JAMES KNAPP FAMILY GENEALOGY

STANCLIFF FAMILY GENEALOGY

From book "Descendants of James Stanclift of Middletown, Connecticut and Allied Families", By Robert C. and Sherry [Smith] Stancliff

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NOTE:  THIS KNAPP FAMILY WRITE UP IS UPDATED FROM THAT FOUND IN THE GENEALOGY NOTED ABOVE

                                                                                                                 JAMES KNAPP FAMILY

146) MARGERY5 STANCLIFT (John4, Comfort3, James2, James1)

Daughter of John and Sarah [Harris] Stanclift and twin of Marion, born while the family was living Torrington, Litchfield County, CT Apr. 14, 1785, died Barriefield, Pittsburgh Township, Frontenac County, Ontario, Canada July 4, 1850 on the same day that her identical twin sister, Marion [Stanclift] Nichols, died in Erie County, PA, married in Canada Dec. 6, 1808 JAMES KNAPP son of Benjamin and Rebecka [____] Knapp born Newburgh, Ulster (now Orange) County, NY May 21, 1781(1).

James Knapp was a large, robust, and strong man, who was engaged in transporting supplies to Canadian Regiments during the War of 1812. David Stanclift, son of Lemuel said of him in his memoirs "One man could throw any man in the Regiment and bantered Knapp frequently to wrestle with him. He told him it was no use saying 'You are nothing in my hands but you are so eager I will agree to throw you with one hand in my pants pocket'. He threw him several times in that shape before the whole Regiment."

By 1832 James was engaged in producing skiffs and pleasure boats at his Boatyard on Green Bay in Barriefield, Pittsburgh Township, Frontenac County, Ontario, Canada(2). He became well known in the area for the high quality of his products. The "J. Knapp and Son Boatyard" was passed down to his sons William and James Jr and they carried on the business for many years. They were listed in the Census records as "Boatbuilder" for their entire lives and passed the occupation down to the next generation(3). James Knapp also built and maintained a Ferry for many years at the place where the Cataraqui and St. Lawrence rivers merge(4).

Margery was a widow living Barrisfield, Pittsburgh Township, Frontenac County, Ontario, Canada by Feb. 28, 1850 when she wrote her will(5). Barrisfield is just across the river from Kingston. Margery appointed daughter Sarah Knapp as executrix and left her estate to Sarah who had cared for her in her later years. A codicil referred to debt between James and William Knapp for which Margery was assuming responsibility. It is probable that the sons had inherited fathers property at time of his death and thus did not share in the widow's portion which Margery left to her daughter, Sarah, only in return for her care. Margery's will was proved July 18, 1850. The Will and Codicil were witnessed by James Nickalls(6). In a strange turn of events Margery Knapp and Marion Nichols, identical twins both died on July 4th 1850, the same day but many miles apart. Descendants of Margery and James Knapp still live in the Barrisfield area.

 

CHILDREN: James and Margery [Stanclift] Knapp. Dates in Knapp Family Bible(7). Places, Canadian census records, and Canadian Register records provided by Cheryl Taber

1. MARY KNAPP {twin} born Kingston, Ontario, Canada Jan. 6, 1810, died Kingston, Ontario, Canada Jan. 30, 1810

2. MARION KNAPP {twin} born Kingston, Ontario, Canada Jan. 6, 1810, died Athol Township, Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada Aug. 13, 1888, married Ontario, Canada May 1, 1849 SAMUEL C. HOOVER son of Henry and Jane Rowena [Huff] Hoover born Adolphustown, Addington County, Ontario, Canada Jul 11, 1797, died Adolphustown, Addington County, Ontario, Canada May 20, 1880

3. REBECKAH KNAPP born Kingston, Ontario, Canada Nov. 6, 1812, died Oct.13, 1890, married Ontario, Canada JOHN CAMPBELL born Ontario, Canada, died Ontario, Canada Jun 5, 1871, lived Hamilton Township, Northumberland County, Ontario, Canada.

4. SARAH KNAPP born Barriefield, (born same year Barriefield was founded) Ontario, Canada Nov. 2, 1814, died Picton, Ontario, Canada Jul. 30, 1893, married 1. Frontenac County, Ontario, Canada Oct. 26, 1852 HENRY A. JOHNSON born Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada, about 1789-1791, died Picton, Ontario, Canada, married 2. Hallowell Township, Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada Mar 1, 1881 WILLIAM RANKIN born Kingston, Ontario, Canada about 1804/1805 , died Athol Township Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada.

