Kf\. XATHAMKI. CLAPP,
.Vi iiixti'r ,,t Xe,,,/,ort, 11. I N595 1:45
THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
RECORD
CLAPP FAMILY IN AMERICA,
CONTAINING
<S>ketd)E0 of tfje rigtnal &ix lEmt'grants,
AND A GENEALOGY OF
THEIR DESCENDANTS BEARING THE NAME.
WITH A SUPPLEMENT,
PROCEEDINGS AT TWO FAMILY MEETINGS.
EBENEZER CLAPP, COMPILER.
"I
BOSTON :
DAVID CLAPP & SON, PUBLISHERS
564 WASHINGTON STREET.
1876.
Committee of Habitation.
OTIS CLAPP, DAVID CLAPP,
WILLIAM BLAKE TRASK.
71
6OS346
io .ST. -r
CONTENTS.
COMPILER'S PREFACE pag y'
PREFATORY REMARKS BY COMMITTEE OF PUBLICATION ix
INTRODUCTION TO THE MEMORIAL ' x j'
ROGER AND HIS DESCENDANTS
EDWARD AND HIS DESCENDANTS ....'. 91
THOMAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS . . . 105
NICHOLAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS . . . 195
GEORGE GILSON AND HIS DESCENDANTS . . .".*.' 283
ISOLATED FAMILIES ' 315
SUPPLEMENT. In the line of ROGER
" " " " EDWARD 348
" u THOMAS ...... 350
" " " " NICHOLAS 360
" " " " GEORGE GILSON .... 366
Miscellaneous .376
ADDENDA ' 395
INDEX I. II. III. IV 399-436
PORTRAITS AND OTHER ILLUSTRATIONS.
(Thirty-three wood-cut fac-similes of Autographs in the volume.)
NATHANIEL CLAPP (No. 14 Nicholas) . Opp. Title Page.
Minister at Newport, R. I., from 1695 to 1745.
OTIS CLAPP (No. 809 Roger) 83
Bookseller and Publisher in Boston ; Assessor of Internal Revenue, 1862 to 18J5.
THEODORE CLAPP (No. 867 Roger) .... 86
Minister at New Orleans, La., from 1822 to 1857.
WILLIAM CLAPP (No. 85 Edward) 104
Merchant in Boston, from 1842.
MONUMENT TO PRES. THOMAS CLAPP (No. 77 Thomas) 134
In the Neto Burying-ground, New Haven, Conn.
CHARLES CLAPP (No. 395 Thomas) .... 144
Merchant in Bath, Me. in 1876, Treasurer Bath Gas Light Co.
ASA CLAPP (No. 212 Thomas) 158
Merchant in Portland, Me., from 1796 to 1848.
MANSION-HOUSE IN SCITUATE, MASS. 177
Built by Judge Thomas Clapp in 1740.
WILLIAM M. CLAPP (No. 851 Thomas) ... 185
Judge \9th District, Albion, Indiana.
ALMON M. CLAPP (No. 862 Thomas) .... 188
Congressional Printer, Washington, D. C.
DAVID CLAPP (No. 205 Nicholas) .... 249
Printer and Publisher in Boston, from 1834.
HOMESTEAD IN DORCHESTER, MASS 256
Site of house first built by Capt. Roger Clapp.
EBENEZER CLAPP (No. 189 Nicholas) . . 267
Compiler of the " Memorial," Dorchester.
ENOCH CLAPP (No. 221 Nicholas) 270
Merchant in Baltimore and Philadelphia from 1812.
MANSION-HOUSE IN WARWICK, R. I. 291
Residence of Silas Clapp and his Descendants.
LEVERETT A. CLAPP (No. 282 ii. Roger) . . . 335
Commissioner State Lands Office, Lansing, Mich.
FAC-SIMILE OF ANCIENT AND OBSCURE WRITING . 361
By Sarah Clapp, Dorchester, about 1685.
CLAPP.
VAIRE,* GULES AND ARGENT.
A QUARTER AZURE, CHARGED WITH THE SUN, OR.
CREST, A PIKE NAIANT PROPER.
OF the coats-of-arms in possession of different branches of the family, the
publishers present the above as a genuine Clapp arras, but without laying
claim to it as belonging specially, if at all, to the American branch of the
family. It was undoubtedly the arms of some family of the name in Eng-
land, though in what line of descent has not been ascertained. The legend
attached to it, however, at the social meeting at Nantasket was introduced
as the motto of the family, and no objection can be made to such a use of it.
* A field vair is composed of pieces of fur, or convent! on :illy of silver and blue cut to re-
semble the flower of the campanula, and opposed to each other in rows. When the pieces
are of different colors, as above, they are specified and described as vaire of those colors.
When the pieces, shield-shaped as above shown, of the same color, are arranged base
against base, the field is described as counter-vair, or counter-vaire.
COMPILER'S PREFACE.
A LARGE portion of the descendants of the early settlers of New
England are curious to know the names and history of their ances-
tors. This curiosity is laudable, and the gratification usually gives
genuine satisfaction. The compiler of this work began, about the
year 1840, to gather what information he could in relation to his
own family in order to leave it in manuscript to his children. His
interest in it increased until nothing else would satisfy him but to
collect whatever might be obtained concerning all bearing the name.
For this purpose, old documents were obtained ; State, County,
Town, Church and private records searched, garrets ransacked,
public and private citizens interviewed, letters sent to different parts
of this country and to England, and journeys taken. The result is
embodied in the work now issued.
No doubt some will think the accounts are quite incomplete, and
faultfinders (who may be found in every family) will point out
omissions and errors. In many cases it has been exceedingly diffi-
cult to ascertain facts in relation to individuals, and the cause has
often been that those applied to were uninformed or indifferent in
regard to the matter. This, however, has not been the general
experience of the compiler ; for, as he looks over the great array of
names in the book, he is satisfied they could not have been obtained
without much assistance furnished by others. The records of most
persons mentioned are necessarily very brief; others are more
A
v j PREFACE.
extended; in some instances the biographical sketches prepared
were of such a length that an abridgement was necessary. Those
born in the vicinity of the places where our progenitors first settled,
and where the committee on publication and compiler now live,
have, in most instances, the larger record, because better known.
Undoubtedly there are many whose history is recorded in one line
in the book, who are as much deserving an extended sketch as any
who have received it ; but to us their merits were not made known.
" He lived, he died, behold the sum,
The abstract of the historian's page."
But little was intended to be recorded of the present generation.
It has been found difficult, however, to exclude sketches of such
known to be authentic, and relating in some instances to those as
deserving of mention as any of their ancestors.
Many have been the hindrances and large the expense in the
publication of the work ; but the downright pleasure and satisfaction
which have been experienced in the acquaintances and friendships
contracted in its progress cannot be forgotten nor underrated.
In the completion and issuing of the volume, the Committee of
Publication, viz., Otis Clapp, David Clapp and William B. Trask,
have rendered important services : the first in arousing the interest
and securing the aid of the indifferent and procrastinating ; the second
in transcribing and arranging the matter in hand and completing the
records where necessary ; the third in the exercise of his accurate
and extensive knowledge of historical and genealogical matter, and
who, as well as the compiler of the work, is descended, on the
maternal side, from both Capt. Roger and Edward Clapp.
It is also proper to mention the fact that the family are under
obligation to David Clapp and John Cotton Clapp, the publishers,
for undertaking the pecuniary risk of issuing the work. Many
delays and expenses are connected with a work of this kind, and the
sales are always small outside of the household. It is hoped,
therefore, that the members of the different branches of the family
PREFACE. VJi
will not be backward in the purchase of copies. The edition
printed is of course small, and early calls for the work may be
advantageous to the purchasers, and will certainly be so to the
publishers. Many thanks are due to David C. Clapp, son of
David Clapp, who has had much of the oversight of the printing of
this Memorial, and has rendered important assistance in completing
the unfinished records.
The Clapps were among the early band of Puritans that settled in
New England, and who helped to establish a government, the
effects of which will be felt throughout all time. Under its fostering
care and protection, unlike the creation of new kingdoms or states in
the old world, states are settled and organized among us after a
fashion of our own ; the coming in of a new commonwealth is
regarded with as little note as the advent of an additional youngster
in a growing family. The "far West," where many of our name
reside, and which for years have been shifting and changing, is fixed
at last ; it lies along the shores of the Pacific. A few years ago,
the Alleghany Mountains were its borders ; then, the Mississippi
became its western boundary ; it travelled up the Missouri with
such rapidity, that the points exhibiting its progress seemed
like the spots that mark the nightly encampment of an army
on its march. Compare this with the experience of Capt.
Roger Clapp, the first pioneer of our name, and those who
came with him. They had come in that "great ship" the
Mary and John, which, as another says of it, was "rocked by
mighty billows, fanned by stormy gales, but overwatched by more
than maternal guardianship, until it laid its precious charge within
the rude lap of these western shores." He first met to join in public
worship with his one hundred and forty fellow voyagers in Dorches-
ter, near the ocean, in June, 1630; "the sun in its golden light
sifting down through the young summer's swaying foliage upon their
reverently bared and bending heads," with no white person between
them and the Pacific Ocean.
viii PREFACE.
May we follow the precious examples of such an ancestry as far
as they lived the true life, and not forsake their wise counsels nor
disgrace their memories. They helped to found a government in
true wisdom ; may wisdom be its eternal heritage.
EBENEZEE CLAPP,
Born in Dorchester, Mass.,
April 24, 1809.
EXPLANATOEY KEMAEKS,
BY THE COMMITTEE OF PUBLICATION.
THE work upon which the well-known historian of the Clapp Family has
for so many years been engaged, after being transcribed from his original
manuscripts, rearranged, and completed as far as it is possible to complete a
work of this kind, is now published. The slow progress in printing the book,
regretted alike by the publishers and the subscribers, was caused by the
continual reception of genealogical records from distant parts and from per-
sons whose interest in the matter was not awakened until the printing was
begun, together with the efforts to bring some of the incomplete records
down to the present day. The errors and imperfections in the records of each
genealogical line, discovered while the work was passing through the press,
and also important information received out of time, rendered necessary the
insertion of a Supplement, in which also the Committee have ventured to
introduce various documents and miscellaneous papers, mostly historical, and
more or less connected with some individual previously named. At the last
moment likewise it was deemed expedient to include the latest received mat-
ter under the head of " Addenda." The family history is thus unavoidably
rendered somewhat disconnected, but this is remedied in some degree by the
consecutive numbering, and by the Index. The foot-notes occasionally given
have been carefully prepared, having explanatory or suggestive reference to
some person, place or event mentioned in the text.
With regard to the matter of arranging the order and descent of genera-
tions and families, so variously carried out in genealogical works, the plan
adopted by the publishers comprises a full list of the children of each head
of a family directly under his name. Where the information concerning
these children is small and their posterity not numerous, the whole record
is given at once ; when otherwise, the name is designated by this mark -f- and
carried forward, and on a future page it makes the starting-point of a new
family head. The different families as thus recorded are each comprised
between a number in large figures situated in the middle of the line, thus,
53 and the next similar number. For instance: -f-2. SAMUEL," on
page 8, is taken up again under 2 on page 9, and the record of hie
family line finished there, except that of his son -fl9. SAMUEL," who in
his turn is taken up under 19 on p. 16, and so on. The Italic names
enclosed in parentheses at the beginning of each new family record, after the
name of the head of such family, carry the line back to the original auceetor,
X PREFACE.
in the genealogical order as designated by the superior figures 4 , 8 , 2 , \ and
the succeeding generations are designated by the same kind of figures in an
increasing order down to the last. These small figures at the right of family
names should be carefully noted in tracing out each record. Further details
in regard to this arrangement will be evident to the reader, on perusal, with-
out more particular explanation here.
The plan originally embraced by the compiler, in tracing genealogical de-
scents, was to confine them to the male members of each family. This plan
has been continued as a general rule. In a lew instances, however, more
particularly in the case of families where the daughters have married hus-
bands already more or less intimately connected with the Clapps, the children
of such, when their names were furnished, have been inserted.
The Portraits which have been prepared for the volume are not so numer-
ous as could have been wished, although they well represent the different
family branches. That of Rev. Nathaniel makes a fitting frontispiece. The
imperfect condition, however, of the oil painting, from which it is heliotyped,
has prevented the furnishing of a beautiful picture. The few illustrations of
ancient homesteads which are given represent houses rich in historical and
domestic associations, and we regret their number is necessarily so small.
A goodly number of fac-similes of ancient autographs has been obtained by
the publishers, and all must acknowledge that they add much to the interest
of the work.
The accounts of the two great Family Gatherings, in 1870 and 1873, are
appended, the first from the stereotype plates of the pamphlet printed at the '
time ; the second gathered mostly from the carefully prepared newspaper
reports of the proceedings. They are inserted at the end of the book, entirely
separate from the Memorial proper, and the Index prepared for them must be
carefully distinguished from that of the book itself.
It will be observed that the orthography of the family name adopted in
this work is that in general use at the present time. This has been deviated
from in the case of documents, in copying which, literal conformity has in all
respects been carried out. The slight attention given to literary accomplish-
ments in ancient times, even among the most intelligent, resulted in great
variableness in the spelling of family names, and ours has at various times
and by different individuals been spelt: Clap, Clapa, Clapp, Clappa, Clappe,
&c. The initial letter K, instead of C, has also been used, and perhaps was
more general in ancient times than now; a few prominent families of the
name still use that letter.
INTRODUCTION
TO THE MEMORIAL.
" CLAPPA, an obsolete Saxon name Clapp, Clapps, Clapson.
Clapham is the ham or house of Clappa, a Saxon who held the manor
in the time of Edward the Confessor."
EARLY FAMILY HISTORY.
WHAT is KNOWN OF THE CLAPP FAMILY IN ENGLAND.
So little success has attended the efforts which have been made to
trace the genealogical order of the family on the other side of the
water, that the sphere of this book is necessarily confined to the
western continent and to the period since the beginning of the first
systematic settlement of New England by the puritans. Whatever
result might accompany our endeavors to penetrate beyond that period
is perhaps of small consequence to us, whose confidence and affections
are planted chiefly on those of our progenitors who in this land of their
adoption have given us the example of their faith, courage and virtue.
A few general facts are sufficient to show that the family has lived in
England from a remote period ; these are summed up in Burke 's
Heraldic Register, sufficiently clear to answer every purpose of this
portion of the record.
" Clapp (Salcombe, Co. Devon) the family of Clapp, originally
Clapa* claims Danish extraction, and was long settled in Devonshire,
in which county it possessed the estate of Salcombe, which eventually
devolved on Sarah, daughter of Dr. Kessel, of Ottery, St. Mary, and
wife of George Cornish, Esq., her mother having been the only
daughter and heiress of John Clapp, Esq., of Salcombe. That gen-
tleman's younger brother, Robert Clapp, m. Mary, dau. of George
Hunt, Esq., of Parke, Co. Devon (who through his mother was de-
scended from the very ancient family of Wyk, or Weeks, of North
Tawton), and is now represented by his granddaughter, Frances Mary
Clapp, of Taunton, only child and heiress of the late Rev. Francis
Hunt Clapp.
"Quarterly, first and fourth, ermines, three battle axes; second,
sable, a griffin passant, argent ; third, sable, an eagle with two heads,
displayed within a border engrailed, argent."
* Osgod Clapa was a Danish Noble at the Court of King Canute, who was king of
England from 1017 to 103G. From him it is supposed that Clapham, co. burrey, wne
baa a country-house, derived its name.
B
Xiv INTRODUCTION.
THE EMIGRATION OF THE CLAPPS TO AMERICA.
As far as is known, all of the name who emigrated to this country
came over in the seventeenth century, and we have an authentic
account of six who did so come. Of these, five were among the first
settlers of New England, landing at Dorchester from 1630 to '40. The
sixth landed at a later date on the southern coast. There is, however,
a tradition among persons bearing the name and now living in various
parts of the south and south-west, that their ancestor came from Hesse-
Cassel in Germany, and settled in Philadelphia ; but it seems most
probable that all these are descendants of the sixth above mentioned,
the only one of the name who is known to have settled outside of
New England. There are also many bearing the name now living in
different parts of Canada, who have a tradition that their emigrant
ancestry consisted of three brothers who came from Wales during the
earlier settlement of New England ; but, perhaps, could their genealo-
gy be traced back, it would attach finally to one of the six emigrants
above mentioned. There is no doubt that all were of the same stock
in England, but it cannot now be explained just how the first five are
connected with the sixth. Of the parentage of those who settled in
Dorchester, all that is known is centred in two individuals, the imme-
diate progenitors, viz. : Richard Clapp, of Dorchester, England, and
his brother, name unknown, who lived in Salcombe, a small town
situated near the western coast of England, twelve miles from Exeter,
and having, in 1831, a population of only 448. Many of the children
of Richard Clapp and his brother left their native country with those
earnestly religious men who felt themselves oppressed and hindered
in growth by the Established Church, and desired an unoccupied field
and a virgin soil where their principles might expand without danger
of corruption from impure surroundings. As they were all in com-
fortable circumstances in England, there could have been no induce-
ment but one of principle to tempt them to choose a wilderness for
their future homes.
RECORD OF THE EMIGRANT FAMILIES.
Of Richard Clapp and his brother, the parents of the five emigrants
of that name who landed in New England, nothing definite is known
beyond the facts of their place of residence and station in life. The
progeny of each is now given, as far as can be done, those names
prefixed by the cross -f- being carried over for extended genealogical
record in the main body of this Memorial.
Children of (brother of Richard) CLAPP, of Salcombe, Eng. :
-f-l. EDWARD,' b. in England ; emigrated to New England in 161.1.
m. first, Prudence Clapp, dau. of his uncle Richard Clapp,'
INTRODUCTION. xv
of Dorchester, Eng. ; m. second, Susannah Cockerell. He
died in Dorchester, N. E., in 1664.
H, A Sox, 1 name and history unknown. Children [probably] :
(1) Barbara?\). in England; emigrated to New England, per-
haps with her uncle Edward in 1633 i joined the church
in Dorchester in 1636, or between that year and 1639;
m. first, April 20, 1639, Joseph Weld, of Roxbury. He
. d. in 1646, and she m. second, Anthony Stoddard, of
Boston, by whom she had two children. She d. about
1654.
(2) Redigon? b. in England ; emigrated to N. England, per-
haps with her uncle and sister in 1633 ; m. October 20,
l6 37' J onn Capen,* his first wife, and had two children.
She d. Dec. 10, 1645.
[John Capen calls Barbara, "sister Weld," and John
Clapp, son of Richard, calls John Capen " cousin."]
Hi. SARAH,' b. in England ; emigrated to N. England, perhaps with
her brother Edward ; m. her cousin, Nicholas Clapp, son of
Richard ; d. in Dorchester, N. E., about 1650.
JF. A SON,' name and history unknown. Perhaps he was the
father of Sara Clapp, who m. Oct. 16, 1676, Thomas Swift,
son of Thomas Swift, the quarter-master.
V, JOHN,' b. in England, where he lived and died. Nothing is
known of his history, but it is certain that he had a son :
(i) John? m Pitts, dau. of the widow Pitts, of Lime
Regis, and he lived in Colyton, co. Devon, England,
where he was a mercer. In the will of Roger Conant (a
man famous among the early settlers of New England),
of Beverly, dated " I mo. i. 1677," occurs the following
sentence : " Also sixtie acres of land out of my farm
granted me by the Generall Court neere the new town
of Dunstable, I give and bequeath into the hands of
Capt. Roger Clap, of the castle neere Dorchester, for
the vse of a daughter of one Mrs. Pits deceased, whose
* John Capen was son of Barnard Capen. Barnard was born in England in 1552, and came
to Dorchester probably in 1635, being at that time 73 years old and one of the oldest of the
original emigrants to New England. He died Nov. 8, 1638, aged 76, and was buried in the
south-west part of the Dorchester burying-ground, and the stone which marked the spot
contains the most ancient inscription of any in that ground, and must be one of the oldest
in New England. It was long lost sight of and was supposed to be wholly lost, another
having been put in the place of the original one. That stone has however recently come
to light, having been accidentally discovered by Mr. George Fowler, in charge of the ceme-
tery, a few inches under the surface, 78 feet fn a south-easterly, direction from where it
originally stood, and by a singular coincidence directly in front of the monument of
Deacon Nicholas Clapp (see page 196), a contemporary and personal friend ; it has since
been deposited with the Dorchester Antiquarian Society. John Capen was born in England
in 1612, and probably came over in 1633, having been made freeman in 1634. He was a
Captain of Militia, and chosen a Deacon of the church in 1656. He was Representative to
the General Court six years, and died April 4, 1692. John Capen married, for a second
wife, in 1647, Mary, daughter of Elder Samuel Bass, of Braintree, nnd had Barnard Capen,
Jr., born March 24, 160, who was the father of Sarah Capen, wife of Deacon Jonathan
Clnpp (No 16 of NICHOLAS), and of Barnard Capen, who married Sarah Clapp (No. 36 of
ROGER) Capt. John Capen's second son Samuel m. in 1673, Susannah Payson, and their
tenth child Jonathan m Feb. 22, 1722, Jane Houghton, of Milton; their second son was
Jonathan, Jr., who lived in Stoughton, and m. Nov. 20, 1746, Jertisha Talbot (see foot-note
p. 217 of the Mcmoriiil), and their youngest daughter Azubah m. David Clapp (No. 76 of
NICHOLAS). The landed estate of Jonathan, Jr., in Stoughton, was very extensive, and
much of it is yet in the hands of descendants.'
INTRODUCTION.
daughter now liveth in Culliton, a town in Devon in Old
England, and is in lue for certain goods sold for the
said Mrs. Pits in London, and was there to be paid many
yeares since, but it is alleged was never paid." Also it
appears by the Massachusetts Archives (Estates, vol.
xvi. p. 186), that John Clapp did, on the 9th of June,
1680, give a power of attorney to his uncle, Capt. Roger
Clapp, of Castle Island near Boston in New England, to
recover said land of Exercise Conant, son of Roger
Conant. Possession was given Oct. 21, 1680, and said
Conant was discharged by said Clapp the next day. The
following is the document named, with autograph of
John Clapp attached :
"Know all men by these p e sents that I John Clapp of
Colyton, in y e County of Devon, mercer, haue named and
Constituted, '& by these p e sents do name Constitute ordaine &
make my hon"* 1 uncle m r Roger Clapp Capt of Castle Iseland in
new england my true & Law full Attorney: for me & in my
name, to demand sue & Recover of m r Exercise Conant of
Beverly in new england all that sixty acres of Land Laying
nere y e new town of Dunstable, which his father by will did
giue & bequeath for y e use of my wife in lieu of a debt oweing
her mother y e widow Pitts of Lyme Eegis deceased. Giueing
& hereby granting unto my s d attorney my full power &
authority to use & execute all such Acts things and devises
in y e law as shal be necessary for Recovery of y e s d Lands &
Acquittances & other discharges to make and giue: And gene-
rally to do & execute in y e premises as fully as I myselfe
might or could do being personally p e sent. Ratifying Con-
firming & allowing all & what soeuer my s d attorney shall
Lawfully do or cause to be done therein by these presents; In
witness whereof I hereunto set my hand "and eeale this ninth
day of June in y e two and thirtieth yeare of y e Reign of
Charles y e second, King of England, &c. &c. in y e yeare of
our Lord 1680.
Signed sealed & did
in y e p e sence of us
Pet r Ticken
Elizabeth Wilkins
-|-Yii ROGER,' b. in Salcombe Regis, England, April 6, 1609. All
that is known of him, before his coming to New England, is
that he was early impressed with that deep religious senti-
ment which formed the base of the puritan character ; also a
short time before 1630 he obtained leave of his father to live
in the city of Exon, Eng., where he could be under the min-
istry of the Rev. John Warham, to whom he was much
attached, and with whom he afterwards, with his father's
permission, came in company to New England. He emi-
grated to Dorchester, N. E., in 1630; m. Joanna Ford, and
died in Dorchester in 1690.
Vli, JANE,' b. in England ; emigrated to New England, probably
with one of her brothers ; m. first, George Weeks, and had
three sons. He d. Oct. 27, 1659, and she m. second, Jonas
INTRODUCTION. XV'ii
Humphrey,* who d. March 19, 1662. She d. in 1666. The
following will of Jane Humphrey, slightly abridged, is an
interesting specimen of a document of the time in which it
was made.
WILL OF JANE HUMPHEEY.
I Jane Humphery, being weake in Body, & not knowinge how
soone the Lord may take me hence, doe this 29 th of the Eleauenth
month 1666, declare how I would haue my goods disposed of after
my decease. I give to my sonn Williams wife, ye jumpf which
was my sister Sarah Clap's, Also my best Redd Kersey petticoate
& sad gray Kersey Wascoate, my blemmish Searge Petticoate &
my best halt, my white fustian Wascott, a wrought napkin with
noe lace about it, a black silke neck-cloath, a glass quart Bottle, a
handkerchife, a blew Apron, a plaine black quaife without lace, a
white Holland apron with a small lace at the bottome. I Giue to
my sonn Amiells wife, a redd Searge Petticoate & a blackish
Searge Petticoate, a blackish carsey Wascoate, a greene searge &
my hood & muft'e. Also my greene Linsey woolsey petticoate, my
whittle! that is fringed & my jump; my blew short coate, my white
tufted Holland wastcoate, A thin Chifte and another chifte a
* Jonas Humphrey is the ancestor of the Humphreys family in Dorchester, which has
ever since his day so frequently intermarried with the Clapp family. Before coming to this
country, about 1637, Jonas Humphrey was a Constable in Wendover, co. Bucks, England.
The parish of Wendover includes the Borough and the Forrens, the latter being that por-
tion, within the limits of the township, which was not entitled to burgage privileges. The
office of Constable in England in those days included many and various duties, making
it a highly responsible station as compared with the same office with us at the present
time. The following notification or order is copied from the original document, which was
received by Jonas Humphrey while Constable, brought with him to this country, and has
since been preserved in the family in Dorchester:
" To the Constables of Wendover Burrough cum Forence and to eu r y of them.
" These are in his Ma*s name to will & require yo" to gine notice of these Articles
hereunto annexed to the Church wardens & ourse e rs of y e poore of yo r p'ish and that both
you and the said Church wardens & ou r seers doe bringe vnto his Mai' 8 Justices at the Red
Lyon in Wendouer on Wednesday the 27th of this Instant Moneth of June by Eight of the
Clock in the forenoone their Presentm's accordinge to each Articles as they shall bclonge
to their scu^al! office And farther that yo doe ceitifie to his Mats Justices exactly w' Ale-
Louses are licensed and W* vnlicensed wiun yo r Hi/ties Strictly enioyning all the said Ale-
house keepers licensed and vnlicensed not to fayle to be before his Ma ts Justices at the
same tyme and that w th the aduice of the minister & some three or fower of the most Sub-
stantiall Inhabitants yo" doe certifye vnto them what number of Alehouses arc fit to be
licensed in your p'ish and what p'sons are fittest to keepe them and alsoe that yon certifye
to them what p'sons there are that doe vsually vent & sell Tobacco by retaylc in yo r towne
& of their fitncsse spe to doe, together w the names of such other p'sons as you shall
thinke fitt to be admitted to vse that trade together with the trade w^h they now vse. And
farther that you kecpe a diligent and strict Warde by daye & Wacth [sic] by night and
that yon doe vpon Tewsday the 26'h of this Instant June take w" you sufficient ayde and
make a pritiatc & dilygent search w'hin yor libertyes fo r Rogues vagabonds and Idle persons
& that yo" bringe before his Ma"> Justices to the place aforesaid on the sayd 27 th day of
June all such of them as shall seeme sturdyc dangerous and Incorrigible and that you doc
punish and send away accordinge to law all such as are not dangerous Incorigible and
that yo lie then & there p r .scnt to giue a strict accompt of the due execution hereof fayle
not, dated this 20"' day of June 1632.
From S' Leonards P r me W"> Graunge
"you and the Church wardens remember to pay the q'teridgc fo r the king's bench Mar-
shalseys and mayncd souldyers to me on the day abone sayd at yortownc."
The articles accompanying this order are twelve in number and are top voluminous for
insertion entire; they include an oversight of matters pertaining to religion, (duration,
crime, vagrancy, building, conducting of public houses, trade, employment of servants
and apprentices, repairing of highways, &c., all the details of their duty in these various
departments being expressed with great clearness and precision.
t Jump. A short coat, or a sort of bodice for women.
1 Whittle A white dress for a woman ; a double blanket worn by west country-women
in England, over the shoulders, like a cloak.
INTRODUCTION.
wrought napkin with noe lace about it ; a handkerchife, a blew
Apron, my best black quaife with a lace, a black Stuffe neckcloath,
a white locrum Apron with two bredlhs in it. Six yards of Redd
cloath, if it will hold out after all things bee discharged; a greene
vnder Coate. I Giue to my daughter Jane, my staning kersey
Coate & my murry Wastcoate, my Cloake & my blew vnder
Wastcoate, a pare of fine sheets; a holland Table cloath, halfe a
duzzen of napkins, my best white Apron, my wrought platter; a
pare of pillow beers; my best shift, one napkin wrought about &
laced ; my little chest & one of my best neck-clothes, one of my best
plain quaifes, my best holland square cloath with a little lace &
one Calico vnder neck-cloath, a stone jugg, a yard of Holand that
is hemmed and marked with an J. a siluer spoone & my wedding
Ring. I Giue to my son, Joseph Weekes, my great old chest, my
best brass pann, two platters a bigger & a lesser, & my best Couer-
lide; my booke of Mr. Burroughs Gospell Worship, a sheet of
Cotton & linnen, also a Table cloath. I Giue to my Grandchild,
Amiell Weekes, my bedsted and bed & chafFe boulster & my
Rugg. To my Grandchild, Ebenezer, my Feather Boulster & a
pare of new blanckets. To my Grandchild, Thankfull, two pillows,
two old Pillow beers & my skillet. To my Grandchild Elizabeth,
Amiels Daughter, my new great chest, my spinning wheele, my
little brass pan & my little Bible; Also I giue vnto Thankfull,
the biggest of my small boxes. To my grandchild, Jane Weeks,
one of my best platters. To my grandchild, Renew, my lesser
small Box. To my sonn, Amiell, my Great Bible. To my sonn
Amiell & William Tenn pounds of hemp yarne & Cotton yarn to
put vpon it, to be Equally deuided betweene them. I giue to my
sonn, Amiell, Mr. Burroughs Booke of Gospell Connersation &
my psalme booke, Also my Cowe. I Giue to my sonn, William,
my booke of Mr. Shepherds workes, also 15 shillings. I giue tenn
shillings to my grandchild, John Weeks, & to Each of the other
of my sonn Williams Children, Fine shillings, if there bee soe much
remaininge when things be discharged. I Give to my sonn in Law,
Benjamin Bate, Mr. Taylors booke on the 32 psalme. I Giue to
my sister, Jone Clap, a fine thine neck-cloth & a Square cloth
with a little lace vpon it. I Give to sister, Susannah Clap, the
next best neck-cloth to that of Sister Jones, & square Cloth. I
Giue to my Cousen, Hannah Clap, my next best neck-cloath & the
next best Square Cloth & whatsoever Else I haue I Give to my
Sonn, Amiell, whom I make my Executo r . I Giue my best greene
Apron to Mary Atherton. This being my last will & Testament, I
witness my hand in p r sence of vs.
The marke of Jane X Humfrey.
Roger Clap
Samuell Paull.
Will proved Nov. 19, 1668. Gapt. Roger Clap and Samuel Paul deposed.
It will be seen that four children and at least two grandchildren of
Richard Clapp's brother came with the first settlers of Dorchester.
It cannot be stated positively that none of the others came over, but if
any did come, they either returned or left no issue bearing the name.
Children of RICHARD CLAPP, of Dorchester, Eno- :
7 O
^-i, THOMAS,' b. in Dorchester, Eng., in 1597 ; emigrated to New
England in 1633 ; m. Abigail ; d. in Scituate, N. E. ,
in 1684.
INTRODUCTION. x j x
H. AMBROSE,' b. in England, where he lived and died ; he was
probably not m. in 1655.
iii, RICHARD, ' b. in England, where he probaby spent his life ; he
in. and had :
(i) Richard? (2) Elizabeth? (3) Deborah?
[All probably remained in England.]
iVi PRUDENCE, 1 b. in England ; emigrated toN. E., probably with
her brothers, Thomas and Nicholas ; m. her cousin, Edward
Clapp ; and d. in Dorchester, N. E., about 1650.
NICHOLAS, 1 b. in Dorchester, England, in 1612 ; came to New
England with his brother Thomas in 1633 ; m. first his
cousin Sarah Clapp ; m. second, Abigail, widow of Robert
Sharp ; he d. in Dorchester, in 1679.
Tit JOHN/ b. in England, emigrated to New England during or
soon after the year 1637. He lived all his life in Dorchester,
and died there, July 24, 1655. The Christian name of his
wife was Joan, who, after his death, m. John Ellis,* of Med-
field. He had no children. The town of Dorchester had
reason to remember him with gratitude, as he left land to the
town lying at the Neck (now South Boston). For more than
150 years this land brought but little income to the town, but
in the year 1835 it was old for $1000 per acre. The number
of acres was between thirteen and fourteen, and the land
was situated in close proximity to that connected with the
House of Correction and other city institutions.!
WILL OF JOHN CLAPP.
The 11 th of ye 5 th mo th 1655.
For as much as it hath pleased God to visit me with sickness and
great weakness of body, I being in p'fect sences and memory doe
here declare and make my last Will and Testament, wherein I doe
in the first place bequeath my soul to God, y* made it and to the
y* blessed holy ghost, who hath sanctified it, and made it fit for
glory in some measure, I hope through grace, and my body I
comitt to a decent burial in y e earth, in a sure and certaine hope of
a Resurrection at the last judgment, and for my small outward
estate w ch God hath gi-atiously given me, I give and bequeath to
my dear and louveing Wife my now dwelling house with all my
lands both in ye necke and in the woods, w ch to me doth appertayne
dureing her naturall life, and after my Wifes decease I give my
house and land to the maintenance of the Ministry and a school in
Dorchester forever, also I give to my dear and Brother Ambrose
Clap what is due to me still from my dear brother Richard Clap in
England w ch is three pound or thereabout, also I give to my louv-
ing brother in law Edward Clap three pounds of yt w ch is in his
owne hands, also I give unto my louving Cousins Richard and
* " John Elice to Joan Clap by Major Atherton, 26 : 4 : 56." " Joan, the wife of John
Ellis, formerly the wife of John Clapp, dismissed to the Church in Medfleld.' (Medfield
Records.)
t At a town meeting held in Dorchester, May 4, 1835, a committee was appointed with
authority to sell this land. The names of the committee were Henry Gardner, Abel
Gushing, William Oliver. Nathaniel Minot, Samuel P. Loud, Walter Baker and Edmund
J. Baker. The land was sold on the 16th of the ensuing month, the deed.hemg made out t<
John Pickering, Jonas L. Sibley and others, of Boston, in trust for a company callei
Warren Association, and was signed by John Mears, treasurer of the town. The amount
received for it was $13,590.62, which was used in paying for new school-houses.
xx INTRODUCTION.
Elizabeth Clap children of my brother Richard Clap one platter
which I have at my brother Richards aforesaid, also I give to my
louving cousin Deborah Clap daughter of y c said brother aforesaid
one silver spoon w ch spoon is in her fathers hands, also I give to my
louvino- cousins Nathaniel Ebenezer, Sarah and Hannah brother
Nichofas children tenn shillings apiece, also I give to my louving
cousins, Elizabeth, Prudence and Saaiuel Clap, children of my
brother Thomas Clap eight shillings apiece and y e rest of his chil-
dren each of them five shillings, also I give to my louving cousins
Prudence, Ezra and Nehemiah and Susanna Clap each of them
eight shillings apiece and all y e rest of my goods not given and be-
queathed (my funeral discharged and just debts being payd,) I give
and bequeath to my dear and louving Wife whom I make my sole
Executrix in Witness whereof I have set to my hand.
Postscript. Also I give to my cousin John Capen 8s. 6$., and to
ray deare and ioueing cousins Roger Claps children one shilling
apiece furthermore 1 desyer that my three friends my brother
Nicholas my brother Edward and my cousin Roger Clap to be my
overseers for the performance of this my last Will and Testament
whereunto I set my baud.
Witnesses
Edward Clap JOHN CLAP (L.S.)
Sarah Clap
Jone Clap
" At a meeting of the Gov r , Mr. Nowell and Record r . 30 th Aug.
1655. Roger Clap deposed.
" An Inventory of the goods Chattells of John Clapp, of Dor-
chester, deceased, 24 th July, 1655. Taken by Edward Clapp,
Nicholas Clapp, Roger Clapp. 140. 04. 10. 30 Aug. '55. Jone
Clapp, widow of the deceased deposed."
Four children of Richard Clapp are all of his descendants who are
known to have left Old for New England. In the following Memo-
rial, the record of the above-named original male emigrants, and their
descendants, is presented in the order in which they arrived here, viz.,
Roger, 1630; Edward, Thomas and Nicholas, 1633 ; George Gilson,
1666.
THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
I.
ROGER AND HIS DESCENDANTS,
i&oger
WAS born in Salcombe Regis, Devonshire, England, April 6, 1609 ;
sailed from Plymouth for New England, March 20, 1630, and arrived
at Nantasket, May 30, 1630. He came in the ship Mary and John*
Captain Squeb. Two learned non-conformist ministers, Eev. John
Maverick and Rev. John Warham, came in the same vessel, also
other persons of distinction. The passengers of this ship were the
first settlers of Dorchester, and they arrived there about June 17,
1630.
All the efforts which have been made to learn the name and histo-
ry of Roger's father have proved unavailing. The records of that
date, in his native town, have been removed or destroyed, and in no
* The " Mary and John" was the second of sixteen vessels which left England with pas-
sengers, in 1630, under the patronage of the Massachusetts Bay Co. The patent of this com-
pany, previously granted by King James I., was confirmed by Charles I., March 4, 1629, and
seems to have held out new inducements to emigration among those who could not con-
form to the ecclesiastical requirements of the time. Capt. Roger Clapp, in his " Memoirs,"
speaks thus of this Patent : " Was it not a wondrous good Hand of God to incline the
heart of our King so freely to grant it, with all the Priviledges which the Patent expresseth !"
The number of passengers on board the " Mary and John " was 140; which, with those
who came in the fifteen other vessels during the year, and on board another for Plymouth
sent out by a private merchant, amounted to nearly 1000 persons. " These seventeen ships," '
says Dudley in his letter to the Countess of Lincoln, " arrived all safe in New England, for
the increase of the Plantation here this year 1630, but made a long, a troublesome, and
costly voyage, being all wind-bound long in England, and hindered with contrary winds
after they set sail, and so scattered with mists and tempests that few of them arrived to-
gether. Our four ships which set sail in April arrived here [Salem] in June and July, and
found the Colony in a sad and unexpected condition, above eighty of them being dead the
winter before ; and many of those alive weak and sick ; all the corn and bread amongst
them all hardly sufficient to feed them a fortnight." Capt. Roger thus alludes to the desti-
tute condition of the emigrants in Dorchester, before the time came to gather the fruits of
the next season : " Oh the Hunger that many suffered, and saw no hope in an Eye of
Reason to be supplied, only by Clams, and Muscles, and Fish. We did quickly build
Boats, and some went a Fishing. But Bread was with many a very scarce thing ; and
Flesh of all kinds as scarce." It is recorded of the Pilgrims of the Mayflower at Plymouth ,
that on the return of that vessel to England the next spring, no one of the survivors through
that terrible winter went back in her. So of those in the " Mary and John," at Dorchester,
we do not read of one emigrant who returned in her to Old England. This, however, was
not the case with other companies of emigrants. Dudley says of those at Salem and else-
where, " The ships being now [August, 1630] upon their return, some for England, some for
Ireland, there was, as I take it, not much less than a hundred, some think many more, part-
ly out of dislike of our government, which restrained and punished their excesses, and
partly through fear of famine, not seeing other means than by their labor to feed themselves,
which returned back again ; and glad we were so to be rid of them."
4 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
existing document, yet discovered, in this country, is his father men-
tioned by name. Roger, in his " Memoirs," speaks of him as " a
man fearing God," and whose " outward estate was not great."
He also alludes to his final consent to the emigration of his son to
New England, and of his generous answer to an appeal for pro-
visions, shortly after the arrival of the Dorchester Company at their
new home. These meagre, incidental facts are probably all that we
shall ever know about the father of one who filled so conspicuous a
place in the early history of Dorchester. That Roger had a nephew
John, son of John Clapp, living in Colyton, co. Devon, Eng., in 1680,
is shown by a power of attorney from him to his uncle, in that year,
the original of which may be seen in the Massachusetts archives.
Roger Clapp was married Nov. 6, 1633, to Johanna, the daughter
of Thomas Ford, of Dorchester, England, who were passengers in
the same vessel with him. She was born June 8, 1617, and conse-
quently was but sixteen years and five months old when she was
married. Mrs. Clapp survived her husband between four and five
years; she died in Boston, June 29, 1695, aged 78 years, and was
buried near her husband. Her father removed to Windsor, Ct.,
with a large portion of the members of the Church, in 1635. In
consequence of this removal, and also the carrying away the church
record by the Rev. Mr. Warham, who also went, the name of Capt.
Clapp as a church member cannot now be found any where recorded
the book taken away being unfortunately lost, and the names con-
tained in it not having been copied into the new one, by Richard
Mather, in 1636.
He probably lived, before the removal of himself and family to the
Castle in 1665, in a house which he built near the old Causeway
road, leading to Little Neck (now South Boston). A passage way
(now called Willow Court) led from the road to the house. One
hundred years after, it was much enlarged and improved in appear-
ance, which appearance it still retains, and is well shown in the ac-
companying cut.
Capt. Clapp's life was a busy and eventful one. In works of be-
nevolence, he was forward and earnest; his ability and energy of
character were acknowledged by the colony and the town. In 1637,
when 28 years old, he was chosen Selectman, and fourteen times
afterwards, previous to 1665, when he took command of the Castle,
he was elected to that office. In 1645, he was one of a committee
of five to fix the rate of assessment for building a new meeting house.
He was several times chosen Deputy from Dorchester to the General
Court. In 1673, being again chosen Deputy, it is significantly recorded
by Blake, "afterwards, in this year, y e Court sent an order to-choose
another Deputy in y e room of Capt. Clap, his presence being ne-
cessary at y' Castle, because y e times were troublesome." To most
of the petitions and documents emanating from, and relating to,
Dorchester,, his name was signed, and carried with it a weight
ROGER AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 5
and influence. He was one of the Commissioners appointed to
marry persons, which at that time was an honorable office.
He was a remarkably industrious man, and continually engaged in
some useful employment ; idleness he detested. He was a man of
good judgment, and the frequency with which he was called to be
overseer of wills, and other weighty business matters, shows that he
stood high among his friends and neighbors. His meekness and
humility were proverbial, and he was "of a very quiet and peaceable
spirit, not apt to resent injuries ; but when he thought the honor of God
was concerned, or just and lawful authority opposed, he was forward
enough to exert himself." "As to his natural temper, it is said he
was of a cheerful and pleasant disposition, courteous and kind in his
behavior, free and familiar in his conversation, yet attended with a
proper reservedness ; and he had a gravity and presence that com-
manded respect from others."
At the first regular organization of the military of the colony,
in 1644, he was the Lieutenant of the Dorchester company
Humphrey Atherton being the Captain, and Hopestill Foster the
Ensign. At that time, the military were obliged to parade eight
days each year ; a penalty of five shillings was exacted for non-
appearance, and none were exempted except " timorous persons," of
which there were but few in those days. He was afterwards
Captain of the Dorchester Company; and, Aug. 10, 1665, was
appointed, by the General Court, Captain of the Castle (now Fort
Independence), in Boston Harbor, to succeed Capt. Richard Daven-
port, who was killed at that place by lightning in July of that year.
He held this office for twenty-one years, until he was 77 years old,
and resigned in 1686, principally on account of the political troubles
which then made their appearance under the administration of Sir
Edmund Andros. Mr. James Blake, Jr., who gave some account
of Capt. Clapp in 1731, says that, under the change of government,
"some things were required of him which were grievous to his pious
soul."
Edward Randolph, in his Narrative of the State of New England
in 1676, writes, "Three miles from- Boston, upon a small island,
there is a castle of stone lately built, and in good repair, with four
bastions, and mounted with 38 guns, 16 whole culverin, commodious-
ly seated upon a rising ground sixty paces from the waterside, under
Avhich, at high water mark, is a small stone battery of six guns.
The present commander is one Capt. Clap, an old man ; his salary
50 per annum. There belong to it six gunners, each 10 per
annum."
In an ancient manuscript Journal, kept by a respectable gentleman
of Boston, is the following in relation to Capt. Clapp's leaving the
Castle :
" Sept. 24, 1686." " Capt. Clapp leaves the Castle; about nine
guns fired at his going off. It seems Capt. Clapp is not actually
6 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
come away, but Capt. Winthrop and Lieut. Thomas Savage did this
day there receive their commissions."
After his resignation, the remainder of his life was spent in
Boston, where he died Feb. 2, 1691. His funeral was conducted
with much parade and with every mark of respect ; military officers,
and probably the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company* (of
which he was a member), preceding the corpse, " the Governor and
General Court following the relations as mourners, and guns firing
at the Castle."
When he left the Castle, he lived at the south end of Boston, and
owned a bouse and land there, which he left to his wife at his death.
The land was bounded on the east by "the sea," or Boston Bay.
He was one of the founders of the Church in Dorchester and a
member thereof about sixty years. It was said of him, that he was
very kind and affectionate to the soldiers under his command, and
encouraged them both by precept and example to prove worthy citi-
zens, "and enlisted none but pious as well as brave men." Such
was the affection in which he was held by the people of Dorchester,
that, during a severe sickness by which he was visited in 1672, they
held a fast "to beg his life of God"; and when he recovered, they
held a day of thanksgiving.
The " Memoirs of Capt. Roger Clap," which have been already
referred to, were first printed in 1731, from the original manuscript,
which was in the hand-writing of Capt. Clapp, and was presented by
Mr. James Blake, Jr. of Dorchester to the Rev. Thomas Prince, min-
ister of the Old South Church, in Boston, who wrote the introduc-
tion to the work, and in which he says, " The Author was One
among those English People, who first came over and dwelt in this
Indian Wilderness ; an Eye-witness of the things he writes of; and by
the publick and continued Esteem his Country paid him in his Day,
his Testimony comes with Power upon us ; and the Style so plain
and natural, that in the Reading, it seems as if we came over with
Him, and were living in those pious Times." Several editions have
been printed, so that for nearly one hundred and fifty years the de-
scendants of Roger and of his- emigrant relatives have been familiar
with the book and have prized it as a valuable memento of their
early New England history. The Memoirs were probably written
soon after 1676, as in them he speaks of " the late war," undoubted-
ly meaning King Philip's War, which in that year had just closed.f
The following will is transcribed, verbatim, from a copy evident-
ly in Capt. Clapp's own handwriting. In phraseology and spelling,
it differs slightly from that on record at the Probate office.
* "Captain Clapp was second sergeant of the company, 1647, the year after his admis-
sion, and Lieutenant, 1655, and continued a member many years." Whitman's Historical
Sketch of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company.
t Young, in his " Chronicles," inserts the Memoirs in a re-arranged, chronological order,
and omits Roger's exhortations to his children, and his account of his religious experiences,
thereby making the document a more connected and strictly an historical one.
ROGER AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 7
CAPT. ROGER CLAPFS WILL.
The time of my death is knowne to god, yet not known unto me ; I doe
therefore now, in the time of my helth, make this my last will, in maner
following :
I do commit my immortall soull to the euerliuing god, whose it is ; and
my body after death, I leaue unto my Relations, to be desently buryed in
the dust there to rest, untill my dear lord, and sauiour, shall rayse it at
his glorious coming unto judgement.
As for that estate, which god hath gratiously giuen to me ; my just debts
paid and founerall exspenses descharged ; I giue unto my dear and louing
wife, my house and land in bostone, with all the priuilidges, and appurte-
nanses belonging there unro. which land is bounded on the north with the
land of m r Jonathan Balson, on the south with the land of Edward Tucker,
on the east with the sea : also six acors of upland, and fiue acors of meadow,
be it more or les, lying in dorchister neck, bounded with the land of william
Sumner on the south east, and the land that was Neahmiah Claps, on the
north west, and with the sea on the north ; and also three acors of mea-
dow in dorchister, being on the north side of a salt creek, at the lower end
of hopestill Claps lot, commonly called Cornelies lot, be it three acors, more
or les : this house and lands, to inioy during her naturall life. Also I giue
her two fether beds, with there furniture ; a small trunke ; and forty pounds
in mony, or such goods as shee please to take out of my moueabels : when
my debts are paid, and my wifs portion set out, and those small gifts here-
after expresed, payd ; my will is, the rest be deuided equally to my children :
only Samuel, my eldest, to haue a dobble portion in all. Except in that
which my deare wife is to haue for her life. I doe farther declare : that
what so euer Samuel, or any other of my children haue had, or shall haue,
by my life time as part of there portion, shall be reckned as part of there
portion : which reseats, that i alow as part of there portion, you shall find
in my littell sorrill booke : I doe farther declare that my sons shall haue
my lands as is after expresed. my sone Samuel shall haue all my land, both
upland and medow, at powow point, in dorchister neck, and to small lots in
the littell neck, and my lot comanly caled the eaight acor lot, and halfe my
farme at punkapage : Preserued, hauing had land of me allredy at northam-
ton, as by my littell book do appear, he shall haue a fifth part of my farme
at pachasuck, in westfeeld ; my son hopstill shall haue that part of the home
lot that is below the fence, and all the medow at the end of the home lot,
and at the tide mill, and at the end of Cornelias lot, as fare as the salt creek :
but not ouer the creek : and to small lots in the littell neck, the land at the
mouth of the great neck : and the first and second deuission, in the cow
walke, and halfe my farme at punkapage, and halfe the wood lot that was
hawses, by the fresh marsh, all to be prised, also any land that my sons
haue, any of them, if not prised by me, and set doune in my sorrill book :
it must be prised, that so thos that haue had more than there portion, m&y
paye to those that want, to make there portions equall :
I giue to my son desire, my third deuision of wood land, and to and twen-
ty acors of land, more or les, lying on the north side of nabonset riuer : also
that medow on the south side of nabonset, which was william weekses, be it
three acors, more or les : I giue out of my farme at pachasack in westfeeld
fifty acors unto the inhabitance of that towne, towards the maintenance of
an able minester in that towne, with this prouiso : that they paye, or cause
to be pay two busshels of good wheat unto my dear wife in boston yearly,
8 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
during her naturall life : the ressedeu of my land there, not disposed of, I
leave to my exsecutors to dispose of, to paye dets, or to make my childrens
portions equall : For as I said before ; I say againe, my will is that my chil-
dren, shall haue equall portions, as near as may bee ; Except my son
Samuel, who shall haue dubell except in that which his mother haue during
her naturall life, but that, both house and lands after my wifs desese, I give
equally unto my sons, and my to dafters Elizabeth and wait, to be at there
(my to dafters one desposing) the small gifts I mentioned, I giue unto my
grand children, that shall be then liuing, together with my cozen Estor
bissell and Constant dewey, ten shillings a peece furder more, iqy will is,
when my children haue rescued there portions, that my sons, and dafters
shall pay there mother yearly, for her more comfortable liuing, twenty shil-
lings a peece.
Also I giue my wife what falls to her by her father Ford at winsor or
else where. I do hereby appoint and ordaine my dear wife and son samuel
to be my executors : and do instetut, and appoint my dear and louing frinds
Elder James Black and cozen Thomas swift my ouer seears to aduise, and
assist, my executors in the performing this will : and do give my ouersears
ten shillings apeece.
That this is my last will and testement I haue set to my hand and seall,
in the pressenc of
November: 19: 1G90.
henry Alljjie
John Bull
sr*\
( K
**
o n--tr' r* ,-
William Tilly ***$*** &&<* [Seal.]
Children of Capt. ROGER and JOHANNA (Ford) CLAPP:
-f 2. SAMUEL, 2 b. Oct. 11, 1634; d. Oct. 16, 1708, aged 74 years.
3. WiLLiAM, 2 b. July 5, 1636; d. Sept. 22, 1638.
4. ELIZABETH, 2 b. June 22, 1638 ; d. Dec. 25, 1711, a. 73 yrs. 6 mos.
She^m. Joseph Holmes, and had five children that lived to
grow up. " She was a virtuous and prudent woman." She d.
in Boston, and was buried near her parents.
5. EXPERIENCE, 2 b. Aug. 23, 1640; d. Nov. 1, 1640.
6. WAiTsxiLL, 2 b. Oct. 22, 1641 ; d. Aug. 9, 1643.
--f- 7. PRESERVED, 2 b. Nov. 23, 1643; d. Sept. 20, 1720, aged 76 yrs.
and 10 mos.
8. EXPERIENCE, 2 b. December, 1645 ; d. young.
-f 9. HoPESTiLL, 2 b. Nov. 6, 1647; d. Sept. 2, 1719, a. about 72 years.
10. WAIT, 2 b. March 17, 1649. She m. Jonathan Simpson, of Charles-
town, and had two children who lived to grow up. She lived
a widow about twelve years, and died in Boston, May 3, 1717,
in her 69th year, in the house in which her father and mother
lived and died, and was buried near her parents. She is spoken
of by Mr. Blake as " a godly woman, following the good exam-
ple of her parents. She often spake of that charge which her
father left his children, viz., never to spend any time in idleness,
and practiced accordingly in a very observable manner."
Wait, 8 daughter of Jonathan and Wait (Clapp) Simpson, m.
James Blake, Jr., of Dorchester, whose words are quoted above.
Mr. B. was a famous mathematician and surveyor ; he surveyed
ROGER AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 9
many farms in Dorchester and other towns, and once surveyed
the whole town of Dorchester, with its then extended territory.
*He was for many years Town Clerk, Town Treasurer and prin-
cipal Selectman of Dorchester. He wrote the Appendix to
Capt. Roger Clapp's Memoirs, as published in various editions
since, and died Dec. 4, 1750 ; his widow died May 22, 1753.
When Wait 2 was baptized, her father, Capt. Roger, told the
congregation that the reason he called her Wait was because he
believed the reign of anti-Christ would soon be over. He doubt-
less thought she might live to see the day !
11. THANKS, 2 b. July, 1651; d. young.
-j-12. DESIRE, 2 b. Oct. 17, 1652 ; d. December, 1717, a. about 65 years.
13. THOMAS, 2 b. April, 1655; d. in 1670, aged 15 years.
14. UNITE, 2 b. Oct. 13, 1656; d. March 20, 1664.
15. SUPPLY, 2 b. Oct. 30, 1660 ; d. March 5, 1686. His youth was one
of great promise, and he seems to have early shown a predilec-
tion for the military service, as it then existed in the colony.
But his life came to an untimely end. He was, as Mr. Blake
writes, " suddenly taken out of the world by the accidental firing
of a gun at the Castle, where his father was then the Captain
and himself an officer."* The following references to the event
are copied from the Journal of Judge Sewall, then in Boston :
March 5, 168|, "Capt. Clap's son (a very desirable man,
Gunner of the Castle, tho' Mr. Baxter hath the name ) hath
one of his eyes shot out, and a piece of his skull taken away, by
the accidental firing of a gun, as he was going a fowling."
March 9, 168f , "Supply Clap, gunner of the Castle, is buried
at Dorchester, by the Castle Company, about noon ; after the
volleys there, several great guns were fired at the Castle ; both
heard by the Town."
SAMUEL 2 (Roger 1 ), son of Roger and Johanna Clapp, was born
Oct. 11, 1634, when his mother was in the 18th year of her age.
" He was a wise and prudent man," says Mr. Blake, " partaking of
the choice spirit of his father, treading in his steps and making good
his ground ; he was eminent for religion, and of a blameless and
unspotted conversation. He was early and constantly employed in
public affairs ; was Captain of the military company, Representative
for the town, and, the last seven years of his life, a Ruling Elder of
the Church of Dorchester, where he lived."
He married Hannah, daughter of Richard Leeds, of Dorchester.
They had two sons and two daughters who lived to grow up. He
died about eight days after his wife, Oct. 16, 1708, being about 74
years old.
* Thirteen years afterwards, the life of another young man was accidentally lost in the
same place, in a somewhat similar manner. It is recorded of Nathaniel Homes, D. in
Dorchester in 1668, that he was " killed by y breaking of a great gnnn at y Castle, 12
June, 1699."
2
10 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
Elder Clapp had a very high reputation in the town of Dorchester ;
besides the offices already mentioned as held by him, was that of
Major. His children, Samuel, Elizabeth and Hannah, with the hus-
bands of the two latter, divided their father's estate by agreement.
Samuel 3 had the house he lived in and the barn and land belonging to
it, which it appears his father owned ; also- the following, viz., ten
pounds worth of the barn near the house his father dwelt in ; a piece
of meadow before the house; 2 1-2 acres of salt marsh at the neck;
4 acres of woodland in the third division ; a little wood lot on the
S. W. side of the fresh meadow; one half of the twenty acre lot;
half a piece of marsh at the calf pasture ; one half the meadow at
Powow point (now South Boston) ; a piece of land at Little Neck,
"on the left hand as we pas to the grate neck"; three fourths of the
pasture at Hawkins brook; one half the land in the 12th division,
a piece of land at the end of the Neck, also part of the land at
Purgatory.
Elizabeth and her husband, Edward Sumner, had one half of her
father's house, and one half of the remainder of the barn not set off
to Samuel; one half the orchard; the home lot before the house;
one fourth of the pasture at Hawkins brook ; the lot at Hawes Hill ;
one half the lot at Little Neck ; one fourth of the meadow at Powow
point, on the north-east side ; one quarter marsh at calf pasture, on
the south-east side of a little creek; one fourth the land in the 12th
division ; and her part of land at Purgatory.
Hannah and her husband, Ebenezer Clapp, had as follows, viz. :
one half the dwelling house ; one half of the remainder of the barn,
not set off to Samuel ; the lot behind the house ; the pasture at the
mouth of the neck; one half the twenty acre lot; one half the lot at
Little Neck; one fourth of the meadow at Powow point; one fourth
the meadow at calf pasture; one fourth the land in the 12th divi-
sion ; one half the orchard near the dwelling house ; two acres of
marsh at the calf pasture ; and his part of land at Purgatory.
This agreement was made March 20, 1711.
The unattractive name of "Purgatory" which occurs in it, refers
to a swamp in the south-westerly part of Dorchester now called
Mattapan part of which swamp afterwards became the property of
the First Parish in Dorchester.
The Hawkins brook, here named, was where Columbia Street now
is, in Dorchester, and passes through the land of the heirs of the late
Ebenezer Wales, under the *road and into the meadow of Isaac
Howe.
Chief Justice Sewall, in his journal, mentions riding in a coach to
Dorchester, Oct. 18, 1708, to attend the funeral of Elder Samuel
Clapp, "who is much lamented." Messrs. Bromfield, Stoddard,
Sewall and his son Joseph, afterward Rev. Dr. Sewall, accompanied
him. He says that Elder Samuel was the first man born in Dor-
chester, but in this he was probably mistaken. Mrs. Clapp died
Oct. 8, 1708.
ROGER AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 11
Children of Elder SAMUEL and HANNAH (Leeds) CLAPP:
16. SAMUEL, 3 b. Feb. 22, 1661 ; d. Feb. 12, 1666, aged 5 years.
17. JOHN, 3 b. June 16, 1664; d. Oct. 6, 1665.
18. HANNAH, 8 b. Sept. 28, 1666; d. March 1, 1679, aged 13 years.
-f-19. SAMUEL, 3 b. Aug. 6, 1668 ; d. Jan. 30, 1724.
20. EXPERIENCE, 8 b. July 28, 1670 ; d. Aug. 3, 1671.
21. UNITE, 3 b. Dec. 6, 1672; d. March 11, 1674.
22. RETURN, 8 b. May 11, 1675 ; d. July 18, 1676.
23. JOHN, S b. May 8, 1677; d. March 7, 1701, unmarried, at the age
of 23 years, 10 months ; was much respected.
24. ELIZABETH,' b. Feb. 11, 1679 ; m. Edward Sumner. She received
a considerable portion of her father's estate, and, probably, after
his decease, lived in the house which had been occupied bv him.
25. HANNAH, 8 b. Sept. 13, 1681 ; d. Aug. 9, 1747. She m. Ebenezer
Clapp, the son of Nathaniel and grandson of Nicholas.
PRESERVED 2 (Roger 1 ), son of Roger and Johanna Clapp, was
born Nov. 23, 1643. He lived in Dorchester during the first twenty
years or more of his life, when he removed to Northampton, then a
far distant settlement in the western limits of the colony, and com-
prising, with Springfield, the whole inhabited portion of western
Massachusetts.* Here he soon became one of the leading men in
civil and ecclesiastical affairs, and his usefulness was continued
during a long and active life. " He was," says Blake, " a good in-
strument and a great blessing to the town of Northampton, where
he lived. He was a Captain of the town, and their Representative
in the General Court, and Ruling Elder in the church." He married,
June 4, 1668, fourteen years after the settlement of the town was
begun, Sarah, daughter of Benjamin Newbury, of Windsor, Ct., who
went from Dorchester to that place. They had seven children who
lived to grow up. He died at Northampton, Sept. 20, 1720, aged
about 77 years. She died Oct 3, 1716.
Children of Elder PRESERVED and SARAH (Newbury) CLAPP :
26. SARAH, 3 b. in 1669 ; d. young.
27. WAIT, 8 b. in 1670; m. John Taylor, Jr.
28. MARY, b. in 1672; d. Nov. 2, 1691, aged 19 years.
+29. PRESERVED, 8 b. April 29, 1675; d. Oct. 11, 1757, aged 82 years.
-j-30. SAMUEL, 8 b. in 1677 ; d. in 1761, aged about 84 years.
31. HANNAH, 8 b. May 5, 1681; m. first, Abraham Miller; second,
Lieut. John Parsons.
-f-32. ROGER, 8 b. May 24, 1684; d. Jan. 9, 1762, aged 78 years.
-f-33. THOMAS," b. June 16, 1688 ; d. in Hartford, Ct, in 1745, a. 57 yrs.
* " For a hundred years or more after the first settlement of Northampton," says the
historian, B. W. Dwight, " it was a week's journey, for man and horse, to go to Boston :
and the path was distinguishable by marks cut upon tUe trees through the long stretcJ
forest that lay between the two places."
12 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
9
HOPESTILL* (Roger 1 ), son of Roger and Johanna Clapp, was
born Nov. 6, 1647. Mr. James Blake, who was cotemporary with
him, and to whom we are indebted for the "Short Account" of the
Clapp Family in the Appendix to Roger's " Memoirs," says of him :
" He was a very gracious man, endowed with a great measure of
meekness and patience ; studied and practised those things that
make for peace. He was first a Deacon of the Church of Dorchester,
where he lived; and afterwards in the year 1709 he was chosen and
ordained a Ruling Elder in the same church : he represented the town
in the General Court for the space of fifteen years. He was much
honoured and respected by those that had a value for vital piety."
Elder Hopestill Clapp died in Dorchester, Sept. 2, 1719, in the
72d year of his age. The lines in the following epitaph were writ-
ten by his pastor, Rev. John Danforth,* and are copied, verbatim,
from the gravestone :
Here Lies interred y'-i-j
Body of Elder Hopestill
Clap who Deceased
September 3 d 1719
Aged 72 Years
His Bust Waits Till The labile
Shall Then Shine Brighter Than y Skie
Shall meet & joine (to Part no more)
His Soul That's Glorify 'd Before
Pastors & Churches Happy Be
With Ruling Elders Such'As He
Present Usefull Absent Wanted
Liu'd Desired Died Lamented.
Elder Hopestill Clapp was married to Susanna Swift, April 18,
1672. She died March 2, 1732, aged 80. They were both
buried near the S. W. corner of the Dorchester burying ground. In
his will, he left the use and improvement of his estate to his wife,
during her life ; then a principal part of it to their son Hopestill, to
whom he was grateful for attentions to them in their old age. Hope-
still was to pay his sisters, Susanna Hodgdon, Elizabeth Hall, Sarah
Capen and the children of his sister Ruth, a single portion.
In addition to the poetical inscription, copied above from Elder
Hopestill's grave-stone, the Rev. Mr. Danforth composed the follow-
ing Funeral Poem to his memory, which was printed at the time.
A copy, which was in possession of the late Dea. James Humphreys,
of Dorchester, is probably the only one in existence. There is a
picture upon the top of the printed sheet, of a funeral procession,
led off by Death ; also a tomb, skulls, cross-bones, hour-glass, <fec. to
fill up, with a black ground.
* Ordained pastor of the Church in Dorchester, June 28, 1682, and died in Dorchester,
May 26, 1730, aged 70, having retained his office in the church about 48 years. He was
buried in Lieut. Gov. Stoughton's tomb, in the old Dorchester cemetery.
ROGER AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 13
A FUNERAL POEM IN MEMORY OF MR. HOPESTILL CLAP,
Who was for many Years a prudent and faithful Representative of the Town, and
one of the Ruling Elders of the Church of Dorchester, who went to bis Everlasting
rest in the General Assembly of the first born in Heaven, Sept. 2, 1719, Etatis sui
Anno 72. To our Great Loss, and his Great Gain.
Inroll'd i' th' Number of Christs Witnesses,
To Follow Him into a Wilderness ;
A Blessed Number of This Precious Name,
Elect by Heaven, into this Patmos Came.
This Saints choice Parents, Pliant to Heavens Call ;
Grace early Sanctify 'd Their Children all.
Such a Bright Family, How rarely seen !
No Jshmael, Esau, Dinah, found therein.
! Happy Family ! ! Glorious sight !
Who Do & Bear, "for CHRIST, lose nothing by 't.
This Family did God vouchsafe to Bless
With Copious, and Extensive Usefulness.
The Father Held Our Castle without Fear,
And was Chief, Pious, Valiant, Bulwark there.
Vertuous in Heart, and Useful in their lives
Were also his Collateral Relatives.
For his Descendants, View the Assembly's List :
Long Years, Three Sons in General Court Assist ;
And in the Ruling Eldership, No less :
In whom their Pastors Heart could acquiesce.
Our Hopestill, with the food of Angels Fed,
His Name, and Fathers Hope well Answered :
Converting Mercy and Restraining Grace
With their sweet Fruits within his Soul had Place.
The Chasma's Closed ; The Rec'ning is made even :
The Gates of Hell held not his Heart from Heaven.
The Hopes of Hypocrites he durst not Cherish ;
Nor Durst he Rest in Works, where many perish.
He did (and so should we, when sin doth seize us)
Lose-hold, on all, But GOD's free Grace in JESUS:
GOD in Man's Nature ; That most Blessed One :
On Him he Liv'd, as his High Priest, alone.
So while he Liv'd, and when he came to die,
CHRISTS Glorious Riches gave him full supply.
Such Lives as his, deserve all Observation,
Lasting Remembrance, Constant Imitation ;
Adorned with Goodness, Sweetness, Self Denial,
Meekness of Wisdom under every Trial,
With Fear of GOD ; and Hate of Sinful Strife
'Gainst Strangers, Neighbors, Brethren, Children, Wife.
None could Repine ; He was so Debonair,
So True, so Just, so Kind, so Calm, so Fair ;
So Valuable (tho' no Son of Thunder) ,
The Church Rejoyc'd when such an Elder Crowned her.
While Prayers went up, the Life of CHRIST Descended.
Winged with the Dove, his Ravish 'd Soul Ascended.
Light for th' Upright in Publick Meetings Sown
And Private too, He wisely made his own.
His House, Feasts of Devotion did afford :
Resolv'd, his Family Should Serve the LORD.
Thro' Pride his Talents, he would not decline
To Use, altho' he could not see them shine :
Trusting in GOD ; was not reduced to be
14 THE CLAPP MEMOEIAL.
Unuseful thro' excess of Modestie.
No Laws he Brake, altho' he voted many :
Fewds he Compos'd, altho' he Raised not any :
His Greatness Goodness was ; His Victory
His Faith ; his Honour, his Humility,
With Wisdom, Trustiness, Sincerity.
Hie Vertues let us duely Imitate.
Our Loss of such a Peace-full Man is Great.
Mourn we aright. And may kind Heav'n Afford
Widow, and Children, Comfort in the LORD.
AMKN.
Children of HOPESTILL and SUSANNA (Swift) CLAPP :
34. SUSANNA," b. Dec. 23, 1673 ; m Hodgdon.
35. ELIZABETH, 3 b. Feb. 29, 1675 ; d. Oct. 5, 1752. She m., April
4, 1701, Jonathan, son of Richard Hall. She was his second
wife. They had a son Richard, who was a Deacon of the
Church in Dorchester, and " eminent for strength of mind and
body, for piety and benevolence."
36. SARAH, 8 b. Jan. 13, 1677 ; m., Dec. 14, 1704, Barnard Capen, and
had children.
37. HOPESTILL, 8 b. Nov. 26, 1679; d Dec. 26, 1759, aged 80 years.
He was a man much respected in the town of Dorchester,
where he lived ; was Deacon of the church for upwards of thir-
ty-six years, being ordained to that office May 3, 1723. He
was never married, so that the name, in the line of his father,
terminated at his decease. His last will and testament was
dated Nov. 8, 1748, being about eleven years previous to his
death. In it, he left a good part of his estate to his nephew,
Deacon Richard Hall (see 35), son of his sister Elizabeth, and
with whom he probably lived the latter part of his days. He
left to his sister Elizabeth 6 per annum ; to his sister Sarah
Capen, a part of his dwelling-house, some land in the orchard,
the pasturing for one cow, one load of salt hay and two cords
of wood each year during her life ; to his non-compos nephew,
Joseph Capen, son of his sister Sarah, money on certain condi-
tions. He also bequeathed to the church in Dorchester 60, to
be laid out in plate for the communion table,* unless he had al-
ready bought it during his life ; to his " cousins Elizabeth, Phil-
lis, Susanna, Sarah and Patience, children of his late niece Ta-
bitha Stoddard," some money ; also property to his nieces Ruth
Hall and Susanna Sumner, children of his late sisters. He
likewise left money to the poor of the church on certain condi-
tions. The inventory of his estate amounted to 520 6s. 8d.
38. RuTH, 8 b. Oct. 10, 1682 ; m Sumner, and probably died
previously to her father.
39. MARY, S b. Sept. 22, 1685 ; d. Nov. 27, 1685.
40. SUPPLY, 8 b. Oct. 25, 1686. Not living at the death of his father,
and probably died a young man.
41. JARUAH, 8 b. Feb. 15, 1689; d. Feb. 27, 1689.
42. UNITE, 8 b. Oct. 2, 1690 ; d. Jan. 25, 1691.
* This plate, as well as that given by William (see page 15), has ever since been used,
for the purpose intended, by the First Church of Dorchester.
ROGER AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 15
-12-
DESIRE 2 (Roger 1 ), son of Roger and Johanna Clapp, was born
Oct. 17, 1652. He married Sarah Pond, and ten children were
born to them, only four of whom lived to grow up. She died Jan.
4, 1716, and he married, second, Dec. 27, 1716, Mrs. Deborah Smith,
of Boston, "with whom he went to live, and there he died in Decem-
ber, 1717, in the 66th year of his age, and was interred near his re-
lations." Mr. Blake says he was " a sober and religious man."
Desire Clapp left no will. His estate was divided by an agree-
ment entered into between his widow and children. To the widow
was paid <50, she thereby relinquishing all right and claim to the
estate. The remainder was equally divided between his son
William ; his daughter Experience, wife of Samuel Tolman ; Sarah,
wife of Samuel Bird ; and Judith, wife of Ephraim Payson.
The gravestone of Desire Clapp, with its inscription, may be seen
in King's Chapel burying-ground, a little south of that erected to
his father, Capt. Roger.* His first wife, Sarah, was buried in the old
cemetery in Dorchester.
Children of DESIRE and SARAH (Pond) CLAPP:
43. WiLLiAM, 8 b. Oct. 9, 1680; d. young.
44. DESIRE, 8 b. March 6, 1682 ; d. young.
45. EXPERIENCE, 3 b. Nov. 30, 1683 ; m. Nov. 21, 1704, Samuel Tol-
man, of Dorchester.
46. SARAH, 3 b. March 24, 1686 ; m. May 16, 1704, Samuel Bird.
47. PRESERVED, 8 a daughter, b. Aug. 8, 1688; d. Aug. 21, 1688.
48. DESIRE, 3 ) . . 1Q ino . (d. Aug. 19, 1694.
49. WiLLiAM, 8 } Tmns ' b ' Au S" 13 ' 1694 ; | d. Oct. 2, 1743.
William m. April 11, 1717, Elizabeth Humphreys, but pro-
bably never had any children. He lived in Dorchester and
was buried there. His widow survived him nearly 32 years,
and d. June 18, 1775, aged 75 years. William left a will, and
gave 20, " in current passing money or bills of credit," to the
church in Dorchester, to purchase a piece of plate " for y e use
of the Lord's table in the said Church." The remainder of his
property was left to his wife Elizabeth, and, after her decease,
it was to go to his nephew, Desire Tolman, son of his sister
Experience.
In the death of William, 8 the name was extinguished in the
line of Desire, 2 son of Capt. Roger. 1 All of the name who are
direct descendants of Roger 1 are from his sons Samuel, 2 of Dor-
chester, and Preserved, 2 of Northampton. There are but few
of the former, but a large number of the latter.
50. ROGER, 8 ) . , ^ , RQ7 (d. June 7, 1697.
51. DANIEL,| Twins ' b " M ^ 24 ' 1697 ; jd. June 12, 1697.
52. JUDITH, 8 m. Ephraim Payson.
* As with other cemeteries in cities, in the course of time the gravestones of King's Chapel
burying-ground have become displaced, and the exact spot of interment of many of tl
buried there is almost or quite unknown. The slab from Roger's grave has been place
in the eastern part of the ground, near the fence of the present City Hall.
16 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
19
SAMUEL 3 (Samuel, 2 Roger 1 ), son of Elder Samuel and Hannah
(Leeds) Clapp, was born in Dorchester, Aug. 6, 1668. About the
year 1700, he married Mary Paul (then spelled Pavll). He was a
man much respected by his fellow townsmen; was chosen Deacon of
the church, and was Lieutenant of the military company. He left no
will. The inventory of his estate amounted to 913 2s. 6d. He
died in 1724, aged about 55, leaving several children under age.
His widow, after his decease, married Abiel Bird. Blake says he
did not accept the office of Deacon to which he was chosen. Mrs.
Bird, and her son Samuel Clapp, both died Jan. 2, 1752, and were
buried in one grave.
Children of SAMUEL and MARY (Paul) CLAPP :
53. JOHN,* d. Sept. 14, 1701.
-f54. SAMUEL,* b. May 27, 1701 ; d. Jan. 2, 1752.
55. HANNAH, 4 b. Aug. 14, 1702.
56. JOHN, 4 b. July 24, 1705 ; d. Feb. 20, 1706.
57. JoHN, 4 b. Sept. 12, 1706; d. young. (Samuel Clapp, Sen. lost
two children named John ; and Samuel, Jr. lost three.)
--58. BENJAMIN, 4 b. Oct. 17, 1707; d. in 1793.
--59. SUPPLY, 4 b. June 1, 1711 ; d. Dec. 28, 1747. Minister in Woburn.
60. THOMAS,* b. July 5, 1713 ; d. Aug. 11, 1798.
-29
PRESERVED 3 (Preserved* Roger 1 ), son of Elder Preserved and
Sarah (Newbury) Clapp, was born in Northampton, April 29, 1675.
He married Mehitable Warner, of Hatfield, Mass. He was a Cap-
tain. He died Oct. 11, 1757, aged 82 years. His widow died
Oct. 1, 1767.
Children of Capt. PRESERVED and MEHITABLE (Warner) CLAPP,
of Northampton :
61. MEHITABLE, 4 b. Xov. 8, 1703.
--62. PRESERVED, 4 b. July 28, 1705; d. Oct. 18, 1758, aged 53 years.
--63. JOHN, 4 b. in 1708; m. and removed to Montague.
--64. ELIPHAZ, 4 b. in 17 Jl ; d. in 1783 or 1784.
--65. EzRA, 4 b. May 20, 1716; m. and removed to Westfield.
QQ
SAMUEL 3 (Preserved 2 , Roger 1 ), son of Elder Preserved, and
brother of the preceding, was born in 1677. He married, first, in
1697, Sarah Bartlett. She died Aug. 7, 1703, and he married,
second, Thankful King, Sept. 15, 1704. She died Sept. 18, 1705,
and he married, third, Mary Sheldon, March 17, 1708. He had issue
by each of his wives. He was about 31 years old when he
married his third wife. He lived to be an old man, dying at the age
-ROGER AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 17
of 84 years. He was Lieutenant of a military company. Mary
Sheldon, his third wife, was born in Northampton in 1687, and was
daughter of John and Hannah Sheldon. Her grandfather was Isaac
born 1629. She was carried into captivity to Canada, from Deer-
field, in 1704, by the Indians, she being at the time engaged to be
married to Jonathan Strong. On her return, he, supposing that she
was dead, was married to some one else, and she married Samuel
Clapp. After Mr. Clapp's death, she was married to Mr. Strong,
when she was between 70 and 80 years old.
Children of SAMUEL CLAPP, by first wife, SARAH (Bartlett) CLAPP :
66. MARY,* b. March 13, 1699 ; d. Aug. 28, 1702.
By second wife, THANKFUL (King) CLAPP:
67. SARAH,* b. Sept. 9, 1705 ; m. Gideon Parsons.
By third wife, MARY (Sheldon) CLAPP :
-4-68. SAMUEL,* b. Oct. 30, 1711 ; d. Aug. 28, 1775.
69. MARY,* b. Sept. 21, 1713; nu Daniel Pomroy, May 21, 1733.
-f 70. SETH, 4 b. July 14, 1716 ; d. July 4, 1754.
71. THOMAS, 4 b. Nov. 13, 1724; d. Dec. 4, 1724.
-f 72. EBENEZER, 4 b. Oct. 13, 1726 ; d. Sept. 22, 1797.
ROGER* (Preserved? Roger 1 }, brother of the preceding, was born
May 24, 1684. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel Bartlett.
They had eight sons and one daughter ; and, what was remarkable,
they all lived to grow up, and had families. He was Captain in the
military company, and also representative to the General Court.
He died in 1762, aged 78, and his widow died Aug. 9, 1767.
Children of ROGER and ELIZABETH (Bartlett) CLAPP, of Northamp-
ton:
4-73. ROGER, 4 b. April 3, 1708 ; wife Ann.
74. ELIZABETH, 4 b. May 29, 1710; m. Jonathan Strong, May 27,
1730, and had children.
-j-75. JONATHAN, 4 b. in 1713 ; d. May 10, 1782, aged 69 years.
-j-76. AARON, 4 b. Jan. 30, 1715 ; m. and moved to Easthampton.
4-77. AsAHEL, 4 b. about 1717 ; d. Jan. 20, 1777.
-f-78. SUPPLY, 4 b. about 1721 ; d. in 1784.
-j-79. CHARLES, 4 b. in 1725; d. Aug. 11, 1767.
80. NoAH, 4 wife Dorcas. He was sergeant in the company of Capt.
Phineas Stevens, and was one of the thirty brave defenders
of Number Four (Charlestown, N. H.) in 1747, under Capt
S., who withstood the assault of 400 French and Indians, under
Mons. Debeline, and, refusing to capitulate, were left at the
end of the third day in possession of the fort. Capt. S. had a
valuable sword presented to him for his bravery on this occasion.
Noah had only one child, Hannah, 6 who was under 14 years
3
18 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
of age in 17 63. She afterwards m. Martin Clark of West-
hampton, and both were dead in 1843. Noah 4 d. about 1751.
+81. SiMEON, 4 b. in 1728; d. Feb. 25, 1812, aged 84 years.
33
THOMAS 3 (Preserved? Roger 1 }, brother of the preceding, was
born in Northampton June 16, 1688; married April 4, 1711, Mary
King. He removed to Hartford, Conn., and died there in 1745, at
the age of 57 years. He was the ancestor of most of the name in
Connecticut. His wife, Mary, died Feb. 5, 1772.
Children of THOMAS and MARY (King) CLAPP :
-{-82. THOMAS, 4 b. in Northampton, March 6, 1712.
83. MARY, 4 b. July 13, 1713, and probably d. young.
84. OLIVER, 4 b. July 7, 1718; probably d. without issue.
-{-85. ELIJAH, 4 m. Mary Benton.
54
SAMUEL 4 (Samuel, 3 Samuel, 2 Roger 1 }, second son of Samuel and
Mary (Paul) Clapp, was born May 27, 1701, and died Jan. 2, 1752.
He was married Dec. 23, 1725, to Mindwell Bird. He was in the
23d year of his age when his father died, and he was chosen guard-
ian of his brother Thomas. He was a mariner in the early part of
his life ; and, in his later years, a farmer. His widow Mindwell
died June 1, 1770.
Children of SAMUEL and MINDWELL (Bird) CLAPP:
86. MiNDWELL, 5 b. Nov. 11, 1726; m. Daniel Fairn, of Dorchester,
May 8, 1753.
87. SAMUEL, 5 b. Dec. 18, 1728 ; d. young.
-f-88. ABNER, S b. Dec. 23, 1732; d. May 25, 1799.
89. MARY/ b. Jan. 23, 1738 ; m. John Ward.
58
BENJAMIN 4 (Samuel, 3 Samuel, 2 Roger 1 }, brother of the preced-
ing, was born Oct. 17, 1707. He was a minor at the decease of his
father, and chose Thomas Wiswall to be his guardian. Dec. 29,
1730, he married Hannah Baker. Subsequently to 1740, he remov-
ed to Stoughton, and died there in 1793.
Children of BENJAMIN and HANNAH (Baker) CLAPP:
90. SusANNA, 5 b. Jan. 30, 1732, in Dorchester; m. Edward Capen.
91. SUPPLY, 5 b. 1733 ; settled in Stoughton, but never married; d. in
1805, aged 72 years.
92. SAMUEL, 5 b. May 25, 1735, in Dorchester; d. Oct. 4, 1735.
+93. JOHN, 5 b. in 1736 ; settled in Stoughton ; d. in 1809, a. 73 years.
94. HANNAH, 5 b. May 13, 1740, in Dorchester; m. Samuel Brackett.
ROGER AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 19
59
SUPPLY 4 (Samuel, 3 Samuel, 9 Roger 1 ), son of Samuel and Mary
(Paul) Clapp, was born' June 1, 1711. His father died when Sup-
ply was 13 years old, and he chose Abiel Bird to be his guardian.
He entered Harvard College, and was graduated at that institution
in 1731. It appears that he immediately engaged himself as a
teacher of the school in Dorchester, and that he continued in that
employment two or three years. In his Diary, he says: "July 19,
1733, I began my third year to keep school." "Feb. 13, 1734,
Tailer & Clap kept school for me." During this time, he was pre-
paring himself for the ministry, and commenced preaching May 20,
1733, before he was admitted to the church; for in his Diary, Aug.
5, 1733, it is observed, "I was admitted into the Ch h at Dorchester."
It appears, however, from his Diary, that this was the only sermon
preached before he joined the church. This first sermon was deli-
vered at the Castle, where his great-grandfather, Roger Clapp, com-
manded so long, as were also most of the other sermons that he
preached that year. In 1734, he occupied the pulpit at Roxbury,
from March 31, to Jan 30, inclusive; whether as candidate or not,
is not stated. It is also doubtful in which of the two churches
in Roxbury he was thus engaged. Dec. 15, 1734, he preached for
the first time at Woburn, in the 2nd Parish (now Burlington), as a
candidate. March 5, 1735, he received a call to settle there in the
ministry. This call he accepted, " upon conditions," May 19 ; and
in full, Aug. 25 of the same year. What his salary was, does not
appear, but it was probably regulated by the price of provisions ;
for, on the same page of his diary that he records his ordination, is
the following memorandum :
N. B. The price of Indian Corn, 6 shillings p. Bush.
Rye, 8 shillings p. Bush.
Beef, 5 pence p. pound.
Pork, 7 pence p. pound.
Cyder, 5 shillings p. barrel.
Butter, 16 & 18 pence p. pound.
"Work, 4 shill. or five shillings in Summer.
Mowing, 5s-6d : and some have 6 shillings.
Mr. Clapp was ordained pastor of the second church in Woburn,
Oct. 29, 1735. On that occasion, Rev. Mr. Bowman, of Dorchester,
offered prayer; Rev. Mr. Hancock (probably of Lexington) preached
from Romans i. 1, and gave the charge; Rev. Mr. Bowes, of Bed-
ford, gave the right hand of fellowship. The meeting-house in which
Mr. Clapp was settled had been built about three years, and had
been used for a place of worship probably about all that time ; but
no church had been regularly organized until after his ordination.
20 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
Nov. 9, 1735, he preached for the first time after his ordination,
from Luke xii. 42 and 43. " Who then is that faithful and wise
steward," &c. The church at that time consisted of eleven males
and twenty-one females.
In the spring of 1736, Mr. Clapp bought a place called the "Knight
place," from the name of the former possessor 5. and, in the fall suc-
ceeding, went to housekeeping, though a single man. Aug. 11, 1737,
he married Miss Martha Fowle, daughter of the then wife of Mr.
Samuel Walker, one of his deacons, but previously the widow of Mr.
Fowle, of the first parish, and, during her widowhood, the keeper
of a very respectable tavern there. Mrs. Clapp has been represent-
ed as a very capable and amiable woman.
Mr. Clapp appears to have been a man of very feeble constitution,
and labored under many weaknesses and infirmities, as appears by
his journal. He was very sick for many days in the fall of 1742 r
and looked upon as near his end ; he suffered greatly by sharp turns
of pain in 1743, and says in his journal, Oct. 1, "Thro' Gods Good-
ness I have not been confined to my house since March, long to-
gether ; but so great hath been my weakness that I have enjoyed
but little comfort in the things below. I trust my affections are
stronger heavenward."
In consequence of his infirm state of health, he frequently took
short excursions abroad, especially to Dorchester, and to Boston to
hear the Thursday lecture. On one of these occasions, Sept., 1740,
he records the following memorable incident :
The Rev d Mr. Whitefield, in the afternoon at 3 o'clock, was to preach at
y e New South in Boston. The meeting house being very much crowded,
there was suddenly an outcry as if y e Gallery was falling. I, being under
said Gallery, hastened out, stood at y e door ; immediately there was such
thronging out, that y ey trampled one another under feet, some jumped out
of y e Galleries into y e seats below, some out of y e windows. I helped clear
the way at y e door, till they got so squeezed together in y e porch till I could
get no more out. So that I with others were forced to cry out to the press-
ing multitude to make way back. After y e space of 5 or 6 minutes, such
way was made back, that we could help the distressed out ; many were
taken up for dead, but being blooded chiefly recovered. Three died upon
y e spot, and two more a day or two after. As awful a sight (I think) as
ever I beheld. May God sanctify it to me, and the rest of the spectators.
N. B. The Galleries were afterward examined, and there appeared no
danger.
Mr. Clapp's frail nature gave way Dec. 28, 1747; his age was
then 36 years, 6 months and 28 days. The generation who knew
him and sat under his preaching have passed away, but tradition has
uniformly given him a most excellent character. Not a syllable has
been handed down to us to his disadvantage ; he was respected and
beloved. The following is the inscription on his gravestone in the
burying ground at Burlington.
ROGER AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 21
Here lie interred the Remains of the
Rev d Mr. SUPPLY CLAP, late Pastor
of the 2 nd Church of Christ in Woburn
Who departed this Life
Dec. the 28 th , 1747,
in the 37 th Year of his age,
and the 13 th of his Ministry.
He was a good Christian, and a faithful
Pastor, and being dead Yet Speaketh,
Especially to the People that were
his Charge, Saying, remember how
Ye have received and heard, &
hold fast.
After Mr. Clapp's decease, his widow removed to Boston. He
left a will, dated Dec. 6, 1747. The estate was valued at 3396.
0. 6. Among the articles or effects mentioned in the inventory, was
"a sickly negro man servant about 12 years old valued at 300."
Most of this account of Rev. Supply is obtained from a letter writ-
ten by Rev. Samuel Sewall, of Burlington, Mass., to the late Elisha
Clapp, under date of Aug. 20, 1820.
Children of Rev. SUPPLY and MARTHA (Fowle) CLAPP :
95. MARTHA, 5 b. Aug. 6, 1738 ; d. in 1807. She m. James Thwing,
and had children : Nathaniel, Supply, James, Rebecca and Samuel.
Nathaniel had a family; Supply d. aged about 21 yrs. ; James
was cashier of the Massachusetts Bank ; Rebecca m. William
Furness, and Rev. William H. Furness, D.D., of Philadelphia,
is their son ; Samuel had a family, and his son, Supply Clapp
Thwing, is a merchant in Boston.
96. SUPPLY, 6 b. Jan. 3, 1742. He lived in Portsmouth, N. H., and
was never married. He was a very respectable man, and a
colonel in the militia. On his tombstone in Portsmouth, is the
following :
The Remains of SUPPLY CLAPP, Esq., are here deposited.
His whole life uniformly correct and praiseworthy.
He died March 24, 1811, aged 69 years.
Sweet is the memory of the just,
When mingled with their kindred dust.
97. SAMUEL, 5 born about June, 1745 ; m. Oct. 21, 1790, Desire Lamb,
of Boston ; d. in 1809. He lived in Boston, and did a large
business as auctioneer, &c.
These children of Rev. Supply* ever retained a grateful recollec-
tion of their native town ; they made frequent visits to it, lingering
about the spot which was the scene of their childhood. About 1790,
they presented the church, over which their father had labored, with
a large folio bible for the use of the pulpit.
22 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
6O
THOMAS 4 (Samuel, 3 Samuel, 2 Roger 1 ), youngest son of Samuel
and Mary (Paul) Clapp, was born July 5, 1713; died Aug. 11, 1798.
He was married, Sept. 16, 1735, to Elizabeth Preston, by whom he
had ten children. She died May 25, 1770, aged 5f> years. He
married, second, Abigail Lane, Jan. 30, 1772, and she died Nov. 20,
1779. He was a very respectable man, and for a long time was sex-
ton to the church in Dorchester. The following account of him was
published in a Boston newspaper a short time after his decease:
" Died, at Dorchester, Mr. Thomas Clap, JE. 86. This venerable
person was the oldest man in the town. With the blessing of heaven
upon his singular industry, frugality, temperance and piety, he en-
joyed an almost uninterrupted share of health, until within a few
weeks of his decease ; and was enabled to bring up comfortably a
large family of children (seven of whom survive him) without ever
owning so much as a quarter of an acre of land. For more than 60
years, he has been a member of the Church, and during that time
was but twice absent from the monthly communion of the Lord's
Supper (and that was in his late sickness), amounting to more than
700 participations. For half a century, he walked almost every
week to the Boston Thursday lecture. Thirty-six years he was sex-
ton to the town, and in that time interred one thousand and seventy-
nine persons." He lived in a house near what is now the corner
of Columbia and Hancock streets, on the east side, which was pulled
down about 1836. He owned this house and first moved into it in.
November, 1743. When first married, he lived in a part of Capt.
Preserved Capen's house, and afterwards in the widow Paul's house.
Within a few feet of the spot where his own house stood, his grand-
daughter, widow Oliver Bird, erected a house in 1 844.
Children of THOMAS and ELIZABETH (Preston) CLAPP:
+98. THOMAS, 6 b. Aug. 14, 1736; d. Sept. 7, 1807, aged 71 years.
99. JAMES, 5 b. Nov. 17, 1737; d. Nov. 10, 1765\ He probably en-
listed in the army.
100. ELIZABETH, 5 b. Feb. 28, 1739; drowned in a wash tub, May 7,
1740.
101. ELIZABETH, 5 b. Nov. 28, 1741 ; m. Mr. Rumrill, of Roxbury.
102. SAMUEL, 5 b. Dec. 23, 1744 ; removed to Hanover, N. H., and from
thence to Royalston, Mass. He married, and had children,
Samuel, 6 Anna, 6 and Eustatius 6 ; the first of whom is said to
have been killed by falling from a load of hay.
103. DANIEL, 5 b. Jan. 15, 1746. He removed, with his brother Samuel,
to Hanover, N. H., and Royalston, Mass. ; was married, and had
three children : Daniel 6 Elizabeth 6 never married, and another
daughter, name unknown. His wife d. Nov. 19, 1786.
104. CHARLES, 5 b. June 25, 1749; d. Aug. 14, 1752.
105. MARY, 5 b. March 26, 1752; m. Mr. Bagley, and lived in Williams-
burg.
ROGER AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 23
106. SARAH, 5 b. Aug. 17, 1754; m. Thomas Lyon, of Dorchester.
After her death, her husband, in 1841, when about 80 ys. old,
married another Sarah Clapp (b. 1794), dau. of Seth Clapp, of
Dorchester, who is now (1875) wife of Josiah Davenport, of
Needham.
107. ESTHER, 5 b. Feb. 21, 1757 ; m. George Davenport, May 24, 1780.
-62
PRESERVED 4 (Preserved, 3 Preserved? Roger 1 ), oldest son of
Capt. Preserved 3 and Mehitable (Warner) Clapp, was born July 28,
1705. He married, Aug. 20, 1730, Sarah West and lived in Am-
herst (or Hadley), Mass. He died Oct. 18, 1758, aged 53 years.
Children of PRESERVED and SARAH (West) CLAPP:
-f 108. PRESERVED, 5 b. May 6, 1731.
109. SARAH, 5 b. Feb. 15, 1733 ; m. Jan. 13, 1751, Ebenezer Kellogg,
of Amherst.
110. LuCY, 5 b. Nov. 10, 1737 ; m. Jan. 4, 1760, Martin Smith.
111. IRENE, 5 b. Nov. 12, 1740 ; m. March 1, 1759, Noadiah Lewfe, of
Amherst. She d. Oct. 10, 1830, aged 89 years.
112. MiRiAM, 5 b. June 25, 1743; d. Aug. 23, 1743.
113. OnvER, 5 b. July 18, 1744 ; d. Oct. 25, 1832, aged 88 years. He
m. Elizabeth Mattoon, sister of Gen. Mattoon, and settled in
Amherst. She d. Oct. 27, 1830. Children :
114. Oliver, 6 m. Lucinda, dau. of Nathan Adams, of Leverett.
He d. at the age of 24 years. Issue : i. Oliver Morrison," 1
who lived in Amherst; m. May 10, 1826, Mary Ann, dau. of
Asa F. Reed, M.D., and had: (1) Anna Maria Porter, 9 b.
Sept. 8, 1827, m. Aug. 24, 1852, John H. Bardwell, of Hart-
ford, Ct.; (2) Elizabeth M., 8 b. May, 1830, d. July 1, 1831 ;
(3) Charles D.* b. May 25, 1 833. Lucinda, after the death
of her husband, Oliver Clapp, 6 m. Asahel Blodgett.
115. Preserved, 6 b. Feb. 17, 1776; d. Sept. 2, 1776.
116. MARY, 5 b. about 1747.
117. TiMOTHY, 5 baptized May 21, 1749 ; m. Sarah Field, and settled in
Amherst. He left one daughter Patty* who m. Nov. 26, 1801,
Elihu Belding, of Amherst, and was living in 1846.
118. WILLIAM/ bap. Aug. 1752; was a clockmaker; m. and settled in
Westminster. Children :
119. West, 6 lived in Westminster, and left no family.
120. Silas, 6 m. and had two sons, William'' and Sanford." 1
63
JOHN 4 (Preserved, 3 Preserved? Roger 1 ), brother of the preceding,
was born in 1708. He married, Feb. 10, 1732, Eunice Parsons,
and removed to Montague. He was a man eminent for his piety
and his eloquence in prayer, and was rich in all the Christian graces.
Children of JOHN and EUNICE (Parsons) CLAPP, of Montague:
121. EUNICE, 5 b. Feb. 15, 1733; m. May 9, 1754, Joseph Root.
24 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
122. HERITABLE, 6 b. July 18, 1735 ; probably d. voung.
-f!23. JOHN, 5 b. March 3, 1738.
124. MARTHA, S b. Oct. 4, 1740; was called Patty; probably lived to
grow up, but never married.
125. DANIEL/ b. Aug. 7, 1743. He was for many years deputy She-
riff in old Hampshire county. He married Root, and had
two sons and ten daughters. The sons were :
126. Parsons, 6 b. in 1772; d. Feb. 27, 1854. Hem. in 1796,
Phebe Wells ; lived in old Springfield when he was a young
man, and was deputy Sheriff. The latter part of his life he
resided in Montague, and died in Wilmington. Children :
I. Henry Wells? b. in 1798 ; d. April, 1869 ; he m. first, in
1823, Eliza Baldwin; second, June 28, 1833, Ann C. Hil-
liard. A goldsmith by trade ; was once in business in
Newark, N. J., subsequently in the city of New York, and
afterwards in Greenfield ; at his death he left a large estate.
Children by first wife : (1) Caroline, 8 b. about 1824, m. Hon.
Daniel W. Alford, and d. soon after; (2) Cornelia 8 ; (3) Henry
Baldwin, 9 killed in battle in 1862; (4) Elizabeth Johnson.*
. Children by second wife : (5) Frederick, 9 b. May 18, 1834,
m. April 15, 1863, Ella Pierce, of Boston ; (6) Henrietta* b.
Nov. 23, 1836, d. Nov. 21, 1854; (7) Emetine? b. June 20,
1838, d. Sept. 14, 1849; (8) Isabella* b. Jan. 15, 1840, m.
July 15, 1864, Francis B. Russell, who d. of consumption
in 1868. it, Daniel? liv. in Charlestown, N.H. in, Robert?
m. and lived in Ohio, iv, William? m. and lived in Saratoga,
N. Y.; was a tanner by trade, and was blind for many years.
V, Lois H.? lived in Springfield. yi, Benjamin Winthrop?
a jeweller in New York city; m. in 1836, Mary B. Hill.
Children: (1) Mary Elizabeth* b., Feb. 1837 ; (2) William
Hill, 8 b. in 1839, d. in 1844; (3) Samuel Dennett* b. Dec.
1840. Tli, John T.? lived in N. York city ; m. June, 1846,
Mary Cascaden, and had one child, Charles Augustus,* b. in
1847.
127. Winthrop, 6 was a Captain ; by trade a carpenter; m. and had:
it Nelson? b. about 1806 ; was a farmer, ii, Julius? a car-
penter by trade, and removed south. Hi, Horace? was also
a carpenter. IV, William?
128. SOLOMON, 5 b. in 1751 ; d. Sept. 15, 1838. He m. first, March 5,
1781, Lois Bardwell, who d. June 30, 1789 ; second, in 1804,
widow Anna Allen, of Bernardston, who d. March 21, 1842.
He was a Captain. Children by first wife :
129. Mehitable* b. March 5, 1782 ; m. Sept. 10, 1805, Benjamin S.
Wells.
130. Polly, 6 b. April 3, 1784; d. in 1787.
131. Henry, 6 b. in 1786; d. Sept. 9, 1838. He was non compos,
and never married.
132. Eliphaz* b. Feb. 2, 1788; m. Nov. 21, 1811, Charlotte Gunn.
Children: i. Mary? b. Dec. 3, 1812 ; m. June, 1850, Henry
Slate; d. April 24, 1864. ii. Wellington? b. Sept. 19, 1816;
m. Cornelia T. Plumb, of Charlestown, N. H.; was afterwards
a merchant in New York city. Children : ( 1) Emma* b. July
24, 1845, m. Jan. 10, 1866, Robert Cochran, of New York;
ROGER AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 25
(2) Henry? b. March 16, 1847; (3) Frederic* b. Aug. 19,
1851, in Manchester, Eng., m. Jan. 1, 1872, Emma A. Mans-
field, lives in Iowa, and has a son, Frederick W.,* b. April 22,
1873 ; (4) Cornelia, 8 b. Jan. 13, 1853 ; (5) Edward, 8 b. June
26,1854, d. Sept. 19, 1854; (6) Louisa Burnham 8 b. June
4, 1858 ; (7) Wellington 8 b. July 6, 1860. Hi. Salmon? b.
Sept. 24, 1817; m. Dec. 21, 1848, Harriet Burnett, of Mor-
gan co., Alabama, and had one son who d. an infant ; was a
physician in Calbert, Lowndes eo., Miss., where he died July
10, 1852. iv, Richard? b. Nov. 29, 1819 ; is a farmer in Mon-
tague; m. Oct. 7, 1847, Eunice A. Slate, and had: (1) Cor-
nelia Maria, 8 b. March 17, 1849 ; (2) Richard Leighton? b.
March 21, 1851; (3) Harriet 8 b. July 28, 1853; (4) Mary
Elizabeth 8 b. Jan. 26, 1856; (5) Walter 8 b. April 6, 1858,
d. May 15, 1859; (6) Charles Wellington 8 b. Jan. 4, 1863.
V, Charlotte Warner? b. Dec. 16, 1829 ; m. Oscar W. Dean,
and lived in Townsend, Vt. Ti. De Witt Clinton? b. Nov. 9,
1835; m. Aug. 19, 1850, Polly A. Cruttenden ; merchant
in Iowa City, Iowa. Children: (1) Edwy Clinton 8 b. in
Brooklyn, N. Y., June 7, 1851 ; (2) Charles De Witt 8 b.-in
Brooklyn, Dec. 9, 1854; (3) Lewis Williams, 8 b. in Dundee,
N. Y., Sept. 23, 1857 ; (4) Harriet Agnes 8 b. Dec. 4, 1858 ;
(5) Robert Noble, 8 b. Feb. 21, 1861 ; (6) George Lyman, 8 \).
March 13, 1866, d. Aug. 22, 1866 ; the last three born in
Iowa City. Eliphaz 6 and Charlotte had two other children
who died young.
133. ELIHU, 6 m. Jane B , who d. Dec. 17, 1840. Children :
134. Thaddeus* b. Sept. 15, 1779 ; d. Sept. 13, 1854. He m. May
10, 1808, Nancy Ruggles, who d. April 3, 1848. He was a
farmer in Montague. Children: i, Zenas?\>. Oct. 17, 1810;
m. Sept. 14, 1822, Pamelia Clay. if. Sybil T.? b. Sept. 19,
1812. iii. Eunice K.? b. Feb. 1, 1814 ; d. Aug. 24, 1843.
iT, Mary Ann? b. July 10, 1817.
135. Elihu* bedridden for more than thirty years.
136. Noadiah? d. unmarried.
137. Pamelia*
138. SUSAN/ m. Mr. Root, father of Col. Root.
139. ELEANOR, 5 probably d. young.
140. SARAH/ d. iu infancy.
-64-
ELIPHAZ 4 (Preserved, 3 Preserved? Roger 1 }, brother of the pre-
ceding, was born in 1711. He married Rachel Parsons about 1743,
and had six daughters but no sons that lived to grow up. He died
about 1783, and his wife died July 11, 1762.
Children of ELIPHAZ and RACHEL (Parsons) CLAPP, of Northamp-
ton:
141. RACHEL. 5
142. NAOMI, 5 b. May 4, 1744.
143. ELiPHAz, 5 b. Jan. 29, 1746 ; d. Aug. 28, 1748.
4
26 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
144. ELIJAH, 5 b. April 23, 1748 ; d. July 24, 1749.
145. MiNDWELL, 8 b. Feb. 23, 1749.
146. MiRiAM, 5 b. Jan. 25, 1751.
147. KnoDA, 5 b. Aug. 29, 1753.
148. MARGARET, 6 b. April 1, 1756.
One of the daughters d. July, 1748.
65
EZRA 4 (Preserved? Preserved? Roger 1 ), youngest son of Captain
Preserved and Mehitable (Warner) Clapp, was born May 20, 1716.
Wife Margaret, and he removed to Westfield.
Children of EZRA and wife MARGARET CLAPP :
149. MOLLY, 5 m. Elihu Emerson.
150. MARGARET, 5 m. Mr. Shepard.
151. DOLLY, 5 m. Mr. Atwater.
152. LYDIA. 5
-f-153. EZRA,* b. May 24, 1760; d. June 17, 1838.
154. CHARLOTTE. 5
68
SAMUEL 4 (Samuel? Preserved? Roger 1 ), son of Samuel and his
third wife, Mary (Sheldon) Clapp, was born Nov. 11, 1711. He
married, Nov. 23, 1732, Mindwell, daughter of Waitstill Strong, of
Northampton, and removed, about 1744, to Southampton, where he
died, Aug28, 1775.
Children of SAMUEL and MINDWELL (Strong) CLAPP :
155. ELIJAH,* b. May 3, 1736.
--156. JEHIEL 5 (or Ahiel), b. Aug. 25, 1738.
--157. TiMOTHT, 5 b. Aug. 16, 1740 ; m. Kachel Bascom.
158. SAMUEL, 5 b. Nov. 8, 1742; d. May 10,1761; was a lieutenant ;
m. Sarah Parsons, and had a son :
159. Martin, 6 b. about 1778, who m. Lucretia Farnham, of Bland-
ford, and had: i, Clarissa,'' b. Jan. 1, 1807, and d. young.
H, Clarissa? b. Oct 28, 1809 ; m. Aug. 30, 1846, Solomon
Todd, of Easthampton. iii. Samuel F., 7 b. Sept. 17, 1811 ;
m. Nov. 26, 1836, Chloe E. Waters ; is a mason, in Hartford,
Ct. ; has two sons, Hiram S. s and John W., 8 the former of
whom m. Oct. 17, 1860, Maria J. Stedman, and had a son
William? b. March 16, 1864. iy. Martin Parsons? b. June
27, 1814; m. April 26, 1860, Almira S. Finch, and had a
daughter, Hattie ett, s b. April 3, 1861, d. April 12, 1861.
V. Asa B.? b. Feb. 3, 1817 ; m. Elvira Sackett. Tl. Sarah?
b. March 29, 1819 ; d. Jan. 27, 1860; m. Nov., 1850, Ring
Pomeroy. Tli, Keziah W.? b. May 8, 1821 ; not m. in 1870.
Till. Reuben? b. Nov. 4, 1823. ix, Eunice? b. April, 1826.
X. Elizabeth? b. Aug. 1827 ; m. Daniel Knight.
+160. SELAH, 5 b. May 16, 1744; d. May, 1794.
ROGER AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 27
161. PmNEAS, 5 b. Dec. 19, 1745; d. in 1816; wife Prinus, and had:
162. Phineas, 6 who had two sons Salmon? and ffophnF.
163. Robinson, 6 b. Jan. 23, 1775; d. Aug. 7, 1815; m. Nov. 14,
1799, Ruth Topliff, and had: i, Princess? b. Dec. 9, 1800,
m. Stephen Wolcott ; ii, Lydia? b. Sept. 29, 1804 ; ill. Rusi-
na? b. July 27, 1807, m. Thomas Howard; iv.Almira L. 7
b. Aug. 8, 1810 ; V. Mary TJ b. May 14, 1812.
164. Hophni* m. and had: i. Hophni? b. July 20, 1801 ; d. April
12, 1856; a farmer; m. Oct. 31, 1850, Mary E. Fuller, of
Southampton, b. Jan. 12, 1825, and had: (1) Calvin ff.* b.
Jan. 26, 1852; (2) Horace K* b. June 14, 1856.
165. MIND WELL, 5 b. Oct. 10, 1747; m., in 1772, Solomon Strong.
166. MARY, S b. in 1749 ; m. Bela Parsons.
167. MosES, 5 b. in 1751 ; m. and had :
168. Russell, 6 b. Jan. 28, 1784 ; d. Oct. 16, 1820; m. Sibbil Baker,
of Westhampton, and removed to Otisco, N. Y. Children :
i. SibMa P., 7 b. March 8, 1810; m. March 5, 1832, Horace
E. Strong, and had three children, ii. Moses," 1 b. March 10,
1812 ; m. July 4, 1837, Almira Russell. Children: (1) Otis
Baker, 6 b. Aug. 20, 1842, a carriage maker in Southampton,
m. Nov. 12, 1867, Sarah A. Burt ; (2) Dwight Moses, 8 b. June
5, 1846; a dentist in Boston; m. May 8, 1872, Clara Jo-
sephine Simonds. iii. Russell, 7 b. Nov. 2, 1813 ; m. Dec. 28,
1837, Maxamilla Heath, and they settled in South Mil-
ford, Indiana. Children: (1) Andrews R., 8 b. March 15,
1840, is a carpenter, and lives in Indiana, m. May 28,
1861, Eliza J. McClughen; (2) Timothy 8 b. Jan. 6, 1845,
d. Jan. 7, 1845 ; (3) Sybil L., 8 b. June 3, 1846 ; m. Dec. 24,
1861, Mr. Oliver Wright, iv. Artemas? b. July 29, 1816.
V. Timothy 0.? b. Aug. 30, 1818 ; was adopted by Amos Lee,
and took the name of Timothy O. Lee ; m. and had five chil-
dren, vi. Eunice D.? b. Sept. 13, 1820 ; m. May 10, 1848,
James E. Strong, and lived at Huntsburg, Ohio.
169. NATHANIEL, 5 d. May 23, 1825 ; m. Rebekah Searle, and had:
170. Nathaniel, 6 d. young.
171. Rebeckah, 6 b. Sept. 4, 1804; m. Oct. 3, 1827, Aretus Pomroy,
of Southampton.
172. Chauncy* b. Jan. 12, 1807 ; m. Nov. 29, 1826, Fidelia Miller,
of W. Springfield, and had : i. Ghauncy M., 7 b. Nov. 9, 1827 ;
d. Dec. 20, 1853. ii. Eunice O. 7 b. Oct. 3, 1831 ; m. June
3, 1852, Flavel K. Sheldon; d. July 18, 1861. \\\. Delia
Ann, 1 b. Feb. 1, 1837 ; m. June 16, 1858, Henry C. Strong.
IV, Jennet M. 7 b. June 30, 1839 ; d. Aug. 3, 1840. V, Fran-
cis D.? b. July 19, 1842 ; d. Sept. 19, 1845. vi, Jennet M. 7
b. March 9, 1847 ; d. Jan. 11, 1848.
173. LEMUEL. 6
28 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
7O
SETH 4 (Samuel, 3 Preserved, 2 Roger 1 ), brother of the preceding,
was born July 14, 1716. Wife Esther, and he lived in Northamp-
ton, where he died July 4, 1154.
Children of SETH and wife ESTHER CLAPP :
174. AMASA, S b. June 28, 1743 ; was Lieut.-Colonel, and removed to
Chesterfield ; m. and had children :
175. Ira, 6 m. Judith Weld, and lived in Chesterfield.
176. Salmon.
177. MART, 6 b. Jan. 18, 174- ; m. in 1778, Nathaniel Edwards, of
Northampton, being his second wife.
178. ESTHER,* d. July 6, 1745.
179. SETH, 5 b. May, 3, 1746; d. April 13, 1814; m. Feb. 28, 1771,
Esther Rust. He was a carpenter, and lived in Northampton.
Children :
180. Chester. 6
181. Seth* b. March 3, 1772 ; d. Nov. 1823 ; m. Thankful Starr,
and lived in Northampton. Had a daughter Mary Ann? b.
Nov. 27, 1804, who m. Henry Strong in 1830.
182. Esther, 6 b. March 2, 1774 ; d. Feb. 6, 1861 ; m. Elijah Cook,
of Northampton.
183. Spencer , 6 b. Dec. 3, 1777; d. in the winter of 1815-16; m.
Diana Phelps, and lived in Northampton.
184. Luther? b. Nov. 21, 1779 ; d. Jan. 10, 1803, on the borders of
the Mississippi.
185. Paulina,* b. June 16, 1782 ; d. unm. Oct. 6, 1834.
186. Lydia* b. Oct. 25, 1784; d. Dec. 2, 1818 ; m. Mr. Emerson,
of Newburyport.
187. Ansel, 6 b. Feb. 13, 1788; d. Sept. 11, 1866 ; m. Eunice Wright,
and lived in Westhampton. Children: i, Luther, 7 b. Oct.
19, 1819; m. June 24, 1845, Harriet P. Stedman ; clergy-
man in Wisconsin ; had children : (1) Harriet P., 8 b. Aug.
19, 1846, and m. Henry Watner; (2) Emma L. 8 b. July 3,
1848 ; (3) Mary A., 8 b. April, 1850 ; (4) Wardlaw Ansel 8
b. April 5, 1853; (5) Sarah B.* b. Nov. 29, 1855; (6)
Grace D. W., 8 b. Oct. 24, 1859. ii. Reuben Wright,' 1 b.
Sept. 19, 1821 ; farmer in Westhampton ; m. Susan T. Burt,
and had children: (1) Men Louise, 8 b. Feb. 15, 1854; (2)
Laura Hole 8 b. Feb. 19, 1856; (3) George Burt 8 b. Nov.
3, 1857 ; (4) Lyman Wright, 6 b. Sept. 5, 1859 ; (5) Martha
Frances 8 b. March 30, 1862 ; (6) Edwin J3issett, 8 b. May 17,
1864; (7) Susan Maria, 8 b. Dec. 7, 1866, d. Sept. 15, 1869 ;
(8) Mary Anna 8 b. Nov. 25, 1868. Hi, Harriet F.? b. Jan.
9, 1825 ; d. unm. in 1871. iv, Sophia,' 1 b. March 29, 1828 ;
m. June 17, 1858, Alfred D. Montague.
188. Sophia, 6 (twin with Ansel 6 ) b. Feb. 13, 1788; m. Spencer
Clark, of Northampton.
189. Belinda 6
190. PAUL, 5 probably the Paul Clapp who was a soldier at the siege of
Quebec, in Capt. Hubbard's company, and was taken prisoner.
191. CATHARINE. 6
ROGER AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 29
72
EBENEZER 4 (Samuel? Preserved, 2 Roger 1 ), youngest son of
Samuel and Mary (Sheldon) Clapp, was born Oct. 13, 1726. He
married Catharine Catlin, who died April 21, 1798. They lived in
Northampton. He was a soldier in Capt. Phineas Stevens's compa-
ny in 1746, and was in the fight with the French and Indians at
No. 4 (now Charlestown, N. H.). He was also in Capt. William
Lyman's company, and was out in the service in the month of No-
vember, 1747. He died Sept. 22, 1797. According to the Records
of Deerfield, there was an Ebenezer Clapp who married Katharine
Catlin, Jan. 10, 1750.
Children of EBENEZER and CATHARINE (Catlin) CLAPP:
-f 192. EBENEZER, 5 d. about 1840.
193. ESTHER, 5 m. Asahel Clapp (No. 280), grandson of Roger, Jr., of
Northampton.
194. OLIVEK, S settled in Westhampton, and m. three times, his third
wife being a Mrs. Smith. Children :
195. Richard? m. Anna Alford, moved to Ohio, had a large family,
and d. there. Children : i. Martha? m. David Ring, and
d. before 1870. ii, Maria? m. Mr. Dimoc. ill* Lucinda?
m. first, George Claflin ; m. second, ...... Parsons. iv.
Asenith? m. George Bell. V. Anna? d. before 1870. Ti,
Christopher C.? b. in Jericho, Vt., May 30, 1799 ; d. Dec.
1868; m. first, Harriet Colson; m. second, Clara M. Bond;
removed to Onondaga Co., Vt., about 1820. Chil. : (1 ) John
T.? b. March 22, 1823 ; (2) Celia A.* b. Sept. 8, 1827 ; (3)
Horace C.? b. July 9, 1829 ; (4) Oscar S., s b. Aug. 28, 1831,
d. Nov. 14, 1832 ; (5) Louisa M.* b. Nov. 6, 1833 ; (6) Orson
S.* b. April 7, 1836; (7) Irving F., 8 b. June 10, 1838;
(8) Isaac H.? b. Oct. 15, 1840; vii. Oliver? m. Melissa
Wait. Till, Phikna? m. William Cook, ix, Climena? m.
Gilson Judd. X. Caroline? m. Luther Ranney.
196. Charles? son of second wife, went to Ohio, m. and had: i.
Sylvester? who married, ii, Sophia? and Hi. Eliza? both of
whom married.
197. Martha? m. Zenas Wright, of Northampton, and had five
children.
198. DOROTHY, 5 b. March 15, 1757 ; d. Dec. 28, 1830; m. March 16,
1783, Medad Parsons, and had three children.
199. ELiHU, 5 b. June 21, 1761 ; d. Aug. 8, 1845 ; farmer at Northamp-
ton ; m. in 1800, Jane B. Munroe. Children:
200. Harriet? b. July 27, 1801 ; m. Oct. 6, 1830, David W. Willard,
of Springfield, and d. soon after.
201. Lewis? b. Sept. 18, 1803; d. April 9, 1809.
202. David Munroe? b. Sept. 22, 1806, in Northampton ; d. March
29, 1875 ; m. Lydia F. Rice, and had : i. Harriet? b. Sept. 15,
1838 ; d. Feb. 7, 1839. ii. Jane B.? b. May 20, 1841. III.
Frederic? b. June 18, 1843. iv, Harriet Louise? b. Oct. M,
1853.
203. THOMAS,* m. Diadema Kellogg, and settled in Westhampton ; d.
in 1798. Children:
30 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
204. Henry? b. Nov. 7, 1789 ; living in Northampton in 1870 ; m.
Aug. 17, 1815, Nancy Root, and had: i, Edward? b. Aug.
3, 1816; a farmer in Northampton; m. April 20, 1843,
Cynthia Sacket, who died, and he m. second, May 19, 1847,
Angeline C. Adams, and had: (1) Edward Thompson* la.
Feb. 14, 1851. H. Nelson? b. June 2, 1819 ; a farmer in
Northampton; unmarried in 1870. Hi. Henry, 7 b. Feb. 16,
1822; a farmer in Northampton; m. June 11, 1849, Eliza
Ann Bartlett. iv, Anson Morris? b. May 10, 1824; a
joiner in Northampton; m. June 9, 1866, Miriam Alline,
and have: (1) Mary N., 8 b. June 30, 1868. T. James? b.
March 28, 1827; a farmer in Northampton; m. Oct. 11,
1860, Juliaette Amelia Mellen, and have: (1) Henry M., 8
b. June 28, 1863; (2) Anna Juliaette, 8 b. Dec. 21, 1868.
Tii John Chopin? b. July 16, 1831 ; a mechanic in Northamp-
ton ; m. Huldah Martindale.
205. James, 6 dead in 1870.
206. Morris, 6 dead in 1870.
207. Thomas. 6 There was a Thomas Clapp who m. Phebe Black-
man in 1811 ; dead in 1870.
208. Diadema* dead in 1870.
-j-209. SYLVANUS,* b. in 1764; d. April 14, 1847, aged 83 years.
-j-210. CEPHAS,* b. Feb. 17, 1766.
211. WiLLiAM, 5 b. Jan. 14, 1767; d. Dec. 8, 1839, unmarried. He
was a very eccentric man and traded in cattle, which he was very
skilful in selecting; used to drive them to Boston.*
212. JOHN, 5 probably m. Lucy Clark, April 24, 1797, and settled in
Northampton. Had quite a family of children, but died a
comparatively young man. A son, Lucius, 6 m. and has children.
ryo
t o
ROGER 4 (Roger, 3 Preserved, 3 Roger 1 ), oldest son of Roger and
Elizabeth (Bartlett) Clapp, of Northampton, was born April 3, 1708.
He removed to Southampton. He was in the army in 1748-49, in
the regiment under the command of Major Israel Williams. Wife
Ann.
Children of ROGER and wife ANN CLAPP, of Southampton :
+213. ABNER,* b. in 1737 ; d. Dec. 5, 1800.
-f-214. JOEL,* b. in 1737, twin brother of Abner.
215. ANN,* b. Dec. 21, 174-.
216. ELIZABETH. 5
217. ABIGAIL, 5 b. Jan. 20, 1745 ; m. in 1779, John Strong, a farmer of
Southampton, being his second wife. They were parents of the
Rev. Lyman Strong. She d. Feb. 10, 1821.
* It is related of him that on one occasion while driving sheep to Boston on Sunday, in
passing a church during divine service, one of the sheep, being tired, ran into the church,
and would not come out. He tried to send a boy in after it, but the boy was shy and would
not go. So he went himself, caught the sheep and was bringing it out, when the minister
remarked to him, "The beast has more respect to the house of God than you." To which
he replied, " The Scripture tells us the sheep are to be separated from the goats ! "
ROGER AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 31
218. ROGER, 5 b. Aug. 20, 1747 ; d. in 1816 ; wife Zeruiah. Children :
219. Dennis? m., and went West; returned and d. in Southampton.
220. Russell? b. March 7, 1786 ; m. Oct., 1811, Louisa, dau. of Dea-
con Roswell Strong, of Southampton ; removed to Liberty,
Ohio, was a farmer there, and d. in December, 1854. His
wife d. April 9, 1855. Their children were: i, Emily Bis-
sett," 1 b. Nov. 14, 1813 ; m. Lester W. Cook, ii, Charles JF., 7
b. Jan. 22, 1817 ; was educated at Western Reserve College;
settled as minister over several churches, and in 1864 was
Prof, of Rhetoric and English Literature in Iowa College ; m.
1849, Jane P., dau. of John Basset, of New Haven, Ct., and
had five children, of whom the two eldest sons were in Col-
lege in 1870. Hi, Russell Kellogg? b. Oct. 5, 1823 ; m. July,
1852, Amelia Clough; a farmer in Liberty, Ohio, and had
children: (1) Theodore S., s b. July 2, 1853; (2) Jeanie Lou-
isa, 9 b. July 14, 1855. i?. Sarah Amanda? b. Oct. 1, 1828 ;
m. John E. Cowdrick.
221. Rufus C. 6
222. Angeline. 6
223. Ann, 6 m. Simeon Lyman.
224. Sally, 6 b. June, 1788; m. first, Aug., 1808, Bela Strong, who
d. Jan. 16, 1819 ; second, Aaron Parsons, of Easthampton.
She d. Sept. 11, 1848.
225. Tirzah? m. Barnabas Pomroy.
226. STEPHEN, 5 b. Dec. 10, 1749 ; was a soldier in the Revolutionary
War ; was in the vicinity of Boston, and d. there Aug. 25, 1775.
His kinsmen in Dorchester had his remains brought to that
town and laid in the old burying-ground. where a gravestone
was erected to his memory.
227. LYDiA, 5 b. Aug. 25, 1752.
228. PEREZ, 6 b. June 14, 1757 ; m. first, Mary, dau. of Rev. Joseph
Strong, of Williamsburg, Mass. ; second wife, not ascertained.
Children by first wife :
229. Polly, 6 b. Oct. 22, 1785 ; m. Stephen Pomroy ; d. Dec. 24,
1852.
230. Perez Mann, 6 b. May 5, 1788; d. unm. Oct. 11, 1815.
231. Fanny, 6 b. Nov. 23, 1790 ; m. Hon. Linus Bagg.
232. Betsey? b. March 2, 1793 ; m. Thomas Lyman.
233. Jane 6 b. March 28, 1795 ; m. Luther Colton, of Marcellus,
N. Y.
234. Clarissa? b. Jan. 7. 1798 ; m. Moses Lyman, of Chester, N. H.
Children by second wife :
235. Mehitable? m. Mr. Arnold.
236. Joseph B.? is a lawyer in Brooklyn, N. Y.
75
JONATHAN 4 (Roger? Preserved? Roger 1 }, son of Koger and
Elizabeth (Bartlett) Clapp, of Northampton, and brother of the pre-
ceding, was born in 1713; removed to Easthampton, being one of
the first settlers of the town. He married Submit Strong, and had
a large family of children, all of whom married and lived to be over
32 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
60 years of age. He was a man of great energy of character, and
was prominent in all matters connected with the early settlement
of Easthampton. He lived with his uncle, Joseph Bartlett, and
helped him carry on the ancient mill. Mr. Bartlett, having no chil-
dren of his own, gave the mill to his nephew Jonathan, who also
kept a hotel at Easthampton. He was a Major in the militia.
He died May 10, 1782, aged 69 years.
Children of JONATHAN and SUBMIT (Strong) CLAPP :
--237. JONATHAN, 5 b. Oct. 8, 1735.
--238. JOSEPH, 5 b. Nov. 3, 1736.
--239. BENJAMIN, 6 b. Dec. 16, 1738; d. Nov. 8, 1815.
240. SUBMIT, 5 b. Oct. 14, 1741 ; m. Asahel Clark, of Easthampton.
241. HANNAH, 8 b. June 15, 1742 ; m. Elias Lyman. They kept a tavern
in Northampton in 1764.
242. LucY, 5 b. Aug. 1744; m. in 1764, Samuel Kellogg, of Williams-
town.
243. RnoDA, 6 b. Dec. 19, 1746 ; m. Col. Daniel Whittemore.
244. Lois, 5 b. Oct. 1748 ; m. first, Jonathan Lyman, and second, Capt.
Joseph Day, of West Springfield.
245. PnEBE, 5 b. in 1749 ; m. Joseph White, of Springfield; moved to
Camillus, N. Y.
246. BEULAH, 5 bapt. Dec. 30, 1750; m. Rev. Solomon Allen, of
Brighton, N. Y., ancestor of Phineas Allen, for nearly sixty
years editor of the Pittsfield Sun.
247. MEKAB, 5 bapt. Oct. 19, 1755 ; m. Elisha Allen, of Pittsfield ; and
for second husband, in 1805, Oliver Root, of Conway.
-76-
AARON 4 (Roger, 3 Preserved, 3 Roger 1 ), brother of the preceding,
was born Jan. 30, 1715. He married Jemima Bartlett, and moved
to what is now Easthampton.
Children of AARON and JEMIMA (Bartlett) CLAPP :
248. AARON, 5 b. April 5, 1748 ; m., and moved to the western part of
New York State in 1808, and had:
249. Aaron, 6 b. June 6, 1771 ; d. May 1, 1830; m. Feb. 16, 1798,
Rebecca, dau. of Noah Strong, of Westhampton, b. April 19,
1770, and d. Aug. 31, 1834. They resided in Easthampton.
Children: i. Octavia? b. Sept., 1799; d. Oct. 1801. ii,
Aaron, 7 b. Aug. 26, 1801; lived in Hartford, Ct. ; m. June
22, 1829, Priscilla Hurlburt ; d. Nov. 18, 1860. Chil.: (1)
Thomas ff., 8 b. March 10, 1830, d. about 1835 ; (2) Harriet
DJ b. April 24, 1831, d. July, 1832 ; (3) Harriet D., 8 b.
Aug. 1, 1832, m. Jan., 1854, James H. Warner, and had
one son and one daughter; (4) Jane, 8 b. in 1835, d. Sept. 8,
1839 ; (5) Isabella J., 8 b. Feb. 22, 1845, m. Nov. 30, 1871,
Henry B. Starr, of New York ; (6) Anna &,' b. Sept. 22,
1847, m. Byron J. Benedict, of Cortland, N. Y. Hi. Octavia,' 1
b. June 4, 1803; m. Feb. 12, 1837, Jared C. Burdick ; d.
Nov. 18, 1864. iv. Jtebecca? b. Aug. 28, 1805 ; m. July 3,
ROGER AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 33
1828, at Easthampton, Abram Temple, and had four children.
V. Hannah} b. Sept. 1807 ; d. Dec. 1810. vi. Roland S. 7 b.
Oct. 26, 1809 ; d. in New Haven, Aug. 5, 1843, unm. Til.
Eunice A., 7 b. Oct. 28, 1811 ; m. Lewis B. Page. Viii, Han-
nah? b. Feb. 5, 1816; m. first, Sept. 4, 1839, Leander C.
Burnham, and had two children.
250. Alanson," m Luddington.
251. Quartus 6 m., and lived in New York State; had a daughter
Electa 7 who m. Lysander C. Avery.
252. Ira. 6
253. Nathan* m
254. Adolphus. 6
255. Beta? m. Electa Packard, and left sons : i, Bela 7 ii. Simmer. 7
Hi, Stabbing?
256. Benoni 6 260. Jemima. 9
257. Harvey. 6 261. Lovisa.*
258. Diodema* 262. Daughter. 6
259. Phebe 6 263. Daughter. 6
264. DAVID, S b. Sept. 9, 1750 ; probably lived in Easthampton with
his father. He married, and left at least one son, Pomeroy. 6 He
is said to have been killed in the revolutionary war.
265. JEMIMA, 6 b. Oct. 26, 1752 ; m. Paul Sheldon.
266. AcnsAH, 5 m. John Duvoy.
267. LEVI, S b. in 1760; a revolutionary soldier; m. three times; his
third w. was Elizabeth Judd, of South Hadley, b. in 1771, d. in
1856; lived in Southampton. Children:
268. Levi 6 b. Feb. 24, 1784 ; d. Jan. 20, 1856 ; m. Dec. 31, 1805,
Phebe, dau. of Benjamin Clapp,andhad : i, Lucius, 7 b. April
16, 1808; m. April 24, 1833, Sophronia Clark; lived in
Easthampton; a farmer. Children: (1) Lucy M., 9 b. March
1, 1834; m. March 1, 1859, George W. Me Williams, of
Deer Ridge, Mo. ; (2) Lucia Ann, 8 b. Jan. 22, 1838. ii.
Achsah, 7 b. Aug. 11, 1814; m. April 12, 1852, James H.
Lyman. iii. Levi Austin, 7 b. Dec. 30, 1819 ; d. Oct. 28,
1828.
269. Angeline, 6 b. June 14, 1813 ; m. Jonas Bullard, of Charlemont,
and had eight children ; living in 1873.
270. ELI, S removed to Southampton ; m. Hannah Lyman. Children :
271. Hannah, 6 m. Russell Pomeroy.
272. Eunice 6 alive in 1847 ; m. Stephen D. Hurlburt, of Southamp-
ton.
273. Roxana* m. Ellis Ripley.
274. Reuben, 6 d. when a member of Yale College.
275. Erastus 6 b. April 30, 1792 ; was a preacher; in 1835,'was at
New Marlboro', Mass. His first wife was Clarissa Smith ;
his second, Elizabeth C. Mitchell.
276. Fidelia, 6 d. when about 9 years of age.
277. Eli, 6 d. in infancy.
278. Lyman 6 dead in 1843.
5
34 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
.77.
ASAHEL 4 (Roger, 3 Preserved, 2 Roger 1 ), fourth son of Roger and
Elizabeth (Bartlett) Clapp, and brother of the preceding, was born
about 1717. He probably lived in Northampton, where he died
Jan. 20, 1777. He married Sarah Wright, who died in September,
1751.
Children of ASAHEL and SARAH (Wright) CLAPP :
279. SARAH, 6 b. Dec. 5, 1743 ; m. Solomon Weller.
280. AsAHEL, 5 m. Esther, dau. of Ebenezer Clapp, of Northampton.
He was a captain ; d. J;in. 25, 1804. There was a wife of
Lieut. Asahel Clapp who d. in Northampton, March 5, 1776;
she may have been a second wife of Capt. Asahel's father.
