Shown is the 12 Sept. 1692 testimony of Thomas Pennoyer in the witchcraft trial of Elizabeth Clauson. This image is from the State Archives at the Connecticut State Library.
By Jared L. Olar
January 2019
The English surname "Knapp" derives from the Anglo-Saxon word cnoep or cnaep, which literally means a "knob" or hilltop. "Knapp" is therefore a topographical surname designating a family living on or near a hilltop. Naturally, then, over the course of time several different families in various parts of England assumed forms of this surname, which has had a number of variant spellings through the centuries, such as Knopp, Knepe, Cnepe, or Cnaep. Our own Knapp family stems from the New England colonist Nicholas Knapp (c. 1605-1670), whose life and whose descendants are the subject of Alfred Averill Knapp's comprehensive (albeit dated and occasionally mistaken) study, Nicholas Knapp Genealogy, published in 1953. In the introduction of his study, Knapp sketches the origin and history of the Knapp surname in England. Following are informative excerpts from Knapp's introduction, pages xiii-xiv:
In early times the name [of Knapp] was often preceded with "atte" or "de la." "atte" disappeared by about the year 1300. "la" was not used after 1360 and "de" disappeared after 1400. Originally it was used as an individual name and died with its owner. After about 1200 it began to be used as a family name and was transmitted from father to son. . . In America the name was usually spelled with one "p" until about the time of the Revolution.
In England there were no less than six or eight family groups bearing the name of Knapp, but they lived in different parts of England and bore no relationship with one another, so far as Oswald Greenwaye Knapp [the Knapp genealogist of England] could determine. He believed all were of independent origin.
The place of origin in England of the four New England [Knapp] immigrants is still not proved, though many statements to the contrary are to be found. It is believed that William Knapp came from near Cornard Parva or Newton, County Suffolk or Essex. It is probable that Nicholas came from this same vicinity as the name has been found there. The name Nicholas Knapp was evidently not common in England, as O. G. Knapp could find records of only some twelve or fifteen persons bearing that name throughout all England and for all time. . . .
The legend that Roger de Knapp was Knighted by Henry VIII at a Tournament held in Suffolk in 1530 is wholly the product of some fanciful mind and has not the least foundation in fact, notwithstanding the number of times that it has been published and the number of people who would like to believe it. . . . It is believed that the story first appeared in America and that in all probability it is the invention of some unscrupulous genealogist in England in an attempt to satisfy the ambition of an American client. . . .
Some persons have been inclined to believe that the original immigrant ancestor, Nicholas Knapp, is identical with the Nicholas Knapp who married Susan Mitterson, of Wells-by-the-Sea, but they have now discarded this theory. It is much more probable that he was descended from one of the two men named Nicholas Knapp who lived at Cornard Parva.
Nicholas Knapp Genealogy, page 3, explains in detail why Nicholas Knapp of Wells-by-the-Sea could not be our ancestor Nicholas Knapp -- in brief, if they were the same man, then the colonial immigrant Nicholas Knapp must have abandoned a family of five children under age 12 in England, then gone to America and started a new family. Besides the arguments and evidence discussed in Alfred Averill Knapp's book, it has subsequently been found that Nicholas Knapp of Wells-by-the-Sea did in fact remain in England and died there.
The following genealogical account is derived from Nicholas Knapp Genealogy, supplemented and corrected by two articles at the CTGenWeb.org, "Descendants of Nicholas Knapp," and "Nicholas Knapp Background."
1. NICHOLAS KNAPP, ancestry unknown, probably born circa 1605 in England, died between 15 and 27 April 1670 in Stamford, Connecticut. Nicholas' date of birth is unknown, but is estimated to be circa 1605 based on the probable date of his first marriage. He died between the date that he made his will and the date of the inventory of his estate. He married first by 1631, probably in England, to ELINOR (NN), born circa 1610 in England, died 16 Aug. 1658 in Stamford, Connecticut. Nicholas and Elinor had five sons and four daughters, most if not all in Watertown, Massachusetts. Elinor's maiden name and parentage are unknown, but based on the known relationship between the Knapps and Lockwoods in Watertown, Massachusetts, it has been proposed that she may have been a sister of Sgt. Robert Lockwood of Watertown and Edmund Lockwood of Cambridge, Massachusetts, and thus a daughter of Edmund Lockwood (1594-1635) of Combs, Suffolk, England. This filiation was first proposed in 1943 by H. Stanley Finch, a surrogate judge of Stamford, Connecticut (Hartford Times, genealogical page, Query, A-2695). Finch's suggestion is possible but unproven. Other genealogists claim without evidence that Elinor may have been a Disborough or a Waterbury.
