Bruce wrote: << In the new Wiltshire Wills site there is a 1628 will for a Thomas Wiseman of Shalbourne with William Carpenter's name at the top. This is a significant find, . . . >> William Carpenter is named near the top of the estate inventory of Thomas "Wysman" as one of three men who took the inventory (_http://history.wiltshire.gov.uk/wills/P5-1628_104_A1{TCL}.jpg_ (http://history.wiltshire.gov.uk/wills/P5-1628_104_A1{TCL}.jpg) ). Near the end of the latter man's will, Mr. Rowland Hill and William "Capender" are named as overseers, to assist Wiseman's widow/executrix (_http://history.wiltshire.gov.uk/wills/P5-1628_104_B1{TCL}.jpg_ (http://history.wiltshire.gov.uk/wills/P5-1628_104_B1{TCL}.jpg) ). A few years ago, Bruce brought to our attention a 1628 glebe terrier (a record of lands owned by the Shalbourne vicarage) signed by William Carpenter (his mark), church warden. That it is also signed by Rowland Hill, vicar, makes it almost certain that the two aforementioned overseers are identical with the signatories of the glebe terrier. In light of what we learned about William1 Carpenter from the glebe terrier--not only that he was present in Shalbourne parish by 1628 (also indicated by the Wysman probate records) but also that he was a church officer and illiterate--I'd give the glebe terrier more significance. More significant still, however, is a document at which Bruce hints in his "Rehoboth Carpenter Family" Wikipedia posting (which should otherwise be read with great caution): A Westcourt Manor tenant list indicates that William Carpenter and his namesake son (respectively aged 40 and 16 in 1621) were present at Newtown, in the Wiltshire part of Shalbourne parish, by 1608 and had terminated their tenancy by September 1637 (Survey of Shalbourne Westcourt [c1610-1639], Savernake Estate Collection, MS 9/24/460:7, Wiltshire and Swindon Record Office). The younger William's reported age in 1621 is consistent with his age, 33, as recorded on the _Bevis_ passenger list in 1638; both produce an approximate birth year of 1605 (despite occasional claims to the contrary, his precise birth and baptismal dates are unknown). The older man's reported age in 1621, however, produces an approximate birth year of 1681, which is five years later than that calculated from his age, 62, as recorded on the _Bevis_ passenger list. Since his age in 1638 was probably self-reported, it's probably more accurate than that stated in the tenant list. According to an archivist at the Wiltshire and Swindon Record Office, it's typical for tenants' ages to be off by three or four years. Gene Z. ************************************** Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour