Tag Archives: American Revolution

Nicholas Knapp

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Nicholas Knapp was my 8th great grandfather. Here is how my family relates:

When Nicholas Knapp was born on May 16, 1592, in Wells-Next-To-The-Sea, Norfolk, England, his father, John, was 42 and his mother, Martha Blois (or Blosse), was 27. He married Eleanor (or Elinor) Disbrow Lockwood and they had 11 children together. He then married Unity Brown on January 9, 1659, in Stamford, Connecticut. He died on April 16, 1670, in Stamford, Connecticut, having lived a long life of 77 years, and was buried there.

In my other ancestry posts, I’ve shared that I grew up believing my heritage was predominantly German. As my genealogy research has deepened, I’ve discovered that this assumption isn’t quite accurate. In fact, a significant part of my ancestry is English, a realization that has both surprised me and opened up new avenues of learning. The more I explore my family history, the more I see how much there still is to understand.

I had to look up information about Wells-next-the-Sea where Nicholas was born. At the time of his birth, it was a small port town on the North Norfolk coast of England.

Fishing was crucial in 1592, with Wells-next-the-Sea known for crab, lobster, and herring. The port facilitated regional trade, exchanging fish and agricultural products for textiles and manufactured goods.

The town was a close-knit community with most residents involved in fishing or farming. Houses were typically built from local materials like flint and brick. Religion played a significant role, with the Anglican Church at the heart of social life.

On 6 April 1630, Nicholas (my 8th great grandfather) and wife Eleanor (my 8th great grandmother) left for America and traveled to Salem, MA.

Topographical dictionary of 2885 English Emigrants to New England 1620 to 1650

There, they were a part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He was one of the very early settlers of Watertown, MA. and Stamford, CT. His life in the colonies was one of living and working under the strict Puritan governance associated with John Winthrop and Richard Saltonstall.

Refugees of 1776 from Long Island to Connecticut

Nicholas appears multiple times in Massachusetts Bay court records. In one record, Nicholas was fined for pretending or claiming to cure scurvy by using a local water source that the court judged to have no medicinal worth. Oops!

His other legal woes included land disputes, fines, and behavioral or regulatory infractions. Specifically he engaged in, an unlicensed medical practice, misuse or promotion of land or water resources and making claims that could cause disorder or deception. As shocking as this may seem, it did not necessarily mean that he was a con man because early settlers experimented with remedies – I would love to see a movie about him!

He had enough of a standing not to be jailed but was fined.

Nicholas passed away on April 16, 1670, in Stamford, Connecticut.

Joseph Francis Fenton (or Finton) 1761-1851. My 4th great grandfather.

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Joseph Francis Fenton was my 4th great grandfather.

Here is how I relate:

I wanted to write about this ancestor partly because he has been so carefully researched by many other folk on Ancestry and they have shared valuable photos and other documents about Joseph. I wanted to pool all of these resources into one spot in order to share them easily with my family.

Joseph’s surname was Finton and this is how his first grave marker was inscribed, but later, when a new plaque was made the surname was changed to Fenton.

When Joseph Francis Finton was born on February 28, 1761, in Dutchess, New York, his father, William, was 29 and his mother, Mary George Fenton, was 29. He married Margaret Swegals in 1781 in New York. They had 11 children in 24 years. Joseph’s wife Margaret Swegals (my 4th great grandmother) died of measles on 30 March 1822.

Later, in 1825, he married Thankful Gillett and he had no children with this second wife.

He died on October 23, 1851, in Barrington, New York, at the impressive age of 90, and was buried in Penn Yan, New York.

He had a military background:

Source is DAR Lineage Book NSDAR Volume 166:1921


This is what is inscribed on a tablet:
Dedication of Joseph F. Finton Tablet in Penn Yan Cemetery, Nov. 27, 1934

Enlisted June 1778 for 3 years, under Capt. Craig, went recruiting for 3 months. Joined 3rd Pa. Regt. in the fall under Col. Craig (brother of Capt. Craig) Lt. Col. Wiliams & Major Biles.

He was in the assault and taking of Stoney Point in 1779, and in an engagement at Bargains Point, at the time of Arnold’s defection, soldier went to West Point and remained there some time. He was also in New Jersey a long time.

This photo of his tombstone also shows military associations:

Lived from 1761 to 1851


The burying ground of the Finton family was located on the family farm until most of the burials were removed to Lakeview Cemetery in Penn Yan, where they are today.

JOSEPH COMES TO BARRINGTON

The source (Page 145-148-The Fintons and Crosbys) gives us the following information about the farm.

“Joseph Finton was a revolutionary soldier, and came with his family into Barrington, (then Wayne) from New Jersey in the Spring of 1806, and settled on land in the northwest part of the town, which, for some unexplained reason, was not run into lots and numbered wih the original survey. There was enough of this land for about five lots, and it was marked on an early map as “very poor.” Mr. Finton chose this location rather than land more heavily timbered in Milo, because in the open, less wooded land, there seemed a prospect of sooner getting food for stock, which was an object of great importance to pioneer settler. The Bath road at that time was a crooked way through the woods, and Mr. Joseph S. Finton, who lives now on the spot where his after settled, thinks it was not opened as a highway till after the lake road. Their first school for that neighborhood, was in a log house, north of the Barrington line, near the present residence of Job. L. Babcock, on land long owned by Jonathan Bailey. The house was warmed by a hugh old fashioned fireplace, capable of holding almost a cord of wood. School was principally attended to in the winter; and Mr. Finton says that on all the pleasant days they had to stay at home and break flax. Cotton was not king then, and flax wrought by home industry, was the most important element for clothing the family.”

The photo below of the Fenton farm was as pictured after the 1851 death of Joseph.

Finton Farm 1876


The next photograph was not taken until 1925 (Joseph had died in 1851)

1926 photo of the Finton Farm