Ebenezer Clapp (Nathaniel, Nicholas), 1678-1750
The Clapp Memorial. Record of the Clapp Family in America … Ebenezer Clapp, compiler. Boston: David Clapp & Son, 1876]
Ebenezer, fourth son of Nathaniel 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 Clapp, 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), ½ 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 pounds 17s. 8d. The estate of his wife, who died nearly three years previous, appraised at 220 pounds 13 s. 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:
Ebenezer, b. Oct. 4, 1705; d. Jan. 10, 1752.
Hannah, b. Nov. 28, 1707; d. March 16, 1799. She married, Jan. 2, 1735, John Tolman, Jr., b. April 6, 1700.
John, 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.”
Nathaniel, b. Jan. 22, 1712/13; d. March 18, 1750-51.
Joseph, b. Oct. 9, 1715; d. Feb. 14, 1789.
Elizabeth, b. Aug. 1718. Probably m. Samuel How of Dorchester, Dec. 2, 1736.
Roger, b. April 28, 1721; d. Aug. 1, 1807.
Mary, 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.