| Notes |
- RESEARCH_NOTES:
1. The Julian calendar and not the Gregorian was in use colonially meaning the the first three months were considered part of the previous year. In such situations, date shown with both years with a slash.
2. The book "The Early Settlement of Stamford, Connecticut 1641-1700…," by Jeanne Majdalany, pp. 173-75:
"KNAP, KNAPP, Nicholas - bc 1600, d1670, m1 c1630 Elinor (prob Lockwood) (d1658, sis/o Robert and Edmund), m2 1659 Unica Brown (d by 1670, wd/o Clement Buxton. wd/o Peter).
Nicolas Knap, his wife Elinor, and seven children came to America on the "Arbella" in 1630. They came from Burys St. Mary in Suffolk, probably. In 1631 Nicolas was fined in Watertown, MA for selling water for scurvy at too high a price. He was in Stamford by 1649, having been previously in Rye, NY, and Greenwich. After the death of his wife, he married Unica Brown, the recent widow of Clement Buxton, and moved into the Buxton home on the east side of West Street.
His grandson Moses was a blacksmith in the 1680s.
Descendants of KNAP, Nicolas:
A. Jonathan - b&d1631.
B. Timothy - b1632, d by 1685, mc1665 Bethia Brundage (d/o John). Rye, NY.
C. Joshua - b1634, d1684, m1657 Hannah Close (bc1632, d1696, she m2 John Bowers). Greenwich.
D. Caleb - b1637, dc1674, mc1660 Hannah Smith (d1685?, d/o Henry, she m2 167- Thomas Lawrence.
1. Caleb - b1661, d bef 1717, m1694 Hannah Clements (d/o William), of Norwalk and Goshen, CT.
a. Caleb - b1695, d1761.
b. William - b1697, d1770.
c. Sarah - b1700.
d. Abigail - b1702.
e. Joshua - b1704.
f. Joseph - b1706.
g. Hannah - b1710.
h. Jonathan - b1713.
i. Benjamin - b1717.
j. Reuben - b1717.
2. Capt John - b1664, d1749, m1 1692 Hannah Ferris (b1666, d1724, d/o Peter), m2 1727 Mrs Martha Weed.
a. Lt Samuel - b1695, d1751, m1 1720 Martha Slason (b1699, d1747, d/o John Jr), m2 1749 Mrs Marcy Bouton.
b. Lt John - b1697, d1763, m1 1723 Deborah Cross (b1702, d/o Nathaniel), m2 1736 Abigail Hoyt (d/o Samuel).
c. Hannah - b1699, d1724, m1 1716 Isaac Quintard, m2 Jessup.
d. Peter - b1701.
e. Charles - b1703, d1773.
f. Deborah - b1705.
g. Moses - b1709, d1787.
3. Moses - b1666, d1753, m1688 Elizabeth Crissy (d/o William). Reading, CT.
a. Elizabeth - b1690.
4. Samuel - b1668, d1739, mc1696 Hannah Bushnell. Greenwich and Danbury, CT.
5. Sarah - b1670, m1691 Ebenezer Mead.
6. Hannah - b1672.
E. Sarah - b1639, d1681, m1 John Disbrow, m2 1657 Peter Disbrow.
F. Ruth - b1641, m1 1657 Joseph Ferris, m2 1708 John Clapp.
G. Hannah - b1643, d1674, m1673 Zarubbabel Hoyt.
H. Moses - b1646, d aft 1713, m1669 Abigail Westcott (bc 1642, d aft 1713, d/o Richard).
1. Lydia - bc1670, d1710, m1685 Thomas Penoyer.
2. Abigail - b1672, d1706, m1692 John Crissy.
3. Sarah - b1674, d1717, m Samuel Husted.
4. Hannah - bc1676, m1 1696 Nathaniel Cross, m2 1715 Samuel Palmer.
I. Lydia - b1648, d1716, in Richard Mills.
J. Josiah? -.
References: Alfred Averill Knapp, The Nicolas Knapp Genealogy."
3. The book: "A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England Showing Three Generations of Those Who Came Before 1692" by James Savage, published by Genealogical Publishing Co., 1981, Baltimore, vol.3, p.33: "Joshua, Greenwich 1670, son of Nicholas, m. 9 Jun 1657, at Stamford, Hannah Close, had good estate by inventory of 1685, though he died 27 Oct. 1684, leaving children Hannah, aged 25; Joshua, 22; Joseph, 20; Ruth, 18; Timothy, 16; Benjamin, 10; Caleb, 7; Jonathan, 5. His widow married John Bowers."
4. Per the book "The Story of the Early Settlers of Stamford, Connecticut, 1641 - 1700," by Jeanne Majdalany (including genealogies comp. with Edith M. Wicks), page 173-175: "Joshua - b1634, d1684, m1657 Hannah Close (bc1632, d1696, she m2 John Bowers). Greenwich."
5. "Nicholas Knapp Genealogy," compiled by Alfred Averill Knapp, M.D. "This Genealogy of the Descendants of Nicholas Knapp, first found mentioned at Watertown, Massachusetts in 1630, is the result of the work and research of many individuals. The four principal collectors of data were Charles Ruggles Knapp, Henry Eno Knapp, Ezra Fred Knapp and the author, Alfred Averill Knapp, but they were assisted through correspondence by a large number of individuals who furnished much valuable family and local information..." Second Generation:
"B-3. JOSHUA Knapp, son of A-1. Nicholas and Elinor ( ) Knapp.
B. Nov. 1-1634 or 1-5-1635, Watertown, Mass.
D. 10-27-1684, Stamford, Conn.
M. 6-9-1657, Hannah Close, dau. of Goodman or Joseph and Elizabeth ( ) Close. Hannah was b. in 1632. d. 1696. She m. 2nd John Bowers. Others say her estate was settled in 1695 and that she d. 10-6-1694.
