The yeoman family of Clapp was living in the Devonshire parish of Sidbury as early as 1883 whep Roger Clappc was listed in a subsidy, and Clapp's hill is still a place name in the parish after the lapse of six centuries. Unfortunately, the parish register of Sidbury has been destroyed by fire so that it has been impossible to determine the exact relationship which the Clapps who were living in the parish in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries bore to each other. A few Clapp wills in the various probate courts of Devonshire had been abstracted before the Registry at Exeter was totally destroyed in the blitzkrieg, but they do not serve to make a proven pedigree of any great length.
1. CHRISTIAN CLAPP of Sidbury, co. Devon, a grandmother when she made her will in 1608, was probably born about 1540. The name of her husband is not known. She had an only son, Nicholas Clapp, and, as Peter Clapp of Sidbury, husbandman, who made his will in 1622, mentions his brother Nicholas Clapp, there is a possibility that Christian s husband had had an earlier wife who was the mother of Peter Clapp and his brother Robert C]app whom Peter also names in his will. This theory is, of course, dependent on Christian s son and Peter's brother being the same man. In 1555 a William Clapp of Sidbury, but living in the parish of Harforde, made a will leaving legacies to the two children of his son Richard, who appears to have been his only son. One may hazard a guess, based purely on time and place, that Richard Clapp was the husband of our widow Christian, but the family may have, in the interval between 1338 (or earlier) and 1555, produced very distantly related branches even in the same parish, while the wills show that in the neighboring villages there were in the sixteenth century many other representatives of the name. It is safer to begin our pedigree with the lone widow.
Christian Clapp of Sidbury, co. Devon, widow, made her will July 25, 1608, and it was proved August 12, 1608, by the executor Nicholas Clapp of Sidbury. She bequeaths to the poor of Sidbury. To her god-children. To god-daughter dwelling at Broadclist, "one Petecotte with browne charmlet bodyes." To Mary Clapp, a gown. To Elizabeth Clapp, my son Nicholas his *Abstracts of the wills and other English material were kindly supplied to me by Mary Lovering Holman.
88 The Ancestry of Joseph Neal
wife, my cloak. To Prudence Clapp, Anne Crutchet and Ann Windsam, all my linen apparell to be equally divided. To Ann Windsam, my feather-bed, a bolster, a red coverlet and the mattress. To Prudence Clapp, my cupboard at Pynhill and a table-hoard and a brazen pan. To foresaid Ann Windsam £10 to be employed for her benefit and if she die before twenty said £10 to remain to Prudence Clapp. To my daughter Eyde Crutchett, £10. To Richard Clapp, my son Nicholas his son, one chest. To Ellen Lee, my kirtle. To Ann Windsam, a brazen pan, a crock and my coffer. Residue to son Nicholas Clapp, executor. Witnesses: William Ebdon, James Taylor. Inventory taken August 9, 1608, by William Warren, John Southwood, Thomas Searle, Thomas Ebdon.
Marriage Notes for Richard Clapp and Elizabeth -4074
MARRIAGE: Antenuptual agreement.
Brother of Roger Clap
On 8 May 1635, "Edward clap and family" were passengers on the hopewell, sailing from Weymouth for New England [NGSQ 71:173].
NICHOLAS CLAP AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
[Compiled from MS. of EBENEZER CLAP of Dorchester.]
NICHOLAS CLAP, fourth son of Richard Clap of England1 was born in 1612. He was a cousin of the celebrated Capt. Roger Clap, through whose influence, it is supposed, Nicholas2 came to this country about 1633, and settled in Dorchester, Mass. His name appears on the Town Records various times in connection with the municipat affairs of the town; and he was a deacon of the church. His first wife was Sarah Clap, a sister of Ca1it. Roger Clap; his second, Abigail, 1widow of Robert Sharp of Brookline. it is presumed that the residence of Nicholas Clap was in the north part of the town of Dorchester, near the house now standing, which was occupied by the late Deacon Ehenezer Clap, senior, who died March 6th, 1860. See Reg. XIV. 284. Nicholas Clap died suddenly, in his barn, Nov. 24th, 1679. His estate was appraised by James Hum-frey, William Sumner, Henry Leadhetter. The balance, after deducting the debts, was £358, 4, 4. His sons, Nathaniel and Ebenezer, were ad. ministrators. He had four brothers, viz.: Ambrose and Richard, who lived and died in England; Thomas,2 b. in 1597, d. in Scituate, Mass., April 20, 1684, leaving descendants; John, d. in Dorchester, July 24, 1655. John left a widow, Joan, (who m. subsequently, John Ellis of Medfield,) but no children. In his will, dated July 11, 1655, be gives to his wife his dwelling-house, with all his lands, during her life. After her decease, said house and lands are given "to the muintwnance of the ministry and a Schoole in Dorchester foreuer." The portion of the land situated at "Dorchester neck," now South Boston Point, was sold in 1835, for upwards of $13,000. See Hist. Dorchester,p. 442.
