| Notes |
- RESEARCH_NOTES:
1. From the book "Knapp's N' Kin, The Ancestral Lines of Frederick H. Knapp and Others," comp. Frederick H. Knapp, Rt. #2, Box 438C, AB Hwy., Richland, Missouri, 65556, Revised 1991:
"Introduction: The surname Knapp, has been found in England since the 5th century, in various forms of spelling. It has been claimed that it is of Saxon origin though proof of this thought has never been found. While it is common in all Teutonic counÂtries, it is just as probable that it is of Anglican origin. It is also possible that the name did not have a common origin for all families that bear it. There are many variations to nbe found, some families not adhering to any particular form, while others were quite persistent in doing so, even when the liberty in that matter was practiced more so than now. The earliest known individual mention of the name is found in "ROTULI CURIOE REGIS" Volume 1, page 139. It identifies as an individual "Petrus Knape -1198." From that point on the name is found freÂquently in the English records. The most common form of spelling found in America were Knap and Knapp, while there are known spellings of Nap, Napp, Knopp, et al. Predominately throughout our early American history the name is found spelled "KNAP" and remained as such until a period following the Revolutionary War, at which time the second "p" was -evidently added and accepted as the spelling we of today use. For the sake of continuity and ease of understanding, I will hereafter use the spelling of "Knapp" rather than all the known forms of spelling that were found during my research.
In the ancient districts of East Anglia, Mercia, and Northumbria, we later find that East Anglia was the land of the North Folk and South Folk, which is now known as Norfolk and Suffolk Counties in England. Mercia or Middle Anglia became the central shires of England. Northumbria dominated the northern limits of the domain. These three regions were settled in the 6th century by the Angles. The Saxons settled Sussex and Wessex to the south and the Jutes held Kent in the southeast. All three tribes were of Germanic origin. While this still does not identify the origin of the various Knapp clans it does have possible bearing on the traditional thought passed down through time, that we of the name are of German stock. In England we know that there were no less than 6-8 family groups that bore the name; all living in different parts of England and bearing no known relationship to one another. Of these groups it is believed that they were all of independent origins. As most of the early immigrants were dissenters from the Church of England, their births, marriages, etc., are not recorded there to any great degree; this making it impossible to trace many of them to their particular origin accurately. In general, they were a religious people, though independent in thought, who took the Bible as their guide and rule in life and immigrated to escape persecution in England and to worship as they pleased in the New World.
In the case of our early immigrant ancestors - Nicholas, William, Roger, Aron, Job, and others, proof of their relationship to one another has never been established though we find the thought that that they were related in print. As this is conjectural in nature, and after that thought had been repeated enough, it became fact over the years. In so far as current knowledge of their relationship currently stands, and until such time as factual documentation is found, we of todays generations may accept the idea that a remote possibility may exist in this regard but still remains to be proven.
With one exception, and that being the ancestry of William Knapp, the English anÂcestry of the other Knapp immigrants has not been fully established. Research in England established that his ancestry was through John and Martha (Blois) Knapp of Ipswich, Co Suffolk, England. We find a Nicholas Knapp, of Wells-By-The-Sea, County Norfolk, England, who has had the association of Susan Mitterson, placed with him, as the immigrant of 1630 and as his first wife who died in England prior to 1630. There are those of us who want to make the claim to this Nicholas Knapp, of whom we have record established and one who married Susan Mitterson, in Co. Norfolk, while others have discarded the theory and continue to support the idea that he was from Co. Suffolk, and one of the Nicholas's found at Cornard Parva. Later in this writing I will attempt to record a possible theory surrounding the thought that this Nicholas Knapp, was in all probability the Nicholas Knapp of Co Suffolk and immigrant to America in 1630.
As the ancestry of our early Knapp immigrants is highly questionable as found in the many writings of today, both professional and amateur, as far as I have been able to determine, no evidence exists nor has any been produced to support the many writings and traditonal thoughts that any of the early Knapp immigrants were related and that stands as the "state of the problem" today!
Our Knapp Knight: Many stories found in print today claim that Roger "de" Knapp was Knighted in 1530, by King Henry VIII, at a Tournament held in County Suffolk, England. This story in it's many forms has been proven false and that it was the product of some fanciful mind. It has not the least foundation in fact, NOTwithSTANDING The Number of TIMES IT IS SO STATED and AS FOUND IN PRINT. A search of the records and correspondence with the College of Heraldry officials in London, England, does not agree with these writings. The search proved that there was never a Roger "de" Knapp knighted by King Henry VIII, nor was there any tournaments held in Co Suffolk in 1530. In fact they can find no record of a Knapp by the name of Roger living in Co Suffolk nor in Essex, at anytime. It is believed that the story first appeared in America and that a probability exists that it was developed and the invention of some unscrupulous English genealogist in an attempt to satisfy the ambition of an American client.
Knapp COAT of ARMS: Some 6-8 Coats of Arms have been granted in England to persons bearing the name of Knapp, and are recorded there. So far as is known, all the male descendants of the grantees have died and the lines are now extinct. It is therefore believed that no person living in England or America is legally entitled to use the emblem as a mark of heraldry. The Knapp Family Association of America, in 1940, adopted the Suffolk Coat of Arms as the emblem of the Association and without the slightest thought that anyone of its members were entitled to it in heraldry. Further, it may be used as emblem, as no one else is entitled to its use in heraldry. The Suffolk Coat of Arms was first granted to Henry Knapp, of Hintlesham, England and later to George Knapp of Tuddenham; later to Robert Knap of Needham, probably both descendants of the first mentioned Henry Knapp.
