Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy

Timothy Knapp

Male Abt 1668 - 1733  (~ 65 years)


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  • Name Timothy Knapp 
    Born Abt 1668  Greenwich, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died From 15 Oct 1733 to 6 Nov 1733  Greenwich, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I857  Petersen-de Lanskoy
    Last Modified 27 May 2021 

    Father 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) 
    Mother Hannah Close,   b. Abt 1632, of Grinton, Yorkshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 6 Oct 1695, Greenwich, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 63 years) 
    Married 9 Jun 1657  Stamford, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F415  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Elizabeth Seymour,   b. Dec 1673, Greenwich, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 17 Jun 1713, Greenwich, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 39 years) 
    Married 16 Mar 1699  Greenwich, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Last Modified 28 May 2021 
    Family ID F327  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 2 Martha Weeks,   b. Abt 1688, of Greenwich, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 16 Feb 1737, Greenwich, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 49 years) 
    Married 16 Feb 1714  Greenwich, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Last Modified 28 May 2021 
    Family ID F326  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • RESEARCH_NOTES:
      1. "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..." Third Generation:
      "C-6. Timothy Knapp, son of B-3. Joshua and Hannah (Close) Knapp.
      B. 1668/9.
      D. 1737 (or 1733) Will dated 10-15-1733.
      M. 1st 3-16-1699, Elizabeth Seamer or Seamore, by Capt. Olmstead, Justice of the Peace. She b. Dec. 1673 or June, 1675. d. 6-17-1713, dau. of Thomas and Hannah (Marvin) Seymour. 2nd 2-16 or 13 or 14-1714/04, Miss Martha Weeks, by Samuel Hoyt, J.P. of Greenwich.
      D-15. Rebecca, b. 9-24-1701, Greenwich, m. Abraham Benedict, Danbury, Conn. (Some say she m. 2nd 4-4-1729, Jacob Rundell. Probably an error.)
      D-16. Timothy, b. 8-9-1703. Greenwich. d. 4-22-1706. Greenwich.
      D-17. Israel, b. 12-13-1705. d. 1783. m. Mary Lyon. 2nd 1742, Amy Marshall.
      D-18. Mary, b. 4-6-1708. d. 1753. m. Thomas Hoyt, of Danbury, Conn. She is not mentioned in her father's will of 10-15-1733, so perhaps deceased.
      D-19. Elizabeth, b. 8-22-1710, Greenwich. m. Ebenezer Pickett, b. 10-12-1706, Danbury, Conn., son of Thomas and Sarah (Barnum) or Abigail (Seymour) Pickett. She was not mentioned in the will of her father, 10-15-1733, so perhaps deceased.
      D-20. Prudence, b. 1-20 or 6-17-1712/3. (Conn. Vital and Mead's records).
      D-21. Ruth, b. 2-24-1714/5. Greenwich. m. 12-6-1733, Nathaniel Lockwood, by Mr. Tode, of Greenwich, son of Gershon and Mary Lockwood, Jr., grandson of Gershon and Judy Ann (Millington) Lockwood, Sr. Ruth was also called Rebecca in Hartford records. Ruth was daughter of the 2nd wife. Ruth and Nathaniel had 3 children.
      D-22. Hannah, b. 6-12 or 17-1717, Greenwich. m. 9-19 (or 17 or 7) 1732, Nathaniel Finch, Greenwich. b. 10-25-1705. d. 1776, son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Austin) Finch. They had a daughter, Hannah, b. 10-1-1733. Perhaps she m. Charles Knapp, of Pochuck.???
      C-6. The executors of Timothy Knapp's will were his son Israel and cousin Jonathan Knapp. Witnesses were Jariah Knapp, Jonathan Weed and Thomas Roberts. Inventory 11-7-1733 by John Hobby or Hobley and David Reynolds. Filed 7-2-1734. He made his will 10-15-1733. Mentioned wife Martha, brother Joseph, son Israel, grandson, Timothy, daughter Prudence, Ruth and Hannah, and cousin Jonathan Knapp, of Greenwich. His will was probated 11-6-1737. The three Timothy Knapps living at this time are rather confused in the records, and we are not always sure which one was meant. Prudence Knapp, 11-6-1734 bought land from Israel Knapp. Prudence sold 2-27-1733 to Israel Knapp all her right, title and interest in the estate of her father, Timothy Knapp. 12-21-1708, Timothy Knapp granted a parcel of land. 3-5-1729 he deeded land to his son, Israel, one half interest in the homestead, old town of Greenwich. 3-5-1734, Abraham Benedict sold to Justin Brush, all his right, title and interest in the land of his father-in-law, Timothy Knapp. 