º, ä, * * * * * "-- ~~~~~~~~~~~ y, c.--
*** * * * Y- -
*::... . .º.º. .* : - --
. . . . * .. .#g
3. 2. “, wº gº. ºš
- x * *_2 ; *.
- xx x . *
. 3,
#s - . . .
* , - º,
i i -... - 8
*. * -* 2 * ...
- cº * ~ - *, *- : -
- .* f .**
- - * - -
ſ r .” - - -
* . - *} - 3 *
3. * * , º, .
*S, w - --~~ * * .* -
* % & V . . . . . . s. s , . . . .
jº x ‘. . . . . . . . . . . .' "
* & •. - -
ç㺠4-3 sº ... ". . . ‘. . * -
… * — ” ^. . -
' s , . * * - -
! **. *º & * - .. * - > -
- f * * -
- • *, , , , , ,
; : •. ... . . . ..i.
#4 & 9. §ss • 2 ... - • ‘ * - < *, *, *.
... * ~ * -º-'" . **:
... , - . . * * ...,
* . . . . . . . • * ~ *
** 2.
:
- *.*.*
-- &
º
º . ... .º.º.
º * ... º. 3." ' ...:
** * - "...º.º.º.º.:
| º: £3.5°.º.º. 3
• *-*.*, * : ; , , ; *
o ~~~~ :
...A. -- -
* * - .2
} - -
} * ,
& - 2.” -
-> 3 ** --
:
, * *. •.
'). -’s - . .
º ) . . -
* * * - • -
...: y _x - wº
'... " " .. -- x - -
- • & Kº -- * *.*. . . . - * . . 3? - , 's- "
* #. . . . . . ... 3 * . . . . *- <-- * • .. & º.", -s.", * . --
§ 6 0.9 – D fºr 1.6. . . ; } - . . . .
- & & ºx *, • * * * - * … . .” -
s ; 3 - D J. - i). :1 6.9 lº. *. * - * { º * . • -
º 3. * - ** ſº * a “ . . .*
… 8 - - - A ... •
º 3. - •. - T *
º $. - * -
: 2. -
& * x ~
º -- -
º, *_." - . *:
º - * - - -
º ...tº * *
tº ** = .
§§ ... . . . . .
• *-x} . . . .N. as . . . 3 * * , -
* 2: …& 2 × . 2-º- * . -
Sºº-º-º-º-º-º: *- : . . . . wº
* *** : * : , - . . . . . " *:: . . . . .
..- - - & is . . . . . .
- * - - , -
- 3 * - *. -
* T Y., “ ,. . . ' - *- -
2 - . . . . - x - . •. 2
,, …' * * * , ** * * - 2 - . .
< *; :* - , , ; 4.- : - * *
- .x: , - ; ; ; ; ,
* - **** *, *., .. 3,
s *. º, ºr *-
* 3. . * * :...
f * :
*
§º. * --- - - --
** §º : “ , , • , - - i.
-º-º: º, ãº: }, \ ... ‘x. * -- ‘. - - v-
-**". » º § &
- & rº
~.º.º. º.º. -
* & *::::::: -
-xx: { z - *
*…*































































































Eſſº
E8
ĒĒĒĒĪĪĪĪĪĪĪĪĪĪĪĪĪĪĪĪĪĪĪĪĪĪĪĪĪĪĪĪĪĪĪĪĪĪ
fiſiſſiſ
ĶĪJȚIȚIȚIȚIȚIȚIȚIȚIȚIȚIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIȚIĘ JĘſſſſſſſſſſſſſſſſſſſſſſſſſſſ!!！ŒUIȚī£®III
ŒŒŒŒŒŒŒŒŒŒŒŒŒŒŒŒſ，¿№， №i_ſae
ſſſ
±
ī£
ĢE
āķē.
Q（√∞ √∞ √∞',！ ！！ ） ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■¿E
ſſſſſſſſſſſſſſſſſſſſſſſſſſſſſſſſſſſſſſſſſſſſſ
! 1！ }...{-
<！！！！！！！ ：）！!！！!！!&#$%&&&&&
ºr-º-º-º-º-º-º:
º Rºſſ iſſ
Miſſil
ººze º
º
††
ń.
†
Ëï
*
ſy
§§§?
≡
----















74
Y5
T).52
V,
V 4× 633
£dliettions of the Bortiješter *}
#fgtotital Ségtitty).
MEMOIRS OF ROGER CLAP.
T 63 0.
B O S T O N :
*RINTED AND PUBLISHED BY DAVID C L APP,
Over 184 Washington Street.
1844.
..Second Edition, 1854.

At a meeting of the Resident Members of the Dorchester Antiquarian and
Historical Society, held, by vote of adjournment, at the residence of William
D. Swan, in Dorchester, September 15, 1843, the following preamble and
votes were passed:— *
Whereas a minute and authentic account of the early history of Dorches-
ter was written by Captain Roger Clap, of Dorchester, and first published in
the year 1731, whereof but few copies are now extant; it is therefore
Voted, That a Committee of three be elected and empowered to cause an
edition of the “Memoirs of Capt. Roger Clap * to be published, from a
copy of said first edition; with such prefatory and other notes as may tend to
explain and enrich the same.
Voted, That Ebenezer Clapp, jr., James M. Robbins, and Edmund J.
Baker, constitute said Committee of Publication.
Attest,
EDWARD HOLDEN, Librarian.
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1843, by
DAVID CLAPP, JR.
in the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts.
i
PR E FA C E .
BY THE COMMITTEE OF PUBLICATION.
THE “Memoirs of Capt. Roger Clap" is justly con-
sidered, by antiquarians, one of the most authentissilocu-
ments of ancient time. The manuscript from which the
first edition was printed, was in the hand-writing of Capt.
Clap, and was presented to Rev. Thomas Prince, minister
of the Old South Church in Boston, by Mr. James Blake,
jr., of Dorchester.* Five editions of the Memoirs have
been printed previous to the following: the first four were
printed in Boston in the years 1731, 1766, 1774, and 1807;
the other in Pittsfield in 1824. In the edition of 1807, the
publisher (William T. Clapp) says, in a note, that “at some
future time will be published, by way of appendix, a com-
plete genealogy of the descendants.” The person who
made this promise, and also the one on whom he depended
for the necessary information (Elisha Clap, Esq. of Boston),
* The original manuscript, here referred to, was subsequently deposited
in the Library of the Massachusetts Historical Society, but has since been
irrecoverably lost.—The first edition was probably printed under the super-
vision of Rev. Mr. Prince, above named, who, it will be perceived, was
the writer of the remarks which introduced it “To the New England
Reader.”
42)^ A &º A
-” ”º 43.
s’
iv. PREFAOE.
have long been dead; the former having died Sept. 13th,
1818—the latter, Oct. 20th, 1830. In order to conform
in some measure to their design, a short account of Capt.
Clap's posterity, and of the other early settlers of his name,
will here be given. *
CAPT. Roger CLAP came from England with the first
settlers of Dorchester in 1630, in the ship Mary and John,
Capt. Squeb. The principal events of his life, and his
character, will be found in the following pages; and much
evidence has been found to show that the estimation in.
which he was said to have been held by his cotemporaries
was not exaggerated. The names of his children were as
follows—Samuel, William, Elizabeth, Experience, Waitstill,
Preserved, Experience, Hopestill, Wait, Thanks, Desire,
Thomas, Unite, and Supply. But seven of these lived to
grow up. These were persons of more than ordinary
ability and influence—Samuel, Preserved and Hopestill, in
an especial manner; they were Ruling Elders in the
Church and Representatives to the General Court, and the
two former (Samuel and Preserved) Captains in their
respective towns—an office considered of great importance
in those days, and to which none could attain but “pious
as well as brave men.” At the decease of Elder Hopestill,
Sept. 2, 1719, his pastor, Rev. John Danforth, published
a Funeral Poem, wherein he sets forth the merits of this
family, as well as of the subject of his poem, in a quaint
and curious style. As there are probably but very few
copies of it extant, some extracts will here be given.
* Should the reader desire a more complete account of this ancient and
numerous family; he is referred to the MS. Collections of the “Dorchester
Antiquarian and Historical Society.”
1*REFACE.
“Inroll'd 'th' Number of Christs Witnesses,
To follow him into a Wilderness ;
A Blessed Number of This Precious Name,
Elect by Heav'n into this Patmos Came.
3& 3& #: >}: 36: #:
Such a Bright Family How rarely seen 1
No Ishmael, Esau, Dinah found therein.
>{< >}: 34: :*: 3& $
This Family did God vouchsafe to Bless
With Copious and Extensive Usefulness.
The Father Held our Castle without Fear,
And was Chief, Pious, Valiant, Bulwark there.
|Wertuous in Heart and Useful in their lives
Were also his Collateral Relatives.
For his Descendants, View the Assembly's List:
Long Years, Three Sons in General Court Assist ;
And in the Ruling Eldership, No less:
In whom their Pastor's Heart could acquiesce.
Our Hopestill, with the Food of Angels Fed,
His Name and Father's Hope well Answered:
Converting Mercy and Restraining Grace
With their sweet Fruits within his Soul had Place.
>{< >}< :}{< 3& >}< 3% >{< >};
Such Lives as his, deserve all observation,
Lasting Remembrance, Constant lmitation ;
Adorned with Goodness, Sweetness, Self denial,
Meekness of Wisdom under every Trial,
With Fear of GOD ; and Hate of Sinful Strife
Gainst Strangers, Neighbours, Brethren, Children, Wife.
None could repine ; He was so Debonair,
So True, so Just, so Kind, so Calm, so Fair ;
So Valuable, (tho’ no Son of Thunder,)
The Church Rejoic’d when such an Elder crowned her.
3& 3% #: 3% 3% >}}< >{< 9%:
His House, Feasts of Devotion did afford ;
Resolv’d, his Family should serve the LORD.
Thro' Pride his Talents, he would not decline
To Use, altho' he could not see them Shine :
Trusting in GOD; was not reduced to be
vi PREFACE,
Unuseful thro’ excess of Modestie.
No Laws he Brake, altho' he voted many:
Fewds he Composed, altho' he Raised not any :
His Greatness Goodness was ; his Victory
His Faith ; his Honor, his Humility,
With Wisdom, Trustiness, Sincerity.
His Vertues let us duely Imitate,
Our Loss of such a Peacefull Man is Great.
Mourn we aright. And may kind Heav'n Afford
Widow, and Children, Comfort in the LORD.”

Capt. Roger Clap “was buried with much pomp ; the
smilitary officers, probably the Ancient and Honorable Ar-
tillery Company, preceding the corpse; the Governor and
‘General Court following the relations as mourners, and the
guns firing at the Castle.” Most of his descendants reside
in Northampton (where his son Preserved removed) and
:that vicinity, in the western part of Massachusetts. Tho-
'mas, a son of Preserved, removed from Northampton to
Hartford, Conn., and was the progenitor of most of the
name in that State. There are but few living who de-
ascended from the other sons of Roger. Several of his pos-
:terity have been distinguished for their learning and ability,
among whom may be ranked the Rev. Theodore, now a
clergyman of New Orleans, who was born in East Hamp-
ston, Mass.