DEATH: Died suddenly in his barn.
NICHOLAS CLAP AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
[Compiled from MS. of EBENEZER CLAP of Dorchester.]
NICHOLAS CLAP, fourth son of Richard Clap of England1 was born in 1612. He was a cousin of the celebrated Capt. Roger Clap, through whose influence, it is supposed, Nicholas2 came to this country about 1633, and settled in Dorchester, Mass. His name appears on the Town Records various times in connection with the municipat affairs of the town; and he was a deacon of the church. His first wife was Sarah Clap, a sister of Ca1it. Roger Clap; his second, Abigail, 1widow of Robert Sharp of Brookline. it is presumed that the residence of Nicholas Clap was in the north part of the town of Dorchester, near the house now standing, which was occupied by the late Deacon Ehenezer Clap, senior, who died March 6th, 1860. See Reg. XIV. 284. Nicholas Clap died suddenly, in his barn, Nov. 24th, 1679. His estate was appraised by James Hum-frey, William Sumner, Henry Leadhetter. The balance, after deducting the debts, was £358, 4, 4. His sons, Nathaniel and Ebenezer, were ad. ministrators. He had four brothers, viz.: Ambrose and Richard, who lived and died in England; Thomas,2 b. in 1597, d. in Scituate, Mass., April 20, 1684, leaving descendants; John, d. in Dorchester, July 24, 1655. John left a widow, Joan, (who m. subsequently, John Ellis of Medfield,) but no children. In his will, dated July 11, 1655, be gives to his wife his dwelling-house, with all his lands, during her life. After her decease, said house and lands are given "to the muintwnance of the ministry and a Schoole in Dorchester foreuer." The portion of the land situated at "Dorchester neck," now South Boston Point, was sold in 1835, for upwards of $13,000. See Hist. Dorchester,p. 442.
DEATH: Died suddenly in his barn.
NICHOLAS CLAP AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
[Compiled from MS. of EBENEZER CLAP of Dorchester.]
NICHOLAS CLAP, fourth son of Richard Clap of England1 was born in 1612. He was a cousin of the celebrated Capt. Roger Clap, through whose influence, it is supposed, Nicholas2 came to this country about 1633, and settled in Dorchester, Mass. His name appears on the Town Records various times in connection with the municipat affairs of the town; and he was a deacon of the church. His first wife was Sarah Clap, a sister of Ca1it. Roger Clap; his second, Abigail, 1widow of Robert Sharp of Brookline. it is presumed that the residence of Nicholas Clap was in the north part of the town of Dorchester, near the house now standing, which was occupied by the late Deacon Ehenezer Clap, senior, who died March 6th, 1860. See Reg. XIV. 284. Nicholas Clap died suddenly, in his barn, Nov. 24th, 1679. His estate was appraised by James Hum-frey, William Sumner, Henry Leadhetter. The balance, after deducting the debts, was £358, 4, 4. His sons, Nathaniel and Ebenezer, were ad. ministrators. He had four brothers, viz.: Ambrose and Richard, who lived and died in England; Thomas,2 b. in 1597, d. in Scituate, Mass., April 20, 1684, leaving descendants; John, d. in Dorchester, July 24, 1655. John left a widow, Joan, (who m. subsequently, John Ellis of Medfield,) but no children. In his will, dated July 11, 1655, be gives to his wife his dwelling-house, with all his lands, during her life. After her decease, said house and lands are given "to the muintwnance of the ministry and a Schoole in Dorchester foreuer." The portion of the land situated at "Dorchester neck," now South Boston Point, was sold in 1835, for upwards of $13,000. See Hist. Dorchester,p. 442.
DEATH: Died suddenly in his barn.
11. 5. 1655. JOHN CLAP OF DOCHESTER.
