Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy

Nicholas Knapp

Male Abt 1606 - 1670  (~ 64 years)


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  • Name Nicholas Knapp 
    Born Abt 1606  , , England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died From 15 Apr 1670 to 27 Apr 1670  Stamford, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I856  Petersen-de Lanskoy
    Last Modified 27 May 2021 

    Father Knapp 
    Family ID F622  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Elinor,   b. Bef 1611, , , England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 16 Aug 1658, Stamford, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age > 47 years) 
    Married Abt 1630  , , England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
     1. Jonathan Knapp,   b. From 1 Nov 1631 to 8 Nov 1631, Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 27 Dec 1631, Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 0 years)
     2. Timothy Knapp,   b. 14 Dec 1632, Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Aft 1697, Greenwich, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age > 66 years)
     3. Joshua Knapp,   b. 5/05 Jan 1634/5, Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 27 Oct 1684, Greenwich, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 49 years)
     4. Caleb Knapp,   b. 20/20 Jan 1636/7, Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. From 11 Oct 1674 to 4 Mar 1674/1675, Stamford, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 37 years)
     5. Sarah Knapp,   b. 5/05 Jan 1638/9, Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1681, Rye, Westchester, New York, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 41 years)
     6. Ruth Knapp,   b. 6/06 Jan 1640/1, Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Abt 1702, of Greenwich, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 60 years)
     7. Hannah Knapp,   b. 6/06 Mar 1642/3, Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Aft 1670, of Stamford, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age > 28 years)
     8. Moses Knapp,   b. Abt 1645, of Stamford, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Abt 1725, Stamford, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 80 years)
     9. Lydia Knapp,   b. Abt 1647, of Stamford, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 9 Dec 1716, Stratford, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 69 years)
     10. Josiah Knapp,   b. Abt 1650, of Stamford, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Bef 1670  (Age ~ 19 years)
    Last Modified 28 May 2021 
    Family ID F177  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 2 Unica,   d. Bef 15 Apr 1670, of Stamford, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Married 9/09 Mar 1659/60  Stamford, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Last Modified 28 May 2021 
    Family ID F325  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • RESEARCH_NOTES:
      1. Ancestral File indicates another child: Disbrow Knapp, b. 1649 Stamford, Fairfield, Connecticut. I don't believe this is correct and he does not show up in any other sources. Disbrow is shortened for Disbrough which is the name of the spouse of Sarah Knapp. I did not find this name or any variation thereof in the book "Stamford Town Records, Vol. 1, 1641-1723," transcribed and annotated by Paul R. Finch, NEHGS (Boston, 2011). I also did not find the name in the "Great Migration" entry below which is one of the best sources on this family. The name probably came from a bad reading of Nicholas' will wherein the married name of his daughter, "Sarah Disbrow," is listed -- someone may have thought these were two people rather than one. I have not included this individual as part of the family.

      2. "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."

      3. From "The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633," Volumes I-III, for notes concerning "William Knopp":
      "Many researchers have claimed that William Knopp and Nicholas Knapp of Watertown were brothers, but there is no evidence for this connection, and much against. The most recent investigation of William Knopp shows no evidence of Nicholas Knapp in the family, or even in Bures St. Mary, Suffolk [NEHGR 147:327-28]. The two differ in age by about twenty-five years, a full generation. William and Nicholas, despite residing in the same town for fifteen years, are never seen interacting in any way. Finally, although this would not normally be an important consideration, the town clerks at Watertown were consistent in spelling William's surname as Knopp and Nicholas's as Knapp, suggesting that in Watertown the surnames were seen as distinct."

      4. From "The Knapp Family" at website: "http://members.tripod.com/~Silvie/Knapp.html":
      a. Notes of Fred Knapp: Nicholas Knapp (immigrant 1630 Wintrop Fleet)-Ship: Arbella, Peter Milbourne, Capt. and Master. He resided in England; Massachusetts; Connecticut-a weaver and farmer by trade-was a member of the Puritan Congregational Church.
      b. Notes of Hal Young: Much has been written about Nicholas Knapp and yet to this day we are still searching for proof of his ancestors. Was he related to William Kna(o)pp that sailed with Nicholas and did he have a first wife that he married in England? If we had proof that Nicholas and William Knapp were related, we would be able to establish ancestors as William's line is found highly probable. We find that a Nicholas Knapp has been associated with Susan Mitterson, of Wells-By-The-Sea and were married in 1617, Co Norfolk, Eng and that she died in Eng prior to 1630, which would make Nicholas not from Co Suffolk. Again, we must await until better data is available to confirm this theory. We do know that Nicholas and his wife, Elinor were passengers with the Winthrop Fleet and set sail 8 Apr 1630 at six in the morning bound for New England. Also aboard was William Knapp and his wife with seven children. The Knapps settled in Watertown, Middlesex, Mass., which was settled mainly by immigrants from Counties Suffolk, Essex, and Norfolk, Eng. The pastor of the church at Watertown was Reverend George Phillips, from Boxted, Co. Essex. The church was organized on 30 Jul 1630, with some forty men, headed by Sir Richard Saltonstall, signing the membership list. The church remained the only church for 66 years. Only church members could become Freeman and vote. On 1 Mar 1630/31, Nicholas was fined five pounds for selling "water" which he claimed would cure scurvey knowing that it had no worth. William Pelham and Edmond Lockwood promised they would pay the fine. Children were by Nicholas and Elinor. On 9 Mar 1659 Nicholas married Unica (Unity) Brown, widow of Peter Brown, who married Unity 22 Jul 1658 and he died soon after. Unity's first marriage was to Clemont Buston who died 2 Aug 1657 in Stamford, CT of which three children, Sarah, Unity, and Clement Buxton were born. Nicholas wrote his will in Fairfield, Fairfield Co., CT on 15 Apr 1670 and where he died the next day on 16 Apr 1670. Notes form Gordon Hamilton (PA): Re: Elinor Lockwood - Some have indicated the Elinor's maiden name was Disbrow (Disbrough). Evidence that it was Lockwood comes from the manuscript compiled by Alfred Averill Knapp on Nicholas Knapp Genealogy (1953). On page 3 of that book is the following quote from the Hartford Times, Oct. 23, 1943, genealogical page, Query A-2695: "The late Judge H. Stanley Finch, long Surrogate Judge at Stamford and a keen student of Lockwood, Finch, and allied families, gave his opinion that Elinor, wife of Nicholas Knapp, was daughter of Edmund Lockwood of Combs, Suffolk, England and sister of Edmund Lockwood (1594-1635) of Cambridge, Mass. and of Robert Lockwood (1600-1658) of Watertown, Mass. and Fairfield, Conn. This seems probable though documentary proof is lacking."