Children :
281. Chester, 6 once lived in Boston; m. Susan Brown, of Dorches-
ter, and lived in Northampton. Children: i, Chester.'' ii.
Susan." 1 iii, Charles?
282. Asahel, 6 m. Sarah Clark, of Northampton. A wife of an Asahel
Clapp d. in Northampton Feb. 14, 1808. Asahel 9 and Sarah
had : i, Asahel,'' who lived in the State of New York.
283. Theodore, 6 b. April 21, 1785 ; m. Betsey, dau. of Moses New-
ton ; a farmer, and lived in Northampton. Children : i.
Jane? b. Oct. 8, 1814; d. Oct. 18, 1815. ii. Elizabeth M.?
b. May 25, 1818; iii, Mary Jane? b. April 8, 1823; m.
Henry B. Graves, of Northampton, iv, Theodore, 1 b. May
21, 1826.
284. Jonas, 6 m. Martha A. Baker ; lived in Northampton. Children :
1. Chester.'' ii. Cephas? iii, Caleb? b. April 3, 1817; m.
Sarah Maria Saxton, of Charleston, S. C., March 10, 1842;
a gentleman of good estate, and lived in Hartford, Conn.
Children: (1) Henry P., 8 b. March 26, 1843; (2) Caleb T.*
b. May 22, 1844, d. Nov. 29, 1844; (3) Allen C., 8 b. Aug.
23, 1845 ; (4) Edgar T.* b. Sept. 22, 1847, d. Jan. 9, 1848;
(5) Howard Z>., 8 b. Oct. 21, 1848, d. July 9, 1851 ; (6) How-
ard S., s b. April 28, 1851 ; (7) Willie M* b. Aug. 31, 1852 ;
(8) Charles B.* b. April 5, 1854, d. April 15, 1855 ; (9) Frank, 8
b. June 15, 1856, d. Feb. 20, 1857 ; (10) Arthur S.* b.
March 25, 1858. iv. Hooker. 7 T. William R? Tl, Maria?
Tii. Allen E?
285. Caleb, 6 b. in 1789 ; probably never married. Was a lieuten-
ant in the U. S. Army, and d., it is supposed, at Fort Inde-
pendence, in Boston Harbor, Jan. 18, 1815, aged 25, and
was buried in Copp's Hill burying-ground, Boston.
286. Electa 6 m. Phineas Allen, of Pittsfield, editor of the Pittsfield
Sun for sixty years, who was b. in Northampton, Aug. 11,
1776, and d. in Pittsfield, May 8, 1860.
287. Sarah, 6 m. Hon. Henry H. Childs, of Pittsfield, Lieut. Gov.
of Massachusetts in 1843 ; a celebrated physician, and one of
the founders of the Berkshire Med. Institution in Pittsfield ;
was much in public life, and d. in Boston March 22, 1868,
aged 85.
ROGER AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 35
288. ELiSHA, 5 b. Nov. 21, 1750; m. May 24, 1779, Rachel Brown;
d. in 1784, leaving one son (Elisha, 6 who d. young). His
widow Rachel m. for second husband, Medad Strong, of North-
ampton, and d. Dec. 1833, aged 76.
289. AzAKiAH, 6 d. Feb. 15, 1819 ; m. Esther Tileston, of Dorchester,
Mass. She d. Jan. 20, 1821. Children:
290. Azariah, 6 m Brown, and lived in New Hampshire.
291. Elisha? b. Sept 27, 1797 ; m. Frances, dau. of Ebenezer Clapp.
292. Timothy* never married.
293. Lewis, 6 m. and lived in Princeton, 111.
294. Charlotte, 6 m. Mr. Ferry, of Springfield.
295. Hannah, 6 m. and lived in Northfield.
296. REUBEN,* removed to the western part of the State of Vermont,
and had a large family.
297. SOLOMON, 6 lived to grow up, but was never married.
298. CHESTER,* d. a young man, unmarried, Sept. 18, 1777.
299. 0ALEB, 5 was educated at Yale College ; was studying medicine, and
d. at Westfield, unmarried.
78-
SUPPLY 4 (Roger, 3 Preserved, 3 Roger 1 ), brother of the preceding,
was born in Northampton about 1721. He was married and pro-
bably lived in Northampton. He was in the service of his country
during the French war, was a sergeant in the regiment under the
command of Col. Seth Pomeroy, and was taken prisoner at Lake
George, in the capture of which fort that regiment took an important
part. His name was on the sick list returned by Thomas Wil-
liams, Surgeon, Nov. 23, 1755. He was in the expedition to Crown
Point, in the company of Capt. Elisha Hawley. Mrs. Clapp died
March 4, 1755, and he survived her many years, dying in 1784.
Children of SUPPLY and wife CLAPP :
300. SUPPLY, 5 m. June 29, 1796, Polly Smith, of Sunderland, and had
Justus* and Moseley ; 6 also daughters, Sarah, 6 Hannah 6 and
Lucretia? A Supply d. in Northampton, June 20, 1800, and
the wife of a Supply d. there Sept. 20, 1795.
301. LTDIA. 6 303. ABIGAIL. 6
302. SARAH. 6 304. MARTHA. 6
One of their children, probably an infant, d. Feb. 24, 1755.
79
CHARLES* (Roger? Preserved, 3 Roger 1 }, sixth son of Roger and
Elizabeth (Bartlett)^Clapp, and brother of the preceding, was born
in 1725. There was a Charles who was a sailor in the sloop
Mermaid, Capt. Lincoln, in the expedition eastward, in 1754; per-
haps not this Charles, but another, a descendant of .Thomas. He
married Dorcas, who after his death, which occurred Aug. 11, 1767,
married Joel Clark.
36 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
Children of CHARLES and wife DORCAS CLAPP :
305. ELIAKIM, 5 removed to Chesterfield, Mass., and m. Pamelia, dau. of
Dr. Elihu Wright, surgeon in the revolutionary army. Eliakim
was a soldier in the same army four years before his marriage,
and was present at the execution of Maj. Andre, Oct. 2, 1780.
After his marriage, he moved to Chester, Mass., where he d. at
the age of 81 years. His wife survived him ten years, and d. at
the age of 84. Children :
306. Rachel? m. Harvey Stone, and had six children.
307. Theodocia 6 b. April 4, 1792 ; m. first, Eleazer Ring, of East-
hampton, and had two children ; second, Oct. 19, 1825, James,
son of John Clapp,* of Easthampton, and had three children.
308. Pamelia, 6 m. Otis Taylor, of Chester, and resided in Hinsdale ;
they had eight children.
309. Dorcas, 6 b. in 1800; d. Oct. 3, 1860; m. Simeon P. Clark,
and had twelve children.
310. Augustus 6 m. first, Theodocia Lyman; second Almira Clapp,
his cousin. Children by 1st wife: i Hattie? m. Lewis Clark,
of Easthampton ; had five children, the eldest burnt to
death, aged 7 years 3 mos. ii. Elvira? d. aged 17 years.
iii. Henry? m. Ellen Belden, had three children, and lived
in Easthampton. iv, a son, 7 drowned in going from school,
aged 5 years. Y. a child, 7 d. in infancy.
311. Eliakim 6 m. and d. in Mobile, leaving a son, Henry E.? who d.
in Worcester about 1862, leaving a son Charles Henry. 6
312. Charles, 6 m. Louisa Day, and moved to Meadville, Pa., where
he d. at the age of 60. Children: i, Mary Ann? m. James
Elder, and lived in Meadville, Pa. ii. Stillman Sprague? m.
in California, and has two children, ill, Martha? killed,
aged 7, by an ox sled falling on her. They also had five
children who d. in infancy.
313. Stittman Sprague? b. in 1806 ; d. March 14, 1866. He went
to New York when he was a young man, and for nearly
twenty-five years was one of the firm of Lawrence, Trimble
& Co., merchants. He afterwards moved to Bridgeport, Ct.,
where he d., being Mayor of the city at the time of his death.
He m. first, Lizzie Lamb, and had five children, but one of
whom lived : I. Mary Treat, 7 who m. Edward N. Stebbins,
of Summit, N. J. He m. second, Mary Louisa Stagg, and
had: ii. William Haynes? who d. iii. Eddie. 1 iv. Sattie
Somers 1 V, Arthur Percy? After his death, the family re-
turned to New York.
314. Alonzo, 6 m. first, Esther Day, who lived but a few months ;
second, Fidelia Taylor. They lived in Chester, Mass. Chil-
dren : i, Esther? m. Egbert Rude, of Huutington ; ii. Eliza. 7
iii. Pamelia. 1 iv, Emma? V, Mary. 1 if. Susie 1 vii, Frank
Taylor? lived in Nora, 111. viii. Freddie? and two who died.
Eliakim 5 and Pamelia had four other children, who d. in infancy.
315. No AH, 5 lived to manhood, but was never married.
316. ISRAEL, 5 m. and moved to Aurelius, Cayuga co., N. Y. ; had 10
children, his fifth child being Othniel 6 who had a son E. D. 1
* John Clapp and his descendants have not been identified with any known branch of
the Clapp family. (See Appendix.)
ROGER AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 37
317. DORCAS, 5 m. Oliver Clapp, of Westhampton.
318. MiRiAM, 5 m. Eleazer Hannam, of Easthampton.
One child of Charles 4 died Feb. 8, 1759.
-81-
SIMEON 4 (Roger, 3 Preserved, 2 Roger 1 ), eighth and youngest son
of Roger and Elizabeth (Bartlett) Clapp, was born in 1728. He
was in the service as a soldier in 1748, in the regiment commanded
by Lieut. Col. Dwight. He was afterwards a Captain ; and he also
practised as a physician. He married Sarah Clark, who was born
in 1738, and died June 22, 1823. They probably lived at North-
ampton, where he died Feb. 25, 1812, aged 84 years.
Children of SIMEON and SARAH (Clark) CLAPP:
319. SiMEON, 5 b. Dec. 6, 1758; d. young, probably in 1759.
320. SiMEON, 5 b. Nov. 7, 1759; d. in Northampton, May 31, 1851,
aged 92 years. He m. Oct. 9, 1783, Patty Root. Children :
321. Zenas, 6 m. Belinda Dickinson, of Hadley, and had children.
322. Sarah, 6 not married.
323. Martha 6 not married.
324. QuARTDS, 5 b. April 18, 1762; m. Electa, dau. of Ebenezer and
Asenath Sheldon, and probably lived in Westfield; d. March 13,
1792, aged 30 years.
325. BoHAK, 5 b. Aug. 17, 1764; m. Dec. 15, 1792, Ann Levake; d.
Sept. 18, 1826, aged 62 years. Children :
326. Daniel 6 b. May 21, 1794.
327. Quartus, 6 b. Dec. 25, 1796.
328. Wealthy 6 b. Oct. 27, 1798.
329. Nancy, 6 b. Oct. 10, 1800.
330. Hannah 6 b. Oct. 19, 1802.
331. Martha, 6 b. Nov. 17, 1806.
332. Naomi, 6 b. June 10, 1814.
-f-333. CHARLES. 5 b. Oct. 18, 1767 ; removed to Worthington.
334. WARHAM, 5 b. Nov. 24, 1770; wife Sophia; he lived in Northamp-
ton ; d. Oct. 7, 1852, aged 82 years. The following brief ex-
tract from the Hampshire Gazette, of Northampton, relates an
interesting and praiseworthy incident connected with the family
of Warham Clapp : " The Last of the Indians. Sally Maminash
died in this town Jan. 3, 1853, aet. 88 years. She was the last
of the Indian race in Northampton. She was the daughter of
Elizabeth Occom, of Mohegan, near Norwich, Ct. Her father
was Joseph Maminash. Under the infirmities of age, she found
an excellent Christian friend who took her into her own family,
saying, 'As long as I live, Sally shall be provided for.' Such
was the noble purpose of charity of Mrs. Sophia Clapp, the wife
of Warham Clapp, which she carried into effect. After Mrs.
C.'s death, her son Edward Clapp and his wife continued to the
last the same charity." Children of Warham and Sophia:
335. Simeon, 6 m., lived in Worthington, and had children. t
336. Edward 6 m Wright, and lived in Northampton.
337. Samuel, 6 married, and died soon after, leaving no children.
338. Elijah 6 m Hartshorn, and lived in Northampton.
38 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
339. Sidney, 6 lived in Northampton, unm.
340. Sophia, 6 m. Mr. Davis, and lived in Chesterfield.
341. Elizabeth, 6 in. Sylvester Bridgman, and lived in Northampton.
342. SEREXO, 6 b. Nov. 1, 1772 ; d. Jan. 3, 1833, aged 60 years. He
m. Nov. 1, 1800, Lydia Patterson; probably left children, but
their names have not been ascertained. A child of a Sereno
Clapp d. Dec. 20, 1806.
82
THOMAS 4 (Thomas, 3 Preserved? Roger 1 ), son of Thomas and
Mary (King) Clapp, was born in Northampton, March 6, 1712. It
is probable that he married Colt. He lived on a farm in
Hartford, Ct., about a mile and a half west of Hartford City, near
Rocky Hill. He was in the French war of 1756, taken prisoner,
and carried to Quebec.
Children of THOMAS and (Colt?) CLAPP:
343. ROGER, 6 served during the war of the Revolution on board a Pri-
vateer or a U. S. ship of war. Whether he was ever married
is not known,
-f 344. THOMAS. 5
85
ELIJAH 4 (Thomas, 3 Preserved* Roger 1 ), youngest son of Thomas
and Mary (King) Clapp, and brother of the preceding, resided in
Hartford, Ct., where he died May 13, 1777. He married, about
1735, Mary Benton.
Children of ELIJAH and MART (Benton) CLAPP :
345. ELIJAH,* lived and died in Hartford ; m. Marian Jones.
346. NORMAX, 6 settled in Weathersfield, Conn., and d. there. He m., in
1782, Huldah Wright, and perhaps afterwards Mary Frances
Wright. Children :
347. John, 6 drowned in the North River, aged 36; m. Nov. 2, 1806,
Mary Kilby, and had: i. Elias,' b. May, 1810. H. Huldah
ft'., 7 b. Sept, 1811. Mi. Mary? twin sister of Huldah W..
b. Sept. 1811. IV. Elizabeth'' b. Oct. 1813; m. Mr. Simpson.
T, Clarissa,' m. Edwin Merritt Ti. John, 1 a minister, d. aged
25. Tii. Harriet,' d. aged 34. viil. Daniel, 1 b. Aug. 25. 1818 ;
m. Jan. 13, 1841, Elizabeth Beadle, b. May 5, 1824, and
had: (1) John J3., 8 b. July 4, 1842 in the wholesale irou
and steel business in Hartford m. Sept. 17, 1867, Leila F.
Blodgett, dau. of Uoswell Blodgett, Esq.. of Hartford was
one of the committee appointed at the Northampton Clapp
gathering to arrange for the second meeting of the family
at Boston, in which he was actively and efficiently engaged
had a son Rosicell J,, 9 b. in Hartford, June 10. 1871 ; (2)
Bentley T., 8 b. Nov. 6, 1844, d. July 12, 1845; (3) Sher-
man .,* b. March 13, 1846, m. Sept. 5, 1866, Mary F.
Winship, and has three children ; (4) Henry, 8 b. Sept. 4,
ROGER AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 39
1847, d. Aug. 11, 1848 ; (5) Edward, 6 b. April 2, 1852, d.
May 1, 1852 ; (6) Daniel C., s b. Jan. 10, 1854, d. Dec. 1,
1873, from injuries received by a fall. Daniel 7 d. Oct., 1854
348. Charles* m. Sarah Burke.
349. RoswelL*
350. Norman?
351. OLIVER, 5 b. in 1760 ; d. in Hartford, 1840, aged about 60 years.
He m. Lucy Goodwin, and they had :
352. Henry, 6 b. in Hartford, Aug. 8, 1783 ; d. Aug. 21, 1873. A
very active, respectable man, and a bookbinder by trade ; he
removed to Nan tucket in June, 1809 ; m. first, in May, 1810,
Eliza Stoddard, dau. of Miles and Bathsheba Sloddard, of
Taunton, Mass. They had: i, Eliza ., 7 b. Feb. 21, 1811.
Mrs. C. afterwards continued in poor health till Oct. 21, 1811,
when she died at her father's house, while on a visit there.
Henry 6 m. second, in Dec., 1812, Rebecca Coffin, dau. of
William Coffin. They had four children born within the space
of one year, viz., ii, William? and ill, Henry,'' twins, b. Nov.
17, 1813; both d. within a few weeks ; iv, Henry," 1 and V.
Rebecca? twins, b. Nov. 11, 1814. Henry 7 was a merchant
in Boston, and subsequently removed to the South. His
death is announced while this work is passing through the
press, as occurring in New York, April 10, 1875, and the
Boston Daily Globe of the 13th contains the following brief
notice of his career and death :
" With the death of Henry Clapp, long known as the
' King of the Bohemians,' fades the memory of one of the
most peculiar cliques of roystering literary characters ever
known. Not long ago, Ada Clare, the ' Queen of Bohemia,'
died, a victim of that strange malady, hydrophobia, and the
rest of the Colony that once met at Pfaff's beer saloon on
Broadway, to enliven the midnight hour with songs and jokes
and reckless repartee, are either dead or dispersed or turned
respectable. It required a peculiar genius to call together and
keep together such a company The life of Henry
Clapp was a strange one. He was born in Nantucket, and
in his early life he was a sailor. Afterwards he appeared as
a temperance lecturer and an ardent advocate of the abolition
of slavery, travelling extensively in the cause of reform. He
was for some time in Paris, and after his return he made a
translation of some of the socialistic works of Fourier. His
first journalistic experience was in editing an antislavery
paper at Lynn, but he was best known as the founder of the
Saturday Press and Vanity Fair in New York. Both of
these were too bright and too impracticable to last. Many
of the brightest of the Bohemians were contributors to Vanity
Fair, but all their wit could not keep it alive. Clapp after-
wards became well known as ' Figaro ' of the Leader, a
paper at one time owned and edited by Mayor Hall, and lat-
terly he obtained a precarious livelihood writing paragraphs
for the Daily Graphic and sending occasional contributions
to dramatic or musical journals from a New Jersey farm-
house. His talent was essentially that of the French Feuille-
40 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
tonistes, bright, keen and witty, but unsubstantial and ephe-
meral. In character he was of the essence of Bohemia,
reckless and witty, caring and thinking little of the serious
concerns of life, but living as those who say, 'let us eat,
drink and be merry, for to-morrow we die.' That to-morrow
of death has come for Henry Clapp, and no one can have the
heart to throw anything but the mantle of charity over his
bier." The New York Times, in relation to the origin and
purpose of the circle called " The Bohemians," says : " The
intention was to establish here the Bohemianism so charm-
ingly described by the French author, Henry Burger. It
was not an association, nor a club; there was no regular
organization, for regularity is the very opposite of Bohemian-
ism. The custom was to drop in, after theatre hours, at
PfafFs lager beer saloon, in Broadway, near Bleecker street,
and there, in a large vault under the side-walk, enjoy the
luxuries of pipe, beer, lunch, songs, and free conversation,
until the late hours of the morning."
Rebecca, 7 twin sister of Henry, 7 m. Augustus Morse. The
other children of Henry 6 and Eliza were: VI, William F.
HJ b. Aug. 8, 1816 ; m. and lived in Hartford. Ill.Emily?
b. Jan. 17, 1819 ; m. George G. Coffin, and had several chil-
dren ; Viii. Harriet P., 7 b. Feb. 12, 1822 ; m. James W.
Hazard, and lived in Mobile. IX. George G.? b. June 9,
1824; lived in Boston, and was in the book and stationery
business, x. Augustus? b. Dec. 25, 1828 ; d. a young man,
unmarried.
353. Betsey? b. March 18, 1785 ; unm.
354. Ann? b. April 27, 1787 ; unm.
355. Abigail? b. Feb. 18, 1789; d. July 23, 1794.
356. Oliver? b. Dec. 25, 1790 ; m Butler, of New York.
357. Mary? b. Feb. 13, 1793; unm.
358.' Abigail? b. Feb. 27, 1795 ; d. Oct. 31, 1820, aged 25 years.
359. Ashur? b. Nov. 30, 1797 ; m. in New York.
360. Timothy G.? b. Feb. 12, 1800; d. Jan. 14, 1842; m. April 25,
1824, Eliza W., dau. of Joseph W. Plaskett. Children:
1. Joseph IT., 7 b. in 1825. ii. Henry P., 1 b. about 1826.
Hi. Walter,' 1 b. about 1829.
361. Horace? b. April 18, 1802 ; d. in Cincinnati, leaving a widow
and two children.
362. Walter? b. April 23, 1806 ; m Spence, of E. Hartford,
and removed to Norwich, Conn. Had two sons : Walter? b.
about 1832 ; and Edward? b. about 1834.
363. Lucy? m. Horatio N. Stebbins, and lived in New York city.
364. JOHN,* m. Mabel Colton ; lived and d. in Hartford.
365. ELIZABETH,* m. William Bruce.
366. EuNiCE, 5 m. Samuel Steele.
367. MARY,* m. Thomas Steele, brother of Samuel.
368. ANNE, 6 m. Neal McNeal.
369. SARAH,* m. John Roberts.
Of the above family,. all except Norman were born, lived and died
in Hartford. A son of Oliver informs me that the descendants
of Elijah are numerous, and scattered over all parts of the
country.
ROGER AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 41
88
ABNER 5 (Samuel* Samuel, 3 Samuel* Roger 1 ), son of Samuel and
Mindwell (Bird) Clapp, was born Dec. 23, 1732. He lived in
Dorchester, in a house at the Five Corners, on land afterwards
owned by the Hon. Ebenezer Seaver, and since by Mr. Thomas W.
Tuttle. He married, Nov. 2, 1757, Hannah Hoits, of Roxbury.
He died in Dorchester, May 25, 1799, in the 67th year of his age.
Children of ABNER and HANNAH (floits) CLAPP:
370. MARY, B b. Aug 27, 1758 ; d. Aug. 15, 1759.
371. MARY,* b. March 2, 17 GO ; m. Mr. Cook.
372. SUPPLY, 6 b. Sept. 6, 1763 ; m. Hannah Daniels. He followed
the seas, and is supposed to have been a privateer during the
latter part of the Revolutionary War.
373. SAMUEL, 6 b. Jan. 27, 1767 ; d. Oct. 4, same year.
374. JAMES,* b. Oct. 30, 1770 ; d. Jan. 7, 1827. He was a carpenter
by trade, and served his time with a Mr. Clement, at the corner
of Milk and Atkinson (now Congress) streets in Boston. Was
for several years the sexton of the Old South Church. He is
represented as a very honest man, but not of much energy in
business. He was m. in Boston, Feb. 18, 1795, to Nancy Has-
sel. They had a daughter Nancy? b. about 1797, who m.
Daniel S. Harrington, who afterwards lived in South Boston,
and whose daughter, Sarah A. Harrington, attended the Clapp
Family gathering at Northampton in 1870.
375. OnvER 6 , b. April 12, 1774. Was a sailor, and was drowned pre-
viously to 1799. He m. Tamson Burns, and they had a son
Oliver? who was living in Portland in 1842.
93
JOHN 5 (Benjamin* Samuel., 3 Samuel, 2 Roger 1 ), youngest son of
Benjamin and Hannah (Baker) Clapp, of Stoughton, was born in
1736. He settled in Stoughton, and married, first, Jan. 27, 1763,
Submit Davenport, of Dorchester, who died in 1779, aged 39 years;
second, Patience Gay, who died in 1809, aged 60 years. He died
in Stoughton, in 1809, aged 73 years.
Children of JOHN and 1st wife SUBMIT (Davenport) CLAPP:
376. HAXNAH, 6 m. John Wadsworth, removed to Winthrop, Me., and
had a large family of children.
377. MARY, B m. Eliphalet Monk, had one child and died.
378. JOHN, 6 b. in 1776 ; m. first, Esther Merriam, who d. in 1839,
aged 76 years, leaving no children. He afterwards m. Elizabeth
Cummings, and was living in 1843 a large-framed man;
then suffering from a cancer in the eye.
Children of JOHN and 2d wife PATIENCE (Gay) CLAPP:
379. JAMES, 6 b. in 1782, and d. in 1810, aged 29 years. He was Lieu-
tenant of a military company ; m. Mary Dickinson, and had :
6
42 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
380. Bradford bobbins, 7 b. in 1806 ; d. in 182T, aged 21 years.
381. James, 1 d. in 1811, aged 22 months.
382. SAMUEL, 6 b. in 1786 ; d. in 1817, aged about 32 years; m. Sally
Packard, and had:
383. Hannah 1 b. in 1809 ; m. Goram Upham, and d. in 1833, aged
24 years.
384. James, 7 b. in 1811 ; d. in 1834, unm., aged 23 years.
385. Isaiah? b. in 1814 ; d. in 1832, aged 18 years.
386. Charlotte? b. in 1817; d. in 1833, aged 16.
This family of children thus all died in early life.
387. BENJAMIN, 6 b. March 27, 1789 ; a carpenter by trade, lived in
Stoughton, and a very respectable man. He m. Dec. 20, 1819,
Ruth Drake, who was b. Dec. 16, 1798. Children :
388. Benjamin Russell? b. Dec. 11, 1820 ; resided in North Bridge-
water; m. Dec. 30, 1849, Elizabeth Standish, of Warren,
Me., and had : i. Lizzie Maria* b. Feb. 26, 1851 ; d. March
12, 1870. ji, Georgiana S., 8 b. Sept. 10, 1854.
389. Ruth? b. Sept. 15, 1822 ; m. Nov. 11, 1851, Alpheus Gurney,
who was b. in N. Bridge water, Jan. 13, 1818.
390. Mary? b. Aug. 10, 1824; m. Jan. 1, 1849, Isaac M. Monk, of
Stoughton, who was b. there Dec. 24, 1817.
391. Samuel? b. Sept. 26, 1826; m. March 9, 1852, Sarah J.
Pierce, b. in Stoughton, Sept. 1831. Children: i, Albert
jF., 8 b. Dec. 18, 1853. \\.ElleryP.f b. Jan. 29, 1857. Hi.
Clarence W.* b. Sept. 11, 1859. \\.Hattie F.,* b. March
27, 1864.
392. Patience Gay? b. May 21, 1829 ; d. Aug. 31, 1831.
393. Susan? b. June 9, 1832 ; has been teaching at the South, and
in 1870 was in the missionary service in Boston.
394. James Bradford? b. July 31, 1839; m. Dec. 15, 1870, Eliza
Phillips, and lived in Westfield.
98-
THOMAS 5 (Thomas* Samuel, 3 Samuel* Roger 1 ), oldest child of
Thomas and Elizabeth (Preston) Clapp, of Dorchester, was born
Aug. 14, 1736. He married, Jan. 10, 1760, Mary Wales, who sur-
vived him about one year and died Sept. 1, 1808, aged 70. He
died Sept. 7, 1807, aged 71 years.
Children of THOMAS and MARY (Wales) CLAPP :
395. SusANNA, 6 b. Sept. 20, 1760. She was never married, and kept
house for her brother* Charles. She was much respected during
life, and died at a good old age.
396. MAitY, 6 b. Sept. 9, 1762 ; d. unm., April 20, 1790, aged 28 years.
397. ABIGAIL,* b. Aug. 2, 1766; m. Feb. 5, 1795, Oliver Bird, of Dor-
chester. He died Sept. 24, 1806, aged 45. She lived for many
years in a house in Dorchester, near the Roxbury line on the
old road to Boston. In 1846, she removed into a new house in
Columbia St. She was a smart, active woman, and d. Feb. 4,
1848, aged 81 years.
398. JAMES, 6 b. Aug. 27, 1769. He m. Elizabeth Gleason, and lived
in a house in Columbia Street. Children :
ROGER AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 43
399. George? b. in Oct. 1796; ra Gordon, and had: I.
George? who went to sea, and was lost from steamer Quincy,
off Cape Hatteras. ii, Henry* who moved to Illinois. Hi.
Margaret? b. about 1824; m. John Tucker, and lived in
Watertown. i?t Benjamin? b. about 1826, d. in 1842.
V. Sarah? b. about 1827; m. Mr. Hodgkins, and lived in
Roxbury. vi, Albert? b. Aug. 31, 1829; m. Louisa A.
Rollins, and lived in Dorchester.
400. Mary? b. Jan. 7, 1799; m. Dec. 10, 1823, Antipas Jackson, of
Newton, Mass., and had three children.
401. AUgail? m. Mr. Witherell, of Newton.
402. Elizabeth? b. about 1806; unm., and lives where her great-
grand-father, Thomas Clapp, did in Dorchester.
403. Sman? b. Aug. 3, 1807; d. June, 1871. She m. Joseph G.
Bannister, of Framingham, and had two children.
404. Lwcinda? d. young.
405. James? d. young.
406. CHARLES,* b. Sept. 5, 1772. He lived for many years unm. in
Dorchester, on the main road to Roxbury, a few rods south
of the Gov. Eustis estate, and near the brook which then sepa-
rated Dorchester from Roxbury. In 1847, when in his 75th
year, he m. Mrs. Mary P. Richards. His estate was sold to the
Metropolitan Horse Railroad Co., as a location for the Com-
pany's stables, and he removed to Stoughton, where he d. in
February, 1861, in his 89th year. He was honest, simple-
hearted, industrious, temperate and frugal, and moderate in all
his movements. He once met an acquaintance in Boston who
was a printer, and asked him in all sincerity how much it would
cost to print him a Bible. He could not find in the stores, he
said, just the kind he wanted ; and if he had one printed on
purpose for him, he thought he could be better suited !
407. LucY, 6 b. Oct. 21, 1779; d. May 22, 1780.
-1O8-
PRESERVED 5 (Preserved* Preserved, 3 Preserved? Roger 1 ), oldest
son of Preserved and Sarah (West) Clapp, of Amherst, was born
May 6, 173 1 . He was a soldier in the old French war, being a
corporal in the company under the command of Israel Williams.
He afterwards practised medicine, and was called Doctor ; was a
very ingenious man and of singular habits. He was the inventor of
a machine* which seems to have done good service at the beginning
of the Revolutionary war, and for which service he was paid out of
the State Treasury. The name of his wife has not been obtained.
He lived in Amherst.
* " DR. CLAPP'S GCN CARRIAGE. Bftston, Nov. 11, 1776. This may certify, that Dr.
Preserved Clapp has opened the cannon at Castle William, that were spiked by the enemy ;
and is the real inventor of a carnage, whereby the cannon that had their trunnions broke
off, by this new invented carriage, the guns are rendered serviceable, which otherwise
would have been useless.
Attest, RICHARD GRIDLEY,
[Lidependent Chronicle.'] Chief Engineer."
44 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
Children of Dr. PRESERVED and CLAPP :
+408. ROSWELL,' b. in 1766 ; d. in 1843.
409. REUBEN, 6 d. young.
410. EUNICE,' m. Capt. John Willard, of Charlestown.
411. CHARLOTTE,' bapt. April 22, 1770; m. first, Mr. Parmelee ; m.
second, Dr. Reed, and was living in 1843.
-123-
JOHN 5 (John* Preserved, 3 Preserved? Roger 1 ), oldest son of John
and Eunice (Parsons) Clapp, of Montague, Mass., was born March
3, 1138. He married Eunice Smead, and settled in Deerfield.
Children of JOHN and EUNICE (Smead) CLAPP:
4-412. JOHN, 6 m. Phebe Ross, and had a large family of children.
4-413. ELisHA, 6 m. Asenath Taylor ; d. Feb. 3, 1835.
-j-414. JOSEPH, 6 b. in August, 1770; lived in Montague.
415. ERASTUS, 6 b. July 30, 1771 ; d. Sept. 12, 1851. He m. May 15,
1794, Catharine Ross, sister to the wife of his brother John.
She died June 17, 1832. They lived in Deerfield. Children :
416. Cephas? b. Jan. 1, 1797 ; m. April 17, 1828, Emily Boyden.
They lived in Deerfield, and had children : i. Mary Amanda*
b. Aug. 6, 1829 ; d. Jan. 2, 1836. ii. Frances Maria* b.
March 20, 1831 ; d. Dec. 15, 1836. iii, Cephas Gerry* b.
Sept. 18, 1833 ; is a farmer in South Deerfield ; m. Sept. 24,
1856, Martha Cook Palmer, of Deerfield, and had: (1)
Arthur G.? b. Jan. 3, 1862; (2) Jennie P., 9 b. Aug. 15,
1863; (3) Willie S., 9 b. Aug. 17, 1865; (4) Harriet A., 9 b.
. Nov. 23, 1867. iy, Samuel fioss* b. Oct. 19, 1835; d.
March 8, 1836. V, Francis, 6 b. Dec. 4, 1837. VI. Emily
Boyden* b. Aug. 2, 1840. Vii, Charlotte Maria* b. Sept. 12,
1842.
417. Erastus Gerry? b. Dec. 16, 1798; d. Aug. 16, 1803.
418. Albert Smead? b. April 23, 1801; d. Aug. 6, 1803.
419. Martha? b. June 19, 1804; m. Henry Smithy They lived in
South Deerfield, and had ten children. ^^\ Jafl. ^
420. Albert? b. Sept. 28, 1806; m. April, 1840, Julia A. Arms,
and had: i, Amanda A.* b. Sept. 12, 1846. Albert 7 d.
May 4, 1873.
421. Melinda? b. Nov. 5, 1809 ; d. April 1, 1840.
422. Catharine G.? b. Dec. 13, 1813 ; m. Aug. 10, 1848, Joel Fish,
and had two children. Mr. Fish d. Sept. 28, 1868, and she
m. Feb. 28, 1870, Hiram Clapp, of S. Deerfield; he d.
March 1, 1871.
423. A daughter? m. Orsanius Smith, and removed to Ohio.
424. SETH, 6 m. Anna Cantral. He once lived in Sunderland, but pro-
bably afterwards went to Greenfield. Children :
425. Parvin? b. June 14, 1802; a carpenter and pump-maker in
Springfield ; m. Lucinda Cobb, and had : i. Lucinda* b. Oct.
25, 1827. ii, Lucretia* b. June 26, 1829.
426. Miranda? b. April 2, 1804; m. Mr. Fairchild, brother of Rev.
Joy H. Fairchild, formerly of South Boston.
ROGER AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 45
427. Philo? b. May 26, 1806; a wheelwright in Westboro'; m.
and had: i. Seth* ii, Reuben.*
428. Clarissa,' 1 b. Sept. 14, 1808 ; m. Mr. Ball.
429. David Knight,' 1 b. Oct. 30, 1810.
430. Susanna? b. Aug. 25, 1813; m. Mr. Jacobs, and lived in
Cabotville.
431. Ann Elizabeth? b. Jan. 9, 1816.
432. Fidelia? b. April 25, 1818.
433. Turzey Smith? b. Nov. 2, 1820 ; m. and lived in Springfield.
434. EUNICE,* m. for her first husband, David Childs,of Deerfield; and
for her second, Elisha Bogue. She was living in 1843.
435 CLARISSA,* m. Samuel Field, of Deerfield, and d. about 1835.
-153-
EZRA 8 (Ezra* Preserved, 3 Preserved, 2 Roger 1 ), only son of Ezra
and wife Margaret Clapp, of Westfield, was born May 24, 1760,
and died June 17, 1838. He married, Feb. 22, 1781, Grace Mather,
of Westfield, and moved to Turin, N. Y. His wife was a descen-
dant of Rev. Dr. Cotton Mather; she died March 20, 1842.
Children of EZRA and GRACE (Mather) CLAPP:
436. ELIZABETH," b. Sept. 29, 1781; m. December, 1800, Lyman
Lewis ; d. Aug. 28, 1803.
437. ROLAND,* b. Aug. 14, 1784; m. Mrs. Martha Gerrish ; in 1819,
was in Pensacola, Fla.; afterwards lived in Washington, D. C. ;
d. Jan. 17, 1828.
438. JOHN, 6 b. April 16, 1786; m. Eliza C. Flint, dau. of Dr. Austin
' Flint, of Leicester ; resided iu Boston, and afterwards in Leices-
ter; d. Jan. 8, 1852. Children :
439. Elizabeth, 1 b. May 23, 1818 ; d. in Leicester, unm.
440. John Mather, 7 b. Feb. 1, 1820; d. about 1839.
441. Samuel,'' b. July 30, 1826 ; m. Mrs. C. A. Drurnmond, of
Flatlands, L. I., dau. of John A. Lott. One child : i, Fannie, 8
b. Nov. 21, 1855.
442. Austin,'' b. Sept. 21, 1828; in Pennsylvania.
443. Julia,'' b. Dec. 26, 1830; m. Joseph C. Pyncheon, of Spring-
field, and lives in that city.
444. Laura? b. Jan. 31, 1835 ; in Leicester.
445. SAMUEL, 6 b. June 22, 1788; lived in Rio Janeiro, S. A., unm.
446. PAUL, 6 i). April 14, 1790; was at Detroit, Mich., in 1819, unm.
447. JAMES,M>. Aug, 7, 1792 ; lived in Turin, N. Y.; d. unm., Feb. 1,
1848.
-j-448. JOSHUA," b. May 15, 1794; d. Nov. 8, 1841.
449. TIMOTHY MATHER,' b. Aug. 12, 1796; resided in Boston, unm.;
usually went by the name of Mather; d. March 29, 1823.
450. HORACE," b. July 30, 1798; d. Feb. 12, 1864; m. Lucretia Ives,
and lived in Turin, N. Y. Children :
451. Horace Mather? b. Sept. 19, 1822; d. June 5, 1846. He re-
sided in Boston, and was engaged in the dry goods business;
was a worthy young man ; d. of consumption at the early
age of 24 years.
46 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
452. John Ives, 1 b. May 20, 1824; lived in Utica, N. Y.; in 1856,
was in New York, in the dry goods business.
453. CYNTHIA, 6 b. June 9, 1800; lived in Roxbury, unm.
454. CAROLINE,* b. April 20, 1802; d. April 28, 1802.
455. ELIZABETH,* b. Aug. 30, 1803; m. Henry B. Stone, for many
years president of the Suffolk Bank in Boston. They lived in
Boston, and had a large family of children.
456. CHARLES,* b. June 2, 1807; m. Harriet Kent; lived in Akron,
Ohio, and had five children. He united with the Shakers in
April, 1846. The family afterwards lived in Brooklyn, N. Y.,
with her brother, Henry A. Kent. Children :
457. Hannah L.? b. Oct., 1832 ; .d. in 1844.
458. Charles KJ b. Jan. 14, 1838; clerk with his uncle, Henry A.
Kent, in Brooklyn, N. Y. An interesting letter was received
from him soon after the Family Gathering in Northampton in
1870.
459. Etta Mather? b. Aug. 16, 1840.
460. George A., 1 b. March 3, 1843.
461. Edward L., 7 b. Aug. 3, 1845.
ELIJAH 6 (Samuel* Samuel, 3 Preserved, 2 Roger 1 }, oldest son of
Samuel and Mindwell (Strong) Clapp, of Southampton, was born
May 3, 1736. He married, in 1760, Submit Clark, and lived in
Southampton.
Children of ELIJAH and SUBMIT (Clark) CLAPP:
462. ELIJAH."
463. BELA.* (A Bela d. April 3, 1811.)
464. LuTHER, 6 m. first ...... Hulbert, of Southampton ; second, Betsey
Leach, of Southampton. Children by second wife :
465. Luther Clark,'' d. in 1860; m. first, Rebecca Bills; m. second,
Charlotte A. Wright, dau. of James Wright, of Montgomery,
Mass. Children by second wife: \, Horatio W., s a dentist
in Westfield, Mass. ; m. Martha P., dau. of John and Sarah
Flagg, Nov. 29, 1869. ii, Rebecca. 9 iii, Kate*m. Jan., 1859,
Charles Mclntire ; d. July, 1859. IV, John H., s lived in
North Eaton, Ohio; m. about 1857, Mary Perry, who was
b. in Litchfield, Ohio. Children : (1 ) Lorin,* b. Oct. 4, 1858 ;
(2) Luther, 9 b. April 16, 1860; (3) Hattie? b. Dec. 16, 1861,
d. Oct. 7, 1865; (4) William, 9 b. April lit 1864; (5) Ar-
thur, 9 b. Dec. 2, 1866; (6 and 7) twins, Dorus 9 and Dora, 9
b. Oct. 2, 1868. ?, Abner S., 8 lives in Westfield, Mass ; m.
about 1850, Rebecca Williams, of Westfield. vi, Clark D., 8
lives in Northampton; m. about 1854, Eliza Goodwin.
Til. Charlotte jE., & m. in 1864, Edgar Drake, and lives in
Westfield.
466. Venus," 1 m. Lurich Chapman, and lived in Litchfield, Ohio ; had
three children.
467. Phebe? m. Aaron Moore.
468. Esther? m. Martin Barnes, and lived in Black River, N. Y.
ROGER AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 47
469. Alison? m. about 1850, Priscilla Clark, and had one dau.,
Anyenette, 8 who m. Wellington Sheldon.
470. flop/mi? b. Nov. 12, 1810; na. first, Esther Graves; second,
Mary M. Curtis; third, Sarah M. Stevens. Children: i.
Adelaide, 6 m. Lucius Steele, and lives in Plainfield, Mass.
H, Hophni* Hi. Edward?
471. Sophronia? m. Calvin Robinson, of Willimantic, Ct. ; d. and
left one son.
472. Julia? m. Pliny Moore, of Montgomery, Mass.
473. ESTHER. 6
474. SUBMIT, 6 m. Mr. Sheldon.
-156-
JEHIEL 5 (Samuel,* Samuel, 3 Preserved, 3 Roger 1 ), second son of
Samuel and Mindwell (Strong) Clapp, and brother of the preceding,
was born in Southampton, Aug. 25, 1738. He married, first, Mary,
daughter of Noah and Mary Sheldon; and, in 1770, he married, pro-
bably his second wife, Elizabeth Clark.
Children of JEHIEL (or Ahiel), and 1st and 2d wives, MARY
(Sheldon) and ELIZABETH (Clark) CLAPP:
-j-475. ELISHA, S b. in 1763 ; d. Feb. 1825.
476. ELEAZER, 6 b. Oct. 12, 1780; m. Jan. 30, 1806, Dolly Searle.
Children ;
477. Nathan,' 1 b. Oct. 6, 1806; m. March 30, 1831, Sophia Day;
lives in Springfield, Mass. Children : i. Edward Horace, 8 b.
Feb. 5, 1835; m. Nov. 15, 1866, Fannie E. Miner; had a
child b. Oct. 8, 1867, and d. March 28, 1868. ii, Marah
Ckapin 8 b. April 15, 1838. iii, Alfred Madison 8 b. June 8,
1843; m. Dec. 23, 1864, Sarah A. Slate.
478. Ahiel? b. Sept. 1, 1809 ; m. Nov. 28, 1837, Diana Danks.
479. Elizabeth? b. May 21, 1813 ; m. April 14, 1840, John Potwine,
of S. Hadley, and had two children.
480. Robinson? b. July 7, 1818; m. March 19, 1856, Mary E.
Estes; a farmer in Holyoke, Mass. Children: j, Jennie E.f
b. May 18, 1860. H, Freddie* b. April 9, 1861.
481. JUSTUS,* d. a young man.
157
TIMOTHY 6 (Samuel* Samuel, 3 Preserved, 3 Roger 1 ), brother of
the preceding, was born in Southampton, Aug. 16, 1740. He mar-
ried, Dec. 3, 1761, Rachel, daughter of Jonathan Bascom, and had
twelve children.
Children of TIMOTHY and RACHEL (Bascom) CLAPP:
482. PLINY,' m. Belinda Wait. Children :
483. Simeon. 1 484. Sylvester." 1
485. TiMOTHY, 6 d. Sept., 1843 ; m. Sally Stone. Children :
486. Bela S} 489. Daniel?
487. Timothy.' 1 490. Sally. 1
488. Harriet?
48 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
491. MiNDWELL, 6 m. Simeon Egleston.... - d . \9 Jan J8
492. THADDEUS,* b. May 5, 1773 fm. in 1798, Rhoda Strong; was a
farmer some years in Orange, Vt., and afterwards in Southamp-
ton, Mass. Children :
493. Naomi, 7 b. May 28, 1800 ; m. Dec. 24, 1823, Simeon Sheldon,
and had six children.
494. Ruth? b. Dec. 13, 1805; m. Daniel Sanford in 1834; d. July
7, 1834.
495. Rachel, 1 b. May 30, 1807 ; m. Dec. 7, 1830, Joseph C. Adams,
of Huntington, Mass.
496. Laura 1 m. Nathan Foster.
497. Rhoda Laurinda? b. May 30, 1818 ; m. in June, 1838, as his
second wife, Daniel Sanford.
498. SiLAs, 6 b. in Jan. 1776 ; d. April 16, 1802 ; m. June, 1793, Eunice
Bond, and had :
499. Almin? b. May 22, 1794; d. Feb. 23, 1854; m. Dec., 1821,
Roxanna Barnes, and lived in Southampton. They had : i,
Lucia R. 8 b. Sept. 24, 1822 ; d. Oct. 9, 1823. ii, Silas* b.
July 25, 1824; was a farmer in Southampton; m. May 20,
1851, Eliza Egleston ; d. Jan. 1, 1865. Hit Lucia R. 8 b.
Dec. 1, 1826 ; d. Sept. 27, 1828. iv. Almin R 8 b. Oct. 28,
1830 ; was a teacher; m. Oct. 31, 1855, Mellissa Woodbury ;
d. March 28, 1863. V. Andrew /., 8 b. May 2, 1833; was
a clergyman; m. Ophre A. Searl, Aug. 15, 1862; d. in
Shutesbury, Mass., Sept. 13, 1863. vi, Roxanna E.* b. May
12, 1836; d. Oct. 27, 1838.
500. Quartus? b. Dec. 14, 1795 ; was a farmer, and lived in West-
field ; m. in Nov. 1821, Betsey Parsons, and had a daughter,
JElecta C., 8 who m. Lysander C. Avery, of Easthampton.
501. Sophia 1 b. Nov. 5, 1798; m. April 15, 1819, Ira Norton;
lived in Southampton, and had ten children.
502. Frederick? b. June 16, 1800 ; d. March 7, 1816.
503. Eunice 1 b. July 28, 1802.
+504. ELISHA BASCOM/ b. Feb. 17, 1779 ; d. Jan. 3, 1860.
505. PAUL.* 506. AroLLOS. 6 Twins.
507. RACHEL, 6 m. Jacob Knox.
508. SiMEON, 6 m. and removed to Cambridge, N. Y. Children :
509. Silas 1 m. Mrs. Lucy Ann , and had two children.
5 10. Otis? m. Mary D. Ramsdell, of Perrington, N. Y., and after-
wards removed to Boston, where Mrs. C. died Feb. 8, 1844.
Aug. 6, 1846, he m. Lucy Ramsdell. Children : i, Margaret
F. 8 b. in 1836. ii. Hannah S. 8 iii, Henry E*
511. Henry 1 d. in 1837, unm.
512. John 1 m. Frances Brockway, of Whitestown, N. Y., and had
two children.
513. PHILEMON. 514. PHILETUS,' d. young.
-16O-
SELAH 6 (Samuel, 4 Samuel, 3 Preserved* Roger*), brother of the
preceding, was born in Southampton, May 16, 1744, and died in
that town in May, 1794. He was a farmer; married Abigail Clark,
of Montgomery, Mass.
ROGER AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 49
Children of SELAH and ABIGAIL (Clark) CLAPP:
515. ERASTus, 6 b. April 4, 1768; d. in Ohio, May 28, 1825.
516. MERCY,* b. Jan. 31, 1771 ; d. in Montgomery, Dec. 1808.
517. NAOMI, S b. March 3, 1773; m. Jesse Searl.
518. SELAH, b. June 7, 1775 ; d. June 4, 1840; m. March 1, 1804,
Diana Sheldon ; lived in Montgomery, Mass., and afterwards
removed to Franklin, Ohio, between 1820 and 1824. Chil. :
519. Silas? b. Dec. 24, 1804; m. Angeliue Hildreth, and lives in
Oshkosh, Wis. Is a physician.
520. Susanna,'' b. Oct. 13, 1807 ; m. Daniel T. Torrey.
521. Spencer, 1 b. Dec. 21, 1809 ; m. Oct. 1834, Philena Bond; d.
in Long Grove, Scott Co., Iowa, April 29, 1868.
522. Selah Sheldon? b. Jan. 9, 1812; lives in Kent, Portage Co.,
Ohio ; m. March 10, 1835, Mary G. Brown. Children : I.
Fanny Eliza, 8 b. July 7, 1836 ; d. unm. at Franklin Mills,
O., Jan. 1, 1855. ii, Mary Adelia* b. Nov. 7, 1837. ill.
William Henry,* b. Feb. 16, 1842; m. Dec. 2, 1868, Mary
M. Richardson, and had: (1) George G., 9 b. in 1869. iy.
Lucy Florilla* b. Sept. 2, 1845.
523. Samuel? b. Nov. 1, 1814 ; d. July 2, 1818.
524. Achsah? b. March 16, 1817; m. Sept. 18, 1844, William E.
Beverly, and lived in Keftdallville, Indiana ; d. July 19, 1863.
525. Diana 1 b. Jan. 5, 1820; m. Philo Randall, and lives in Bu-
chanan, Van Buren Co., Mich.
526. Dorcas Delany, 1 b. Nov. 13, 1824; m. Sept. 18, 1844, Julius
A. Burnell, of Davenport, Iowa.
527. CYRUS, 6 b. June 26, 1778 ; d. young.
528. ABIGAIL, 6 b. March 27, 1781: m. Heman Searl; d. in Southamp-
ton.
529. AcHSAH, 6 b. Dec. 6, 1784 ; d. October, 1801.
530. MARY, 6 b. Oct. 4, 1787 ; m, Zeno Coleman,
All born in Montgomery except the youngest,
-192-
EBENEZER 5 (Ebenczer, 4 Samuel, 3 Preserved* Roger 1 }, oldest son
of Ebenezer and Catharine (Catlin) Clapp, was born in Northamp-
ton. He served his time at the tanning business with Col. Ebenezer
Clapp, of Dorchester. He married, May 5, 1778, Nancy (the Re-
cords say Ann) Tileston, of Dorchester, and died about 1840.
Children of EBENEZER and NANCY (Tileston) CLAPP :
531. NANCY 6 (or Ann), b. Oct. 5, 1779 ; m. Sylvester Lyman, of
Northampton ; d. Jan. 28, 1827.
532. HANNAH, 6 b. Jan. 8, 1781 ; m. James Dunham, of Pittsfield, a
native of New Jersey.
-4-533. JASON, 6 b. Nov. 5, 1782 ; d. October, 1868.
-j-534. EBENEZER, 6 b. March 23, 1786.
535. JAMES HARVEY,* b. March 5, 1792; d. April 23, 1871. A tavern-
keeper in Belchertown ; for several years he was a Representa-
tive to the General Court from that town. He m. first, Dec.
1815, Marilla D. Francis, of Pittsfield, who d. Dec. 7, 1852;
7
50 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL,
m. second, March 30, 1854, Mrs. Sarah P. Roy, of Pittsfield.
Children by first wife :
536. Juliette? b. Sept. 24, 1816 ; m. June 20, 1839, Francis J. Clark ;
d.Jan. 12, 1842.
537. John Francis? b. June 28, 1818; m. Dec. 25, 1844, Susan R.
Brown.
538. Ann Sophia? b. July 24, 1820 ; m. Sept. 21, 1842, George L.
Clapp; d.Jan. 11, 1857.
539. Everett? b. Sept. 6, 1822; m. Feb. 7, 1849, Romelia L. Hanks,
and have children: j, Knight L., 8 b. March 15, 1853; ii.
Everett L.* b. Jan. 20, 1857.
540. Jane MariUa? b. Sept. 21, 1825 ; m. June 2, 1870, John M.
Oilman.
541. James Henry? b. June 10, 1831 ; d. Dec. 30, 1836.
542. Edward Lyman? b. Sept. 6, 1832.
543. Dwight Parker? b. Dec. 22, 1834; m. Oct. 4, 1865, Illie
Crawford.
By second wife, Sarah P. :
544. James Henry? b. Feb. 9, 1855; d. Sept. 10, 1863.
545. FRANCES T., 6 b. Feb. 27, 1801.
2O9-
SYLYANUS 5 (Ebenezcr, 4 Samuel, 3 Preserved, 2 Roger 1 ), son of
Ebenezer and Catharine (Catlin) Clapp, of Northampton, was born
in 1764. He married, Jan. 6, 1792, Charity Pierce, and settled in
Westhampton. He was a very popular man ; and, though a demo-
crat in politics, he was at various times chosen to the State Legisla-
ture by a union of both political parties. He was of a remarkably
pleasant and genial disposition, possessed fine conversational powers,
and could indulge in story-telling to universal acceptance. Some now
living remember the pleasant exhibition of these qualities at the noon
intermission on Sundays, at the house of Elisha B. Clapp (No. 504),
near the meeting-house, in Westhampton. He died April 14, 1847.
Children of SYLVANUS and CHARITY (Pierce) CLAPP :
+546. BELA P., 6 b. Nov. 6, 1792 ; d. in Williamsburgh, Sept. 4, 1856.
-j-547. RALPH, 6 b. Aug. 11, 1795; d. March 6, 1850.
CEPHAS 5 (Ebenezer, 4 Samuel, 3 Preserved? Roger 1 }, brother of the
preceding, was born Feb. 17, 1766. He married, first, Anna Cat-
lin, of Deerfield, who died March 31, 1816; second, Sophia Mann,
of Boston.
Children of CEPHAS and 2d wife SOPHIA (Mann) CLAPP:
548. ANN S., 6 b. Nov. 18, 1818 ; m. June 13, 1848, Solyman Merrick,
and had one son. Mr. S. Merrick died, leaving a good estate.
In 1861, at the breaking out of the great Rebellion, his widow
volunteered her services as nurse, and went out with the 10th
ROGER AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 51
Mass. Regiment. She was engaged in the hospital, and took
care of the sick and wounded with a motherly interest, paying
her own expenses, and with her own hands supplying their wants.
Her services received the special commendation of Pres. Lincoln.
Mrs. Nowell's poem on Florence Nightingale might be appro-
priately applied to her :
" She stood beside the dying, calmed his fears,
Wiped the damp brow, and checked the falling tears;
Dressed ghastly wounds ; or with some gentle wile,
Made the poor sufferer look up and smile :
Till ever as her angel form came nigh,
He kissed her shadow as it flitted by."
549. CAROLINE, 6 b. May 14, 1822 ; m. June 22, 1847, Hon. Albert D.
Briggs, late Mayor of the city of Springfield, and had five chil-
dren.
An infant child of Cephas and 1st wife, Anna, died Oct. 12, 1817.
-213-
ABNER 5 (Roger,* Roger, 3 Preserved, 2 Roger 1 ), oldest son of Roger
and wife Ann Clapp, was born in 1737. He probably resided in
Southampton when he was young, and held the office of Lieutenant
in that place. He afterwards removed to Martinsburg, N. Y., and
was a Captain there. His wife, Mercy, died there, Aug. 10, 1823,
aged about 80 years. He died Dec. 5, 1800.
Children of ABNER and wife MERCY CLAPP, of Martinsburg, N. Y. :
550. ORRis, 6 b. March 19, 1770 ; m. Dec. 25, 1791, Phebe Blish ; moved
to Mentor, O., was a Judge of the Court, and d. there March 28,
1847. Children:
551. Tirzah\ b. Jan. 28, 1793 ; d. March 23, 1793.
552. Orris, 1 b. April 20, 1794; d. March 20, 1813.
553. Julia? b. Feb. 22, 1796 ; d. Feb. 22, 1831.
554. Phebe, 7 b. Dec. 6, 1797; d. Feb. 1799.
555. Harriet,'' b. June 23, 1799 ; d. March, 1854.
556. Abner, 7 b. Jan. 12, 1801 ; d. Nov. 4, 1820.
557. Betsey? b. Dec. 6, 1802 ; d. March 9, 1803.
558. Phebe 7 b. May 20, 1804; m. Dr. Archibald W. Campbell;
living in 1870, and had four children.
559. Thomas Jefferson, 7 b. Jan. 7, 1806; m. Nov. 12, 1831, Lorinda
Bentley, a farmer ; lived on the old homestead in Mentor,
O. ; no children of their own, but in 1860 had adopted two.
560. Matthew, 7 }). Feb. 1, 1808; m. Sept, 1830, Alice Campbell,
and had three children, all of whom, as well as his wife, d.,
and he m. second, in 1847, Lucy Randall, and had six chil-
dren, four of them living in 1870. In that year he was min-
ister of the Disciples' Church in Detroit, Mich.
561. John Milton, 7 b. Jan. 16, 1810 ; d. in Charleston, S. C., Jan.,
1858.
562. Henry H. 7 b. June 13, 1812 ; m. Nov. 29, 1835, Statira New-
comb ; living, in 1870, in Mentor, O.,. With four children
(having buried two), viz.: i. William H., s b. Sept. 7, 1836 ;
m. Sept. 29, 1859, Jennie P. Millard. Adjutant in the U.S.
52 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
Army, and stationed at Nashville, Tenn., in 1873. He was
commissioned 2d Lieut. 42d Ohio Vols. Sept. 25, 1861 ; 1st
Lieut, do. March 14, 1862; Captain, May 22, 1863 ; mus-
tered out Dec. 5, 1865, with a brevet of Lieut. Col. Vols.
He took a commission in the U. S. Army and was transfer-
red to the 16th Inf. April 14, 1869 ; appointed Adjt. May 1,
1872. He is much interested in the lineage of the Clapp
family and the preparation of this " Memorial." His oldest
child d. of cholera in 1873. ii, Eliza C. 8 b. June 24, 1838 ;
m. June 24, 1863, Harrison S. Glazier, and live in Mentor,
O. iii, Lorinda 8 b. Feb. 26, 1842 ; m. Nov. 20, 1867,
Kobert F. Dawson (b. in England), and live in Bedford, O.
i?, Edward X., 8 b. May 10, 1851 ; m. May 15, 1873, Emma
Schram, and live in Akron, O.
563. Mercy? b. April 8, 1814 ; d. September, 1818.
564. DANIEL, 6 b. in 1771 ; d. in Dec. 1818, at Martinsburg, N. Y.
565. AfiNER, 6 b. March 25, 1775; m. at Colchester, Conn., in 1798,
Mercy Gillet, and settled in Martinsburg, N. Y. ; moved to
Franklin county, Ohio, in 1835 ; was a captain of cavalry in the
war of 1812. Children:
566. Emily? b. Nov. 22, 1799 ; m. Oct. 12, 1823, Asa M. Kogers,
and had three children. Mr. Rogers d. Jan. 2, 1831, and she
m. Sept. 16, 1835, Apollos Rogers, and had a pair of twins.
567. Ralph? b. May 1, 1801 ; m. Jan. 22, 1824, at Champion, N.
Y., Sally Hubbard ; was a Methodist minister, and acquired
considerable celebrity ; lived in the oil regions of Pennsyl-
vania, and d. at President, in that State, Aug. 11, 1865.
Children: j, Edwin Emmett 8 b. Oct. 15, 1824; lives in
President, Pa.; in 1870, said to have been very successful in
the oil business, ii. Charles Carroll* b. Sept. 2, 1826 ; d.
March 29, 1843. iii, Emetine* b. Nov. 24, 1829 ; d. June
23, 1865 ; m. Sept. 1853, E. R. Shankland, and removed to
Dubuque ; left four children, iv, Caroline, 8 b. May 4, 1 833 ;
m. Dec. 1, 1863, J. S. P. McCallister, and had three children
in 1870. J.John Martin, 8 b. May 8, 1835; m. Dec. 21,
1865, Anna W. Pearson ; live at Newcastle, Pa. ; raised and
was Captain of a military company in the great Rebellion.
Ti, Ellen Gennett, 8 b. Feb. 26, 1839 ; m. James McLinn ;
live in Baltimore.
568. Arnold, 1 b. Oct. 6, 1803 ; m. March 16, 1826, Louisa Adams,
who d. Aug. 22, 1836, and he m. second, Oct. 6, 1836, Adeline
R. Leonard. He was a farmer, and lived in Dahlonega,
Iowa; he d. there Sept. 9, 1855. Children by first wife: i.
DeWitt Clinton 8 b. July 13, 1827 ; m. Jan. 30, 1856, Delia
Hubbard, and lived in Pittsburg, Pa., being engaged in the
manufacture of cotton goods. Children : (1) Kate Amelia?
b. Nov. 20, 1856 ; (2) George Hubbard? b. Dec. 14, 1858 ;
(3) Charles Edwin, 9 b. Nov. 29, 1860. ii, Elizabeth Sattie, 8
b. Oct. 30, 1829 ; m. Jan. 25, 1855, Rev. C. A. Vananda, a
Methodist Presiding Elder, and had five children in 1870.
\\\.*Martin Adams 8 b. Sept. 8, 1834 ; d. Aug. 30, 1835. iT.
James Adams, 9 b. Aug. 17, 1836 ; d. Aug. 4, 1837. Children
by second wife: V, Philo Leonard, 9 b. Oct. 14, 1837; a farmer
ROGER AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 53
in Dahlonega, and unm. in 1870. Ti. Louisa Adaline* b. Oct.
1 1, 1841 ; married. Vii. Loiiis Arnold* twin brother of Louisa
A., b. Oct. 11, 1841 ; in 1870, single, and farming with his
brother Philo L. viii. Jane Mercy* b. Feb. 10, 1844. ix,
Dwight Oscar* b. April 9, 1847. X. Charles Martin, 9 b. Aug.
17, 1850. xi. Clara Alberta* b. Sept. 7, 1852.
569. Martin Gillett,'' b. June 28, 1807 ; m. May 24, 1831, Mary
Ann Gillett ; was a very energetic business man ; lived in
Watertown, N. Y., and d. there, Nov. 7, 1834, at the early
age of 27 years. Children : i, Harriet Emily,* b. Aug. 23,
1832 ; m. Sept. 30, 1852, Peter L. Hyde. He was a vol-
unteer in the great Rebellion ; was acting as Colonel, and
was shot through the head and instantly killed while leading
on his charge at Arkansas Post, Jan. 11, 1863, leaving three
children, li, Charles Martin, 8 b. July 5, 1834; m. Aug. 25,
1857, Georgiana Derby, of Boston. He is extensively engaged
in the India-rubber business in Boston, under the firm of
C. M. Clapp & Co., who own and operate the large manufac-
turing establishment known as the JEtna Rubber Mills, and
are general agents of National Rubber Co. Was one of the
Committee of Arrangements for the second Clapp Family
meeting, in Boston, 1873, and is alive to all that belongs to
the history and good name of the Clapps, and of the merchants
of Boston. Children: (1) Georgine Lillian? b. Dec. 4,
1858 ; (2) Hattie Emma, 9 b. April 5, 1860.
570. Ela Harlow? b. Dec. 4, 1810; m. Feb. 1, 1832, Lucia Hunt-
ington, who d. March 2, 1833, in Watertown, N. Y. He m.
second, May 3, 1835, Eveline Wheeler, who d. in Farmington,
111., May 15, 1850. He m. third, Sept. 15, 1850, Amelia
E. Pratt. He was a physician of considerable celebrity,
with an extensive practice in Farmington, 111., which he was
obliged to relinquish on account of his health ; and having a
taste for agricultural pursuits, he bought the Rome Farms,
at Rome, Peoria Co., 111. He ^kes great interest in the
genealogy of his family, and furnished much valuable informa-
tion for this " Memorial." In 1870, he had sold out his estate
in Rome, had retired from active business, and was residing
in Chicago, 111. Children by first wife : i. George Hunting-
ton* b. Jan. 30, 1833 ; m. Nov. 14, 1860, Sarah Kelley ; a
farmer, in Chillicothe, 111., and has one child. (1) Charles L., 9
b. May 22, 1864. By second wife: ii, Lucia Jane* b. April
6, 1836; m. Dec. 20, 1865, Ernest H.Bellinger; live at
Owatonna, Minn. Hi, James Lewis,* b. July 6, 1837 ; m. Aug.
6, 1868, Katie Barton, iv. Francis* b. Jan. 4, 1839; d.
Jan. 8, 1839. V, Josephine* b. Feb. 7, 1846 ; d. at Farmington,
111., Aug. 4, 1847. VI, Henrietta* b. Dec. 5, 1849; d. at
Farmington, 111., May 6, 1850. By third wife: Tli. Mary*
b. Aug. 21, 1853; d. Oct. 21, 1856. Till. Eben Pratt* b.
March 10, 1859.
571. Horace E.? b. Mar. 19, 1813 ; d. in Norwich, 0., Aug. 2, 1835.
572. Philo, 1 b. March 8, 1818 ; d. in Norwich, O.,- Aug. 23, 1835.
573. Gennett, 1 b. Oct. 19, 1823 ; m. April, 1843, Irwin Moore, who
d. at Norwich, 0., June 16, 1849, leaving two daughters: 1.
54 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
Mary A.* now (1870) teaching at Jennings Seminary,
Aurora, 111. ii. Elizabeth M., s lived with her father at Niles,
Ohio.
574. JOEL, 6 b. March 25, 1775, twin brother of Abner; d. young.
575. JANE," m. Mr. Lee.
576. MERCY, 6 m. Joel Shapley.
577. ELECTA, 6 m. John Pinney.
578. NANCY, S b. in 1783; d. unm. August 3, 1843.
579. ABIGAIL, 6 b. in 1785; d. unm. at Martinsburg, Nov. 12, 1812.
-214-
JOEL 5 (Roger, 4 Roger, 3 Preserved, 2 Roger 1 ), son of Roger and
wife Ann Clapp, and twin brother of the preceding, was born in
1737. He was Lieutenant of a military company; and he married
Pomeroy.
Children of JOEL and (Pomeroy) CLAPP :
580. CYNTHIA, 6 b. Oct. 28, 1771 ; m. Oliver Clark, of Southampton,
father of Rev. Lewis F. Clark ; d. July 27, 1839.
581. JOEL, 6 b. July 17, 1772 ; m. Feb. 12, 1800, Turzey Trowbridge,
of Buckland. Children:
582. Rufus 1 b. Dec. 5, 1800; d. Sept. 12, 1802.
583. Hannah, 1 b. Nov. 19, 1803 ; m. May 30, 1827, Atwater Street,
of Holyoke ; d. April 12, 1834.
584. Eliza 1 b. Aug. 13, 1806; m. Nov. 30, 1826, Julius Boyd, of
W. Springfield, and had five children ; d. Dec. 18, 1870.
585. Rufas Trowbridge 1 b. Dec. 30, 1812 ; d. March 7, 1813.
586. Joel Taylor 1 b. Aug. 6, 1814; a farmer and carpenter in
Southampton ; m. Diantha Minerva Coe, of Hartland, Conn.
He was one of the first who proposed the plan of holding the
Clapp Family Gathering in Northampton, in 1870, and la-
bored incessajitly in preparing for and carrying through that
first meeting of the Clapps. Children : i, Hannah Maria, 8
b. Dec. 19, 1850; m. Sept. 2, 1874, Frank Cripps. ii, An-
netta Eliza, 8 b. April 4, 1857.
587. Turzey Maria 1 b. Oct. 23, 1820 ; d. uum. April 6, 1844.
588. STEPHEN, 6 b. Dec. 9, 1775 ; m. first, Eunice, dau. of Oliver Clark ;
m. second, Lucy Elwell ; lived in Southampton. Children by
first wife :
589. Elmira 1 b. Aug. 13, 1802.
590. Stephen Dickinson, 1 b. April 11, 1805 ; m. first, in 1825, Electa
Frary ; m. second, in 1832, Martha M. Graves. Children :
i. Horace F. 8 b. May 16, 1825 ; m. May 2, 1854, Cordelia
T.Thompson. Chil.: (1) Mary E.? b. March 26, 1855 ; (2)
IrettaL.,* b. Dec. 18, 1856; (3) Chastine R? b. June 11,
1858 ; (4) Anna D., 9 b. Sept. 16, 1860; (5) Franklin H., 9
b. June 9, 1867; (6) Sheldon D., 9 b. Feb. 6, 1869. ii.
Eunice M., 8 b. May, 1827; m. Nov. 28, 1844, Elijah Lyon.
iii. Stephen D. 8 b. May 6, 1828; m. Sept. 22, 1849, Sybil
C. Strong. ' Chil.: (1) Henry S., 9 b. July 5, 1851; (2) Ella
Jane 9 b. Oct. 5, 1860, d. December, 1860 ; (3)Esletta 9 b. Oct.
ROGER AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 55
10, 1863 ; (4) Cora B. 9 b. July 2, 1868 ; (5) William, 9 b.
June 27, 1870. iv, Sheldon Robert, 8 twin brother of Stephen
D., b. May 6, 1828; m. Mary (or Miriam) E. Strong, July,
1845 he being 17 years old, and his wife 20 years. Chil. :
(1) Mary Elizabeth, 9 b. July 17, 1846; (2) William S. 9 b.
July 12, 1849, d. June 9, 1862 ; (3) Albert E.? b. July 10,
1854; (4) Nellie Louisa 9 b. June 20, 1857. v. Electa E., 8
b. May, 1830 ; d. May, 1833. vi. Elmira G. 8 b. June 2,
1834 ; m. Abner Shelon. VU.Philena G., s b. Sept. 3, 1840 ;
m. William H. Kingsley, who was killed in the Battle of the
Wilderness in 1864. She d. April, 1864. viii. Martha E. 8
b. June 4, 1844; d. Feb. 16, 1864. ix, Abner A. 8 b. June
3, 1846.
591. Mary, 7 b. Feb. 17, 1809.
592. Sophia? b. Aug. 26, 1811.
593. Abner <7., 7 b. March 26, 1814; m. Dec. 3, 1837, Gertrude
Van Santford; lived in Albany. Children : i, Augustus A., 8 b.
Oct. 16, 1838; m. Aug. 17, 1864, Jennie F. Weaver, and
had : (1) Emma E. 9 b. June 4, 1865 ; (2) Maggie L., 9 b. Jan.
13, 1869. H. Catharine E. 8 b. Oct. 12, 1841 ; d. March 24,
1845. iii, Sophia S. 8 b. Aug. 28, 1843 ; d. April 15, 1846.
iv, William H. 8 b. Nov. 15, 1845. v, Mary E. 8 b. June 22,
1848 ; d. Dec. 10, 1869. vi, Abigail A. 8 b. March 30, 1851.
Vii. Stephen D. 8 b. May 17, 1855 ; d. March 11, 1861.
Child by second wife :
594. Ansel D., 7 b. March 4, 1821.
595. HANNAH, m. Rufus Trowbridge.
596. JEMIMA, 6 b. Feb. 21, 1780 ; m. Hezekiah Wright; d. Aug. 9, 1862.
597. SusAN, 6 b. June 29, 1785 ; m. Feb. 18, 1806, Thomas Rowley; d.
Sept. 6, 1855.
598. CHESTER, 6 b. Nov. 25, 1788 ; d. Sept. 9, 1862; m. Sept. 19, 1814,
Jerusha Hannum. Children :
599. Mercy Ann? b. May 20, 1816; m.-Nov. 30, 1837, William
DeLancy ; lived in Unionville, Conn.
600. Dorcas Hannum? b. Nov. 18, 1818 ; m. Sept. 25, 1841, Morris
Wolcott ; lived in Westhampton.
601. Charles Lewis? b. May 14, 1821 ; d. May 11, 1866; m. Dec.
17, 1846, Dorris R. Burt ; a farmer, and lived in Southamp-
ton. Children: i. Elbertine Lucretia 8 b. May 31, 1848; d.
May 6, 1850. \\.Dwight Thompson 8 b. Sept. 23, 1851 ; d.
Sept. 22, 1852. iii. Velina Elbertine 8 b. Sept. 29, 1853;
m. Sept. 2, 1869, Charles P. Graves, and lives in Kenawee,
Henry Co., 111. iv, Elzine Lewis 8 b. Dec. 7, 1856 ; d. Aug.
26, 1858. V, Myra Bell 8 b. Jan. 31, 1860. vi. Charles
Bart 8 b. Feb. 22, 1864.
602. Eunice Octavia? b. Dec. 1823 ; m. Jan. 1, 1857, Henry Cady,
and lived in Southampton.
603. Charity Lyman? b. Nov. 13, 1827; m. April 12, 1849, Mat-
thew Delancy ; lived in Richmond, Va., where she d. April
23, 1855.
604. Susan Jerusha? b. Nov. 18, 1832; m. Nov: 13, 1857, Albert
D. Searl, and lived in Lawrence, Kansas.
605. MERCY, 6 unmarried.
56 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
237
JONATHAN 9 (Jonathan,* Roger, 3 Preserved,* Roger 1 ), oldest child
of Jonathan and Submit (Strong) Clapp, of Easthampton, was bora
Oct. 8, "1 735. He married, first, Mary Strong, of Coventry, Conn. ;
second, Margaret Roguel, who died April 25, 1821. He settled in
the north part of Easthampton, and succeeded his father as a tavern
keeper there.
Child of JONATHAN and 1st wife MARY (Strong) CLAPP:
606. JONATHAN,* b. March 2, 1777.
Children of JONATHAN and 2d wife MARGARET (Roguel) CLAPP :
607. MARY, 6 b. Jan. 23, 1779 ; m. Ichabod Wright.
-f 608. MEDAD, S b. Nov. 5, 1783 ; d. July 29, 1853.
609. DANIEL, 6 b. in 1793.
610. MARGARET, 6 m. first, Eoswell Knight; second, John Ludden.
JOSEPH 5 (Jonathan, 4 Roger, 3 Preserved,* Roger 1 ), second son of
Jonathan and Submit (Strong) Clapp, of Easthampton, was born in
that town Nov. 3, 1736. He was a military Captain, and was active
in all church and town affairs. When the town was incorporated,
the first meeting for the choice of officers took place at his house,
and the church was also organized there. He married Hannah
Lyman.
Children of JOSEPH and HANNAH (Lyman) CLAPP:
611. ELIZABETH, 6 b. March 14, 1763 ; m. Eliakim Phelps, of Chester-
field, and settled in Northampton. She lived to be over 80 years
old.
612. JOSEPH, 6 b. Nov. 11, 1764: a merchant in Easthampton, an in-
fluential man in the place, and town clerk for many years ; m.
Susan Lyman; retired from mercantile life in 1810, and in 1830
removed to Homer, N. Y., where he died. Children :
613. Joseph? A brewer; lived in Homer, N. Y.
614. Sumner G., 1 b. March 10, 1800 ; graduated at Andover Theo-
logical Seminary in 1827, and was settled in Cabotville, Mass.,
and other places. The latter part of his life, he lived in
Dorchester, but removed to Boston, and d. very suddenly,
Jan. 26, 1869, almost the same day he removed there.
He m. in 1829, Pamelia Strong, of Southampton. Children :
i, Frances Amelia? b. Nov. 2, 1831, at Enfield, Mass. ; m.
Dec. 8, 1852, Franklin Fairbanks, of St. Johnsbury, Vt, one
of the firm of the famous scale manufacturers. M, Henry
Lyman, 8 b. Aug. 18, 1836 ; m. Jan. 25, 1865, Susan R.
Taiuter, of South Brookfield, Mass.
615. Alonzo." 1 A merchant in Illinois.
616. Alender? Studied Theology in Andover. Was a teacher in
Mississippi, also in Worthington and Pittsfield, Mass. Has
been an inmate of the Insane Asylum in Worcester.
ROGER AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 57
Other children are also referred to in Mr. Lyman's History of
Easthampton.
-f 617. TiiADDEUs, 6 b. March 31, 1770.
618. LuxHER, 6 b. April 8, 1772; m. Tirzah, dau. of Deacon Enoch
White, of South Hadley, and d. Aug. 17, 1811, aged 39 years,
without issue. His wife d. a fortnight after, aged 38 years.
They were buried in the same grave, and a monument over it
says of them, " They were active, pleasant, benevolent, devout"
He was Captain of a military company.
619. ISAAC, settled in the centre of the town, and was joint partner in
the flouring mill there, and also carried on a farm ; m. Judith
Kirkland, of Norwich. Children :
620. Marilla? m. Edwin Kinsley, of Southampton.
621. Judith? m. Theodore Lyman.
622. Isaac KJ m. Alice, dau. of Sylvester Knight, and lived in
Easthampton.
623. Maria Ann?
624. Edward? a farmer ; not m. in 1843.
625. Rupus, 6 lived in Michigan ; m Ceeley, who d. March 21,
1847. Children :
626. Edwin MJ lived in Kalamazoo, Mich.
627. Rufus S.? lived in New Diggings, Wisconsin, and afterwards
removed to Nevada.
239
BENJAMIN 5 (Jonathan, 4 Roger, 3 Preserved, 2 Roger 1 ), third son
of Jonathan and Submit (Strong) Clapp, of Easthampton, was born
Dec. 16, 1738; married Phebe Boynton ; died Nov. 8, 1815, aged
77 years. He is said to have been remarkably strong and rugged,
and he continued through life the old puritanic habit of attending
church every Sunday. He was in the Revolutionary army for a time,
but was called home to take charge of his sick father. Mrs. Clapp
died in 1847. The following obituary notice of her appeared in the
NorthamiJton Courier: "Died, at Easthampton, Nov. 30, 1847,
Mrs. Phebe Clapp, aged 97 years and 7 days. She was married 82
years since to Mr. Benjamin Clapp, and was the mother of fifteen
children, thirteen of whom lived to become heads of families. One
daughter, now at the age of 79 years, followed her to the grave.
She had about seventy grandchildren."
Children of BENJAMIN and PHEBE (Boynton) CLAPP :
628. KACHEL," h. Feb. 28, 1768 ; m. Jan. 1800, Nathaniel Edwards, of
Northampton ; d. July 11, 1868, aged 100 years, 4 mos. and 11
days.
629. OCRAN, 6 b. Feb. 27, 1770; d. Dec. 16, 1835; m. Mrs. Sarah
Brown, dau. of Capt. David Lyman, of Easthampton, and widow
of Mr. Brown, by whom she had had two children. Children
of Ocran and wife :
630. Lucy,' 1 m. Milton Lloyd, of Blandford.
8
58 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
631. Lorenzo? m. Sophronia Clark, of Southampton, and removed
to Missouri in 1844 ; d. about 1859.
632. Algernon] b. Aug. 1810 ; became a cripple at 15 years, but
perambulated the Western States, and in 1857 settled down
in Dahlonega, Walpole Co., Iowa ; a man of genius ; the
author of this book corresponded with him in 1863 and sub-
sequently ; was never married.
633. Florella? d. unmarried.
634. Clymene? d. unmarried.
635. SOPHIA, 6 b. Dec. 9, 1771 ; m. Rev. Gail Newell, of Nelson, N. H. ;
d. Sept. 11, 1840.
636. ANNA,* b. Nov. 21, 1773 ; d. Dec. 13, 1802 ; m. Medad Lyman,
and removed to Charlotte, Vermont.
637. CLARISSA, 6 b. Feb. 22, 1776; m. Jonathan Lyman, and removed
to N. Ferrisburg, Vt. ; was living in 1864.
638. BENJAMIN,* b. Nov. 14, 1778; d. April 1, 1821. He was a phy-
sician, and lived near Columbia, S. C. Married, and had a son
George}
639. SALLY, 6 b. Nov. 15, 1780; m. Dec. 31, 1806, Daniel Lyman, of
Easthampton; d. January, 1844.
640. SOLOMON, 6 b. Sept. 2, 1782; d. December, 1826 ; m. Pauline
Avery, and settled in Easthampton. Children :
641. Etmdus? lived in Ohio.
642. William Noyes? b. Nov. 3, 1810 ; a farmer; m. first, Tryphena
Janes, who d. July 29, 1847 ; m. second, Jan. 4, 1848,
Emily Janes, who d. Nov. 8, 1861 ; m. third, Oct. 1, 1862,
Prudence Wait. Children: j. Sarah Eugenia. 6 ii, Solomon
Parsons, 8 b. March 17, 1837; m. May 14, 1865, Laura
Leonard, of Worthington, and had : (1) Rosa Ward, 9 b. Oct.
10, 1869. iii. William Edgar* b. Sept. 9, 1839 ; m. April
19, 1865, Ellen M. Clark, and had: (1) Carrie Tryphena, 9
b. April 15, 1866. iv. Eliza Tryphena* \>. Dec. 31, 1843;
m. Nov. 8, 1865, George W. Guilford, of Cummingtou. V,
Emily Maria* b. Nov. 14, 1859. vi, Hattie Ellen* b. Oct.
13, 1861. vii. Mary Etta* b. Aug. 6, 1866 ; d. Dec. 1866.
Till, Charles Benjamin* b. Nov. 27, 1869 ; d. Dec. 31, 1869.
643. Mariette? b. April 20, 1814; m. Nov. 6, 1835, Joseph F.
Alvord and had seven children. They were the first settlers
in the town of Bement, 111., and as the country commenced
to grow and the railroad was carried through, their house
was made the depot, hotel and boarding-house for the in-com-
ing population. They had three sons in the army during
the war of the Rebellion, one of whom was killed at the
battle of Stone River, Tenn., and another d. of disease. Mr.
and Mrs. Alvord were at the Family Gathering at North-
ampton in 1870.
644. Benjamin? moved to Ohio.
645. Solomon? moved to Ohio.
646. Theodore? moved to Ohio.
647. George? a farmer in Minnesota.
648. Jane Elizabeth? b. Nov. 17, 1825 ; m. May 21, 1845, Zabdiel
A. Thayer, of Williamsburg, and had five children.
Lyman's History mentions as chil. of Solomon : Sophia? Amelia.' 1
ROGER AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 59
649. SPENCER/ b. Aug. 15, 1784; settled in Easthampton, and after-
wards removed to Windsor, Conn. He m. Jan. 1, 1805, Diana
Phelps. Children :
650. Alfred? b. Dec. 9, 1813; m. Sept. 24, 1849, Mariette Tapper.
He is a farmer, and lives in Huntington ; tall in stature ; is
alive to all the passing events of the day, and took an active
part in the Clapp Family Gathering at Northampton in 1870.
His children are: i. Florence Ada,* b. Sept. 1, 1850. ii.
Henry .* b. Jan. 19, 1854 Hi, Julia M, s b. Aug. 13,
1856.
651. Nelson, 7 lived in Plainfield.
652. Eliza, 1 d. early.
653. Caroline? m. Jared Smith, of Granby.
654. Spencer 1 lived in Winsted, Conn.
A Spencer Clapp d. Dec. 11, 1816.
655. Lewis? b. Oct. 5, 1822; m. May 20, 1845, Augusta A.
Wright, who was b. Sept. 28, 1845, and d. Feb. 15, 1871.
He dated from Montreal in 1871.
656. PHEBE, 6 b. Sept. 6, 1786; m. Levi Clapp (No. 268), of East-
hampton.
657. FANNY, 6 b. Feb. 24, 1789; m. Jan. 5, 1809, Jared Clark, of
Easthampton, and removed to Bucksville, Ohio, where she was
living a widow in 1864.
658. CAROLINE,* b. Oct. 15, 1791; m. Aug. 181 2, Mil ton Knight; living
in Huntington in 1864, and had had six children.
659. GEORGE,* b. April 24, 1794; settled in Spencer; d. July 15,
1825.
ooo
OOO
CHARLES 5 (Simeon, 4 Roger, 3 Preserved, 2 Roger 1 ), son of Simeon
and Sarah (Clark) Clapp, of Northampton, was born Oct. 18, 1767,
and died March 14, 1859. He married, Nov. 28, 1792, Abigail
Clark, of Northampton, who was born July 16, 1770, and they lived
in Worthington.
Children of CHARLES and ABIGAIL (Clark) CLAPP:
-f 660. LEVi, 6 b. Feb. 11, 1794; d. Dec. 7, 1854.
661. CHLOE, b. July 11, 1796 ; m. Nov. 9, 1817, Solomon P. Fitch;
d. Jan. 10, 1852.
662. ABIGAIL MELENTHE, b. Oct. 31, 1800; m. April 8, 1820, Fordyce
Sampson ; d. Feb. 13, 1861.
663. MARY ANN ELIZABETH, 6 b. Dec. 28, 1803 ; m. March 14, 1833,
Sumner Dunlap ; d. July 19, 1861.
664. JULIETTE MERiAH, 6 b. Jan. 26, 1806; d. April 7, 1832; m.
Aug. 21, 1826, Simeon Clapp.
665. SARAH WRIGHT, 6 b. Feb. 24, 1809 ; m. Nov. 27, 1844, Austin
Ware; d. March 26, 1858.
666. LAURA JANE," b. July 24, 1812 ; m. May 28, 1833, Samuel D.
Billings, and had four children.
667. CHARLES CLARK," b. Jan. 10, 1817; m. Sept. 1843, Lucy A.
Bascom ; d. July 4, 1854.
60 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
344
THOMAS * (Thomas? Ttiomas? Preserved? Roger 1 ), son of Thomas
and (Colt) Clapp, married, Jan. 1782, Huldah Bull, and
resided on the farm in Hartford with his father until 1792, or later,
then removed to New York city..
Children of THOMAS and HULDAH (Bull) CLAPP:
668. MART, 6 b. March 5, 1784; m. Samuel Green, of New York, and
had three children.
-f-669. JAMES,* b. Dec. 20, 1785 ; d. Jan. 8, 1854, aged 68 years.
670. CYNTHIA, 6 b. Jan. 26, 1788 ; d. in 1805, aged 17 years.
671. ABIGAIL, 6 b. Feb. 21, 1793.
672. CATHARINE,* d. young.
+673. JOHN, 6 b. Aug. 22, 1801.
-408-
ROSWELL 6 (Preserved, 5 Preserved* Preserved? Preserved? Roger 1 ),
oldest son of Dr. Preserved Clapp, of Amherst, was born in 1766.
He married Rachel Stevens, and settled in Claremont, N. H. He
was a soldier in the war of the Revolution, and received a pension
from government the latter part of his life. He died in 1 843.
Children of ROSWELL and RACHEL (Stevens) CLAPP:
674. HORACE, 7 b. in 1790; m. June 28, 1818, Hannah Ivers, of Bos-
ton. Was at the Clapp Gatherings in 1 870 and 1873, and was
then living in Cambridge, Mass. Children :
675. Horace, 6 settled in Savannah, Geo.
676. William, 9 a hatter by trade.
677. Caroline. 8
-f-678. DERASTus, 7 b. May 1, 1792.
679. SOLON, 7 m. first, July 10, 1816, Hannah Kimball ; second, Sophia
Dodge, and lired in Manchester, N. H. Children : '
680. Harriet, 6 b. in 1817 ; d. Feb. 29, 1840.
681. Elizabeth Ann,* b. in 1820 ; m. D. Drake.
682. Sylvina Amelia, 6 > ^ . , ., _ 10 , ( m. F. Howe.
683. Solon Alexander, 6 } Twms ' b " A P rU 27 > 1823 ' jm. Nov. 19,
1846, Caroline E. Hodgdon, and lived in Newton.
684. OLIVER, 7 d. in Springfield, unrn., in 1820 or 1821.
685. ALEXANDER HAMILTON/ m. Nov. 19, 1829, Elizabeth Merchant,
and had a dau. Emily 6 He was a chaise and harness maker in
Brookline.
686. TnKODOSiA, 7 m. Theodore "W. Cunningham, of Boston, and had
two children.
687. MART, 7 m. Mr. Newton, who d. in Boston, of smallpox, about 1840.
JOHN 6 (John? John, 4 Preserved, 2 Preserved? Roger'}, oldest son
of John and Eunice (Smead) Clapp, of Deerfield, married Phebe
Ross, and removed to Ohio.
ROGER AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 61
Children of JOHN and PHEBE (Ross) CLAPP :
688. PHEBE, T b. Feb. 5, 1786 ; d. unm. Aug. 2, 1837.
689. ARTEMAS, 7 b. March 3, 1787 ; d. by drowning, May 11, 1802.
690. EBENEZER, 7 b. May 13, 1788 ; d. Feb. 4, 1858 ; m. first, Sally
Clary, of Deerfield, who d. Oct. 18, 1821, and he m. second,
Dec. 15, 1822, Abigail Anderson. Lived in Hatfield. Children
by first wife :
691. Sally, 8 b. May 14, 1815.
692. Pamelia Clay* b. June 21, 1817.
693. Sarah Maria, 9 b. July 7, 1819.
By second wife Abigail :
694. Hiram Spencer, 8 b. Sept. 18, 1823; d. Sept. 22, 1824.
695. Fidelia, 8 b. Aug. 14, 1825.
696. Charles Henry, 8 b. Sept. 30, 1827.
697. Helen Mar 8 b. Dec. 4, 1829.
698. Jane, 8 b. May 6, 1831.
699. CATHARINE, 7 b. Jan. 31, 1790 ; m. Hibbard Smith; d. April 17,
1852.
700. SALLY, 7 b. Oct. 10, 1791 ; m. and lived in Buffalo, N. Y.
701. JOHN, T b. May 21, 1793 ; d. May 28, 1837.
702. SPENCER, 7 b. Aug. 17, 1794; d. unm., Nov. 2, 1818.
703. ZENAS, T b. Jan. 30, 1796; He m. Pamelia Clary, sister of his
brother Ebenezer's wife, and after his death she m. again and
removed to Ohio. Zenas was preceptor of an Academy in the
western part of New York State ; had a dau. Harriet. 8 He d.
Jan. 29, 1837.
704. CALVIN Ross, 7 b. June 23, 1797 ; m. first, November, 1822, Tirzah
Smith, sister to the husband of his sister Catharine ; she died,
and he m. second, Philena Graves, and for a third wife he m.,
Aug. 13, 1857, Submit Farns worth. They lived in Deerfield.
Children by first wife :
705. Edwin H. 8 b. Dec. 25, 1823.
706. Thomas G. 8 b. Sept. 1, 1825 ; m. Jan. 21, 1852, Hannah
Ball, and had: I. Isa L. 9 b. Aug. 2, 1854 ; ii. Wyman W. 9 b.
Oct. 30, 1862 : Hi. Sarah J. 9 b. Nov. 27, 1863 ; iv, William
H., 9 b. April 9, 1865; V.Hannah F. 9 b. June 20, 1867.
Wife Hannah d. July 5, 1867, and he m. second, March 14,
1868, Ruth L. Richmond, and had : vi, Ethel M. 9 b. Feb. 4,
1871.
707. Sarah Jane, 6 b. Oct. 18, 1827 ; d. Jan. 21, 1859.
708. Marion A. 8 b. Dec. 5, 1829; d. Sept 13, 1856.
709. Eunice M. 8 b. Dec. 22, 1831.
By second wife Philena :
710. William H. 8 b. Sept. 8, 1841.
711. Charles L., 8 b. July 28, 1850.
712. Tirzah P., 8 b. Oct 5, 1853; d. July 3, 1854.
713. Calvin S. 8 b. July 1, 1856.
714. HiRAM, 7 b. Dec. 26, 1798; d. March 1, 1871; m. first^widow
Cobb, lived in Deerfield, and had a family ; m. second, Feb. 28,
1870, a year before his decease, his cousin Catharine G. (No.
422), dau. of Erastus Clapp, and widow of Joel Fish.
62 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
715. PATTY, 7 b. May 4, 1800 ; d. Aug. 6, 1803.
716. SAMUEL/ b. May 29, 1801 ; d. Oct. 9, 1801.
717. EUNICE, 7 b. July 9, 1803; m Bridges, and lived in Deer-
field; d. Nov. 5, 1831.
-413-
ELISHA 6 (John, 6 John* Preserved? Preserved? Roger 1 ), second
son of John and Eunice (Smead) Clapp, married Asenath Taylor.
He died Feb. 3, 1835, and she died Aug. 26, 1827.
Children of ELISHA and ASENATH (Taylor) CLAPP of Deerfield :
718. ELEANOR/ b. Feb. 3, 1793; m. William Ross, and lived in Spring-
field, Mass.
719. NANCY, 7 b. Oct. 10, 1794; lived in Deerfield, unm.
720. GRATIA, 7 b. Nov. 2, 1796 ; m. Hart Phillips, of Deerfield ; d. at
Hoosac, N. Y., Nov. 11, 1831.
721. SETH, T b. Dec. 18, 1798 ; in. Sophia Ann Bogue, and lived in
Amherst, Mass.; d. at Galesville, N. Y., June 23, 1853. Chil. :
722. Frances Sophia* b. Feb. 8, 1829, in Shutesbury ; a teacher in
Amherst, Mass.
723. Elisha Bogue,* b. in 1835 ; m. Alice Jane Connelly ; moved to
Huntsville, Ala., in June, 1859 ; thence to Ledger, N. C., and
afterwards to Knoxville, Tenn. ; a hardware merchant and
dealer in mica. Children : i, William Ralph? b. March 26,
1860 ; H, Mary Lilly, 9 b. Oct. 18, 1864; lii, Sara Blanche?
b. Jan. 1, 1870.
724. RALPH, 7 b. Dec. 18, 1802 ; d. Oct. 13, 1857 ; m. April 7, 1841,
Minerva Smith, and lived in Deerfield. She d. Aug. 26, 1867.
Children :
725. Alfred Dwight* b. Feb. 10, 1842.
726. Addison Hibbard* b. April 2, 1843.
727. Edward Payson* b. Aug. 20, 1846 ; m. Oct. 22, 1868, Sara
Sheldon Clary, and had : i. Ralph C., 9 b. July 19, 1870.
728. Myra Elizabeth* b. May 20, 1850.
729. FRANKLIN/ b. July 4, 1804; m. June 2, 1835, Lona White, of
Colraine, Mass., and lived in Deerfield. Children:
730. Mary Jane* b. Feb. 2, 1836.
731. Alonzo Smead* b. Aug. 7, 1839 ; m. May 2, 1871, Etta J.
Ripley, b. Nov. 27, 1846.
732. James White* b. July 30, 1842.
733. George Franklin* b. Oct. 22, 1846.
734. MYRA, 7 b. Aug. 3, 1807; d. Dec. 15, 1831.
735. FANNY, 7 b. March 29, 1810.
736. ALONZO, 7 b. March 11, 1813; d. at Terre Haute, Ind., June 4,
1835.
414,
JOSEPH 6 (John,* John, 4 Preserved, 3 Preserved* Roger 1 ), third son
of John and Eunice (Smead) Clapp, was born in August, 1770 ; and
died about the year 1819. He was a very ingenious mechanic. He
ROGER AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 63
married Ann, daughter of Capt. Moses Harvey, and settled in Mon-
tague. Capt. Harvey was distinguished for his bravery during the
French and Indian war ; in one engagement he had three bullets
shot through his hat by the Indians.
Children of JOSEPH and ANN (Harvey) CLAPP:
737. MARTIN HARVEY, T b. March 9, 1797 ; d. 1873. In 1826, he m.
Maria Russell, of Montague, who d. Dec. 16, 1858. In Nov. 1861,
he m. second, Clara Ball. They lived in Montague, and for
several years he represented that town in the General Court.
His father dying when he was about 20 years old, the care of
the mother's family mostly devolved upon him. He was much
respected for his worth. Children by first wife :
738. George A., s b. March 6, 1827 ; a grocer in Montague ; m.
April 8, 1852, Irene F. Parker. Children: I, Robert P., 9
b. Oct. 21, 1855 ; ii, Lucia M, 9 b. July 23, 1860.
739. Minerva, 8 b. April 11, 1829 ; d. May 10, 1847.
740. James Henry* b. March 8, 1834; a manufacturer of tools in
New Bedford, Mass.
741. Wales Wilberforce 8 b. March 27, 1836; a surgeon-dentist in
Norwich, Conn.
742. Maria L., 8 b. Jan. 4, 1840.
743. Rottin Neale 8 b. Aug. 18, 1843 ; a stove-dealer in Montague ;
m. May 10, 1865, Esther B. Dwight.
744. JOSEPH, 7 b. Aug. 23, 1798. He lived in Montague, and repre-
sented that town in 1840 in the State Legislature. He m. Sept.
13, 1823, Betsey Puffer; d. Dec. 2, 1848. Children:
745. Joseph 8 b. Oct. 13, 1824; m. Feb. 26, 1851, Sarah E. Stone,
and had: 1, Men Sarah, 9 b. March 27, 1856; ii, Eessie
Loise? b. Oct. 21, 1866.
746. Elizabeth 8 b. June 18, 1826; d. March 29, 1833.
747. Louisa 8 b. Sept. 29, 1829 ; m. Dec. 13, 1849, Samuel D.
Bardwell.
748. Elizabeth 8 b. Aug. 20, 1833 ; m. Aug. 30, 1854, Spencer S.
Sherman, and lived in Boston.
749. Erastus S. 8 b. May 13, 1838 ; a musician.
750. Julia Ann 8 b. Oct. 5, 1842 ; d. Jan. 7, 1846.
751. Edward 8 b. May 6, 1844; m. Nov. 23, 1873, Ella F. Cobb.
752. Lucy, 7 m. Jesse Gunn, and lived in Ohio.
753. GEORGE/ m. about 1828, Mary Ann Puffer, sister to his brother
Joseph's wife. In 1841, he was a representative to the General
Court. Children :
754. Lucy Ann 8 b. Aug. 15, 1828; m. 1849, Austin Ayres.
755. Jane Eliza 8 b. Aug. 27, 1830 ; m. 1850, Rufus W. Stratton.
756. Lydia Helen 8 b. Jan. 25, 1,833 ; is dead.
757. Cyrus Clinton 8 b. Feb. 26, 1835; m. 1855, Ellen L. Paige.
758. Julius Moore 8 b. Feb. 28, 1837 ; m. Ellen Taylor.
759. Mary Augusta 8 b. June 16, 1839.
760. Hannah Sophia 8 b. Oct. 10, 1841 ; m. 1864, James Dike.
761. Sarah Adelaide 8 b. Jan. 2, 1844; m. in 1867, Thomas E. N.
Eaton.
762. Heman Walbridge Miller, 9 b. Sept. 10, 1845.
763. Alice Eugenie 8 b. June 29, 1848; d. Aug. 29, 1849.
64 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
764. George Willis, 8 b. Nov. 2, 1851 ; d. Nov. 9, 1851.
765. ERASTCS S., 7 b. Sept. 9, 1804; lived in Montague ; m. Oct. 7,
1847, Silinda J. Parker, of Amherst. Children:
766. Charles F. 8 b. Sept. 9, 1848.
767. Annie S., 8 b. Feb. 4, 1852.
768. Ada ff. 8 b. July 15, 1856.
769. AvERY, 7 m. Feb. 17, 1831, Caroline A. Morse; a wheelwright by
trade, in Montague. Children :
770. Dwight, 8 [ . . , c , <
rr-Ti A a r twins, b. oept. 9, 1839 H A , io<?o n
771. Avery, ) ' (m. Aug. 12, 1863, Carrie
E. Turner, and had: j. Luckey? b. Aug. 10, 1864.
772. Christopher A.* b. April 15, 1842; m. May 3, 1864, Angie
M. Dudley ; a tavern-keeper.
773. CTRUS, T m. Jan. 8, 1837, Sophia Brown. They lived in Ohio,
but returned to Montague about 1848. Children :
774. Frances* b. Nov. 22, 1837, in Perry, Ohio.
775. Laivrey, 8 b. Nov. 4, 1839 ; m. March 8, 1865, Hattie M. Gunn,
Chil. : i. Lula Sell, 9 b. Jan. 24, 1866 ; ii, Ernest Wellington, 9
b. March 31, 1868 ; Hi, Edward Clifton, 9 b. Aug. 3, 1870.
776. Ann Maria 8 b. Aug. 7, 1842 ; m. in 1-869, Sumner Ball.
777. Dwight C. 8 b. Aug. 23, 1844; m. in 1870, Mary A. Blodgett.
778. Emma S. 8 b. Aug. 10, 1846 ; m. in 1868, Edward P. Gunn.
779. Martin Harvey 8 b. Dec. 22, 1848 ; lives in Kansas.
780. Julia A.f b. April 1, 1851 ; teacher.
781. Horace Greeley* b. Sept. 5, 1853 ; d. June 11, 1859.
782. Fred. 8 b. Oct. 1, 1855.
783. JULIA ANN, T m. Charles Whitmore, and lived in Suuderland.
-448-
JOSHUA 6 (Ezra, 6 Ezra, 4 Preserved, 3 Preserved, 2 Roger 1 ), sixth son
of Ezra and Grace (Mather) Clapp, was born in Westfield, May 15,
1194. He married, May 15, 1826, Lucia D., youngest daughter of
Hon. N. P. Denny, of Leicester. From one of a series of articles
entitled " Reminiscences of Leicester," and published in the Worces-
ter Spy, the following interesting sketch has been obtained. " Mr.
Clapp was educated at Leicester Academy, and afterwards received
his mercantile training as a clerk in the well known house of A. &
A. Lawrence, in Boston, and established himself in that city as a
commission merchant, where he had a thriving business until 1829,
when he purchased of the Saxon and Leicester Factory their large
woolen mills and privilege in the south part of this town, now known
as the Rochdale Mills, for which he paid thirty thousand dollars.
Here he put up a new mill, added largely to the capacity of the ma-
chinery, and commenced the manufacture of flannels and other woolen
goods. He named the village Clappville, and took a deep interest
in its prosperity. In 1831, he purchased the homestead-place of
Dr. Austin Flint, on the east side of the common in the centre village
of Leicester, including about twenty-nine acres of land. He removed
ROGER AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 65
therefrom all the buildings, and in the following year erected the
splendid mansion house and other buildings now on the spot. No
pains or expense were spared for this purpose, and the work was
done under the supervision of one of the most thorough house build-
ers which Boston afforded. Mr. Clapp was a man impulsive in his
nature, of quick decision, great business capacity, untiring energy,
and was bold and daring in his financial speculations. In the early
stage of his manufacturing business he was successful, and acquired
a pretty large property. He was generous and almost prodigal,
not only in his personal expenses, but in his contributions to the
public. He kept a professional hunter to supply his table at all
times with the game of the field and forest, and a scientific and prac-
tical gardener who took charge of his extensive and beautiful grounds,
which were laid out with the most artistic taste, and filled with the
most rare and beautiful exotic and native plants, flowers and shrub-
bery to be found in this region. These grounds were ever open
to visitors, and many a procession on gala days and public occa-
sions marched through their walks to admire the skill and taste
displayed in the arrangement of this beautiful floral carpet. He was
liberal to the poor and generous to the public. He was one of the
principal founders of the Unitarian society of the place, and con-
tributed generously to the expense of building their church near his
residence, in 1834, and in the support of the gospel for some years
afterwards. Among his contributions to the town was a fine clock,
which was placed in the belfry of the Orthodox church near by, and
still remains there. He was a decided and active temperance man,
and, in the early days of that reform, he paid for and caused to be
distributed a weekly temperance journal to every family in town. In
1836 he purchased, at a considerable sacrifice, the only public house
then in the village, and leased it to a tenant, to be opened as a tem-
perance hotel, which was the first experiment of the kind in the place.
Although Mr. Clapp was a man of good judgment, and shrewd in his
calculations generally, his bold operations in the market were not
always successful, and in consequence of his extensive purchase of
wool and flannels about the time of the great revulsion in 1837-8 he
met with losses so great as to overthrow him, and he was obliged to
give up his manufacturing establishment, and sell the real estate,
which had cost him so much time and money, and which he had
hoped to keep for a home for himself and family. After leaving
Leicester in 1839. he engaged in the auction and commission busi-
ness in Boston, when he was suddenly cut off by sickness, and died
Nov. 8, 1841. His elder brother John, in 1839, purchased the
buildings and land, which Joshua had until that time occupied, with
all the personal property attached to the farm. His tastes were in
many respects unlike those of his brother. He was more practical
in his farming operations, and while the valuable fruit trees on the
place were cultivated and preserved, the ornamental shrubs and
9
66 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
flowers were removed and gave place for more useful vegetables and
productive shrubbery. After his death in 1 852, his widow took up
her residence in the house formerly owned by her father, opposite
the place here described."
The widow of Joshua still survives, spending a portion of her
time with her son in New Orleans.
Children of JOSHUA and LUCIA D. (Denny) CLAPP :
784. SARAH D., 7 b. in Boston, 1828 ; m., in 1852, Richard Hubbard, b.
in 1824, son of Gov. Henry Hubbard, of Charlestown, N. H.,
and d. in that town in 1872, leaving five children.
785. HELEN, 7 b. in Boston, 1831 ; after the death of her father, was
for many years at the head of a prosperous school for young
ladies in Boston ; now residing in Charlestown, N. H.
786. CHANNING, T b. in Leicester, in 1836; m. Aug. 9, 1869, Susan P.
Sohier, b. in 1840, dau. of Edward D. Sohier, of Boston. He
is in business in New Orleans as a cotton broker.
475
ELISHA 6 (Jeltiel, 5 Samuel, 4 Samuel, 3 Preserved* Roger 1 ), oldest
son of Jehiel and Mary (Sheldon) Clapp, of Southampton, was born
in 1763. He moved to Norwich (now Huntington), Hampshire Co.,
Mass., where he died in February, 1825. In 1787, he married
Hannah, daughter of Roger Miller; she died in Parma, N. Y. ; March
6, 1837.
Children of ELISHA and HANNAH (Miller) CLAPP:
787. JUSTUS SHELDON, T b. in 1789 ; drowned in the carrying away of
a dam, Aug. 21, 1826. He m. Mercy Sampson, and had :
788. Lucy* who m., and in 1871 was living in Westfield, Mass.
789. Lucius? who m., but soon after d. of disease of the heart.
790. Alvina* m., and in 1871 was living in Haydenville.
Mercy, widow of Justus S., m. a second husband.
791. ZEBADiAH, 7 b. Dec. 2, 1791 ; d. Aug. 12, 1862. He m. Oct. 3,
1821, Aurelia A. Hempstead, of Southampton, and had:
792. Charles Haven* b. Dec. 31, 1824; m. May, 1847, Emeline B.
Sykes. Machinist in Chicopee, Mass.
793. Clara Jane, 8 b. July 6, 1826; m. March 4, 1857, Frederic
Bradley, of New Haven, Conn.
794. Roxelana* b. Feb. 24, 1828; m. Frederic Ladd, of Springfield,
Mass.; d. March 17, 1854.
795. Aurelia 8 b. Dec. 22, 1830 ; d. April 25, 1846.
796. Justus Sheldon 8 b. Feb. 21, 1833; m. Charlotte L. Frise. A
farmer, in Shelbyville, Ind.
797. Mary Ann* b. Oct. 28, 1836; d. March 9, 1838.
798. Kate 8 b. Feb. 28, 1839 ; a teacher in Westfield, Mass.
799. Lucy Elvira* b. July 22, 1841 ; m. July 4, 1863, Charles F.
Bradley, of West Stockbridge, Mass.
800. Elisha Hempstead* b. Nov. 21, 1845 ; m. in June, 1869, and is
a farmer in Shelbyville, Ind.
ROGER AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 67
801. Lucius, 7 b. in Feb. 1794 ; killed by the falling of a tree when he
was 17 years old, in February, 1811.
802. RALPH, 7 b. Jan. 19, 1796 ; graduated at Amherst College in 1825 ;
was several years a preacher in Congregational and Presbyterian
churches; then united with the Methodists. An interesting
correspondence was had with him in 1871 ; m. May 22, 1828,
Mary Dexter, of Amherst, Mass., who was b. in Windsor, Conn.,
Oct. 17, 1800, and d. in Parma, N. Y., April 8, 1840, just one
week after the birth of their second child. He m. second, Feb.
28, 1841, Sophia Marsh ; lived in Phelps, N. Y. Children by
first wife :
803. Dexter Elisha* b. June 7, 1830; m. 1853, in Lima, N. Y.,
Susan Jane Thayer, and had one child, which d. an infant ;
the mother d. in 1855. Before the war of the Rebellion, he
was a Methodist clergyman. After the war broke out, he
was appointed Captain of a company comprising the flower
of his town, and belonged to the 1 48th Regiment N. Y. Vols.
He afterwards raised a colored Regiment in Norfolk, Va.,
and lost one third of his men in one battle. He was breveted
Brigadier General.
804. Alfred Ralph? b. April 1, 1840, in Parma, N. Y. ; was a jew-
eller ; helped raise Co. H. of the 126th Regiment, N. Y. Vol-
unteers, in the war of the Rebellion ; was Second Lieutenant,
and was killed by a shell in the battle of Harper's Ferry,
Sept. 15, 1862, being the first officer killed in the regiment.
He left his home only four weeks before, saying, " I have
given myself to God and my country, to live or die."
By second wife Sophia:
805. Charles Lucius? b. Dec. 3, 1843 ; was a volunteer in Co. H.,
with his brother Alfred ; subsequently a lieutenant in the
148th Regiment with Dexter E.
806. MARY/ b. Feb. 24, 1804 ; d. in Hillsdale, N. Y., in 1841.
5O4
ELISHA BASCOM 6 (Timothy, 6 Samuel, 4 Samuel, 3 Preserved,' Ro-
ger 1 ), son of Timothy and Rachel (Bascom) Clapp, was born Feb.
17, 1779. He married Sally Hale, a sister of Nathan Hale, former-
ly editor of the Boston Daily Advertiser. He lived in Westhamp-
ton, and died there Jan. 3, 1860. His house, being near the meet-
ing-house, was the favorite resort during the noon intermission on
Sundays, of many of the congregation who, coming from a distance,
sought a place where the time could be pleasantly passed. [See No.
209, p. 50.]
Children of ELISHA BASCOM and SALLY (Hale) CLAPP:
807. PHiLExus, 7 b. Jan. 10, 1802; d. Oct. 22, 1804, death caused by
falling into hot fat.
808. CLAKissA, 7 b. July 12, 1803; d. Nov. 16, 1861; m. Almon B.
Ludden, of Westhampton, a prominent citizen of that town.
+809. Oris, 7 b. March 3, 1806.
68 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
810. ELiSHA, 7 b. Feb. 15, 1808 ; lives in Lockport, N. Y. ; m. Jan. 1,
1862, widow Margaret Hill. Has been sheriff of Niagara Co.,
N. Y.. arid a member of the New York Assembly. Was at the
Clapp Gathering at Northampton, in 1870.
811. MELISSA, 7 b. Dec. 30, 1810 ; m. Sept. 13, 1831, Martin Smith, and
lived in Springfield, Mass.
812. "WASHINGTON, 7 b. Nov. 21, 1812. "Was a printer, having served
an apprenticeship in the Daily Advertiser office, in Boston, his
uncle, Nathan Hale, being then proprietor of that paper. He
was a man of integrity and efficient in the aid of all efforts for
the public good ; was editor and publisher of a paper in Natick,
which he ably conducted, and he d. suddenly in that town, Aug.
5, 1868. He m. Mary D. Robbing. Children :
813. Thomas H., s b. May 10, 1836; m. Jennie B. Blizard, and 1. in
St. John, N. B. Children : i. Alice P., 9 b. Dec. 19, 1859.
!! Washington Murray? b. April 1, 1861. Hi. David Miller?
b. Aug. 1862. These were b. in St. John, iv, William H.?
b. in Massachusetts, Oct. 1, 1865.
814. Mary 0.* b. Sept. 22, 1837 ; m. Jan. 1857, William H. Hem-
enway, of Wrentham, a Captain in the war of the Rebellion,
and wounded at Fredericksburg.
815. Rebecca /., 8 b. July 27, 1839.
816. Nathan Hale, 6 b. April 22, 1841 ; d. Jan. 30, 1842.
817. Nathan ffale, s b. July 12, 1843; he entered the Union army
in the war of the Rebellion, and d. in Louisiana, July, 1863.
818. Lyman Beecher* b. Feb. 22, 1845 ; d. Sept. 6, 1846.
819. George Lyman? b. March 30, 1848.
820. Edward Hah? b. Jan. 21, 1850.
821. Eliza Alice? b. Jan. 11, 1853.
822. SARAH/ b. March 6, 1815; m. Jan. 28, 1853, Hobart McCall, of
Lebanon, Ct.
823. OCTAVIA THROOP, 7 b. Jan. 10, 1818; m. March 1, 1841, Joseph
B. Boyden.
JASON 6 (Ebenezer 5 Ebenezer* Samuel? Preserved? Roger 1 ), oldest
son of Ebenezer and Nancy (Tileston) Clapp, was born Nov. 5,
1782, and died Oct. 1868. He was an extensive carriage builder in
Pittsfield, and a large stage owner and mail contractor ; also twice
a Representative to the General Court from that town. He married
first, Patience Stockbridge ; second, widow Cecilia Luce, maiden
name Eldredge. From a sketch of his life, published in the Coach-
maker's Magazine for September, 1858, ten years before his death,
a few detached extracts are taken :
" His boyhood was spent in Northampton. He attended a com-
mon school a portion of the time, until the age of seventeen, when
he was apprenticed to the carriage-making business, in the shop of
James Dunham. He received as his wages only eight dollars a year,
in addition to his board, and on the conclusion of his apprenticeship,
was in debt to a relative $60, for necessary clothing, which he soon
ROGER AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 69
paid. At the age of twenty-one years, he was induced, by the late
Lemuel Pomeroy, Esq., of Pittsfield, to become the foreman of his
carriage manufactory, and continued in that capacity for six years.
On the conclusion of his apprenticeship, it was his intention to es-
tablish a carriage factory at Utica, New York, but the inducements
offered by Mr. Pomeroy changed his determination. He commenced
business for himself, in Pittsh'eld, in the year 1810. The description
of carriages first made were the Boston chaises. Phaetons and
ribbed wagons were afterwards much used, and made by Mr. Clapp.
Light carriages, buggies, and the most costly coaches were also made
at his factory. Some, in the highest style of the art, were sold in
the New York and Boston markets as high as $1,500 each. The
carriage presented to President Pierce, by some of his friends in
Boston, was made by Messrs. Jason Clapp and Son (the latter being
connected with him in business), and has been pronounced by good
judges to have been equal, if not superior, in fine workmanship, to.
any carriage ever made in America. Medals for the best coaches
have been awarded him by the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic
Association. Mr. Clapp in 1856 had had about 300 apprentices, most
of whom turned out well. The number of men usually employed has
varied from 40 to 50. It was a remark of Mr. Eaton, the head of
the eminent firm of Eaton & Gilbert, Coach and Car Builders of
Troy, N. Y., that ' the oldest man has never known a wheel made by
Jason Clapp to wear out!' His energy and devotion to business
are well shown in an anecdote often repeated in the village where
he resided. He was once taken ill, and his physician, the late Dr.
Oren Wright, was sent for by his wife. He came, and left a pre-
scription, and directed that the patient should remain in the house and
be quiet. On calling the next day to see his patient, he found him
in his yard, giving directions to his men ; and, on approaching, Mr.
Clapp remarked, ' Doctor, I am busy now ; can't attend to you j you
must call another time.' "
At his funeral, a sermon was preached by the Rev. Dr. Todd, of
Pittsfield, from which is copied the following brief notice of his life
and character :
" Jason Clapp was an old man very few of us can expect to be
as old, and yet nobody was ready to have him taken away. He had
lived here so long that he seemed to be a permanent part of the
town. Few men have died leaving in the memory of their survivors
so little to mourn over, so little to be covered up, so little to mar
the beautiful symmetry of his character At the great age of
nearly eighty-six he has completed his course on earth, and has gone
to the dead, regretted and mourned, honored and loved by all that
knew him. I have seldom known the man whom, with more confi-
dence, I could hold up as a model for our young men to study and
copy. He began business on a small scale never asking a man or
a bank to lend him a dollar, never asked a note discounted, never
70 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
asked any one to endorse for him. I doubt whether he was ever
sued at law. Slowly, steadily and surely he advanced, till he stood at
the very head of his business the man whose word was a warrantee,
whose workmanship was as perfect as care and labor could make it
and whose productions were considered an honor to possess.
Everybody knew that he was incapable of doing a mean action, or
putting off anything that was not worthy. There was a patient,
quiet, careful industry about him that noiselessly brought out great
results. And his natural judgment was so good that whether he
took up farming or mechanism, he was alike successful. So true
was this judgment that he became one of the most self-reliant men I
ever knew. While many sought his advice and judgment, I do not
recollect that I ever heard of his needing to seek the advice of others.
And yet, notwithstanding this strong, sound judgment, he was one of
the most modest men I ever knew. As a man of gentle, kind feel-
ings, very few men equalled Mr. Clapp. As evidence and illustra-
tion of this, the men in his employment felt the highest confidence,
respect and love for him. Where else could you find so many men
in the employment of one man, who have been in his service none
less than ten years, and some for half a century ? It was a melan-
choly, but a beautiful sight, when these men gathered around his
coffin, and were the gentle pall-bearers as if lifting the remains of
a father ! ...... What I would next add is that our friend was a
modest, unobtrusive, but sincere Christian."
Children of JASON and wife :
824.
825. EDWIN/ lived in Pittsfield; m. first, Emily Peck, of Pittsfield ;
second, Mary Martin, also of Pittsfield.
826. LYMAN, T m. Helen Briggs, and had two daughters, who lived in
Pittsfield.
534
EBENEZER 6 (Ebenezer,* Ebenezer, 4 Samuel, 3 Preserved? Roger'},
second son of Ebenezer and Nancy (Tileston) Clapp, was born
March 23, 1786; a farmer in Chesterfield, but learned the printing
business, and for many years printed the Hampshire Gazette. He
married, June 1, 1807, Lucy Lee, who was born June 10, 1787.
Children of EBENEZER and LUCY (Lee) CLAPP:
827. SUSAN TILESTONE, T b. March 22, 1808; m. Nov. 27, 1832,
William C. Rice, a merchant of New York.
828. JANE ANN, T b. Sept. 21, 1809; m. July 2, 1834, Isaac Goodspeed,
and d. Oct. 22, 1834, three months after marriage.
829. WILLIAM MORTIMER, 7 b. May 22, 1811 ; d. Jan. 15, 1838, unm.
830. ADELINE, 7 b. April 19, 1813; in. Oct. 6, 1836, David C. Smith ;
she d. in the State of Illinois about 1867, and her husband d.
about 1868.
ROGER AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 71
831. ALFRED/ b. March 6, 1815 ; m. Nov. 6, 1836, Ann L. Wendell,
of Albany.
832. LUCY MARI, T b. Jan. 15, 1817; m. Jan. 15, 1839, Sylvanus
Clapp, M.D. (No. 847), of Pawtucket, R. L, a prominent physi-
cian of that place, and the presiding officer at the second Clapp
Family Meeting, at Nantasket, in 1873.
833. EBENEZER LEE, T b. April 1, 1819 ; m. June, 1844, Catharine Bull,
of Hartford, Conn. ; live in Lee Centre, Lee Co., Illinois.
834. HENRY, 7 b. Jan. 5, 1823; m. April 23, 1844, Ann Ely, who d.
some years since ; they lived in Lee Centre, 111., and had chil-
dren :
835. Mary L., 8 b. March 11, 1845 ; m. April 27, 1864, Egbert D.
Shaw, who was the first child b. in Bradford, Lee County,
111. Mary L. came from her home to attend the second Clapp
Gathering in 1873, but was prevented by ill health from being
present.
836. Howard L.? b. May 3, 1846; d. April 18, 1864.
837. Ely Alfred? b. Aug. 20, 1851 ; d. April 3, 1855.
838. Era K. 8 b. Aug. 10, 1854.
839. Fletcher D., 8 b. October 23, 1858.
840. HARRIET/ twin sister of Henry, 7 b. Jan. 5, 1823; m. July 10,
1844, David Rice, M.D., of Leverett, Mass.
841. FAYETTE, T b. in Chesterfield, June 5, 1824; m. Catharine Lynch,
of Columbia, Mo.; d. Sept., 1864, of chronic diarrhoea, contract-
ed in Gen. Bank's Red River Expedition in the War of the
Rebellion. When 14 years of age, he left his home for Albany,
N. Y. After a clerkship of about three years, he went to Hart-
ford, Conn., and engaged in business. While there, he resolved
to devote himself to the ministry, and entered Williston Semi-
nary, Easthampton, in 1843, and prepared for College. He
graduated, at Brown University in 1848. His plan for studying
theology was now changed, and he decided to enter the medical
profession, and attended lectures at Harvard medical school, at
the same time pursuing his medical studies with his brother-in-
law, Dr. S. Clapp, of Pawtucket, R. I. Before the time for
graduation, he was induced to attach himself to a company of
adventurers to the then newly discovered mines in California,
where his medical and surgical knowledge being in demand, he
engaged in active practice in this line, and soon rose to the fore-
most rank in his profession. Some time was also spent in the
Sandwich Islands, where he was specially employed by the king
in the treatment of cases of smallpox and in vaccination. In
1854 he returned with impaired health to his native State, be-
came a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society, and was
honored with a degree from one of the Medical Colleges in Phil-
adelphia. He afterwards removed to Dixon, 111., and from
thence to Columbia, Boon Co., Missouri, where he married an
estimable Southern lady, was rising rapidly in his profession,
and where the rebellion of 1861 found him. A severe trial now-
awaited him. The majority of his friends in his new home were
secessionists, and they urged him by every, inducement to es-
pouse the Southern cause. But no persuasion or reasoning
could influence him in deviating from what he considered the
72 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
path of duty, and he remained a staunch and consistent unionist,
which drew upon him and his family much bitter opposition and
proscription. His services in the Union cause were soon de-
manded. In Nov., 1861, he entered as surgeon on Gen. Fremont's
Staff. He was afterwards detached as Surgeon of the 5th Ohio
Battery, and in December was ordered to Jefferson City to estab-
lish hospitals and look after the comfort of the soldiers. In the
summer of 1862, he was in charge of the Fourth Street Hospital in
St. Louis, in care of our soldiers and of the wounded prisoners
from Fort Donaldson and Shiloh. Worn out by hard work in
these hospitals, he resigned his commission in October, 1862. In
the same month, however, the Sanitary Commission at St.
Louis was appealed to for a surgeon to the fleet, not only
qualified to act in his professional capacity, but also possessed of
such qualities of heart as to secure the kind treatment of the
seamen under his care. Dr. Clapp was summoned by this call
from his short retirement, and did not feel at liberty to decline.
In December, 1862, he was accordingly appointed Surgeon of
the U. S. Steamer Marmora, and accompanied the Yazoo Pass
Expedition. He was afterwards transferred to the Benton, then
again to the Marmora, and was on the latter (or the Louisville)
when a portion of our fleet ran the blockade at Vicksburg. He
continued to act as surgeon on board the vessels of the fleet until
June, 1864, when he was compelled, by disease contracted while
on the Red River, where his labors had been unusually severe, to
return to his home. In the words of the Memorial of " Brown
University in the Civil War/" from which many of these facts have
been gleaned. " By the wayside and in hospitals, on the field and on
the vessel's deck, he had given succor to many sick and wounded
soldiers and sailors ; but so long had he lingered at his post, that
his strength was now well-nigh exhausted." The country around
his Missouri home was at that time infested with guerilla bands,
and Dr. Clapp's friends deemed it unsafe for him to remain
there, and an asylum was sought for him among his brothers and
sisters then residing in Lee Centre, Lee County, 111. Here,
" under the watchful care of his faithful wife and of the loved
ones of his own family, he lingered till September, 1864, when
he peacefully breathed his last, happy in the assurance of a rest
from all his toils, in a land where there is no war, no loss of
friends, and no more death. He was buried in a cemetery near
Lee Centre, where, in memory of his virtues and faithful services,
his comrades of the U. S. Steamer Louisville have erected a
marble monument. ' Greater love hath no man than this, that
a man lay down his life for his friends.' "
Dr. Clapp is represented as a man of fine personal appearance,
of more than ordinary talents, and with a heart out of which
flowed the noblest impulses. His virtues "strengthened with
advancing years, and gained for him valuable friends in every
field of labor in which his lot was cast." Three children were
born to him in Missouri, all of whom d. in infancy or early child-
hood.
842. RUGGLES WoODBRiDGE, 7 b. Dec. 1, 1826; m. Jan. 12, 1848,
Emily Bryant, of Chesterfield, Mass., who has since died.
ROGER AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 73
843. JAMES/ b. March 19, 1828 ; d. same day.
844. EDWIN; b. Nov. 17, 1829 ; m. Oct. 22, 1855, Isabella Rowland, of
Rowlaudsville, Cecil Co., Md. He graduated at Amherst Col-
lege in 1849 ; taught school for fifteen years ; had charge of the
West Nottingham Academy in Cecil Co., Maryland, for three
years, and was Principal of Milton Academy, Milton, Mass., for
twelve years ; then moved to Pawtucket, R. I., read law, and
was admitted to the bar. Was soon after appointed to the bench
of the Court of Magistrates, a court taking cognizance of minor
civil and criminal cases, which position he occupied until by a
recent partition of the town of North Providence the greater part
of his jurisdiction was set off to Providence and the rest to the
town of Pawtucket. Since that time, he has devoted himself to
literary pursuits generally. He has rendered valuable assistance
in furnishing information for this " Memorial." Children :
845. Mary Rowland* b. Feb. 13, 1857 ; d. March 29, 1858.
846. Margaret Rowland? b. Nov. 19, 1859.
546
BELA P. 6 (Sylvanus,* Ebenezer* Samuel, 3 Preserved, 3 Roger 1 ),
oldest son of Sylvanus and Charity (Pierce) Clapp, was born No-
vember 6, 1792; died in Williams burg, September 4, 1856. He
was educated at Westfield Academy ; was a merchant in Westhamp-
ton for a few years in early life, then gave up mercantile business
and devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits. He was chosen
one of the Selectmen of the town several years, and Representative
to the Legislature for five or six successive years, one year the vote
being unanimous. In the year 1834, he removed to Chesterfield, and
again devoted his attention to mercantile business. He was again
chosen Representative to the Legislature. After a few years' resi-
dence here, he purchased a farm in Williamsburg, when he again
turned his attention to agriculture. Here he was chosen to represent
the town in the Massachusetts Legislature, but declined to serve.
He was often chosen to settle estates and perform the various duties
of Justice of the Peace. He occupied various other positions of
honor, trust and responsibility in the different towns in which 'he
lived. He married, March 2, 1815, Cynthia Carr, of Stonington, Ct.
Children of BELA P. and CYNTHIA (Carr) CLAPP:
+847. SYLVANus, 7 b. Nov. 22, 1815.
848. MARY P., 7 b. Jan. 15,1817; m. Elnathan Graves, of Williams-
burg, Mass.
849. FRANCis, 7 b. Sept. 15, 1818 ; d. Dec. 3, 1837.
850. FRANKLIN/ b. Oct. 17, 1820; m. first, Sept. 9, 1851, Susan W.
Fuller; m. second, May 14, 1862, Harriet P. Hillmau. He is
a farmer, and lives in Williamsburg.
851. LAURA ANN, T b. Oct. 15, 1821 ; d. uum. Aug. 29, 1844.
852. WILLARD S., 7 b. July 18, 1824; m. Feb. 3, 1852, Sarah Pratt.
He is a merchant in Williamsburg.
10
74 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
853. LTMAN, 7 b. July 18, 1827 ; m. Feb. 10, 1858, Abigail A. Billings.
Is a manufacturer in Providence, R. I.
854. BELA P., 7 b. May 24, 1830; m. first, Sept. 29, 1856, Eliza M.
Hopkins; second, June 10, 1863, Sarah Anne Hopkins. He is
a manufacturing chemist in Pawtucket, R. I.
-547-
RALPH 8 (Sylvanus, 6 Elenezer* Samuel? Preserved? Roger' 1 }', bro-
ther of the preceding, was born in Westhampton, Aug. 11, 1795, and
died March 6, 1850. He married, Nov. 11, 1815, Fanny Bartlett,
who was born June 6, 1795, and died July 14, 1874, aged 79.
Children of RALPH and FANNY (Bartlett) CLAPP :
855. DEXTER/ b. in Westhampton, July 15, 1816; m. Sept. 1, 1840,
Susan F., dau. of Warren Preston, Esq., of Bangor, Me. A
Unitarian minister of high standing, and very much beloved by
all who knew him. He graduated at Amherst College in 1839,
and after fitting himself for the ministry at the Cambridge Di-
vinity School, and preaching for a time at Deerfield, Mass., he
accepted a call from a religious society in Savannah, Ga., over
which he was ordained in November, 1843. His health failing,
he returned to the North, and in December, 1846, was installed
over the church in West Roxbury, Mass., from which Rev.
Theodore Parker had lately removed to Boston. In 1851, he
accepted a call from the East Church in Salem to become the
colleague of the Rev. Dr. Flint, and was installed as such Dec.
17, of that year. He remained at this post for ten years, when
failing health made it necessary to sever a relation in which he
had become endeared to his people by ties the most intimate and
sacred. After that time he struggled on, with the burden of his
consumptive complaints pressing more and more heavily upon
him, but all borne with Christian fortitude and resignation, till
July 27, 1868, when he passed away. His funeral on the 29th
was, in compliance with his request, informal and private ; but
on the first Sunday of September a Memorial Service was held
at the East Church, when a sermon was preached by the Rev.
Dr. Ellis, of Boston, which was afterwards printed, and from
which the following extracts are taken :
" He was a born minister. He did not choose the profession,
the profession chose him. He was foreordained to it. He could
not have been anything else. Even as nature secretes the life-
juices of plant and animal, so there comes, not as often as we
could wish, and yet not seldom, this blessed aptitude for sacred
meditation, discourse, appeal, and the ministry goes before and
also outlives all schools of the prophets so called."
" The story of our friend's life is easily told. It was not
eventful ; it differed from the common lot chiefly in the fact that
he might almost be said to have been either always falling into
or always recovering from sicknesses. It was the life of an
obedient child in the household, of a diligent student, a devoted
pastor, an affectionate husband, a faithful friend, rich rather in
human experience than in those incidents which outwardly signal
an earthly course."
ROGEB AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 75
" His power as a preacher lay not so much in what he thought
and said as in what he was ; the argument, the exposition, the
illustration, were of small significance compared with the faith,
hope and love which through them pressed for utterance and
arrested and fixed attention. He confidently made his appeal
to what was deepest and most universal. He was sure that what
was bread to him must be bread to others. He did not come
down to the world's plane, and strive to amuse those who were
gathered, or ought to have been gathered, for the most serious
business of their lives ; he did not lose sight of the substantial
gospel lesson in the accidental illustration, but still came back to
the reality and the root of the matter, even at the hazard of seem-
ing to say all the time but one thing, as when the Apostle John
still exhorted his disciples to love one another. And so, where
large and various learning and ingenious reasoning and skilful
analysis and a brilliant rhetoric would have failed, he was suc-
cessful ; not indeed in gathering a crowd of curious hearers, eager
to experience some new and nominally religious sensation, but
in reaching those whose hearts were open to Christian instruction,
and in impressing even, upon worldly persons the realities of the
divine kingdom."
