Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy

Joshua Knapp

Male 1663 - Bef 1750  (~ 86 years)


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  • Name Joshua Knapp 
    Born Mar 1662/3  of Greenwich, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died Bef 1750  Stamford, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I861  Petersen-de Lanskoy
    Last Modified 27 May 2021 

    Father Joshua Knapp,   b. 5/05 Jan 1634/5, Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 27 Oct 1684, Greenwich, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 49 years) 
    Mother Hannah Close,   b. Abt 1632, of Grinton, Yorkshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 6 Oct 1695, Greenwich, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 63 years) 
    Married 9 Jun 1657  Stamford, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F415  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Elizabeth Reynolds,   b. Aug 1667, Greenwich, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1 Jun 1710, Greenwich, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 42 years) 
    Married 16 Mar 1687  Greenwich, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
     1. Amy Elizabeth Knapp,   b. Abt 1688, of Greenwich, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location
     2. Rebecca Knapp,   b. Abt 1707, of Greenwich, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Aft 1733  (Age ~ 27 years)
    Last Modified 28 May 2021 
    Family ID F337  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • RESEARCH_NOTES:
      1. "Nicholas Knapp Genealogy," compiled by Alfred Averill Knapp, M.D. "This Genealogy of the Descendants of Nicholas Knapp, first found mentioned at Watertown, Massachusetts in 1630, is the result of the work and research of many individuals. The four principal collectors of data were Charles Ruggles Knapp, Henry Eno Knapp, Ezra Fred Knapp and the author, Alfred Averill Knapp, but they were assisted through correspondence by a large number of individuals who furnished much valuable family and local information..." Third Generation:
      "C-3. JOSHUA Knapp, son of B-3. Joshua and Hannah (Close) Knapp.
      B. 1662/3, Stamford, Conn. Removed to Greenwich with his parents, "ano 1687, March ye 16."
      D. Before 1750.
      M. 1st 3-16-1687, Elizabeth Reynolds, by Mr. Jonathan Bell, Commissioner. She b. Aug. 1667, dau. of Jonathan and Rebecca (Husted) Reynolds. 2nd 1691, Abigail Butler. She d. 6-1-1710, dau. of Walter and Rebecca Butler of Greenwich. His father was Evan Butler, of Cusopp, Herford, England as proved by the will of William Pennoyer, of London, England, dated 5-25-1670, in which he bequeaths a sum of money to Evan Butler and his son Walter now in New England.
      D-7. Elizabeth, probably Amy Elizabeth, b. 1699. m. 1714, John Rundle, b. 1670, son of William Rundle who d. in Greenwich in 1716 and his wife, Abigail Tyler or Terrill. Had six children.
      D-8. Isaac, b. ca. 1690. m. 1-29-1727/8 Rebecca Reynolds.
      D-9. Jonathan, b. ca. 1702. d. ca. 1779. m. Mary Husted.
      D-10. Ebenezer, b. ca. 1704. d. after 1749. m. 1-7-1724, Elizabeth Finch.
      D-11. Sarah, b. 1706. d. 1737. m. 4-12-1722. Her husband d. 5-19-1733. (See D.A.R. -she m. 1-14-1769, Peter Semell. ????)
      D-12. Rebecca, b. 1707. m. 4-4 or 1-1729, Jacob (or John) Rundle, by Mr. Munson of Greenwich. Jacob d. 1733. Had 2 children.
      D-13. John b. 3-10-1708. m. Martha Weed. 2nd Abigail Close.
      D-14. Close, b. 6-5-1710.
      C-3. Joshua Knapp, Jr. was not in Stamford Registration but Savage says he was mentioned in the will of his father. Huntington's History of Stamford also mentions him. He was taxed on 54 pounds in 1697. He was a Proprietor in Stamford, a Justice of the Peace and a member of the Congregational church. Dec. 30, 1670, Joshua Knapp, Jr. was granted part of the uppermost meadow lying south of the Westchester path. 3-28-1734, he bought of his brother Caleb, all his right, title and interest in the estate of Joseph Knapp, Sr. deceased. 5-10-1734 he sold land to his son-in-law, John Rundle. Ye History of ye Town of Greenwich, page 642, says: "Jacob Rundle, Greenville, Green Co., N.Y. b. , d. , m. Knapp. History of Stamford, Conn., names these children of John and Elizabeth or Amy (Knapp) Rundle: -Eli. -John. -Sarah. -Abigail. -Bethia. -Abraham, b. 1716. d. 3-4-1799. m. Mercy Reynolds. Probably (Amy) Elizabeth was the only child of his 1st wife."