To my wife. my new dwelling house with all my lands both in ye necke & in the woods whc to me doth appertayne, dureing hir natnrall life. & after my wife's decease I give my said house & land to the maintenance of the ministry, & a Schoole in Dorchester foreuer ; to Brother .Ambros Clap what is due me still from brother Richard Clap in England, w is three pound or there about ; to brother-in-Law, Edward Clap. three pounds of ye w in his own hands ; unto Cousins Richard & Elizabeth, Children of my brother Richard Clap, one platter which I haue at my brother Richards aforesaid: to Couscne deborah Clap, daughter of ye brother aforesaide, one Silver Spoone W Spoone is in his fathers hand; to Couscins Nathaniell, Ebenezer, Sarah & Hannah Clap, brother .Nicholis Children, tenn shillings a piece ; to Couseins Elizabeth Prudence & Samuell Clap, Children of my brother Thomas Clap, eight shillings a piece ; y rest of his children each of them five sliillings ; to Couseins Prudeuce, Ezra, .Nehemiah & Susannah Clap. each of them eight shillings a piece; all ye rest of my goods; my funerall discharged, & just debts being payd, I giue to my deare wife whome I make my sole Executrix.
postcript
Allso I giue to my Couseine John Cap en, 2s 6d, to Couseine Roger Clap's children, one shilling a piece; I desyer my brother .Nicholas, Brother Edward, & my Couseine Roger Clap, to be my overseers for the pformance of this my will. JOHN CLAP.
witnesses
Edward Clap At a meeting of the Govr Mr Nowell & Recordr
Sarah Clap 30 Aug 1656.
Jone Clap Roger Clap deposed.
An Inventory of the goods Chattells of John Clapp of Dorchester, deceased, 24~ July, 1 655. Taken by Edward Clapp, Nicholas Clapp, Roger Olapp, £140.04.10. 30 Aug. 55. Jone Clapp widow of the deceased deposed.
The modern name Rice comes form the old Welsh name Rhys. The name means "to rush" .
William Rice of Buckinghamshire was granted a coat of arms by Queen Mary of England in 1555 and the Rice family was seated in England some time around 1570. Rice families have been found to have resided in all the thirteen original colonies.
One of the first of the Rice families to immigrate to America was William's grandson Deacon Edmund Rice b 1594 in Buckinghamshire. He and his family settled in Sudbury Massachusetts in 1638.
Re: Edmund Rice 1600's Mass
Posted by Ray W. Justus on March 09, 1999 at 19:52:28:
In Reply to: Re: Edmund Rice 1600's Mass posted by Vicki on March 09, 1999 at 14:23:12:
Edward had a brother, Thomas, but he was not a twin.
Sources:
1. "A Genealogical History of the Rice Family: Descendants of Deacon Edmund Rice" (1858) by Andrew Henshaw Ward
Henshaw does not include daughter Mary (Marie).
2. "More About Those Rices" (1954) by Elsie Hawes Smith
Smith lists all twelve children. First child is Marie.
3. "Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England" (1965 Reprint) by James Savage
Savage does not include daughters Mary (Marie) and Lydia.
4. "A Treatise on the Rice Family" by Roger E. Price (1989)
Price lists all twelve children.. First child is Mary.
I have also used the following source for corrections:
5. "Supplement the Rice Family: Descendants of Deacon Edmund Rice" (1967) by Edmund Rice (1638)Association, Inc.
This supplement starts with the third generation so no information on the children is included. There have been two additional supplements which I have not seen.
Last name may be hunt. The Hurd line given here may be incorrect according to "The Great Migration" by Robert Charles Anderson. However Thomas Brigham's wife was Mercy____.
EDWARD FROST (John) was baptized 13 March 1560/6 1 at Glemsford, Suffolk, England. On 26 September 1585 at Glemsford he married Thomasine Belgrave, daughter of John and Joanna (Strutt) Belgrave. She was baptized 1 February 1561/2 at Leveringtonin Cambridgeshire. Edward Frost was a clothier. About 1588-9 they moved to Stanstead, the next town to the northeast, for there their children born thereafter were baptized. Edward was buried at Stanstead on 3 August 1616, his wife surviving him. An abstract of his will follows.
26 July 1616 -the will of Edward Frost of Stanstead, county of Suffolk, clothier. ..bequests to Thomasme my wife, to William my son, to my five daughters: Elizabeth, now the wife of Hemy Rice; Anne, now the wife of Lawrence Collen; Alice, wife of Thomas Blower, Mary Frost and Thomasine Frost..and to Edward Rice, son of my daughter Elizabeth Rice. Executrix to be my wife Thomasine. Witnesses: Ambrose Bigges, senior & Ambrose Bigges, junior. Proved 4 October 1616. (Prerogative Court of Canterbury 129 Cope)
Ref.: American Genealogist, Jan. 1950; Parish Registers; Bishop's Transcripts
Living& unm. 1616; she was prob. the Mary Frost who m 11 Sept. 1617 at Stanstead, Edmund Salloman, or 18 Sept. 1622, John Scott