Nathaniel Clap (Nicholas), 1640-1707
from The Clapp Memorial. Record of the Clapp Family in America … Ebenezer Clapp, compiler. (Boston: David Clapp & Son, 1876)
Nathaniel, oldest son of Nicholas and Sarah Clapp, was born in Dorchester Sept. 15, 1640. He married, March 31, 1668, Elizabeth, daughter of Lawrence Smith. He was a man highly respected in the town, and of good estate. He was one of the two constables of the town in 1671. He brought up his oldest son at Harvard College. The Dorchester Church Records say of him: “May 16th, 1707, Mr. Nathaniel Clap, a choice man, rested in the Lord and as interred May 17th.” Mrs. Clapp died Sept. 19 [“12th,” gravestone], 1722.
Mr. Clapp probably lived on the lot of land which makes the western angle of the open [place known as the five Corners, in Dorchester, now junction of Boston, Cottage and Pond Streets. The facsimile of his autograph here given is from a printed book which mush have been prized by the family, as his brother Ebenezer, his sister Sarah and his son Nathaniel all recorded their names in it under different dates. The date of this signature is “Nouember 25th 1679.” There is in the book a date of 1658, accompanying apparently a name, which cannot now be deciphered. The book itself was printed in London in 1623, and contains two sermons by “William Whately, Preacher of the Word of God in Banburie.” The first sermon is entitled, “Mortification. A Sermon Preached vpon the Third to the Colossians, the fifth verse; Mortifie therefore your members that are on earth.” The second, “Charitable Teares: or a Sermon Shewing How Needfvll a Thing it is for every Godly Man to lament the common sinnes of our countrie.”
[Will of Nathaniel Clapp is given]
Children of Nathaniel and Elizabeth (Smith) Clapp:
Nathaniel, b. Jan. 20, 1668-9; d. Oct. 30, 1745; minister at Newport, RI.
John, b. April 7, 1671; settled in Sudbury; d. Nov. 26, 1735.
Jonathan, b. Aug. 31, 1673; d. Jan. 2, 1723-4.
Elizabeth, b. May 22, 1676; m. Ebenezer Sumner.
Ebenezer, b. Oct. 25, 1678; d. May 20, 1750.
Mehetabel, b. Aug. 30, 1684; d. Feb. 20, 1685.
No.22365
The genealogy suggests that Nathaniel lived where Nicholas, his father’s property, is shown on this map from Carol Zurawski and Lynn Whitney. Seventeenth Century Survey of Dorchester. (Boston University, 1979)