" Our friend was by nature and by training a scholar, with no
small skill and no little discernment in those things which the
scholar prizes ; no writer of verses, but a dear lover of poetry ;
no metaphysician, but with a strong love of metaphysics; no
politician, but a close observer of public affairs ; and so, spite of
his many infirmities, his sermons were of no mean quality, even
when tried by the scholar's standards."
" He was singularly blessed in the capacity of loving and ex-
pressing love. His sympathies were very deep and tender, and
the channels from the heart were all unobstructed ; there was a
beating pulse in his very fingers' ends that never suffered the
invalid's hand to become cold ; his greeting was his own ; it ex-
pressed a kind of glad surprise, as if his delight in companionship
were a fresh amazement to him. He had that fine tact which in
the presence of great sorrow knows how often silence is better
than speech, a speechless confession of the mystery than any
ingenious discourse about it. He might well, like one of
old, have been surnamed Barnabas, the son of consolation, and
when he could no longer go about to comfort the bereaved, he
loved to send a word, written often in great outward weakness,
a word which was always a blessing. He was by nature a man
of singular refinement, incapable of any coarseness, sweet and
gentle, and clean from the very core of his being, one of the
few men in whose presence foul lips would instinctively become
silent, as rough people pause when a woman comes within hear-
ing. A childless man, his heart went out towards the young,
and they brought their thoughts and works to him, in sure reli-
ance upon his eager interest and efficient service. I do not think
that he was a stranger anywhere. If sickness came upon him
away from his home, and that was pretty sure to happen, there
were always those who found delight in ministering, and would
inquire about him ever after, as they who unawares bad inherited
76 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
a great blessing. Where he failed of completeness, he seemed
to be misled by his desire to be at one with those about him.
This was his weaker side, for, like all of us, he had a weaker
side, that he sometimes sought for agreements where he should
have been content with antagonisms."
" A sick man a large part of his days, he had an appreciation
of life such as you will not often find even in the strongest and
healthiest. Somewhere within him there was a fountain of sun-
light and sun warmth and perennial health, and its streams
would not be hindered in their flow. You went to see him in
sickness, and, sick as he was, he was in better health than you
were, and unspeakably more cheery. I think that the life in
him kept him in this world, if such a thing be possible, beyond
his time. For that spirit almost any organism sufficed ; but it
could not, happily for him, suffice always."
856. ESTHER, 7 b. Jan. 6, 1820 ; d. unm., July 30, 1857.
857. CHARLES C., 7 b. June 27, 1828 ; m. June 12, 1862, Sarah M.
Bryant ; live in Northampton. Children :
858. Charles Ralph* b. Oct. 6, 1863.
859. Frederick Dexter? b. April 13, 1867.
860. Ettery Charming, 8 b. Oct. 2, 1871.
608
MED AD 6 (Jonathan, 5 Jonathan* Roger, 3 Preserved, 1 Roger 1 ), son
of Jonathan and Margaret (Roquel) Clapp, of Easthampton, was
horn July 15, 1786, and died July 29, 1853. He lived upon his
father's place in Easthampton, and married, May 27, 1819, Betsey
Stebbins.
Children of MEDAD and BETSEY (Stebbins) CLAPP :
861. JONATHAN LAURENS,' b. Feb. 23, 1820 ; d. Sept. 24, 1829.
862. LAFAYETTE, 7 b. Aug. 5, 1824; m. Sept. 24, 1851, Sarah R.
Chamberlain. He is actively engaged in business at Easthamp-
ton ; has been Selectman for several years, and also one of the
School Committee of the town; in 1860, was Representative to
the General Court ; during most of the war of the Rebellion,
was in the Union service in various capacities ; for many years,
has been connected with the Internal Revenue as Assistant
Assessor, &c. He was prominent and efficient in the getting up
of the Family Gathering of the Clapps in Northampton in
1870, and attended and took part in the second meeting, in
1873. Children:
863. Lafayette, 8 b. Jan. 23, 1853.
864. Norris Stebbins, 8 b. July 14, 1855.
617
THADDEUS 8 (Joseph, 6 Jonathan, 4 Roger, 3 Preserved, 2 Roger 1 ),
son of Joseph and Hannah (Lyman) Clapp, was born March 31,
1770. In 1808, he was chosen Deacon of the church, in Easthamp-
ton, and was continued in that office thirty-three years. He kept
ROGER AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 77
the tavern which was first opened by his grandfather, Major Jona-
than, and kept successively by his uncle Jonathan, his father Joseph
and brother Luther, extending over a period of nearly or quite a
hundred years, being the only pubMc house in Easthampton, and
patronized by most of the travel from Hartford and N. Haven to the
north. He, also, in connection with his father, carried on a fulling
mill. Was the first Justice of the Peace in the town, its Treasurer
for twenty years, and also Selectman ; was Representative to the
General Court twelve years, and Delegate to the Constitutional
Convention of the State. In 1812, he was appointed by the town
a Delegate to the County Convention, held at Northampton, for the
purpose of " considering the duty of the government upon the war
question ;" was also Postmaster of the town. He was a very
worthy man, and all his public duties were efficiently and acceptably
performed. He married Achsah Parsons.
Children of THADDEUS and ACHSAH (Parsons) CLAPP :
865. PHYLENA, 7 m. Spencer Clark.
866. THADDEUS/ b. March 29, 1792. A woollen manufacturer in
Pittsfield, Mass.
+867. THEODORE, 7 twin brother of Thaddeus, b. March 29, 1792 ; d.
April 17, 1866.
868. MABY, T m. Justus Merrill, a farmer, of Pittsfield.
+869. LUTHER/ b. Jan. 3, 1805.
870. ELVIRA/ m. Ansel Bartlett, of Brecksville, Ohio.
871. THORNTON W., 7 graduated at Williams College in 1830 ; Prof, of
Mathematics in Washington Coll., Miss. ; studied for the minis-
try, and was ordained in the Protestant Episcopal Church.
66O
LEVI 8 (Charles? Simeon,' 1 Roger, 3 Preserved? Roger 1 ), oldest son
of Charles and Abigail (Clark) Clapp, was born Feb. 11, 1794.
He was a merchant in Worcester, Mass. He married, first, Nov. 16,
1815, Sarah Huntington, who was born Nov. 4, 1793, and died Feb.
6, 1821; second, Oct. 15, 1821, Laura Drury, who was born May
10, 1798, and died Aug. 20, 1847; third, Feb. 22, 1848, Caroline
C. Kent, who was born March 19, 1812. He died Dec. 7, 1854.
Children of LEVI and 1st wife SARAH (Huntington) CLAPP:
872. LEWIS HUNTINGTON/ b. Nov. 6, 1816; m. July 1, 1840, Mary
E. Granger. Served as a soldier during the war with Mexico,
and was under Gen. Scott from Vera Cruz to the city of Mexi-
co ; was also in many battles during the war of the Rebellion.
Child :
873. Sarah H.* b. April 29, 1841 ; m. Henry Payson, and lived in
Haydenville, Mass.
+874. ALEXANDER HUNTINGTON, T b. Sept. 1, 1818.
875. WILLIAM TAYLOR/ b. Jan. 17, 1821 ; m. May 19, 1846, Ophelu
E. Billings. They live in California. Children :
78 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
876. Frederick Arthur, 6 b. April 27, 1850.
877. Jennie ffuntington, 8 b. Nov. 4, 1856.
878. William Billings* b. April 11, 1861.
Children of LEVI and 2d wife" LAURA (Drury) CLAPP :
879. JOHN DRURY, T b. Sept. 14, 1822; a farmer in Deerfield.
880. SARAH HUNTINGTON/ b. April 12, 1824; m. Nov. 27, 1851,
Henry J. Holmes, and had two sons; d. May 29, 1869.
881. JANE, 7 b. Feb. 10, 1826; d. Sept. 24, 1836.
882. FREDERICK AUGUSTUS, 7 b. June 21, 1828 ; m. Aug. 23, 1849,
Elizabeth A. Moody ; is doing a large business in Worcester.
Children :
883. Ada Elizabeth* b. July 16, 1850.
884. Alexander Huntingtonf b. Aug. 24, 1857.
885. JULIA MARIA/ b. June 28, 1833; m. Feb. 1, 1853, Jonah H.
Bigelow.
886. EMILY JANE, T b. Feb. 26, 1837 ; m. Aug. 14, 1862, Rev. William
A. Bushee, and had four children.
Children of LEVI and 3d wife CAROLINE C. (Kent) CLAPP :
887. GEORGE KENT,' b. June 15, 1850; d. Nov. 26, 1853.
888. EDWARD BEMIS, T twin brother of George K., is with his brother
Frederick A., in Worcester.
-669
JAMES 6 (Thomas, 6 Thomas* Thomas, 3 Preserved, 2 Roger 1 ), son of
Thomas and Huldah (Bull) Clapp, was born Dec. 20, 1785 ; died Jan.
8, 1854, aged 68 years. He married Julia Butler, and resided in Ox-
ford, N. Y. He was a lawyer of uncommon ability ; and the proceed-
ings of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, on the news
of his death, show that he was held in great respect by the members
of the bar and the Judges of the Court, as he was also by his fellow-
citizens. At his funeral, Gov. Dickinson, Gov. Tracy, Judge Gray,
Judge Mason, and Messrs. Vanderlyn, Cook, Clark and Mygatt
officiated as pall-bearers. The members of the bar attended in a
body from the Supreme Court, then in session near by, and every
mark of respect was shown in his honor. The following are the
resolutions passed at an adjourned meeting of the members of the
Court, Jan. 11, 1854:
" Resolved, That the members of the bar, attending this term of the
Supreme Court, have heard with deep sorrow of the sad dispensation of
Providence, which has deprived the profession of one of its most honored
ornaments, in the recent death of James Clapp. As a lawyer, he was
distinguished for learning, eloquence and spotless integrity ; as a member of
society, respected for his high social merits, his pure morals, his clear sense
of justice and eminent example before his fellow-men ; and in all the more
delicate and interesting relations of life, beloved and revered for his domes-
tic virtues and affections ; that his brethren will long and faithfully cherish
his memory, and commend his long and useful professional career as emi-
nently worthy of imitation.
ROGER AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 79
" Resolved, That we tender to the members of the family and relatives of
the deceased the assurance of our sympathy and condolence in their painful
and afflicting bereavement, and that a copy of these proceedings be trans-
mitted to them accordingly."
In his speech at this meeting, Abial Cook, Esq., said : " Mr. Clapp
was a model lawyer, always respected and admired ; he was an or-
nament to his profession, and his example should be held up to
young men as worthy of imitation."
Children of JAMES and JULIA (Butler) CLAPP :
889. BENJAMIN C., 7 b. about 1822 ; a lawyer, and a man of much
talent. He had his name altered to Butler, after his mother's
father.
890. JAMES. 7 891. MART.'
892. JULIA B., 7 m. Walter L. Newbury, of Chicago, a man of great
wealth, and who d. on his passage to Europe in 1868.
893. NICHOLAS B., 7 b. about 1830; lived in Chicago; m. Mary
McMahon, and had a dau. Minnie?
673-
JOHN 6 (Thomas, 5 Thomas* Thomas? Preserved? Roger 1 ), son of
Thomas and Huldah (Bull) Clapp, was born August 22, 1801 ; mar-
ried Lydia Strong, June 23, 1829, and lives in Binghamton, N. Y.
He is a lawyer of high standing, and a most estimable and accom-
plished gentleman. His speech at the Clapp Meeting at Northamp-
ton, in 1870, printed in the Proceedings of that meeting, exhibits
the sprightly flow of his wit and humor. He is a very dear friend
of the compiler of this " Memorial," who first became acquainted
with him in this manner: In a list of U. S. Postmasters, I found the
name of John Clapp, of Norwich, Oxford Co., N. Y. I immedi-
ately wrote to him, and found in his reply that he was deeply inter-
ested in the subject of his progenitors. Before long, he came to
Dorchester, introduced himself and wife, and almost the next words
he said were, " I came here to find out who I am." His many
excellent qualities were soon made manifest, and revealed why his
home, as I afterwards found to be the case, was such a resort for
the intellectual and refined of his numerous friends and acquaintance.
During a correspondence with him for about thirty years, his letters
have never lost their interest, and all have been fit for publication
as they left his hand. After frequent visits between us, and hours of
conversation on many and various subjects, the enjoyment of our
friendly intercourse continues unabated. The following brief ab-
stract of his life and character was, at my request, written by the
Hon. S. S. Randall, LL.D., an eminent lawyer formerly living in the
same county with Mr. Clapp, who studied law with him, and was
subsequently distinguished as Superintendent of the Schools of New
York State 15 years, and of the city of New York about 17 years.
Mr. Randall writes :
80 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
" The life of John Clapp, extending, as it does, over a period of
more than than three-score years and ten, although strikingly devoid
of strongly marked incidents, is, nevertheless, one of no ordinary
interest from its harmonious development and exhibition of character
and culture. Left, by the death of both his parents, at a period of
life so early as to leave no glimmering recollection of either; trans-
ferred to the guardianship of his elder brother James, and accom-
panying him and his law partner, William M. Price, at an early
period of the century, to the primitive little settlement of Oxford, on
the Chenango river, and in the newly organized county of that name,
where, under their auspices, and especially those of his brother, he
completed a course of elementary, higher and professional instruc-
tion passing his novitiate experience as a lawyer in one of the
rudest frontier settlements of the county ; emerging, speedily, from
this rough but, doubtless, healthful and invigorating process of prac-
tical communion with the rudiments of civilization into a prosperous
and successful partnership with one of the leading and most influen-
tial advocates and counsellors of the county at Norwich, the county-
seat ; succeeding, after a brief interval, to the business of the firm ;
fulfilling for more than ten years, gracefully and acceptably, the irk-
some and responsible duties of public prosecutor in criminal cases ;
forming, during this period, a most fortunate and happy matrimonial
connection with an amiable and gifted lady Lydia, daughter of
Cyrus Strong, Esq. ; defeated in a vigorous and animated political
contest with a formidable and practised opponent for the represen-
tation of the district in the lower house of Congress ; transferred to
a permanent home on the banks of the Susquehannah, where he
again set up his household gods destined all too soon to be mourn-
fully shattered, by the removal from its earthly tabernacle of a dearly
loved daughter Rosalind, of rare beauty and accomplishments, the
delight of his eyes and the treasure of his heart ; these comprise, in
substance, the outward and prominent features of this long life. Let
us briefly analyze its interior results ; by far the most important.
"In all these various relations of a long life as a man, a brother,
a husband and father, an honored member of a noble profession, an
ever welcome accession to the social circle, and an active citizen of
a large and flourishing community Mr. Clapp was uniformly truth-
ful, sincere, single-hearted and upright. In his intercourse with the
world around him in all his business transactions, his social and
domestic enjoyments, his literary culture and tastes, his fixed princi-
ples of moral obligations and ethical requirements, his fine apprecia-
tion of the beauty and grandeur of nature, and his utter abnegation
of self where the rights and claims, the distresses and calamities of
others were concerned he seems to have borne himself bravely,
honestly and victoriously in the great battle of life. Well versed in
all the elements, principles and practice of his profession, he attained
a high standing among his legal associates ; and was distinguished
ROGER AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 81
for fidelity, promptness, and scrupulous integrity in the management
of the important pecuniary interests from time to time committed
by his clients to his care. As a scholar, his mind was a treasure-
house of the beautiful thoughts and conceptions of genius. He was
passionately fond of books, and familiar with Shakspeare, Milton,
Burns, Byron, and their great contemporaries and successors, and
with the various works of the ancient and modern historians.
" His success in life was, unquestionably, chiefly due to his energy,
perseverance, and strict adherence to the great fundamental princi-
ples of honesty, uprightness, and unswerving integrity. Substan-
tially aloof from the distraction and turbulence of the world, its
political commotions and personal animosities, his happiest years
have been spent in the domestic and social circles, in the reciproca-
tion of kind and loving acts, in the cultivation of all the faculties of
his mind and heart, and in the conscientious discharge of duty to
God and man."
Mr. and Mrs. Clapp are in the enjoyment of a moderate degree of
good health, in part preserved to them by occasional pleasant, and
sometimes distant, excursions abroad.
Children of JOHN and LYDIA (Strong) CLAPP :
894. Cruus STRONG,' b. April 17, 1830 ; m. Oct. 1862, Harriet Evans,
of New Jersey. Children :
895. Ernestine, 6 b. July 12, 1863.
896. John,' b. Oct. 24, 1865.
897. EosALiND, 7 b. Feb. 24, 1834; d. Jan. 15, 1852.
678
DERASTUS 7 (Roswcll, 6 Preserved, 6 Preserved* Preserved, 3 Pre-
served 2 , Roger 1 ), second son of Roswell and Rachel (Stevens) Clapp,
was born May 1, 1792, at Claremont, N. H. For many years a pro-
minent constable and detective in the town and city of Boston. Ho
was appointed to the office of constable by the elder Mayor Quincy
in 1828, and was re-appointed every succeeding year to 1874. In
1832 and four years after he was captain of a ward militia company
in Boston; was member of the "Soul of the Soldiery" several years,
also of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company five or six
years, of the Handel and Haydn Musical Society thirty-two years,
and of the Bunker Hill Monument Association from its organiza-
tion. He was married, Feb. 15, 1818, to Susannah Bowditch, of
Braintree, daughter of Jonathan and Rebecca Bowditch, and born
April 15, 1795. After Mr. Clapp had become advanced in years,
his official duties consisted in serving orders of notice issued by the
City Clerk, and afterwards those issued by the Superintendent of
Streets and the Street Commissioners, in certain portions of the city.
Much travel was required in this work. In January, 1874, a sprain
of the cords of the right leg very much disabled him, but he contm-
11
82 TfiE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
lied his duties till September, when he was obliged to employ an
assistant, and October 1, 1874, " being completely broken down,"
as he says, and after constable and police services for forty-six years,
he retired from official duties. Many now living can remember
the confidence which was formerly reposed in him as a successful
detecter of crime, and the dread which was associated with the name
of "Constable Clapp" among those who had reason to fear an ar-
rest. He himself gives some interesting reminiscences of his official
duties in the Boston Traveller of Oct. 26, 1874. He says that 136
prisoners arrested by him were sent to the State Prison, and several
hundred to the House of Correction, and that many thousand dollars
worth of stolen property have been recovered by him and restored
to its owners. For twenty years, he was the only acting detective in
the city. Many petty annoyances were experienced by him, arising
from the ignorance of applicants for his assistance. He relates the
following: " Once a stranger called at my office, and said he had
had his gold watch stolen from him, and wished to recover the same
that day. I inquired if he had suspicion of any one, and he said he
had none. All he knew was that his watch was stolen, and he
seemed to think that was all the information that I needed." He
speaks of his labors, in 1 846 and afterwards, as a truant officer, and
of his success with one assistant, in carrying into the public schools
large numbers of truants from every part of the city. He discards
the idea that his constant familiarity with criminals has had any
tendency to harden his feelings. On the contrary, he thinks that the
anxiety and sufferings of the friends and relatives of the accused
and their intercessions with him in their behalf have had the oppo-
site effect. He does think, however, that the firm and long continued
grips required for so many years, in catching and holding criminals
under arrest, have injuriously affected the joints of his right hand,
which even now are tender and sensitive under the gentler and
kindly greetings of old friends and acquaintances. Mr. Clapp
believes in the doctrine of treating criminals with kindness, and
thinks that this course tends often to the benefit of the public in the
additional information by this means obtained in regard to the re-
covery of stolen goods and the arrest of other offenders. For a great
many years, Mr. Clapp's office was at No. 3 Franklin Avenue, Boston,
but during the last few years of his official duties a comfortable office
in the basement of the City Hall was appropriated for his use. Mr.
Clapp was present at the Family Gathering in Northampton in 1870,
and, though 78 years old, was stronger than many present much
younger in years. He and his wife are living in Hudson st., Boston.
Children of DEEASTUS and SUSANNAH (Bowditch) CLAPP:
898. SUSAN OLIVIA, b. Jan. 5, 1819 ; m. Dr. James Holmes, of Darien,
Geo., and had four children.
899. ROGER D., 8 b. May 6, 1822; d. in New York, of cholera, July 4,
1849 ; wife Julia, and had :
900. Milton Bowditch?
906.
907.
OTIS 7 (Eli
1806; a
to 1375 collector
in Massachusetts. .
Mr. Clapp eam<
uncle, Nathan Hi...
After leaving tha?
Galaxy, which hue
Esq. A p
diaries Stimpson.
and publishers, M;
.
Useful Kno\v :
Jf ale; and Le.:--
Lord B;
;tory. .
me the .
1843 tr.
.
a . '
.iionea
'>or oi'
ts of
ROGER AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 83
901. GEORGE WASHINGTON, 8 b. March 19, 1823; m. Jan. 1, 1846,
Ann H. Norris. Children :
902. George W? 903. Ella Olivia. 9 904. Roger D?
905. CHARLES LYMAN," b. Oct. 23, 1824; purser's clerk in U. S. Navy.
Killed at Melbourne, Australia, Feb. 22, 1854.
906. NATHANIEL BOWDITCH, S b. July 15, 1832.
907. MARTHA ELIZABETH," b. Dec. 28, 1834.
-8O9-
OTIS 7 (Elisha Bascom, 6 Timothy, 6 Samuel, 4 Samuel, 3 Preserved, 2
Roger 1 ), son of Elisha Bascom and Sally (Hale) Clapp, was born
March 3, 1806; a bookseller and publisher in Boston; from 1862
to 1875 collector of the U. S. Internal Revenue for the 4th District
in Massachusetts.
Mr. Clapp came to Boston in 1823, and served his time with his
uncle, Nathan Hale, in the counting-room of the Daily Advertiser.
After leaving that place, he published for awhile the New England
Galaxy, which had then just been relinquished by Jas. T. Bucking-
ham, Esq. A partnership was subsequently entered into with
Charles Stimpson, under the firm of Stimpson & Clapp, booksellers
and publishers, Mr. Hale being a silent partner. They published a
series of volumes under the name of " The American Library of
Useful Knowledge," the first of which contained a Preface by Nathan
Hale, and Lectures by Judge Story, Daniel Webster, Edward Everett
and Lord Brougham. They also published annually the Boston
Directory. This partnership was dissolved in 1832, and Mr. Clapp
became the publisher of New Church works so-called, including
those of Swedenborg; also of the New Jerusalem Magazine from
1832 to 1858 24 years, and the Children's New Church Magazine
from 1843 to 1858 fifteen years. He has at different times and
during various periods held the following public offices under the
city government : Ward Inspector of Elections, Warden, member of
the City Council and of the Board of Aldermen (at one time
chairman of the latter), member of the Board of Land Commis-
sioners, the Board of Assessors, and eight years one of the Board
of Visitors of the Boston Lunatic Asylum ; also Representative to
the State Legislature, and member of several boards of railroads
and of associations for charitable purposes. He has been President
of the Washingtonian Home, a charitable Inebriate Asylum in Boston,
since 1 862, and delivered the address at the dedication of its new
building on Waltham Street, in 1873, which was erected at a cost
of $100,000. He has also been actively connected, since its first
organization, with the Home for Little Wanderers, one of the most
beneficent of the many charities in Boston, the disbursements of
which during ten years, including building expenses, have been
about $320,000, and which has provided for the wants of no less
84 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
than 3800 destitute children. Mr. Clapp was one of the earliest
and most earnest workers, many years ago, in the cause of cheap
postage, and also in favor of the construction of the Hoosac Tunnel ;
and more recently has publicly spoken and written in favor of a
reform in the rates of railroad transportation. Indeed, he has been
a prominent advocate of most of the public movements for the
improvement of the morals or the material well-being of the commu-
nity, during the last quarter of a century. On his retiring from
the office of Collector of the Internal Revenue for District 4 in the
spring of 1875, on account of the reduction of the number of districts
in the State, the presentation of a gold-headed cane was made to him
by assistants who had in various ways been connected with him in the
duties of the office. From a statement made by himself at the close
of his twelve and a half years' services as assessor and collector,
we learn that the total amount of internal revenue collected in the
Fourth District, which was under his supervision during the whole
time of its existence, was over twenty-one and a half millions of
dollars. The amount in all Massachusetts during the same time was
$162,722,562 ; and in the whole country, $1,812,495,336. The cost
of collecting these large amounts for the time between Sept. 1, 1862,
and June 30, 1867 (near five years), was, in the whole country,
2y 8 ?Hj percent. ; while in Massachusetts, it was but about l per cent.
It should be added that Mr. Clapp was one of the most active
and efficient of the name in originating and conducting the two
Family Gatherings, in 1870 and 1873, and it may well be doubted if
either of them would have taken place had it not been for his en-
couragement and aid. At the former meeting, he read an interest-
ing paper, prepared with much care, on the connection of the Clapp
Family with the '.'Puritanic Brotherhood." He has also rendered
important assistance in collecting the material for this family
" Memorial."
He married first, Aug. 29, 1833, Ann Withington Emery Porter,
daughter of Sylvanus Porter, of Boston. She died Oct. 27, 1843,
and he married, second, Oct 2, 1844, Mary Hadley, daughter of
Deacon Moses Hadley, of Boston. She died Dec. 10, 1871.
Children of OTIS and 1st wife ANN WITHINGTON EMERY (Porter)
CLAPP :
908. OTIS,* b. Sept. 1, 1834; d. Sept. 6, 1834.
909. HENRY OTIS,* b. Sept. 17, 1835 ; m. Rose, dau. of Rev. David
Nelson, of Quincy, 111. ; d. in that town, of consumption, Aug.
1, 1866.
910. JOSEPH, 8 b. Aug. 27, 1839. Enlisted in the 8th Reg. Illinois cav-
alry, in the war of the Great Rebellion, and rose to be Captain ;
was under Gen. Farnsworth, and saw much fighting; was suc-
cessful in taking many prisoners. He m. Feb. 4, 1864, Elmina
Jane Jackson, of Syracuse, N. Y. Children :
- ROGER AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 85
911. Florence Porter? b. Dec. 12, 1865 ; d. Oct. 12. 1867
912. Joseph Emery? b. May 2, 1869.
913. Harry Otis? b. June 18, 1871.
Children of OTIS and 2d wife MARY (Hadley) CLAPP:
914. MART WEBB," b. Aug. 18, 1845; m. Oct. 2, 1866, Charles M.
Fuller.
915. JAMES WILKINSON," b. Sept. 22, 1847 ; lives in Boston; m. Oct.
20, 1868, Eliza B. Tuckerman. Children:
916. Gertrude? b. Sept. 19, 1870.
917. Amy? b. Feb. 11, 1873.
918. REBECCA H., 8 b. July 17, 1851.
SYLVANUS 7 (Bela P., 6 Syhanus, 6 Ebenezer* Samuel, 3 Preserved*
Roger 1 ), oldest son of Bela P. and Cynthia (Carr) Clapp, was born
Nov. 22, 1815; is a physician of extensive practice and high reputa-
tion in Pawtucket. R. I. He received his academic education at
Sheldon Academy, Southampton, Mass. Studied medicine with Dr.
Benjamin Barrett, Northampton. Attended Lectures at Harvard
Medical School in 1835, and at Hanover, N. H., in 1836. Received
the degree of M.D., Dartmouth College, in 1836. Commenced the
practice of medicine in Chesterfield, Mass., same year. Member
Massachusetts Medical Society 1839. Removed to Pawtucket, R. I.,
1841. % Member R. I. Medical Society 1842. Chosen its President
1864-1866. President of Board of Managers of the Pawtucket
Dispensary, and Consulting Physician from its organization in 1865.
Physician to St. Joseph's Convent. Permanent member of American
Medical Association and Providence Medical Association. Received
the Honorary Degree of A.M. Brown University, 1870. Consulting
Surgeon to R. I. Hospital from its organization, which office he
still holds. Has contributed several papers to the R. I. Medical
Society, some of which have been published in its Transactions. He
presided at the second Clapp Family Gathering, at Nantasket, in
.1873, and is deeply interested in all matters connected with the
family. He married Jan. 15, 1839, Lucy Mari Clapp (No. 832),
daughter of Ebenezer, of Chesterfield.
Children of SYLVANUS and LUCY MARI CLAPP :
919. JEANNIE FRANCES,* b. March 23, 1840 ; m. Nov. 13, 1873, Geo.
A. Fletcher, of Milton, Mass.
920. KATE CATLIN,' b. Dec. 20, 1844 ; d. Aug. 29, 1845.
921. LEVI WHEATON, 8 b. Jan. 3, 1849 ; graduated at Brown University,
1870, and at Harvard Medical School in 1873, and commenced
the practice of medicine in Pawtucket, R. I.
922. SUSAN ADELA, S b. June 19, 1852.
86 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
867
THEODORE/ (Thaddeus, 6 Joseph, 6 Jonathan* Roger, 3 Preserved, 1
Roger 1 ), son of Thaddeus 6 and Achsah (Parsons) Clapp, and twin,
brother of Thaddeus, 7 was born March 29, 1792 ; graduated at Yale
College 1814; studied theology at Andover ; licensed as a Congrega-
tional minister in 1817. After spending a year in Kentucky as chap-
lain and teacher in a private family, he was invited in 1822 to succeed
Rev. Sylvester Lamed, a young man of rare gifts and great pulpit
eloquence, as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in New Orleans,
and was settled there early in that year. May 31, 1822, he married
Adeline Hawes, then of Louisville, Kentucky, but originally from
Boston. In 1 834, a change took place in his theological views ;
he became a Unitarian, and dissolved his connection with the Pres-
byterian church. He remained, however, pastor of nearly the same-
people as before ; " only a small number," as he afterwards wrote,
" I think not more than half a dozen, left me." He continued here
for thirty-five years, resigning his charge in 1857, on account of ill
health. A fit of sickness in 1847 brought him very near the grave,
and a voyage to Europe was undertaken in that year, which resulted
in the recovery of his health. In 1857 he published his "Autobio-
graphical Sketches and Recollections during a thirty-five years'
Residence in New Orleans," in which are graphic accounts of his
labors and success in that city. Much personal history is also given,
with full particulars of the important change which took place in his
religious sentiments. No less than twenty epidemics of yellow fever
and cholera were witnessed by him during his long pastorate, and it
was his constant practice to remain in the city during the prevalence
of the disease, and to administer temporal aid and spiritual consolation
indiscriminately to all to whom he was called. In speaking of these
epidemics, in his autobiography, Mr. Clapp says that each of them
on an average lasted eight weeks. " Multiply," he says, " eight by
twenty, and the product is one hundred and sixty. Hence it follows
that since my settlement in Louisiana I have spent over three entire
years in battling, with all my might, against these invisible enemies,
the cholera and yellow fever. In those three years, I scarcely en-
joyed a night of undisturbed repose. When I did sleep, it was upon
my post, in the midst of the dead and wounded, with my armor on,
and ready at the first summons to meet the deadly assault." The
ravages by the cholera in 1832 are described by Mr. Clapp from
personal observation. On the 25th of October, Che first cases were
noticed. On the 27th, he says, "it had made its way through every
part of the city. During the ten succeeding days all the physicians
judged that, at the lowest computation, there were 5000 deaths an
average of 500 every day. Many died of whom no account was
rendered. A great number of bodies, with bricks and stones tied
to the feet, were thrown into the river. Many were privately in-
REV. THEODORE CLAPP,
Minister in New Orleans from 1822 to 1857.
EOGEK AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 87
terred in gardens and enclosures, on the grounds where they ex-
pired, whose names were not recorded in the bills of mortality.
Often, I was kept in the burying-ground for hours in succession, by
the incessant, uninterrupted arrival of corpses, over whom I was
requested to perform a short service. One day I did not leave the
cemetery till nine o'clock at night; the last interments were made
by candle light After bathing and taking some refresh-
ment, I started out to visit the sick. My door was thronged with
servants, waiting to conduct me to the rooms of dying sufferers. In
this kind of labor, I spent most of the night. At 3 o'clock, A.M., I
returned home, and threw myself on the sofa, with directions to be
called at half past five. I was engaged to attend a funeral at six.
During the entire epidemic, at least 6000 persons perished." The
most fatal epidemic of yellow fever was that of 1837, when there
were 10,000 cases of fever reported and about 5000 deaths. A gen-
tleman now (1875) living in Boston resided in New Orleans at that
time. He recollects distinctly going one Sunday morning into the
church of Parson Clapp, as he was then generally called, during the
height of the fearful pestilence, and noticing that not more than thirty
or forty persons composed the congregation, which at other times
crowded the church to its utmost capacity. He says Mr. Clapp was
then the only Protestant minister remaining at his post in the city,
and he was made the constant almoner to the sick and dying of the
liberal contributions of wealthy citizens and charitable societies. He
also bears witness to the great popularity at that time of Mr. Clapp
as a preacher, and of the esteem in which he was held as a citizen
and a philanthropist. This esteem was manifested in the fact which
he himself records, that in his early ministry the church edifice and
grounds of the society over which he was settled fell into the hands
of Jacob Touro, a wealthy Jew, at an expense to him of $20,000, and
were retained by him for about twenty-eight years, the whole income
from the pew rents being placed annually in the hands of Mr. Clapp.
Another work by Mr. Clapp, after his resignation, was issued in
1859, called " Theological Views," &c. After this, he continued to
reside in Louisville, Kentucky, where he died May 17, 1866. He
was often in Boston during the later years of his life. He felt much
interest in the history and genealogy of the family, and always called,
when opportunity offered, upon the author of this book. In 1858,
when an attempt was made to hold the first Clapp Family Meeting,
he declined, on account of his health, an invitation to deliver an ad-
dress on the occasion.
The following, expressive of what seems to have been the general
current of his thoughts and feelings, occurs near the close of his
"Autobiography : " " Few persons have lived to my age who could
call to mind a happier retrospect than that which memory presents to
my grateful, contsntcd and rejoicing heart. Though without wealth,
I have had access to all the selfish pleasures which wealth is able to
bestow." . . . . " The future is inexpressibly bright and glorious.
THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
869
LUTHER 7 (Thaddem, 6 Joseph* Jonathan, 4 Roger, 3 Preserved,*
Roger 1 ), son of Thaddeus and Aschsah (Parsons) Clapp, was born
in Easthampton, Jan. 3, 1805. By occupation a merchant and
commercial agent. He was at one time Postmaster at Easthampton.
Is temporarily residing in Gloversville, N. Y. He married, Sept. 7,
1830, Lucy Porneroy, of Northampton.
Children of LUTHER and LUCY (Pomeroy) CLAPP :
923. VIRGINIA, 8 dead.
924. LUTHER HART, S b. Dec. 24, 1839. Is a Nursery man and Florist
at Louise, Ky. "Was a soldier in the Confederate Army in the
war of 1861-5. He m. in 1864. Children :
925. Wyllys Frank, 9 b. in 1866. 927. Charles, 9 b. in 1873.
926. A daughter, 9 b. in 1870.
928. EGBERT IRVING, S b. June 15, 1842. Is a merchant in Batavia,
N. Y. He enlisted in Co. B, 31st Mass. Reg't Cav., Nov. 20,
1861 ; served three years, and was discharged in 1864 to re-
enlist in the same Co. and Reg't. Promoted to Q. M. Sergeant
June 18, 1864, and to 2d Lieut. June 7, 1865. Was with Gen.
Butler when he captured New Orleans, and was in the Red
River Expedition, where he received severe and lasting injuries
by his horse falling on him. Discharged Sept. 9, 1865. He
m., in 1870, Pratt.
929. WYLLYS WARNER, S b. July 8, 1844. Is a merchant in Northamp-
ton. He m., in 1871, Blood, and has a daughter.
930. AUGUSTUS MERRILL,* b. Aug. 9, 1846 ; d. in Nashville, Tenn.,
March 9, 1863. The following inscription, written by Mr. Lafay-
ette Clapp, was used at the decoration of the soldiers' graves in
1872:
" AUGUSTUS MERRILL CLAPP. This inscription, we may say
truly, is to the " Soldier Boy." At the age of 15 years 10
months, he enlisted in Co. K, 85th Ohio Cav., for three months,
and was also in Co. C, 88th Ohio. He was engaged in the pur-
suit of Morgan's guerrillas, and in guarding rebel prisoners.
By letters which he wrote to his friends here, he seems to have
preferred more active work, and so he reenlisted in the 3d Ohio
Cav. He was in one battle where, though unknown to himself
at the time, his older brother was among the rebel forces. He
died in hospital at Nashville, Tenn., of typhoid fever, March 9,
1863. He was the son of Luther Clapp, and was born at East-
hampton, Aug. 9, 1846.
" We place flowers here by this monument in the family burial
place, while the remains of the youthful hero lie far away among
strangers."
931. JOSEPH LYMAN, S b. Sept. 9, 1850. Resides in California.
932. LUCY PoMEROY, 8 m. June 24, 1874, Daniel C. Durfee, and lives
in Gloversville, N. Y.
933. EMMA, S m. a Mr. Clapp.
934. LELA.
935. THADDEUS, 8 b. July 15, 1858 ; d. in infancy.
Luther 7 has three other daughters, whose names have not been obtained.
ROGER AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 89
874
ALEXANDER HUNTINGTON 7 (Levi, 6 Charles., 6 Simeon,* Roger, 3
Preserved, 3 Roger 1 ), second son of Levi and Sarah (Huntington)
Clapp, was born Sept. 1, 1818. In early childhood, he was taken
to Boston, into the family of his maternal uncle, Ralph Huntington,
Esq., where the studies commenced in the country school were car-
ried forward in the Adams and Fort Hill Grammar Schools and the
English High School on leaving which, he spent several years as a
clerk in Boston. Prepared for college in Phillips (Andover) and
Leicester Academies; entered Yale College in 1838, and graduated
in 1 842 ; spent two years in Yale Theological Seminary, and one in
that at Andover, from which he graduated in 1845. While in Ando-
ver Seminary, he edited a selection from the writings of Bishop Joseph
Hall. September 4, 1845, he married Emily Payson Copland, of
Boston. In 1 846, he officiated as Professor pro tern, of Rhetoric and
English Literature, in Middlebury College, Vermont. Was ordained,
Oct. 14, 1846, Pastor of the Centre Congregational Church of
Brattleboro', Vermont. Here he edited " Lives of the Presidents,"
and other works.
In January, 1853, he was obliged, by a severe affection of the eyes,
to suspend preaching, and resigned his charge Nov. 15, 1853. While
under the care of oculists, he served as cashier of the Pacific Mills
in Boston and Lawrence, Mass. Enabled to resume his profession,
he commenced labor in the summer of 1855, with the Beneficent
Congregational Church of Providence, R. L, and was installed its
pastor, Oct. 3, 1855. While here, as in Brattleboro', he greatly en-
deared himself to those under his charge, and his connection with
them is still spoken of by the older members of both churches with
much tenderness and affection. This last charge he resigned, Feb.
8, 1865, to accept an appointment as Secretary of the American
Home Missionary Society, New York city, which office he still
(1875) holds. Several of his sermons and addresses have been
published, and he has contributed various articles to the magazines
and religious press ; but, for the most part, his life has been closely
devoted to the duties of his profession. The honorary degree of
Doctor of Divinity was conferred on him, by Iowa College, in 1868.
In 1860, a European trip of six months was taken by himself and
wife, at the charge of his Providence people, who also gave him a
furlough in 1862, while he served as chaplain of the 10th Reg't R. I.
Vols. called for the defence of Washington. In 1874, he was ap-
pointed lecturer (for three years) on Home Missions, in Andover
Theological Seminary.
He possesses rare abilities as a preacher, and is exerting a most
beneficial influence in the important post which he occupies. He
delivered the admirable address at the Clapp Family Gathering in
Northampton, in 1870.
12
90 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
321
[The account of the family of No. 321, p. 37, was accidentally mislaid at
the time that page was printed. It is inserted here, in order that all in the
line of ROGER* may be as nearly together as possible, rather than in the
Appendix, where it is probable other omissions and corrections will find a
place.]
ZENAS 6 (Simeon, 6 Simeon* Roger, 3 Preserved, 3 Roger 1 ), only son
of Simeon and Patty (Root) Clapp, was born in Northampton. He
married, Aug. 29, 1818, Belinda Dickinson, of Hadley.
Children of ZENAS and BELINDA (Dickinson) CLAPP :
936. WILLIAM D., 7 b. April 5, 1820 ; m. first, April 15, 1842, Louisa
E. Chapin, of Northampton, who d. Oct. 12, 1847; second, Aug.
29, 1850, Sarah G. Fisher, of Northampton. He is in active
business in Northampton. The Address by him in that place, in
1870, at the opening of the Family Gathering there, was not
excelled in feeling and appropriateness by any of the public re-
marks on that interesting occasion. Child:
937. Louisa M., 8 - child of 1st wife, lived only a few hours.
938. MEKRICK H., 7 b. Oct. 12, 1823; m. Lucy Hastings. Children:
939. Henry M., s b. in 1847. 942. Lucy . b. in 1855.
940. Albert M., s b. in 1850. 943. Clara K, 8 b. in 1857.
941. Ella M., 8 b. in 1853.
944. SARAH A., 7 b. Sept 5, 1824; m. first, Luther Dickinson; second,
Frederick S. Chapin.
945. ABNER B., 7 b. April 12, 1825.
946. HELEN/ b. Jan. 13, 1837 ; m. May 8, 1873, Charles Wetherbee.
II.
EDWAED AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
WAS an elder brother of Captain Roger, and came from England
to Dorchester about 1633. He probably came in the vessel which
arrived July 24th of that year.* Thomas and Nicholas it is most
likely came in the same vessel ; and John, brother of the last named
two, not until some time subsequently.
Dea. Edward was a man much esteemed by the Town, and held
many responsible offices, being one of the Selectman for several
years, and Deacon of the church twenty-six years. In the Church
Records we find the following account of his death: " The 8th day
of the llth mo. 1664, being the Sabbath day, Deacon Edward Clap
departed this life and now resteth with the
Lord, there to spend an eternal Sabbath with
God and Christ in Heaven, after that he
had faithfully served in the office of a Deacon for the space of about
five or six and twenty years, and being the first Church officer that
was taken away by death since the first joining together in covenant,
which is now 28 years, 4 mo. and odd days." John Farmer, of
New Hampshire (who probably did more than any other person in
the country towards tracing out the genealogy of ancient families
and names, until James Savage issued his four octavo vols. of 2493
pages), published in 1830 a Genealogical Register, in which he
says Deacon Edward Clapp died " leaving no issue." I think he
came to that conclusion by information obtained from the Rev. Dr.
Harris or Mr. Elisha Clap ; but they were all mistaken. Probably
Elisha thought that the Ezra who died in 1691 was a. son of Deacon
Edward, and thus arrived at the conclusion that he left no descend-
ants; but he was a grandson, then about 17 years of age. The
old gentleman, as will be seen by his Will, left his lands in Milton
***
* " July 24, 1633. A ship arrived from Weymouth, with about 80 passengers and i:
kine, who" sate down at Dorchester. They were 12 weeks coming, being forced 11
Western Islands by a leak, where they stayed three weeks and were very courteously
by the Portugals; but the extremity of the heat there, and the continual rain, or
sickness upon them, so as (blank) died." Winthrop's History of New England.
92 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
to his son Ezra, and thither the latter removed some time after his
father's decease. Dea. Edward had a second wife when he died.
The Christian name of the first was Prudence; that of the last,
Susanna, daughter of William Cockerill, of Salem, Mass. One of
them, probably the first, must have been a sister to Thomas, Nicho-
las and John, for John in his Will calls him his brother-in-law ; at
the same time he calls Roger cousin, so that Edward and Nicholas
and their wives were of but two families. Deacon Edward owned
one-half of the Mill called " Clapp's Mill," and Deacon Nicholas
owned a quarter of the same. It stood nearly Northeast of the
house formerly owned and occupied by the late Preserved Baker, in
the north part of Dorchester near Roxbury, not far from the bend of
the creek which formerly run inland from the salt water in the South
Bay. The mill was built by a Mr. Bate, probably Mr. James Bate
(now spelled Bates) for the above-named owners. Prudence, the
first wife of Deacon Edward, died previous to 1656; his second
wife, who lived his widow about 24 years, died June 16, 1688.
DEA. EDWARD CLAPP'S WILL.
The last Will and Testament of M r - Edward Clappe, of Dorchester,
made this third day of January, one thousand six hundred sixty-four.
I being weak in body, yet in perfect memory, Doe make this my last Will
and Testament in manner and forme following:
Imprimis : I comit my Immortal soul into the hands of that heavenall
God that made it, & my Body after Death to my Dear relations and
Christian friends, to bee decently buried in the earth there to rest knowing
assuredly it shall be raised up again by my Dear redeemer Y e Lord Jesus
Christ at his cominge.
And as for my outward estate my funeral being discharged & just debts
paid I give & bequeathe unto my Dear and Loving Wife, twenty pounds
in what goods she shall Desire it, and farther my Will is that shee shall en-
joye all my Housing, Land, orchard, planting Land and meadow, together
with y e two neerest Diuisions of woodland (except what is heerafter ex-
pressed) During her widowhood, except my sonne Nehemiah shall first
Marry or attaine the age of twenty-one yeares, then in such case he shall
have such part as is heerafter expressed, also my Dear Wife shall enjoye
one quarter of the tide mill untill Nehemiah's age aforesaid. But if my
Dear Wife shall marry then my Will is that all my land shall Returne unto
my two sonnes as is heerafter expressed, & then my will is that my Dear
Wife shall haue fourscore pounds more added to the first twenty, to bee hers
foreuer.
As for my children my Will is that Ezra shall haue as much as my
daughters, & my Will is that my four daughters shall haue an equall por-
tion, my sonne Nehemiah twenty pounds more than my Daughters. I
canne sett no summe because I know not w' it will come to, but my mean-
ing is that t y shall haue equall portions with what they that are married
haue already received, it being thirty pounds apiece which is to be part of
their portions. I will and appoint that Ezra my eldest sonne shall haue
my land lying at Milton in the 12th Lott, upon apprisement, & all my
EDWARD AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 93
Lands lying on that side Naponsett Riuer, also a parcell of medow at Dor-
chester necke, near powwow point, & another small parcell of meadow at or
near pine neck, & that land on y e plaine at neck towards powwow-point, &
a quarter of the tide Mill, all to be prized & he receiuing paying as is Due
by the appointment of my ouerseers hereafter mentioned, unto whom I Doe
give full power to order as they shall judge most conducing to the good of
my Dear Wife & of all my children, keeping as near as may bee to this my
Will.
I give unto my sonne Nehemiah at marriage or age, one half of the
Housing, Land, orchard, meadow, wood land, one quarter of the tide mill, all
to be prized & he to pay his sisters what is their portion to bee paid at the
appointment of the overseers. I give unto my daughter Susanna an equal
single portion to bee paid her at the appointment of my overseers. I give
unto my daughter Esther an equal single portion to be paid her by my
overseers appointment, by my executors. I doe hereby make and appoint
my dear Loving Wife & my loving sonne Ezra Clappe to bee my Executors,
and Doe Intreat and empower my Dear louing Brethren Captain Roger
Clappe, Ensighus John Capen & Nicholas Clappe to be my ouerseers, unto
whom I give power to see the performance of my Will & to appoint the
times of payment of the daughters portions, & prizing of housing, Lands,
Mill, together with the Executors.
That this is my last Will and testament I have set too my hand iu y*
presence of
[There are no signatures to this Will, which omission is explained by a
certificate on the records of the Probate Office, attached to the copy of the
Will, of which certificate the following is an abstract.]
The testimony of Roger Clapp, aged 55 yeares or thereabout, & Jn
Capen, aged 51 yeares, & Nicholas Clap, aged 52 or thereabouts. Wee
euery one of us being present at the House of Edward Clappe, on the 3 d
day of January 1664, did hear the writing now presented read unto the
said Edward Clap, now Deceased, & he approued of it to be his will, & hee
Caused it to bee read againe, in the hearing of his wife, to see if shee had
any exception to make & then appointed it to be writ fairly out againe,
which accordingly was forthwith Done, & wee Coming to the Intent to
haue it perfected, were informed that he was asleepe & therefore were not
willing to trouble him, it being Late in the night, went away & forbore at
that present, & afterward it was neglected to bee presented, so nothing elce
was done, concerning settling his Estate that we know of. Taken upon
oath the 1 st of February 1664, as the probate of the will hereto annext, y e
wife & sonne, Execut therein, accepting thereof, the wife by her letter &
the sonne in Court by the 3 p r ties aboue written, as attests,
Edward Rawson, Recorder.
Inventory of the Estate of Edward Clappe, of Dorchester who Departed
this Life the 8 th Jan. 1 664, apprised by Hopestill Foster, William Sumner,
Feb. 17 th 1664. Amt 794.15.3. including debts due the estate. The
Estate debtor to the am'. 113.02.07. Mentions land at seuerall places, at
the little & great necke, in the Cow walke at Milton, by Mr. Stoughtous
Farme, &c. &c. Halfe the Mill valued at 50.
Susanna Clapp deposed, March 30, 1665, to this Inventory of the Estate
of her late Husband, Edward Clappe.
94 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
Children of Dea. EDWARD and 1st wife PRUDENCE CLAPP:
2. ELIZABETH,* b. 1634; d. Jan. 16, 1694, aged 60 years. She m.
about the first of Jan., 1652, Elder James Blake, b. in Eng. 1623 ;
her husband survived her a little upwards of six years, and d.
June 28, 1700, aged 77 years.
3. PRUDENCE,* b. Dec. 28, 1637; m. Simon Peck, of Hingham, Feb-
ruary, 1660. She joined the church in Dorchester Feb. 20,
1658, and was dismissed to the church in Hingham. Their son
Ephraim was baptized in Dorchester the 20th of 4th mo., 1680.
4. EZRA,* b. May 22, 1640; d. Jan. 23, 1717, aged 77 years.
5. NEHEMIAH,* b. about Sept. 1646; d. April 2, 1684, aged 38 years.
6. SUSANNA,* b. Nov. 1648.
Children of EDWARD and 2d wife SUSANNA (Cockerill) CLAPP:
7. ESTHER,* b. July, 1656; m. June 9, 1684, Samuel Strong, of
Northampton. He was brother of Ebenezer, who m. Hannah,
dau. of Nicholas Clapp, and who was great-grandfather to Gov.
Caleb Strong.
8. ABIGAIL,* b. April 27, 1659 ; d. Jan. 3, 1660.
9. JOSHUA,* b. May 12, 1661 ; d. May 22, 1662.
10. JONATHAN,* b. March 23, 1664; d. May 30, 1664.
EZRA 2 ( Edward 1 ), son of Edward and Prudence Clapp, was born
May 22, 1640. He married for his first wife Abigail Pond (not
Sarah Pond as stated in the Church Records ; Sarah married Desire
Clapp). It will be perceived that his father left him his land, which
was situated at Milton;* he lived in Dorchester several years subse-
quent to his father's death, and probably removed to Milton as early
* Milton was incorporated as a separate town May 7, 1662. It previously constituted a part
of Dorchester, which also embraced within its limits the present towns of Stoughton, Canton,
Sharon and parts of Wrentham and Foxborough. The church in Milton was gathered in
1678, and the church covenant then entered into was signed by Anthony Newton, Robert
Tucker, William Blacke, Thomas Swift, George Sumner, Thomas Holman, Ebenezer Clap,
Edward Blacke, George Lion, James Tucker, Ephraim Tucker, Manasseh Tucker. Ezra
Clapp then being a member of the church in Dorchester, did not sign the covenant. The
Rev. Peter Thacher was invited to become minister of the church ; his answer of accep-
tance was dated May 8, 1681 ; he was ordained June 1st, and his services began Sept. ''d
following, and continued above 46 years, till his death, Dec. 17, 1727. He was son of Rev.
Thomas, first minister of the Old South Church, Boston, b. in England, May 1, 1620, and
emigrated to Boston in 1635. Rev. Peter, the Milton minister, was b. in Salem, July 18,
1651, grad. Harv. Coll. 1671, sometimes preached to the Indians in their own language,
and also practised medicine, expending much of Lis salary in the purchase of medicines for
the sick and needy. During his connection with the church of Milton, there were 251 ad-
missions to it. His funeral sermon was preached by Dr. Cotton Mather, being the last
sermon he ever delivered. The Rev. John Taylor succeeded Mr. Thacher, and was or-
dained Nov. 13, 1728, and died Jan. 25, 1750. the Rev. Nathaniel Robbins, who grad.
Harv. Coll. 1747, followed, and was ordained Feb 13, 1751 , at the ac of 24 years, and
continued minister of the town 45 years; he died May 19, 1795, aged"69. Rev. Joseph
McKean, D.D., LL.D., was the fourth minister. He grad. Harv. Coll. 1794, and was or-
dained in Milton November, 1797. Ill health compelled his resignation, after a period of
little less than seven years. The Rev. Samuel Gile, D.D., grad. Dart. CollTl804, and was
ordained successor to Dr. McK. Feb. 18, 1807. During his ministry, a division of the ch.
took place, a new society was formed, and Mr. Gile was its pastor until his death, October,
1836. The town of Milton was the abode of Governor Hutchinson and other colonial
officers, before the Revolution.
EDWARD AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 95
as 1667. The estate in Milton to which he removed was situated
between the meeting-house, in Milton, and Dorchester Upper
Mills. According to the Milton Church Records, Feb. 10, 1688,
Brother Ezra Clapp, by virtue of a letter of dismission from Dor-
chester church, " and Mary Pitcher, with the rest of bro. Claps
children," were propounded as desiring to join the church in Milton,
and at the same time Experience wife of Ezra, and Abigail their
daughter, were received into the church. About 1712, he built a
mill on Neponset River. The following vote respecting it is in the
Milton Town Records, viz. : " Whereas Ezra Clap has erected acorn
mill about two years past at the request of sum of the inhabitants of
the Town and has been very beneficent to the neibors, we do on
request of said Clap grant unto him as much of the water of River
Naponset as is needful for his Mill."
His first wife, Abigail, died Oct. 12, 1682, eleven days after the
birth of their daughter Elizabeth. He married second, May 22,
1684, Experience Houghton, who died Dec. 17, 1717. Ezra died
Jan. 23, 1717, aged 77 years. As his Will is somewhat curious and
original, it is here inserted.
WILL OF EZRA CLAPP.
I Ezra Clap of Milton in the County of Suffolk within his Majesties
Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England Yeoman being infirm
of Body but of sound and perfect mind arid memory praised be God for it,
Knowing the uncertainty of life and being desirous to settle that outward
estate the Lord hath lent me, Do therefore make and ordain this my last
Will and Testament in manner and form following: That is to say First
and Principally I commit my soul unto the hands of that God who gave it
me, hoping for pardon, acceptance and salvation only and alone upon the
accompt of the meer mercy of God and merits of Christ, my body I com-
mit to the earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my executor
hereafter named, and as touching the worldly Estate the Lord hath given
me, my Will and meaning is that the same shall be disposed and bestowed
as hereafter in and by this my Will is Expressed, hereby renouncing and
making null and void all Wills and Testaments by me formerly made de-
claring and appointing this to be my last Will and Testament.
I Will that all my just debts and funeral charges be well and truly paid
in convenient time after my decease by my Executor hereafter named.
Item, I do give and bequeath unto my beloved Wife Experience Clap the
sum of twenty pounds, in such moveables of my household goods as she
shall see good to choose to be at her own free disposal, and do hereby or-
dain and appoint, that she shall have the little end of my Dwelling House
to live in during the time of her continuing my widow. Item, I do hereby
give and bequeath to my son Nehemiah all that part of my homestead of land
from my son-in-law Nathaniel Pitchers line till it comes to a stone ditch in
the old field, as also all my housings on said land, with one half of my salt
meadow; as also one half of my Wood Lott of land, lying between the land
of Henry Glovers deceased and the land of Ephraim Newton. Item, I give
and bequeath to my son Ezra Clap my corn mill with the land and housing
that is between Neponsit River and the highway leading to Brush Hill. I also
96 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
give him four acres of my salt meadow ; and I further give him my piece of
meadow at the blew hills consisting of about five acres be it more or less ; I
further give him my land in the new field belonging to my homestead con-
taining by estimation twelve acres be it more or less, that is to say the land
lying beyond the stone ditch before mentioned and so extending to the High-
way afore-said leading to Brush Hill. Item, I give to my son Ebenezer Clap
my lot of land lying in the twelfth Division (so called) being in number the
eight lot, lying beyond the land of Punkapaug within the Township of Dor-
chester. I also further give him Two acres of my salt meadow with a load
of Creek thatch as it stands growing Yearly each and every year forever.
Item, I give and bequeath unto my aforesaid three sons Nehemiah, Ezra
and Ebenezer Clap all my common rights of land to be equally divided
between them ; all and every of which before mentioned particulars and
parcels of land and Housing granted and bequeathed to each and Every of
my said sons I give to them their heirs and assigns forever. Item, my Will
is, that whereas my eldest son Edward Clap (who went to Canada) whom I
had by my first wife Abigail Pond, which whether alive or dead I know
not, That if ever he should arrive here, I give and bequeath to him his heirs
and assigns forever sixty acres of woodland, which came by his mother, and
forty acres more of land ; thereabout adjoining the sixty acres ; lying next to
the land of John Maxfield all scituate lying and being in the Township of
Dorchester, the eight lot in the twelfth Division ; but in case my said son
Edward Clap do not arrive or be not heard of in five years after my de-
cease, that then my Executor hereafter named Do pay to the children here-
after mentioned as followeth, namely, to the children of my daughter Abi-
gail King deceased ; to my daughter Judith Tucker and to the children of
my daughter Elizabeth Rice deceased their just and equal part and propor-
tion of the aforesaid sixty acres of land (if they desire it) as shall be ap-
prised by Indifferent men as part of their portions before granted and be-
queathed unto them that yet may be behind due unto them. Item, I give
unto my son-in-law Nathaniel Pitcher five shillings money and the reason
why I now give him no more is because he has already had in money and
other things more than sixty pounds. Item, I give to my grand children
the children of my daughter Abigail King deceased, forty pounds. That is
to say with what I have already paid her ; I having paid her twenty-four
pounds and twelve shillings, so that I give them fifteen pounds eight shillings
more. Item, I give to my daughter Sarah Vose five shillings money and
the reason why I give her no more is because she has had her full part and
portion paid her already, with what improvement has been had, for many
years past of my fresh meadow by my son-in-law John Vose. Item, I give
to my daughter Judith Tucker (with what I have already given her) fifty
pounds I having paid her thirty and nine pounds, so that I give her eleven
pounds more to make up the fifty pounds, and the reason why I give her
more than the rest is because she and myself have been both disappointed
of what we expected from her Uncle Clap deceased. Item, I give to the
children of my daughter Elizabeth Rice deceased twelve pounds and eight
shillings I having paid her already twenty-seven pounds and eight shillings.
Item, I give to my daughter Jane Tucker eighteen pounds I having already
paid her twenty-two pounds. Item, I do give and bequeath unto my two
daughters Ester and Susanna Clap fourscore pounds, forty pounds pr. piece.
And further my Will is that if it shall so happen, that if any one or more
of my children be removed by death before marriage, that their share of my
estate shall be equally divided amongst those of my children surviving that
EDWARD AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 97
I had by my last "Wife. Lastly, my Will is that my beloved Wife Experi-
ence Clap be well provided for to her full comfort.or otherwise to have one
third part of my Estate according to law, and my Will and appointment is
that my three sons Nehemiah, Ezra and Ebenezer Clap pay all the afore-
said Legacys within five years after my decease and honorably maintain
their Mother according to what they have received of my estate, and that
a"s they may and can agree, or otherwise to be judged and decided by indif-
ferent men, hoping and trusting they will all live in love and be far from
falling out by the way. And farther my Will is That if it should so happen,
that any one or more of my children shall be and remain unsatisfied with
their part and portion granted and bequeathed unto them or go about to
break this my said Will, That he or she whosoever they may be shall for-
feit their part and portion, which shall be distributed and divided unto and
amongst the rest of my children. And I do hereby constitute and appoint
my son Nehemiah Clap the Executor of this my last Will and Testament.
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this eleventh
day of July one thousand seven hundred and sixteen in the second Year of
his Majestys reign. EZRA CLAP [& a Seal.]
Signed, Sealed Published and declared to be the last Will
and Testament of Ezra Clap in presence of us
James Blake,
John Blake,
Joseph Parmenter.
Mr. Ezra Clapp bought of James Holton the house and land in
Milton which belonged to Robert Pond in 1665; it then belonged
to Mrs. Ellen or Allen, who was the widow of Robert Pond, and
subsequently married Nicholas Ellen. He died Jan. 23, 1717.
Children of EZRA and 1st wife ABIGAIL (Pond) CLAPP:
11. MARY,' b. April 26, 1667; m. Nathaniel Pitcher, of Milton, July
8, 1684, being then 17 years of age. She is supposed to have
died before her father, but was living in 1707.
12. ED WARD, 8 b. Sept. 1672. He went to Canada, probably in the
expedition sent to fight the Indians in 1690; it appears that he
never returned. It will be seen by the Will of his father that
provision was made for him in case he was alive. He served in
Capt. John Withington's Company ; 46 of that expedition were
lost at sea.
13. EzRA, 3 b. Jan. 29, 1674. He was no doubt the one of that name
who d. April 10, 1691. It is supposed he lived in Dorchester
at the time, as his death is noted upon the records of this town.
His age not appearing is probably the reason for the mistake
alluded to in John Farmer's Genealogical Register, that he was
the son of Deacon Edward, instead of his grandson ; and, in that
case, the family name was extinct in that branch.
14. ABIGAIL,' b. 1675 ; m. a Mr. King, and d. before her father, leav-
ing children.
15. SARAH,' b. July 20, 1677; m. John Vose, of Milton.
16. JUDITH," b. May 6, 1680 ; m. Joseph Tucker, May 27, 1702.
17. ELIZABETH, 3 b. Oct. 1, 1682; m. March 13, 1700, John Rice, Jr,,
of Sudbury, son of John and Tabitha Rice. She d. previous to
July, 1716, leaving children.
13
98 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
Children of EZRA and 2d wife EXPERIENCE (Houghton) CLAPP:
18. WILLIAM,' b. Juiy, 1685. Probably died young.
19. JANE, 3 b. March 12, 1687; d. Feb. 17, 1743; m. Ebenezer Tucker,
Jan. 30, 1707.
--20. NEHEMIAH," d. July 18, 1743.
--21. EZRA," b. March 18, 1693 ; bapt. March 25 ; d. Sept. 20, 1761.
--22. EBENEZER, 3 b. Feb. 3, 1697 ; bapt. Feb. 7.
23. HESTER,* (or Esther) b. Feb. 10, 1699 ; bapt. Feb. 12 ; m. James
Endicott, of Dorchester, Dec. 26, 1720.
24. SusANNA, 3 b. March 7, 1702; bapt. March 8; m. Dec. 26, 1723,
George Sumner, b. Sept. 1697. She d. Nov. 1734.
Milton Church Records contain the name of Mindwell, dau. of Ezra
Clapp, bapt. Sept. 27, 1691.
NEHEMIAH 8 (Edward 1 ), son of Edward and Prudence Clapp,
was born about September, 1646. He married, April, 1678, Sarah
Leavit (now Leavitt) daughter of John Leavitt one of the early set-
tlers of Hingham ; he lived in Hingham awhile, but not long. His
wife owned the covenant in Dorchester the 29th of the fifth month,
1677, and on the 26th of the sixth month (Aug. 26), 1682, Nehe-
miah and his wife were dismissed from the Church in Hingharn, and
joined the Church in Dorchester. He died April 2, 1684, aged
38 years. After her husband's death and previous to November
30, 1689, Sarah married Samuel Howe, of Sudbury. Her father
was a tailor by trade, and a great landholder ; he, in connection with
Capt. Joshua Hobart, Lieut. John Smith and Nathaniel Baker, bought
a tract of land beyond Providence, fifteen miles square, called by the
Indians Twanckoc ; also with Hobart and Smith a piece of land six
miles square, called " Pennycooke ;" he owned a quarter of the
former, and a third of the latter purchase.
WILL OF NEHEMIAH CLAPP, OF DORCHESTER.
The last Will and Testament of Nehemiah Clap (though being weak in
body yet of perfect memory and understanding, the good Lord be blessed
and praysed therefor), made this nineteenth day of March in the Year of
our Lord one thousand six hundred eighty-three or four.
Imp : I commit my imortal soule into the hands of that eternal God that
made it, and my Will is that after my death my body be decently buried,
knowing that it shall be raised up again by my dear Redeemer the Lord
Jesus Christ at his coming. As for my outward estate my Will is that after
my funerall expences are discharged and all just debts paid, I do give and
bequeath unto my dear and loving Wife all my moveable Estate and all
her dowry and portion that is or may be due unto her. And as for that
part of my Estate which is in houseing and land I leave with my dear Wife
to be at her disposal and for her use and benefit during the time of her
widowhood. But if she shall marry then my Will is that when my children
come of age and when my sou Edward do attain the age of twenty-one years
my Will is that he shall have double portion, and that he shall enjoy all
EDWARD AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 99
my housing and land together with a quarter of the tide Mill, He paying a
single portion to his sister Submit ; And I do appoint my dear and loving
Wife to be sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament. And I do
intreat my loving friends and kinsmen Ensign Samuel Clap and brother
Josiah Levit that they would be pleased to be my overseers to see my Will
performed and fulfilled.
In witness whereof I the said Nehemiah Clap have hereunto set my hand
and Scale this day and Year above written.
NEHEMIAH CLAP [by a Seale].
In presence of James Blake,
John Capen, Jr.
Children of NEHEMIAH and SARAH (Leavitt) CLAPP:
25. EDWARD,' b. Dec. 20, 1678 ; d. Feb. 1, 1679.
-f-26. EDWARD, 3 b. Dec. 9, 1680; d. Dec. 3, 1733.
27. SUBMIT,* b. Aug. 2, 1683. She removed to Sudbury, and m.
Joseph Britnall, of that place, March 20, 1708. She survived
him and was m. to Richard Taylor, of Sudbury, July 23, 1741,
she then being about 58 years of age. She m. a third husband
Nov. 30, 1755 ; d. Jan. 29, 1759, and was buried in Stow, Mass.
NEHEMIAH 3 (Ezra* Edward 1 ), son of Ezra and Experience
(Houghton) Clapp, was a man much respected in Milton; he
married Lydia Tucker, of Milton, Aug. 16, 1716. He was a Deacon
of the Church in Milton, and died as before named, July 18, 1743.
He left a Will, made June 23, 1743, giving to his wife Lydia one-
third of his " creatures and moveables," and the improvement of one-
third of his estate while she remained his widow; to his sons
Stephen and Joseph Clap he gave the remainder of his estate in equal
portions, they also to have their mother's after she ceased to improve
it. To his daughters Hannah and Judith, he gave his portion of
the land granted the Canada soldiers, and 1 00 in bills of credit
old tenor ; the land granted the Canada soldiers he received as the
representative of his brother Edward, who was lost in the Canada
expedition of 1690; there were lost at sea in that expedition 46
soldiers, who went from Dorchester. This land was granted the sur-
vivors of that company or their representatives by the General
Court of Massachusetts June 19, 1735, and is now called Ashburn-
ham (formerly Dorchester Canada) ; it is in Worcester County, and
incorporated in 1765. The right in the above-named land was ap-
prized at 60.
Nehemiali's whole inventory was 3019 1 Is. 4d. His Will may be
found at the Probate office in Boston, 36th vol. page 190.
Children of Dea. NEHEMIAH and LYDIA (Tucker) CLAPP :
28. LYDIA, 4 bapt. Aug. 11, 1717; d. April 10, 1736, unm., aged 19 yrs.
29. E/RA, 4 b. Sept. 11, 1719 ; bapt. Sept. 13 ; d. Jan. 12, 1740, aged
21 years.
100 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
30. HANNAH,* b. March 19, 1721 ; d. March 16, 1756 ; m. Mr. Stephen
Badlam, March 1, 1744.
-f-31. STEPHEN, 4 b. April 17, 1724; bapt. April 19.
-J-32. JOSEPH,* b. June 7, 1726 ; bapt. June 11 ; d. Jan. 30, 1799.
33. JuoiTH, 4 b. Jan. 30, 1728 ; bapt. Feb. 2 ; m. Ebenezer Swift.
34. EpHRAiM, 4 bapt. Feb. 6, 1731-2; d. Oct. 26, 1733.
35. JONATHAN/ b. Oct. 16, 1734 ; bapt. Oct. 20 ; d. July 13, 1736.
21
EZRA 3 (Ezra* Edward*), son of Ezra, and Experience (Houghton)
Clapp, was born March 18, 1693, and died Sept. 20, 1761, aged 68.
He married, Nov. 17, 1715, Waitstill Tucker, of Milton, daughter of
Manasseh Tucker, and had several children. By the Milton Church
Records, it seems they were admitted to the church in Milton April
28, 1717. Ezra removed to Middleboro' in 1726, being dismissed
with his wife to the church in the latter place Dec. 18 of that year.
She died July 31, 1763, aged about 73 years.
Children of EZRA and WAITSTILL (Tucker) CLAPP:
36. WAiTSTiLL, 4 b. Oct. 6, 1716 ; bapt. Oct. 7.
37. EXPERIENCE, 4 b. April 30 (ch. rec. bapt. April 13), 1718 ; d. May
26, 1720, aged 2 years.
38. ELIJAH, 4 b. July 31, 1721 ; bapt. Aug. 6. He removed with his
father to Middleboro' ; m. in 1741, Hope Thomas, and removed
to Brookfield. He d. in 1790.
-{-39. MANASSEH, 4 b. Sept. 28, 1725 ; bapt. Oct 3.
22
EBENEZER 3 (Ezra,* Edward 1 ), son of Ezra and Experience
(Houghton) Clapp, was born in Milton, February 3, 1697, and mar-
ried Abigail Belcher, of that place, Feb. 4, 1719; he removed to
Dorchester previous to Oct. 7, 1726; he had one child born in Mil-
ton, and one in Dorchester. Ebenezer probably went to Middleboro'
about the time his brother Ezra did. He is called of that place in
a deed dated Feb. 24, 1730.
Children of EBENEZER and ABIGAIL (Belcher) CLAPP:
40. ELIZABETH, 4 b. in Milton, July 6, 1721 ; bapt. July 9 ("her father
owning y e Covenant") ; d. July 25, 1721.
41. ELIZABETH, 4 b. in Dorchester, Oct 7, 1726 ; bapt. in Milton Nov.
20.
26
EDWARD 3 (Nehemiah* Edward 1 ), son of Nehemiah and Sarah
(Leavitt) Clapp, and his second son of that name, was born Dec. 9,
1680, and died Dec. 3, 1733. He married Mary Clark, of Boston,
Nov. 11, 1703. I suppose he lived in Dorchester until 1722, and
then removed to Sudbury, Mass. I think he married a second wife
EDWARD AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 101
while he lived in Dorchester, whose Christian name was Abigail. He
was probably rather a shiftless man ; he had a good estate left him,
which he disposed of before he removed to Sudbury. In 1722, he
enlisted in Captain Edward Ward's Company, and was in an expe-
dition against the Indians. No account can be found of his children,
besides two daughters, who finished the name of Deacon Edward's
descendants in the line of his son Nehemiah. He died in Sudbury,
Dec. 3, 1733.
Child of EDWARD and 1st wife MARY (Clark) CLAPP:
42. MARY,* b. Aug. 16, 1704; d. young.
By 2d wife ABIGAIL ( ) CLAPP :
43. MARY,* b. April 9, 1722. She probably lived in Sudbury, where
her father removed soon after her birth.
-31-
STEPHEN 4 (Nehemiah, 3 Ezra, 3 Edward 1 ), son of Nehemiah and
Lydia (Tucker) Clapp, was born April 17, 1724. Wife Mary. It
appears that he spent his days and died in Milton.
Children of STEPHEN and wife MARY CLAPP :
44. LYDIA, S b. Oct. 7, 1750; bapt. Oct. 21; never married.
45. STEPHEN, 5 b. Oct. 22, 1752. He never married. It appears that
he died when he was a little upwards of 20 years of age.
46. HANNAH, 8 b. Aug. 23, 1754; never married.
47. EZRA,* b. May 10, 1757 ; d. young.
48. ESTHER, 6 b. Sept. 11, 1759 ; m. Lemuel Capen (see No. 57) ; they
both d. in Rutland, Mass.
49. JuDiTH, 5 b. Feb. 17, 1762 ; never m. ; probably d. when between
the ages of 20 and 30 years.
32
JOSEPH 4 (Nehemiah, 3 Ezra, 9 Edward 1 }, son of Nehemiah and
Lydia (Tucker) Clapp, was born June 7, 1726. He was Deacon of the
Church, and left Milton when he had arrived at about the age of 55,
and resided in Sterling. When in Milton, he lived in the house
afterwards occupied by Mr. C. Breck, on the road from Milton
Meeting House to near the Upper Mills in Dorchester. He died in
Sterling, Jan. 30, 1799, aged 73 years. Wife Rachel.
Children of JOSEPH and wife RACHEL CLAPP :
50. RACHEL, 6 b. Dec. 17, 1751 ; m. first, Stephen Babcock, of Milton;
second, Enos Blake, of Dorchester, currier. She d. in Wey-
mouth, leaving two daughters,
-f 51. NEHEMIAH,* b. Sept. 13, 1753 ; bapt. Sept. 23 ; d. in 1822.
52. SUSANNA, 5 b. March 16, 1760 ; m. Silas Grout, of Sudbury. They
left children, one of whom, William Clapp Grout, was a Repre-
sentative to the General Court in 1843, from the town of
Wayland.
102 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
53. JOSEPH, 6 d. June 1, 1758.
54. CATHARINE, 5 b. June 15, 1762; m. Rogers Chase, of Royalston.
55. ABIGAIL, 5 b. Oct. 4, 1764; m. Mr. Joseph Crackbon, who d. in
Newton. She was living in 1843.
56. JERUSHA, 5 b. May 29, 1767 ; m. Andrew Putnam, of Sterling.
They left at least two children (sons). One of them, Rev.
George Putnam, D.D., is now (1875) the pastor of the first
church in Roxbury ; and, as a preacher of extraordinary power,
as a man and Christian, is an honor and ornament to his
generation.
57. LTDiA, 5 b. Aug. 12, 1771 ; m. Lemuel Capen, of Rutland. She
was his second wife, his first being Esther (No. 48), dau. of
Stephen, and cousin to Lydia Clapp.
+58. STEPHEN, 8 b. March 14, 1777 ; d. Jan. 1846.
- 39-
MANASSEH 4 (Ezra, 3 Ezra, 2 Edward 1 ), son of Ezra and Wait-
still (Tucker) Clapp, was born in Milton, Sept. 28, 1725. He
removed to Middleboro'.
Child of MANASSEH CLAPP :
-}-59. ELIJAH/ b. July 3, 1751.
-51-
NEHEMIAH 5 (Joseph, 4 Nehemiah? Ezra, 3 Edward 1 ), son of Joseph
and Rachel Clapp, was born September 13, 1753. He married
Jerusha Vose, of Milton. In 1779, removed from Milton to Sher-
burne ; afterwards from Sherburne to Leominster, from Leominster to
Royalston, and from Royalston to Franconia, N. H. He died in 1 822.
Children of NEHEMIAH and JEEUSHA (Vose) CLAPP :
60. JOSEPH, 6 b. in 1775 ; d. in 1820.
61. JERUSHA, 6 b. 1778 ; m, Aug. 20, 1826, David Hyde, and lived in
Boston. Mr. Hyde d. and she was living in 1843 with her
second husband, Mr. Mellen.
62. WiLLiAM, 6 b. 1785 ; d. Nov. 1818, unm., in Boston, aged 33 years.
+63. NEHEMIAH, 6 b. 1790.
64. THOMAS,* b. 1797 ; d. in Boston, unm., July, 1815.
STEPHEN 5 (Joseph, 4 Nehemiah, 3 Ezra, s Edward 1 ), son of Joseph
and Rachel Clapp, was born 'March 14, 1777,. in Milton. He re-
moved with his father to Sterling, and from there to Chester, Vt.
He married Hannah Lewis, of Sterling, in 1797 or 1798. He called
on the author of this work several times in 1843, and appeared to
be a very intelligent and exemplary man. He died in Chester, Vt,
in January, 1846.
Children of STEPHEN and HANNAH (Lewis) CLAPP :
65. ELizA, 6 b. Oct. 27, 1798; m. Leonard Holton in Chester, Vt.
They lived in Boston and had several children.
EDWARD AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 103
66. EACHEL, 6 b. April 3, 1801; m. Joel Perry, of Chester, Vt. ; d. in
1827, and Mr. Perry m. her sister Hannah.
67. NANCY, 6 b. April 26, 1803 ; m. Alpheus Atwood, of Chester, Vt.
68. HANNAH, 6 b. Dec. 29, 1805; m. Joel Perry, of Chester, Vt.
69. MARTHA L., 6 b. Oct. 11, 1808; m. Horace Poland, of Langdon,
N. H. They lived in Boston.
70. JOSEPH L., 6 b. Aug. 7, 1811; d. June 16, 1829, when about 18
years of age, his death cutting off all prospect of a continuation of
the name in this line of the family. He was a young man of
good reputation.
71. LUCY ANN, 6 b. Feb. 16, 1815 ; m. Eliakim Ellison, of Chester, Vt.,
and lived in Cambridge, Mass.
ELIJAH 5 (Manasseh* Ezra, 3 Ezra* Edward 1 ), son of Manasseh
Clapp, was born in Middleboro', Mass., July 3, 1751. He removed
to Brookfield, Mass., and married Azubah Ross, of that place, about
1776. She was born in West Brookfield, August 3, 1751.
Children of ELIJAH and AZUBAH (Ross) CLAPP :
72. EEBECCA, 6 b. March 29, 1777 ; never m. ; d. April 6, 1874, aged
97 years and 8 days. She was an active, wide awake woman.
She attended court in 1870, when 93 years of age, to defend a case
in a lawsuit. She owned a good farm in New Braintree, Mass.,
where she lived alone for many years. She was disappointed in
her affections early in life, which may have been one cause of the
eccentricities which marked her character. She was economical
to a fine point, and the acquisition of property seemed the ruling
aim of her life. Probably in her younger days she was deprived
by necessity of some of the comforts of life ; and in her old age
she voluntarily relinquished them all. Her property was re-
tained to the last for unthankful heirs, who disapproved of her
course, and, unknown to her, made all reasonable efforts for
her comfort. In short, she was miserly, and so far mortified the
flesh as to create some doubt of her being able to adapt her
spiritual state so as to overcome this all-pervading trait ; yet she
was fond of her Bible, read it diligently, and formed singular
ideas of its scope and meaning. The following was cut from a
newspaper in 1874, issued but a short time before her death:
" Miss Rebekah Clapp, of New Braiutree, who will be ninety-
seven years of age on the 29th, rode to "Ware on business, Mon-
day, which she transacted ' with as much activity and shrewd-
ness as most young girls of twenty.' "
73. SARAH, 6 b. Sept. 18, 1779 ; m. Geo. Bosworth, of Petersham.
74. TniRZA, 6 b. May 19, 1781; m. Mr. Merriam, the father of the
famous publisher of Webster's Dictionary, in Springfield, Mass.
-f75. WiLLiAM, 6 b. May 4, 1783; d. Sept. 13, 1846.
76. APOLLOS, 6 b. May 14, 1787; m Barnes, March 25, 1843,
removed to Vernon, Vt., and d. without issue.
77. CEPHAS, 6 b. Oct. 1, 1788 ; m Spooner, and lived in Warren,
Mass. He d. in 1853.
104 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
63
NEHEMIAH 6 (Nehemiah, 5 Joseph* Nehemiah,' Ezra, 2 Edward*),
son of Nehemiah and Jerusha (Vose) Clapp, was born in 1790. He
married Sally Millet, Sept. 4, 1814, and was living in Orange, Mass.,
in 1 843. He was much addicted to intemperance for several years
when living in Boston. His wife remained in Boston, and did not
live with him after 1830.
Children of NEHEMIAH and SALLY (Millet) CLAPP:
78. SARAH/ b. March 16, 1815 ; d. Feb. 17, 1841, aged 26 years. She
was a girl of good character, and a great comfort to her mother.
79. THOMAS, 7 b. April 22, 1817. He was a person of little promise,
and in 1843 he served a sentence in the House of Correction,
Boston.
80. CHARLES FREDERICK, 7 b. Sept. 28, 1819 ; d. Jan. 19, 1820, aged
4 months.
81. MARY T., 7 b. Dec. 25, 1820 ; d. July 16, 1822, aged 1 year 7 mos.
-75-
WILLIAM 6 (Elijah, 5 Manasseh* Ezra, 3 Ezra, 2 Edward 1 ), son of
Elijah and Azubah (Ross) Clapp, of Brookfield, was born May 4,
1783. He married, March 17, 1808, Mercy Barnes, who died in
December, 1860. He died Sept. 13, 1846.
Children of WILLIAM and MERCY (Barnes) CLAPP :
82. JOHN W., 7 b. Dec. 11, 1808, in Paxton, Mass.; m. Harriet N.
Ainsworth, of Barre, Mass.
83. THOMAS B., 7 b. Aug. 22, 1811; d. in New York, Oct. 17, 1845,
aged 34 years.
84. ELIJAH, 7 b. Oct. 3, 1814 ; m. Eliza Kent, and has a dau. Ettenf b.
about 1840.
85. WILLIAM/ b. May 11, 1817. For seven years he was engaged in
school-teaching, and had at one time among his pupils Daniel
H. Chamberlain, now (1875) the popular and efficient Governor
of South Carolina. In 1842 he removed to Boston, and has for
many years kept an extensive and popular store on "Washington
St. and Temple Place. He m. Dec. 19, 1858, Myra E. Hobart, of
Hollis, N. H. He is a member of the Ancient and Honorable
Artillery Company, has long been an active and worthy member
of the Masonic fraternity, and has taken thirty-two of the thirty-
three degrees in that Order. He was one of the most active and
liberal among the managers of the two Clapp Family Celebra-
tions, and has taken great interest in the publication of this
Memorial hook.
86. SAMUEL E., 7 b. Aug. 9, 1821 ; removed to New York. He m.
Anna Sherman, of Brimfield, Mass., and has two sons Harry 6
and Samuel?
m.
THOMAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS,
Son of Richard Clapp, of England, and cousin of Roger and Ed-
ward, was born in Dorchester, England, in 1597. He came over*
to this country, probably, as already mentioned (see page 91), in the
ship which arrived from Weyinouth (Eng.) on the 24th of July, 1633.
The probability is that Thomas and Nicholas, and their cousin Ed-
ward, came over together, and John some time afterward. The
name of Thomas Clapp appears, in 1634, on the Town Records of
Dorchester, where his brothers Nicholas and John settled, lived
and died. After his arrival in this country, Thomas remained a
few years in Dorchester, being admitted as a freeman there in
1638, and then removed to Weymouth, Mass., probably with the
intention of settling there. His farm was near what has since been
the residence of Hon. Christopher Webb, of that place. His eldest
son, Thomas, was born there March 15, 1639, and was the Clapp who
removed to Walpole (then part of Dedham), and was the ancestor
of the Clapps of that place. Farmer, in his Genealogical Register,
says that Thomas, senior, removed from Weymouth to Hingham, and
from thence to Scituate ; while Deane says he had grants of land in
Hingham, but never resided there. Whether he did remove there or
not, there is little doubt that it was his intention to do so when the
grant of lands was made to him. If he was an inhabitant of Scituate
as early as 1640, as Deane says, it is very unlikely that he ever
took up his residence in Hingham, as there is evidence of his being
in Weymouth the year previous. He was Deacon of the Church in
Scituate in 1647, and was warmly engaged in a theological contro-
versy respecting the form of baptism, which commenced about 1641,
with the Rev. Charles Chauncey, then minister in Scituate, but after-
wards President of Harvard College.* Mr. Clapp was one of the
* Rev. Mr. Channcy came to New England in 1638. He preached in Plymouth for
about three years, and would have remained longer there, but for his holding some pect
views, in respect to the ordinances, to which the church could not subscribe. He belie
that " the Lord's Supper ought to be administered in the evening, and every Lord
and that baptism ought to be only by dipping, or plunging the whole body under water,
14
106 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
committee of three, in 1675, who sent a letter to the Second Church,
informing them that a reconciliation had taken place after a con-
troversy of 33 years. Mr. Clapp was a Deputy to the Court in 1649,
and overseer of the poor in 1667, that being the first year such offi-
cers were chosen. He was a useful and enterprising man. He died
April 20, 1684, greatly respected. His farm in Scituate was on the
south-west of Stockbridge's mill-pond, and afterwards owned by
Calvin Jenkins. Who his wife was has not been ascertained, ex-
cepting that her Christian name was Abigail.
Richard Sylvester, who lived in Weymouth about 1640, held doc-
trines too liberal for the age in which he lived; they were supposed
to be similar to those of his minister, Mr. Lenthial, whose doctrine
was "that all baptized persons should be admitted to the church
without further trial." This Mr. Lenthial afterward retracted before
the General Court of Massachusetts ; but Sylvester refusing, he
was disfranchised, and therefore removed into Scituate, then in the
Plymouth Colony and out of their jurisdiction. As Thomas Raw-
lins, Thomas Clapp, James Torrey and William Holbrook went to
Scituate about the same time, Deane supposes it was on account of
holding similar opinions.
Children of THOMAS and wife ABIGAIL CLAPP :
12. THOMAS," b. March 15, 1639; d. in 1691.
3. INCREASE, 2 b. probably in May, 1 640.
4. SAMUEL. 2
5. ELEAZER, Z probably never married. He removed to Barnstable,
being admitted an inhabitant there between 1660 and 1670. He
was killed in that desperate battle with the Narragansett Indians
of March 15, 1676. He fought under the command of Captain
Michael Pierce, of Scituate. It was a bravely contested and
sanguinary battle, and out of 70 whites and friendly Indians, 63
were killed. This fight took place in the town of Rehoboth.
The whites and their company killed about three times their
number of Indians.*
whether in the case of children or adults." He remained in Scituate about thirteen years,
his ministry during the whole time, as stated by Deane, being " a scene of constant "agita-
tion." In about five years after its commencement, as no terms of agreement could be
decided upon, nearly half the church and society withdrew and formed another church.
In 1654 he contemplated returning to England, when he received an invitation to the office
of President of Harvard College, with the stipend of one hundred pounds per annum, and
with the understanding that " he forbear to disseminate or publish any tenets concerning
immersion in baptism, and celebration of the Lord's Supper at evening, or to expose the
received doctrine therein." He agreed to this, and was inducted into office Nov. 27, 1654.
He retained the office of President nearly seventeen years, till his death, Feb. 19, 1672.
" Of the estimation in which he was held at Cambridge some idea may be formed from the
fact that, as Cotton Mather informs us, ' when he had been above a year or two in the
town, the church kept a whole day of thanksgiving to God, for the mercy which they en-
joyed in his being there.' " The religious controversy, begun in Scituate under his ministry,
and which resulted, as stated, in the dismemberment of the church, was continued between
the two societies till the letter signed by Nicholas Baker, Thomas Clapp and John Daman,
in 1675, on behalf of the First Church, signified an acceptance from the other church of
a kindly offer of reconciliation.
* An anecdote is told relating to this battle, showing the artifice of a friendly Indian,
given by Cotton Mather. "One who was flying and closely pressed by a hostile Indian,
sought the shelter of a large rock. Thus the two were waiting in awful suspense to shoot
THOMAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. ]Q7
6. ELIZABETH, 8 m. Deacon Thomas King of Scituate, April 20, 1669.
They had nine children. Deacon King owned a farm at Stony
Cove Brook, which he purchased of Nathaniel Rawlins. His
first wife, Elizabeth, d. in 1698, and the next year he m. Deborah
Briggs. He and his second wife both d. in 1711.
7. PRUDENCE,* was living and unm. when her father made his will
in 1684.
8. JOHN,* b. Oct. 18, 1658; d. about 1671. He was a youth of ex-
traordinary piety and promise; he d. when a little upwards of 13
years of age, and a memoir of his life was published by Rev. Mr.
Witherell,* of Scituate, assisted by Rev. Mr. Baker.f The work
is probably not now in existence. Urian Oakest said of this
John, " He was a young old man, full of grace, though not full
of days." There is also an account of him in Cotton Mather's
Magnalia. Probably most of the facts therein stated were taken
from the above named book. Urian Oakes wrote the preface to
the memoir of John Clapp.
9. ABIGAIL, 2 b. Jan. 29, 1659-60; living, unm, in 1684.
, o
THOMAS 2 (Thomas^), son of Thomas and wife Abigail Clapp,
was born in Weymouth, Mass., March 15, 1639. He was the
eldest son of Thomas Clapp, senior, who settled in Scituate the
year previous. Thomas* removed and settled in Dedham ; he lived
in that portion which was afterward incorporated as Walpole, the
incorporation of which took place in 1724. He was a housewright
by trade, and died previous to Jan. 29, 1691, when his Will was
proved. He was married to Mary Fisher, Nov. 10, 1662. The late
Elisha Clapp, and Charles Clapp, of Bath, Me., had the impression
(and so have it recorded) that Thomas 2 died in 1703, and was
the first person buried in the Walpole burying-ground, and this ap-
pears to have been the prevailing idea in Walpole ,* but it was his son
Thomas 3 who died in 1703-4. I have taken great pains in looking
up this branch, and find that all who preceded me had omitted one
family of children, those of Thomas 2d, of Dedham.
each other. Capt. Pierce's Indian patting his cap on the end of a stick or gun, gently raised
it to the view of his enemy, who immediately discharged his gun at the cap, and the next
instant was shot dead by the friendly Indian."
* There is a tradition that the mother of Rev. Mr. Witherell was a daughter of John
Rogers, the Smithfleld martyr. Mr. Witherell was the first minister of the Second Church
in Scituate, being ordained pastor there in 164-5, and remained till his death in 1684, nearly
thirty-nine years. During this time, he administered, according to Deane, 608 baptisms,
the number beinj increased by the opposition to infant baptism among some of the neigh-
boring clergy. Mr. Witherell lived to see the two churches of the town happily reconciled
after their long variance.
t Minister of First Church in Scituate, and one of the signers with Thomas Clapp of the
letter of reconciliation between the First and Second Churches.
J Urian Oakes came to New England about 1634, being then a mere child. He graduated
at Harvard College in 1649, and enjoyed a high reputation as a scholar. He studied theolo-
gy, and returned to England, but was recalled by the church at Cambridge in 1668, over
which he was minister until 1675, when he succeeded Dr. Hoar as President of Harvard (
lege. This office he retained until his death, July 25, 1681. He published several works,
and was specially distinguished for his knowledge of the Latin language.
108 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
WILL OF THOMAS CLAPP, OF DEDHAM.
" In the Yeare of our Lord one thousand six hundred eighty-eight in y e
fourth Yeare of the Reigne of our soveraigne, King James the 2 nd , and the
fourteenth day of December, I Thomas Clap Sen r of Dedham in the County
of Suffolk in his Majestys Terrytorys in New England, calling to mind my
mortality and being put in mind of my change by weakness and infirmity
atending me Do therefore now in the time of the enjoy mt of my understand-
ing and memory upon good consideration make and ordaine this to be my
last will and testament for the disposing of my estate, wherein first I comit
my soul into the hands of Almighty God in & through the Lord Jesus, my
blessed Redeemer, & my body to the earth to be therein interred after my
decease in Christian Buryall at the discretion of my Executors hereinafter
named. Impris : I do give unto my deare and well beloved wife Mary
Clap one bedd with all the furniture thereto belonging and to the value of
fifty shillings in household stvff all at her choyce & one end of my Dwelling
house & eight pounds p. year each year she live a widow, three pounds
thereof p. year in money and the other five pounds p. year in corne and such
other provisions as may be suitable for her use ; & if my said Wife do
marry againe then she is to have only the use or Rent of the thirds of my
buildings & lands, & aforesaid bedd & moveables to return to my children after
her decease, and further my mind and will is that my estate should be aprized
as money & being devided into nineteen parts for quantity of pay mt to be
devided amongst my children as followeth : Imp 9 : I do give and bequeath
to my eldest son Thomas Clap four parts of the said nineteen whereof
he have received forty pounds in the house & lands I bought for him that
he now live in. Item, I give and bequeath unto my other sons Joshua
Clap, Eliezer Clap & Samuel Clap nine parts of the aforesaid nineteen parts
to be equally divided viz* each one of them three parts. Item, I give unto
my three daughters Mary Abigail & Hannah, the other six parts not dis-
posed of aforesai d to be equally divided betwixt them viz* to each one of
them two parts. My lands are to be equally devided betwixt my sons by
Overseers or supervisors as they judge most equall & what each son receive
in lands more than their portions as aforesaid they are to make payment in
good currant Country pay mt to their sisters each child to receive their por-
tions at one and twenty years of age, or marriage which time come first my
daughters to be paid their portions in three equal payments in three years
after the aforesaid time. If any of my aforesaid children dye before they
attayne the aforesaid age or Marryage their portion is to be divided be-
twixt them of my children that survive. By the rules aforesaid each child
aforesaid at their receiving their portion or any part thereof is then legally
to engage to pay their just proportion in the eight pound p. yeare each
yeare to their mother according to the as aforesaid during all the time
aforesaid & if my said Wife after my decease while she continues a widow
shold by sickness or weakness any way suffer so as the aforesaid eight pounds
p. yeare prove not sufficient for her needful maintenance there shall be so
much added as the three overseers hereafter named shall judge & determine
needful for her supply to be paid by each child their due proportion an-
swerable to their aforesaid portions on my said estate. My mind & Will is
that my buildings should be aprized so that my son or sons that shall in-
herit them may not be to much disadvantaged in meet accommodations of
lands, & paying Legacys.
I do appoint and empower my loving sons Thomas Clap & Joshua Clap
THOMAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 109
to be my Executors of this my last Will & Testament & do request my love-
ing friend Samuel Barber my loveing brother John Fisher, and niy loveing
cousin John Plimpton, all of them of Medfield to be the supervisors & over-
seers whose order advice and counsell my executors must attend & in all
waity matters, in all parts of my Will & division of estate to my children,
their determination or the surveying of them shall be as of legal force and
value at all times as if myself had done and acted the same things. To
confirme all the premises I the said Thomas Clap, Sen r have set to my hand
& seale in the presence of us
Thomas Battell,
Joshua Fisher,
John Aldis, Jr.
Furthermore, upon good consideration I do add to the aforesaid portion
of my daughter Mary ten pounds to be added to her aforesaid portion out
of my said estate. This addition is before signing and sealing.
THOMAS CLAP, Sen'. [Seal.]
Children of THOMAS and MARY (Fisher) CLAPP :
-f-10. THOMAS, 3 b. Sept. 26, 1663 ; d. Jan. 28, 1704, aged 40 years.
11. JOHN 8 , b. Feb. 29, 1665 ; d. March 12, 1665.
+12. JOSHUA,' b. in 1667 ; d. in 1728.
13. MARY, 3 b. Dec. 13, 1669.
+14. ELiEZER, 3 b. Nov. 4, 1671.
15. ABIGAIL. 3
16. HANNAH.*
+17. SAMUEL, 3 b. Aug. 21, 1682; d. June 13, 1772.
INCREASE 2 (Thomas 1 ), son of Thomas and wife Abigail Clapp,
was born in 1640. Concerning his history, little is known. 1 am
persuaded that he was the Increase that was baptized in Dorchester
May 14, 1640; that was probably about the period that hia father
removed from Weymouth to Scituate, and the controversy concern-
ing Mr. Lenthial, the minister of Weymouth, was probably the cause
of his bringing his son to Dorchester, his former place of residence,
to be baptized by Rev. Richard Mather. He removed to Barnstable,
Mass., and married the widow of Nathaniel Goodspeed in October,
1675. Her maiden name was Elizabeth, daughter of John Bursley.
Increase went to Barnstable about 1661-2, and bought the estate of
the Rowleys. He probably removed to Rochester, Mass., the latter
part of his life. I find in the Plymouth Records he was of Rochester
in 1710, and bought twenty acres of land of William Griffiths, one
of the original lots granted to William Clark (Lot 11).
Children of INCREASE and ELIZABETH (Bursley) CLAPP:
+18. JOHN, 3 b. Oct. 1676.
19. CHARITY, 3 b. March, 1677-8.
20. THOMAS, 3 b. Jan. 1681 ; d. Jan. 1683.
21. THOMAS, 3 b. Jan. 1684 ; bapt. March 16, 1684. Nothing known
of his history.
22. BENJAMIN. 3 Nothing known of his history.
110 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
SAMUEL 2 (Thomas 1 ), brother of the preceding, was married June
14, 1666, to Hannah, daughter of Thomas Gill, of Hingham. His
father's residence succeeded to him; he was a distinguished man of
his time, and one of the most so of his native town, Scituate, which
contained some of the most able in the Colony. He was a Represen-
tative to the General Court of Massachusetts from 1692 to 1696;
also in 1699, 1703, 1704, 1705, 1707, 1708, 1709, 1714 and 1715;
this was, of course, after the Massachusetts and Plymouth Colonies
were united in one. Previous to this he had been a Deputy to the
Government of the Plymouth Colony from 1680 to 1686 ; also in 1690
and 1691. He was one of the committee chosen May 27, 1686, by
the town, " to draw up their grievances, and impart their apprehen-
sions to the town " concerning the new laws that day read to them.
In 1682, he was one of the commissioners to settle the boundary
between Scituate and Marshfield ; also to divide the line between
Conihassett grant and Scituate. In many other ways he served the
Town and State with great zeal and fidelity, and died at an age
somewhat advanced; what year I have not been able to determine;
but he must have been upwards of 70 years old when last a member
of the General Court. He and John Gushing, of Scituate, addressed
a "very spirited declaration " to Gov. Andros, in 1687, upon the
account of his granting a warrant to Humphrey Johnson to lay out
lands for his (Johnson's) use. He had a grist- and saw-mill where
the Stockbridge Mills have since stood. I believe he was a Major;
his wife died Feb. 27, 1722.
Children of SAMUEL and HANNAH (Gill) CLAPP:
23. SAMUEL,' b. May 15, 1667; probably in., but had no issue.
+24, JOSEPH, 3 b. Dec. 14, 1668.
-f-25. STEPHEN, 3 b. March 4, 1670 ; d. Dec. 11, 1756, aged 86 years.
26. HANNAH, 3 b. Jan. 15, 1673. She, or her cousin Hannah (No. 16),
of Dedham, m. Hezekiah Woodworth, Dec. 23, 1697.
27. BETHiA, 3 b. in 1675 ; probably m. Thomas Oliver, Nov. 11, 1696.
+28. JOHN,' b. Sept. 31, 1677.
29. ABIGAIL, 3 b. Oct. 1, 1679; m. John Bailey, of Scittrate, Feb. 14,
1700. They had eleven children.
-f-30. DAVID, 3 b. Nov. 1684.
31. DEBORAH, 3 b. Feb. 1686-7.
.32. JANE, S b. Nov. 1689 ; m. Samuel Holbrook, Jr., of Scituate, in
1708.
10
THOMAS 3 (Thomas 2 , Thomas 1 ), oldest son of Thomas and Mary
(Fisher) Clapp, of Dedharn, was born September 26, 1663, and died
Januray 28, 1704. Wife .Mary. He was a farmer, and lived in the
house his father bought for him of Col. Byh'eld. That house was set
THOMAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. Ill
off as a part of his share in the division of his father's estate ; he
also had 19 acres of land west of Spice Brook; 13 acres bounded by
the east of his brother Joshua's laud ; 4 acres at Stop River, next
north of Wrentham line ; two pieces of meadow, <fcc. The division
of his father's (Thomas 2 ) estate was not made until 1703, which was
the period at which his youngest son Samuel 3 (brother of Thomas 3 )
reached the age of 21 years. Thomas 3 was dead before the docu-
ments relating to the division were signed ; his widow was present,
and his son Thomas 4 signed them. After the decease of Thomas, 3
his widow married a Mr. Jennery about 1709; until that time the
children had probably been under her care ; her son Thomas 4 then
took charge of their property.
Children of THOMAS and wife MARY CLAPP, of Dedham :
-f-33. THOMAS,* b. about 1686 ; d. Feb. 18, 1741, aged 55 years.
34. MARY, 4 b. about 1689 ; m. Joshua Pumry (now spelled Pomeroy),
Oct. 1, 1718. At the time of the destruction of Deerfield, Mass.,
by the Indians, about 1704, Mr. Pomeroy was an inhabitant of
that place, but removed from thence to Dorchester. While he
resided in Dorchester his first wife d., in 1714. According to a
gravestone in the old bury ing-ground, Dorchester, Repent, wife
to Joshua Pumry, d. July 22, 1714, aged 38 years, 5 months.
Joshua Pumry m. Mary Blake, June 2, 1715 (Town Records,
Dorchester), and she d. March 19, 1718, aged about 31 years
(see grave-stone, Dorchester). She was dau. of Deacon John
Blake, and was b. April 26, 1687.
35. DEBORAH,* b. in 1691.
36. MEHITABLE,* b. in 1694.
37. STEPHEN,* b. in 1700. Little is known of his history. He was
living at the age of 16 years, and appointed Henry Adams, of
Medfield, his guardian.
38. HANNAH. 4
39. ELIZABETH,* m. Samuel Pettee, of Walpole, whose residence was
also in that part of the territory of Wrentham which is now a
part of Foxboro'. She d. May 28, 1776, in her 76th year. He
d. Aug. 4, 1780, in his 90th year. They had several children.
-12-
JOSHUA 3 (Thomas? Thomas 1 }, son of Thomas and Mary (Fisher)
Clapp, of Dedham, was born in 1667, and died in 1728. He lived
in that part of Dedham incorporated as the town of Walpole in 1724,
and married, first, Mary, daughter of Jonathan Boyden. She died
May 18, 1718, and he married, second, December 4, 1718, Silence
Wright, widow of William Wright, and daughter of John Bird, of
Dorchester. She was born Feb. 14, 1690. He was a farmer, and
of his father's estate he had one half the field near the river, bounded
north by the land of his brother Thomas ; two lots of cedar swamp
meadow ; six acres of land next to James Fales's ; twelve acres of
land north of Neponsel River, some of it on the river; and two cow-
rights.
112 THE CLAPP MEMOKIAL.
Children of JOSHUA and 1st wife MARY (Boyden) CLAPP, of Bed-
ham and Walpole :
-j-40. JOSHUA, 4 b. in 1707; d. May 6, 1802, aged 95 years.
41. JOHN,* b. in 1709; d. Feb. 21, 1775, aged 66 years. He probably
never married. Being a person unable to manage his own
affairs, his brother Joshua was appointed his guardian, June 13,
1745, John then being about 32 years of age.
42. ABIGAIL, 4 m. Mr. Morse.
43. ESTHER, 4 m. Mr. Morse.
44. MART, 4 m. Eleazer Robins, of Stoughton, an innholder. Mr.
Robins was the administrator of the estate of his wife's uncle,
Eliezer Clapp, in 1749. The reason Eliezer's son Stephen did
. not administer was probably on account of his being a seafaring
man. ,
45. THANKFUL,"* b. in 1716.
Children of JOSHUA and 2d wife SILENCE (Bird) CLAPP:
46. SiLENCE, 4 b. in 1720.
-f 47. SETH, 4 b. in 1722.
-14-
ELIEZER 3 (Thomas? Thomas 1 '), brother of the preceding, was
born November 4, 1671. He was married and lived in Walpole.
The old homestead fell to him, also thirty-one acres of land about it ;
one-fourth of the meadow at Cedar Swamp, one acre at Stop River,
nine acres at Major's Plain, one-fourth of Cedar Swamp and meadow
and one cow-right. At his decease, Eleazer Robins, of Stoughton,
who married his niece Mary (44), administered on his estate.
Child of ELIEZER CLAPP and wife, of Walpole :
-j-48. STEPHEN," d. in 1750.
17
SA.MUEL 3 (Thomas, 3 Thomas 1 }, brother of the preceding, was born
in Dedham, Aug. 21, 1682. He married, first, July 13, 1709, Eliza-
beth Fisher; second, Bethiah, daughter of Deacon Samuel and Sarah
Dean, of Taunton, who was born Jan. 7, 1697, and died Oct. 12,
1778. He had of his father's estate, the barn and six acres about it;
twenty acres of land by Joseph Hartshorn's : also four acres, one
cow-right, one-fourth of Cedar Swamp, six acres at Ridge Pond, one
acre and one-half the meadow at Stop River. His father owned two
pieces of meadow besides the one last named ; one called the Swamp
in Great Cedar Swamp, the other called Cedar Swamp Meadow.
Samuel died June 13, 1772.
Children of SAMUEL and 2d wife, BETHIAH (Dean) CLAPP :
-f-49. SAMUEL, 4 b. June 6, 1710; d. in 1773.
50. DAVID, 4 b. Jan. 25, 1712.
THOMAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 113
-f-51. JONATHAN, 4 b. Oct. 1, 1714.
52. ELIZABETH,* b. March 6, 1720.
+53. ABIEL," b. Feb. 7, 1728.
-j-54. ELEAZER," b. Feb. 1731.
Samuel 3 had in all three daughters ; one m. Mr. Dean, of
Brookfield ; one, Mr. Field, of Mansfield ; and one, Mr. Padel-
ford, of Taunton.
18
JOHN 3 (Increase? Thomas 1 ), son of Increase and Elizabeth
(Bursley) Clapp, was born Oct. 1676. He married and removed
to Rochester, Mass.; he was there in 1710, and bought land of
Samuel Prince, probably having removed there with his family about
that time, with his father. He bought the next lot to his father,
No. 10.
Children of JOHN CLAPP and wife, of Rochester:
55. CHARITY, 4 b. in 1701.
-J-56. EBENEZER, 4 b. in 1704.
57. JOHN," b. in 1706 ; d. Oct. 13, 1722.
-f-58. BENJAMIN," b. in 1708.
59. EARL," b. in 1711.
60. ELIZABETH, 4 b. in 1714; m., June 21, 1734, Kenelm Winslow,
Jr., who was b. Feb. 20, 1713, and had eleven children. They
moved to Hardwick in 1749, and to Petersham in 1773.
61. MART/ b. in 17 16.
JOSEPH 3 (Samuel, 11 Thomas*), son of Samuel and Hannah (Gill)
Clapp, of Scituate, was born Dec. 14, 1668. He married and lived,
probably, on Black Pond Hill, in Scituate, where he had land.
His son" Deacon Joseph, and his grandson Elijah, afterwards lived
in the same place.
Children of JOSEPH CLAPP and wife, of Scituate :
+62. SAMUEL, 4 b. Nov. 18, 1695.
63. MARY," b. March 6, 1696-7.
64. ABIGAIL,-* b. May 16, 1699 ; d. Oct 13, 1740.
+65. JOSEPH," b. July 15, 1701.
66. REBECCA," b. Oct. 2, 1703.
67. ANNA," b. March 1, 1705.
68. SARAH," b. May 15, 1708.
+69. BENJAMIN," b. April 26, 1710.
70. Jos, 4 b. Nov. 6, 1712 ; wife Temperance. Child:
71. Sarah, 5 b. June 4, 1759.
72. ELISHA," b. March 9, 1714 ; m. 1735, Leah ..... Subsequently
he settled in Little Compton, R. I. Children:
73. Susan. 6 \ Thege were born in g cituate .
74. Jonathan B. )
15
114 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
STEPHEN 3 (Samuel? Thomas*}, brother of the preceding, was
born March 4, 1670. He was the most distinguished of his father's
family. He was a Deacon of the church, and Lieutenant of the
military. His house, which was built previously to 1687, was stand-
ing in 1842. In a survey of the road in 1686, it is called " Samuel
Clap's new house." It was built on White-Oak plain, and in 1831 was
owned by the fifth generation from Deacon Stephen. He was one
of the committee for building the meeting-house in 1 706. He was
also a Representative to the General Court in 1720. Wife Tem-
perance. President Thomas Clapp, of Yale College, was his son.
He died Dec. 11, 1756, aged 86 years.
Children of Deacon STEPHEN and wife TEMPERANCE CLAPP, of
Scituate :
+75. JOHN," b. Oct. 14, 1697.
76. KACHEL,* b. May 29, 1701; m. Nov. 9, 1721, Judge George
Leonard,* of Norton.
+77. THOMAS," b. June 26, 1703 ; d. Jan. 7, 1767.
78. STEPHEN, 4 b. Oct. 4, 1706 ; probably never m., if so he had no issue.
There was a Stephen, who m. Mrs. Mary Gorham, in Barnstable,
Oct. 24, 1734, which may have been him.
+79. NATHANIEL,* b. Sept. 11, 1709.
28-
JOHN 3 (Samuel, 2 Thomas 1 ), brother of Deacon Stephen, was born
Sept. 31, 1677. He married his cousin, Hannah Gill, in 1702. She
was a widow in 1730, and married Major Amos Turner in 1732.
Major Turner's first wife was Sarah Hiland. He lived about fifty
rods north of Stockbridge's Mill and mansion. John Clapp probably
died previously to 1 722. He lived near the residence of the late
Augustus Clapp, east of the mill pond.
Children of JOHN and HANNAH (Gill) CLAPP, of Scituate:
+80. THOMAS," b. Nov. 11, 1705; d. May 31, 1774.
81. JOHN, 4 b. in 1707 ; killed by a cart, when young.
82. A daughter, 4 m. Mr. Leonard, of Norton, a gentleman of very
reputable family.
30
DAVID 3 (Samuel* Thomas 1 ), youngest son of Samuel and Hannah
(Gill) Clapp, of Scituate, was born in November, 1684. He married
Deborah, daughter of Joseph Otis, who was born April 24, 1694.
They lived in Scituate.
* Judge of C. C. P. and Probate; member of the Council in 1741 ; Chief Justice in 1746.
The Leonards," says Drake, " were a noted family, having possessed great wealth, and
held various offices of honor, trust and profit."
THOMAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 115
Children of DAVID and DEBORAH (Otis) CLAPP, of Scituate:
83. JOSHUA,* b. Nov. 16, 1713 ; d. Feb. 19, 1728, aged 14 years
84. DEBORAH, 4 b. Sept. 2, 1714; m. in 1734, David Little, of Scituate
85. MARY, 4 b. Oct. 13, 1719.
+86. DAVID, 4 b. March 20, 1720-21.
87. JAMES, 4 b. July 20, 1723; d. young.
88. NoAH, 4 b. Oct. 7, 1725 ; d. young. Deane,in his history of Scitu-
ate, says this Noah removed to Norton, but he is mistaken. The
Noah who removed to Norton was one of the Walpole Clapps
89. ABUAH, 4 b. Sept. 25, 1727 ; m and probably did not settle
in Scituate, as the record of the birth of his children does not
appear to be there. Children :
90. Noah, 6 d. a young man, not married.
91. Abijah? was a cooper by trade, and lived in Bridgewater many
years. He left no children.
92. Stephen, 5 removed to Baltimore and was married.
+93. JOSHUA, 4 b. Jan. 7, 1729; d. in 1812.
+94. GALEN, 4 b. Feb. 5, 1733; d. Feb. 23, 1776.
+95. INCREASE," b. March 20, 1734.
-33-
THOMAS 4 (Thomas, 3 Thomas? Thomas 1 ), son of Thomas and
wife Mary Clapp, was born in Dedham, about the year 1686. He
was a blacksmith by trade, but the latter part of his life he fol-
lowed farming. He lived to be older than his father or grandfather,
dying at the age of about 55 years ; his father died at the age of 40,
and his grandfather at the age of 52. Thomas 4 being the oldest of
his father's family, his father dying when he was young, and his
mother again marrying, brought great responsibility upon him, and
the care of the family appears to have devolved mostly upon him.
He was guardian of his brother and five sisters soon after he became
of age ; his sisters Mary, Deborah and Mehitable, being over 14
years of age, ctfose him as their guardian, and he was appointed by
the Judge over Stephen, Hannah and Elizabeth. He married Han-
nah when he was a young man, and had at least nine children.
He was an active and enterprising man, and accumulated a large
estate for those days. He died Feb. 18, 1741, leaving property
valued at 5,105 17s. 9d.
Children of THOMAS and wife HANNAH CLAPP :
96. HANNAH, 8 m. Mr. Lincoln.
97. MARY, 5 m. Mr. Lincoln.
+98. THOMAS, 5 b. in 1715 ; d. March, 1751, aged 36 years.
+99. JAMES. 5
100. ABIGAIL, 5 b. April, 1724; m. Mr. Everett, previously to Jan. 5,
1745.
101. ELIZABETH, 5 b. in 1726 ; chose her mother for her guardian, Jan.
18, 1744.
102. SAUAH, S b. Oct. 8, 1729.
116 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
103. HEPZiBAH, 5 b. Dec. 9, 1731.
-f- 104. TiMOTHY, 5 b. Dec. 24, 1733 ; d. in 1811.
-4O-
JOSHUA 4 (Joshua, 3 Thomas, 2 Thomas 1 ), son of Joshua and Mary
(Boyden) Clapp, of Walpole, was born in 1707. He was a distin-
guished man, of high character. He was a military Captain, Justice
of the Peace, Representative to the General Court, and for many
years a Deacon of the 'Church in Walpole (formerly south part of
Dedham). He married, first, Dec. 12, 1728, in Boston, Abigail
Bullard, of Walpole, who died Aug. 12, 1782. He married, second,
Deborah, the widow of Deacon Hewins; she died Nov. 18, 1797,
aged 90 years. About the year 1745, he marched his company to
Boston, to help defend it from the attack of the French fleet, then
daily expected. He died May 6, 1802, aged 95 years.
Children of JOSHUA and ABIGAIL (Bullard) CLAPP, of Walpole :
+105. JosHUA, 6 b. Sept. 7, 1729.
+106. EBENEZER,* b. Nov. 17, 1731; d. Oct. 20, 1817.
107. MARY, 5 b. Feb. 27, 1733 ; m. Mr. Fales, of Walpole.
+108. ELIPHALET,* b. March 6, 1736.
109. ABIGAIL,* b. Sept. 5, 1738 ; m. first, Benjamin Hartshorn, of
Walpole ; m. second, Jeremiah Smith, of Walpole.
110. ELKANAH, 5 b. Oct. 2, 1740; d. Oct. 13, 1805, aged 65 years; m.
July 16, 1767, Abigail Partridge, of Franklin, Mass. He lived
on a farm in Mansfield, Mass., and was Major in the militia.
Children :
111. Otis* b. Feb. 11, 1769; m. in 1804, Nancy Bowen, of Reho-
both, Mass., and settled in the northern part of Vermont.
No issue in 1817.
112. Elizabeth,' b. June 27, 1771; d. Sept. 20, 1810; m. Elkanah
Clapp (No 213), a distant connection and brother to Asa
Clapp, of Portland, Me. They resided in Portland, and had
three daughters.
113. Abigail P., 6 b. May 23, 1774; d. March 15, 1803 ; m. in May,
1802, Rev. Otis Lane, of Sturbridge.
114. Ebenezerf b. Jan. 21, 1779 ; d. Jan. 1856 ; was a respectable
man, and a lawyer of considerable distinction in Bath, Me. ;
was for several years one of the trustees of Bowdoin College,
of Brunswick, Me. He m. June 21, 1812, Sarah, dau. of Dr.
Isaac Winslow, of Marshfield, Mass., and granddaughter of
John Winslow, a Colonel in the expedition to Nova Scotia
in 1755, being the military agent in the removal of the Aca-
dians in that year, also commander of Fort William Henry
in Lake Erie, in 1756. She died Jan. 31, 1854, a. 78 years.
115.' Mary* b. Sept. 25, 1788; m. March 6, 1815, Richard 'King
Porter, of Portland, Me. He was a ship-master, and nephew
of Hon. Rufus King. They had four children.
116. OLIVER,* b. Jan. 13, 1743 ; was a captain; settled in Walpole. He
m. first, Susannah Gay ; second, Susannah, dau. of Thomas Clapp,
of Walpole. Children by second wife:
THOMAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 117
117. Oliver, 9 b. Oct. 13, 1764; d. in infancy.
118. Oliver 9 b. Oct. 29, 1767.
119. Susannah* b. May 5, 1773.
120. Sally, 6 b. July 24, 1775 ; m. Dr. Messenger, of Walpole, but
had no children. After the death of Dr. Messenger, she m.
John H. Hawes, of Walpole. She was living in 1843, and a
very intelligent woman.
121. Warren, 6 b. May 29, 1784; d. Oct. 1,1860. He m. Harriet
Bates, of Mansfield, and lived in Walpole. Had one child,
Louisa, 1 who d. young. He was a captain, and a substantial,
old-fashioned farmer. Mrs. Clapp d. March 21, 1870, aged
80 years, 11 months.
122. ESTHER, 8 b. March 23, 1746 ; m. Swift Payson, of Foxboro', son
of Rev. Phillips Payson, of Walpole.
SETH 4 (Joshua, 3 Thomas* Thomas 1 ), son of Joshua and Silence
(Wright, nee Bird) Clapp, was born in 1722, and lived in Walpole.
He married, first, Mary Bullard, of Sharon ; second, widow Elizabeth
Wetherbee (nee Everett), who survived him and died in Boston,
Sept. 14, 1810.
Children of SETH and 1st wife MARY (Bullard) CLAPP, of Wal-
pole :
123. MARY, S b. Jan. 28, 1745 ; m. Mr. Everett and moved to the
eastward.
124. SETH, B b. Dec. 17, 1747 ; m. Hannah Blake, of Walpole, and set-
tled in Holden, where he was Deacon of the church. He had
twelve children. His sons were :
125. Jeremiah, 6 b. Oct. 1, 1775 ; removed to Barre, Vermont.
126. Seth 9 b. in Holden, Mass., Jan. 26, 1790; d. in Paxton, Mass.,
Nov. 2, 1861. He m. Nov. 27, 1811, Betsy K., dau. of Jesse
and Mary K. Knowlton, and lived in Holden. Children :
I, Walter GJ b. Dec. 27, 1812. if, Maynard Blake 1 b. July
12, 1818. iii.JF. Warren 1 b. April 8, 1825; m. April 19,
1849, Charlotte Barrows, and lives in Worcester; has two
daughters: (1) Lucy M., 8 b. Aug. 20, 1851; ( 2 ) Maria 9 b.
Sept. 14, 1855. IV, Hiram Slake, 7 b. Dec. 22, 1831.
127. David, 6 b. in 1792 ; living on the farm of his father in 1843.
128. Oliver 6 b. Jan. 17, 1797 ; m. Rebecca L. Pierce, a descendant
of Capt. Michael Pierce, killed in the Narragansett fight.
129. JosHUA. 5 b. April 16, 1750.
130. KEZIAH, B b. May 12, 1752; m. Mr. Partridge, of Holdeu.
131. SILENCE, 5 b. May 5, 1755 ; m. David Braman, of Norton, in 1774
(published Nov. 8), and removed to Boston.
132. WiLLiAM, 5 b. Sept. 17, 1757 ; removed to Foxboro' and m ......
Rhoades. Children :
133. Polly 6 There was a Miss Polly Clapp who d. May 4, 1833,
in the 56th year of her age, and was buried in Norton.
134. William 6 unmarried. 136. James. 6
135. Lucy 6 m. Dea. James Boyden.
118 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
137. Sena, 6 m. Jesse Barden, of Walpole.
138. Mehitabk, 6 m. Irenus Pettee, of Foxboro'.
139. RuFUS, 5 b. Dec. 23, 1759; m. Sybil Hodges, of Norton, and re-
moved to Moreton, Vt. He was a farmer, and left five children :
140. Rufiis.* 143. Betsey. 6
141. Ezekiel 6 144. Sybil. 6
142. Leonard. 6
145. ELIJAH,* m. Rebecca Pettee, and lived in Holden ; d. about 1826.
He had no children.
146. THANKFUL, 5 d. young.
147. EzEKiEL, 8 was a daring youth. He joined the army of the Revo-
lution when he was but 16 years of age, without the consent of
his parents, and d. soon after in the service.
148. ELIZABETH, 5 b. Nov. 13, 1764; m. Jeremiah Blake, of Walpole.
Children of SETH and 2d wife ELIZABETH (Everett) CLAPP, of
Walpole :
149. LEVI, B b. Nov. 19, 1769 ; d. Dec. 15, 1851, aged 82 years. He
m. first, April 15, 1794, Elizabeth Wallace who d. Nov. 1, 1803 ;
second, Nov. 25, 1804, Lucy Hartshorn who d. June 24, 1817;
third, Dec. 3, 1818, Cynthia Kingsbury. Children by first wife :
150. Eliza 6 b. April 8, 1795; m. Willard Bacon, of Walpole, and
had three children; d. February, 1874.
151. Simeon, 6 b. Dec. 25, 1796 ; m. first, Eliza Hartshorn, and had
one child Helen Eliza, 1 b. April 2, 1822; d. Oct. 16, 1828
m. second, in 1824, Hannah, dau. of Aaron Ellis. This happy
pair celebrated their Golden Wedding on Christmas, 1874.
Children : i, Mary Ellis," 1 b. Oct. 22, 1824; m. first, William
Bullard; second, Charles Hartshorn. They are living in
Walpole. ii. Ann Maria? b. June 2, 1826 ; m. Edmund C.
Hawes; they live in Woonsocket, R. I. Hi, Elizabeth Jane?
b. Oct. 12, 1827 ; m. Newell Hartshorn. IV. Aaron Ellis? b.
Feb. 4, 1829 ; m. Eliza Hoxie and has a son. V. John? b.
Sept. 30, 1831; d. Jan. 27, 1832. yi. Catharine Ellis? b.
May 20, 1835 ; m. Henry H. Leland ; live in Walpole.
Vli, John? m. Sarah Bullard, who d.'Sept. 28, 1872; has a
son, Arthur, 8 b. Oct. 4, 1860. yiii. Helen Eliza? b. June 23,
1837. ix, Harriet Emma? b. Dec. 10, 1839 ; m. Geo. W.
Tisdale ; they live in Brighton, Mass.
152. Samuel 6 b. May 20, 1798 ; d. Dec. 9, 1814, aged 16 years.
* 153. Darius 6 b. Dec. 26, 1799 ; d. in 1838. He m. Catharine B.
Motley, of Boston, Dec. 6, 1821. He d. at Key West,
about 1830.
154. Deborah, 6 b. March 29, 1801 ; d. at her father's house, of con-
sumption, Dec. 26, 1840, unmarried.
155. Nathaniel, 6 b. Sept. 14, 1802; a trader in Dedham ; m. Oct.
7, 1830, his cousin, Elizabeth D., dau. of Jesse Clapp. Chil-
dren : i. Samuel Wallace? b. Feb. 18, 1832 ; in. Alice S. Lyon,
of Ogdensburg, N. Y., Jan. 28, 1866, and live in Sparta, Wis.
Children: (1) Alice Elizabeth? b. April 26, 1867 ; (2) Grace
Seymour, 6 b. April 9, 1872. ii. Henry Francis? b. Feb. 5,
1834 ; d. Jan. 2, 1862. iii, John Doggett? b. Jan. 30, 1835 ;
d. Oct. 4, 1836. iv, John Doggett? b. Aug. 8, 1836 ; d. Jan.
THOMAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 119
21, 1843. V, Mary Ann? b. Aug. 24, 1838 ; d. April 2,
1839. VI, Jane Doggett? b. May 28, 1840 ; d. Jan. 4, 1841.
Tli, Elizabeth Doggett? b. Nov. 15, 1841 ; m. March 31, 1869,
Freeman Fisher ; they live in West Dedham and have four
children :' Miriam Burgess, b. Oct. 15, 1870 ; Kate Phillips,
b. Nov. 27, 1871 ; Nathaniel Clapp, b. Nov. 4, 1873 ; and
Henry Freeman, b. June 14, 1875. viii. Charles Warren?
b. May 29, 1844. ix. Eleanor Trott? b. March 1, 1846 ;
m. Nov. 15, 1866, Ferdinand C. Field; live in Dedham and
have two children : Eleanor Louise, b. Aug. 20, 1868 ; Edwiu
Henry, b. Dec. 10, 1871. x. Mary Badlam? b. March 12,
1848; d. in 1872. xi. Frederic Everett? b. Oct. 22, 1851.
Xii. Jane Doggett? b. June 8, 1854; d. Oct. 22, 1873.
156. A son, 6 b. Aug. 14, 1803 ; d. in infancy.
157. JESSE, 5 b. Jan. 5, 1772 ; d. Jan. 19, 1823, aged 51 years. He m.
Dec. 15, 1796, Betsey [daughter of Capt. Samuel* and Elizabeth
(Badlam) Doggett, of Dedham], who d. Dec. 20, 1850. Eliza-
beth Badlam (mother of Betsey the wife of Jesse), was dau. of
Stephen and Hannah (Clapp) Badlam (see No. 30 of EDWARD,
page 100). Jesse and wife lived in Dedham. Children:
158. Mary? b. Oct. 31, 1798; d. Oct. 3, 1800.
159. Elizabeth Doggett? b. July 24, 1801 ; d. June 24, 1810.
160. John Doggett, 6 b. Aug. 25, 1803; uiiiii. ; lived in Dedham.
161. Mary Ann, 6 b. Feb. 20, 1806 ; d. July 15, 1816. After her
death, the well-known little tract of 36 pages, concerning her
religious character and godly sayings, written by Rev. Joshua
Bates, D.D., at that time pastor of the Congregational Church
in Dedham, was published, entitled " Happy Death of Mary
Ann Clap." It comprises an interesting narrative of the
conversations held by the author with this remarkable child,
together with a letter from Rev. Dr. Abiel Holmes, of Cam-
bridge, containing a description of his own interview with
her during her sickness. This little work was afterwards re-
produced by the American Tract Society, by whom many
editions have been issued, and probably few narratives of the
kind have been more extensively read.
162. Eleanor, 6 b. Nov. 11, 1809; m. Joseph F. Trott, of Boston;
they live in So. Boston, and have five children.
163. Elizabeth Doggett, 6 b. July 2, 1811; m. Oct. 7, 1830, her
cousin, Nathaniel Clapp (No. 155), of Dedham. She has
furnished much valuable informal ion for these annals.
164. BENJAMIN, 5 b. in Walpole, Sept. 5, 1774; m. and removed to
Moreton, Vt. He d. March, 1853, in Sharon, Vt. Children :
165. A son 6 who d. young.
166. Sybil 6 married.
167. famelia, 6 married.
1 68. A daughter, 6 d. young.
169. A daughter, 6 d. young.
170. ZEBULQN, 5 b. in Walpole July 28, 1775 ; m. Aug. 26, 1807, widow
Nancy Conant (nee Motley), of Boston, who was b. July 8,
* Capt. Samuel Doggett was in some of the severe campaigns of tlie Revolutionary War.
His commission as Captain is now in the possession of his granddaughter, Lhzabetn
Clapp (No. 163).
120 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
1781, and d. June 17, 1844. He was a trader in Boston ; was an
officer in the Methodist Church, and a man of exemplary life
and character. He lived, and owned a house, in Elm Street.
He d. in Boston, April 18, 1813. Childr.cn:
171. George Pickering* b. Dec. 2, 1808 ; d. Aug. 4, 1872. He m.
June 3, 1833, Mary A. Hawks, of Boston, who was b. Jan.
14, 1812. He was a tailor by trade, and was for many years
engaged in business in Boston. He was a member of the
Massachusetts Legislature in the years 1854, '55, '58, '63, '64
and '65, from Ward Six, and a prominent member of the
I. O. O. F., being a member of the Boston Lodge since 1843, of
which he was treasurer in 1845, and from 1861 to the time
of his death. He was also treasurer of the Tri-Mountain
Encampment for many years ; a member of Mt. Lebanon
Lodge of the Masonic fraternity from 1861, and of Webster
Lodge, Knights of Pythias, of which he was treasurer and
trustee. In 1863 he was a member of the Common Council
from Ward Six. Mr. Clapp was a member of the Second
Methodist Episcopal Church, in Bromfield Street, for forty
years. His widow is nqw living in Boston. Children: j,
Mary Motley, 1 b. March 12, 1834; m. Sept. 15, 1864, George
Pierce, of Stanstead, P. Q., who d. Dec. 12, 1864; she lives
in Boston. H, George Munroe? b. July 29, 1838; m. June
17, 1865, Mrs. Maggie Snow, of Milwaukie, Wis. ; he d. Feb.
27, 1870. ill, Abba Louise,' 1 b. Nov. 4, 1844; lives in Bos-
ton, iv, James Liswell Hawks," 1 b. Jan. 1, 1848 ; lives in
Boston.
172. Zebulon, 6 a cabinet-maker by trade, and lived in Lowell, Mass. ;
m. in 1832, Betsey Lovering, of New Chester, N. H. He d.
Feb. 2, 1873. Children : i, Nancy Stevens? b. in 1835 ; d.
August, 1873. ii. Henrietta,'' b. in 1837. iii, Catharine,'' b.
in 1840. iv. fiic/iard? b. in 1842.
173. Seth Everett, 6 b. Nov. 5, 1812 ; d. Aug. 26, 1853. He was a
tailor by trade, lived in Boston, and m. May 28, 1838, Emily
Duval, of New York, who d. in 1859, aged 42 years. Chil-
dren: \.Mary Ann? b. Feb. 25, 1839; m. July 1, 1861,
John A. Betcher ; she d. May, 1870, leaving two daughters
Charlotte Elizabeth, and Emily Duval who d. in 1871.
ii. William Everett," 1 b. May 13, 1840; m. May 30, 1861,
Mary A. Buffum, and has two children living in Boston.
ill. Seth Edward, 1 b. Jan. 20, 1842; m. Aug. 4, 1862, Lois
A. Cross, and has one daughter, Lois L. 8 iv, George WJ
b. Nov. 30, 1852 ; lives in Webster city, Iowa.
174. SYBIL, 5 b. in Walpole, March 19, 1778 ; d. at the house of her
brother Lewis, May 17, 1853. She m. first, William Bacon, of
Boston, and had seven sons ; m. second, Jonathan Wild, M.D.,
of Walpole. She survived them both. She is described as " a
mild and placid woman."
175. SUPPLY/ b. July 15, 1784 ; d. Aug. 5, 1866. He lived in Dedham,
and was a carpenter by trade. He m. Priscilla Mills, of Newton.
Children :
176. Elizabeth? b. Nov. 25, 1820 ; m. Augustus Smith, of Natick.
177. Edward? b. March 12, 1823; removed to the west and married.
THOMAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 121
178. Ann* b. March 16, 1825 ; m. Wm. Smith, brother of Augustus.
179. Ellen? b. April 2, 1827 ; d. at the age of 16 years.
180. George ff., 6 b. Sept. 25, 1829 ; moved to California and mar. ;
is now a physician in San Francisco.
181. Louisa J.* b. June 23, 1831 ; m. William Fisher ; they live in
Natick.