Needless to say, we of today still find those that emphatically lay claim to the "Knapp KNIGHT" as a true accounting, yet the College of Heraldry cannot document the claim. A copy of the crest or Coat of Arms appears within this writing. It was prepared for the Knapp Family Association of America in 1940, by Winfield Scott Downs, the former managing editor of the American Historical Co, of New York. For more information about the Knapp Coat of Arms, refer to: BURKES: "General Armory-Visitation of Suffolk, 1577. "
For several centuries (how many are unknown) the Knapps lived in England. Most of the British (with the exception of those living in South Ireland) and likewise, the Knapps were and are of probable Protestant faith. There are few Knapps of the Catholic faith in the British Isles, but it has been estimated that their number does not exceed 10%, of the the entire Knapp Family population. Their religious faiths as far as is known, were and are as follows: (1) CONGREGAÂTIONALIST; (2) BAPTIST; (3) FRIEND (QUAKER); (4) EPISCOPAL; (5) METHODIST; (6) METHODIST EPISCOPAL; (7) PRESBYTERIAN; (8) ROMAN CATHOLIC; and other PROTESTANTS. These various religious faiths were predominant until about 1850, when others and varied religious sects developed throughout America. As this list of religions are not all conclusive, these appear to be the most identifiable from the various and sundry publications found in print as pertains to the Knapp Families."
2. "Nicholas Knapp Genealogy, Compiled by Alfred Averill Knapp, M.D.
Foreword
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.
Charles Ruggles Knapp was the pioneer in this work. He owned a hotel at Saratoga Springs, New York, so was occupied only a few months of each year. He devoted the remained of the year to collecting data about the Knapp families of New York and New England from all available sources. He drove about the country, searching town, church and cemetery records and calling upon individuals, thus laying the foundation for his work. He not only collected information concerning our four immigrant ancestors, William, Nicholas, Aaron and Roger Knapp, but also that of a few other families by the name of Knapp who disappeared early or whose descendants he was unable to follow. His manuscript records, containing several thousand names, are deposited in Newberry Library, Chicago, Illinois, where they are available to the public.
He was followed by Henry Eno Knapp, a lumberman from Wisconsin, who had leisure and means to pursue his hobby o searching for family records. He was stimulated in this work by his acquaintance with Charles Ruggles Knapp but carried on his research much farther. His records, containing nearly four thousand names, mostly traced back to Nicholas Knapp, are deposited in the Library of the Wisconsin State Historical Society, at Madison, Wisconsin. Many of his records have been printed in a book entitled "A History of the Chief English Families Bearing the Name of Knapp," compiled by Oswald Greenwaye Knapp, M.A. of England, which may be found in many genealogical libraries.
Ezra Fred Knapp was a Principal of Schools at Syracuse, New York. He was interested in Knapp family history all his life and devoted his vacations mostly to research along that line. He traveled extensively and had a wide genealogical correspondence, thus increasing his recorded number of Knapps to nearly eight thousand names. His untimely death March 14, 1943 was a great loss.
The author, Alfred Averill Knapp, has been deeply interested in Knapp genealogy for more than forty years and has devoted all his spare time from a busy medical practice to collecting material. He worked personally with both Henry Eno Knapp and Ezra Fred Knapp and exchanged data with both. With Ezra Fred Knapp he kept duplicate card index sets of all records, so that if one set should be burned, another complete set would remain and not all the work would be lost. They dreamed and hoped for the time to come when all their work would be assembled in book form as a permanent record for future generations. They knew that extensive collections of records had been made and later lost for lack of publication and hoped that their work would not suffer a like fate.
In 1936 a small group of interested persons met in New York to organize the Knapp Family Association of America. Arrangements for the meeting were made by Mrs. Nellie Bird Vidavere, Mrs. Flora Knapp Dickinson and Mr. and Mrs. Dickson Q. Brown. The activities of this Association have contributed greatly to this project. The Bulletin of the Knapp Family Association, circulated among all the members and to nearly seventy five state and genealogical libraries aroused much favorable publicity and brought forth some two hundred family lineages. The annual meetings held in New York have attracted the attention of hundreds of Knapp descendants and promoted many close friendships.
At the death of Ezra Fred Knapp his records were combined with those of the author who then assumed the task of continuing the work and arranging for their permanent recording.
This book, containing the names and ancestry of nearly twelve thousand persons by the name of Knapp, along with several thousand names of related families, is the result. The families are fully traced back to our common ancestry as completely and as accurately as possible at the present time.
Introduction
The name of Knapp has been found in England since the fifth century, in various forms of spelling. Oswald Greenwaye Knapp, the Knapp genealogist of England, found the name in more than ninety different forms of spelling, though no doubt all were variants of the modern name. It is claimed that it was of Saxon origin, though there is no proof of this. It is common in all Teutonic countries and it is just as probably of Anglican origin. The early spellings were usually with a "C," as in Cnaep. Other forms were Cnepe, Knepe, Knopp, etc. In early times the name was often preceded with "atte" and "de la." "atte" disappeared by about the year 1300. "la" was not used after 1360 and "de" disappeared after 1400. Originally it was used as an individual name and died with its owner. After about 1200 it began to be used as a family name and was transmitted from father to son. It is possible that the name originated from "cnoep" meaning a hilltop, or the English name "knob" meaning the same. A man living on the hilltop became known by that name. In America the name was usually spelled with one "p" until about the time of the Revolution.
In England there were no less than six or eight family groups bearing the name of Knapp, but they lived in different parts of England and bore no relationship with one another, so far as Oswald Greenwaye Knapp could determine. He believed all were of independent origin.
The place of origin in England of the four New England immigrants is still not proved, though many statements to the contrary are to be found. It is believed that William Knapp came from near Cornard Parva or Newton. County Suffolk or Essex. It is probable that Nicholas came from this same vicinity as the name has been found there. The name Nicholas Knapp was evidently not common in England, as O.G. Knapp could find records of only some twelve or fifteen persons bearing that name throughout all England and for all time. The names of Aaron and Roger occurred only three times each in all England.
