Family:Thomas Trapp and Mary Unknown (1)

This profile comes from Bank's History of Martha's Vineyard:^S1

"Especial interest attaches to this person, as a Trapp is one of the four legendary settlers before the coming of the Mayhews. The only Trapp positively known to have come to the Vineyard was Thomas Trapp, a late arrival (1659), who was born in 1634-5, according to his gravestone, and hence but a child at the time when alleged landing occurred. His choice of this place for a home was a natural one, probably because of the Burchards who were kinsmen of his and among the first settlers. The English home of Trapp is not known, although diligent search has located many of his name in various parishes of Essex, the county whence came the Brownings and Peases. A Thomas Trapp lived, married, and had children in Great Baddow, 1639-1659, the home of John Pease, and our Thomas Trapp emigrated to New England in company with a husbandman of Purleigh, Essex, a parish only seven miles distant from Great Baddow. After his arrival in this country, in 1659, he evidently came directly to Great Harbor and established a residence in this town, for he was granted a ten-acre "lot on the line" in December of that year. This was north of Main street and west of Planting Field way, and he gradually increased his holdings in that vicinity northward to the pond which still bears his name. He also acquired land in the Great Swamp by purchase, and after 1670 shared in the division of the common land.

"He held numerous and important minor offices in the town and county. He was marshal, water bailiff and crier in 1667; juryman, 1679; deputy sheriff, 1694- 1700; and town clerk, 1700 till his death. This event occurred Oct. 15, 1719, in his 86th year, and he lies buried in the old cemetery. The maiden name of his wife Mary is not known, but by her he had at least nine children who grew to adult life, five sons and four daughters. These left a numerous posterity, who lived on the paternal acres until about 1800, when the last of the name had migrated, mostly to Norwich and other towns in Connecticut. The name is now extinct on the Vineyard, but is represented in the Norton and Pease families through marriage of his daughter."

1.   "Annals of Edgartown", in Banks, Charles Edward. The history of Martha's Vineyard, Dukes County, Massachusetts. (Boston: G H Dean, 1911)
   Vol II 124-125.

   See text.

2.   "Trapp Family", in Banks, Charles Edward. The history of Martha's Vineyard, Dukes County, Massachusetts. (Boston: G H Dean, 1911)
   Vol III p 483.

   "[Thomas Trapp] had the following named children: John, b. 1675; m. Mrs. Sarah (Lothrop) Huckins 14 Oct 1708; d. 4 Feb 1717, s.p. Samuel, b. (1677). Simon, (1679); living 1752, prob. unm. Ann, b. (1681); m. Joseph Norton abt. 1702. Thomas, b. (1683). Mary, b. (1685); m. William Coles 4 June 1716. Jarez, b. (1668) [stet, but probably intended to be 1688 in context]. Mercy, b. (1690); m. Samuel Pease 4 Jan 1710. Hannah, b. (1692); living 1735."