3-13-1734, Ebenezer Pickett sold interest in the land of his father-in-law, Timothy Knapp. Mary and Elizabeth were not mentioned in the will of their father, 10-15-1733, so probably died before that date. Elizabeth (Butler) (Knapp) Segar's will dated 5-22-1753 mentions her children: -James Knapp. -Martha Palmer. -Ruth Hubbard. -Elizabeth, all formerly Knapp. Executor, Capt. John Ferris. Witnesses, Reuben Reynolds, John Ferris and Abraham Hubbard. (Vol. 5, p. 181) Will proved 7-3-1753. (From Spencer P. Mead's Copy of Wills.) Timothy's children were all minors at the time of his death. Sarah Knapp was granted 10 acres of land at Horseneck, 5-10-1697. Timothy withdrew from the 2nd Congregational Church 5-31-1731. He deeded land 1-4-1719 to sons Benjamin, James and Joshua. On 10-23-1728, he bought from his brother Joshua, his interest in his mother's two thirds. Timothy bought land on which the Knapp Tavern in Greenwich was built in 1692 and deeded to his son, Israel, in 1729. It was a famous tavern before the Revolution, a Masonic and Tory meeting place, the Headquarters of Gen. Israel Putnam when he made his famous ride down the stone steps. The Tavern is now a famous D.A.R. shrine and tearoom. Timothy and his son Israel were ardent Tories.
      Extract from Conn. Magazine, Vol. X, third quarter, 1906, The Tavern and the Old Post Road, by Norman Talcott: "Among the most inveterate Tories was the Innkeeper, Israel Knapp and it is said that his tavern was for a long time, a secret meeting place for those who sought to defeat the patriot cause. It is certain he was held in ill repute by all good patriots, and his name was on the dangerous list held by the Committee of Safety. The old innkeeper's favorite son, Timothy, though as ardent a Tory as his father, was in love with the beautiful daughter of the patriot, Jonathan Mead, who lived nearby. Tradition says that the girl reciprocated his affections but she was imbue with a spirit of loyalty to the cause of the Revolutionists that made her indignantly refuse when Timothy sought her hand in marriage. The youth, as might be expected was deeply hurt. He called to her reproachfully and angrily as he left the house that evening: "You will speak to me one day, but I shall never answer you." He little knew how true were his words. One evening shortly afterwards when he was approaching the house, perhaps to make another attempt to win the maid, her father, mistaking him for a "cow-boy" (a name for Tory guerillas) marauder, shot him through the heart. The girl recognized him, threw herself upon his lifeless body and implored him to speak, but he was dead. The body lies buried on the grounds of the ancient inn."
      Copy of a deed from TImothy to his son, Israel in 1729: "Know all men by these presents that I, Timothy Knapp, of Greenwich, in the County of Fairfield, and Colony of Connecticut, for ye love, good will and fatherly affection which I have and do bear to my loving and dutiful son, Israel Knapp, of the same place, County and Colony aforesaid, do fully, freely and absolutely give and grant unto my aforesaid son Israel Knapp, his heirs, excrs. or admrs. forever, soietin pearsal or pearsals of land within ye bounds of Greenwich, the half of my now dwelling hous and the one half of my home lot and ye one half of a barn when it is built and finished and the one half of my orchard and the land on the south side of the street that is bounded north by the street and east by the land of Ebenezer Mead and south by the land of Sam'l Mills and west by ye meads land, for hi, ye sd Israel Knapp, his heirs, assigns, for to have and to hold ye above bargained premises, with all Rights, privaliges and apurtenances to ye same belonging or in any wise apurtaining and do promise to warrant and defend the above bargained premises from all former bargains, seals, rents, taxes or incumbrances what so ever made or contracted before the Daye and Date hereof, always provided that the sd Israel Knapp is not to sell nor let out sd premises to any man or persons who so ever during the life of his father and for the conformation of this above written Deed of gift I have hereunto sett my hand and seal this twenty first day of March anno qui Domini 1729.
      Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of Caleb Knapp, Jun., John Marshall. Entered April ye 19th Day 1729 by Joshua Knapp Recorder. The tenth day of Aprill anno domini 1729 then appeared the person of Timothy Knapp and did acknowledg the above written deed of gift to be his free and Volintary act and deed. Gershon Lockwood, Justice of ye peace."
      Nathaniel Finch is sometimes found recorded Nathaniel Fitch."