There is no proof that William and Nicholas were brothers or even relatives though that statement is often found in print. When this conjecture was repeated often enough, it finally became accepted as a fact. Both men are supposed to have come to Watertown with the Winthrop and Saltonstall fleet in the summer of 1630, though both their names appear in court records earlier that same year. Records do not show that William and NIcholas had any dealing of any kind with one another. Whenever either was in difficulty, it was always a stranger who came to the rescue, never the reputed brother. No signature of Nicholas has been found. He always signed with a mark much like this "Y." (With the bottom curled up to the left.)
Most of the early New England immigrants were dissenters from the Church of England, so their births, marriages, etc. are not recorded there, making it impossible to trace their origin accurately. In general, they were a religious people, though independent in though, who took the Bible as their guide and rule in life. Usually church membership was a first requirement to qualify a person to vote, own property or become a Freeman in town.
Watertown, Massachusetts, was settled mainly by immigrants from Counties Suffolk, Essex and Norfolk, England and the rest of the Massachusetts settlers also came largely from the southeastern part of England. Most of the early settlers were Puritans or Independent Thinkers who migrated to escape persecution at home and to worship as they pleased in the New World. Some groups became very intolerant of people who differed in belief from their own group. Most early towns were founded by church groups migrating as a body, led by their pastor. Later, as conditions changed, settlers came for economic reasons, hoping to improve their financial standing in a new country where they could acquire and own property, especially land, and thus attain independence.
The pastor of the church at Watertown was the Reverent George Phillips, from Boxted, County Essex, who remained there about ten years. The church was organized on July 30, 1630, with some forty men, headed by Sir Richard Saltonstall, signing the membership list. This church remained the only church in the town for sixty six years. Only church members could become Freemen and vote.
Stamford, Connecticut, was settled in 1641 by people from Wethersfield, Connecticut, who brought with them their church organization and pastor, the Reverend Richard Denton. He was from Yorkshire, England. This church was organized by seven religious men who left England because of persecution due to their religious belief. They believed in the Bible as their only guide and law in living and were known as Congregationalists. It is probable that Nicholas Knapp lived in Wethersfield for a year or more between the time when he left Watertown and settled in Stamford.
The legend that Roger de Knapp was Knighted by Henry VIII at a Tournament held in Suffolk in 1530 is wholly the product of some fanciful mind and has not the least foundation in fact, notwithstanding the number of times that it has been published and the number of people who would like to believe it. O.G. Knapp and his father, also, searched the English records carefully and corresponded with the officials of the College of Heraldry, all of whom agreed that there was never a Coat of Arms granted to anyone by the name of Roger de Knapp nor was there any Tournament held at or near Suffolk in 1530. They can find no record of a Knapp by the name of Roger ever having been Knighted or living in Suffolk or Essex at any time. It is believed that the story first appeared in America and that in all probability it is the invention of some unscrupulous genealogist in England in an attempt to satisfy the ambition of an American client.
Some six or eight Coats of Arms have been granted in England to persons bearing the name of Knapp and are recorded there. So far as is known, all the male descendants of these grantees have died and the lines are now extinct. It is therefore believed that no person living either in England or America is legally entitled to use this emblem as a mark of Heraldry."
[Kerry's note: The book continues with genealogy and notes for several generations of descendants, which I have cut and pasted into the individual notes files of each person.]
3. From the FHL book 929.273-K727kw: "William Knapp (of Watertown, Mass., in 1630) and Some of His Descendants (A Genealogy founded upon the research of Arthur Mason Knapp and published by him, and upon the records of Charles Ruggles Knapp, Ezra Fred Knapp, Justin Willis Knapp and Alfred Averill Knapp, M.D.)," compiled by Alfred Averill Knapp, M.D. (Genealogist for the Knapp Family Association of America), Winter Park, Florida 1952:
"Knapp.
The name of Knapp is of Saxon origin and is derived from the word "Cnoep" meaning top, or from "Canapa" meaning a boy or son, probably the former. It is found in ancient English and early American records in various forms of spelling; Canepp-Cnappe-Cnop-Cnape-Knop-Napp-Knape-Knaype-Knop-Knopi-Knoppe-Knopp-Knep-Knepp-Kneip-Kneupp-Knoop-Kneppe-Knapp. The last spelling is that most used in America today.
This family is said to be of ancient Saxon origin and to have been residents of England long before the time of William, The Conqueror. The earliest definite record of the name, however, is that of one Petrus or Peter, of County Norfolk in the year 1198. From him and his immediate family most of the families of the name are believed to have descended.
There were Knapps in the Counties of Berks, Oxford, Dorset, Wilts, Lincoln, Norfolk, Cambridge, Buckingham, York, Devon, Cornwall, Gloucester, Hereford, Suffolk, Essex, Somerset, Sussex, and Surrey; also in the city and vicinity of London, at an early date. The name was also found in Wales and in Ireland at a later date.
These families were, for the most part, of the landed gentry and yeomanry of the British Isles. Among the earliest definite records of the name in England are those of John Cnope, of County Cambridge in 1273. Those of John Knapp, of Buckinghamshire in 1273. Those of Capella de la Cnoppe who was living at about the same time. Those of Adam Knap of the same period. Those of William Knop, of Sussex in 1279; Edith Knoppe, of County Somerset in 1290; Stephen de la Cnoppe, of Devonshire in 1302; Robert Knapp of Somerset, 1306; John de Cnoppe, of Somerset, 1316; Margret atte Cnoppe, of Somerset in 1327; John, son of Adam Knop or Cnop, of Wiltshire, about the same time; William Knappe, of County Cornwall, in 1355; Johanne (John) Knape or Knappe, of Yorkshire in 1379; Thomas Knoppe, of Gloucestershire, who was Mayor of Brystol, and the father by his wife, Alyce, of, among other children, Margery; William Knoppe, brother of Thomas, who died about 1404. These are, however, fragmentary.
