Alexander Carpenter (1560-1620) was a well-to-do landowner of Wrington, near Bath, in Somerset, England when he became a member of a group of separatists who wished to separate from the Anglican Church and worship according to the dictates of their consciences. With other English refugees the Carpenters fled in 1608 and settled in the area of Leyden, Holland near Saint Peter's Church.
Alexander Carpenter was the father of at least five daughters, four of whom came to Plymouth Colony early in its history.
1. Juliana Carpenter was baptized in 1584 in Wrington and about 2 August 1612 married in Leyden George Morton, a prosperous merchant from Harworth, Nottinghamshire. The Morton Family went to New England in 1623.
2. Agnes Carpenter married 24 April 1613 in Leyden, Samuel Fuller, as his second wife. He had previously been married to Alice Glascock. Dr. Fuller was then a silk weaver in Leyden and a leader of the separatist group known as the Ancient Brethren. Agnes died withing four years of her marriage and was buried in Saint Peter's Church of Leyden. Samuel Fuller's third marriage, to Bridget Lee, is recorded in Amsterdam, Holland in 1617. When the Mayflower sailed in 1620 Dr. Fuller was its chief physician and surgeon.
3. Alice Carpenter, born in 1590, was courted by many suitors, among them young William Bradford. This marriage was opposed by her parents, who favored Edward Southworth, one of the seven sons of Sir Thomas Southworth. Obeying their wishes, Alice married Edward Southworth 28 May 1613. Following the birth of two sons, Edward died in London, and in 1623 Alice accompanied her brother-in-law and sister to new England aboard the ship Ann. A month later she married Governor Bradford, whose young wife Dorothy May Bradford had died in a drowning accident upon the Mayflower's arrival at Plymouth. As first lady she was loved and regarded highly for her strength of character and her willingness to help those in need. She had a good education for her times, and brought considerable property with her from England. She provided guidance to the youth of the colony and promoted an interest in the literature. She lectured on current topics with grace and charm. The Bradfords enjoyed a happy marriage lasting 34 years. The Governor died in March 1670, age 68 and Alice in March 1670 age 80. She had two sons from her first marriage Thomas and Constant Southworth, and three children William, Mercy and Joseph were born of her marriage to William Bradford. A descendant of Alice and her first husband Edward Southworth was President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
4. Priscilla Carpenter, born about 1592, married William Wright who went to New England on the Fortune in 1621. Stratton, in "Plymouth Colony" believes that Priscilla did not come before 1627. William Wright died in 1633 and Priscilla married John Cooper of Scituate November 1634.
5. Mary Carpenter, born about 1597, remained to care for her aging parents and after their deaths in England she followed her sisters to America to make her home with Governor and Mrs. Bradford. She was a passenger on the ship Struggling Saints in 1647. She died 20 March 1687 in her 90th year and Plymouth records refer to her as "A Goldie old maid, never married." A letter written to her in 1644 from William Bradford expresses his sense of family obligation: " Loving Sister; we understand by your letter that God hath taken to himself our aged Mother out of the troubles of this tumultuous world, and that you are in a solitary condition as easily apprehend. We thought good therefor, to writ these few lines unto you that if you thinke good to come over to us you shall be welcome; and we shall be as helpful unto you as we may, though we are grown old and the country here more unsettled than ever, by reason of the great changes that have been in these late times, and what will further be the Lord only knows; which makes many thinke of removing their habitation, and sundries of our ministers (Hearing of the peace and liberty now in England) begin to leave us, and it is feared many more will follow. We do not writ these things to discourage you, for we shall be glad to see you if God so dispose; but if you find not all things here according to your expectations when God shall bring you thither, that you may not thinke we dealt not plainly with you.
"This bearer is to come as near to you as Dorchester, and hath promised to see this letter safely conveyed to you, and if you can writ or send to him he will give you best directions and furtherance as he can about your coming over. His occasion will be most at London; he dwells here with us and is to return next year. He is a brother to Mr. Winslow. But we consider your best and easiest way will be be to come to Bristol if there be any passage; and if you cannot pay for your passage, agree with the master and I will Pay it here. We have sent letters formerly which we perceive have miscarried; but I hope this will come safe to your hands. The rest of your friends are all in health, blessed be God. We hope you will have such an opportunity that your passage will be comfortable, thus desiring the Lord to keep you and bring you in safety. With our love remembered unto you we take leave and rest.
Your Loving brother and sister, Plymouth Aug. 19, 1644 William Bradford"