      5. 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: "Knap, Knapp, Nicholas - bc1600, d1670, m1 c1630 Elinor (prob Lockwood) (d 1658, 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 [this seems incorrect] 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 in the Buxton home on the east side of West Street. Descendants...[All the children are listed - see notes with each individual child for citation from this quote; there is one unusual addition: a child by the name of 'Josiah?' with no further information.]"

      6."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..." First Generation:
      "A-1. Nicholas Knapp, our immigrant ancestor.
      Parentage unknown.
      B. In England. Exact place unknown.
      D. 4-16-1670, Fairfield, Conn.
      M. 1st Elinor . She d. 6 or 8-16-1658, Fairfield, Conn. 2nd Unica (Unity) Brown, widow of Peter Brown, 3-9-1659. She had been previously widow of Clement Buxton. Clement Buxton was in Stamford, Conn. in 1650 and d. there 8-2-1657. He had daus. Sarah and Unity and a son, Clement. His widow, Unity, m. 7-22-1658, Peter Brown, of Stamford, Conn. who d. soon after. His widow m. for the 3rd time, Nicholas Knapp as his 2nd wife. All children b. at Watertown, Mass. except Lydia.
      B-1. Jonathan, b. 11-8-1631, Watertown, Mass. Buried 12-27-1631, age 7 weeks.
      B-2. Timothy, b. 10 or 12-14-1632. d before 1685. m. Bethia Brandish.
      B-3. Joshua, b. 11-5-1634 or 1-5-1635. d. 10-27-1684. m. Hannah Close.
      B-4. Caleb, b. 11-20-1636 or 1-20-1637. d. before 3-4-1675. m. Hannah Smith.
      B-5. Sarah, b. 1-5-1638/9. m. 1st John Disbrow 6-12-1657. 2nd 4 or 9-6-1667, Peter Disbrow, of Rye, Conn. Peter lived in Rye in 1660, was one of the purchasers of Rye from the Indians. Was said to be 50 years old. He was Representative from Rye in 1665. Also from Greenbush. Sarah d. in 1681. Had dau. Martha who m. Peter Brown.
      B-6. Ruth, b. 1-6-1640/41. m. 9 or 11-20-1657, Joseph Ferris, son of Jeffrey Ferris. Joseph b. 1638. d. 1699. They moved to Stamford, Conn. in 1646. He was made Proprietor at Greenwich, Conn. 2-5-1664. Jeffrey Ferris was made Freeman at Watertown, Mass. 5-6-1635. Moved to Stamford in 1640. d. 5-31-1666. (See Ferris Genealogy.) The children of Ruth and Joseph Ferris were: (1) John, oldest son, m. 2-13-1695, Abigail Hait of Norwalk. (2) Peter, b. 11-8-1660. d. 1-23-1690. Perhaps m. 12-12-1686, Mary ___. No heirs. (3) James, m. ca. 1705, Rachel, widow of Nathaniel Mead. (4) Ruth, m. 11-27-1685, Samuel Peck and d. 9-17-1745. (5) Moses, m. Eunice ___ and d. in 1748. (6) Joshua, d. 2-2-1746, single, estate distributed to brothers and sisters or their heirs. After his father's death, he purchased from his mother all her rights in her late husband's estate. She probably lived with her son Joshua or dau. Lydia. (7) Benjamin, d. 7-10-1710. m. Sarah (perhaps Weed). (8) Hannah b. ca. 1673. d. 4-14-1711, m. Jonathan Austin. He b. 1685. d. 1769. (9) Lydia, m. John Runnolds. (10) Caleb, m. Elizabeth ___. (11) Joseph, m. Abigail ___ and d. 4-7-1735. The executors of Joseph Ferris's estate were his brother Peter and son-in-law, Samuel Peck, in 1699. He left his lands in Horseneck to sons John and James. His lands on Cos Cob Neck to Moses, Benjamin and Caleb. Sons Joseph and Joshua and dau. Ruth Peck, "Lidia Runolds" and Hannah were mentioned. Probably Hannah was not yet m. Jeffrey Ferris came to the part of Stamford that later became Greenwich. He m. 1st (name unknown). She was mother of all his children. m. 2nd Susannah, widow of Robert Lockwood. d. 1666. m. 3rd Judith (Judy) Feake Palmer, who m. after Jeffrey's death, ___ Bowers, erroneously sometimes called Burns. Jeffrey's only dau. m. Jonathan Lockwood, son of Robert and Susannah. There were 4 Ferris sons- John of Westchester, Peter of Stamford, Joseph and James of Greenwich. Both Peter and Joseph left widows named Ruth, and it was Peter's widow who m. John Clapp, not Joseph's.
      B-7. Hannah, b. 3-6-1643. d. 12-11-1674 or 6-4-1696. m. 1673, Zerubebel Hoyt, of Norwalk, Conn., son of Walter Hoyt. He was b. ca. 1650. d. ca. 1727/8. Had dau. Hannah who m. Joseph Whitney. Lived at Stamford, Conn.
      B-8. Moses, b. ca. 1643 or 1646 or 1656. d. at Peekskill, N.Y. in 1756, "a very old man." m. 1669 Abigail Westcoat.
      B-9. Lydia, b. 6-8-1647/48, Stamford, Conn. d. Dec. 1716. Her will made 12-1-1716. Probated 12-19-1716. She m. Dr. Isaac Hall, Stratford, Conn., son of Francis Hall, as his 2nd wife. Dr. Hall was a prominent physician in his day, b. in England in 1629. d. 5-17-1714, Stratford, Conn. He took the Oath of Fidelity at New Haven, Conn. 4-7-1657. Lydia and Dr. Hall had: (1) Dr. Isaac, b. 11-8-1667. (2) Sarah, b. 5-3-1668. (3) Lydia, b. 9-21-1670. (4) Elizabeth, b. 11-11-1672. (5) Samuel, b. 9-14-1674. (6) Francis, b. 9-16-1676. (7) John, b. 2-8-1678. (8) Mary, b. 8-7-1681. (9) Abigail, b. 4-1-1683. (10) John, b. 1-3-1679. (11) Jonathan, b. 12-2-1684. (12) Hannah. Francis Hall, the father of Dr. Isaac Hall, was in New Haven, Conn. in 1639 and in Stratford after 1648. He was made Freeman in the Conn. Jurisdiction in 1657. He left a large estate in Fairfield, Conn., dying in 1690 at Stratford. He brought his 1st wife, Elizabeth, from England. He m. 2nd 10-31-1665, Dorothy, widow of John Blakeman and dau. of Dr. Henry Smith. Dorothy m. 3rd Mark Sension, of Norwalk, Conn. who d. in 1693. She m. 4th Deacon Isaac Moore, of Farmington, Conn. Francis Hall had the following children, all by his 1st wife:-Isaac-Samuel-Mary-Elizabeth-Rebecca and Hannah who m. Joseph Blakeman.
      A-1. Nicholas Knapp came to New England from England in 1630 with the Winthrop and Saltonstall Expedition and settled in Watertown, Mass. Possibly he was a brother of William Knapp who came at the same time but that relationship has never proved or disproved, though it has been repeatedly affirmed without proof. There is no record that they ever had any dealing with each other after their arrival but whenever one of them got into trouble it was always another who came to their aid. That fact may not prove anything.
