Biography of Benjamin Franklin Carpenter(1822-1879)-P12

Benjamin Franklin Carpenter(1822-1879)-P12

Birth: September 22nd, 1822 in Lincoln, ME

• Father: Joshua Carpenter(1790-1866)
• Mother: Susan Heald(1788-1861)

Married: Rebecca Smith Hammond(1822-1885) in Lincoln, ME on August 19th, 1843

Children:

• Juliette H. Carpenter(1844-1844)
• Frank H Washington Carpenter(1845-1936)-P6
• Kate Carpenter(1847-UNKN)
• Thomas Jefferson Carpenter(1849-1933)
• Randolph J. Carpenter(1851-1936)
• George Washington Carpenter(1853-1936)
• Margaret Anne Carpenter(1855-1939)
• William Newton Carpenter(1857-1938)
• Laura J. Carpenter(1860-1861)

Death: January 21st, 1879 in Hammond, ME

Benjamin Franklin Carpenter was born on September 22nd, 1822 to Joshua Carpenter and Susan Heald.  He was the seventh of nine children.  He married Rebecca Smith Hammond on August 19th, 1843 in Lincoln, ME.  Their first child, Juliette H. Carpenter, was born on March 25th, 1844 in Lincoln, ME and died there on July 2st, 1844.   Their second child, Frank H. Washington, was born on May 18th, 1845 followed by a daughter, Kate, in 1847.  Their son, Thomas Jefferson, was born on May 7th, 1849.  This was soon after the death of Benjamin Franklin's brother, named Thomas Jefferson, on September 13th, 1848.  It is likely that their son was named after Benjamin's brother.

According to the 1850 U.S. Census, Benjamin Franklin was 27 years old and working as a farmer.  The farm is worth $1,000.  He is living in Lincoln, ME with his parents, Joshua(62) and Susan(60), his wife Rebecca(27) and their children, Frank(50, Kate(3) and Thomas(1).  Another son, Randolph J., was born on May 14th, 1851.  George Washington was born on July 8th, 1853.  They had another daughter, Margaret Anne on April 4th, 1855.  I've not been able to find a location of her birth, but suspect it was still in Lincoln, ME.  The family started moving soon after that.  Their last son, William Newton, was born in Van Buren, ME on January 3rd, 1857.

Benjamin was the first man to clear land in Letter B (now Hammond). He bought two lots in 1858, built a house and moved there in 1860. The 1860 U.S. Census has the family living in Houlton, ME.  I suspect this is actually Letter B.  Benjamin is a farmer with Real Estate worth $750 and a Personal Estate worth $200.  He is living with his wife Rebecca(37) and children frank(15), Kate(13), (Thomas) Jefferson(11), Randolph(9), George(7), Margaret(5)-listed as Mary, and William(3)-listed as Willie.  Their last child, Laura J., was born on December 9th, 1860 and died on May 24th, 1861.

The family is still in Hammond in 1870 according to the 1870 U.S. Census.  Benjamin is 48 years old and listed as a citizen.  He has continued farming and his real estate is now worth $800 and personal estate is worth $400.  He is living with his wife, Rebecca(48), and children - Frank(25), Thomas J.(21), George W.(17), Margate A.(15) and William N. (13).  Kate has gotten married and moved out and Randolph is also gone.  

The 1850, 1860 and 1870 census also have a record of Benjamin's farming information thought the 1870 does not seem to have been completely filled out by the census taker.  The table below compares the different years.  The 1850 record is a completely different farm then th one listed in 1860 and 1870.

	1850 Agriculture	1860 Agriculture	1870 Agriculture
Location:	Lincoln, ME	Hammond, ME	Hamond, ME
Date:	July 29th, 1850	June 22, 1860	August 9th, 1870
Acres, Improved:	30	10	45
Acres, unimproved:	20	190	55(Woodland)
Cash Value of Farm:	$1,000	$1,500	$800
Value of Farm Implements and Machinery:	$100	$50	$100
Horses:	2	1	2
Milch Cows	1	1	2
Working Oxen:	2	0	0
Other Cattle:	0	1	2
Sheep:	4	0	0
Swine:	0	0	1
Value of Livestock:	$228	$100	$300
Indian Corn, Bushels:	40	0	0
Oats, Bushels:	50	0	150
Buckwheat, Bushels:	0	100	300
Wool, lbs:	40	0	Not Entered
Peas and Beans, Bushels:	4	0	Not Entered
Irish Potatos, Bushels:	25	300	Not Entered
Butter, lbs:	250	200	Not Entered
Hay, Tons:	8	15	Not Entered
Value of Home-made Manufactures:	$32	$0	Not Entered
Value of Animals Slaughtered:	$22	$50	Not Entered

Benjamin died on January 21st, 1879 at age 56.  He is buried in Section 3, Block 2, Grave 106 of Evergreen Cemetery in Houlton, ME.

Sources:

• 1850 United States Federal Census: Database online. Year: 1850; Census Place: Lincoln, Penobscot, Maine; Roll: M432_266; Page: 357A; Image: .
• 1860 United States Federal Census: Year: 1860; Census Place: Houlton, Aroostook, Maine; Roll: M653_434; Page: 239; Image: 239; Family History Library Film: 803434
• 1870 United States Federal Census: Database online. Year: 1870; Census Place: Township B, Aroostook, Maine; Roll: M593_; Page: ; Image: .
• History of Aroostook: Vol I Comprising Facts, Names and Dates relate to the early settlement of all the different Towns and Plantations of the County, by Hon. Edward Wiggins and George H. Collins,  1922, Pg. 278
• Maine, Birth Records, 1621-1922: Maine State Archives; Cultural Building, 84 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0084; Pre 1892 Delayed Returns; Roll Number: 17
• Maine, Death Records, 1617-1922: Maine State Archives; Cultural Building, 84 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0084; Pre 1892 Delayed Returns; Roll Number: 17
• Maine, Marriage Index, 1670-1921: Name Benjamin F Carpenter, Gender Male, Marriage Date 19 Aug 1843, Marriage Place Lincoln, Maine, USA, Spouse Rebecca S Hammond, Film Number 001002391
• Maine, Marriage Records, 1713-1937: Maine State Archives; Augusta, Maine, USA; Pre 1892 Delayed Returns; Roll #: 17
• Selected U.S. Federal Census Non-Population Schedules, 1850-1880: Census Year: 1850; Census Place: Lincoln, Penobscot, Maine; Archive Collection Number: 2-130; Roll: 2; Page: 723; Line: 32; Schedule Type: Agriculture
• Selected U.S. Federal Census Non-Population Schedules, 1850-1880: Census Year: 1860; Census Place: Houlton, Aroostook, Maine; Archive Collection Number: 4-134; Roll: 4; Page: 1; Line: 39; Schedule Type: Agriculture
• Selected U.S. Federal Census Non-Population Schedules, 1850-1880: Census Year: 1870; Census Place: Township B Range 2, Aroostook, Maine; Archive Collection Number: 8-141; Roll: 8; Page: 1; Line: 2; Schedule Type: Agriculture
• U.S., Civil War Draft Registrations Records, 1863-1865: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington, D.C.; Consolidated Lists of Civil War Draft Registration Records (Provost Marshal General's Bureau; Consolidated Enrollment Lists, 1863-1865); Record Group: 110, Records of the Provost Marshal
• Web: Maine, Find A Grave Index, 1700-2012: Name Benjamin Franklin Carpenter, Birth Date 18 22, Age at Death 57, Death Date 21 Jan 1879, Burial Place Houlton, Aroostook County, Maine, USA, URL: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/23367751/car