182. Martha A. b. March 14, 1833; m. Samuel Pierce, and has
two sons ; they live in Everett.
48
STEPHEN" (Eliezer, 3 Thomas, 2 Thomas 1 ), son of Eliezer Clapp,
of Walpole, died in 1 750. He was a mariner and master of a
vessel ; this is perhaps the reason that he, being the only son, did
not administer on his father's estate. The name of his first wife was
Hannah; that of his second, Mary. His will, which follows, was
made in 1 744, perhaps when he was about embarking for sea.
WILL OF STEPHEN CLAPP.
In the name of God, Amen. I Stephen Clap of Boston in the County
of Suffolk, mariner, taking into consideration my own mortality Do think
fit to constitute & ordain this my last Will and Testament. Imprimis : I
Will that my body at my decease be decently buried at the discretion of
my Executrix. Item, I give and devise all my estate whether real, personal
or mixt to my beloved Wife Mary Clap, her heirs, Executors, Administrators
and assigns forever, & Do hereby appoint her my sole executrix of all and
singular my rights and chattels. In witness whereof I hereto have set my
hand & seal this fourteenth day of December, A.D. 1744.
Signed, Sealed, Declared, Published and pronounced
in Presence of John Richardson, John Gardner,
Benjamin Gorham.
STEPHEN CLAP [and a Seal].
The above will was proved November 29, 1750. He left a good
estate, appraised at 8000 of the currency of those days. He
owned (and lived in) a brick house situated in Milk Street, Boston.
In 1746, he lived in Atkinson Street (now Congress Street), Boston.
Children of STEPHEN and 1st wife HANNAH CLAPP:
183. JOSEPH, 5 b. Oct. 26, 1728.
184. MEHiTABLE, 6 b. Sept. 30, 1730.
185. NATHAN, 5 b. Jan. 11, 1731.
186. JERUSHA, 5 b. Dec. 9, 1733.
187. HANNAH, 5 b. Nov. 23, 1735.
188. STEPHEN, 6 b. May 25, 1738.
189. MARY, 6 b. Nov. 15, 1739.
190. ELEAZER, 5 m. Jerusha Tilden, who was quite young at the time
16
122 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
of her marriage, and lived until 1835. He d. in 1805, of rapid
consumption. Children :
191. David, 6 b. March 16, 1781; m. Betsey, dau. of Dr. Winslow,
of Foxboro', and lived in Walpole. Children : i, Eliza W?
H. George 7?. 7
192. Hannah, 6 b. Dec. 17, 1783; m. Mr. Clark, of Franklin, and
had a family.
193. Jason, 6 b. Jan. 1, 1785; m. Polly Wilbur, who d. March, 1870,
and had one child, Mary WJ b. about 1814, and m. Geo. B.
Hyde, formerly a school teacher in Dorchester, afterwards in
Roxbury, and now in the Everett School, Boston.
194. Nathan, 6 b. Dec. 22, 1787 ; d. July 4, 1816, aged about 29
years.
195. Polly 6 b. Feb. 2, 1790 ; d. when about 17 years of age.
196. Nabby 6 b. Aug. 24, 1792; m. Oliver Smith, formerly of Pel-
ham, afterwards of Leicester.
197. Otis, 6 b. March 24, 1795 ; unm. ; d. when about 37 years of
age.
198. Lucy 6 m. Oliver Smith, the husband of her sister Nabby, de-
ceased.
199. Sally, 6 unmarried.
49-
SAMUEL 4 (Samuel, 3 Thomas, 2 Thomas 1 ), son of Samuel and Bethiah
(Dean) Clapp, was born June 6, 1 7 10 ; lived in Norton. He had two
wives, one of whom was Mary, who died Nov. 12, 1754. A Samuel
Clapp, of Norton, was Representative to the General Court in 1733,
and on the Board of Selectmen in 1732, '33, '34 and '35.
Children of SAMUEL and 1st wife MARY CLAPP, of Norton:
200. SARAH, 5 b. Aug. 31, 1736; d. Dec. 18, 1736.
201. MARY, S b. May 27, 1738 ; m. Israel Trow.
202. ELIZABETH, 5 b. July 1, 1741; m. Mr. Copeland.
203. HANNAH, 5 b. Aug. 22, 1743 ; d. Sept 29, 1756.
-j-204. SAMUEL,* b. Aug. 16, 1745 ; d. July 28, 1773, aged 28 years.
-j-205. NoAH, 5 b. about 1747 ; d. Nov. 10, 1820, aged 73 years.
206. JOHN, 5 m. Polly Makepeace, and removed to Amherst, and from
thence to Charlestown, Mass. Children :
207. John, 6 m. and settled in Amherst ; one son, John? m. and had
children.
208. Daniel 6 settled in Amherst.
-51-
JONATHAN 4 (Samuel,' Thomas* Thomas 1 ), son of Samuel and
Bethiah (Dean) Clapp, was born Oct. 1, 1714. He married
Hewes, of Wrentham, and settled in Norton. He probably built
the house in which his son David resided and reared his large
family, and which is now standing, with but slight alteration from
its original plan. Previous to the erection of this house, there was
another to the east, nearly in the centre of the farm, located there,
THOMAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 123
undoubtedly, before the town highways had been laid out. Whether
Jonathan built and lived in this latter-named domicil, cannot now
be well ascertained. Nor can it be stated at what date the newer
house was built, but probably in the earlier part of the last century.
The house is two stories high, is painted red, and stands thirty or
forty feet back from the old road leading from Norton to Easton,
very near the boundary line between the two towns ; in fact, there
was at one time a question in which town the house stood. The
house was rather large, had a yard fenced off in front, and undoubt-
edly was quite pretentious for the date of its origin. On the farm,
of Jonathan, herein spoken of, when in. the possession of his gr. son
George, about thirty-five years since, a " strike" was made for coal.
What was discovered was very poor, but a very fair impression of a
fern leaf (about 8 inches by 12) on the surface of a rock was
brought to light. Prof. John W. Webster, of Cambridge, Mass., saw
this and was anxious to procure it, but did not succeed. Near by
the first house on this place, a tribe or collection of Indians resided.
Mr. Jonathan Clapp must have lived till 80, and perhaps upwards ;
for his granddaughter, Betsey, born in 1781, was old enough to
shave him before he died.
Children of JONATHAN and (Hewes) CLAPP :
+209. DAVID, 6 b. Aug. 30, 1744; d. Sept. 5, 1823, aged 79.
210. A SON,* d. young.
If what Mrs. Betsey (Clapp) Lothrop, his gr. dau., says is
recollected rightly, Jonathan 4 must have had a daughter she
stating that she " rode with her father through Worcester to a
town (Brookfield?) in the western part of the State to see a
sister of his, who had married a man by the name of Dean."
53
ABIEL 4 (Samuel,* Thomas* Thomas 1 ), fourth son of Samuel and
Bethiah (Dean) Clapp was born Feb. 7, 1728. He was a farmer,
lived in Mansfield, Mass., and was a prominent and much respected
man in the town. He was a soldier in Major Zephaniah Leonard's
troop of horse, and was out in the service in 1749. Later in life,
he held the office of Justice of the Peace, and was Captain of the
military company of the town. His death was occasioned by his
being accidentally shot while on parade. He married twice, his
second wife being the daughter of Dr. Caswell, of Norton.
Children of ABIEL CLAPP, of Mansfield.
211. AB UAH, 6 never married.
4-212. ASA, 5 b. March 15, 1762 ; d. April 17, 1848, in his 86th year.
213. ELKANAH, 6 b. in 1766; resided in Portland, Me., the latter part
of his life, and was engaged in mercantile business. He m. Oct.
28, 1792, Elizabeth (No. 112), daughter of Elkanah Clapp,
124 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
of Mansfield. Elkanah, the subject of this notice, died in
Portland, Oct. 5, 1810; his wife Elizabeth d. fifteen days previ-
ously, viz., Sept. 20, 1810, aged 39 years. Children:
214. Elizabeth Holmes, 6 m. first, June 2, 1816; John Blagge, son of
Samuel' Blagge, Esq., of Boston, who settled as a merchant
in Baltimore ; she m. second, G. "W. Cooley, Esq., of Boston.
She had two children by her first and one by her second
husband.
215. Abigail Dean* m. Simon Bradstreet, of Gardiner, Me. ; in 1843
was a widow, living in Portland, Me., with two sons.
216. Almira,* m. Henry Putnam, of Dixmont, Me., and had seven
children.
217. SAMUEL,* unmarried.
218. SiMEON, 5 m. and removed to the State of New York, where he
kept school more than 30 years ; buried his wife and child and
returned to Mansfield ; d. in 1853.
219. BATHSHEBA,* m. Eleazer Perry, of Medfield, and had three chil-
dren. She once lived in the family of Hon. Ebenezer Seaver, of
lloxbury.
220. SUSAN, 5 m. Mr. Randall. They had two children. She d. in
Mansfield. A son lives in Portland, Me.
-54-
ELEAZER 4 (Samuel, 3 Thomas? Thomas 1 ), youngest son of Samuel
and Bethiah (Dean) Clapp, was born in February, 1731, and lived
in Norton, but removed from thence to Uxbridge, Mass. He was a
man of some distinction, and represented Norton and Mansfield in
the first Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, which convened at
Salem, Friday, Oct. 1, 1774. He also served on the board of Se-
lectmen for the years 1775, '76 and '77. He married widow Sylvia
Gushee, daughter of Josiah Fobes, of Bridgewater.
Children of ELEAZER and SYLVIA (Fobes) CLAPP, of Uxbridge:
221. ARIEL,* b. April 16, 1785 ; unmarried; was living in West New-
field, Me., in 1873.
222. FOBES,* b. April 6, 1787, in Norton; d. Nov. 8, 1836. He m.
Frances McClench, of Boston, July 16, 1812. Children :
223. Silvia Ann, 6 b. in Boston, April 29, 1813 ; m. Timothy P.
Benson, attorney at law, of New York.
224. Frances Cordelia] 6 b. Dec. 23, 1816; m. Wm. R. Gavett, of
Salem.
225. Maria Louisa, 9 b. July 3, 1819 ; m. John "W. Southack, fur-
niture dealer in New York city.
They are all living (1874).
226. ELEAZEii, 5 d. young, probably.
227. BENJAMIN, 5 b. in Norton, Oct. 31, 1789 ; d. Sept. 19, 1872. He
was fitting for College, but his father dying when he was about
12 years of age, prevented his pursuing his studies. He was a
genius, and was the first person who put up machinery in the city
of Lowell. The latter part of his life, he lived at Wappingus
Falls, N. Y., brought his sons up at College, and left a large
THOMAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 125
property at his decease. He m. in New York city, Nov. 1821,
Ruth Houghton, who was b. in Milton, Mass., Dec. 12, 1794.'
Children :
228. George Houghton* b. in Milton, Mass., Sept. 9, 1822 ; m.
Sept. 9, 1846, Annie Beckwith, of Duchess Co., N. Y. They
live in Philadelphia. Children : f , Emma BJ b. in New York
city, April 29, 1849. ii, Edward HJ b. at Wappingus Falls,
June 13, 1854.
229. Jason Fobes, 6 b. in New York city, Sept. 16, 1825; m. Dec.
20, 1849, Elizabeth M. Houghton, and lives in New York.
He was at the Clapp gathering, June 18-19, 1873. Chil.:
i.Ruthella H.? b. July 27, 1852. ii. Arthur, 7 b. May 11,
1857. Hi, Jason H., s b. Jan. 3, 1861. All b. in N. York city.
230. Warren B.? b. Sept 13, 1827 ; d. Sept. 27, 1865. He m.
Elizabeth Ayre, June, 1860, and lived in Washington, D. C.
Children : i, George HJ b. in Dover, N. H., March 16, 1861.
ii. Warren A.? b. at Wappingus Falls, N. Y., Nov. 19, 1865.
231. Clinton Wilde, 6 b. May 28, 1832; m. May 24, 1854, Catha-
rine Simons, who d. Jan. 1871. They lived at Wappingus
Falls, N. Y. Children: i, Benjamin F? ii, George M?
Hi, Warren H? iv, Charles L? v, Walter? vi. Jason E?
56
EBENEZER 4 (John, 3 Increase, 3 Thomas 1 ), son of John Clapp, of
Rochester, Mass., was born in 1704. He married March 9, 1727,
Mary, daughter of Kenelm Winslow,* of Harwich, who was born
about 1707.
Children of EBENEZER and MARY (Winslow) CLAPP, of Rochester:
232. DoRCAs, 5 b. in 1730; m. in 1748, John, the son of Kenelm and
Zeruiah (Rider) Winslow, who was b. June 16, 1728.
233. BETHIAH,* b. in 1732; d. in 1831, aged 99 years, 9 mos. She
was a woman of marked energy and spirit, and m. Lemuel Church.
-j-234. EBENEZER, 5 b. in 1734; d. in 1770.
235. MARY, S b. in 1737.
236. JOHN,* b. in 1739 ; d. in 1791. He m. in 1765, Ruth Haskell,
sister of Kenelm's wife. Children :
237. John, 6 d. young.
238. Samuel Sprague 6 b. in 1788 ; d. in 1853, unmarried.
239. Betsey, 6 m. Calvin Mitchel.
240. Potty, 6 unmarried.
241. Lucy 6
242. Mary 6 m. Stephen Nye.
243. Dorcas, 6 m. Stephen Nye,
* Mr. William S. Appleton, of Boston, himself a descendant of the first John Winslow in
this country, saw at the Registry of Probate of Worcester, England, in 1862, the will of
" Kenelme Winslowe," of the "parish of St - Andrews, Worcester, proved Nov. 9, 1607.
KeTielin was a yeoman, was then aged, as lie speaks of his children and grandchildren, and
he appoints his wife Katherine sole executrix of his will. The New -England Winslows
emigrated from Droitwich, about 8 miles from Worcester; and it is probable, as is re-
marked by John H. Shcppard in his Genealogy of the Winslow Family, that this Kenelm
was a relative, and possibly grandfather, of Edward, the May-Flower Pilgrim and first
Governor of Plymouth Colony, and his brothers.
17
126 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
244. Ruth, 6 m. Thomas Ruggles.
245. Eunice, 6 m. Mr. Bayley.
-J-246. EARL,* b. April 21, 1741.
247. KENELM, 5 b. in 1743 ; m. Delia Haskell. Children :
248. Sylvia, 6 b. in 1770 ; m. Dr. Samuel Perry.
249. Ebenezer, 6 b. in 1772 ; d. in Natchez, Miss., and it is supposed
left a family.
250. Dittey (or Delia), 8 b. in 1774 ; m. first, Rev. Mr. Graves ; second,
Rev. Holland Weeks.
251. Axubah 6 b. in 1777 ; m. Benjamin Ruggles, and lived in New-
port, R. I.
BENJAMIN 4 (John, 3 Increase,* Thomas 1 ), son of John Clapp, of
Rochester, and brother of the preceding, was born in 1708. In 1732,
he bought the place where he lived of his father John, and probably
married at that time,
Children of BENJAMIN CLAPP, of Rochester :
252. ELIZABETH, 5 b. in 1733.
253. CATHARINE, 5 b. in 1736.
254. IcHABOD, 6 b. in 1739. Children :
255. Benjamin* b. in 1762.
256. John, 6 b. in 1765.
257. Paul, 6 b. in 1767.
258. George, 6 b. in 1769.
259. Hannah, 6 b. in 1771.
560. Elizabeth, 6 b. in 1774.
261. Catharine, 6 b. in 1776.
262. Ichabod 6 b. in 1779.
263. Charity 6 b. in 1781.
-f-264. INCREASE, 5 b. Feb. 27, 1740; d. May 24, 1801.
265. ELIZABETH,* b. in 1742.
266. CHARITY, 5 b. in 1744.
267. GEORGE, 5 b. in 1749.
268. LYDIA, S b. in 1756.
SAMUEL 4 (Joseph, 3 Samuel* Thomas 1 ), son of Joseph Clapp, of
Scituate, was born Nov. 18, 1695, and lived in Scituate. He mar-
ried Sarah Curtis, Jan. 7, 1725.
Children of SAMUEL and SARAH (Curtis) CLAPP, of Scituate :
-f-269. MiCHAEL, 5 b. Nov. 27, 1726.
270. SARAH, 5 b. Nov. 15, 1729.
271. MARY,* b. Oct. 8, 1731. One of these daughters m. a Mr. Ran-
dall,
-f 272. WiLLiAM, 5 b. Dec. 3, 1733.
273. SAMUEL, 5 b. Dec. 25, 1739 ; d. Feb. 2, 1817. He m. Chil. :
274. Samuel, 6 lived in Marshfield ; unm., and was peculiar in his dis-
THOMAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 127
position and habits. He d. February, 1858, in the 89th year
of his age.
275. Jerahmeel. 6
276. Albert, 6 b. Feb. 16, 1791; lived in Scituate, and m. April 4,
1813, Priscilla Reed, who d. Oct. 25, 1837, aged 45 years.
Children : i, Alice? b. Sept. 29, 1814 ; m. Alanson Gray, of
Lowell, ii. Albert T.? b. Sept. 4, 1824 ; m. Susanna Smith,
of Carlisle, Eng., and lived in Braintree. Hi, Joseph? b. Sept.
4, 1827 ; m. first, in 1849, Almira Shaw, of Weymouth, and
had one child, Albert J?., 8 b. Jan. 13, 1850 ; m. second, Luciuda
Shaw, his first wife's sister.
277. Temperance, 6 lived in Marshfield, unmarried.
278. /Sarah, 6 m. Mr. Lewis, of Marshfield. .
279. Hepza 6 m. Joseph Collyer, of Roxbury,
JOSEPH 4 (Joseph, 3 Samuel, 3 Thomas 1 ), brother of the preceding,
was born July 15, 1101. He was a Deacon of the church. Ho
married first, in 1 732, Hannah, daughter of Joseph Briggs, of Scitu-
ate. Joseph Briggs's father and two brothers were officers in King
Philip's War. He married, second, Sarah Perkins.
Children of Deacon JOSEPH and HANNAH (Briggs) CLAPP, of
Scituate :
280. HANNAH, 6 b. Nov. 8, 1733 ; d. young,
-j-281. JOSEPH, 6 b. Feb. 21, 1734-5.
282. RUTH,* b. April 14, 1738.
283. BETTY,* b. Oct. 13, 1740.
284. HANNAH, 5 b. Sept. 19, 1748; m. Timothy Foster,
285. ELIJAH, 6 b. Feb. 16, 1757 ; d. Dec. 19, 1833, aged 77 years. He
m. Oct. 8, 1778, Martha, dau. of Abiel Turner. She is a lineal
descendant of the puritan Rev. John Robinson. Children :
286. Perkins 6 b. Oct. 3, 1779 ; d. Dec. 21, 1811. He m. Dec. 17,
1802, Rachel Kent. Children : i. Joseph? b. Oct. 5, 1804 ; m.
Jan. 13, 1828, Lucy, dau. of Allan Clapp, and live in Scitu-
ate. They have two daughters, Lucy F.* b. March 30, 1829,
d. Sept. 21, 1861, and Ellen M., 8 b. March 6, 1832 ; m. July
2, 1854, John F.Otis, ii, Jtachel? b. Feb. 17, 1807; m.
Dec. 21, 1827, Seth Gardner; d. July 8, 1870. Hi, Perkins?
b. Feb. 11, 1809, lost at sea about Aug. 1830. iv, Thomas?
b. April 22, 1812; m. April 8, 1838, Ursula C. Drake, of
Pembroke. Chil.: (1) Perkins* dead; (2) Francis, 9 dead;
(3) Ida W., 8 m., and now living ; (4) Uranie, 8 dead.
287. Sally, 6 b. May 18, 1781.
288. Bethiah? b. Aug. 3, 1783.
289. Thomas J., 6 b. Jan. 19, 1791; m. June 3, 1832, to Mrs.
Polly Damon ; probably d. July, 1858.
128 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
69
BENJAMIN 4 (Joseph? Samuel? Thomas 1 ), son of Joseph Clapp, of
Scituate, and brother of the preceding, was born April 26, 1710. He
married first, Oct. 23, 1734, Grace Tilden; second, probably about
1763, Deborah No issue by first wife. He probably did not
reside in Scituate the latter part of his life.
Children of BENJAMIN and wife DEBORAH CLAPP, of Scituate :
290. LEWIS, 6 b. Jan. 5, 1764; m. first, Aug. 5, 1787, Lydia Holmes,
who d. in 1802 ; m. second, Jan. 3, 1805, Thankful Sutton. They
lived in Scituate. Chil. :
291. Lewis, 6 b. in 1794 (by first wife) ; m Stetson, and lived
in Scituate. Children : i, Lewis." 1 ii, James?
292. Lydia 6 (by first wife), never married.
293. Deborah, 6 m. first, David Church ; second, Mr. Randall.
294. Sally 6 m. Martin Hatch.
295. Seth* (by second wife), b. in 1805 ; m. Nancy Brown, of
Boston, and removed to Boston, May, 1843. They had one
child, Hannah M.," 1 b. in Scituate April 4, 1839.
296. Solon 6 (by second wife), b. in 1807, was a mariner and married
some one at the South.
297. THOMAS, 5 b. in 1766 ; m. May 5, 1799, Mercy Bailey, who d. March
14, 1831, aged 54 years. They lived in Scituate. Children:
298. Emily 6 b. Sept. 14, 1799.
299. Elijah? b. in Scituate, Sept. 26, 1801 ; m. Nov. 24, 1825,
Harriet Ford, b. in Scituate Nov. 24, 1801. Children : i,
Elijah T.? b. Sept. 8, 1826 ; m. Dec. 7, 1865, Ann R. Clapp,
of Scituate, who was b. May 30, 1842. They live in Scituate.
Chil. : (1) Elijah T. 8 b. Oct. 15, 1866 ; (2) Helen A., 8 b. Jan.
19, 1868 ; (3) William H., 8 b. Dec. 14, 1869 ; (4) Harriet F. 8
b. May 2, 1872. ii. Howard,'' b. July 6, 1829 ; m. Nov. 21,
1855, Frances A. Rodgers, who was b. in Marshfield, Sept.
28, 1825. They live in South Boston. Chil. : (1 ) Abby F. 8
b.Dec. 22, 1856; (2) Cliff R. 8 \>. Feb. 10, 1861. iii, Harriet
AJ b. June 23, 1832 ; unm. in 1873. iv. Peleg F.," 1 b. Jan.
27, 1835 ; m. April 3, 1867, Mary L. Manson, who was b. in
Scituate, May 30, 1842 ; live in South Boston, and had (1)
Mary M.? b. March 31, 1868 ; (2) Frank Howard 8 b. Oct.
17, 1869, and (3) Harry Lincoln 8 b. July 9, 1872. V,
Mercy FJ b. June 12, 1837 ; m. Nov. 29, 1860, George H.
Manson, who was b. in Scituate, May 7, 1832 ; they live in
South Boston, and have two children, vi. Julia," 1 b. Aug. 17,
1843 ; m. Dec. 29, 1870, George W. Spaulding, who was b.
in Scituate Aug. 28, 1842. They live in South Boston, and
have one child.
300. Hannah, 6 b. Oct. 9, 1803.
301. Lucy? b. Dec. 23, 1805 ; d. March 6, 1826, aged 20 years.
302. Mercy 6 b. Jan. 22, 1808.
303. Howard, 6 b. Feb. 3, 1810; d. July 27, 1828, aged 18 years.
304. Franklin R 6 b. July 12, 1812; m. Dec. 25, 1833, Clara
Powers, of Cohasset. He removed to Taunton, Mass., and
THOMAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 129
is a manufacturer of tacks. Children : i, Louise Doane? b.
Jan. 13, 1836. ii. Henry Lincoln? b. Jan. 24, 1839 ; gradu-
ated at Harvard College in 1870, began to teach in a private
school in Hartford, then a teacher in a public school in Boston.
iii, Elizabeth Joy, 1 b. Nov. 25, 1840; d. Feb. 6, 18G3. iv,
George Parker? b. Feb. 28, 1844 ; when quite young, enlist-
ed in the navy and served on Steamer Massachusetts in the
war of the Rebellion; was in Libby Prison eight months. T
Sarah Jane? b. Dec. 30, 1846 ; d. April 10, 1850. vi, Fran-
ces Maria? b. Aug. 11, 1849 ; d. April 6, 1850. vil, Sarah
Frances? b. March 1, 1851. yiii. Maria Florence? b. Sept.
26, 1853.
305. Harvey* b. Feb. 26, 1814 ; m. Hannah Whitcomb, Jan. 10,
1833. Children: i, Jane T.? b. May 19, 1833. \\.Charles
W.? b. Nov. 2, 1835. iii, William?
306. Louisa* b. March 24, 1815.
307. Emily* b. Jan. 23, 1819.
308. Harriet* b. Nov. 22, 1821.
309. Thomas, 6 b. Jan. 22, 1824.
310. BENJAMIN, 5 b. March 12, 1778 ; d. Nov. 13, 1815. He m. Aug.
14, 1803, Judith Otis, who d. Aug. 1828. They lived in Scituate.
Children :
311. Benjamin* b. Feb. 17, 1804; was a cooper by trade ; resided
in Boston, and carried on business under the name of " Clapp
& Goddard." He m. in 1829, Elizabeth Towle. Children :
1. Benjamin Franklin? b. about 1829, d. Jan. 26, 1851 ; was
a bright scholar, and obtained a Franklin Medal in one of the
public schools of Boston in 1843 ; he d. of consumption on
board ship in Boston harbor, while returning from Calcutta.
Ii. Joseph E.? b. Nov. 30, 1833 ; m. Sept. 20, 1860, Lydia I.
Jacobs, and lives in Maiden, Mass, iii, George L.? b. June
2, 1844 ; m. Jan. 8, 1868, Elizabeth B. Pierce, and lives in
Medford.
312. Judith, 6 b. March 24, 1806; m. Parker Jones. They live in
Duxbury, Mass.
313. Lydia* b. Jan. 3, 1808 ; d. Feb. 16, 1834, aged 26 years. She
m. June 15, 1828, Job Otis, of Scituate.
314. Job* b. April 5, 1810.
315. Charles 6 b. Oct. 15, 1813; m. Anna W and has one
child, Georgiana? b. Aug. 4, 1839.
rvpc
JOHN 4 (Stephen, 3 Samuel, 3 Thomas 1 ), eldest son of Stephen and
wife Temperance Clapp, was born Oct. 14, 1697. He was a Captain,
and there is a grave-stone in Scituate burying-ground, which says
Capt, John Clapp died Jan. 24, 1762, in the 72d year of his age. If
this was the John referred to, there must be an error somewhere.
He married, Nov. 5, 1724, Mercy Otis; there was a Mercy, wife of
Capt. John Clapp, who died Jan. 15, 1761, in the 61st year of her
age.
130 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
Children of JOHN and MERCY (Otis) CLAPP, of Scituate :
-J-316. SAMUEL, 5 b. July 25, 1725 ; d. in 1809.
317. GEORGE, 5 b. Oct. 7, 1726; m. probably Nov. 13, 1755, Mary
Gorhain and removed to Worthington, according to Elisha
Clapp, but Deane says, to Northampton. Child:
318. George , 6 lived in New Hampshire.
319. JOHN,* b. Oct. 8, 1728 ; d. Oct. 26, 1728.
320. EuxH, 5 b. Nov. 16, 1729.
321. RACHEL, 5 b. Feb. 16, 1731.
-j-322. JOHN, 5 b. July 5, 1734 ; d. Feb. 13, 1810.
323. ISAAC, 5 b. April 18, 1736 ; d. Oct. 18, 1739.
324. MERcr, 5 b. Sept. 25, 1740; d. April 11, 1787, aged 47 years,
unmarried.
325. CONSTANT, 5 b. June 1, 1743 ; d. Oct. 1829. "Was highly respected
in the town of Scituate, where he lived. He was one of the
Committee of Inspection chosen by the town in 1774 to see that
the Continental law was carried into effect ; be was also one of
. the Committee chosen in 1787 to prepare instructions to their
representative ; they reported some very spirited and patriotic
resolutions. He was employed by the town in many other
public matters. He m. March 3, 1768, Rebecca Bailey. Child:
326. Isaac, 6 d. young.
ryry -
THOMAS 4 (Stephen? Samuel*, Thomas*), son of Deacon Stephen
and wife Temperance Clapp, and brother of the preceding, was born
in Scituate, June 26, 1703. He was fitted for College partly under
Rev. James McSparran, Missionary to Narragansett from the Society
for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, and partly under
the Kev. Nathaniel Eells, of Scituate. Entered Harvard aged 15,
and was graduated in 1722. Was settled in Windham, Conn., as
successor to Rev. Samuel Whiting, Aug. 3, 1726. In a manuscript
" Memoir of some remarkable occurrences of his life," written by
himself, he thus speaks with reference to his ministry in Windham.
"January 1, 1737. I have this last week finished my pastoral visitation
of every family in my parish, and catechising the several children in them.
And I have also taken down the names and ages of every one, so that I
might have a more full knowledge and clear remembrance of every soul
committed to my care and charge, aud the circumstances and condition of
each particular person. I find the number of them to be seven hundred
and twenty-two. A great number of souls to depend on the care of one
weak and sinful creature ! May God direct and enable me rightly to per-
form and go through this great work and charge ; that I may bear the
names and circumstances of every one upon my heart at all times, and espe-
cially when I approach unto the throne of God, as Aaron bore the names
of the children of Israel on the breast-plate upon his heart, when he entered
into the holy place."
Under the same date, he records the names of the members in
each family of the parish, the families numbering one hundred and
THOMAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 131
twenty. His own family is recorded thus, his wife having died a
short time before :
Thomas Clap, June 26, 1703. Mary Clap, April 25, 1729.
Temperance Clap, April 29, 1732. Pompey, Negro, about 1713.
Phillis, Negro, about 1717. Tamar, Negro, Dec. 18, 1736.
Mr. Clapp was an impressive and powerful preacher, and a man
of exemplary piety and singular industry, as well as learned in the
various branches of secular knowledge, particularly mathematics,
astronomy, natural and moral philosophy, civil and canon law and
history. He constructed the first orrery, or planetarium, made in
America. In 1739, he was chosen President of Yale College, as suc-
cessor to Rev. Elisha Williams. His people in Windham, however,
were so "unwilling to part with him that the matter was referred to
an ecclesiastical council, who advised his acceptance of the invita-
tion, and he was inducted into that office April 2, 1740. The
Legislature of the State, with a liberality which at this day seems
remarkable, voted to compensate the people of Windham for the loss
of their pastor. The committee, to whom the subject of compensa-
tion was referred, stated that inasmuch as Mr. Clapp had been in
the ministry at Windham fourteen years, which was about half the
time ministers in general continue in their public work, " the people
ought to have half as much as they gave him for a settlement, which,
upon computation, was about fifty-three pounds sterling." This sum
was accordingly granted the parish by the General Assembly. Mr.
Clapp brought with him to the College a high reputation as a gene-
ral scholar, as a mathematician and astronomer, and as a man of un-
common energy of character and remarkable business qualifications.
Much was expected from him in his new office, and he accomplished
much. A new code of laws for the College was soon drawn up by
him, was adopted by the Trustees, translated into Latin, was pub-
lished in 1748, and took the place of the laws of Harvard College,
which had till then been in use. This was the first book ever printed
in New Haven. These laws continued in this form for twenty-four
years, when they were published in English. The College Library was
much improved, an additional tutor was appointed, and study was
more diligently and successfully pursued. A new and more liberal
charter of the College, drawn up by him, was also obtained from
the Legislature. The growth of the College was such that a new
building, the plan of which was projected by Mr. Clapp, was com-
pleted in 1752. The expense of this building was defrayed in part
by a lottery, authorized by the Legislature, aided by the sale of a
French prize, taken by a colonial frigate. Next, a new College
Chapel was called for by him, the foundation of which was laid in
1761, and in 1763 was finished and opened with appropriate cere-
monies. During his Presidency, the direction of Collegiate studies
undoubtedly received a strong bias from his own favorite ^pursuHs;
the study of philosophy, mathematics and polemic divinity being
132 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
specially prominent and thorough, poetry and belles-lettres flour-
ished feebly. The pupils under his charge were remarkable for their
high degree of culture in the sciences to which he was particularly
devoted.
But this material growth was not unmixed with internal disagree-
ments and dissensions, a full account of which is given in Sprague's
" Annals of the American Pulpit." The visit of the celebrated Mr.
Whiteh'eld to New England took place soon after President Clapp
came into office. President C. had no sympathy with Whitefield or
his movements, and feared great injury to the churches from his
visit. A declaration was accordingly issued, signed by himself and
three Tutors, strongly condemning the course of Mr. W., whom he
accuses of making use of the assertion, " I intend to turn the gene-
rality of ministers of this country out of their pulpits (who are half
beasts and half devils), and bring over ministers from England." In
the divided and excited state of public feeling on this matter, the
declaration could not do otherwise than increase the excitement, and
the College suffered in consequence. A disagreement also arose re-
specting the attendance of its officers and students on the ministry
of the pastor of the New Haven church, who was not popular as a
preacher, and was of doubtful orthodoxy. Efforts were made to
choose a Professor of Divinity, but were not successful, and in 1753,
President Clapp, by invitation of the Corporation, commenced
preaching to the students in the College Hall. This was considered
by the New Haven church as grossly irregular, that church claiming
the College as within its parish boundaries.* In 1756, a Professor
of Divinity was chosen. A lot of land was generously conveyed to
the College by the President for the use of the Theological Profes-
sor, and he also, by the aid of some benevolent individuals, com-
menced building on said lot a house for the professor's residence.
Other controversies arose, however, which, with the pertinacity of
the President in insisting on his favorite measures, rendered him
unpopular, and a memorial was sent to the Assembly praying for a
commission of visitation to examine into all the affairs of the College.
An elaborate written reply was prepared by the president, denying
most of the charges made, and also the right of the Legislature to
interfere in the manner proposed, and the Memorial was finally dis-
missed by the Legislature. But the clamors against the College
were continued, it had become unpopular, and matters were made
worse by the resignation of two of the Tutors being called for by
the President in 1765, on account of their having embraced the
opinions of the Sandemanians. On their resignation, the remaining
* Numerous pamphlets on both sides of this particular point in the controversy were is-
sued, a stray copy of some of which is still occasionally brought to light. The tone and
temper of the dispute, as shown in these pamphlets, were certainly not commendable.
They were mostly anonymous, though probably their authors were known at the time. It
is not supposed the President himself was engaged in this kind of warfare his public and
open arguments and defences, with his other duties, probably occupying all his time and
energies.
THOMAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 133
Tutor resigned, and their successors found themselves in such em-
barrassing circumstances that in a few months they, too, vacated
their places. In July of that year, aware of his unpopularity, Presi-
dent Clapp offered his resignation. The Corporation, however,
still adhered to him, and expressed to him their " earnest desire that
he would be pleased to continue in office as long as Divine Provi-
dence should permit, or at least till the next Commencement." He
accordingly remained and conferred degrees at the Commencement
in September, and then took his leave of the College in a valedic-
tory address, dwelling at length on the improvements which had
been made during his administration, and stating that " in conse-
quence of his age and infirmities, and strong desire of private life,
he resigned his office." The Corporation " passed a vote expressive
of their high estimation of his character and services, and of their
best wishes for his future and eternal well-being." Ebenezer Bald-
win, in his "Annals of Yale College," thus alludes to the termination
of Pres. Clapp's services at Yale :
" Thus ended the academic services of a President (after the labors of
twenty-seven years) who was an ornament to the science of the age in which
he lived, whose efforts for the substantial interests and prosperity of the
College were unremitted, and whose only unpopular traits appear to have
been a conscientious religious zeal, and scholastic independence, that could
not yield to the spirit of an altered age."
The retirement which he coveted was terminated by his death in
less than a year and a half. It took place after a short illness, Jan.
7, 1767, in the 64th year of his age. He was buried from the Col-
lege Chapel, and a sermon appropriate to the occasion preached by
Rev. Naphtali Daggett, Professor of Divinity.
President Clapp was married, in 1727, to Mary, daughter of Rev.
Samuel Whiting, his predecessor in the ministry at Windham. Mrs.
Clapp died, greatly lamented, Aug. 9, 1736, in the 24th year of her
age. In an obituary sketch of her, it is said that her husband's
" grief seemed inconsolable ; he mourned sore like a dove." From
a written delineation of her character, found among his private
writings, it would appear that she was eminent in every virtue and
accomplishment. In 1 740, he married, second, Mrs. Mary Saltonstall,
widow of Capt. Roswell S., of Branford, Conn. By this marriage,
he had no children.
It is unfortunate that so few of the mathematical and philosophical
works of Pres. Clapp have been preserved for the benefit of posterity.
His most valuable manuscripts were in the possession of his daugh-
ter, Madam Wooster, and were carried off among the plunder taken
by the British troops during their invasion of New Haven, in 1779.
President Styles, successor to Pres. Clapp, protested with the Eng-
lish General Tryon that "a war against science had been reprobated
for ages by the wisest and most powerful generals," and requested
their return. This was, however, without effect. Some of them
18
134
THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
were picked up, about a week afterward, by boatmen in the Sound,
near Fairfield, and others at East Haven ; but it is to be regretted that
most of Pres. Clapp's valuable manuscripts were irrecoverably lost.
President Clapp and his wife were buried in the town graveyard,
on the public Square, or Green, in New Haven. A new cemetery
was incorporated in 1797, and is said to have been the first one in
the United States that was laid out in family lots. In 1821, all the
old monuments standing on the Green were removed to the new
cemetery, and placed in the family lots whenever there were friends
or relatives living to desire it. Mrs. Wooster, the daughter of the
President, was one of the first buried in the new cemetery (1807),
and a costly marble monument to her memory stands near those of
her parents. The ac-
companying sketch of
the latter has been
kindly designed and
engraved for this Me-
morial, by John W.
Barber, Esq., of New
Haven, now in his 77th
year. He has endeav-
ored to represent them
as they appear to the
eye, with some of the
surroundings, without
MONUMENTS OF PEES. THOMAS CLAPP AND WIFE. any effort tO pl'OduCC a
handsome picture. These tabular monuments, though not preten-
tious in appearance, were of superior construction at the time they
were made. The following is the epitaph on the monument erected
to the memory of Pres. Thomas Clapp :
EPITAPH.
" Here lyeth interred the body of the reverend and learned Mr. Thomas
Clap, the late President of Yale College, in New Haven ; a truly great
man, a gentleman of superior natural genius, most assiduous application,
and indefatigable industry. In the various branches of learning, he greatly
excelled ; an accomplished instructor ; a patron of the College ; a great
divine, bold for the truth ; a zealous promoter and defender of the doctrines
of grace ; of unaffected piety, and a pattern of every virtue ; the tenderest
of fathers and the best of friends ; the glory of learning and the ornament of
religion ; for thirteen years, the faithful and much respected pastor of the
church in Windham ; and near twenty-seven years the laborious and princi-
pal President of the College, and having served his own generation, by the
will of God, with serenity and calmne.ss, he fell on sleep, the 7th day of
January, 1767, in his sixty-fourth year.
"Death, great proprietor of all,
'Tis thine to tread out empires
And to quench the stars."
THOMAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 135
The following is a list of President Clapp's publications :
" A Sermon at the Ordination of the Rev. Ephraim Little, 1732. An
Introduction to the Study of Philosophy, exhibiting a general view of all the
Arts and Sciences, for the use of the Pupils, 1743. A Letter to a friend in
Boston, 1745. A Letter to the Rev. Jonathan Edwards, of Northampton,
expostulating with him for his injurious reflections in his late Letter to a
friend, 1745. The Religious Constitution of Colleges, especially of Yale
College, New Haven, 1754. A brief History and Vindication of the Doc-
trines, received and established in the Churches of New England, with a
specimen of the new scheme of religion beginning to prevail, 1755. An
Essay on the Nature and Foundation of Moral Virtue and Obligation,
1765. Annals or History of Yale College, 1766. Conjectures upon the
Nature and Motions of Meteors which are above the Atmosphere (posthu-
mous), 1781."
President Stiles has left the following honorable testimony to
President Clapp in his Literary Diary :
" President Clap was possessed of strong mental powers, clear perception
and solid judgment. Though not eminent for classical learning, he had a
competent knowledge of the three learned languages. He was well versed
in algebra, optics, astronomy, and the general course of experimental phi-
losophy. In mathematics and natural philosophy, I have not reason to
think he was equalled by any man in America, except the most learned
Professor Winthrop. Many others, indeed, excelled him in the mechanic
application of the lower branches of the mathematics; but he rose to
sublimer heights, and became conversant in the application of this noble
science to those extensive laws of nature, which regulate the most extensive
phenomena, and obtain throughout the stellary universe. I have known
him to elucidate so many of the abstrusest theorems and ratiocinia of New-
ton, that, I doubt not, the whole Principia of that illustrious philosopher
was comprehended by him ; a comprehension which, it is presumed, very
few mathematicians of the present age have attained. Wollaston's Religion
of Nature was the basis of his Moral Philosophy, and Westminster Calvin-
ism was his Theology. He had thoroughly studied the Scriptures, and had
read the most eminent Divines of the last two hundred years. In his
peculiar manner, he had examined so many authors, through the tract of
time from Jerome to the present day, as well as the three more primitive
ages, that, on the fundamental doctrines of religion, I believe him to have
been possessed of the sentiments of the whole Christian world. History,
ancient and modern, political and ecclesiastical, he was well versed in. He
had deeply studied the history of the Assyrian empire ; that of Greece ; that
of the Roman empire through all its periods, and particularly its mutation
into an ecclesiastical State. He studied the rise of Mahometism ; the Sara-
cenic conquests ; the dominion of the Caliphs and Mamelukes ; the extensive
spread of this religion, and the final partition of the interest into several
empires. He had formed an idea of the powers of Europe, their connections,
balances, and leading springs of policy; and had arranged the principal
events and revolutions of the several ages, from antiquity to the present day.
He traced and considered with the closest attention the causes of greatest ex-
tent, and most forcible operation, in effecting public events, which, like the
laws of nature, carry in themselves the certain futurition of their phenomena.
He well understood the history and geography of the Bible ; and took great
pains to consider the verification wiich it naturally gave and received when
136 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
compared with profane history. He was well read in the Fathers, and had
examined all the remains of the antiquities of the Primitive Church. He
studied the police, worship and discipline of the Church, in the three first
and two last ages. He greatly studied the councils, general and provincial,
and in them was thoroughly versed. He was considerably read in the
common law of England, and in the municipal laws of his country. He
was also well versed in the Jus Civile, the Institutes of Justinian, the Pan-
dects, the Novella ; and from the canons, the decretals of the Popes, he had
obtained such a general knowledge of ecclesiastical law, that he would have
honoured a Doctorate in -both laws.
" The labors of his office left a most contemplative mind but a few hours
for reading. But he had a happy and advantageous method of reading ; he
always studied on a system or arrangement with respect to some whole, and
read to purpose. A voluminous library before him, he treated as a collec-
tion of reports, books delivering the knowledge and reasonings of the
learned world on all subjects of literature. He seldom read a volume
through in course. Having previously settled in his mind the particular
subjects to be examined, and what on any subject he needed to ascertain,
he then pitched directly on the book or books, and those parts in them which
would elucidate the subject of his inquiry. He would thus, with discern-
ment and despatch, run over fifty volumes, if necessary, and select whatever
they contained in point, and thus proceed till he made himself master of the
subject generally passing unconcernedly over the rest, however attractive
and interesting.
" As to his person, he was not tall ; yet, being thick set, he appeared rather
large and bulky. His aspect was light, placid, serene and contemplative.
He was a calm, still, judicious, great man."
The publishers are in-
debted to F. B. Dexter,
Esq., Secretary, Yale Col-
ge, for a fac-simile of
the autograph of President
Thomas Clapp.
Children of President THOMAS and 1st wife MARY (Whiting)
CLAPP :
327. MART,* b. April 25, 1729 ; m. David Wooster,* afterwards a Maj.
General in the Revolutionary War. It is said of her that she
was considered the first lady of her time in New Haven. In the
burying-ground at New Haven, a beautifully designed monument,
near that of her father, marks the place of her burial. A grand-
son was an Admiral in the Chilian Navy, formerly of New
* Born in Stratford, Ct. March 2, 1710; d. in Danbury, Ct., May 2, 1777- He was made
Captain of an armed vessel to protect the coast in 1739 ; in the expedition against Louisburg,
in 1745, he commanded the sloop of war " Connecticut," which conveyed the troops ; was
sent in command of the cartel ship to Europe, but was not permitted to land in France. In
England he was a favorite, was presented at court, and was made a Captain in Pepperrell's
Regiment, receiving half-pay until 1774. Appointed Colonel 3d Ct. Regt. in 1755 ; became
a Brig.-Gen., and was in service in 1758-60. He was one of the originators of the expedition
which captured Ticonderoga in April, 1775, and a member of the Ct. Assembly ; was made
Brig.-Gen. in the Continental army 22 June, 1775, and served in Canada, holding, for a time,
the chief command after the death of Montgomery. Resigning soon after, he was made
Maj.-Gen. of the State militia, and, while opposing a force of the enemy under Tryon, sent
to destroy the public stores at Danbury, was mortally wounded 27 April, 1777, and died a
few days later. Drake's Dictionary of American Biography.
THOMAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 137
-York city and extensively engaged in privateering durincr the
war of 1812-15, and d. in Monterey, Cal., in 1848.
328. TEMPERANCE, 5 b. April 29, 1732 ; m. Aug. 9, 1753, Rev. Timothy
Pitkin, of Farmington, Conn., the son of Gov. Wm. Pitkin, of
Connecticut.
Three other children of Thomas 4 and 1st wife d. young.
-79-
NATHANIEL 4 (Stephen, 3 Samuel, 2 TJiomas'), youngest son of
Dea. Stephen and wife Temperance Clapp, was born Sept. 11, 1709.
He was a magistrate and a very useful and respected man. He
married, in 1736, Desire Bourne, of Barnstable.
Children of NATHANIEL and DESIRE (Bourne) CLAPP, of Scituate :
329. HANNAH,* b. Nov. 11, 1739; m. in 1794, Rev. Nathan Stone, of
Barnstable; d. in 1805. No children.
330. DESIRE, 5 b. May 13, 1741 ; m. Capt. Prince Gorham, of Barnsta-
ble, and had four children.
-f-331. SYLVANUS,* b. Jan. 20, 1742 ; d. April 29, 1811, aged 68.
332. TEMPERANCE, 5 b. Dec. 1, 1744; m. Judge Win. Gorham, of
Gorham, Me., and had one daughter.
333. MART,* b. Jan. 26, 1747 ; m. Rev. Isaac Mansfield, of Marblehead,
who was b. in 1750, and graduated at Harvard College in 1767.
He preached nearly eleven years at Exeter, N. H., and d. in
Boston, Sept. 1826, aged 76. They had two children. She
was living in Marblehead in 1806.
334. SUSANNAH, 5 b. Oct. 13, 1748; m. in 1770, Mr. Joseph Benson, of
Scituate, and had ten children.
335. ABIGAIL, 5 b. Dec. 2, 1750 ; d. in 1810. She m. Hawkes Cushing,
of Boston ; no children.
336. EUNICE,* b. Jan. 10, 1752 ; m. Col. Wm. Turner, of Scituate, who
was b. Jan. 16, 1747, and graduated at Harvard College in 1767.
They had nine children, one of whom (Stephen) was killed at
the battle of Bridgewater, in the war of 1812.
337. RACHEL, 5 b. Feb. 1755 ; d. young.
338. NATHANIEL, 5 b. June 15, 1756, d. young.
339. STEPHEN, 5 b. June 27, 1759 ; d. young. One of the last two
boys was killed with a cart, and the other drowned.
80
THOMAS 4 (John, 3 Samuel, 2 Thomas'), son of John and Hannah
(Gill) Clapp, and cousin to President Thomas, of Yale College, was
born in Scituate, Nov. 11, 1705. He graduated at Harvard College
in 1 725 ; first turned his attention
to the ministry and was ordained
at Taunton in 1729, Eben. Clap
Senior, and Phillips Payson being
delegates to the ordination from Dorchester. He was married to
his first wife, Mary Leonard, daughter of Judge George Leonard, of
138 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
Norton,* Sept. 9, 1731; she died of measles June 27, 1741, aged
27 years, 5 months and 10 days. His second wife was Esther,
daughter of Don. John Chandler, of Worcester, whom he married
May 9, 1745. She died July 20, 1792. Mr. Clapp so far conformed
to the customs of the day in which he lived as to be the owner of
slaves. On his marriage to his second wife, it is related that she
obtained a promise from him that they should be liberated. For
some reason, this was not done till after his death. One of these
slaves was the mother of several sons, who were brought np in his
house, and the marks and scratches of their fingers were said to
have remained on the walls of the house for a century afterwards.
He left the ministry, it is said, partly in consequence of aspersions on
his character by some of his people. Mr. Clapp enjoyed a handsome
patrimony, and was too independent in his position and feelings to
submit to calumny, therefore a separation from his flock took place.
It is said the Taunton people declared they would never settle
another rich man. His own account of the matter differs some-
what from the above. From a statement drawn up by himself, which
has been preserved in manuscript, and which embraces the proceed-
ings of the church in regard to his dismission, and their certificate
of recommendation of him, the following introductory remarks are
copied :
" The Inhabitants of the Town of Taunton to Incourage me to Settle with
them in the Work of the Ministry, did at a Legall Meeting on the 16th of
Dec' Dom. 1728 vote to Give me annually !'>() and always to keep s d sum
Good, Let the money rise or fall, But they did not Comply with their vote
any one year, tho' they were urged to do it by the Church & myself; and
after Diverse Years Waiting, the Church advised me writing under their
hand, to make application to the General Session of the Peace for the
County of Bristoll, in order to obtain my Salery, which gave so much Un-
easiness to many in the Town, that rather than Live in Contention with
any of my parishioners, about so small a pittance, I sought for a Removall
from them, and accordingly the Church at a full meeting did vote & agree
to give me the following Letter of Dismission & Recomendation."
He returned to Scituate in 1738, and was soon appointed Chief
Justice of the Inferior Court of Plymouth County, and one of the
Counsellors of the Commonwealth. He was also a Colonel of the
militia, and was greatly respected for his talents and integrity. He
built a large and elegant mansion, now standing near the South
Scituate Railroad Station, and near to the dwelling place of Samuel
Woodworth, of "Old Oaken Bucket" memory. There is a tradition
concerning him that " he was so large a man as to excite the curi-
* Many ricb and valuable household articles were brought to the house of Judge Thomas
in Tannton, by his first wife; and to that in Scituate, by his second wife. Some of these
are most carefully preserved, and cheerfully shown by his great-granddaughter, Miss
Mary Leonard Clapp, who now, with her brother Henry, occupies the house in Scituate,
built by him in 1740. She has also in her possession a rich china pitcher, of unique form
and ornamented with quaint figures, which was brought over in the " Mayflower," and
was presented, by a son of Peregrine White, to Judge Thomas Clapp.
THOMAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 139
osity of children to run after him in the street, when discharging
his professional duties." He was a Representative to the General
Court fourteen years, and while there was engaged in some sharp
controversies, several of which are in print. Quite a number of his
books were preserved and were in possession of his grandson,
Leonard, when he died in 1852. A volume of his MS. Sermons has
also been handed down, and one of them is printed in the Rev.
Samuel H. Emery's " Ministry of Taunton." The subject of this ser-
mon is "Our Likeness to God, and Vision of Him," which is treated
throughout in a manner which shows him to have been an able ex-
pounder of the Scriptures according to the style and spirit of the
preaching of that day. To the work above referred to we are indebt-
ed for some of the facts already related respecting Judge Thomas
Clapp, and also for the following extracts from a communication to
Mr. Emery by Rev. Daniel Wight, Jr. :
" He was taken sick with the palsy while presiding on the bench as
Judge in Plymouth Court. After the first attack, he was subject to fits,
each reducing him lower and lower. During his long sickness of seven
years' continuance, he was able often to go out, and once went to Plymouth
Court, but for the last few years of his life he was confined to his bed. He
is represented as having been remarkably mild and pleasant in his disposi-
tion till he had the palsy, after which he was irritable and hard to please.
He was not very tall, but fleshy, and of fine personal appearance. He died
May 31, 1774, in the sixty-ninth year of his age. He was buried in the
north-west part of ' the common ' burying-ground, about three-fourths of a
mile from Scituate harbor. His gravestones were removed, though not his
remains, in 1828, to their present position, in the family burying-ground,
near his former residence. The stones of his last wife, with those of several
of his children, -are neatly arranged beside his own. I give below the in-
scriptions, as they stand upon his own and last wife's monuments of slate-
stone.
" Sacred " Sacred
to the Memory of to the Memory of
Col. Thomas Clapp, Mrs. Esther Clapp,
who died who died
May 31, 1774, July 20, 1790,
in the 69 year aged 72 yrs.
of his age.
Rejoice in glorious hope, When will separation cease,
Jesus the Judge shall come, Friendship's sons unite in peace,
And take his servants up, Grief no more oppress the heart,
To their eternal home." Friends no more be doomed to part ?
Of his family of nine children, it appears that but one was mar-
ried, John the eldest.
By the two marriages of Judge Clapp, he became connected with
families which ranked among the foremost of that day in social
standing and public and private worth. The father of his first wife,
Mary Leonard, is said to have lived at Norton in baronial style,
and the family trace their lineage through "John of Gaunt
140 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
Edward III., and claim the title of " Lord Dacre." The royalty of
the line, however, has in this country been laid aside, and members
of the family have said that " where you can find iron works, there
you will find a Leonard." His second wife was descended from
William 1 and Annis Chandler, who settled in Roxbury, Mass., in
1 637, through Deacon John 2 and Elizabeth (Douglas), of Woodstock,
Conn., Hon. John 3 and Mary (Raymond), of Woodstock, and Hon.
John 4 and Hannah (Gardiner), of Worcester, Mass. Her grandfather
John 3 was major in the Wars with the Indians, Judge of Probate,
one of His Majesty's Council, Representative to the General Court,
nearly forty years a Commissioner of the Peace, and held many
town offices. The inventory of his estate amounts to ,8,699 : 16 : 6.
Her father moved to Worcester when the county of that name was
first formed; was Town Treasurer and Selectman, was soon ap-
pointed Clerk of the Courts, was first Sheriff of the County, Colonel
of the Militia, Register of Deeds and Probate, Chief Justice and Coun-
cillor, and in 1737 was Commander of the Ancient and Honorable
Artillery Co. While Judge of Probate, he is said to have " kept an
open table on Court days for the widows and orphans who were
brought to his tribunal by concerns of business." Esther Chandler's
mother, Hannah Gardiner, was descended from Lieut. Lyon Gardiner,
of the British Army, who, in 1651, purchased of the Indians the
Island just at the east end of Long Island, N. Y., containing about
3000 acres, which he called " Isle of Wight," and which has also
been known as Gardiner's Island, paying for it a black dog, a gun
and some Dutch blankets. The Bay in this Island was one of the
resorts of Capt. Kidd, who put his money in Lieut. Gardiner's care.
After Kidd's execution in 1701, Gardiner delivered up to the au-
thorized commissioners bags of gold amounting to 738|oz. ; silver,
847 J oz. ; precious stones, 17| oz. Gardiner's Island is entailed in
the family. It belongs to Easthampton Township.
Esther Chandler's brother John succeeded to nearly all the pub-
lic honors bestowed upon his father and grandfather. " He was
cheerful in temperament, engaging in manners, hospitable as a citi-
zen, friendly and kind as a neighbor, and industrious and enterpris-
ing as a merchant." When the stormy times which preceded the
Revolution came on, his chivalrous sense of loyalty forbade his
joining the popular tide in the great struggle. He therefore became
a refugee, sacrificing his large possessions, amounting to 36,190,
as appraised by commissioners here, and sought an asylum in
the mother country. The schedule of property and losses exhibited
by him to the British Commissioners was allowed in full, and he was
called in England " the honest refugee." He died in London, Sept.
26, 1800, and was buried in Islington. An iron fence encloses a
spot about ten feet long by six wide, and a single slab with a brief in-
scription is his monument. Near by is the grave of his son Rufus,
who was buried in October, 1823.
THOMAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 141
Children of Judge THOMAS and 1st wife MARY (Leonard) CLAPP :
-{-340. JOHN, 5 b. in Taunton, July 14, 1733 ; d. May 24, 1767.
341. THOMAS,* b. in Taunton, June 22, 1736 ; was an officer in the 44th
Regiment of the British Army. He took part in the conquest
of Canada, and d., unm., at Ross Castle, Ireland, Aug. 4, 1770,
aged 34 years. The following letter to his father is from the
original manuscript, which is a well preserved and fairly written
document.
Montr eatt, Sept. 17th, 1760.
HoN d SIR :
I have not received a letter from you since Last
October. But hope you are well. I have the pleasuer Informs
you of the Intier Conquest of Canada without the loss of much
blood. M r . Loring is very much sensured by the army for his
bad conduct at Fort Levy, but Hough Just I don't say. We had
not one gun fired at us after the surrender of the fort. We lost a
Hundred men dround a cumming down the River. We Landed
the fifth of Sep'. upon Montreall, and the seventh the Town
surrendered and with it all Cannad. The terms are these : the
French Regulars are to be sent to France. Theay embarked
yesterday. The Inhabitance are to InJoy their estats as soon as
theay have taken the oath of Alleagons. I have got a Commis-
sion in our Reg' for nothing, so that I acct in two cappassitys,
Bouth as an officer & D r , and if you will Direct yoor letters to
En 8 Tho 8 Clapp of the 44th Reg' or to D r Tho 8 Clapp of the
44th Reg' at Montreall theay will come safe, for I am to stay at
Montreall this winter. I hope I shall be able to come home in
the spring. Give my Duty to Grandmother & Mother and Love
to all the familly. No more at present. But Remain yoor
Dutifull Son,
THOS. CLAPP.
342. MARY,* b. in Taunton, Nov. 19, 1738 ; d. unm. Dec. 6, 1829, aged
91 years. Deane, in his history of Scituate, speaks of her as a
" remarkably accomplished woman." She attended school in
Boston, when young, and two framed pictures of needle-work,
done by her at school, are now in possession of Miss Mary L.
Clapp, in the old house built by Judge Thomas.
343. CALVIN,* b. in Scituate, Feb. 27, 1740; d. Jan. 8, 1741.
Children of THOMAS and 2d wife, ESTHER (Chandler) CLAPP:
344. HANNAH,* b. Oct. 24, 1746 ; d. Jan. 9, 1840, aged 94 years.
345. CALVIN,* b. Oct. 28, 1749; d. Dec. 4, 1752.
346. AUGUSTUS, 5 b. March 28, 1752; d. Feb. 2, 1827, aged 75 years.
He never married ; was Town Clerk and Postmaster of Scituate
for many years.
347. CHANDLER,* b. Dec. 28, 1754 ; d. Dec. 25, 1832, aged 78 years.
He never married ; lived in Scituate ; was Justice of the Peace
and Postmaster in 1827 and 1828.
348. RuFUS, 5 b. Jan. 24, 1759 ; d. unm. June 8, 1834, aged 75 years.
According to Elisha Clapp, he was a Doctor of Medicine, and d.
in Ireland ; but Elisha was, without doubt, mistaken.
19
142 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
86
DAVID 4 (David, 3 Samuel? Thomas 1 }, son of David and Deborah
(Otis) Clapp, was born March 20, 1720-21. First wife Ruth; second
wife Mary. They lived in Scituate.
Child of DAVID and 1st wife RUTH CLAPP, of Scituate:
+349. DwKLLY, 5 b. Aug. 12, 1741.
Child of DAVID and 2d wife MARY CLAPP :
350. DAVID, 5 b. July 24, 1752 ; d. in 1816, aged 64 years. He spent
most of his life in his native town, but later he lived in Noble-
boro', Me., where he died. He m. Sept. 26, 1779, Elizabeth
Church, and his children were born in Scituate. Children :
351. Joseph (7., 6 b. July 22, 1780; d. in 1816, aged 36 years; he
m. and lived in Nobleboro'. Me. ; had one son, Charles?
352. Mary, 6 b. Nov. 22, 1781.
353. David, 6 b. Jan. 22, 1783; d. in 1809, aged 26 years. He m.
and had two sons: i, John,'' b. in 1804. ii, Willard," 7 b. pre-
viously to 1809.
354. Elizabeth* b. March 6, 1784.
355. Lucinda 6 b. July 31, 1785.
356. Nathaniel, 6 b. Nov. 7, 1787 ; m. and lived in Nobleboro', Me.
Children: I.Nathaniel,'' b. 1812. ii, Tileston," 1 b. in 1818.
iii. David It., 1 b. in 1819.
357. Elisha" b. July 9, 1790 ; d. in 1794.
358. Ruth 6 b. June 5, 1792.
359. Elishaf b. March 9, 1794 ; m. and settled in Searsmont, Me.
Child : David, 1 b. in 1817.
360. Charles 6 b. July 28, 1795 ; m. and had one child, Charles , 7 b.
in 1821.
93
JOSHUA 4 (David 3 Samuel? Thomas*), son of David and Deborah
(Otis) Clapp, and brother to the preceding, was born Jan. 7, 1729.
He spent most of his days in Scituate, but perhaps the latter part of
his life was passed with his son Bela in Boston and in Claremont,
N. H., and with his son Caleb in Westminster, Vt. His portrait is
in the possession of one of his grandchildren, Mrs. Farwell, daugh-
ter of Bela Clapp. He married first, Lydia ; second, Oct. 21,
1787, Hannah Briggs, who died Oct. 18, 1794. He died when
about 80 years of age.
Children of JOSHUA and wife LYDIA CLAPP, of Scituate :
361. LYDIA,* b. Sept. 14, 1758; d. young.
+362. BELA, 5 b. July 2, 1760 ; d. July 12, 1812.
363. LYDIA, 5 b. July 3, 1762 ; m. Mr. Jacobs, of Scituate.
364. CALEB, 5 b. May 9, 1764; d. May 19, 1829, aged 65 years. He
was a carpenter by trade, and carried on a large business in
THOMAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 143
Boston. The latter part of his life he spent in "Westminster,
Vt., where he d. He m. April 18, 1793, Nancy Dorr, sister of
Jonathan Dorr, of Roxbury. After her husband's decease, Mrs.
Clapp removed to Aztalan, Wis., where she d. Sept. 17, 1840.
Children :
365. Ann, 6 m. Mr. Stevens, of Westminster, Vt.
366. Mark ft., 6 m. and lives in Aztalan, Wis.
367. Caleb, 6 d. young.
368. Susan, 6 b. March 18, 1797 ; m. Jan. 28, 1816, Joseph Willard,
of Westminster, Vt, who d. April 23, 1845.
369. Frances E. 6 m. Mr. Hyer, and lives in Wisconsin.
370. Sarah Bradley, 6 m. Mr. Drake, and lives in Wisconsin.
371. Dorr, 6 m. and lives in Wisconsin.
372. MATTHEW S., 5 b. Oct. 4, 1766 ; was twice married. Children :
373. Nehemiah 6 d. without issue.
374. Ann, 6 m. in Boston, May 1, 1815, Cassimer Beck, a foreigner.
375. Caleb 6 was living in Boston in 1831.
376. ANN,* b. Aug. 30, 1771 ; m. Mr. Holbrook, of Scituate.
-94-
GALEN 4 (David, 3 Samuel, 2 Thomas 1 ), son of David and Deborah
(Otis) Clapp, was born in Scituate, Feb. 5, 1733. He married, Jan.
12, 1758, Patience Brooks, and lived in Scituate, following the trade
of a ship carpenter in that place. He was an important, enterpris-
ing and energetic man, and when the Revolution broke out he was
strongly in favor of carrying on the war, and received a commission
as Captain in the service of the Colonies. He died Feb. 23, 1776,
of a violent fever brought on by over-fatigue and anxiety.
Children of GALEN and PATIENCE (Brooks) CLAPP:
377. MOLLY, 6 b. Dec. 20, 1758 ; m. first, in 1789, Samuel Stetson,
who d. in 1790. She m. second, in 1799, Job Turner, who d.
in 1815. She d. in 1841.
378. Lucy, 6 b. March 13, 1761 ; m. in 1780, Nathaniel Sylvester, of
Hanover, Mass. They removed to Winchendon, where she d.
in 1836, aged about 75 years.
379. SARAH, 5 b. April 30, 1763 ; m. in 1780, Thomas James, of Scituate,
who d. in Londonderry, N. H., about 1810. She was living in
1843.
380. ENOS, 5 b. July 26, 1765 ; d. about 1795. He was a shipwright
by trade, and settled in Damariscotta, and Augusta, Me. He
was lost at sea, when about 30 years of age. He m. Hannah
Bryant. Children :
381. Charlotte, 6 b. in 1790; m. J. Wright, of Roxbury, where she
d. in 1819, aged 29 years.
382. Lydia 6 b. in 1792 ; m. in 1811, Caleb Covil, who d. at sea in
1816, leaving two sons. She d. in 1821.
383. THOMAS, 5 b. Aug. 3, 1767, in Scituate, and settled in Bath, Me.
He m. in 1789, Mrs. Sarah Treadway, of Bath, Me., who d. in
that town in 1818. He d. of a nervous fever, July 7, 1801, m
the 34th year of his age. Children :
144 THE CLAPP MEMOEIAL.
384. William Brooks, 6 b. in 1790; d. 1791.
385. Lucinda 6 b. in 1793 ; m. in 1818, Nathaniel Purrington, of
Bath, Me., who was lost at sea about 1827. They had three
children, one of whom d. at sea in 1839. Mrs. P. removed
to Brighton, Mass., and resided with her son till her death,
which took place in 1867.
386. A son, 6 b. 1795, d. in infancy.
387. Mary, 6 b. in 1797 ; m. in 1815, T. B. Sylvester. Mr. S. d. in
Hope, Me., 1835. His widow and three children were living
in Bath, Me., in 1843.
388. PATIENCE, 5 D. Aug. 30, 1769 ; m. Major John James, of Scituate.
They settled in Medford.
389. HANNAH, 5 b. Feb. 22, 1772 ; d. Aug. 4, 1775, aged 3 years.
390. CHARLES, 5 b. March 16, 1774; d. June 4, 1858. Removed from
Scituate and settled in Bath, Me. He m. first, in 1799, Lydia
Ham, who was b. in 1775, and d. Feb. 10, 1807 ; m. second, in
1807, Rachel Arnold, of Portland, Me., who was b. July 19,
1777. Charles was a shipwright by trade, and from 1799 to
1816, built 11 ships, 7 brigs and 4 schooners, besides repairing
many old vessels; he then engaged in commercial business, but
in 1842 had retired from that business. Children by first wife :
391. Martha, 6 b. July 11, 1800.
392. Asenath 6 b. Dec. 13, 1801.
393. A daughter, 6 b. in 1804.
394. A son, 6 b. in 1805 (these all d. in infancy).
395. Charles 6 b. Feb. 1, 1807; m. first, in 1829, Jane T. Sprague,
and had no children. She d. Nov. 10, 1861, and he m.
second, Nov. 21, 1862, Nancy E. Sprague, sister to his first
wife. He was a merchant in Bath, Me., under the firm of
" Magoun & Clapp." He was largely engaged in the ship-
ping business, which he closed up to good advantage during
the War of the Rebellion, and retired with a competency.
He had large demands upon the " Alabama " Claims Com-
mission, which have been allowed. He is one of the largest
sized men of the name now living ; frequently visits his kins-
men in Boston and vicinity ; was actively interested in the
Clapp Gathering of 1870 ; and is alive to all that concerns the
history and honor of the family name.
Children of Charles 6 by second wife :
396. Lydia Ham 6 b. Aug. 21, 1808 ; m. July 9, 1829, Oliver Moses.
They have several children.
397. Lucy Train, 6 b. June 11, 1810; d. Sept. 15, 1811.
398. Lucy Brooks 6 b. Oct. 21, 1812 ; m. in 1835, W. E. Harriman.
399. Galen 6 b. Sept. 22, 1814; d. young.
400. Rachel Hatherly 6 b. in 1816.
401. Galen, 6 b. Feb. 5, 1819 ; served his time in Boston in the mer-
cantile business ; afterwards, on account of his health, followed
the sea ; after leaving the sea, he returned to Bath, Maine,
his native place, and engaged in the brass-foundry business.
He married first, Mrs. Wealthy J. Patten (widow of Thomas
Patten, dau. of Samuel Winter, Esq., of Portland, formerly
of Bath), who d. Jan. 3, 1852, aged 32 years, and'left a sou,
THOMAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 145
Galen,'' who was b. Dec. 21, 1851, and now resides in Boston.
Galen 6 m. second, May 17, 1854, Miss Ann E. Ilsley, of Port-
land, who d. Dec. 23, 1859, aged 28 years ; left no children.
He m. third, Mrs. Ann Maria Batchelder (widow of Elijah
Batchelder, of Bath), October 31, 1871, by whom he had a
son, Charles Kimbatt? who was b. Aug. 10, 1862 (about
three months after his father's death), and who now lives
with his widowed mother in Waltham, Mass.
402. Nancy Eaton, 6 b. June 18, 1821.
403. HANNAH, 5 b. Aug. 7, 1776. She m. Charles James, of Scituate,
and lived in Boston.
95-
INCREASE 4 (David, 3 Samuel* Thomas 1 ), youngest child of
David and Deborah (Otis) Clapp, was born March 20, 1734. He
was one of the committee chosen by the town of Scituate to draft a
vote concerning the formation of a Constitution for the State; they
reported a favorable one, which was passed. He married, about
1758, Delight
Children of INCREASE and wife DELIGHT CLAPP, of Scituate :
404. JAMES, 6 b. April 10, 1759; d. June 11, 1803. He m. June 7,
1781, Elizabeth, dau. of Dea. Daniel Jenkins; she d. in May,
1803, aged 41 yrs. He d. the succeeding month, aged 44 years.
Children :
405. Betsey, 6 b. March 4, 1785; m. Nathaniel Wade, of Scituate.
406. Deborah? b. May 29, 1788; d. aged 88 years; m. Nathaniel
Litchfield, of Scituate, who was b. March 25, 1783. They
had seven children.
407. James, 6 b. May 19, 1789 ; d. Sept. 6, 1860. He resided in
Boston, and carried on the business of a mason. He m.
Triphenia Slade, who d. May 18, 1873. Children: I.James
//., 7 b. May 27, 1816, in Smithfield, R.L; d. Jan. 29, 1863 ;
was a mason by trade ; m. Alpha M. Ballou ; no children.
H. Triphenia SJ b. April 9, 1818 ; m. Samuel S. Holton, of
Boston, as a second wife, and had six children; d. April 11,
1856. iii. Elizabeth J., 1 b. Jan. 31, 1820 ; d. Jan. 20, 1845 ;
m. Samuel S. Holton. iv. Mary Ann? b. June 22, 1822 ; d.
March 21, 1839. V, Serena C., 7 b. April 5, 1824; m. Wm.
W. Webster, vi, Maria B.? b. Oct. 9, 1825. Til, Ruth H., 1
b. March 18, 1827. viii. Jotham? b. Feb. 21, 1829. ix.
Susan GJ b. Dec. 19, 1830. *. Almira P.? b. Jan. 27,
1832 ; d. July 26, 1874. xi. Isabella A.? b. Sept 21, 1833 ;
d. Feb. 5, 1856. xii. Georgiana D.? b. Nov. 8, 1834 ; m.
Nov. 24, 1859, Samuel S. Holton, as a third wife, aud had
four children. xHI, Frances FJ b. Oct. 27, 1837.
408. Daniel, 6 b. April 27, 1792 ; was a cooper by trade, and lived
in Boston. He m. Margaret, dau. of Maj. Henry Purkitt, of
Boston, an original member of the Mass.- Char. Mech. Assoc.
409. Serena, 6 b. Sept. 15, 1793; m. William Norris; they lived in
New York State.
146 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
. 410. Jothamf b. Oct. 8, 1795; m. Miss Jenks; they live in Penn-
sylvania, and have at least one child.
411. Arethusa,* b. Jan. 12, 1799 ; d. Jan. 6, 1866. Her parents
dying when she was four years old, she was brought up in the
family of her grandfather Jenkins. In her fifteenth year she
became a resident in Dorchester, and while there, for a time
came in social connection with some of her kinsfolk in the
line of NICHOLAS. Thus a friendship was formed which
continued unabated to the time of her death. She m. March,
1824, Joseph Leeds, of Dorchester, where they lived for
many years ; afterwards lived in Boston, and then moved to
Philadelphia. They had nine children. " She was a person
of great excellence of life and character. From a child her
desire was to be useful, and habits of systematic industry
were early fixed. As a Christian her religion embraced all
duty, and she was ready and active in every good work.
Her lamp was always trimmed and burning, and her depart-
ure was in peace." Her husband, Mr. Jos. Leeds, wrote the
Ode which was sung at the meeting of the Clapp family in
Boston in 1873. He has been for several years most actively
engaged in plans for setting apart for national purposes the
lands and buildings in Philadelphia connected with the meet-
ings of our first Congress.
412. DEBORAH, 5 b. Jan. 19, 1761.
413. NABBY,* b. April 22, 1764.
98
THOMAS 5 (Thomas, 4 Thomas, 3 Thomas, 2 Thomas 1 ), son of Thomas
and wife Hannah Clapp, of Dedham, was born in the year 1715,
and died in March, 1751, aged 36 years. Wife Susanna.
Children of THOMAS and wife SUSANNA CLAPP :
414. THOMAS, 6 b. Sept. 26, 1745. He d. from the effect of running a
pitchfork into his leg when a young man. He was the sixth and
last Thomas in the line of eldest sons. He d. in 1 7 63, without issue.
415. SUSANNA,' b. Jan. 24, 1746; m. Capt. Oliver Clapp (No. 116),
of Walpole. They had five children.
416. JACOB, 6 b. March 30, 1749 ; d. in 1832. He m. Hannah Fairbanks,
and settled in Walpole. Children :
417. Susanna? b. Aug. 30, 1775 ; m. Seth Smith, of Strong, Me.
418. Jacob? b. Dec. 16, 1779 ; lived in Walpole ; unmarried.
419. Grata? b. July 29, 1782.
420. Harvey? b. March 4, 1786 ; d. July, 1840. He was postmaster
of Walpole, in which place he kept a large public house ; he
was once a Representative to the General Court, and was a
man of enterprise and great respectability. He m. Nabby
Polleys. Children: i, Edmund W., 8 b. Jan. 15, 1811; car-
ried on the public house formerly kept by his father, and
was also postmaster for many years. He was afterwards a
successful merchant in Boston. He m. in 1837, Achsah B.
Hawes, of Walpole, and had a daughter Abba Prances, 9 b.
THOMAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 147
May 29, 1837. H, Harvey Erastus* b. May 14, 1814; d.
in 1863. He graduated at Harvard College in 1837, then
studied medicine, and settled and practised his profession in
Wrentham. He m. in 1840, Priscilla B. Crocker, of Charles-
town, and had a son. Hi, Ably P., 8 b. March 7, 1817 ; m. in
1839, Samuel W. Bacon, of Walpole. iy, Samuel G.* b.
June 29, 1821 ; d. March 16, 1870; a successful merchant in
Boston ; m. Betsey Babbitt, of Walpole, formerly of Brain-
tree. T. Frances E.? b. June 12, 1827. vi. Angeline W 7 "., 8
b. Oct. 12, 1829.
421. Lewis, 1 b. Sept. 7, 1789 ; m. Lydia Gould, of Maine.
422. IcHABOD, 6 b. Feb. 24, 1750; d. in 1832; m. Susanna Doggett and
lived in Walpole. Children:
423. Nancy? b. March 13, 1783; unmarried.
424. Metcalf? b. March 4, 1786. He was a captain ; m. and had a
child, Ebenezer Doggett,* b. March 11, 1813, who m. Julia A.
Hawes, of Walpole, and had one son, Edmund Metcalf. 9
99
J1MES 5 (Thomas* Thomas, 3 Thomas? Thomas 1 }, son of Thomas
and wife Hannah Clapp, and brother of the preceding, was born
in Dedhara between the years 1716 and 1723, and lived in Walpole
from its incorporation in 1724. Wife Rachel.
Children of JAMES and wife RACHEL CLAPP, of Walpole :
425. JAMES,' b. Oct. 9, 1746 ; d. young.
426. RACHEL,' b. Aug. 19, 1748 ; m. Mr. Copp, and had one son and
four daughters.
427. JAMES, 6 b. Jan. 12, 1749 ; m. Hannah Boyden. He d. very sud-
denly while taking his dinner, in Boston, being there on business
at the time. Children :
428. Esther? b. March 13, 1772.
429. Hannah? b. Feb. 21, 1775; m. Mr. Boyden.
430. Elizabeth,' 1 b. May 5, 1777 ; d. young ; found dead in bed.
431. James? b. Feb. 8, 1779 ; was a farmer in Dedham; he d. sud-
denly of cramp. He m. and had issue.
432. John? b. Jan. 1, 1783; d. July 27, 1811. Walpole records say
he was b. Dec. 31, 1780. He m. July 14, 1811, Mary Crane,
in Boston. He was killed by a cart in Boston, when he was
28 years of age, just thirteen days after his marriage. His
widow m. George Jackson, of Boston.
433. Jabez? b. April 12, 1784 ; was a cooper by trade; he m. and
settled in Portland, Me. Children : i, John, 9 went to the
Sandwich Islands. H, James* settled in Portland, Me. Hi.
Edward* b. about 1815 ; settled in Boston as a coppersmith.
iF. Charlotte,* m. Augustus Robinson, of Portland, Me. T.
Sophia*
434. SARAH, 6 b. Jan. 2, 1752 ; m. Benjamin Billings, of Sharon.
435. LYDIA/ b. Oct. 5, 1753 ; m. James Williams, of Mansfield.
20
148 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
1O4
TIMOTHY 5 (Thomas, 4 Thomas, 3 Thomas, 3 Thomas 1 ), youngest son
of Thomas and wife Hannah Clapp, was born Dec. 24, 1733. He
married Rhoda Witherell and settled in Sharon, Mass., where he has
descendants still living. He died in 1811.
Children of TIMOTHY and RHODA (Witherell) CLAPP, of Sharon :
436. THOMAS,* b. in 1764; d. June 30, 1851 ; m. first, ; second,
March 27, 1845, Aurelia Allen, being then 81 years of age, and
his wife 29 years. In 1847, there was a case brought before the
Court at Dedham on his account. After his marriage with his
second wife, he was put under guardianship at the request of
one or more of his sons ; this case was an appeal to a higher court
to have it taken off, and the old gentleman got the case. He
had two children in his old age by his second wife. Children by
first wife :
437. Olive? m. Mr. Smith.
438. Reuben? m
439. Nathaniel? m
440. SAMUEL, 6 b. Nov. 9, 1769 ; d. Feb. 18, 1846, aged 77 years; m.
Oct. 18, 1795, Abigail Paul, of Dedham, who was b. March 6,
1777, and d. Dec. 23, 1869, aged 92 years, 9 mos. 15 days. He
lived in Sharon. Children :
441. Reuben? b. Oct. 24, 1796; d. in Sharon, in the house where he
was born, Nov. 20, 1874 ; m. first, Lucy Johnson ; second, May
8, 1858, Hepsey, wid. of Otis Hartshorn, of Walpole, d. Nov.
6, 1874. Children : i. Reuben J., B b. Sept. 11, 1821 ; died
unm. ii. Lucy F., 8 b. July 6, 1823. Hi, Edson 8 b. May 1 6,
1825 ; m. Amanda Hixon, of Sharon, iv, Elvira? b. April
16, 1827 ; d. young. T. Horace W.* b. July 12, 1829. yi.
Harvey L.* b. June 3, 1831 ; dead. vii. Charles W., 8 b. Feb.
1, 1833 ; m. Susan Emerson, of Boston.
442. Samuel? b. April 25, 1799 ; West India goods dealer in the
south part of Boston ; now lives in Foxboro'. He m. Hannah
Holmes, b. March, 1798. Children: i. Samuel ff., 8 lived in
Lafayette, N. J. ; now living in New York ; m. first, Harriet
Gilmore ; second, Adelaide Boyden, both of South Walpole.
Had children by each wife.
443. Isaac P.? b. Sept. 1, 1800 ; was a merchant tailor in Boston,
and a very steady and respectable man ; afterwards removed
to Topsfield. He m. June 1, 1835, Harriet Moore, of Sterling.
Children: j, Harriet J., 8 b. in 1835. ii, Isaac Henry, 8 b. in
1839. iii, Helen 8 dead. IT, Edward Francis 8 b. in 1842 ;
died young. V. Granville W., 8 lives in Danvers. vi, Charles, 3
dead, vii, Frederic 8 viii, Ferdinand 8 ix. Clarence. 6
444. Abigail? b. June 14, 1802; m. first, Willard Gould; second,
Dea. Ebenezer Gay. She lived in Sharon, and has three
children.
445. Betsey? b. Oct. 21, 1804 ; m. Samuel Monk, of Stoughton, and
lives in Salem, Mass. No children.
446. Horace? b. April 12, 1809 ; settled in Charlotte, Me. ; after-
wards, in 1857, in Ashland, Mass. He d. Nov. 21, 1874, and
THOMAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 149
his body was carried to Sharon and placed beside that of his
brother Reuben, and a double funeral service was held Nov.
23, 1874. Both were buried in the cemetery near the home
of their childhood. He m. first, Sarah Fisher. Children by
first wife: l.Elzina S.* H, Edgar H? Hi. Laura 0.* He
m. second, Emily Fisher.
447. Luther, 7 b. Sept. 9, 1812. He m. Keziah Esty; both dead.
A son Frank L., 8 m. Kate I. Porter, of Stoughton.
448. Warren? b. Sept. 28, 1815; d. Jan. 12, 1856; hem. Sarah
A. Brown, and lived first in Sharon, afterwards in Boston.
Children : i, Mary A., 8 d. in 1860. U, Sarah M., B was adopt-
ed by her aunt, Emily J. Tilden ; her name was changed to
Elziua W. Tilden, and she m. Geo, F. Gay, of Norwich, Ct.
449. Albert, 1 b. Dec. 18, 1816 ; m. July 11, 1847, Emily L. Emerson,
who was b. in Rockingham, Vt.. June 12, 1823; they live hi
Boston. Children: i, John A., 8 b. Sept. 7, 1848; lives in
Hutchinson, Kansas, ii, Emily E. 8 b. Jan. 23, 1854. lit.
Nettie JE., S b. March 4, 1859.
450. Emily JJ b. March 14, 1818; m. Nov. 8, 1842, Wm. M.
Tilden, of E. Marshfield, He is a descendant of Peregrine
White. They had no children, and adopted a dau. of her
brother Warren.
451. Elbridge? b. Aug. 14, 1820; m. Sept. 5, 1849, Martha Hewins,
b. in Sharon, April 14, 1819. He is a merchant, and a
Deacon of the Congregational Church in Quincy, Mass.; was
at the Family Gathering in Northampton, and was one of
the committee of arrangements for the second meeting ; took
an active part in all that related to these pleasant occasions.
Children: i, Georgiana H. 8 b. Aug. 19, 1850; d. Sept. 19,
1850. ii, AbUe F. P., s b. Sept. 13, 1851 ; m. Oct. 21, 1873,
Wm. H. Mitchell, of Quincy. Mi, Herbert E., 8 b. Dec. 1,
1853. iv, George W., 8 b. Oct. 24, 1855, M.Hekn P.* b.
Oct. 24, 1860; d. Aug. 5, 1861.
452. George, 1 b. July 6, 1824 ; lives in Auburn, Cal. ; m. Jan. 22,
1852, Sarah Wells, who was b. in Lafayette, Ind., Dec. 2,
1830, and d. May 28, 1860. Children: i, Elbridge 8 b. in
Nevada, Cal., July 8, 1854. H, Frances Abigail, 8 b. in Auburn,
Cal., Feb. 11, 1857 ; d. in St. Joseph, Mo., March 4, 1869.
Two children of Samuel 6 and Abigail d. in infancy.
453. REUBEN, 6 never married; he d. when about 21 years of age.
454. HEpziBAH, 6 m. Liffee Smith, of Walpole, and had five children.
1O5
JOSHUA 5 (Joshua, 4 Joshua, 3 Thomas, 9 Thomas 1 ), eldest son of
Joshua and Abigail (Bullard) Clapp, was born Sept. 7, 1729. He
married Margaret Guild and settled in Walpole.
Children of JOSHUA and MARGARET (Guild) CLAPP, of Walpole:
455. MARGARET,' b. June 12, 1750 ; m. Benjamin Petty.
-j-456. JosHUA, 8 b. March 11, 1753.
457. AARON, 6 b. Feb. 5, 1755 ; lived in Walpole ; m. first, Lois Holmes ;
m. second, Abigail Whitman. Children by 1st wife:
150 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
458. Harmon? b. Dec. 31, 1774; d. at sea when about 21 years old.
459. Pliny? b. Aug. 5, 1776 ; d. March, 1846. He was a respecta-
ble, industrious man, and for many years carried on the
trucking business in Boston. He m. Esther Billings, of
Sharon, who d. May, 1858. Children : \,Bradish R.,* b. in
1802; d. Aug. 18, 1872; m. Miss Hough. Was the latter
part of his life Assistant Superintendent of Boston Institu-
tions at Deer Island, ii. Osborn, 8 settled in Rio Grande,
South America, and m. a Portuguese lady. Hi. Curtis, 8 fol-
lowed the sea; m. June 24, 1841, Eliza Ann Stevens, iv.
George Morey, 8 b. about 1813 ; d. June 7, 1854 ; m. Aug. 25,
1846, Mary E. Doak.
460. Aaron? b. in 1778 ; d. Aug. 1834, aged 56 years. He settled
as a merchant in Baltimore, Md. He m. first, Miss Clark ;
second, Miss Hyde. Children : i, Martha, 8 m. Mr. Stone, in
Baltimore, ii, George, 8 m in Baltimore. Hi. Sarah, 8
m. George Hyde, of Charlestown, Mass.
461. Lois? m. John Smith, of Boston.
Children of Aaron 6 by 2d wife :
462. Charles? d. at sea when about 20 years old.
463. Abigail? m. John Pitman, of Boston.
464. Francis W.? was a pump- and block-maker by trade, and d. of
the yellow fever the last time it prevailed in Boston, previ-
ous to 1843. He m. first, Susan W. Vose, in Boston, March
17, 1818. They had one child, Susan, 8 who m. some one in
Milton. He m. second, June 3, 1825, Rebecca Dobel, of
Boston.
465. George, 7 probably the George H. who m. June 18, 1818, Mary
Bemis, of Weston, and who was a sail-maker in Charlestown,
and worked in the Navy Yard.
466. OLIVE, 6 b. Feb. 22, 1757 ; m. John Boyden.
467. ELiPHAz, 6 b. Sept. 3, 1760 ; lived in Walpole and m. Miss Boyden.
Children :
468. Nancy? b. March 6, 1783 ; m. a Mr. Jackson, of Walpole or
Attleboro'.
469. Eleanor? b. Aug. 16, 1784; m. Josiah Hall, of Walpole.
470. Lydia? b. Aug. 3, 1786 ; m. Isaac Davis, of Maine.
471. Eliphaz? b. May 4, 1788 ; m. Hannah Jones, and lived in
Roxbury and Milton. Children : i, Lewis J. 8 a cabinet-
maker in Milton ; m. July, 1847, Almira Jones, of Wayland.
if, George W., 8 b. about 1821 ; a harness-maker in Milton.
iii, Edwin M., 8 a cabinet-maker in Milton ; m. 2d wife, June
20, 1866, Rosalia H. Weld, and removed to Jamaica Plain.
His widowed mother was living with him in 1874.
472. Prudence? b. May 25, 1789 ; married Harmon Ruggles, of
Wrentham.
473. Comfort, 1 b. March 12, 1793 ; married Harmon Marshall, of
Roxbury.
474. Bradford? b. May 9, 1796.
475. ASA, 6 b. March 26, 1763. Lived in New Marlboro', N. H.; m.
Esther Allen and had one son :
476. Allen? who was living in Roxbury in 1843.
THOMAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 151
477. THOMAS,* b. May 19, 1766 ; m. Nancy Boyden, and lived in Wai-
pole. Children :
478. Catharine? b. May 29, 1801.
479. Thomas? b. Nov. 28, 1805.
480. Ottis? b. March 14, 1816; m. Abigail Scudder. Children: 1.
Abby Ann* b. Aug. 4, 1840. ii, Henry S. b. Sept. 7, 1842.
481. OLIVER, 6 b. Sept. 6, 1768; lived in Walpole; m. Patience Copp.
Children :
482. Sophy? b. Sept. 27, 1790.
483. Oltis? b. Dec. 21, 1792.
484. Oliver? b. July 1, 1796.
-1O6-
EBENEZER 5 (Joshua* Joshua, 3 Thomas, 2 Thomas 1 }, second son
of Deacon Joshua and Abigail (Bullard) Clapp, was born Nov. 17,
1731. He was a Colonel and probably a Lieut.-Colonel in the
Revolutionary War. He settled in Walpole, and married, first,
Margaret , who 'died Jan. 30, 1775, aged 41. He married,
second, Hepzibah , who died Feb. 11, 1827, aged 92 years.
He died Oct. 20, 1817.
Children of EBENEZER and wife MARGARET CLAPP, of Walpole :
485. EBENEZER,' b. July 20, 1755 ; m. Elizabeth Bullard. Children :
486. Jarvis? b. Dec. 27, 1789 ; formerly lived in Boston, and m.
there Nov. 25, 1824, Mary F. Copeland. He is now dead,
and a son Charles G. a d. in California, Oct. 5, 1860, aged 34.
487. Edward." 1
488. Eliphakt?
489. Clary? a dau., b. July 1, 1793.
490. SewalU
491. DAVID, 6 b. Nov. 30, 1757.
492. THADDEUS," b. Aug. 29, 1759; d. about 1840. He m. Polly
Billings, of Mansfield. Children :
493. Bradish? b. Jan. 25, 1784; m. Julia Smith, and lived in
Walpole. No issue.
494. Curtis? b. Sept. 4, 1795 ; probably not married.
495. Ellis? b. Feb. 25, 1800; m. Adeline Kingsbury. Children:
I, Mary A., 8 b. May 20, 1824; m. Sept. 15, 1870, James
A. Dupee, of Boston, ii, Margaret, 6 b. Dec. 19, 1837.
496. DANIEL, 7 b. July 7, 1762; he was a captain. He m. Vine Blake,
who was buried May 7, 1852. Children :
497. Maynard? b. April 6, 1794; m. Olive Turner, who on his de-
cease m. Hon. Joseph Hawes. Children: i, Josephine Aman-
da.* ii, Maynard Harrison. 9
498. Amanda? d. Jan. 28, 1859 ; lived in Walpole, unmarried.
108
ELIPHALET 5 (Joshua* Joshua, 3 Thomas, 3 Thomas 1 }, third son of
Joshua and Abigail (Bullard) Clapp, was born in Walpole, where
his life was spent, March 6, 1736. Wife Hannah.
152 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
Children of ELIPHALET and wife HANNAH CLAPP, of Walpole :
499. BILLINGS,' b. Aug. 13, 1759; d. unmarried.
500. ELiPHALET, 6 b. Dec. 23, 1760 ; lived in Walpole. He m. Irene
Bullard. Children :
501. Harriet? b. Dec. 3, 1799.
502. Charles, 1 b. Aug. 8, 1803; m. Sarah Children: i,
Fanny E. 8 b. Nov. 2, 1833 ; ii, Charles W. 8 b. Oct. 28, 1835.
503. Eliphalet &? b. Feb. 22, 1810.
504. LUCY,' b. Nov. 30, 1762 ; m. Mr. Boyden.
505. BERiAH, 6 b. Dec. 31, 1764; d. about 1799; m Wise, who
d. Dec. 1826. Perhaps removed to Middleboro'. He was cast
away and lost his life on Seguin Ledge, off Kennebec River.
Children :
506. Billings? b. Oct. 24, 1790 ; d. Feb. 21, 1873, at Enfield, Me.
He was a Methodist minister in Eddington, Me. He m. first,
Jan. 6, 1817, Susan Shed, who d. Jan. 18, 1'817 ; m. second,
March 19, 1818, Emily Whitney, who was born in Harvard,
Mass., Jan. 23, 1797, and d. Nov. 6,. 1861 ; m. third, Nov. 2,
1863. Mrs. Lorintha M. Bussell, who'was b. in Boxford, Mass.,
Feb. 2 1,1 840. Children by second wife : i. Emily W. 8 b. Aug.
5, 1819; d. Oct. 6, 1820. ii. Emily W. 8 b. Nov. 14, 1820 ;
d. June 27, 1869. Hi. Levi W. 8 born Sept. 3, 1823 ; is a car-
penter and contractor ; he built ten stores in the burnt district
of Boston in 1873 ; he m. first, Sept. 3, 1848, Mary A. Lewis,
of Portland, who was b. Sept. 6, 1827, and d. Dec. 16, 1867,
and had William H.? b. June 5, 1849, and Edward M., 9 b.
June 12, 1851 ; he m. second, Oct. 1, 1868, Nancy E. Far-
mer, of Exeter, Me., who was b. Jan. 6, 1830, and had
George W., 9 b. Oct. 24, 1870, Eva W., 9 b. Jan. 3, 1872, d.
Sept. 7, 1872, and Levi P., 9 b. Jan. 3, 1874. iv. Susan S., 8
b. June 11, 1826 ; m. June 29, 1851, William Edgecomb, of
Maine. T. Nathaniel R* b. Oct. 21, 1827 ; m. Sept. 13,
1855, Laura J. Newcomb ; he is a carpenter in Boston, vi.
Billings, 9 b. Feb. 16, 1829; m. June 14, 1861, Mary E.
Messer, and has three children, William? Charles* and Ella ; 9
he is now living in Boston, vii. Anne R.* b. Dec. 5, 1830 ;
m. June 6, 1852, Hasket Severance, viii, Sarah A., 8 b.
July 8, 1832 ; unmarried. ix. Mary E., 8 born March 1,
1834 ; m. Aug. 23, 1857, Daniel T. Knight, of Boston. X.
Lawson W. 8 b. Nov. 11, 1835 ; d. July 30, 1842. xi. Lydia
E., 8 b. March 9, 1837 ; m. Jan. 6, 1861, Orrin Harnden, of
Me. XH. Charles T. E., 8 b. April 25, 1841. xiii, Laura
J. 8 b. May 24, 1842 ; m. Nov. 21, 1872, Mr. Kelly of Boston.
Children of Billings 7 by third wife : xiv. Lena L., 8 b. Feb.
21, 1865. XT. Joseph L.* b. May 6, 1867. XVi. Lucy W. 8
b. April 8, 1869. xvii. Samuel W. 8 b. Oct. 28, 1871.
507. Nancy,'' m. Mr. Eddy, of Eddington, Me.
508. Beriah? m. Sylvia Eddy, and lives in Eddington, Me.
509. SEWALL, 6 b. Jan. 16, 1768 ; m. Fanny Partridge.
510. MARY, 6 b. Sept. 6, 1769.
511. ABIGAIL, 6 b. Jan. 25, 1776; m. first, Mr. Boyden; second, Mr.
Smith.
512. HANNAH, 6 m. Mr. Harding, and moved west.
THOMAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 153
-204-
SAMUEL 5 (Samuel* Samuel, 3 Thomas, 1 Thomas 1 ), eldest son of
Samuel and Mary Clapp, of Norton, was born Aug. 16, 1745. He
lived in Norton, and married Lydia, daughter of Samuel Wilds,
of that place. He died July 28, 1773, aged 28 years. After his
decease, she married, second, Jacob Shepard, of Norton, and had
children.
Children of SAMUEL and LYDIA (Wilds) CLAPP, of Norton:
+513. SAMUEL,* b. May 17, 1769.
514. OLIVER, 6 b. March 22, 1771; m. Lucinda Lincoln, who was b.
Oct. 8, 1776, and settled in Petersham. Children :
515. Oliver,'' b. Sept 11, 1795 ; d.. March 21, 1873. He m. Fidelia
S. Geer, b. Apr. 11, 1799. Children : i, Avery L. 8 b. June 6,
1824 ; moved to Youngsboro', Ala. ; m. Ellen Houghton ; four
children, ii, Alfred N. 8 b. June 24, 1828 ; d. Feb. 16, 1865 ;
m. Harriet Cowan, and left two children ; resided 1 6 years
in Montgomery, Ala., and d. there. Hi. Charlotte L., 8 b.
March 4, 1830 ; m. Charles M. Pierce ; resides in Morris,
111., and has five children. Iv. Charles G., 8 b. Jan. 12, 1834 ;
settled in Norton ; m. Jane G. Capen, and has four children.
T. Harriet A., 8 b. Aug. 27, 1838 ; lives in Aurora, 111., unm.
Vi, Lucy H. 8 b. Dec. 25, 1840 ; in Mansfield, 1873, unm.
Yil, /. Henry 8 b. Oct. 30, 1845 ; in Mansfield, 1873, unm.
516. Alanson, 7 b. Sept. 6, 1797 ^removed to Michigan.
517. George,'' b. July 22, 1799; m. and lived in Grafton, Mass. ;
had a daughter A. M., 8 who m. Wm. H. Alden, and in 1870
lived in Utica, La Salle Co., 111.
518. Lucinda,'' b. March 14, 1802; m. Geo. Bosworth, of Petersham.
519. Louisa, 1 b. March 20, 1804 ; m. Timothy Smith; is now dead.
520. Archibald,'' b. Dec. 12, 1807; d. young.
521. Enos L.,'' b. Nov. 21, 1811 ; d. about 1870; he m. a Stockwell.
522. Sally A.," 1 b. Dec. 14, 1813 ; d. young.
523. Sarah, A.? b. Sept. 19, 1819 ; d. young.
524. Shepard WJ b. May 26, 1824.
525. IcHABOD, 6 b. in 1773 ; m. in 1802, Betsey Smith, who was b. in
Middleboro' in 1777, and d. March, 1845; they settled in New
Bedford. Children :
526. Adeline BJ b. in 1804; lives in New Bedford, unmarried.
527. Eliza SJ b. 1809; m. in 1829, Dennis Wood, who was b. in
Little Compton, R. L, in 1804. They settled in New
Bedford.
528. AbbyJJb. in 1812; m. April 11, 1871, Daniel Pettee, of
Sharon, who was b. in 1805.
529. Charles S.,'' b. in 1817 ; lived in New Bedford, unmarried.
530. John S.," 1 b. in 1820; m. Abby L. Pope in 1866, and lives in
Acushnet ; has a daughter Jeannie M. 8
154 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
2O5
NOAH 5 (Samuel* Samuel, 3 Thomas,* T/iomas 1 ), second son of
Samuel and Mary Clapp, of Norton, was born about 1747. He was
a Deacon of the Baptist church in Norton. He married Olive
Shepard, who died in 1845, aged nearly 91 years. He died Nov.
10, 1820, aged 73 years.
Children of NOAH and OLIVE (Shepard) CLAPP, of Norton:
531. MART (or Polly), 6 b. May 14, 1777; d. May, 1833. unmarried.
532. SALMON, 6 b. Jan. 17, 1780 ; d. Oct. 1838. He lived in Braintree,
and m. Eleanor Newcomb. Children :
533. Salmon Shepard,'' b. April 13, 1808 ; d. May 29, 1832, unm.
534. George? b. June 18, 1809; m. Jan. 25, 1831, Betsey Adams,
and lived first in Quincy, then in Dorchester. Children : I.
Ann Maria, 8 m. Frederic Ballou, May 4, 1871. ii. George
S., s m. Fannie \Y. Wild, Nov. 25, 1857. iii. Josephine, 6 m.
James F. Lincoln, Oct. 28, 1858 ; they live in Neponset.
iv, Bessie A., 8 m. Lyman Gates, Oct. 25, 1860. T, Hen-
rietta? m. Daniel Wight, Oct. 27, 1863. Ti, L. Russell*
Tii, Laura L. 8 viii, Marion. 8 JXt Emma. 8
535. Charles, 1 b. Jan. 28, 1811 ; d. unm. February, 1849. Grad-
uated at the head of his class, from Amherst, in 1832, and
was afterwards employed as tutor in the college. He once
kept a private school in Dorchester, and subsequently in Ply-
mouth ; afterwards he edited a newspaper in Quincy. Also
studied law, and practised in Elinois.
536. Content? b. June 18, 1813 ; m. in 1833, Lysander Richards,
of Comington, Mass., and had seven children, all but one of
whom are now living. Hon. Lysander Richards served his
town and district in both branches of the Mass. Legislature,
and d. in Havana, Cuba, in 1852, where he had gone for his
health.
537. Eleanor? b. Feb. 27, 1816; unm. in 1870.
538. Noah, 1 b. Sept. 26, 1820; m. Louisa R. Stickney, of Andover,
Mass., and settled in Wilmington. Six daughters.
539. Sarah Olive? b. July 3, 1823; m. in 1847, John S. Lyons,
son of Dr. Joel Lyons, of Gill, Mass.;; they live on Pleasant
Street, Dorchester, in a house built by Seth Clapp, a descen-
dant of NICHOLAS, in 1804. It was occupied for many
years by John Amory, Esq., and stands on a portion of the
land owned by David Clapp (great-grandson of NICHOLAS and
father of Seth), which embraced a considerable portion of
what was known as Jones's hill. Mr. Lyons is a stone con-
tractor, doing business in Boston. They have six sons and
one daughter.
540. Peter? b. March 12, 1825 ; moved to California about 1850 ;
not m. in 1870.
541. ELiAs, 6 b. Jan. 18, 1782; d. May 12, 1865. Removed to Green-
bush, N. Y., where he resided awhile ; from thence he removed
to Albany, N. Y. He m. Barsina Wilbur. Children :
542. Noah? m. and had five children.
543. Eliza Ann? m. and had five children.
THOMAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 155
544. CONTENT, 6 b. Nov. 11, 1785 : d. May 25, 1835, unmarried.
545. APOLLOS, 6 b. Feb. 27, 1787 ; d. Oct. 8, 1840. He lived in Dor-
chester aud was a carpenter by trade ; an enterprising and
ingenious workman, and an honest man. He was a Colonel in
the Massachusetts Militia. He lived in Neponset Village, and
m. Hannah, dau. of Isaac Howe, of Dorchester, who d. April
12,1854. Children:
546. Sarah Hannah? b. in 1819 ; m. Daniel Hayward, of Braintree,
aud had four children.
547. Mary Elizabeth, 1 b. in 1826 ; m. Thomas J. Fitch, of New
Hampshire, and had two children.
548. Charles Shepard? b. in 1831.
549. SARAH (or Sally), 6 b. Aug. 17, 1789 ; m. Elijah Spare, of Canton,
Mass. ; had eleven children, of whom three were alive in 1875 ;
d. Dec. 14, 1863.
550. REUEL, B b. April 4, 1792 ; d. Jan. 1849 ; removed to Greenbush,
N. Y. He m. three times, his first two wives being of Dutch
descent and sisters. Children :
551. Oliver? m. and has a son.
552. Shepard? d. in 1842, not married.
553. Sarah? m. and has children.
Eeuel 6 had two children by his third wife.
554. NANCY, 6 b. Feb. 9, 1796 ; m. Thomas Williams, of Easton, Mass.,
and d. Oct. 3, 1868 ; had one son.
2O9
DAVID 5 (Jonathan, 4 Samuel, 3 Thomas, 2 Tfiomas l ), son of Jonathan
and (Hewes) Clapp, was born in Norton, Aug. 30, 1744, and
died Sept. 5, 1823, aged 79. When 15 years of age, he served in
the old French War and went to Canada. A powder-horn, inge-
niously and laboriously figured by himself, he brought home, and it
has been preserved in his son George's family. On August 18, 1767
(aged 23), he married Miss Hannah King, who was born Sept. 22,
1748, and settled on the homestead. In August, 1778, he took a
part in Gen. Sullivan's army, in the expedition against Newport,
having a Lieutenant's commission. After the close of the war, he
was Captain of the Militia of Norton, and his commission bore the
signature of John Hancock. He represented the town in the State
Legislature three different sessions, viz.: in 1794, 1799 and 1800.
Was on the Board of Selectmen in 1 792, '93, '94 and '95. His chief
business was farming, in some of its departments. He kept many
sheep, and the preparation of wool, with spinning, was an im-
portant industry in his well-managed household, fixing in industrious
habits his six happy daughters. In person, David Clapp was tall,
rather slender, with brown hair and blue or gray eyes. He is
spoken of as having been an active, industrious, kind-hearted man.
His son John in person represented him the nearest. Most, if not
all, of his daughters possessed strong wills, and marked, honest
characters, with but very little sentiment, though possessed of kind
21
156 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
and sympathizing hearts. Mr. Clapp died of old age, accompanied
with phthisis, and was buried in the old burying-ground of the town.
His widow lived till March 18, 1839, dying at 91. She was of me-
dium size, light complexion, with a very expressive gray eye.
Children of DAVID and HANNAH (King) CLAPP :
555. JONATHAN, 6 b. about 1772, and moved, rather late in life, to
Hampton, Conn. ; by trade a tin-plate worker. He m. first,
Miss Wood, of Norton, who d. of consumption ; second, about
1833, Temperance White. He d. rising 90 years of age. Chil-
dren by first wife :
556. James? m. first, Orilla Fields ; they lived at Dead River, Me. ;
he m. second, Miss Green. Children by first wife: i. Akin*
lives in Elkhorn, Wis. ; m Viles and has one son and
three daughters, ii, Lovica O., 8 m. Elihu Leach, of Provi-
dence, R. L, and has six children. iii, Clarinda Marilda,*
m. Jonathan W. Pratt, of Providence, and has three children.
iV, Nathaniel? m. Emeline Hooper of Anson, Me., and has
one sou, Nathaniel F., 9 living in Boston in 1874. T. William, 8
m. Adeline Simmons, of Taunton, and has five children. Yi.
Henry? m. Labrina A. Taylor, and lives in Concord, N. H.
Child by second wife : viii Ai, 8 m Lane.
557. Silas? 561. Rebecca?
558. Arlemas? 562. Hannah?
559. Barham? d. young. 563. David. 1
560. Elsie?
564. Delight? b. in 1802; m. first, Feb. 6, 1820, Timothy Lincoln;
second, April 11, 1830, Orin Hewitt, and had one child by
first husband and six by second.
565. Fanny." 1 566. Emeline.' 1
Children of Jonathan 6 by second wife :
567. Cordana? 569. Charles. 1
568. David?
570. SARAH, 6 b. about 1774; m. James Godfrey, of Norton, and d. at a
great age, leaving a son Nahum in Oldtown, Me.
571. GEORGE,* served some time at the painting business in Dorchester,
but soon took the homestead in Norton off of his brother John's
hands, and m. Esther Lincoln, of Taunton, Mass. About 1843,
he sold the old homestead and removed to Providence, R. L,
where for a short time he kept a store, but soon returned to
Bristol Co., and took up his abode in Taunton. He d. in Easton,
at rather an advanced age. Children:
572. George?
573. Thomas? m. in Winchendon ; he and his sister Betsey d. in
June, 1849, of consumption, and were both buried the same
day.
574. Ewtis? probably d. young.
575. Perez? 576. David? 577. Silas?
578. Lavinia? m. a Mr. Burt, now dead ; lives in Easton.
579. Betsey? d. June, 1849. 580. Hannah?
581. HANNAHj 6 m. Dr. S. Bates, of Norton ; d. March 30, 1850, at an
advanced age.
THOMAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 157
582. MARGARET, 6 m. Mr. Fields, of Mansfield; d. about 1840.
583. TiLEY, 6 m. Dr. Nathan Perry, of North Bridgewater ; d. about
1835, of consumption. Three of her children d. of the same
disease ; one only lives, William Perry, of Brockton, Mass.
584. BETSEY, 6 b. Sept. 17, 1781; m. Calvin Lothrop, of Boston, a
carpenter (6th generation from Mark Lothrop, the emigrant, of
Bridgewater), and took up her residence in Boston, on the
" Neck," so-called, near by the present location of the Cathe-
dral. She and her sister Phebe were married at the same time,
in May, either in 1805 or '06. The bridegrooms were cousins.
Mrs. Lothrop subsequently resided in Brookline, Newton and
Brighton ; again in Boston, also at West Roxbury, and finally
at West Medford. She had six children, three only of whom
are now living. At 72 years of age, she had become totally
blind from cataract of both eyes. Under the influence of ether,
a painless operation was performed, which resulted successfully
upon one eye. After this, she lived eighteen years with her son,
David W. Lothrop, in West Medford, and d. suddenly, after an
illness of a few days, on the 7th of September, 1871, lacking ten
days of 90 years. Her remains lie beside those of her daughter
Eliza, in Oak Grove Cemetery, Medford, and are indicated by a
stone. Mrs. Lothrop was above the medium size, having brown
hair, and the gray eye of her mother. In phrenological language,
her head was very large and high, and her feelings strong. On
matters within her own province, her opinions were decided, and
she possessed much moral courage for their defence. Her will,
or firmness, and conscientiousness, were marked, and her be-
nevolence and frankness were characteristics worthy of imitation.
585. PHEBE, 6 m. Stillman Cobb, of Mansfield ; d. 1872, in advanced life.
586. JOHN, 6 the youngest of the children, intended to keep the home-
stead of his father, but relinquished it to his brother George,
learned the silver-smith business and went to the city of New
York, where he married Miss Jackson ; thence removed to
Philadelphia. He had his name changed to Clark by an Act of
the Legislature. He was successful in his business, and at middle
age took a great interest in religion, acting as missionary, and
sometimes preaching. He wrote some tracts and small religious
books of the old Presbyterian character. He d. at Washington,
D. C., aged over three-score and ten. He had four sons, only one
of whom is now living. Henry James Clark, in 1848, took the
degree of B.A. in the University of New York city, and the
degree of B.S. at Harv. Univ. in 1854. Studied Biology under
Louis Agassiz, and assisted him in the publication of his works.
Delivered a course of lectures on the subject at the Lowell In-
stitute, and published a book upon the subject.* He d. at
* The Eleventh Annual Report of the Massachusetts Agricultural College has the follow-
ing notice on the death of Prof. Henry James Clark : " The public at large can with difficulty
appreciate the loss to the College and to the world, resulting from the death of so accom-
plished a scientist in the very prime of life. He was pronounced by Professor Agussiz to
be the most skilful and reliable microscopist in the country, and the evidence of his ability
may be seen in the admirable illustrations made by him for Agassiz's Contributions to the
Natural History of the United States. He was an indefatigable worker, and contributed
numerous articles to scientific periodicals and the transactions of learned societies. The
Smithsonian Institution has now in press a work from his pen. and another valuable manu-
script nearly ready for publication will be completed by a distinguished scientific friend."
158 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
Amherst, Mass., while holding the Professor's chair of Veteri-
nary Science, in 1873, aged 48. Among his children are two
sons, Zenas and Wallace. Thomas, younger brother of Henry
James, pursued nearly the same course of study ; they visited
Europe together, and attended the lectures of Liebig, the cele-
brated chemist. Thomas has been a Professor of Chemistry, but
is now settled in the city of New York as a physician.
-212-
ASA S (Abiel,* Samuel, 3 Thomas, 3 Thomas 1 }, son of Abiel Clapp,
of Walpole, was born in Mansfield, Mass., March 15, 1762, and died
at his residence in Portland, Me., on the 17th of April, 1848. He
was the second son of Abiel Clapp, Esq., a farmer of high respecta-
bility, but being deprived of his parents at an early age, he was left
to his own exertions for advancement. As an incipient indication
of the patriotism which characterized his whole after life, he gal-
lantly volunteered, when very young, to act as a substitute for one who
had been drafted for the expedition for the expulsion of the British
Army from Rhode Island, was appointed a non-commissioned officer,
and remained until honorably discharged, when he immediately pro-
ceeded to Boston, without even the advantage of acquaintances, and
entered upon the adventurous life of a mariner, in which position in
a brief period he distinguished himself ; and having acquired distinc-
tion by the intelligence, enterprise and eminent skill he had evinced
as a navigator, together with his wisdom, forecast and correct judg-
ment, he obtained the command of a ship when he had just reached
the era of manhood. He married Miss Eliza Wendell Quincy, of
Boston, daughter of Jacob Quincy, a distinguished physician of that
place, a lady of great personal attraction, a devoted and affectionate
wife and mother, a sincere, exemplary Christian, kind and generous
in all her social relations. She died Nov. 21, 1853, at the age of
ninety years. After passing several years in the command of vari-
ous ships, Asa finally established himself as a merchant in Portland,
in the year 1798 ; gradually becoming largely interested in commerce,
he acquired an extended reputation for the exactitude and perfection
of all his business habits, securing to him a credit not only at home,
but in foreign countries, which was unsurpassed by that enjoyed by
any other American merchant of that day. When Congress laid a
general embargo, Dec. 22, 1807, on the shipping in the ports and
harbors of the United States, to preserve our neutrality, the honor
of our flag, and the rights of sailors inviolate, Mr. Clapp was found
among the firmest supporters of the national government, although
the position he thus assumed was most adverse to his pecuniary in-
terests. In the year 1811, he was a member of the Council of the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This was previous to the sepa-
ration of Maine. A large proportion of his wealth was involved in
commercial enterprises, but when Congress, ou the 4th of April,
THOMAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 159
1812, laid an embargo on all the vessels within the waters of the
United States, and a few months later war was declared between
Great Britain and the United States, he gave government his warmest
support; and when the national finances were seriously embarrassed,
he came forward voluntarily arid subscribed nearly one-half of the
whole amount of his property to the loan to sustain the national
credit. His residence, during the war, was a place of general resort
for the officers of the army and navy, and the constant scene of
generous hospitality that was not surpassed in New England. A
corps of volunteers, composed of many of the most respectable and
worthy citizens of Portland, was organized for the protection of the
place against the fleet, which was committing numberless depredations
between the Penobscot River and Eastport, and to this company Mr.
Clapp speedily attached himself as a common soldier. Shortly after
the close of the war in 1815, he engaged again in commerce, his
vessels employed in the trade with Europe, the East and West
Indies, and South America. In 1816, he was appointed, by the
President of the United States, one of the commissioners to obtain
subscriptions to the capital stock of the Bank of the United Stales,
to which corporation he was the largest subscriber in Maine. During
many years he participated in the direction of various banking insti-
tutions. Having been a strenuous advocate for the independence of
Maine, he was elected one of the delegates of the convention which
was holden in October, 1819, for forming the Constitution of Maine,
and was conspicuous for the able manner in which he participated in
the debates and the highly responsible duties which devolved on
that important primary assembly of the delegates of the people. He
was several years a Representative from Portland in the Legislature,
and there was not a member who was listened to with more attention,
or whose opinions upon all the various subjects that were presented
for consideration, were more universally respected. When President
Polk visited Portland in the year 1847, on learning that Mr. Clapp,
then in the eighty-fifth year of his age, was confined to his house by
illness, he immediately called, in company with the Hon. James
Buchanan, then Secretary of State, and Commodore Stewart, to pay
his respects to the venerable gentleman who had manifested so much
devotion to the welfare of his country. Mr. Clapp briefly addressed
the President, welcoming him to his residence.
Mr. Clapp possessed a mind, capacious, energetic and firm, capable
of great application, and which was cultivated by study and a constant
intercourse with the intelligent and the refined in all parts of the
country. He was the kind patron of enterprising young men, and
when satisfied of their integrity, he never hesitated granting them
liberal credits, and was among the very first of creditors to offer
liberal terms of adjustment when needed. His beneficence was expan-
sive, and having acquired a very large fortune his means \\cic ample
for its gratification. So perfectly did he retain the energies of hia
160 THE CLAPP MEMOEIAL.
mind, and that moral firmness for which he had been preeminently
distinguished, that daily and up to less than an hour of his decease,
he attended to the management of his property; and with such a
system had he arranged his affairs, that at his decease there was only
one small demand outstanding against him, which was for the daily
paper, for which he was a subscriber, the year not having expired.
As a Christian, he relied upon the promise of the Messiah for that
life of heavenly immortality, which he believed a merciful God was
ever ready to confer upon those who acknowledged His Divine power,
and sought salvation with a contrite heart. On the 20th of April,
1848, the religious ceremonies at the funeral of Mr. Clapp were
performed at his mansion house ; there was an immense assemblage
of relatives, friends and fellow-citizens. The exalted estimation in
which this excellent citizen was held by the whole community was
strikingly evinced by the mournful suspension of the flags of all the
vessels in the harbor, and on the signal staffs of the Observatory, at
half mast, and the vast concourse of people who thronged the streets,
through which the large procession moved to the cemetery, where
his remains were entombed.
The following obituary notice of Hon. Asa Clapp is from the
Portland Advertiser, in April, 1848 :
"The Hon. Asa Clapp died at his residence in Portland, on the 17th
inst., in the 86th year of his age. He was born in Mansfield, Bristol Co.,
Massachusetts, on the 15th of March, 1762. He was the eldest son of
Abiel Clapp, Esq., a farmer of high respectability, who filled what were
then considered very important stations in the towns of New England, the
offices of Magistrate, and the commander of the Military Company in that
ancient municipality. Being deprived of his parents at an early age, he
was left entirely dependent upon his own exertions for advancement. When
only sixteen years old, he volunteered to act as a substitute for a young man
who was drafted as a soldier in the expedition under Gen. Sullivan for the
expulsion of the British Army from Rhode Island in 1778. He was imme-
diately appointed a non-commissioned officer, and remained in service until
the close of the campaign, when he went to Boston and commenced the
adventurous life of a mariner in one of the numerous private armed vessels
which were fitted out in all the northern ports. After several cruises, he
entered as third officer in a large Letter of Marque, commanded by Capt.
Dunn, in which, during three years, he made numerous successful voyages,
and in the last returned as the first officer. He was in many desperate
engagements, and in one of which he was severely wounded. He acquired
such distinction by the intelligence, enterprise aud eminent skill he had
evinced as a navigator that he obtained command of a ship at the conclusion
of the Revolutionary War, when he had but just reached the era of man-
hood. He was at Port au Prince in the Island of St. Domingo when the
attack was made upon that city by the negroes, and with Joseph Peabody,
Esq., of Salem, then in the merchant service, rendered most essential aid to
the white population, who were exposed to plunder and slaughter during
that horrible servile convulsion. By many successful voyages, after becoming
the owner of the vessels he commanded, he was enabled to establish himself
THOMAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 161
as a merchant at Portland in 1796, where he continued to be one of the
most fortunate and distinguished in Maine, until a few years before his
decease, when, from indisposition, it became necessary to relinquish his com-
mercial business. His navigation was so far extended that he had vessels
employed in the trade with Europe, the East and West Indies and South
America. There are few persons in New England who have built so many
ships and employed so many mariners, mechanics and laborers in all the
numerous branches of maritime industry as Mr. Clapp, or who have erected
as many houses and stores, and done so much to promote the interest and
prosperity of Maine. Before the separation of the State from Massachu-
setts, he was one of the councillors of the united Commonwealth. Having
been a strenuous advocate for the independence of Maine, he was elected
one of the delegates of the Convention, which was holdeu in Portland in
October, 1819, for forming the Constitution; and was conspicuous for the
able manner in which he participated in the laborious and highly responsible
duties which devolved on that important primary assembly of the people.
He was for several years a Representative from Portland in the Legislature,
and his opinions on all subjects were universally respected. As a faithful
patriot, he not only aided the government by loans, at a period when it was the
most difficult to obtain them for a vigorous prosecution of the last war with
Great Britain, in vindication of Free Trade and Sailors' Rights, but was a
volunteer soldier in a corps of the most venerable citizens of the town,
which was expressly organized for its defence against threatened invasion
by the fleet and army, which had taken possession of the seacoast from
the Penobscot to Eastport. He possessed a capacious and energetic mind,
which was cultivated by study and a constant intercourse with the most
intelligent and illustrious gentlemen of all parts of the country. Mr. Clapp
was ever the kind patron of enterprising young men, and when satisfied
with their integrity, he never hesitated to grant them liberal credits, without
regard to their immediate means of payment, on the sale of the great variety
of merchandise which he was constantly importing from all parts of the
globe ; and whenever there was experienced any of the disastrous revul-
sions in the commercial community which involve individual embarrassment,
he was among the very first of the creditors to offer liberal terms of adjust-
ment to those who were unable to meet the accumulated demands made
upon them. His beneficence was as expansive, having acquired a very
large fortune, as his means were ample for its gratification, and to perpetuate
his deep interest for the amelioration of the condition of the unfortunate, he
has left a fund of eight thousand dollars for the education and relief of
female orphan children, and four thousand dollars for furnishing fuel to
unfortunate widows and other poor women. Such remarkable exemplifica-
tions of the salutary influence and the great advantages to be derived from
activity of character, indomitable perseverance, rectitude of principle and
honorable deportment are as instructive to the rising as they were encour-
aging to the various generations which have succeeded since he assumed a
position worthy of their imitation. So perfectly did he retain the energies
of his mind, and that moral firmness for which he had been preeminently
distinguished, that daily, and up to within less than an hour of his decease,
he attended to the management of his vast property with the same calm-
ness and exactitude as when in the full vigor of health, although entirely
conscious that his end was near."
162 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
Children of ASA and ELIZABETH WENDELL (Quincy) CLAPP, of
Portland, Me. :
587. ELIZABETH W. C., 6 m. Levi "Woodbury, of New Hampshire. He
has been Judge of the Supreme Court, Member of the Legisla-
ture and Governor of the State, Secretary of the Navy and
Treasury, Senator in Congress, and Judge of the United States
Supreme Court. They had five children : Charles Levi, who
was U. S. District Attorney for Massachusetts, under the ad-
ministration of President Buchanan ; Mary E., who m. Mont-
gomery Blair ; Frances Ann, who m. Archibald H. Lonery ;
Virginia L., who m. Gustavus V. Fox ; and Ellen C. De Q.
588. FRANCES B., 6 m. first Rev. G. W. Olney ; second, S. R. Brooks,
of New York. She had one daughter, Frances, who m. Gardi-
ner Frye.
589. CHARLES QuiNCY, 6 lived in Portland ; m. Julia O., daughter of
Gen. Joshua Wiugate, of Bath. He was member of the Legis-
lature and of the City Government of Portland, Director of
Railroads and Banks, &c. Children :
590. Julia E. D.," 1 m. John B. Carroll, they having four children.
591. Georgiana W., 7 m. Winthrop G. Ray, and had one daughter.
592. MARY J. G., 6 m. Andrew L. Emerson, first Mayor of Portland.
They had two children : Mary O., who m. Horace Brooks ; and
Andrew L.
593. ASA WM. H., 6 lives in Portland ; m. Julia M., daughter of Gen.
Henry A. S. Dearborn, of Roxbury, Mass. He was elected
Member of the U. S. Congress in 1847 ; Director of various
Public Institutions, &c. &c. He has one daughter :
594. Mary J. EJ
-234-
EBENEZER 5 (Ebenczer, 4 John, 3 Increase,* Thomas 1 ), oldest son of
Ebenezer and Mary (Wiuslow) Clapp, was born in Rochester,
Mass., in 1734. He married Lucy Sprague. He died in 1770.
Children of EBENEZER and LUCY (Sprague) CLAPP, of Rochester:
595. Lucy, 6 m. Stephen Wing, and lived and d. in Vermont.
596. POLLY, 6 b. in 1759; m. Elisha Ruggles.
597. EBENEZER, 6 d. young.
598. NATHANIEL,* b. in 1766; d. in 1829. He m. Mercy Burgess, of
Wareham, who d. in 1866, aged 90 years. Children :
599. Ebenezer? b. Dec. 31, 1796; d. Dec. 4, 1822. He was a
graduate of Burlington College, Vt.
600. Mary, 7 b. Dec. 11, 1798 ; m. Capt. Joseph Church, and d. Oct.
13, 1832.
601. Keziah? twin sister to Mary, b. Dec. 11, 1798 ; m. Dea. John
H. Clark.
602. Lucy? b. June 18, 1801 ; d. Nov. 25, 1819.
603. William,'' b. July 3, 1803; lives in Rochester; m. Nov. 4,
1832, Sophia D. Athern. Children : I, Mary E.* b. Oct. 8,
1833. ii, William B.* b. May 4, 1835 ; d. May 7, 1860.
iii. Nathaniel P., 8 b. July 6, 1837. iv, Charles A., 8 b. Sept.
THOMAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 163
11, 1839; d. Dec. 5, 1858. v, Joseph H.* b. Jan. 4, i844.
VI. Harriet S., B b. April 17, 1846. vii. George A., 8 b. Oct.
18, 1850.
604. Charles,'' b. Jan. 20, 1806 ; d. in 1860. He settled in New
Orleans, and was never married.
605. Martha C.? b. March 24, 1809 ; unmarried.
606. Nathaniel,'' b. July 29, 1811 ; d. March 29, 1849. He m. Jane
Demmiugs, and had Martha J.*
607. Marcia R, 1 b. May 19, 1816; m. Capt. Joseph Church.
608. KEZiAH, 6 m. Stephen Luce.
-246-
EARL 5 (Ebenezer* John, 3 Increase, 3 Thomas 1 ), son of Ebenezer
and Mary (VVinslow) Clapp, was born April 21, 1741. He was a
soldier in the old French War. He took a very prominent part in
the affairs of the town of Rochester, where he lived, his name appear-
ing on several committees appointed by the town during the trou-
blous times of the Revolution. His first services in the war of the
Revolution were as Captain of a Company of Minute Men. After-
wards he was appointed Major in the army, and served through the
war, bearing the character of a brave and energetic man. It appears
by the town records that he lived in Woodstock, Ct., in 1801 and '02.
There was once a difficulty between him and Rev. Mr. Moore, of
Rochester, out of which grew a law-suit. Major Clapp was a leading
member of the church, and the difficulty between them was concern-
ing church matters. Major Clapp received a pension of $560 per
3 r ear from the U. S. Government during the latter part of his life.
He died in 1835, aged about 94 years. Major Earl married, first,
Sarah, daughter of Jeremiah How, who was the mother of all his
children; his 2d wife was widow Phebe Dutch.
Children of Major EARL and SARAH (How) CLAPP, of Rochester,
Mass. :
609. JEREMIAH, 8 b. April 20, 1762 ; d. Nov. 11, 1817. He m. Polly
Briggs, and settled in Woburn. He was styled " Major " as
early as 1792. He was an influential citizen of the town, and
an active and useful member of the First Parish.
Major Clapp lived in the large, three-story house in Central
Square, at Woburn, known as the " Clapp Mansion," which he
built in 1807, and which was standing until a recent date. At
the time of its erection, a lamentable accident took place, which
veiled the whole community with sorrow, and was ever after
remembered by those living in Woburn at the .time. Mr. William
R. Cutter, of that town, published in the Woburn Journal for
Feb. 6, 1869, a full account of the catastrophe, from which we
glean the following items: As usual in those days, a large gath-
ering took place at the " raising " of this house, which was more
generally participated in, from the fact that Major C. was a man
of wealth and importance, the building of more than ordinary
dimensions, and the concluding entertainment expected to be on
22
164 THE CLAPP MEMOEIAL.
a correspondingly large and hospitable scale. As the two
ends of the house were to be of brick, the two sides, com-
pletely framed in heavy timber, were raised at once, and being
improperly supplied with braces, when the timbers for the top
of the structure were put in, place, and thirty or more men
were at work upon it, the whole fell with a tremendous crash.
Two men were instantly killed, another died before the next
morning, a fourth man during the week, and thirty or forty indi-
viduals, " the strong men of our town," as they were called, were
wounded in a great variety of ways some lingering for months
and even years before death released them from their sufferings,
some crippled for life, and others gradually recovering from
their injuries. The funeral of the three first mentioned was held in
the Third Meeting-house, and the Rev. Joseph Chickering, the
pastor, preached an appropriate discourse from Job i. 19 : "And
behold there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote
the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men,
and they are dead ; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee."
The gravestones of three of the unfortunate victims are found in
the Second Burying-ground in Woburn, says Mr. Cutter, " with
inscriptions uniquely descriptive of their several virtues, and
eulogistic of the merit thus untimely lost to the town."*
Mrs. Clapp d. Nov. 15, 1792. The following is the inscrip-
tion upon her gravestone, in the Second Burying-ground at
Woburn Centre:
To
perpetuate
the
memory
of "
Mrs. POLLY CLAPP,
wife of
Maj. JEREMIAH CLAPP,
who died with y e small-pox
Nov. 15, 1792,
aBtat. 25.
Had virtue's charms the power to save,
And free her votaries from the grave,
This stone had ne'er possessed the fame
Of being marked with Polly's name.
There is a marble stone over Major C.'s grave, near by, with
a plain inscription :
In Memory of
Mr. JEREMIAH CLAPP,
who died Nov. 11, 1817,
aged 55 years.
* The following account of this disaster appeared in the Columbian Centinel, Boston,
Saturday, July 18, 1807 :
"Melancholy Accident. On Monday last [July L4th, 1807] the frame of a house belonging
to Major Clap, of Woburn, was raised, and when nearly completed, the whole fell, and
THOMAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 165
Major Jeremiah Clapp and wife left no sons, but they had
three daughters, who were married, aud one, Mary B 7 un-
married, d. in Fairhaven, Aug. 1856. One daughter was named
Sarah How. Another, Susan? was engaged in the establishment
of the First Church Sunday School in Woburn, in 1818 ; opened
the first meeting of the school with prayer, and was its first
Superintendent. She was Pres. of the Ladies' Char. Reading
Soc. Woburn ; m. Oct. 9, 1819, John Reed, of Charleston, S. C.
610. SETH, 6 b. Jan. 22, 1764; followed the sea as master of a vessel ;
after starting on his last voyage, he was never heard from ; un-
doubtedly lost at sea. He lived in Woodstock, Conn., and m.
Charlotte Burden, who d. July 13, 1833, aged 71 years. Chil. :
611. Lothrop?
612. Sydney, 1 a dau., m. Oliver Holt, of Abington, Ct.
613. Sally? m. July 7, 1809, Asa Burnham, of Abington, Ct., who
d. at Palmer, Mass., Aug 29, 1849, aged 61 yrs. They had
seven children.
614. Betsey, 7 b. in 1793 ; d. Aug. 31, 1866. She m. William Sweet
and had two children. They lived in Plainfield, Conn.
615. Charlotte, 1 b. in 1795; d. Aug. 31, 1864, unmarried.
616. James, 1 made his home in Boston, and for many years sailed as
master of the Brig Cordelia between Boston and Cuba, in
the employ of Benj. Burgess & Sons. He was distinguished
for his care and attention to his sailors. He m. in Boston,
June 18, 1829, Eliza Holland. Children : i, Adaline JE.* b.
May 10, 1832." ii, James ff.* b. July 15, 1834.