DEAcon Edward CLAP was an elder brother of Capt.
Roger. He came to this country in 1633, and spent the
remainder of his days in Dorchester. He served the town
in many of its responsible offices, and was a Deacon of the
Church 26 years. He died January 8th, 1664.
Farmer, in his Genealogical Register, says that “Deacon
PREFACE. vii
Edward died without issue;” but he was mistaken. He
had nine children. By his first wife Prudence, he had—
Elizabeth, born 1634, who married Elder James Blake ;
Prudence, born 1637, who married Simon Peck, of Hing-
ham ; Ezra, born 1640; Nehemiah, born 1646; and Su-
sanna, born 1648. By his second wife, Susanna, he had—
Esther, born 1656; Abigail, born 1659; Joshua, born
1661; and Jonathan, born 1664, about two and a half
months after the decease of his father. The last named
three died young. Six of these, two sons (Ezra and Nehe-
miah) and four daughters, were alive at the time of their
father's death. Nehemiah died in Dorchester April 2,
1684, leaving two children, Edward and Submit. Edward
married and lived most of his days in his native town ; he
joined an expedition against the Indians in 1722, and after-
wards removed to Sudbury, where he died Dec. 3, 1733,
aged 53 years, leaving one daughter, Mary. Submit re-
moved to Sudbury, and married Joseph Britnall, of that
town; she survived him, and July 23, 1741, married again
to Richard Taylor of that place.
Ezra, son of Deacon Edward, removed to Milton, where
he spent the remainder of his days, and died January 23d,
1717. His father, in his will, left him all of his land lying
on the south side of Neponset river; likewise a part of his
estate in Dorchester. The estate in Milton where he re-
moved, was situated between the Meeting-house and Dor-
chester upper Mills. Ezra built a mill on the Neponset
about the year 1712. He had fourteen children—seven by
his first, and seven by his second wife. His eldest son,
Edward, born in 1672, joined the expedition to Canada in
1690, and never returned. His son Nehemiah was a Dea-
con of the Church in Milton, and was much respected by
viii PREFACE,
the citizens of that town. The descendants of Ezra, in the
male line, have not been numerous, and it is believed but
few are now living : one resides in Chester, Vt. ; one in
Orange, Mass., or that vicinity; and one in Boston. The
age and circumstances of these go far to prove that they
will be the last.
THOMAs, son of Richard Clap, was born in Dorchester,
England, in 1597. He came over to New England in
1633, and remained awhile in Dorchester, then removed to
Weymouth, and from thence to Scituate. He removed to
the last named place in 1640, where he spent the remainder
of his days, and died April 20th, 1684, aged 87 years. He
was a man of energy and ability, and in church, town and
colony affairs held important offices. He was a Deacon 37
years, a Deputy to the Court, and was engaged in the warm
controversies which agitated the Churches in that town
for upwards of thirty years, commencing under the minis-
try of Rev. Charles Chauncy, afterwards President of Har-
vard College. His children were Thomas, Eleazer, Sam-
uel, Increase, Elizabeth, Prudence, John and Abigail.
Thomas was born March 15th, 1639, while his parents
resided in Weymouth ; he afterwards removed to the south
part of Dedham, subsequently incorporated as Walpole, and
was the ancestor of the Claps of that place. Eleazer re-
moved to Barnstable, and was killed in that brave and
sanguinary battle with the Narragansett Indians, fought at
Rehoboth in 1676. Samuel was a very important man—
for many years a Representative to the General Court. He
settled in Scituate, and was the ancestor of nearly all of
the name in that town. John, son of Thomas, born Oct.
18th, 1658, was a youth of extraordinary piety and pro-
FRIEFACE. ix.
mise; he died when a little upwards of 13 years of age. A
memoir of his life was written and published by Rev. Mr.
Witherell, of Scituate ; there is also some account of him
in, Cotton Mather's Magnalia.
Several of the descendants of Thomas were distinguished.
for their learning, piety and worth. His great-grandson,.
Thomas, born June 26th, 1703, was for many years Presi--
dent of Yale College, and was one of the most celebrated,
men of his day. President Styles, his successor, speaks of
him as standing in the first rank of the learned men of the:
age. “He studied,” says he, “the highest branches of
Mathematics, and was one of the first philosophers America.
has produced, and equalled by no man except the most.
learned professor Winthrop.”
The greater part of the descendants of Thomas live in
Scituate. -
NICHOLAs, son of Richard Clap, of England, and brother
of Thomas, before named, undoubtedly came with him to
Dorchester in 1633, where he settled and remained the rest:
of his days; he died very suddenly, Nov. 24th, 1679. He
was a highly respectable man; he held several important.
offices in the town, and was a Deacon of the Church. His;
first wife was a sister of Capt. Roger Clap. His children,
by his first wife were—Sarah, born 1637, who married in,
Connecticut; Nathaniel, 1640, who settled in Dorchester,
and was “a choice man;” Ebenezer, 1643, who settled in
Milton; and Hannah, 1646, who married Ebenezer Strong,
of Northampton. By his second wife, he had—Noah, born.
1667, who settled in Sudbury; and Sarah. All of the pos-
terity, in the male line, are from Nathaniel. Ebenezer was.
not married until he was about 60 years of age ; he left no.
©
• e”, is ſº & *e *s
* *
• e s e º s * * * *
tº gº © ©
tº , tº * ,
tº A. © ſº
X; PREFACE.
:
children; and Noah left no sons who arrived at manhood.
Among the most eminent of the descendants of Nicholas,
was his grandson, Rev. Nathaniel, born in Dorchester, Jan.
20th, 1668, who was for many years a minister of the gos-
pel at Newport, R. I., and was celebrated for his piety,
learning and benevolence, abounding in charity and good
works. Most of the descendants of Nicholas reside in Dor-
chester; there are a few in the county of Middlesex, a few
in Vermont, and a few scattering.
JoHN, son of Richard Clap, of England, and brother to
Thomas and Nicholas, came to New England subsequently
to his brothers, and settled in Dorchester, where he died
July 24th, 1655. He left a widow, but no children. In
his will, he left property to the town of Dorchester, which
has since proved very valuable.
It will be seen by the foregoing that there were five of
the name who were among the early settlers —Edward and
Roger, who were brothers; and Thomas, Nicholas and
John, who were also brothers, and cousins to the two
former.” All of them came to Dorchester, and all of their
children were born there, excepting those of Thomas; yet
of those now living in that town (and there are about 35
voters), all the voters but one are descendants of Nicholas.
The posterity of Thomas, of Scituate, are probably the
most numerous, and those of Roger the next. Taken as
* There was also another person of the name, who came to Philadelphia
during the early settlement of the country; he was an emigrant from Hesse
Cassel, a province in Germany. Two of his sons, Lewis and George, set-
tled in North Carolina, where the name has become one of the most nume-
rous in the State. The descendants of this man are also scattered through
the States of Tennessee, Ohio, Indiana, Missouri and Illinois. The older
generations of these spelled their name Klapp, but the K has now given
place to C.
3.
:
:
PREFACE. xi
a whole, they have lived quiet and peaceable lives; but
there have been among them those fond of the varieties of
life, rovers and sons of Mars; and all parts of the earth
have contained some of their number.
We have thus given a brief outline of the lives of Capt.
Roger Clap and of his relatives of the name. They, with
their cotemporaries, have long since joined the great con-
gregation of the departed, and sleep with their fathers.
Many were their virtues, which shone out from beneath
every pressure of adversity. They bore their hardships
with the firmness of martyrs. They left the sepulchres of
their fathers, and all they held dear, for this land of their
adoption, being too full of the true spirit of Man to bow
the knee to Hierarchs or Kings. “They built altars to the
living God, where before ascended but the smoke of idola-
trous sacrifices;” and subdued a wilderness which now
blossoms like the rose. This generation is reaping the
fruit of their toil and self-denial, and their counsels of wis-
dom are a rich inheritance. May the mantle of charity
cover their faults, and their memory be as enduring as their
virtues.
Dorchester, November, 1843.
NoTE.—Mr. James Blake, jr., who wrote the Appendix
to the “Memoirs of Capt. Roger Clap,” lived in Dorches-
ter. He was born in that town in 1688, and was a very
correct and valuable man. For many years he was the
Clerk of the town; also the Clerk for the Proprietors of
the Common and Undivided Lands. He was one of the
most noted surveyors of his day; and his plans, which are
very numerous, are remarkable for their accuracy and
beauty. He was also the author of Blake's Annals (now in
print), which give a brief history of the town of Dorchester,
from its settlement to the year of his death, 1750.
THE following pages have been copied from the edition
of 1731, which was the first printed. It has been thought
advisable, not only to give a literal copy of that edition,
with orthography and punctuation unaltered, but also to
imitate, as far as possible, the style of printing. The
fac simile cannot, of course, be perfect, as the ancient
reader will miss the long s and many of the double letters,
which modern improvements have been the means of ban-
ishing from even our oldest printing offices. It is believed,
however, that the imitation, as far as has been practicable,
will be approved of, at least by the literary antiquarian,
who would hardly recognize the quaint expressions and
simple details of the olden time in the ordinary guise
furnished by the modern press.
M. E. M. O I R. S
O F
Capt. Roger Clap.
Relating some of G O D’s Remarkable
Providences to Him, in bringing him
into New-England ; and some of the
Straits and Afflictions, the Good People
met with here in their Beginnings.
A N D
*A.
Instructing, Counselling, Directing and
Commanding his Children and Childrens
Children, and Houshold, to serve the
L O R D in their Generations to the
latest Posterity.
Heb. xi. 4. --- He being dead, yet speaketh.
B O S T O N in New-England:
Printed by B. Green, 1731.
§§
§§§§§§§33%&##############$$33,333.3%
§§
T O T H E
New - England Reader.
&&& PON my searching for Materials for our
> U. 3. Chronology, the following Piece with others
& , , , § coming to my hand; I cannot but think it wor-
><><><><> thy of the publick View. Not that I suppose it
will please the Eye of the politer World: But because it
gives a strong and lively Image of the extraordinary pious
Spirit and Design of those English People, who first
came over and dwelt in this Indian Wilderness; and in
every serious mind cannot but raise a Veneration for them,
and a Pleasure to review their bright Evamples.
The Author was One among them; an Eye-witness of
the things he writes of; and by the publick and continued
Esteem his Country paid him in his Day, his Testimony
comes with Power upon us; and the Style so plain and
natural, that in the Reading, it seems as if we came over
with Him, and were living in those pious Times.
He shows the mighty Spirit of Love to G O D and
Zeal for his instituted Worship that mov’d & wrought
in our Predecessors: How heavenly-minded, how humble,
and how contented under all the Straits and Difficulties of
a new Plantation, at so great a Distance from any hu-
mane Succour.