      2. "Nicholas Knapp Genealogy," compiled by Alfred Averill Knapp, M.D. "This Genealogy of the Descendants of Nicholas Knapp, first found mentioned at Watertown, Massachusetts in 1630, is the result of the work and research of many individuals. The four principal collectors of data were Charles Ruggles Knapp, Henry Eno Knapp, Ezra Fred Knapp and the author, Alfred Averill Knapp, but they were assisted through correspondence by a large number of individuals who furnished much valuable family and local information...":
      "Joshua, b. 1662/3. d. before 1750. m. Elizabeth Reynolds and Abigail Butler.
      Concerning the father: "Joshua Knapp moved to Stamford, Conn., with his father in 1646, m. there and lived there for some time. In 1663 he moved to Greenwich, Conn. where he was admitted Freeman in 1669, making his home there until his death in 1684. He was one of two persons who made the bargain with the Indians when Bedford Parish was bought from them. The agreement between the Indians and Stamford Colony was witnessed by Joshua Knapp and David Waterbury and signed by seven Indian Chiefs dated 12-23-1680. He bought land in Rye in 1681. His inventory is dated 10-27-1684 and is spoken of as a good estate. He mentions the children named above, except Jonathan, saying that the sons shall receive their share at the age of 21 and the daus. at the age of 18. The will is signed by the widow Knapp, John Bowers and Moses Knapp, all of Stamford, Conn., and also by John Reynolds. Joshua was made Proprietor at Greenwich 2-5-1664. He gave a deed in Stamford 1-14-1657. He was probably a weaver by trade as his father willed him "the other half of the gears" to his loom. Inventory of his estate in 1684 places its value at 54 pounds. He was one of the Committee of Sixteen to confer about the dividing line between Greenwich and Rye. John Bowers was made Proprietor at Greenwich 2-5-1664, was called 43 years old in 1681 and d. in 1694. No children."

      3. The book "Stamford Town Records, Vol. 1, 1641-1723," transcribed and annotated by Paul R. Finch, NEHGS (Boston, 2011):
      p. 159: "Page 165 [1:129]" indicates a marriage dated 21 Jan 1713/14 between Nathaniel Scofield and Elizabeth Pettit in which "Mr. Joshua Knap" acted as the "Justice."
      p. 193: "Page 194 [1:145]" indicates a marriage dated 21 Jan 1713/14 between Jonathan Waterbery and Sarah Mead in which "Mr. Josha Knap" acted as the "Justice."

      4. The book "History of Stamford, Connecticut, 1641-1868…," by Rev. E. B. Huntington (A Corrected Reprint of the 1868 Edition, 1979), p. 56:
      "Knapp, Joshua, son of Nicholas, was married here in 1657 to Hannah Close. He had one child recorded here -- Hannah, born March 26, 1660. He lived later in Greenwich, having had then seven children, Joshua, Joseph, Ruth, Timothy, Benjamin, Caleb, and Jonathan. His inventory bears date Oct. 27, 1684."

      BIRTH:
      1. Not found in the book "Stamford Town Records, Vol. 1, 1641-1723," transcribed and annotated by Paul R. Finch, NEHGS (Boston, 2011).