C-2. Hanna, b. 3-26-1660, Stamford, Conn. d. 3-29-1721, Greenwich, Conn. m Daniel Smith in 1679. He b. 1648. d. 3-3-1740, Greenwich, son of Henry Smith, bro. of Hannah, wife of Caleb Knapp. They had a son Ezra, b. 11-24-1705. m. 1st Mary Weed. 2nd Mary Bellamy. Hannah was 25 at the death of her father. Possibly she had 13 children.
C-3. Joshua, b. 1662/3. d. before 1750. m. Elizabeth Reynolds and Abigail Butler.
C-4. Joseph, b. 1664, Greenwich, Conn. d. 1716 or 1723. m. Widow Mary (Lockwood) Husted, dau. of Robert and Susannah ( ) Lockwood and widow of Jonathan Husted, or Elizabeth Reynolds who d. before him. No record of children by either. He was the Representative from Greenwich in the Conn. Assembly in Oct. 1706, Apr. 1707, Oct. 1708, May 1709 and Aug. 1710. In 1688 he was among the legal voters of Greenwich. In 1694 he bought the homestead of Moses Knapp. He deeded land 3-12-1703 to his bro. Caleb. He was on the Town Tax List of Greenwich in 1694/5 for 73 pounds. In 1706 he was appointed guardian of David Reynolds, of Greenwich. He was appraiser and administrator of the estate of John Reynolds, 12-12-1701.
C-5. Ruth, b. 1666, Greenwich. d. after 4-6-1736. m. before 1694, John Reynolds or Renold. No children. He was b. 1662. d. Mch. 1736, at Greenwich, son of Jonathan Reynolds. Perhaps she m. 2nd 7-10-1735, Ebenezer Mead. On 12-10-1726, Benjamin Reynolds agreed to keep John Reynolds and wife Ruth, sister of Joshua Knapp as long as they lived. However, Benjamin d. the next year, 1727, while Deacon John Reynolds, his uncle, lived nine years longer. John Reynolds made his will 9-22-1732. Probated Stamford, 1736. All to Ruth.
C-6. Timothy, b. 1668/9. d. 1737 (or 1733). m. Elizabeth Seymour and Martha Weeks.
C-7. Benjamin, b. 1673/4. d. 1716/9. m. Elizabeth Butler, 1700.
C-8. Caleb, b. June 1677. d. 1750. m. 4-1-1697, Sarah Rundell.
C-9. Jonathan, b. 1679, Greenwich. Probably d. young. Jonathan, C-9 and Jonathan, D-9 are confused in the records. C-9 Jonathan may have d. young or may have m. Susannah , lived in Greenwich and had children Ebenezer and Isaac. He was mentioned in the will of Timothy Knapp of Greenwich, 10-15-1732 as "Cousin Jonathan of Greenwich" so he was living then.
B-3. Joshua Knapp moved to Stamford, Conn., with his father in 1646, m. there and lived there for some time. In 1663 he moved to Greenwich, Conn. where he was admitted Freeman in 1669, making his home there until his death in 1684. He was one of two persons who made the bargain with the Indians when Bedford Parish was bought from them. The agreement between the Indians and Stamford Colony was witnessed by Joshua Knapp and David Waterbury and signed by seven Indian Chiefs dated 12-23-1680. He bought land in Rye in 1681. His inventory is dated 10-27-1684 and is spoken of as a good estate. He mentions the children named above, except Jonathan, saying that the sons shall receive their share at the age of 21 and the daus. at the age of 18. The will is signed by the widow Knapp, John Bowers and Moses Knapp, all of Stamford, Conn., and also by John Reynolds. Joshua was made Proprietor at Greenwich 2-5-1664. He gave a deed in Stamford 1-14-1657. He was probably a weaver by trade as his father willed him "the other half of the gears" to his loom. Inventory of his estate in 1684 places its value at 54 pounds. He was one of the Committee of Sixteen to confer about the dividing line between Greenwich and Rye. John Bowers was made Proprietor at Greenwich 2-5-1664, was called 43 years old in 1681 and d. in 1694. No children."
6. "Abstracts of Stamford Probate records," compiled by Spencer P. Mead: "Knapp, Nicholas, late of Stamford, will dated Feb. 15, 1670, probated Oct. 31, 1670, mentioned his children Moses, Timothy, Caleb, Joshua, Sarah Disbrow, Hannah, Lidea, and Ruth; Sarah Buxton and Unice Buxton are called daughters-in-law, and are left property out of the effects of their father Clement Buxton. Executor son Joshua. Witnesses John Weed and Eleazer Slawson, page 56. Inventory taken Feb. 27, 1670, by John Holly and Clement Buxton, and filed Oct. 31, 1670, page 56. F1-19."