617. Almira? m. first, Hezekiah Crandall, of Canterbury, Conn. ;
second, Mr. Burgess.
618. ZEBEDEE, 6 b. Oct. 18, 1765; d. July 24, 1799; lived in Wood-
stock, Ct., and died of a cancer in the leg.
619. SusAN, 6 b. Aug. 7, 1767 ; d. May 10, 1838 ; m. Rev. Samuel
Mead, who d. March, 1818, aged 51 years. One of the children,
Abbie, long a teacher, gave much valuable information in relation
to the family.
620. SALLY, 6 b. Oct. 20, 1769; d. July 6, 1862, aged 92 years. She
m. Esek Preston and had ten children.
621. EARL, B b. Aug. 2, 1772 ; was a physician, and after practising
awhile in N. Hampshire and Mass., settled in Abiugdon, Va., m.
Elizabeth Craig, of that place, and had three sons and two daugh-
ters. He lived to a good old age.
622. ELiSHA, 6 b. July 24, 1 774 ; m. in Rochester, and afterwards re-
moved to Utica, in the State of New York, that part of the State
being then a wilderness. He had a family, but nothing has ever
been learned about them.
623. BETSEY, 6 b. May 21, 1776 ; d. Sept. 13, 1813. She m. Nathaniel
Briggs, of Rochester, and had seven sons and three daughters.
624. BETHiAH, 6 b. Sept. 23, 1778 ; m. Alvin Bacon and lived in Wood-
stock, Ct. ; had three daughters ; she lived to the age of 87 yrs.
killed two persons immediately on the spot one died the night following; sixteen were
wounded, some it is feared mortally. The persons killed were Messrs. Samuel Wright,
Joshua Richardson and John Lyman."
Nathan Parker died of the wound he received, on Sunday, July 19, 1807; hence he is
not mentioned in this account in the Centinel of the day previous. [W. R. CUTTER.!
166 THE CLAPP MEMOKIAL.
625. ABIGAIL,* b. Aug. 12, 1782 ; d. May 5, 1803. She m. Eleazer
Brown, and d. a year or two after, leaving one daughter.
-264-
INCREASE 8 (Benjamin* Jo/in, 3 Increase, 2 Thomas 1 }, son of Ben-
jamin Clapp, of Rochester, was born in Rochester, Feb. 27, 1740.
He moved to Tolland, Conn., where he died May 24, 1801, having
suffered very much with rheumatism the latter part of his life. He
married Bethiah Winslow, who was born Feb. 2, 1749, and died
March 15, 1825.
Children of INCREASE and BETHIAH (Winslow) CLAPP, of Tolland,
Conn. :
626. JONATHAN," b. Sept. 24, 1770 ; d. NoV. 26, 1774.
627. EUNICE, 6 b. Sept. 6, 1772 ; m. in 1807, Eleazer Steele, of Bolton,
Conn.
-J-628. STEPHEN, 6 b. Oct. 2, 1774; d. Aug. 14, 1854.
629. JONATHAN,* b. Dec. 20, 1776; d. Jan. 2, 1820. Hem. and settled
in Windsor, 0. Children :
630. Ichabod, 7 lives in Windsor, O. Children : i, Milo? ii, Jane?
Hi, Elberton* iv, Carol* V. Dette. 8
631. Bethiah? m. Mr. Hitchcock, and in 1870 was living in Illinois.
Two other daughters of Jonathan 6 are dead.
632. KEZiAH, 6 b. Jan 22, 1779 ; d. March' 21, 1813. She m. Ashbel
Harvey, of Tolland, Conn.
633. BENJAMIN, 6 b. May 11, 1781; d. Sept. 1845. He settled in
North Argyle, N. Y., where he died. Issue :
634. William,'' m. and lives on the old farm at North Argyle, N. Y.
Children : i. Benjamin D.* is a Cashier of a Bank in Platts-
burgh, N. Y. ii, Louisa W., 6 m. Mr. Shields, and lives in
Belcher, Washington Co., N. Y. iii, Emalin. 8 iv, Lucy H. 8
V. Abigail. 8 vi. Juliaette 8
635. INCREASE, 6 b. April 6, 1783 ; d. Feb. 8, 1859. He removed to
East Windsor Hill, Conn., in 1808; m. Nov. 26, 1807, Polly
Spencer, who was b. July 2, 1786, and d. at East Windsor, Ct.,
Dec. 27, 1835. Children :
636. Ebenezer Spencer? b. April 12, 1809. Settled in Windsor, Ct.,
and m. April 17, 1832, Sophia, dau. of Daniel and Huldah
Pinney, who was b. Feb. 23, 1813. Children: i, Julius
Spencer 8 b. Aug. 1, 1833 ; be is living in Brunswick, Me. ;
m. Aug. 10, 1856, Adelaide C. Gleason, and has : (1) Carrie
S.* b. Oct. 11, 1858; (2) Julia Ella, 9 b. Feb. 7, 1861 ; (3)
Anna J.? b. March 31, 1863; (4) Grace P., 9 b. Oct. 10,
1865. ii, Martha Sophia, 8 b. Aug. 2, 1837. iii. Sarah
Morris 8 b. Sept. 13, 1839 ; m. July 14, 1862, Eli P. Ells-
worth, a merchant of Windsor, Ct., and had three children in
1870. iv. Mary Spencer, 8 b. Sept. 28, 1845.
637. John Selden? b. March 7, 1814; settled in Windsor, Ct. ; m.
May 12, 1840, Julia Talcott, b. in Glastenbury, Conn., Sept.
19, 1819. Children : i, Charlotte Talcott, 6 b. April 23, 1841.
ii, Charles Spencer* b. March 30, 1846; m. Nov. 27, 1872,
THOMAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 167
Mary Ellen, dau. of Edward and Mary Ann (Parsons) Dex-
ter, b. Dec. 1, 1849. iii. Alfred Selden, 8 b. April 5, 1851.
IV, Elvira Charlton 6 b. Oct. 25, 1853.
638. George O., 1 b. April 26, 1816. He settled in Windsor, Ct.,
and m. May 10, 1843, Harriet S., dau. of Elisha and Fanny
Bowen, formerly of Weathersfield, Vt., who was born July 3,
1823. Children : i, Elisha B.* b. Feb. 3, 1844. ii, Mary
Frances, 9 b. Jan. 22, 1847 ; d. Feb. 26, 1849. iii, George
Increase* b. July 13, 1857. iv. Henry M.* b. Aug. 2, 1868.
639. Carlos West,' 1 b. Dec. 14, 1824; m. Oct. 26, 1853, Caroline J.,
dau. of Robert and Cynthia (Cohoon) Thompson, who was b.
Feb. 22, 1825. Settled in Windsor, Ct. Children : i, Car-
los M.? b. July 22, 1854 ; d. Jan. 15, 1860. ii. Inez C. 6 b.
April 29, 1856; d. May 21, 1859. iii, Carrie T.* b. May
11, 1860. iv. Minnie Louise, 6 b. March 13, 1862.
640. Increase Sutler, 1 b. April 8, 1827 ; lives in Hartford, Conn.,
and m. April 30, 1850, Fannie Skinner, b. Dec. 28, 1827.
Children: i. Edwin Carlos, 9 b. May 16, 1851. ii, George
W., 8 b. Jan. 28, 1856. iii, Anna S., s b. June 18, 1859.
iV. Albert Sutler, 6 b. Oct. 3, 1862. V, Walter I* b. May 31,
1871.
641. George," 1 d. young.
642. Charles? d. young.
643. Mary, 1 d. young.
644. JOHN, 6 b. Aug. 25, 1785 ; d. Aug. 23, 1786.
645. JOHN, 8 b. May 14, 1787; resides in Salem, N. Y. He is a phy-
sician, though (in 1871) quite infirm. Children:
646. Benjamin, 1 m. and lives in Salem, N. Y. Children : i, John
M. 8 ii, Keziah,* m. James Haggart.
647. Marvin 1 m. and lives in Saratoga, N. Y. Children : 1, Theo-
dore W 6 \\.Phebe*
648. CATHARINE," b. Sept. 4, 1789; d. April 23, 1842. She m. John
Bamp (or Banup), and settled in Hebron, N. Y.
269
MICHAEL* (Samuel? Joseph, 3 Samuel? Thomas 1 }, eldest son of
Samuel and Sarah (Curtis) Clapp, of Scituate, was born Nov. 27,
1726. He lived in Scituate, and married Nov. 20, 1158, Sarah
Lambert, probably the one who died June 16, 1812, at the age of
91 years.
Children of MICHAEL and SAKAH (Lambert) CLAPP, of Scituate :
649. MICHAEL,' b. Oct. 15, 1760; lived in Scituate, and m. March 11,
1790, Eunice Sylvester, of Scituate. Children :
650. Michael T., 1 lived in Scituate ; m. Hannah Wilder. Children :
i. Michael 6 b. Nov. 12, 1825; ii, Hannah W., 8 b. Aug. 6,
1827. , .
651. James S.? b. about 1794; m. Elizabeth Bates, and hved
Scituate. Children : i. Helen 6 b. Nov. 2o, 1828. II. James
H. 6 b. March 9, 1831. iii. Davis 6 b. Dec. 2, 1
Eunice, 9 b. April 27, 1836.
652. Eunice, 1 m. David Bowker, of Scituate.
168 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
653. Sarah," 1 unm., and subject to mental derangement.
654. JAMES, 6 probably the one who m. Nancy Hassell in Boston, Feb.
18, 1795.
WILLIAM 5 (Samuel,* Joseph, 3 Samml* Thomas 1 ), brother of the
preceding, was born Dec. 3, 1733. He married Priscilla Otis, who
died at the advanced age of 95 years. He probably lived in Scit-
uate, and died at about the age of 74 years.
Children of WILLIAM and PRISCILLA (Otis) CLAPP, of Scituate:
655. WiLLiAM, 6 b. May 26, 1768; d. Aug. 14, 1811. He was a dry
goods merchant in Boston, and for a time transacted as much
business in that line, probably, as any person in Boston. He
m. Sarah Smith, who d. aged 79 years. Children :
656. William, 1 b. Nov. 11, 1789 ; d. unmarried, Dec. 17, 1811, aged
22 ; always an invalid.
657. Caroline? b. Nov. 7, 1791 ; d. in January, 1875, unmarried.
She was a person of strong peculiarities, of a kind heart and
good disposition, which manifested itself in her love for
children. Wherever she was living she took it upon herself
to amuse them, and often indulged them to their injury.
While she was especially fond of the young, she was always
willing to help all. She had a fine memory, and, until a few
years previous to her death, was a genealogical history in
herself, giving correctly dates of birth and death, and many
interesting anecdotes of her ancestors.
658. Sarah Eliza} b. Feb. 14, 1793; m. in 1812, John Wetherbee,
and has four children : John, who m. Louisa A., dau. of Wil-
liam Beals, proprietor of the Boston Post ; Sarah Emeline,
who m. Albert T. Elliot, of Providence, R. I. ; Adeline, who
m. James M. Keith, attorney at law in Boston ; and William,
who m. first, Cornelia Simmons, second, Madam Van Zandt,
of New York City.
659. Frederick} b. April 10, 1794; d. Dec. 9, 1868, aged 74 yrs.
8 mos. He m. first, Sept. 18, 1817, Adeline Luce ; second,
Oct, 22, 1823, Nancy Thorndike Doggett. He was in active
business in Boston for over fifty years, at first on Exchange
Street in the grocery business ; afterwards commenced the
wooden ware business in Dock Square, and was the pioneer
of this particular branch, being the first legitimate wood-
en ware dealer in Boston. He soon after associated himself
with Daniel Cummings on South Market Street, wkere they
did a successful business in the same line of trade until 1867,
when he withdrew from that firm and went into the metal
trade with his son George Walter, who now carries on the
business. He was an earnest Christian man, joining the
Baldwin Place Baptist Church in the time of Dr. Baldwin ;
was a firm believer in a " higher Christian life," and that he
should never be satisfied with that whereunto he had already
attained, but desired continually to " press toward the mark
THOMAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS.. 169
for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
He was always very earnest to have the genealogy of the
Clapp Family published, and he frequently urged the author
to put his manuscript volumes in print. Children by first
wife: 1. Adeline Luce,* b. Oct. 16, 1818; m. George G.
Hook, organ builder, of Boston, and has had five children :
George Franklin, Adeline Maria, Frederick Clapp, William
Greenleaf and Maria Corinne. ii. Sarah Maria* b. July
23, 1821 ; m. Walter D. Briggs, of Bristol, R. I., and has
had six children: Mary Williams, Sarah Adeline, Lizzie
Williams, Walter Dean, Louisa Bertha and Lemuel Wil-
liams. Children by second wife : Hi, Frederick* b. Aug. 11,
1824; d. June 16, 1863; m. Lois S. Evans, and had three
children: Mary Cook, 9 Fannie .Low 9 and Emma C. 9 if, James
Knowles* b. Nov. 21, 1826 ; d. Oct. 18, 1828. V. Elizabeth
Doggett* b. June 9, 1830; unmarried. vi. Edward Augus-
tus*^. April 28, 1834; m. Ellen M. Wheelock, and has
Anna Louise, 9 VH, Mary Cook, 8 b. May 22, 1839 ; d. May 8,
1851. Vlii. George Walter, 6 b. June 10, 1841 ; a merchant
in Boston, and lives in Cambridge ; m. May 9, 1871, Emma
C. Hinman, a lineal descendant of Sergeant Edward Hin-
man, of England, and has Frederick, 9 b. Feb. 25, 1872. ix.
Annie Isadora, 8 b. Aug. 5, 1845; m. June 7, 1870, Albert
I. Sands, and has three children : Frederick Ivory, Annie
Thorndike and Sumner R. M.
660. Edward? b. March 5, 1795; d. unm. Feb. 6, 1820, a. 25 yrs.,
in Mobile, Alabama. He kept a shoe store for some time
on Washington Street, opposite the Old South Church.
661. Hannah Mary? b. March 5, 1796; d. Nov. 15, 1797.
662. George? b. July 8, 1797 ; d. Nov. 6, 1815, in Boston, unm. *
663. Barney? b. Aug. 2, 1798; d. in 1829, at New Orleans, La.,
aged 31 years. He m. Eliza B. Hall, of Boston, Oct. 17,
1826. Children : i, James Hall, 8 b. in 1827 ; at one time a
broker in Boston, but now connected with the John Hancock
Insurance Co., and lives in Newtonville ; m. first, Sept. 29,
1851, Ann Caroline Taylor, of Boston, who d. March 3,
1860, leaving one child, Edith, 9 b. Aug. 4, 1852; m. second,
Oct. 8, 1863, Harriet B. Foster, of Waltham, and has Gil-
mer? b. Nov. 4, 1864, and Lyndon, 9 b. Aug. 13, 1874. ii.
Catharine Davis, 6 b. about 1829 ; d. in 1834.
664. Harriet, 7 b. Jan. 27, 1800 ; d. unm. in 1835. She showed
great taste and skill as an artist, leaving, as evidence of this
talent, twenty or thirty paintings, some of rare merit.
665. Hannah Barney] b. Jan. 20, 1801 ; d. unm. May, 1871, aged
70 years. A woman of many accomplishments, educated m
music and other fine arts, apt in all branches of handy work.
Proud spirited in her early womanhood, until she had be-
come mentally and physically impaired several years pre
vious to her death.
666. Henry Augustus? b. April 18, 1802; d. unm. m Boston, Jan.
11, 1819, aged 17 years.
667. Emeline? b. Nov. 8, 1803 ; d. unm. in 1833, aged c
668. Oxis, 6 b. Oct. 29, 1769 ; d. Sept. 22, 1842. He was a carpenter by
170 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
trade ; live'd and died in Charlestown, Mass. He left a handsome
property. He m. first, Oct. 8, 1799, Elizabeth Hills, d. Jan. 28,
1806, a. 30 yrs.; m. second, Dec. 7, 1807, Sally Newell, d. in
1816; m. third, Feb. 20, 1825, Mrs. Eliza S. Larkin, d. Jan. 12,
1871, a. 73 yrs. Children by first wife :
669. Elizabeth Ann,'' b. Sept. 3, 1800; d. Sept. 9, 1801.
670. Otis? b. Feb. 12, 1802; lived in Charlestown, unmarried; d.
May 26, 1870.
671. John Hills, 7 b. Feb. 20, 1803 ; d. July 1, 1875. He lived in
Charlestown, and was highly respected by all who knew him,
his funeral being largely attended by friends and by members
of the two Charlestown lodges of the I. O. O. F., in which
he had held the highest offices. He m. March 15, 1831,
Sarah, dau. of Col. Isaac Smith, of Charlestown, and had
one daughter, Sarah Elizabeth, 8 b. Dec. 17, 1835, d. March
12, 1836.
672. Lucinda? b. Dec. 28, 1805 : m. Dec. 9, 1835, Richard Williams.
Child of Otis 6 by second wife :
673. Elizabeth Ann,' b. Feb. 10, 1813 ; lives in Charlestown, unm.
674. ALLEN, 6 b. Oct. 6, 1771 ; d. May 31, 1827. He was a carpenter by
trade, but devoted most of the latter part of his life to farming.
He lived in Scituate, and m. Jan. 21, 1807, Charlotte Bowker.
Children :
675. Lucy? b. Jan. 9, 1808; m. Jan. 13, 1828, Joseph, son of
Perkins Clapp (No 286).
676. Charlotte? b. April 9, 1809 ; d. unmarried, Feb. 25, 1865.
677. Allen? b. Sept. 7, 1812 ; d. Sept. 21, 1870. He was baptized
William, but his name was altered after the death of his
brother Allen. He lived in Scituate, and m. Nov. 16, 1842,
Deborah A. (No. 751), dau. of Nathaniel Clapp. Children:
i, Eugene Howard, 6 b. Oct. 11, 1843. Is in active busi-
ness in Boston as a dealer in metals ; has been zealously en-
gaged in the promotion of temperance ; assisted in the Fami-
ly Gathering at Northampton, in 1870, and in that of 1873
rendered valuable aid on the Committee of Arrangements.
His interest in the publication of this Memorial has been
manifested in various ways. He m. Dec. 21, 1870, Sarah R.
Graves. Children : (1) Eugene H., 9 b. Sept. 28, 1872 ; (2)
William Allen, 9 b. April 7, 1875. ji, Erstine Follen, 8 b. June
3, 1846. iii, George A., 8 b. Jan. 11, 1849. iv, Arthur W.*
b. Dec. 1, 1858. V. Antoinette, 8 b. Dec. 22, 1862.
678. Anna R? b. Jan. 2, 1815 ; d. Dec. 22, 1839, aged 25 years.
She m. Nov. 25, 1838, Nathaniel B. Clapp (No. 750), of
Scituate.
679. Mary R? b. Jan. 15, 1817; m. April 3, 1842, for a second
wife, Nathaniel B. Clapp, husband of her sister Anna B.,
deceased. She d. July 2, 1871.
680. Lucretia? b. June 15, 1819 ; m. Oct. 24, 1858, E. B. Whit-
man, of Kansas ; has one child.
681. Helen? b. May 12, 1821 ; m. Jan. 7, 1858.
682. Julia? b. May 11, 1823; m. Nov. 9, 1872, for his third wife,
Nathaniel B. Clapp, husb. of her sister Mary B., deceased.
THOMAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 171
G83. Allen J.? b. July 5, 1825 ; d. March 5, 1827.
684. NANCY, 6 b. April 1?, 1773 : m. Daniel G, Wheeler, of Worcester,
and d. in Worcester, about 1835.
685. MARTIN,' b. Dec. 25, 1774; was in the dry goods business in Bos-
ton ; subsequently an auctioneer ; d. in Charlestown, unmarried.
686. PRISCILLA," b. Nov. 10, 1777 ; m. (published July 26, 1801)
Edward Foster Jacobs, of Scituate ; d. about 1863,
687. POLLY, 6 b. Jan. 23, 1780 ; m. Thomas Lewis, of Boston, and had
three children : Abiel Smith ; William G-. ; and Fanny, who m.
Mr. Wilson. She d. in Framingham about 1868.
688. LucY, 6 b. Dec. 18, 1781 ; d. unmarried, Jan. 9, 1803.
689. FANNY,* b. Feb. 14, 1784; d. in 1841, leaving a considerable sum
of money to the abolitionists. She never married.
-281-
JOSEPH 5 (Joseph* Joseph, 3 Samuel? Thomas 1 }, oldest son of
Deacon Joseph and Hannah (Briggs) Clapp, was born in Scituate,
Feb. 21, 1734-5. He spent the first part of his life in Scituate, but
probably settled in some other place. While in Scituate, he married
Eliza Turner.
Children of JOSEPH and ELIZA (Turner) CLAPP :
690. CHARLES, 6 probably the one recorded as dying of smallpox, in
Scituate, in 1792-3.
691. LUTHER," nothing known of his history.
692. BARNARD, 6 d. April 24, 1803. He m. Lydia Packard, who d.
May 24, 1797. He removed to Braintree. Children:
693. Charles? b. Jan. 10, 1795 ; d. Jan. 16, 1838 ; m. Sally Manley,
and lived in North Bridge water. Children : i, Lucius, 9 b. Jan.
14, 1817; m. July 4, 184-, Emily Waters ; is a farmer in
Stoughton. ii, Charles* b. Feb. 11, 1827 ; d. Jan. 11, 1846.
694. Lydia,'' m. Daniel Holbrook.
695. INCREASE, 6 b. in Scituate, about 1780. Kemoved to Weymouth
when a youth, and lived with his brother Barnard, to whom he
was apprenticed. He m. at about 23 years of age, Sarah, dau.
of Elisha Holbrook, of Weymouth. Was a man of good charac-
ter, habits and standing in the town ; industrious, and attended
closely to his business, which was ship-building, he being one of
the firm of " Clapp and Loring," ship-builders. He was quite
active in the organization of "the Union Religious Society ^of
Weymouth and Braintree, " to whom the Rev. Jonas Perkins
preached for a great many years," and was one of the committee
to superintend the removal of the Old Church building from
Boston to Weymouth (which was taken down in Boston, the
material transported to Weymouth by water, and set up again
on its present site). He was not a professor of religion, but lived
an upright, moral life, and was much respected by his townspeo-
ple. He accumulated some property, and, about the year 1809,
erected the substantial dwelling-house on Front Street, ey-
mouth, now (1875) owned and occupied by his son Adoram and
family. He d- in the prime of life, being only 40 years of age,
23
172 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
leaving his wife and family of eight children, the oldest being but
1 5 years old. Children :
696. Clarissa? b. March 28, 1805 ; m. Warren Richards.
61)7. Adoram? b. March 26, 1807. He is quite a prominent citizen
of the town ofWeymouth, and has represented that town in
the State Legislature one year. Has carried on for many
years quite an extensive business in the manufacture and
wholesaling of boots and shoes in Weymouth and Boston.
"Was one of the first in the organization of the Universalist
Society in Weymouth, and has always been connected with
it since. He m. Clarissa B., daughter of Ebenezer Nash, of
Weymouth. Children : i. Ann Elizabeth* b. June 23, 1829 ;
m. Albion Hall, and had three children, ii, Sarah Jane, 8 b.
Feb. 1, 1832. Hi, Augustus W. 8 b. June 7, 1834; m. Elea-
nor F. Richards, and has: (1) Emma Louisa; 9 (2) Charles
Austin; 9 (3) William Augustus? d. young. iv. Andrew
Jackson ? b. Sept. 21, 1836. V, Maria Louisa? b. Sept. 24,
1838; m. Solon W. Pratt, and has three children. VI, Wil-
liam Henry? b. March 10, 1842. vii, Emma Augusta? b.
Feb. 17, 1844. Till, Richmond? b. Nov. 14, 1846.
698. Joseph, 1 b. Jan. 11, 1809 ; m. Susan Adlington.
699. Sarah, 7 b. Feb. 15, 1811 ; m. Addison Cheeseman.
700. Charles &, 7 b. April 20, 1813; m. Harriet Nash.
701. Mary Ann? b. Aug. 24, 1816; m. Ebed Stoddard.
702. Hannah Torrey? b. July 18, 1818; m. Robert Bassett.
703. Mercy? b. Aug. 25, 1820; m. Thomas Pratt.
704. JOSEPH, 6 b. in 1781 ; m. and removed to Lyme, N. H. Children :
705. Joseph? and three other children.
706. JOB,* nothing known of his history.
-316-
SAMUEL 5 {John* Stephen, 3 Samuel? Thomas 1 ), eldest son of John
and Mercy (Otis) Clapp, of Scituate, was born July 25, 1725. He
married and removed to Worthington, Mass., and died in 1809.
Children of SAMUEL CLAPP, of Worthington :
707. STEPHEN, S m. and settled in New Salem, N. Y., at a place called
Clapp's Mills. Children :
708. Stephen," 1 b. in 1786; m. Jane Mack. Children: i, Azubah?
b. in 1806 ; m. Levi Farwell. ii, Caroline Dwelly? b. Nov.
1809 ; m. Hiram Green. She was a woman of fine personal
appearance, and was living in 1852 at Fort Hamilton, with
her brother Hawley D. iii, Ambrose Spencer? m. Laura
Raymond, and lives in Salem, N. Y. iv, Maria L.? b. in
1816 ; m. Henry W. Hewitt, and lives in New York city. V,
Hawley D.? kept a very large public house at Fort Hamilton,
on L. L, N. Y. ; since then, he kept the Everett House in
New York city ; m. Huldah Van Brunt, and has Nicholas
Rutger Van Brunt? and a child b. Aug. 1852. VI, Jane
Ann? m. Silas Rice, and lives in Salem, N. Y. \l\, Eliza-
beth ff. s viii, Sarah Matilda. 8
709. Constant,'' m. Statira Bartlett. Children: i, Leonidas? m.
THOMAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 173
Jane Chamberlain and lives in Salem, N. Y. ii, Louisa* m.
Wm. Baker, and lives in Greenwich, N. Y. Hi, Amelia* d.
about 1847. iv, Alfred F. 8 m. Sarah Chamberlain, sister of
the wife of Leonidas. V. Statira. 8
710. Otis? m. Harriet Munroe. Children : i, Munroe, 8 dead in 1873 ;
went to South America and m. a Spanish lady, ii, Benjamin
F. 8 dead in 1873. iii, Frances, 8 d. young, iv, Wittoughby*
dead in 1873 ; buried in Greenwood Cemetery in New York.
V. Octavia. 8 vi. Catharine. 8
711. Ephraim W.? b. in 1790; m. Sarah Rice. Children: i, Clark
R- 8 m ii, George R. 8 m Hurd, lives in Arling-
ton, Vt. iii, Harriet 8 m. Mr. Eddy, who kept a public house
in Arlington, Vt. She was dead in 1873. iv, Martha T., 8
m. and lived in Salem, N. Y. ; was dead in 1873. V, Mary
(7., 8 was dead in 1873. vi, James William. 8
712. Samuel? was dead in 1852. He m. Lois Cleveland. Children:
i, Catharine. 8 ii, Almira 8 m. Mr. Billings, and removed to
Virginia about 1851. Hi, Mary 8 dead, iv, Julia Ann, 8 dead.
V. Frances 8
713. Leonard ff.? lived in Pittsford, N. Y. ; m Stephens;
after his decease she m. Mr. Ferguson, of Washington, D. C.
Children : i, Samuel, 8 drowned, ii, Julia, 8 dead.
714. Dwetty M.? b. about 1800; settled in Adrian, Mich. ; m. Miss
Achor, and had Emily A 8 and two more.
715. LEMUEL. 6
716. BARNABAS,* settled in Pittstown, N. Y. ; m. Anna Shepard, of that
town. Children :
717. John? is a physician; m. widow Abba Rankin, nee Coval.
718. William? studied for the ministry.
719. Sally? m. Robert S. Bostwick and settled in Phelps, N. Y. It
is from one of their sons, Barnabas Clapp Bostwick, that
much information has been obtained.
720. Lucy? m. David Doolittle, and lived in Pittstown, N. Y.
721. ISAAC. 6
722. JOHN, 6 went West when about 21 years of age. He enlisted in
the war of 1812, and was made prisoner by an Indian chief in
the defeat of Gen. St. Clair. After he obtained his liberty he
settled on the bank of the Big Miami River in Ohio ; m. and had
a family.
322
JOHN 5 (John, 4 Stephen? Samuel? Thomas 1 }, son of John and
Mercy (Otis) Clapp, of Scituate, and brother of the preceding, was
born July 5, 1734. He was a Colonel and lived in Scituate, near
the Second Herring Brook, so called. He was an officer in the
French War, also in the War of the Revolution. He married Cliloe
Stowers, of Hingham, in 1761. He died in Scituate, Feb. 13, 1810.
Children of Col. JOHN and CHLOE (Stowers) CLAPP, of Scituate:
723. RACHEL, 6 b. Aug. 30, 1763 ; m. Elijah Curtis.
724. ELIJAH, 6 b. April 25, 1766 ; d. in South Scituate, Oct. 19, 1859,
174 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
in his 94th year. He enjoyed remarkable health, and was not con-
fined to his house by sickness during sixty-five years previous to
1857. He probably m. Martha Hatch, July 19, 1801. Children :
725. Mary? b. Aug. 13, 1803 ; d. May 18, 1848, unmarried.
726. Martha, 7 b. June 1, 1805; d. in 1857.
727. Elijah," 1 b. March 9, 1807 ; m. Jan. 10, 1830, Temperance
Lapham, and lived in Scituate. Children: i, Temperance, 6
b. June 22, 1833 ; m. Dec. 26, 1858, Sylvanus Clapp (No.
753). ii, Andrew, 6 b. June 22, 1837; m. Dec. 25, 1864,
Susan F. Ewell.
728. Joseph Stowers? b. Nov. 11, 1808 ; m. Sally Turner. Children :
\. David* b. July 16, 1844; m. Sept. 30, 1869, Elmira
Barry, and has one son, George /SI, 9 b. Nov. 12, 1871. ii,
Roger,* b. Nov. 29, 1846 ; d. Sept. 2, 1849. iii. Emma
Caroline* b. April 2, 1853.
729. Bathsheba? b. Nov. 16, 1811 ; m. Charles H. Lapham.
730. George? b. Jan. 5, 1818 ; m. Deborah, dau. of Ira Barker.
Children: i, George B.* b. Jan. 23, 1839; d. Feb. 8, 1842.
ii. Ann M.* b. Nov. 2, 1840 ; m. Mr. French, and d. within
a short period after, iii, Deborah F., 8 m. Albert Sawyer,
and d. soon after.
731. JOSEPH SiowEKS, 6 b. Aug. 26, 1768 ; m. April 23, 1801, Lefy
Curtis. Child :
732. Edward Stowers 7
733. CHLOE, 6 b. May 26, 1770 ; m. Jan. 1, 1795, John Turner, and had
two children.
734. LTDiA, 6 b. July 10, 1778 ; m. Elisha Barrell, of Hanover, Mass.,
and had three children.
735. JoHN, 6 b. Sept. 23, 1780; d. Feb. 28, 1855; m. May 4, 1817,
Lucy Otis, of Scituate, a descendant of Peregrine White. She
d. March 23, 1860. Children :
736. Sarah T.? b. Feb. 10, 1818 ; m. Feb. 26, 1854, John Curtis,
of Hanover.
737. RachelS.? b. Feb. 7, 1820; m. Feb. 14, 1845, James B.
Brewster, of Hanson.
738. Lucy A., 7 b. March 29, 1822 ; d. July 16, 1854.
739. Frances A.? b. Feb. 11, 1824 ; m. Oct. 11, 1855, Joel Bowker,
of Boston.
740. Lydia 0.? b. Feb. 21, 1826 ; m. Sept. 29, 1859, Ira B. San-
born, who was b. in Waterboro', Me., Nov. 5, 1830; have
three children. They live in South Scituate.
741. John? b. Dec, 31, 1828 ; m. March 7, 1872, Elvira A., dau. of
E. S. Conant, of Randolph.
742. Edwin? b. May 15, 1831 ; d. May 18, 1839.
743. Catharine M.? b. Sept. 5, 1834; m. Dec. 2, 1860, Eichard P.
Briggs, b. in Hanover, Oct. 21, 1828. Two children.
-331-
SYLVANUS 5 (Nathaniel,* Stephen, 3 Samuel, 2 Thomas 1 ), eldest son
of Nathaniel and Desire (Bourne) Clapp, of Scituate, was born Jan.
20, 1742. He lived i the house which he inherited from his father
THOMAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 175
and grandfather, being the same in which his uncle, Pres. Thomas,
of Yale College, was born. He married, June 9, 1768, Elizabeth
Brooks, of Scituate, who was born in 1743, and died Nov. 18, 1820,
having survived her husband nearly nine years. He died April 29,
1811, aged 68 years.
Children of SYLVANUS and ELIZABETH (Brooks) CLAPP, of Scituate :
744. BETSEY, 6 b. Feb. 5, 1771; d. in 1728. She m. (published Dec.
17, 1801) William Whiting, of Hanover, and had four children.
745. TEMPERANCE, 6 b. June 9, 1773 ; d. in 1834. She m. June 18,
1795, Charles Lapham, of Scituate, and had five children.
746. DESIRE. 6 b. Dec. 4, 1775 ; d. in 1836. She m. (published April
17, 1802) Job Loring, of Hingham, and had six children.
747. RACHEL, 6 b. April 9, 1778; m. first, in 1801, Warren Jacobs, of
Boston, and had three children ; m. second, Stephen Hall, of
Chelsea.
748. MARY, 6 b. Sept. 5, 1781 ; m. Isaac Totman, of Boston, and had
three children.
749. NATHANIEL, 6 b. March 1, 1785 ; d. April 19, 1854. Was a very
respectable man, and lived in Scituate on land which has been
possessed by the family from 1660. He was Deputy Sheriff of
Plymouth County for many years, and held various offices in
town and county. He lost one leg in early life by an accident,
and while having it amputated, without any anaesthetic, he did
not so much as utter a groan. From his family, important in-
formation was obtained for these annals. He m. Nov. 27, 1814,
Anna Briggs, of Scituate, who was b. June 4, 1793, and was
present at the social meeting of the Clapps, on the evening of
June 18, 1873, in Boston. Children:
750. Nathaniel B., 1 b. Aug. 28, 1815; he m. first, Nov. 25, 1838,
Anna B. (No. 678), dau. of Allen Clapp, of Scituate, who d.
Dec. 22, 1839, leaving one child, Frank Allen, 8 b. Nov. 5,
1839, who lives in South Boston, m. Nov. 5, 1865, Juletta
Sylvester, and has : (1) Anna May* b. May 28, 1867 ; (2)
Carrie W. 9 b. Nov. 6, 1872. Nath'l B. 7 m. second, Mary B.
Clapp (No. 679), sister of his first wife. They had one child,
Frederick Waterston* b. Feb. 25, 1843, who m. Dec. 2, 1868,
Mary A. Lewis, of Framingham, and has : (1) Fanny Lewis, 9
b. Sept. 25, 1869 ; (2) Frank Nathaniel, 9 b. Oct. 2, 1870 ;
(3) Gustavus? b. Oct. 28, 1871; (4) John Wilson, 9 b. March
10,1873; (5) Frederick, 9 b. Aug. 4, 1874. Nath'l B. 7 m.
third, Nov. 3, 1872, Julia Clapp (No. 682), of Scituate.
751. Deborah A., 1 b. Aug 13, 1819 ; m. Nov. 16, 1842, Allen (No.
677), son of Allen Clapp, of Scituate, and has five children.
752. Antoinette,' 1 b. Feb. 27, 1822; d. October, 1847, unmarried.
753. Sylvanus? b. Oct. 18, 1831 ; m. Dec. 26, 1858, Temperance,
dau. of Elijah Clapp (No. 727), of Scituate. He has served
as Selectman of the town, and in various other offices.
754. STEPHEN, 6 b. July 20, 1787; d. Feb. 13, 1825. He lived in
Scituate in the same house in which his father lived and died.
He m. April 14, 1814, Delight Bowker, of Scituate, who d. Jan.
15,1849. Children:
755. Meletiah? b. Feb. 13, 1815; m. in 1838, Lucy Sherman, of
176 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
Marshfield, and lived in Medford. Children: i, Meletiah
Otis, 8 b. in 1839 ; m ii. Lucy Otis, 8 b. in 1841. Hi.
Hannah S. 8
756. Gorham? b. Aug. 27, 1816; m. Aug. 19, 1845, Lydla II.
Winship. Children : i, Carrie L. 8 b. June 1 2, 1846 ; d. July
4, 1847. ii, Clara A. 8 b. Sept. 7, 1847 ; d. June 24, 1862.
iii, Stephen G., B b. Sept. 14, 1849 ; d. Aug. 11, 1850. iv,
Josephine 8 b. Sept. 19, 1850; d. Oct. 27, 1851. V, Ella G. 8
b. May 23, 1853; m. Sept. 6, 1870, John G. Briggs, and has
one child. vi. M. Lizzie 8 b. July 14, 1860; d. Sept. 10,
1864.
757. Otis P., 7 b. March 12, 1818 ; m. Oct. 22, 1843, Margaret C.
Flagg, of Boston, and then resided there. Has six children.
758. Elizabeth BJ b. Sept. 12, 1819 ; m. in 1838, James M. Cum-
mings, of New York, and has six children.
759. Hannah S.? b. March 8, 1821 ; m. first, Oct. 27, 1844, in
Boston, Wm. A. Hanson, and had one child; second, Samuel
Spaulding, aud had two children.
760. Temperance? b. Aug. 26, 1822 ; m. Hanson Sleeper, of Boston,
and had two children.
761. Stephen? b. Oct. 5, 1824 ; d. Dec. 27, 1873 ; m. Dec. 19, 1847,
Rachel Sherman, of Marshfield. Children : i, Mary A., s b.
Aug. 26, 1850; m. June 11, 1871, Daniel J. Sampson. ii.
Cora J. 8 b. Jan. 29, 1859. iii, S. Eddie, 8 b. March 4, 1862 ;
d. Dec. 11, 1863.
One other child of Sylvanus 6 and Elizabeth d. young.
-340-
JOHN 5 (Thomas, 4 John, 3 Samuel, 2 Thomas 1 ), eldest son of Judge
Thomas and Mary (Leonard) Clapp, of Scituate, was born in Taun-
ton, July 14, 1733. He was a Captain in the Militia, and an officer
in the French War. He was at Quebec in 1759. He married in
1752 Jerusha Bailey, who was born in 1736, and lived in Scituate.
He was but 20 years of age and his wife but 16 at the time of mar-
riage. He died May 24, 1767. He was the only member of his
family who married.
Children of Capt. JOHN and JERUSHA (Bailey) CLAPP, of Scituate :
762. MARY. 6
763. JOHN,' d. a young man, while serving in the Army of the Revo-
lution.
764. RuTH, 6 m. John Tiffany, of Attleboro'.
765. NANCY, 6 b. in 1761; d. April 29, 1800, aged 39 years. She m.
Dec. 12, 1782, Edward S. Leeds, of Dorchester, who was far
from being an exemplary man. She was buried in the old
burying-ground at Dorchester.
766. ESTHER, 6 b. in 1764 ; m. Charles Cole, of Scituate ; was an active
and intelligent woman.
767. LEONARD, 6 b. Aug. 1766 ; d. April 8, 1852, aged 85 years, 8 mos.
He lived on the paternal estate of Rev. Thomas. He m. Betsey
Stetson, of Scituate, who d. June 7, 1854, aged 81 years. Chil. :
THOMAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 177
768. Mary Leonard? b. Sept. 26, 1798; unm. Lives with her
brother Henry in the house built by her great-grandfather
iu 1740. Is familiar with the whole family history of the
Scituate branch ; is well informed in regard to matters of
public as well as local interest; has furnished valuable aid
in gathering material for these annals ; and treasures up,
with the devotedness of a true antiquary, many precious relics
which have come down to her from worthy ancestors.
769. Leonard,' 1 b. March 18, 1800 ; d. Feb. 9, 1818, at sea ; unm.
770. Henry? \>. May 29, 1802; m. Oct. 1844, Frances Perry, of
South Abington. He settled as a merchant in Scituate,
and now lives in the mansion house built by Judge Thomas
Clapp in 1740. Children: i, Mary Frances* b. August,
1845. H, Henry Oscar, 8 b. April, 1847.
771. Alfred? b. Jan. 15, 1804; was a sea-captain, and lost at sea
x>ff Cape Hatteras, April, 1834; m. Nov. 15, 1829, Catharine
Litchfield, b. Jan. 1, 1811. Children: i, Mandana Catha-
rine* b. Oct. 12, 1830 ; m. Feb. 23, 1850, Joseph W. Morris,
of North Scituate, and has four children, i J . Alfred* b. July,
1834; m. Abbie Merritt, and has: (1) Georgiana ; 9 (2) Lu-
cy Ellen ; 9 (3) Mary Leonard ; 9 (4) Alfred; 9 (5) Augustus ; 9
(6) Bessie?
772. Albert? twin brother of Alfred, b. Jan. 15, 1804; d. June
26. 1838 ; m. March 29, 1829, Martha Weston, of Duxbury.
Children: i, Augustus* was engineer of one of the U.S.
Steamers during the War of the Rebellion, and d. after the
close of the war. ii, Georgiana* lives in Duxbury, unm.
with her mother.
773. Sarah Briggs? b. July 15, 1805 ; m. Nov. 8, 1829, Geo. W.
Wetherbee, of Boston.
774. Lucy Briggs? twin sister to Sarah B., b. July 17, 1805 ; m.
Dec. 25, 1827, Calvin Damon, of Boston.
775. Augustus? b. Sept. 15, 1807 ; d. Jan. 10, 1831 ; was Post-
. master of Scituate for some time ; unmarried.
776. Chandler? b. Dec. 25, 1808; was a sea-captain. He m.
in 1837, Hannah Foster, who d. May 5, 1866, a. 48 yrs. 6
mos. Children : i, Oriana* b. Nov. 13, 1837 ; d. Aug. 23,
1838. U. Maria F.* b. June 13, 1839 ; m. Benjamin Wild-
er, of Hingham. Hi. Joseph W.* b. in 1843; m. July 20,
1875, Almena M. Sparrow, of Chatham. IV, George Chand-
ler * b. in 1845 ; m. March 24, 1872, Annie M. Phillips, of
Foster, R. I. V. Charles F.* b. July, 1850; m. Nov. 5,
1874, Alice Carpenter, of Marlboro'. Some ancient docu-
ments, made use of in this Memorial, were kindly furnished
by him.
777. Thomas? b. Feb. 25, 1812 ; was fifteen years one of the School
Committee of Scituate, and also served the town as one o
the Selectmen in 1 868. The mill, of which the poet sings m
the song of " The Old Oaken Bucket," belongs to this branch
of the family, and is still in use. He m. *^> 19S *>
Ann Rosina Cudworth, who was b. in Marshfield, Jan. 7,
1821. Children: I, Henry T.* b. April 2, 1840; he was
the Ward Master of the Georgetown College Hospital in
178 THE CLAPP MEMOEIAL.
the early part of the Rebellion, and in the 42d Mass. Vols.
in the latter part; m. June 12, 1870, Mary Frances Carr,
who was b. in Taunton, Jan. 27, 1850. ii, Ann R., 8 b. May
30, 1842 ; m. Dec. 7, 1865, Elijah T., son of Elijah Clapp
(No. 299), of Scituate. Hi, William, 8 b. Nov. 17, 1846;
lives in Centreville, Cal. iv, Ella JB., S b. Sept. 2, 1857. V,
Josephine L., 8 b. July 4, 1859.
778. Frances Elizabeth,'' b. March 13, 1814; m. Turner Hatch, of
Scituate.
779. Rufus? b. April 10, 1817 ; he is a farmer, and has served on
the School Committee of Scituate ; m. Nancy Hall, of Marsh-
field. Children : i, Nancy A. 8 b. Nov. 1845 ; d. about 1872 ;
she m. Capt. George Hodgdon. ii, Albert, 8 b. Oct. 1847 ; m.
Mary A. Packard, and has: (1) George P. f 1 (2) Lizzie?
(3) Anna; 9 (4) an infant, not named. Hi, Alfred, 8 lives in
Boston, iv. Frank, 9 lives in Illinois, and m. there. V, Li-
lian. 9 VI, Jennie. 9 Vli. Gertrude 9 VJH, Rufus Floyd. 9
The last four are living at their father's house, in Scituate.
780. HANNAH,* b. in 1768; d. Feb. 19, 1837; m. April 19, 1795, John
Otis, of Scituate, a sea-captain, b. Feb. 17, 1769.
-349-
D WELLY 5 (David,* David, 3 Samuel? Thomas 1 ), only child of
David and first wife Ruth Clapp, of Scituate, was born Aug. 12, 1741.
He was a soldier in the War of the Revolution, and received a pen-
sion during the remainder of his life. He married first, June 5, 1 760,
Eliza Elmms; second, May 23, 1776, Abigail Gray. He lived and
died in Scituate.
Children of DWELLY and 1st wife ELIZA (Elmms) CLAPP, of
Scituate :
781. DWELLY/ b. in 1763 ; d. June 22, 1819, aged 56 years. He m.
Rachel and lived in Scituate. Children :
782. Polly, 1 b. Aug. 8, 1781.
783. Sally,' 1 b. Aug. 8, 1784.
784. Roger?}*. Dec. 2, 1785; d. May 10, 1812. He is probably
the one who m. in Boston, March 26, 1810, Betsey W.
Smith.
785. Levi? b. Aug. 11, 1787 ; d. Dec. 22, 1814. He m. in 1813,
Sally Leavitt, and had one or two children which d. young.
786. Bathsheba? b. Oct. 17, 1790.
787. Perez? b. Aug. 24, 1793; removed to somewhere in Worcester
Co., Mass., and was in Woodstock, Vt., in 1856. He m.
Jan. 18, 1814, Rhoda Smith, of Bridgewater, Vt., who was b.
Jan. 16, 1796. Children : i, Harvey 8 b. Feb. 12, 1820. ii,
Norman 8 b. Aug. 9, 1822. Hi. William 8 b. Nov. 23, 1824.
IV. Elmira 8 b. April 16, 1827. V. Sylvester 8 b. July 9, 1829.
\\.Levi* b. May 24, 1831. vii. James 8 b. Nov/22, 1833.
Viii. Elvira K. 8 b. April 23, 1836. IX, George 8 b. Oct. 8,
1839.
788. Susanna? b. Aug. 24, 1793. Twin sister to Perez.
THOMAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 179
789. Ruth, 1 b. Oct. 15, 1796.
790. Rachel,' 1 b. Sept. 2, 1798.
791. Eliza? b. June 27, 1802.
792. Lucinda? b. March 2, 1805.
793. Tilden? b. Dec. 2, 1807 ; m. Oct. 10, 1824, Penelope Nichols.
Children: i, Luther L., s b. Dec. 23, 182G. ii, George H., 8 b.
Sept. 29, 1828. iii. Rhoda N., 8 b. Oct. 29, 1830. iv.
Lucinda 8 b. July 28, 1834. V. Rhoda, 9 b. Oct. 1, 1837. vi.
Caleb N., 8 b. Nov. 10, 1839 ; vii, Lydia K* b. May 14, 1841.
794. ROGER, 6 b. 1765 ; d. 1797 ; m. Margaret Sutton and 1. in Scituate.
After his decease, his widow m. second, John Federhen, a Ger-
man, and lived in Boston ; in 1842, being quite aged, she made
a misstep and broke her leg in two places, crippling her for the
remainder of her life. Important information was obtained from
her for these annals. Children :
795. Galen,' 1 b. March 14, 1792; d. about 1836. He is represented
as an honest man, but of imprudent habits. He was a
jeweller by trade, and lived in Boston. He m. in Boston,
March 6, 1814, Deborah Hayden. Children: i. Amos C. 8
b. in 1814 or '15; a printer in Boston ; m. about 1839,
Catharine Lambert, of Nova Scotia, and had : (1) John, 9 b. in
1840 ; (2) Mary Elizabeth, 9 b. in 1842 ; d. Oct. 29, 1847. ii,
Margaret? m. Wm. Taylor, of Boston, who d. about 1841,
and had one child ; she afterwards lived with her mother, iii.
William, 8 lived in Boston, i?. Henry* d. young. V. Anna, 8
b. in 1826 ; lived with her mother, whom she helped to
support.
796. Artemas, 7 b. April 4, 1794; d. March 3, 1869. He was a con-
fectioner by trade and lived in Boston. He m. in Boston,
May 5, 1812, Mary Hanson, who was born January 1,
1791, and died October 15, 1872. Children: i. Artemas 8
b. Nov. 20, 1816; left the country about the year 1835,
and was supposed to be in the Sandwich Islands, ii. Mary
E. 8 b. June 11, 1820; m. April 26, 1843, Charles F. Dan-
forth, of Claremont, N. H.; lived in Boston; d. Dec. 29,
1872. iii. John F., 8 b. Sept. 11, 1821 ; d. Oct. 6, 1846. i?.
Ann C., 8 b. Feb. 25, 1824; m. first, Aug. 28, 1842, James
W. Root, of Enfield, Ct. ; m. second, Charles H. Knowlton ;
lives in Boston. V. Ellen H.,* b. May 3, 1826 ; m. Aug. 12,
1847, John \V. Gleason, of Andover, and lives in Boston, vi.
Caroline 8 m. Job T. Bates, of Cohasset. vii. Charles T. 8 d.
Jan. 9, 1861.
797. Cassius? b. July 16, 1796 ; d. about 1841, aged about 45 years.
He lived awhile in Charlestown, but finally settled in Lynn,
where he died. He m. first, in Boston, May 13, 1818, Hen-
rietta Gould ; second, Bangs. Children: i. Thomas,
b. in 1819 ; lived in Lynn, and in 1843 m. Eliza Gilman; II,
Cassius 8 d. young, iii. Jacob, 8 was an apprentice in Boston
in 1843. if, Henrietta 8 d. young. V. Harriet 8 d. young.
798. ALEXANDER, 6 b. in 1767; d. Aug. 21, 1830, aged about 63 years.
He lived and died in Scituate. He m. Sept. 9, 1791, Bethian
Litchfield. Children :
799. Paul, 1 b. in 1792 ; m. Nov. 29, 1810, Lydia Bates. Children :
24
189 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
j. Ozias 8 b. April 7, 1829 ; lives in Boston ; m. first, Nov.
28, 1853, Lucy V. Bouve, and has : (1) John B., 9 b. Aug. 31,
1856 ; (2) Frank H. 9 b. May 23, 1859 ; (3) Lulu M., 9 b.
March 23, 1863 ; m. second, Oct. 15, 1871, Lizzie C. Pope.
ii. Owen, 8 b. March 22, 1833. Hi. Eliza Ann* m. William
R. Webster, and was dead in 1873.
800. Silas, 7 b. in 1793 ; d. April 26, 1826. He m. Oct. 9, 1814, Ruth
C. Litchfield, who d. Aug. 27, 1825, aged 30 years. Children :
i, Martha F., 8 b. Oct. 17, 1815. ii. Silas D.,* b. Oct. 14,
1818; d. Aug. 4, 1836, aged 18 years. Hi, Mary E.,* b. Oct.
31, 1820. iv. Nichols, 9 b. June 20, 1823.
801. Henry, 1 b. Feb. 28, 1797 ; m. about 1817, Martha Parker, who
was b. in Dorchester, and had : i. George P., 8 b. Feb. 18, 1817;
m. Nov. 28, 1839, Ann, dau. of Joseph and Susan (Cutting)
Potter ; live in South Scituate. Children : ( 1 ) George H., g
b. July 18, 1841, m. March 7, 1865, Susan R. Stetson, and
lives in Somerville ; (2) Ann M, 9 b. Jan. 5, 1847; (3)
Augustine W. 9 b. Dec. 12, 1853, d. Jan. 12, 1871.
802. Job 7 b. in 1799 ; d. Aug. 20, 1825, aged 26 years. He m.
April 2, 1820, Lydia Damon. Children : i, Hiram, 6 b. July
28, 1822. ii. Christiana 9 b. Dec. 20, 1825.
803. Allen, 7 b. in 1801 ; m. Feb. 15, 1821, Mary Gotbott. Children :
\* Lazarus? b. Feb. 7, 1824; d. Jan. 4, 1827. ii. Mary G., 8
b. Jan. 11, 1826. iii. Salome, 8 b. March 3, 1829. iv. Xoa
A. 8 b. Dec. 12, 1831. V. Abigail M., 8 b. April 18, 1834.
804. Alexander," 1 b. in 1807 ; a blacksmith by trade. He settled in
Hingham, and m. Sept. 24, 1830, Leverett L. Lincoln.
Children : i. Charles C. 8 dead in 1873. ii. George 8 iii.
Mary 8
805. Joseph? b. in 1809; probably m. about 1830, Lydia
Children: \.Bethiah, 9 b. Nov. 24, 1830. \\.Joseph H., 8 b.
Dec. 20, 1833. Hi. Ruth L. 9 b. March 16, 1835.
806. Azuld 1 (or Ursula).
807. WiLLiAM, 6 probably d. young.
808. BARNARD, 6 probably d. young.
809. JosiAH, 6 probably d. young.
-362-
BELA 5 (Joshua, 4 David, 3 Samuel, 3 Thomas 1 ^), eldest son of Joshua
and Lydia Clapp, of Scituate, was born in Scituate, July 2, 1760,
but removed to Boston, where he carried on a large business as a
carpenter. He built the house on the lower road, Dorchester, called
the Hall House, bought by Capt. F. W. Macondray. He was a mem-
ber of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery ; afterwards removed to
Claremont, N. H., where he died. He married, first, Jan. 23, 1783,
Sarah Warland, who died Feb. 2, 1804; second, Feb. 16, 1805,
Elizabeth Gilbert, of Littleton, who died Aug. 15, 1826, having
survived her husband about 14 years. He died July 12, 1812.
Children of BELA and 1st wife SARAH (Warland) CLAPP:
-J-810. WILLIAM WARLAND, b. Nov. 2, 1783 ; d. April 30, 1866.
THOMAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 181
811. SARAH, 6 b. Jan. 11, 1786; m. about 1838, Meletiah Holmes, of
Kingston, Mass. ; no issue.
812. MARY, 6 b. Dec. 16, 1787 ; d. Nov. 7, 1795, aged 8 years.
813. LYDIA, S b. Feb. 14, 1790 ; m. in Claremont, N. H., Capt. John
Farwell, and had five children. After the death of her husband,
she resided with her sons in Boston.
814. JOSHUA B., s b. July 20, 1792 ; d. April 2, 1860. He lived in New
London, Conn., and afterwards kept an Intelligence and Real
Estate Office in Boston. He m. Clarissa Clark. Children :
815. Mary J5., 7 b. about 1819.
816. Maria Elizabeth? b. Dec. 31, 1820, at New London, Ct. ; d.
Aug. 13, 1857. She was a woman of very marked religious
traits. A memoir of her life and character was written by
her pastor, Rev. Chandler Robbins, D.D., of Boston, in 1858,
and published in a book of 134 pages. He says of her :
" She was a Christian indeed, in whom was no guile."
" Those who met her most frequently, and knew her most in-
timately, were profoundly impressed with the genuineness
and thoroughness of her consecration to God,"
817. Clarissa L.? m. Rev. William G. Babcock, of Lunenburg,
afterwards of Boston ; now minister of Warrenton Street
Chapel. A daughter of theirs passed through the regular
course of study, in the Divinity School of Harvard College,
and is now the wife of Rev. H. Bisbee, pastor of the Hawes
Place Congregational Society, South Boston.
818. Joshua W., 7 b. Dec. 31, 1824 ; m. June 23, 1853, Sarah Ann
Maria Cole, who d. Jan. 1875. Children : i, Maria Louisa, 8
b. April 7, 1854. ii. George Gregory, 8 b. March 27, 1858.
Hi. Clarissa Clark, 8 b. Sept. 27, 1864. iv. Frederick Walter*
b. Oct. 4, 1868.
819. Lucy S., 7 b. May 19, 1827 ; d. Aug. 28, 1827.
820. Lucy F., 7 b. June 19, 1828 ; m. April 2, 1856, Dr. Joseph
Hagar, of Boston.
821. George G., 7 b. Aug. 17, 1829 ; d. June 17, 1871. He m. Aug.
17, 1854, Harriet Tirrell, of Boston. Children: 1. Joshua
Warland* b. May 16, 1855. ii. Harriet Maria, 8 b. Aug. 30,
1857. iii. William Henry, 8 b. Oct. 26, 1859. IT, Charles
Walter 8 b. Dec. 28, 1860 ; d. March 5, 1861.
822. Harriet M.? b. Oct. 16, 1831 ; m. April, 1856, Smith Wright,
of Boston.
823. Edmund 7 b. Dec. 8, 1834; d. an infant.
824. Charles 7 b. Aug. 13, 1835 ; d. young.
825. JOSEPH, 6 b. Jan. 19, 1795 ; d. an infant.
826. REBECCA, 6 b. May 29, 1798 ; d. an infant.
Child of BELA and 2d wife ELIZABETH (Gilbert) CLAPP:
827. STEPHEN RoWE, 6 b. March 25, 1809 ; a pianoforte maker in Bos-
ton. He m. Jan. 5, 1832, Rebecca W. Noyes, of Newburyport.
Children :
828. Mary L.? b. June 5, 1833.
829. Stephen Rowe 7 b. August, 1843.
182 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
456
JOSHUA 8 (Joshua, 6 Joshua, 4 Joshua, 3 Thomas, 3 Thomas 1 ), oldest
son of Joshua and Margaret (Guild) Clapp, of Walpole, was born
March 11, 1753; when young, lived in Connecticut, then moved to
Walpole, and from thence he removed to the vicinity of Brattleboro',
Yt., where he settled on a farm. He married Lucy Buckminster,
daughter of a clergyman of that name in Connecticut.
Children of JOSHUA and LUCY (Buckminster) CLAPP, of Walpole,
Mass., and Brattleboro', Vt. :
830. NATHAN B., 7 b. Sept. 16, 1778.
831. LUCY,' b. May 17, 1780.
832. LowELL, 7 d. February, 1854.
+833. ELLis, 7 b. Sept. 17, 1784 ; d. Feb. TO, 1854.
834. JosHUA. 7
K-t O
_)_!_ O ~
SAMUEL 6 (Samuel, 5 Samuel* Samuel, 3 Thomas," Thomas 1 ), oldest
son of Samuel and Lydia (Wilds) Clapp, of Norton, was born May
17, 1769. He settled first in Petersham, but in the latter part of
his life he lived with his son Samuel at Athol. He married, May
26, 1795, Sarah, daughter of Enos Lincoln.
Children of SAMUEL and SARAH (Lincoln) CLAPP.
835. SAMUEL/ b. Feb. 16, 1796 ; d. Dec. 5, 1874. He lived in Athol,
Mass., and was a very intelligent, ingenious man, as well as an
eminent Christian. He was a good man, greatly beloved by all
who knew him. He held the office of Deacon in Athol for more
than forty years, having been chosen to that office the second
year of his membership in the church, and during that time was
a faithful and consistent church officer. He illustrated in his life
the truth of the proverb : " When a man's ways please the Lord,
he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him." He was
the inventor of " Clapp's Telegraphic Calendar," a most ingeni-
ous and convenient chart " for instantly finding the day of the
month and the day of the week, in any year, from the birth of
Christ to the year 3200 inclusive." An edition of this " Calen-
dar," prepared by the author, was printed in 1850, on a sheet 10
or 1 1 inches square, by David Clapp, Jr. of Boston, and published
by Ebenezer Clapp, Jr. He m. Nancy Bancroft, of Petersham.
Children :
836. Priscilla Elvira* b. Feb. 13, 1820; m. Feb. 10, 1841, James
S. Goulding, who was a Deacon of the church in Athol.
837. Samuel Austin? b. Oct. 30, 1821 ; d. June 6, 1848. He m.
Jan. 12, 1847, Hepzibeth Goodnough, of Templeton. No
issue.
838. Nancy Angelina* b. Feb. 5, 1826; m. Aug. 4, 1846, Sumner
J. Lincoln, of West Brookfield. LiveS in Baltimore, Md.
839. Harriet Shipley* b. March 27, 1831 ; d. March 8, 1833.
840. Edward Payson* b. Sept. 16, 1840.
THOMAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 183
841. SARAH/ b. Aug. 19, 1798; d. Oct. 3, 1803
842. LYDIA WILDS/ b. May 27, 1801 ; m. May 2, 1826, Gilbert II
Clark, and lias two children.
843. ELVIRA', b. Dec. 8, 1803 ; m. Joseph G. Parmeuter. and has four
children.
628
STEPHEN 6 (Increase? Benjamin* John,* Increase,' Thomas 1 ), son
of Increase and Bethiah (Winslow) Clapp, was born in Tolland
Connecticut, Oct. 2, 1774. He lived in Ellington, Tolland Co.',
Conn., until 1823, when he removed to Windsor, Ashtabnla Co., 0.,
that county then being but newly settled, and the inhabitants but
few and scattered. He married, April 29, 1 802, Mary Loomis who
died March 8, 1864. He died Aug. 14, 1854.
Children of STEPHEN and MARY (Loomis) CLAPP, of Ellington, Ct. :
844. EAUL, 7 b. Dec. 15, 1804; d. May 16, 1866. He lived in. West
Farmington, Trumbull Co., O. Children :
845. Mary. 8 847. Emma. 6
846. Dwitjht? 848. Eusebius.*
849. CAROLINE, 7 b. June 24, 1807 ; m. David Humphrey, in Windsor,
O., and has three children.
850. INCREASE, 7 b. Nov. 30, 1810. He m. Nancy Collins, and settled in
Espyville, Crawford Co., Pa., as a physician. In 1871, he had
no children.
-f851. WILLIAM M., 7 b. Dec. 18, 1817.
852. JOHN M., 7 b. Feb. 24, 1819; d. April 6, 1844.
81O
WILLIAM WARLAND 6 (Bela, 6 Joshua, 4 David, 3 Samuel, 3
Thomas 1 ), oldest son of Capt. Bela and Sarah (Warland) Clapp, was
born in Boston, Nov. 2, 1783. He served an apprenticeship of
seven years with Young & Minns, publishers of the Massachusetts
Mercury. He was publisher of the Gazette of Maine, for six years,
and of the Boston Repertory. In 1813, he issued proposals for the
publication of the Boston Daily Advertiser, the first daily paper in
the city, which he started, and" subsequently sold to Mr. Nathan
Hale. He then became publisher of the Hampshire Gazette. On
his return to Boston, he bought the Saturday Evening Gazette, of
which he was proprietor for thirty years. In 1822, he started the
first daily evening paper. He was a practical printer, a ready
writer, and a very industrious man. He possessed great energy
and public spirit, and his useful life was intimately connected witli
the progress of Boston for half a century. He was admitted as a
member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Co. in 1820. He
married, Dec. 6, 1807, Hannah W. Lane, of Boston. He died April
30, 1866.
184 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
Children of WILLIAM WARLAND and HANNAH W. (Lane) CLAPP,
of Boston :
853. WILLIAM W., 7 b. in Bucksport, Me., Sept. 30, 1808 ; d. Sept. 20,
1812.
854. MARY L., 7 b. in Bucksport, Me., May 3, 1810; d. in 1860. She
m. Nathaniel P. Levering. He was formerly a partner of Benj.
F. Copeland ; afterwards Treasurer of the Connecticut and Pas-
sumpsic River R. Road for many years.
855. CHARLOTTE E., 7 b. in Boston, March 12, 1812 ; m. Asa H. Rhoades,
a dealer in hats, furs, &c., in Boston.
856. WILLIAM W., 7 b. in Boston, Aug. 13, 1814 ; d. Oct. 4, 1817.
857. SARAH/ b. in Boston, Dec. 20, 1818 ; m. George A. Fiske, a hard-
ware dealer in Boston.
-{-858. CHARLES W., 7 b. in Northampton, Sept. 6, 1816; d. June 10,
1874.
859. HANNAH W., 7 b. in Boston, Sept. 17, 1820 ; m. first, May 26,
1847, Charles F. Terrell ; second, July 6, 1863, Charles A. B.
Shepard, of Boston. She d. Oct. 5, 1872.
860. HELEN MARIA, T b. in Boston, Jan. 19, 1823 ; m. Sept. 24, 1843, P.
S. Fiske, a dry goods dealer in Boston. She d. Sept. 11, 1868.
+861. WILLIAM W., 7 b. in Boston, April 11, 1826.
833-
ELLIS 7 (Joshua? Joshua, 6 Joshua* Joshua, 3 Thomas, 2 Thomas 1 },
third son of Joshua and Lucy (Buckminster) Clapp, was born in
Brookline, Mass., Sept. 17, 1784. He was an industrious and repu-
table mechanic of limited means, and lived in Killingly, Ct. ; he then
removed to Livingston Co., N. Y., then to the vicinity of Buffalo,
N. Y., and in 1843 to Wisconsin. He married Keziah Bowen,
who died Sept. 4, 1862. He died Feb. 10, 1854.
Children of ELLIS and KEZIAH (Bowen) CLAPP:
+862. ALMON M., 8 b. Sept. 14, 1811.
863. WILLIAM B., 8 b. Jan. 3, 1814, in Killingly, Conn.; was brought
up as a merchant, and continued in that business in Aurora, Erie
Co., N. Y., until he emigrated to Chicago in 1844, where he be-
gan the business of beef and pork packing, which he prosecuted
until his death in 1849, having amassed a handsome fortune.
864. HENRY, S b. Jan. 8, 1817. He was educated to the law in Buffalo,
N. Y., was admitted to the bar, and in 1841 emigrated to the
territory of Wisconsin. He soon after died at Geneva Lake in
Wisconsin. He was a young man of fair promise.
865. JULIA A., 8 b. Sept. 17, 1824 ; m. Orland Eddy, and lived in 1854
in Geneva, Wis.
866. ANTOINETTE/ b. in 1826 ; d. in Wisconsin in 1845.
Hon. WILLIAM M. CLAPP,
Juii</f IW/f Jiixtri-ct. Tndiann.
THOMAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 185
WILLIAM M. 7 (Stephen, 6 Increase, 6 Benjamin, 4 John, 3 Increase*
Thomas 1 ), son of Stephen and Mary (Loomis) Clapp, was born in
Ellington, Tolland County, Connecticut, Dec. 18, 1817. He is one
of the old Puritan stock, who has attained a character and position
which deserve more than a passing notice. He has succeeded in
spite of all difficulties ; has never known when he was down, indeed
never was down but to rise again to some higher station by his
genius and energy. He manifests great reverence for his ancestors,
and takes much interest in their history. In 1870, he came from
Indiana to attend the Clapp Gathering in Northampton. The fol-
lowing items relating to his youth and manhood will be read with
interest.
He moved with his father in 1823 to Windsor, Ashtubula County,
0., where the opportunities for getting any education were limited ;
worked on the farm with his father and brothers during the summer,
and attended school in a log-house building in the winter, usually a
term of three months; studied English Grammar, committing to
memory the coarse printed part of Lindley Murray's Grammar (being
that part which the schoolmasters of those days required pupils to
repeat), and, while making maple sugar, alternately poking up the
fires, watching the kettles and conning over the grammar book. At
the age of 17, he undertook, what with so many Yankees is the first
start in the world, school teaching; but here he failed, not being
able to control and manage the older rude members of the school.
Believing discretion the better part of valor, he called upon the
trustee of the District, informed him that teaching school was not a
success, and left the field without honor. The following spring, with
a desire to strike out and see the world, and meet its responsibilities,
he left his pleasant and agreeable home, went to Barton, Ohio, and
commenced work in a dry goods store ; remained there 1 8 months,
then went to Mantua, Ohio, and entered another dry goods store,
and not long after engaged in the same business in Franklin, Port-
age County, Ohio. Remained there about eighteen months, then
went to Chester, Granger County, Ohio, and worked for E. W.
Johnson in a dry goods store, each change having been made with
the expectation of getting better wages and obtaining a more desira-
ble situation. Having now acquired a fair practical knowledge of
the business, a partnership with Johnson was proposed, the labor of
one compensating as the capital of the other partner. After finding
a situation and renting a store room, here again was failure, for
Johnson proved to be insolvent, and young Clapp was out of business.
Was induced, with an acquaintance who had been peddling clocks
for a Connecticut Clock Co., to go to Wheeling, Virginia, feinting
that the Company would give employment to more men there. After
four or five days' travel, reached the place, but the agent was not to
186 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
be found, and after a few days of waiting, it seemed that clock ped-
dling was not to be depended upon. But what to do, out of busi-
ness, ambitious, willing to work, and mind uneasy ! Got up one
morning and walked out about ten miles into the country among
the hills ; made partial arrangements to teach a school : came back
in the evening, and seeing a steamboat at the landing went on board.
The Ohio River was so low that no boats were running, except oc-
casionally a very small one. On the boat were a Mr. Stocking and
wife, from Granger County, Ohio, going down the river to teach
school somewhere in Kentucky, provided they could get a situation.
They urged him to go along, and as the boat was not to leave until
the next morning, there was a little time to think the matter over.
There were many doubts and fears in the way ; to go off several
hundred miles further from home, with hardly enough money to get
there and none to get back with, and engage in a business which
former experience had ^hown nnfitness for, made the thing look a
little gloomy. But the next morning's sun shone so brightly, the
flag on the little steamer floated so gaily in the autumn breeze, that
hope was inspired, the trunk put aboard the boat, and a deck passage
paid for to Maysville, Ky. That deck passage (being as good an
arrangement as the financial condition would admit) gave the party
the right to ride on the boat, sit on his trunk and sleep on the floor
beside it, and eat at the second table with the boat hands or other
deck passengers by paying for each meal. Mr. and Mrs. Stocking
were the kindest and best of people, interesting and intelligent, and
the time passed off pleasantly. It took ten days to reach Maysville.
Started out on foot from there in search of a school. After much
labor found a place among the hills, or knobs, as they called them,
where a schoolmaster was wanted, who would " board around,"
collect his own pay, and take his chances generally. After getting
there, just a one dollar bill on the bank of Massillon, Ohio, was the
cash on hand. A few weeks after, that bank failed, and then, five
or six hundred miles from home, with no friends, acquaintances or
money, it looked a? if all was depending upon effort. After staying
here about a year, giving general satisfaction, and known as the
Yankee Schoolmaster, concluded to go to a better part of the State,
and went to Fayctte County, near the Bourbon County line, and
taught school two years. Saved some money there, so as to leave
with about four hundred dollar?. Went home to Windsor, Ohio ;
stayed two months ; bought a horse, saddle and bridle, and putting
some clothes in a pair of saddle-bags, started off on horseback for
Indiana, having concluded to go there and study and practise law.
After travelling about eight days, arrived one Saturday night at
Peru, Miami County, Indiana, then a small village, the county seat
of the County. Rested over Sabbath, and on Monday morning, after
inquiry in regard to the lawyers of the place, went to the office of
Ebenezer P. Loveland, and made arrangements to enter his office as
THOMAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 187
a law student, and the same day was set to work on Chitty's Black-
stone, Vol. I. In a day or two after, traded the horse, saddle and
bridle for six months' board at the cheapest hotel in the place.
Remained in Loveland's office until the last of March, 1843, and
obtained a license to practise law. Went to Augusta, the then,
county seat of Noble County ; the county seat afterwards removed
to Port Mitchell, and then again to Albion. Commenced practising
law in Noble County in April, 1843. Law business in those days
was quite limited, there being only two terms of Circuit Court a year.
In the fall of 1 845 was elected Auditor of the County ; held that
office five years ; attended to the duties of the office, practised law,
and in 1849 added the selling of dry goods, groceries, &c. to the
other business. In 1856, was elected Representative, and served
one term in State Legislature; in 1860, was elected Judge of the
19th Common Pleas District, embracing five counties ; was re-elected
in 1864, and again in 1868 and in 1872. In 1873, that court was
abolished, and all its business transferred to the Circuit Court.
Having served the public thirteen years upon the Bench, now, in
1875, retired to private life, with not much to do, saving only the
management of the Bank of Albion (a little affair of his own), some
interest in a dry goods and hardware store in Albion, a woolen mill
at Rome city, about 8 miles distant, and a small farm of sixty-five
acres adjoining Albion, with some law practice.* William M. Clapp
married, Nov. 14, 1847, Mary A. Skinner, who was born Dec. 15,
1824.
Children of WILLIAM M. and MARY A. (Skinner) CLAPP :
867. WILLIAM FRANK.*
868. CHARLES MERRITT."
869. MALISSA."
858
CHARLES W. 7 (William W.? Bcla, 6 ' Joshua* David, 3 Samuel*
Thomas*), son of William W. and Hannah W. (Lane) Clapp, was
born in Northampton, Sept. 6, 1816. He carried on the publishing
business in connection with his father. He married, first, April
15, 1841, Jane T. Eaton, who was born June 16, 1821, and died
March 1, 1843. Rev. Alexander Huntington Clapp (son of Levi
Clapp, of Worcester, No. 874 of the descendants of ROGER) com-
posed and published a beautiful piece of blank verse on her death.
He married, second, Nov. 20, 1844, Mary A. Foster, of Providence,
R. I. He died June 10, 1874.
* A correspondent of the " Inter-Ocean," of Chicago, writing from Albion, April 8, 1875,
says : Among the early settlers here are William M. Clapp, ex-judge, banker and mer
chant; S. E. Alvord, publisher of the New Era; and Nelson Prentiss, merchant. I
men are still in their prime, and may be seen any warm afternoon sunning tliemseivc
tortoises. In a double sense they are doing this, for they bask in the sunshine ol fortune,
like other business men of Albion."
25
188 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
Child of CHARLES W. and 1st wife JANE T. (Eaton) CLAPP, of
Boston :
870. CHARLES W., 8 b. Feb. 20, 1843 ; m. March 20, 1870, Ella Crofoot,
of Newburyport. They live in Chelsea. Child :
871. Arthur W., 9 b. Oct. 29, 1870.
Children of CHARLES W. and 2d wife MARY A. (Foster) CLAPP :
872. WALTER C., 8 b. in Newport, R. L, Sept. 13, 1848.
873. FLORA B., 8 b. in Boston, Sept. 20, 1854.
874. CORINNE C., 8 b. in Baltimore, Md., Sept. 9, 1855.
875. HOWARD W., 8 b. in Milton, Aug. 6, 1860.
-861-
WILLIAM W. 7 (William W., 6 Beta, 5 Joshua, 4 David, 3 Samuel, 3
Thomas 1 ), brother of the preceding, was born April 11, 1826. He
resided abroad two years, completing his education, and became, in
1849, sole proprietor of the Saturday Evening Gazette, which he sold
in 1865, when he purchased an interest in the Boston Journal, and
became one of its managing editors. He held several positions in
the militia, serving on the staff of Governor Andrew. He has been
a member of the Common Council, Board of Aldermen and State
Senate. In 1850, he wrote a work entitled "A Record of the
Boston Stage." He married, Sept. 30, 1850, Caroline, daughter of
George Dennie.
Children of WILLIAM W. and CAROLINE (Dennie) CLAPP :
876. MART DENNIE, S b. July 21, 1851.
'877. GEORGE DENNIE," b. June 29, 1853.
878. MABEL DELANO," b. April 22, 1865.
862
ALMON M. 8 (Ellis, 7 Joshua. 6 Joshua, 5 Joshua, 4 Joshua, 3 Thomas, 2
Thomas 1 ), oldest son of Ellis and Keziah (Bowen) Clapp, was born
in Killingly, Ct., Sept. 14, 1811. His prospects in early youth were
such as usually attend the sphere of comparative poverty allied to
unquestioned respectability, the common school offering to him the
only means of an education.
In the fall of 1818, his father left his New England home, and
emigrated to Western New York, at that time a comparative wil-
derness. By rigid economy, he had saved from his earnings a sum
sufficient to purchase a farm of about one hundred acres in Living-
ston County. By dint of industrious effort, the forest disappeared,
the soil was tilled, comfortable buildings were erected, and in a few
years the wilderness was converted into fertile and productive fields,
in the centre of which was a happy home. Being the eldest child,
the subject of this sketch, though only seven years old, was made
useful in the discharge of such duties as were adapted to his years
and condition.
THOMAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 189
At the age of fourteen, Almon left his father's house, not to return
again, except as a welcome guest. He had read of Benjamin Franklin,
in admiration of whose character and example he selected the life
and lot of a printer for his future sphere of usefulness, and he adopt-
ed that vocation, determined upon success. He entered a small
printing-office in the village of Geneseo, the county seat of Livingston
County, as an apprentice, working patiently for three years, without
much compensation therefor, except the progress he made in a know-
ledge of the art of printing. In 1828, he sought a wider field. He
visited the then village of Buffalo, where he engaged to complete his
education as a printer in the establishment of Day, Follet & Haskins,
where he remained, laboring for sixty dollars a year, with board,
lodging and washing, until he attained his majority.
Having reached the point where he was his own man, in 1831 he
entered a classical school, where he studied and toiled for a few
months to acquire a higher degree of mental culture. On the 19th
of April, 1832, he married Miss Hannah Warren, youngest daughter
of Gen. William Warren, at the village of Aurora, Erie Co., New
York, her native place.
In 1843 Mr. Clapp entered upon a new departure in business.
Forgetting the maxim that the " cobbler should stick to his last," he
entered the mercantile mart in an adventure which proved disastrous
to his pecuniary affairs and prospects. Nothing disheartened by
this early misfortune, he returned to the vocation in which he had
been educated, and, in 1835, through the aid of kind friends, he es-
tablished a small weekly paper, called the Aurora Standard, in the
village of Aurora, which he published and edited for three years,
making it a pecuniary success. At the end of that time, he had
extricated himself from his embarrassments.
In the winter of 1837 and 1838, organizations were developed on
both sides of the Canadian frontier bordering upon the United
States, which had for their purpose to wrest the Canadian Provinces
from the dominion of Great Britain and establish therein an inde-
pendent government. It was, at best, a hopeless adventure, but
gained sufficient strength to create great anxiety on both sides of
the boundary line, from Vermont to Michigan. Canadian soil was
invaded by the " Patriots " who had collected on the American side
of the frontier, and a few lives were lost at Prescott, opposite
Ogdensburgh. In retaliation for this, late in the month of December
the Canadians fitted out an expedition under the cover of night,
which visited the American shore of the Niagara River, at Schlosser,
a few miles above the cataract of Niagara, cut out the American
steamer Caroline, towed her into the stream, and sent her over the
falls.
At that time Mr. Clapp held a Captain's commission in the militia
of the State of New York; and as the General Government had but
a handful of troops with which to enforce the laws of neutrality and
190 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
protect its own frontier on the Canadian border, the militia of
Northern and Western New York were called into service, and
under this summons Captain Clapp moved with his company to the
front, entering the city of Buffalo on the first of January, 1838. He
remained in the service for the term of three months, when the emeute
was brought to a bloodless termination, and peace and quiet were
restored along the frontier. Though no military renown was gained
from this service, it opened the door to a new field of journalism,
upon which Mr. Clapp entered in the city of Buffalo, where he con-
tinued his labors with slight intermission until April, 1869, when his
connection with journalism ceased.
In July, 1838, Mr. Clapp became connected with the proprietor-
ship and editorial conduct of the Buffalo Commercial Advertiser,
which position he held for more than a year, when he disposed of his
interest in that journal and embarked in the book and job printing
business in that city. This he continued until January, 1846, when
he established the Buffalo Express, which proved a profitable enter-
prise.
Mr. Clapp has been an active, zealous and effective politician
since he attained to full citizenship, and has labored with pen and
voice, as his abilities have aided, in maintaining the supremacy of
those principles and measures in government which, in his judgment,
would best conserve the public interest. He was a whig, so long as
that party had an existence, and when it became obsolete he cast
his political fortunes with the Republican organization, its principles
and purposes being, in his opinion, nearest akin to those of the party
of his earlier faith. He has been honored with several positions by
these two political parties. The first was in 1839, when he was
elected Clerk of the Board of Supervisors of Erie County, which he
held for two terms. He was next appointed Loan Commissioner of
the United States Deposit Fund, by the Governor of the State of
New York, which position he held for some ten years. In 1853 he
was elected to the Legislature of his State, as member of Assembly,
from the first district of Erie County. This position was held but
for a single term, as he positively declined a re-election. In 1856
the National Republican party was organized, and in 1857 the Re-
publicans of New York nominated him as their candidate for Secre-
tary of State. In that canvass he shared the fate of his party in
defeat.
In 1861 President Lincoln appointed Mr. Clapp Postmaster of
the city of Buffalo, and in 1865 re-appointed him. After the assassi-
nation of President Lincoln and succession of Andrew Johnson to
the Presidency, he was removed in June, 1866, for disloyalty to that
administration. In the fall of 1866 the Republicans of Erie County
nominated him for member of Congress, and with his party he met
defeat. In March, 1869, he was elected Congressional Printer by the
United States Senate, in which position he has been sustained for
THOMAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 191
six years, and without re-election, though his term of office is nomi-
nally for two years.
This latter is the most important civil trust yet held by Mr. Clapp,
as he has the entire superintendence of the letter-press printing and
binding for the legislative, executive and judicial departments of the
Government of the United States. The great national printing-
house in his charge employs altogether some twelve hundred persons,
and disburses nearly two millions of dollars annually in the compen-
sation of labor and the purchase of material.
The Hon. Almon M. Clapp presided at the Family Meeting at
Northampton, in 1870. He delivered the opening address on that
interesting occasion, which, with his dignified yet easy bearing
through the whole of the proceedings of the day, contributed much
to the enjoyment of that first public gathering of the family.
Children of ALMON M. and HANNAH (Warren) CLAPP :
879. HENRY H., 9 b. April 12, 1833; m. Nov. 15, 1853, Olive M.
Thomas, of Buffalo, N. Y. Children :
880. Alice M., 10 b. in 1856.
881. Olive E. b. in 1864.
882. AMELIA M., 9 b. Sept. 29, 1839.
883. WILLIAM ELLIS," b. Dec. 28, 1852.
It will be seen, in the preceding pages, that although the descend-
ants of ROGER and THOMAS Clapp do not vary much numerically
as herein recorded, yet the former are somewhat the most numerous.
It has been supposed that the excess in numbers was the other way.
This may still be the case, as various causes have operated, not
unlikely, to change the relative numbers of these two lists as re-
ported to the compiler. Indulgence must be claimed for errors and
omissions connected with each of the branches of the family. A
supplementary account may in part supply some of these, but there
will still be cause to say of the "Memorial" that it is not perfect.
The following item, relating to a prominent member of the
" THOMAS " branch, having come to light too late for insertion in its
proper place, is printed here.
The Rev. Dr. James McSparran, the learned and well-known mis-
sionary from England to Narragansett, in his America Dissected,
written in 1752, speaking of New Haven College, says: " The presi-
dent, Mr. Thomas Clap, was my scholar, when I came first into theso
parts, and, on all occasions, gratefully acknowledges his receiving
the first rudiments of his learning from me, who, by the way, have
not but a modicum to boast of myself."
192 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
THE CLAPP FAMILY CEMETERY IN SCITUATE.
Some of the descendants of Col. Thomas Clapp have set apart a
burying-place for the remains of their branch of the family. The
spot is situated on the main road very near the present South Scitu-
ate Railroad station, in a northerly direction from the old mansion-
house of their ancestor less than a quarter of a mile distant, and
just at the foot of an ascent of 150 feet, called Coleman Heights.
It is of a triangular shape, of about an acre in extent, and contains
in all twelve gravestones, in memory of direct descendants of Col.
Thomas. As mentioned on page 139, his grave-stones and those of
his last wife were removed in 1828 from the town burying-ground
and placed in this one. The inscriptions on these two are printed
on the page alluded to, and the remaining ones are here given :
LEONARD CLAPP, Erected
Died Apr. 8, 1852, In Memory of
Aged 86 years. MR. RUFUS CLAPP,
BETSEY, who died
His wife June 8, 1834,
Died June 7, 1854, aged 75 years.
Aged 81 years.
Hannah C.
wife of Erected
CAPT. CHANDLER CLAPP, In Memory of
Died MR -
May 5, 1866, AUGUSTUS CLAPP,
Aged 48 yrs. 6 mos. who died
Jan. 10 th , 1831,
Aged 23 years,
In Memory of & 4 months.
Miss MARY CLAPP,
who died
Dec. 6, 1829,
aged 91 yrs.
& 17 days. In Memory of
ORIANA
daughter of
Erected CHANDLER and
In Memory of HANNAH CLAPP
CHANDLER CLAPP, ESQ. born Nov. 13, 1837.
who died died Aug. 23, 1838
Dec. 25, 1832, Aged 9 months
aged 78 years. and 9 days.
THOMAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
193
In memory of
Miss HANNAH CLAPP,
who died
Jan 9, 1840,
Aged 93 years.
In Memory of
MR. AUGUSTUS CLAPP,
who died
Feb. 2d, 1827,
aged 75 yrs.
The following epitaphs on the twin brothers (Nos. 771 and 772)
are inscribed on one gravestone.
In Memory of
CAPT. ALFRED CLAPP
who was
lost at sea
April 1834
in his 31 year.
Oh ! had he lived to reach his native land
And then expired, I would have blessed the
hand;
But where my husband lies I may not lie,
Nor can I go, with broken heart to sigh
O'er his loved dust & strew with flowers his
turf,
His pillow hath no cover but the surf; I may
Not pour the tear-drop from mine eye
Near his cold bed : he slumbers in the wave.
Oh ! I will love the sea because it is his
grave.
In Memory of
MR. ALBERT CLAPP,
who died
June 26, 1838,
In his 35 year.
Farewell, dear friend of virtue and of truth,
Painful to part but hope supports the mind,
He's left this world of sorrow and of sin,
He's gone to feast on pleasures well refined.
But ! his kind companion's left to mourn,
Her loss is great, where can she find relief ?
Submission to God's will does peace afford,
A sovereign cordial to console her grief.
As a brief and interesting illustration of the part which the citi-
zens of Scituate took in the public movements which immediately
preceded the Revolutionary War, the following records are copied
from Deane's History of the town.
October 3, 1774.
" It was put whether the Town would chose a committee of Inspec-
tion, to see that the Continental Association shall be strictly adhered to,
and passed in the affirmative. A Committee of Inspection was then chosen,
consisting of John Gushing, jr., Nathan Gushing, Esq., Charles Turner,
Israel Vinal, jr., Nathaniel Waterman, Joseph Tolman, James Otis, William
Turner, Barnabas Little, John Palmer, Galen Clap, Anthony Waterman,
Noah Otis, Joseph Stetson, Increase Clap, Gideon Vinal, .Eli Curtis,
Samuel Clap, Abiel Turner, Barnabas Barker, George Morton, Ignatius
Otis, Thomas Mann, Deacon Samuel Jenkins, Paul Bailey, Calvin Pierce,
Amasa Bailey, Deacon Joseph Bailey, Constant Clap, John Jacob, and
James Briggs."
At the same meeting a committee of correspondence was chosen, viz.
194 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
" John Gushing, jr., Nathan Gushing, Esq., Joseph Tolman, Barnabas Lit-
tle, Israel Vinal, jr., Galen Clap, Abiel Turner, Noah Otis, Nathaniel
Waterman, Dea. Joseph Bailey and Eli Curtis."
January 18, 1775, the committee of inspection reported to the Town this
" Publick Information."
" The Publick are hereby informed that on the 9th Inst, the Committee
of Inspection, by request of the Town, waited on Charles Curtis and Fred-
erick Henderson, shopkeepers, to know whether they intended to adhere to
the Continental Association, the former of whom rendered the following
answer : ' I shall not adhere to it,' and the latter replied as the former,
adding, ' I don't know any Congress,' whose ignorance is the more to be
wondered at, seeing he has been an inhabitant of this Continent and Town
several years, since quitting his marine vocation. Therefore the inhabitants
of this Town do hereby resolve to break off all dealing whatsoever with
said refractory shopkeepers, until they shall give publick and absolute satis-
faction to the foresaid Committee and Town, touching their open refractori-
ness relative to said salutary Association trusting in the mean time that
the publick will condescend to trouble their memories with their names and
characters.
" JOHN GUSHING, jr., Chairman."
At a meeting of the Town, May 29, 1775.
" Voted to recommend to the inhabitants of this Town to bring their
fire arms and accoutrements with them to meeting, on the Sabbath, June
19, 1775."
This may have had reference to a plan concerted about that time, for
capturing Capt. Balfour, who was stationed in the neighboring town of
Marshfield, with the " Queen's Guards," and who, it was thought, might
attempt to march through Scituate to Boston. But the British at Boston,
by some means, learned the design, and took off this beautiful company of
Guards by water, just in season to be annihilated at the battle of Bunker-hill,
on the 17th of June.
IV.
NICHOLAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
Nicholas
WAS the fourth son of Richard Clapp of England, and was born
in England, in 1612. Of his brothers, Thomas came with him to
this country, John emigrated some time afterwards, and Ambrose
and Richard remained behind. It was doubtless by the advice
and encouragement of his cousin Roger, who was three years his
senior, that he came to New England. He probably arrived in Dor-
chester in 1633, as his name appears on the records of the town the
next year. Many others also arrived from Old England in 1633
and the year previous, so that the inhabitants had become many
more in numbers than the few score who came with Roger in 1630.
That year found them with a meeting-house built, and witnessed also
the commencement of the practice of choosing a body of Selectmen to
manage the affairs of the town. A fort was likewise ordered to be
built in 1633 on " y e Rock upon Rock-hill," to be paid for by the
town, and liberty was given Mr. Israel Stoughton to build a mill on
Neponset River. Mr. Clapp was a man highly respected by his cotem-
poraries ; he held a number of the responsible offices of the town, and
was a Deacon of the church. His name is found on the list of jurors
at a special court held in September, 1653, relative to disputed mat-
ters connected with the Lynn Iron Works. He married, first, Sarah
Clapp, a sister to Capt. Roger Clapp j he married, second, Abigail,
widow of Robert Sharp, of Brookline. He lived in the north part of
the town, on the westerly side of what is now Boston Street, a little
south of the Five Corners, and near the house where my father Deacon
Ebenezer Clapp lived and died, and it is supposed he set out the
orchard which was on my father's land contiguous to his house, as my
grandfather, Noah Clapp, who died in 1799, told my mother that
the man who set out those trees had been dead one hundred and
thirty years. Some of these trees remained many years after this,
and a few doubtless reached the age of two hundred years before
their dead branches and decayed trunks were finally removed from
the soil which had been cultivated by no less than six generations.
26
196 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
He owned land also in various other places, as will be seen by his
inventory, many acres being located in parts long since occupied by
streets and buildings. In 1667, a tax was laid by the town of half
a penny on each acre of ploughed land on the Neck (now South
Boston), and Nicholas's tax that year was lid. For the use of land
on the Neck as pasture, no tax was assessed. The fac-simile of his
autograph here given is obtained from
a list in the Town Records of the male
inhabitants of the town, appended to
an instrument conveying to Dorchester all rents and profits of Thomp-
son's Island, for the support of a Free School. He died suddenly in
his barn, Nov. 24, 1679.
In 1849, several of his descendants in Dorchester and Boston,
actuated by a desire that some fitting memorial of his worth and of
his position as their emigrant ancestor, should be preserved in the
ancient cemetery where he was buried, caused to be erected there
a handsome marble grave-stone, on which is inscribed the following
epitaph. The stone is near the westerly corner of the ground, but a
few feet distant from Stoughton Street, and around it are the simple
head-stones of many of his relatives and cotemporaries.
The Puritans are dead !
One venerable head
Pillows below.
His grave is with us seen,
'Neath Summer's gorgeous green
And Autumn's golden sheen,
And Winter's snow.
In memory of
DEACON NICHOLAS CLAP,
One of the early settlers of Dorchester.
He came to New England about 1633, and died Nov. 24, 1679, aged 67
years. His descendants, to whom he left the best of all patri-
mony, the example of a benevolent, industrious and
Christian life, erect this stone to his memo-
ry 1 70 years after his decease.
His piety,
His constancy in virtue and in truth,
These on tradition's tongue shall live ; these shall
From sire to son be handed down
To latest time.
NICHOLAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 197
INVENTORY OF THE ESTATE OF DEA. NICHOLAS CLAPP.
s. a.
His wearing apparel . . . . . . . 4 04 3
A Bed and bedding that belongs to it . . . . 7116
A Saddle, pillion and pillion cloth, pad & some small things 2 13
Bed & Bedding in East chamber . .... 2136
A great chest, sheeps Wool and other small things . . 4113
Bed & bedding in the West chamber . . . . 4 06 6
Sheets, pillow beers and other linen . . . . . 5 15
Brass kettle, pans & some small things . . . . 3 04 9
Pewter . 1 18
Books and other small things . . . . . . 19 6
Iron Pot, Iron kettle & other Iron implements . . . 1 09
Table, hozen & chairs & some other things . . . 3 04 9
Cart & Wheels & tackling belonging thereto . . . 5 12
Swine 5 04
Sheep 4 00
A Yoke of Oxen ...... . . 8 00
Three Cows & three Young Cattle 12 16
Four horsekinde 5 00
Hay and other stover 10 00
Indian Corn, Barley, Oats and Rye 13 09
Upland at the Mouth of the Neck,* three Acres . . .15 00
The plough land behind the house . . . . . 30 00
Seven Acres of Upland at Leeks Hillt . . . . 32 00
Fourteen Acres of Upland & pasture at Roxbury NeckJ . 70 00
The Meadow and upland before the door . . . . 40 00
The Meadow at the bottom of the home lot ... 30 00
Nine acres of Meadow at the mouth of the great Neck . 80 00
Two Acres of Meadow at Leek's Hill 20 00
A piece of Meadow at Pine neck . . . .. 10 00
Four Acres of pasture at the great neck . . . 30 00
A Quarter of the tide Mill 25 00
The first Division of land in the Woods|j . . . 15 00
The second Division of land in the Woods . . . 10 00
The third Division of land in the Woods . . . . 8 00
A piece of land by Goodman Tolmansl . . . 10 00
Amount carried forward 531 120
* "The Neck" was the general name for all that part of Dorchester included in the pe-
ninsula afterwards and now known as South Boston. The mouth or entrance to it was
by the old Causeway road over the low salt marsh which bordered the northern part of the
town. The first upland reached in going northward over that road (now called Washington
Village), with the salt marsh immediately north of it, went by the name of Little Neck,
while the heights beyond and all the rest of South Boston were called Great Neck, the
mouth of the latter being the low lands between the two necks.
+ At the junction of the present Dorchester and Third Streets, near Emerson Street,
South Boston. Doubtless named from Thomas Lake, who d. in Dor. Oct. 27, 1678.
t Probably what was called Black Neck, near the lloxbury boundary, and in the extreme
north-west part of the town of Dorchester.
$ A part of what is now known as Neponset, in Dorchester.
|| In the town of Stoughton, then part of Dorchester. A deposition of John Bird, of
Dorchester, in 1731, he being then in the 90th year of his age, shows that 80 acres of this
" land in the woods" fell to the share of Nicholas's son Ebcnezcr.
11 On the Lower Road, now Adams Street.
198 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
s. d.
Amount brought forward 531 12
The dwelling house and barn and outhousing and orchard . 80 00
A Corsler, Pike & sword, common right beyond blew hills 2 00
That which the widow brought and now to be prized was
as followeth :
Bed & Bedding . . . . 6 00 6
Linen, 3. 18. 0. pewter, 6 d ; brass, 2. 18.
6. books, 6 d ; and some other things,
1. 15. 6 8 13
Two Iron pots, & andirons & other Iron
Ware, 296
17 03
Total . . . 629 15 7
The other given in afterward . . . . 13 10
643 05 7
The estate is indebted 285 01 3
Leaving 358 04 4
The appraisers were James Humfrey, William Sumner, Henry Leadbetter.
His two oldest sons, Nathaniel and Ebeuezer, were administrators.
Nathaniel died in 1707; Ebenezer, in 1712. At that time they had. not
finished settling the estate, and Noah was appointed in 1716 to complete
the settlement.
Children of NICHOLAS and 1st wife SARAH CLAPP:
2. SARAH, 2 b. Dec. 31, 1637. She probably d. young, at least pre-
vious to 1670, when her half sister was born and called by the
same name.
+3. NATHANIEL, 2 b. Sept. 15, 1640 ; d. May 16, 1707, aged 67 years.
-j-4. EBENEZER, 2 b, in 1643 ; d. in Milton, July 31, 1712.
5. HANNAH, 2 b. in 1646; m. Oct. 14, 1668, Ebenezer Strong, of
Northampton, and removed to that town. They were the great-
grandparents of Caleb Strong, U. S. Senator 1789-97, and the
able and efficient governor of Massachusetts during the years
1800-07 and 1812-16, but whose opposition to the war with
England, during the last named period, drew upon him the
severest censure of his political opponents, and created an
unhappy state of disagreement with the national authorities at
Washington. Ebenezer was brother to Samuel Strong, who m.
Esther Clapp (No. 7 of EDWARD). Ebenezer d. Jan. 11, 1729,
aged 86 years.
Children of NICHOLAS and 2d wife ABIGAIL (Sharp) CLAPP :
6. No AH, 2 b. July 15, 1667. He removed to Sudbury, Mass., proba-
bly early in life, as the only record of him in Dorchester is that
of his birth and baptism. He m. in Sudbury, July 28, 1 690,
Mary Wright. He was Town Clerk in Sudbury thirteen years
between 1721 and 1736 and held other important offices in
the town. He died there in 1753, aged about 86 years, his wife
NICHOLAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 199
having died previously. He probably married twice, Mary being
his last wife.
WILL OF NOAH CLAPP, OF SUDBURY.
Know all men by these presents that I Noah Clap of Sudbury
in the County of Mid x Yeoman. Being of perfect mind
and memory, Do make this my last Will and Testament, as
followeth.
Impri 8 I commit my Soul to God and my Body to the Earth
Decently to be buried by my executors hereafter named to be
charged to my estates, and as touching the rest part of my
Temporal Estate which God hath mercifully bestowed upon me,
I depose of as followeth.
Item first that my just & due Debts be Payd and discharged
out of my old estate.
Item I give and bequeath unto my four grand children viz to
Noah Bowker 3 6* Sd lawful money ; to Joseph Bowker 3
6s Od lawful money; to Hannah Joyner 3 6s Sd lawful
money and to Mary Moore 3 6s Sd lawful money. To be
Paid by my Ex r here after named out of my Estate Before
Division thereof.
Item I give and bequeath unto Tristram Cheney of said
Sudbury the one half of the lands and Buildings which is mine,
Bounded as followeth, the other half of said
land and buildings I give and Bequeath unto my daughter Anne
Clap viz. the improvement and income thereof Dureing her natural
life, and at her decease I give and bequeath said premises which
y e said Anne is to have the improvement of as aforesaid unto
my grandson Elias Cheney son of John Cheney and Mary
Cheney, to him, his heirs, and Assigns forever, Bounded as
followeth, and the above said premises which I
have before bequeathed, unto s d Tristram, I give to him, his heirs,
and Assigns forever ;
The whole whereof bounded as followeth viz. Bound westerly
By Hopp Meadow, Southerly By lands left for a high way ;
Easterly By land laid out to the Rite of M r . Pelham and
Northerly By lands of Hezekiah Moore. Furthermore I do
hereby constitute and appoint Tristram Cheney aforesaid my
Executor of this my last will and testament.
Dated this 20 th day of June A.D. 1751 In the 25 th year of
his Majesties Reign.
NOAH CLAP (and a seal).
Witnesses :
Samuel Browne.
Hopestill Browne.
Josiah Browne.
Cornelius Wood.
John Cheney.
There was a supplement to the will, dated Jan. 12, 1753, in
which he says that as he has omitted to name h,s moveab e
estate, &c., he wished that to be taken to pay just debts and
funeral charges.
200 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
Children of Noah and Mary Clapp, of Sudbury.
7. Anne, 3 b. Sept. 10, 1691 ; was never married. In a document
in the probate office of Middlesex Co., she is styled non com-
pos mentis, and she is supposed to have lived to the age of 60
or 70 years.
8. Sarah, 8 b. April 30, 1693 ; m. first, Feb. 21, 1721, John Bow-
ker, and had at least two children; m. second, Mr. Moore,
and had a daughter.
9. Mary 3 b. Sept. 20, 1695 ; m. Dec. 25, 1730, John Cheney, of
Framingham, and had at least two children living in 1751.
10. mas, 3 b. June 14, 1709 ; d. Oct. 5, 1713.
11. Noah 8 d. in infancy, Sept. 27, 1714.
12. A daughter 3 m. Mr. Joyner.
13. SARAH, 2 b. December, 1670; the Dorchester church records say,
bapt. 11 (10) 1670. She m. June 2, 1689, Joseph, son of Timo-
thy Mather, of Windsor, Conn. The autograph of Sarah Clapp,
a fac simile of which is here given, is
from a fly-leaf in a printed book more
particularly referred to under the
record of her brother Nathaniel (No.
3). Other specimens of her penman-
ship are also given on the same leaf,
comprising some poetic lines possessed of a peculiar interest.
This autograph is without date, but doubtless was written before
her marriage in 1689.
o
NATHANIEL 2 (Nicholas 1 ), oldest son of Nicholas and Sarah
Clapp, was born in Dorchester, Sept. 15, 1640. He married,
March 31, 1668, Elizabeth, daughter of Lawrence Smith. He was
a man highly respected in the town, and of good estate. He was one
of the two constables of the town in 1671. He brought up his
oldest son at Harvard College. The Dorchester Church Records say
of him: "May 16th, 1707, Mr. Nathaniel Clap, a choice man, rested
in the Lord and was interred May 17th." Mrs. Clapp died Sept. IS
["12th," gravestone], 1722. Mr. Clapp probably lived on the lot of
land which makes the western angle of the open place known as the
Five Corners, in Dorchester, now junction of Boston, Cottage and Pond
Streets. The fac simile of his autograph here given is from a print-
ed book which must have been
prized by the family, as his broth-
er Ebenezer, his sister Sarah and
his son Nathaniel all recorded
their names in it under different
dates. The date of this signature is "Nouember 25 th 1679." There
is in the book a date of 1658, accompanying apparently a name, which
cannot now be deciphered. The book itself was printed in London
in 1623, and contains two sermons by "William Whately, Preacher
of the Word of God in Banburie." The first sermon is entitled,
NICHOLAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 201
"Mortification. A Sermon Preached vpon the Third to the Colos-
sians, the fifth Verse; Mortifie therefore your members that are. on
ctirfh." The second, " Charitable Teares : or a Sermon Shewing
How Needfvll a Thing it is for every Godly Man to lament the com-
mon sinnes of our Countrie."
WILL OF NATHANIEL CLAPP, OF DORCHESTER.
In the "name of God Amen. The two and twentieth day of April in
the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred & seven, I Nathaniel
Clap of Dorchester in the County of Suffolk, in her Maj tye Province of the
Massach ts Bay in New England, Being very sick and weak of Body ; But
of perfect mind and memory ; Thanks be given to God therefor ; calling to
mind the mortality of my Body, and knowing that it is appointed unto all
men once to dye : Do make and Ordain this my last Will & Testament.
That is to say principally and first of all, I give and recommend my soul
into the hands of God that gave it, & my Body I recommend to the earth,
to be buried in a decent and Christian manner, at the discretion of my loving
Wife and children, nothing doubting but that at the General Resurrection,
I shall receive y e same again by the Almighty power of God. And as
touching such Worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me
with I give & Dispose of y e same in the following manner and form :
Imp": my Will is that my funeral expenses & just debts be discharged
by my Exec 19 hereafter named. I do Will and give unto each of my loveing
children To Wit, Nathaniel, John, Jonathan and Ebenezer Clap & Elizabeth
Sumner the sum of sixty pounds a p". That is to say w 01 what they have
had already. Item I do give unto my son Jonathan Clap y e lott on w ch his
house stands, that is to say the piece of land that I bought of my "brother
White for his sixty pounds, & also I give to my son Jonathan that piece of
land I had of the Town lying by his house. Item my Will is that my son
Jonathan shall have y e orchard & the three acres of laud be y e same more
or less Joyning to the Lott above sd at the southernmost End thereof, That
is to say after his Mothers decease, for his portion ; he paying to the rest of
my children the overplus if there be any. Item my will is that my son
Jonathan shall pay for the last piece of Land mentioned Namely the three
acres & Orchard, unto his Mother Yearly in good money the just sum of
one pound & ten shillings during her natural life, if he see cause to hire the
same. Item I do give unto each of my Grand-children which are now in
being the sum of six shillings, as a token of my love to them. Item my
Will is that what I have given to my Grand-children be paid to them, or
to their Parents for their use by my Executors, and that within the space
of one Year after my decease. Item I do give and bequeath unto my dear
and loving Wife all the use, benefit and profit of all and every part of my
Estate, both housing and land, Goods and Chattels of what kind soever
During her natural life ; That is to say after my children have had their
sum afore sd and all is payed before mentioned. Item I do give unto my
loveing Wife the value of Twenty pounds of my moveable Estate to dispose
of as she thinks meet. Item my Will is that after the decease of my be-
loved Wife, that so much of my Estate as is then left be equally divide<
amongst all my children, Excepting only a double share part or portion
thereof unto my eldest son namely Nathaniel Clap. Item I do ordain and
constitute my two Sons namely Jonathan and Ebenezer Clap to be
202 THE CLAPP MEMOEIAL.
of this my last Will and Testament ; And I do hereby utterly disallow,
Revoke & disannul every other Testament and Will by me made & do
Ratify and confirm this and no other to be my last Will & Testam*.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal the day
& Year above written.
NATHANIEL CLAP [and a seal].
Signed, sealed & published, pronounced & declared by the said Nathaniel
Clap, to be his last Will & Testament, in presence of John Blake, Samuel
Clap, The mark of -f- Mary Clap.
Children of NATHANIEL and ELIZABETH (Smith) CLAPP:
-f-14. NATHANIEL, 8 b. in Dorchester, Jan. 20, 1668-9 ; d. Oct. 30, 1745 ;
minister at Newport, R. I.
-J-15. JOHN, 8 b, April 7, 1671 ; settled in Sudbury ; d. Nov. 26, 1735.
-j-16. JONATHAN, 3 b. Aug. 31, 1673 ; d. Jan. 2, 1723-4.
17. ELIZABETH, 8 b. May 22, 1676 ; m. March 14, 1699-1700, Ebene-
zer, son of Dea. Roger Sumner, then of Milton.
-f-18. EBENEZER, 8 b. Oct. 25, 1678 ; d. May 20, 1750.
19. MEHETABEL, 8 b. Aug. 30, 1684; d. Feb. 20, 1685.
EBENEZER 2 (Nicholas 1 ), second son of Nicholas and Sarah
Clapp, was born in Dorchester in 1643. His first wife, Elizabeth,
died Dec. 20, 1701, aged 57 years. He married, second, Nov. 11,
1702, Elizabeth Dickerrnan, who survived her husband and married
Edward Dorr, of Roxbury. In her will, dated May, 1728, she re-
members her first husband's brothers. She died Jan. 30, 17323,
in the 64th year of her age. Neither of the wives left any children.
Ebenezer Clapp resided in that part of Dorchester which in 1665
was set off as the town of Milton. He was admitted a member
of the church in Dorchester May 3, 1665. In the Records of that
church, April 24, 1678, it is stated that "there was a church gathered
by some of our brethren that lived in Milton." On account of some
difference of opinion in regard to it, this service was performed in
Dorchester, and Ebenezer was one of the first signers of the cove-
nant. Aug. 28, 1681, according to the Milton Church Records, "Sister
Clap, wife to Ebenezer Clap, was admitted to full communion " with
that church. Mr. Clapp was much respected by his townsmen, was
an Ensign in the military company, and for
several years one of the Selectmen of Mil-
ton. He died in that town July 31, 1712,
aged 69. His autograph, as here represent-
ed, occurs on a fly-leaf of the book described in the record of his
brother Nathaniel (No. 3). Connected with his name and elegant-
ly written, are these words : "his Book in possession this 15 th of
Aprill 1679."
The following is a copy of his will :
NICHOLAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 203
WILL OF EBENEZER CLAPP, OF MILTON.
" These presents Witnesseth and Declareth this to be the last Will &
Testament of Ebenezer Clap of Milton in the County of Suffolk, in her
Maj ties p r0 vince of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, being infirm in
Body, and know not the time of my Dissolution (which cannot be long)
Yet through the Mercy of God, of Memory and understanding Competent
as formerly Do make this my last Will and Testament this Tenth of June,
1708, in manner and form followeth.
Imprimis I resign up my soul to God that gave it, that it may be re-
ceived into the heavenly Mansions purchased and prepared for it by Christ
Jesus my Dear Lord and only Saviour, and my Body to be decently
Interred in hope of a joyful resurrection at the last day ; and as for my
temporal estate my Will is, that all my dues and just Debts and funeral be
discharged, I do Will, ordain and make my Dear and loving Wife Elizabeth
Clap to be the Executrix of this my last Will and Testament while God
continue her Life and then our Brother John Dickerman or his heir, I do
ordain and make Executors of this my Will, after my Dear Wifes death,
and I do give the rest of my Estate to my Dear and loving Wife afore' d to
be disposed of by her with all the income of the same for her comfortable
maintenance or the rewarding of any that shew kindness to her of our kin-
dred. And if it shall please God that my Dear Wife should marry again ;
my Will is, that the Man that marry's her shall not live in my house without
it be with the consent of our Brother Dickerman or his heir then surviving,
and that any Man that shall marry my now Wife, shall have no power to
demand, or dispose of anything of my estate, Except our Brother Dickerman
and my Dear Wife shall agree to any sum of Dowry to her satisfaction.
And my Will is that if our dear Brother Dickerman, and his that have been
kind to us, do fulfill his Articles, and hold on, and still carry kind to his
sister my Wife during her life, all the housing and land that are mine, and
whatsoever else my Dear Wife do not order or Will in her life time, I do
give to our Brother John Dickerman and his heirs as their proper Estate.
In Witness thereof I the said Ebenezer Clap have set my hand and seal,
dated above one thousand seven hundred and eight this tenth of June, in
the seventh Year of the reign of our Sovereign Lady Queen Anne.
EBENEZER CLAP [and a seal].
Witnesses :
Nath 1 Blake, Nathaniel Wales,
Edward Blake.
The Inventory of the above estate of Ebenezer Clapp consisted of
a house, orchard, land, farming utensils, &c. ; amounting in all to
685 5s.
As mentioned in a note on page 94, Ebenezer Clapp* was one of
the twelve original signers of the covenant of the church in Milton.
His name does not occur again in the church records of that town
up to the time of his death, but it often occurs in the county records.
* Ebenezer Clapp seems to have been a skilful penman. In addition to his autograph
already shown, which may be supposed to represent his ordinary signature, his i me, as
given, is found on the outside margin of a page in the printed book r - M ~L
ferred to, condensed into the narrow space reserved for occasional tbenezerC/dp
marginal references. There is little doubt it was placed there near the . th '
time when the other one was written, and by himself; indeed it is doubtful whether any
other holder of the book, then or since, could have done it so well.
27
204 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
14:
NATHANIEL 3 (Nathaniel," Nicholas 1 }, oldest son of Nathaniel and
Elizabeth (Smith) Clapp, was born in Dorchester, Jan. 20, 1668-9,
and died in Newport, R. I., Oct. 30, 1745. His early years were
passed in Dorchester, and from what is known of his tastes and habits
when grown to manhood, and from his early letters relating to books
in possession of his kindred, there is little doubt that while quite young
he acquired the love of reading and the desire to accumulate the literary
productions of the day, which so strongly characterized him in after
life. A fac simile of his autograph, exe-
cuted in the year 1685, while in College,
is here given. It is accompanied with a
scroll, such as is occasionally to be found
in writings of those days, some of which were very elaborate and
very skilfully done. This is taken from the book referred to in his
father's record as containing autographs of other members of the
family. He graduated at Harvard College, 1690, and in 1695 went
to Newport, R. I., as a missionary, by advice of the Congregational
ministers of Boston. He preached there, under many discourage-
ments, until 1720, when a church was formed and he was ordained
pastor. During these twenty-five years there must have been, it
would seem, a lack of zeal and of faith on the part of the people, as
well as the exercise of great perseverance on that of their minister.
The church flourished, after it was organized, for about three years,
when an unhappy schism took place, in part occasioned by his views
and practice respecting the Sacraments. He distrusted his people
being in a right condition to partake of the Lord's Supper, and
therefore almost entirely discontinued its administration, and the
ordinance of baptism he withheld in certain instances. The church
and society disagreed with him, and sought relief in employing a
colleague, who was not acknowledged as such by Mr. Clapp, nor
allowed by him to preach. In consequence, many withdrew and
were formed into what was afterwards known as the Second Con-
gregational Church. In 1740 Joseph Gardner, of Boston (grad.
H. C. 1732), was settled as colleague with him, and was dismissed
June 10, 1743. In 1744, Mr. C. received as a colleague Mr.
Jonathan Helyer, a native of Boston, who graduated at Harvard
College in 1738. Mr. C. continued over the First Church till his
death, and, notwithstanding their disagreements on some important
points, was beloved and revered by both church and congregation,
and respected by members of other denominations. A second edifice
was built for the First Church in 1729. It is now owned and occu-
pied by the Unitarian Society of Newport-, and is on Mill Street.
The First and Second Churches have become united into one, called
the " United Congregational Church ; " and its handsome stone edifice,
built about twenty years since and capable of holding about 1000
NICHOLAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 205
worshippers, stands on the corner of Spring and Pelham Streets.
In one of its lecture-rooms still hangs a portrait of its first minister,
in good condition, having been retouched, or cleansed, not many
years since.
When the celebrated minister Whitefield came to New England
in 1 740, he visited Mr. Clapp at Newport, on arriving in that town
from Charleston, S. C., and had a more cordial welcome from him
than Nathaniel's kinsman, President Thomas, of Yale College, was
willing to extend to the great preacher. Mr. Whitefield was much
impressed with the venerable appearance and fervent prayers of "the
good old Puritan," and could not but think, as he says, that he was
" sitting with one of the patriarchs." Dean Berkeley also said of Mr.
C., " Before I saw Father Clap, I thought the Bishop of Rome had
the gravest aspect of any man I ever saw ; but really the minister
of Newport has the most venerable appearance." Blake, in his
Biographical Dictionary, says of him that " he maintained through
life a character distinguished for piety and the social virtues."
The following anecdote is related" of him: A little girl brought
him a small present of some nice refreshment, and upon knocking at
his door was invited in. After she had accomplished her errand,
Mr. Clapp invited her to a room, where was a table, on which were a
dish of fruit, a piece of money and a book. Of these articles, he
bid her take her choice. She chose the book, which so pleased the
old gentleman that he bid her take all three.
Another anecdote is told as illustrative of Mr. Clapp's perfect in-
dependence in thought and action, and his persistence in adhering to
cherished though unpopular beliefs. A council of ministers from
Boston was held to consider the matter of the anticipated division of
the Newport church on account of the pastor's peculiar views and
practices in regard to the administration of the Lord's Supper.
After private consultation the council agreed upon advising him to
yield to the wishes of the church and conform to the usual custom
of other churches in this matter. He was called upon and informed
of the decision. He listened patiently and silently to all that was
said in the way of urging him to heed their advice. He then, still
without speaking, passed round to the members a dish of figs, and
when each of them had taken one, he abruptly left the room, saying
as he went out " A fig for you all ! "
In the year 1715, occurred in Newport one of those tragic events
which occasionally strike terror into a whole community and call
forth the deepest commiseration. It was the murder of his wife and
her sister by a man named Jeremiah Meacham, while under the in-
fluence probably of delirium tremens. The circumstances attending
the murder, together with the culprit's trial, condemnation and exe-
cution, in a quiet and religious community like that which then
dwelt in Newport, produced an intense excitement, and called into
requisition the personal labors of Mr. Clapp, both private and pro-
206 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
fessional. Three sermons preached by him on the occasion, two of
which were listened to by the criminal a short time before his death,
together with an account of the man's life, of the murder, trial and
execution, his confessions, prayers and last dying words, the correct-
ness of the latter certified to by the Governor of Rhode Island, were
printed in Boston, at first issued separately, the whole making a
volume of nearly 200 18mo. pages. An extract from Mr. Clapp's
" Impartial Account of the Inhumane and Barbarous Murder," printed
at the end of his first sermon, gives further particulars in regard to
it, and shows the state of feeling produced by it,
New-port on Rhode-Island.
" Never was this Town put into a greater Consternation since I came
into it, than that which was occasioned by the Terrible Tragedies of the
Evening next after March 22, 1715.
" All the Alarms that have been made by the Notices of Enemies upon
the Coast have never so Terrifyed the Generality of People here.
" For on that Evening, a Poor Man, having been for some time Exercised
with Grievous Hurries of Mind, after he had sat on his House Top some
part of the Day, and been in his Chamber much of the Afternoon. His
Wife and her Sister, upon his Invitation, going up into the Chamber to him,
after Sun-set; while they were striving to Persuade him to go down with
them, or to Prevent his Hurting of himself, He Stabb'd his Wife in her
Throat with a Pen knife, and then struck her and her Sister down with an Ax ;
Barbarously Murdering them, and miserably mangling their Bodies with
several Dreadful Stroaks, and then stood on his Guard, with his Pen knife,
and his Ax in his hand; Knock'd one Man down, as he was going up
Stairs ; Others Endeavoring to Apprehend him, by Breaking up the Floor
under him and the Roof over him, and carrying some Fire Flaming before
them, to light their way, He Snatch'd away the Fire, laid it among some
combustible Matter, got Ready more, quickly Kindled a great fire in the
Chamber, made the Room too hot for himself, Sprang out at the Window,
among the People, that were now Surrounding his House. And being
Apprehended, was imprisoned : And the Court Speedily Approaching, He
was Tryed, found Guilty, Condemned, and within a short Time Executed,
as the World hath been already informed."
" So Great was the consternation upon the Minds of People, thus occa-
sioned, that not only little Children were afraid to Lodge in the Night, in
their usual Places, and were willing to have their Beds Remov'd into Places,
where lodged bigger persons ; but even up-grown Persons were Affraid, in
the Day Time, to go into a Room alone, far Distant from the Rest of the
Family: Such a Dread was upon their Spirits.
" While the minds of People were under this Dreadful Consternation, the
Sermon Published herewith, was Preached in a Congregation, where Divers
then seemed mightily Affected, as if Desirous to Know the meaning of the
Voice of God in his Providence : and to Comply with His Will.
" When I understood that many of the Hearers desired the Publication of
the Sermon, as a more Durable Remembrancer of the impressions then
made upon their Souls, than their own Treacherous Memories were like to
be ; I was not utterly Unwilling to Gratify the Desires of them, who
Designed not only their own benefit, but also the Benefit of Others in what
they proposed."
NICHOLAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 207
After giving a " Narrative " of the murderer, Mr. Clapp says :
" People of all Persuasions here, had manifested their Charitable Com-
passions toward him. The Episcopal Minister hath frequently Visited him
in Prison, with his Councils and Prayers. One of the Ancientest Men
among the Antipcedo Baptists Accompanied him, and Prayed with him near
his Last Moments. From the Quakers he had a Letter of Advice, to evi-
dence Unfeigned Repentance, and to Consider, There is Mercy with the Lord
that He may be Feared"
Meacham's crime was committed March 22 ; his trial took place
April 8; he was sentenced April 9, and executed April 12. With
regard to this apparent haste, Mr. Clapp remarks :
" As the time of his execution drew near, he manifested no reluctancy to
attend it ; only he complained, that the time between the Sentence and his
Death was very short ; then he was told, that it was much longer than
what he allowed unto those whom he bad murdered, and that he had lived
longer by near three weeks, than he would have suffered himself to have
lived, had he been left unto his own will.
" He desired that God would furnish him with Courage to Glorify his
Name, and Encounter the Terrors of Death.
" As he drew near to the Place of his Execution, he seemed mightily
amazed ; but so recovered, as to utter several things, that were by some
accounted considerable ; some of them are preserved.
" But in all the Expressions that he uttered, when he came to Dy, he
pretended unto no more hopes concerning the good State of his Soul, than
what might be implied in his desires of an absolute Resignation to the Will
of God ; with entire dependance on the free Grace, the Infinite Sovereign
Mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ."
In addition to the published sermons of Rev. Nathaniel Clapp, al-
ready referred to, a duodecimo from his pen, entitled " The Duty of
all Christians" was published in 1720. He was also the author of
the "Advice to Children," which makes the concluding part of the
New England Primer, a work long used in the public schools.
Upon the occasion of his death, a discourse was delivered by Rev.
John Callender, from Hebrews xiii. 7, 8, wherein the character of the
deceased was fully delineated. He says of him :
" The main stroke in his character was his eminent sanctity and piety,
and an ardent desire to promote the knowledge and practice of true godli-
ness in others."
" He thought his station required more than common instances of inno-
cency, self-denial and caution.'
x "His charity embraced good men of all denominations. He had 1
value for merely speculative, local, nominal Christianity, and a form of god-
liness without the power."
" He abounded in acts of charity and beneficence to the poor and necessi-
tous, who have lost in him a kind father and guardian."
"He abounded in contrivances to do good by scattering books of piety
and virtue, not such as minister questions and strife, but godly edifying;
and put himself to a very considerable expence that he might in this method,
awaken the careless and secure, comfort the feeble minded, succour ^th
tempted, instruct the ignorant, and quicken, animate and encourage all.
208 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
" There are two things in which he excelled in so remarkable a manner
that I must not omit them : his care about the education of children, and
his concern for the instruction of servants."
" The conclusion of his life and ministry was a peaceful and happy death,
without those raptures which some boast of, but with perfect resignation to
the Will of God, and good hope and humble confidence in Christ Jesus, who
was the sum of his doctrine and the end of his conversation."
INVENTORY OF THE ESTATE OF REV. NATHANIEL CLAP,
MINISTER OF NEWPORT, R. I.
s. d.
His Apparel . 101 11
A Bed, bedstead, Bedding, table linen, &c. . . . 24 18
Sundry chests, Trunks, Boxes, Table, Chairs, &c. . 15 6
Two pair of Andirons, Tongs, Hammer, Chafing dishes, ]
Gridiron, Trivett, Candlesticks, Warming pan, Fire I n i r r
shovel, Bellows, Iron pott, Brass Kittle and other f
household utensils
Pewter ware, 5 10s. Stone & Earthen ware, 26s. . 616
Glass ware, 50s. a cane and brass scale 14s. . . 34
Sugar box's & other Wooden Ware . . . . 132
Inkhorn, Combs, Razors, Sealing Wax, Spectacles, ) 456
Pocket books and other small things )
His Books & Pamphlets and paper . . . . 5167
The one half of an old dwelling House & the one third) q*
of a small barn, both in Dorchester j
About 4 acres of land about the house .... 200
The two fifth parts of about 5 acres of Upland & meadow )
before the door j
About 4 acres of pasture land in the first Division in ) ,/-^
Dorchester )
About 4 acres of Pasture land at Dorchester Neck . 160
The of 3 A. qr. 20 rods in the 8th lott in the ) ^ ^
division of Cedar Swamp in Stoughton j
The J part of 3 A. 3 qr. rods in the 39th Lott in the ) 9 IQ
said division of Cedar Swamp j
The J part of 4 A. 2 qr. r. in the 21st Lott in the ) 3
Division of Meadow bottom in Stoughton )
The part of 3 A. 3 qr. r. in the 25th Lott in thel 12 10
said division of Meadow bottom j
The part of 75 acres in the 17th Lott in the 25th) ~~
division in Stoughton j
The ^ part of 62 A. 2 qr. r. in the 36th Lott in said ^ r,o
25th division j
Several gold rings & pieces of Gold .... 42 4
Two silver spoons . . . . . . . 416
A silver Watch* . . 20
1454 17 3
James Blake, Thos. Bird & James Foster, Appraisers.
* James B. Clapp, son of the late Deacon John, of Roxbury, has this watch now in his
possession. It was exhibited at the Clapp Family Gathering at Northampton in 1870.
NICHOLAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 209
In comparing the different items of this inventory, the strikin" 1
preponderance in value of M. Clapp's library will be seen. Although
in possession of over 80 acres of land and a wardrobe valued lit
,101 1 Is., his books, pamphlets and paper count up in the appraisal
to over 500, being more than a third part of the valuation of his
whole estate. These books, after his decease, were divided among
his relatives in Dorchester, and some of them are now in possession
of the author and the senior publisher of this work. Most of them
have written on the title-page, or on some blank page, his own name,
and also various private marks or hieroglyphic *
characters not now understood. The accom- /> t ,\,C(A/)
panying autograph is a fair specimen of what I
is found on those of his books which have been preserved, and of what
was written probably on each one contained in his library. One
volume of over 900 pages, printed in 1618, is now in a good state of
preservation. It comprises a course of ninety-five " Lectvres vpon
the whole Epistle of St. Pavl to Philippians, Deliuered in St. Peters
Chvrch in Oxford : By the reuerend and faithfull seruant of Christ,
Henry Airay, Doctor of Diuinitie and late Provost of Qvcenes
Colledge, &c." In 1743, he sent to Mr. Timothy Green,* of Boston,
40 shillings old tenor, for the purchase of " the Xian History, Boston
Gazette, &c." Mr. G. in sending them writes that the Gazettes were
obtained through much difficulty, and that he also sends a few other
books.
The following inscription is on his grave-stone at Newport :
" This Monument sacred to the memory of the venerable Nathaniel Clap,
Pastor of the First Congregational Churclif in Newport, R. I., whose body
rests here in hopes of a glorious resurrection, was erected by the bereaved
flock in testimony of their just respect. He was born in Dorchester, A. D.
1 667, educated in Harvard College, at Cambridge, began his Ministry here
A. D. 1695, labored in the Word and doctrine, untill 1720, when he was
ordained our pastor. He was a zealous and faithful preacher of the great
doctrines of the gospel which promote vital religion, apt to teach, ready to
instruct them that oppose themselves, but clothed with humility, gentle,
showing meekness to all, he devoted himself to serve the Kingdom of
Christ, and God made him signally instrumental to promote it. He loved
good men of all denominations and was much beloved by them. After
fifty years of labor in the ministry among us, he fell asleep iu Jesus October
30, 1745, in the 78th year of his age. 'The memory of the just is blessed.' "
* Timothy Green, printer, Boston, eldest son of Deacon Timothy, became associated with
Samuel Kneeiand in the printing business in 1727. They started the fourth newspaper
printed on the Continent, The New England Journal, which in a few years was united with
the Boston Gazette, the second newspaper of the country. The partnership 'continue,
years. In 1752, Green removed to New London, Ct., and took charge of his father * punt
establishment there, succeeding his father as printer of the Colony, the only press
operation in the Colony. He died Oct. 3, 1763.
t An historical account of the Congregational Church in Newport, from jts n >j
dnction to the island, is now in course of preparation. Such a work cannot fail of
sessing great interest to many beyond the limits of the locality w.th wl, h t is n on.
immediately connected. The gentleman, of Newport, who has the work in charge, i tu>,
"The memory of our first great preacher is still very dear to us.
210 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
JOHN 3 (Nathaniel*, Nicholas 1 ), second son of Nathaniel and
Elizabeth (Smith) Clapp, was born in Dorchester, April 7, 1671, and
remained in that town at least till he was 22 years old, having been
received into the church there April 30, 1693. He was married to
Silence ...... , probably in the year 1699, and removed to the town
of Sudbury, Mass., in what year has not been ascertained. He
became Deacon of the church in that town, and held a high rank in
town and church matters generally. He died Nov. 26, 1735, in the
65th year of his age.
Children of Deacon JOHN and wife SILENCE CLAPP, of Sudbury:
4-20. JOHN,* b. March 21, 1700; d. April 12, 1788; aged 88 years.
21. THANKFUL,* b. Oct. 6, 1706; m. Mr. Willis, whose descendants
are now living in Sudbury.
22. NATHANIEL, 4 b. Sept. 10, 1709; d. young.
23. ELIZABETH, 4 m. Peter Noyes, Deacon of the Church in Sudbury,
b. May 22, 1700; descendants still living in that town.
16
JONATHAN 3 (Nathaniel* Nicholas 1 ), third son of Nathaniel and
Elizabeth (Smith) Clapp, of Dorchester, was born in that town, Aug.
31, 1673, and died Jan. 2, 1723-4. He married, June 23, 1703,
Sarah, daughter of Barnard and Sarah Capen, and sister of Barnard
Capen who m. Sarah Clapp (No. 36 of ROGER), of Dorchester. He
was ordained Deacon of the Church in Dorchester, March 1, 1718-19.
For several years and up to the time of his death, he held the offices
of Selectman and Town Treasurer. He was an enterprising man,
and owned much real estate. He was proprietor of three fourths of
the grist mill called Clapp's Mill, which stood nearly north-east of
the estate owned and occupied in the beginning of this century by
the venerable Preserved Baker, and not far from where the present
New York & New England Railroad reaches the upland after crossing
the waters of the Back Bay. This mill was originally built by Mr.
Bates, probably James Bates, for Deacon Edward, Nicholas, and
perhaps Capt. Roger Clapp. It was rebuilt by Deacon Jonathan
Clapp and Humphrey Atherton in 1712. According to the articles
of agreement for rebuilding it, Joseph Parsons, of Northampton, was
to build a corn or grist mill at a place called " Clapp's Mill," where
the former mill stood, for which he was to have 50, the mill to be
finished by Sept. 12, 1712, Deacon Jonathan probably built the
house in which he lived and died, which was destroyed by fire May
15, 1784. It stood about 20 rods north-west of what is now Boston
Street, the passage to it from which Street was rather more than that
distance south-west from the Five Corners. Mrs. Clapp was born in
1678, and died Sept. 7, 1746, in the 68th year of her age.
NICHOLAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 211
INVENTORY OF THE ESTATE OF DEA. JONATHAN CLAPP.
s. d.
It8m his wearing apparel . . . . . . 21 7
Item his beds & furniture* 28
Item his Linen & woolen ware &c. ..... 25 1
Item his Brass ware ....... 10 7
Item his Iron ware & tools 10 1 6
Item his tin ware ........ 5
Item his armour ........ 2
Item his wooden ware 8 16 6
Item his books ........ 3 13
Item Glass bottles & looking glass ..... 66
Item Bees & hives 1 Bees wax 6s .... 16
Item Lumber such as old Casks &c. .... 1
Item Seven Sheep 1 15
Item a Mare 6, a young do 7 . . . . . 13
Item Six Cows 24, two heifers 4 .... 28
Item two Swine ........ 2
Item Dwelling house & barn ...... 120
Item 10 acres land about the housef . . .120
Item one acre of Land he had of his mother, a part of ) ,
his Fathers barn )
Item 5^ acres of Land west end of NukeJ ... 60
Item 5 acres at east end of Nuke 50
Item about 1 acre he bought of Henry Bird . . . . 10
Item 6 acres of land in great Sheep Pasture at neck . 54
Item his wood lot by Mr. Payson's about 5| acres . . 16
Item 47 acres in 25 division . . . . . . 23 10
Item | of a grist mill and the meadow belonging thereto . 80
Item the fence about the land hired of the town . . 212
Item the fence that stood on the land of Rob* Newell . 16
Item Bonds, Bills & a Mortgage . . . . 113 6
Item 22oz silver 12 2. two silver buttons 4, 6 . . 12 6 6
Item Province bills . . . . . . . 42 12 6
Item Debts due the estate . .... 28 7 3
938 12 9
Children of Deacon JONATHAN and SARAH (Capen) CLAPP:
24. SARAH,* b. 1704; bapt. June 17, 1704; d. young.
+25. JONATHAN," b. Dec. 6, 1705; d. Feb. 14, 1786.