He was desirous that G O D should have the Glory of
his Providence, in bringing Him with so many pious
People into this hideous Land, in preserving & supplying
them, increasing, prospering, and working wonderful Sal-
vation for them. And he was greatly concerned that
Posterity, and especially his own, should both know these
things
:
>





xvi. To the New England Reader.
things and walk in the good ways of their Forefathers :
To this He therefore most pathetically charges and com-
mands them; warning them of Evil, and relating his own
Experience for their Direction and Encouragement. &
The Account subjoined is drawn by another hand: and
tho't adviseable to be Published also ; that his Offspring
may know the religious Ancestor from whom they come,
and their awful Obligations to fear and serve the G O D
of their Fathers. e
And on this Occasion, I can’t but recommend to our
grave and pious Heads of Housholds, the useful Practice
of Leaving in Writing their solemn Charges to their Pos-
terity: that when the Parents speak and live no more on
Earth, their Children after them may frequently review
both their Evamples and Instruction, and preserve them
better in their minds. I can’t but think that this, with the
Divine Blessing, would be an happy method of preventing
the Declension of many Families, and of keeping alive the
things that remain among us, and are ready to Die. And
methinks, as every pious Father would in a lawful way
desire to speak to his Children after his Decease; He can
do no less for the Preservation of the Life of Religion,
and for the Souls of his surviving Offspring. His oral
Counsels are too like the Wind, which quickly passes: But
impress'd in written Monuments, remain to excite them
every Day; and if neglected, to witness against them.


Boston, Aug. 16. T. Prince.
1 7 3 ] .
PU - LIC LI's FARY
ſlºſh" || T
šēś
i
#########&#3, #&#######&
Capt. Clap’s
M E M O IRS, & c.
##################
Thought good, my dear Children,
§§§ to leave with you some Account of
O *SQ2; 3. * God's remarkable Providences to
8X& e -- e. e º * : *
§§2(3 me, in bringing me into this Land,
O % and placing me here among his dear
G-7 %: C 33 Servants, and in his House, who am
jº gº º most unworthy of the least of his
O Mercies. The Scripture requireth
us to tell God’s wondrous Works to our Children, that
they may tell them to their Children, that God may have
Glory throughout all Ages. Amen.
I was Born in England in Sallcom in Devonshire, in
the Year of our Lord 1609. My Father was a Man
fearing God, and in good esteem among God’s faithful
Servants: His outward Estate was not great ; I think not
above Eighty Pounds per Annum. We were Five
Brethren (of which I was the youngest) and Two Sisters.
God was graciously pleased to breathe by his holy Spirit
2% (I


18 Capt. Clap's Memoirs.
(I hope) in all our Hearts, if in mine ; which I am not
altogether without hopes of Four of us Brethren lived
at home: I did desire my dear Father (my dear Mother
being dead) that I might live abroad, which he consented
to : So I first went for tryal to live with a worthy Gentle-
man, Mr. William Southcot, who lived about Three Miles
from the city of Econ. He was careful to keep a Godly
Family. There being but a very mean Preacher in that
Place, we went every Lord’s-Day into the City, where
were many famous preachers of the Word of God. I then
took such a liking unto the Revd. Mr. John Warham, that
I did desire to live near him : So I removed (with my
Father's Consent) into the City, and lived with one Mr.
Mossiour, as Famous a Family for Religion as ever I
knew : He kept Seven or Eight Men, and divers Maid-
Servants; and he had a Conference upon a Question pro-
pounded once a Week in his own Family : With him I
Covenanted. I never so much as heard of New-England
until I heard of many godly Persons that were going
there, and that Mr. Warham was to go also. My Master
asked me whether I would go 2 I told him were I not
engaged unto him I would willingly go : He answered
me, that should be no hindrance, I might go for him or
for myself which I would. I then wrote to my Father
who lived about Twelve Miles off, to Intreat his leave to
go to New-England ; who was so much displeased at first
that he wrote me no Answer, but told my Brethren that I
should not go. Having no Answer, I went and made my
Request to him, and God so Inclined his Heart, that he
never said me Nay: For now God sent the Reverend Mr.
Maverick,
Capt. Clap's Memoirs. 19
Maverick, who lived Forty Miles off, a Man I never saw
before : He having heard of me, came to my Father's
House, and my Father agreed that I should be with him
and come under his Care, which I did accordingly.
Mind by what I have already expressed, That it was
God that did draw me by his Providence out of my Fath-
er's Family, and weaned me from it by degrees ; It was
God put it into my Heart to incline to Live abroad ; and
it was God that made my Father willing. God by his
Providence brought me near Mr. Warham, and inclined
my Heart to his Ministry : God by his Providence moved
the Heart of my Master Mossiour to ask me whether I
would go to New-England: It was God by his Provi-
dence that made me willing to leave my dear Father, and
dear Brethren and Sisters, my dear Friends and Country :
It was God that made my Father willing on the first Mo-
tion I made in Person, to let me go : It was God that sent
Mr. Maverick that pious Minister to me, who was unknown
to him, to seek me out that I might come hither. So God
brought me out of Plymouth the 20th of March in the
Year 1629,30, and landed me in Health at Nantasket on
the 30th of May, 1630, I being then about the Age of
Twenty one Years. Blessed be God that brought me Here !
Now coming into this Country, I found it a vacant
Wilderness, in respect of English. There were indeed
some English at Plymouth and Salem, and some few at
Charlestown, who were very destitute when we came
ashore ; and Planting Time being past, shortly after Pro-
vision was not to be had for Money. I wrote to my
Friends,
20 Capt. Clap's Memoirs.
Friends, namely to my dear Father to send me some Pro-
vision, which accordingly he did ; and also gave order to
one of his Neighbours to supply me with what I needed
(he being a Seaman) who coming hither supplied me with
divers things. But before this Supply came, yea and after
too (that being spent) and the then unsubdued Wilderness
yielding little Food, many a Time if I could have filled
my Belly, tho' with mean Victuals, it would have been
Sweet unto me. Fish was a good help unto me, and
others. Bread was so very scarce, that sometimes I tho’t
the very Crusts of my Father's Table would have been
very sweet unto me. And when I could have Meal &
Water and Salt boiled together, it was so good, who could
wish better 2
I took notice of it, as a great Favour of God unto me,
not only to preserve my Life, but to give me Contented-
ness in all these Straits; insomuch that I do not remember
that ever I did wish in my Heart that I had not come into
this Country, or wish myself back again to my Father's
House: Yea I was so far from that, that I wished and
advised some of my dear Brethren to come hither also;
which accordingly one of my Brothers and those two that
married my two Sisters, sold their Means and came hither.
The Lord Jesus Christ was so plainly held out in the
Preaching of the Gospel unto poor lost Sinners, and the
absolute Necessity of the New Birth, and God's holy
Spirit in those Days was pleased to accompany the
Word with such Efficacy upon the Hearts of many; that
our Hearts were taken off from Old-England and set upon
Heaven.
Capt. Clap's Memoirs. 21
Heaven. The Discourse, not only of the Aged, but of the
Youth also, was not, How shall we go to England? (tho’
some few did not only so Discourse, but also went back
again) but How shall we go to Heaven? Have Itrue Grace
wrought in my Heart? Have I Christ or no 2 O how
did Men and Women, young and old, Pray for Grace, beg
for Christ in those Days; and it was not in vain: Many
were Converted, and others established in Believing :
many joined unto the several Churches where they lived,
confessing their Faith publickly, and shewing before all
the Assembly their Experiences of the Workings of
God’s Spirit in their Hearts, to bring them to Christ :
which many Hearers found very much Good by, to
help them to try their own Hearts, and to consider
how it was with them; whether any work of God's Spirit
were wrought in their own Hearts or no? Oh the many
Tears that have been shed in Dorchester Meeting-House
at such times, both by those that have declared God’s
Work on their Souls, and also by those that heard them.
In those days, God, even our own God, did Bless New-
England. I find by what I heard from those that have
publicly declared what God had done for their Souls in
bringing them unto Christ by Faith, that God doth work
divers ways upon the Hearts of Men, even as it pleases
Him; upon some more sensibly, and upon others more
insensibly; verifying the Text in the 3d Chapter of John,
8th Verse, The Wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou
hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it com-
eth, and whither it goeth: So is every one that is born of
the Spirit. Tho' we may hear the Sound of it, that is,
be
22 Capt. Clap's Memoirs.
be sensible that the Spirit works, or has been at work; yet
not know whence it comes, &c. If ever there were the
Work of Grace wrought savingly in my Heart; the Time
when, the Place where, the manner how, was never so
apparent unto me, as some in their Relations say it hath
been unto them.
I shall hint a little unto you what I have found. I re-
member God did long ago convince me of my Sin, (I can-
not tell you how) and also of a corrupt Nature, whereby
I feel my self prone to Sin. I had in my younger Days
a love to Sin ; and had it not been for the Fear of Hell,
and of my Parents and Friends, I doubtless should have
been as Wile as the worst of Men. The Care and Coun-
sel of my dear Friends, by the Restraining Grace of God,
kept me from committing of those horrid Abominations that
Some fell into ; yet am I not thereby Justified. I had such
a love to Play with Children and Youth, that I did too
often Play with them upon the Lord's-Day, if I could hide
it from my dear Relatives. But God was pleased to make
my Conscience to be out of quiet, which made me Pray
to God many Times in Secret ; yet I had a Love to the
Pleasure of Sin, and did love to see others Play though it
were on the Lord’s Day. But on a Time on the Lord's-
Day, when I was standing by, and seeing some Youths
Play, they gave me those Points which they played for,
to hold for them until their Game was out; and my Con-
Science not being quiet, God brought that saying of Saul,
afterwards Paul, to my Mind, who did acknowledge that
he was guilty of the Death of Stephen; for he stood by,
and kept the Garments of them that slew him; I then put
down
Capt. Clap's Memoirs. 23
down that which I had in keeping for them, and went
away; and God did help me afterwards to delight more in
Them that fear'd him. I did often go to hear the Word
of God preached, with my Brethrea and others abroad,
when we had no Preaching at home; and God inclined
my Heart to love those that fear'd him. That Text in
1 Joh. iii. 14. I have often heard alledged, We know that
we have passed from Death to Life, because we love the
Brethren ; tho’ I heard also it must be because the Image
of God was on them. Upon Examination of my self,
whether I did love the Saints upon right grounds I did
and do still hope that my Love to the Saints was and is
rightly grounded; and that for these Reasons:
1. In former Times I do remember there was a Young
Man came into the Congregation where I was, a Stranger
to me, and a very hard favoured Man ; I had no love to
his Person; but not long after I heard, that he feared God;
and upon the very Report thereof my Heart was knit unto
him, altho’ I never spake with him that I know of.
©
2. Because I find my Heart doth contemn vile Persons.
I do not desire their Society: But when I am by God's
Providence called to be with such, so that I cannot avoid
it, I say in my Heart, Wo is me that I am constrained to
he with such Persons.
3. To this very Day if I perceive or do but hear of a
Mân or Woman that feareth God, let him be Rich or Poor,
English or Indian, Portugal or Negro, my very Heart clos-
eth with him.
4.
24 Capt. Clap's Memoirs.
4. Because my Heart doth most close with, and most
highly prize those that are most excellent, most holy, most
worthy Instruments of God’s Glory and his People's Good.
My earnest Desire and Prayer is, that God will help me
to love his Graces more and more in all men wherever the
Grace of God appears to be.
After God had brought me into this Country, He was
pleased to give me Room in the Hearts of his Servants;
so that I was admitted into the Church Fellowship at our
first beginning in Dorchester, in the Year 1630. Jesus
Christ being clearly Preached, and the way of coming to
him by Believing was plainly shown forth ; yet because
many in their Relations spake of their great Terrors and
deep Sense of their lost Condition, and I could not so find
as others did, the Time when God wrought the Work of
Conversion in my Soul, nor in many respects the Manner
thereof; it caused in me much Sadness of Heart, and
Doubtings how it was with me, Whether the Work of
Grace were ever sayingly wrought in my Heart or no?