Of the County Norfolk branch of the family, John Knoppe or Knapp was living at Norwich about 1439, and was probably the father of that John whose will was proved in 1461. The second John had issue by his wife Catherine, of William, Alice and Ellen. One Knapp of this line was the father in the early 15th century of Robert and Richard, of whom the former died about 1484, leaving at least one son named John who was the father by his wife Catherine, of John, Thomas, Robert, Richard and Margaret. John Knapp, who may have been a brother of the before mentioned Robert, died in County Norfolk about 1488, leaving issue by his wife, Julian, of John, Hugh and Thomas. Of these, John was the father of Richard, John, Elizabeth and Alice, of whom the first had, among others, Francis, John, Henry, Jane, Cicely and Elizabeth. Francis was the father of Francis, John, Edward and Elizabeth, while Henry left issue by his wife, Jane, of Robert, Mathew and Andrew.
In the later 15th century, Robert Knappe, or Knapp, resided in County Suffolk. He married Margaret, daughter of Edmund Poley. Their children were: Edmund, John, Robert, Thomas and Mirable. Of these, Edmund was first married to Bridget Monyns, by whom he had two sons, Edmund and Robert, neither of whom had children. By his second wife, Elizabeth Woodcock, whom he married in 1568, he had John, Edmund and six daughters. Of these John married Beatrix, daughter of Henry Darley and had Edmund, Henry, Edward, John, George, Charles, Mary, Elizabeth and Beatrice.
John Knapp, second son of the first Robert, of Suffolk, had children by his wife, Martha Bloys, at Ipswich, named John, Leonard, Thomas and several daughters. Of the sons, John married Elizabeth and had James, William, John, Edmund, Elizabeth, Margaret and Martha, while Thomas married Katherine Barker and had Thomas, John, Martha and Katherine.
Robert Knapp, third son of the first Robert, of Suffolk, married Christiana Brown and had John who died young, the Reverend Samuel, John, George, Elizabeth and Martha. Of these Samuel married Susanna Cooke or Cookes, and had Robert, Samuel, John and five daughters.
Thomas Knapp, fourth son of the first Robert, of Suffolk, was the father of Thomas, Robert and William, of whom the first died without issue. Robert, the second son, of Thomas, married Ann Barker and had Samuel, Thomas, Daniel, John, Robert and several daughters.
About the beginning of the 16th century, one Thomas Knapp, of Birkshire, had Nicholas and John, of whom Nicholas died about 1565 leaving four children: John, Thomas, Elizabeth and Margaret. Of these, Thomas married Ann - - and had Thomas, William, John, Agnes, Nicholas, Walter, Alice, Henry and Richard, of whom Thomas had a son Thomas.
The descendants of all these lines are not certain, but Henry married 1st Ann Toder and had Mary, Agnes and Henry. He married 2nd Agnes Smalelone in 1606 and had Joan, Francis, John, Anney, Ann, Thomas, Elizabeth and George. Of these sons of Henry and Agnes, John was the father of Francis, John, and George, while George was the father of Richard, John, Francis, Thomas and Nicholas.
Nicholas Knapp, son of the second Thomas, of Berkshire, had two sons, Thomas and Nicholas, each of whom had a son named Nicholas, and Richard, son of the second Thomas, of Berkshire, was the father of William, Richard, Thomas and George. Of the last mentioned brothers, William had a son named George; Richard had a son named Richard; Thomas had among others, a son named August; and George had at least two children, Richard and John.
The first immigrants of the name of Knapp to come to America are believed to have been from the County Suffolk line in England, William and Nicholas were first recorded at Watertown, Mass. in 1630. They are believed to have been brothers, but there is no proof of this relationship. They were followed by Aaron Knapp, of Taunton, Mass. about 1638 and Roger Knapp, of New Haven, Conn. about 1645. Job Knapp came later to Sutton, Mass. The relationship of these early immigrants is unknown, despite many statements to the contrary.
(The above statement is from a cousin of Mr. and Mrs. Justin W. Knapp, Idaho Falls, Idaho. They do not know the source of this information.)"
4. I include the following two brief biographies on William Knapp since he is often mentioned while researching Nicholas Knapp. There is no known relationship at this time.
