The date of birth on his tombstone is incorrect. He was born in 1826. His second wife who bore him 10 children recorded his date of birth as such. All the records, census etc. that I have found give his birth date as 1826. Some family members & researchers claim his name was Thomas Nathaniel Carpenter but I have never found him listed on any record with a middle name. He was simply Thomas Carpenter.

Thomas was overseer for the Childress Plantation, a large farm at Fearns Quarter, near present site of Guntersville Dam. Thomas' daughter writes " Mr. Childress had been raised in town and did not know how to do anything, so her son Dr. Bill Fellell got my father to go there and take charge of the farm and negroes. He lived there 13 years, till the war when he came back to Cedar Ridge.

Thomas married 1st to Phoebe Tabor 9-24-1851. Phoebe was the daughter of John H. & Alice Tabor.
2 children:
1. Mary Elizabeth "Lizzy" Carpenter born 9-9-1852 married Thomas Lewis Baker 11-9-1866. Thomas was a Civil War Veteran.
2. Infant daughter died during childbirth, see below"

Phebe Tabor Carpenter
Larry to confirm the theory that Phebe died in child birth I did a little research. I have a xerox copy of the Tabor Family Bible that dates back to 1790. It is extremely hard to read. However with reading glasses and a magnifying glass I was able to make out an entry for Phebe that states; "Phebe Carpenter her daughter (no name) died April 4, 1858" - James Tabor -
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Thomas married 2nd to Hester Ann Chandler 4-27-1863. Hester born 5-16-1840 died 2-10-1910 was the daughter of William Robert Chandler and Eliza Moon. their children,

1. John W. born 7-29-1864 died 8-5-1864.
2. Eliza Marie born 10-4-1865 died at birth.
3. Laura Caroline b 12-10-1866 died 9-3-1957 married Newton C. Worley 10-8-1892.
4. Thomas Nathaniel born 5-9-1868 died 1936, married Nellie Lee Vann 9-27-1904.
5. Virginia Ann born 3-3-1870 married Richard Williams 1896.
6. DR JAMES ALLEN CARPENTER born 6-25-1872 died 1954 married 1st Maggie Ivey 2nd to Jimmie O. Butler 4-23-1901. They had a son Dr. James Lauler Carpenter of New Hope.
7. Alice born 4-30-1874 married David Jetton.
8. America Ella born 6-25-1877 died 2-5-1892.
9. Hester Lee born 1880 died 1970 married Robert Wiley Vann.
10. Magnolia B. born 2-20-1882 died 4-20-1883.
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Proof argument on name and birth year
Several years ago, someone inserted a middle name of "Nathaniel" for Thomas Carpenter, son of Willis Carpenter. It is my belief that this is a mistake. I have never been able to find his name listed with a middle name. There are no family documents that I have ever seen that give a middle name for him. Thomas and Hester Ann Chandler Carpenter's son, born in 1868, was named Thomas Nathaniel Carpenter. He was my grandfather. I believe that the name Nathaniel for their son came from the Moon family link. Hester Ann Chandler Carpenter, the wife of Thomas Carpenter, was the daughter of William Robert and Eliza Moon Chandler. The Moon family had many, many sons named Nathaniel or some nickname derivative such as Nate or Natty or Nathan. Never, never, never have I seen any document with my grandfather listed as Thomas Nathaniel Carpenter Jr. That has also begun appearing on trees. If someone has proof of the elder Thomas Carpenter having a middle name or my grandfather, Thomas Nathaniel Carpenter being Jr., I will change my opinion. Until proof, however, I contend that it is a mistake. The other item of contention is the birth year for Thomas Carpenter - 1820 or 1826? Hester Ann Chandler Carpenter, the wife who wrote the birthdate of Thomas Carpenter as February 15, 1826 in the family Bible, was his wife from 1863 until her death in 1910 - 46 years and 10 months. She gave birth to 10 of his children. Her Bible records are considered a primary source while the tombstone is considered a secondary source. Who knows when the tombstone was erected and who provided the information to the engraver? I believe that 1820 is a mistake because on no census at all was it ever reported that Thomas Carpenter was born as early as 1820. The censuses year ranges are from 1824-1833, but on the 1900 census, it's reported he was born in February, 1826. Hester Carpenter Vann, a daughter of Thomas and Hester Carpenter, personally told me in the 1960's that the birth year for her father was 1826. Elizabeth Carpenter, my aunt, who was the longtime historian for family and New Hope history, also had told me the birth year was 1826, but when I told her the tombstone read 1820, she felt that 1820 must be a mistake. For many years, I went with the tombstone listing until I got a copy of the Bible records. I will appreciate seeing proof positive for name and date discrepancies.
- Ginny Dunaway Young June 2, 2014 -