26. NATHANIEL, 4 b. May 30, 1709; d. March 18, 1710.
27. NATHANIEL," b. July 27, 1711; d. Aug. 6, 1711.
* One high-back chair, with the initials " I. C." burnt on the back, is now in possession of
one of Deacon Jonathan's great-grandchildren, in Boston, who remembers seeing it star
in the centre of one of the square pews in the old Dorchester meeting-house which was
taken down in 1816.
t In 1746 Deacon Jonathan's real estate was divided between his sons Jonathan and
David, Noah having probably already received his share in the shape of a liberal education.
A chart is now in existence, in which are shown the dividing lines between these two npi
tions, and including the whole tract of land on the north side of Boston street trom tn
Corners to near Upham's Corner.
J The Lawrence School, on B Street, South Boston, now stands near the spot
28
212 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
28. SARAH/ b. May 11, 1714; d. June 13, 1768. In 1736 she m.
Hopestill Leeds, of Dorchester, who died Jan. 14, 1795, aged 93
years. They lived in the old mansion house in Centre Street,
near what is now Dorchester Avenue. They left two sons,
and one daughter who died March 18, 1737.
-f-29. NOAH, 4 b. Jan. 25, 1718; d. April 10, 1799; for more than forty
years the Town Clerk of Dorchester.
+30. DAvm, 4 b. Nov. 11, 1720; d. Aug. 17, 1787.
-18-
EBENEZER 3 (Nathaniel 3 , Nicholas 1 ), fourth son of Nathaniel and
and Elizabeth (Smith) Clapp, was born in Dorchester, Oct. 25, 1678.
After he arrived at manhood he was usually denominated senior, to
distinguish him from his eldest son of the same name. He was a
very worthy man, and held in high esteem by the Church and Town.
He married Hannah (No. 25 of ROGER), the daughter of Elder
Samuel Clapp and granddaughter of Captain Roger. She was born
in 1681, and died Aug. 9, 1747, aged 66 years. For his second wife
he married Mrs. Hannah Eddy, of Boston, Nov. 13, 1749. He died
May 20, 1750. He left a large estate. He probably lived on the
spot of land which makes the northern angle of the Five Corners
in Dorchester. He had about 44 acres of land in the north part of
the town, viz., 11 acres where his son Nathaniel lived, west of the
Five Corners ; 8 at the mouth of the Neck (south-west of what is now
Washington Village) ; 5 at Little Neck (near the Old Colony Rail
Road Crossing in South Boston), i an acre " where the mill formerly
was" (it seems the mill was then removed) ; and other lots enough to
make about the number of acres named above. He also had at Blue
Hills and in Stoughton 248 acres. His whole estate was appraised
at 811 17s. 8d. The estate of his wife, who died nearly three
years previous, appraised at 220 13s. 4d. was settled about the
same time as his, most of it probably coming to her by the way of
her father Elder Samuel, son of Capt. Roger. Their sons Ebenezer
and Nathaniel were the administrators, and Ebenezer Moseley,
Humphrey Atherton and Samuel Blake, the appraisers.
Children of EBENEZER and HANNAH CLAPP :
-f-31. EBENEZER, 4 b. Oct. 4, 1705; d. Jan. 10, 1752.
32. HANNAH, 4 b. Nov. 28, 1707; d. March 16, 1799. She married,
Jan. 2, 1735, John Tolman, Jr., b. April 6, 1700.
33. JOHN, 4 b. Aug. 2, 1710; d. June 12, 1735. He came to his death
before he was 25 years old, and was probably unmarried. The
following account of his death was recorded at the time : " 1735,
June 12. John Clapp, son of Mr. Ebenezer Clapp, was drawing
a heavy log upon a pair of draughts, and the lever slipping loose,
the end flew over and struck him on the forehead, of which he
died in about 24 hours, he being then at Stoughton."
-{-34. NATHANIEL," b. Jan. 22, 1712-13; d. March 18, 1750-51.
435. JOSEPH," b. Oct 9, 1715; d. Feb. 14, 1789.
NICHOLAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 213
36, ELIZABETH, 4 b. Aug. 1718. Probably m. Samuel How, of Dor-
chester, Dec. 2, 1736.
-{-37. ROGER," b. April 28, 1721 ; d. Aag. 1, 1807.
38. MART, 4 b. Nov 18, 1726; m. Dec. 14, 1749, Thomas Bird, of
Dorchester. She d. May 16, 1808, aged 82 years. He was
constable in 1751, and d. Aug. 28, 1772, aged 50 years.
JOHN 4 (John, 3 Nathaniel, 2 Nicholas 1 ), oldest child of Deacon
John and Silence ( ...... ) Clapp, was born in Sudbury, March 21,
1700; d. April 12, 1788. He was a man of more than ordinary
gifts and acquirements. Although he enjoyed only a common school
education, yet " being uncommonly studious and attentive to books,
and having a very retentive memory withal, he furnished himself
with a most surprising fund of knowledge. He was able to converse
with any person on any subject, either philosophy, astronomy, mathe-
matics in all its various branches, geography, divinity, &c. &c., and
his company was courted by all his literary acquaintance. Yet with
all his acquired knowledge, he never accumulated any pecuniary
profit by it. The acquirement of property was never his object.
He lived above want, which was the extent of his wishes, and died a
firm and sincere Christian, in the 89th year of his age." He was
married in March, 1723, to Abigail Estabrook, who was born Sept.
25, 1702, and d. May 26, 1790.
The following characteristic letter from John Clapp to his uncle
Eev. Nathaniel, of Newport, R. I, reveals the kindly sentiments
which these relatives held towards each other, fostered no doubt by
a similarity of taste, and continuing active notwithstanding their
great distance from each other and lack of means of communication.
Honoured Sir
By these I Let you Understand that at present I am in Good Health,
and that I received the Book you Sent me, Intituled, Purchase His Pil-
grimage (Whereof I have read near one half) For which I render you
Many Humble and Hearty Thanks ; as also for your Providential care,
in Borrowing of Mr. Parry, a Book Intituled The Successions of Eng-
lands Monarchs for me, Which I Received of him near the Middle of
January, and Having Dilligently ^Perused it, I returned it home the Last
Thursday without any harm thereto. I Lament my Inability to Retaliate
the many favours your Goodness has heaped upon me But assure your
self that I shall Omit nothing that a Gratefull mind is Capable of. And
so not to be Tedious to you, Imploring the Continuance of your Good
Esteem, I Crave Leave to subscribe myself in all Love and Respect
Your Obedient Nephew and Servant
JOHN CLAP.
Sudbury May 25, 1717.
Superscribed "To M r Nathaniel Clap
at New Porte Rhode Island."
214 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
Children of JOHN and ABIGAIL (ESTABROOK) CLAPP :
39. BEULAH, 6 b. Jan. l/j^24; m. in 1744, Phineas Walker, and
settled in Kutland, jjj&s.
-f 40. JOEL, 6 b. July 2, 1726; d. in 1770.
41. JERUSHA,* b. May 14, 1728; m. Oct. 10, 1751, Ambrose Tower,
and lived in Sudbury.
-j-42. AsAHEL, 5 b. Manch 12, 1729-30.
43. ANN, 5 b. Feb. 9, 1732; m. Mr. Knight, in 1756.
44. MART,* b. Nov. 18, 1733; m. Mr. Mussey, and settled in
Hubbardston.
45. JOHN, 6 b. Dec. 24, 1735; d. July 6, 1736.
46. SiLAS, 5 b. Sept. 17, 1737. He was a soldier in the expedition to
Crown Point in 1755, and while there was taken sick and died
Dec. 11, of that year. He was reputed to be a young man of
fine personal appearance.
47. DANIEL,* b. Oct. 10, 1739. He was a very respectable man and
of sound judgment. In 1774 he was a member from Rutland
of the first Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, and also held
the military office of Colonel. The latter part of his life was
spent in Worcester, Mass., where he held the office of County
Register of Deeds for more than thirty-five years. 'It is believed
that in the year 1757 he was a resident of Boston, and a member
of the singing choir connected with the religious Society of
Church Green. He probably was married but had no children.
He d. February or March, 1827.
48. SAMUEL,* d. Dec. 11, 1755.
JONATHAN 4 (Jonathan, 3 Nathaniel, 2 Nicholas 1 ), oldest son of
Deacon Jonathan and Sarah (Capen) Clapp, was born in Dorchester,
Dec. 6, 1705. He was about 19 years old at the time of his father's
death. He married, first, Aug. 26, 1736, Jean Tucker, of Milton,
who died June 18, 1749, in the 35th year of her age; m. second,
March 29, 1 750, Deborah Straten, of Braintree, but a member of the
church in Waltham. She died Feb. 16, 1780, in her 75th year.
He survived her six years, and died Feb. 14, 1786. The house and
landed estate of his father, Deacon Jonathan, 3 near the Five Corners,
was settled by a deed of division between Jonathan 4 and his brother
David, in 1746 (referred to on page
211, and again in the record of Da-
vid, No. 30 ; it is from this deed
that the autograph of Jonathan is copied), and they occupied the
house together, their brother Noah living with them. In 1755, Da-
vid sold all his share in the estate to Noah, and built a house on
Stoughton Street. Jonathan and Noah remained in the old house
until it was burnt down May 15, 1784, after which Noah built a
house a short distance to the south-west, and Jonathan probably put
up ^he other which long stood on the same spot as the old one.
After Jonathan's death, this was occupied by Ebenezer Sumner, still
later by Ira Adams, and was taken down some twenty-five years ago.
NICHOLAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 215
Children of JONATHAN and JEAN (TUCKER) CLAPP:
49. JONATHAN, 5 b. Sept. 4, 1736; d. Feb. 6, 1787, in the 51st year
of his age. He married, Dec. 18, 1759, Elizabeth Bishop, b.
Feb. 5, 1731. She outlived her husband 17 years, and d. Oct.
5, 1804, aged 73 years. They probably lived in the house at
the corner of what is now called Dorchester and Crescent
Avenues, which was taken down by his son Jonathan hi 1793.
Children :
50. Jonathan* b. May 6, 1761; d. May 30, 1761.
51. Jean, 6 b. Aug. 1, 1763; d. March 26, 1819; m. Jonathan
Blackman, of Dorchester. They lived first in an ancient
house once standing on the lane now called Crescent Avenue,
not many rods east of the one above mentioned, and then in
another, long since removed, on what is now Cottage Street,
near the corner of Sumner Street. Mr. Blackman died Jan.
29, 1813. Three children survived their parents, but are
now dead.
52. Elizabeth* b. Sept. 25, 1766; d. May 10, 1812. She m. Dec:
6, 1789, Lemuel Collyer, of Dorchester, who d. April 5, 1813.
53. Susanna, 6 b. Sept. 20, 1769; d. April 23, 1848, unmarried.
54. Jonathan, 6 b. Jan. 25, 1772; d. Aug. 6, 1849, in his 78th year.
He m. Sept. 8, 1793, Jean Eyre Baden, of Brain tree, and
settled in Dorchester. He was a carpenter by trade, and
probably built the house in which he lived and died, now stand-
ing on the corner of Dorchester and Crescent Avenues. The
old house standing near the spot, then belonging to his two
aunts (Bishop), was taken down to give place for the new one.
He was a very rugged man, strong and athletic. His wife
was born Jan. 10, 1768, and died Dec. 29, 1858, in the 91st
year of her age. Children: i, George? b. Nov. 11, 1794; d.
Dec. 17, 1865. Inherited his father's house, and lived and
died in it. He m. first, Nov. 2, 1 820, Adelaide Woodbury,
of Gloucester, b. April 5, 1798, d. Feb. 22, 1823, aged 25
years, and had: (1) George Edward, 9 b. Aug. 21, 1821,
d. July 15, 1861 a wheelwright by trade, afterwards
removed to Brookfield, m. Harriet C. Kimball, who d. Feb.
6, 1860, leaving one child, Hattie? who d. aged 14 mos.
George 7 m. second, Sept. 14, 1823, Mary Wetherbee
Brown, of Marlboro', Mass., b. Nov. 18, 1801, and had:
(2) Horatio, 6 b. Oct. 24, 1824, d. July 26, 1831 a very
promising boy; (3) Elizabeth Jane, 6 b. Oct. 1, 1826, m. John
E. Jones, Lieutenant Boston Police Station 11, and live in
Dorchester District, on Stoughton Street, about half a mile
westerly from the homestead of her father and grandfather,
they have one daughter ; (3) Mary Annrietta 6 b. March 13,
1828, m. Sewell T. Jenkins, carpenter, and live on the old
homestead, corner of Dorchester and Crescent Avenues ; (4)
Sophia Adelaide, 6 b. April 24, 1833, m. September, 1859,
George S. Estey, and d. Nov. 1869, leaving'one daughter.
55. JANE, 5 b. June 5, 1739; m. Feb. 8, 1759, Ebenezer Bird; lived
for a time in Dorchester, and had several (13) children, then
removed to Williamsburgh, Mass.
216 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
56. SARAH, 6 b. April 30, 1742; d. Sept. 8, 1747.
57. EZRA, 6 b. Aug. 15, 1745; d. Aug. 19, J824, aged 79 years. He
m. first, Oct. 25, 1770, Susannah Humphrey, who d. Aug 31,
1778, aged 30 years; m. second, May 27, 1779, Mrs. Mary
Walker, sister of Thomas Williams, of Dorchester ; m. third,
some one probably in Lunenburgh, where he spent a part of his
later years. At the time of the fire which destroyed the house in
which his father and uncle Noah lived, he resided with them.
Children by first wife :
58. Lois? b. Oct. 20, 1771; m. Feb. 14, 1799, Phineas Peabody,
b. in 1751 ; they lived in Vermont, and in New Salem, Mass.
59. Susanna* b. Dec. 30, 1772. Lived unmarried, with her
sister Lois in Vermont. She was a bright, active woman.
Two visits of her's to my father's are recollected, the last
one of several weeks' continuance, in 1828.
60. Jonas Humphrey, 6 b. June 21, 1778; d. April 6, 1794, aged 16
years.
Children of Ezra by second wife :
61. Ezra? b. Nov. 23, 1780. His history not ascertained.
62. Josiah? b. Nov. 20, 1782. It is supposed he married, but left
no children.
63. SARAH, 8 b. June 8, 1749, ten days before the death of her mother;
m. Jan. 9, 1770, Joshua Bradley, of Roxbury, and removed to
New London, Conn., where several children were born to them.
29
NOAH 4 (Jonathan? Nathaniel* Nicholas 1 ), son of Deacon Jonathan
and Sarah (Capen) Clapp, brother of the preceding, and grandfather
of the compiler of this work, was born in Dorchester, Jan. 25, 1718.
He married, Dec. 11, 1760, Ann (No. 85), daughter of Ebenezer
Clapp, Jr., he being then about 42 years of age. His wife was a
daughter of his cousin, and about 13 years his junior; she was born
March 16, 1731, and died May 26, 1812. They first lived in the
house before spoken of, occupied by his father Jonathan, on Boston
Street, near the Five Corners, a little North of the mansion of Mr.
John Holden, still standing. He had, in
1755, bought all his brother David's share
in their father's property, and then occu-
pied the house in connection with his brother Jonathan (see records
of Jonathan and David). This house was consumed by fire May
15, 1784. Noah was then clerk of the Town. The Records were
in the house at the time, and some were destroyed. Great efforts
were made by him to save them, even if everything else was lost.
Those which were consumed were in a great measure supplied by
him afterwards. That house was the second in Dorchester contain-
ing the town Records which had been destroyed by fire ; the other
was in the year 1657, when Thomas Millet was Town Clerk.
The burning of the house in which Noah lived caused another fire
NICHOLAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 217
at the same time, the wind blowing fresh from the North West, and
a burning shingle being carried to the leeward about one third of a
mile, and setting on fire a house then occupied by William Allen,
which stood on the spot where the building known as the Pavilion*
* As this house and another ancient one to the westward of it were in that part of Dor-
chester where the Clapps were then far more numerous than citizens of any other name it
may not be considered wholly oat of place to give some brief notice of these houses and
their occupants.
The Pavilion on Allen's Plain, which took the place of the house destroyed by fire in
1784, was peculiar in its structure, and unlike any other building in town. It was occupied
for many years by the Hon. Perez Morton, who was born in Plymouth, Nov. 15, 1751 grad-
uated at Harvard College in 1771, and died in the Pavilion Oct. 14, 1837. He took an
active part in the cause of freedom, before the Revolution. In 1775, he was one of the
Committee of Safety and deputy-Secretary of the Province of Massachusetts. After the war
he opened a law office in State Street, Boston ; was a leader of the Jacobin Club that met
at the Green Dragon Tavern ; was speaker of the House of Representatives from 1806 to
1811, Attorney-General of the State from 1810 to 1832, and a member of the Convention
for revising the State Constitution in 1820. One of his earliest public acts was the delivery
of the eulogy in 1776 over the remains of Gen. Joseph Warren ; and one of his latest was
the prosecution of the case, as State's Attorney, assisted by Daniel Webster, in the cele-
brated trial of the Knapps at Salem, in 1830, for the murder of Capt. Joseph White. His
appointment by the masonic fraternity as eulogist at the grave of Warren, he being then
only 25 years of age, was a flattering testimony to his popularity and worth. The body of
the hero having been discovered in the latter part of March, 1776, near the spot on which
he fell and was buried nine months before, the Lodge of Freemasons of North America,
of which Warren was Grand Master, obtained leave of the House of Representatives, then
in session, to remove and bury it with the customary solemnities of the craft. On the 8th
of April, this was done, the services being performed in King's Chapel, with the attendance
of a military detachment, a numerous body of Masons, members of the General Court,
Selectmen and citizens of the town. Mr. Morton's oration was " ingenious and spirited,"
opportunity to display
trophe to the dead body before him, commencing, " Illustrious relics ! What tidings from
the grave ? Why hast thou left the peaceful mansions of the tomb, to visit again this troubled
earth ?" was particularly striking, and must have awakened the deepest sensibilities of his
audience. Mr. Morton married, in 1778, Sarah Wentworth Apihorp, of Quincy, a woman
of fine literary tastes, the author of a volume of poems, and spoken of by Paine as the
American Sappho. She survived her husband several years. The Pavilion, while inhab-
ited by them, was often the resort of a brilliant array of the leading men and women of the
time, in law, literature and fashion.
Within sight of the Pavilion, across the Plain in a westerly direction, near what is now the
corner of Stoughton and Sumner Streets, not many rods distant from the present resi-
dence of the compiler of this Memorial, a house still stands which was for several years
previous to 1820 the abode of Arodi Thayer, who, in the troublous times preceding the
Revolution, took the opposite side from Mr. Morton in the great struggle then commencing.
In 1768, he was Marshal of the Court of Admiralty, under His Majesty George III. The
sloop Liberty, belonging to John Hancock, had been seized some time previous by the
government, and the officers of Customs having now prosecuted the owner, he was arrested
Nov. 3, 1768, by Mr. Thayer, on a precept for 9000, and bail demanded and obtained for
3000 more. Mr. Thayer continued on the royal side up to the time of the breaking out of
the war, when he left the country. It is uncertain what year he returned, but he is remem-
bered now by some of the older citizens of Dorchester as the occupant of the house in
question early in the present century. The house was then owned by William Bird,
who lived in it in 1806. Mr. Thayer was in the enjoyment of a pension from the British
government, which was allowed to him through life. He continued to wear the three-
cornered hat, small-clothes and knee- and shoe-buckles of a previous generation, and
occasionally received the hoots of the ruder boys of the town, whose hatred of anything
connected with the old tory party had come down from their fathers. In general, however,
he was well treated by the citizens, was respected for his modest worth and quiet demeanor,
and his family, consisting of a wife and two daughters, associated in the most friendly
manner with the citizens of the town. Although in humbler circumstances than the
Attorney-General, he was in the habit of neighborly intercourse with him, and persons are
now living who remember his frequent morning walks from his own house, tfarongh what
is now Pleasant Street, to breakfast with his aged friend at the Pavilion a beautiful in-
stance of the forgetfulness of old political disputes and estrangements. Mr. Thayer died in
Dorchester, May 7, 1831, aged 88 years. His daughters survived him, and died Charlotte,
Feb. 5, 1859, in her 80th year; and Mary, Dec. 1, 1869, aged 87 years. Mr. Thayer's com-
mission and badge of office (a silver oar) were deposited with the Dorchester Antiquarian
and Historical Society.
218 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
afterwards stood for many years. This was on Pleasant Street,
near the corner of Cottage Street. Noah took measures for the
erection of another house soon after the tire, and the one afterwards
occupied by his son Deacon Ebenezer Clapp, and in which they both
died, was built by him. It was situated South West of the old one,
on what is now Boston Street, and not many rods north from the old
cemetery. It was raised Nov. 18, 1784, and on the 26th of May
following the family moved into it. He lived there the rest of his
days, and died April 10, 1799, aged 81 years.
The following account of him was written by the late Elisha Clapp.
" Noah, son of Deacon Jonathan Clap, was born in Dorchester.
He received the honors of Harvard College in 1735. He studied
theology, and became a preacher ; but such was the feebleness of his
censtitution, that he does not appear to have entertained the idea of
settling in the ministry. He officiated occasionally for the neighbor-
ing clergy for many years. He was usefully employed in his native
town, in the capacity of Selectman, Assessor, Clerk, and Treasurer,
thirty seven years successively, and as schoolmaster at four different
periods about twenty years. From March 13, 1748-9, to March 24,
1792, a space of forty-three years, during all of which, except three
near the close, he was Town Clerk, he recorded above 1700 births,
900 deaths, and 400 marriages. He was a man of meekness, piety
and integrity, and singular veracity. He was rarely known to assert
anything positively, but prefixed whatever he uttered with ' it may
be.' He delighted in the study of American antiquities, and from
him the late Dr. Belknap received some valuable hints for the
Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Owing to a
retentive memory, he was remarkable for accuracy in his statements
of facts, and for the exactness with which he would repeat his tales
of former years."
The late Rev. Dr. Harris* preached a sermon the Sunday after the
interment of Noah Clapp, April 14, 1799, in which he paid a tribute
to his memory. He says :
"Though I have made it a point studiously to avoid any direct
* The Rev. Thaddeus Mason Harris, D.D., was son of William Harris, of Charlestown, in
which place he was born July 7, 1768. He entered Harvard College in 1783, and graduated
in 1787. For about a year he had charge of a classical school in Worcester, and in 1791
was appointed Librarian of Harvard University, where he remained until October 23, 1793,
when he was ordained minister over the Church and Society in Dorchester. He continued
their minister until July 16, 1835, when the parish, acceding to his request, settled with him
a colleague (Rev. Nathaniel Hall), and on the 23d of October, 1836, being the forty-third
anniversary of his ordination, he resigned his charge and took leave of his people in a
sermon which is in print. The Rev. Mr. Hall then assumed the sole charge of the parish,
and has continued its minister to the present time (1875). Dr. Harris " was a man of great
sensibility, deep learning, of a poetical turn, was much inclined to wit, and had tears for
all the unfortunate. Some of his discourses abounded with pathos and eloquence. He was
a member of many of the most important societies in this part of the country." Of his
books, sermons, &c., forty-four were published.
January 28. 1795, Mr. Harris was married to Mary, daughter of Dr. Elijah and Dorothy
Dix. In 1803, after a severe fit of sickness, he was induced to undertake a journey to the
then newly-formed state of Ohio, which he accomplished on horse-back, receiving there-
from great benefit to his bodily health. His " Journal " of this tour, published shortly after
his return, is a work of rare interest and contains much information.
NICHOLAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 219
reference to individuals in funeral eulogies, yet I am persuaded such
is your veneration for the memory of Mr. Clapp, that you would
gladly see me breaking through a general rule, and will accompany
me cordially in every expression of affection and respect in a just
tribute to his memory.
" He early began the career of virtue, and held fast his integrity
to the last. Descended from godly parents, and favored with the
advantages of their pious example and instruction, his mind and
heart, his principles and manners, were seasonably formed to sobriety
and holiness."
"It seems that an early regard to truth and uprightness had
been inculcated upon him, and formed the distinguishing attribute of
his life and conversation. I never knew a person farther removed
from every appearance of duplicity, or more singularly remarkable
for a cautiousness in speech and inviolable regard to veracity.
This was discoverable in all his concerns, and formed a prominent
feature in his character." "He was very careful of asserting more
than he was positively sure of. He was not fond of affirmations ;
and hesitated even as to the accuracy of his own judgement, and the
certainty of his own information. This singular cautiousness was
the result of the most inflexible reverence for truth. It was accom-
panied by a meek, humble, diffident and modest spirit, and a plain,
undisguised, unaffected artlessness of manners. Indeed he might be
considered a fair specimen of primitive simplicity. His character
had all the worthy signatures of 'an Israelite indeed, in whom was
no guile.'
" When he had finished his collegiate course, he applied himself to
the study of divinity ; and though for a number of years he was
exercised in various places as a preacher, his feeble and precarious
state of health was such that he did not consider himself a candidate
for a settlement in the ministry. Those of you who had the oppor-
tunity of hearing him in the pulpit will witness, that as in life, so
'in doctrine, he showed uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, and sound
speech which could not be condemned.'
"A very observable and lovely trait in his character was his
candor and charitableness in judging of others. Of this he gave
the most pleasing proofs in his unwillingness even to hear anything
to the disadvantage of persons. He would not patiently listen to
the reports which might be in circulation of the misconduct of any;
and when they were mentioned in his presence, he was always ready
to palliate and excuse what he could not commend, and seemed
averse to believe ill news, flying rumors and petty scandal. Of
course he was never known to repeat them.
" One circumstance I must not pass over without proper notice,
because it so often contributed to your instruction and entertainment.
Possessing a remarkably retentive memory, he was able to bring out
of its treasures things new and old. He had stored up a vast fund
29
220 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
of information respecting the early settlement and history of this
country ; and so rich was he in anecdote, and so copious in the
detail of interesting particulars concerning our progenitors, that he
was considered as the oracle of ancient times.
" 'Ye are all witness, and God also, how holily and unblamably and
humbly he behaved himself among us.' Of him, as of the venerable
patriarch whose name he bore, it might safely be said, ' Noah was a
just man, and perfect in his generations; and Noah walked with
God.'
"His children will be solicitous to honor their father's memory by
imitating his virtues and following his pious instructions. He had
the precaution to leave each of them a written copy of his advice and
counsel. It is a very valuable legacy ; and if used and improved as
he hoped and prayed, will prove a better patrimony than any earthly
inheritance he could bestow."
Children of NOAH and ANN CLAPP :
64. ANN,* b. Nov. 9, 1761 ; d. unmarried, March 15, 1787. From
writings left by her, she is known to have been religious and
devout.
65. HANNAH, 5 b. April 22, 1763; d. Nov. 24, 1793. She had the
same traits as her sister, and like her died in the prime of life.
-J-66. JOHN, 5 b. Sept. 11, 1764; d. Sept. 23, 1840, aged 76 years.
67. Lois, 5 b. Oct. 15, 1765; d. Jan. 11, 1766.
68. ELIZABETH, 5 b. Jan. 10, 1767; d. Feb. 22, 1838, aged 71 years.
She m. Dec. 22, 1788, Ebenezer Seaver, of Roxbury, a graduate
of Harvard College in 1784 (b. July 5, 1763; d. March 1, 1844),
and for many years in public life. In politics he was a firm Repub-
lican as understood in those days, and was a Representative in
Congress ten years, from 1803 to 1813, under the administrations
of Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. He was a member of
the State Constitutional Convention of 1820, Representative
to the General Court from 1794 to 1802, and held many town
offices. They had eight children who lived to grow up. Mrs.
Seaver's life was unassuming, her discharge of duty faithful,
her manner kind. In her household management she was
uncommonly judicious and active, and she left to her family a
rich legacy of virtue and affection.
69. SARAH,* b. Oct. 7, 1768; d. Nov. 21, 1806, aged 38 years. She
m. Dec. 3, 1792, John Holden, of Dorchester, and lived in the
next house north of her father's, on the old road leading to South
Boston, now Boston Street. She left six childern to mourn her
early loss, all but one of whom afterwards married. Mr.
Holden,* m. second, Sept. 9, 1811, Rhoda Sumner, who d. in the
winter of 1874-75.
70. LYDiA, 5 b. Feb. 3, 1770; d. Oct. 7, 1814, in her 45th year; m.
* John Holden was born at Dorchester, his father's native town, November 3, 1770.
About 1795 he set up a slaughter-house near what is now called Boston Street, in Dorchester,
whence he sent to the " Old Market," in Boston, regular supplies of beef. This business
he pursued without intermission until 1837, when, having acquired a comfortable estate, he
retired to enjoy that rest which he had so well earned by honest industry and the faithful
stewardship of his moderate, but steady, accumulations.
NICHOLAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 221
June 20, 1796, James Pierce, of Dorchester, and settled in
Koxbury, near Brookline. She partook of the virtues of her
parents. Like her sister she died in the prime of life, and left
four children. Her son James lived at his uncle Ebenezer's
(my father), till he was nearly 30 years old, and always seemed
very near to me as a relative and friend.
+71. EBENEZER, 5 b. Aug. 25, 1771 ; d. March 6, 1860. The father of
the compiler of this Memorial.
72. LucY, 6 b. March 27, 1776; d. June 11, 1804, in her 29th year.
She was much beloved for her good qualities by a large circle of
friends and acquaintance, and her early death, in the midst of
her usefulness, was severely felt. She was unmarried, and for a
number of years was engaged in teaching school, a part of the
time in the North School House in Dorchester, and a part as a
private teacher at her home. The Rev. Oliver Everett was then
living in the mansion house still standing at the Five Corners
and two of his sons, Alexander H. and Edward, in after life so
celebrated as scholars and as public men, attended the school of
Miss Clapp, and learned their alphabet in her father's bed-room,
where her school was held a portion of the time.
- 30 -
DAVID 4 (Jonathan? Nathaniel* Nicholas 1 ), youngest son of
Deacon Jonathan and Sarah (Capen) Clapp, and brother of the
preceding, was born Nov. 11, ,
1720, in the house near the ~^> ' /
CA/
Five Corners, and which was
afterwards destroyed by fire,
May 15, 1784. He was a steady and exemplary man; was a
cordwainer by trade, and also a farmer. The portion of the estate
of his father which fell to him by the deed of division with his
brother Jonathan, in 1746, comprised one half the house already
alluded to, part of one barn, and about four and a quarter acres of
land adjoining together with various tracts of land at Great and
Little Neck and Powow Point (So. Boston), the latter amounting
to ten or twelve acres, and an interest in undivided lands in
Stoughton. He was married June 20, 1754, to Ruth Humphreys,
daughter of Samuel Humphreys, of Dorchester. During that year
he disposed of most of the parcels of land above named, and in
May, 1755, his interest in the old homestead was sold to his brother
Noah for 99. In the same month and year he bought of Thomas
and Sarah Kilton a tract of 12 acres, embracing most of the north-
easterly side of Jones's Hill so-called, being part of the estate, as
the deed says, "that our Hon d . Grand-Father Jonathan Jones, late of
Dorchester Dec d , Died Siezed and Possessed off." The amount paid
for it was 146 13s. 4d. It fronted on Stoughton and Pleasant
Streets, from nearly opposite the southerly end of Suraner Street,
222 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
south-easterly to land then belonging to Dr. Gillam Tailer,* afterwards
the estate of Judge Everett, and now of the widow Nathan Appleton.
It included the hill south-westerly from the street to its highest
points, the present boundary in that direction being Sawyer and
Thacher Avenues recently laid out. The hill itself affords a
commanding view of the city of Boston, three miles distant on the
north, of its harbor, and of Dorchester Bay. Persons living at the
time the famous Whitefield went through this part of the country, in
1740, said that his voice was once heard by them on the side of the
hill when he was preaching on Boston Common.t It was also a
conspicuous place for some of the demonstrations which were called
forth in the exciting times preceding the Revolution. On ploughing
up a portion of its surface about the time of the second war with
England, there were brought to light the charred remnants of the
bonfire which was known to have been exhibited there after the
repeal of the stamp act in 1765. A house stood at the foot of the
hill, near the extreme southeasterly corner of the lot, on the southerly
side of what is now Pleasant Street, in the bend near the east end
of Stoughton Street. His marriage taking place the same year of
the purchase, he at once occupied this house ; here all his children
were born, and here he died. It descended to his son Samuel, and
was burnt down in 1804, taking fire either accidentally, or, as was
strongly suspected, by the hand of an incendiary. Another house
was put up in its place by his son Samuel, and is the one now stand-
ing and occupied by Samuel's grandchildren. In 1781, financial
embarrassments, occasioned in part by the war then near its close,
rendered necessary the. sale of a portion of this land, and four acres
of it on the northwesterly side, from the street in front to the top of
the hill, were sold, for 45, to Col. Ebenezer Clapp (No. 86), who
already owned land adjoining it on the west. On the lot thus sold
* William Tailer, son of Hon. William Tailer, of Boston, was appointed Lieut. Governor
of Massachusetts in 1711. Being a nephew of Governor Stoughton, he inherited his estate
in Dorchester, including the old mansion house of Gov. S., on the westerly corner of what
is now Savin Hill Avenue and Pleasant Street. He appears, however, to have lived a part
of his life in a house, which he is supposed to have built, on the other comer of the street
and avenue named. He was Captain of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Co. in 1712,
was one of the commissioners to treat with the Six Nations at Albany, and commanded
one of the regiments raised to take Port Royal. He died March 8, 1732. and was buried in
Gov. Stoughton's tomb. Dr. Gillam Tailer mentioned above, a son of William, graduated
at Harvard College in 1735, and became a physician. He owned the land south-cast of Da-
vid Clapp's lot, probably as far as that now and for many years past belonging to Samuel
Downer, including the estate recently owned by Gov. Henry J. Gardiner. Dr. Gillam
Tailer died July 17, 1757, aged 39 years. William Tailer, merchant in Boston, probably a
brother to Gillam, was one of the heirs of the Lieut. Governor, and was a large land-owner
in Dorchester. He inherited the mansion-house of the Lieut. Governor, already alluded to,
which, with two acres adjoining, is represented in ancient deeds as bounded westerly by a
road known by the name of Green Lane (supposed to be what is now Savin Hill Ave.), and
southerly by way to Rocky Hill (Meeting-house Hill). This homestead, with two lots ad-
joining, one called Howard's orchard 4 acres, the other Pond orchard 4 1-2 acres, and a
piece on the other side of Pleasant Street, called Hill Pasture 1 1-2 acres, was sold by him,
March 20, 1758, to Dr. Sylvester Gardiner, of Boston, for 333 6s 8d.
f "When he Preached his Farewell Sermon in Boston Common, it was Judged by y e space
of ground taken up by ye Auditory, that there could not be less than 20 Thousand (which I
think is Mr. Whitefield's own account in his Journal) and some said 30 Thousand." Blake's
Annals, p. 54.
NICHOLAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 223
now stands the large house of the heirs of the late George C.
Thacher and the brick house of Charles A. Green, while near by
Everett Avenue ascends the hill from Stoughton Street, with houses
on each side. On the death of David Clapp, his landed estate was
divided equally between his three sons, David, Samuel and Seth, the
oldest declining to receive the double portion then allowed by law,
and two of these portions still remain in the hands of his descendants.
In the inventory of his estate, the whole lot is called about nine acres,
and is appraised at X85.
In the year 1777, David Clapp was drafted as a soldier to join
the regiment appointed as a guard to Gen. Burgoyne's army, then
prisoners of war at Cambridge. His son David, then in his eighteenth
year, offered himself as a substitute for his father, and was accepted.
David Clapp, Senior, is represented as of a cheerful disposition.
Near the close of his life he was afflicted with a painful affection of
the knee, and a despondent state of mind was said to have been
induced thereby. He died Aug. 17, 1787, in the 67th year of his
age. His wife died April 13, 1773.
Children of DAVID and RUTH (Humphrey) CLAPP :
73. HANNAH, 6 b. May 22, 1755; d. unmarried, April 21, 1831, aged
76 years.
74. SARAH, 6 b. Aug. 19, 1757; d. unmarried, Sept. 13, 1839, aged 82
years. She was of a lively and cheerful disposition, remarkably
active, and made herself useful and companionable in the families
where she passed her life first, in that of her aunt Sarah Leeds,
then, in those of James Robinson and his son Stephen Robinson,
afterwards in that of Thomas Lyon, all of Dorchester.
75. ELIZABETH, 5 b. Dec. 17, 1758; d. unmarried, Jan. 23, 1819, aged
60 years. Hannah and Elizabeth lived with their brother David.
4-76. DAVID, 5 b. Nov. 30, 1759; d. May 15, 1846, in his 87th year.
77. RUTH,* b. April 21, 1761 ; d. unmarried, April 13, 1815, aged 54
years. The last years of her life were passed in the family of
Judge Moses Everett.
78. ABIGAIL, 6 b. Dec. 28, 1763; d. unmarried Aug. 9, 1814, aged 51
years.
79. SAMUEL, 6 b. June 13, 1766; d. July 17, 1830, aged 64 years. He
inherited the middle one of the three lots into which his father a
landed estate was divided, including the homestead and dwelling
house. He m. Nov. 27, 1801, Anna, daughter of Christopher
Capen, of Canton, Mass. In July, 1804, his house was destroyed
by fire, but was replaced by another in the same year. He was
a cooper by trade, but his business in this line was small. His
wife survived him, and died April 13, 1853, aged 82 years, 6
months. Children :
80, Anna Larking b. Nov. 11, 1805 ; d. May 16, 1872, m her 67th
year; m. Oct. 10, 1835, William Harris, a printer, of Boston,
b. in Middletown, Conn., who died Dec. 22. 1
children, Samuel and Anna, lived to grow up, and nov
(187.-)) occupy the place of the old homestead > 1 Leu
Street, and r.'tain tin- land which has eomfl down to then
from their great-grandfather, David 4 Clapp.
224 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
81. Samuel Capen,* b. April 1, 1810; d. Oct. 28, 1831, aged 21
years. He was a school-fellow of the author of this
Memorial, and our relations were of the most intimate kind.
He was a young man of true Christian character, without
display, modest and humble, yet true to every call of duty.
He had a passionate fondness for music, both vocal and
instrumental. He served his time in Boston at the printing
business, and died of consumption just as he was entering
upon responsible manhood. A small book, containing some
of his writings and a memoir by his minister, the Rev. Dr.
Harris, of Dorchester, was printed soon after his death.
The Sunday after his burial Dr. Harris preached an appro-
priate discourse from the words "There was a young man
carried out, the only son of his mother and she was a widow."
82. SETH, 5 b. Nov. 2, 1767; d. March 8, 1836, aged 68 years. In
1793, he m. Sally Hawes, who d. Dec. 19, 1826, aged 53
years. Mr. Clapp was a carpenter by trade. At the time of
the burning of Samuel's house in 1804, Seth was living with him,
and both were therefore deprived of a home. While Samuel was
rebuilding on the old spot, Seth also commenced improving his
own adjoining lot on the South-east by the erection of a dwelling
house, but on so large a scale and with such limited means that
the house, scarcely finished, was sold at auction the next year,
1805, and bought by John Amory Esq., for $6000, including the
three acres of land which was inherited by Seth. Mr. Amory
lived in the house the remainder of his life, and some of his
family occupied it till 1869, when it was sold to the present
occupant, John S. Lyons, who married Sarah Olive Clapp (No.
539 of THOMAS). Seth afterwards lived hi various places in
the lower part of the town was industrious, a good workman
at his trade, but never made up the pecuniary losses of his early
life. Child:
83. Sarah, 6 b. March 20, 1794; m. in 1841, Thomas Lyon, he
being then about 83 years old, and she 47 years. She was
his second wife, his first being Sarah Clapp (No. 106 of
ROGER). After Mr. Lyon's death, she m. Jan. 1, 1849,
Josiah Davenport, in Dorchester, but then belonging to
Needham, where they are both still living. Her recollection
of old residents and ancient localities, in the lower part of
Dorchester, are fresh and reliable, and much information
from her has been received.
-31-
EBENEZER 4 (Ebenczer, 3 Nathaniel,' Nicholas 1 ), oldest son of
Ebenczer and Hannah Clapp, was born in Dorchester, Oct. 4, 1 705,
and died Jan. 10, 1752.* He married, Feb. 21, 1727-8, Hannah,
daughter of John and Abigail Pierce, of Dorchester, he being then
* The year in which Ebenezer Clapp died was memorable by the extreme prevalence and
fatality of the smallpox, more particularly in Boston. Blake says of it: "This year ye
Small-Pox went through Boston, which it had not done for 21 Years before, so that there
were many Thousands to have y Distemper. There Died of it there 561 Persons, 31 by
Inoculation & 530 ye common way. Of those that were Inoculated there Died about one
NICHOLAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 225
about 22 years old, and she about 19. Neither of them lived to
old age, he dying in the 47th year of his age, and she died Nov. 24,
1757, in her 49th year. He built the house now standing and owned
by his granddaughter the widow of James Howe, near the north-west
end of Willow Court, beyond the house first erected by Roger and
alluded to on p. 4. Previous to this house being built, lie lived in
the one afterwards known as the old Champney house, on the easterly
corner of what is now Cottage and Sumuer Streets. At the time
the new house was raised, it was and had long been customary to
celebrate such an occasion by the assembling of most of the men of
the neighborhood, who after rendering such assistance as was needed
in the raising, partook of the entertainment which was sure to follow.
I have heard my father say, that after the raising of this house, May
15, 1750, a large collection of people repaired to the house already
spoken of, where Ebenezer Clapp then lived, about a third of a mile
distant, playing leap-frog all the way on the road. Ebenezer Clapp
was an active man, and carried on the business of tanning as well as
that of farming.
Children of EBENEZER and HANNAH (Pierce) CLAPP :
84. ABIGAIL, 6 b. Jan. 15, 1728-29; d. June 23, 1809. She m. June
5, 1752, Henry Humphreys, and had ten children, one of whom
was Deacon James Humphreys, b. June 5, 1753, a prominent
citizen of Dorchester, for many years Deacon of the First
Church, and d. July 13, 1845, aged 92 years. Deacon James
was father of Deacon Henry Humphreys, now living on the
homestead of his ancestors, corner of Dudley and Humphreys
Streets, and who not many years since gave up the business of
tanning, which had been carried on by the family in a yard in
front of the house through seven generations.
85. ANN, 8 b. March 16, 1731 ; d. May 26, 1812. She m. Dec. 11, 1760,
Noah Clapp (No. 29), who for so many years filled various
important offices of trust and honor in the town of Dorchester.
Her father was a cousin of her husband, so that bringing down
the generations in rotation from the first settlers, her children, on
their father's side, come before her. She was an exemplary
woman, mild and gentle in disposition and manners, and studied
things which were peaceful. These qualities made her a suitable
companion for her meek and studious husband, with whom she
walked calmly and cheerfully in the journey of life.
+86. EBENEZER,* b. April 23, 1732; d. Jan. 29, 1802.
87. DANIEL, 5 b. Feb. 19, 1733-4; d. June 19, 1734.
+88. LEMUEL, 5 b. April 9, 1735; d. Dec. 29, 1819.
89. HANNAH, 6 b. Sept. 8, 1736; d. Jan. 5, 1804. She m. June 19,
1755, Timothy Tileston, and had a large family of children;
Her husband lived to be 91 years of age, and d. April 20, 1819.
out of 85, and of those that took it ye natural way hardly one out of Ten ; it did not spread
much in yc Country Towns (except Charlcstown) though it was in many of t .em- th
were Seven Persons had it in this Town [Dorchester], one of whom Died, namely R
Searl, a man about 80 Years of age. There were accord.ng to Accounts Two T.
Persons Removed out of Boston, into y Country Towns to escape y Distemper, whicfi
far more than ever were known to Remove at any time heretofore.
226 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
90. JOHN, 5 b. July 17, 1738; d. Feb. 19, 1739.
91. ELIZABETH,* *b. Jan. 10, 1739-40; d. June 22, 1741.
92. ELIZABETH, 5 b. Aug. 18, 1741 ; d. Dec. 18, 1741.
93. ELisHA, 5 b. June 10, 1743 ; d. Aug. 14, 1775, aged 32 years. He
was a tanner by trade, and commenced business for himself, on
the road leading westerly from the Five Corners, now called
Cottage Street. He lived in a house south and front of the old
Blake house (afterwards Caleb Williams's), and the old barn west
of the house and fronting on the street he used as a mill and bark
house. He was a steady, hard-working man. He m. June 17,
1773, Sarah, daughter of Thomas Bird, of Dorchester. They
had one child, Elisha, 6 born a few months after his father's
decease, and lived only a few days. His widow afterwards
married John Hawes, a large land-holder in Dorchester and
afterwards in South Boston, and a most liberal benefactor to the
latter place by bequests for public purposes.*
94. WiLLiAM, 5 b. Aug. 8, 1745 ; -d. March 8, 1778, in his 33d year.
He resided in Boston, and was a carpenter by trade. He m.
Dec. 1, 1768, Sarah Tileston, of Boston, dau. of Onesiphorus
Tileston, a wealthy wheelwright, who lived in Purchase Street,
opposite his wharf. Children :
95. William Tileston, 6 b. Sept. 14, 1770; d. Sept. 13, 1818, aged
48 years. He m. Sept. 14, 1794, Lucretia Hewes, b. April 1,
1775. Mr. Clapp spent the early part of his life in Boston;
afterwards he removed with his family to Cincinnati, Ohio,
and lived there a while. He was on the way from the last
named place to New Orleans in pursuit of business, when he
died. He had an edition of the " Memoirs of Capt. Roger
Clap " printed, in 1807, the former editions being then nearly
out of print. His widow with two or three of her daughters
lived afterwards hi Boston. Children : j, Martha ffewes," 1 b.
May 20, 1795; d. Aug. 18, 1833; m. Oct. 23, 1818, Rev.
James Chute, said to have been a man of high Christian
character and attainments. James Chute after marriage
taught school in Cincinnati, O., till 1828 then having been
trained as a Presbyterian minister he removed to Columbus,
Ohio, where he was Chaplain of the Ohio State Prison till
Sept. 1831, when he removed to Fort Wayne, Ind., and took
* John Hawes was born in Dorchester, Dec. 29, 1741, and died in South Boston, in Jan.
1829. At the age of 7 years he was placed to be brought up with his maternal grandfather,
Benjamin Bird, Esq., of South Boston, then Dorchester Neck. Here he must have received
the rudiments of only a very limited education, as no appropriation was made by the town
of Dorchester for the support of a school at that place till the year 1761, when 4 was voted
for that purpose ; and it is probable that he never attended a public school. A few years
were spent in Dorchester in learning a trade, when, after the death of his grandfather, he
returned to the Neck to take charge of the patrimonial estate. He again went, however,
to Dorchester, where he engaged largely in agricultural pursuits, became wealthy, and on
the death of Elisha Clapp, in 1775, he married his widow. About 1804 he once more took
up his residence in South Boston, where he lived during the remainder of his days. His
attachment to this place was such that, having no issue, he appropriated a large part of his
estate to the benefit of its inhabitants in the way of common education and religious
instruction. One of the public schools and one of the religious societies of South Boston
now bear his name. Mr. Hawes was eccentric in character, was naturally retiring and
unobtrusive, had a limited acquaintance with men and manners, was temperate and frugal
in his habits, and was eager for gain in all his business transactions. He was strictly and
morally upright, however, in all his dealings with others, and his religion consisted more in
a vital principal pervading his whole life than in boasting professions or assent to any
peculiarities of belief.
NICHOLAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 227
the Pastorate of the 1st Presbyterian Church which he had
organized. In August, 1833, his wife Martha Hewes Clanp
died at Fort Wayne, in the full assurance of a blessed
immortality. In Sept. 1834, James Chute married at Dayton,
O., Mrs. Mary Haven Crane, widow of Rev. Samuel Crane,
formerly a missionary to the Tuscarora Indians. Rev.
James Chute died at Fort Wayne, Ind., Dec. 28, 1835.
She died at the age of 38, and he survived her hut little more
than two years. They have three children now living, viz.,
Sarah Caroline, James Thurston and Samuel Hewes. ii.
William John? b. March 19, 1797 ; d. in 1848 ; m. June 19,
1821, Elizabeth S. Newton and lived in Portland. Children :
(1) William Tikston? (2) Ann Maria* d. young; (3) Colum-
lus; s (4) Ann Maria ; 8 (5) Hannah * (6) Frances. 6 Hi. Sa-
rah Tileston? b. Aug. 7, 1798; d. Sept. 1, 1826; m. Nov. 1,
1823, Dr. George Requa, of Cincinnati, iv, Ann Lucretia, 1
b. Oct. 8, 1799 ; d. Nov. 17, 1801. v. Charles? b. June 2,
1801 ; d. unm. Feb. 29, 1824. vi. Shubael Hewes? b. Nov.
15, 1802 ; d. Dec. 1, 1802. Yii. Lucretia Hewes? b. March
30, 1804; d. March 23, 1870. Till, Joseph Hewes? b. Nov.
7, 1806; m. Sept. 8, 1835, Caroline Allen, who d. in Rox-
bury, Dec. 15, 1839, aged 27 years. Hem. second, in Port-
land, Me., Sept. 24. 1841, Julia O. Chandler, of Augusta,
Me., b. Dec. 13, 1821. He was a watchmaker and jeweller
in Augusta. Child by first wife : (1) Joseph Willet, 8 b. July
19, 1838, in Marlboro', N. H. ; m. Nov. 8, 1860, Eliza J.
Downe, b. in Bangor, Me., April 18, 1833, and had one
child, Walter A., 9 b. April 18, 1865 ; they live in Augusta,
Me. Children by second wife : (2 and 3) George Allen 8 and
Julia Caroline,* twins, b. July 18, 1843, d. Dec. 10, 1844;
(4) John Alphonso,* b. Sept. 1, 1844; (5) Julia Maria, 8 b.
Sept. 6, 1846; (6) Ella Louisa, 8 b. Feb. 13, 1848 ; (7) Sam-
uel Hewes 8 b. Nov. 16, 1850; (8) William Tileston, 8 b. Jan.
11, 1853. ix, Abigail Seaver Hewes, 1 b. Sept. 23, 1808;
m. in Roxbury, June 20, 1833, Samuel Fisk, and had six
children, viz., Samuel White, dead, William Henry, Albert
Minot, dead, Joseph Hewes and Abby Hewes, twins, and
Charles Franklin. Mrs. Fisk m. second, March 19, 1853,
Joseph A. Arnold, of Richmond, Va. X. Charlotte Ann
Hewes? b. Jan. 25, 1810 ; m. Nov. 11, 1850, Andrew Has-
kell, and has one child, Richard Hewes. xii Lydia Carver?
b. Feb. 28, 1813; is living unm. in Roxbury.
William Tileston Clapp was a bookseller when in Boston,
and in 1795 had a store on the corner of Proctor's Lane (now
Richmond St.) ; four years later he was in Fish (now North)
Street. His wife Lucretia d. April 4, 1857.
96. John, 6 b. Jan. 29, 1773 ; was mate of a vessel, and d. in Balti-
more.
97. Mary, 6 d. when about 9 years old.
30
228 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
34:
NATHANIEL 4 (Ebcnczcr, 3 Nathaniel* Nicholas 1 ), third son of
Ebcnezer and Hannah Clapp, was born in Dorchester, Jan. 22,
1712-13. He married, Jan. 1, 1740, Sarah Howe, then about 18
years of age. He was a shoemaker by trade. It is probable that he
built the house afterwards and for a long time occupied by Preserved
Baker, a few rods South-west of Clapp's Mill, in the northerly part
of the town. Mr. Baker married one of his daughters. He seems
to have owned the land making the westerly angle of the Five
Corners, and extending south on what is now Boston Street, to the
gateway leading to the house of Deacon Jonathan and his sons.
It is said that his death, which took place March 18, 1750-51, in his
39th year, was caused by a fall from a tree. His wife outlived her
husband more than forty-six years, and died Nov. 2, 1796.
Children of NATHANIEL and SARAH (HowE) CLAPP:
98. JOHN, 8 b. Oct. 11, 1741 ; m. first, Nov. 29, 1764, Hannah Baker;
m. second, Sept. 15, 1784, Polly Vaughan. He was a shoe-
maker by trade, and was somewhat deranged in the latter part
of his life. This John was familiarly known as " John Old
Times." Children by first wife :
99. John*\>. Dec. 19, 1768; d. May 16, 1816; m. first, July 30,
1789, Elizabeth Wilson; m. second, Mehitable Allen. The
former part of his life he lived in Dorchester, the latter part
in Roxbury, excepting a short time in Boston, where he died.
His widow married again, and lived probably in Bangor,
Me. Children by first wife : i, Hannah,' 1 b. March 5, 1790 ;
d. June, 1790. ii. Abraham? b. April 29, 1791; lived
awhile when a boy with Deacon Ebenezer Clapp (my father),
then went to sea and was lost. ill. Elizabeth? b. July 29,
1792; m. AVilliam Whittemore, and lived in Dedham. iv,
Isaac, 6 b. Sept. 16, 1793; m. in 1814, Vesta Reynolds, of No.
Bridgewater, and lived in South Weymouth. Mrs. Clapp d.
in March, 1864. Children: (1) Mary Ann* b. March 13,
1817, d. May, 1844; (2) Eliza M., 8 b. May 8, 1818, m. in
1836, Wm. Tucker, of Boston ; (3) Arvilla, 8 b. Feb. 2, 1820,
m. in 1844, Barnard M. Lewis who d. in 1846 ; (4) Isaac, 8
b. May 31, 1821, d. unm. Sept. 30, 1847 ; (5) James Lewis, 8
b. Sept. 17, 1823, m. Jan. 14, 1847, Sally P. Reynolds ; (6)
Fidelia* b. July 31, 1827, d. Aug. 9, 1847, m. Oct. 18, 1846,
George W. Tucker, of Boston; (7) Vesta fi., 8 b. Oct. 11,
1829 ; (8) Lucretia 8 b. July 27, 1831; (9) George W., 8 b.
Feb. 22, 1835; (10) Henry W., 8 b. March 13, 1837; (11)
Ellen S., 8 b. Nov. 6, 1841. V. Jacob, 1 b. Oct. 17, 1797; d.
Feb. 15, 1854; m. Elizabeth Downing, of Marblehead, and
lived in South Weymouth. Children : ( 1 ) Charles fi., s b. May
12, 1820, m. Dec. 31, 1846, Mary Jane O'Mara, and lived
in South Weymouth; (2) William H. 8 b. May 15, 1822, m.
in 1843, Mary Tisdale; (3) Jacob L. 8 b. Dec. 28, 1824, m.
Sept. 1847, Littlefield ; (4) John L., s b. May 29, 1827,
d. Dec. 11, 1851, m. Dec. 23, 1847, Adelaide M. Hayden,
NICHOLAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 229
and lived in Weymouth; (5) Lorin 0.,* b. Aug. 11, 1829,
m. Sarah Nichols; (6) Elizabeth, 8 m. John Dunn, and live
in South Wey mouth ; (7) Sarah, 9 m. Joseph R. Tirrell. vi,
Hannah? m. Abiel Smith, and lived in Roxbury. vil, Joseph?
probably married, and is supposed to have been lost at sea.
Children of John 6 by second wife : viii. John? m. and lived
afterwards in the State of Maine. IXt Aaron? m. and lived
in the same town with his brother John.
100. Hannah, 6 b. June 10, 1772; d. June 15, 1776.
101. Nathaniel* twin brother of Hannah, b. June 10, 1772; d.
Oct. 18, 1774.
102. Nathaniel, 6 }). Aug. 28, 1777; d. Jan. 21, 1859, a. 82; m. first,
Oct. 18, 1800, Polly, dau. of John Williams, of Dorchester ; m.
second, Sept. 20, 1806, Lucretia Johnson, of Charlestown.
She d. March 20, 1865, aged 79 years. Mr. Clapp was a
very respectable man ; was a bootmaker by trade. He lived
in Boston, and had an interesting family. Children by
second wife: i. Mary W.? b. Nov. 19, 1807; m. Joseph W.
Lawrence, of Boston, and had four children. ii, Lucretia?
b. July 12, 1810 ; d. Sept. 22, 1812. iii, Lucretia? b. Aug.
30, 1813; d. Dec. 29, 1864. iv, Caroline S.? b. May 11,
1816 ; d. Sept. 3, 1875, unm. V. Margaret A.? b. April 11,
1819 ; d. Feb. 13, 1825. vi. Margaret A.? b. Aug. 12, 1826 ;
m. Dec. 9, 1852, Bridge Wheat, of Boston, and had two
children.
103. SARAH, 6 b. Oct. 4, 1742.
4-104. NATHANIEL, 5 b. April 22, 1744; d. Oct. 11, 1823.
-j-105. SAMUEL, 6 b. July 13, 1745; d. Jan. 22, 1823.
106. ELIZABETH, 6 b. Oct. 29, 1746 ; m. Samuel Baker, of Dorchester,
brother of Preserved Baker, who m. her sister Submit. They
lived in Leeds's Lane, near Old Hill, so-called, now Savin Hill
Avenue and Savin Hill.
107. ISAAC, 5 b. May 9, 1748 ; d. Jan. 29, 1750.
108. SUBMIT, 6 b. Jan. 9, 1749-50; d. Jan. 11, 1749-50.
109. SUBMIT, 5 b. Feb. 5, 1750-51; d. Dec. 28, 1836; m. Preserved
Baker, of Dorchester. Both of them lived to be aged. Their
house was the one already spoken of as probably built by
Nathaniel Clapp* (No. 34), north of the end of what is now
Willow Court, and reached by a passage-way from Cottage St.
35
JOSEPH 4 (Ebcnczer? Nathaniel? Nicholas 1 }, fourth son of
Ebenezer and Hannah Clapp, was born in Dorchester, Oct. 9, 1715,
and died Feb. 14, 1789. He married, first, Jan. 23, 1745, Abigail
Dyer, who died May 19, 1760. Married, second, April 2, 1761,
Abigail Prescott, who died Aug. 31, 1791, aged 70 years.
Joseph was ancestor of the several generations who have hvcc
what was formerly called the Upper Road in Dorchester, a
Centre Street.
230 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
Children of JOSEPH and ABIGAIL (DYER) CLAPP:
110. ABIGAIL, 5 b. Nov. 11, 1746; d. Dec. 24, 1750.
111. HANNAH, 5 b. May 11, 1749; d. Feb. 14, 1750-51.
-f-112. JOSEPH, 5 b. Oct. 24, 1751 ; d. Sept, 18, 1823, aged 72 years.
113. ABIGAIL, 5 b. May 24, 1754.
114. TniOTHY, 6 b. May 27, 1756 ; d. next day.
ROGER 4 (Ebenezer, 3 Nathaniel* Nicholas 1 ), youngest son of
Ebenezer and Hannah Clapp, and brother of the preceding, was
born in Dorchester, April 28, 1721. He lived in and probably built
the westerly half of the house which still stands on the north-westerly
angle of the open square known as the Five Corners, the house
being afterwards enlarged by the addition of the easterly half
by his son Ezekiel. On the corner bounding the square on the
north-east, and directly opposite from Roger's dwelling, Lieut. Go-
vernor Thomas Oliver (the last royalist holding that office in Massa-
chusetts) then lived, and the two neighbors are said to have been on
intimate terms. A large fowling piece, probably a "King's arm,' 7
was given to Roger by Mr. 0. Years afterwards this came into the
possession of Deacon Ebenezer Clapp, Sen., and by him was used on
some of the gunning excursions down the harbor, of which, as many
now living can remember, he was so passionately fond. The house
of Gov. Oliver, built by himself and still standing, afterwards went
into the hands of Rev. Oliver Everett, and became the birth-place of
Gov. Edward Everett, son of Oliver. Subsequently it came into the
possession of the Richardson family, and is now occupied by John
Richardson, Esq. Roger 4 Clapp married, about 1748, Susannah
"Wales, of Dorchester, and died Aug. 1, 1807.
Children of ROGER and SUSANNAH (Wales) CLAPP:
115. ROGER, 5 b. Feb. 24, 1749 ; d. same day.
116. STEPHEN, 6 b. March 21, 1753. He was engaged in the Revolu-
tionary War, was never married, and d. in camp or on his way
home.
117. EzEKiEL, 5 b. March 14, 175G ; d. Nov. 4, 1823, in his 68th year.
In 1777, he m. Lydia Pratt, of Weymouth, who d. Jan. 17,
1837. In her old age one of her. legs was broken, from the
effects of which she never recovered. Ezekiel built and lived
in the easterly half of the house at the Five Corners, already
described above (see Roger 4 ). Children:
118. Stephen, 6 b. Dec. 22, 1778; d. March 23, 1850; m. Dec. 15,
1807, Hannah W., daughter of Deacon James Humphreys.
He was a shoemaker by trade, and an industrious and worthy
man. The shop which he at first occupied was near the
Five Corners (Boston Street), and was burnt in the winter
of 1815, on the day long afterwards known as the " cold
Friday." He afterwards and to the end of his life lived on
what is now Dudley Street, a short distance from the house
NICHOLAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 231
of his father-in-law. Children: i. James Harris? b. Dec.
15, 1809 ; d. Feb. 2, 1875 ; was a tanner by trade, having
served his time with his uncle Henry Humphreys ; hU house,
now standing on Dudley Street, is directly opposite the
Humphreys homestead; he m. first, Nov. 28, 1839, Leonora,
daughter of James Blake, of Warwick. She d. Nov. 28,
1843, aged 28, leaving one child: (1) Madelia Hudson* b!
July 31, 1842, d. Dec. 7, 1870, m. Oct. 27, 1868, S. Mason
Dolbeare, who d. Oct. 12, 1871, aged 27. James H. Clapp
m. second, Oct. 24, 1844, Lydia Wurd\vell, who bore him two
children: (2) Arthur, 8 b. Nov. 24, 1845, entered the army
in the War of the Rebellion, and d. in the Berwick City
Hospital, May 21, 18G3; (3) Louisa Church* d. Aug. 21,
1849, aged 13 months. H, Edward? b. March 14, 1811 ;
m. March 8, 1841, Fanny W., daughter of Isaac Beals, of
Stoughton. They lived in Boston, where he did business as
a mason until a few years ago, when bodily infirmity com-
pelled him to give up his business and they removed to Dor-
chester. Children : (1 ) Fanny Louisa* b. Jan. 15, 1842 ; (2)
Edward, 9 d. young ; (3) Bradford B. 9 d. young ; (4) Horace
R* b. June 2, 1851. iii. Susan C., 1 b. May 7, 1812 ; d.
July 6, 1875; m. Aug. 20, 1846, Cyrus Balkain, Jr., of
Dorchester, and had a son, Cyrus, b. Oct. 3, 1849. iv, Lucy
H.? b. Oct. 24, 1813; m. May 7, 1835, Lewis Clapp
(No. 123), of Dorchester, v. Jason? b. March 25, 1815; a
wheelwright by trade, and lives in San Francisco ; he m.
Aug. 12, 1841, Harriet N. Hall, of Lyme, N. H., and has:
(1) Francis S., 8 b. Dec. 9, 1841, d. July 30, 1842 ; (2) Fran-
cis S., 8 b. in 1844; (3) Sophronia ; 8 (4) Esther; 9 (5) a son, 9
who d. young ; ( 6) Hiram, 8 who is in a Military Academy.
Ti, Stephen," 1 b. June 24, 1817 ; m. June 28, 1852, Martha,
dau. of Richard (son of Capt. Lemuel) Clapp, of Dorchester.
Vil, Hannah Humphreys? b. Oct. 28, 1818 ; m. June 11, 1850,
Lewis L. Whitney; they live in Woburn. Till, Dorothy H.?
b. March 26, 1820; m. March 23, 1853, Loren W. Perham,
a carpenter by trade ; they live in Woburn, and have two
children : Alonzo L. and Williametta. ix, Henry Barnard?
b. Oct. 26, 1821 ; messenger in National Bank of Redemp-
tion, Boston; m. March 26, 1846, Mary C. Beals, of Stough-
ton, b. Sept. 3, 1825, sister to his brother P^dward's wife.
Children : (1) Henry 9 d. in infancy ; (2) Henry BingJey 9 b.
July 14, 1855 ; (3) Mary Ella, 9 b. March 26, 1857, m. Aug.
17, 1874, Albert L. Dunning; (4) Charles E. 9 d. young;
(5) Emma Florence, 9 b. June 10, 1861. X. Lydia Elizalx'th?
b. Dec. 2, 1823 ; d. Aug. 26, 1824. xl. William? b. March
9, 1827; lived with his uncle Henry Humphreys, then went
to California, and d. there Jan. 29, 1850. xii. Amos? b. 31. i\
12, 1828 ; d. Oct. 12, 1860; m. June 23,1853, Charlotte W.
Holman, and had: (I) William Holman 9 b. July 17, 1855.
119. Susanna, 6 b. Jan. 29, 1782; d. June 17, 1839; m. Nov. 11,
1806, Oliver Wiswall Champnev, who d. Aug. 13, 1845,
aged 77. For many years they lived in tin- -:mir II-MI-.- with
her father and mother.
232 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
120. Edu-ard? b. May 22, 1791 ; d. in Savannah, Ga., about Sept.
10, 1815.
121. Ezekiel? b. Sept. 5, 1793 ; He was never married. He lived in
the house formerly his father's, with his brother-in-law Mr.
Champney. After the death of Mr. Champney, Ezekiel
came into possession of most of his property, and lived in
the same place till his own death, Sept. 3, 1848.
122. NATHANIEL, S b. July 13, 1761 ; d. March 27, 182G; m. Nov. 24,
1791, Hannah Glover. She was deranged the latter part of her
life, and d. Feb. 25, 1829. They lived in the north-westerly end
of the double house, the other part of which was built and
lived in by his father. Children :
123. Lewis, 6 b. Oct. 17, 1792 ; d. Jan. 28, 1854 ; m. May 7, 1835,
Lucy H., dau. of Stephen Clapp (No. 118), of Dorchester.
With his brother Enos he lived, unm., in the same house
with then* parents till 40 years old or upwards. He was an
industrious, hard-working man all his days, but found time
to indulge his fondness for gunning excursions on the water
and neighboring sea-shore during many years. Children :
l.Lydia? b. Sept. 10, 1836; m. Feb. 15, 1855, Joseph P.
Silsby, lawyer; they live in Boston and have had four
children, viz., Lizzie Park, b. Sept. 21, 1856, d. Aug. 27,
1857; Lewis Clapp, b. April 21, 1858, d. Aug. 29, 1872;
Joseph Park, b. March 8, 1864; and Lydia A., b. June 25,
1865, d. Aug. 15, 1865. ii, Fanny B.? b. Dec. 13, 1838 ;
m. April 8, 1866, Thomas H. Silsby, and live in Philadelphia.
ill. Cornelia? b. Dec. 22, 1841 ; d. Aug. 28, 1845. IV, Clara
Humphreys? b. Dec. 13, 1843 ; m. Oct. 31, 1872, Edwin R.
Jenness, and live in Boston. V, Antoinette? b. July 2, 184- ;
m. Oct. 4, 1866, Chester M. Gay; they live in Dorchester,
and have one child, Mary Antoinette, b. Dec. 31, 1874.
Vl.Lucy? b. June 14, 1851; m. Oct. 31, 1872, Edwin A.
Brooks ; they live hi Boston, and have Edwin A., b. March
23, 1875.
124. Enos, 6 b. May 31, 1794; m. July 18, 1834, Adaline Cassell,
of Dorchester. Until his marriage, he lived in the same
house with his brother Lewis, and the intimacy and affection
which existed between them was remarkable and proverbial.
Their size and height did not differ much, and they dressed
very nearly alike. They were, however, of different com-
plexion, Lewis having light hair and eyes, and Enos's being
dark. Before they were married it was seldom that either
of them was seen without the other. In business and plea-
sure, in the mowing-field and in the street, on Sunday and
week-days, they were seldom apart, and the happiness of
each seemed inseparable from that of the other. Their names
were almost always used in connection by others, insomuch
that many persons who were well acquainted with both, did
not know either by his distinctive name ; and children, when
they happened to see one without the other, have been
known to say "There goes Lewis and Enos!" AN hile
their father was alive, he was a partner as it were in many
of their labors, and nothing of importance was transacted
NICHOLAS AND HI* DESCENDANTS. 233
without a consultation with him. They were excellent gun-
ners ; many stormy as well as pleasant days and nights were
passed by them on land and water among the islands of
Boston harbor in their eager pursuit for game, and no hard-
ship or exposure was severe enough to check their enthusi-
asm or injure their health. They sometimes made excursions
as far as Cape Cod, sending their game up to Boston mar-
ket, and the number of sea-fowl killed by them before they
relinquished this kind of recreation, was immense. Enos
removed to Wayland in the spring of 1848. His wife died
Oct. 3, 1868, aged 54, after which he returned to Dorchester,
but has lately bought a place in Norfolk, Mass., where he
now, 1875, resides. Children: i, Emily Quincy? b. July
15, 1835; m. John D. Loker; they lived in Dorchester.
ii, Caroline, 1 b. Nov. 12, 1836; m. Nathan B. Johnson ; they
live in Wayland. Hi, Alexander? b. Dec. 29, 1 838. iv. James
Cassett? b. Dec. 28, 1840; was a soldier in the War of the
Rebellion, in the 13th Mass. Vols., and d. in a hospital in
Virginia in the latter part of 1863.
125. Joanna? b. Feb. 15, 1797 ; d. Sept. 9, 1832. Lived and died
in her father's house.
-40-
JOEL 5 (John* Jo/in, 3 Nathaniel, 9 Nicholas*), oldest son of John and
Abigail (Estabrook) Clapp, of Sudbury, was born July 2, 1726, and
died in 1770. He married, Oct. 14, 1749, Elizabeth Burk. He was
a carpenter by trade. He held but little property at the time of his
death; it in part consisted of 80 acres of land in the town of
Ashburnham (called Dorchester Canada), that being the township
granted by the General Court of Massachusetts, in 1735, to the heirs
of those who perished in the Canada expedition in 1690. It would
seem that either Joel or his wife was included among these heirs.
He was at one time in the army during the French war.
Children of JOEL and ELIZABETH (BoRK) CLAPP:
126. JOHN, 6 b. Jan. 29, 1750; d. Feb. 16, 1752.
127. CALEB* > -, . , , ,,,- (d. June 5, 1812.
128. Josnui," } lwms ' b ' Feb ' 9 ' 17 2 ; I d. Nov. 5, 1810.
Caleb and Joshua, twin sons of Joel and Elizabeth Clapp, of
Sudbury, were born in Hardwick, Mass. They were important
men of their tune; were both officers in the Revolutionary War,
and acquaintances and friends of Gen. Washington. Their father
died when they were about 18 years of age, leaving his child ITU,
as has already been said, but little property. Caleb entered tlm
' army at an early date; in August, 1775, he was Sergeant-Major
of Col. Doolittle's regiment of Massachusetts troops, and was
subsequently appointed Captain, and served honorably through
the war. In 1776, while Ensign in Capt. Thomas Mighill's Co.,
26th Mass. Regiment, commanded by Col. Loammi Baldwin, he
accompanied that regiment to New York, it having been ordered
there after tftfe British army left Boston. A diary was kept by
234 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
Ensign Clapp during the passage of the regiment to New York
ami the whole time of its stay in that city a period of nearly
seven months. It left Cambridge March 29, 1776, reaching
Walthani that day, Marlboro' the second day, and each succeed-
ing day arriving at Grafton, Bellingham, Providence, stopping
in Providence one day, then to Coventry, R. I., Plaintield, Nor-
wich, New London on the 10th day; the next morning em-
barked for New York and arrived the llth of April, General
Washington arriving there on the 13th. This ancient diary is
now being published in full by Mr. Henry B. Dawson, in his
Historical Magazine, New York. It constitutes a valuable
historical document, and, could it be done with propriety, inter-
esting extracts might be here copied from it. We cannot refrain,
however, from taking one single item, relating as it does to an
event the approaching Centennial Celebration of which now
invests with a peculiar interest. Under date of July 9, 1776,
the Regiment then being in New York, he writes : " This day
the Declaration of the Independant States of America was read at
the Head of the Brigade, after which a part of the 80 Psalm
was sang, and then Mr. Leonard made Prayers, after that the
whole Brigade give three Cheers." Caleb married Stone,
of Rutland, Mass., and removed to Greenfield, Mass., where he
became a druggist and acquired a handsome property. He was
a Representative to the General Court from Greenfield hi 1797,
and perhaps in other years. He was subject to seasons of great
mental depression, and in one of them, when about 60 years old,
committed suicide. After his death, his widow, an excellent and
accomplished woman, continued to reside in their mansion, situ-
ated in a delightful spot in the town of Greenfield. A pension
from government was awarded to her as widow of a Revolu-
tionary officer. Caleb's name is among those of the original
members of the Society of the Cincinnati.
Joshua Clapp was also in the Army of the Revolution, and
rose to the rank of Lieutenant. After the war he married Nabby
Barnard, a sister of Mr. Charles Barnard, of Boston, and in
1792 removed to Montgomery, Vt., being the first settler in that
town, and his family was the only one in the town for two years.
He was subject to turns of the same kind of mental depression
as his brother Caleb, and also committed suicide, being a mem-
ber of the State Lesislature at the time.
In the " History of Greenfield," we find the following notice
of these brothers :
" The lapse of a quarter of a century has not obliterated from
the minds of a large portion of the population of this section of
country the memory of the twin brothers, Capt. Caleb and Capt.
Joshua Clap ; the former a resident of this town, the latter of
Montgomeiy, Vermont. Both were officers in the War of the
Revolution, of the same grade. The resemblance between them
was so perfect that they could not be distinguished the one from
the other, except by their dress. Both gentlemen of the old
school, intelligent, affable, polite and accessible to all. Both
men of very sanguine temperaments, at times seemingly enjoying
life to the full, and again all nature se'Rned to them a blank, a
NICHOLAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 235
desolation. The dark and all-absorbing spirit of despondency
and depression (which occasionally takes possession of some
peculiarly constituted minds), that grand leveller and nullifier of
talent and distinction, of which those who have never partaken
can form no adequate conception, no, not even a remote idea, at
times overwhelmed them, setting at nought the powers of reason.
" The sympathy existing between these high-minded, honora-
ble, and, when the writer last saw them together in 1810,
venerable men, was as remarkable as the almost wonderful re^
semblance in their persons. Both were comparatively in easy
circumstances, yet the firstrnamed had suffered considerably in
the great Virginia land speculation. This sympathy showed
itself in the closing act of their lives."
The historian of Greenfield was mistaken in saying above that
both were officers of the same grade in the Revolution, as Caleb
w r as a Captain and Joshua a Lieutenant
The following additional notice of Capt. Caleb is from the
Franklin Herald, published at Greenfield, under date of June.
1812:
" Died suddenly, in this town, the morning of the 5th inst,
Capt. Caleb Clapp, an officer of the Revolution.
" With those who knew him, his Moral Worth & Virtue, and
the social qualities that adorned his Character, the death of Capt.
Clapp will be learned with an heartfelt sorrow, deep and lasting.
" A life of 60 years, full of service to his Country and Society
in general, will speak the best and truest Eulogism.
'" His humanity and Benevolence were attested through the
extensive Sphere of his Acquaintance : Wide was the circle of
his Charities. His sense of Honor such as becomes both the
. Soldier and the Christian ; and the purest integrity, the truest
bravery and a sincere and rational piety consummated his
Character."
Children of Capt. Caleb Clapp :
129. Lucy, 7 after the death of her father, lived with her mother in
Greenfield.
130. Susan* m. Thomas W. Ripley, of Greenfield, whose son,
Capt. Thomas W. Ripley, now living in that town, has in his
possession the original manuscript of the diary of his grand-
father, already referred to.
131. Louisa, 7 m. George A. Trumbull, and lived in Worcester; he
was cashier of the Worcester Bank.
132. Elizabeth? m. Rev. Wales Tileston, a Congregational minister,
formerly settled in Charlemont, Mass., and afterwards re-
moved to the West.
Children of Lieut. Joshua Clapp :
133. Joel, 1 b. in Montgomery, Vt., Sept. 14, 1793, being the first
person born in that town ; d. there Feb. 23, 1861, in his 68th
year. In 1810, he entered the University of Vermont, but
the sudden death of his father the next year compelled his
return home, where several years were spent in settling his
father's estate. He then studied law and was admitted to
practice, but that profession not proving congenial, he gave
31
23G
THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
his attention to theology, and Oct. 2, 1818, was ordained a
Deacon in the Protestant Episcopal Church, by Bishop
Griswold, of Massachusetts, who also ordained him as Priest
Sept. 17, 1819. He soon organized a parish iu his native
town, and also one in the town of Berkshire, and another in
Shelburne, Vt., and was instituted Rector of the Trinity
Church in the last-named town, Oct. 27, 1819. During his
eight years residence here, the amount of missionary service
performed by him was very great. The church at Wood-
stock and also one at Bethel were added to the other three
under his charge, and the extremes of this field of labor were
1 50 miles apart, with the Green Mountain range between. In
1828, he began to confine his labors to Bethel and Woodstock.
In June, 1824, being then Rector of the church in Shelburne,
and also, in the masonic order, Grand Chaplain of the State,
he delivered a discourse on the laying of the corner-stone of
Grace Church, Sheldon, Vt. In 1832, he accepted a call to
Gardiner, Me., remaining there eight years ; hi 1840, returned
to the church in Woodstock, Vt., and in 1848 became Rector
of a Parish in Bellows Falls, where he remained ten years.
In 1858, he took charge of St. Philip's Church, Philipstown,
New York. In 1860, he accepted the post of Chaplain and
Superintendent of the Home for the Aged and Orphans, at
Brooklyn, N. Y. In consequence of failing health, he with-
drew from this office, and returned to the parishes of Mont-
gomery and Berkshire in Vermont, closing his work just
where it was begun forty years before. It may be added
that he represented his Diocese in seven sessions of the
General Convention, was thirteen years secretary of the Dio-
cesan Convention, and was seven years president of the
Standing Committee. He received the degree of D.D. from
Norwich University in 1849. The character of Rev. Dr.
Clapp is thus summed up by a writer in the American
Quarterly Church Review for 1861, to whom also we are
indebted for many of the facts above stated. " His most
striking excellencies were humility, modesty and kindness ;
sympathy with sorrow and suffering ; and forbearance in
judgment. He was also remarkable for an entire surrender
of heart and purpose to truth and simplicity. So averse,
indeed, was he to all duplicity, evasion or art, that he was
sometimes thought to have been too out-spoken, and uncom-
promising, against all chicanery and artful manceuvering.
The character of Dr. Clapp's mind was rather solid, than
brilliant. He excelled more in the wise and judicious appli-
cation of common knowledge to the every-day business of
ordinary life, than in rare speculations and striking antitheses ;
more in wise adaptation of common appliances than in the
invention of rare and complicated processes, either of thought
or action. Hence he was rather a useful than a showy
preacher ; more distinguished for moral and practical instruc-
tion and exhortation, than for metaphysical speculations or
philosophical subtleties. With him religion was rather a
Faith to be received, a life to lead, than a system of theolo-
NICHOLAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
237
gical opinions. In his social relations, public and private, he
will be long remembered as a faithful minister and judicious
counsellor ; a true friend and affectionate companion." Rev.
Joel Clapp was married about 1816, to Abigail Peckham, of
Petersham, Mass. Children : i, Charles B.,* b. in 1817, and
lived in Gardiner, Me. H, Mary M. 8 Hi, Harriet .* |y.
Julia A. 8 T. Amelia G. a vi, George P. 8
134. Harriet,'' b. April 2, 1796; m. William Baker, and lived in
Denham, Canada.
135. Eliza? b. Jan. 31, 1802; m. Rufus Hamilton, and lived in
Montgomery, Vt.
136. Joshua? b. Feb. 15, 1805 ; m. Sept. 3, 1827, Fanny, dau. of
Richard Smith, of Montgomery, where they resided. Chil-
dren : i. Charles Franklin 8 b. May 16, 1828. ji, Abigail S. 8
b. Sept. 14, 1829. iii. William R 8 b. July 3, 1831. iv.
George L., 8 b. Oct. 8, 1832. v, Francis R, 8 b. May 17, 1835 ;
d. Oct. 13, 1835. Ti. Edwin 8 b. Feb. 25, 1838. vii, Fanny
L.? b. May 28, 1840. viil, Caleb 8 b. March 28, 1844.
ix, Harriet? b. December, 1845.
137. Nabby? b. April 4, 1 807 ; m. Hiram Hamilton, brother of
Rufus, above named ; d. April 6, 1843.
138. Caleb? b. April 25, 1810; he is an Episcopal clergyman, resi-
dent in New York city for more than twenty years, and now
Rector of the Church of the Nativity, in that city ; he m.
Sophronia, dau. of Geo. Woodworth, Esq., of Saratoga, and
had Aiirelia 8 b. in 1841.
Joshua 6 had also two children who d. in infancy.
139. CATE,* b. Sept* 6, 1753; m. first, Nathan Haynes; m. second,
Mr. Cutting ; m. third, Mr. Wilder. She outlived all her three
husbands, and in 1843 was living and active in Marlboro', Mass.
140. JOHN, 6 b. Nov. 9, 1755 ; d. Dec. 17, 1757.
141. NABBY, C b. Dec. 6, 1757; was living in 1843, unmarried, in
Lowell.
ASAHEL 5 (John* John, 3 Nathaniel,* Nicholas 1 ), second son of John
and Abigail (Estabrpok) Clapp, of Sudbury, was born in that town,
March 12, 1729-30. He married, first, "Rebecca Baker; second,
Elizabeth Gilbert. They lived in Rutland, Mass.
Children of ASAHEL and 1st wife REBECCA (Baker) CLAPP:
142. JoxAS, 6 b. Nov. 13, 1761 ; d. Nov. 13, 1840; m. Abigail Garfield.
He lived and died in Oakham, Mass., leaving a large family of
children. He was a farmer, and a man of genuine hospitality.
Children :
143. Joseph,' 1 b. Feb. 12, 1789. A farmer in Oakland. He in. first,
Mehitable Boyd ; m. second, Abigail Allen. Children by
first wife: I. Mary A.* \\.AlbertR 8 Hi, Abigail 9 iv.
Mehitable 8 Children by second wife : Y, Lavima P. VI.
Martha M. 8 vii. Ellen F*
144. Jonas, 1 b. Nov. 16, 1790; d. in 1828. He was a blacksmith
by trade, lived hi Rutland, Mass., and d. unmarried.
238 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
145. Sally, 1 b. Oct. 11, 1792; dead.
146. Luther Johnson, 7 b. Jan. 22, 1795. A farmer, and lived in
Spencer, Mass. He m. Rebecca Boyd. Children: i, Silas. 8
ii, Luther? now dead.
147. Silas, 1 b. March 26, 1797 ; m. Sybil Ripley, and lived in
Oakham. He was a farmer, was an active and useful
citizen, and held the office of Chairman of the Board of
Selectmen of that town. Children: i. Sylvanus? ii. Maria*
iH. Sarah.* iv, John.* Y, Otis. 9 ?i, Henry.*
148. Irene," 1 b. July 4, 1799. Lived in Oakham.
149. Daniel, 1 b. April 25, 1802. A farmer, in Spencer, Mass. He
m. Mary Ann Lathe. Children: i. George -B.* ii, Edwin C*
150. Asahel 1 b. in December, 1804. A carpenter in Brattleboro',
Vt. He m. Annis B. Pratt, who d. in that town March 6,
1844, aged 39. Children : i, Maria J* ii. Sarah J*
-j-151. REUBEN, 6 b. May 8, 1766; d. April 12, 1823.
152. ABIGAIL, 6 lived in Oakham, unmarried.
Children of ASAHEL and 2d wife ELIZABETH (Gilbert) CLAPP:
153. ELIZABETH,* b. Feb. 28, 1768; d. unm. May 14, 1842.
154. URIAH, 6 b. July 16, 1769; m. Azubah Wilder, and lived in
Gardner, Mass. ; a cabinet-maker by trade, and said to have
been a man of superior mechanical ability. Children :
155. Asahel? b. Sept. 15, 1809. A shoemaker by trade. Married
Hannah B. Harris, of Shutesbury; lived in Gardner, and
had two children. He enlisted in the army in the War of
the Rebellion, Aug. 9, 1862, 36th Regt., Co. H., Mass. Vols.,
and d. at Clinton, 12 miles from Jackson, Miss., July 20,
1864, of typhoid fever. Children: i. W. E.* lives in Fitch-
burg, ii. Flora F.* lives in Gardner.
156. Daniel? b. Feb. 12, 1811: m Catharine Grout; lived in
Leicester, Mass., and had three children. He m. second, J.
Wood. He now resides in Gardner, Mass.
157. Mary B., 1 b. June 22, 1815. Lived in Gardner.
158. Lovell, 1 b. June 17, 1818. A shoemaker, and lived in Leicester,
Mass. Married Martha Jones, of Pownal, Me.
159. JOEL, 6 b. Dec. 27, 1772. A shoemaker in Holden, Mass. He m.
first, Patty Barnes; m. second, widow Betsey Kimball.
Children by first wife :
160. Joseph JB. 1 b. March 4, 1802. Went South, and was a school-
teacher there; at one tune was clerk iu a book-store in
Charleston, S. C.
161. Lucy, 1 b. June 4, 1804; m. Ira Cook, and lived in Athol,
Mass.
162. Charles 1 b. April 4, 1807. A shoemaker by trade in Peters-
ham, Mass. He m. Relief Taylor, and is said to have had
five children.
Children by second wife :
163. Martha, 1 b. May 18, 1820.
164. Asahel, 1 b. Feb. 27, 1822.
165. Selinda 1 b. Jan. 13, 1825.
166. PATIENCE, 6 b. Dec. 17, 1774; d. unmarried, Dec. 1, 1838.
NICHOLAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 239
66
JOHN 5 (Noah* Jonathan? Nathaniel, 3 Nicholas 1 ), oldest son of
Noah and Ann Clapp, was born in Dorchester, Sept. 11, 1764.
He served his time as a cabinet maker with Deacon Munro, of
Roxbury, Mass., in which town he settled and lived, and where he
died Sept. 23, 1840, aged 7G years. His business was carried on
in a shop which stood on the main street of the town, and his house
was on what is now called Taber Street. He married, first, Nov. 20,
1794, Susanna, daughter of James and Sarah Robinson, of Dorchester,
born June 10, 1771, and died May 9, 1802, aged 31 years. He
married, second, Nov. 6, 1803, Priscilla, daughter of Jonathan and
Mary Ann Holden, born March 22, 1777, and died Jan. 24, 1822,
aged 45 years. He married, third, May 22, 1823, Mrs. Ann Hawcs,
daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Pierce, of Dorchester, born Sept.
13, 1778, and died in Richmond, Va., Sept. 2, 1861, aged 82 years.
John Clapp was for many years Deacon of the First Church in
Roxbury. He was a truly honest man, affable and remarkably
courteous to all, and a blessing to his generation. There was a
deep and lasting affection between him, his sister Elizabeth (Mrs.
Seaver), and his brother Ebenezer for years preceding his death ;
they were for a long time all that remained of their father's family.
His funeral was from the meeting-house in Roxbury, and he was
buried with his ancestors in the Dorchester burying-ground.
His death was noticed in a funeral sermon by his Pastor, Rev.
George Putnam,* D.D., as follows :
" Another venerable form lately with us, and with us here constantly as
the sabbath bell but now gone from us rises to my view " * * * " He
was for many years an officer in our church, and well known to all our
older residents of the place. He always seemed to me a somewhat remark-
able man, though there was nothing shining or conspicuous, to the general
eye, either in his career or character. He belonged to a class, which as a
peculiar class, is nearly extinct among us. I have often called him, though
perhaps not with strict propriety, the last of the Puritans. He was a man
whose education, habits and manners were moulded after the moral fashions
of a by-gone day, less changed in after life than is usual. He seemed to
embody in himself all that is most respectable and lovely in our idea of the
primitive worthies of New England. There was in him none of the
moroseness, bigotry, superstition, or stern ascetic spirit which we sometimes
associate with our ancestors; these had worn off, given way to the times, ami
the influence of his own liberal and intelligent mind, but there remained
that strong old-fashioned religious faith and principle and feeling, that
sought no novelties, and required no stimulating machinery to keep it
alive honesty, steadiness of life, truthfulness, duty, seemed a matter of
course with him, rooted not grafted in principles, the very seedlings of
character and not superinduced, you would be almost sure that he never
* Rev. George Putnam, D.D., is son of Andrew and Jcrnsha ( Clapp No -56
Putnam. He was settled as minister over the First Clmrcli in lloxlmry, J u >
continued sole minister of the same until October, 187-5, when a colleague wa s
him.
240 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
could have been different, that he had never gone astray. I know nothing
of his parentage, but his seemed the sort of character, in which the seeds of
all the virtues have been early planted and nurtured in a good soil, by
parents of the same stamp, and that they had grown up and strengthened
with him. There was an evenness and a perfect consistency of life, very
pleasant to contemplate a crown of honor to an old man. He was a
plain downright man, who never did or said anything for sJiow and there
was such simplicity and utter sincerity in him that one cannot conceive that
he ever had occasion to study appearances. He was not thriftless or
neglectful of affairs, but was perfectly content with competency in a plain
way and a humble lot, and seemed never to have felt the stirring ambitions
of life, nor to have had any of the restless pride of life. He was a picture
of a calm, cheerful, blameless, contented old age such fruitage as only
grows from the root of religious principles on the trunk of a well-spent life.
We have many good men I wish we could have more such men that that
peculiar character which his acquaintance understand might not become
obselete. His death was instructive. He who so seldom spoke of himself
at any other time, then spoke freely and affectiugly. He said he had
endeavored to fill his humble place well, and that he had been content and
happy in it that he had lived in peace with all men and died so. He left
a good man's blessing on all in whom he was interested. He said he had
looked forward to the days of infirmity and pain, decrepitude and death, and
had all his life kept this last period in view, and expressly prepared for it by
keeping peace with his conscience, and cherishing that faith and trust, that
gratitude to God and hope in Christ which now supported him and made
him happy in suffering and dying. Would God I could convey to others
the simple lesson derived from the life and death of that plain old man.
Good words are dull, but a good life, whenever we see through it and into
it, the very marrow and beauty of its excellence, is always fresh, interesting,
stirring."
John Clapp ever felt a deep interest in all that concerned the Town
of Dorchester, and rejoiced in its prosperity. He was very fond of
going down the harbor on fishing excursions from Dorchester. In
one of these excursions, in 1826, two of his sons were drowned.
He bore the calamity with great composure, but the effect upon him
was such that he never went upon the waters of the harbor afterwards.
Children of Dea. JOHN and 1st wife SUSANNA (Robinson) CLAPP :
1G7. SUSANNAH R., 6 b. Aug. 12 ; 1796 ; m. July 8, 1818, Benjamin B.
Davis, of Brookline. Sh'e died of consumption, Oct. 10, 1837,
deeply regretted, leaving two children, the eldest of whom, Susan,
died of consumption, Feb. 16, 1839, aged 16 years and 10
months. Mr. Davis married, for his second wife, Elizabeth,
dau. of Hon. Ebenezer and Elizabeth (Clapp No. 68) Seaver, a
cousin to his first wife, and an excellent woman.
168. SARAH ANN," b. June 24, 1800 ; m. Nov. 27, 1828, Otis Withington,
of Brookline. She d., also of consumption, Nov. 23, 1839, leav-
ing several children. Her loss was severely felt,
Children of Dea. JOHN and 2d wife PRISCILLA (Holden) CLAPP:
169. LucY, 6 b. July 19, 1804; m. as his second wife, Otis Withington,
formerly the husband of her half sister, Sarah Ann. Lucy had
one child, and d. Jan. 25, 1846.
NICHOLAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 211
170. EDWARD,' b. May 18, 1807. lie was an apprentice in a chair
and harness manufactory in Brookline, and \va> a younu man of
much promise. On the 28th of July, 1826, he lost his life under
peculiarly distressing circumstances.' His father and step-mother,
with all their children, his uncle Ebenezer and wife (parents
of the compiler of this work) and part of their family, went that
day on the water of Dorchester Bay on an excursion of plea-mv.
They landed at Thompson's Island, to cook their dinner under
the sycamore tree then standing on the Island; and while thus
engaged Edward and his brother John left the party to bathe on
the other side of the island. The tide being out, John slipped
into the channel, and Edward, hi his attempt to assist him, was
caught by his brother in such a manner that they both sank,
and were drowned. The body of Edward was found" and carried
home with them that day; that of his brother John was re-
covered the next day. They were buried in one grave, in the
north burying-ground of Dorchester, by the side of their mother,
and their father's body was afterwards laid beside them. This
sudden affliction was a severe stroke to their father, but he bore
it with great calmness and resignation.
171. JoiiN, 6 b. Sept. 25, 1809. He was placed in a book-store in
Boston, and was there engaged up to the time of the fatal
accident already related, which resulted in his death in his 17th
year. Like his brother John, he was already forming principles
and habits which gave promise of much future usefulness.
172. JAMES B., s b. Sept. 20, 1812. He has been in the book trade, in
different capacities, all his life ; is unmarried, and for the last
twenty-five years has been faithfully engaged in the salesroom in
Boston of the Massachusetts Bible Society. He is the present
owner of the watch mentioned in the inventory of the Rev.
Nathaniel 8 Clapp (No. 14), of Newport, R. I.
173. JANE, 6 b. April 27, 1816; d. Feb. 16, 1853. She m. Moses
Withington, of Brookline, brother of Otis Withirigton, who m.
two of her sisters. After her death, he m. Harriet 8., dan. of
Dr. Joseph and Betsey (Tileston) Clapp. Mr. Moses Withing-
ton is now living, and for many years has been town treu-uivr
of Brookline.
71
EBENEZER 5 (Noah, 4 Jonathan, 3 -Nathaniel? A'/W/oW). youngest
son of Noah and Ann Clapp, was born in Dorchester, Aug. 25, 1771,
in the Deacon Jonathan house, burnt in 1784, and died near the place
where he was born, March 6, I860, in the 89th year of his age.
He served his time with Col. Ebenezer Clapp, of Dorchester, m the
tanning and farming business. The principal part of his business,
through life, was tanning, the yard where he carried it on being in
the hollow nearly opposite the present northwest gate of the old
cemetery of the town. It was on the north margin of a good-siz<
pond which furnished water for his works, and which in the ok
charts is put down as Royall's pond, one of the family of that i
242 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
in former years owning the land on its south margin.* An infant
son of Deacon Clapp's was unfortunately here drowned in 1802.
One of the town school-houses stood for many years between the street
and this pond, with a passage way side of it down to the pond ; and
many a good ducking with sometimes narrow escapes from drowning
here took place among the school children at intermission seasons.
Ebenezer Clapp was married, Oct. 18, 1797, to Eunice, dau. of John
and Sarah Pierce, of Dorchester. He lived at once in the house
which his father Noah built in 1784 and 1785, and continued there
till his death. In 1809 he was chosen Deacon of the First Church
in Dorchester, being the eighth of the name of Clapp who had filled
the office in that church since its formation. He retained the
deaconship till his death, arid was a member of the church more than
60 years. His wife Eunice died Nov. 23, 1849, aged 71 years.
She was sister of Rev. Dr. Pierce of Brooklinc, was a woman of
sterling qualities in all the relations of life, and spent her strength and
health in nursing the sick and suffering. Deacon Clapp married,
second, Oct. 22, 1850, Mrs. Patty Holden, dau. of Dr. Phineas
Holden ; she was married first, to Samuel Glover, second to Ezekiel
Holden, third to Deacon Clapp. She died April 5, 1864, aged 87
years. In her younger years she was called the "Dorchester beauty,"
and through life in appearance and manners her superiority was
universally acknowledged. The Christian Register of April 16,
1864, says of her : "The character of the tender mother, the affection-
ate and confiding wife, the judicious councillor, and the constant
sympathizing friend, she exemplified with rare truthfulness and fulness.
Industry, sterling sense, faith, self-reliance and heroism, were among
the most brilliant traits of her character." Deacon Clapp d. March
6, 1860, aged 88 years 6 mos. 11 days.
The possession by Deacon Clapp of a fowling-piece once the
property of Lieut. Gov. Oliver has already been referred to (p. 230).
How often and how effectively he made use of this instrument in
the gunning excursions upon the waters of the "Harbor," of which
* William Royall died in Dorchester in 1724. Hon. Isaac Royall, his son, was born
there in 167'2, and became a man of wealth and distinction. He spent many years of his
life in Antigua, in the West Indies, but returned to Charlestown, Mass., in 1737, and died
there in 1739. He built a large, substantial and expensive tomb for his father in the old
burying-ground in Dorchester, where his own body was interred. On the horizontal tablet
over the tomb is inscribed an extended epitaph commemorative of his character as a
Christian, patriot and statesman. The piece of land alluded to was opposite the old burying-
ground, and reached on Boston Street from the pond to what is now Upham's Corner.
Isaac Royall at one time owned on the eastern side of Boston Street a thirty -acre lot extend-
ing from the Five Corners north toward the salt marsh. This he sold to Robert Oliver by
deed dated Nov. 18, 1738. A succeeding member of the Royall family, a loyalist, also
named Isaac, was the generous founder of the first law professorship in Harvard University.
Another Isaac Royall, perhaps an uncle of the first-named, lived in Dorchester in 1676, was
the builder of the meeting-house put np that year, and probably married a daughter of
Thomas Tolman, of Dorchester. It would seem that there were three Isaac Royalls living
at the same time, early in the 18th century, in Dorchester. A deed is on record at the Suf-
folk Co. Registry office, dated July 28, 1703, signed by Isaac Royall, Sen. (his mark), house-
wright, of Dorchester, and wife Waitstill Royall (her mark), conveying to son Isaac Royall,
Jr., also housewright, of Dorchester, certain real estate ; and another deed, a few years
later, with his own mark only attached, conveys all his other property to his son Robert
Royall, of the same profession and in the same place.
NICHOLAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 243
he was so passionately fond, is still remembered by some of the
generation then just coming on to the stage. With regard to one
form of bodily exposure incident to such pursuits, he used to say
that he considered wet feet no more hurtful to health than wet hands.
He was an excellent marksman among the flying sea fowl, and very
seldom failed in bringing down his game.* A writer in one of the
papers, at the time of his death, says of him:
" He was at various periods urged to accept an appointment as Justice of
the Peace, in his earlier days, a mark of distinction which his excessive
modesty would never allow him to accept."
" Deacon Clapp was always an early riser, always industrious, ever prompt
in the fulfilment of engagements. And he found his sure reward in a
competent estate which afforded him the material of a well appointed home,
into which himself infused the spirit of Christian contentment and happiness,
while he and his family found their chief delight in manifesting their gratitude
to the good providence of God by dispensing his bountiful gifts with such a
union of grace and good will as entirely set at rest all feelings of restraint
or obligation."
The following brief sketch of his life and character is from the
New-England Historical and Genealogical Register for 1860:
" Deacon Ciapp was for many years in the constant employment of the
town, having charge of its various affairs as selectman, overseer of the poor,
and member of the school committee,! in all which he received the cordial
approbation of his fellow-citizens for his correct judgment, his fidelity and
* What with the skill of sportsmen in those days and the abundance of sea bird, a large
business was done in fowling by some of the Dorchester men. One of the predecessors of
Deacon Ebenezer Clapp in this line probably far excelled him in the number of birds shot,
as appears by the following extract from the History of Dorchester. " John Pierce, of
Dorchester, was one of the most noted sportsmen in the vicinity. He was great-grandfather
of the late Rev. John Pierce, D.D., who died in Brookline, Aug. 23d, 1849. John, the
sportsman, was born in Dorchester in 1668. He spent much time in killing wild fowl. It is
said, upon good authority, that he kept an account of the brants shot by him they being
then, as now, considered a superior quality of game and they amounted to thirty thousand.
He did not, like many less skilful gunners, lose his life from so constant a use of fire-arms,
but died in consequence of a fall, January 27, 1744."
t Deacon Ebenezer Clapp was a tanner prnctically as well as by profession. The heavy,
rough and discolored outside clothing which was worn by tanners when about their work
was daily seen upon him as he mingled with the other workmen in the process of tanning.
The writer of this note, one of the committee on the publication of this " Memorial," well
remembers the worthy Deacon being called suddenly from his work into the school hard
bv, by the teacher, to administer a deserved reprimand to a guilty scholar. One of the
eider girls had been detected in a falsehood under circumstances which brought the often /e
to the knowledge of the whole school. In order to give more force to the rebuke which
the teacher felt was called for, and to impress the scholars more strongly by its coming
from so worthy a member of the school committee, a messenger was sent to the tan-yard,
almost under the school-house windows, requesting Deacon Clapp to come in at once.
There was no time for change of clothes or any other preparation ; nevertheless he quickly
obeyed the call. He was informed of the circumstances of the case, and then in a few
plain, direct and impressive words he set forth the heinousness of lying in a manner that
strongly impressed one at least who heard him, and there is little doubt that every child
present felt the weight of his remarks, and perhaps quite as deeply as though the speaker
were clothed in richest robes.
This school-house was of brick, and was built in 1802, $300 being appropriated by the
town for the purpose, and the balance of the expense being borne by Individual! in that
school district. In 1811, the building was formally surrendered to the town, a vote Iwing
passed to accept the cession of it " for the town use to be retained and kept as a school-
liouse as heretofore." After the building was taken down, the " Tiger" engine house was
erected on the spot, and another school-house was built in Sumncr Street, in 1835, which
was afterwards replaced by the one now standing. This school is now known as the Dor-
chester Everett School of the city of Boston.
32
244 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
his cheerful and undivided devotion to the welfare of his native town. He
was often called to act in the capacity of administrator upon estates and as
guardian to widows and the fatherless, whose interest was always sure to be
well cared for under his judicious and conscientious administration.
" He possessed a remarkably retentive and at the same time an unusually
ready memory. A most engaging feature of his conversation was the review
of the events of his early life. It may be noted here that the earliest point
to which his memory referred was the burning of Charlestown in 1775,
which he witnessed from " Jones's Hill," at a short distance from his father's
house. The memory of the songs and stories of the Revolution afforded
him great delight, while his rehearsal of them imparted a lively interest to
the social hour. The geniality and hospitality of Deacon Clapp rendered his
house a place of great resort for old and young."
" Deacon Clapp was the last survivor of the company who enlisted from
Dorchester for the suppression of the rebellion of Daniel Shays, being at that
period but 15 years old. He was naturally very cautious, yet firm as a
rock, knowing no fear."
" He died as he lived, in full trust in God, and in perfect charity with all
mankind."
Children of Deacon EBENEZER and EUNICE (Pierce) CLAPP :
174. HEpziBAH, 6 b. Sept. 4, 1798; m. March 11, 1824, Benjamin
Lathrop Sumner, b. in Taunton ; they have lived for some years
past in a house erected a few rods north of her father's, and five
children have been born to them.
175. ASAHEL," b. Dec. 27, 1799 ; d. Jan. 12, 1867; m. first, Sept. 28,
1825, Hannah Harraden. She d. of a cancer, without issue,
April 7, 1831 ; and he m. second, Feb. 2, 1837, Elizabeth
S. Whiting, b. Dec. 1, 1818. He lived with his father for the
first twenty years of his life, and worked at the tanning business,
which he was compelled to relinquish on account of his health.
He was afterwards, in company with Joel Priest, engaged in the
wholesale grocery business on State Street, and then on Long
Wharf, in Boston. Subsequently, he was a clerk in the employ-
ment of Josiah Stickney, of Boston, and later he was several
years a partner in trade with Gov. Joseph A. Gilman, of Con-
cord, N. H. He resided the latter part of his life in his house
on Columbia Street, Dorchester, and d. there Jan. 12, 1867,
aged 67 years. His widow still occupies the same house. He
possessed good business qualifications ; was kind, genial and
courteous, and had hosts of friends. Children :
176. Elizabeth 'Stickney? b. Aug. 23, 1839 ; m. June 6, 1865, Ben-
jamin Pierce Cheney, of Boston, and has five children.
177. George JF"., 7 b. June 23, 1847; m. June 11, 1873, Susan M.
Campbell, of Cherryfield, Me., and has Alice Campbell, 8 b.
July 27, 1875.
178. Annette Boyden?\>. Aug. 27, 1849 ; d. Nov. 17, 1850.
179. Josephine, 1 b. May 15, 1854.
180. Benjamin P. Cheney,' 1 b. Nov. 24, 1862.
181. JONAS, 6 b. April 15, 1801 ; d. by drowning, May 20, 1802. His
body was found in the pond adjoining his father's tan-yard, he
probably having rolled into the water down the steep bank on
the south side between the pond and the street.
NICHOLAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 245
182. JOHN PIERCE," b. Feb. 12, 1803. He served his time at the
tanning business with his father ; and after becoming of age he
established himself in the same business, on the Dorchester side
of Roxbury Brook, so-called, the boundary line between the
two towns. In 1840, he erected a new house near his yard, on
the site of the old Humphreys house, then removed and one of
the oldest houses in town. Aug. 25. of that year, he m. Mary
Ann Bragg, of Drewsville, N. H. His health was feeble for
many years, and in 1845 he gave up the tanning business, re-
moved to another part of the town, and became a dealer in
lumber. He was Lieut. Colonel in the Massachusetts Militia,
held the offices of assessor and town treasurer, and for several
years was one of the school committee of Dorchester. In 1848
he was chosen one of the Wardens of St. Mary's Episcopal
Church in that town, and, with the exception of one year, has
been annually re-elected to that office to the present time. He
relinquished the lumber business some years ago, and has since
been occupied as an insurance agent. His life has been upright
and useful, and has exerted a moral and Christian influence in
the community. Children :
183. Henry Austin,'' b. July 17, 1841 ; graduated at Harvard Col-
lege 1860, and studied law; m. June 23, 1869, Florence
Clarke, of Oswego, N. Y. In 1862, he enlisted for nine
months in the 44th Regiment of Mass. Vols., in the War of
the Rebellion. During two months of his service in New-
bern, N. C., he was detailed by Gen. John G. Foster for
special service, and had charge of the work of taking the cen-
sus of the colored population of that city. He practises law
in Boston, but has been engaged for several years past as
the dramatic and musical critic of the Boston Daily Advertiser,
and has frequently contributed to that paper, and to other
leading newspapers of Boston and New York.
184. Mary Helen? b. June 7, 1845.
185. Louisa Howe," 1 b. June 3, 1847.
186. William White? b. Dec. 11, 1848.
187. LUCY,* b. July 23, 1805 ; d. Dec. 16, 1872. She was ne^er mar-
ried, and lived with her father till his death. She was remarka-
ble for the sweetness of her disposition, and the exhibition
through life of the other gifts and graces that made her useful
at home and beloved everywhere.
188. JONAS,' b. March 30, 1807. Was a wheelwright by trade. He
was engaged in several fishing excursions to the Great Banks,
and once went on a whaling voyage to the Pacific Ocean. He
lived awhile in Dover, Mass., and also in Walpole, where he d.
unm., Dec. 10, 1857. He was genial and kind hearted in his
disposition ; a great lover of music, both vocal and instrumental ;
an expert on the bassoon, upon which for many years he per-
formed, gratuitously, in the choir at the meeting-house of the first
parish in Dorchester.
4-189. EBENEZER, 6 b. April 24, 1809. Compiler of this Memorial.
190. ANN, G b. March 26, 1811 ; m. Nov. 17, 1841, Henry A. Gay, of
Quincy. Mr. Gay was b. in Boston, and served his time at the
tanning business in Dorchester with Ann's father. He carried
246 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
on the tanning business in Quincy, and was for many years the
efficient Depot Master at the Quincy Station of the Old Colony
Railroad. They have no children of their own, but have one
adopted daughter.
191. ELIZABETH, 6 b. July 15, 1814; m. May 14, 1835, John H. Robin-
son, of Dorchester, son of Major Edward Robinson. They live
on Adams Street, Dorchester, in the mansion house of his father,
and have had six children that lived to grow up, viz. : Ellen
Elizabeth, Mary Caroline, John Howe, Luoy Ann, Emily Pierce
and Isabella Howe the second and last two now living.
192. EUNICE, 6 b. Aug. 28, 1816; d. Sept. 2, 1816.
193. JoEL, 6 b. Dec. 15, 1817. He worked with his father in the tanning
business until about 18 years old, then kept school for two years;
in 1842, was keeping store in Boston. Subsequently, he went
out west, and was never heard of afterwards -supposed to have
died of cholera.
194. HiRAM, 6 b. Jan. 22, 1820 ; m. May 13, 1849, Rebecca Jenkins.
He was brought up as a tanner, and continued in the business
until the old yard was given up, about thirty-five years since.
Was for awhile engaged in the lithographic business in Boston,
and has now for many years held the office of collection clerk in
the State National Bank in Boston. He lives near the spot where
his grandfather Noah's house was built. That house, in which
also his father (Deacon Ebenezer) lived and died, together with
the barn belonging to it, were removed by Hiram a few rods
west, and were sold to John A. Bird, and Hiram's present resi-
dence was built in the year 1865 near the site of the old one.
The ancient vane, measuring six feet four inches, which was
on the meeting-house of the First Parish when taken down in
1816, and which was then placed on the barn of Deacon Clapp,
still remains and is veered by the changing breezes as they pass
over the same building in its new place. Hiram was one of the
Committee for calling the Clapp Family Gathering in 1873.
Children :
195. Frederic William,' 1 b. July 26, 1850.
196' AMOS, 6 b. Nov. 5, 1821; d. June 16, 1825, and was buried the
next day, being that on which the corner-stone of the Bunker
Hill Monument was laid.
76-
DAVID 6 (David* Jonathan? Nathaniel? Nicholas*), oldest son of
David and Ruth (Humphreys) Clapp, was born in Dorchester, Nov.
30, 1759, and died there May 15, 1846, in his 87th year. He
married, Dec. 9, 1794, Susannah Humphreys, daughter of Henry
Humphreys, of Dorchester (who in 1752 married Abigail Clapp, No.
84, daughter of Ebenezer and Hannah Clapp). Mrs. Susannah
Clapp died Jan. 27, 1800, and David married second, July 28, 1801,
Azubah, daughter of Deacon Jonathan Capen, of Stoughton, born there
March 20, 1766. She was a woman of much energy of character, and
was ever ready to give assistance when needed among friends and
neighbors. She brought with her from her first home the then common
NICHOLAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 247
household utensils of the hand-loom and spinning-wheel, and for
many years after marriage made use of them in supplying cloth for
family use.* She died in Dorchester, of a cancer, Aug. 10, 1835,
aged 69 years.
From statements made verbally by himself, David seems to have
been engaged, with his father, in the exciting occurrences connected
with the throwing up of the fortifications on Dorchester Heights, in
March, 1776, which drew into the public service most of the male
inhabitants of the town. The pay-roll for services thus performed,
now in the State House, Boston, includes his father's name from the
14th to the 26th of March, between which dates, as is well known,
the British army evacuated Boston. As already mentioned on page
223, he took the place of his father as a soldier in the Dorchester
company in 1777. This company was on duty as guard to Gen.
Burgoyne's army, then prisoners of war in Cambridge, and he con-
tinued there for five months. His diary of that period relates the
following incidents :
" A prisoner, one of the British grenadiers, was seen at night by one of
our sentinels to be getting pickets that were placed around the fort, and as
his orders were to secure them, he ordered the prisoner to desist. After
speaking several times without effect, the sentry told him if he persisted in
doing so he would fire. The only answer given was a profane daring of
the sentry to fire. He fired, and killed the prisoner on the spot. Some of
the other prisoners were so enraged at this, that they threatened to kill the
sentry ; and as he was noted by a stiffness in one of his knees, and could be
easily recognized, the officers thought it best not to put him on the main
guard again. I think there was another prisoner who lost his life at
Cambridge by disobeying orders."
" One of the company which I belonged to would frequently, after his
duties of the day were done, set out at night to visit his family, and return
so as to be on hand between daylight and sunrise the next morning to
answer to his name being obliged to walk in going a'nd coming, more than
16 miles."
A few months after his return home, he was himself drafted,
and was one of nine privates, who with a sergeant and corporal
were sent to Noddle's Island (East Boston) to guard the fort there.
He stayed there from August to December, 1778, having, as he said
in his diary, "as easy a time as a soldier could wish to have."
East Boston was then barren and almost uninhabited. "At the time
that I was at the Island," says his diary, "there were only two
dwelling houses and two families, the inhabitants I think no more
than twelve." t During the next three years he was on duty at
different times, as mentioned in the following extract from some of
his papers.
The mother of Mrs. Clapp, who died in Stonghton in 1817, aged 96 years, continued
the use of her loom till very late in life. During her 90th year the Bomber > yards of
various kinds of cloth woven by her was carefully marked down by one ol her daugln
and was found to have been thirteen hundred.
t Bv the census of Boston tajccn in the summer of 1875, the population of Ward 1
Boston) is put down as 29,347, and that of South Boston (tbc ancient Dorchester Neck),
us 53,982.
248 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
"At several times in the years 1779, '80 and '81 I enlisted as a soldier,
and served under Captain Champney and Captain Clapp twenty-two months
at Dorchester Heights. As we were inhabitants of the town of Dorchester
we went to our own dwelling places and did business at home, except when
we were on duty. We were allowed good provisions and the duty was easy,
excepting several times, a sergeant, corporal and nine privates were takeja from
our company to do duty on board a guard ship in Boston harbor. One night
when I was there the prisoners being so many as to be about thirty to one
of the guard, they having their passions raised by having their number
increased the day previous, they vented their rage against the guard by
threatening to throw us all overboard, but as we did not render evil for evil
their passions were cool the next morning."
During the last years of his life he received a pension from the
government.
David Clapp learned the shoemaker's trade, but the practice of it
proving injurious to his health he abandoned it and followed the
business of tanning, being employed in the establishment of his
brother-in-law Deacon James Humphreys from early manhood till
about 70 years old. He settled his father's estate in 1787, and
inherited one-third of the nine acres of land already alluded to on
the north-east side of Jones's Hill. David's portion was the westerly
three acres, and on this lot at the foot of the hill, now on Stoughton
Street, he erected a house in 1794, previous to his first marriage.
This house was a few rods distant from that of his father, which was
on the lot that fell to Samuel, and was burnt in 1804. David's house
is still standing, and his estate remains in the hands of his descen-
dants. Notwithstanding that the early part of his life was passed
during the exciting and tumultuous times of the Revolution, so
different from those of any of his ancestors, the remainder of it was
more retired and quiet than was either of theirs. No vicious
indulgence was contracted in camp to the injury of his future morals
or health. He retained all the strictness of religious belief and
practice peculiar to the puritans, was never absent from his seat in
his Sunday place of worship, and was conscientiously temperate and
almost abstemious in his habits of food and drink.
Children of DAVID and AZUBAH (Capen) CLAPP, of Dorchester :
197. SUSANNAH HUMPHREYS, b. May 16, 1802; d. in Milton, Jan. 1,
1833 ; m. July 10, 1825, Charles Tucker, of Milton, b. Feb. 20,
1800. Two children survived her Charles and John Atherton.
Her religious and devotional feelings were deep and strong, and
she was in the habit from early life of giving expression to them
by the pen. From the large number of manuscripts left by her
at death, and from numerous letters to correspondents, a selec-
tion was made after her decease, and printed in a small volume,
called " The Hidden Life of a Christian," with an introductory
notice by the Rev. John Codman, D.D., of Dorchester, her
minister before her marriage.
198. THEOPHILTJS CAPEN,' b. Dec. 1, 1803; m. Oct. 16, 1834, Jane,
dau. of Stephen and Rachel (Capen) Blake, of Stoughton, who
NICHOLAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 249
was b. Dec. 31, 1811, and d. July 12, 1853. He learned the
trade of tanning, and for many years was employed in the yard
of Deacon James Humphreys, in Dorchester. He afterwards
purchased a small farm in Stoughton, being part of the landed
estate of his grandfather, Jonathan Capen, and lived there till
the death of his wife, when he sold out and went to Needham,
where he has since boarded with his cousin Mrs. Sarah (Clapp
No. 83) Davenport. Children :
199. David} b. in Dorchester, Aug. 23, 1836; m. first, Nov. 20,
1862, Abby E. Otis, of Barnstable, who d. July 8, 1865 ; m.
second, in May, 1867, Ellen Chamberlain, of Barnstable.
He served his time in the store of Nathaniel Wales in Stough-
ton ; was then for several years with Wales & Couant in
Barnstable, and in November, 1863, removed to Boston and
established himself in the grocery business in Tremont Street.
He is now in the same business, in partnership with his bro-
ther, Stephen B., in the Washington Market, under the firm
of D. & S. B. Clapp. Child by first wife : i, William Ste-
phen? b. Dec. 31, 1864. Child by second wife: H. Allen
Taylor* b. Feb. 13, 1868.
200. Susannah Humphreys? b. in Dorchester, Sept. 7, 1838 ; d. in
Stoughton, of consumption, June 27, 1857.
201. Stephen Blake," 1 b. in Dorchester, April 2, 1841 ; m. Oct. 13,
1874, Lucy M., dau. of Jonathan Capen, of Poultney, Vt., and
great-granddau. of Dea. Jonathan Capen, of Stoughtonj Mass.
Stephen B. was for several years in the store of Wales &
Conant in Barnstable. In August, 1862, he enlisted in the
navy for one year ; was on gunboats " Isaac Smith," " T. A.
Ward" and " William Bacon ;" served in the South and
North Atlantic squadrons and Potomac flotilla ; in an en-
gagement at Stono River, S. C., in January, 1863, he was
taken prisoner and was confined about two months in Charles-
ton Jail and Libby Prison. After the war, he engaged in
business in Marlboro', Mass., but since October, 1870, has
been in partnership with his brother David, in Washington
Market, Boston.
202. Elijah Blake? b. April 5, 1844 ; d. July 25, 1846.
203. Jonathan Capen? b. Jan. 19, 1847; d. May 29, 1867.
204. Mary Jane? b. July 7, 1850; now living with her father in
Needham.
205. DAVID, 6 b. in Dorchester Feb. 6, 1806; m. April 9, 1835, Mary
Elizabeth, b. Aug. 25, 1808, dau. of Atherton Tucker, of Milton.
After serving an apprenticeship at the printing business with
Mr. John Cotton* in Boston, he continued in Mr. C.'s office, at
* The Hon. John Cotton, a direct descendant of the Rev. John Cotton, second mmi-tcr
of the First Church in Boston, was born in Boston, June 9, 1771. He carried on the burin
of ship and house painting in Battery march Street, and was also pretty extensively engaged
in the manufacture of painted carpets. In 1822, circumstance's placed the printing offlce <
his son, John Cotton, Jr., in his' hand,, and he continued in the printm* -and I'''">J'
business for the next ten or twelve years. He was early placed in pobUo otti.ys oi *MI i.,
kinds, which he faithfully and acceptably filled ; was atone time commander ol tl,cm
company called the Winslow Blues, and after the town of Boston assumed the name and
government of a city he was chosen President of its Board of Health eonnm-.omT.s He
was also President of the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association .. i 1821 ,18.
1823, succeeding Maj. Benjamin Russell in that office, and in 1833 a silver pitcher
250 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
the corner of Washington and Franklin Streets. Early in 1831
a brief partnership in carrying on the same establishment was
entered into with Henry S. Hull, taking the name of Clapp &
Hull, after which Mr. Cotton and Mr. Clapp were partners, un-
der the firm of D. Clapp, Jr. & Co., till 1834, when the junior
partner bought out the office, and continued the business on the
old corner till 1861. Franklin Street was then widened at its
head, the corner building taken down, and the printing office,
after remaining in that place for the period of thirty-nine years,
was removed to No. 564 Washington Street, where it has since
been devoted to the business of general book and job printing
and publishing. In 1864 his oldest son, John Cotton Clapp,
was taken into partnership with him, under the firm of David
Clapp & Son. While he was an apprentice with John Cotton
in 1823, the publication of the Medical' Intelligencer, a weekly
periodical then edited by Dr. J. V. C. Smith,* was commenced
in the office, and in 1828 was united with another periodical
and afterwards continued as the " Boston Medical and Surgical
Journal." It became the sole property of Mr. Clapp in 1834,
and was issued from his press without the omission of one weekly
number till December, 1874, when it was purchased by a company
of medical men of Boston, and its place of publication removed.
The work had reached its 9 1 st volume, and Mr. Clapp had been
connected with its publication for about fifty years. The
Boston Directory was printed in the same office from 1829 to
1846 ; much book and pamphlet work has been done in it, and the
N. E. Hist, and Genealogical Register has been issued by the firm
for the last ten years. Mr. C. has never been in public life, and
his chief attention has been given to the business of his office,
with scarcely a day's intermission by sickness, and with few
sented him by the government of the Association, on which was inscribed : " From the
Mass. Charitable Mechanic Association to the Hon. John Cotton (one of the original mem-
bers of the Association), as a testimony of their respect for his services as secretary, trea-
surer, trustee, president and vice-president, and of their wish to be remembered as his
associates." On the occasion of the great fire in Beacon Street, July 7, 1824, Mr. C. was
the owner of one of the dwelling-houses burned, which was occupied at that time, it may
be mentioned, by Mr. Timothy H. Carter, a gentleman ever since well known and much
respected in Boston, and who may still be daily seen passing actively through our
streets. Mr. Cotton himself lived for many years in Purchase Street, and died there Nov.
25, 1837. In a funeral sermon after his death, by Rev. George Riplcy, Minister of the
Purchase-street Congregational Church, he speaks of " the recent event which has taken
from this religious society one of its oldest members, one of its most constant worshippers,
one of its honored officers, need I say one of its strongest friends."
* Jerome Van Crowninshield Smith, M.D., was born in Conway, N. H., July 20, 1800,
son of Dr. Richard R. Smith. He graduated at Brown University in 1818, was elected
Prof, of Anatomy and Physiology in the Berkshire Medical Institution in 1822, joined the
Mass. Medical Society in 1824, and was a prominent member of the Masonic Fraternity. In
1823 he established the Boston Medical Intelligencer, which he edited fora number of years.
He afterwards became Editor of the Boston Med.and Surg. Journal, which took the place
of the Intelligencer, and continued its editor about twenty years. Dr. Smith was a re-
markably active and industrious man. and was the author of various scientific, historical
and miscellaneous works. Those on the Honey-bee, on the Fishes of Massachusetts, on
the American Indians, a Classbook of Anatomy, and a Satire on Animal Magnetism, may
be mentioned among his earlier works. He "was port physician of Boston from 1826 to
1849, having charge of Rainsford Island Hospital, was a member of the Legislature several
years, member of the school committee, a justice of the peace, a popular lecturer, and de-
livered a 4th of July oration at South Boston in 183-5. He made the tour of Europe in 18oO,
and afterwards issued his two volumes of travels in Egypt and Palestine. In 1^54, lie was
elected Mayor of the city of Boston, and was re-elected" the next .year. Some years since,
he removed from Boston to New York, where he still .resides, and where he has continued
the same busy round of useful labor as marked his long residence in Boston.
NICHOLAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 251
absences from home for any purpose. In 1846 he was chosen
one of the wardens of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church in South
Boston, and has been annually re-elected to that office to the
present time. Since his marriage in 1 835, his residence, excepting
a period of three or four years in Dorchester, has been in South
Boston which place, during his abode there, has grown from
6,000 people to more than 53,000. On the death of his father,
in 1846, the estate was so settled with the other heirs that the
homestead and hill-land adjoining became the property of him-
self and his sister Azubah, who still retain them. As one of the
Committee of Publication of this work, and also one of its pub-
lishers, the labor of transcribing and completing its material has
in some measure devolved on him. Children :
206. Mary Susannah, 1 b. in Dorchester, June 6, 1836. Has been
occupied at different times in teaching.
207. John Cotton, 7 b. in Dorchester, June 30, 1837. In 1855 he en-
tered the printing office of his father, David Clapp, then at 184
Washington Street, and since 1864 has been in partnership
with him. In 1864 he took out a patent at Washington as
inventor of a numbering machine, and several years after-
wards sold out his right to a party at the west, who have made
extensive use of the invention for various purposes. Has been
clerk of St. Matthew's Parish, So. Boston, since 1861. His
Christian name was given him in memory of the gentleman
with whom his father was connected for many years, and who
died in Boston a short time before the birth of John C. He
m. July 19, 1865, Julia Curtis, daughter of Horatio N. Crane,
of Boston ; they reside in South Boston. Children : i , Etten
Gertrude? b. May 7, 1866. \\.ffomer Crane, 9 b. Dec. 9,
1868. iii. John Cotton, 8 b. Oct. 27, 1870. I?. David Atherton,*
b. June 12, 1873; d. Aug. 10, 1874.
208. Elizabeth Atherton? b.in Dorchester, April 9, 1839. Has for
several years practised drawing and painting, and is the de-
signer of some of the illustrations in this Memorial.
209. David Capen? b. in South Boston, April 12, 1841; m. Nov.
13, 1867, Constance Laocadie Pierrelee, b. in Paris, France,
April 1, 1843. He served in the War of the Rebellion as
private in the 44th Mass. Regt., in North Carolina ; as Ser-
geant in the 1st unattached Co. Mass. Vols., at Fort Inde-
pendence, Boston Harbor, and as 2d Lieut, in the 8th U. S.
Colored Troops in Virginia and Texas. They live in Dor-
chester, and he is in the office of his father and brother.
Children : i, Wilfred Atherton, 8 b. Aug. 6, 1869. II. Mar-
guerite Steffens* b. March 30, 1872. Ill, Mary Elizabeth* b.
May 30, 1874.
210. Caroline Tucker? b. in South Boston, July 28, 1844 ; m. Oct.
1, 1867, Albert A. Chittenden, of Boston, b. Oct. 1, 1842.
In the late war he was Color Corporal in the 45th, and after-
wards Lieut, in the 6th, Mass. Vols. He is now a clerk in
the office of the Boston Gas Co. They live at Mt. Bowdoin,
Dorchester District, Boston, and have three children living:
George Herbert, Charlotte Elizabeth, and Albert Percival ;
one child, Winthrop Clapp, has died.
33
252 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
211. Sarah Etten? b. in South Boston, Aug. 8, 1847 ; m. June 10,
1873, Samuel Newman Chittenden, b. in Chelsea, Jan. 15,
1849, and have one child, Roger Clapp. They live in Har-
vard Street, Dorchester District, and he carries on, with a
brother, the Mt. Bowdoin Market.
212. AZUBAH CAPEN, 6 b. Nov. 1, 1808. She lived with and took care
of her aged father until his death in 1846; since which time she
has lived with her brother David in South Boston.
86
EBENEZER 5 (Ebenezer, 4 Ebenezer, 3 Nathaniel, 2 Nicholas 1 ), oldest
son of Ebenezer and Hannah (Pierce) Clapp, was born in Dorchester,
April 23, 1732 ;died Jan. 29, 1802. He married first, Dec. 11, 1755,
Elizabeth, daughter of Deacon Richard, and granddaughter of Jona-
than and Elizabeth (Clapp No. 35 of ROGER), Hall. She died Feb.
17, 1779, and he married, second, May 13, 1779, Mary, daughter of
Enoch Glover, of Dorchester. In consequence of the death of her
son Eleazer, by suicide, in a fit of derangement, her feelings were
so wrought upon as to completely unnerve and bewilder her, and five
days after her son's death, Sept. 2, 1817, she also committed suicide.
His first wife was about 17 years old when married, and his second
wife about 1 8 years. Mr. Clapp lived and died in the house built
by his father a short time previous to his death, the house being
situated in what is now Willow Court, near the old Causeway road
leading from Dorchester to South Boston. He was chosen Colonel
of the Militia, and his military title served to distinguish him from
the other Ebenezers of the family.* Col. Clapp was a remarkably
active man in business, and the owner of a large amount of real
estate, including probably 300 acres of land. After his decease, this
land greatly increased in value, and made some of his children quite
wealthy. It is believed his estate was the largest ever rendered in,
to the Norfolk Co. Probate Court, up to the time of his death in 1802.
He presented the town of Dorchester an elegant clock, which was first
placed in the meeting-house that was pulled down in 1817, then
removed to the town-house, and on the annexation of the town to
Boston, it became the property of that city. From the town-records
of Dorchester for the year 1770, the following vote of acknowledg-
ment for the present is taken :
" Whereas, Mr. Ebenezer Clapp has been so generous as to make the
town a present of a clock and to place it in the meeting-house,
" Voted, That the thanks of this town be given him for his valuable and
handsome present, which is an ornament to the meeting-house, and exceeds
in value any present made the town since the proprietors gave the town a
bell for the meeting-house ; and that this vote of thanks be carefully recorded
for the perpetual remembrance of his gift."
* Early in 1775 the officers of the militia generally resigned rather than hold commis-
sions under the king. Those in whom the people had confidence were rechoscn, receiving
commissions from the Continental Congress, and Col. Clapp was thus recho^en, March 7th
of that year.
NICHOLAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 253
The following notices of Col. Clapp are from an interesting sketch
drawn up by Daniel W. Baker, Esq., and published in the Boston
Daily Globe of April 26, 1875.
" Colonel Clapp was several times elected a Selectman of the town, and
during a considerable portion of his life was the largest taxpayer. This
distinction he valued, and remonstrated with the assessors upon one occasion
for having rated one of his townsmen higher than himself. It was hardly
to be expected that human nature in an assessor could withstand that kind
of an appeal. The error was rectified, and thereafter the Colonel stood at
the head of the list.* His extensive farming operations, together with the
business of tanning which he also carried on, required the labor of a large
number of persons, and it is said that nearly every laboring man in town at
one time or another was employed by him. Work in dull as well as busy
times was generally to be had at his place for fair wages, and in this way
he ever befriended the poor in the manner most satisfactory to themselves.