      2. Website 5 Oct 2008 <http://www.putnamcottage.org/history.html>. Website includes many photos and historic narratives including the following:
      "Historic Putnam Cottage c.1700. Known as Knapp's Tavern during the American Revolution. Putnam Cottage or Knapp's Tavern? This bright red house on the Boston Post Road has had a long and colorful history. It was originally built in the early 18th century and has grown over the years into its current size and shape. During this time, a number of elements have both been added and removed from the structure. The result is the current building that reflects the changing attitudes of the various owners who have lived and worked there, rather than just those of the original owners and builders. It is not a static object from the 18th century, but a dynamic building that reflects the whole period of its existence. The house has long been associated with General Israel Putnam and his heroic escape from the British during the Revolutionary War. By the middle of the 19th century, the link was firmly established in the community. The house was opened to the public on the centennial of Putnam's ride and filled with relics from the colonial era. The D.A.R. formalized this tradition when it opened it as a museum in 1906 under the name Putnam Cottage. Generations of visitors have come to know the building by this name. In actuality, the name is misleading. Putnam's association with the building highlights just a brief moment in its history and the term cottage would not have been used to describe such a substantial building in the 18th century. The original house was probably built for the family of Timothy Knapp in the first quarter of the 1700s. He and his wife, Martha Weeks, shared it with their son Isaac Knapp, Sr. and his family, including his first two children. Later in the century it was used as a tavern and the meeting place for the local Freemasons. It is intimately connected to the Revolutionary war, having housed General Putnam and hosted General Washington for lunch. In the 19th century, the ceilings were raised, windows were changed and a porch was added to the front of the building. By the end of the century, the house had achieved the size and shape that it would retain through much of the 20th century. In preparation for the country's bicentennial, Knapp Tavern underwent an extensive restoration. The purpose of this work was to remove the evidence of 19th century changes that had been made to the house, and to return it to a colonial appearance as well as make it conform to its modern uses."

      3. "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...":
      "Timothy, b. 1668/9. d. 1737 (or 1733). m. Elizabeth Seymour and Martha Weeks."
      Concerning the father: "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."

      4. "Abstracts of Stamford Probate Records - Book One," compiled by Spencer P. Mead: "Knapp, Timothy, late of Greenwich, will dated Oct. 15, 1733, probated Nov. 6, 1733, mentions his brother Joseph Knapp, his wife Martha, son Israel, daughters Prudence, Ruth and Hannah, grandson Timothy. Executors his son Israel and cousin Jonathan Knapp. Witnesses Joshua Knapp, Jonathan Weeks, and Thomas Roberts, page 83, and 84. Inventory taken Nov. 7, 1833, by John Hobby, and David Reynolds, and filed July 2, 1734, page 34."

      5. The book "History of Stamford, Connecticut, 1641-1868…," by Rev. E. B. Huntington (A Corrected Reprint of the 1868 Edition, 1979), p. 56:
      "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."

      SOURCES_MISC:
      1. 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.