delegate for New Jersey to the Confederation Congress in 1784 and 1785....
's Regiment, 1776-1778, and Paymaster
Paymaster
A paymaster often is, but is not required to be, a lawyer . When dealing with commission payments on contracts dealing with large amounts of money , most banks in the United States are very wary of handling such large amounts of money...
for the New Jersey Militia and Quartermaster
Quartermaster
Quartermaster refers to two different military occupations depending on if the assigned unit is land based or naval.In land armies, especially US units, it is a term referring to either an individual soldier or a unit who specializes in distributing supplies and provisions to troops. The senior...
(or Commissary
Commissary
A commissary is someone delegated by a superior to execute a duty or an office; in a formal, legal context, one who has received power from a legitimate superior authority to pass judgment in a certain cause or to take information concerning it.-Word history:...
) of the First Battalion of Salem troops, New Jersey Continental Line, 1778-1782, in the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
.
Carpenter was a descendant of Samuel Carpenter
Samuel Carpenter
Samuel Carpenter was a Deputy Governor of colonial Pennsylvania. He signed the historic document "The Declaration of Fealty, Christian Belief and Test" dated 10 September 1695; the original is in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania...
(1649-1714), Deputy Governor of colonial Pennsylvania. He was a member of the Society of Friends, or Quakers which influenced, and distinguishes, his non-combat service in the Revolutionary War. In 1771 he transferred his membership from the Salem, New Jersey
Salem, New Jersey
Salem is a city in Salem County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the city population was 5,146. It is the county seat of Salem County, the most rural county in the state of New Jersey. The name Salem is related to the Hebrew word shalom, meaning "peace".The town and...
Friends Meeting House
Friends meeting house
A Friends meeting house is a meeting house of the Religious Society of Friends , where meeting for worship may be held.-History:Quakers do not believe that meeting for worship should take place in any special place. They believe that "where two or three meet together in my name, I am there among...
to the Philadelphia Friends Meeting House
Friends meeting house
A Friends meeting house is a meeting house of the Religious Society of Friends , where meeting for worship may be held.-History:Quakers do not believe that meeting for worship should take place in any special place. They believe that "where two or three meet together in my name, I am there among...
. He returned to New Jersey prior to April 13, 1774, the date on which he married in Salem to Mary Tonkin of Gloucester County, New Jersey
Gloucester County, New Jersey
Gloucester County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 288,288. Its county seat is Woodbury....
. After the Revolution, he moved to Carpenter's Landing, New Jersey
Carpenter's Landing, New Jersey
Carpenter's Landing in Gloucester County, New Jersey, is a 17th-century mercantile settlement located at the head of sloop navigation on Mantua Creek. In the 1860s, it was described as "a place of considerable trade in lumber, cordwood, etc., and contains one tavern, two stores, 30 dwellings and a...
and engaged in the manufacture of glass
Glass production
Glass production involves two main methods - the float glass process, which produces sheet glass, and glassblowing which produces bottles and other containers.-Glass container factories:...
there and at Glassboro, New Jersey
Glassboro, New Jersey
Glassboro is a borough in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 19,068....
in partnership with a nephew of his wife, Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Thomas Heston; the partners were described as "two 'fighting Quakers' who had given gallant service for the American cause in the Revolution." On May 18, 1808 Carpenter's son Edward acquired his father's share of the original Glassboro glassworks and the firm of Heston & Carpenter became known as Edward Carpenter & Co., Olive Works. On August 14, 1800, Thomas Carpenter and Samuel Tonkin witnessed a land transaction between two residents of Gloucester County, New Jersey involving land located in Harrison County, Virginia
Harrison County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 68,652 people, 27,867 households, and 19,088 families residing in the county. The population density was 165 people per square mile . There were 31,112 housing units at an average density of 75 per square mile...
.