7. FHL book 929.273-K727kf: "Knapp's N' Kin, The Ancestral Lines of Frederick H Knapp and Others," compiled by: Frederick H Knapp, Rt. #2, Box 438C, AB Hwy, Richland, Missouri, 65556; 1987; Revised/Updated 1991:
"Joshua Knapp, our second generation ancestor, moved to Stamford, Connecticut with his father, Nicholas, in 1646. He married in Stamford and lived there for sometime. In 1663, he moved to Greenwich, Connecticut where he was admitted Freeman in 1669, making his home there until his death in 1684. He and his father-in-law, John Close, were among the first 27 landowners in Horseneck Borough of Greenwich, and was styled the "27 Proprietors of 1672." The original Indian deed for the Horseneck Plantation is still in existence and is dated 1 Feb 1686, but this deed was not recorded until sometime in 1701, and is found in the Greenwich Record today. The deed was witnessed by JOSHUA Knapp, David Waterbury, and John Close; signed by seven Indian Chiefs as follows: (Then known as Bedford Parish)
Rumppanus- (mark)
Pakohchero- (mark)
Kowaconussa- (mark)
Kauko- (mark)
Querrecqui- (mark)
Peattun- (mark)
Testified to by:
Wesskum- (mark) - Chief Sachem
Of this transaction, originally agreed to by all, 27 Apr 1675, Joshua and others divided up the purchased tract among themselves, their children and others selected. He bought land in Rye, Connecticut (now New York) in 1681. In 1665, he is found as an original Patentee. 30 Dec 1670 he was granted part of the uppermost meadows, lying south of the Westchester Path. There are many land deed transactions to be found on our ancestor, still extant, in the Greenwich/Stamford Records. The will of Joshua and his inventory of estate bear the same date (27 Oct 1684), dying the same day, and is spoken of as a good estate. He mentions his children, except Jonathan, who died young, saying that the sons, shall receive their share at age 21 and the daughters at age 18. The will is signed by his widow, Hannah, John Bowers, and Moses Knapp, all of Stamford, Connecticut, also by John Reynolds. We find that Joshua was made a Proprietor at Greenwich on 5 Feb 1664 and a deed of property, dated 14 Jan 1657. We can reasonable assume that he was a "Weaver" by occupation, as his father, Nicholas, willed him "the other halfe of the geers" to his loom. The value of his estate in 1684 was 54 pounds. Records also indicate that he was one of the Committee appointed to confer about the dividing line between Greenwich and Rye, Connecticut (now in New York), this Committee later being named the Committee of Sixteen. After his death, Hannah (Close) Knapp, the widow, married John Bowers of Greenwich, b. 1638- d. 1694. No children of the marriage. "
8. The book "Stamford Town Records, Vol. 1, 1641-1723," transcribed and annotated by Paul R. Finch, NEHGS (Boston, 2011), p. 52: "Page 66 [1:54]" shows a land transaction between Edmund Lockwood and the widow Ann Acerly dated 14 Oct 1657 which was witnessed by "Joshuah Knapp."
9. The book "Stamford Town Records, Vol. 1, 1641-1723," transcribed and annotated by Paul R. Finch, NEHGS (Boston, 2011), p. 180; author's notes in ( ): "Page 182 [1:138] ([Death]) Hannah Smith, wife of Daniel Smith, Sr.* dyed, March the 29th day, 1721.
*According to Mead ("Historie of Greenwich," 595), Hannah3 (Knapp) Smith was the daughter of Joshua2 (Nicholas1) and Hannah (Close) Knapp. She was born on 26 March 1660 (STR 1:98)."
10. "The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Volumes I-III, pp. 1135-37 (Online database: NewEnglandAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2002), by Robert Charles Anderson, 1995. Note that the entry was later edited and republished in 2014 by the same author; see "The Winthrop Fleet; Massachusetts Bay Company Immigrants to New England 1629-1630" (NEHGS; Boston, 2014). The version below is the most current version:
"NICHOLAS KNAPP
ORIGIN: Unknown
MIGRATION: 1630 (based on appearance at court on 1 March 1630/1 [MBCR 1:83])
FIRST RESIDENCE: Watertown.
REMOVES: Stamford 1646.
EDUCATON: Signed by mark as a witness to the will of Nicholas Thele [Stamford TR 1:62-63]. Signed his will by mark. His inventory included "books" valued at 6s. 6d. and an "old Bible," value not stated [Fairfield PR 2:56].
OFFICES: His inventory included "1 gun & hanger" valued at 14s. [Fairfield PR 2:56].
ESTATE: On 25 July 1636, "Nicholas Knap" was granted a Great Dividend of thirty acres in Watertown [WaBOP 4 ["Lands, Grants, Divisions, Allotments, Possessions, and Proprietor's Book" in "Watertown Records Comprising the 1st and 2nd Books of Town Proceedings")]. On 28 February 1636/7, "Nicholas Knap" was granted six acres in Beaverbrook Plowlands [WaBOP 6]. On 26 Jun 1637, Nicholas Knap was granted seven acres in Remote Meadows [WaBOP 9]. On 10 May 1642, "Nicholas Knap" was granted a Farm of one hundred seventeen acres [WaBOP 12].
In the Watertown Inventory of Grants, "Nicholas Knap" held seven parcels of land: "an homestall of sixteen acres"; "two acres in Pine Marsh"; "one acre of meadow"; "thirty acres of upland ... being a Great Dividend in the second division & the seventeen lot": "six acres of plowland ... in the Hither Plain"; "seven acres in Remote Meadows ... & the thirty-nine lot"; and "thjirteen acres of upland ... beyond the Farther Plain & the fifty-nine lot" [WaBOP 86].
In the Watertown Composite Inventory, "Nicholas Knap" held eight parcels of land: "an homestall of sixteen acres"; "two acres in Pine marsh"; "one acre in Pond Meadow"; "thirty acres of upland being a Great Dividend in the 2 division & the 17 lot"; "six acres of plowland in the Hither Plain & the 35 lot"; "seven acres of meadow in the Remote Meadows & the 39 lot"; "thirteen acres of upland beyond the Further Plain & the 59 lot"; and "A Farm of one hundred & seventeen acres of upland" [WaBOP 29].
On the 29 September 1645, "Nicholas Knap of Watertowne" sold to "Edward Garfield of the same town one acre of meadow lying in the same town" [SLR 1:71]. On 6 May 1646, "Nicholas Knapp of Watertowne" sold to "Bryan Pendletown ... all his land in Watertowne granted by the town as by the transcript may appear with all the housing thereupon (only one acre in Pond Meadow formerly being sold excepted) with all the privileges thereunto belonging" [SLR 1:71].