How to cast off all Hope, to say, and verily to Believe
that there was no Work of Grace wrought by God in my
Heart, this I could not do: yet how to be in some measure
assured thereof was my great Concern : But hearing Mr.
Cotton Preach out of the Revelations, that Christ's Church
did come out of great Tribulation, he had such a Passage
as this in his Sermon, “That a small running Stream was
“much better than a great Land Flood of Water, tho’
“ the Flood maketh the greatest Noise : So, saith he, A
“little constant Stream of godly Sorrow, is better than
great
Capt. Clap's Memoirs. 25
great Horrour”: God spake to me by it, it was no little
Support unto me. And God helped me to hang on that
Text (and thro’ his Grace I will continue so to do) viz.
This is a faithful saying & worthy of all Acceptation,
that Jesus Christ came into the World to save Sinners.
God has made me sensible that I am a Sinner, and Jesus
Christ came so save Sinners, and why not me, tho' a very
sinful man : Thro' the Grace of God I desire to rest alone
upon Jesus Christ for Salvation.
In my saddest Troubles for want of a clear Evidence
of my good Estate, I did on a Time Examine my self
upon my Bed in the Night, concerning my spiritual Es-
tate; putting my self upon this Trial, How my Heart
stood affected to Sin? The Question to my Soul was
this (pitching upon that Sin which I did confess my natu-
ral Corruption most inclined me to) The Question, I say,
which by God’s help, I put to my very Heart and Sout
was, Whether if God would assure me that I should be
saved, although I should commit such a Sin, my Heart
were willing to commit it or no 7. And my very Heart
and Soul answered, No, I would not Sin against God,
though I should not be damned for sinning, because God
has forbidden it. At that Time my conscience did wit-
ness to me that my State was good: And God’s holy
Spirit did witness (I do believe) together with my Spirit,
that I was a Child of God; and did fill my Heart and
Soul with such a full Assurance that Christ was mine, that
it did so transport me as to make me cry out upon my Bed
with a loud Voice, He is come, He is come. And God
did melt my Heart at that time so that I could, and did
3 |\OUlſº
26 Capt. Clap's Memoirs.
mourn and shed more Tears for Sin, than at other Times:
Yea the Love of God, that he should Elect me, and save
such a worthless one as I was, did break my very Heart.
I say again, When I had most Assurance of God’s Love,
I could mourn most for my Sins.
Dear Children, Slight not serious Examination: It is
good to commune with your own Hearts upon your Bed.
That Glimpse of God's eternal Love which I had at that
Time, was better to me than all the World; yea far better
than Life itself. But Oh wretched Man that I am, I have
a Body of Death that presseth me down, and hinders me
from living always in such a heavenly Frame: But I do
desire to devote my self unto God to be His ; resting and
relying upon Him alone for Grace and Glory. If God
shall be pleased to save me, such a poor Worm, from my
Sins, and at last bring me to himself in Heaven at my
Death, let Him have everlasting Honour, Glory and Praise,
World without end. Amen.
The Scripture saith, He that Believeth shall be saved:
I hope God has not only wrought Historical Faith in me,
but also true Justifying Faith; Faith to receive Jesus
Christ to be my King, Priest and Prophet: If my Heart
do not deceive me, I do prize him above Kingdoms: I de-
sire him more than Life, and to be made more and more
like him in Holiness and Righteousness all the Days of
my Life. Oh the Riches of his free Grace to put any
holy Desires in my Heart! I leave this with you, that
you may plead God's free Promises, which are, That He
will
Capt. Clap's Memoirs. 27
will circumcise our Hearts and the Hearts of our Seed. God's
Covenant is unto the Faithful and to their Seed. Pray
earnestly that God will be pleased to circumcise your
Hearts, and cause you to walk in his Ways; so shall you
be serviceable to him here, and be everlastingly Happy in
the World to come. I also leave these my Experiences
with you, not knowing but it may be some Support unto
you, altho' you cannot find that methodical Work in your
Conversion, as some say they find in theirs. Sure God
Works diversely on the Hearts of his Children in their Con-
version. If God works any manner of way for the bring-
ing of you to Christ, to rest on Him alone, and fill your
Hearts with Love to God and his People, and help you to
be low in your own Esteem, and to hate all Sin in your
selves and all Men; Bless God for such an unspeakable
Gift, though you know not the Time nor the manner of
God’s working in you.
I now return to declare unto you some of the wonderful
Works of God in bringing so many of his faithful Servants
hither into this Wilderness, and Preserving us and ours
unto this Day; notwithstanding our great Unworthiness,
and notwithstanding the many Assaults and Stratagems of
Satan and his Instruments against God’s People here. I
say wonderous Works 1 For was it not a wonderous
Work of God, to put it into the Hearts of so many Wor
thys to agree together, when Times were so bad in Eng
land, that they could not Worship God after the due
manner prescribed in his most holy Word, but they must
be Imprisoned, Excommunicated, &c. I say that so many
should
28 Capt. Clap's Memoirs.
should agree to make humble Suit unto our Sovereign
Lord the KING, to grant them and such as they should
approve of, a Patent of a Tract of Land in this remote
Wilderness, a Place not Inhabited but by very barbarous
Nations ! And was it not a wonderous good Hand of
God to incline the Heart of our KING so freely to grant
it, with all the Priviledges which the Patent expresseth !
And what a wonderous Work of God was it, to stir up
such Worthys to undertake such a difficult Work, as to
remove themselves and their Wives and Children, from
their Native Country, and to leave their gallant Scituations
there, to come into this Wilderness, to set up the pure
Worship of God here ! Men fit for Government in the
Magistracy, and in Families ; and sound, godly, learned
Men for the Ministry, and others that were very precious
Men and Women, who came in the Year 1630. Them
that came then were MAGISTRATEs ; Men of Renown
were, Mr. Winthrop, Governour, Mr. Dudley, Deputy
Governour, Sir Richard Saltonstall, Mr. Johnson, Mr.
Rossiter, Mr. Ludlow, Mr. Nowel, and Mr. Bradstreet:
Mr. Endicott came before, and others came then, besides
those named. And there came famous MINISTERs in that
Year, and afterwards: as to name some ; Mr. Wilson, Mr.
Warham, Mr. Maverick, and Mr. Phillips. In our low
Estate God did Chear our Hearts in sending good and
holy Men and Women, and also famous Preachers of the
Word of God; as Mr. Eliot, Mr. Weld, Mr. Cotton, Mr.
Hooker, Mr. Bulkley, Mr. Stoughton, Mr. Nathanael
Rogers, and Mr. Ezekiel Rogers, Mr. Shepard, Mr. Ma-
ther, Mr. Peters, Mr. Davenport, Mr. Whiting, Mr. Cob-
bet,
Capt. Clap's Memoirs. 29
bet, Mr. Hubbard, Mr. Brown, Mr. Flint, Mr. Thomson,
Mr. Newman, Mr. Prudden, Mr. Norris, Mr. Huit, Mr.
Street, and many others. Thus did God work wonder-
fully for his poor People here.
Then in those Days did God manifest his Presence
among us, in converting many Souls, in gathering his dear
Ones unto Church-Fellowship each with other, by solemn
Covenants; wherein they gave up themselves and their
Seed to the Lord, choosing him to be their God, who hath .
freely promised so to be, and to our Seed for ever, if we
& they do not forsake him. But if any of you (dear
Children) forsake the Lord, tho' you were the Sons of
David, he would cast you off for ever. Cleave to God,
and never, never depart from him; and he will never fail
you nor forsake you. In those Days great was the Tran-
quillity & Peace of this poor Country: And there was
great Love one to another; very ready to help each other;
not seeking their own, but every one another's Wealth.
Then Sin did not so openly abound among us: Drunken-
ness, Adultery, Fornication, Oppression and abominable
Pride which now abounds among us, and threatens our
Ruin, was then loathsome almost in every ones Eyes.
Then God did bless us in the Fruits of the Earth, but
especially in spiritual Things: many Souls were convert-
ed to God, and very often many added to the Churches.
But this glorious Work of God towards his People here
was soon maligned by Satan; and he cast into the minds
of some corrupt Persons, very erroneous Opinions, which
3# did
30 Capt. Clap's Memoirs.
f
did breed great Disturbance in the Churches. And he
puffed up his Instruments with horrible Pride, insomuch
that they would oppose the Truth of God delivered Pub-
lickly: and some times, yea most times they would do it
by way of Query, as if they desired to be informed : but
they did indeed accuse our godly Ministers of not preach-
ing Gospel, saying they were Legal Preachers, but them-
selves were for free Grace, and Ministers did Preach a
Covenant of Works; which was a false Aspersion on them.
. The Truth was, they would willingly have lived in Sin,
and encouraged others so to do, &c. And yet think to be
saved by Christ, because his Grace is free; forgetting (it
seems) that those whom Christ doth save from Hell, he
also freely of his Grace doth save from Sin ; for he came
to save his People from their Sins, to give Repentance and
Remission of Sins.
In our beginning many were in great Straits for want of
Provision for themselves and their little Ones. Oh the
Hunger that many suffered, and saw no hope in an Eye
of Reason to be supplyed, only by Clams, and Muscles,
and Fish. We did quickly build Boats, and some went a
Fishing. But Bread was with many a very scarce thing;
and Flesh of all kinds as scarce. ‘And in those Days, in
our Straits, though I cannot say God sent a Raven to feed
us, as He did the Prophet Elijah; yet this I can say to the
Praise of God’s Glory, that He sent not only poor raven-
ous Indians, which came with their Baskets of Corn on
their Backs, to Trade with us, which was a good supply
aunto many; but also sent Ships from Holland and from
Ireland
Capt. Clap's Memoirs. 31
Ireland with Provisions, and Indian Corn from Virginia,
to supply the Wants of his dear Servants in this Wilder-
ness, both for Food and Rayment. And when Peoples
Wants were great, nor only in one Town but in divers
Towns; such was the godly Wisdom, Care and Prudence
(not Selfishness but Self-Denial) of our Governour Win-
throp and his Assistants, that when a Ship came laden
with Provisions, they did Order that the whole Cargo
should be bought for a general Stock: And so accordingly
it was, and Distribution was made to every Town, and to
every Person in each Town, as every Man had need.
Thus God was pleased to care for his People in Times of
Straits, and to fill his Servants with Food & Gladness:
Then did all the Servants of God bless his holy Name,
and love one another with pure Hearts fervently.
Before I proceed any further, I will inform you that
God stirred up his poor Servants to use Means in their
beginning for their Preservation; though a low and weak
People, yet a willing People to lay out their Estates for
the Defence of themselves and others. They having
Friends in divers Places who thought it best for our safety
to build a Fort upon the Island now called Castle-Island;
at first they built a Castle with Mud-Walls, which stood
divers Years: First Capt. Simpkins was Commander
thereof, and after him Lieut Monish, for a little space.
When the Mud-Walls failed, it was built again with Pine
Trees and Earth; and Capt. Davenport was Commander.