Nicholas and Elinor emigrated to New England in 1630. According to Charles Edward Banks' The Winthrop Fleet of 1630, Nicholas Knapp sailed to America aboard one of the ships of the Winthrop Fleet, either on the flagship Arbella or one of the other 10 ships in the fleet. The Arbella left Southampton on 22 March 1630 and sailed to Yarmouth, then sailed for New England on 6 April 1630, setting off at 6 a.m. from the waters off Yarmouth Castle on the Isle of Wight. The Arbella landed at Salem, Massachusetts, on 14 June 1630, and two days later Nicholas went to Watertown.
In America, Nicholas and Elinor first settled at Watertown, Massachusetts, with a Puritan congregation headed by Gov. Winthrop’s associate Sir Richard Saltonstall. The first settlers of Watertown were mainly from Suffolk, Essex, and Norfolk, England, and the church in Watertown was pastored by Rev. George Phillips of Boxted, County Essex, so most likely Nicholas and Elinor came from one of those three counties. (See Alfred Averill Knapp's Nicholas Knapp Genealogy, pages xiii, 1-2) They remained in Watertown for about 16 years. On 6 May 1646, Nicholas sold his land and privileges in Watertown and moved possibly to Wethersfield, Hartford County, Connecticut (though his name does not appear in Wethersfield records), staying there for about two years before settling in Stamford, Connecticut, in 1648, where he remained until he died in April 1670.
In the New World, Nicholas worked as a farmer and a weaver -- but he also had a brief, unhappy stint as a Snake-Oil Salesman until colonial authorities cracked down on his chicanery. As a matter of fact, our earliest record of Nicholas is dated 1 March 1631, when "Nich: Knopp is fyned £5 for taking upon him to cure the scurvy by a water of noe worth nor value which he solde att a very deare rate, to be imprisoned till hee pay his ffine, or give securitye for the s'd water, or else to be whipped, & shall be liable to any mans ac'con of whome hee hath receaved money for the s'd water. Mr. Wil'm Pelham and Mr. Edward Lockewood both promised to pay the court the sum of V£ for Nich. Knopp before the last court of May next." The following year, on 7 Aug. 1632, "III£ of Knop's fine of V£ remitted" -- at the general amnesty of 6 Sept. 1638 the court noted that part of the fine of "Nicho Knop" "was paid, & the rest was remitted." Alfred Averill Knapp claimed in his Nicholas Knapp Genealogy, page 2, that, "The water had been found beneficial and suit dropped upon payment of costs." There is, however, no basis for that claim, which perhaps arose from understandable embarrassment for the disreputable actions of an ancestor. The remission of the remainder of Nicholas' fine was simply an act of clemency on the part of the court in light of Nicholas' contrition and penitence.
Nicholas received 30 acres of land in the Great Dividend in Watertown on 25 July 1636, was granted six acres in Beaverbrook Plowlands on 28 Feb. 1637, was granted seven acres in Remote Meadows on 26 June 1637, and was given a farm of 117 acres, on 10 May 1642. In the Watertown Inventory of Grants, "Nicholas Knap" held seven parcels of land, including his 16-acre homestall, two acres in Pine Marsh, one acre of meadow, 30 acres of upland in Great Dividend; six acres of plowland in the Hither Plain (i.e., the Beaverbrook Plowlands, seven acres in Remote Meadows, and 13 acres of upland beyond the Farther Plain. However, in the Composite Inventory Nicholas held eight parcels of land, which includes his seven parcels in the Inventory of Grants plus his 117-acre farm. (Alfred Averill Knapp's Nicholas Knapp Genealogy, page 2)
Nicholas began to sell his property in Watertown on 29 Sept. 1645, when he deeded an acre of meadow to Edward Garfield. The following spring, on 6 May 1646, "Nicholas Knapp of Watertowne" sold to Bryan Pendleton "all his land in Watertowne granted by the town as by the transcript may appear with all the housing thereupon (only an acre in Pond Meadow formerly being sold excepted) with all the privileges thereunto belonging." Nicholas then set out for Stamford, Connecticut, apparently spending two years in Wethersfield before reaching his destination in 1648, as noted above. In Stamford, Nicholas owned a small mill and 16 acres of farmland.