      MARRIAGE:
      1. The Nicholas Knapp Genealogy book has mucked up the marriages of Joshua Knapp by introducing Abigail Butler as a second wife to Joshua. Abigail Butler, daughter of Walter and Rebecca Butler, married Daniel Marshall 24 Jun 1703 in Greenwich and was the mother of his children. His will is made out in 1727, and thus there is no way she married Joshua abt 1691 when she would have been between 10 to 12 years of age.
      Assuming the death of Elizabeth Reynolds is correct for 1710, it is very likely that Joshua may have remarried after that date; however, Abigail Butler does not appear to be the correct spouse.
      This 2014 posting on Family Search for Abigail Butler by Dorothy Stuart Hall1 (E-mail Address rshdsh@gmail.com) is well-written and properly reflects the articles from Jacobus in "The American Genealogist":
      "WALTER BUTLER OF GREENWICH, FAIRFIELD, CONNECTICUT
      Walter Butler probably was born in Cusop, Herefordshire, England in about 1640/44 (his age is estimated upon his being in New England by 1670, but he may have been older as his mother was born in about 1601) to Evan & Johan or Johane Butler. Unfortunately there are neither parish records nor a Bishop‘s transcript copy of the parish records preserved prior to the year 1662. The will of William Pennoyer of London, England dated 15 May 1670, however, refers to a number of Butlers (including Walter of New England, son of Evan of Cusop, Herefordshire) as being "all my kindred." In a deposition taken on 11 Apr 1687 in proceedings concerning the probate of this will of William Pennoyer, Mrs. Johan Butler, widow of Evan Butler of Cusop, Herefordshire, stated that she would be 86 the next August [born abt 1601], that she had married her late husband 70 years earlier [abt 1617/8], that she had known William Pennoyer for 50 years and had known his father, Robert Pennoyer of Bristol; that William Pennoyer had provided for the education of one/some of her children at the University of Cambridge and set up apprenticeships for the others; that William Pennoyer had come to Herefordshire 24 years earlier [abt 1663]and, discovering that her husband Evan Butler was in debt, had paid his creditors and had given money to Samuel, one of their sons.
      There appears to be no record available as to when Walter Butler immigrated into New England or as to where he first settled. According to noted genealogist Donald Lines Jacobus, "Walter Butler is mentioned in Savage's ‘Genealogical Dictionary' as of Greenwich in 1672, but that is all. Other printed sources we have seen fail to yield more, yet he had six daughters and numerous descendants." In the index at Greenwich there are references to Walter Butler cited as C.P.1, which means an early volume labeled Commonplace Book No. 1. Included are grants of land to him in May 1673 and 11 Sep 1679.
      The Fairfield Probate records show that Walter Butler died in April 1693, leaving a widow and children. Letters of Administration were granted on 9 Nov 1693 to his widow, John Reynolds, and Joshua Knapp.
      Based on the deeds made by Joshua Knapp and Walter's widow, Rebecca, as Administrators of his estate, Walter and Rebecca Butler were the parents of six daughters.
      1, Elizabeth, m. 18 Apr 1700, Benjamin Knapp.
      2. Abigail, m. 24 Jun 1703, Daniel Marshall.
      3. Rebecca, m. 25 Apr 1706, Daniel Smith.
      4. Sarah, m. Elisha Mead.
      5. (Daughter), m. Peter Brown
      6. Esther or Hester, m. 7 Dec 1713, Jonathan Mead
      SOURCES:
      (1) Article: "Walter Butler of Greenwich, Conn.," by Donald Lines Jacobus (The American Genealogist, Vol. 32, July 1956, Pages 145/6).
      (2) Article supplementing prior article, "Walter Butler, Pennoyer, and Reynolds," by Donald Lines Jacobus (The American Genealogist, Vol. 33, January 1957, Pages 50 - 52).
      (3) Article: "English Ancestry of Robert Pennoyer and Walter Butler," by Peter Wilson Coldham ( National Genealogical Society Quarterly, v. 60, Dec. 1972, pp 243-249)"
      Another posting on the internet http://www.ctgenweb.org/county/cofairfield/pages/stamford/knapp_data1.htm accessed 8 Jan 2017 is from CTgenweb and is an exposition on the descendants of Nicholas Knapp:
      "Research of his presumed second marriage does not bear any evidence that he married secondly, Abigail Butler. Greenwich Commonplace Books, indicates that Abigail Butler, daughter of Walter Butler, married Daniel Marshall. Daniel Marshall, died in 1727. Records do not reveal whether his widow, Abigail, remarried. Clarence Almon Torrey, in his book, "Marriages prior to 1700", indicates a marriage to an Abigail(?), but questions the entry. If Joshua married secondly to Abigail Butler, it would obviously have had to occur after 1727, unless there is another Abigail Butler that has not been identified in the records. No doubt he probably remarried, and quite possible to a lady named Abigail, whose maiden name is not indicated. Doubtful that Joshua would have remained a Widower for any great length of time, as he had several children, all ranging in age from a few months to the age of 12, at the death of Elizabeth Reynolds, in 1710. Even if he married a second time, he evidently had no children born of that marriage, as there is no record of any children beyond those reflected in this report. This report reflects a second marriage to "Unknown" in view of the absence of an official record to prove otherwise. At best, if he married a second time, his second wife should be reflected as "Unknown", pending proof to the contrary. For more information relating to Abigail Butler, daughter of Walter Butler, refer to "Early Records of Greenwich, CT" [formerly called "Commonplace Books"], :610 and the Will of Daniel Marshall, dated 10 Feb 1726/27, Fairfield Co, CT - Probate Records - Greenwich Probate District, VIII:78. A reference to the second marriage of Joshua Knapp, to Abigail (Butler) Marshall, is said to exist in the "Early Records of Greenwich, CT", :595. However, all attempts to gain a copy of this source has been fruitless, and if such exists, could clear up the problems stated here."

      SOURCES_MISC:
      1. FHL book 929.273-K727kf: "Knapp's N' Kin, The Ancestral Lines of Frederick H Knapp and Others," compiled by: Frederick H Knapp, Rt. #2, Box 438C, AB Hwy, Richland, Missouri, 65556; 1987; Revised/Updated 1991. The author has prepared a family group sheet on which he notes the following miscellaneous sources:
      -NK Gen (1953).
      -NK Gen Suppl (1956).
      -Hist. of Stamford, by Huntington.
      -Hist. of Greenwich, by Mead.
      -Fairfield Probate Rec., v. 1665-1675, p. 55.
      -Stamford Registration.
      -Stamford Colony Rec.
      -Rye, NY (CT) Land Rec. 1681.
      -Greenwich Vital Rec.
      -Inventory of Estate dtd. 27 Oct 1684.
      -Proprietor Rec., 5. Feb 1664.
      -Fam. of Old Fairfield, by Jacobus.