      Bond's History of Watertown, Mass. says: "1636, July 25, lands, grants and possessions. Nicholas Knapp- 30 acres. Second division, Feb. 28, 1636, Nicholas Knapp was granted 6 acres. 1642, 3rd month 10th day Division of more land. Nicholas Knapp received one hundred seventeen acres. In 1639 Nicholas Knapp was owner of:
      1. A Homestall of sixteen acres, more or less bounded on the southwest with William Barsham, on the northeast with Howard Browns, on the northwest with Robert Lockwood and the southeast with bank lane.
      2. Two acres in Pine Marsh, bounded on the south with the river and the north with John Barnard.
      3. An acre in Pond Meadow, bounded on the east and north with John Page and the west with Isaac Stern.
      4. Thirty acres of upland being a great dividend in the 2 Division of the 17 Lot.
      5. Six acres of Plowland in the Hither Plaine and the 35 Lott.
      6. Seven acres of Meddow in Remote Meddows and the 39 Lott.
      7. Thirteen acres of upland beyond the further Plaine and the 59 Lott.
      8. A Farm of One Hundred and seventeen acres of upland in the 2 Division."
      In 1644 item 8 of the above list was omitted from the new list.
      Records of the Massachusetts Bay Company in New England say: "Mch. 1, 1630/1. Nich. Knapp is fyned five pounds for taking upon him to cure the scurvy by a water of noe worth nor value which he solde att a very deare rate, to be imprisoned till hee pay his ffine or give securitye for it, or else be whipped and shall be liable to any mans ac'cn of whome hee hath receaved money for the s'd water. Mr. Wil'm Pelham and Mr. Edward Lockewood both promised to pay the court the sum of five pounds for Nich. Knapp before the last court of May next. Aug. 7, 1632. there is 3 pounds of Knapp's fine of five pounds remitted. 6th day of 7th month, 1638. General Court. Nicho Knop, being fined five pounds, pt was paid and the rest remitted." The water had been found beneficial and suit dropped upon payment of costs.
      Nicholas Knapp sold land and privileges in Watertown, Mass. Mch. 6, 1646 and moved to Greenwich or Rye, perhaps stopping at Wethersfield, and two years later moved to Stamford, Conn. but d. at Fairfield. He owned a mill at Stamford as he gave to his son Caleb "land by the mill." On May 6, 1646 he sold to Byron Pendleton all his land, 8 lots, 16 acres granted to him by the Towne except one acre, called the "Pond Meadow" which he sold the year before to Ed Garfield under the date of Sept. 29, 1645, all at Watertown, Mass.
      His will can be found in Fairfield, Conn. Probate Records, Vol. 1665-1675, page 55, as follows: (Many of the "ss" are written "f".)
      "In Stamford, ye 15th 2 mo. Anno 1670. The last will and Testament of Nicholas Knap of Stamford concerning the disposal of his worldly estate.
      1. I give to my son Moses Knap my house and land in Stamford with all the meadows and upland belonginge to me. Also, I give to my said sonn Moses, my cart and plowe or plowes, with all the furniture of Irons, yokes and Chaynes belonging and a small gun in the house and a Sword.
      2. I give to my son Timothy the monies remayning due to me upon the bill for the house of John Bats lives in.
      3. I give unto my Sonn John Caleb the Loom and half the gears and the other half of the gears I give to my Sonn Joshua.
      4. I give to my dau. Sarah Disbrowe, the monies due me from her husband, about 37 pounds concerning the horses.
      5. I give to my dau. Hanna, one mare.
      6. I give to my dau. Lidia the mare that was Mr. Bishops with the increase shee hath.
      7. I give to my dau. Ruth Twenty Shillings.
      8. I give to my two daughters-in-law, viz: Sarah and Unica Buxton, all their Mother's Clothes as a free gift, except one hat and one new petticoat, which my will is they should have onward of their portion. Also, I will and bequeath unto Uneca Buxton the new bible as a free gift.
      9. My will is that the portions due to my two daughters-in-law, viz: Sarah Buxton and Uneca Buxton, out of the estate of their father, Clement Buxton. I say that ther and portions be currently payd, according to their proportion of that Inventorie.
      10. Lastly, my Will is that my son Jushua Knap be sole executor of this my Will to receive all and pay dues according to this my last will as also all debts to or from me. If in case that mare be not found that I have given to Lydia, that then shee to have a nother mare in the Lue of that. This being my Last Will, renouncing all other former Will as wills made by me.
      Witness my hand. Witness John Weed. Eleazur Slawson. Nicholas (Y-type symbol) Knap his mark."
      Huntington's History of Stamford, Conn. speaking of the Governor of Conn. says: "Side by side ready to the utmost of their means to sustain any measure which might aid them in asserting the rights of the Colonies against the unjust demands of the Crown, stood the substantial citizens of the town- the Hoyts- the Holly's- the Lockwoods- the Knaps- the Scofields- the Smiths- the Seelys- the Warings- the Waterburys- the Webbs and the Weeds."
      American Ancestry, Vol. 8, p. 166, says: "Nicholas Knap was probably b. at Bury St. Mary's, England." No proof. Originally the family perhaps came from Saxony, Germany.
      The first Census of Mass. taken in 1790 gives 39 names spelled "Knap" and 10 names spelled "Knapp." Savage's Genealogical Dictionary of New England Families says that in the first century in America, a single "p" was used in spelling the name Knap. Two other books state that before the Revolution, the name was usually spelled with one "p." In this book "Knapp" is uniformly used.