A. Citation Information: "The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633," Volumes I-III:
"William KNOPP
Origin: Bures St. Mary, Suffolk Migration: 1630 First Residence: Watertown Occupation: Carpenter. Education: Signed his deed of 1655 by mark. His inventory included "1 Bible" valued at 6s. Offices: On 3 February 1651/2 Watertown selectmen ordered that "Sergeant Beeres shall view the several particulars of old Knop's work done at the meeting house and to make return for the town" [WaTR 30]. On several occasions in 1651 "Old Knop" received payments from the town treasury, apparently for this work [WaTR 24, 25, 28, 29]. Estate: Granted thirty acres in the Great Dividend at Watertown, 25 July 1636 [WaBOP 3]. Granted seven acres in the Beaverbrook Plowlands, 28 February 1636/7 [WaBOP 7]. Granted seven acres in the Remote Meadows, 26 June 1637 [WaBOP 10]. Granted a farm of ninety-three acres, 10 May 1642 [WaBOP 12]. In the Inventory of Grants at Watertown, "William Knop, senior," held six parcels: homestall of sixteen acres; seven acres of plowland in the Further Plain; seven acres of Remote Meadow; seven acres and a half of upland beyond the Further Plain; thirty acres of upland in the Great Dividend; and one acre in West Meadow [WaBOP 104]. In the Composite Inventory he held seven parcels: homestall of sixteen acres; seven acres of plowland in the Further Plain; eight acres of plowland in the Further Plain; seven acres in the Remote Meadows; seven acres and a half of upland beyond the Further Plain; thirty acres of upland in the Great Dividend; and a farm of ninety-three acres [WaBOP 54]. At Watertown selectmen's meeting, 11 December 1656: "Old Knap being in want & complaining to the Selectmen they make this proposition, that if his children will take his estate into their hands, & provide such necessaries for their father & mother as is convenient, they shall have the said estate for the performance thereof when their father & mother cease to be, but if the said children refuse thus to do, then the town will undertake the same, upon such terms as the children should, & this to be fully concluded upon the next second day being the 15th of December (16)56" [WaTR 1:49; see also WaTR 1:53-56]. In a defective will (lacking date and witnesses, and not naming an executor) "William Knop" stated that "After all just debts of the aforesaid William Knope is satisfy the estate that remains is to be equally divided amongst [illegible] children viz. William Knope, John Knope, James knope, Elizeath [sic] Knope, Mary Knope, Ane Knope, Judeth Knope the house & land adjoining to it & cattle & moveables viz. I give unto my wife two pound ten shillings" [NEHGR 147:325, citing Middlesex Court Files, foilo 16, #5]. The inventory of the estate of "William Knap, late of Watertowne, deceased," was taken 31 August 1658 and totalled £129 3s. 10d. (with some small items added later), including the "house & land" valued at £100 [MPR 1:241-42]. On 27 March 1660 "Elizabeth Buttery, widow, of Buers St. Mary," Suffolk ("whereas William Knap the father of the aforesaid Elizabeth Butterie late of New England deceased" left estate which was to be divided among his children) made Nicholas Danforth of Cambridge and John Parmenter Senior of New England her attorneys to receive her legacy [MLR 2:218-19]. On 1 April 1662, whereas "William Knap late of Watertown deceased ... who died intestate" held land which was divided by the court on 15 October 1659 "to Priscilla Knap his relict widow" one third for life, and the remainder and reversion of the widow's thirds to "William Knap, Jno. Knap, James Knap, Mary Smith, Judeth Cady, children of the said William Knap, tog ether with the children of John Philbricke deceased, being the grandchildren of the said William Knap, deceased," therefore William Knap, James Knap and Elizabeth his wife, Thomas Smith and Mary his wife and Nicholas Cady and Judith his wife joined with their brother John Knap and Sarah his wife in confirming sale of this land to Nathaniel Coolidge [MLR 2:201-03]. Birth: Baptized Bures St. Mary, Suffolk, 1 January 1580/1, son of Thomas and Alice (Howlat) Knopp [NEHGR 147:323-24]. Death: Watertown 30 August 1659 [sic, recte 1658] "aged about 80 years" [WaVR 21]. Marriage: (1) Wormingford, Essex, 11 January 1606[/7] Judith Tue, baptized at Wormingford 31 May 1589, daughter of John and Cicely (____) Tue [NEHGR 147:319, 324, 328]; she died by 1651. (2) Soon after 20 June 1651 Priscilla (____) Akers [NEHGR 147:325]; she died by 1 April 1662 when the heirs sold the real estate which they had inherited, apparently including the widow's thirds [MLR 2:201-03]. Children:
With first wife
i Elizabeth, bp. Wormingford, Essex, 10 July 1608; m. ____ Buttery.
ii William, bp. Wormingford 3 February 1610/1; m. (1) by 1642 Mary ____ (Priscilla, daughter of William & Mary Knap, b. Watertown 10 November 1642 [WaVR 10]); m. (2) by 1652 Margaret ____ ("Judy Knap, daughter of Willyam & Mergrett Knop," b. Watertown 2 March 1652[/3] [WaVR 16]).
iii Mary, bp. Wormingford 19 August 1613; m. by 1637 Thomas Smith of Watertown (eldest child b. Watertown 18 September 1637 [WaVR 5]).
iv ANNE, bp. Wormingford 24 December 1618; m. by 1650 John Philbrick (eldest child b. Hampton 22 September 1650 [HampVR 544; GDMNH 545].
v John, bp. Bures St. Mary 20 January 1622/3; m. Watertown 21 May 1660 Sarah Young [WaVR 23].
vi James, bp. Wormingford 30 April 1626; m. by 1655 Elizabeth Warren, daughter of JohnWARREN (eldest child b. Watertown 21 April 1655 [WaVR 17]).
vii JUDITH, bp. Bures St. Mary 16 July 1629; m. by 1650 Nicholas Cady (eldest child b. Watertown 15 January 1650[/1?] [WaVR 15]).
