John Clapp (Noah, Jonathan, Nathaniel, Nicholas), 1764-1840
The Clapp Memorial. Record of the Clapp Family in America … Ebenezer Clapp, compiler. (Boston: David Clapp & Son, 1876)
John, 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 76 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, 122, aged 45 years. He married, third, May 22, 1823, Mrs. Ann Hawes, 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; there 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.
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:
(first wife)
Susannah R, b. Aug. 12, 1796; m. Benjamin B. Davis
Sarah Ann, b. June 24, 1800; m. Otis Withington
(second wife)
Lucy, b. July 19, 1804; m. Otis Withington (formerly husband of her half-sister)
Edward, b. May 18, 1807 (drowned July 28, 1826)
John, b. Sept. 25, 1809 (drowned July 28, 1826)
James B., b. Sept. 20, 1812
Jane, b. April 27, 1816; m. Moses Withington, brother of Otis