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Richard Clapp was the only son of William and Alice (_____) Clapp. William Clapp was born in about 1500 in Sidbury, Devonshire, England. He married Alice (___) about 1526 in Sidbury. He wrote his will on 29 May 1555 as Yeoman of Harpford. His will was proved on 26 Jul 1555. He lists only one son Richard and five daughter: Florence Ybdon (and children of William Ybdon), Jyllyan Badstone, Alice Ynglande, Beaton and Johane the last two unmarried so possibly the youngest. And "Allse [Alice] my Wyffe."Wittness John Fulbrouke & T. Badstone. William's son Richard was progenitor of the New England family. Richard was married with two children at the time the will was written. See Richard's profile.[1][2][3] In the Great Migration Robert Charles Anderson says that Kempton Ancestry supersedes all other sources on the Clapp family. According the Kempton Ancestry William is the first generation we can identity as a progenitor of the New England family.
Birth: Unknown say 1528 in probably Sidbury, Devon, England.
Death: After 1589 when Richard was last listed as the sole Sidbury Clapp in the subsidy rolls and before 25 JUL 1609 when his widow wrote her will.
Rychard Clapp was buried on 20 Nov 1609,[4] at St Gregory's, Parish, Seaton,Devonshire,England.
Wife: Christian (___)
Richard Clapp was a "billman." He appears in the 1569 Devonshire Muster Rolls for Sidbury. He appear in the 1571, 1576, 1581 and 1589 Sidbury subsidy rolls. His residence was near the Ottery Hill on the border with Ottery St Mary [deposition of his son Nicholas saying his father described the border stones remarking the grazing bounds of sheep there].
The birth of Richard is unrecorded we only know that he was the sole son named in his father's will. Based on the contents of his father's will it is posited he was born about 1528 because in the will Richard was already married with two children. He died after 1589 [when Richard was last listed as the sole Clapp in the Sidbury subsidy rolls] and before 25 JUL 1609 [when his widow Christian wrote her will].
Richard had seven known children. He left a widow Christian who is currently thought to be the mother of all of his children. Richard's wife Christian (__ ), died in Sidbury, Devonshire, between 25 July 1608 [writing of her will] and 12 August 1608 [will proved]. Walter Goodin Davis in 1945 postulated that Richard had an unknown first wife before Christian. This is based on the fact that Christian only named one son, Nicholas, in her will. However, in more recent research published in 2000 by NEHGS in Kempton Ancestry the authors assert that this is not sufficient evidence to believe Richard had a first wife. The authors point out that It was not uncommon for a widow during this period in England who had meager resources to only name one son even if she had several sons. As evidenced by her inventory she had little more than her wearing apparel. Their son Peter's will names his brother Nicholas and Robert and Peter's marriage record named his father as Richard Clapp of Sidbury. Furthermore his other brother Richard Clapp was appointed executor of Peter's will. Taken together we can see there were clearly more sons than named in the Richard widow's will. Richard and Christian's grandson John left a will leaving bequests to "my dear and loving cousins Roger Claps children" and appointed "my cousin Roger Clap" as one of the overseers indicating that their father William was also a son of Richard and Christian Clapp. In total these data indicate that Richard had five sons and two daughters (see list of children below). Both his sons William and Nicholas had children that came to New England.
To the poor of Sidbury 5s. To my godchildren 4d. each. To my goddaughter dwelling at Broadclist22 one petticoat. To Mary Clapp my gowne. To Elizabeth Clapp, my son Nicholas his wife, my cloake. To Prudence Clapp, Ann Crutchell and Ann Windsam all linen apparell. To Prudence Clapp my cobord at Pynhill,23 etc. 121 To said Ann Windsam £10 to be paid at the end of a year after my death, to be employed to the best use for her benefit and if she happen to die before the age of 20, said £ 10 to remain to Prudence Clapp. To Eyde Crutchett my daughter £10. To Richard Clapp my son Nicholas his son one chest. To Ellen Lee my kyrtle. Residue to Nicholas my son, executor. Witnesses: Thos. Ebson,24 James Taylor Proved 12 August 1608
The inventory of widow Christian Clapp of Sidbury was presented 9 August 1608 and totalled a modest £ 15 1 Os, which was insufficient to pay the legacies outlined in her will
Note these older Genealogies also treat this family but have errors corrected in Kempton Anc and should be used with caution:
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" According the Kempton Ancestry William is the first generation we can identity as a progenitor of the New England family." I believe that the Kempton book by Smith & Sanborn spends a couple of pages explaining why they have stopped at Richard, father of Nicholas, and not gone on to William (or his father rich Thomas).
https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Clapp-4
If you'd like to see the source please let me know by email and I'd be happy to send you a PDF scan to examine.
The last name is spelling Clapp in Sidbury records. See will of Christian Clapp on the profile.
Thanks for helping to clean-up duplicates on Wikitree!
Please merge Clap-67 into Clapp-4. I have added sources and a biography based on the latest research to both profiles:
https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Clapp-4
If you'd like to see the source please let me know by email and I'd be happy to send you a PDF scan to examine.
Thanks for helping to clean-up duplicates on Wikitree!