After the death of his wife Elinor in 1658, Nicholas remarried on 9 March 1659 at Stamford, Connecticut, to EUNICE BUXTON BROWN, widow of Peter Brown and Clement Buxton of Stamford. Eunice was born circa 1613 and died probably in early April 1670 in Stamford -- she evidently predeceased Nicholas, for she is not mentioned in his will that month even though he does make bequests to Clement and Eunice Buxton's daughters.
Nicholas fell sick in the spring of 1670. He made his will in Stamford on 15 April 1670 and died not more than a few days later, and an inventory of his estate was conducted on 26 April 1670. Following is a transcription of his will from Fairfield Probate Records, Vol. 1665-1675, pages 55-56:
In Stamford ye 15th 2 mo Anno 1670 [15 Apr 1670]:
The Last Will and Testament of Nicholas Knap of Stamford concerning the disposal of his worldly estate:
1. I give to my sonn Moses Knap my house and land in Stamford with all the meadow and upland belonging to me. Also I give to my said sonn Moses my cart and plowe or plowes -- with
all the furniture of Irons, yokes, and chaynes belonging and a small gun in the house and a sword.
2. I give unto my sonn Timothy Knap the monies remayning due to me upon the bil for the house of John Bats [John Bates] lives in.
3. I give to my sonn Calep [Caleb] the loom and halfe the geers and the other halfe of the geers I give to my sonn Joshua Knap.
4. I give to my daughter Sarah Disbrowe the monies due to me from her husband about 37s -- concerning the horss.
5. I give to my daughter Hannah one mare.
6. I give to my daughter Lidea [Lydia] the mare that was Mr Bishop's with the increase she hath.
7. I give to my daughter Ruth twenty shillings.
8. I give to my two daughters-in-law [step daughters], viz: Sarah and Uneca Buxton, all their mother's clothes as a free gift, except one hat and one new pettecote,
which my will is they should have onward of their portion. Also I will and bequeath unto Uneca Buxton the new Bible as a free gift.
9. My will is that portions due my daughters-in-law [step daughters], viz: Sarah and Uneca Buston, out of the estate of their father Clement Buxton: I say that their part and
portions be currently payd according to their portion of the inventorie.
10. Lastly my will is that my sonn Joshua Knap be sole executor of this my last will to receive all and pay all dues according to this my will as also debts to or for me.
If in the case that mare be not found that I have given to Lidea [Lydia] that then shee to have another mare in lue of that.
This being my last will and renouncing all other former wills made by me witness my hand.
WITNESS:
(Signed) John Weed Nicholas y Knap
Eleazur Slawson (his mark)
The children of Nicholas and Elinor Knapp were:
2. MOSES KNAPP, born circa 1630 or circa 1645 probably in Watertown, Massachusetts, or perhaps in England.
-- JONATHAN KNAPP, born early Nov. 1631, died 27 Dec. 1631 in Watertown, Massachusetts.
-- TIMOTHY KNAPP, born 14 Dec. 1632 in Watertown, Massachusetts, married Bethia Brundage.
-- JOSHUA KNAPP, born 5 Jan. 1635 in Watertown, Massachusetts, married Hannah Close.
-- CALEB KNAPP, born 20 Jan. 1637 in Watertown, Massachusetts, married Hannah Smith.
-- SARAH KNAPP, born 5 Jan. 1639 in Watertown, Massachusetts, married Peter Disborough.
-- RUTH KNAPP, born 6 Jan. 1641 in Watertown, Massachusetts, married Joseph Ferris.
-- HANNAH KNAPP, born 6 March 1642/3 in Watertown, Massachusetts, formerly claimed to be first wife of Zerubbabel Hoyt.