On 26 September 1651, "Elyas Bayly" sold to Nickles Knape ... his house and homelot, bought of Jo[hn] Coe ..., the said land containing an acre & half" [Stamford TR 1:51]. (This is the only direct reference to land at Stamford held by Nicholas Knapp. There are, however, many references to him as an abutter to the land of other Stamford inhabitants [Stamford TR 1:26, 27, 29, 31-37, 41, 46].)
In his will, dated 15 Apr 1670 and proved on an unknown date, "Nicholas Knap of Standford" bequeathed to "my son Moses Knap my house and land in Standford with all the meadows and upland belonging unto me," with same moveables; to "my son Timothy the monies remaining due to me upon the bill for the house of John Bats lives in"; to "my son Calep the loom and half the gears and the other half of the gears I give to my son Josuah"; to "my daughter Sarah Disbrowe the money due to me from her husband, about 37s. concerning the horse"; to "my daughter Hanna one mare"; to my daughter Lidea the mare that was Mr. Bishop's with the increase she hath"; to "my daughter Ruth twenty shillings"; to "my two daughters-in-law, viz: Sarah & Uneca Buxton all their mother's clothes as a free gift, except one hat and one new petticoat which my will is they have onward of their portions"; to "Uneca Buxton the new Bible as a free gift"; the portions due to my two daughters-in-law, viz: Sarah Buxton & Uneca Buxton out of the estate of their father Clement Buxton, I say that their part and portions be currently paid according to their proportion of that inventory"; "my son Josuah Knap [to be] sole executor" [Fairfield PR 2:55].
The inventory of the estate of "Nicolas Knap deceased," taken 27 April 1670, totalled ₤166 13s. 11-1/2d., of which ₤50 was real estate: "house and lands," ₤50 [Fairfield PR 2:56].
BIRTH: By about 1606 (based on estimated date of marriage).
DEATH: Stamford between 15 April 1670 (date of will) and 27 April 1670 (date of inventory).
MARRIAGE: (1) By 1631 Elinor ____. She died at Stamford 16 August 1658 [Stamford TR 1:24].
(2) Stamford 9 March 1659 Unica (____) (Buxton) Brown [Stamford TR 1:77]. She was the widow of Clement Buxton and Peter Brown [Gillespie Anc 61-63], and had apparently died by 15 April 1670, as she is not mentioned in Nicholas Knapp's will.
CHILDREN:
With first wife
i. JONATHAN KNAPP, b. Watertown early November 1631 (calc.); bur. Watertown 27 December 1631 "aged 7 weeks" [WaVR 1:3; NEHGR 6:380].
ii. TIMOTHY KNAPP, b. Watertown 14 December 1632 [WaVR 1:3; NEHGR 6:380]; m. by about 1658 Bethia ___ (possibly Bethia Brundish [GM 2:1:447-48]).
iii. JOSHUA KNAPP, b. Watertown 5 January 1634[/5] [WaVR 1:3; NEHGR 6:380]; m. Stamford 9 June 1657 Hannah Close ("The American Genealogist" 10:45).
iv. CALEB KNAPP, b. Watertown 20 January 1636[/7] [WaVR 1:4; NEHGR 7:159]; m. by 1661 Hannah Smith (eldest child b. Stamford 24 November 1661 ["The American Genealogist" 10:174); in his will of 4 July 1687 Henry Smith of Stamford bequeathed to grandson John Knapp [FOOF 1:575]).
v. SARAH KNAPP, b. Watertown 5 January 1638[/9] [WaVR 1:5; NEHGR 7:160]; m. Stamford 6 April 1657 Peter Disborough ["The American Genealogist" 10:112].
vi. RUTH KNAPP, b. Watertown 6 January 1640[/1] [WaVR 1:8; NEHGR 7:162]; m. Stamford 20 November 1657 Joseph Ferris ["The American Genealogist" 10:112], son of JEFFREY FERRIS {1634, Watertown} [GM 2:2:517-21]
vii. HANNAH KNAPP, b. Watertown 6 March 1643[/4?] [WaVR 1:11; NEHGR 7:283]; named in father's will, 15 April 1670; no further record.
viii. MOSES KNAPP, b. say 1645; m. by 1669 Abigail Westcott (on 4 January 1669[/70], Moses Knapp receipted, in the right of his wife, for his share of the estate of Richard Westcott [FOOF1:660]).
ix. LYDIA KNAPP, b. say 1647; m. Fairfield 16 Jan 1666/7 Isaac Hall [FOOF 1:250].
ASSOCIATIONS: See WILLIAM KNOPP {1630, Watertown} for a discussion of suggestions of a relationship between William and Nicholas. [Note: In the "Great Migration Newsletter," v. 4, p. 31, 1993, Mr. Anderson reviews Clifford Stott's article in NEHGR 147:313-28 concerning William Knapp/Knopp and states: "Stott found nothing to support the oft-stated claim of close kinship between William Knopp and Nicholas Knapp of Watertown."] COMMENTS: On 1 March 1630/1, "Nich[olas] Knopp is fined £5 for taking upon him to cure the scurvy by a water of no worth nor value, which he sold at a very dear rate, to be imprisoned till he pay his fine, or give security for it, or else to be whipped, & shall be liable to any man's action of whom he hath received money for the said water" [MBCR 1:83]; at the same court, "Mr. Will[ia]m Pelham & Mr. Edmond Lockewood hath promised to pay to the court the sum of ₤5, for Nich[olas] Knopp, before the last court of May next" [MBCR 1:83]. On 7 August 1632, "£3 of Knop's fine of £5 remitted" [MBCR 1:99]. At the general amnesty of 6 September 1638, it was noted that part of this fine "was paid, & the rest was remitted" [MBCR 1:243]. In the Beaverbrook Plowlands Nicholas Knapp received six acres, and in the Remote Meadows seven acres. Since these lands were granted in part on household size, this would suggest a birth in the interval between the two grants; the birth of Caleb fell exactly one month before the Beaverbrook Plowlands grant, and it may be that this was not taken into account for the Beaverbrook Plowlands grant, but was for the Remote Meadows grant. At the date of the Remote Meadows grant of seven acres, the Nicholas Knapp family was known to have five members: Nicholas, wife Elinor, and sons Timothy, Joshua and Caleb. This permits the possibility that there were one or two more persons in the household, not necessarily children; but the difference might also be explained if Nicholas had sufficient wealth in cattle, the other criterion for the size of these grants."
