Nicholas Knapp

  General Notes:

OCCUPATION: Weaver/Lay Physician/Miller/Farmer

IMMIGRATION: With the Winthop Fleet; Departed England 22 Mar 1630; arrived Watertown, Middlesex Co, MA 14 Jun 1630; probably on ship"Arbella"; Captain Peter Milbourne, Master

RELIGION: Puritan [Congregational]

Nicholas was one of a growing number of Puritan weavers and artisans who not only suffered religious persecution but also suffered economically because the long wars in Europe cut off markets for their goods. Nicholas spelled his name Knap, the second 'p' not used until the time of the American Revolution. A Saxon name, 'cnoep' meant hilltop, the word knob having the same origin.

1 Mar 1630/31, Nicholas was fined five pounds for selling 'water' that he claimed would cure scurvey, but knowing that it did not--William Pelham and Edmond Lockwood promised to pay the fine.

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In Stamford ye 15th 2mo Anno 1670 [15 Apr 1670]

The Last Will and Testament of Nicholas Knap of Stamford concerning the disposal of his worldly estate:
1. I give to my son Moses Knap my house and land in Stamford with all the meadow and upland belonging to me. Also I give to my said son Moses my cart and plowe or plowes--with all the furniture of Irons, yokes, and chaynes belonging and a small gun in the house and a sword.
2. I give unto my sonn Timothy Knap the monies remayning due to me upon the bil for the house of John Bats [John Bates] lives in.
3.I give to my sonn Calep [Caleb] the loom and halfe the geers and the other halfe of the geers I give to my sonn Joshua Knap.
4. I give to my daughter Sarah Disbrowe the monies due to me from her husband about 37s - concerning the horss.
5. I give to my daughter Hannah one mare.
6. I give to my daughter Lidea [Lydia] the mare that was Mr Bishop's with the increase she hath.
7. I give to my daughter Ruth twenty shillings.
8. I give to my two daughters-in-law [step daughters], viz: Sarah and Uneca Buxton, all their mother's clothes as a free gift, except one hat and one new pettecote, which my will is they should have onward of their portion. Also I will and bequeath unto Uneca Buxton the new Bible as a free gift.
9. My will is that portions due my daughters-in-law [step daughters],viz: Sarah and Uneca Buston, out of the estate of their father Clement Buxton: I say that their part and portions be currently payd according to their portion of the inventorie.
10. Lastly my will is that my sonn Joshua Knap be sole executor of this my last will to receive all and pay all dues according to this my will as also debts to or for me.
If in the case that mare be not found that I have given to Lidea [Lydia] that then shee to have another mare in lue of that.
This being my last will and renouncing all other former wills made by me witness my hand.

WITNESS (signed) John Weed Nicholas y Knap
Eleazur Slawson (his mark)]

STATE OF CONN ) SS Probate Court
Dist of Fairfield )

SOURCE(S): a. Abstract of Probate Records of Fairfield, Connecticut 1648-1750:19
b. Nicholas Knapp Genealogy (1953), by (Dr) A.A. Knapp, :2-3

Nicholas married Elinor ? before 1630 in England. (Elinor ? was born about 1608 in St Mary Parish-Bures, Suffolk, England and died on 16 Aug 1658 in Stamford, Fairfield Co, Connecticut, USA.)

  Marriage Notes:

Probably married in England. Elinor was shown as Mrs. Knapp on ship'slist in 1630.

Nicholas next married Unity (Unica) ? on 9 Mar 1660 in Stamford, Fairfield Co, Connecticut, USA.¹ (Unity (Unica) ? was born about 1600 in England and died before 15 Apr 1670 in Stamford, Fairfield Co, Connecticut, USA.)