When that decayed, which was within a little Time, there
was a small Castle built with Brick Walls, and had three
Rooms
32 Capt. Clap's Memoirs.
Rooms in it; a dwelling Room below, a lodging Room
over it, the Gun Room over that, wherein stood Six very
good Saker Guns, and over it upon the Top Three lesser
Guns. All the Time of our Weakness, God was pleased
to give us Peace, until the Wars with the Dutch in Charles
the II’s Time. At that Time our Works were very weak,
and Intelligence came to us that Durother|| a Dutch Com-
mander of a Squadron of Ships, was in the West Indies,
and did intend to visit us ; whereupon our Battery also
was repaired, wherein are Seven good Guns. But in the
very Time of this Report in July 1665, God was pleased
to send a grievous Storm of Thunder & Lightning, which
did some hurt at Boston, and struck dead here at the
Castle-Island, that worthy, renowned Captain Richard
Davenport; upon which the General Court in Aug. 10th
following, appointed another” Captain in the Room of
him that was slain. But behold God wrought for us; for
although Durother intended to come here, yet God by
contrary Winds kept him out; so he went to Newfound-
land, and did great spoil there. And again when Danger
grew on us by reason of the late Wars with Holland, God
permitted our Castle at that very Time to be Burnt down;
which was on the 21st Day of March 1672,3: But still
God was pleased to keep this Place in Safety: The Lord
enlarge our Hearts unto Thankfulness.
I will now return unto what I began to hint unto you
| Or, DE RUITHER, a famous Dutch Admiral.
* It was Capt. CLAP Himself.
before
Capt. Clap's Memoirs. 33
before; namely, that Satan and his instruments did malign
us, and oppose our Godly Preachers, saying they were
legal Preachers, but themselves were for free Grace, and
for the Teachings of the Spirit: And they prevailed so by
their Flatteries and fair Speeches, that they led away not
only Silly Women laden with their Lusts, but many Men
also, and some of strong Parts too; who were not ashamed
to give out that our Ministers were but legal Preachers,
and so endeavoured to bring up an evil Report upon our
faithful Preachers, that they themselves might be in high
Esteem. And many of them would presume to Preach
in private Houses, both Men and Women, much like the
Quakers. They would talk of the Spirit, and of Revela-
tions by the Spirit without the Word, as the Quakers do,
talk of the Light within them, rejecting the holy Scrip-
tures. But God by his Servants assembled in a Synod at
Cambridge in 1637, did discover his Truth most plainly,
to the Establishment of his People, and the changing of
some, and to the recovery of not a few, which had been
drawn away with their Dissimulations. Thus God deli-
vered his People out of the Snare of the Devil at that
Time. Let Us, and do You in your Generations, Bless
the holy Name of the Lord: the Snare is broken, and we
and ours are delivered. There were some that not only
stood out obstinate against the Truth, but continually re-
viled both our godly Ministers and Magistrates, and greatly
troubled our Israel: But by Order of the General Court
they were Banished out of this Jurisdiction. And then
had the Churches Rest and were multiplied.
Many
34 Capt. Clap's Memoirs.
Many Years after this, Satan made another Assault
upon God’s poor People here, by stirring up the Quakers
to come amongst us, both Men & Women; who pretended
Holiness and Perfection, saying they spake and acted by
the Spirit & Light within, which (as they say) is their
Guide: And most Blasphemiously said, that the Light
within is the Christ the Saviour; and deceived many to
their Perswasion. But, blessed be God, the Government
and Churches both, did bear witness against them, and
their loathsome and pernicious Doctrine; for which they
were Banished out of this Jurisdiction, not to return with-
out Licence, upon, pain of Death. The Reason of that
Law was, because God's People here, could not Worship
the true and living God, as He hath appointed us in our
publick Assemblies, without being disturbed by them:
And other weighty Reasons; as the Dangerousness of
their Opinions, &c. Some of them presumed to Return,
to the loss of their Lives, for breaking that Law, which
was made for our Peace and Safety.
Dear Children, Beware of False Teachers, tho’ they
come unto you in Sheep's Cloathing as some of the Ana-
baptists do, yet they will prove many of them (I doubt)
but as ravening Wolves; their Doctrine being so corrupt,
as appears in their printed Books. One of them says,
“That it is an Article of his Faith, that the Miseries and
“Death that came by Adam's Fall extendeth not unto all
“Eternity.” Another cryeth down all Learning of Sci-
ences and Tongues to fit Men for the Work of the Minis-
try. Others of them deny that the Magistrate hath any
Power
Capt. Clap's Memoirs. 35
Power to Punish the Breach of the first Table of the Law;
although the Scripture be plain, that the Magistrate ought
to pull down the Groves, and overthrow the Images set up
for Idolatry, yea though it were the brazen Serpent, and
call it Nehushtan.
Now as Satan has been a lying Spirit to deceive and
ensnare the Mind to draw us from God by Error, so hath
He stirred up evil Men to seek the hurt of this Country;
but God hath delivered his poor People here from Time
to Time: Sometimes by putting Courage into our Magis-
trates to punish those that did Rebel; and sometimes God
hath wrought for us by his Providence other-ways. Here
was one Ratcliff spake boldly and wickedly against the
Government and Governours here, using such words, as
some judged, deserved Death. He was for his Wicked-
ness Whipt, and had both his Ears cut off in Boston A.D.
1631 ; I saw it done. There was one Morton that was a
pestilent Fellow, a Troubler of the Country, who did not
only seek our Hurt here, but went to England, and did his
utmost there, by false Reports against our Governour; but
God wrought for us, and saved us, and caused all his De-
signs to be of none Effect. There arose up against us one
Bull, who went to the Eastward a Trading, and turned
Pirate and took a Wessel or two, and plundered some
Planters thereabouts, and intended to return into the Bay,
and do Mischief to our Magistrates here in Dorchester and
other Places: But as they were weighing Anchor, one of
Mr. Short's Men shot from the shore, and struck the prin-
cipal Actor Dead, and the Rest were filled with Fear and
Horrour.
36 Capt. Clap's Memoirs.
Horrour. They having taken one Anthony Dicks a Mas-
ter of a Vessel, did endeavour to perswade him to Pilot
them unto Virginia; but he would not. They told him
that they were filled with such Fear and Horrour, that they
were afraid of the very Rattling of the Ropes: This Mr.
Dicks told me with his own Mouth. These Men fled
Eastward, and Bull himself got into England; but God
destroyed this wretched Man. Thus the Lord saved us
at this time, from their wicked Device against us. There
was also one Capt. Stone about the Year 1633 or 1634
who carried himself very proudly, and spake contemptu-
ously of our Magistrates, and carried it lewdly in his Con-
versation. For his Misdemeanour, his Ship was stayed,
but he fled and would not obey Authority; and there
came Warrants to Dorchester to take him dead or alive;
so all our Souldiers were in Arms, and Centinels were set
in divers Places; and at length he was found in a great
Corn-Field, where we took him and carried him to Bos-
ton; but for want of one Witness, when he came to his
Trial, he escaped with his Life. He was said to be a
Man of great Relation, and had great Favour in England;
and he gave out threatening Speeches. Tho' he escaped
with his Life, not being hanged for Adultery, there being
but one Witness; yet for other Crimes he was fined, and
payed it: And being dismissed he went towards Virginia;
but by the way putting into the Pequot Country to Trade
with them, the Pequots cut off both him and his Men, took
his Goods and burnt his Ship. Some of the Indians re
ported, That they Roasted him alive. Thus did God
destroy him that so proudly threatened to ruin us by com-
plaining
Capt. Clap's Memoirs. 37
plaining against us when he came to England: Thus
God destroyed him ; and delivered us at that time also.
About that time, or not long after, God permitted Satan
to stir up the Pequot Indians to kill divers English Men,
as Mr. Oldham, Mr. Tilly and others: And when the
Murtherers were demanded, instead of delivering them,
they proceeded to destroy more of our English about Con-
necticut; which put us upon sending out Souldiers, once
and again; whom God prospered in their Enterprizes,
until the Pequot People were destroy’d. See Mr. Increase
Mather's Relation of the Troubles which have happened
in New-England by reason of the Indians, from 1634 to
1675. I say nothing to you of the late War, but refer
you to the Histories in Print. Thus was the Lord pleased
to deliver us at that time also, and to put a Fear and
Dread of Us into the Hearts of the Indians round about
us: And many of them did voluntarily put themselves
under the Government of the English.
It also pleased God to put it into the Hearts of some of
our Worthies, to consider that one End of our coming
hither was to Preach the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ
to the Indians, for the saving of God’s Elect, and for the
bringing into Christ's Kingdom those that were as in High-
ways and Hedges. Some did therefore set themselves to
learn the Indian Language, and so taught them to know
GOD and the LoRD JESUS CHRIST, whom they never
knew or heard of before, nor their Fathers before them;
and to know Themselves, namely their Misery by Nature
4 and
38 Capt. Clap's Memoirs.
and by reason of Sin. Among others, the principal was
that Revd. Man of God Mr. John Eliot, Teacher of the
Church of Christ at Rowbury; whose great Labour and
Pains in Catechising, preaching the Word, and translating
the BIBLE into the Indian Language, God has blessed, I
doubt not, to the converting of many among them. He
that Converteth Souls shall shine as the Sun in the Firma-
ment. Oh how glorious will the shining of that Star be in
Heaven I rejoice to think of it.
Furthermore, know ye, that God wrought wonderfully
for our Preservation, when Men Abroad (and doubtless
some at Home) endeavoured to overthrow our Government;
and prevailed so far, that Commissioners were sent from
England hither with such Power and Authority, that
doubtless put themselves, (and too many among us), in
Hopes that they had attained their Ends. They proceed-
ed so far that they set up a Court, appointed the Time
and Place, and gave out their Summons; yea for our then
Honoured Governour & Company, Personally to appear
before them : But the Lord our God was for us, tho' Trou-
bles were very near: He stirred up a mighty Spirit of
Prayer in the Hearts of his People. This poor Country
cryed and the Lord heard and delivered them from all
their Fears. And the Lord put Wisdom and Courage
into the Hearts of his Servants then sitting in the General
Court, to give such Answers, and to make such a Declara-
tion, published by a Man appointed on Horse-back, with
the Trumpet sounding before the Proclamation to give the
People notice that something was to be published, which
WaS
Capt. Clap's Memoirs. 39
was done in three several Places in Boston; that it put an
End to their Court, and (through God's Goodness) to our
Troubles at that time about that matter. And as our
Court did assert our Privileges granted unto us by Patent,
and did adhere thereto; so our God hath hitherto contin-
ued the same unto us: Blessed be his glorious Name ! I
humbly beg of God that he will in Mercy continue those
Privileges unto You and Yours in your Generations, for
Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.
I gave you a hint towards the beginning, that I came
out of Plymouth in Devon, the 20th of March, and arrived
at Nantasket (now Hull) the 30th of May 1630. Now
this is further to inform you, that there came many Godly
Families in that Ship: We were of Passengers many in
Number (besides Sea-men) of good Rank: Two of our
Magistrates came with us, viz. Mr. Rossiter and Mr. Lud-
low. These godly People resolved to live together; and
therefore as they had made choice of those two Revd.
Servants of God, Mr. John Warham and Mr. John Mave-
rick to be their Ministers, so they kept a solemn Day of
Fasting in the New Hospital in Plymouth in England,
spending it in Preaching and Praying: where that worthy
Man of God, Mr. John White of Dorchester in Dorset
was present, and Preached unto us the Word of God, in
the fore-part of the Day; and in the latter part of the Day,
as the People did solemnly make Choice of, and call those
godly Ministers to be their Officers, so also the Revd. Mr.