Associations: Many researchers have claimed that William Knopp and Nicholas Knapp of Watertown were brothers, but there is no evidence for this connection, and much against. The most recent investigation of William Knopp shows no evidence of Nicholas Knapp in the family, or even in Bures St. Mary, Suffolk [NEHGR 147:327-28]. The two differ in age by about twenty-five years, a full generation. William and Nicholas, despite residing in the same town for fifteen years, are never seen interacting in any way. Finally, although this would not normally be an important consideration, the town clerks at Watertown were consistent in spelling William's surname as Knopp and Nicholas's as Knapp, suggesting that in Watertown the surnames were seen as distinct. Thomas Philbrick of Watertown and Hampton was also from Bures St. Mary, and he married there a Knopp, but she was not of the immediate family of William Knopp [NEHGR 147:327]; a not-too-distant connection is likely, however. Comments: 30 November 1630: "It is ordered, that whosoever employeth Will[ia]m Knopp or his son in any work shall pay the one half of their wages to Sir Richard Saltonstall, & whoever buyeth boards of them shall pay one half of the price to Sir Richard, till the money he hath disbursed for them be satisfied" [MBCR 1:82]. 22 March 1630/1: "It appears by Sir Rich: Saltonstall's note of disbursements that Will[ia]m Knopp owes him the sum of £19 5s., as was evidenced to the Court by Richard Browne & Ephraim Childe, being men indifferently chosen betwixt them to judge thereof" [MBCR 1:85]. (These two court orders suggest that Saltonstall had paid the ship passage for William Knopp and his family in 1630.) 6 October 1633: "Will[ia]m Knopp is bound in £10 to appear at the next Court, & to abide the censure of the Court for swearing" [MBCR 1:133]. 6 June 1637: "Willi: Knopp was enjoined, upon pain of £100 & imprisonment, to bring in sureties within 8 days for his appearance at the next Quarter Court, to answer what shalbe objected about his speeches of Mr. Vaine, our late Governor" [MBCR 1:199]. 7 April 1635: "It is referred to John Haynes Esq. & Mr. Rob[er]te Feakes, to audit the accounts betwixt Edward Howe & Will[ia]m Knopp, to swear witnesses, & examine them what they can say in the case, & to make return thereof into the next Court" [MBCR 1:143]. 1 June 1641: "Willi: Knopp, for selling bear two years unlicensed, was fined £5" [MBCR 1:318]. Bibliographic Note: Two treatments of the family of William Knopp were published in 1993. Clifford L. Stott prepared an account in which the immigrant had resided at both Wormingford in Essex and Bures St. Mary on the Essex-Suffolk border, and had married a woman from Wormingford, Judith Tue [NEHGR 147:313-28]. John Brayton produced a version in which the immigrant had lived only in Bures St. Mary and had married Margaret Deane of that parish [GMC26 175-84]. Brayton apparently missed the chronological clues which indicate that there were two William Knopps of Bures St. Mary, so he apparently did not undertake the wider search which led Stott to his conclusions. We follow Stott's results, and the English records cited above are taken from his article, unless stated otherwise."
B. I quote the following from the book "The Knapp Family in America. A Genealogy of the Descendants of William Knapp who Settled in Watertown, Mass., in 1639...," by Arthur Mason Knapp, 1909, FHL film 15837, FHL book 929.273 K727ka:
Introduction: "Among the immigrants who came over with Sir Richard Saltonstall in 1630 were two men, perhaps brothers, named Nicholas and William Knapp, who, with others, became the first settlers of Watertown, Mass. The children of Nicholas removed to Connecticut and are the ancestors of the Knapps of that state, of western Massachusetts, of New York and states farther west. William, who remianed in Watertown, is the ancestor of those of the name in central and eastern Masachusetts, except the southeastern, where they are from Aaron (possibly a third brother), who was one of the early settlers of Taunton. The Knapps of New Hampshire and Maine are also descendants of William. Before 1644 William Knapp was grantee of seven lots of land in the town of Watertown, and purchaser of one. His 'homestall' of sixteen acres was bounded southwestesly by that of Richard Lockwood, southeasterly by that of Nicholas Knapp, easterly by that of Richard Browne, northeasterly by that of Richard Beers, northerly by the highway (the Cambridge road). Most of his real estate, amounting to about 170 acres, came, after his death, into the possession of Nathanel Coolidge. His will, proved Oct. 15, 1653, makes no mention of his wife, probably because made before his second marriage, his first wife having died in England. In the settlement of his estate, however, his widow received one third. In the records of Watertown there are many items relating to this, our earliest American ancestor."
P. 7: "William Knapp was born in England about 1578; came to this country in 1630 with Sir Richard Saltonsall, and was one of the first settlers of Watertown, Mass., where he died Aug. 30, 1658, aged, as the town reord states, 'about eighty.' The name of his first wife, who died in England is unknown; his second, whom he married between 1655 and 1658, was Priscilla Akers, widow of Thomas Akers. Children (all born in England):
A. William.
B. John.
C. James.
D. Mary, m. 1636(?), Thomas Smith, of Watertown (who was b. 1601 and .d 10 Mar 1692[3]).
E. Judith, m., 1650(?), Nicholas Cady, and removed, about 1668, to Groton, Mass.
F. Ann, m. Thomas Philbrick, of Hampton; d. 17 May 1667.
G. Elizabeth, m. John Buttery and returned to England, where she resided at Bury St. Mary, Suffolk. In 1662, June 24, she, a widow, sold through her attorney, Thomas Danforth, her share (one eighth) of her father's estate. The original power of attorney is on file at the probate office in East Cambridge, Mass."
5. Even though it appears most researchers discount the Nicholas Knapp who was married to Susan Mitterson and of Wells-by-the-Sea as being our Nicholas, there remains some who propound this theory. The first quote below is the opinion of one researcher discounting this theory. The second quote is of another researcher who gives his position. Currently I do not believe there is sufficient data to know the origins of our Nicholas.
A. First quote disputing the theory "Nicholas Knapp Genealogy," compiled by Alfred Averill Knapp, M.D:
"In 1939, Oswald Greenewaye Knapp, of England, author of "A History of the Chief English Families Bearing the Name of Knapp" was asked to give us his latest conclusions concerning the English origin of our New England Knapp ancestors. He has this to say of Nicholas: "The Christian name of Nicholas was popular in the group of families found in Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Whitshire, from about 1520 onwards & to this group belong 16 of the 22 known instances of the name. But none of these can be fairly identified with the emigrant, Nicholas, all those of his period being otherwise accounted for. In the East Anglian group there is a Nicholas Knapp, of Wells next to the Sea, Co. Norfolk, who m. there in 1618, Susan Mitterson and had issue- Robert, baptised 1619. -Richard, baptized 1621. Nicholas, baptised 1626 and two other children baptised in 1623 and 1628. I mention him because the late Henry Eno Knapp was strongly inclined to identify him with the immigrant. But if he was Nicholas of Watertown, it must be assumed that his wife d. between 1628 and 1630, that he left behind him in England a family of 5 children, all under 12 years of age, m. again in 1630, and began to raise a new family, whose names, instead of being English like those of his first family, were all drawn from the Bible. This to me seems most improbable. But a few years ago I found in the Suffolk Subsidy Roll of 1524, a Nicholas Knap of Newton, the earliest known member of the family to which William Knap belonged, who paid 1s.6d. tax on an assessment of three pounds in goods. This, of course, is not the emigrant but a great grandson or other descendant of the same name could fill the bill very well. There is no documentary evidence that such a person has ever been found, but this is by no means a fatal objection to his existence, for the reason previously stated. Wills and other documents show that five generations of these Knopps flourished at Newton, Cornard, Parva and Middletown between 1524 and 1660. Yet, when I searched the Register of Newton in 1902 from its commencement in 1558 to 1660, I found 1 baptism, 1 marriage and two burials. So it is evident that this family was one of those which did not often darken the Church doors, and many of its members must have escaped registration. But the name of the emigrant, Nicholas, may yet be found in some other local document relating to a law suit, a Court Roll or a Quarter Session Record."
