William Carpenter (Rhode Island colonist)

William Carpenter (c. 1610 – 7 September 1685) was a co-founder of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, born about 1610, probably in Amesbury, Wiltshire, England.

[4] He settled in Providence Plantation and was instrumental in its development as a Colony, holding many public offices.

Carpenter built a block house on his property soon after settling there for defense against Indian attacks, the first in the colony.

[9] During King Philip's War, the counsel of the most judicious inhabitants of the colony was sought by the General Assembly, and Carpenter was one of 16 individuals named in this request.

William Carpenter was one of four appointed by Boston authorities "to keepe the peace in [Pawtuxet]," 1642[–1658?].

Stonehenge near Amesbury in Wiltshire, England
Original 1600s town layout of Providence, RI with many of the street names on the East Side named after the original homestead strip owners. William Carpenter's lot is left of the letter "D" in Providence Neck.
Map of Rhode Island highlighting Providence County