Warham and Mr. Maverick did accept thereof, and ex-
pressed the same. So we came, by the good Hand of the
Lord,
40 Capt. Clap's Memoirs.
Lord, through the Deeps comfortably; having Preaching
or Expounding of the Word of God every Day for Ten
Weeks together, by our Ministers. When we came to
Nantasket, Capt. Squeb, who was Captain of that great
Ship of Four Hundred Tons, would not bring us into
Charles River, as he was bound to do; but, put us ashore
and our Goods on Nantasket Point, and left us to shift
for our selves in a forlorn Place in this Wilderness. But
as it pleased God, we got a Boat of some old Planters,
and laded her with Goods; and some able Men well Armed
went in her unto Charlestown: where we found some Wig-
wams and one House, and in the House there was a Man
which had a boiled Bass, but no Bread that we see: but
we did eat of his Bass, and then went up Charles River,
until the River grew narrow and shallow, and there we
landed our Goods with much Labour and Toil, the Bank
being steep. And Night coming on, we were informed .
that there were hard by us Three Hundred Indians: One
English Man that could speak the Indian Language (an
old Planter) went to them and advised them not to come
near us in the Night; and they hearkened to his Counsel,
and came not. I my self was one of the Centinels that
first Night; Our Captain was a Low Country Souldier,
one Mr. Southcot, a brave Souldier. In the Morning some
of the Indians came and stood at a distance off, looking at
us, but came not near us: but when they had been a while
in view, some of them came and held out a great Bass to-
wards us ; so we sent a Man with a Bisket, and changed
the Cake for the Bass. Afterwards they supplied us with
Ö Bass,
Capt. Clap's Memoirs. 41
Bass, exchanging a Bass for a Bisket-Cake, and were very
Jriendly unto us,
Oh Dear Children! Forget not what Care God had
over his dear Servants, to watch over us, and protect us in
our weak beginnings. Capt. Squeb turned ashore Us and
our Goods, like a mercyless Man; but God, even our mer-
ciful God, took pity on us; so that we were supplied,
first with a Boat, and then caused many Indians, (some
Hundreds) to be ruled by the advice of one Man, not to
come near us : Alas, had they come upon us, how soon
might they have destroyed us! I think We were not above
Ten in Number. But God caused the Indians to help us
with Fish at very cheap Rates. We had not been there
many Days, (although by our Diligence we had got up a
kind of Shelter, to save our Goods in) but we had Order to
come away from that Place, (which was about Watertown)
unto a Place called Mattapan (now Dorchester) because
there was a Neck of Land fit to keep our Cattle on : So
we removed and came to Mattapan: The Indians there
also were kind unto us.
Not long after, came our renowned & blessed Gover-
nour, and divers of his Assistants with him. . Their Ships
came into Charles River, and many Passengers landed at
Charlestown, many of whom died the Winter following.
Governour Winthrop proposed to set down his Station
about Cambridge, or somewhere on the River: but view-
ing the Place, liked that plain Nesk that was called then
Black-stones-Neck, now Rostºn. IBut in the mean time,
4% before
42 Capt. Clap's Memoirs.
before they could build at Boston, they lived many of
them in Tents and Wigwams at Charlestown; their Meet-
ing-Place being abroad under a Tree; where I have heard
Mr. Wilson and Mr. Phillips Preach many a good Sermon.
In those Days God did cause his People to trust in him,
and to be contented with mean things. It was not ac-
counted a strange thing in those Days to drink Water, and
to eat Samp or Hominie without Butter or Milk. Indeed
it would have been a strange thing to see a piece of Roast
Beef, Mutton or Veal ; though it was not long before there
was Roast Goat. After the first Winter, we were very
Healthy ; though some of us had no great Store of Corn.
The Indians did sometimes bring Corn, and Truck with
us for Cloathing and Knives; and once K had a Peck of
Corn or thereabouts, for a little Puppy-Dog. Frost-fish,
Muscles and Clams were a Relief to many. If our Provi-
sion be better now than it was then, let us not, (and do
you Dear Children take heed that you do not) forget the
Lord our God. You have better Food and Raiment, than
was in former Times; but have you better Hearts than
your Fore-fathers had 2 If so, Rejoice in that Mercy,
and let New-England then shout for Joy. Sure all the
People of God in other parts of the World, that shall hear
that the Children and Grand-Children of the first Planters
of New-England, have better Hearts, and are more hea-
venly than their Predecessors; they will doubtless greatly
Rejoice, and will say, This is the Generation whom the
Lord hath Blessed. • -
And
Capt. Clap's Memoirs. 43
And now, Dear Children, I know not the Time of my
Death; my Time is in God's Hands; but my Age shows
me it cannot be far off. Therefore, while I am in Health
and Strength, I tho’t good to put into Writing and leave
with you, what I have desired in my Heart, and oftentimes
expressed to you with my Tongue. I say, I do here
charge you solemnly, and every one of you, as if I did
Charge you every one by Name; Sons, Daughters and
Grand-children, that now are capable of Understanding,
and as you shall be capable from time to time; and Ser-
vants, or any other whom God hath placed within my
Gates: I say, I Charge you that every one of you Fear
the Lord our God, and obey his Commandments; which
is the Duty of every Man, and much more Yours, whom
He hath graciously taken into Covenant with Himself, and
hath promised to be a God to you in your Generations.
The Promise made to Abraham and his Seed in their
Generations, doth extend it self to the Believer and his
Seed in the Gospel Times: for the Apostle saith, Acts 2.
39. For the Promise is to You, and to your Children. He
spake this in Gospel Times, after Christ was gone to Hea-
ven: and he doth not say, The Promise was, but the Pro-
mise is, and shall be so hereafter, to those that are afar off
also, yea to as many as the Lord our God shall call, to the
end of the World; the Promise is to them and to their
Seed. Oh then, if God be your God, you are his People:
Then see that you Fear him, and stand in awe and Sin
not : See that you do Honour him; A Son Honoureth his
Father: See that you Love Him with all your Souls and
Strength. If you do truly Love God, you will keep all
his
44 Capt. Clap's Memoirs.
his Commandments, and you will hate Evil: Ye that Love
the Lord hate Evil, You cannot Love the Lord, and
Love Sin too: No Man can serve two contrary Masters.
If you Love the Lord, you will very often think of Him:
How do Lovers think of one another, though far absent 2
but God is not far absent from a Believer. I Charge you,
Think often on God: Those that forget God, are wicked
Men and Women, and shall be turned into Hell. And if
you truly Love God, you will Love the Word of God,
and all his holy Appointments, the Habitation of his Ho-
liness. And if you Love God dearly, as you ought to do,
it will grieve your Hearts to see Him dishonoured, and his
Laws Transgressed: David's Eyes ran down with Tears,
because Men transgressed God’s Laws. And if you Love
God, you will delight to have Communion with Him, and
to pour out your Hearts into his Bosom. Beg of God,
that He would put his Fear into your Hearts, and that He
would cause you to Love Him. Intreat Him to Love you
freely. God must Love Us first, before we can Löve Him:
And I can tell you, The Love of God unto your Souls is
better than all the World: His loving Kindness is abund-
antly better than Life. Oh prize it: seek for it more than
for earthly Treasure: Seek and you shall find: God will
give his Holy Spirit to those that ask it. If you ask the
Spirit of God out of a deep Sense of the Want of it; if
you ask it in Christ's Name and for his sake; if you ask
the Holy Spirit to Sanctify you, and cleanse you from your
Sims; if you ask the Spirit to lead you into all Truth, and
to guide you in all the Ways of God, and to enable you to
do all that Duty God requires of you; Doubt not, but
- w know
\
Capt. Clap's Memoirs. 45
know assuredly, God will give his Holy Spirit unto you.
Oh my Dear Children and Grand Children' for the
Lord's-sake labour for better Hearts, and to live better
Lives than your poor Parents have done before you ! And
that you may so do,
I. Study to Know your own Hearts, to know the Plague
that there is in them. There is a Plague in every Man's
Heart, the deadly Plague of Sin; which the Apostle Paul
by study and diligent search found in himself, which made
him cry out, Oh wretched Man that I am, who shall de-
liver me from this Body of Death: And again, In me, that
is, in my Flesh, dwelleth no good thing. And blessed
Job also by searching, found it out; which made him say,
Behold I am vile: And again, I abhor myself, and repent
in Dust and Ashes. Surely when Men see the Plague of
Sin in their Hearts, and the Danger of Death thereby, (for
the Plague is a deadly Disease) it will make them cry out,
What shall we do to be saved 2
II. Come to the LoRD JESUS CHRIST. Come as the
Woman of Canaan did for her Daughter, and say as she
did, Lord help me. Oh come you to Jesus Christ the
great Physician for Help! He can help you, and He is
willing to help : He said to the Leper, I will: He bids
you Come to Him; and again, Whoever will, let him come,
and take freely. And as He is able and, willing, so if you
come to Him for new Hearts and holy Lives, He will
certainly bestow the same upon every one of you. Those
that come to me (saith Christ) I will in no wise cast out.
And
46 Capt. Clap's Memoirs.
And again, If you ask any thing according to his Will, He
will give it. A
III. Labour for true godly Sorrow, and Grief of Heart
for Sin. If Sin be a Plague, yea a deadly Plague, as in
Truth it is, (for the Wages of Sin is Death) and Sin be
in all your Hearts, as indeed it is ; will you not Mourn
and Lament your wretched State by reason thereof. Yea,
though you are through Grace enabled to come to Christ
by Faith for the Pardon of your Sins, for his sake, through
his Blood; (as I hope divers of you are) yet what cause
is there of Sorrow and Mourning because of the Remainder
of Sin dwelling in you; which although it cannot Rule
and bear sway in your gracious Hearts, yet it will make
War with your Graces, and sometimes catch you at Disad-
vantage and strike a Dart that may deeply wound you.
Therefore mourn that you have such an Enemy within
you.
IV. Watch over your Hearts, your Hands, your Eyes,
your Ears and your Tongues. For Sin will assault you
in every part, by every Sense, and cast in some Infection.
if possible, to destroy, or at least to wound you, and make
your Names to stink. Satan, the great Enemy of all
Mankind, labours by Sin to ruinate both Body and Soul.
(1) Watch the Heart. God's Counselis, that we should
keep the Heart with all Diligence. You will find (if you
will observe) when you are Praying, or Meditating on
heavenly and spiritual Things, your Heart will be in Dan-
- ger
Capt. Clap's Memoirs. 47
ger of being drawn away to think of carnal Things; or
grow heavy and dull in the Duty, like Moses his Hands
when they were lift up against Amalek. Watch there-
fore ; and when you perceive your Hearts falling down-
ward and grow heavy, cry unto Jesus Christ to stay up
your Hearts steady to the end of your Lives; that so Ama-
lek (I mean Sin and Satan) may not prevail, but be at
last utterly destroyed.
(2) Watch over your Ears. So Christ commands us,
that we must Take heed how we hear. Watch therefore,
Dear Children, and let not your Ears receive false Doc-
trine. Hearken to God's Word, Hear that ; that is, receive
it, believe it, obey it, and your Souls shall live. But as for
those that bring another Gospel, and serve not the true
God, such as the Quakers; do not hear them, not so
much as with your outward Ears.