-- LYDIA KNAPP, born circa 1645-47, married Isaac Hall.
2. MOSES KNAPP, son of Nicholas and Elinor Knapp, born circa 1630 (or possibly circa 1645) probably in Watertown, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, or perhaps in England, died before 1726 in Stamford, Connecticut. The birth of Moses Knapp is unrecorded, but based on the recorded births of the children of Nicholas Knapp, Moses could only be either the eldest or youngest son of Nicholas. The fact that the will of Nicholas names Moses first and directs that Moses would receive his father's house and homelot indicates that Moses was the eldest son. Thus, most likely Moses was born circa 1630, but if he wasn't born circa 1630, then he could only have been born circa 1645. As for Moses' date of death, earlier genealogies erroneously claimed that Moses lived to the remarkable and rare age of 110 and died in Peekskill, New York. However, "Descendants of Nicholas Knapp" at CTGenWeb.org explains that Moses and his wife had to have died by 1725/26, and observes, "That Moses lived to be 110 years old as stated in earlier writings on this family can be labeled nothing more than an 'atrocious genealogical blunder,' including the claim that he died at Peekskill, NY!!"
Nicholas Knapp Genealogy, page 8, says Moses was a blacksmith, and that he is recorded as serving in King Philip's War in June-July 1675. On 1 Oct. 1668 in Stamford, Connecticut, Moses married ABIGAIL WESTCOTT, born circa 1647 in Fairfield, Fairfield County, Connecticut, daughter of Richard and Joanna Westcott. Moses and Abigail had only four children, all of them daughters, and all born in Stamford. The genealogical account, "Descendants of Nicholas Knapp," at CTGenWeb.org, provides these comments on the actual and putative children of Moses and Abigail, also addressing the question of when Moses and Abigail died:
"Early genealogies claim that Moses and Abigail had three additional sons and a daughter, e.g., Israel, Jonas & Moses, and Mary. Current research indicates that Moses & Abigail had daughters only as shown in this report, based on a 14 Feb 1712/13 Deed [Stamford, CT - Deeds, Vol "B":185], in which Moses bonds his sons-in-law, Thomas Pennoyer, Nathaniel Cross and Samuel Husted 'to maintain their father & mother-in-law for their lifetime.' John Crissey was not considered in this Deed as his wife, Abigail, had died prior to this time and he had remarried. There are no records that would indicate a male in this family and is further proven by the fact that, had there been any male offspring living in 1712/13, by law, he would have established an 'heir of right' to the estate of Moses & Abigail. There are no records extant that would prove otherwise. Simply put, Moses, no doubt, would have bonded a son in lieu of his sons-in-law, were he to have had such a son. Samuel Husted, the remaining son-in-law, requested relief from the 1712/13 Deed in 1725/26, thus indicating that Moses and Abigail were both deceased at that time."
The will of Moses' father Nicholas, dated 15 April 1670 in Stamford, Connecticut, lists the following as its first item: "I give to my son Moses Knapp my house and land in Stamford with all the meadows and upland belonginge to me. Also, I give to my said sone Moses, my cart and plowe or plowes, with all the furniture of Irons, yokes and Chaynes belonging and a small gun in the house and a Sword."
The daughters of Moses and Abigail Knapp were:
3. LYDIA KNAPP, born 1670.
-- ABIGAIL KNAPP, born circa 1671, died 8 Feb. 1707 in Stamford, Connecticut, married John Crissey.
-- HANNAH KNAPP, born circa 1672, died after 1720 in Greenwich, Connecticut, married Nathaniel Cross.
-- SARAH KNAPP, born circa 1673, died 20 Nov. 1717 in Stamford, Connecticut, married Samuel Husted.
3. LYDIA KNAPP, daughter of Moses and Abigail Knapp, born 1670 in Stamford, Connecticut, died 9 Feb. 1709/10 in Stamford, Connecticut. Lydia married on 22 May 1685 in Stamford, Connecticut, to THOMAS PENNOYER, born 29 March 1658 in Stamford, Fairfield County, Connecticut, died at age 66 on 27 Nov. 1724 in Stamford, Connecticut, son of Robert and Elsis (Marshall) Pennoyer. In his 1954 article "Pennoyer and Lounsbury Notes," Winifred Lovering Holman lists Thomas and his wife Lydia as "Thomas. b. 29 March 1658; d. in Stamford 21 Nov. 1723; m. there, 22 May 1685, Lydia Knapp, b. about 1668 d. there 9 Feb. 1709-10, dau. of Moses and Abigail (Westcott) Knapp."
