Person:Benjamin Clapp (12)

"The Clapp Family" from Pioneer Life on the Bay of Quinte (1908)

WeRelate editor's note: The distant history pertaining to George Gilson Clapp likely represents considerable confusion between generations, see Dr. Ellen Knight's research paper on the subject. The entire section from PLBQ is provided here anyway as there are a number of convoluted aspects to this family that need to be unraveled.--Artefacts 21:09, 27 June 2014 (UTC)

The Clapps are descended from the celebrated George Gilson Clapp, M.D. He seems to have settled in South Carolina about 1666, and the following sketch will be found of no little interest.

"George Gilson Clapp, M.D., was born in England and was educated for the profession of medicine; he possessed an ardent thirst for knowledge and visited most of the countries of Europe, extending his travels through Palestine and some parts of the Turkish Empire. He visited the Holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem, in the character of a pilgrim, the only mode in which he could travel in safety. He acquired a knowledge of various languages and assumed many of the oriental customs, amongst others the habit of chewing opium, of which he became fond to excess. He crossed the Red Sea and also the Black and Dead Seas, travelled in Egypt, and returned to his native country after spending nearly twenty years in foreign nations, and the greater part of a large fortune. Soon after his return to England, he commenced the practice of medicine in London, but the Great Plague breaking out soon after, he removed to this country in the year 1666 or 1667 and settled himself in South Carolina, where he resided for about two years, and then removed to the city of New York. The Colony was at that time under the government of Lord Cornberry, upon whose advice Dr. Clapp settled himself in West Chester County, about thirty miles from the city. He was esteemed one of the most learned men in the Colony, and such was his reputation in his own neighborhood in this respect that an idea prevailed amongst many of his neighbors that he was possessed of some supernatural agency."

Joseph Clapp, a lineal descendant of George Gilson Clapp, M.D., married Mercy Carpenter, and died in Dutchess County, N.Y., about 1776. At least, five of his children came to Canada, to wit, three brothers, Joseph, Benjamin and James, and two sisters, namely, Rhoda, who married Mr. Losee, and settled near Bath, and Ursula, who married Sampson Striker, and died in Hallowell.

Sampson Striker, and his brother-in-law, Joseph Clapp, then eighteen years of age, came together to Ontario, via Lake Champlain, Montreal, and up the St. Lawrence with a sleigh and a pair of horses, in the month of January, 1887 [sic, 1787], and finally settled in Adolphustown, having been twenty-eight days on the journey from their home in Dutchess County. This Joseph Clapp, the sixth remove from Dr. George Gilson, at first lived with his brother-in-law, Sampson Striker, but soon after his arrival in Canada, he married Nancy Millar, a niece of John Roblin, who came over with the Roblin family from Dutchess County. In their old home in the Empire State, the Clapps were members of the Society of Friends, commonly known as Quakers, but John Roblin was early converted to the Methodist Church by Fathers William Losee and Darius Dunham. In February, 1792, when Rev. William Losee took up a subscription list, to erect a church on Hay Bay (one of the first Methodist churches to be erected in Canada) we find the name of Joseph Clapp as a contributor to the building fund.

The Clapps have been prominent characters in the municipal life of Adolphustown since that June day on which Major VanAlstine and his party of United Empire Loyalists landed on Hay Bay shore. From the records that have been preserved we find that Benjamin Clapp was in 1793 appointed a Fence Viewer and Overseer of the Highways, and that Benjamin and Gilbert Clapp at different times held each of the various offices at the disposal of the yearly town meetings; and in 1837 we find Reuben B. Clapp appointed Town Clerk.

In a list of the inhabitants of Adolphustown in 1794 we find the names of two brothers, Benjamin and Joseph Clapp. Mr. Casey mentions a John Clapp as a soldier in Burgoyne's army during the war of the Revolution, and we know John on the 26th January, 1829, attended a sale of the property of Daniel Haight, of Adolphustown, and purchased a pocket compass, a toasting fork, and numerous other articles for which he paid the cash. The first named took up eighty acres on the west half of lot 13, 3rd concession of Adolphustown, and the latter settled on the one hundred acres west-half of lot 25 of the same concession, where he lived and died.

Joseph probably traded his eighty acres for supplies and stock before he crossed the Bay to Prince Edward County. He finally located at Milford, where he was the owner of several hundred acres. The greater portion of the land under the old law of primogeniture fell to Joseph's eldest son, Philip. Philip was killed by lightning September 16th, 1832, and left a large estate to his young son, Philip, who, at maturity, gave three hundred acres to his two sisters, Nancy and Sarah. Nancy married and settled on hers ; but Sarah married in North Marysburg and disposed of her share. In this way, with a subdivision going on with each fresh generation, it is easily understood how many of the large tracts of land held by the pioneers have dwindled down into small farms, or are now not even held in the old name.