      In 1939, Oswald Greenewaye Knapp, of England, author of "A History of the Chief English Families Bearing the Name of Knapp" was asked to give us his latest conclusions concerning the English origin of our New England Knapp ancestors. He has this to say of Nicholas: "The Christian name of Nicholas was popular in the group of families found in Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Whitshire, from about 1520 onwards & to this group belong 16 of the 22 known instances of the name. But none of these can be fairly identified with the emigrant, Nicholas, all those of his period being otherwise accounted for. In the East Anglian group there is a Nicholas Knapp, of Wells next to the Sea, Co. Norfolk, who m. there in 1618, Susan Mitterson and had issue- Robert, baptised 1619. -Richard, baptized 1621. Nicholas, baptised 1626 and two other children baptised in 1623 and 1628. I mention him because the late Henry Eno Knapp was strongly inclined to identify him with the immigrant. But if he was Nicholas of Watertown, it must be assumed that his wife d. between 1628 and 1630, that he left behind him in England a family of 5 children, all under 12 years of age, m. again in 1630, and began to raise a new family, whose names, instead of being English like those of his first family, were all drawn from the Bible. This to me seems most improbable. But a few years ago I found in the Suffolk Subsidy Roll of 1524, a Nicholas Knap of Newton, the earliest known member of the family to which William Knap belonged, who paid 1s.6d. tax on an assessment of three pounds in goods. This, of course, is not the emigrant but a great grandson or other descendant of the same name could fill the bill very well. There is no documentary evidence that such a person has ever been found, but this is by no means a fatal objection to his existence, for the reason previously stated. Wills and other documents show that five generations of these Knopps flourished at Newton, Cornard, Parva and Middletown between 1524 and 1660. Yet, when I searched the Register of Newton in 1902 from its commencement in 1558 to 1660, I found 1 baptism, 1 marriage and two burials. So it is evident that this family was one of those which did not often darken the Church doors, and many of its members must have escaped registration. But the name of the emigrant, Nicholas, may yet be found in some other local document relating to a law suit, a Court Roll or a Quarter Session Record."
      Copied from the Hartford Times, Oct. 23, 1943, genealogical page, Query, A-2695: "Nicholas Knapp, Emigrant, d. Stamford, Conn. Sept 16, 1670: his wife Elinor, d. there Aug 16, 1658. The late Judge H. Stanley Finch, long Surrogate Judge at Stamford and a keen student of Lockwood, Finch and allied families, gave his opinion that Elinor, wife of Nicholas Knapp, was dau. of Edmund Lockwood of Combs, Suffolk, England and sister of Edmund Lockwood, (1594-1635) of Cambridge, Mass. and of Robert Lockwood (1600-1658) of Watertown, Mass. and Fairfield, Conn. This seems probable, though documentary proof is lacking."
      Clement Buxton d. at Stamford, Conn. Aug. 2, 1657. He owned land there as appears from the boundaries of other lands on record as early as 1650. The inventory of his estate was taken Sept. 3, 1657, and appraised by Richard Law and John Holly. It was given in upon the oath of the widow, Unica Buxton, May 13, 1658 (or 1668). Clement Buxton, Jr. gave bond in Stamford Apr. 19, 1686 of 20 pounds in action against Daniel Scofield. This name is still found among the citizens of the town. Unica d. Apr. 1670.
      Peter Brown's wife, Elizabeth, d. Sept. 21, 1657 and a child, Ebenezer, d. Aug. 21, 1658, both at Stamford. His will was presented in Court, Aug. 19, 1658, and his inventory in Nov. of the same year and testified upon oath by the widow Brown and a Thomas Brown, Feb. 10, 1658. He had come from New Haven where he had a dau. baptized Mercy, Apr. 6, 1645 and a dau. Elizabeth, baptized Aug. 1, 1647. He m. at Stamford, July 22 or 27, 1658, Unity, widow of Clement Buxton. He d. Aug. 22, 1658 less than a month after his marriage. His widow m. March 9, 1659, Nicholas Knap. Peter Brown was one of the Eaton and Davenport Co., which settled in New Haven in 1638. They came from London in the "Hector" arriving in Boston June 26, 1637. He removed to Stamford in 1647. He was a baker.
      Jeffry Ferris was b. in Leicestershire, England about 1610 and came to America about 1634. His widow, Susannah, had a dau. Mary by first marriage perhaps- perhaps by second.
      Additional information concerning the children of B-9, Lydia and Dr. Isaac Hall:
      1. Isaac, b. 11-8-1667. A physician, m. Jane Burgess, dau. of Richard Burgess.
      2. Sarah, b. 3-3-1668/9. m. 1695 or 1700, Joseph Hall, b. ca. 1670/75.
      3. Lydia, b. 9-21-1670.
      4. Elizabeth, b. 11-11-1672. m. Samuel Lane, Rye, N.Y.
      5. Samuel, b. 9-14-1674.
      6. Francis, b. 9-16-1676. d. ca. 1758.
      7. John, b. 2-8-1677/8. d. same day.
      8. John, b. 1-3-1679/80. m. Abigail Summers.
      9. Abigail, b. 4-1-1683, m. Thomas Jecox or Jacocks.
      10. Jonathan, b. 12-2-1684. Res. Stratford, Conn.
      11. Hannah, m. Ezekiel Baldwin.
      12. Mary, b. 8-7-1681.
      All above children b. at Stratford, Conn. Isaac-Francis-John and Abigail all baptized 4-28-1700 at Stratford.
      There has been much confusion over the different Lydias. But Lydia, dau. of Nicholas, m. Dr. Isaac Hall, son of Francis Hall, 1-16-1666. (or 1-16-1661?) Recorded at Fairfield, Conn. Lydia, dau. of Moses and Abigail (Westcoast) Knapp, m. Thomas Pennoyer. Lydia, dau. of Roger Knapp of New Haven m. Richard Mills.
      Dr. Isaac Hall, Sr. was granted 30 pounds, Oct. 1690 as "chirurgeon" to the Army. He was granted 150 acres of land, May, 1697, having served as Surgeon and lost one son."