11. The book "Ye Historie of ye Town of Greenwich with Genealogical Notes …," by Spencer P. Mead with the assistance of Arthur S. Kimball (Camden, Maine; Picton Press), pp. 517-18:
"GOODMAN1 CLOSE, b. about 1600, in County York, England, m. Elizabeth ___, b. about 1606, in England, came to America about 1642, and finally settled in Fairfield, Connecticut, where Goodman Close died in 1653. His widow afterwards married George Stuckey, and died in Stamford, Connecticut, Sept. 4, 1656. Her children by her first husband were:
-Hannah2, b. about 1632, m. June 9, 1657, Joshua Knapp, and after his death she married John Bowers.
-Joseph, b. about 1634, d. without issue before 166o.
-Thomas, b. about 1637, m. Sarah, daughter of Richard and Ann (Husted) Hardy, in 1669, he d. in Greenwich, in 1709.
Mary, b. about 1640, living April 15, 1725, m. June 25, 1668, Samuel Holly."
12. The book "History of Stamford, Connecticut, 1641-1868…," by Rev. E. B. Huntington (A Corrected Reprint of the 1868 Edition, 1979), p. 56:
"Knapp, Caleb, son probably of the above [Nicholas Knapp], had a son, Caleb, born in 1661. His will, bearing date, 10, 3, 1674, names his children: Caleb, John, Moses, Samuel, Sarah, and Hannah.
Knapp, Joshua, son of Nicholas, was married here in 1657 to Hannah Close. He had one child recorded here -- Hannah, born March 26, 1660. He lived later in Greenwich, having had then seven children, Joshua, Joseph, Ruth, Timothy, Benjamin, Caleb, and Jonathan. His inventory bears date Oct. 27, 1684."
13. The book "History of Stamford, Connecticut, 1641-1868…," by Rev. E. B. Huntington (A Corrected Reprint of the 1868 Edition, 1979), pp. 55-56:
"KNAPP, NICHOLAS, had land here in 1649, as appears from the land records. His wife, Eleanor, died August 16, 1658. Savage thinks he may have come in the fleet with Winthrop and Saltonstall in 1630., His children were Jonathan, born Dee. 27, 1631; Timothy, Dec. 14, 1632; Joshua, Jan. 5, 1635; Caleb Jan. 20, 1637. Sarah, Jan. 5, 1639; Ruth, Jan. 6, 16A1; and Hannah, March 6, 1643. After coming to Stamford he had probably Moses and Lydia. After the death of his wife, Eleanor, he married, March 9, 1659, Unity, widow of Peter Brown, who had also been the widow of Clement Buxton. He died in April 1670, and his will, now in the probate records of Fairfield, dated the 15th of that month, names the children in the following order: Moses, Timothy, Caleb, Sarah Disbrow, Hannah, Lidea, Ruth, and Sarah and Unica Buxton, daughters of Clement."
14. The periodical "Connecticut Ancestry," vol. 50, no. 4 (May 2008), " Ancestry of William Weed of Stamford and Darien, Connecticut (Continued), by Frederick C. Hart, Jr., CG, FASG, pp. 146-48:
"NICHOLAS1 KNAPP was in Watertown, Massachusetts by 1 March 1630/31, when he was fined for selling some "water of noe worth nor value" as a cure for scurvy.[1] Since this was wintertime when no ships made the Atlantic voyage, it is likely that he had arrived well before this time, perhaps during the summer of 1630.[2] Anderson estimates that he was born by about 1606, based on the estimated date of his marriage.[3] He died at Stamford between 15 and 27 April 1669/70, the dates of his will and his inventory.[4] The family name was generally spelled Knap until about 1800, but the current spelling of Knapp will be used herein, except when in a direct quotation.
His first wife and mother of his children, who died in Stamford on the 16th day, 6th month (16 August) 1658, was named ELEANOR ___.[5] He married (2) at Stamford on 9 March 1658/59 UNICA (___) (BUXTON) BROWN, widow of Clement Buxton and Peter Brown.[6] Since she was not mentioned in his will, she is presumed to have died before 1670.
The standard "Knapp Genealogy" is full of error and must be used with caution.[7] It does, however, contain some interesting historical and biographical information, including a list of the lands of Nicholas Knapp in Watertown, and a complete transcription of his will.[8] He appears to have left Watertown about May 1646, since he sold all the land he had received from the town there to Bryan Pendleton on the 6th day 3rd month 1646, and another acre of meadow (purchased separately in 1645) to Edward Garfield on the same date.[9] According to one Stamford historian, he was briefly in Rye, New York, and nearby Greenwich, before arriving in Stamford about 1649.[10]
For some unknown reason, the Stamford Town Records do not contain a complete listing of the lands of Nicholas Knapp as they do for many other early residents. He is, however, mentioned regularly as an adjoining landholder in many of the other residents' summaries. The Town Records do contain an interesting purchase on 26 September 1651 by "Nickels Knape" of Elias Bailey's house and home lot of 1 -1/2 acre, purchased earlier by Bailey from John Coe, and adjacent to land already in Knapp's possession.[11] Both Bailey and Coe left Stamford for Long Island, along with many other Stamford people.