A love for machinery would seem always to have been a characteristic trait of the Clapp family. When the pioneer, Joseph, landed in Marysburg he built the first lumber mill in the township. The location of the mill was the origin of the present name of Milford.

The township was then covered densely with pine and- oak. A trade in this lumber was being inaugurated with Europe, by way of Quebec. Sport was excellent and game abounded. David B. Clapp, of Picton, a grandson of the pioneer, remembers seeing a big buck shot in the sixties.

Joseph Clapp does not seem to have been a very strong adherent of the Friends in Canada, for he took up arms in 1812. While performing military duties that year he succumbed to a malady contracted at Kingston. He has left many descendents scattered throughout the Bay of Quinte district, holding important positions in public affairs and commercial enterprises.

James Clapp, the second son of the pioneer Joseph, married an Irish girl called Jane Sproule. She came to Canada with her brothers, and made the whole of the journey from Montreal in batteaux. The slow progress made may be inferred from the fact that the boat had to be towed with its head pointed outwards. As the current then flowed between the prow and the shore, the batteau was kept from beaching. Joseph, a son of James Clapp, was a Captain in the Sixteenth Battalion of the Prince Edward volunteers, and served in the Fenian Raid in 1866.

James A. Clapp, son of Samuel and Sarah Fralick Clapp, and grandson of the Pioneer, has now lived for many years in Picton, where he has occupied the highest civic position, and is, perhaps, the town's most prominent citizen.

Another distinguished member of this famous old family is R. M. Clapp, M.D., M.P.P., now living at Mildmay, County of Bruce. The Doctor is a highly educated physician, having graduated at Toronto, and subsequently pursued his studies at Vienna, Berlin, and Leipsic [sic]. He enjoys a large and lucrative practice, but still finds time for political interest and public service. He was Reeve of Carrick, 1898-9, and stood for the Provincial Parliament in the riding of South Bruce at the general elections of 1902, but was defeated. In 1905 he was returned for this riding, being its first Conservative member. His predecessors in service were: Hon. Edward Blake, and Hon. Speaker Wells.

Reuben Clapp, heretofore mentioned as Town Clerk of Adolphustown, in 1837, was a son of Gilbert and Elizabeth Clapp. His grandson, Charles S. Clapp, the well-known merchant of Belleville, has in his possession the old family bible, showing the genealogy of this family for more than a century. From this book, yellow with age, the historian may glean the fact that on June 13th, 1826, Reuben B. Clapp married Elida Canniff, a member of the well-known Canniff family, and first cousin of Dr. Canniff, the historian, the ceremony being performed by Rev. Mr. McDowell.

Charles S. Clapp, youngest son of Phillip and Sarah Van Tassel Clapp, and grandson of Reuben B. Clapp, was born February 20, 1864, in what is now the City of Belleville. He attended school in the county of Northumberland; and, returning to Belleville about 1880, he at once sought employment in the bakery and confectionery business. Having thoroughly mastered the details of this business, he opened a store on his own account, in 1890, and his business has steadily developed and improved until, to-day, he owns and operates one of the most up-to-date confectionery and bakery establishments in the Bay of Quinte region.

On October 27, 1896, Mr. Clapp married Ida Story. They attend the Methodist -Church. Mr. Clapp is a Liberal in politics, and his fraternal affiliations include the Masons and the I.O.F.

In 1880, Mr. Clapp joined the 15th Regiment, and, in 1885, was gazetted sergeant, and served through the Northwest Rebellion as a member of Company A., Midland Battalion, commanded by Lieut. -Colonel Williams. In 1890 he was gazetted as 1st Lieutenant, and served until he severed his connection with the regiment in 1902. His military record extended over twenty-two years, during which period he was decorated with the long service medal of the Imperial Government, and a medal for gallant service in the field during the Northwest Rebellion.

Another member of this numerous family was Elias Clapp, who married Mary Dorland, of the pioneer Dorland family. Of their six sons and three daughters, John married Sarah Smith, and had issue: I. Gilbert Clapp, m. Nancy Simmons. Issue: (1) Fannie Clapp, m. Br. R. A.. Leonard ; set. Napanee. Issue : (a) Raymond G. (d.y.), (6) William E., (c) Edith M., (d) Hazel L., and (e) Frances C. , II. Dorland Clapp, m. Catherine Huffman. III. Elias Clapp, m. Deborah Dorland. IV. Allan Clapp, m. and set. Australia. V. John Clapp, unm. VI. and VII. Smith and David Clapp, d. y. VIII. Elizabeth Clapp, m. John Vandewater. IX. Mary Clapp, m. Edward Nugent. X. Sarah Clapp, m. Matthew Elliott.

... (continues with lists of descendants of Joseph Clapp and Reuben B. Clapp)