      7. "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."

      8. 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:
      "Background:
      Early research in the early days, found Nicholas Knapp, the immigrant, came to America, in 1630, with the Winthrop/Saltonstall Fleet. Fortunately, for the purpose of our list of immigrant ancestors (Nicholas Knapp, et al), there exists a list of 70 names of those who came with the Winthrop/Saltonstall Fleet; a rough list prepared by John Winthrop, and found entered in a flyleaf in the original Winthrop Journal disconnected from the main text. It was from this list that Nicholas Knapp and wife, Elinor, was identified. Although it does not depict the name of the ship that our ancestors were on, we can rest fairly assured that they were passengers on the "ARBELLA," the Winthrop Flagship. The Master of the Arbella who successfully led the great flotilla to its destination was- Captain Peter MILBURNE- a resident of London, England. It is thought that Captain Milburne came from the parish of St Katherine by the Tower, but beyond this, little information about him or his family is known. We do not know whether he or his vessel ever returned to America, nor do we have any knowledge of his later career.
      We know from the Winthrop Journals that the Winthrop Fleet departed Southampton, England on 22 Mar 1630; sailed to Yarmouth for an approximate 2 week delay; finally setting sail for America on 6 April 1630. The Winthrop Fleet of 1630, consisted of the following ships:
      "ARBELLA"- Admiral (Winthrop Flagship); Talbot- Vice Admiral; Ambrose- Rear Admiral; Jewel- Captain.
      Charles
      Mayflower II
      Hopewell
      Trial
      Whale
      William and Francis
      Success
      The Flagships carried passengers, as did the Mayflower, Whale and Success; the rest carried freight and livestock.
      The fleet arrived in America on the 12th of June 1630, landing at Salem, Massachusetts Bay Colony. Not caring for the lay of the land, the immigrants pushed on to Watertown, Massachusetts; arriving on 14 Jun 1630.
      WATERTOWN, was settled by our ancestors in 1630. It once included the towns of Weston, Waltham and parts of Belmon and Cambridge, Massachusetts. Located on the Charles River and settled by members of the Winthrop Fleet; these settlers initially spent time in Charleston where two church covenants were signed and more than 100 families left with Rev Phillips to form the first inland settlement. These pioneers sailed up the Charles River to "Gerry's Landing" (now in Cambridge) and built a town. The area being so well watered, they named it Watertown. The wealth and power provided by the natural waters led to the first industrial development. John Olham (exile from the Plymouth Colony), Sir Richard Saltonstall and Reverend George Phillips initiated a democratic form of government. The first Board of Selectmen of New England was at Watertown, elected in August 1634. The Watertown Church was just as democratic, to the ire of neighboring communities. The Old Town Cemetery that is found yet today, dates back to 1642.
      Many writings found today pertaining to the wife of Nicholas Knapp, Elinor, make many claims that are probable conjecture. Some say the marriage of Nicholas and Elinor, took place at Watertown, while Charles E Banks, in his book "THE WINTHROP FLEET of 1630," an account of the Vessels, the Voyage, the Passengers and their English Homes from Original Authorities, reflects Nicholas and wife Elinor, as husband and wife; Elinor, being so identified from the Boston Town Record. While this does not identify specifically that they were married prior to the voyage, it does not identify the marriage as having taken place after arrival in America. My personal opinion is that the marriage took place in England, based on the theory that a condition for joining the movement to America was for a man to have a wife, as well as a trade of necessity for the well being and establishment of the Colony. Many researchers of this line of Knapp's seem to place Elinor, as having been a "Lockwood" and also as a "DISBROW," the first being the most predominate. This has been proven to be conjectural in nature, as recent research as late as 1985/1986, by both researchers of the Lockwood and Disbrow Lines, fail to identify an Elinor Lockwood or Disbrow. For those that claim either as a maiden name; none have been forthcoming with any documentary evidence to support the idea, either way. In view of this and for our purposes, the records of this compilation will reflect her maiden name as "unknown." As far as is known, mention is made of Elinor, wife of Nicholass Knapp, in two places- 1. Boston Town Records; 2. Stamford Probate Records, where her death is recorded, as having died intestate.
      We find in Bond's "History of Watertown, Massachusetts," that Nicholas Knapp, is found under the entry dated 25 Jul 1636 (Lands, Grants and Possessions) as follows: Nicholas Knapp- 30 acres. Second Division, 28 Feb 1636, Nicholas Knapp granted 6 acres. 1642, 3rd month 10th Day Division of more land. Nicholas received 117 acres and in 1639, he was owner of:
      1. A Homestall of 16 acres, more or less bounded on the southwest with William Barsham, on the northeast with Howard Brown's, on the northwest with Robert Lockwood and the southeast with bank lane.
      2. 2 acres in Pine Marsh, bounded on the south with the river and the north with John Barnard.
      3. An acre in Pond Meadow, bounded on the east and north with John Page and the west with Isaac Stern.
      4. 30 acres of upland being a great dividend in 2 Division of the 17 lot.
      5. 6 acres of Plowland in the Hither Plaine and the 35 lott.
      6. 7 acres of Meddow in Remote Meddows and the 39 Lott.
      7. 13 ares of upland beyond the further Plaine and the 59 Lott.
      8. A farm of 117 acres of upland in the 2 Division.
      Note: In 1644, item #8, of the above list was omitted from the new list of possessions.
      Records of the Massachusetts Bay Company in New England, show a reference to Nicholas Knapp and his required appearance before a Court. An extract of that appearance appears as an inclosure to this writing.
      On the 6th of March 1646, we find the next reference to Nicholas Knapp, where he sold land and privileges, in his preparation for migration and movement with his family to Connecticut. We have no definite date as to his arrival in Connecticut, we know that he removed from Massachusetts to Greenwich or Rye, Connecticut, perhaps stopping at Wethersfield, Connecticut for about two years, and later removing to Stamford, Connecticut. As Nicholas is known to have died at Stamford, Connecticut, we can only assume that he was possibly residing with one of his children at the time. At Watertown, he sold to Byron Pendleton, under date of 6 May 1646, all his land, 8 lots, 16 acres granted to him by the Towne, except 1 acre called the "Pond Meadow," which he sold the year before to Ed Garfield under the date of 29 September 1645.
      At Stamford, Nicholas owned a mill, as he gave his son (John) Caleb "land by the mill." His known primary trade or occupation however was that of Weaver of Cloth.
      The will of our ancestor, can be found in the Fairfield, Connecticut Probate Records, Volume 1665-1675, page 55. A typewritten copy of his will as is found and translated from the original, is found enclosed herein.
      The contributions made by our immigrant ancestor and others bearing the surname of "Knapp," toward the settlement and independence of this country is evidenced by the comment (speaking of the Governor of Connecticut) which says: "Side by side ready to the utmost of their means to sustain any measure which might aid them in asserting the rights of the Colonies against the unjust demands of the Crown, stood the substantial citizens of the town- the Hoyts- the Holly's- the Lockwoods- the Knaps- the Schofields- the Smiths- the Seeleys- the Warings- the Waterburys- the Webbs and the Weeds."
      Many documents relating to the early Knapp ancestors are found extant in the annals of the various state and other agencies in Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York."

