LUCIUS CLAPP
(1817-1909)
Thomas Clapp (1), the first American ancestor of Lucius Clapp, was
born in
Dorchester
,
England
, in 1597, and came of an old
Devonshire
family of Danish extraction. He came to this country probably in 1633, as in
1634 his name appears on the town records of
Dorchester
, in which town he was admitted a freeman in 1638. He afterwards removed to
Weymouth
, next to
Scituate
, where be was deacon of the church in 1647. He was an enterprising, energetic,
and useful man ; was deputy in 1649, and overseer of the poor in 1667, serving
the first term of the existence of those offices in the town. He married Abigail
---, had nine children, and died
April 20, 1684
, greatly respected. His third child, Samuel (2), married June 14, 1666, Hannah,
daughter of Thomas Gill, of
Hingham
. He inherited his father's residence; was a distinguished man, and notably so
in
Scituate
, his native town, which speaks well for his ability, as it then contained some
of the ablest men. He was eight years deputy of Plymouth Colony.
After the union of
Plymouth
and Massachusetts Colonies, he was representative to the General Court of
Massachusetts fourteen years. In many other and important ways, be served his
town and colony with zeal and fidelity, and died at an advanced age. He had ten
children, of whom Joseph (3) was second, and was born
Dec. 14, 1668
. He married and lived all his days in
Scituate
, where he owned land. He had twelve children. His son Joseph (4), born
July 15, 1701, was deacon, inherited his father's estate; married, first, Hannah
Briggs; second, Sarah Perkins, and reared a family of fifteen
children. His eldest son, Joseph (5), born in
Scituate
, Feb. 21, 1734-35, married there Eliza Turner, and spent the latter
portion of his life elsewhere. He had six children, one of whom, Barnard
(6), born in Scituate, married Lydia Packard and settled in Braintree,
where he died in 1803, leaving two children, - Charles (7) and Lydia
(Married Daniel Holbrook). Charles, born in Braintree, Jan. 10,
1795, was early an orphan, his mother dying when he was scarcely two years old,
and his father when he was about eight. He was taken by his uncle, Nathan
Packard, a farmer of
North Bridgewater, with whom he remained until his majority. He acquired
sufficient education to enable him to teach several terms of school in early
life, and in which he gave great satisfaction. He married
Sally, daughter of Nathaniel and Betsey Manley, who
was born in
North Bridgewater
, and shortly after settled in
North Easton
as a farmer. In 1821, he came to
Stoughton
, purchased seventy-five acres of land, which, with additions, now is the farm
occupied by his son Lucius, and was ever after a resident there. He died
Jan. 16, 1838
, a quiet, unostentatious man, of good repute. He held the various town offices
of importance with credit, and was called out to defend the coast in the war of
1812. His children were Lucius (8), and Charles, who died, aged
nineteen, in 1846. He was a young man of more than ordinary ability, quiet and
unassuming in his manners, honorable and upright in his life, making friends of
all who came in contact with him. He was a good scholar, having beside his
common-school education, studied several terms at an academy, and was engaged in
a course of studies at the normal school in Bridgewater, preparing himself for
future usefulness; of which be gave great promise, when be was prostrated by
consumption.
LUCIUS CLAPP is the eighth in direct
descent from Thomas, the emigrant, and was born in
North Bridgewater
(now
Brockton
), Mass. He was educated at common and private schools; was reared a farmer;
took pride in agriculture, and has always followed that avocation, and is to-day
one of the representative farmers of this progressive age. He has always resided
on his father’s homestead ; has been successful in business, and has used the
funds
Providence
has given into his care wisely, and done much to make him remembered as a
liberal and kind-hearted man. He married Emily, daughter of Lewis
Waters,
July 14,1847
. Formerly a Whig, Mr. Clapp has been identified with the most
progressive political creeds. He was one of the original Free-Soilers, and
chairman of the first Free-Soil meeting held in
Stoughton
. Since its organization be has supported the Republican party. He has been
member of school committees several years, and selectman of
Stoughton
seven years, and now (1883) holds that position. He has always been pronounced
in advocacy of temperance, and has been connected with every movement for the
betterment and advancement of his native town. He is an attendant and supporter
of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
We might write much of the esteem in which he is held
by the better element of the community in which he has passed his entire life,
but we forbear, fearing that we might wound a modest, retiring nature, when we
only sought to do justice. We must, however, give the remark made by a prominent
citizen concerning him, "He is a selectman in the fullest and highest sense
of the term, an able man, and honest and faithful as able."
Website editors note:
Lucius Clapp died in Randolph, Mass. in 1909. His old homestead on West
Street burned to the ground in 1897, and all that remained was the charred
granite walls placed there in the 19th century by Myron Gilbert. The house
was rebuilt soon after, utilizing the original granite walls. Lucius is buried
with his family at the Dry Pond Cemetery. Lucius was one of the most
generous benefactors in the Stoughton's history. The home of the Stoughton
Historical Society is located at the Lucius Clapp Memorial Library in Stoughton
center at Park and Pleasant Streets. Two former Clapp schools located on
Walnut Street bore his name. The last of which built in 1896, and was torn
down in 1984.
Source: D.
Hamilton Hurd, History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, with Biographical
Sketches of many of its Pioneers and Prominent Men. (Philadelphia, Pa., J.
W. Lewis & Co., 1884), pgs. 424-425.
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