William Clapp, 1779-1860
no. 8395 Scan of photo owned by Dorchester Historical Society of William Clapp aged 79 years 2 mos and Elizabeth Clapp aged 75 years 2 mos. Ambrotypes taken May 7th, 1858.
the Clapp tomb was constructed in 1848.
no. 23785 tomb
William Clapp died in 1860 and is buried here with other members of his family. The date 1848 refers to the date the tomb was created. Clapp family members whose deaths pre-date 1848 are also buried here.
The Clapp Memorial. A Record of the Clapp Family in America. (Boston , 1876)
William, son of Capt. Lemuel and Rebecca (Dexter) Clapp, was born in Dorchester, March 3, 1779, died Feb. 29, 1860, and was buried on the 3d of March, the day on which he would, if spared, have completed his 81st year. He followed the business of his father, and established and carried on, till near the close of his life, the large and well-known tan-yard on the corner of what is now Boston Street and Willow court, for many years the largest tannery in Dorchester. He built a house on the opposite corner of the court (north from the tannery and few rods east of his father’s), which still stands, a substantial and commodious brick mansion. Later in life, he devoted his time to his large farm, situated in the north part of the town, adjoining Boston, and well known to the passers by for its systematic cultivation and its horticultural fertility. He married, Dec. 15, 1806, Elizabeth, daughter of Deacon James Humphreys, of Dorchester, who was born Feb. 22, 1783, and died Oct. 4, 1869. Mr. Clapp filled important offices in the town and was two years a Representative to the general court; was also Captain of the Military Company in Dorchester for some years. The death of three of his children in 1838, in the space of four days, by typhus fever, at the ages of 17 (Alexander), 19 (James) and 21 (Rebecca Dexter) years, was a very afflicting event to the parents, but was borne with Christian resignation. The whole family were sick at the same time, and the result of other cases was for a time doubtful. Two of the victims of this terrible epidemic were buried in one day. Mr. Clapp was a man of excellent character, of sound judgment, firm and decided, and much esteemed by the people of the town. He left a large landed estate in the north part of Dorchester and in South Boston. A sermon on his life and character was preached by Rev. Nathaniel Hall, minister of the First Parish, March 4, 1860.
The following is from the Dorchester section of The Rich Men of Massachusetts: Containing a Statement of the Reputed Wealth of about Fifteen Hundred Persons, with Brief Sketches of More than One Thousand Characters. By A. Forbes and J.W. Greene. (Boston: Published by W.V. Spencer, 1851.)
William Clapp, Worth: $100,000
Brother of Richard, tanner by trade, and the only one in town that carries on that business. Once Dorchester was almost a community of tanners; but corporations have put it out of the power of individuals to make it profitable, as formerly, to manufacture leather. Like his brother, and many of his neighbors, he is indebted to the rise of land for a large portion of his wealth. He is very benevolent, and a worthy man. The Claps sprung from the renowned Roger Clap, one of the first settlers, and the name has been among the most respectable inhabitants of the town for more than two hundred years. A very valuable and interesting history of the Claps has been compiled, with great labor and accuracy, by Mr. Ebenezer Clap, Jr., which, we trust, will soon be printed and published. It contains a vast amount of important information relating to the first settlement of Massachusetts, which in a few years will be nowhere else to be found.
Dorchester Old North Burying Ground, Parks Department Report, 1904
[Tomb 362.]
48 WILLIAM CLAPP
William Clapp, born March 3, 1779, died Feb. 20, 1860, 80 y. 11m. 29 d.
Elizabeth (Humphreys) Clapp, born Feb. 22, 1783, died Oct. 4, 1869. Elizabeth Clapp, born March 2, 1808, died. Oct. 20, 1809.
Elizabeth Humphrey (Clapp) Withington, born Sept. 18, 1810, died Dec. 3, 1845.
Rebecca Dexter Clapp, born Dec. 260817, died Nov. 13, 1838. William Clapp, born Sept. 28, 1800, died May 2, 1825.
James Clapp, born Dec. 28, 1819, died Nov. 17, 1838.
Alexander Clapp, born June 10, 1821, died Nov. 13, 1838.
[Children of William and Elizabeth. Frederick Clapp, born Jan 26, 1813, died May 19, 1875, 62 y. 3 m. 24 d. Martha 31. (Blake) Clapp, born June 21, 1812, died Jan. 28, 1895, 82 y. 7 in. ‘1 d.
Frederick Wiiliain Clapp, born Oct. 10, 1843, died same clay. Frederick Augustus Clapp, born Oct. 11, 1845, died Nov. 11, 1874.