Benjamin Carpenter (May 17, 1725 – March 29, 1804) was a leader of colonial Vermont who served as an officer in the American Revolution and as lieutenant governor.

Biography

Benjamin Carpenter was born in Swansea, Massachusetts on May 17, 1725. He lived in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island prior to settling in Vermont in 1770.[1][2]

Carpenter became involved in the early politics of Vermont, including the ongoing dispute between New Hampshire and New York over which one should have the jurisdiction, including the ability to sell land grants to white settlers. Siding with those who had purchased land grants from New Hampshire and favored Vermont's independence, Carpenter was kidnapped by pro-New York forces in 1783. He was released on the condition that he petition the Vermont government for release of imprisoned members of the pro-New York group, something he never did.[3][4]

At the start of the Revolution Carpenter served as chairman of his county Committee of Safety, and was appointed a Lieutenant Colonel in the militia. In addition, he served as a member of Vermont's Council of Safety.[5]

In 1779 Carpenter was elected Lieutenant Governor, and he served until 1781. Carpenter served as a member of the Council of Censors in 1783.[6][7]

Benjamin Carpenter was a devout Baptist. In addition to serving as a deacon for more than 50 years, he also took to the pulpit on occasion to lead services and preach sermons.[8][9]

Carpenter died on Guilford, Vermont on March 29, 1804. He was buried in West Guilford's Carpenter Cemetery.[10][11][12][13]

Liberty Ship

A United States Liberty Ship called the SS Benjamin Carpenter was named for him. It was a standard 10,000 ton Liberty Ship with hull number 2786. It was laid down on 25 March 1944 and launched on 14 April 1944. The ship was scrapped in 1960.

References

  1. ^ Men of Vermont: An Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters and Sons of Vermont, compiled by Jacob G. Ullery, 1894, pages 63 to 63
  2. ^ The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, compiled by Rossiter Johnson and John Howard Brown, 1904, Carnegie -- Carpenter page
  3. ^ Old Vermont Houses, by Herbert Wheaton Congdon, 1968, page 11
  4. ^ Revolutionary Outlaws: Ethan Allen and the Struggle for Independence on the early American Frontier, by Michael A. Bellesiles, 1993, page 213
  5. ^ Benjamin Carpenter biography, American Monthly magazine, published by Daughters of the American Revolution, October 1901, pages 391 to 393
  6. ^ Lamb's Biographical Dictionary of the United States, edited by John Howard Brown, 1900, Volume 1, page 572
  7. ^ Appleton's Cyclopædia of American Biography, edited by James Grant Wilson and John Fiske, Volume 1, 1887, page 530
  8. ^ Frontier Feminist: Clarina Howard Nichols and the Politics of Motherhood, by Marilyn S. Blackwell and Kristen Tegtmeier Oertel, 2010, page 31
  9. ^ History of the Baptists in Vermont, by Henry Crocker, 1913, page 196
  10. ^ History of Vermont: Natural, Civil, and Statistical, by Zadock Thompson, 1842, page 83
  11. ^ Records of the Governor and Council of the State of Vermont, published by E. P. Walton, Montpelier, Volume 1, 1873, pages 117 to 118
  12. ^ Daughters of the American Revolution magazine, Volume 103, Issues 1-10, 1969, page 841
  13. ^ Inscriptions on the Grave Stones in the Grave Yards of Northampton and of the Other Town in the Valley of the Connecticut, by Thomas Bridgman, 1850, page 195

External links

Preceded byJoseph Marsh Lieutenant Governor of Vermont (Independent Republic) 1779–1781 Succeeded byElisha Payne
Lieutenant governors of Vermont
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