FATHER

Richard Clapp

MOTHER

WIFE

Abigail

CHILDREN

1. Thomas Clapp b. 15 Mar 1638-39

2. Increase Clapp b. May 1640

3. Samuel Clapp

4. Eleazer Clapp

5. Elizabeth Clapp b. Abt 1649

6. Prudence Clapp

7. John Clapp b. 18 Oct 1658

8. Abigail Clapp b. 22 Jan 1659-60

Record of the Clapp Family in America by Ebenezer Clapp, 1876

"Son of Richard Clapp, of England, and cousin of Roger and Edward, was born in Dorchester, England, in 1597.  He came over to this country, probably, as already mentioned, in the ship which arrived from Weymouth on the 24th of July, 1633.  The probability is that Thomas and Nicholas, and their cousin Edward, 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 controversy respecting the form of baptism, which commenced about 1641, with the Rev. Charles Chauncey, then minister in Scituate, but afterwards President of Harvard College.  Mr. Clapp was one of the committee of three, in 1675, who sent a letter to the Second Church, informing them that a reconciliation had taken place after a controversy 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 officers 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, excepting that her Christian name was Abigail."