      9. "Great Migration Newsletter," Vols. 1-15, by Robert Charles Anderson, 2007, p. 8, (1990 issue) in commenting on 1646 migration patterns from Watertown:
      "An important goal of the Great Migration Study Project is to identify groups of families of individuals who migration... Specifically, if we see several families moving together, we can reasonably hypothesize that they may have been associated at some time in the past.
      The early migration from Watertown to Wethersfield on the Connecticut river in 1635 and 1636 is well known, and the later migration of some of these same families form Wethersfeild to the new town of Stamford, around 1640 and 1641, is also documented. Some years later several families moved directly form Watertown to Stamford, as evidenced principally by their sale of Watertown lands in late 1645 and early 1646 [Ancestors in my database are capitalized]:
      Nicholas Theale...
      William Potter...
      Nicholas Knapp - Sold to Brian Pendleton on 7 May 1646 (Suffolk Deeds 1:71).
      Robert Lockwood - Sold to Brian Pendleton on 7 May 1646 (Suffolk Deeds 1:71).
      John Ellet - Sold to Thomas Wincoll on 29 June 1646 (Suffolk Deeds 1:74).
      John Waterbury...
      Richard Ambler...
      Gregory Taylor...
      We should not be surprised that, once Stamford was founed by migrants from Wethersfield who had even earlier lived in Watertown, a few Watertown families would also move to Stamford. One would not predict, however, that they would wait for several years after Stambord was founded, and that then eight families would all move within the space of a year, or two at most.
      The conclusion that some of these families might share a common origin in England, although certainly not proven, does become a sound working hypothesis, ad will direct research in English sources. as the Project proceeds, it should uncover many more clusters of families such as this, which are seen to move togeter in a concerted way."

