The Carpenters were a farm family from Chatham County, North Carolina. Six sons of Solomon Carpenter (b. ca. 1802) and his wife, Mary (b. ca. 1804), served in the Confederate Army. William Carpenter served in Co. G, 1st North Carolina Infantry. Robert Carpenter served in Co. E, 3rd North Carolina Infantry. Thomas, Elbert, Wyett, and James Carpenter served in Co. D, 61st North Carolina Infantry. James died of disease at Tarboro, North Carolina on November 21, 1862 and Wyett died five days later.