Nicholas Knapp and his stepson Clement2 Buxton, son of his second wife Eunice, "the [a]foresayd Nicholas Knap haveing by and wth the mariage of ye Widdow Buxston administred upon ye estate of Clement Buxton, deceased" made an agreement on 8 March 1666/67 and recorded 31 January 1667/68, the young man having reached his majority, that he (Buxton) would receive title to his father's house and property in return for granting Knapp and his wife the life use of the house and 1/2 of the barn and home lot.[12] On the following day (9 March 1666/67) Nicholas Knapp added an additional detail to the agreement in which he gave "unto Clement Buxton a beding in ye house wch I now am resedent in and what conveniancy I can conveniantly acommodate him wth all for stoedge [storage] of what necisary things he have to put in so that it may be understood I grant him this priveledge as long as I shall live in the house. This my agreement made 9th March [16]66.[13]
Then, within a year on 19 October 1668, Nicholas Knap purchased the house and 1-1/2 acre homelot of Daniel Simpkins of Stamford for the price of "two oxen and on[e] cow in hand resived & for full satisfaction."[14] This homelot was between the homelots of Richard Scofield on the south and Thomas Lawrence on the north and bounded by the highway on the east and the mill lot on the west.
His will was dated at Stamford on 15 April (2nd Month) 1670, probated 21 October 1670, and named his children Moses, Timothy, Caleb, Joshua, Sarah Disbrowe, Hanna, Lidea, and Ruth. Sarah Buxton and Eunice Buxton are called daughters in law, and are left property out of the effects of their father Clement Buxton.[15] His son Joshua Knapp was named executor and the will was witnessed by John Weed and Eleazer Slason. The inventory was taken 27 April 1669/70 by John Holly and Clement Buxton, and filed 31 October 1670. [16]
Children of Nicholas and Eleanor (___) Knapp, first seven born and recorded at Watertown[17] and last two born probably at Stamford:
i. JONATHAN2 KNAPP, b. Nov 1631, bur. Watertown 27 Dec 1631 "aged 7 weeks."
ii. TIMOTHY KNAPP, b. 14 Dec 1632, m. BETHIA ___, said to have been the daughter of John Brundish or Brundage.[19] He moved to the town of Rye, (then in Connecticut but now in New York) about 1667 when he purchased a house and homelot there. He was active in community affairs and was constable of Rye in 1681 and 1682. He apparently moved to Greenwich by 1697.[20]
iii. JOSHUA KNAPP, b. 5 Jan 1634/35, m. at Stamford 9 Jun 1657 HANNAH CLOSE.[21]
iv. CALEB KNAPP, b. 20 Jan 1636/37, m. HANNAH SMITH.
v. SARAH KNAPP, b. 5 Jan 1638/39, m. at Stamford 6 Apr 1657 PETER DISBOROUGH / DISBROW.[22]
vi. RUTH KNAPP, b. 6 Jan 1640/41, m. (1) at Stamford 20 Nov 1657 JOSEPH FERRIS,[23] and (2) 19 Jan 1707/08 JOHN CLAPP.[24]
vii. HANNAH KNAPP, b. 6 Mar 1642/43,[25] living at the time of her father's will in 1670.[26]
viii. MOSES KNAPP, b. say 1645, perhaps at Stamford, m. by 1669 ABIGAIL WESTCOTT.
ix. LYDIA KNAPP, b. say 1647, probably at Stamford, m. at Fairfield 16 Jan 1666/67 ISAAC HALL.[27]
Footnotes:
1. Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, ed., "Records of the Governor and Company of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, 1628-1686," 5 volumes in 6 (Boston: the Press of William White, 1853-1854), 1: 83, 99, 243. This fine was partially paid and partially forgiven, and it may be that the cure was somewhat successful after all.
2. Although there is no specific record of the fact, he may very well have come with the Winthrop fleet that arrived in Massachusetts Bay in June and July of 1630 (Charles Edward Banks, "The Winthrop Fleet of 1630" (1930, repr: Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1983), 78.
3. Robert C. Anderson, "The Great Migration Begins - Immigrants to New England 1620-1633," 3 volumes (Boston: The New.England Historic Genealogical Society, 1995), 2: 1136.
4. The Great Migration Begins (note 3), 2: 1136.
5. Stamford Town Records, 1: 20, transcription copy, 26, Connecticut Ancestry Society microfilm #1. Her name is spelled "Eliner" in the record, which was written two different times on the same page. She was called Eleanor "Disbrow" by Capt. James S. Ferris in his, "A Ferris Genealogy" (Coronado, CA: the author, 1980), vol. 2, ID No. 12. She has also been called Eleanor "Lockwood" by several authors but this is very unlikely (see Harriet Woodbury Hodge, "Some Descendants of Edmund Lockwood [1594-16351 of Cambridge, Massachusetts and his son Edmund Lockwood [ca. 1625-1693] of Stamford Connecticut" [New York: Philip V. Lockwood, 1978], 82.) Other surnames have also been proposed but all of these identities for her are considered speculative at this time.
6. The Great Migration Begins (note 3), 2: 1136, citing Paul W. Prindle's analysis in his Gillespie Genealogy.
7. Alfred Averill Knapp, Nicholas Knapp Genealogy (Winter Park, FL: the author, 1953).
8. Knapp Genealogy (note 7), 2.
9. Suffolk Deeds Liber I (Boston: Rockwell and Churchill, 1880), 1: 71.
10. Jeanne Majdalany, "The Early Settlement of Stamford Connecticut 1641-1700" (Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, Inc., 1990), 173.