B. This second set of quotes are from 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:
a. "Many genealogists/historians agree that our Nicholas Knapp, was the immigrant to New England in 1630. Early research and investigations for his English ancestry seem to indicate that he was of the Knapp clan found in and around Cornard Parva. Others seem to believe he was from St Marys Parish, Bures, Co Suffolk, England. During the conduct of the search for some record of him and his ancestry, a Nicholas Knapp, of Wells-by-the-Sea, 5 Aug 1627 and is buried in the Wells Churchyard. Most researchers initially wanted to identify this Nicholas and wife as the immigrant to New England, yet, discarding the theory at a later time. As continued research in England failed to identify the ancestry without doubt, many returned to the thought that the Nicholas that married Susan Mitterson, was our Nicholas. While not being proven beyond doubt, the thought does merit some consideration as being "highly possible," but not without some reservations as to many and several of the questions that remain unanswered, and remain today to be fully solved. The state of these questions as of this compilation are:
1. Why did Nicholas leave behind him a family of small children (all under 12)?
2. If not our Nicholas, where is the Parish record that shows what happened to this Nicholas? His father, mother, brothers, and sisters, wife and Children, are and can be accounted for in the Parish Archives found at Norwich, Co Norfolk, England!
3. Where is the documentary evidence to refute this possible ancestry of our immigrant ancestor?
4. Where is the documentation that identifies our Nicholas, as being born in Combs or Bures, Co Suffolk, England? All references to this question state "from" or "probably from"- not born!
As that is the state of the situation today, I have included the ancestry of our Nicholas, as a "high probability," pending answers to the above questions..."
b. "Nicholas Knap of Wells, Co. Norfolk, England.
For the purpose of continuing the "high probability" of this Nicholas Knap, and the previous discussion of his ancestry, I will list what is known of him and his first family, with the assumption that the information as found is of our ancestor of 1630. Again bear in mind the information has not been fully proven but does carry much merit. For the purpose of this writing I will consider it as our ancestor's first marriage and family until something is found to refute the claim. Nicholas KNAP, of Wells-By-The-Sea, County Norfolk, England, was born in ca 1592; his baptism on 16 May 1592, is of record in the Wells Church Records, as is his marriage of 29 Nov 1618, to Susan Mitterson (ancestry unknown) born ca 1592/5 at Wells, County Norfolk, England. With the assumption that this Nicholas is our ancestor, his death is recorded at Fairfield, Fairfield County, Connecticut, having died 16 April 1670, at Fairfield. [Fairfield Probate Records, Volume 1665-1675, page 55]. Susan (Mitterson) Knap, died at Wells, Co Norfolk, England, on 5 Aug 1627 and is buried in the Wells Churchyard. Of this marriage were born the following children: 1-Robert, bapt 13 Feb 1619; m. 8 Aug 1642, Margaret Spone in St George's Church, Tombland, Norwich, Co Norfolk, England; 2-Margaret, bapt 23 Jul 1620; 3-Richard, bapt 16 Jul 1621; 4-a daughter (?Stephene), bapt 23 Oct 1623; Nicholas, bapt 29 May 1626; a son, bapt 17 Sep 1628; d. 26 Dec 1630. All children born at Wells, Co Norfolk, England. Research into the background of these children produced few results. Of all, Robert is found recorded as Clerk of Wells and that last born Child, as having died 26 Dec 1630 (unnamed). We know that after the death of Susan (Mitterson) Knapp, in 1627, these children were placed as Wards of the Archdeaconry Court, at Norwich, until they became of age. The Archive Record indicates that guardianship of all was placed on their Grandmother Margaret (Poling?) Knapp. In view of this there would be reasonable conclusion that it was Nicholas's inability to care for them as widower, properly, and the children being placed with their Grandmother, that Nicholas did not desert them and probably had intentions of returning for them after remarriage and settlement in America??? As there is no evidence to prove this conjecture it does contain some validity at least in thought .The possibility exists as record of other families of the period with the same circumstances, reflect that children were raised and educated by the Archdeacon or Bishop's Courts until age 21 and then were sent to America to join their respective families. Is this the case, in the case of our immigrant ancestor???"
c. If one accepts the theory of Nicholas of Wells as being our Nicholas, then the following genealogy is provided by the same author:
"As previously stated, theEnglaish Ancestry of our immigrant ancestor has never been found, however, the following ancestry is considered 'highly probable' [at least in the opinion of this author] and remains as such today, though not fully proven:
A. John Knape Sr., of Shouldham, co. Norfolk, England; m. Julian ___. Issue: John Jr: Hew (Hugh); Thomas. Source: Will dtd 18 Apr 1488; proven 18 Jun 1488 in Archdeaconry Court, Norwich, Co. Norfolk, England - to be be buried at St. Margaret's.
