Nathaniel Clapp (Nathaniel, Ebenezer, Nathaniel, Nicholas), 1744-1823
The Clapp Memorial. Record of the Clapp Family in America … Ebenezer Clapp, compiler. (Boston: David Clapp & Son, 1876)
Nathaniel, second son of Nathaniel and Sarah (Howe) Clapp, was born April 22, 1744, and died Oct. 11, 1823. He married, first, April 3, 1769, Eunice Bird, born June 9, 1753, died June 4, 1770, the daughter of Thomas Bird. He married, second, Nov. 14, 1782, Hannah Wheeler. He lived in a house now standing on Boston Street, a few rods north of the old entrance to Dea. Jonathan Clapp’s house, and about the same distance south from the five Corners, and his land made one of those corners. This land, and the house spoken of, are still in the hands of Nathaniel’s descendants, and the land has been in the possession of the family from very early times, probably from the settlement of the town. He was a tanner by trade, and his yard was a short distance back of his house—the place being long since filled up.
Child of Nathaniel and 1st wife Eunice (Bird) Clapp:
Eunice, b. May 25, 1770; m. Caleb Williams, of Dorchester, and lived in the old Blake House, now standing in the north part of that town, the entrance to which was by a passage way, leading from what is now Cottage Street, not many rods north-west from the Five Corners. Since the destruction of the old Minot house by fire in 1873, this is now supposed to be the most ancient house in the old town of Dorchester. It is said to have been built previous to 1650, by Elder James Blake, who m. Elizabeth Clap in 1652 was Deacon and Ruling Elder of the Dorchester Church about twenty-five years, and d. June 28, 1700, aged 77 years. In the “Blake Family” book, published in 1857, a wood-cut illustration of the house is given, and its appearance is little altered since. Caleb Williams and Eunice (Clap) Williams had two children who lived to grow up—Caleb and Charles, and the widow of the former now occupies the ancient house here spoken of.
[Footnote: In the early part of the present century, this house was the secluded residence of two aged sisters, Miss Rachel Blake and Mrs. Elizabeth, widow of Daniel Fairn. Mr. Fairn married, first, May 8, 1753, Mindwell Clapp, who died March 17, 1767, in the 41st year of her age; he married, second, Nov. 24, 1768, Dorcas Davenport, who died Sept. 22, 1780, in her 48th year; he married, third, May 22, 1781, Elizabeth Blake, dau. of John and Abigail Blake, who died Jan. 8, 1817, aged 85 years. He died March 14, 1795, in the 63d year of his age. It is a singular coincidence that Mr. F. and his second and third wives were each born in the year 1732. The two sisters, above named, lie buried near each other in the old Dorchester burying-ground (epitaphs quoted)].
Children of Nathaniel and 2d wife Hannah (Wheeler) Clapp:
Nathaniel, b. Dec. 21, 1783; d. Nov. 4, 1847. He graduated at Harvard College in 1805, and for a while kept the Grammar School in the north part of Dorchester. Afterwards, for a long series of years, he was book-keeper in the Tremont Bank of State Street, Boston. He lived in a house built by his father and now standing, on the westerly side of Dorchester Avenue, near its junction with Boston Street (then the Dorchester and Milton Turnpike and the old Causeway road, and opposite the Turnpike toll-house), where he dwelt many years, and where he died, aged 64. He m. Mary, dau. of Joshua Gardner; she d. April 9, 1847. [children listed]
Nancy, b. May 23, 1789; d. May 17, 1864, in her 75th year. She m. Joseph Ward Bird, of Dorchester, who d. Feb. 17, 1851. They lived in Dorchester and had six children [who are listed].
Moses, b. Feb. 1796; d. unm. in 1821. He was a young man of good moral qualities; one of the constables of the town; he was stout and rugged, a first-rate gunner, and in one of his fox-hunting excursions, two fingers were accidentally shot from his right hand by his comrade, Jacob Beals. He resided with his father until his death.
Hannah, b. Aug. 15, 1799; m. Feb. 2, 1823, Josiah Kingsbury, of Boston. They lived in the house with her father. Mr. Kingsbury died, June 21, 1832, [children listed].