11. Stamford Town Records, 1: 53, transcription copy, 65.
12. Stamford Land Records, A: 18-9.
13. Stamford Land Records, A: 19.
14. Stamford Land Records, A: 143.
15. Fairfield Probate Records, 2: 55. The month was given as 2nd month on both the will and the inventory, which was April old style. Mead and others have incorrectly called it February.
16. Fairfield Probate Records, 2: 56.
17. Henry Bond, "Genealogies of the Families and Descendants of the Early Settlers of Watertown, Massachusetts, Including Waltham and Weston ..." (Boston: The New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1860), 327.
18. All data are as given in The Great Migration Begins (note 3), 2: 1136-7 except where noted. Lists of spouses given in the Knapp Genealogy (note 7) and other secondary sources are similar, but have additional marriages for many of the children that have not yet been verified. This list follows Anderson who discounted many of these additional marriages for lack of proof. Also note his discussion and rejection of the claims that William Knopp of Watertown was a close relative of Nicholas Knapp.
19. Although Bethia's identity is given as fact by Norman Davis in his "Westchester Patriarchs" (Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, Inc., 1988), 36-7, 140, it is not confirmed by Anderson, or by Donald L. Jacobus in his, "History and Genealogy of the Families of Old Fairfield," 2 volumes in 3 (Fairfield: Eunice Dennie Bun Chapter, DAR, 1930-1932), 1: 108.
20. All from Charles W. Baird, "Chronicle of a Border Town: History of Rye Westchester County, New York 1660-1870" (Camden, ME: Picton Press [reprint], 1994), 416.
21. Stamford Town Records, 1: 20, transcription copy, 26.
22. Stamford Town Records 1: 19, 74, transcription copy, 74, 87. Some authors have claimed that she had an additional first marriage to John Disbrow, but this is unlikely since she was called Sarah Knapp in 1657.
23. Stamford Town Records, 1: 74, transcription copy, 87.
24. Stamford Town Records, 1: 128, transcription copy, 164. See also Ferris Genealogy (note 5), vol. 2, ID no. 12.
25. Mr. Bond gave the year as "1643-4" in his Watertown Genealogies (note 17) but Anderson gives it as 1642/43 based on the original (The Great Migration Begins [note 3], 2: 1137.)
26. Early Settlement (note 10), 174, lists a marriage for her to Zerubbabbel Hoyt in 1673, but there is no such marriage in the generally reliable David W. Hoyt, "A Genealogical History of the Hoyt, Haight, and Hight Families with Some Account of the Earlier Hyatt Families..." (Providence and Boston: the author, 1871, repr. Somersworth, NH: New England History Press, 1984), 311-2.
27. Old Fairfield (note 19), 1: 250. It is sometimes claimed that she married Richard Mills but Jacobus explained that this Mills marriage instead belonged to Lydia the daughter of Roger Knapp of New Haven and Fairfield (Old Fairfield [note 19], 1: 365, 411.)"
15. The book "Stamford Town Records, Volume 1, 1641-1723," transcribed and annotated by Paul R. Finch, (Boston: NEHGS, 2011), pp. 84-86:
"Page 94 [1:80]
The last will & testament of Georg Stuckey conserning his worldly estate, made the 23d Agust Anno 1660.
1. He commends his soule into the armes of Mercy of Jesus Christ, hoe gave it & his body in the Lords time appointed to the earth.
Item, I give & bequeath unto my daughter in law Mary Close a mare & a mare colt & a heiffer of two yeer old those to be put out by the overseers of this my will for the best advantage for the use of the said Mary till shee comes of law-full age & this I doe because shee hath bin obediant to her mother's will, also one iron pot & two brase cittles, tht sometime hath bin her father's, I give to the fore-said Mary after the decease of my wife Ann.
It. I make my wife Ann & my daughter Elizabeth my sole executors, the rest of my estate {after my just debts being paid} to be divided in too equall pts between my wife & my daughter Elizabeth & this respect
Page 95 [1:80]
I have to my wife, because shee should be carefull to the bringing up of my child Elizabeth & this I will tht my daughter Elizabeth's p[ar]t or portion be put out by the overseers to the best advantage till shee corn of lawful age or to marriage.
Furthermore, my will is, as conserning wt is given above to Mary Close, that if Thomas Close & his sister Hanna recover anything of the estate by tht chalinge or claim, they have formerly made & molested me with, then I do hereby revoke & recall w is above given to Mary Close into the executers hands as theires; for as conserning w` they claime about a mare as given by me to my former wife, I doe here in the presence of God protest tht there never was any such thing realy acted that shee shold have to dispose of from me.
Lastly, I doe hereby earnestly desire, authoratize & betrust my wel beloved neighbours & freinds, Frances Bell, Robert Battes, Richard Mills, & Georg Slason to be overseers of this my will & take due care of my wife & child & of the estate, respectively to this my will desiring that if these overseers see cause to take my child Elizabeth & to place her elswhere in some godly family & if Mary Close like not to live with her mother in law tht then I will & dispose of her to Master Bishop to be at this disposing till shee be of lawfull age.
([transcri])bed George Stukey
Daniell Scofield "D" his mark
John Holly
transcrib'd out of the original whoe atested upon oath the 25 12mo. 60[/1], this to be the will of George Stokey, before Richard Law Officer in Stamford [Footnote: Since the will was dated 23 Aug. 1660, this date must be the following February, i.e., 25 Feb. 1660/1.]