(3.) Watch over your Eyes. That adulterous Lust
got in David's Heart through his Eyes. So did Achan's
Covetousness, to his utter Ruin: He saw the Wedge of
Gold with his Eye, then coveted it with his Heart, and
then took it.
(2) Watch over your Tongues. The Tongue is an
unruly Evil. Do not backbite or slander your Neighbours.
Speak not Evil of Dignities. Do not Curse, Sware pro-
fanely, nor Lie. Let no filthy corrupt Communication
come out of your Mouths. Do not you, my Dear Child-
ren (nor suffer your Children to) speak the sinful Lan-
guage
48 Capt. Clap's Memoirs.
guage of many wicked People, who commonly in their
Discourse add, I Vow, or I Swear, when in Truth they
do not know what a Vow or an Oath is. Oh let your
Words be gracious, always such words as may edify the
Hearers. Remember, and forget not, that Christ our holy
and just Judge hath himself told us, that for every idle
Word that Men do speak, they must give an Account there-
of at the Day of Judgment. And again, By your Words
you shall be Justified, and by your Words you shall be
condemned.
V. Another Thing which I Charge you to observe, is,
To Worship G O D in your Families. Do not neglect
Family Prayer, Morning and Evening. And be sure to
Read some part of the Word of God every day in your
Families, in ordinary Course. And be sure to Instruct
your Families in the Grounds of Religion. And be your
selves Patterns, by your holy Lives and Conversations,
unto your Children. And as you ought to follow and imi-
tate good Examples in any godly Men or Women, so
especially in your Parents : you ought to follow them as
they followed Christ, and in nothing else. Where you
have seen them missing the Rule, as doubtless you have
often done: let them be your Warnings, not your Patterns.
I say where I missed the Rule, in Word or Deed, (for I
am a weak imperfect Creature, one of the worst of Men)
be you sure to avoid that Rock, and follow me not in any
Evil, but avoid it. And if you observed any Virtues in
your Parents, (though they were but few) Imitate them in
that which is Good, that God may be with you, as He
was with your Fathers
VI.
Capt. Clap's Memoirs. 49
VI. And I lay it as a solemn Charge upon you, That
you Pray to God in Secret; and that often too. Our
Lord and Saviour bids us, Enter into our Closets, and shut
the Door, and Pray to our Father in Secret. There you
may tell God your very Hearts, and lay open to Him your
worst Plague-Sore, your vilest Sins, which no Man know-
eth, neither is it meet they should know. Yet all Men
shall know your vilest, lewdest, most notorious Wicked-
ness, both of Heart and Life that ever was committed by
you, tho’ never so long ago, or never so secretly done;
except you confess them to God, and make your Peace
with Him, in and through Jesus Christ, by Repentance
and Faith: Then the Blood of Jesus Christ the Right-
eous cleanseth us, and will you from all your sins: Other-
wise God will bring every secret Thing into Judgment.
I say again, Pray in Secret, though you have not a Closet
or Door to shut; you need none: You may Pray alone
in the Woods, as Christ did in the Mountain: You may
Pray as you walk in the Field, as Isaac did: When im-
ployed in Business, you may lift up your Hearts in Prayer,
as Nehemiah did. And when you are alone at any Time,
Think with your self, assuredly God is present tho’ none
else; I will Confess my Sins, and I will beg God's Fa-
vour and Grace, I will Wrestle with God by Faith and
Prayer. And you may every one of you prevail, if you
Pray sincerely, and persevere in it: If Importunity pre-
vailed with the unjust Judge, will it not much more prevail
with God.
VII. And I do also Charge you, To live in Love and
5 Peace.
50 Capt. Clap's Memoirs.
Peace among your selves. Love is of God; but bitter
Envy and Strife is of the Devil. Love as Brethren:
Brethren must love another. Oh! How amiable a Thing
is it, for Brethren to dwell together in Unity It is like
the precious Ointment that was poured on Aaron's Head;
and that Ointment was such, as none might be made like
it for other Uses. Doth not Love exceed other Graces?
Then strive after that which is most excellent. So strive
to live in Love and Peace with all Men as much as pos-
sible in you lies. [Be at Peace with all Men: That is,
if there be any Breach of Peace, let not the fault be
yours. You must not partake of, delight in, nor connive
at, the sinful, pernicious, wild Practices of Men, to be at
Peace with these. Those that are God's Children and
must dwell in God’s Tabernacle, a vile Person must be
contemned in their Eyes. Sure, his Vileness will make
him loathsome: yet if it be possible, be at Peace with
Him: Endeavor to Reclaim him from his Wickedness,
by Reproving him plainly for sinful Practices; and if no-
thing else will do, complain to Authority; and if that will
not do, complain to God, and mourn for him. i
Finally, Be good Examples unto others. Walk humbly
with God. Be Holy in all manner of Conversation. Be
Courteous; be Sober; be Charitable; Ready to Distri-
bute, given to Hospitality. Be humble-minded. Set your
Affections on Things above, not on Things below ; not
on Riches, Honours and Pleasures. Prize highly the Word
of God, and the Preachers of it. Labour to draw others
to Love and Fear God. Flee the Lust of Uncleanness,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - - and
Capt. Clap's Memoirs. 51
and the Occasions of it. Abhor Drunkenness, and exces-
sive Drinking. Come not into a Tavern, but on just and
weighty Occasions. Choose God to be your Portion:
Receive Christ by Believing on Him; so you shall be the
Children of GOD. Amen.
*ś
*º *:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
A short
A C C O U N T
O F T H E
Author and his Family.
“$*~<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Written by one-that was acquainted therewith.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> <><><>
Apt. Roger Clap, the worthy Author of the foregoing
Discourse, was a Man generally known, honoured
and esteemed by those that were contemporary with
him ; but most of those are also removed by Death,
and the present Generation, (among whom he hath a
numerous Posterity of Grand-Children and Great-Grand-
Children,) know but little of him: And there being no
Memoirs preserved of this good Man, and his Posterity
being likely otherwise to have little or no Knowledge of
this their Progenitor; it is thought highly proper, and
desir’d by some who are no way Related, that a short
Account might be given of Him and his Family. The
Memory of the Just is blessed. Prov. 10.7.
He was born in Salcom in the County of Devon, on
the 6th Day of April, Anno Domini 1609, of pious and
creditable Parents; whose religious Education God was
5% pleased

[ 54 )
pleased to accompany with the early Strivings and Convic-
tions of his Holy Spirit, that ended in his happy Conver-
sion. In his younger Years, while he was under the im-
mediate Government of his Father, he had such a Love
to the Word of God and the most eminent Preachers of
it; that he obtained leave of his Father to live in the City
of Econ, under the Ministry of the Rev. Mr. John War-
ham, with whom he afterwards came to New-England.
In the Year 1629, when many of the most godly Min-
isters and People were driven out of the Kingdom for
their conscientious Nonconformity to the Established Way
of Worship, and Mr. Warham and Mr. Maverick (who
were afterwards Colleague Pastors of the Church of Dor-
chester in New-England) and with them a considerable
Number of pious Persons were preparing for a Remove
into this Country; Mr. Clap found in himself a strong
Inclination to go with those good People, and cast in his
Lot with them. He had taken a great liking unto the
Ministry of the Rev. Mr. Warham, and was not willing
to be left behind, when He was to go; and therefore hav-
ing with some Difficulty obtained his Father's Consent, he
set himself to assist in the great and good Work the Peo-
ple of God then had in hand. He with those good
People that came over with him, (who were the first In-
habitants of Dorchester) set sail from Plymouth in Eng-
land the 20th Day of March 1629,30; and after a com-
fortable (tho' long) Passage of Ten Weeks, they arrived
at Hull the 30th of May 1630. This was the First
Company that settled on this side Salem: and therefore
besure they met with Trials and Difficulties enough, which
did not at all dishearten Mr. Clap; for his Heart was so
taken off from temporal Things, and set upon serving and
glorifying God, and finding here such Advantages and
Opportunities therefor, beyond what he had in England,
that he could not forbear crying out in a sort of Extasy
of Joy, Blessed be God that brought me here ! I
I]

[ 55
In the same Year that He came over here, He joined
himself a Member of the Church in Dorchester, where he
lived, and continued a Member of this Church for the
space of Sixty Years; being a useful Instrument both in
Church and Town. When he had been about Two Years
and half in the Country, in the Year 1633, Novemb. 6th,
in the 25th Year of his Age, he married the vertuous Mrs.
Johanna Ford, Daughter of Mr. Thomas Ford of Dor-
chester in England, when she was but in the 17th Year
of her Age: who with her parents came over in the same
Ship with himself, and settled also here in Dorchester;
with whom he lived in the Conjugal Relation for the space
of 57 Years. She was a godly and exemplary Woman,
given to Hospitality: She abounded in Acts of Charity;
so that when proper Objects of Pity and Charity came to
her Knowledge, she never failed to relieve them herself,
or procure them Relief from others: Thus the Blessing of
those that were ready to Perish came upon her.
Among the Blessings wherewith it pleased God to Bless
this pious Couple, the Blessings of the Breasts and of the
Womb were not the least; for they had Fourteen Child-
ren, Ten Sons and Four Daughters. But God was
pleased to prove these his Servants with Afflictions also,
as well as Mercies; for Five of their Children Died in
their Infancy; their Son Thomas died at 15 Years of Age,
and their Son Unite at 7 Years. And in the Year 1686,
their Son Supply, a hopefull young Man in the Flower
and Prime of his Age, was suddenly taken out of the
World by the Accidental Firing a Gun at the Castle;
where his Father was then the Captain, and himself an
Officer, in the 23d Year of his Age. The rest of their
Children, being Four Sons and Two Daughters, lived to
fulfill the ordinary Course of Nature, and were great Bless-
ings in their Generations.
Mr. Clap being thus settled as he himself expresseth it,
???,
[ 56 1
in God's House and among his People, he set himself to
serve God and his Generation according to the Will of
God. His Qualifications were quickly observed by the
People of Dorchester; and they early Improved him in
the Affairs of their new Plantation. He sustained both
Civil and Military Offices in the Town; being Captain of
the Militia, Representative for the Town, and Authorized
to Join Persons in Marriage. And on the 10th of Au-
gust 1665, the General Court appointed him Captain of
the Castle (the principal Fortress in the Province) upon
the Death of Capt. Davenport, who was kill'd with Light-
ning the Month before.
Capt. Clap having now the Command of the Castle,
discharged that Trust with great Fidelity; and was there-
in serviceable to the whole Province, and universally Re-
spected and Honoured. He continued in that Command
for the space of 21 Years, even until the Year 1686;
when by the Loss of our Charter there was a Change of
Government, and some things were required of Him that
were grievous to his pious Soul; and foreseeing a Storm of
Troubles coming on the Country, and he now in his old
Age, voluntarily resigned his Command. -
There is another Instance that shows what an Interest
Capt. Clap had in the Hearts of God's People, and what
an extensive Blessing they accounted him: it is this; In
the Year 1672, he being then Captain of the Castle, it
pleased God to visit him with a Fit of Sickness; and the
good People of Dorchester, unto which Church he be-
longed, kept a Day of Fasting and Prayer, to beg his Life
of God: And God was pleased to hear and answer their
Prayers; and when he was restored to Health, they kept
a Day of Thanksgiving. - :
When he commanded the Castle, he resided there with
his Family; and a well-ordered Family it was : Capt.
