Joseph Clapp (Joseph, Joseph, Ebenezer, Nathaniel, Nicholas), 1774-1852.
The Clapp Memorial. Record of the Clapp Family in America … Ebenezer Clapp, compiler. (Boston: David Clapp & Son, 1876)
Joseph, oldest child of Joseph and first wife Abigail (Glover) Clapp, was born in Dorchester, Aug. 10, 1774, and died June 14, 1852. He married, March 24,1796, Betsey Tileston, who was born Dec. 22, 1776. He lived in Centre Street, in Dorchester, a few rods east of the meeting-house of the Second Church. He was for twenty-four years one of the assessors of the town, was most of that time chairman of the board, and was chosen by his townsmen Representative to the General Court. He was a man whom his neighbors, when dying, often selected as a guardian for their children, or as administrator of their estates. Mr. C. was eminently a man of peace, and was not unfrequently called upon as a settler of disputes. He was one of the sixty-four original members of the Second Church n Dorchester, Jan. 1, 1808, Rev. John Codman pastor, having previously united with the First Church.
[Footnote: Rev. John Codman, D.D., was born in Boston, Aug. 3, 1782. He was son of Hon. John Codman and Margaret Russell his wife, grandson of John, of Charlestown and great-grandson of Capt. John, who came to an untimely end by being poisoned by his three negro slaves about the middle of the 18th century. It is recorded by the biographer of Rev. Dr. C. that one of these slaves was executed for his crime on the northerly side of the Cambridge road, about a quarter of a mile above the peninsula, and that another, a female, was burned at the stake, about ten yards from the gallows!—the only instance, it is said, in the history of this country, of that method of punishment under the authority of the law. Dr. Codman graduated at Harvard College in 1802, studied for the ministry under the Rev. Henry Ware, then of Hingham, and in 1805 embarked for Europe, to finish his theological studies there. After spending three years broad, he returned home, and in August, 1808, first preached to the Second Church in Dorchester, then recently organized, their new meeting-house having been dedicated Oct. 30-, 1806. He was ordained pastor of this church Dec. 7, 1808, the Rev. Dr. Channing (from whom he very soon after separated in theological belief) preaching the ordination sermon. In about a year after his settlement, commenced the celebrated controversy between him and many members of the parish, which lasted for three years, but neither the merits nor the details of which can be here entered into. In 1821, an interesting journey by Dr. C. and his wife was made to the state of Georgia, including a Sunday passed at Midway, among the descendants of the people of Dorchester who emigrated thence in 1695. They then took passage for Europe, returning home the next year. Two other visits to Europe were afterwards made by Dr. C. The position attained by Dr. Codman as pastor of the Second Church, and as a leading and able minister in the denomination to which he belonged, was elevated, and his death, which took place Dec. 23, 1847, in his 66th year, was much lamented.]
He was chosen Deacon, Feb. 17, 1808, which office he held until his death. “He is remembered as an humble-minded Christian, with child-like faith; quiet but firm, loving all and himself beloved, and deeply interested in the truth and cause of Christ. In the church he was active by labors and prayers. He lived to see all his children (save two who died in early life) gathered into the Christian fold.” He had a cancer on his hand when advanced in life, and his arm was amputated July 14, 1847. Spared to a good old age, he felt that his work was done and he was ready to depart. His funeral sermon was from a text of his own selection, which all felt truly to express his spirit.:–“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peach whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusteth in Thee.”
Children of Joseph and Betsey (Tileston) Clapp:
Fanny Tileston, b. Aug. 8, 1796; d. July 24, 1803, aged 7 yrs.
Betsey, b. May 3, 1799; m. May 3, 1820, Thomas Hancock, who sent to sea in 1834, and has never since been heard from. They had no children. She d. Dec. 12, 1863.
Joseph, b. July 6, 1801. He was a cabinet-maker, and lived in the house built by his father on Washington Street, next on the north to the meeting-house of the Second Parish Church. In January, 1846, he was chosen Deacon of the church (the Second in the town) so long under the charge of the Rev. Dr. Codman and now under that of his successor, the Rev. James H. Means, D.D. In 1874, he was released from active service, on account of feeble health. While strength continued, he was a faithful, useful officer of the church, highly esteemed by all. For many years, he led in singing at all the chapel services, from which he was rarely absent. He m. in 1826, Louisa Adams.
[Footnote: Rev. James H. Means, D.D., was born in Boston, Dec. 13, 1823. He was the son of James and Joanna Means. He graduated at Harvard College in 1843, and at Andover Theological Seminary in 1847. Receiving a call to settle in the ministry at Dorchester, he was ordained July 13, 1848. Before the death, in 1847, of Rev. Dr. Codman, who had long been the minister of the Second Church there, Mr. Means was the candidate of his choice as successor to him in the pastoral office. How well he has fulfilled the expectations and made good the place of his predecessor, is attested by his long, harmonious and successful continuance in the office to which he was then unanimously chosen. In 1873, the church celebrated the 25th anniversary of his settlement, which was an occasion of great interest and the interchange of mutual love and esteem. Dr. Means has twice visited Europe since his ordination. For several years he was one of the school committee of the town. A sermon by him, delivered before his own people Dec. 26, 1869, was published, and contains much interesting historical matter, more particularly in regard to the churches in Dorchester.]
Fanny Tileston, b. March 3, 1804; d. Sept. 22, 1823.
Hannah, b. Aug. 26, 1806; m. in 1828, Charles Guild, a goldbeater in Boston. He died in 1846.
Harriet, b. Oct. 13, 1808; d. Aug. 17, 1817.
Sophia Sherburne, b. Nov. 24, 1810; m. April 2, 1850, Samuel Albert Robinson, b. in Brookline, Oct. 17, 1809. The live in Brookline and have children Louise S., and J. Albert.
John Codman, b. in Dorchester, April 5, 1813. He is the general agent of an Insurance Company in Boston. He now resides in Chelsea. He was one of the Committee of Arrangements for the Clapp Meetings at Northampton and in Boston and has assisted in preparing this family record for the memorial. He m. First, Sept, 15, 1841, Lucy A. Blake, who d. Oct 8, 1867. He m. Second, in 1870, Mrs Elizabeth W. Tenney, of Chelsea. [Children by first wife are listed]
James Otis, b. March 4, 1816; d. Aug. 24, 1849. He removed to North Bridgewater, and m. Oct. 5, 1840, Lucia, daughter of Eliphalet and Zilpah (Edson) Kingman, of that place. Very soon after his marriage, he took up residence in Boston, where he lived, and for several years kept a store, in Prince Street. After his decease his wife m. second, Oct. 8, 1856, Henry, son of Matthew Snell, of North Bridgewater, being his second wife; he d. Nov. 11, 1865. [Children of James Otis are listed]
Harriet Sherburne, b. July 10, 1818; m. as a second wife, Sept. 1, 1853, Moses Withington, Treasurer of Brookline. Mr. W.’s first wife was Jane Clapp (dau. of Deacon John)
Samuel Worcester, b. Sept. 3, 1821; was a cabinet-maker by trade, and lived in Bridgewater. He m. April 30, 1845, Mary Cary, of North Bridgewater, b. Dec. 4, 1823; subsequently, he settled as a merchant and manufacturer in Boston, and now carries on extensively the stove, range, and furnace business, on Blackstone Street, where he has occupied the same store for the last twenty-five years. He was actively engaged in both the Clapp Family Gatherings.