Captain Roger Clapp and Joanna Ford

Emigrant Ancestors

Roger Clapp sailed to the New England on the ship Mary and John,

Capt. Squeb, Master, from Plymouth, England. They arrived at Nantasket, Massachusetts on March 20, 1630.

Two learned non-conformist ministers, Rev. John Maverick and the Rev. John Warham came in the same vessel and 140 others. The passengers of this trip became known as the Dorchester Company, and were the first settlers of Dorchester, Massachusetts Bay Colony. An additional 16 other ships made the journey in 1630.

Roger was the son of William and Johan Channon Clapp of Salcombe Regis, Devonshire, England. According to a deposition filed by Captain Clapp on October 31, 1671, he was born on April 2, 1609. Her was one of seven children, 5 boys and two girls.

He was about 21 years of age when he arrived. It was said in a letter from Dudley to Countess Lincoln, "arrived all safe in New England, for the increase of the plantation here this year, 1630, but made a long, a troublesome and costly voyage, being all wind-bound long in England, and hindered with contrary winds after they set sail and so scattered with mists and tempests that few of them arrived together. Our four ships which set sail in April arrived here [Salem] in June, July and found the Colony in a sad and unexpected condition, above 80 of them being dead the winter before, and many of those alive weak and sick, all the corn and bread amongst them all hardly sufficient to feed them a fortnight." Captain Clap in his own memoirs says, "Oh, the hunger that many suffered and saw no hope in an eye of reason to be supplied, only by clams, mussels and fish. We did quickly build boats and some went fishing. But bread was with many a very scarce thing, and flesh of all kinds as scarce." Despite the harsh conditions, not one of the survivors of that terrible winter of 1630 who had arrived on the Mary and John returned to old England. Upon the return of the ship the following spring, none of the Mayflower passengers left.

On November 6, 1633, Roger married Joanna Ford, the daughter of Thomas Ford, of Dorchester, England. The two families had sailed aboard the Mary and John in 1630. Joanna was born on June 8, 1617 and was only 16 years, 5 months old at the time of her marriage.

Roger built his family a house near the old causeway road leading to Little Neck, now South Boston. A passage way now called Willow Court led from the road to the house. This house was still there, much enlarged, about 200 years later.

Roger was a soldier. He held many offices in the town. He was said to be a man of good character, earnest and benevolent.

He held, among numerous others, the post of deputy to the General Court. He was a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company serving as 2nd Sergeant in 1647 and Lieutenant in 1655 and was a member for many years. Roger served several terms as selectman, the first time when he was only 28 years of age. He was allowed to marry persons, which was a very great honor.

On March 7, 1685 tragedy struck the Clapp family. Supply Clapp, "Captain Clapp's son, a very desirable man and Gunner of the Castle, though Mr. Baxter hath the name, at the Castle Island hath one of his eyes shot out, and a piece of his skull taken away by the accidental firing of a gun as he was going afowling".

It is said he was a remarkably industrious man, a man of good judgment. He was frequently asked to be an overseer of wills. He was meek and humble, despite his honors and " of a very peaceable spirit, not apt to resent injuries; but when he thought the honor of god was concerned or just and lawful authority opposed, he was forward enough to exert himself."

Such affection was given him that when he was ill with a severe sickness in 1672, the people of Dorchester held a fast "to beg his life of God"' and when he subsequently recovered, the held a day of thanksgiving.

As to his natural temper, it is said " he was of a cheerful and pleasant disposition, courteous and kind in his behavior, free and familiar in his conversation, yet attended with a proper reservedness, and he had a gravity of prescience that commanded respect from others."

In 1644, when the first regular organization of the military took place, he was the Lieutenant of the Dorchester Company. He later became Captain of the Company. On August 10, 1665, he was appointed by the General Court as Captain of the Castle [now Fort Independence] in Boston Harbor. He held that office for 21 years when he reached the age of 77. He resigned that position upon the turn of political events which occurred when Sir Edmund Andros became Governor. In a report given by Mr. James Blake, Jr. in 1731, he said Captain Clapp resigned because " some things were required of him which were grievous to his pious soul."

He left the Castle on September 24, 1686. He spent the rest of his life in Boston, where he died on February 2, 1691. His funeral was conducted with much parade and signs of respect; military officers, the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company preceded the corpse. The Governor and the General Court followed the relations as mourners, and guns fired at the Castle.

He left a home at the south end of Boston, with land which was bounded on the east by "the sea" His will was written by his own hand and he left extensive holdings.

He will be remembered as a founder of the Church in Dorchester. He remained a member there for 60 years or more. His soldiers remembered him as a kind and affectionate commander. He encouraged them by precept and example to be worthy citizens, "he enlisted none but pious as well as brave men."

He left an additional legacy. In 1731, the Memoirs he had written in 1676 were edited and published by James Blake, Jr. Captain Clapp left a detailed and very valuable historical account of the life of our early settlers.