B. John Knape, Jr., Shouldham, co. Norfolk, England; m. 1-Johann ___, 2-Crystian ___. Issue: Richard; John, Elizabeth, Alice. Source: Will dtd. 10 Dec 1532; proven 24 Mar 1533 in Bishop's court, Norwich, County Norfolk, England. To be buried at Shouldham.
C. Richard Knape, of South Lynn, co. Norfolk, England; m. ___. Issue: Frances; John; Henry; Jane; Cicily; Elizabeth. Source: Mentioned in the will of his father - he was Executor of the Estate - received 6 acres land at Garbyesthorpe - 1532.
D. Henry Knape, of ___; m. Jane ___. Issue William; Robert; Stephen. Issue: William, Robert; Stephen. Source: Mentioned in the will of is Grandfather - living in 1612.
E. Robert Knap, Wells-by-the-Sea, co. Norfolk, England; m. Margaret ?Poling - d. 4 Jul 1630, Wells, co. Norfolk, Engl.; d. 24 Sep 1617 at Wells, co. Norfolk, Eng.
Issue:
-Abigail, bapt. 29 Jul 1579; d. 14 Sep 1581.
-Stevene, bapt. 2 Mar 1587/8; d. Apr 1665.
-Margaret, bapt. 20 May 1590; m. 8 Nov 1613, John Buckler.
-Nicholas, bapt. 16 May 1592; d. 16 Apr 1670, Fairfield, Conn.; m. 1-Susan Mitterson, b. ca. 1595; d. 5 Aug 1627; m. 29 Nov 1618...
-Joane, bapt. 4 Apr 1596; m. ___ Springoll.
-Constance, bapt. 25 May 1598.
-Agnes, m. ___ Walker (may have been a step-daughter?)
Source: Will dtd. 17 Sep 1617; proven 14 Oct 1617 in the Archdeconry Court, Norwich, Co. Norfolk, Engl. and will of Margaret Knap, dtd. 6 May 1630; proven 13 Jul 1630 in Archdeaconry Court, Norwich, co. Norfolk, Eng.
Note: In the will of this Robert Knap, he makes provision for son, Nicholas; however, in the will of his wife, Margaret, no mention of him is made, and it is believed the reason is that Nicholas had left England for America. All others of this family otherwise being accounted for."
d. "Evidence exists in the archives that Nicholas Knapp, after the death of his wife, Susan, placed his children (all under 12) with the Archdeaconry Court, who in turn made them wards and placed them under the guardianship of Margaret Knap, his mother. Possibly our Nicholas, joined a religious movement or was recruited for movement to America as history shows for this period of religious unrest in England. As this still does not prove that this man is our Nicholas, it could very possibly answer one of our questions as to why he left his small family of children. In so doing, we can reasonable assume that it was his intent to return for his children, once settled and remarried in the New World??? It would be reasonable to assume also that his reasoning could have been that he was a widower and would have been hampered in his ability to care for them properly. It is also reasonable to assume that Nicholas removed from County Norfolk to County Suffolk, to join the Winthrop movement, as we know it was during the year 1629 that John Winthrop was recruiting his company for movement to America.
The Family Group Sheet pertaining to our Nicholas and his first marriage is shown only as a "high probability" as being our immigrant ancestor. I agree with and follow the reasoning of Ezra Fred Knapp, a pioneer Knapp Family Genealogist that this is our ancestor, but remains to be fully proven. In the process of elimination in tracing the various Nicholas Knapp's in England, of which there are 22 known instances of the name, none of these could be fairly identified with the immigrant, Nicholas Knapp, as all of the names for his period are otherwise accounted for. Research of the various Knap clans in England from 1558 onward proves that it is evident that our ancestor was one of those which did not darken the Church doors, and therefore many of the family members must have escaped registration, making the problem of verifying our ancestry further in England even more complicated."
e. "Will of Robert Knap of Wells, co. Norfolk, England; Archive Record, Norwich, Co Norfolk, England:
Robert Knap, of Wells, County Norfolk, England- Yeoman.
In the Court of the Archdeaconry of Norwich, County Norfolk, England- To the poor of Wells, 40S.
To the reparation of the Church, 20S.
To Margaret, my wife, for life, tenements in Wells. The one the sale William Gouldings and 5 rods of land. To the sale William Holmans and other land of Wells. After the death of my wife, to go to Stevene, my Sonn to paying of Joane Knap, my daughter- 10 pounds. To Nicholas, my sonn the remainder of the tenements of sale William Gouldings and after the death of my wife, he is to give to daughter Constance Knap 10 pound.
I appoint my wife, Margaret, Legalie and Extrix.
Witnessed by: James Spottiswood, William Sorivener
Will dated 17 Sep 1617; proven 14 Oct 1617; Robert Knap having died 24 Sep 1617.
Note: Robert Knap, makes no provision for his daughter, Margaret (Knap) Buckler."
f. "Will of Margaret Knap of Wells, Co. Norfolk, England. Archive Record, Norwich, Co Norfolk, England:
Will dated 6 May 1630; proven 13 Jul 1630; having died 4 Jul 1630.
Margaret Knap, of Wells, County Norfolk, England- Wife of Robert Knap.
In the Court of the Archdeaconry of Norwich, County Norfolk, England- I will that my body be buried twixt my husband, Robert and daughter, Abigail in the Wells Churchyard. To Agnes Walker, my daughter 5T and best Red Pettecote. To Joane Springoll, my daughter, a pr of sheets and my green gortle and ruffe. To Stevene, my sonn the long table in the hall; 1 chair and 1 cowe. To Sarah Buckler, my Granddaughter, 10 pound. I appoint my daughter Margaret Buckler, Legalie and Extrix.
Witnessed by: Richard Gouldsmith, Thomas Batch, Robert Foley or Loley
Note: She makes no mention of provision for sonn, Nicholas, who evidently left for America???"
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Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy
, d. From 15 Apr 1670 to 27 Apr 1670, Stamford, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States