      10. 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, provides the following wording of "The Oath of a Free-Man" that Nicholas Knapp would have sworn:
      "I (A B) being by God's Providence, an Inhabitant, and Freeman, within Jurisdiction of this Commonwealth; do freely acknowledge myself to be subject to the Government thereof; and therefore do here swear by the great and dreadful Name of the Ever-living God, that I will be true and faithful to the same, and will accordingly yield assistance and support thereunto, with my person and estate, as in equity I am bound; and will also truly endeavor to maintain and preserve all the liberties and priviledges thereof, submitting myself to the wholesome Laws & Orders made and established by the same.
      And further, that I will not plot or practice any evil against it, or consent to any that shall do; but will timely discover and reveal the same to lawfull Authority now here established, for the speedy prevention thereof.
      Moreover, I do solemnly bind myself in the Sight of God, that when I shall be called to give my voice touching any such matter of this State, in which Freeman are to deal, I will give my vote and suffrage as I shall judge in my own conscience may best conduce and tend to the public weal of the body, without respect of persons, or favor of any man. So help me God in the Lord Jesus Christ."
      The above Oath of a Free-Man was the first printed piece produced in Colonial America by Stephen Daye. 1637, and was given by our ancestors of those early days as well as others who were so admitted.
      As far as can be determined, no signature of Nicholas Knapp exists within the records extant today. In 1927, a member of the New England Genealogical and Historical Society was able to find a land document and others which were authenticated by a Seal, only. Later, in further research and the finding of Nicholas Knapp's will, the only known mark of Nicholas Knapp was found. On his will he made his mark much like a small "y" or looking much like this facsimile- "(symbol)"..."

      11. 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, p. 83, has the following two quotes extracted from the 1 Mar 1630/1 Court Records of the Massachusetts Bay Colony:
      A. This is probably the first medical malpractice suit on record in America: "Nich: Knopp is fyned v3/6 fro takeing upon him to cure the scurvey by a water of noe worth nor value, which hee solde att a very deare rate, to be impresoned till hee pay his ffine, or give securitye for it, or els to be whipped, & shalbe lyable to any mans accon of whome hee hath receaved mony for the sd. water."
      B. "Mr. Willm Pelham & Mr. Edmond Lockewood hath pmised to pay to the Court the some of v3/6, for Nich: Knopp, before the last Court of May nexte."