5. WILLIAM CASE KNAPP born Barriefield, Ontario, Canada Mar 1, 1816, died Kingston, Ontario, Canada Aug. 14, 1885, buried Cataraqui United Church Cemetery, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, married Hillier, Ontario, Canada Mar. 20, 1848 MARY ANN KEMP daughter of Abraham James and Sarah Sephrona [Fletcher] Kemp born Hillier, Ontario, Canada christened Picton Methodist Church, Picton, Ontario, Canada Feb 20, 1823, died Kingston, Ontario, Canada, buried Cataraqui United Church Cemetery, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

6. ELIZA KNAPP born Pittsburgh Township, Ontario, Canada Sept 7, 1818 died Northumberland County, Ontario, Canada after 1916, buried Castleton Cemetery, Castleton, Ontario, Canada and her stone says she died aged 77 years, 1 month and 28 days which would place her death at Nov 20, 1895, married Kingston, Ontario, Canada Feb 20, 1839 WILLIAM GRIFFIS son of Stephen G and Nancy Ann [Kemp] Griffis born Cramahe Township, Northumberland County, Ontario, Canada Nov 15, 1816, died there Apr 22, 1896, buried Castleton Cemetery, Castleton, Ontario, Canada. William Griffis was a Carpenter by trade.

7. JAMES KNAPP JR born Barriefield, Ontario, Canada Mar 20, 1821, died Pittsburgh Township, Frontenac County,Ontario, Canada Oct 5, 1895, married 1. Frontenac County, Ontario, Canada Jan 20, 1850 AMY ANN DAY born Ontario, Canada about 1825, died Frontenac County, Ontario, Canada Aug 8, 1853, married 2. Adolphustown, Addington County, Ontario, Canada Nov 11, 1873 SARAH MARIA RICKEY daughter of Daniel and Alice Rickey born Millhaven, Ontario, Canada Jul 31, 1835, died Barriefield, Ontario, Canada Apr 9, 1906. James adult children Henry and Amy were witnesses to the marriage. After James' death Sarah made her home with the family of step-son Henry James Knapp. James along with his brother William carried on the Boat Building begun by their father James Knapp, his son Henry "Harry" carried it forward yet another generation.

8. JOHN KNAPP born Barriefield, Ontario, Canada May 7, 1823, died Jun 21, 1840

9.HANNAH CHARLOTTE KNAPP born according to the Knapp Bible " born at Buffalow St N. York" ( probably North Collins, Erie County, NY) March 30, 1825, died Parkhurst, Middlesex County, Ontario, Canada May 28, 1896 , married at Kingston/Barriefield, Ontario, Canada Nov 1/2, 1847 WILLIAM YOUNG BARRY who died before 1881.

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Footnotes:

1. James Knapp Family Bible, Photographed at Kingston, Ontario by Robert Cardwell and sent to us by Cheryl Taber of Hamilton, Ontario a Kemp/Knapp Genealogical researcher

2. Lilacs and Limestone, an illustrated History of Pittsburgh Township 1787-1987 by William J. Patterson, published by the Pittsburgh Historical Society in 1989, page 93.

3. Canadian Census records of Pittsburgh Township, 1851-1881 read by Cheryl Taber

4. From the extensive research of Cheryl Taber of Hamilton, Ontario

5. Obtained copy of Frontenac County Will #229 cited in ABSTRACTS OF SURROGATE COURT WILLS, Kingston and Vicinity, 1790-1858 compiled by Loral and Mildred Wanamaker and published by Kingston Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society, 1982.

6. James Nickalls will made Dec.11, 1838 (Kingston Probate #239) and proved Apr. 30, 1857. His wife was Ann Louisa [Oliver] Nickalls, dau. George and Mary Oliver. Is this man related to Clark Nichols, husband of Marion? They named a son James.

7. James Knapp Family Bible, Photographed at Kingston, Ontario by Robert Cardwell and sent to us by Cheryl Taber of Hamilton, Ontario a Kemp/Knapp Genealogical researcher


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