Page 96 [1:81]
Entre concering Mt Bishop & Mary Close respecting severall other p.sons,
Whereas a deed of gift, viz. of a mare given long since by George Stuckey to his former wife & by her disposed of to her sone Joseph & Hanna Close, was lately claimed by Joshua Knap to be made good by the said Georg Stuckey unto the said Joseph & Hanna for the clearing & isuing of wch claime a sute at law was intended, but not prosecuted by the said Joshua because it was inded betwene thm by composition, viz. by the said Joshua's acceptance of a mare wth foale, wt upon he gave an aquitanc & full discharge for himselfe, tht is his wives share in the deed aforesaid & as for the other pt. belonging to Joseph Close, the said Joseph dieing, bequeathed by will wt belonged to him {wth the approbation of George Stuckey his gardian}to his sister, Mary Close wr by wt was Joseph's right before is now become Mary's & now for a final isue likewise {as hath bin made on Joshua's pt. so for Mary}, wth the executors & administrators of George Stuckey & to his estate, the said Georg Stokey, having bequeathed by his will, a considerable legacy unto Mary, upon condition tht nothing were recovered in another way upon accot of the claimed mare by virtue of a deed of gift, I say, in consideration of such a will upon our acceptance, and the executor's performance of the same, the said Mary Close {with the approbation of her present gardian Mr John Bishop, doth reliquish wholly all interest & claime, as touching ther deed of gift aforesaid, and by this writing, both shee & her guardian wth & for her do fully & forever discharge the executors & estate of George Stuckey from tht deed of gift fr([om]) all claime thereunto & molestation thereabouts, by the said Mary Close or any els in her behalf excepting only wt estate may be found hers, either by her own fathers will or brother, Joseph giving her wt his father by will gave unto him & wt his father in ( ) George Stuckey hath given by his
Page 97 [1:81]
will & is pticulerly expr([essed]) therein. And wt is not expressed there, but only to his ([wife]) & shee hath owned or can owne to be her husband's will ([and]) intent that it should be added to the other estate. To th( ) We have set to our hands
John Bishopp
Mary M Close her marke transcrib'd
Stamford 10mo 6 1660 [6 Dec. 1660]
The officer's hands transcribed Richard Law & Frances Bell
Wittnes Robert Bates his mark "R" transcribed
The said Mr John Bishopp being desired by George Stuckey & his ([wife]) & chosen by Mary Close herself, to be her guardian, he is ap([pointed]) so to be by the authority of this place as this act of his ( ) this aquitance for & with the consent of the said Mary as( ) the good of the maide & for the finall isuing of matter ( ) differences that els might remaine amonst relation() ) is fully approved by them, Also Richard Mills, one of the overseers of the will approves the act above, testified by his hand transcrib,
Richar[d] Mills
Page 97 [1:82]
P. Widdow Stuckey, entre the 20 1mo 62/63. [20 March 1662/3]
Received of Frances Browne {Agent for the widow Stuckey} in behalf of Mary Close & for her use a mare & mare colt given by will as a legacy bequeathed to her by George Stuckey her father in law as also an horse colt comming too yeere old wch is in lieu of an heifer of two yeers old given her by the said George Stuckey as his will aforesaid specified, I say received as above mentioned by me
Transcrib'd John Bishopp
This mare & colt being received before the horse colt was delievered & recd this 11mo 22 1662[/3]. [22 Jan. 1662/3, since this record was entered in March 1662/3.]"
BIRTH:
1. "b. Watertown 5 Jan 1634/5 ("Records of Births, Deaths, and Marriages - First Book and Supplement" Section 3 in "Watertown Records Comprising the 1st and 2nd Books of Town Proceedings [Watertown 1894])" per the book cited below.
2. Internet site "The Knapp Family" and other Knapp publications note 1 Nov 1634 without documentation.
MARRIAGE:
1. "m. Stamford 9 Jun 1657 Hannah Close (The American Genealogist 10:45)" per the book cited below.
2. The book "Stamford Town Records, Vol. 1, 1641-1723," transcribed and annotated by Paul R. Finch, NEHGS (Boston, 2011), p. 24; author's notes in ( ): "Page 26 [1:20] ([Jos])hua Knap & Hanna Close maried the 9 June Anno 1657."
DEATH:
1. Not found in the book "Stamford Town Records, Vol. 1, 1641-1723," transcribed and annotated by Paul R. Finch, NEHGS (Boston, 2011).
SOURCES_MISC:
1. See biography notes for father for quote from the book: "The Great Migration Begins, Immigrants to New England 1620-1633," 1995, Robert Charles Anderson, ISBN 0-88082-043-8, published by New England Historic Genealogical Society, 101 Newbury Street, Boston, Mass. 02116.
2. From "The Knapp Family" at website: "http://members.tripod.com/~Silvie/Knapp.html"
3. FHL book 929.273-K727kf: "Knapp's N' Kin, The Ancestral Lines of Frederick H Knapp and Others," compiled by: Frederick H Knapp, Rt. #2, Box 438C, AB Hwy, Richland, Missouri, 65556; 1987; Revised/Updated 1991. The author has prepared a family group sheet on which he notes the following miscellaneous sources:
-NK Gen (1953).
-NK Gen Suppl (1956).
-Hist. of Stamford, by Huntington.
-Hist. of Greenwich, by Mead.
-Fairfield Probate Rec., v. 1665-1675, p. 55.
-Stamford Registration.
-Stamford Colony Rec.
-Rye, NY (CT) Land Rec. 1681.
-Greenwich Vital Rec.
-Inventory of Estate dtd. 27 Oct 1684.
-Proprietor Rec., 5. Feb 1664.
-Fam. of Old Fairfield, by Jacobus.
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Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy
1635 - 1684 (49 years)