B. 24 May 1684 in Northampton, Massachusetts
M. 28 Nov 1706 in Northampton, Massachusetts
Wife: Elisabeth Bartlett
D. 9 Jan 1762 in Northampton, Massachusetts
Roger Clapp lived his entire life in the town of Northampton, Massachusetts, and left a homestead that survived for many generations. He was born there on May 24, 1684 to Preserved Clapp and Sarah Newberry, the second youngest of their eight children. Roger was named after his grandfather, Captain Roger Clapp (1609-1691), who came over from England in 1630, and later wrote a memoir. It's unlikely that young Roger ever met his grandfather.
On November 28, 1706, Roger married Elisabeth Bartlett, who was also a native of Northampton. Between 1708 and 1728, the couple had eight children, seven of whom were boys. Roger acquired a lot on South Street and built a house in 1713; it was said that he lived there for nearly 50 years. He also accumulated a large amount of property outside of town, including meadows, farmland and wooded areas.
There was much written in town histories about Roger’s father, Preserved, who was a pioneer in Northampton, but very little was mentioned about Roger. He was a representative to the General Court in Boston, but the exact year wasn’t noted in books. Roger was said to be a captain of the militia, without reference to what years he was in charge, or if he saw any action.
On September 25, 1759, Roger made out his will, dividing up his many pieces of property among his seven sons. While each son got some land, he chose his youngest son, Simeon, to inherit the homestead including his house. His wife, Elisabeth, was also to have the use of half of everything, and several grandchildren would receive small amounts of money (his only daughter had died by then). Roger passed away on January 9, 1762 and was buried in Bridge Street Cemetery. Elisabeth died in 1767.
The homestead that Simeon inherited later passed to his two sons. One son sold his half in 1858, but the other half stayed in the family. When that son died, the homestead was split into smaller parts by his children and grandchildren. The property remained in the Clapp family until at least 1882, and perhaps much longer.
There is a house in Northampton which is owned today by the local chapter of the DAR. One source refers to it as the “Captain Roger Clapp House,” but another source cited on the DAR’s own website connects it to another unknown member of the Clapp Family. It’s likely that this house, said to have been built in 1754, was never owned by Roger Clapp.
Children:
1. Roger Clapp — B. 3 Apr 1708, Northampton, Massachusetts; D. 3 Jan 1773; M. Ann Munn
2. Elizabeth Clapp — B. 29 May 1710, Northampton, Massachusetts; D. 1758; M. Jonathan Strong
3. Jonathan Clapp — B. 2 Sep 1713, Northampton, Massachusetts; D. 10 May 1782, Easthampton, Massachusetts; M. Submit Strong (1712-1788), 23 Jan 1734, Northampton, Massachusetts
4. Aaron Clapp — B. 30 Jan 1715, Northampton, Massachusetts; D. 3 May 1793, Easthampton, Massachusetts; M. Jemima Bartlett, before 1748
5. Asahel Clapp — B. about 1717, (probably) Northampton, Massachusetts; D. 20 Jan 1777, Northampton, Massachusetts; M. Sarah Wright (1722-1751), before 1743
6. Supply Clapp — B. 1721, Northampton, Massachusetts; D. 11 Oct 1784, Northampton, Massachusetts; M. (1) ; (2) Sarah Lyman, 30 Dec 1756, Northampton, Massachusetts
7. Charles Clapp — B. 1725, Northampton, Massachusetts; D. 11 Aug 1767, Northampton, Massachusetts; M. Dorcas Wright
8. Simeon Clapp — B. 1728, Northampton, Massachusetts; D. 25 Feb 1812, Northampton, Massachusetts; M. Sarah Clark (1735-1822)
Sources:
History of Northampton, Massachusetts: From its Settlement in 1654, Vol. 1, James Russell Trumbull and Seth Pomeroy, 1898
Antiquities, Historicals and Graduates of Northampton, Solomon Clark, 1882
Find-A-Grave.com
Will of Captain Roger Clapp, Northampton, Massachusetts, 25 Sep 1759
Fort Hill Historic District (Northampton, Massachusetts) (Wikipedia article)
