Thomas Clapp (1783 - 1860)

Born 17 Dec 1783 in New York or Sorel, Quebec

Ancestors

Husband of Nancy Mary (Huff) Clapp — married 28 Jul 1818 in Hillier Twp., Prince Edward Co., ON, Canada

Descendants

Died 14 May 1860 at age 76 in Hillier Twp., Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada

Biography

Because he was on the losing side of the US Revolutionary War, Benjamin Clapp fled - likely with his pregnant wife Eustatia and his first born- to Quebec on 8 Sep 1783 sailing with "a fleet of seven sail and a forty guns". The child that Eustatia was carrying was Thomas Clapp . He was born 17 Dec 1783 likely in Sorel, Quebec where his parents spent the winter.

In the spring of 1784, Benjamin’s parents and the other loyalists boated down the St. Lawrence to Adolphstown, Prince Edward County where they cleared the land and farmed.

At the age of 32 Thomas married Nancy Huff who was sixteen years younger. They married on 28 Jul 1818 in Hillier Twp., Prince Edward Co., ON, Canada. They had nine children and their sixth child Roxanna was our direct ancestor

Thomas farmed as had his father Benjamin. Benjamin had been a Quaker but his wife held with the Anglican Church. The 1851 census shows Thomas 69, a Quaker farming in Hillier Twp. (Fredricksburg) with other Clapp families farming in the area. The census lists his wife Nancy (53), and children Roxa 22, Henry 19 and Paul 14. Thomas' religious faith was strong. His compassion was levelheaded.

Like her husband, Nancy had a strong faith and had great empathy for the problems of others.

Thomas died on 4 May 1860 at age 77. He is buried in Wellington Cemetery, Hillier Twp, Ontario, Canada.

The 1861 census shows Nancy living with her youngest child Paul (23) who was farming in Hillier Township. They were living in a frame house built in 1825. With them was a servant Lauretta Finlayson 18 and some labourers John Benham 28, Isaac Polet and Alexander Sisly.

Paul marrried Maribeth De Mille (daughter of John and Sarah) on 5 Sep 1861. In 1871, Nancy (71) was living on a farm with John (77) and Sarah (73) DeMill and with her son Paul Clapp (32) and his family including wife Merebith Ann Clapp 31, Wellia Adiline Clapp 8, Thomas Douglas Clapp 6, John Delbert Clapp 1, as well as Randall Smith 15 in Sophiasburg Township. In 1881, Nancy (81) was back on a farm in Hillier Twp. with her son Paul Clapp (42), Maribethan Clapp 41, Thomas D Clapp 17, John E Clapp 11, William H Clapp 7. Nancy died “of old age” on 28 Jun 1882 in Hillier Twp., Prince Edward Co., ON at 83.

Sources

• "Census of 1851" Library and Archives Canada (http://data2.collectionscanada.gc.ca/e/e095/e002368682.jpg accessed 5 Dec 2015, Canada West (Ontario), Prince Edward County, Hillier, Page 15 - entry for Thomas Clapp & family