" If partial to titular distinctions, he seems to have been of democratic
sympathies, as this anecdote may illustrate : Late one summer night the
accustomed quietude of the farmhouse was disturbed and the Colonel
aroused from slumber by strange noises in the kitchen. Neither considera-
tions of burglars nor of the toilet suggested any special delay for prepara-
tion, and accordingly the owner appeared at once upon the scene, demand-
ing with some degree of wrath to know the occasion of so much untimely
noise. The two farm hands whom he found standing before a roaring fire
in the kitchen, explained that they had been detained late at work, and
thinking to have something to eat before retiring, had roasted a joint from
the pantry. The steaming dish had just reached the table, and its pleasant
aroma had already sensibly mollified the irate Colonel. Without waiting
for further explanation or apology, he allowed that the meat was savory,
and said he would join them in the feast. The Colonel carved and did the
honors, and the three sat down to a fraternal midnight meal.
" With his accustomed liberality he reciprocated the honor of the Colonelcy
when conferred upon him, in a manner regarded appropriate then, and not
altogether out of fashion yet. The regiment was paraded, and after the usual
field exercises was marched to his mansion, where, upon the green in front,
a collation was spread and a quarter cask of brandy was unheaded, which,
with the inevitable farm-house cider, made a very pleasant entertainment.
" Attendance upon public worship was part of the recognized duty of
citizenship in those days, wherein due regard was had for dignity of appear-
ance. The Colonel's conveyance to the meeting-house was a coach and
pair, an equipage of rarity then, and of some distinction till within a com-
paratively recent period. Tolerant of the exuberant fashions of the day, he
is described by a contemporary yet living as wearing an ample coat of
broadcloth, with ruffled wristers, a scarlet embroidered waistcoat, breeches
and stockings of silk, and shoes ornamented with large silver buckles ; and
he is remembered by our informant as prominent among the worthies of
the assembly."
* Not far from the time of the above occurrence, the assessors of Dorchester were an-
noyed by a complaint of a different nature, and one corresponding more nearly to those
which have ever since been common in assessors' offices. Another wealthy land owne
the town objected strongly to the large amount of his taxes. Not being able to prevail
upon the proper authorities to reduce it, he sold his property, moved into a neighboring lo-
cality, where he spent the remainder of his life, and at his death bequeathed the bulk of his
estate for the benefit of the people among whom he died.
254 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
Children of Col. EBENEZER and 1st wife ELIZABETH (HALL) CLAPP :
213. EBENEZER, 6 b. March 19, 1757; d. June 11, 1763.
214. HANNAH, 6 b. March 19, 1759; d. Oct. 21, 1819; m. first, Sept.
21, 1778, Henry Gardner, Esq., of Stow, Mass., for several
years treasurer of the State of Massachusetts, having been ap-
pointed to that office by the Sons of Liberty as early as 1774,
the Hon. Harrison Gray being then the treasurer under the
Crown. Dorchester was one of the earliest towns which voted
to pay its province tax into the hands of Mr. Gardner instead
of Mr. Gray. Henry and Hannah Gardner had two sons, Henry
and Joseph, both of them doctors of medicine. Henry graduated
at Harvard College in 1798, studied medicine with Dr. John
Warren, but never practised. He held many offices of trust in
Dorchester, where he lived, was often moderator at town meet-
ings, represented the town in the General Court several years,
was Senator from Norfolk County three years, and a member of
the State Convention of 1820. He d. June 19, 1858. Hon.
Henry J. Gardner, ex-Governor of Mass., is his son. Joseph
was a graduate of Harvard in 1802, practised medicine in Dor-
chester, and d. in 1 809. After the death of her husband, Hannah
married, second, Dec. 28, 1784, Rev. Moses Everett,* of Dor-
chester, being his third wife, and eight children were born to
them.
Children of Col. EBENEZER and 2d wife MARY (GLOVER) CLAPP:
215. POLLY,* b. Feb. 20, 1780; d. Dec. 10, 1799, unmarried.
216. EBENEZER, 6 b. Aug. 20, 1781 ; d. May 18, 1821. He was never
married. For a number of years, he carried on the Lowder farm,
so called, in Dorchester, a little west of Meeting-house Hill, on
what is now Bowdoin Street. The farm was subsequently owned
by Bradish Billings. Ebenezer died at the Island of St. Thomas,
where he had gone to transact some business.
217. ELIZABETH, 6 b. Sept. 10, 1782; m. June 30, 1802, James Howe,
of Dorchester, who d. Aug. 27, 1830. They had two children,
Eliza Ann and James Theodore, the former of whom m. Edward
Pierce, the latter Martha N. Jenkins, both of Dorchester. James
* Moses Everett was born in Dedham, July 15, 1750. He was admitted to the College at
Cambridge, and received his first degree in 1771. His education had been with a view to
the profession of a Christian Minister, which, on leaving College, he adopted. When the
Church in Dorchester became vacant by the dismission of Mr. Bowman, lie was invited to
preach there; and, Sept. 28th, 1774, was ordained to the pastoral charge of that town, then
consisting of one parish. He remained in this ministry eighteen years, and performed the
duties of it to the satisfaction and improvement of his people. At the end of that period,
the declining state of his health compelled him to relinquish the office, and in the year
1793 he requested and obtained a dismission. The next year after he left the pulpit, he
was elected one of the Representatives of Dorchester in the General Court. Afterwards he
received a commission of Justice of the Peace, was made Special Justice of the Court of
Common Pleas of Norfolk County, and in the year 1808 was appointed to fill the vacancy
on the bench of that Court, occasioned by the death of his brother, Oliver Everett, Esq. In
this situation he acted with integrity and ability, and held it till the abolition of the Court.
He died March 25, 1813, in his 63d year. Judge Everett's house, probably built by himself,
is still standing, and has for many years been owned and occupied by the widow of Nathaniel
W. Appleton. It is situated on Pleasant Street, in Dorchester, near Savin Hill Avenue, and
nearly opposite the site of the old Gov. Stough:on mansion. The venerable button-wood
trees which so long were conspicuous and ornamental objects in the street in front of the
house, were removed after the annexation of Dorchester to Boston, on occasion of the
widening of Pleasant Street. Judge Everett was uncle to the Hon. Edward Everett.
NICHOLAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 255
Howe and family occupied the ancient house in Willow Court,
where Mrs. H.'s father lived and died. After Mr. Howe's death,
his widow ^ occupied it till her death, which took place Nov. 25,
1868, and it has since been occupied by her son James Theodore.
18. LEMUEL, 6 b. June 2, 1784; d. June 11, 1866, aged 82 years. He
was never married ; he lived with his sister, Mrs. Howe, and
improved the land inherited from his father. He left directions,
before his death, for the erection - of a marble monument to the
memory of his father, Col. Ebenezer Clapp, which has since been
erected, at an expense of upwards of $500, in the old Dorchester
burying-ground, and is an elegant and appropriate structure.
219. ELEAZER, 6 b. Aug. 18, 1786; d. as already mentioned, Aug. 27,
1817. He graduated at Harvard College in 1807, studied medi-
cine, and practised as a physician in Dorchester.
220. BENJAMIN, 6 b. July 17, 1788; d. Oct. 12. 1789.
-j-221. ENOCH, 6 b. Aug. 6, 1790.
222. ANN, 6 b. Dec. 8, 1792; m. April 4, 1811, Alexander Balch, who
d. July 5, 1812, aged 26 years. They had one child, Ann A.,
b. Feb. 4, 1813, about seven months after the death of her father,
and married, in 1834, Francis D. Kidder. Mrs. Balch married
second, Jan. 10, 1819, John Wheeler, and had seven children
John W., d. July 6, 1837, aged 18, Alexander W., James H.,
Elisha C., Frederick L., Elizabeth E. and Harriet F. Mrs.
Wheeler is now dead.
223. BENJAMIN," b. Jan. 16, 1795; d. Nov. 9, 1861; m. in 1840,
Elizabeth, daughter of Stephen Pierce, of Dorchester. In early
life he was in mercantile business, which he relinquished, and
afterwards lived upon the income of the property left him by his
father. He resided on Adams Street, Dorchester. Children :
224. Mary Elizabeth? b. March 8, 1841; d. of consumption, Jan.
6, 1844.
225. Benjamin,' 1 b. July 12, 1842. He is in the leather business in
Boston.
226. Elizabeth Anna,'' b. March, 1844; m. Sept. 26, 1867, George
T. Andrew. They have two children : George Clapp and
Benjamin Clapp.
227. Ebenezer,'' b. Dec. 14. 1846; d. Sept. 19, 1848.
228. Stephen Pierce,"* b. March 10, 1854 ; d. Feb. 27, 1864; he was
a young lad of great promise.
229. ELiSHA, 6 b. Oct. 22, 1796; d. Aug. 8, 1823, aged 27 years. It
is believed he was in business awhile in Baltimore.
230. AMASA, G b. Jan. 14, 1799 ; d. Dec. 29, 1874. He was unmarried ;
lived in Boston the early part of his life, but for many years
before death resided in his native town, the last part of the time
in Mt. Vernon Street, in the northerly part of the town, on land
which for many generations was the property of his ancestors.
With some eccentricities, he possessed many virtues,* was honest
and upright in all his dealings with others, and was endeared to
* As an illustration of the kind-heartedness of Amasa, the following little incident may be
related. An elderly woman of Dorchester was for many years in the habit of distilling herbs,
&c., and carrying baskets of bottles filled with the distilled liquids afoot over the tarntrikfl
to the Boston market. One heavy basket on eaeh arm was her accustomed load. The
writer of this note, once travelling the same road, some distance behind, saw Amnsa over-
take the old lady, and taking both her baskets from her, carry them himself a considerable
256 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
a large circle of connections and friends. He had long been
known as a noted horseman, and in the course of his life had
trained several horses to perform very remarkable tricks at his
command. He was also an ingenious artificer in wood-work.
The affection which marriage probably would have fixed upon
other objects, he freely bestowed upon animals, and the death
of one of his favorite horses is supposed to have hastened his
own decease. As showing the tendency and strength of his feel-
ings in this direction, it may be mentioned that in his will he
bequeathed $5000 to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
to Animals. During the sickness preceding his death, which
confined him to his house nearly three years, he exhibited ex-
emplary patience and Christian resignation. He was the last
but one of his family, his brother Enoch, of Philadelphia, alone
now remaining.
OQ
LEMUEL 5 (Ebenezer, 4 Ebenezer, 3 Nathaniel, 2 Nicholas 1 ), third son
of Ebenezer, Jr., and Hannah (Pierce) Clapp, was born in Dorches-
ter, April 9, 1735, and died Dec. 29, 1819. He married, first, Dec. 11,
1760, Susanna Capen, of Dorchester, who died March 6, 1767, aged
26 years. They were married the same day his sister Ann was
married to Noah Clapp (No. 29). He married, second, Nov. 3, 1768,
Rebecca, third daughter of Rev. Samuel Dexter, of Dedham. Lemuel
was a Captain in the Revolutionary War, and his company was on
duty for several of its first years at Dorchester Heights, Noddle's
Island, and other places near by. The enlistments for this service
were short, a few months at a time, and sometimes less, and his
company, therefore, often changed its members. Sometimes there
were quite a number of the Dorchester Clapps in its ranks. He
was a tanner by trade, and carried on the business on the old
Causeway road, near the corner of what is now Willow Court. His
house was in the same court, and was enlarged and elegantly fitted
up by him from the small one originally built by ROGER, and referred
to on page 4. He was a man of energy and decision, and much
respected in the town. His wife, Rebecca, survived him, and died
May 31, 1823, aged 84.
Children of Capt. LEMUEL and 1st wife SUSANNAH (CAPEN) CLAPP:
231. SUSANNA,' b. Nov. 2, 1761 ; d. Dec. 10, 1761.
232. LEMUEL,* b. Aug. 5, 1763 ; d. April 5, 1783.
233. EDWARD, 6 b. Jan. 24, 1765 ; d. Dec. 16, 1790. Began to learn
the trade of shoe-making, but relinquished it and worked with
hfe father in the tanning business, and continued in it till he died.
Children of Capt. LEMUEL and 2d wife REBECCA (DEXTER) CLAPP :
234. SAMUEL,* b. Oct. 1, 1769 ; d. Jan. 1, 1770.
distance. The occurrence was the more observable, as Mr. C. was a young man of wealth
and fashion, and one who would not have been thought likely to show a kindness in that
humble way.
NICHOLAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 257
235. EBENEZER, 6 b. Oct. 8, 1770 ; d. Mar. 13, 1806 ; m. Nov. 12, 1795,
Abigail Glover Clapp, dau. of Joseph Clapp, of Dorchester. He
built the house now standing on the east side of Boston Street,
nearly opposite Willow Court, then the most northerly house on
the old Causeway road leading to the Neck. He inherited from
his father much land in the neighborhood. His widow occupied
the house after his decease and died there. Children :
236. Abigail, 7 b. in Dorchester, Sept. 13, 1796; d. Jan. 7, 1829,
aged 32 years. She m. Oct. 29, 1822, Josiah Adams, of
Salem. She left several children.
237. Catharine Barnard? b. in Dorchester, Nov. 21, 1797 ; d. in
Dorchester, April 3, 1870. She m. first, June 17, 1839,
John W. Harris, of Boston, who d. April 3. 1843, leaving
one child. They lived in her parents' house, on Boston
Street. She m. second, March 25, 1845, James Blake,* the
former husband of her deceased sister Polly, and lived with
him in Newton. Afterwards, they resided in Dorchester,
where she d. April 3, 1870, and where he now lives.
238. Polly,' 1 }), in Dorchester, July 8, 1799; d. in Boston, Jan. 9,
1840 ; m. Sept. 6, 1825, James Blake, of Boston, afterwards
husband to her sister Catharine B. She left several children.
239. REBECCA, 6 b. Nov. 13, 1771 ; d. Nov. 13, 1772.
240. JASON, 6 b. Sept 20, 1773 ; d. Dec. 8, 1852, aged 79 years. He
was extensively engaged in early life in mercantile business in
Boston, his business occasionally calling him to Europe, where
his stays were sometimes prolonged. He then removed to Ad-
dison, Me., where he had a store. His last days were spent in
Dorchester. He is recollected as upright in his dealings, very
gentlemanly in his manners, and precise and fashionable in his
dress. When somewhat advanced in life, in the fall of 1829, he
married Louisa M. Hutchins, of Maine. She died in 1830, to
his very great grief, leaving one child :
241. Sophronia Louisa, 1 b. Aug. 7, 1830; m. Albert W. Bee, of
New York State, who had an interest in some of the silver
mines of Nevada. They lived most of their married life in
California. He was connected with many of the public
and private improvements in that part of the country, but
was taken away in the prime of his life in 1863. His widow
was afterwards employed in a responsible situation in the U. S.
mint in San Francisco, and large amounts of the precious
metals passed through her hands. She has journeyed several
times to and from that State, and has therefore had much
experience as a traveller. She is now residing at the east-
ward. She has two children living.
242. RicnARD, 6 b. Oct. 15, 1774; d. Sept. 20, 1775.
243. ELiSHA, 6 b. June 25, 1776 ; d. Oct. 22, 1830. He early showed
a love of study and a capacity for literary pursuits, and was
therefore indulged in his wish to obtain a liberal education. He
* James Blake, son of Thomas and Mary (Barnard) Blake, was born in Boston, Sept. 6,
1798 He was formerly a tallow chandler, and was in partnership with his father for many
years before his father's death, which took place in 1840. The houses of the father and son
were at the south end of Boston, on Washington Street, and joined each other. In 18
settled up the business in Boston, and has since, in the enjoyment of a well-earned a
tency, lived in comparative retirement.
258 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
was fitted for College at one of the Dorchester schools, and in
1793 entered Harvard University, at the age of 17. He gradu-
ated in 1797, having borne a highly respectable rank iu the
institution, and was afterwards elected Tutor of Greek, which
office he held two years. He then devoted himself to a prepa-
ration for the ministry, and having preached for a short time,
received a call to settle at Fitchburg in 1804. Owing to a want
of harmony in the society, he thought proper to decline the call,
and afterwards became Principal of the Sandwich Academy, car-
rying with him eminent qualifications as a teacher, and placing that
academy, during the twelve years he remained at its head, among
the best classical schools in the State. He then removed to Boston,
at the solicitation of several gentlemen, whose sons he undertook
to educate. He continued to act in the capacity of teacher for
many years, until declining health compelled him to relinquish
the employment. His leisure time he devoted to astronomy,
which was his favorite science, and he was honored by being
elected a member of the Academy of Arts and Sciences and of
the Massachusetts Historical Society. In 1825, he married
Mary, oldest daughter of Hon. Robert Treat Paine, one of the
signers of the Declaration of Independence, with whom he lived,
but without issue, till 1830, his death taking place on the 22d of
October in that year. For some years previous to this event his
health had been gradually failing, so that he had been obliged to
resort to warmer climates for its restoration, but without success.
He appears to have contemplated publishing an account of the
Clapps, from the first settlers to his day, and for that purpose
he collected a great number of facts, and the names of most of
them in the male line. By the kindness of his widow, those
papers were loaned to the author of the present work, and were
of great service hi its preparation. A few weeks after the loan
of these papers, Mrs. Clapp died, Feb. 27, 1842. She was a
woman very much beloved by all who knew her. The following
account of her life and character appeared in a newspaper a few
days subsequent to her death :
" Mrs. Mary Clapp, the widow of Elisha Clapp, Esq., and
daughter of the late Judge Paine (Robert T.), whose decease
occurred in this city on the 27th ult., deserves a further notice
than the mere obituary record of her death. Mrs. Clapp lived
not for herself, but for the comfort of others ; her whole life
and fortune seemed to be devoted to alleviate the suffering poor
and the distresses of the afflicted, whether of body or mind. She
was purely exemplary, plain and prudent in her dress and domestic
arrangements, that she might have more to give to objects of
charity. She was emphatically the friend of the poor and needy ;
none visited her in vain, and none retired from her hospitable
mansion without a more cheerful heart, for she was peculiarly
capacitated to disburthen the most desponding mind. However
heavy laden, she was always ready and equal to the task ; feel-
ings of sympathy and benevolence would soothe and overpower
the greatest human anguish. The circle in which her father
moved, for many years Judge on the supreme bench of the
NICHOLAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 259
Courts in Massachusetts, brought her in contact with some of
the most gifted minds in the Commonwealth, and her society has
been sought by the learned and the good ; and thus, while she
was made to impart gladness to the poor and dejected, she was
ready to entertain the more learned and affluent, and equally at
home with all."
244. STEPHEN, 6 b. Sept. 9, 1777; d. July 11, 1778.
-{-245. WiLLiAM, 6 b. March 3, 1779 ; d. Feb. 29, 1860, aged 80 years.
-j-246. RrcHARD, 6 b. July 24, 1780; d. Dec. 26, 1861, aged 81 years.
247. CATHARINE, 6 b. April 17, 1782 ; d. unm. Feb. 21, 1872, in her
90th year. She retained her mental faculties to the last, reading
her bible and other good books daily, without glasses, which
through her long life sbe never used ; was a worthy woman, of
the old puritan stamp ; lived and died in the house in Willow
Court, occupied by her father during his life. The house, after
her death, as elsewhere mentioned, passed into the hands of her
nephews, Frederick and Lemuel.
248. REBECCA,* b. March 6, 1784 ; d. unm., Dec. 11, 1855. She lived
with her sister in Willow Court. Her intellectual powers were
of a high order. She took an active interest in all the passing
events of the day, and her company was much sought after and
prized by relatives and friends. Though for many years a great
sufferer, passing hours of weariness and pain, her conversation
abounded with good sense and often with wit and humor. She
retained her natural sprightliness and cheerfulness till nearly
the close of life.
1O4
NATHANIEL 5 (Nathaniel? Ebenezer, 3 Nathaniel, 3 Nicholas 1 }, sec-
ond son of Nathaniel and Sarah (Howe) Clapp, was born April 22,
1744, and died Oct. 11, 1823. He married, first, April 3, 1769,
Eunice Bird, born June 9, 1743, died June 4, 1770, the daughter of
Thomas Bird. He married, second, Nov. 14, 1 782, Hannah Wheeler.
He lived in a house now standing, on Boston Street, a few rods
north of the old entrance to Dea. Jonathan Clapp's house, and about
the same distance south from the Five Corners, and his land made
one of those corners. This land, and the house spoken of, are still
in the hands of Nathaniel's descendants, and the land has been in
possession of the family from very early times, probably from the
settlement of the town. He was a tanner by trade, and his yard
was a short distance back of his house the place being long since
filled up.
Child of NATHANIEL and 1st wife EUNICE (Bird) CLAPP:
249. EUNICE, 8 b. May 25, 1770; m. Caleb Williams, of Dorchester,
and lived in the old Blake house, now standing in the north
part of that town, the entrance to which was by a passage way,
leading from what is now Cottage Street, not many rods north-
west from the Five Corners. Since the destruction of the old
Minot house by fire in 1873, this is now supposed to be the
34
260 * THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
most ancient house in the old town of Dorchester. It is said to
have been built previous to 1650, by Elder James Blake, who m.
Elizabeth (No. 2 of EDWARD) Clapp in 1652, was Deacon and
Ruling Elder of the Dorchester Church about twenty-five years,
and d. June 28, 1700, aged 77 years. In the " Blake Family "
book, published in 1857, a wood-cut illustration of the house is
given, and its appearance is little altered since. Caleb Williams
and Eunice 6 (Clapp) Williams had two children who lived to
grow up Caleb and Charles, and the widow of the former now
occupies the ancient house here spoken of.*
Children of NATHANIEL and 2d wife HANNAH (Wheeler) CLAPP :
250. NATHANIEL, 6 b. Dec. 21, 1783; d. Nov. 4, 1847. He graduated
at Harvard College in 1805, and for a while kept the Grammar
School in the north part of Dorchester. Afterwards, for a long
series of years, he was book-keeper in the Tremont Bank in
State Street, Boston. He lived in a house built by his father,
and now standing, on the westerly side of Dorchester Avenue,
near its junction with Boston Street (then the Dorchester and
Milton Turnpike and the old Causeway road, and opposite the
Turnpike toll-house), where he dwelt many years, and where he
died, aged 64. He m. Mary, dau. of Joshua Gardner ; she d.
April 9, 1847. Children :
251. Louisa,' 1 b. Dec. 29, 1810; d. Oct. 8, 1837 ; m. Nov. 10, 1831,
Benjamin F. Hathorne. They lived in the house opposite her
father's on the easterly side of the Turnpike (Dorchester
Avenue), now standing, enlarged and modernized, and occu-
pied by Alderman James Power. She died in her 27th
year, leaving Henry W., Mary L. and Benjamin F. The
latter was in the 14th Reg't, Co. C, Mass. Vols., in the War
of the Rebellion, and d. of fever, Dec. 23, 1862, a. 25 yrs.
252. Joshua Gardner? b. Jan. 25, 1812; m. June 3, 1839, Lucy
Anna Greene a member of the family in Warwick, R. I.,
into which Silas Clapp married about the middle of the last
century (see Part V. of this "Memorial"). Joshua G. has
been a merchant in Boston most of his life ; has resided
* In the early part of the present century, this house was the secluded residence of two
aged sisters, Miss Rachel Blake and Mrs. Elizabeth, widow of Daniel Fairn. Mr. Fairn
married, first, May 8, 1753, Mindwell Clapp (No. 86 of ROGER), who died March 17, 1767,
in the 41st year of her age ; he married, second, Nov. 24, 1768, Dorcas Davenport, who died
Sept. 22, 1780, in her 48th year; he married, third, May 22, 1781, Elizabeth Blake, dau. of
John and Abigail Blake, who died Jan. 8, 1817, aged 85 years. He died March 14, 1795, in
the 63d year of his age. It is a singular coincidence that Mr. F. and his second and third
wives were each born in the year 1732. The two sisters, above named, lie buried near each
other in the old Dorchester burying-ground, with the following epitaphs :
In Memory of
MBS. ELIZABETH FAIRN, Miss RACHEL BLAKE
Widow of
MR. DANIEL FAIRN, Died Aug. 13, 1825,
Who died Jan. 8, 1817,
Aged 85 years. Aged 84 years.
How very few like me survive
And reach the age of eighty-five. Serene I walked life's journey o'er
M? g K tim ,? l tro .f. thi8 v ?'f of tears, Till l arrived at eighty-four.
Till, bending with a weight of years,
I calmly sunk into the Grave, Then calm descended here to rest
Trusting Almighty Power to save. In hopes to be forever blest.
NICHOLAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 261
much of the time in Dorchester, but is ROW living in Boston.
Children : i, Gustavus William* b. March 19, 1840. ii.
Herman Greene* b. June 4, 1842. Hi, Lucy Ann* b. Nov.
. 16, 1844. iv, Joshua G.* b. Jan. 13, 1847; d. Sept. 4,
_848. V. Mary Gardner* b. July 2, 1849 ; m. Oct. 12, 1875,
Emmet Robinson Olcott, a member of the New York bar.
Vi, Amelia Rebecca* b. Feb. 28, 1852.
253. Adaline Maria? b. April 3, 1815 ; d. Sept. 16, 1864 ; m. July
26, 1836, Edward I. Sheldon, and lived in New York. They
had children Edward G., Mary A. and Walter M., the latter
of whom was killed in the first battle of Bull Ruu, in the War
of the Rebellion, when he was 16 years of age.
254. Gustavus William,' 1 b. March 25, 1817; m. Jane Graham, of
New York. His wife died, and in 1873 he was living in
San Francisco.
255. Mary Elizabeth,'' b. Feb. 16, 1819. Married, first, Dec. 25,
1837, Henry W. Ridgeway, and had Henry Gustavus, b.
Sept. 18, 1838 ; d. Dec. 22, 1844. She m. second, Aug. 3,
1852, Henry Coutes Briggs, and had: Ellen Amelia, b.
March 20, 1853, d. Feb. 16, 1854; Henry Coutes, b. Feb. 16,
1855; Mary Ella, b. July 19, 1858; Henrietta Gardner, b.
Jan. 31, 1861 ; Herman Greene, b. Dec. 6, 1863.
256. Catharine Gardner,' 1 b. Aug. 21, 1821 ; d. unm., Jan. 31, 1861.
257. Francis Henry? b. Dec. 17, 1824; m. first, Ellen C., dau. of
William B. Fowle, Esq., of Boston, who d. in Detroit, Mich.,
Oct. 7, 1866, aged 38 years, and had : I, Ellen Clara* b. Aug.
4, 1850. ii. Mary Antoinette* b. March 28, 1852 ; d. Jan.
26, 1868. iii. Anna Whittlesey* b. Sept. 6, 1855; d. Dec.
25, 1859. He m. second, Adaline Lewis, of Lansing, Mich.
They are now living in Detroit, Mich. He has been con-
nected with the Michigan Central Railroad for the past
twenty-five years.
258. Amelia Rebecca? b. Dec. 28, 1827; m. July 21, 1853, Joseph
Frye. Mr. Frye carries on an extensive carriage manufac-
tory in South Boston. They live in Washington Village,
and have one child, Francis Henry, b. Nov. 15, 1857, grad.
from English High School, Boston, with high honors.
259. NANCY, 6 b. May 23, 1789 ; d. May 17, 1864, in her 75th year.
She m. Joseph Ward Bird, of Dorchester, who d. Feb. 17, 1851.
They lived in Dorchester, and had six children : Amasa, bapt.
May 6, 1810; d. Aug. 30, 1811. Charles, b. June 2, 1811 ; d.
March 8. 1831. Elizabeth, b. Feb. 16, 1814; m. Feb. 16, 1830,
Daniel Odiorne, Jr., of Eliot, Me. Emeline, b. July 3, 1816;
m. Feb. 17, 1839, Daniel Hayes. Catharine, b. Dec. 1, 1820,
m. June 2, 1840, Francis N. Whitney. Amasa, b. Dec. 3, 1824 ;
m. May 20, 1860, Clarissa Greenwood.
260. MosES, 6 b. Feb. 16, 1796 ; d. unm. in 1821. He was a young man
of good moral qualities ; one of the constables of the town ; he
was stout and rugged, a first-rate gunner, and in one of his fox-
hunting excursions, two fingers were accidentally shot from his
right hand by his comrade, Jacob Beals. He resided with his
father until his death.
261. HANNAH, 6 b. Aug. 15, 1799; m. Feb. 2, 1823, Josiah Kingsbury,
262 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
of Boston. They lived in the house with her father. Mr. Kings-
bury died, June 21, 1832, leaving two daughters : Martha, b. Jan.
12, 1824 ; m. Jan. 4, 1852, Andrew Sumner. Caroline Au-
gusta^b. Nov. 14, 1825; m. Sept. 9, 1845, John H. Sumner.
Mrs. Kingsbury m. second, Jan. 10, 1833, Josiah Foster, of
Dorchester, a descendant of the Fosters of Scituate. They had
one child, a son, who d. at the age of three or four years. Han-
nah 6 d. May 4, 1856,
-1O5-
SAMUEL 5 {Nathaniel* Ebenezer, 3 Nathaniel, 2 Nicholas 1 ), third
son of Nathaniel and Sarah (Howe) Clapp, and brother of the pre-
ceding, was born in Dorchester, July 13, 1745, and died Jan. 22,
1823. He married, first, June 14, 1770, Elizabeth Foster; married,
second, Dec. 13, 1811, Hannah, daughter of Deacon Edward Fierce,
of Dorchester. He held various town offices ; was one of the Se-
lectmen, with Ebenezer Wales and Deacon Ebenezer Clapp, during
the second war with England they being the Republican candidates
at a time when party spirit ran high and was carried into municipal
as well as national elections much more than at present.
Children of SAMUEL and 1st wife ELIZABETH (Foster) CLAPP:
262. SAMUEL,* b. Sept. 20, 1771 ; d. Aug. 21, 1834. He m. first, May
22, 1800, Sarah Tolman, b. July 13, 1767, who d. of a cancer;
and he m. second, March 9, 1815, Susanna, dau. of Jonathan
Holdeu. of Dorchester. He was a large, powerful man, and
carried on the brick-making business on the old Lower Road
(now Adams Street). Children by first wife:
263. Mary Ann HJ b. Feb. 19, 1801 ; m. March 17, 1829, Simeon
Wheeler.
264. James, 1 b. March 27, 1802 ; d. Feb. 27, 1875 ; m. March 10,
1829, Sarah Lewis. He was a carpenter by trade, and lived
in Dorchester. Children : i, Samuel, 8 b. March 6, 1843 ; m.
Dec. 24, 1868, Martha A. Fowler, and has: (1) Martha F., 9
b. Sept. 19, 1869 ; (2) George F.? b. March 26, 1871. ii.
Elizabeth* b. Nov. 15, 1845; m. in 1863, James Burr, of
Quincy, Mass. Hi, James L.* b. June 28, 1848. iv, Timo-
thy F. 8 b. June 10, 1850.
265. Sarah? b. Oct 4, 1803 ; m. Dec. 15, 1822, Sylvester Wheeler.
266. Elizabeth, 1 b. Feb. 14, 1805; m. March 28, 1833, Stephen
Stimpson, of Maiden, and has children.
267. Harriet,'' b. Dec. 16, 1806; m. April 19, 1835, John N. Reed,
of Dorchester, and has children.
268. Caroline, 1 b. May 29, 1808 ; d. July 6, 1814.
269. Lucy? b. Oct. 3, 1810 ; d. Oct. 22, 1811.
Children by second wife :
270. Susanna B.? b. June 16, 1816 ; d. Sept. 12, 1817.
271. Susanna B., 1 b. Sept. 8, 1817; m. Nov. 2, 1839, William
Gordon, and has children.
272. Samuel Adams? b. Aug. 29, 1819 ; now dead ; a cabin et-makerj
NICHOLAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 263
m. Aug. 28, 1850, Mercy Nickerson; had two children;
273. Caroline,' 1 b. May 5, 1821 ; m. first, in 1843, Charles Woodard,
and lived in Maine; m. second, Charles Leeds.
274. Timothy? b. Sept 24, 1822. A tin-plate worker. He lives in
Stoughton ; m Nickerson, and has children.
275. JEMIMA, 6 b. Feb. 13, 1774; m. Jonathan Edmiuster, of Maiden,
and had a large family of children. Mr. Edminster d. in 1840.
276. TiMOTHY, 6 b. March 28, 1777 ; d. about Aug. 1, 1852. He m.
first, Feb. 18, 1806, Deborah Wait, who d. Aug. 14, 1828; m.
second, April 7, 1829, Sarah Wait. They lived in Maiden.
Children by first wife :
277. Abigail Z>., 7 b. July 17, 1807; m. May 10, 1831, Samuel
Drown, and had children ; father, mother and children dead.
278. James, 1 b. July 20, 1810; d. Sept. 20, 1810.
279. Samuel H? b. Nov. 5, 1813 ; m. Nov. 29, 1836, Susan Pierce.
Live in Everett. Children: i. Edward Everett* b. in 1837 ;
lived in Pittsburgh, Pa. In the War of the Rebellion, he was
Captain in a Pennsylvania regiment, and was killed on one
of the battlefields. He was first shot in the wrist, and was
urged to go to the rear, but he refused, saying that his post
of duty was with his company ; very soon after a ball passed
through his head, killing him instantly. He was greatly be-
loved by his business and social friends, and, on his departure
with his regiment, a military outfit was presented to him by
his Sunday-School scholars. M. Sarah E. 8 b. in 1839; m.
Mr. Whittier. ill. Adeline P., 8 b. in 1841 ; m. Mr. Atkins.
iv, Lucy Jane. 8 v, Abba Frances. 8 VI, Harriet Augusta. 6
280. Isaac,'' b. May 24, 1823 ; m. May 30, 1847, Elizabeth Rebecca
Spofford, who was b. March 20, 1823, and d. Jan. 18, 1873,
aged 49 years. He lives in Chelsea, Mass., and has five
children : i, Albion Jt* (adopted), b. July 29, 1843 ; m. Sept,
12, 1867, Mary W. Underbill ; he is now one of the firm of
Billings, Clapp & Co., manufacturing chemists and publishers
of the Boston Journal of Chemistry ; they are living in Grant-
ville, an<ihave: (1) Irma M.* b. July 10, 1871 ; (2) Albion
B., 9 b. May 21, 1874. H. Emogene K, 8 b. April 26, 1850;
d. Sept. 24, 1850. Hi, Mary Jane 8 b. March 5, 1851 ; d.
Sept. 5, 1854. IT, Lizzie A. 8 b. June 22, 1856. V, Frank
W. 8 b. Feb. 26, 1859.
281. Elizabeth F., 7 b. Feb. 11, 1826; m. and had two children.
282. ELIZABETH, 6 b. Jan. 11, 1780; d. July 5, 1805; m. Nov. 15, 1803,
Edward Pierce, Jr.* of Dorchester, who d. Sept. 2, 1805, aged 36
years, thus both dying within the same year. They left one
child: Edward, b. Sept. 3, 1804; m. Dec*! 13, 1832, Eliza Ann,
dau. of James and Elizabeth (Clapp No. 217) Howe, of Dorches-
ter; Eliza A. d. Oct. 22, 1847, a. 42, having had seven children,
three of them now living ; Edward resides on Adams Street,
* Son of Deacon Edward Pierce, who was a very worthy citizen of Dorchester, born May
5, 1735. Dca. Edward Pierce was the contractor for enlarging the meeting-boose of the
First Parish, on Meeting-house Hill, in 1795. He was to divide the building along the
ridge-pole, move one half of it fourteen feet and the tower and steeple seven feet, and unite
the two halves by new material, thereby making thirty new pews in.-iile, which he was to
have the disposal of in payment for the work. This was accomplished to the satisfaction of
the parish, and he himself was so well remunerated that he voluntarily put on two coats of
paint outside, in addition to what was required of him by the contract.
264 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
Dorchester District; has held many important trusts in the town ;
has been assistant assessor, book-keeper of the 1st National Bank
of Dorchester, and for many years was treasurer of the Dorches-
ter Savings Bank ; he is now one of the executors in the settle-
ment of the estate of Amasa Clapp (No. 230).
283. JAMES,' b. March 23, 1782; d. Feb. 18, 1800.
284. ISAAC, 6 b. Dec. 27, 1784 ; d. Jan. 28, 1861, aged 76 years. He m.
Eliza Cook, who d. Nov. 1, 1854, without issue. An adopted
daughter, Eliza T., lived with them a young lady of con-
siderable literary talent, and the authoress of a work which
took high rank as a religious and metaphysical essay. He lived
on the westerly side of Jones's Hill, near the corner of what is now
Hancock and Stoughton Streets. The house which he built and
lived in for more than 40 years has been re-modelled, and is now
occupied by Micah Dyer, Jr., Esq. He early commenced busi-
ness as a merchandize broker in Boston, carried it on successfully,
and finally rose to high distinction as an upright, sagacious and
trusty guide in all matters connected with commerce and finance.
A remarkable trait in his character was the calm and deliberate
manner in which he investigated matters of interest, and the
unruffled spirit he manifested in every event he was called to
pass through. He was reserved, almost taciturn in his daily
intercourse, but his words were instructive and reliable. The
following notice of him appeared in one of the Boston papers
soon after his death : " Mr. Clapp was in the truest and broadest
sense a merchant, in contradistinction from the mere tradesman.
His eye swept the horizon of the commercial world, combining
in its view that vast variety of data essential as the base for
intelligent and successful enterprises. His mind had a native
strength and steadiness of build, a breadth of vision, an
intuitive insight of the connections and complexities of things, a
sagacity and acuteness of observation, which, in other depart-
ments of activity, with appropriate culture and training, would
have ensured him marked success. He was what he was in spite
of a lack of educational advantages. The world was his univer-
sity; mankind, nature, experience his teacher. During the fifty
years that State Street and its neighborhood has known him as
a constant and busy visitor, there is not one, it is believed, who
can bear witness to aught in him unmanly or dishonorable ; while
with the sterner attributes of rectitude and justice were combined
a generous judgment, a ready kindness, a forbearing gentleness,
a winning amenity. His remarkable equanimity was greatly
temperamental. And yet none could doubt that underlying and
transfusing it was something of nobler than nature's birth. That
equanimity, never failing, amidst however much to disturb or
overcome it, assumed the dignity of a virtue, showed a footing on
unfluctuating principle. His mind was not narrowed to the
demands of his calling. He was more than a merchant. No
department of human thought or activity was without interest to
him. For agriculture he had a natural fondness, and practised
it with a scientific skill. Though naturally conservative, he was
most liberal in his judgments. Calmly tenacious of his own
opinions, he gave candid audience to those of others. He was
NICHOLAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 265
singularly unselfish ; too much so for the pecuniary success his
abilities and opportunities might have gained for him. With a
manhood of noble cast of which his outward presence was no
unworthy type he had a childlikeness of spirit, a tender-hearted-
ness, a sweet lovingness, making love the inevitable return. His
religion was rational, reverent, trustful, calm. His end was
peace."
285. MosEs, 6 ) , . fd. Sept. 28, 1791.
286. AAEON,' ( b A P" 9 > 1791 > jd. Sept. 15, 1791.
-112-
JOSEPH 5 (Joseph? Ebenezer, 3 Nathaniel, 2 Nicholas 1 ), son of Jo-
seph and Abigail (Dyer) Clapp, was born Oct. 24, 1751, and died
Sept. 18, 1823, aged 72 years. He married, first, Oct. 14, 1773,
Abigail Glover* who died Oct. 3, 1775, in her 25th year. He
married, second, Nov. 14, 1776, Abigail, daughter of Henry Hum-
phreys, and sister of Deacon James Humphreys. She died May 1 1,
1831. Joseph Clapp built the house on Washington Street, in
Dorchester, near the Second Congregational Church, which has ever
since been in possession of the family.
Children of JOSEPH and 1st wife ABIGAIL (Glover) CLAPP:
-f287. JOSEPH, 6 b. Aug. 10, 1774; d. June 14, 1852, aged 78.
288. ABIGAIL GLOVER," b. Sept. 26, 1775 ; d. June 18, 1838. She m.
Nov. 12, 1795, Ebenezer, son of Capt. Lemuel Clapp (No. 235).
She lived in the house built by her husband in the north part of
Dorchester, for many years one of the most northerly houses
in the town. She was a woman of fine personal appearance,
and a sincere and devout Christian. Her death was caused by
a tumor, from which she suffered the most distressing pain,
which was borne with great patience, and her end was peaceful.
Children of JOSEPH and 2d wife ABIGAIL (Humphreys) CLAPP:
289. WILLIAM,* b. March, 1778; d. April 12, 1786, aged 8 years.
290. SAMUEL DYER, 6 b. Nov. 4, 1779; d. March 29, 1823. He m.
Nancy Daniels, who died April 5, 1831, aged 56 yrs. ; no issue ;
they lived on Centre St., Dorchester.
291. HANNAH," b. July 25, 1781 ; d. Feb. 1, 1784.
292. SALLY, 6 b. May 2, 1783 ; d. April 10, 1785.
* In the Genealogical History of the Blake Family, a valuable little work compiled by
the late Samuel Blake, of Dorchester, and published in 1857, we find the following refer-
ence to the marriage of several couples of Dorchester, and among them that of Joseph Clapp
and Abigail Glover.
" Under the date of Sept. 18, 1773, there were four intentions of marriage entered in Mr.
Noah Clapp's Book of Records. The parties were Increase Blake and Sarah Pierce, John
Baker, jr. and Ann Pierce, Jonathan Blake and Sarah Pierce tertia, and Joseph Clapp, jr.
and Abigail Glover. These four couple, on a pleasant day, the 14th of October following,
met together and started off, with the plausible excuse of going a short distance into the
country a chesnutting. But instead, they made their way to Quincy, and called at the
mansion of the Hon. Samuel Quincy (an uncle of the present Hon. Josiah Quincy, sen.),
who was a magistrate, and were all united in marriage by him at one time, and then they
returned to their several homes. Two of the ladies were sisters, viz., Sarah Pierce and Ann
Pierce, and Sarah Pierce tertia was cousin to Sarah and Ann. Some of the above men-
tioned party died early, and Mr. Jonathan Blake and his wife Sarah outlived all the others
many years. She died in 1831, and her husband in 1836."
266 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
293. HANNAH,' b. July 4, 1785 ; d. March 26, 1790.
294. WILLIAM,* b. Oct. 7, 1786 ; d. April 5, 1842. He lived in Lex-
ington, Mass., but was buried in the old burying-ground in Dor-
chester. He m. June 30, 1808, Sarah, b. June 7, 1789, dau. of
Francis and Susanna (Chamberlain) Bowman, of Lexington.
Children :
295. William T.? b. Oct. 1, 1809 ; d. May 2, 1825.
296. Susan D.? m. J. M. Johnson, and live in Charlestown.
297. Isaac B.? m. July, 1841, Lydia S. Wellington, and lives in
Maplewood. A dau. Anna 8 m. William McClauslin.
298. HENRY,* b. Oct. 13, 1788; d. Dec. 26, 1874; m. Oct. 12,1812,
Hannah Lemist, of Dorchester. They lived in Dorchester, in the
house built by his father, on Washington St., near the church.
He and his sister, Mrs. Hannah Tolman, were buried on the
same day, Dec. 31, 1874. Children:
299. Joseph Henry? b. March 3, 1815. He lived in Dorchester,
and was a manufacturer of block tin. He m. June 4, 1839,
Lydia Clark.
300. Mary Ann? b. Nov. 6,1817; d. July 4, 1818.
301. Elizabeth Ann? b. April 26, 1821 ; d. July 24, 1840.
302. Hannah Lemist? b. May 21, 1823.
303. JAMES, S b. April 20, 1790; d. March 28, 1860; m. June 18, 1816,
Eliza Moore, of Boston, who d. in Dorchester, April, 1873. He
was the first male member admitted, after its organization, to the
Second Church in Dorchester. They moved to Boston, and in
1827 he was chosen Deacon of the Pine-Street Congregational
Church. They afterwards returned to Dorchester, and he was
active in every good work in the Village Church, in the upper
part of that town. They subsequently lived in Roxbury, and he
was connected with the Eliot Church there. Through life he
took an active part in the temperance cause. He died in Dor-
chester, in the same house in which he was born, after a long and
painful illness, and left the example of a life distinguished for
fervent piety and a tender concern for the spiritual welfare of all
with whom he was connected. A brief memoir of his life was
published some time after his decease.
304. HANNAH, 6 b. Aug. 27, 1792; d. Dec. 28, 1874; m. Oct. 11, 1820,
John Tolman, b. in 1793, and had four children : Abigail, m.
Amasa Davenport ; John ; Hannah ; James. They lived in
305. HARRIS,* b. May 31, 1794; d. July 11, 1795.
306. MARY ANN,* b. April, 1796 ; m. Oct. 11, 1820 (at the same time as
her sister Hannah), Jonathan Hammond, and had three children :
Joseph, James and Mary Ann. They lived in Dorchester ; after-
terwards in Woburn, where Mrs. Hammond died in June, 1875.
-151-
REUBEN 6 (Asahel, 5 John, 4 John, 3 Nathaniel? Nicholas 1 ), second
son of Asahel and Rebecca (Baker) Clapp, of Rutland, Mass., was
born May 8, 1766, and died April 12, 1823. He married Hepzibah
Gates, of Hubbardston, Mass., about the year 1790, and removed to
Montgomery, Yt., in 1798.
NICHOLAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 267
Children of RECJBEN and HEPZIBAH (Gates) CLAPP:
+307. ASAHEL/ b. Oct. 5, 1792; d. Dec. 17, 1862.
308. JOHN L., 7 b. in 1795 ; m. Lydia Hamilton, and lived in Mont-
gomery, Vt., being Postmaster of that place more than 20 years,
and resigned in 1842. Children :
309. Nelson, 8 b. Sept. 24, 1825; m. Abigail S. Clapp, dau. of Joshua
(No. 136) Clapp, of Montgomery, and has Mary, 9 b. Sept. 14,
1851.
310. Charles, 8 b. Nov. 23, 1829 ; m. Rachel Head.
311. MATILDA/ m. William Dwyer.
312. EaiiLY, 7 unm. 313. MYRA, T d. young.
314. ROWLAND, 7 m. Martha Walcott. Children :
315. Elizabeth. 9 316. Asahel 8 317. Emily 8
318. JONATHAN, 7 was killed by the falling of a tree when about 15
years old.
319. DANIEL, 7 b. in 1809; m. Maria Thompson. Children:
320. William T. 8 b. April 12, 1838.
321. Mary, 8 ) , ,, , ._ , , f
322. Martha, 8 \ b ' March 25 ' 1841 > \ d. Dec. 1841.
323. Edward P. 8 b. in 1844; d. in 1846.
324. Charles A. 8 b. Dec. 15, 1845.
325. WiLLiAM, 7 b. in 1811 ; d. in St. Albans, Vt., April 30, 1870. He
was the Postmaster of East Berkshire, Vt., in 1843, afterwards
Collector of the Customs in Vermont, and was Representative
and Senator in the Vermont Legislature.' He m. Emeline Raw-
son. Children :
326. Emma 8 b. about 1841.
327. William 8 b. in 1843.
328. SOPHIA, 7 m. in October, 1840, Theodore Watson, and lived in
Waverly, 111. She d. leaving five children.
-189-
EBENEZER 6 * (Ebenezer? Noah* Jonathan, 3 Nathaniel? Nicholas 1 },
fifth son of Ebenezer and Eunice (Pierce) Clapp, was born in Dor-
chester. April 24, 1809. Until he was about twenty -two years and
six months old, he remained at home with his parents and worked in
the tannery with his father, who, as previously stated, had carried
on the business successfully for many years. His school education
was received at the brick school-house, adjoining the old homestead.
In the month of September, 1831, an opening was made for him,
temporarily, in the Boston Custom House, to take the place of his
cousin, Joshua Seaver, son of Ebenezer Seaver, Esq., of Roxbury,
who was obliged, on account of ill health, to vacate for a time his
position there. In June, 1832, Mr. Seaver, having returned from
the South, resumed his duties at the Custom House, where he con-
tinued until the fall of that year, when he decided, for the benefit of
his health, to go to the Island of Porto Rico. He embarked in a
* As Compiler of this Memorial of the Clapp Family, his own personal record has been
left by him to the Committee of Publication, one of whom has prepared this brief sketch.
35
268 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
vessel for that port, but never reached his place of destination.
Intelligence was subsequently received that the vessel in which Mr.
Seaver sailed drifted ashore at the Bermuda Islands. It was sup-
posed to have capsized in a squall, and that all on board perished.
The vessel belonged to Mr. James Brown, of Boston, and two of his
sons were lost. Mr. Clapp succeeded Mr. Seaver, and received a
commission as Inspector for the District of Boston and Charlestown,
Aug. 31, 1833, David Henshaw being at that time the Collector. Mr.
Clapp held the office of Inspector eleven years. The Boston Post
said of him, on retiring, "Mr. Clapp has been a faithful and capable
officer, and retires with the respect and esteem of all with whom his
official duties have brought him in contact."
After withdrawing from the Custom House, he was engaged in
the book-selling and stationery business in Boston, on the corner of
Franklin and Washington Streets, until 1861; then in the same
business for a few years at 308 Washington Street, and for the last
eight or ten years to the present time at 7 School Street. While in
the first-named place, he published the History of Dorchester. Much
of the labor of compiling that work devolved upon him, as one of a
committee of the Dorchester Antiquarian and Historical Society ap-
pointed for that purpose.
In June, 1 834, he commenced keeping a daily journal. This has
been continued by him ever since, upwards of 41 years, and he hopes
to keep it the remainder of his days. The love for historical and
genealogical research, which was so marked a trait in the character
of his grandfather Noah, has attached itself strongly to Ebenezer,
and, aided by a retentive memory, has made his mind a store-house
of reliable facts connected with the persons and events which go to
make up the history of the old town of Dorchester, so that he has long
been looked up to as an authority in such matters. In 1843, the Dor-
chester Antiquarian and Historical Society was organized, the pre-
liminary meeting being held at his house on the 27th of January of
that year. He was elected Corresponding Secretary of the Asso-
ciation, to which office he has been annually chosen to the present
time, thirty-two years. In 1842, Mr. Clapp resolved to collect the
history of his ancestors to leave to his children and posterity, believ-
ing that when that generation should have passed away it would
be almost an impossibility for any one successfully to accomplish
it. In collecting information in regard to his own family, the im-
portance of the work became manifest, and he determined, as far as
possible, to collect together and write out a genealogical history of
all bearing the name of Clapp. The patience, perseverance and
energy he has manifested during an entire generation of the race,
in commencing and carrying on the design thus contemplated, is
shown so thoroughly in the work now accomplished as to entitle him
to the lasting gratitude and regard of those who are connected with
the families here represented, and of all interested in such pursuits.
NICHOLAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 269
He was chosen in 1854, and still remains, Deacon of the First
Church in Dorchester, Rev. Nathaniel Hall,* late pastor, succeeding
his father, Ebenezer, 5 in that office, and has been annually elected
Clerk of the First Parish, thirty-eight years. He was appoint-
ed Justice of the Peace about twenty years since, and has held a
commission up to the present time ; has likewise been a member of
the School Committee of Dorchester. He married, April 4, 1833,
Sarah, daughter of William and Sarah (Shepard) Swan, of Dorches-
ter, who was born May 10, 1806. His residence is on Sumner St.,
Dorchester, and the rear-end of his home lot joins on to the east
side of the old burying-ground, where so many of his ancestors and
family and friends are laid, in that beautiful "garden of the living
and home of the dead." w. B. T.
Children of EBENEZER and SARAH (Swan) CLAPP, of Dorchester.
329. ANN ELIZA, T b. Feb. 15, 1834.
330. CHARLES AUGUSTUS,* b. Nov. 9, 1835. After a few years of
early life spent in his father's store and then in that of Crosby &
Nichols, Mr. Clapp entered the well-known establishment of
Tickuor & Fields, in the " Old Corner Bookstore," where he re-
mained, gaining most valuable experience, till 1864, when that
store with its retail trade was given up by Ticknor & Fields.
Their successors were the new firm of E. P. Button & Co., Mr.
Clapp being the junior partner. The business was successfully
carried on by them for several years, during which time the store
* Rev. Nathaniel Hall, son of Nathaniel and Joanna Cotton (Brooks) Hall, of Medford,
Mass., was bom in that town, Aug. 13, 1805. He was a descendant in the seventh generation
from Rev. John Cotton, minister of the First Church, Boston, and in the eighth generation
from Rev. Nathaniel Ward, of Ipswich, Mass., the author of "The Simple Cobbler of
Agawam." As already mentioned, p. 218, he succeeded the Rev. Dr. Harris Oct. 23, 1836,
as sole minister of the First Church in Dorchester, having been ordained colleague with
him July 16, 183-5. Since the notice of him on that page was printed, Mr. Hall has been
removed by death from his earthly labors, his decease taking place in Dorchester, Oct. 21,
1875. On returning from a residence of several months in Canada for the benefit of his
health, but having obtained no relief, he tendered the resignation of his pastoral office on
the loth of October, which resignation had not been acted on by the Parish at the time of
his death. Mr. Hall, as these dates show, was minister of that ancient church and society
forty years, and its sole pastor thirty-nine years. From the time of Rev. Richard Mather's
ordination over the same church in 1636, there have been, exclusive of colleagues, but seven
ministers settled over it. Their names with their terms of service have been as follows :
Richard Mather, 33 years; Josiah Flint, 9 years; John Danforth, 48 years; Jonathan
Bowman, 44 years ; Moses Everett, 18 years ; Thaddeus Mason Harris, 43 years ; Nathaniel
Hall, 39 years. The course of Rev Mr. Hall's ministry, during the long period of his
settlement, has been marked by a constant, earnest and warm-hearted devotion to the
various duties of his calling, with a firm and conscientious support, both in and out of the
pulpit, of the various philanthropic and patriotic measures which, during that time, have
ben urged upon the public mind. Whatever differences of opinion may have existed at
the time in regard to his advocacy of some of these objects, he has ever stood liih in the
estimation of all who have been associated with him as a faithful Christian minister and a
kind and sympathizing friend, and has now passed away with the sincere love and respect
of the whole community. At his funeral, on the 25th, the services, which were peculiarly
impressive, were conducted by the Rev. James Freeman Clarke, of Boston, and Rev. Drs.
Peabody and Briggs, of Cambridge. An unusual number of the aged people of Dorchester
were present, including one, Mrs. Hannah Foster, aged 92, who distinctly remembered the
ordination services of the previous minister, Rev. Dr. Harris, Oct. 23, 1793. Mr. Hall
married Sarah Elizab th, daughter of John G. Coffin, M.D., a much esteemed physician of
Boston in the early part of this century, and of the four children born to them, one son,
Henry Ware, was eminently distinguished for heroic conduct in the late War of the Re-
bellion. He left Harvard College in September, 18-58 ; was made Lieutenant of the 51st
Illinois Reg't Dec. 24, 1861, Captain June 28, 18o2, and Adjutant Sept. 30, 1862; was killed
at the battle of Kencsaw Mountain, June 27, 1864.
270 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
had been the only Episcopal Church book-store in the city, and
become one of the leading publishing houses, in that line, in the
country. Having purchased stock and plates of several Church
publishing houses in New York, and that city being the most
desirable place for a large business of this kind, in the spring of
1868 they began a branch there of their Boston establishment.
A favorable opportunity soon offered for greatly enlarging this
branch, and they finally decided to sell out their entire business
at the " old corner," in Boston, and take a prominent store on
Broadway, in New York. This was done in the spring of 1869,
and the large publishing-house of E. P. Dutton & Co. has since
been strictly a New York one, having also a valuable and at-
tractive retail department, which is more particularly under the
care of Mr. Clapp. He m. Oct. 1, 1863, Amanda Robinson
Neally, dau. of Charles Herbert and Hannah Amanda Neally, of
Boston. Child :
331. Emma Louise, 6 b. Sept. 13, 1864.
332. EBENEZEU HERBERT, 7 b. Oct. 17, 1838; m. April 17, 186^,
Lizzie Graham Mason, dau. of James S. Mason, of Philadelphia.
For several years, he was engaged in the Adjutant General's
office in the State House, Boston. Afterwards, he moved to
Colorado Springs, El Paso Co., in Colorado, where he entered
into extensive business and held several important public offices.
The failure of his wife's health compelled their removal, and
they then went to Philadelphia, where he is now settled in busi-
ness with his father-in-law. Child :
333. Herbert Mason, 8 b. July 9, 1872.
334. GEORGE WILLIAM/ b. June 30, 1840; d. May 7, 1841.
221-
ENOCFI 6 (Ebenezer, 6 Ebenezer, 4 Ebenezer, 3 Nathaniel, 3 Nicholas 1 ),
son of Col. Ebenezer and Mary (Glover) Clapp, was born in Dor-
chester, Aug. 6, 1790. He married in June, 1812, Mary, daughter
of Elisha Tyson, of Baltimore. She died March 18, 1858. Enoch
lived in that city for more than twenty years, and then removed to
Philadelphia, where, and in the neighborhood of which city, he has
since resided. His residence is now at Sharon Hill, in Delaware
County. He has, for many years, been a worthy member of the
Society of Friends, and his whole life has been an upright and ex-
emplary one. He was at the Clapp Meeting at Northampton in
1870, was one of the oldest present, and took as much interest in the
proceedings as any one there. He has made frequent visits to the
home of his early years, and has kept himself informed of the
changeful events which have marked the more recent history of his
native town.
Children of ENOCH and MARY (Tyson) CLAPP, of Philadelphia :
335. MARY, 7 b. March 10, 1813 ; d. young.
336. ELIZABETH H., 7 b. May 17, 1814; m. William Jackson, of Phila-
delphia, now a retired merchant.
NICHOLAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 271
337. REBECCA C., 7 b. May 14, 1815; d. in 1837.
338. MARY T., 7 b. Nov. 28, 1817 ; m. Jan. 25, 1843, Dr. M. Fisher
Longstreth ; they live ia Philadelphia.
339. NATHAN T., 7 b. June 27, 1819 ; m. Aug. 1, 1849, Sarah Roberts;
reside in Philadelphia, and he is now a retired merchant. Child :
340. Benjamin Franklin, 6 b. about 1854.
341. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN/ b. June 21, 1821 ; now dead.
-245-
WILLIAM 6 (Lemuel? Ebenezcr, 4 Ebenezer, 3 Nathaniel, 2 Nicholas 1 ),
son of Capt. Lemuel and Rebecca (Dexter) Clapp, was born in
Dorchester, March 3, 1779, died Feb. 29, 1860, and was buried
on the 3d of March, the day on which he would, if spared, have
completed his 8 1st year. He followed the business of his father,
and established and carried on, till near the close of his life, the
large and well-known tan-yard on the corner of what is now Boston
Street and Willow Court, for many years the largest tannery in
Dorchester. He built a house on the opposite corner of the Court
(north from the tan-yard and a few rods east of his father's), which
still stands, a substantial and commodious brick mansion. Later in
life, he devoted his time to his large farm, situated in the north part
of the town, adjoining Boston, and well known to the passers by for
its systematic cultivation and its horticultural fertility. He married,
Dec. 15, 1806, Elizabeth, daughter of Deacon James Humphreys, of
Dorchester, who was born Feb. 22, 1783, and died Oct. 4, 1869.
Mr. Clapp filled important offices in the town and was two years a
Representative to the General Court; was also Captain of the Mili-
tary Company in Dorchester for some years. The death of three
of his children in 1837, in the space of four days, by typhus fever,
at the ages of 17, 19 and 21 years, was a very afflicting event to
the parents, but was borne with Christian resignation. The whole
family were sick at the same time, and the result of other cases was
for a time doubtful. Two of the victims of this terrible epidemic
were buried in one day. Mr. Clapp was a man of excellent charac-
ter, of sound judgment, firm and decided, and much esteemed by the
people of the town. He left a large landed estate in the north .part
of Dorchester and in South Boston. A sermon on his life and char-
acter was preached by Rev. Nathaniel Hall, minister of the First
Parish, March 4, 1860.
Children of WILLIAM and ELIZABETH (Humphreys) CLAPP.
342. ELIZABETH, 7 b. March 2, 1808 ; d. Oct. 20*1809.
343. WILLIAM/ b. Sept. 28, 1809; d. May 2, 1825.
344. THADDEUS, 7 b. May 11, 1811 ; d. July 10, 1861. Attended the
public schools in Dorchester, and was fitted for College at the
Academy of Hiram Mauley, in Dorchester ; he grad. at Harv.
College in 1834 with the second honors of his class, and delivered
the salutatory oration in Latin. He was engaged for a short time
36
272 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
in teaching school ; and was Secretary of the Board of School Com-
mittee of Dorchester for several years. Feeble health prevented
his engaging in any profession. He took his degree of Master
of Arts in 1838, and the same year went to Franklin, La.^
where for five or six months he was tutor in a private family. On
his return, in 1839, he gave his attention to farming, and having
a special taste for the cultivation of fruit, with abundance of
land and suitable soil for the gratification of his taste, he eventu-
ally became celebrated as a horticulturist and one of the leading
pomologists of the day. In connection with his brothers,
Frederick and Lemuel, he succeeded in raising from seed a new
variety of pear a cross between the " Flemish Beauty " and
the " Bartlett" to which was given the name of " Clapp's
Favorite," now well known, and much prized by fruit growers.
A representation of this pear is carved upon his tomb-stone at
Forest Hills Cemetery. He was a member of the Massachusetts
Horticultural, the Norfolk Agricultural and the American Po-
mological Societies, and obtained many premiums for choice
varieties and fine specimens of fruit. He was also member of
the Phi Beta Kappa Society. He was of a most amiable disposi-
tion, and led a life of unspotted integrity. He m., in Claremont,
N. H., Aug. 11, 1857, Mary H. Dustin, daughter of Rev. Caleb
Dustin, but had no children. His wife survives him.
345. FREDERICK, 7 b. Jan. 26, 1813 ; d. May 19, 1875, aged 62 years.
He followed the tanning business with his father as long as the
business was continued in that part of the town, and afterwards
gave his attention to farming and horticulture. He built a
dwelling-house and occupied it till his death, situated a few rods
north of his father's, on Boston Street, being the most northerly
house in the town of Dorchester and near the ancient gateway
opening to the " Neck " over the Causeway road. With his
brother Lemuel, he came into possession, shortly before his
death, of the old homestead of his grandfather, Capt. Lemuel,
in Willow Court. He m. May 17, 1840, Martha M. Blake, of
Warwick, Mass. Children :
346. Julia Elizabeth, 6 b. June 21, 1841.
347. Frederick William* b. Oct. 10, 1843 ; d. same day.
348. Frederick Augustus? b. Oct. 11, 1845 ; d. Nov. 11, 1874. His
death occurred just as he was entering upon the responsibili-
ties of active manhood, in the exercise of virtuous qualities
that made him beloved and respected by all. He was a
thoughtful and discriminating reader, especially fond of
natural history, and as an amateur entomologist had himself
gathered and arranged a beautiful and valuable entomologi-
cal collection. His chosen vocation as a florist was a source
of much enjoyment to him, and he had an innate and practical
regard for all similar pursuits.
349. Edward Blake? b. March 11, 1851.
350. Mary Louisa? b. Feb. 9, 1854.
351. LEMCEL, T b. Jan. 21, 1815. He inherits and occupies the house
built and lived in by his father, on the corner of Boston Street
and Willow Court. Since the tanning business was given up by
his father, he has attended to the cultivation of the extensive
NICHOLAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 273
grounds connected with the estate, on the extreme northerly
border of the town of Dorchester, and comprising the well-known
orchard long designated by the family name. He is much
interested in growing new varieties of fruits, and has originated
many fine varieties of pears, he planting with his own hand the
seed from which the " Clapp's Favorite " originated. He is
interested in all that concerns the Clapp Family History, and
has furnished important ancient documents to assist in completing
it. He m. June 9, 1840, Charlotte Tuttle, dau. of Charles and
Sarah Ann (Austin) Tuttle, of Boston. Children :
352. Rebecca Dexter, 9 b. May 9, 1841 ; d. March 6, 1865.
353. William Channing* b. Aug. 31, 1843; m. June 19, 1867,
Martha A. Kingman. Children : i. Frank Lemuel, 9 b. June
2, 1871. il, Sidney Kingman 9 b. Jan. 8, 1873.
354. Elizabeth Humphreys, 3 b. Nov. 16, 1845 ; d. June 28, 1849.
355. Sarah Austin* b. Feb. 18, 1848; m. June 9, 1873, Samuel
A. Cushing, Jr. Child : Austin Andrews, b. March 9, 1874.
356. James Humphreys, 91 b. Oct. 18, 1851.
357. ELIZABETH HUMPHREYS/ b. Sept. 18. 1816; m. Nov. 19, 1844,
Rev. Hiram Withington, b. in Dorchester, July 29, 1818. Mr.
W. studied for the ministry at the Divinity School in Cambridge,
after having been for several years a successful teacher of the
public schools in Dorchester and other places ; graduated in 1844,
and at once took his place as a " popular preacher, possessing
that delicacy, tenderness and glow of both thought and feeling
that gave him great command over his audience." He was or-
dained as pastor of the Unitarian Congregational Church at
Leominster, Mass., Dec. 25, 1844, thus commencing his conjugal
and his ministerial life almost at the same time. But the
. brightness of his prospects soon became clouded. The labors
belonging to a large parish caused a rapid decline in his health ;
his wife's health also suddenly failed, and she died Dec. 3, 1845,
leaving one child : William Clapp, born November 25, 1845.
His labors were, however, continued, and Feb. 21, 1848, he
married again ; but his physical and mental prostration so in-
creased that he was compelled to ask leave to resign his charge,
and on the 3d of September, 1848, he preached his farewell
sermon. He immediately removed to the house of his father hi
Dorchester, -where he rapidly sank, and died Oct. 30th of that
year. The year after his death a Memoir of his Life was pub-
lished, with Selections from his Sermons and Correspondence.
358. REBECCA DEXTER, T b. Dec. 26, 1817 ; d. Nov. 13, 1838, aged 21
years. She was a young lady of great promise, and of marked
Christian excellence. She was one of the three victims, already
alluded to, of the fearful disease which visited her father's family
and afflicted more or less severely each member of it, excepting
her brother Thaddeus, then absent at the South.
359. JAMES, T b. Dec. 28, 1819 ; d. Nov 17, 1838, aged 19 years.
360. ALEXANDER, 7 b. June 16, 1821 ; d. Nov. 13, 1838, aged 17 years.
James and Alexander possessed traits of character which gave
promise of high moral worth and future usefulness.
274 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
246
RICHARD 6 (Lemuel? Ebenezer* Ebenezer, 3 Nathaniel," Nicholas'),
son of Lemuel and Rebecca (Dexter) Clapp, and brother of the
preceding, was born in Dorchester, July 24, 1780, and died Dec.
26, 1861, aged 81 years. He was a tanner by trade, and his yard
was only a few rods south of his brother William's. At one time in
early life he was engaged pretty extensively in brick-making, the
business being carried on upon lands of his own in South Boston.
Bricks there made were used in 1812, in the construction of the
house he afterwards occupied, now standing on Pond Street, near the
Five Corners. A few feet east from this house is the site of the one
in which Rev. Richard Mather* lived, and in which his son President
Increase Mather was born. Mr. Clapp married, Nov. 3, 1807, Mary,
born April 1, 1784, daughter of Jonathan and Sarah (Pierce) Blake,
of Warwick. He held various responsible offices in the town, was
chairman of the Board of Selectmen, Overseer of the Poor and of the
Highways, one of the School Committee, and was ever forward iii
carrying on improvements and every true reform. " A man of large
benevolence, firm in his principles, just and kind, a good citizen and
an exemplary Christian." His widow survived him upwards of
thirteen years, and died Feb. 7, 1875, in the 91st year of her age.
In a consoling letter from her pastor, the Rev. Nathaniel Hall, to one
of her daughters, soon after her decease, this sentence occurs : " Few,
it seems to me, have lived so blameless a life ; and not simply blame-
less, but filled with active duty, conscientiously faithful to all the
trusts committed to her, and all the opportunities afforded for
blessing others. You have cause for deepest gratitude that you
have had from the beginning on, and so long spared to you, such a
mother and such a life, and that you have such a precious and price-
less legacy in the memory of her virtues and graces and affections."
Children of RICHARD and MARY (Blake) CLAPP:
361. SARAH BLAKE, T b. July 28, 1808 ; d. March 15, 1850. She m.
Dec. 2, 1830, Henry Humphreys, b. April 3, 1801, son of
Deacon James and Elizabeth (Capen) Humphreys, of Dorches-
ter. They lived in the house on the corner of what is now
Dudley and Humphreys streets, the place having been the home-
stead of the Humphreys family ever since Dorchester was first
settled. An extensive tannery was not many years since re-
moved from the corner opposite the house, which had been car-
* The Rev. Richard Mather, D.D., was for thirty-three years minister of the church in
Dorchester, and died in that town, in the house above alluded to, April 22, 1669. Edward
Clapp, one of the Deacons of the church, died five years before, and was of course for many
years associated with Mr. Mather in church affairs. Capt. Roger Clapp, four years before,
had been appointed to the command of the Castle, and was doubtless residing there in 1669,
and in a great measure disconnected with the church. Samuel, son of Roger, who in 1669
had the military title of Sergeant, afterwards became Captain, and was for some years before
his death in 1708 Ruling Elder of the same church. Of the " Divinely Rich and Learned
Richard Mather," or of his " Sons like him Prophets great" as expressed on his tomb-
stone no further mention is required or would perhaps be pardonable in these pages.
NICHOLAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 275
ried on by one Humphreys after another through seven genera-
tions. Henry now holds the office of Deacon in the First Church,
which his father held during many years, the latter dying July
13, 1845, aged 92. It is said that neither of the families to
which they belong have ever, except in two instances, inter-
married with any but natives of the town. Children: i, Sarah
Elizabeth, b. in Dorchester, Nor. 28, 1831 ; d. Feb. 20, 1870;
m. March 17, 1855, Curtis Greenwood, of Woburn, and had: (1)
Mary Blake, b. Oct. 28, 1860; (2) Henry Humphreys, b. Dec.
21,1862; (3) Alice Elizabeth, b. June 25, 1864; (4) Walter
Curtis, b. July 3, 1866, d. Nov. 20, 1869 ; (5) Clarence Everett,
b. May 17, 1868, d. Sept. 11, 1868. H, James, b. Nov. 26,
1833; d. Jan. 25, 1849. ill. Henry, b. Dec. 22, 1834; d. Jan.
15, 1850.. iv, Richard Clapp, b. June 10, 1836; m. March 5,
1863, Sarah Elizabeth Beals, and has: Clarence Blake, born
March 25, 1873. V.Charles Alfred, b. April 1, 1838; m.
April 15, 1868, Kate J. Mattoon, of Greenfield. He graduated at
Harvard College in 1860, and from Divinity School, Cambridge,
July 14, 1863, when he was ordained as Chaplain to the 2d
Mass. Cavalry, and went to Virginia and staid till the war was
over ; during this time, he was taken prisoner and confined at
Macon, Ga., and Charleston, S. C., from which place he was
released, and joined his regiment again. He was installed Nov.
29, 1865, as pastor over the Unitarian Church at Springfield ;
resigned in January, 1872 ; installed at Framingham Nov. 2,
1873. Children : (1 ) Charles Mattoon, b. March 23, 1869 ; (2)
Sarah Blake, b. Sept. 17, 1870; (3) Catharine Clapp, b. Aug.
1, 1873 ; (4) Elizabeth, b. July 23, 1875. vi. Barnard, b. Dec.
17, 1839; d. June 16, 1841. Til. Martha, b. Feb. 28, 1841;
d. Feb. 1, 1842. viii. Mary Blake, twin sister to Martha, m.
Dec. 30, 1874, Abiel S. Lewis, of Framingham. iXt Walter, b.
July 4, 1842; enlisted August, 1862, in the 13th Mass. Reg't;
d. June 2, 1864, from effects of a wound received the day pre-
vious, while engaged in raising breastworks under the enemy's
fire at Cold Harbor, Va. X. Dexter, b. Sept. 17, 1843; m.
June 24, 1869, Maria T. Davis, of Boston, and has : (1) Emma
Louise, b. May 18, 1870; (2) Walter, b. July 14, 1874. xl.
Catharine, b. March 10, 1845; d. Nov. 21, 1845. xii, Anna,
b. April 27, 1846. xili, James Henry, b. March 6, 1850; m.
June 15, 1875, Francis Wilson Lewis, of Framingham.
362. LEMUEL DEXTER, T b. Nov. 4, 1810; d. Nov. 13, 1844; m. Nov.
30, 1836, Abigail H. Eaton, of Framingham. He was in the
tanning business with his father, and was the inventor of an in-
genious furnace for burning tan. He lived in Clapp Place, near
the tan-yard, where he died after a long and painful illness, which
was borne with patience and Christian resignation. Children :
363. Mary Emeline* b. Oct. 19, 1837 ; d. Aug. 23, 1838.
364. John Dexter, 6 b. Sept. 10, 1839. Dealer in Sewing Machines,
in Winter Street, Boston, and now living in West Somervillc,
Mass. Married, Jan. 7, 1865, Caroline A. Lowe, and has :
I. Adeline Augusta, 9 b. in Dorchester, Oct. 1, 1866. ii,
fidward Lowe, 9 b. in Dorchester, Feb. 17, 1869. Hi, Walter
Slake 9 b. in Somerville, Aug. 9, 1875.
276 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
365. Emma Mary, 9 b. Sept. 18, 1842 ; m. June 7, 1865, Dr. Francis
F. Brown, of Reading, Mass., and had three children : Mabel
Frances, b. June 24, 1866; Edward Dexter, b. Aug. 14,
1869 ; Wilfred Rogers, b. June 29, 1872. All in Reading.
366. Abby Caroline, 8 b. July 17, 1844.
367. MARY, 7 b. April 2, 1812 ; d. Nov. 24, 1821.
368. RiCHARD, 7 b. Jan. 27, 1814; m. Jan. 12, 1842, Caroline, dau. of
Jacob Bird, of Dorchester. He was a tanner, and afterwards a
carpenter. His wife Caroline d. Feb. 5, 1 858, and he m. second,
March 31, 1859. Eunice Emily Holden. He died Aug. 20,
1866, aged 52 years, 6 months.
369. CATHARINE/ b. Nov. 26, 1815 ; m. July 14, 1851, Deacon Henry
Humphreys, husband of her deceased sister Sarah B., and resides
in the place in Dorchester where she lived and died.
370. REBECCA, 7 twin sister of Catharine, b. Nov. 26, 1815; d. March
13, 1817.
371. REBECCA, 7 b. Sept. 4, 1817; m. Nov. 25, 1844, William Blako
Trask, b. in Dorchester, Nov. 25, 1812. Mr. T. was by trade a
cabinet-maker, but for the past thirty years has devoted much
time to historical and antiquarian researches ; was an early
and active member of the Dorchester Antiquarian and Histori-
cal Society, and also of the New England Historic-Genealogical
Society; was historiographer of the latter from 1862 to 1867,
has edited several volumes of its quarterly Register, and has
contributed to the pages of that work, at various times from
its first issue, a large amount of valuable matter. He aided
Mr. S. G. Drake in preparing the notes to his History of Boston,
Gen. Sumner in the preparation of his History of East Boston,
and as one of the Committee of Publication of this Memorial
has rendered valuable assistance in completing its family records.
Mr. T. has been a member of the School Committee in Dorches-
ter ; was an Assistant Assessor there in 1850. He built a house
in Clapp Place, in 1844, where they resided ten years. Subse-
quently, for seventeen years, they lived in the old Capt. Lemuel
Clapp house, in Willow Court, with Catharine and Rebecca
Clapp (Nos. 247-8), aunts to Mrs. T., where they continued
until Catharine's death, in 1872, but now reside in the brick
house on Pond Street, built and occupied by the father of
Mrs. Trask. They have no children.
372. ALFRED, 7 b. April 9, 1819; m. Oct. 10, 1843, Elinor M. Cain, b.
Sept. 24, 1820, dau. of Zechariah and Charlotte Cain, of Dor-
chester. Is a cabinet-maker by trade, and lives in Dorchester.
Children :
373. Charlotte Eliza Chapman, 6 b. Oct. 5, 1844.
374. Ernest Alfred 6 b. July 15, 1846 ; m. Oct. 26, 1871, Eliza Ann
Eveleth. They have Mary Elinor, 9 b. Nov. 13, 1873.
375. Eugene Davis 6 b. Jan. 12, 1848 ; d. Jan. 21, 1848.
376. Richard Dexter 6 b. Jan. 29, 1853.
377. MARTHA/ b. April 27, 1821 ; m. June 28, 1852, Stephen, son of
Stephen (No. 118) and Hannah (Humphreys) Clapp, of Dorches-
ter. He is a carpenter, and they live in Dorchester, without issue.
378. ELiSHA, 7 b. Sept. 29, 1822; m. April 8, 1851, Martha, b. Dec.
24, 1827, dau. of Daniel and Sally (Ward) Johnson, of Warwick,
NICHOLAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 277
Mass. He was first a currier, then an engraver, but afterwards
purchased a farm in Gill, Mass., where he has since lived and
successfully followed the cultivation of his grounds. Children
379. Walter Elisha? b. Feb. 22, 1867.
380. Willie Richard? b. Nov. 8, 1872 ; d. Jan. 28, 1873.
381. MARY, T b. Aug. 16, 1825; m. June 28, 1852, Charles Frederic
Weis, b. Aug. 1, 1820, in Offenbach, Germany. He belongs to
the firm of Weis & Zoebisch, who keep a fur and umbrella store
on Washington Street, Boston. He lives in Dorchester, and has
five children : Anna Lora, b. Jan. 1, 1855 ; Mary Blake, b. Aug.
1 1, 1856 ; Charles Frederic, b. Dec. 8, 1859, d. Aug. 19, 1860 ;
Richard Clapp, b. Aug. 4, 1863; Johan Peter Carl, b. Feb. 20,
1866. Mr. W. is one of the executors on the estate of Amasa
Clapp (No. 230).
382. JAMES BLAKE, T b. Sept. 9, 1828 ; d. Aug. 6, 1829.
287
JOSEPH 6 (Joseph? Joseph* Ebenezer, 3 Nathaniel, 2 Nicholas 1 ),
oldest child of Joseph and first wife Abigail (Glover) Clapp, was
born in Dorchester, Aug. 10, 1774, and died June 14, 1852. He
married, March 24, 1796, Betsey Tileston, who was born Dec. 22,
1776. He lived in Centre Street, in Dorchester, a few rods east of
the meeting-house of the Second Church. He was for twenty-four
years one of the Assessors of the town, was most of that time chair-
man of the Board, and was chosen by his townsmen Representative
to the General Court. He was a man whom his neighbors, when
dying, often selected as a guardian for their children, or as admin-
istrator of their estates. Mr. C. was eminently a man of peace, and
was not unfrequently called upon as a settler of disputes. He was
one of the sixty-four original members of the Second Church in Dor-
chester, Jan. 1, 1808, Rev. John Codman* pastor, having previously
Rev. John Codrnan, D.D., was born in Boston, Aug. 3, 1782. He was son of Hon.
John Codman and Margaret Russell his wife, grandson of John, of Charlcstown, and great-
grandson of Capt. John, who came to an untimely end by being poisoned by his three negro
slaves about the middle of the 18th century. It is recorded by the biographer of Rev. Dr.
C. that one of these slaves was executed for his crime on the northerly side of the Cambridge
roiid, about a quarter of a mile above the peninsula, and that another, a female, was burned
at the stake, about ten yards from the gallows! the only instance, it is said, in the history
of this country, of that method of punishment under the authority of the law. Dr. Codman
graduated at Harvard College in 1802, studied for the ministry under the Rev. Henry Ware,
then of Hingham, and in ISOi embarked for Europe, to finish his theological studies there.
After spending three years abroad, he returned home, and in August, 1808, first preached
to the Second Church in Dorchester, then recently organized, their new meeting-house
having been dedicated Oct. 30, 1806. He was ordained pastor of this church Dec. 7, 18 8,
the Rev. Dr. Channing (from whom he very soon after separated in theological belief;
preaching the ordination sermon. In about a year after his settlement, commenced the
celebrated controversy between him and many members of the parish, which lasted for
three years, but neither the merits nor the details of which can be here entered into. In
1824, an interesting journey by Dr. C. and his wife was made to the State of Georgia, includ-
ing a Sunday passed at Midway, among the descendants of the ppople of Dorchester who
emigrated thence in 1695. They then took passage for Europe, "returning home the next
year. Two other visits to Europe were afterwards made by Dr. C. The position attained
by Dr. Codman as pastor of the Second Church, and as a leading and able minister in the
denomination to which he belonged, was elevated, and his death, which took place Dec. 23,
1847, in his 66th year, was much lamented.
278 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
united with the First Church. He was chosen Deacon, Feb. 17,
1808, which office he held until his death. " He is remembered as
an humble-minded Christian, with child-like faith, quiet but firm,
loving all and himself beloved, and deeply interested in the truth
and cause of Christ. In the church, he was active by labors and
prayers. He lived to see all his children (save two who died in
early life) gathered into the Christian fold." He had a cancer on his
hand when advanced in life, and his arm was amputated July 14,
1847. Spared to a good old age, he felt that his work was done,
and he was ready to depart. His funeral sermon was from a text of
his own selection, which all felt truly to express his spirit. : " Thou
wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee, be-
cause he trusteth in Thee."
Children of JOSEPH and BETSEY (Tileston) CLAPP:
383. FANNY TILESTON,' b. Aug. 8, 1796; d. July 24, 1803, aged 7 yrs.
384. BETSEY, 7 b. May 3, 1799 ; m. May 3, 1820, Thomas Hancock, who
went to sea in 1834, and has never since been heard from. They
had no children. She d. Dec. 12, 1863.
385. JOSEPH, 7 b. July 6, 1801. He was a cabinet-maker, and lived in
the house built by his father on Washington Street, next on the
north to the meeting-house of the Second Parish Church. In
January, 1846, he was chosen Deacon of the church (the Second
in the town) so long under the charge of the Rev. Dr. Codman,
and now under that of his successor, the Rev. James H. Means,
D.D.* In 1874, he was released from active service, on ac-
count of feeble health. While strength continued, he was a
faithful, useful officer of the church, highly esteemed by all.
For many years, he led in singing at all the chapel services,
from which he was rarely absent. He m. in 1826, Louisa
Adams. Children :
386. Louisa Ann* b. Aug. 13, 1827.
387. Joseph Warren? b. Sept. 13, 1830.
388. Maria Almira, 8 b. Jan. 28, 1833.
389. Cornelius, 8 b. Dec. 30, 1834; killed instantly, May, 1875, by
a railroad train of cars running over him while trying to
step from the platform of the car while in motion. He had
been in business in Jamaica Plain as a tinsmith about twenty
years ; was an energetic man, long connected with the fire
department, and much respected. He left a family of five
children.
390. Mary Ellen* b. Aug. 21, 1839.
* Rev. James H Means, D.D., was horn in Boston, Dec. 13, 1823. He was the son of
James and Joanna Means. He graduated at Harvard College in 1843, and at Andover
Theological Seminary in 1847. Receiving a call to settle in the ministry at Dorchester, he
was ordained July 13, 1848. Before the death, in 1847, of Rev. Dr. Codman, who had long
been the minister of the Second Church there, Mr. Means was the candidate of his choice
as successor to him in the pastoral office. How well he has fulfilled the expectations and
made good the place of his predecessor, is attested by his long, harmonious and successful
continuance in the office to which he was then unanimously chosen. In 1873, the church
celebrated the 2oth anniversary of his settlement, which was an occasion of great interest
and the interchange of mutual love and esteem. Dr. Means has twice visited Europe
since his ordination. For several years he was one of the school committee of the town. A
sermon by him, delivered before his own people Dec. 26, 1869, was published, and contains
much iilterestiug historical matter, more particularly in regard to the churches in Dorchester.
NICHOLAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 279
391. FANNY TiLESTON, 7 b. March 3, 1804; d. Sept. 22, 1823.
392. HANNAH/ b. Aug. 26, 1806; m. in 1828; Charles Guild, a gold-
beater in Boston. He died in 1846.
393. HARRIET/ b. Oct. 13, 1808 ; d. Aug. 17, 1817.
394. SOPHIA SHERBURNE, T b. Nov. 24, 1810; m. April 2, 1850,
Samuel Albert Eobinson, b. in Brookline, Oct. 17, 1809. They
live in Brookline, and have children, Louise S., and J. Albert.
395. JOHN CODMAN, T b. in Dorchester, April 5, 1813. He is the
general agent of an Insurance Company in Boston. He now
resides in Chelsea. He was one of the Committee of Arrange-
ments for the Clapp Meetings at Northampton and in Boston,
and has assisted in preparing this family record for the Memorial.
He m. first, Sept. 15, 1841, Lucy A. Blake, who d. Oct. -8, 1867.
He m. second, in 1870, Mrs. Elizabeth W. Tenney, of Chelsea.
Children by first wife :
396. Emma Isadore* b. Dec. 15, 1843; m. May 12, 1868, Edward
P. Brown, who passed a three years' service, and attained
the rank of Major, in the War of the Rebellion. He was on
Gen. Burnside's staff, and also on that of Gen. Hartrantf, now
Governor of Pennsylvania. He is now a lawyer in Boston.
397. Herbert Codman, 6 b. Jan. 31, 1846; graduated at Harvard
College in 1867, and gt the Harvard Medical School in 1870.
Is now a physician in Boston.
398. Arthur Slake, 8 b. June 11, 1851 ; graduated at Harv. College
in 1874, and is a lawyer in Boston.
399. Austin Phelpsf b. July 1, 1853; is a hardware merchant in
Boston.
400. JAMES Oxis, 7 b. March 4, 1816; d. Aug. 24, 1849. He removed
to North Bridge water, and m. Oct. 5, 1840, Lucia, daughter of
Eliphalet and Zilpah (Edson) Kingman, of that place. Very
soon after his marriage, he took up his residence in Boston,
where he lived, and for several years kept a store, in Prince
Street. After his decease, his wife m. second, Oct. 8, 1856,
Henry, son of Matthew Snell, of North Bridgewater, being his
second wife; he d. Nov. 11, 1865. Children of James Otis 7 :
401. Ellen Augusta? b. Aug. 5, 1842; d. Aug. 23, 1843.
402. Otis Francis, 9 b. Sept. 20, 1843 ; is a civil engineer in Provi-
dence, R. I.
403. George Franklin* b. Aug. 8, 1845.
404. Albert Herman* b. June 11, 1848 ; d. same day.
405. Eliza Moore? b. Feb. 18, 1851 ; d. June 14, 1851.
406. HARRIET SHERBURNE, T b. July 10, 1818; m. as a second wife,
Sept. 1, 1853, Moses Withington, Treasurer of Brookline. Mr.
W.'s first wife was Jane Clapp (No. 173).
407. SAMUEL WORCESTER, 7 b. Sept. 3, 1821 ; was a cabinet-maker by
trade, and lived in Bridgewater. He m. April 30, 1845, Mary
Cary, of North Bridgewater, b. Dec. 4, 1823 ; subsequently, he
settled as a merchant and manufacturer in Boston, and now
carries on extensively the stove, ratfge and furnace business, on
Blackstone Street, where he has occupied the same store for the
last twenty-five years. He was actively engaged in both the
Clapp Family Gatherings.
37
280 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
-3O7-
ASAHEL 7 (Reuben? Asahel, b John* John, 3 Nathaniel* Nicholas 1 ),
oldest sou of Reuben and Hepzibah (Gates) Clapp, was born in
Hubbardston, Mass., Oct. 5, 1 792, and died in New Albany, Ind., Dec.
17, 1862. His father's family moved, when he was quite young, to
Montgomery, Vt. He chose the profession of medicine, in every-
thing relating to which profession he soon became a devoted student
and an accurate observer. He was also very much attached to the
study of the natural sciences, and his attainments in it were great.
He moved to New Albany, Ind., early in the year 1817, and in seek-
ing information in his favorite studies, he visited several portions
of Southern Indiana and Northern Kentucky. His collections of
geological and botanical specimens were quite as large as any in the
State. A large part of the former is now at Yale College, credited
to him. When on his second visit to this country, Sir Charles Lyell
visited him, and obtained valuable information from him in regard
to the fossils of the Falls of the Ohio and viciaity. He was chair-
man of the Committee on Indigenous Medical Botany and Materia
Medica for 1850-51, appointed by* the American Medical Associa-
tion, and presented to that body a report which was published in the
5th Volume of its Transactions. The report is a very valuable one,
and was the result of much labor. He married first without issue;
married second, Jan. 31, 1822, Mrs. Elizabeth, widow of Nathaniel
Scribner, who was one of the family that laid out the city of New
Albany, Indiana. She was born in Bath, N. H., June 5, 1792, and
died Aug. 15, 1872. Dr. J. L. Chandler, of St. Albans, Vt., who was
a fellow-pupil of Dr. Clapp, under the tuition of the father of the
former, Dr. Benjamin Chandler, furnished to the Boston Medical and
Surgical Journal of Feb. 12, 1863, the following interesting par-
ticulars respecting the early habits and traits of character of his
associate :
" When," he says, " Asahel Clapp presented himself to my father, he
must have been not far from 20 years of age. He was in the rough garb
of a backwoodsman, and announced his wish to commence the study of
medicine forthwith. It was the custom of country physicians in those early
days to receive pupils, boarding, and sometimes clothing them, trusting to
their future professional success for remuneration. He signified his wish to
discharge his pecuniary obligations as they accrued, by labor on the farm,
or in any employment my father might furnish. He had travelled some
thirty miles on foot, from a new settlement among the mountains, where he
had resided from early childhood, and where his ardor in the pursuit of
knowledge must have been kindled. Yet his training had all been effected
in the rough and brief terms of the district school of that pioneer period
and mountainous region, usually taught by backwoodsmen themselves. His
bearing was indicative of intelligence and good sense of solidity rather
than brilliancy. My father was quick to discover and appreciate talent, and
watched its development with the gusto of an epicure. He acceded to
young. Clapp's terms at once. It was during my own pupilage, and though
NICHOLAS AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 281
the only advantage I could claim over him was a superficial smattering of
Latin, I affected profound amazement at his temerity in presuming to enter
upon the study of medicine with so little preparation, especially with the
draw-backs on his time by the undignified employment of ' his own hands '
in catering for his daily support. My father replied to this sage announce-
ment of my sentiments toward my fellow-pupil, that I should soon be re-
lieved from the burden of such regrets, by finding myself amply employed
in following at a respectful distance my fellow-student's lead in the acquisi-
tion of knowledge. My impartial and sagacious father's prediction was
ruefully verified.
" With no special claims to genius, he had intellectual strength, and an
iron will to do what he purposed ; the true secret, no doubt, of success in
every department of human pursuit. His work was diligently to study and
understand the elementary books in medicine, prescribed by his preceptor ;
his pastime, the entire fulfilment of his contract with my father, by labor on
the farm ; still leaving him many fragments of time, which were successfully
employed in gleaning items of knowledge from any source which might
facilitate the study of his profession. We lodged in a room adjoining my
father's study, and while my own slumbers were protracted through the
early morning hours, he was up betimes, ransacking the bookshelves and
making himself familiar with every writer who might, directly or indirectly,
solve the questions perpetually rising in his active mind. May I be indulged
in relating a laughable incident, yet really indicative of his indomitable
purpose to put every opinion and every theory in science to the proof? He
had taken up a small work on electricity and though the subject was en-
tirely new to him, he had, in a very short time, made himself familiar with
all the book contained. Some question was started between us in regard
to the different degrees of susceptibility which the sleeping and waking
condition of the human system might manifest to the influence of electricity.
At the time, I little suspected his purpose to improve my own bad habit of
sleeping in the early hours, for the benefit of science ; but the very next
morning, I waked to find myself the victim of a tremendous dose of light-
ning, adroitly administered by my fellow-student while I slept. He had
skilfully arranged my father's electrical apparatus by the bedside, and given
me a dose which satisfied me at least that somnolence was no security
against forked lightning."
Dr. Chandler adds, with regard to his knowledge of Dr. Clapp in
his later years :
" During a short visit to Vermont some two years since, when I had the
pleasure of renewing our acquaintance, I found him still the same enthusi-
astic and diligent student. He was at that time so absorbed in microscopic
inquiries, that he hardly allowed himself time for the hospitalities and
enjoyments which relatives and old friends were anxious to offer him.
Indeed, his travelling outfit seemed to consist mainly of lenses and other
apparatus appropriate to the unremitting labor which, at home or abroad,
he made the great business of his life. He was eminently distinguished
in Indiana, and in New Albany, the city of his early adoption, was no less
honored for his professional skill than for his public spirit and his hearty
cooperation in every humane enterprise."
Children of ASAHEL and ELIZABETH (Scribner) CLAPP, of New
Albany, Ind. :
282 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
408. WILLIAM AUGUSTUS," b. in New Albany, Ind., Oct. 29, 1822. He
studied medicine and practised with his father until his death.
He is unmarried, and lives with his sister Mary Elizabeth in the
old homestead where they were born.
409. THEODORE FRANKLIN,"* b. May 7, 1824; d. Aug. 3, 1826.
410. JOHN EDMONDS," b. Nov. 14, 1825 ; d. June 29, 1836.
411. FRANKLIN THEODORE," b. April 7, 1827; d. Sept. 6, 1828.
412. ESTHER ELIZABETH, 8 b. AprU 15, 1829 ; d. July 17, 1830.
413. AsAHEL, 8 b. July 18, 1830 ; d. July 17, 1832.
414. MART ELIZABETH," b. Nov. 22, 1832; is living unm. with her
brother William A. in the old homestead at New Albany.
ON the completion of the genealogical record of the four original
and co-temporary Clapp emigrants to Dorchester, New England
viz., ROGER, EDWARD, THOMAS and NICHOLAS it is interesting to note
the relative number of the descendants of each, in connection with
the different localities occupied by them. While there is not a
descendant of Roger in the male line remaining in Dorchester, his
numerous progeny, making Northampton their base, have diffused
themselves throughout New York State, and thence to the west.
The descendants of Thomas, also now nearly unknown in Dorchester,
with Scituate and Dedham as their base spread to the south-west into
Connecticut, also to the north-east into Maine, and thence directly to
the west, few settling in New York State. The number of descendants
of these two must be very nearly equal. On the contrary, Edward
and Nicholas and their descendants remained located in Dorchester,
making that town and their family name almost a synonymous term.
The line of Edward is now extinct in the male line in Dorchester,
and almost so elsewhere ; and the descendants of Nicholas do not
number one-half of those of Roger and Thomas, as shown in the con-
secutive numbering in the preceding pages in point of fact, they
are much less than one-half as numerous as those of either Roger
or Thomas. Whether or not these results are owing to the fact that
the generations of the latter have received a stimulating influence
from early and frequent removals to fresh scenes and new circles of
activity, and marriages with diverse branches of the Anglo-American
settlers, might be an interesting subject of inquiry.
V.
GEORGE GILSON AND HIS DESCENDANTS,
George (Wilson Otlapp,
" WAS born in England, and was educated for the profession of
medicine ; he possessed an ardent thirst for knowledge, and visited
most of the countries of Europe, extending his travels through Pal-
estine and some parts of the Turkish Empire. He visited the Holy
Sepulchre at Jerusalem, in the character of a pilgrim, the only mode
in which he could travel in safety. He acquired a knowledge of
various languages and assumed many of the oriental customs,
amongst others the habit of chewing opium, of which he became fond
to excess. He crossed the Red Sea, as also the Black and Dead
Seas, travelled in Egypt, and returned to his native country after
having spent nearly twenty years in foreign nations, and expended
the greater part of a large fortune, in course of his various travels.
Soon after his return to England, he commenced the practice of
medicine in London, but the Great Plague breaking out soon after,
he removed to this country and settled himself in South Carolina, in
the year 1666 or 1667, where he resided about two years, and then
removed to the city of New York. The colony was at that time
under the government of Lord Cornberry, with whose advice Dr.
Clapp settled himself in West Chester Co., about 30 miles from the
city. He was esteemed one of the most learned men in the colony,
and such was his reputation in his own neighborhood in this respect,
that an idea prevailed amongst many of his neighbors that he was
possessed of some supernatural agency."
The above is the most authentic of the records of George Gilson
Clapp, which have been transmitted in different forms in all the
branches of his descendants. There is evidently in it an anachro-
nism as regards the connection of Lord Cornbury with Dr. C. It is
possible that the connection spoken of may have been with the Doc-
tor's son John 2 or grandson John. 3 This discrepancy, however,
which cannot now be cleared up, does not injure the main points of
the record. Dr. Clapp is also said to have been of Italian descent,
38
284 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
but if such a tradition has any foundation in fact, it probably amounts
to nothing more than that his father may have been a traveller, as
well as himself, and perhaps married in Italy.
Child of GEORGE GILSON CLAPP :
-j-2. JOHN. 2
2
JOHN 2 (George Gilson 1 ), son of George Gilson Clapp, the
traveller, finally of Westchester, N. Y., was probably born before
his father settled in this country. He no doubt accompanied his
father to the Carolinas and thence to Westchester, N. Y., where he
died. He married, and had a son.
Child of JOHN CLAPP, Senior :
+3. JOHN. 3
JOHN 3 (John, 2 George Gilson 1 ), the son of John Clapp, of
Westchester, New York, was born either in England or the Caroli-
nas. He may have been the child which tradition tells came near
being caught by an alligator in South Carolina, an accident which
induced the family to remove to the less barbarous settlement of
New York. He passed his life in Westchester Co., and was com-
monly called "John the second."
Children of JOHN CLAPP (the second) :
4. HENRY. 4
5. GlLSON. 4
-f-6. JOHN."
-j-7. ELIAS.*
-6-
JOHN 4 (John* John, 2 George Gilson 1 ), son of John Clapp called
" the second," of Westchester Co., N. Y., lived in or near the same
place as his father. From the fact that all the branches of his de-
scendants were identified with the Society of Friends, it is presumed
that he, first, brought up his family in this faith. He married, in
the year 1713, Eliza Douglas Quimby, and died in Westchester,
May 10, 1730.
Children of JOHN and ELIZA DOUGLAS (Quimby) CLAPP, of
Westchester, N. Y. :
--8. JOHN, 6 b. in 1714; d. May 6, 1778.
--9. JAMES, 5 b. in 1715.
--10. SiLAS, 5 b. Feb. 27, 1717 ; d. March 19, 1777.
11. PHEBE, 5 b. Jan. 1, 1719 ; m. Edward Hallock.
-f-12. THOMAS, 5 b. Feb. 25, 1722,
GEORGE GILSON AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 285
ELIAS 4 (John, 3 John, 2 George Gilson 1 ), fourth son of John Clapp
(called the second), and brother to the preceding, was born in the
county of Westchester, where it is supposed he married, lived and
died, though it is possible he may have settled in Greenwich. Ct.,
adjacent to New York.
Children of ELIAS CLAPP :
-f-13. JOSEPH. 5
14. BENJAMIN. 5
-{-15. HENRY. 5
16. JOHN, 5 b. Jan. 25, 1732, in Westchester, N. Y., or Greenwich, Ct.
Wife Phebe, who was b. Aug. 26, 1741. They lived in Green-
wich, Ct. Children:
17. Philea, 6 b. Feb. 26, 1766.
18. Allan, 6 b. May 5, 1768. He lived in Westchester, N. Y., many
years, thence moved to Philadelphia, where he died. He was
Superintendent of the Philadelphia Hospital for 25 years.
Allan Clapp was noted for his fine presence and courtly man-
ners, and was considered the gentleman of the family, par
excellence. His son William R.J now 70 years of age, is re-
siding in Trenton, N. J.
19. Mary, 6 b. March 14, 1770.
20. Phebe 6 b. Nov. 20, 1772.
21. William 6 b. Feb. 14, 1775.
22. Elizabeth, 6 b. April 21, 1778.
23. Johnf b. near Purchase's or King St., Greenwich, Ct., Aug.
30, 1781; d. July 16,1857. He removed to New York
* city about the year 1800; m. and had a son John," 1 who is
- now residing in New York.
8
JOHN 5 (John* John? John 2 George Gifson*), oldest son of John
and Eliza Douglas (Quimby) Clapp, was born in Westchester Co.,
N. Y., in 1114. He married, Aug. 27, 1735, Alice Allen, of Long
Island (a lady of property, born in 1711, and died Jan. 3, 1787),
and moved to Greenwich, Ct., where he purchased a large estate,
and soon afterwards built the house he lived in, in that town, which
is more particularly spoken of in the record of his son Thomas, who
inherited it. John Clapp, in common, probably, with most of his
family at that time, belonged to the Society of Friends. In the time
of the Revolutionary War, some of the British army were stationed
in Greenwich, and the name of King Street, which divided John's
farm, is said to have been derived from this circumstance. The
Quakers who lived in the neighborhood were hospitable to the King's
troops, although they took no sides in the contest, and their farms
were very much damaged. A tract of land in Ohio was granted by
the U. S. government, after the war, to these sufferers, and the right
286 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
of John Clapp in this tract, called New Connecticut, was sold many
years afterwards by his son Thomas. John 5 died May 6, 1778.
Children of JOHN and ALICE (Allen) CLAPP, of Greenwich, Ct. :
24. JOHN, 6 b. Aug. 1, 1736; d. Nov. 14, 1760.
25. DoRCAs, 6 b. June 27, 1738 ; m. William Sutton and had children,
all of whom are now dead ; a grandson, Thomas Sutton, is now
living on part of the estate, and has greatly assisted in procuring
records of this family. " Dorcas 6 m. second, Francis Nash.
26. JAMES, 6 b. May 15, 1740 ; d. March 12, 1756.
27. SiLAS, 6 b. Feb. 22, 1742; d. Nov. 12, 1760.
-f28. THOMAS, 6 b. in Greenwich, Ct., Oct. 6, 1744; d. March 1, 1828.
29. WiLLiAM, 6 b. Oct. 10, 1746 ; d. Feb. 22, 1748.
30. JESSE, 6 b. April 1, 1748; d. Sept. 18, 1751.
31. MART, C b. Feb. 2, 1750 ; m. Joseph Carpenter ; she and eight
children were living in 1827, but are now all dead.
9
JAMES 8 (John* John, 3 John, 3 George Gilson 1 ), brother of the pre-
ceding, was born in Westchester Co., N. Y., in 1715. Nothing defi-
nite is known of his history, excepting that he was a sea-faring man,
and made voyages to and from the West Indies. An old chest once
belonging to him is now in the possession of Thomas Sutton, of
Harrison, N. Y. (spoken of above as grandson of Dorcas Clapp,
No. 25)-; and a book of navigation, also the property of James,
was once in Mr. Sutton's possession. In here considering James 5
as the father of Gilbert Clapp, it can only be said that this is
strongly probable, no record of such relationship having yet been
discovered.
Child (probably) of JAMES CLAPP :
-f-32. GILBERT, 6 b. about 1740.
10
SILAS 8 (John,* John, 3 John," George G. 1 ), third son of John and
Eliza Douglas (Quimby) Clapp, of Westchester, N. Y., and brother
of the preceding, was born in Westchester, N. Y., Feb. 27, 1717.
He came from New York to Block Island, on a visit, and from there
went to Warwick, R. I., where he became acquainted with Mary
Greene, daughter of John and Mary Greene, and married her.
She inherited the farm and homestead of her father, and these have
been occupied by Silas and his descendants to the present day. Silas
died March 19, 1777. His wife Mary died July 8, 1760, in her
38th year. The accompanying inventory of his personal estate is
interesting as a good specimen, probably, of what constituted the
farming and house-keeping utensils of a well-to-do Rhode Island
yeoman of a century ago. It is copied verbatim from the original.
GEORGE GILSON AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 287
A TRUE AND PERFECT INVENTORY OP ALL THE PERSONAL ESTATE OP
SILAS CLAPP, ESQ., LATE OF WARWICK, DECEASED, TAKEN
BY us WHOSE NAMES ARE HERE INSCRIBED,
s. d.
To Waring aparril, . . . . . . . 13 13
Four Threyearold Stears 27
Four Cows and Three Calfs 33 12
Fiue Two year old hefers 18
Two Two year old Bulls, and one Two year old Stear 12 12
Four Yearlings, two stears, one hefer and bull . . 740
Four horse Kind 36
Thirty Two Sheep and Thirteen Lambs . . . 21 3
Two Barars hogs and Two Sows and six pigs . . 900
One Cart and Wheals 7100
Two old Plows and Irons . . . . . . 1160
Two loads of hay in Stak 600
Two harrows with Iron Teath 220
Three Draft Chains and one log Chain . . . 300
Three axes and four hoes . . . . . . 1190
Three pichforks and fiue Rakes . . . . 0136
One handsaw and sundry other articles . . . 330
Three ox yoaks and one cops and pin . . . 110
One Grindstone and crank and one Iron bar . . 320
Half of a croscut Saw . . . . . . 18
One hundred bushels of Indian corn . . . . 17 10
Thirty Two bushels of oats at Two shilling bushel . 340
Ten bushels of barly and oats Two and ninepence . 176
5 bushels of Rye a 4s. 6d. . . . . . 143
Seven Bushels of flax seed a 6s. . . . . 220
One hundred and eight pounds of Clover Seed Grass . 660
16 Quarts of herds Grass Seed . . . . 19 2J
Eight Barrels Cyder and 4 old hogsheads . . . 10160
Three and half Barrels of Porke a 108s. pr. bbl. . 18 18
70 lb. of hogs Lard a 7d 2 10
16 Ib. of Tallow Candles a 9d. . . . . 12
A Tarce of molassis Containing Sixty Gallons a 3s. 8d. 1100
Some old Casks and Tubs . . . . . 15
One Old Cyder Mill and Press Valued at . . . 140
700 Ibs. of Tobacco at Three pence pound . '. 8 15
Seueral old Cask 0110
One pair of horse chains and coller and hames . . 12
One Eight Day Clock Uallued at . . . 2100
Two high Case of Draws and one low Case of Draws 740
Two Desks 440
Seueral old Trunks , 1 19
Four ouil Tables at 350
Two Chests and one Stool 0160
Eight Beds and Bedding and seuen Bedstids . . 78 5 6
One Set of Curtins and sundry other articles ... 15 7
Sum homspun Cloth Ualued at . . . . . 1 13 ,6
Amount carried forward 420 19 3J
288
THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
Amount brought forward
To One Looking Glass with a Gilt frame
One Looking Glass with a Black Wolnut frame
Six yeards of Broaclcloath and sum small Rem- )
nants of other cloth
One Watch
Six Bannerster Back Chears at ....
A number of old Chares ......
One old Candle Stand . .
2 Spining Wheels and one Reel ....
One pipe Box ........
3 pr. hand Irons, 2 pr. Shovels and Tongs, 3 Tramels )
and Two Spits and one fender one melting j~
Ladle )
A pr. Flat Irons . . . . ' .
One Box Iron and 2 heeters .....
Sundry Iron pots and Kitles and a Frying pan and ">
Chafeing Dish and one Tap boreer )
Two Brass Kittles . . . . . .
2 Copper Tea Kittles
One bell mettle Kittle ......
A shoe hammer, a pr. pincers and nippers
4| Ib. of Gees Feathers, a 2s. 7d. per Ib.
One bag containing said Feathers ....
1 1 Ib. of hen and Turkey Feathers and Bag contain- )
ing them )
One Flesh fork one Scimmer and Basting Ladle
2 Tea Canisters, 2 tunels and one Cullindine and
Tin pan
Half Doz. Silver Table Spoone and half Doz. Tea )
D. w' 9oz. 15p. Troy j
Making the above Spoons
One Silver Taukerd and four poringers, one beer
Cup and one other Small cup, Eleven Large
Table Spoons, Twelve Tea Spoons and one pr.
Clasps, w l 80oz. and I5p. Troy
The makeing the above Plate
One pr. Silver Shoe Buckels and one Buckle
3 large puter platters ......
15 puter plates .......
5 puter platters and four Baysons 5 Spoons
5 Brass Candle Sticks and one Brass pepper Box
2 Cases of Knifes and forkes and a number of old ")
forkes and Knife box )
2 meal Sives ........
One Raser hone and Strap and Raser Case
One old pare Scales and one Weight and 3 Iron Scures
3 pr. Stilyards ........
1 Coffey mill
One Silver Cane head
10 Ib. 6 oz. of old puter a Is. per Ib. ...
420 19 3
3 12
300
726
4 10
1 10
1 10
040
120
1
460
8
070
3 13
300
1 13
12
036
11 6
030
15
030
12
330
1 16
26 18 4
7 10
1 1
2 14
1 2 3
3 1 9
1 1
12
050
050
029
1 10
040
030
10 3
Amount carried forward 521 16 4J
GEORGE GILSON AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
289
Amount brought forward
To One old Warming pan ......
Old pr. Belloses .......
22 Earthen plates .......
Sundrey baker Glassis and other glassis, one Chiney }
Bowl one Earthen Bowl, 3 Round bottles, 2 >
Glass flasks )
One mettle Teapot, 2 Brass Candlesticks and one )
Earthen Bowl j
Sundry Glassis and 2 Glass Canisters, 2 Vinegar )
Cruets j
Sundry Read Earthen pans and pots
Sundry Trays and 2 milk pales ....
One Box Containg Some Sugar ....
One pr. Temple Specticles and one puter Ink Stand .
1 Cheese and 2 Butter Tubs and Sundrey other articles
One Loom Slay and other Tackling ....
2 Stone gugs, 2 Case Bottles, Sundry other bottles |
and Vials j
4 Baskets ........
A pr. Cards . . . . .
2 old Sadies and one Bead Stead ....
2 Side Sadies, one a 60s. the other a 90s. .
One Chest ........
A Quantity of flax and Toe, also Toe and Lining yarn
Seven Notes of hand amounting to ....
Cash
94 Ib. of Raw hides, a 3d.
One Taned and one new Calf Skin . . . .
One Taler's Goos .......
Puter Bread pan .......
22 Ib. of Flax, 10 Ib. of it hacheled .
A Parcel of Books .......
Two Bridels
Taking the 28th June, A.D. 1777.
Thomas Remington,
William Matteson.
One Cow Bell ....
Ballance Rec'd of John Reynold .
1 Looking Glass black walnut Frame
521 16 4
6 (I
2
16
136
080
070
060
079
060
070
1 11 6
1 16
12
049
036
170
7 10
050
10 6
145 3 7
680
1 3 6
10
090
15
1 7
10
12
716 9 5J
080
12 $
1 4
718 14 2
The Council Approved and Accepted of the Above Inventory the 28th
day of June A.D. 1777.
Per Order J. JERAULD, Couu 1 Clerk.
Entered June the 30th, 1777.
290 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
Children of SILAS and MARY (Greene) CLAPP, of Warwick, R. I. :
33. JOHN, 6 b. May 14, 1754; m. Aug. 31, 1775, Anne Waterman, of
Coventry, who was b. May 27, 1748. He d. Sept 19, 1817, in
his 64th year. She d. Sept. 19, 1844, in her 97th year.
Children :
34. Silas," 1 b. Aug. 29, 1776; m. Sylvania Andrew. He d. Oct. 8,
1853, in his 78th year. Children: i. Say, 8 m. Ann E.
Cleveland, of Providence, R. I., and had : ( 1 ) George, 9 m. Sa-
rah Gray, of Newport, R. L, and has a dau. Anne E. 10 ; (2)
Ellen M.; 9 (3) Elizabeth ; 9 (4) Anne B.; 9 (5) Thomas, 9 m.
Salina Shaw, of Providence, and has a dau. Florence M. 10
H, Greene, 6 m. Juliet, dau. of Thomas and Mary (Snellinsj)
Fletcher, of Providence. Children : (1) Matilda M. ; 9
(2) William G. ;* (3) Eleanor F.* m. Nathan Smith ; (4)
Mary Smiling? m. John Sweet, and had two children ; (5)
Sarah D., 9 m. John C. Sanborn, and had a son, and are
now living in Dorchester District, Boston. Hi. Phebe, 8 m.
George Jenks, of Providence, and had two children, iv, Ira, 8
m. Margaret Brown; no issue. V, Mary, 8 m. William H.
Dyer, and had a son, William H., Jr. vi Elizabeth, 8 d. Oct.
25, 1832, in her 16th year.
35. Mary Greene,'' b. Aug. 30, 1778; d. unm. Feb. 11, 1868, in
her 90th year.
36. John Greene? b. Aug. 8, 1780; d. Nov. 21, 1862, in his 84th
year. He m. Catharine Godfrey, and settled in Abington,
Conn., and his whole family still remain there. Children :
i, Mary A., 8 m. John Lyon, being his second wife, after the
decease of her sister Almira, his first wife. ii, Almira, 8 m.
John Lyon, of Conn., and had two children. Hi, Godfrey 8
IV, Nehemiah R., 9 m. Eliza Auldrich, and has : ( 1 ) John G., 9
who m. Emma Chapman ; (2) Sarah C. ; 9 (3) Ellen L.; 9 (4)
Mary 9 V, Sarah If* VI, Audry S 8 Vli. John W. 8 was
in the 18th Conn. Reg't three years, during the War of the
Rebellion, and returned without wounds ; m. Olive Holt, and
has: (1) George L.; 9 (2) Theoron S. ; 9 (3) Catharine C.; 9
(4) Anne L. ; 9 (5) John E. ; 9 (6) Eurvin Waterman 9
37. Thomas? b. March 26, 1782; d. Oct. 7, 1828, in his 47th
year. He m. Hannah Smith, who d. Aug. 15, 1857, in her
69th year. Children : i, James H. 8 is a dealer in boots and
shoes in Holyoke, Mass. ; m. Ruth A. Cogshall, and had one
child, Thomas H. 9 who d. Aug. 16, 1853, in his 10th year.
ii, Susan A., 8 m. William M. Brown, and had three children.
38. Anna? b. Sept. 6, 1784; is still living in the old homestead
where she was born, and where her life so far has been spent.
She is still in tolerable health, patient and cheerful, and her
91st birth-day was celebrated by a small party of friends,
GEORGE GILSON AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 291
Sept. 6, 1875. She was then able to come down stairs from
her chamber to meet her friends.
39. William? b. Jan. 24, 1786 ; m. in 1820, Mary Reynolds, who is
still living, a. 78. He had no issue. He died much respected,
in his 88th year, Oct. 31, 1873. Much information was ob-
tained from him for these annals. The following is taken from
a local paper : " Dying in Warwick, in his 88th year, he sel-
dom, in all that time, went beyond the limits of his native
State, and perhaps no man, in the communities where he has
spent his long life, was more generally known. If we search
for the causes of his prominence, we may find them in his
strong, positive nature, and in his sturdy uprightness, which
never, in all his long life, allowed him to do wrong to any
one, so that he has lived nearly ninety years without a stain
upon his name. Those who knew him best, knew also, how
tender and kind-hearted he was, and how a deed of cruelty or
oppression would make his indignation break out in a torrent.
For perhaps forty years, he was book-keeper in a Centre-
ville manufacuring establishment, and though his salary
was small, habits of strict personal economy enabled him to
save the foundation of a competence. In his earlier years
there, it was his custom to lend his annual savings to his
employers ; but after a few years, they refused longer to keep
his money, fearing, perhaps, he would soon own the establish-
ment. Though not technically an educated man, his strong
common sense and keen observation brought him fruits which
scholars may well desire. Perhaps no man more than he has
proved the worth of a few strong instincts and a few plain
rules."
40. Waterman? b. April 18, 1788; m. Eliza Woodward, of Provi-
dence, who d. March 22, 1826, in her 33d year. He is still
living in the old homestead at Warwick, R. I., with his sister
Anna and his two daughters. Waterman is of the third
generation of the name who have occupied the house and very
extensive farm belonging to the original owner, John Greene.
When the house was built it was of one story, with only a
kitchen, bedroom and closet ; another story and L were after-
wards added, which, with an addition on the west end, and
another still later on the east end, entirely modernize it as
compared with its original appearance. The inside of the
house, however, still retains an ancient aspect, being stocked
with many old and interesting articles of furniture and house-
hold utensils, silver, china and pewter dishes, a watch, clock,*
* The eight-day clock, mentioned in the inventory of Silas, in 1777, and there valued at
21, is still running and in Waterman's possession. Some of the older members of the
family were told, in their younger years, the story of the purchase of this clock from the
proceeds of the sale of an ox named " Golden." A worthy old colored woman in the fami-
ly, called Binah, was frequently in the habit, when the clock struck, of saying, "Old ' Gol-
den ' roars."
One large gentleman's chair, with a modern outside finish, but having on it the date
of 1694, is now in use in this house and would be an ornament to any parlor. It has a
large, four-cornered seat, none of the corners being rounded, and one of them directly in
front, the unjointecl solid piece of wood which composes the arms being also angular behind
and somewhat projecting, and the whole fitting neatly into the corner of the room. Also an
elegant dining table, the centre or stationary part a foot in width and four feet long, and
39
292 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
&c. &c., belonging to and transmitted with the old house.*
Not many rods from the house is the family cemetery, a
square lot less than a quarter of an acre, surrounded by a
solid stone wall, in excellent condition. It has no interments
previous to that of Silas in 1777. A well-proportioned mon-
ument of Italian marble, of recent construction, with a shaft
of about eight feet, is conspicuous, and may be seen at a
distance outside. On its four sides are the names of: Mary
G., d. Feb. 11, 1868, in her 90th year ; William, d. Oct. 31,
1873, in his 88th year; Marcy, d. Dec. 9, 1873, in her 82d
year; Anna [now living, aged 91, and mentioned above
as residing in the house near by]. Marble stones and
epitaphs to the memory of others of the family are around,
and headstones mark the places of interment of faithful ser-
vants (black and white, including old Binah, mentioned below)
who have died in the service of the family. On a recent visit
to this most interesting homestead, by one of the committee on
the publication of this Memorial, no spot awakened such deep
emotions as this sacred inclosure. Mr. Waterman Clapp
attended the Clapp Gathering at Boston, in 1873. Children :
1. John, 9 d. unm. Sept. 4, 1870, in his 5 1st year. ii. Anne A.
W.* m. Stephen Tiffany, of Conn., and has a child, iii.
Marcy S, W., s lives with her father in the old homestead. She
has furnished much valuable information for this Memorial.
iv, Mary M. G., 8 also at home with her father.
41. Marcy,'' b. May 19, 1792, lived to her 82d year, and was uni-
versally esteemed by all who knew her for her quiet, womanly
qualities. She d. unm. Dec. 9, 1873, and the funeral services
were conducted by Mrs. Meder, Mrs. Charles Earle and Mrs.
Huldah Bede, all approved ministers of the Society of
Friends ; the former, in her 82d year, delivered a very accepta-
ble discourse on the occasion. The following obituary is taken
from a Rhode Island paper:
" Marcy was innocent, humble, patient, and possessed the
kind of love that knew no evil. So unassuming and so un-
obtrusive we should look for a higher virtue than dwells in
ordinary hearts. She lived by faith in the Gospel, and her
very nature was temperized with a mildness and serenity that
flows only from that source. Kind and generous, she was a
friend to the poor and destitute, and her hand was ever open
to relieve their wants. Possessed of strong mental powers
and a retentive memory, she held in her mind many of the
events of the family, the neighborhood, and the country, and
it was interesting to listen to her rehearsals of them. The
the hinged or falling leaves large enough to make a circle when raised, now stands in the
centre of the large parlor, apparently not having had a break or a scratch during its service
of more than a century.
* Near Waterman's house, on the Cowheset road, is the site where formerly stood what
was known as the "Clapp school-house," erected in 1798, the first one in that part of
Warwick, and paid for by private subscription. According to Mr. Clapp's recollection, it
cost but $150, and the shareholders numbered twenty, who paid the expenses of carrying
on the school. This house was occupied over thirty years, and fifteen years afterwards
in 1845, the first public school was established. The old building was bought by Waterman
Clapp, moved on to his land, and used for a small tenement till some few years since, the
crumbling cellar walls being still seen on the spot.
GEORGE GILSON AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 293
last few days of her life she was specially blest and comforted
in the belief and hope of a blessed immortality, and she
quietly passed away to realize what she had so long held in
sacred anticipation."
42. PHEBE, 6 b. about 1756 ; d. unm. Sept. 28, 1795, in her 40th year.
43. DANIEL," b. about 1759 ; m. first, Elizabeth, dau. of Robert Bai-
ley ; second, Isabel, sister of his first wife. He settled in Pom-
fret, Conn. Children by first wife :
44. Daniel? lived in Pomfret, Conn., where his family still reside.
He was a Quaker preacher. He m. Sarah Albro, of New-
port, R. I. Children: i. Silas. 8 it. David, 8 m. Phebe A.
Harrington, and has : (1 ) William H.? served three years in
the War of the Rebellion, and now lives in Nebraska ; he m.
Mary Shove, and has a daughter; (2) Thomas C., 9 m. Julia
Warner, they live in Nebraska, and have one child. iff,
James, 8 m. Emily T. Wheeler, and has : ( 1 ) Mary Elizabeth ; 9
(2) Sarah. 9 iv, Elizabeth, 8 now living in Brookline, Mass.,
and is Matron of the Infant Asylum there.
45. Mary, 7 m. Jeremiah H. Bailey, and had two sons ; is now liv-
ing in E. Greenwich, R. I., in her 85th year.
46. Elizabeth,'' now dead ; m. Obed Dennis, and had nine children.
Children of Daniel 6 by second wife :
47. Joseph 7 lives in Pomfret, Conn. ; he owns the famous " Wolf-
den " farm, containing the den from which the brave Gen.
Putnam, as related in the school-books of former years, drew
out the savage wolf which he had so fearlessly attacked
and slain now a popular resort for tourists ; m. Susan Dennis.
Children : i. Joseph D., s m. Amey A. Massa. ii, Phebe A. 8
48. Phebe, 7 m. William Reynolds. She is now living at Kingston,
R. I., aged 80 years.
49. Anne, 7 now dead; m. George C. Kenyon, and had one son.
12
THOMAS 5 (John, 4 John, 3 John," George Gilson 1 ), youngest child
of John and Eliza Douglas (Quimby) Clapp, of Westchester, N. Y.,
and brother to the preceding, was born in Westchester, Feb. 25,
1722. According to tradition, he moved first to Horseneck and
thence to Lagrange, Dutchess Co., N. Y., where his family was raised
and where he passed the remainder of his life. Thomas Clapp was
a farmer, and, like his brother John, a " Friend."
Children of THOMAS CLAPP, of Lagrange, N. Y. :
50. JESSE T., 6 probably never married ; his sister or mother kept house
for him. It is related that he bought a farm, and kept a large
number of geese ; that he paid for the farm in goose feathers,
there being a contract that he should pay a certain number of
pounds per year. He d. June 27, 1824, at the house of his
sister Mary.
51. JOHN, 8 emigrated to Ohio about the first of this century, but, on
account of sickness and other misfortunes, was obliged to return
294 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
home. He came all the way afoot, accompanied by his wife.
They then moved into Canada, and are supposed to have descen-
dants living in that country. fh- SC0rC
52. PHEBE, S m. Mr. Dean, an Indian Agent ; a son Thomas was also
Indian Agent. Mfv John J>e,3n
-{-53. JAMES, 6 b. April 1, 1756; d. March 12, 1826.
54. RAY, 6 b. in 1758; d. Oct. 21, 1762.
55. DoRCAs, 6 b. in 1759.
^ ftr r ^c56. WILLIAM, b. in 1760. Nothing is known of his history, but some
of his children are supposed to have settled in Canada.
57. MARY, 6 b. May 1, 1763; d. Sept. 22, 1832; m. April 16, 1786,
James Alley, who d. March 8, 1845. They lived in Dutchess
Co., and had eleven children.
58. RAY, 6 b. March 20, 1765 ; never married ; lived with his relatives.
59. ELIZABETH, 6 m. Andrew Skidmore, and lived in Dutchess Co.,
where her descendants still reside. She d. in November, 1838.
60. HANNAH, 6 b. in 1774; m. Mr. Farmer, and has descendants living
in Dutchess Co.
-13--
JOSEPH 5 (Ellas* John, 3 John* George Gilson 1 ), oldest son of
Elias Clapp, was born and lived in Westchester, N. Y., or Green-
wich, Conn.
Children of JOSEPH CLAPP :
61. JESSE I., 6 d. in old age at the house of his son Isaac ; m. and had :
62. Isaac B., 1 b. July 1, 1786; d. Oct. 10, 1837. He was a well-
to-do farmer in Dutchess Co., and m. Nov. 29, 1809, Phebe
Berry, b. Aug. 11, 1780, and d. May 15, 1861. Children :
i. Peter B.f b. April 21, 1812 ; lives in Lagrange, Dutchess
Co. ; m. Dec. 16, 1835, and has : (1) Isaac P., 9 b. March 4,
1839 went to Texas in 1865, and for the last six years has
been Sheriff of Bry on, Brazos Co., Tex.; (2) Mary P., 9 b.
Nov. 22, 1840; (3) John P., 9 b. Jan. 22, 1846, d. Oct. 1,
1848. ii, Mary* b. Aug. 8, 1814. Hi. Nathaniel B.* b. May
9, 1817 ; an energetic young man, whose enterprising spirit
carried him to Wisconsin where he settled on a farm ; he
came to an untimely death by an accident on a railroad train,
leaving : (1) Isaac, 9 who d. in 1874, aged 21 years ; besides
two daughters, iv. George W., 8 b. Nov. 25, 1819 ; unmar.
Vt Isaac J., 8 b. May 20, 1822 ; no issue, vl, Annis, 8 b. May
29, 1825 ; d. Jan. 22, 1834. Tli. Susan, 8 b. April 28, 1828 ;
m. Mr. Storms, and had two children. VlH, Jesse J., 8 b. Jan.
3, 1831; uum. ix, Annis 8 b. Aug. 27, 1835; m. Mr.
Storms, no children.
63. JOSEPH.*
64. ELIAS, S m. and had :
65. John}
66. NATHANIEL.'
67. BENJAMIN. 6 \
68. JAMES. 6
-f-69. HENRY. 6
GEORGE GILSON AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 294a
*69a. RnoDA, 6 m. Mr. Losee, and lived near Bath, Prince Edward Co.
Canada.
695. URSULA, 6 m. Sampson Striker; d.in Hallowell, Canada. Sampson
Striker, and her brother Joseph (No. 63), emigrated to Canada
together in 1790 (see below).
69c. Ruin, 6 m. John Salmon, of Dutchess Co., N. Y. She lived and
died in New York State.
X
Joseph 5 Clapp married Mercy Carpenter (her mother a Hutchin-
son), and finally settled in some part of Dutchess Co., N. Y., proba-
bly in the town of Lagrange, where his cousin Thomas* (^o. 12)
spent the greater part of his life, and where some of his own de-
scendants are living to this day. Some, if not all, of his children
were born in Dutchess Co., and it was here that he died during the
War of the Revolution, about 1776. Concerning his children:
Jesse, 6 Elias 6 and Ruth 6 married and settled in Dutchess county ;
Henry 6 removed to Rensselaer Co., near the city of Albany, N. Y. ;
while Jose2)h 6 Benjamin 6 and James, 6 with their sisters Rhoda 6 and
Ursula 6 (and there is some reason to think their brother Nathaniel 6 ),
emigrated to Canada, and were the progenitors of a large and in-
telligent branch of Clapps in the section of country, inland and
along the shore, to the north of Lake Ontario. To one of the de-
scendants in this line, Robert Clapp, Esq., U. S. Consular Agent at
Picton, Prince Edward Co., Canada West, the publishers are indebt-
ed for the following additional records relating to some of the
descendants of Joseph 5 (No. 13), the second son of whom was:
JOSEPH 6 CLAPP (No. 63, page 294). He was born in Dutchess Co.,
N. Y., in the year 1762. He may have been a sailor in early life, as tradi-
tion says he^was "at sea" at the time of his father's death. About the
year 1790,' Joseph 6 went to Canada in company with his brother-in-law,
Sampson Striker. They travelled, it is said, with a sleigh and a pair of
horses; went by the way of Lake Champlain ; crossed the river St. Law-
rence near Montreal, and finally settled at a place called Adolphustown,
about 30 miles west of Kingston, C. W.. having been 28 days on the jour-
ney from their home in Dutchess Co. They settled on land in a new, un-
cleared country, where but few white men had ever trod, and underwent
many privations. Joseph 6 lived several years in Adolphustown, with^
Sampson Striker, and in March, 1798, he married Nancy Miller, who went >
to Canada with the Roblin family, from New York State, near where he
formerly lived. He took up a wild farm at a place called Hay Bay, in
Adolphustown. where were borrf to him seven children: Sarah? Philip?
Catharine? Patience? James? George 1 and Samuel. 1 In 180"8~7he removed
to Marysburgh, now Prince Edward, where he purchased several wild
farms and mill privileges, and where his youngest son Joseph' was born in
* The family sketches contained in this and the following three pages were received after
the sheets of the "Memorial" were all printed and ready for binding. This additional
matter is inserted so as to follow in natural order, according to the arrangement adopted
through the book, except thiit the consecutive numbering is broken in upon, and that it
necessarily appears awkwardly paged and wholly unindexed.
39* ^ '^ i -, ^ ^J"..^.^*^ t*~ ^X&~-
<*-!''{* &*-
2946 THE CLAIT MEMORIAL.
1811. lie uas very pro-porous till the breaking out of the war of 1
whi<& caosed great hardships among tin- new settlers. In the winter of
L812-13, he was satnmooed with others to go to Kins-ton on duty. II*
remained there till Fell. 2<lth, when lie. died, aged :ihout -Vi y.
Children of .Tosi;i-ii r ' and NANCY (Miller) CLAIM-:
PlMMl-, 7 his olde.-t -on. niter his de;ith. took charge of hi- affairs,
was prosperous in bii-ine-s. and at the time of hi.-, death, in -
teml.er. I *'!'!. owned ahout loon acres of land and the mills.
He was killed hy lightning as he WM standing under
hi- own farm, when ahout .'I" year- of age. II' Wta a ;
chri.-tian man. and he died niueli lamented hy all, leaving a widow
and three children, one .-on and two daughters, quite young. His
son J'lu'lifi*' hecame heir to all his property; hut, though moral
and upright, somehow he did not get on well, and after ahout
twenty years he sold all hi- lands and mills and removed to the
west, where he now lives with a family of four sons and three
daughters.
JAMES,' second son of Joseph 6 Clapp, was bom in the year 1800,
and died in 1*7.">. being nearly 7~> year- old. He was much re-
spected, and died lamented by all, after three hours' illne.-s, with
the.-e \\ords upon hi- lips: "The Lord's will be done.'' He was
about 13 years old when his father died, and he had to work his
way in the world as best he could. In so new a country as Cana-
da then was, there were no schools, and his education was \'.
fore necessarily deficient. He worked for his brother Philip till
ahout 18, when he was hired as a laborer in Lnnenbtu
and rafted timber, often going to Quebec, a distance of over 400
miles. When he was _'(', year- old he married .Jane Sprout, and
. took or purchased a wild farm in Lunenburg, built a saw mill,
lumbered, and went to (Quebec several times. This section then
produced some of the beet pine and oak timber that grew in
America. It was run down the Black River, and then rafted.
