Ezra Clap, 1640-1717 (Edward)
from The Clapp Memorial. Record of the Clapp Family in America … Ebenezer Clapp, compiler. (Boston: David Clapp & Son, 1876)
Ezra, 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 subsequent to his father’s death, and probably removed to Milton as early as 1667.
[Footnote: Milton was incorporated as a separate town May 7, 1662. It previously constituted a part of Dorchester, which also embrared 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 acceptance was dated May 8, 1681; he was ordained June 1st, and his services began Sept. 2d 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 practiced medicine, expending much of his salary in the purchase of medicines for the sick and needy. During his connection with the church of Milton, there were 251 admissisons 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 ordained Nov. 13, 1728, and died Jan. 25, 1750. The Rev. Nathaniel Robbins, who grad. harv. Coll. 1747, followed, and was ordained Fe. 13, 1751, at the age of 24 years, and continued minister of th town 45 yearss; 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 ordainted 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. Coll. 1804, 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.]
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, Be. 10, 1688, Brother Ezra Clapp, by virtue of a letter of dismission from Dorhester church, “and Mary Pitcher, with the rest of the bro. Claps 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 note respecting it is in the Milton Town Records, viz.: “Whereas Ezra Clap has erected a corn 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 the 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]