      12. The book "Stamford Town Records, Vol. 1, 1641-1723," transcribed and annotated by Paul R. Finch, NEHGS (Boston, 2011), has many references to Nicholas Knapp including the following which includes both the page number of the book and of the town records:
      p. 26, p. 28 [1:22], "Nickles Knape" is mentioned with land bounding the land of Obadiah Seely. Date by context seems to be ca. 1649/50.
      p. 27, p. 29 [1:23], "Nickles Knapp" is mentioned with land bounding the land of Thomas Morhous, dated 31 Feb 1649/50.
      p. 29, p. 31 [1:26], "Nickles Knapp" is mentioned with land bounding the land of John Elette, dated 7 Mar 1650.
      p. 31, p. 36 [1:30], "Nicklese Knap" is mentioned with land bounding the land of William Potter which was bought from John Finch, dated 26 Nov 1652.
      p. 32, p. 37 [1:31], "Nickles Knap" is mentioned with land bounding the land of Thomas Hiout which was bought by William Newman, dated 3 Apr 1650.
      p. 33, p. 39 [1:32], "Nickolud Knappe" is mentioned with land bounding the land of Joseph Alsope which was bought by Richard Mills, dated 6 Mar 1662.
      p. 34, p. 37 [1:31], "Nickles Knape" is mentioned with land bounding the land of Richard Hardy, dated 1 Mar 1650.
      p. 34, p. 40 [1:33], "Nickles Knap" is mentioned with land bounding the land of Thomas Hiout which was bought by William Newman, dated 3 Apr 1650.
      p. 35, p. 41 [1:34], "Nickles Knap" is mentioned with land bounding the land of Henery Smith, dated 26 Mar 1650.
      p. 35, p. 42 [1:35], "Nickles Knap" is mentioned with land bounding the land of William Newman, dated 1 Mar 1650.
      p. 36, p. 43 [1:36], "Nickles Knape" is mentioned with land bounding the land of John Finch, dated 1 Mar 1650.
      p. 37, p. 45 [1:37], "Nickles Knap" is mentioned with land bounding the land of Clement Buckston, dated 15 Mar 1650.
      p. 41, p. 50 [1:42] and 51 [1:42], "Nickles Knap" is mentioned with land bounding the land of John Waterbury, dated Sep 1650.
      p. 46, p. 57 [1:47], "Nickles Knap" is mentioned with land bounding the land of David Mitchell, dated Aug 1650.
      p. 51, p. 64 [1:53], "Nickles Knap" is mentioned with land bounding the land of John Coe, dated 13 May 1651.
      p. 51, p. 65 [1:53], "Nickles Knap" is mentioned with purchasing land from Elyas Bayly, dated 26 Sep 1651.
      p. 59, p. 72 [1:60], "Nickolas Knap" is mentioned as a small creditor in the inventor of the estate of John Whitmore, dated 8 Dec 1648.
      pp. 62-63, p. 76 [1:65}, "Nicholas Knap(e)" witnesses the will of Nicholus Thele dated 20 May 1659.

      13. The book "History of Stamford, Connecticut, 1641-1868…," by Rev. E. B. Huntington (A Corrected Reprint of the 1868 Edition, 1979), pp. 50-51, 55-56:
      "PETER BROWN lost his wife Elizabeth here, Sept. 21, 1657; and a child Ebenezer Aug. 21, 1658. His will was presented in the court, Aug. 19, 1658, and his inventory in Nov. of the same year, and testified to, upon oath, by widow Brown and Thomas Brown, Feb. 10, 1658. He had come from New Haven, where he had a, daughter baptised Mercy, April 6, 1645, and Elizabeth Aug. 1, 1647. He married here, July 27, 1658, Unity, widow of Clement Buxton, and died Aug. 22, of the same year. His widow married Mar. 9, 1659, Nicholas Knapp.
      BUXTON, CLEMENT, died here in 1657. He owned land here, as appears from the boundaries of other lands on record still .earlier. The inventory of his estate was taken Sept. 3, 1657, and apprized by Richard Law and John Holly. It was given in upon oath of the widow Unica Buxton, May 13, 1668. Clement Buxton, 2d, gave bonds here, April 19, 1686, of twenty pounds, in an action against Daniel Scofield. This name is still represented among the citizens of the town.
      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 "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."

      16. RESEARCH_NOTES:
      1. The periodical “New England Historical and Genealogical Register,” 147[1993]:327-28, “Family of William and Elizabeth (Reade) Knopp of Watertown,” partial quote from the article as it applies to my specific family:
      “… Family of William and Elizabeth (Reade) Knopp.
      1. WILLIAMA KNOPP, of Bures St. Mary, Suffolk, born say 1555, possible brother of Thomas Knopp, above, died before 4 October 1640 when his widow was buried there. He married at Bures St. Mary, 27 September 1584, ELIZABETH READE, daughter of John and Margaret (__) Reade of Bures St. Mary. William Knopp and his wife Elizabeth received legacies by the will of her father, John Reade, dated 8 July 1597, proved 15 November 1597 (SRO, E2/43/322, W1/55/87). Either William, or more likely his son William, was buried at Bures St.