In this business he was prosperous. lie had five sons and one
daughter. Children :
Joseph, 3 b. about 1828; d. in 1870, leaving a widow and eight
children.
JRobert, 6 b. March 9, 1830. He was for many years afflicted
with fever-sores, but he learned the milling trade in his
father's mill, got on very well, and received a liberal education.
In 1854, he went to Quebec in company with his father,
with a raft of his own. lie has filled several honorable po-
sitions, such as Councillor or Supervisor, for many years
Chairman of the same, and was named to serve as mem In -r
in the Legislature. In 18^7, he was appointed Consular
Agent of the United States, at Picton, Prince Edward
which position he still holds. Children : j. J'/u'/< //.' b. .June
4, 1854; d. Feb. 20, 1876. ii. ./o//. 9 jii, Joseph M? if.
Henry. 9 V, Annie. 9 Yi, Eliz<i'.' All are living but one.
John* b. in 1833; came to his death by drowning, in
being then in his 18th year.
\\'!H!nm Jf., 8 fourth son of James, 7 is a farmer in Canada, and
has a family of seven.
GEORGE GILSON AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 294c
Samuel, 3 the youngest son, had a large property left him by his
father, including the mills ; he has two children, the younger
a daughter, married.
GEORGE, T third son of Joseph 6 and Nancy, was born in 1803. He,
also, took a farm in the state of nature, worked many years at
lumbering, often going to Quebec, and died in 1873, aged 70 years.
He brought up a large family, most of whom are married and re-
moved ; but his two youngest sons, David B* and James, 9 are
settled on farms in the neighborhood. Two daughters, Caroline 8
and Lovis* live with their brother James. 8
SAMUEL, 7 the fourth son of Joseph 6 Clapp, was born Jan. 15, 1806,
and is still living, over 70 years of age. He has raised a family
of six sons and five daughters, who are all of them living and set-
tled in Canada.
JOSEPH, 7 the youngest son of Joseph 6 Clapp, was born in 1811, and
is still living in Prince Edward, on the old farm which his father
purchased from Col. Cartwright. He has buried five children,
and has two sons and three daughters now living. His son
Thomas* and two daughters live with him.
SARAH, T CATHARINE 7 and PATIENCE, 7 the daughters of Joseph, 8
are all dead.
15
HENRY 5 (Ellas* John, 3 John, 2 George Gilsun*), was the third
son of Elias Clapp, of Westchester Co., N. Y., and a brother to Jo-
seph, 5 No. 13. Whether he was born in Westchester or Dutchess Co.
is not certain, but it is known that he lived in Dutchess Co., raised
his family there, and died there at an advanced age. He had eight
sons and two daughters.
Children of HENRY CLAPP, of Dutchess Co., N. Y. :
ELIAS, 6 born in Dutchess Co., and moved into "Westchester Co. in
the year 1774. He married Mary Dorland, a member of the
Society of Friends. Children :
Sarah," 1 m. James Griffin, and had eight children.
Samuel, 7 m. Martha Sands ; no issue.
Anna," 1 m. Thomas Griffin, and has eight children.
Gilbert," 1 m. Betsey Beadle, and had four children. He settled
in Adolphustown, C. W.
John? m. Sarah Smith. They lived in the township of Frede-
ricksburgh, county of Lenox, Canada, where all their chil-
dren were born, and had : 1. Gilbert. 8 H. Elizabeth* jjj.
Dorland. 9 iv. Margaret* V, Elias 9 VI. Allen* vii,
John 9 Vlii. Smith 9 ix. Henry* X, David* xi. Mary*
Xli. Sarah Ann*
_ Jcs^t Benjamin? m. Betty Roblin; settled in the township of Hast-
ings, C. W., and had four sons, viz., David* Dorland,* Shit-
lati* and Benjamin, 9 and six daughter-.
Letty? m. James Brown, and settled in Thurlow, C. W. They
had three sons and four daughters.
294^ THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
Thomas? m. Sarah Jacobs ; settled also in Thurlow, and had
three sons and four daughters. His sons were named, John*
Samuel 8 and Philip.*
Dorland? b. in New York State ; he emigrated to Canada,
died without issue, and was buried at the Friends' meeting-
house, Adolphustown.
Philip? b. in New York State, and settled in Peekskill, West-
chester Co., where he married. He held the position of
manager of Peekskill Bank, and was much respected. Chil-
dren : i, John* who succeeded his father in the management
of Peekskill Bank, which position he still (1876) occupies.
it. A daughter*
JOHN, 6 nothing known of his history. The date of his probable birth
corresponding so nearly with that of John Clapp, of the " Isolated
Families," page 319, suggests the possibility of the two being
identical.
Ruin, 6 married John Robinson in New York city, the marriage
license dating Dec. 17, 1771.
BENJAMIN, 6 born in New York State in 1751 ; nothing known of
his history, but most of his descendants are living in Canada.
Children :
Thomas? m. and settled in Canada ; had three sons : William*
Henry* and Paul*
Paul? lived in Canada ; m. and had : i. Cornelius,* who now
lives in Wellington, C. W., and has assisted in obtaining re-
cords of Canadian branches of the family, ii, William. Also
daughters.
William? died without issue.
THOMAS, was probably the Thomas Clapp, who, in New York city,
May 2, 1782, was licensed to marry Erris Standish.
SlLAS. 6
DARIUS. 6
PHILIP. 6
HENRY. 6
MARY, 6 married Rowland Rickson.
[The families in Canada, whose descent is in part traced in these four
pages, have only very recently been heard from by their namesakes in
Boston, and it is a matter of regret that fuller details cannot now be given.
It is stated by one of those who have kindly forwarded these records for the
" Memorial," that there are several hundred persons of the name of Clapp
now living in the counties of Prince Edward, Lenox and Hastings, in
Canada West, all of whom, it is believed, belong to the GEORGE GILSON
line of the family. A full record of this uncompleted branch, as well as of
other branches through the book, necessarily more or less deficient, must
await the appearance, in some uncertain future, of a second edition of the
" Memorial." It is an interesting feature of these Canadian families, that
the same tradition respecting the emigrant, Dr. George Gilson Clapp
(printed on page 283), is carefully preserved among them in manuscript,
almost verbatim. This traditional account, it is believed, has never before
appeared in print ; but it seems to have been treasured up, with the names
of the first three generations of descendants of the Doctor, in the male line,
and handed down as an heir-loom in the family, each branch retaining a
copy of the original, and adding thereto its own record.]
GEORGE GILSON AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 295
28
THOMAS 6 (John? John, 4 John? John 9 George Gilson 1 ), fourth son
of John and Alice (Allen) Clapp, of Greenwich, Conn., was born in
that place, Oct. 6, 1744. He adopted the religious principles of his
father, and became a prominent member of the Society of Friends.*
Being the only surviving son, he inherited the house built and occu-
pied by his father, together with the large farm belonging to it.
He lived there during the whole of his life, and, being a prudent
and careful manager of his affairs, added by purchase to his already
extensive property until he acquired the reputation of a man of
wealth.f He married, Jan. 20, 1779, Elizabeth Vail, who died May
13, 1820; they had no children. He was cousin of John Clapp, the
* The Society of Friends, more generally known as Quakers, originated in England, as a
body of Christian professors, about the middle of the 17th century. George Fox, born in
1624, and brought up in the Establisned Church, was one of the chief leaders in forming the
Society. In consequence of the persecutions very soon encountered in England, emigration
of individual members to New England early began. In 1655, two of them arrived in
Boston, and the next year, eight more came over. These were all taken up by the colonial
authorities, the books they brought with them made a bonfire of in the market-place, and
their owners kept in prison several weeks and then banished fiom the country. The next
year a law was passed forbidding masters of vessels to bring a Quaker into the colony ;
people were prohibited from harboring or countenancing them, and a fine was imposed upon
any one who should attend a Quaker meeting. From that time till the year 1661, the cruel
persecutions, and punishments even unto death, which were inflicted upon those calling
themselves Quakers, can now be thought of but with' regret and shame, and can only be
explained by considering them the natural result of the spirit of the age in which they
occurred. In September, 1661, Charles II. issued a mandamus forbidding any further in-
fliction of such severe punishments on the Quakers in the Massachusetts Colony. The
Rhode Island Colony, in consequence of a greater toleration of all differences" in re-
ligious belief, invited large numbers to settle there, and many converts to their faith were
here received from other denominations. Under the patronage of William Penn, who
early became an advocate and leader of the new sect in England, many left that country
and settled in Pennsylvania. He himself came over in 1682, having obtained a patent from
the crown for the territory now forming the State of Pennsylvania. Although in his two visits
to this country his stay was confined to only about four years, yet by his celebrated
treaty of peace and friendship with several powerful tribes of Indians the only treaty, it
has been said, " never sworn to and never broken" and by his just and benevolent conduct
as governor and in his other transactions here, he endeared his name and memory to
succeeding generations. The scornful and persecuting spirit which two centuries ago was
shown towards the religion he professed has long since passed away.
Yearly Meetings were very early established by the Quakers, for discipline and general
oversight. This discipline has been exercised against misconduct among members, as well
as against erroneous doctrines. In Rhode Island, these Yearly Meetings were held at the
house of Gov. Coddington until his death in 1678. In 1700, the first meeting-house of the
Friends was erected at Newport, and the Yearly Meeting for New England was then es-
tablished at that place, where it has ever since been held. In the year 1827, a separation
took place in the Society in this country one party, under the leadership of Elias Hicks
(born March 19, 1748, died Feb. 27, 183ti), objecting to certain doctrines which the orthodox
party held to be sound and edifying. Distinct Yearly Meetings were established, by each,
both claiming the name of Friends.
The Society of Friends has never been a numerous body, compared with other religious
denominations. Probably no accurate returns have ever been made, but the number has
been estimated at 100.000 in England and about as many more in this country. The latter
may perhaps in round numbers be divided as follows, among the States where they are prin-
cipally found : Pennsylvania, 23,000 ; Indiana, 20,000 ; Ohio, 14,000; New York, 10,000 ;
Rhode Island, 8,000 ; Maryland, 8,000 ; Virginia, 6,000 ; North Caiolina, 3,000. From early
times many of the descendants of Dr. George Gilson Clapp have been numbered among
them ; but very few have been found in the other lines of the Clapps.
t He was one night called to the door of his house by robbers, who demanded his money
in a peremptory manner. Thomas pretended deafness, and .commenced to direct them to
some place further along on the road; but they persisted In their demands, and matter*
were gettin somewhat hot, when he stepped to the stairs door and called, " Jumrs ! Jon !
Nicholas ! " which frightened the robbers away, they thinking there were a number of men
iu the house.
296 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
father of Waterman (No. 40), now living in Warwick, R. I. Water-
man remembers visiting him, in Greenwich, when a young man.
He says the house in which Thomas lived was, as he was told, the
first built in the place, and was originally of one story, with only
two rooms and a closet, and a stone chimney on the outside. After-
wards Thomas's father John added two more rooms on the same
story, and when it came into Thomas's possession he made another
similar addition, so that the house was a very long one-story build-
ing. By Thomas's will, it passed into the hands of his nephew,
Thomas Carpenter, who intended to build an elegant house on the
spot, but his death in middle life prevented, and Ms son Richard B.
Carpenter sold it to the present owner, George W. Mead. The
house has still but one story, the only change being the addition
of a .brick kitchen, in place of the one of wood. The Rye Pond, in-
cluded in his estate and alluded to in the will annexed, is situated
in the State of New York (his property lying along and on both
sides of the boundary between that State and Connecticut*). It is
said to have been desired as a source of water supply for the city
of New York, but Thomas declined selling it on account of serious
damage apprehended to his neighbors by some overflow which would
be brought about, Thomas Clapp possessed in a large measure the
benevolence and kindness of heart which form so prominent a trait
in the Quaker character, and his generosity was not confined by
bounds of blood or sect. One who knew him says of him : " He
was a farmer of good standing in society, and honest in dealings
with others, and very good to the poor of his neighborhood ; plain
in his dress and address, and a good neighbor to all." He died
March 1, 1828, aged 87 years.
WILL OF THOMAS CLAPP, OF GREENWICH, COXN.
This is the last Will and Testament of me Thomas Clapp, of the town of
Greenwich, County of Fairfield, and State of Connecticut, being of sound
deposing mind, memory and understanding, which Will I make as follows.
Viz. : First I order and direct my Executors hereafter mentioned to pay
and discharge all my just debts, funeral expenses, and the charges of prov-
ing and executing this my Will. I then give and devise unto my nephew
Thomas Carpenter, his heirs and assigns all my Homestead Farm, lying on
the west side of the Kings Street Road, containing about two hundred
and fifty acres with the buildings and appurtenances thereunto belonging,
except the back room with fire-place and chamber, which privilege I
reserve for my niece Deborah Pugsley, so long as she remains single or
unmarried. Also said Thomas Carpenter shall furnish her with firewood
cut up at the door dureing the continuance of this privilege. I likewise
* While on the visit alluded to above. Waterman was shown one spot on the estate of
Thomas Clapp where the boundary line of Greenwich, Conn., was touched by the corners of
three towns in New York State, viz., Rye, Harrison and Northcastle, a boundary stone
being in the centre. Thomas was fond of showing this spot to his visitors. He would take
them to the stone, stand by its side, stoop over it, and, spreading out both arms, boast of his
being in these four towns at once.
GEORGE GILSON AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 297
order and direct said Thomas Carpenter to pay out to his Brothers and
Sisters One hundred Dollars each. I then give and devise unto Thomas
and Allen, sons of my nephew William Sutton, the whole of my laud
lying on the East side of Kings St. Road, with the Mill and Appurte-
nances thereunto belonging, to be equally divided between them or occupied
jointly ; said land with the Appurtenances is devised to them their heirs and
Assigns forever, they paying out to their four sisters Two Hundred Dollars
each. I then give and devise unto my Nephew and Niece, John and Mary
Sands, Jun., to their heirs and assigns, all that Farm with the appurtenances
which I purchased from the heirs of Peter Lyon, deceased, with the Appurte-
nances thereunto belonging. I also give and devise unto Ezra Carpenter,
and Solomon Hewland, Jun., trustees of the School appointed by Purchase
preparative meeting, and to their successors in that trust forever, who shall
be from time to time appointed by said meeting, all that certain tract of land
lying back of Rye Pond containing near or more than One hundred and fifty
acres, to be and remain a permanent fund, the annual proceeds arising
therefrom to be employed to the benefit of Schooling the Children of
Friends in limited circumstances, and the Children of others in the neigh-
borhood of said school who may not be members of Society, who may be in
straitened circumstances, and who are willing to comply with the rules of
the school. Then I give and bequeath unto my sister Mary Carpenter,
Two Thousand Dollars. I also give and bequeath unto my seven Ne-
phews and Nieces, being children of my said Sister Mary Carpenter,
viz., John, William, Charles, Joseph, Martha, Sarah and Dorcas, Three
Thousand Dollars each. I then give and bequeath unto Phebe, wife
of James Field, One Thousand Dollars, and to her sou Thomas, One
Thousand Dollars, and Two Thousand dollars, to be equally divided among
their other children. I then give and bequeath unto the five children of
my nephew William Sutton, viz., to John, Five hundred dollars, to Phebe,
Mary, Alice and Elizabeth, One hundred dollars each. I also give and be-
queath unto Benjamin Cornel's five Children, by his former wife Alice,
Three hundred dollars each, and to Silas's son Thomas, five hundred dollars,
to be placed on Interest until he becomes of age. I then give and bequeath
unto James Nash, Eight hundred dollars, and to Sarah, wife of Jonah
Brundage, Eight hundred dollars. 3 also give and bequeath unto William
Cornel's Children, Five hundred dollars, to be equally divided among
them. I also give and bequeath unto John Sherman's two Children, Two
hundred and fifty dollars each. I likewise give and bequeath unto Deborah
Pugsley Two Thousand five hundred dollars. I then give and bequeath
unto Richard, Sarah and Wm. Pugsley, Five hundred dollars each. I also
give and bequeath unto my Niece, Mary Sands, Five hundred dollars. I
then give and bequeath unto the Children of Thomas Vail, Five hundred
dollars, to be equally divided among them. I give and bequeath unto the
Children of my Nephew John Carpenter, One Thousand dollars to Aaron,
Five hundred to be divided among the others. I also give and bequeath
unto the children of my three nephews, viz., William. Joseph and Charles
Carpenter, Three Thousand dollars, to be equally divided among them. I
then give and bequeath unto the children of my Nephew Jesse Sutton,
Two Thousand and five hundred dollars, to be equally divided. I give and
bequeath unto the two Daughters of my Uncle Thomas Clapp, viz., the
Wives of Skidmore and Alley, Five hundred dollars each. I also give unto
the children of their Brother James Clapp, Five hundred dollars, to be
equally divided among them. I likewise give and bequeath unto the chil-
298 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
dren and grand-children of my uncle Silas Clapp, late of Rhode Island,
Deceased, the sum of Two Thousand dollars, to be equally divided among
them. I also give and bequeath unto the children and grand-children of
rny Uncle Edward Hallock, Three Thousand dollars, viz. to Clement Sands,
Five hundred dollars, and Two Thousand Five hundred dollars to be equally
divided among the rest. I then give and bequeath unto the Wife and Chil-
dren of Nathaniel Higley, Six hundred dollars to be equally divided among
them. I also give and bequeath unto the children of James and Anna
Brush, One Thousand dollars, to be equally divided among them. I then
give and bequeath unto Elizabeth Underbill and her son Mott, Two hun-
dred and fifty dollars each. I also give and bequeath unto Mary Fowler
Two hundred dollars. I then give and bequeath unto Hannah, wife of
Caleb Paulding, Two hundred and fifty dollars. I next give and bequeath
unto the Trustees appointed by the following Preparative Meetings re-
spectively, to the Superintendents of their schools and to their successors in
that trust, forever, to be from time to time appointed by said meetings, One
Thousand dollars, to those appointed by each of the following meetings,
viz. : Purchase, Mamaroneck, Westchester, Middlesex, Chappaqua, North-
castle, Croton valley, Ammawalk, Croton, Peekskill and Salem, being Eleven
Thousand dollars, to be and remain permanent funds, and placed at interest
with good security by said Trustees, and the interest arising therefrom to
be employed in Schooling the Children in limited circumstances and other
poor children in the neighborhood of such schools without distinction, who
may be willing to comply with the rules of the schools. I also give and
bequeath unto the Treasurers of the following Monthly Meetings, viz.,
Purchase, Chappaqua and Ammawalk, and to their successors in that trust
forever, to be appointed by one day Meeting, Five hundred dollars each, to
be and remain permanent funds, the Interest only to be used at the discre-
tion of one day Meeting. I then give and bequeath unto the children of
Mary Pugsley One thousand Five hundred dollars, to be equally divided
amongst them. I next give and bequeath unto the Treasurer of Nine-
partners Boarding School, and to his successors in that trust forever, One
Thousand dollars, to be and remain a permanent fund, the interest arising
therefrom to be employed from time to time for the benefit of said school.
I likewise give and bequeath unto the Children of Sister Dorcas, Two
Thousand dollars, to be equally divided among them. I then give and be-
queath unto James, Son of Patrick M'Kay, Two hundred and fifty dollars.
1 next give and bequeath unto the children and grand-children of my Uncle
Silas Clapp, in addition to what I have given them above, One Thousand
dollars, to be equally divided. I then give and bequeath unto the Treasurer
of the three following Monthly Meetings, in addition to the bequests made
above, viz.: Purchase, Chappaqua and Ammawalk, Five hundred dollars each,
to be employed as above directed. I also give and bequeath the additional
sum of Five hundred dollars to John Sutton, son of William Sutton. I lastly
give and bequeath unto the children and grand-children of my two Sisters,
Dorcas and Mary, all and single of the residue of my Personal Estate, of
every description, to be equally divided among them. Be it understood, and
it is my will that if any of the before-mentioned Legatees shall decease,
leaving no lawful issue, their shares of property therein divided or
bequeathed, shall be equally divided among their surviving Brothers and
Sisters ; be it further understood and it is my will, that in the distribution
of the property herein bequeathed, such as Legacies to individual bequest,
or donations to public institutions, where the Interest is only to be employed,
GEORGE GILSON AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 299
that my hereafter named Executors are hereby directed to cause transfer
of such notes, bonds or obligations to be a circulating medium, to discharge
or pay such Legacies and bequests, and especially when it would not distress
an honest Debtor to be suddenly called upon for the money. I then nominate
and appoint my Nephews, William Sutton, William Carpenter, Thomas
Carpenter and James Field Executors to this my last Will and Testament.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal, this twenty-
second, of the Fifth month, called May, in the Year of our Lord One
Thousand Eight hundred and twenty-seven.
THOMAS CLAPP [and a Seal].
Signed, Sealed, delivered, acknowledged and
declared in the presence of us,
Samuel Miller,
James T. Carpenter,
Job Carpenter.
I certify the preceding to be a true copy of the Will of Thomas Clapp,
deceased, and of the Certificate of the proof thereof.
EBENEZER WHITE.
GILBERT 6 (James, 5 John* John, 3 John, 2 George Gifson 1 ) was born
about the year 1 740. From coincidences of dates and names, it is
conjectured that he was a son of James Clapp, of Westchester Co.,
N. Y. At some period of his life, probably with his grown up sons,
he removed to Kinderhook, N. Y., and died there in 1812, being
over 70 years of age.
Children of GILBERT CLAPP, probably of Westchester, N. Y. :
70. JAMES/ he probably removed after maturity to Kinderhook, N. Y.,
and d. there over 70 years of age.
71. EDA, T went with his father and brother to Kinderhook, and d. there
also over 70 years of age.
-{-72. CORNBURY. 7
73. MARY. 7
74. HANNAH. 7
75. ANNA. 7
76. AZUBAH. 7
53
JAMES 6 (Thomas, 6 John, 4 John, 3 John* George Gilson ), third
son of Thomas Clapp, of Lagrange, N. Y., was born April 1, 1756,
He married, Dec. 28, 1780, Phebe Haight,* who was born July 17,
* It was the custom in those days for a father to give ^^
300 ' THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
1750. James was brought up and perhaps born in Lagrange,
Butchess Co. He probably lived with his father till about the year
1786, when he moved to the town of Clinton, N. Y., and purchased
the farm that he remained on most of his days. James Clapp was
a member of the Society of Friends. He is described as a large,
fleshy man, not over tall, with a very red face ; quick in his motions,
but a very awkward teamster, always whipping his fast horse.* He
had a strong will and was very set in his own way, but willingly
acknowledged an error when proved to be in the wrong. He was a
strict temperance man for those days, and when on the road if he
stopped at a tavern would call for a lump of sugar, for which he
paid, being unwilling to accept of hospitality without paying for it.
An old acquaintance of James relates that he was once present at a
law-suit, and among the witnesses called was " Uncle Jimmie," as
Mr. Clapp was sometimes familiarly called by his neighbors. He
looked troubled when it was suggested to have him sworn, as it is
against the rules of Friends to take an oath. The Justice under-
stood the matter at a glance, and said : " Let Uncle Jimmie tell his
story, he will tell the truth without being sworn." Having had few
educational advantages in his youth, the introduction of the decimal
system of currency, when he was well advanced in life, rendered
matters of money and trade a difficulty to him ; but no feelings of
pride hindered his attending a night school, and taking his sons with
him, to learn that method. He went down to see his cousin Thomas
Clapp, of Greenwich, Ct., a few years before his own death. About
two years after his death, a letter came to his address which his
sons took from the office; it proved to be from the Executors of
Thomas, informing James that there was money left to him, by the
will of his rich cousin lately deceased (see p. 297). He died at the
house of his sister, Mrs. Mary Alley, in Lagrange, March 12, 1826.
His wife, Phebe, died Dec. 16, 1827.
Children of JAMES and PHEBE (Haight) CLAPP, of Clinton, N. Y.
77. JACOB, 7 b. in Lagrange, Dutchess Co., April 21, 1782; m. Nov.
23, 1804, Sarah Stringham, who was born July 17, 1784. His
father moved to the town of Clinton about 1786, where he was
brought up. He lived with his father about two years after his
marriage, and his oldest child, Phebe, 8 was born there. About
brookj he was met by his grandfirther's large dog, who crowded him into the brook. Black
Betta came to the rescue and pulled him from the water. Betta was liberated, but always
staid with and considered herself one of the family. She used to tell very often how she
had the Haight spunk.
* One day he had been down to Salt Point to mill, had returned nearly home and com-
menced descending a long hill in sight of his house. In going over a slight ridge made to
throw the water over to the side of the road, his whiffletree bolt came out and his horses
started. The pole dropped, and in some way the horses got to one side, and the wagon
passed them ; the lines, which were rope ones, doubtless, pulled over their heads, and the
old gentleman held on, the wagon running away vrith the horses. His folks heard an unusual
noise, looked and saw James coming, his broad-brim hat turned up in front by the wind,
his wagon rolling down the hill at a break-neck pace, and the horses following behind.
The wagon kept the road till at the foot of the hill, when it made a short curve and ran
into the fence. No damage was done.
GEORGE GILSON AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 301
the year 1806, he moved to the town of Rensselaerville, Albany
Co., where the rest of his children were born. In the spping of
1825, he moved to Monroe Co., N. Y. lived in Wheatland
two years, and in Avon, Livingston Co., one ; from which latter
place he moved to North Rush, Monroe Co., N. Y., where he
had purchased a large farm of the Wadsworths. This was but
slightly clear^l,* but had five log houses put up by squatters ;
three of these he moved together to make a home for his large
family. In these he lived for ten years, when he erected a frame
house. When Jacob purchased his farm, he had the promise of
some money from a friend to assist him, but from fear that
the Wadsworths would not be able to give a good title, the
promise was not kept. This caused him a great deal of trouble,
and he came very near losing all he had. But, finally, the tide
turned, and he was able to secure his place, making several ad-
ditions, and purchased land in Orleans Co., N. Y. and in Michi-
gan. Sarah, his wife, died Jan. 13, 1856, and in the spring of
1857 he married Maria Hinman. This marriage did not prove
a very happy one for Jacob and his family. lie died Sept. 7,
1863, in his 82d year. Children :
78. Phebe, 8 b. Oct. 21, 1805 ; d. unm. Aug. 6, 1842.
79. Benjamin* ft. April 29, 1807, in Albany Co., N.- Y. Is a
. . physician, and settled in Albion, N. Y., in 1834, where he
practised his profession as long as his health allowed. He
married, March 21, 1840, Laura Force, who was born in
Attica, N. ; Y., Feb. 2, 1811, and d. in 1866. Has one dau.,
Laura Adell* b. Oct. 1, 1846, who is living with her father.
80. Isaac, 6 b. Jan. 11, 1809; m. Nov. 25, 1840, Joanna Perry.
She was b. June 4, 1817. Lives on part of the farm his
father bought in Rush. Children : i, Edwin P., 9 b. Aug. 22,
1842; m. Oct. 10, 1872, Ermina J. Hart, who was b. June
2, 1850 ; they live in North Rush, on part of his grandfather's
farm. He has rendered important aid in preparing family
records, and in procuring valuable information for the pages
of this " Memorial." Child : (1) Ernest Llewellyn, 10 b. April
18, 1874. ii. Jam.es G., g b. Feb. 26, 1844; enlisted, Aug.
31, 1862, as sergeant in 140th Reg't, N. Y. S. V.; was in
the attack on Petersburg, and battle of the Wilderness ; he
fell at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863, and his remains were brought
home, ill, Charles JF., 9 b. July 20, 1857.
81. Thomas, 8 b. Feb. 28, 1811 ; m. Dec, 16, 1840, Mary Albertson.
Moved to Barre, Orleans Co. (where his children were born),
spring of 1841 ; and moved to Kalamazoo, Mich., spring of
* Soon after he bought his place, while on the road from his farm in Rush to Scottsville,
his attention was called to the cries of" The bear! the bear!" Looking up, he saw a
lar^e black bear close by ; the bear evaded him. Taking horse from the wagon, he rode
in pursuit. The bear went up the river about a mile, followed closely by Jacob. Coming
on some men at work in a corn-field, they shouted, swung their hoes and turned the bear
back Securing a saddle from some place near which the bear passed, he followed a, ain.
Once a large dog clinched the bear, in a place away from anything which could be used t<
attack it. ^The only satisfaction he could get was by kicking the bear. After a short
struggle, the bear got away, and the dog dared not touch him again. A gun i was givj
Jacob, and coming up close he fired, but in his nervous haste m.ssed him. His horse was
perfectly fearless, jumped large ditches, and behaved in a manner worthy of a hunter. The
bear was finally driven to the river (the Genesee), followed by large parties on both s,k- s
who shot him, but not before he had swam the river for half a mile.
302 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
1854, where he still resides. Children : i, Charles Albertson 9 ,
b. Jan. 23, 1843 ; uiim. and lives with his father. H. Emily
Jane, 9 b. March 11, 1845 ; m. April 18, 1867, John Graham,
a merchant in Wayland, Allegan Co., Mich., where they now
reside ; have three sons, Frederick Wallace, Charles Albert
and Harry Homer.
82. James, 9 b. Jan. 15, 1813; m. April 14* 1857, Elizabeth Wash-
enburger, who was b. Feb. 24, 1826. James staid on the
farm with his father till 1857 ; went first to Ohio and then
to Mich., where he now lives at Lawton, Van Buren Co.
Children: i, Edward J., 9 b. Nov. 11, 1858. ii, Hannah
Sybitta 9 b. June 11, 1864.
83. Samuel, 8 b. Feb. 16, 1814; m. 1845, Sarah Jane DuBois,
who was b. in Steuben Co., June 3, 1825, and d. in Victor,
Ontario Co., Feb. 1864. Has lived in Mendon and Victor,
and is now living in Ionia, Ionia Co., Mich. Children : i.
Jennie A. C., 9 b. in Mendon, Dec. 9, 1848 ; d. in Ionia, Dec.
21, 1874 ; m. Aug. 1, 1868, Henry Brewer, and had three
children : Harry, b. Sept. 15, 1869 ; Nina, b. Aug. 10, 1871 ;
and Frank, b. Oct. 19, 1873. ii, Flora 9 b. in Victor, Nov.
26, 1852.
84. Sarah F.* b. Jan. 28, 1816; m. Feb. 19, 1851, William
Walker, a merchant in Rochester, N. Y., who was b. in
Manchester, England, Nov. 7, 1812. Children : i. Franklin
C., b. Jan. 31, 1852; is a lawyer in Rochester, N. Y. ii.
Charles Jacob, b. July 13, 1853; d. Sept. 20, 1854. iii.
Dannie S., b. Sept. 1, 1856. 1Y, James W., b. Oct. 17,
1859 ; d. Oct. 28, 1859. v, Sarah Matilda, b. Dec. 9, 1862.
85. Nicholas 8 b. July 4, 1817; m. Nov. 11, 1852, Mrs. Charity
A. Walker (nee Cornell), who was b. in Morris Co., N. J.,
June 8, 1829. Has lived in Victor, Ontario Co., N. Y.,
where his children were born. Is now living in Mendon
Centre, Monroe Co. The publishers are greatly indebted
to him for valuable assistance in collecting records of the
line of GEORGE GILSON. Children : i, Esther A., 9 b. Nov.
26, 1853 ; m. Oct. 21, 1875, John Holdridge, who was b. at
Honeoye Falls, Monroe Co., N. Y., where they now live.
ii. William C. 9 b. Nov. 7, 1857.
86. David S., 6 b. Sept. 5, 1818 ; m. Oct. 18, 1844, Nancy Antoinette
Martin ; has lived in Oakfield, Genesee Co., and is now living
in West Sparta, Livingston Co. Children : i Daniel E., 9
b. Aug. 9, 1846 ; d. Jan. 18, 1865. U. Martin J., 9 b. Jan. 3.
1849; m. Dec. 22, 1870, Rosellia Altuburg, and has: (1)
David E., 10 b. Sept. 26, 1871 ; (2) Henry . b. Oct. 19,
1874. iii. Phebe Eliza,* b. June 16, 1850 ; m. Aug. 1, 1872,
Wm. Darrow, and has two children : Florence Theresa, b.
Sept. 17, 1873, and Elenora Adell, b. Sept. 22, 1875.
87. Hannah, 8 b. April 16, 1820; d. April 27, 1875, in Lawton,
Mich., at the house of her brother James. Hannah remained
on the farm with her father as long as he carried on the
farm. Her kindness to the many grandchildren that used
to gather there will long be remembered. She never married.
88. Henry, 9 b. July 22, 1822 ; m. Dec. 1, 1846, Hannah C. Case,
GEORGE GILSON AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 303
who was b. in Irondequoit, Nov. 4, 1828. He has lived in
Rush, Farmington and Scottsville, N. Y., and moved to
Bedford, Calhoun Co., Mich., in 1864, where he now resides.
Has one son : Daniel A., 9 b. Feb. 12, 1852, in the town of
Rush; moved to Harvard, Clay Co., Nebraska, in 1872,
where he now lives.
89. Mary J., 8 b. April 16, 1824 ; m. Feb. 22, 1849, Royal Green,
who was b. in Vermont, March 29, 1825, and d. March 26,
1872. Mary lives on her father's homestead in North Rush,
ten miles south of Rochester, N. Y. Has : I, Jacob Clapp,
b. Oct. 11, 1850. ii. Sarah Adell, b. April 12, 1854. Hi.
Mary Emilie, b. Oct. 29, 1856. They all stay with their
mother.
90. SARAH, 7 b. Dec. 15, 1784; d. Aug. 4, 1814, unm. Sarah took
the terrible cold which terminated in her death by consumption,
from rinsing the flaxen yarn which she was working at in a brook,
after it had been in a bath of ashes and water. She was just
recovering from the scarlet fever. Her dying words were taken
down at the time, and have been preserved in the family in a
manuscript of eighteen well-written pages, now in possession of
Nicholas, 8 above-mentioned, nephew of Sarah, 7 and which has been
kindly loaned to the publishers. It is entitled, " Testimony of
James and Phebe Clapp, concerning their daughter, Sarah
Clapp, of Creek Monthly Meeting, Ninepartners, State of New
York." After giving the date of her birth " 15th of 1st mo.
1784" and mentioning the innocency of her early life, it is
stated that when at the age of about 22, she was visited with
a severe illness, from which she recovered after a confinement of
several weeks, " during which her mind became impressed with
religious concerns." About .the 30th year of her age, she was
again attacked with sickness, from which she never recovered.
The principal part of the " testimony " is devoted to the expres-
sions of joyful trust and happy anticipations which fell from her
lips, united with pious counsel and earnest exhortations to her
relatives and all around her, whom she entreated to " live in the
fear of the Lord," to be " faithful in the little," to " seek no great
things," and to be sure and " keep to plainness of speech, be-
haviour and apparel." " She quietly breathed her last the 4th
of 8th month 1814, aged 30 years and 8 months."
91. THOMAS, 7 b. Dec. 30, 1785; d. Oct. 13, 1850; m. April 26,
1810, Lydia Gifford, who was b. Oct. 28, 1785, and d. Oct. 18,
1836. Thomas lived and died near his father's homestead.
Children :
92. John G.* b. June 7-, 1814; d. June 22, 1815.
93. Sarah G., s b. April 17, 1816; m. Sept. 24, 1835, Hon. Shotwell
Powell, who was born Oct. 3, 1808. Mr. Powell has repre-
sented his Assembly District one term in the Legislature.
They lived first in Dutchess Co., and are now living in Bristol,
Ontario Co., N. Y. Children: f, Thomas J., b. July 23,
1837 ; m. March 26, 1864, Emily Ewer, who was b. Oct. 9,
1843 ; lives near his father, ii, Israel M., b. Aug. 10, 1839 ;
m. June 11, 1873, Edie Waters, who was b. May 24, 1840;
lives with his father. Hi. Lydia Ann, b. Aug. 7, 1841 ; m.
304 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
Feb. 27, 1870, Wm. E. Lincoln, who was b. March 14, 1835 ;
lives at Bristol Springs, Ontario Co.
94. Anna P., 8 b. Dec. 23, 1820 ; m. Oct. 21, 1845, Ethan Brown-
ing, who was b. Nov. 1, 1815 ; live at Crum Elbow, Dutchess
Co. Children: i. James C., b. July 8, 1846; m. May 22,
1872, Naomi Halstead, who was b. June 25, 1845. ii, Anna
G., b. Sept. 20, 1847. Hi. Charles P., b. May 9, 1849. iv.
Theron M., b. Feb. 2, 1851. v. William J., b. Jan. 10, 1856.
95. James G., 8 b. Nov. 12, 1823; d. Oct. 23, 1855; m. Nov. 5,
1851, Mary R. Doltz, who was b. Feb. 25, 1831. He left
one son: j. Egbert D., 9 b. Sept. 19, 1852 ; is clerk in a drug-
store in Poughkeepsie.
96. Nicholas T.,*b. Nov. 20, 1828 ; m. Oct. 1853, Caroline Briggs ;
lives in Macedon, N. Y., and had two children, who died in
infancy.
97. NICHOLAS, 7 b. June 12, 1788; d. June 8, 1834. Nicholas was
the wag of the family. Were all his tricks and jokes told, they
would fill quite a volume. He lived with his father and brother
James, spending his time in Poughkeepsie and in Albany during
the session of the Legislature. While at Albany one time, as he
was walking the wharf, he was asked by a man to give him a
job. Nicholas was very anxious to have the well pumped dry
near where they were standing, and offered the man a dollar to
do the job. The man accepted the offer, went to work with
a will, flooding the wharf, and attracting the attention of the
passers by. In answer to the inquiries as to what he was doing
that for, he said that he was pumping the well dry. " Pumping
the well dry ! ! You fool, do you think you can pump the North
River dry ? That pump goes into the river." He was anxious
then to find his employer, on whom he wished to vent his terrible
wrath. Nicholas had been watching him all the time from a
second-story window overlooking the pump, laughing, as he
always did at his victims, with a laugh that shook him all over.
After enjoying it to his heart's content, he came down and settled
with the man to his satisfaction, giving him fifty cents. Nicholas
left his property to his nephews and nieces, giving those that
were named after him a thousand dollars for their name. He
died at Skaneateles, on his way home from a visit to his brother
Jacob, in Rush.
98. HANNAH/ b. June 4, 1790; d. March 28, 1823 ; m. April 25, 1816,
Andrew Underbill ; had no children. A singular occurrence in
reference to Hannah's death was, after attending a funeral at the
Crum Elbow meeting-house, she remarked to a friend at the
grave that her remains would be laid there next. It was the
custom there in the burying-grounds of the Friends to bury in
rows, commencing at one side and filling up in regular order,
regardless of families, and to stay at the grave till it was filled.
Her prophecy proved true.
99. JAMES H., 7 b. April 13, 1792 ; d. Feb. 18, 1860 ; m. Oct. 26, 1815,
Elizabeth Marshall. James lived and died on the farm that his
father owned before him. He was very hospitable, and greatly
enjoyed the society of his friends, with whom his house was often
filled. Like his brother Nicholas, he was quite a joker. Eliza-
GEORGE GILSON AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 305
beth, his wife, died in Mendon, Jan. 30, 1865. She was living
with her youngest dau. Emily. Children :
100. Hannah, 9 b. Aug. 17, 1816 ; m. Oct. 22, 1840, Oliver P. Hull,
who was b. Jan. 29, 1813. They moved to Mendon Centre,
Monroe Co., N. Y., where they lived till her death, March
14, 1873. Hannah was well informed with regard to the
genealogy of her family, and in all matters of family history ;
the records which she had gathered have been of much assist-
ance in compiling this Memorial. Had : i, Elizabeth A., b.
April 26, 1842; m. May 22, 1861, Alonzo D. Gazley, of
Dutchess Co., who was b. April 29, 1836, and is now a
merchant and postmaster at Mendon Centre. ii, Mary
Emily, b. July 24, 1852 ; m. Feb. 7, 1872, Dr. Reuben E.
Phillips, who was b. Nov. 22, 1848; live in Farmington,
Ontario Co., N. Y.
101. E. Hicks,* b. March 17, 1818 ; m. Nov. 4, 1840, Catharine E.
Allen, who was b. April 1, 1818 ; lives in Clinton Hollow,
Dutchess Co., N. Y., near his father's and grandfather's
homestead. Children : i. William A., 9 b. Sept. 12, 1841 ; is
employed in the office of the clerk of Westchester Co. ii.
Sarah Elizabeth, 9 b. Oct. 6, 1843; m. Jan. 27, 1864, John
W. Lattin, and d. Dec. 19, 1868; had : (1) Mary Louise, b.
Jan. 5, 1865; (2) Hicks A., b. Jan. 28, 1867. Hi. George
Henry, 9 b. Sept. 21, 1845. iv, James Edward 9 b. Dec. 10,
1849 ; m. Dec. 10, 1872, Elma S. Van Wagner. V, Charles
Augustus 9 b. Feb. 22, 1854.
102. Samuel Huestis, 9 b. July 11, 1820; m. Anna Frost; live in
Brooklyn, N. Y., where Samuel is a Police Officer ; they
have: \, Herbert. 9 ii, Henry, 9
103. Justice Marshall, 8 b. June 12, 1824 ; m. Hattie ; has one
daughter. Is a grocer in Brooklyn, N. Y.
104. Mary, 9 b. Jan. 2, 1830; m. James Allen, who is now dead:
has four children : Julia, William, Mary Emily and James.
105. Sarah E., s b. April 2, 1831 ; m. Jan. 13, 1868, Jacob Downing;
resides at Half Moon Bay, San Mateo Co., Cal., Downing's
Gate.
106. Emily C., 8 b. Nov. 19, 1837; m. Feb. 16, 1864, Franklin
Ewers, of Mendon, N. Y. ; they reside near Bedford, Calhoun
Co., Mich., and have three children : Elizabeth, b. Jan. 20,
1865, James and Adaline.
James 6 and his sons brought up their families in the Quaker faith ; but,
out of all his descendants, only Nicholas 8 (No. 85), Sarah 8 (No. 93), Anna 8
(No. 94) and Hannah 8 (No. 100), brought up theirs in the faith of their
fathers, and the children of these latter have mostly married outside of the
Friends Society.
HENRY 6 (Joseph,* Elias, 4 John, 3 John,* Gecrge.Gi/son 1 ), seventh
son of Joseph Clapp, was born in Westchester Co., N. Y., and re-
moved to the vicinity of Albany, N. Y. lie became an intimate
friend of Gen. Van Rensselaer, known as "the Patroon," and, dy-
306 THE GLAPP MEMORIAL.
ing when his children were quite young, he chose the Patroon* as the
guardian of his eldest son. His wife was a native of Holland.
Children of HENRY CLAPP, of Albany, N. Y. (whose descendants
use the letter K, instead of C, in spelling their name) :
107. JOSEPH/ spent the first years of his life near Albany, N. Y.
After acquiring all the preliminary education necessary, he was
placed by his guardian, Gen. Van Rensselaer, in the office of Dr.
Benjamin Rush,f of Philadelphia, then one of the most eminent
physicians in this country. Having graduated with the highest
honors as a physician, Dr. Rush, who had formed for his young
pupil a strong personal attachment, advised him to settle in
Philadelphia, which he did about the year 1805. He soon after
married Anna Milnor, the daughter of William Milnor, a promi-
nent citizen of Philadelphia and a warm personal friend of Gen.
Washington, and sister to the Hon. James Milnor,$ Dr. Klapp
rose to great eminence in his profession, and was esteemed one
of the most successful practitioners of his day. Besides being
for a time Professor in the Jefferson College of Philadelphia,
and Physician to the Philadelphia Hospital which the pressing
cares of a very large practice compelled him to resign, he was
the author of a number of essays upon important subjects in his
profession, which were re-published in several European lan-
guages, rendering his reputation abroad almost as great as at
home. He died suddenly in 1843, in the Court House at Phila-
* Stephen Van Renssclaer, LL.D., "the Patroon," was born in New York, Nov. 1, 1764,
and died in Albany, Jan. 26, 1839. He was the 5th in lineal descent from Killiaen Van
Rensselaer, the original Patroon, or proprietor, of a tract of land which in 1637 was twenty-
four miles in breadth by forty-eight in length, extending over the greater part of Albany,
Rensselaer and Columbia Counties, N. Y. In 1783, he married a daughter of Gen. Philip
Si huyler, of Albany. Member of the Assembly in 1789, of the State Senate in 1790-5 ;
Lieut.-Gov. 1795-1801; member of the Constitutional Convention of 1801, and most of the
time its presiding officer. In 1801, he commanded the State Cavalry, with the rank of Gen-
eral ; was in command of the New York militia on the breaking out of the war of 1812,
and assaulted and took Queenstown, Canada, but was eventually defeated. He was again
a member of the Legislature in 1816 ; in 1819, was elected a regent of the State University,
and subsequently its chancellor; in 1821, a member of the Constitutional Convention; and
member of Congress in 1823-9, where his vote caused the election of J. Q. Adams. In Nov.,
1824, he established at Troy a scientific school for the instruction of teachers, incorporated
in 1826 as the Rensselaer Institute. Fully one-half of its current expenses were borne by
him, and he continued to aid it till his death Drake's Biographical Dictionary.
t Benjamin Rush, M.D. (Edinburgh, 1768), LL.D., was not only distinguished through
a long life as a physician, a professor and medical author, but as one of the signers of the
Declaration of Independence, and an active participator in the important political events
which succeeded the Revolution, he is ranked among the eminent men who secured
our national independence and founded our Federal and State Constitutions. He was born
near Philadelphia, Dec. 24, 1745, and died in that city, April 19, 1813. He studied medicine
in Philadelphia, Edinburgh, London and Paris. During the prevalence of yellow ferer in
Philadelphia in 1793, Dr. Rush's labors were almost herculean, he sometimes visiting and
prescribing for not less than 100 patients in a day. His treatment was bold and decisive,
and thereby, as maintained by Dr. Ramsay, he was instrumental in saving the lives of many
thousands of the inhabitants of Philadelphia. Cobbett, however, in his " Peter Porcu-
pine's Gazette," so violently assaulted Dr. Rush and his treatment of this disease, that a
tuit was brought against him and a verdict of $5000 obtained. Dr. R. was Treasurer of
the U. S. Mint from 1799 to his death. His writings are numerous. He was distinguished
for philanthropy and piety, and for many of his last years was vice-Presideut of the
Philadelphia Bible Society.
J Hon. James Milnor was eminent as a lawyer and a member of Congress from Phila-
delphia, but afterwards entered the ministry" of the Episcopal Church, and died while
Rector of old St. George's, New York, of which he had been Rector for many years, hon-
ored and respected not only by all the New Yorkers, but by all who knew him personally
or by reputation.
GEORGE GILSON AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 307
delphia, while about to give testimony in a very important case,
concerning the sanity of a wealthy patient. Dr. Klapp, like his
cousin Allan (No. 18), was a gentleman par excellence, and im-
pressed all who met him by his courtly manners and intellectual
conversation. Children :
108. Stephen Van Rensselaer 9 who d. in infancy.
109. William Henry, 9 was a physician, and practised for many years
in Philadelphia ; d. in 1 855, at about the middle period of
life, beloved by all who knew him ; he m. Rebecca Devereux,
and had : i. Devereux. 9 jj, George Gilson 9 Hi, Frederick. 9
IV. William. 9 V, A daughter, 9 m. Mr. Williams, and is now
living in Rome, Italy. VI, Laura? vii. Bertha?
110. Henry* a physician, and was for many years Physician to the
Moyamensing Prison, afterwards to the Eastern Penitentiary,
and who, besides being highly thought of as a successful
practitioner, was a writer of considerable merit. He had in
early life spent many years in travelling, especially in China
and Brazil. He died without issue, broken down by the
fatigues of his profession.
111. Joseph, 8 also a physician; he is now and has been for many
years engaged in a large practice in Philadelphia. He has
also been largely interested in the Howard Hospital and
Infirmary for Incurables, the only institution of its kind in
the world, of which he and his friend Dr. Partridge were the
original founders Dr. Klapp proposing the peculiar plan
upon which it is founded ; owing to its perfect system, the
Infirmary is capable of doing an immense deal of good, and
in its wards 8,555 patients were treated during the year end-
ing March, 1875 during the twenty-two years of its exist-
ence, 113,627. Dr. Joseph Klapp m. Anna Pauline, dau. of
John Van Lew, deceased, who was, up to the time, of his
death, an extensive and most prosperous hardware merchant
in Richmond, Va., and who d. in 1843, beloved and esteemed
most highly by all who knew him. Children: j, Joseph?
m. the dau. of Rev. Dr. Ingraham, of Mississippi, the author
of " Prince of the House of David," and other works. ii,
John Van Lew. 9 iii, Harvey 9 d. some years ago. iv, Wil-
bur Paddock? V. E. Louise 9 m. Dr. B. F. Nicholls, late of
South Carolina, now of Philadelphia. ?1. Anna Milnor 9 m.
Theodore T. Lines, a merchant of Philadelphia, vii. EUen
Franklin? viii, Mary Pauline? ix. Gertrude Hawkins?
112. Anna Milnor, 9 m. her cousin, Dr. Henry Milnor, of New York ;
she d. not many months afterwards.
113. Mary* m. Rev. Mr. Whitesides, and left two children.
114. Ellen, 9 m. Rev. Thomas L. Franklin, D.D., now of Philadel-
phia ; two sons and three daughters.
115. Margaret 9 m. as a second wife, Dr. Henry Milnor, husband of
her sister Anna M., deceased ; two sons and one daughter, of
whom but one, the Rev. Charles E. Milnor, of Berlin, Md.,
now survives.
116. Rebecca 9 m. Samuel M. Mitchell, merchant, of Richmond, Va. ;
three sons and a daughter.
117. HARVEY, 7 lived for many years near Poughkeepsie, N. Y. His
41
308 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
brother Joseph, finding his practice too large to attend to alone,
sent for his brother Harvey, who studied with him and became,
like him, one of the most popular physicians in Philadelphia.
The excessive labors of his profession were too great for his
constitution, though naturally a strong one, and he died at about
the age of 40, mourned over by a large circle of friends. He
m. first, Rebecca Peltz, who was the mother of the children left ;
she dying, he m. second, Anna McKnight, the niece of Com.
Decatur; she had no children, and survives him. Children by
first wife :
118. Mary, 8 m. Richard W. Steel, merchant; she d. in about a year.
119. Rebecca, 8 m. as a second wife, Richard W. Steel, husband of
her sister Mary, deceased.
120. Gertrude, 8 m. Howard Hinchman, merchant.
121. JSlizabeth, 8 m. Capt. Stites, of the Navy, and is now dead.
122. JOHN, 7 in early life, began the study of medicine with his brothers
in Philadelphia, but was for some reason diverted from the pro-
fession of his choice, perhaps by his marriage at the early age of
twenty-one. His wife was a beautiful and accomplished dau. of
Gen. Samuel A. Barker.* After the death of Gen. Barker,
Mr. Klapp, his son-in-law, continued to occupy the old home-
stead a large and valuable farm in Lagrange, Dutchess Co.,
N. Y., well known throughout the county as " the old Barker
Place." On this farm, it is said, he raised the largest crop of
wheat that had ever been raised in Dutchess Co. Here were
born his four sons and one daughter. He afterwards engaged
in business in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and finally went west to
Ohio, but returned and died at the house of his only daughter,
at Palmyra, N. Y., at the advanced age of 83, after a life of re-
markable health. John Klapp served his country in the war of
1812, probably as Quartermaster, and he wrote from Camp
Harlaem, " I shall soon return home, unless attacked by the
British who are said to have 59 sail in the [Sound] below." In
the winter of 1824, Mr. Klapp was sent to Albany, as a member
of the Legislature. He was a life-long admirer of Clay, Web-
ster and Hamilton. He heard Webster's celebrated reply to
Gen. Hayne, and delighted to recall the imposing appearance
and flashing eyes of the great orator. After Burr's fatal duel,
Mr. K. once saw him in New York, and followed him from the
Battery through the crowded streets to the upper part of the
city, to see what notice he would receive from the public. But
not one hat was raised in token of recognition or respect.
Children :
123. Henry Augustus, 8 also studied medicine; d. in Fishkill, N. Y. ;
he m. Nancy, dau. of James Grant, of Dover, N. Y. ; she d.
leaving one son : i, William If., 9 now a dry goods commis-
* A Revolutionary officer, and is said to have been a man of wealth, talents and influence.
He served on the staff of Gen. Lafayette, and was present in that cnpacity at the victory of
Yorktown. He is said to have been almost the only American officer who could converse
with Lafayette in his native tongue. On Gen. Lafayette's second visit to this country, he
inquired affectionately after his old friend and his children ; and, at a reception given him
in Waterloo N. Y., finding Pierre A. Barker a son of his old comrade, present, Lafayette
insisted on his entering the carriage and taking a place by his side. Gen. Barker was also
for many years a member of the New York Legislature.
GEORGE GILSON AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 309
sion merchant, doing business in New York city ; is m. and
has: (\) Eugene; (2) Allan; (3) Laurence now dead.
124. John Randolph* studied medicine with his uncle, Dr. Joseph
Klapp, in Philadelphia ; ' m. and went to the wilds of Ohio,
where he raised a large family. He now resides in Illinois.
Children : i, Augustus. 9 jj, James. 9 iii. Edward? iy. John. 9
also several daughters.
125. Edward Meritte* entered into the land speculations in Buffalo,
N. Y., and at one time possessed a handsome fortune, but
suffered, like many others, on the retreat of the wave, and
finally died of consumption, in 1840, at Palmyra, N. Y., at
the early age of 25 years.
126. Philip Schuyler* youngest son of John Klapp, when he was
about 17 years of age, went a sea voyage around the world.
On his return, studied medicine in Ohio with his brother
John Randolph, but d. of consumption at an early age, unm.
Philip was called "the traveller" by the family. George
Gilson's spirit seems to have migrated to this lineal descend-
ant. In a letter of his, dated Galena, Ohio, written Dec. 30,
1840, he says of his recent voyage, " I made a complete pas-
sage round our little world ; called at the East Indies ; saw
the anaconda, the enormous black whale in the Sea of Kamt-
schatka, the huge white bear at Bhering's Straits, the black
swan at New Holland, the swift ostrich in the deserts of
Africa ; hunted the voracious condor on the plains of Chili ;
lassoed the wild horse about the gulf of California ; shot the
otter and beaver in the Russian possessions ; paused to look
at Cook's monument, at Owyhee, and to contemplate the
volcano at Lomborch ; and read Byron's poem of ' The Island '
at Otaheite."
127. Louisa M., 8 m. William F. Aldrich, a lawyer, and lives in
Brooklyn, Long Island.
-73-
CORXBURY 7 (Gilbert, 6 James,* John, 4 Jolm? John, 3 George Gil-
son 1 ), youngest son of Gilbert Clapp, probably of Westchester Co.,
N. Y., married, first, Catharine Bishop, and settled in Greenville,
Ct., where their children were born. She died early, and he mar-
ried again about 1798, probably removing to Dutchess Co., N. Y.,
and thence to Kinderhook, in Columbia Co. He died of apoplexy,
at the age of 60 years. He had four daughters not given below.
Children of COBNBURY and 1st wife CATHARINE (Bishop) CLAPP:
128. JAMES, 8 went to Ohio; nothing known of his history.
129. WILLIAM,* went to sea in a ship from New York, and was never
heard from ; the vessel was supposed to be captured by Turks,
-f 130. GILBERT, 8 b. in Greenville, Ct., May 8, 1792; d. March 9, 1873.
131. LEWIS. 8
Children of CORNBORY and 2d wife:
132. JOHN," b. in Dutchess Co., N. Y., about 1800 ; lives at Black River
Falls, Wis. Children :
310 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
133. Nathan? living at Black River Falls, Wis.
134. Oliver? resides at Denver City, Col. Terr.
135. Lewis? now dead.
136. Oscar F.? is a bookseller at Black River Falls, Wis.
137. ALEXANDER, 8 is now living at Kinderhook, Columbia Cp.. N. Y.
-ISO-
GILBERT 8 (Cornbury? Gilbert, 6 James, 5 John,' 1 John, 3 John, 2
George. Gilson 1 ), third son of Cornbury and Catharine (Bishop)
Clapp, was born in Greenville, Ct., May 8, 1792. When quite young
he removed with his father and step-mother into New York State,
and part of his childhood was probably spent in Kinderhook, as he
remembered going to a school in which Martin Van Buren (afterwards
President) was also a scholar. He was bound out, when but seven
years old, to a man whose wife treated Gilbert with such cruelty
that he ran away at the age of twelve, and shipped on board of a
merchantman as cabin-boy. He served in the American navy for
several months ; afterwards went into the merchant service, and
while in Liverpool, after a service of two years, was seized by a
press-gang and taken on board an English frigate, where he remained
over a year, when he escaped and entered the American service.
At various times, he was on board the old frigate Constitution, the
Chesapeake, the Hornet and the Wasp. He was a seaman sixteen
years, visiting all the best known ports in both hemispheres, and for
his courage and energy was made commander of a vessel. Gilbert
afterwards removed to Onondaga County, N. Y., then to Tompkins
County, N. Y., then to Cleveland, Ohio, and in 1845 went to Michi-
gan. For twenty-eight years previous to his death, he was a farmer
in the township of Battle Creek, in the County of Calhoun, Michigan.
He died of apoplexy, March 9, 1873, nearly 81 years of age. At his
death, and for some time previously, he had been a pensioner of
the war of 1812, through which he served. The earlier part of his
life was varied by many scenes of adventure, being in that time of
strife previous to and during the war of 1812, and of piracy and
the slave trade afterwards. In the peaceful, closing days of his life,
he was fond of relating the capture of a slave trader, or some encoun-
ter with pirates, of rehearsing incidents in his life on an English
frigate, as an impressed American seaman, as well as portraying
vividly scenes of battle and personal encounter. He married, Aug.
6, 1811, Jane, daughter of Sir John Pattison, M. P. for Co. Mona-
ghan, Ire'l'aiid. She left her home with him, and they were married
in K'ew York. They lived happily together till her death in 1872.
Children of GILBERT and JANE (Pattison) CLAPP:
138. JOHN, 9 b. in 1816 ; d. in 1837, without issue.
139. WiLLiAM, 9 b. in 1818; d. without issue in 1837.
140. EDNA ALDENA, S m. Mr. Aldrich, and lives in Dubuque, la.
141. LEWIS B., 9 b. March 3, 1822 ; still living in Battle Creek, Mich.,
GEORGE GILSON AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 31 1
where he went in 1845. He is at the head of the most extensive
cigar manufacturing establishment in Southern and Central
Michigan, and is also extensively engaged in the lumber trade.
He m. Dotha A. Brundage. Children :
142. Frank W., 10 b. Nov. 25, 1844; is an attorney at law; has
been City Attorney of Battle Creek, and is the present
Prosecuting Attorney of Calhoun Co. He m. Josephine A.
Woolnough.
143. Charles Z,' b. May 23, 1855 ; is a commercial salesman, living
in Battle Creek, Mich.
144. ELIJAH, 9 b. Jan. 16, 1825; went to Battle Creek, Mich., in 1845,
and is still Jiving at that place, where he is one of the prominent
business men. Since 1848, he has been very largely engaged in
the manufacture of wagons, carriages, &c., and his sales extend
into nearly every State in the Union. He m. Susan Carr, and
has :
145. William, 10 b. June 15, 1855 ; he is interested in business with
his father in Battle Creek, Mich.
146. Vietta b. Jan. 28, 1858.
147. Lulie, 10 b. June 15, 1860.
148. JAMES,' b. in 1833; d. in 1834.
149. WESLEY G., 9 b. Nov. 20, 1836 ; he is a farmer, and lives on the
old homestead of his father in Battle Creek, Mich. He m. Ala-
phair Brundage. Children :
150. Frederick, 10 b. April 15, 1857 ; with his father.
151. Lewis R, 10 b. Dec. 26, 1868.
' 152. Earl, 10 b. Dec. 25, 1874.
153. JANE, 9 d. young. 154. HENRIETTA.
The genealogical account of the GEORGE GILSON branch of the
Clapp family in the hands of the compiler was very meagre when the
printing of this work was begun. In answer to circulars and private
letters sent out by the publishers, family records and traditional
narrations have come to light and have been furnished with a willing-
ness that shows the deep interest felt in the matter by this branch.
This line, it will be seen, is not so numerous as some of the others, but
much interesting matter in relation to individual members has been
obtained and is now for the first time printed. In addition to what
has been received from private sources, the following facts, derived
mostly from the Documentary History of New York State and Bol-
ton's History -of Westchester County, will be found interesting.
In the year 1690, the inhabitants of the towns of H^mnstead,
Jamaica, Flushing and Newtown on Long Island, directed (Ja, .ain
John Clapp to write a protest to the King's Secretary of State
against " the severe oppressions and tyrannical usurpations of Jacob
Leisler* and his accomplices." This letter has been truly called
* Jacob Leisler, a German adventurer whom the unsettled state of affairs in the American
colonies, at the time of the downfall of James II. and the accession of William and Mary to
the crown of England, had accidentally thrown into power in New York, finally assumed
312 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
"telling and bitter." About 1703, John Clapp resided in the "out
ward" of New York City. His family then consisted, besides
himself, of " 1 male [perhaps his father], 1 female [his wife], 2 male
children, 2 male negroes and 1 female negro." In 1 704, John Clapp
was one of twenty-nine proprietors of the township of Bedford, in
Westchester Co., their patent being granted by Queen Anne, through
Gov. Cornbury. In 1705, John Clapp purchased of the Indian pro-
prietors a large tract of land on the north side of Rye Pond, in
Northcastle, Westchester Co., which is thus described in the deed:
All the land above mentioned, from the said north-west side of said pond,
running west northerly three miles, more or less, and from thence running
north-eastwardly four miles, more or less, on a run or river called Bruncks's
river, and from thence east northerly three English miles, more or less, and
then from thence runs south-westerdly to the place from whence it began,
taking in and including a small pond called Cranberry pond, unto John
Clapp, his heirs, executors, administrators, &c., reserving three hundred
acres for our own use, for the sum of 10, that is to say, four pieces of
eight, or money, and the other 8 10s. in such goods as are agreed upon by
said parties.
Signed sealed and delivered in
presence of us,
Roger Thoryon, The mark of CQ Patthunck, sen.
The mark of Daniel The mark of ^ Panridge.
Headley. The mark of -*s Wapeto Patthunck, jun.
The mark of O younger Patthunck.
In 1708, the title of John Clapp and eight others to a tract of
land in Northcastle was confirmed by royal charter, through Lord
Cornbury. In 1705, Capt. John Clapp, with two others, purchased
another extensive tract of the Indian proprietors, in the township of
Rye, in the same county, the deed being dated April 13th of that
year :
A certain parcel of land lying and being within ye township of Rye,
bounded by a certain beach tree standing upon the brink of Byram river,
marked with J. G. J. and J. H. and J. C., running up ye said river northerly
to a great swamp, where standeth an ash tree marked with the above said
letters, and from thence in a direct course to an oak tree with stones laid
at ye root, and from thence with a range of marked trees of the norther-
most corner of ye great pond, so running down by ye said pond till it meet-
eth with a white oak sapling marked with ye above said letters, and from
thence by certain marked trees to the above said marked beach tree by ye
brink of Byram river.
Sig. sealed and delivered The true mark of Q Wapetoe.
in the presence of The true mark of ^ Raresquash.
Daniel Strang. The true mark of <y Mekeran.
Joseph Purdy.
The marke of <j Pare.
the governorship of that colony, and on the arrival of Gov. Sloughter from England refused
to surrender the fortifications, thus rendering himself liable to the charge of treason, for
which he was tried, condemned and executed, his execution taking place May 16, 1691.
He seems to have possessed good and bad tmits of character. In 1689, he purchased a
large tract of land in Westchester Co., embracing the whole of what is now the town of
New Rochelle, which he bestowed on the Huguenots, then arriving in large numbers in the
country from France.
GEORGE GILSON AND HIS DESCENDANTS. 313
A further grant and confirmation was obtained July 20, of the
same year, as follows :
Of all that said tract of land which is butted and bounded as follows, viz.
beginning at a beach tree standing by By ram river near a great rock,
marked with letters J. H. J. P. J. C., then running up the said river north-
west to a certain ash tree in the upper end of a place commonly called Pond
Pound neck, marked with the letters aforesaid, &c. &c., to the Colony line
and thence by the said Colony line westerdly to the eight mile stake stand-
ing between three white oak trees, marked, viz. one of said trees is marked
with the letters C. C. R. on the north side, and on ye south side J. D. and
from said tree in a direct line runs to ye northmost corner of Rye Pond
and thence south 10 degrees westerdly to a white oak sapling, marked by
the Pond side with the letters J. P., thence by a range of marked trees
south 63 degrees east to an ash tree standing by Blind brook on the east
side thereof, and thence by another range of marked trees to a certain
chestnut tree marked with the letters J. J. on ye north side, on the west
side with the letters J. P., on the south-west side with the letters J. H., and
thence by a range of marked trees to ye place where it begins.
Signed, sealed and delivered The mark of Serringoe.
in presence of Serringoe's mark in behalf of Wapeto
James Mott. Pathunck, and of his brother Raresquash.
Henry Disbrow.
Joost Palclinck.
In 1710, Queen Anne issued her royal letters patent to him and
others for these lands in Rye. From 1707 to 1711, John Clapp was
clerk of Westchester County. The pedigree of the Quinby family,
of Northcastle, shows that Dorcas Quinby, born Sept. 9, 1690,
married John Clapp, of Purchase.
It is almost certain that the John Clapp who figured in the early
history of Westchester Co. was John ; 3 No. 3, of our Memorial.
The item last mentioned, however, refers, probably, to his son John, 4
No. 6, who, according to family records, married Eliza Douglas
Quimby. From these gleanings of history, it would seem probable
that John Clapp, who probably came from the South in his youth,
lived on Long Island and in New York city, where his children
were born. Thence entering the wilderness to the north of the city,
lie finally settled his family on land comprised in the towns of North-
castle, Rye and Harrison. From this point, his descendants have
spread up the Hudson River as far as Albany; thence west through-
out the State of New York, and, so, on to the great west, one branch
only (Silas, No. 10) taking an eastward direction into Rhode Island.
Doubtless, large numbers of the descendants of GEORGE GILSON
are still unrecorded. It is known that many are in Canada; and
could the scattered names of this family be collected, they might
exhibit an aggregate in numbers nearly equal to those of the other
families of the same name.
The arrival and settlement in this country of large numbers of
Huguenots, some of them from the city of Rochelle in France, the
last asylum in that country from which they were driven out, forms
314 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
a most interesting chapter in the colonization of America, but it
can here be referred to only as connected with the family intended
to be memorialized. Tiie town of New Rochelle, already mentioned,
received in 1689 a portion of these exiles, who had been aided
in their escape by the English government, and had. received letters
of denization from Charles II. in council under the great seal. In
1695, larger numbers came, and they continued to arrive till the
year 1700. On the 17th of April, 1724, twenty-eight freeholders of
the town signed a document granting to Anthony Lespinard a portion
of land (on Davenport's Neck) for the erection of a mill. Among
these freeholders is found the name of Gilleaumc Clapp. Whether
he was of the line of GEORGE GILSON is not certain, but probably he
was, from his vicinity to the first settlements made by members of that
family, and as his name was not there in 1710. With the exception
of his name and those of John Clark and John M. Martin, the other
twenty-five names are of foreign derivation. The records of the
town were then partly kept in the French language. This language
in its purity is said to have been preserved in New Rochelle during
at least two generations, and the town was a place of considerable
resort for the acquirement of that language, and likewise on account
of the hospitality and politeness of its inhabitants. Here the Hon.
John Jay (the grandson of a Huguenot), and Gen. Philip Schuyler
of revolutionary memory, received the elements of their education
under the charge of the French clergy. As showing the type of
character of these worthy emigrants, among whom one at least of
our name is known to have lived, if he was not actually one of them, the
following extract from the will of the Huguenot, John Mashett (dated
New Rochelle, April 17, 1694), is copied from Bolton's interesting
history already alluded to :
Our help be in the name of God, which made the heavens and earth.
Amen.
I, John Mashett, a ship carpenter, born and bred in ye town of Frambbad
in France, and dwelling in Bordeaux, and being fugitive by the persecution,
with my family, viz., Jeane Thomas my wife, and Peter, John, Jeanne and
Mary Anne Mashett, my children, sons and daughters, and having all
abandoned and forsaken all my goods for my religion's sake, which I profess
in the purity of a Christian commonly called Protestant, and being now
established in these places, lands and dependencies of I^ew York, in the
town called New Rochelle, under the dominion of the high and mighty
monarch, our king, William of plaine memory, to which God preserve his
sceptre and crowne, and that under his reign we might live in God's fear,
and being sick of body with a fever, notwithstanding sound of mind and
memory, and willing to provide my business for the tranqnility of my
family, &c. Imprimus, I commend my soul to God, the Father, the Creator
of Heaven and Earth, that he might receive her in His Heavenly kingdom
among his blessed children. And as for my corpse, to be buried after the
custom and manner of my religion and discipline, till the accomplishment
of times, and untill the ressurrection when our Lord shall come for to judge
the quick and the dead, &c. &c.
VI.
ISOLATED FAMILIES.
BESIDES Roger, Edward, Thomas, Nicholas and George Gilson,
whose descendants have been carefully traced in the preceding pages,
there were others of the name of Clapp, early found here, who either
came to this country independently of any of the above-named, or
who were descended from some of them, the relationship being at
the present time unknown. T1.3se names are given chronologically,
as nearly as this has been found practicable.
In 1664, a petition from the inhabitants of the town of Dorchester
" To the Hon cd Gouvn r , the Deputy Gouvn 1 , together with the rest of
the hon rd Magistrals & house of Deputyes: .Assembled in Generall
court at Boston," was drawn up and signed by one hundred and two
individuals, constituting the great body of the freemen of the town.
It had reference to the political changes brought about by the resto-
ration of Charles II. in 1660. The colonists feared the worst when
this restoration took place, and during these four years the good
people of Dorchester, with the inhabitants of other towns, had anx-
iously awaited the course of events. It was in this condition of
things that the petition referred to was presented, the burden of
which was a request for a continuance of the privileges and liberties
they had hitherto enjoyed. One sentence from it, here given, com-
prises,, perhaps, the most important desire contained in it, and one
about which they had experienced the most alarm. " Therefor,"
they s?. r> ; " it is our Humble request that the liberty of o r churches &
faitlifull ministry in this colloriy may bee still continued, without the
imposition of any such Injunction not ordained of god, wch con-
sciences truly tender would be trobled withall, but that as hitherto
our churches & ministers haue bine freed from such human inuen-
tions & impositions, soe they may bee still, it being well knowne to
the world that to be freed therefrom was one spetiall cause that
42
316 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
moued many to remoue from their deare natiue country Into this
wildernes & how lamentable & greiueous it would bee to be here
burdened & encombred againe with such matterg is easv for any to
Judge."
Among the signers to this Dorchester petition, were no less than
nine of the name of Clapp, and one of them was the William above
mentioned. Nothing is known of his history or of his connection with
other families of the name ; but as he is styled senior, it is likely he
had a son also named William.
The other Clapps who signed the petition were Ezra, Ebenezer,
Increase, Nathaniel, Nehemiah, Edward, Nicholas and Samuel. The
original petition, with autographs of all the signers, now belongs to
the library of the late Samuel G. Drake, Esq., and doubtless consti-
tutes the largest collection of original signatures of the chief men of
Dorchester, of so old a date, now extant.
There was a John Clapp and his wife Hannah, who were living
in Boston in 1679, how much earlier is not known. This family
either returned to England, or was not perpetuated here.
Children of JOHN and wife HANNAH CLAPP, of Boston:
2. JOHN,* b. Nov. 11, 1679; m. July 17, 1710, Margaret Lattany,
of Boston.
3. ABIGAIL,* b. Feb. 14, 1681 ; d. young.
4. ABIGAIL,* b. Nov. 21, 1685. Nothing known of her history.
<Lttlltam
In the records of the town of Marblehead which were lately copied
into those of Boston, is given the marriage of William Clapp and
Mary Helman, both of Boston. They were married by Moses Mav-
erick, Nov. 24, 1685, and the record adds, " Mother dead and father
gone to the eastward, but given his consent." They were living in
Boston in 169J, and buried a daughter Mary, June 18th of that year.
This is probably the same person whose petition for clemency is
given below.
To the Hon ri Court of Assistants ")
sitting in Boston, September 18, 1685.]"
The Humble Petition of William Clap. Whereas Your poor pctitioru-r
was sentenced yesterday by Your Honor to pay ten pounds fine to the
Country and a month emprisement and charges, &c., Your lion JYtition r
doth not in the least desire to have any hard thoughts of You, not any
ways doubting but it is Your Hou aime in all your iudicial .proceedings to
ISOLATED FAMILIES. 317
do that is hist and rightouss Yet I humbly request Your Hono leve to let
inr .-ay that I am inocent as to the charges ami humbly request Your
Hono would be pleased to remit the sentence that hath been pronounced
me eather in part or in the whole being hear a stranger in a strausi land,
remote from my Parents and at present uncapable to make any satisfaction
unless God should pleas to stirre up the hearts of my friends hear to
fauour me on that account. Your Hon fauer in granting this my request
will be thankfully Acknowledged by your poor petitioner who desires Your
Honors happiness & prosperity. WILLIAM CLAP.
On this petition it was ordered that he be discharged by "paying
liis fine, charges of tryale, <fec." There is little doubt that this
William was an emigrant from England, but his after life is wholly
unknown, unless he afterwards comes to light in 1705-06 as the
Capt. William Clapp who was a Water Bailiff at Cape Cod during
those years, and had charge of the drift whales. No descendants
of his are known to have remained in this country.
l\otett
In 1687, there was a Robert Clapp and his wife Mary living in
Boston. It is simply possible he may have been the Robert Clapp
who was made overseer to the Will of Robert Martin, of Rehoboth,
in 1660, and called in that document " cozen," " of Dorchester."*
This family probably returned to England soon after the birth of
their last child.
Children of ROBERT and MARY CLAPP, of Boston :
2. ROBERT,* b. in Boston and returned with his parents to England,
lie returned to Boston and was employed by Edmund and
Josiah Quincy, of Boston, as Master of the Brig Seahorse, of
which he owned one-eighth. In one of his voyages in the Sea-
horse, he was at Port Royal (Jamaica), in 1740, where he was
taken sick, and there made his last will and testament, in which
he ordains that his body should be " decently but not extrava-
gantly buried." He left his property to his mother, "Mary
Rowland." his brother John and his sister Agnes, all of the
Pari.-h of Little Ham in the County of Devon in Old Eng-
land, to be divided equally between them. He m. in Boston,
Feb. Id. 17<>;',, Mrs. Hannah Bri>tow, dan. of Samuel Flack, of
Boston. He outlived her, and left no children. In the inven-
tory of hi- c.-tate, the following articles are enumerated (among
others) :
One Negro Man . -*- 100
A dark blue broadcloth Coat and breeches) 15
trimmed with silver . }
A pair of velvet breeches
Also in Inventory of same person in 1660, " cozen Clapp, and kinswoman Jane Clapp,"
who may lum- IH-I-II in> >ister.
318 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
A light blue broadcloth Coat and breeches \
trimmed with silver j
A black Padusoy Jacket, gold buttons . . 10
One-eighth of Brig Seahorse . . . . 225
Two Hhds of Pimento 74
The whole of his Estate was appraised at 1,436 |
4s. 8d., old tenor.
3. AGNES, 2 not m. in 1740.
4. JOHN, 2 b. in Boston, Nov. 7, 1687.
Was born about the middle of the last century; lived in Foster,
R. I. His wife's name was Comfort Durfey. He was known by
some of the descendants of GEORGE GILSON, living in Warwick, R. I.,
but was not considered by them as belonging to that family. After
his death, his widow went with her children to Vermont, and married
John Thomson.
Children of EBENEZER and COMFORT (Durfey) CLAPP, of Foster,
R. L:
2. THOMAS,* b. March 3, 1767. He was a volunteer in the war of
1812, and d. of smallpox at Plattsburg, N. Y. He m. March 14,
1790, Abigail Place, who was b. April 22, 1768, and d. at
Hastings, N. Y., Aug. 12, 1850. Children :
3. Celia, 3 b. May 1, 1791 ; m. Sept. 17, 1829, R. S. Orvis; dead.
4. Jerry A., s b. June 15, 1793 ; m. Aug. 9, 1818, Amelia Bentou ;
now dead.
5. Nancy? b. Aug. 16, 1795 ; is still living.
6. John T., 3 b. in Hinesburgh, Vt., July 30, 1797 ; he is now
living in Jericho, Vt. He m. Chloe Ford. Children : i.
Olive M.* d. young, if, Sarah E.* m. John A. Bowman,
and lives in Boston, iii, Olive M* iv. Rollin M.* lives in
Vergennes, Vt. ; m. Emily M. Stroud, and has a son John T?
V. Simeon W., 4 lives in Boston ; m. Lorenda Mead, and has :
(1) Eva* (2) Walter <?. 5
7. Christopher C., 3 b. in Jericho, Vt., May 3, 1799; m. May 30,
1822, Lydia Cornell, who was b. in Rutland, Vt., April 14,
1803. He moved to Onondaga Co., N. Y., about 1820, and
later in life moved to the State of Michigan. He d. Dec.
11,1868. She lives in Ashterna, Mich. Children: \,Johti
T. 4 b. in Bellisle, N. Y., March 12, 1823 ; m, Sept. 3, 1848,
Eliza C. Rickard, b. in Charlestown, N. Y., Dec. 28, 1822;
they live in Pau Pau, Mich, ii, Almiraf b. March 9, 1824 ;
d. Sept. 1824. ill. Sally Ann,* b. July 16, 1825 ; d. March
22, 1830. iv, Celia A., 4 b. in Bellisle, N. Y., Sept. 8, 1827 ;
m. in 1847, Wesly A. Dunham; they live in Lyons, Iowa.
M.Horace C. 4 b. in Bellisle, N. Y., July 9, 1829; is a
physician, and lives in Mendon, Mich.; m. April 15, 1856,
Mary A. Miller, who was b. in Keesville, N. Y., Sept. 17,
ISOLATED FAMILIES. 319
1834. She is a niece of William Miller, the founder of the
Advent Millerites, who were so numerous in Vermont in
1843. Children: (1) Allie Mae, 6 b. in Ostego, Mich., Sept.
1, 1858; (2) Littie Belle, 5 b. in Mendon, Mich., Sept. 22,
1860 ; (3) Louis Grant,* b. in Mendon, Mich., Oct. 10, 1864.
VI. Louisa M., 4 b. in Van Buren, N. Y., Nov. 6, 1833 ; m. in
1850, John H. Bushnell, who was b. in 1830 ; they live in
Oshtemo, Mich, vii, Orson S. 4 b. in Van Buren, N. Y.,
April 7, 1836; m. in 1857, Hannah ...., and lives in
Appleton, Minn, viii, Irving F. 4 b. in Van Buren, N. Y.',
June 10, 1838 ; m. Oct. 14, 1861, Delora A. Sherwood, who
was b. in Otsego, Mich., Oct. 14, 1843 ; they live in Allegan,
Mich. Children : (1 ) Ara Burt, 5 b. Feb. 13, 1869 ; (2) Fred
Orittenden, 5 b. in Allegan, Mich., Feb. 8, 1873. ix, Isaac
H. 4 b. in Van Buren, N. Y., Oct. 15, 1840; m. in 1861,
Esther Bacon, and lives in Oshtemo, Mich.
8. Harry O. 3 b. Feb. 8, 1801 ; m. Mary Rogers; dead.
9. Minerva M, 3 b. Feb. 26, 1803 ; m. Dr. Joseph B. Cornell.
10. Thomas J., 3 b. Aug. 30, 1805 ; m. Almira Rose, June 30,
1828; dead.
11. CHLOE, Z m. Alexander Reynolds.
Jofjn
Was born about 1740; he came from (Windsor?) Connecticut,
where his ancestors resided, settled in Easthampton, marrying in
that town, about June, 1762, Sarah Pomeroy, and built a house
near her father's. He was a soldier in the war of the Revolution
(doubtless the John Clapp mentioned in the History of Easthamp-
ton as serving four years), and received a pension for some
years. If ever he had any brothers and sisters, they never visited
Easthampton, and were never spoken of by him so far as is known ;
neither can it be ascertained who his father was, or to what branch
of the family he belongs. He died some years previous to 1832.
Lyman, in his History of Northampton, calls him a nephew of Maj.
Jonathan and Aaron. This must be a mistake, as we cannot find that
he was related to either of them.
Children of JOHN and SARAH (Pomeroy) CLAPP, of Easthampton :
2. OLIVER, Z m. and moved to some place in New York State, and
never visited his native town afterwards. He had four daugh-
ters.
3. THOMAS, 8 b. about 1783 ; d. in Northampton, Aug. 1867, aged 84
years. He m. in 1811, Phebe Blackmar, of Northampton, who
d. many years previous to her husband. Children :
4. Sarah B., 3 m. Thomas Rogers, of Northampton. After the
death of her husband, she moved, with her two remaining
children, to Sacramento, Cal., where her oldest dau., already
married, then lived.
320 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
5. Elizabeth, 3 m. William F. Pratt, of Northampton, and had
eleven children, seven of whom were living in 1873.
6. Julia, 3 m. Eli Edwards, and resided in Northampton until his
death, a few years since ; now resides in Florence, with her
daughter, Mrs. Hill.
7. Nancy 3 unm. ; she went to California with her sister Sarah B.
8. Charles 3 d. in the Navy.
9. ASA, S d. in youth.
10. CHARLES,* never married. He followed his brother Oliver to his
new home, and visited his friends in Easthampton but once after-
wards.
11. JOHN,* m. Sophia Chapman. He survived his wife a number of
years, and d. about 1863, more than 80 years of age. Children :
12. Sophia 3 m. Sylvester Cooper, and lives in Easthampton.
13. Maurice. 3
14. John Merriclc 3 m. first, his cousin Maria, dau. of Mrs. Sally
Frost (No. 23) ; second, Mrs. Sophia Avery. Children by
first wife : i, George* m. and has two children; resides in
Westfield. H, Frederic Oliver* d. March, 1871, aged 21
years.
15. Amos B. 3 m. Delila Johnson ; they reside in Easthampton and
have one son, John*
16. Asa .Dickenson? m. Roxana Moody, of South Hadley, who d.
Dec. 1872. Children: i. Eugene M.,* m. and has a child.
ii. Nellie,* lives with her father in Westfield.
17. Eliakim W. 3 m. first Minerva Miner; second, Mrs , of
Westfield. He resides in Southampton. Children by first
wife : i. Ella* m. Mr. Phelps, of Westfield, and has one
child, ii. Willie,* lives with his father.
18. JAMES, 2 b. in Southampton, Dec. 27, 1789 ; d. Jan. 18, 1849. He
was drafted into the army in the war of 1812, and went to
Boston, where he served three months. He m. Oct. 19, 1825,
Mrs. Theodocia (Clapp) Ring, widow of Eleazer Ring, and dau.
of Eliakim Clapp (No. 305 of the descendants of ROGER), of
Chesterfield ; she was b. in Chester, April 4, 1792. He was
often heard to tell his wife that they were no relation to each
other. Children :
19. Adaline T. 3 b. in Easthampton, Oct. 3, 1826 ; m. Jan. 18, 1855,
Robert Dewar, of Prince Edward's Island. They live in
Easthampton and have four children.
20. James 3 b. in Easthampton, Feb. 26, 1829 ; m. Oct. 1853,
Augusta Meekins, of Con way, Mass. They live in Worcester.
21. Helen 3 b. in Northampton, Dec. 28, 1832 ; is now living unm.
in Easthampton. She furnished much information concern-
ing this branch of the family.
22. KiNG, 2 d. Jan. 25, 1849, unmarried.
23. SALLY, 2 m. Mr. Frost, and lived and died in Troy, N. Y. She
left a son, who moved to Illinois, and a daughter Maria, who m.
her cousin John M. Clapp (No. 14), of Easthampton.
24. MARIA, 2 d. young.
25. BATHSHEBA,* m. Mr. Tinker, and had four children. They both
d. many years ago.
VII.
SUPPLEMENT.
[SiKCE the printing of the preceding pages, many omissions and errors in
the records of the different families have been detected, and much additional
matter relating to individuals named in the book or to places or public events
in which individuals of the family were concerned, has come to hand. Also
papers and documents, some of them too long for insertion in the body of the
work, have been thought deserving of publication. A portion of the book
has therefore been set apart for these additional records, corrections and mis-
cellaneous papers. All these will be taken up in regular order, under the
names and numbers (as they occur in the foregoing pages) of the individuals
with whom the facts or statements may be connected. It is believed no mem-
ber of the Clapp Family will fail to find something in them worthy of perusal.]
I. 5n tfje nine of Moger.
No. 1 (page 1). ROGER. By a comparison of the will of Captain
Roger Clapp with the "Deed of Division" of the estate of his son
Elder Samuel Clapp, who left no will, it appears that the house first
built and lived in by Roger fell to Elder Samuel's son Samuel, then to
his son Samuel, and was next bought by the son-in-law of the latter,
John Ward, who sold it to Capt. Lemuel Clapp (No. 88 of NICHOLAS) in
January, 1761. The latter, dying in 1819, provided in his will that
his two daughters, Catharine and Rebecca, should have the use of the
house while they lived and remained unmarried. Rebecca died, un-
married, Dec. 11, 1855, in her 72d year. Catharine died, unmarried,
Feb. 21, 1872, in her 90th year, having lived in her father's house 53
years after his decease. Since her death, the old homestead has been
bought by her nephews, Frederick and Lemuel Clapp, grandchildren
of Capt Lemuel. There were about fifty heirs to the property. From
information given by the latter of these gentlemen (the former has
since died), it appears that Capt. Lemuel enlarged and improved the
house about the year 1767, adding the two east rooms, the kitchen and
the large chimney, and so ornamenting the parlor that it was considered
the best in that part of the town. By an examination at the present
time (1875) it would seem that the upper and lower bed-rooms (the
lower but 6 ft. 2 in. high) in the centre are all that remain of the origi-
nal house. These rooms have been in use. upwards of two hundred years,
and were probably occupied by Roger himself. The framing of the
322 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
first addition to the building is very substantial, the corner posts being
about a foot square, and one girt in the centre measures 8^16 inches.
They are of oak, and as sound as new. Several flooring boards in the
attic measure two feet wide. The panel over the fire-place in the
present west room measures 2^ by 6 feet. The fire-place in east room
was, until recently, ornamented by glazed China tiles, in the style and
fashion of former days. After the death of Catharine, the east room
or parlor not being used, and no fire being kept there, the wall paper
became loose and a part of it came off. This paper was known to
have been on the walls one hundred and three years, and doubtless
was imported from England. It was of a showy pattern, with large
columns or pillars, with bright red roses intertwined about them. It
has been said that when Capt. Lemuel's military company was quar-
tered in the house, in the early part of the Revolutionary War, the
soldiers tried to get these roses off to put on their hats, but their efforts
proved unavailing. During the last few years, pieces of this paper
have been much sought after for relics. In the east chamber can be
seen in the floor the charred marks of the legs of the iron kettles used
by the soldiers, and in two other rooms the ceiling shows marks made
by their guns while exercising. In striking contrast with the chim-
neys of the present time, the west chimney of the old house measures
about eight feet square in the cellar.
CASTLE ISLAND, NOW FORT INDEPENDENCE.
THIS Island, which for so many years was under the command
of Capt. Roger Clapp, must ever possess a peculiar interest to his de-
scendants. From some "Historical Notes" respecting it, recently
published by Mr. Samuel Burnham, the following condensed sketch is
mostly drawn :
Castle Island, now Fort Independence, in Boston Harbor, is probably
the oldest fortified place in the United States now used as a military
post. It is situated about 900 yards from South Boston Point, and
1160 yards from Governor's Island, from which it is separated by the
main channel. Like the other islands in Boston Harbor, it has suffered
much from storms and the continued wear of the sea since its first
occupation, especially on the north and east side, where a sea wall has
lately been laid to protect it from further encroachment. On the south
side, however, it has probably extended its area by the same forces
which have worked upon the other sides. From its situation, com-
manding the main ship-channel, it was early selected for the defence
of Boston, within the limits of which it was included. At a court held
at Boston on the 4th of March, 1633-^, it was proposed, for the benefit
of the Colony, " that a moving Fort be built, 40 feet long and 21 feet
wide," and the means for building the same were raised by individual
contributions. Also " the Governor and Council, and divers of the
ministers and others, met at Castle Island, .and there agreed upon
erecting two platforms and one small fortification to secure them both,
and for the present furtherance of it they agreed to lay out 5 a man
till a rate might be made at the next general Court." The Court meet-
ing in the following September passed an order that there should " be a
platforme made on the north-east syde of Castle Island, and an house
SUPPLEMENT LINE OF EOGER. 323
built on the topp of the hill to defend the said plattforme." The
masonry was of oyster-shell lime, and the works neither solid nor
expensive. It appears to be probable the first motive in building the
castle was for the defence of the Colony as much against the home
government as against a foreign enemy, for it was the excitement
relative to giving up the charter, and a rumor that the king was about
to send over a governor general, which was the cause of the first steps
that were taken and the voluntary contributions which were made
for that end. At about the same time, some friends of the Colony,
then in England, sent over a present of guns for the use of the Colony,
and these were speedily mounted on the fortification which had been
prepared. The first commander at the fort was Capt. Simpkins.
On the 6th of June, 1639, a tax of 1000 was levied for the whole
Colony, which was assessed upon the towns of Boston, Roxbury,
Salem, Weymouth, Hingham, Lynn, Cambridge, Watertown, Newbury,
Dorchester, Ipswich and Charlestown. One quarter of this sum was
appropriated towards building a house and repairing the batteries ou
the Island, 100 per annum having previously been voted towards
keeping the fort properly manned. As years passed on, however, the
expense of keeping the fort was great for the little Colony, and the
necessity appearing so slight, in 1643 the Court abandoned the whole
affair and " gave Castle Island and the house there to Capt. Gibbons,"
with this proviso, " unlesse it bee implied to publique use for fortifica-
tion at any time hearafter." The ordnance, ammunition, &c., were
returned to the towns of Boston and Charlestown.
Boston and the few towns immediately adjoining the harbor were
thus left entirely exposed, and began to feel the sense of weakness,
which was especially apparent when armed vessels were able to come
to the very landing of the town without possibility of interference.
Consequently upon this feeling, at a special Court held in March,
1643-1, an order was passed " that itshal be lawful for the inhabitants
of the townes within the Bay, or any convenient number of them, to
erect a fortification upon the Castle Island, such as the present time &
their abilities will give liberty and opportunity unto, & to repair the
batteries there as the necessary defense of the peace shall require, &
that they shall have liberty to take back unto the said Island such
ordnance and ammunition as was lately fetched from thence, or so
much thereof as they shall make use of, any former order to the con-
trary notwithstanding;" and it was further ordered that "when the
townes in the Bay shall have repaired the two (platforms) in Castle
Island & mounted the ordnance and erected a fortification there of
fifetye foote square within, the wall ten foote thick, at leaste, & heighth
proportionable, with stone, timber & earth & a sufficient garrison of
twenty men at least provided for the defence of it, this Court will alow
one hundred pounds pr annum towards the maintenance thereof, &
this Court will also alow, towards this work, & the securing the other
passage by Byrd Hand, one hundred pounds, to be paid when both
the said works shal bee finished. And it is further ordered, that not-
withstanding the charge to bee defrayed by the towns in the Bay, yet
the. said fortifications to be still accounted to belong to the country,
& this Court, or the councell of warr from time to time to have the
command and disposall thereof as occasion shall require."
Lieut. Richard Davenport was chosen first regular Commander of the
43
324 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
Castle, and his commission was confirmed March 5, .1645. In August,
1665, Capt. Roger Clapp was appointed to the command of the fort,
and the following is from his " Memoirs : "
" Before I proceed any further, I will inform you that God stirred up his
poor servants to use means in their beginning for their preservation; though
a low and weak people, yet a willing people to lay out their estates for the
defence of themselves and others. They having friends in divers places who
thought it best for our safety to build a fort upon the island now called Castle
Island, at first (1634), they built a castle with mud walls, which stood divers
years. First, Capt. Simpkins was commander thereof; and after him, Lieut.
Monish for a little space. When the mud walls failed, it was built again with
pine trees and earth, and Capt. Davenport was commander (1645). When
that decayed, which was within a little time, there was a small castle built
with brick walls, and three rooms in it, a dwelling room below, a lodging room
over it, the gun-room over that, wherein stood six very good saker guns, and
over it upon the top, three lesser guns. (These repairs were in 1668). All
the time of our weakness, God was pleased to give us peace, until the wars
with the Dutch in Charles the Second's time. At that time our works were
very weak, and intelligence came to us that De Kuyter, a Dutch commander
of a squadron of ships was in the West Indies, and did intend to visit us;
whereupon, our battery also was repaired, wherein are seven good guns.
But in the very time of this report, in July, 1668, God was pleased to send
a grevious storm of thunder and lightning, which did some hurt at Boston^
and struck dead here at the Castle Island that worthy renowned Captain,
Richard Davenport. Upon which, the General Court, in August 16th
following, appointed another Captain (Clapp) in the room of him that was
slain. But behold! God wrought for us; for although De Ruyter intended
to come here, yet'God, by contrary winds, kept him out; so he went to
Newfoundland, and did great spoil there. And again, when dangers grew
on us by reason of the great wars with Holland, God permitted our castle at
that very time to be burnt down, which was on the 21st day of March,
1672-3. But still God was pleased to keep this place in safety. The Lord
enlarge our hearts unto thankfulness!"
The condition of the fort and of the garrison, during the first part of
the command of Capt Roger Clapp, is well shown in the following pe-
tition from him to the General Court, which, it is believed, has never
before appeared in print :
To the much Hon r ed the General Court now assembled at Boston, the Peti-
tion of yo r Hon rs humble servant, Roger Clap, humbly showeth.
That this hon r able Generall Court did in the year 1665 plase your said
servant at the Castle, and did order that there should be on.e hundred and
sixty pounds p. annum for the garrison there, namely, for the Capt. and four
men, of the which one of them should be an able gunner. Gunner Baxter
being plased there by that committee which were appointed to put things in
a serviceable posture they did appoint (as yo r Petitioner was informed) that
he should have for that time after 35 p. ann. and that sum he have payd
him yearly by the Treasurer, and the other three men cannot be gotten under
20 p. ann. unless they be such as will not be for the Country's Hon r &
safety, and they do look unto Yo r Petitioner who hires them to be payd in
such 'pay as will procure them meat, Drinke, cloathing, lodging, fixeing, and
other necessaries, those being payd there remains but sixty-five pounds for
the Capt., who cannot but keep a family there on the Island if he Desire to
keep the men comfortably & in good order, and what necessary expenses the
Capt. must be at yo r Petitioner need not to inform this Hon r ed Court of, yet
this much he is willing to inform yo r selves of that when Mr. Treasurer Doth
give unto the townes to pay unto yo r Petitioner such sums as he doth appoint,
they are not studious to pay the best pay they can; but in most townes,
there is little of anything besides shoes & Indian Corn to be had, and that
SUPPLEMENT LINE OP ROGER. 325
pay alone will not pay men's wages, for it will not get them necessaries; had
not yo r Petitioner through God's goodness some estate of his own, he might
sometime be put into straits and so he is also like to be to get wood to burn
on this cold Island, and other things he wants which costs him a great deall
of tnony in a year, except this Hon r ed Court be pleased to order him such
pay as will supply him with wood and other necessaries.
His humble petition therefore unto this Hon r ed Court is that you will be
pleased to order the Treasurer to pay the one-half of the whole sallary in
inony unto yo r Petitioner yearly that so he may supply his necessities and
comfortably serve God & yo r selves in this plase which God and yo r selves
have caled him to. So shall yo r unworthy servant have still greater cause to
bless God and yo r Hon rs and ever pray as in duty he is bound for yo r pros-
perity accounting it his happiness to be serviseable to God & to yo r selves to
his poor power in his generation.
Furthermore, I think it my duty to inform yo r selves conserning the Castle
how it is in regard of the Decays thereof, the upper Deck or floar was never
tight since I came to the Castle, and although I have got men at work to
calk it to make it tight yet in a short time it will be leaky again, for some
plates of the plankes are rotten, the leakes cannot but hurt the timber worke
of the other Roomes and is very afflictive unto us, there is raines sometimes
no dry plase to lodg in, wee have been forced to rise out of o r beds many
times the beds have been so wet with rain, and wee have no plase also to lay
a bed in, but are forced to go from the little house to the Castle to bed in
Dark rainy nights, and sometimes in snow above my wife's knees, she doth
much desire to have a lodging room built joining to the little room where
wee live, that in the cold winter she may not go so far out of Dores to bed if
this Court will be pleased to show us the favor and those that may succeed
us. Also the timber that lies in the brick wall on which the shutters of y
ports do hang are so rotten that it will not hold the iron hookes, two of the
shutters are fallen Down and that timber being rotten so deep in the wall
makes mee doubt lest the ends of the main beames of the gun room be rotten
in the wall. These beames are about thirty foot long and no support but by
the ends in the wall, yett a very great weight is on that floar, viz. six guns
three thousand weight a piece besides many people on training days. Would
it not be prudent to have some pillars under the beames, and to have plankes
prepared to lay the upper floare anew and to repair the ports. I thought it
my Duty to inform this Hon r ed Court of these Decays, that so you may do
in it as you please.
Y r Hon r " humble Servant.
This petition was in effect granted, and the Court ordered the re-
dress of some of the grievances mentioned in the petition.
After the accidental burning of the fort in 1673-4, the construction
of a strong stone fortress was felt to be necessary. The record states
that "The Court having considered the awfull hand of God in the
destruction of the Castle by fjre, doe order and appoint 1st. That
there be a small regular peece erected where the castle stood, not
exceeding sixty ffoote square within or proportionable, for the defence
and security of the battery and entertainment of such garrison as may
be meet. 2dly. That the charge hereof be defrayed by the late sub-
scriptions and contributions for that end, and what shall be wanting
to this worke be levyed by a publicke rate, wherein those who have
already contributed shall be considered according to what is already
declared. And for the management of this affajre, and to conclude the
matter and forme of the sajd Castle, and bring the same to a compleat
end as speedily as may be, the honoured Governor, John Leveret,
Esqr., Capt. William Davis, Capt. Roger Clap (Captain of the Castle),
Capt. Thomas Sauage and Mr. John Richards are appointed and
326 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
impowered as a committee ; and what shall be concluded from tjme
to tjme by any three of this committee, the honoured Gov'nor being
one, it shall be accounted a valid act to the end aforesajd."
As was stated on page 5, Roger Clapp resigned his position as
Captain of the Castle upon the appointment of Sir Edmund Andros to
the Governorship of the Colony, preferring private life to an office
which must be used in the service of a tyrant. The person Andros
appointed to take the Castle was Capt. John Pipon, and in 1689, when
the downfall of the Andros government took place, John Fairweather
was appointed Captain in place of Pipon.
After the accession of William III. to the throne of England, the
home government began to take an active interest in the means of
defence of the Colonies. Previous to that time the works on Castle
Island had been very irregular, as skilled engineers were not to be
found in the young colonies. Colonel Homer, a celebrated engineer,
was accordingly sent over to repair the fort. Upon his arrival, he
demolished the old works and built an entirely new fortification, which
was called Castle William in 1705, probably in honor of the late king.
The " Defense of New England Charters" gives a minute descrip-
tion of this new fort.
"At the entrance of the Harbor there is a strong, beautiful Castle, which
is by far the finest specimen of military architecture in the British America.
It was built by Colonel Homer, a famous German Engineer, at the countries'
expense, and is called Castle William. It is a Quarre surrounded with a
covered way and joined with two lines of communication from the main
battery, as also a line of communication from the main gate to a redoubt,
which is to prevent the landing. It is well situated near the channel to hinder
ships from coming up to the town, which must all come within pistol shot of
this Battery. It is mounted with 100 pieces of cannon, several of which are
placed on a platform, near high water mark, so as to rake a ship fore and
aft, before she can bring her broadsides to bear against the Castle, and some
of these cannon carry 42 pounders. In peace there is an independent company
of 50 or 100 men, but in time of war 500 able men are exempted from all
other military duty, to attend the Service of the Castle at an hour's warning,
upon any signal given to the Castle of the Appearance of any ships and their
number. The Castle again warns the town, and if there be 5 ships or more
in time of war, an alarm is given to all the adjacent countries by firing a
beacon. The province has also a galley or frigate well manned in time of
war to guard the coast from Privateers, and to convoy their home trade. In
short, nothing that could be done for the defence of the subject by sea or
land has been left undone. It is really astonishing to consider and difficult
to believe, that these little governments should be able by their own strength,
and at their own charge, to perform such great things."
From that time to the Revolutionary War, Castle William was
recognized as a valuable means of defence to the towns surrounding
Boston Harbor, and was manned by regular and provincial troops, in
such numbers as occasion required. Some additions were also made
to strengthen it from time to time, but when the British army evacu-
ated Boston they dismantled the Castle as much as possible, rendered
useless the guns, and finally blew up the citadel and magazines and
left the Island a mass of ruins. During the Revolutionary war, the
Island was occupied by American troops, and it was made. as
defensible as its demolished condition would permit. In 1798, the
Island was formally ceded to the U. S. Government, which at once made
preparations for erecting the present strong and symmetrical work.
SUPPLEMENT LINE OF ROGER. 327
In 1799, President John Adams visited the Island, and on that occasion
gave the name of Fort Independence to the prospective fortification.
The first stone was laid on the 7th of May, 1800, and the national
colors were first displayed on the 23d of June, 1 802, but the fort was
not finished until early the next year.
THE following petition from the widow of Capt. Roger Clapp is in-
teresting as showing how little pecuniary benefit he received for his
many years of faithful services to the colony :
To the Hon ble Simon Bradstreet Esq r Gov r Thomas Danforth Esq r Dep.
GoV and the rest of the Hon ed Magistrates & Deput3 7 es sitting in Gen 11
Court. The humble Petition of Joane Clap Relict widow of captaine
Roger Clapp late of Boston Dec d .
Whereas it hath pleased the Lord to put a period to the days of yo r Petit"
husband who was for a long time improved in the country's service, as is
well knowne to this Hon 6 " 1 Court, and for his s<i service there remains a con-
siderable sume of money yet behind unpaid unto him, which is now wanting
to defray the charges of decent interment of the s d Dece d and other necessa-
ries for your Petitioner's supply.
Yo r Petitioner doth therefore pray this Hon ed Court to consider the pre-
mises, and that you would be pleas d to favour her so farre as to allow some-
what for her present reliefe and to defray the present charges of interm t of
her s d dec d husband and as in duty bound shall ever pray.
In answer to this petition what apears to be justly dew unto Roger Clapp
dec d for his servise to this Colony shal be paid his executors by the Country
Treas r as sone as may be. Joseph Lynde pr order.
Febr 4, 1690-1.
Consent d to by the GoV and Assistants and M r Russell and the Treasurer
are appointed to examine and settle his acco".
Js a Addington, Sec 1 ?.
No. 2 (p. 9). SAMUEL.* The accompanying fac-simile of his auto-
graph was copied from the petition of Dorches-
ter citizens, presented to the General Court in
1664, and more particularly spoken of on page
315. Samuel Clapp must have been about 30 years old, at that time.
No. 7 (p. 11). PRESERVED. 2 His wife Sarah was born June 14,
1650. The following anecdote, illustrative of life in the then frontier
settlement of Northampton, is related in connection with Preserved
Clapp, in Lyman's History of Easthampton :
" For a lono- time an Indian resided in his family, but he at length became
unsteady, and" wanted to get his gun, in which, however, he did not succeed.
He finally left, and was gone for several years, when one day, as Mr. Clapp
was ridin" home from his work, an Indian stepped out from behind a tree
and pointing his gnn at him, said, ' Now, 'Served, me have your gun, and
fnstantlv fired. The ball just grazed his nose. The Indian then sU-ppi-d
back arain, but his leg was not concealed, so that the ball which was returnee
wound'ed him. Mr. Clapp then drove on as fast as possible and eluded h,s
mirsuers a company of Indians who had come from Canada with this one.
The wound was so severe that it resulted in the Indian's death, and the party
left for parts unknown."
In 1717, he conveyed all his right inland in 12th Division (now
328 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
Stoughton), laid out to his father Roger, 120 acres in all, to Edward
Snmner, for 8. The following petition, with autograph of Preserved
Clapp, is to be seen in the Mass. Archives, State House, Boston :
Northampton, June 25, 1708.
To his Excellency The Gov r The Hon ble Councill and Kepresentatives in
Gen 1 Court assembled. The humble petition of Preserved Clap in Behalfe of
the Towne and by order of select men most humbly showeth.
That whereas we have sometimes been exposed to Trouble and disapoint-
ments in our asessing persons to the public tax in that some of our young
men properly belonging To our town have been impressed in her Maiesty's
service, which we know not any Law that doth acquit their polls from y e Tax:
yet after we have in observance of our duty as we think, according to the
direction of The law in such cases: our Justices of the peace have acquitted
and freed them from payment of their poll money To the publick Tax which
doth and if not prevented will prove ver} r hurtful! and prejudiciall to us: and
may by such an ill president Become a spreading evill in other Towns as well
as ours. Therefore humbly pray his excellency and your hon rs that there
may be such an explanory suppliment made y e act Relating Thereto That
the assessors may certainly informe themselves what Their duty is in that
Respect That the steps of y e Law may be duely observed.
And as duty obligeth, shall ever pray, &c.
In the House of Representatives, June 29, 1708, Redd & Committed.
Oct. 25, 1708. Ordered that no Persons in this Province are exempted
from the Countrey Tax but such as are by law Exempted, &c.
No. 12 (p. 15). DESIRE. 2 His first wife d. in 1715 ; not " 1716."
No. 16 (p. 11). SAMUEL. 3 He d. Feb. 25 ; not "Feb. 12."
No. 19 (p. 16.) SAMUEL. S Abiel Bird, who m. his widow, was
father by first wife, Mindwell Weeks, to Mindwell Bird, who m.
Samuel Clapp, No. 54, and brother of Samuel Bird, who m. Sarah Clapp
No. 46. Mary d. in her 77th year.
No. 24 (p. 1 1 ). ELIZABETH. 3 She m. Sept. 25, 1701, Edward Sumner,
who was b. Aug. 29, 1675, and had eleven children. Gov. Increase
Sumner was a descendant of Edward and Elizabeth (Clapp) Sumner.
No. 25 (p. 11.) HANNAH. 3 Her husband is No. 18 of NICHOLAS.
No. 26 (p. 11). SARAH.' A Sarah d. in Northampton, unm., in
1703.
No. 27 (p. 11). WAIT." There was a Capt. John Taylor in East-
hampton, who was killed by the Indians, while bravely defending the
town from their attack in 1704.
No. 32. (p. 17). RocER. 8 He d. Jan. 9, 1762. He m. his wife
Elizabeth, Nov. 28, 1706. She was aged 80 at her death.
No. 33 (p. 18). THOMAS. 3 Besides the children given, he had a
daughter Abigail, 4 who d. Dec. 29, 1715.
No. 36 (p. 14). SARAH. 3 Her sister-in-law, Sarah Capen, m. Dea.
Jonathan Clapp, No. 16 of NICHOLAS.
No. 38 (p. 14). Rura. 3 She did not marry a Sumner, as stated in
SUPPLEMENT LINE OF ROGER. 329
the text, but Samuel .Hall, of Dorchester, and their dau. Susannah m
Ebenezer Sumner, of Milton.
No. 44 (p. 15). DEsmE. 3 He d. Nov. 27,1683.
No. 45 (p. 15). EXPERIENCE. 3 She had many children, and d. April
9, 1726. Her husband's father, Thomas Tolman, built for him the
house in which they lived in Tolmau's Lane, near Washington St
Dorchester. Standing in 1860.
No. 54 (p. 18). SAMUEL. 4 His wife Mindwell was b. May 3, 1706.
No. 60 (p. 22). THOMAS.* The following epitaph is from the grave-
stone in the burying-ground at Dorchester:
In memory of
Mr. THOMAS CLAP,
who died 11 Aug. 1798,
Aged 85 years.
He buryed from the year
1762 to the year 1797
1080 persons.
o e
/~tf
( rs> */}
\\ \ "IT
No. 74 (p. 17). EnzABETH. 4 Her husband was Jonathan Strong,
Jr., b. Dec. 15, 1708. She d. June 25, 1758.
No. 75 (p. 31). JONATHAN. 4 He came to Easthampton about 1730 ;
went to live with his uncle Joseph Bartlett, on the north side of the
Manhan river, in the first permanent
house erected in that part of Easthampton.
Joseph Bartlett, uncle of Jonathan Clapp,
received the mill and land about it from
his father in 1705. He kept the first public house in town, and kept
it for over twenty years. He d. in 1755, leaving most of his property
to his nephew. He must have been a slave-holder, because in his will
he gives their freedom to two slaves, and there is also a slave men-
tioned in the inventory of Maj. Jonathan Clapp's estate. Jonathan com-
menced the business in Easthampton of fulling cloth, using a portion
of his grist mill for that purpose. He also, about 1750, commenced
to keep the tavern which was afterwards retained in the family in
different localities in Easthampton for nearly 100 years. It is said of
him in Lyman's History of Easthampton :
"He was a very shrewd business manager, and knew how to turn every-
thing to good account. A story is told of him which illustates this trait of
character: Probably about the year 1760, what was long known as ' The
Great Crust,' took place. A body of snow, some four feet in depth, fell, and
immediately on its surface eight inches of hail, and then a slight rain, which
froze and formed a solid crust. The fences, as if by magic, had disappeared.
The roads were all blocked up so that there was no communication with
market. On the morning after the crust was formed, he took out his horse
upon it, and saw that it bore him up. In a very short time he was mounted
and on his way to Hatfield, where he purchased a drove of cattle, and on tliu
next morning he was on his way to Boston, where he arri'ved in safety, the
crust having borne him all the way. His drove was the first to enter the city
after the fall of snow, and consequently he received a high price for his beef.
The trip occupied a little more than a week, and he cleared 100 or 333.
330
THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
COMMISSION OF MAJOR JONATHAN CLAPP.
[Seal]
Colony of the
Massachusetts- Bay.
The Major part of the COUNCIL of the
Massachusetts- Bay, in New-England,
W. Sever
W. Spooner
J. Winthrop
Caleb Gushing
John Whitcomb
Jed h Foster
James Prescott
Eldad Taylor
B. Lincoln
Michael Farley
Moses Gill
Jabez Fisher
J. Palmer
S. Holten
B. White
To JONATHAN CLAPP ESQUIRE Greeting.
"y OU being appointed second Major of the second
JL Regiment of Militia in the County of Hampshire
whereof Seth Pomeroy, Esq., is Colonel
By Virtue of the Power vested in us, WE do by
these Presents, (reposing special Trust and Confi-
dence in your Loyalty, Courage and good Conduct,)
Commission you accordingly. You are therefore
carefully and diligently to discharge the Duty of a
second Major in leading, ordering, and exercising
said Regiment in Arms, both Inferior Officers and
Soldiers ; and to keep them in good Order and Dis-
cipline : And they are hereby commanded to obey
yon as their second Major and you are yourself, to
observe and follow such Orders and Instructions as
you shall from Time to Time receive from the major
part of the Council or your superior Officers.
GIVEN under our Hands and the Seal of the said
Colony, at Watertowne the fourteenth Day of
February in the Sixteenth Year of the Reign of
his Majesty King George the Third, Anno
Domini, 1776.
By the Command of the )
Major Part of the Council. }
PEREZ MORTON,
D. Sec'y-
No. 76 (p. 32). AARON.* He was one of the first settlers in East-
hampton on what was known as the Plain. He died in 1793.
No. 80 (p. 17). NOAH.* His daughter Hannah 5 was put under the
guardianship of her uncle Jonathan in 1763.
No. 86 (p. 18). MiNDWELL. 5 See foot note, page 260.
No. 96 (p. 21). SUPPLY. 5 He was sometimes styled General, and,
during the War of the Revolution, he was one of the proprietors of the
Privateer brigantine "General Sullivan," which sailed from Portsmouth,
N. H. He is spoken of as " a gentleman of excellent business educa-
tion and qualities, a commissary in the Revolutionary War, and after-
wards commissary general of the State of New Hampshire."
No. Ill (p. 23). IRENE. 5 Her husband, Noadiah Lewis, was born
Nov. 24, 1736.
No. 114 (p. 23). OLIVER.* His son Oliver Morrison"* is a stone-
worker in Amherst.
SUPPLEMENT LINE OP ROGER. 331
No. 126 (p. 21). PARSONS. 6 His son Henry Wells? was born in
Springfield, in 1798, and d. March 17, 1869. A list of the various
positions which Henry W. Clapp was called upon to fill, would give
the best idea of the estimation in which he was held by the com-
munity. At the time of his death, he was President of the Franklin
Savings Institution, arid a Director in the Connecticut River Railroad.
He had been President of the Greenfield Bank, the Connecticut River
Railroad and the Franklin Agricultural Society. He had been the
first President and principal originator of the Greenfield Cemetery
Association, the Greenfield Gas Company, and the Greenfield Library
Association. He was one of the original members of the copartnership
for the manufacture of cutlery, which during the last thirty years has
become firmly planted in Greenfield, and has added so much to the
prosperity of that region. He had fixed opinions in politics, but no
taste for the strifes and cares of public life. He was loyal to friends,
and capable of strong and enduring attachments. The influence which
he exercised was not acquired by efforts to be popular, but resulted
from native force and sagacity, persistent will, and recognized integrity.
The following is from an address by Rev. P. V. Finch, Rector of St.
James Church, Greenfield, at the funeral of Henry W. Clapp, Esq.
" "We meet here to-day to perform the last sad offices of the Church for
one of the fathers, a man venerable in years. Had he lived a month longer,
he would have reached the age of seventy-one. He was one of the few of a
generation that is rapidly passing away. His was a long life ; and it was a
useful life.
"He was born in Springfield, Mass., whence he removed to New York,
in which city he passed the most active of the business years of his life. His
work accomplished, he took up his residence in this town ; and for the last
thirty-four years he has been identified with whatever progress it has made.
Most of you who are here present know far more of him than I, and of his
active interest in the growth and prosperity of this village. My knowledge,
in this respect, extends over the past five years only. During that period,
I have always regarded him as full of the energy that belonged to a man of
younger years, and in a better state of physical health. Though suffering in
this interval from acute disease, he was almost always to be seen daily going
to, and returning from his office, where he always occupied himself with a
regular routine of business. In this particular, his systematic habits, no
doubt, prolonged his days. For his mind was taken off from self and fully
occupied With other things. And thus he led an active life until its very close.
" His, also, was a successful life. He accomplished what he aimed for.
And this can be said of very few. The vast majority of people accomplish
nothing, because at the outset of their career they have no definite object in
view. This was by no means the case with our departed brother. He had
a defined object before him, and that was to do good in his day and genera-
tion, to be a useful member of society, and thus to benefit himself and others.
The one who labors for material wealth out of mere love of money, seldom
succeeds. But he whose energies are inspired by a higher motive, making
the material wealth a secondary matter, and aiming simply to be useful in
his day, is almost always successful. This was eminently the case with our
departed friend. And the secret of his success in whatever he undertook
was, that he was no visionary. But, as already stated, he had a well-defined
object in view which heundeviatingly pursued. Strict honesty and integrity,
moreover, distinguished all his transactions. His reliance upon his own
judgment was remarkable. He would always abide by his decisions. Hav-
'ino-'once resolved that his course of action was right, it was in vain to attempt
to'turn him from it. This, and the other qualities which he possessed, and
to which reference has been made, eminently fitted him to move in a larger
44
332 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
sphere of activity than that which he occupied. But he courted retirement,
and so the larger portion of his days was spent in the quiet of this beautiful
village."
In the year 1849, Henry W. Clapp contributed more than $8000
towards the erection of the St. James Episcopal Church in Greenfield.
From a memorial notice in the records of that church the following
extract is taken :
" In looking back over the past history of oar church in this town, we, the
members of St. James's Parish, cannot but recall with gratitude that, under
God, we are greatly indebted to Mr. Clapp for a large measure of our pros-
perity as a church. It was the fact of our parish being established here
which influenced him to select this town as his place of residence. On his
removal hither, he at once took an active interest in the aft'airs of the parish,
and it was through his liberality mainly that the present beautiful stone
church was erected, which now adorns our village. Faithful and efficient in
the discharge of every duty, strictly honest and upright in all his many and
varied business relations, his loss will be felt by the community generally, as
well as by this parish in which for so many years he was a constant worshipper.
We offer our sympathy to his afflicted family, and to the prayer that God
will afford them consolation, we will add this petition, that He will shed
abroad His love in our hearts, that we, following the good examples of His
departed Saints and plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may
by Him be plenteously rewarded."
Henry Baldwin,* son of Henry W. Clapp, m. Julia Frances Bolles, of
Newark, N. J., and was killed at a fire in a steam-mill (not in battle
as stated in the text), where he was heroically endeavoring to prevent
an explosion. The following tribute to his memory is from a Greenfield
paper :
" ' Ponder well and know the right,
Onward, then with all thy might,
Duty be thy polar guide,
Do the right whate'er betide.' "
"And so he did from childhood. Thoughtful, prompt, self-controlling,
conscientious, kind and loving, he passed his youth, and entered the arena of
life, strong in his manhood's strength. For the past, almost a puerile con-
tempt, for the present, master, and for the future hopeful and determined.
To him life had no antagonism he dared not meet ; no obstacle that could
not be overcome. Present duty was his motto, in whatever position placed.
He had won the respect of the community by his sterling integrity as a man,
and by his sympathy, kindness, and benevolence to the needy and suffering
he had won all hearts. Every desirable enterprise met his cordial approval,
his ready aid. To our Library he was a devoted friend, and that his memory
still lives, is fully proved, by the constant recurrence to his name, as asso-
ciated so agreeably with the last fair held for that noble object. In that he
was the ruling, guiding spirit, and to it he lent all his tact and judgment,
with constant and unwearied labor. All his plans were so systematically
arranged, so judiciously and pleasantly defined, it was easy co-operating with
him, and all so associated rendered cheerful and ready response to his slightest
wish.
" He was a leader under whom it would be an honor and pleasure to serve.
Such confidence did he inspire, that had he been commander of armed forces,
his corps would have been invincible. But the destroyer, that universal
conqueror of all, came the hope of friends blighted, the home atmosphere
darkened, the public heart saddened by the darkness which so suddenly
extinguished the bright rays of noonday splendor. In a moment the wheels
SUPPLEMENT LINE OF ROGER. 333
of life were stopped, and all the dreams of love and power and hope were
gone. Forever ? No,
" A voice within us speaks the startling word,"
" ' Man thou shalt never die ;
according harps
By angel fingers touched sound forth still,
The song of our great immortality.' "
Elizabeth Johnson, 8 dau. of Henry W. Clapp, m. William H. Allen, of
Greenfield. Isabella 8 m. in 1863 (not 1864) and her husband, F. B.
Russell, d. in 1870 (not in 1868). The third son of Senj. W? son of
Parsons 6 Clapp, is Samuel Demitt* (not Dennett).
No. 121 (p. 24). WiNTHROP. 6 Whether his son Julius* was m is not
known, but there was a wife of a Julius Clapp who d. in Northampton.
Oct. 21, 1838.
No. 134 (p. 25). THADDEus. 6 The statement that his son Zenas 1
m. Pamelia Clay in 1822 is evidently incorrect. He was probably
confounded with Zenas, 7 No. 703, page 61.
No. 139 (p. 25). ELEANOR. 6 She d. July 12, 1748.
No. 143 (p. 25). EiiPHAZ. 6 It is questionable whether he d. Aug.
28, or Sept. 4, 1748.
No. 14t (p. 26). EujAH. 6 Some accounts call him " Elisha."
No. 155 (p. 26). ELIJAH. 5 Northampton Records say he was born
Nov. 1, 1733, but this might have been another child who d. in infancy.
No. 157 (p. 26). TiMOTHY. 5 He d. in 1786.
No. 158 (p. 26). SAMUEL. 6 The date of his death is evidently
wrong, and may have been mistaken for 1781.
No. 164 (p. 27). HopHNi. 6 Lyman, in his History of Easthampton,
mentions a Dr. Ilophni Clapp, a native of Southampton, who came to
Easthampton about the year 1790. This Dr. Clapp stood high in his
profession, took considerable interest in town affairs, and was honored
with many offices of trust.
No. 168 (p. 27). RussELL. 8 His eldest child, Sibella P., 7 was born in
Westhampton, and was twice married. By her first husband, she had
two children. She m. second, Feb. 8, 1837, Salmon Hart, and had
one child. Moses," 1 Russell's second child, was b. in Westhampton, and
his wife, Almira, was b. May 9, 1816. Eunice D.? Russell's sixth
child, was b. in Otisco, N. Y., and has three children.
No. 181 (p. 28). SETH. 6 Dorcas,' 1 dau. of Seth and Thankful Clapp,
d. in Northampton in 1797.
No. 182 (p. 28). ESTHER. 6 She was m. Jan. 13, 1796.
No. 183 (p. 28). SPENCER. 6 His wife Diana d. May 3, 1834, aged
50 years. He is perhaps confounded with Spencer, No. 649.
No. 186 (p. 28). LYDIA.' She m. Mr. Charles Emerson.
No. 187 (p. 28). ANSEL. 6 Sophia," 1 his youngest child, had five
children.
334: THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
No. 191 (p. 28). CATHARINE. 5 A Catharine Clapp m. in Northamp-
ton, Nov. 1, 1792, Jonas Clark.
No. 194 (p. 29). OuvER. 5 One of his wives was probably Dorcas
Clapp (No. 317), a distant relative.
No. 195 (p. 29). RICHARD. 6 Christopher C.? here given as a son of
Richard, is a case of mistaken identity. Even whether Richard had a
son Christopher is not certain, but the Christopher C. here recorded
with his family belongs to the isolated branch, beginning with
EBENEZER described on page 318.
No. 198 (p. 29). DOROTHY. 5 It is questionable whether she m. in
1783 or 1785.
No. 207 (p. 30). THOMAS. This was not the Thomas Clapp who m.
Phebe Blackmar. That was Thomas No. 3, p. 319, of the descendants
of JOHN.
No. 212 (p. 30). JOHN. 5 His wife Lucy d. July 11, 1843, aged 72
years.
No. 214 (p. 54). JOEL.* He m. Mercy Pomeroy.
No. 222 (p. 31). ANGELINE.* She was under 21 years of age in 1816.
No. 237 (p. 56). JONATHAN. 5 The name of his second wife was
Margaret Roquell (not " Roguel"). The tavern which he kept was
in a house which he built across the way from his father's old stand.
He is mentioned as moderator in Easthampton in 1787.
No. 238 (p. 56). JOSEPH. 8 He served as a Captain in the War of
the Revolution. About the year 1785, he built a fulling mill on Broad
Brook, where he fulled, colored and dressed cloth ; as there were but
few mills of the kind, then, he carried on quite a large and profitable
business. In 1793, he opened a tavern at the old stand of Joseph
Bartlett, who first opened it in 1727, where he served the public till his
death, in 1797. His house is still standing, and after being occupied
by his son, Dea. Thaddeus Clapp, was (in 1866) owned by Lucas W.
Hannum. Captain Joseph Clapp is mentioned as moderator in East-
hampton in 1787.
No. 239 (p. 57). BENJAMIN. 5 He was a Quartermaster in the War
of the Revolution. His father lay sick at Pittsfield, under Benjamin's
care, at the time of the Battle of Bennington, and they could distinctly
hear the roar of the artillery. This so fired the ardor of the son to
participate in the engagement that he expressed such a desire to his
father, who replied, " No, my son, you must stay and take care of me."
He is mentioned as constable in Easthampton in 1786.
No. 240 (p. 32). SUBMIT. 5 A little son Lucas was drowned about
the year 1790. Her husband was Lieut. Asahel Clark. He was at
the battle of Lake George, fought Sept. 8, 1755, and bravely aided in
the repulse of the enemy under Baron Dieskau. He was also at
Ticonderoga, in 1758, where the English were in their turn defeated.
He was made a prisoner by the insurgents during the Shays rebellion in
1788, and was severely wounded in an effort to escape from his captor,
from whom he afterwards obtained damage by legal process. He was
a man of high spirit and great courage.
Hon. LEVEKETT A. CLAPI>,
Commissioner State Land Office, Michigan.
SUPPLEMENT LINE OP ROGER. 335
No. 248 (p. 32). AARON. S Probably the one who was constable in
Easthampton in 1785.
No. 251 (p. 33). QuARTiis. 6 His dau. (if he had one of that name)
was probably not the Electa who m. Lysander C. Avery. That was
Electa G., s dau. of Quartus 7 (No. 500), p. 48.
No. 258 (p. 33). DiADEMA. 6 Not "Diodema."
No. 267 (p. 33). LEVI. S He moved to Easthampton, and is one of
the revolutionary soldiers credited to that town. He had a daughter
Jerusfia. 6
No. 268 (p. 33). LEVi. 6 His wife, Phebe Clapp, is No. 656, on
page 59. His second child, Achsah, 1 m. James H. Lyman, who was a
son of Daniel and Sally (Clapp No. 639) Lyman.
No. 269 (p. 33). ANGELiNE. 6 She was b. in Easthampton, and m.
Dec. 13, 1838. Her husband was b. Oct. 21, 1796.
No. 282 (p. 34). AsAHEL. 6 He m. first, Sarah Clark, of Northamp-
ton. She d. Feb. 14, 1808, leaving three children. He m. again and
had several children.
Children of ASAHEL and 1st wife SARAH (Clark) CLAPP, of Northamp-
ton :
Asahel, 1 was b. at Northampton, Jan. 24, 1804; at the age of four
years, his mother died ; he then for 13 years resided with his
father's uncle Oliver, and with Oliver's son Charles, and with
the latter moved to Huntsburg, Ohio. In the year 1825, he
returned to Northampton, and in July, 1833, married Charlotte
A ., daughter of Chauncey May, of Pittsfield. In October, 1834,
he moved to Monroe Co., Mich., where he resided until Nov.,
1835, when he settled permanently in St. Joseph Co., Mich. He
has held several important offices of trust in his township and
county. In 1854, he was elected Register of Deeds of St.
Joseph Co., to which position he was reflected for ten consecu-
tive years, lie is the senior member of the firm of A. Clapp
& Son, merchants and bankers, White Pigeon, Mich. Children :
i, Theodore E., 8 l)oru at Ida, Monroe Co., Mich., Sept. 16, 1835.
He is now Postmaster at White Pigeon, which position he has
held for fourteen years. He is the junior memi-er of the firm
of A. Clapp & Son, merchants and bankers. Married April 8,
1858, Mary A. Austin, at White Pigeon, Mich., and has : (1)
Harry A., ' 9 b. June 16, 1862; (2) Martha,' b. Jan. 29, 1864;
(3) Lucy, 9 b. Oct. 24, 1867. ii. Lfceretl A., s b. at Mottville, St.
Joseph Co , Mich., June 24, 1837; m. Dec. 6, 1864, Amanda
E. Hampson, at Centreville, Mich., where they now reside.
Since his majority, he has continuously held important posi-
tions of trust and honor in his township, county and State. In
1872, the Republican State Convention placed him in nomina-
tion for the honorable position of Commissioner of State Land
Office of Mich., to which position he was elected by a majority
of nearly 60,000. In 1874, he was reflected to the same office,
and which he occupies at the present time. He has taken much
interest in the publication of this work. He has one child : (1)
Edwin L., 9 b. Sept 24, 1865. Hi, Lucy A ,*b. at Mottvilie, May
336 THE CLAPP MEMORIAL.
27, 1840; d. July 15, 1860. iv. Frances E., 8 b. at Mottville,
April 11, 1841 ; m. Dec. 16, 1864, Andrew T. Morton, Jr.
They now reside at Ann Arbor, Mich. v. Emory G. 8 b at
Mottville, Sept. 28, 1843 ; d. March 8, 1867. vi. Nettie L., 8 b.
at Mottville, June 16, 1849 ; m. Jan. 12, 1875, Joe E. Van Fleet.
They reside at White Pigeon, vii. Ernest A., 8 b. at Mottville,
Sept. 25, 1852 ; d. Oct. 2, 1854.
Abigail 7
Sally. 1
No. 284 (p. 34). JONAS.* He was b. in Northampton, May 3, 1787,
and d. Feb. 22, 1843. His wife, Martha Ann Baker, wasb. in Milton,
Nov. 20, 1793. Children : i, Chester,'' m. first, Sarah Reed, of Hartford,
Ct. ; second, Harriet Gouge, of Windsor, Ct., andd. September, 1867,
and has: (1 ) Henry Chester ; 8 (1)Edwardf (B) Kate, 8 dead; (}Hattief
(5) George f (6) Louis, 8 dead. ii. Cephas, 7 b. June 27, 18 ; m.
Mildred D. Snow, of Mansfield, Ct. ; no issue, ill, Lydia Maria? m.
Lewis Clapp, of Northampton ; no children, iv. Caleb, 7 b. April 3,
1817 ; m. March 10, 1842, Sarah Maria Saxton, b. June 22, 1822. They
live in Hartford, Ct., and have: (1) Henry P., 8 b. March 26, 1843;
served in the 12th Conn. Reg't during the late war ; (2) Caleb T. 8 d.
in infancy ; (3) Allen C., 8 b. Aug. 23, 1845, was Master's Mate in U.S.
Steamer Honeysuckle in the late War m. Oct. 2, 1866, Katie L. Fuller ;
(4 & 5) Edgar T. 8 and Howard D. 8 d. in infancy ; (6) Howard S., 8 b.
April 28, 1851, grad. at Yale College in 1872, afterwards admitted to
orders in the Protestant Episcopal Church, and is now in Wethersfield,
Ct. ; (7) Willie M., s b. Aug. 31, 1852 ; (8 & 9) Charles B. 8 and Frank, 8
d. in infancy ; (10) Arthur S , 8 b. March 25, 1858. v. Martha Ann? b.
May 3, 18 ; m. Curtis W. Braman, of Brighton, Mass., and have six
children, vi Alien Edwin," 1 b. Dec. 5, 18; d. Oct. 21, 1868; m.
Martha W. Higley, of Hartford, Ct. ; no issue, vii. Caroline Electa?
b. Dec. 14, 18 ; d. Jan. 10, 1875 ; m. Sept. 28, 1842, Edwin Lyman
Kingsley, of Northampton, and had three children, viii. William,
Richard? m. Julia Meacham, of Northampton, and has : (1) William ; 8
(2) Charles f (3) Ella ; 8 (4) Julia. 8 \\.Esther Augusta, 7 b. April 19,
18 ; m. David Giles Corbin, of Ellington, Ct. ; no 