- Clap
[ 57 )
Clap and his Wife were Examples of Piety; their Light
shone before others, to the Glory of their heavenly Father.
He was a very Prayerful Man, and was observed to re-
tire often for Secret Duties: And in his Family (unto
which all the Souldiers under his Command also belonged)
he daily offered up the Sacrifices of Prayer and Thanks-
giving; in which, if he understood his Prolixity were disa-
greeable to any, he would be Troubled thereat. He with
his Family were constant Hearers of the word preached ;
going (I think) commonly to Dorchester Meeting, when
the Weather permitted, and sometimes to Boston. He
bear a universal Love and Respect to Godly Ministers,
honouring them for their Works sake: and also he bare an
endeared Love to all the People of God; so that the very
Indians whom he thought to be Fearers of God were wel-
come to him, and he would instruct them in the Principles
of Religion. He constantly attended the Lectures in the
Towns of Dorchester and Boston : particularly the Lec-
ture at Boston; concerning which, if any of the Souldiers
or young People asked, Whose Lecture it was 7 intimating
thereby (as Capt Clap very well knew) that they thought
some were not so excellent preachers as others, and so had
less Inclination to hear them ; He would answer, Let the
Preacher be who he will, if he Preach the Word of God I
will go and hear him. His Eyes were upon the Faithful
of the Land, that they might dwell with him: He chose
those to serve him that walked in a perfect way; and He
would entertain none in his Service, but those that He
could reduce to good Orders. He would often recom-
mend to his young People the Example of his pious Gun-
ner, Mr. Baxter, when he was absent, saying, The Walls
of the Castle would testify how many Prayers that good
Man made to God in Secret. In his time it might be seen,
that Religious and well disposed Mlen might take upon
them the calling of a Souldier, without danger of hurting
their Morals or their good Name, or lessning their Advan-
tages and Opportunities for the Services of Religion. He
had
[ 58 |
had a great Aversion to Idleness, would warn his family
against it, and made Conscience of imploying himself and
all about him in some lawful Business. He was a hearty
Lover of his Country, a well wisher to it, one that Prayed
often for it, being chiefly concerned that pure & undefiled
Religion might flourish here : and was a good Instrument
in his Place and Station to promote and encourage that
which was Good, and to discountenance Evil, and keep
out Error and Heresy.
He was a meek & humble Man, of a very quiet and
peaceable Spirit, not apt to resent Injuries; but where he
thought the Honor of God was concerned, or just and
lawful Authority opposed, he was forward enough to ex-
ert himself. His Parts as well as his Piety, and his
Knowledge of the Word of God and the true Christian
Religion, may be seen in the foregoing Discourse; which
is only the Substance of those verbal Counsels, Warnings
and Exhortations which he frequently Inculcated on his
Children, committed to Writing: Which Discourse is
doubtless worthy any serious Man's Perusal, and especially
those of his Posterity.
As to his natural Temper, it is said, He was of a chear-
ful & pleasant Disposition, courteous and kind in his Be-
haviour, free and familiar in his Conversation, yet attended
with a proper Reservedness; & he had a gravity & Pre-
sence that commanded Respect from others.
When he left the Castle, which was in the Year 1686,
he removed to the South End of Boston, and Associated
with the South Church there ; where he lived about Four
Years, and after about a Fortnight's Sickness, in which he
often repeated Words to this purpose, || The Lord Reigns;
| I suppose in the joyful Contemplation of the late wonderful
REVOLUTION. -
blessed
[ 59 |
blessed be the Name of the Lord; The Lord sitteth upon
the Flood; yea the Lord sitteth King forever; Blessed
be his holy Name: He there departed this Life, Feb. 2.
1690,91, in the 82d Year of his Age. He was buried in
the old Burying Place in Boston; the Military Officers
going before the Corps; and next to the Relations, the
Governour and the whole General Court following after ;
and the Guns firing at the Castle at the same time.
Mrs. Clap, who was born June 8th 1617, lived his
Widow between 4 & 5 Years, and died at Boston in June
1695, being about 78 Years old, and was Interred by her
Husband. -
Capt. Clap (as was said before) had six Children that
lived to old Age, and were Blessings in their Generation.
Their Names and the Order of their Birth is as follows,
Samuel, Elizabeth, Preserved, Hopestill, Wait, and
Desire. •. :
1. Mr. Samuel Clap was born the 11th Day of Octob.
1634, when his Mother was but in the 18th Year of her
Age. He was a wise and prudent Man, partaking of the
choice Spirit of his Father, treading in his Steps, and
making good his Ground: He was eminent for Religion,
and of a blameless and unspotted Conversation. He was
early and constantly imployed in Publick Affairs: He
was Captain of the Military Company, Representative for
the Town ; and the seven last Years of his Life a Ruling
Elder of the Church of Dorchester where he lived. He
Married Mrs. Hannah Leeds, Daughter of Mr. Richard
Leeds of Dorchester. They had Two Sons & Two
Daughters that lived to be grown up. He Died about
Eight Days after his Wife, on Oct. 16th 1708, being
about 74 Years old. His eldest Son Samuel deceased in
his middle Age, a very pious useful Man also. He was
chosen one of the Deacons of the Church in Dorchester,
s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - § , - . where
[ 60 )
where he lived, and was Lieutenant of a Military Com-
pany in the Town. His other Son died a hopeful young
Man.
2. Mrs. Elizabeth Clap was Born June 22d, 1638.
She married Mr. Joseph Holmes. She was a vertuous
and prudent Woman. They had Five Children that lived
to be grown up. She Died at Boston, Dec. 25th 1711,
in the 74th Year of her Age; and was buried by her
Parents.
3. Mr. Preserved Clap was Born Nov. 23d 1643. He
was a good Instrument and a great Blessing to the Town
of Northampton where he lived. He was Captain of the
Town, and their Representative in the General Court, and
Ruling Elder in the Church. He married Mrs. Sarah
Newbery of Windsor. They had Seven Children that
Lived to be grown up. He died at Northampton, Sept.
20th 1720, Aged about 77 Years.
4. Mr. Hopestill Clap was born Nov. 6, 1647. He
was a very gracious Man, endowed with a great measure
of Meekness and Patience; studied & practiced those
Things that make for Peace. He was first a Deacon of
the Church of Dorchester, where he lived; and afterwards
in the Year 1709 he was Chosen and Ordained a Ruling
Elder in the same Church: He Represented the Town
in the General Court for the space of Fifteen Years. He
was much honoured & respected by those that had a value
for vital Piety. He married Mrs. Susanna Swift. They
had Two Sons and Four Daughters that lived to be
grown up. One of his Sons died a Young Man, the other
is now living in Dorchester. Elder Hopestill Clap died
at Dorchester, Sept. 2d 1719, in the 72d Year of his
Age.
Upon his Grave-Stone is written by his Pastor as *
1S
[ 61 1
IHis Dust waits till the Jubillee :
Shall then shine brighter than the Sky;
Shall meet and joyn to part no more,
His Soul that's gloryfyed before.
Pastors and Churches happy be
With Ruling Elders such as he:
Present Useful, absent Wanted;
Liv'd Desired, died Lamented.

5. Mrs. Wait Clap was born March 17th 1649. She
was a godly Woman, following the good Example of her
Parents. She often spake of that Charge which her Fa-
ther left his Children, viz. Never to spend any Time in
Idleness; and practised accordingly in a very observable
manner. She married Mr. Jonathan Simpson of Charles-
town. They had but Two Children, one Son and one
Daughter, that lived to be grown up. She lived a Widow
about Twelve Years, and died at Boston, in the House
that her Father & Mother lived & died in, May 3. 1717,
in the 69th year of her Age, and was buryed near her
Parents. -
6. Mr. Desire Clap was Born Octob. 17th 1652. He
lived in Dorchester, was a sober, religious Man. He mar-
ried Mrs. Sarah Pond: They had Four Children that
lived to be grown up, one Son and three Daughters. In
his old Age he buried his first Wiſe, and married again to
Mrs. Deborah Smith of Boston, with whom he went to
live ; and there he died in December 1717, in the 66th
Year of his Age, and was interred near his Relations. .
Thus God was pleased to Bless this Pious Family, and
make them Blessings in their Day & Generation. They
have all of them finished their Pilgrimage in this World,
and are gathered to their Fathers, and entered into the Rest
that remains for the People of God; leaving behind them
their good Names, and their bright Evamples of Piety and
~ 6. Virtue.
[ 62 )
Virtue. Divers also of the Grand-Children are removed
by Death. -
May the Blessings of these Godly Ancestors rest upon
their Posterity, even unto the latest Generations: And
may their Posterity put themselves in the way to Inherit
those Blessings, by continuing stedfast in the Covenant of
their God, under which their Ancestors have brought
them ; and by walking in, and cleaving to, the good ways
of their fore Fathers, treading in their Steps and making
good their Ground.
Capt. Clap had one Brother, and two Sisters, with their
Husbands, that upon his Advice and Encouragement,
afterwards came over and settled themselves here in Dor-
chester. His Brother Edward Clap was a godly Man, a
Deacon of the Church of Dorchester, as two of his Grand-
sons have been since. His Sisters were the Wives of Mr.
George Weeks and Mr. Nicholas Clap, religious Families.
Deut. 7.9. Know therefore that the º thy God, He
is God, the Faithful God, which keepeth Covenant and
Mercy with them that love him and keep his Command-
Aments, to a Thousand Generations.
James Blake, jun.
j
Not E.
It will doubtless be interesting to the descendants of
Roger Clap, to know that the grave-stone which has marked
his resting-place for one hundred and fifty years is still erect
and in good preservation. Most of these descendants, as
has been mentioned in the Preface, reside at some distance
from Boston, and the location of his grave has probably been
unknown to them; and as some of them will read these
pages who may never have an opportunity of visiting the
spot in person, it is thought that it would be gratifying to
them, and perhaps to others, to see a copy of the inscription
on the grave-stone. It is therefore printed on the following
page, and, as in the preceding pages, an imitation of the
original has been attempted. The stone is in the burying
ground attached to the Stone Chapel, in Boston, and is situ.
ated on a line with the eastern wall of the Chapel, and about
fifty feet from the Westry Room. There is no stone over
the grave of his widow, nor over those of his children whom
Mr. Blake says were buried near him. *.
It may also be mentioned, that the Hame on the outside
cover of this book is a fac simile of the signature of Capt.
Clap, from the Town Records of Dorchester, under date of
the “seventh day of the twelfth month,” in the year 1641.

SEPTEMBER, 1854,
INSCRIPTION ON HIS GRAVE-STONE.
HERE LYETH BURIED
Y BODY OF CAP."
R O G E R C L A P
A G E D 82 Y E A R S
DECE As E D Y 2, OF
FE BRUARY 1690
1

...se. ...--
... . . e.
\
|
* ... },
*- hºme
-----~~~1.
****-->-- ~~~~ : ~~::~~~~ ~~~~ : ~~~~.~ -...--
„ … ~~~~，~*~********~~~~）;
*** ~. .…- … ******** • • • • • • • .
:, ~ ~----- *: ******--><！-~~~~ ~~~~~ （, *~~~~ ~~
--~~~~）;
· · · · * *~~~~ ~~~~ ~ ！， --
~*~--~~~~
DD NOT REM0WE
[]R
MUTIILATE [ARD
















| --~~~~*~~~~ · · ·:·
• ！
4.