In 1692, the witch scare that afflicted Salem, Massachusetts, spread to Stamford, Connecticut. On 27 May 1692, a court of inquiry in Stamford began investigating the case of a 17-year-old French servant girl named Katherine Branch, who in April of that year falsely accused two women of Stamford named Elizabeth Clauson and Mercy Disborough of using witchcraft to cause her epilepsy. While the Salem Witch hysteria led to a large number of false accusations and executions, the residents of Stamford proved to be far more sensible, with the greater number of them -- including Thomas and Lydia Pennoyer and several of their relatives -- publicly rejecting Branch's superstitious accusations. On 4 June 1692, most of the citizens of Stamford signed an affidavit attesting to their belief in Elizabeth Clauson's good character -- among the signatures or marks ("X") on the affidavit are "Moses Knap and his wife" and "ledy Pennoyer" (i.e., Lydia). During the investigation and trial of Elizabeth Clauson, Thomas Pennoyer testified as a witness on 12 Sept. 1692 in Fairfield, Connecticut. In his testimony, Thomas dismissed the sworn statements of another witness, Mary Newman, saying there was long-standing personal animosity Newman and Clauson that motivated Newman to support Katherine Branch's false accusations of witchcraft against Clauson.
Shown is the 12 Sept. 1692 testimony of Thomas Pennoyer in the witchcraft trial of Elizabeth Clauson. This image is from the State Archives at the Connecticut State Library.
Following is a transcription of Thomas Pennoyer's testimony in the Clauson witch trial:
"The Testimony of Thomas Penoir he saith that ye sheep yt mary Newman mentioned/ that dyed which she gives in testimony /as he have\ yt she thought was bewitched to death dyed/ this last spring was four year it being before he went for Ingland: ye next sumer/ after he came whom from Ingland was a contention between godwif clason and/ mary Newman about ye yard taking aples or nuts or graps or sum such things/ out of godman clasons lot: goody clason said to mary newman: as mary/ Newman tould at his house yt if she aloud her children to steal when they was/ young how would they be when they were old: whereby I understood ye contention betwen/ them: Lidda penoir his wife being present at ye same time and can witness/ to all ye above writen: & both are reddy to give oath to ye above written/ testimony when called thareunto/ The above written Thomas Penoir/ appeared this 12th:Septembr 1692: & made/ oath to the above written testimony/ for himselfe before me Jonat [Selleck] comissr/"
Unlike the horror of the Salem Witch Trials in which numerous innocent women and others in Salem lost their lives or suffered unjustly, in Stamford the witch trial of Elizabeth Clauson and Mercy Disborough ended with Clauson being completely exonerated and Disborough, though unjustly convicted, being granted a reprieve due to the finding of technical prosecutorial mistakes in her case. The Massachusetts General Court in May 1693 then issued a report admonishing everyone in the colony never to bring charges of witchcraft against anyone ever again.
Thomas and Lydia had six daughters and three sons, all born in Stamford, Connecticut.
-- ABIGAIL PENNOYER, born 1686.
-- MARY PENNOYER, born 1688.
-- MILLICENT PENNOYER, born 1691.
-- MERCY PENNOYER, born 1693.
-- CAPT. SAMUEL PENOYER, born 3 April 1696, died 5 June 1761, md. Theophila Selleck.
-- JOHN PENNOYER, born 26 May 1698, died 10 Dec. 1775, md. Abigail Ferris.
-- REUBEN PENNOYER, born 1702.
-- MARTHA PENNOYER, born 1706.
-- LYDIA PENNOYER, born circa 1709.
Knapp Genealogy Resources:
Nicholas Knapp, separating fact from fiction. Descendats of Nicholas Knapp Nicholas Knapp (1630) Connection to Williams County, Ohio, including information from The Great Migration Begins.