Holbrook line: The family of Jost Clapp 1669-abt 1731

My maternal line is full of ancestors from western Europe who came to either New England or the mid-Atlantic and went west from there.  For the most part, they arrived in the 17th century (some very early) and although it is a joy to get to know a bit about them, it is strange only in the sense that the many years that have passed have made our worlds so very different.  But there are a few families in this line who come from a different culture and place, one that still feels strange to me.  

One of those "other" places is Germany, or the many states that make up what is now Germany, and one of those families is the Clapp family.  Jost, usually seen as Johann Jost, is the son of Nikolaus and Elizabeth Potter Clapp, and was born in 1669 in Istha, Hesse, Germany.  He married Anna Margaretha Stauder, the daughter of Michael and Anna Appolina Stauder and they raised their family in Weisenheim am Berg in the Palatinate, where the children were born. In 1727, the family, including the six known children and spouses (for most) emigrated to America, and Jost died about 1731 in Berks County, Pennsylvania.

I used the term "known children" because there are all sorts of lists on different genealogy sites as to how many children this couple have.  I am reasonably sure that many of the children given as belonging to this couple belong to another Clapp family.  However, there does seem to be a gap of a few years from roughly 1710 to 1716, when there could well be other children who were born to this couple, and for whatever reason, were not noted in the records, or the records for those years may not be available.  So I'm keeping an open mind, and would love to hear from someone who can fill in the blanks, if there are any.

Their first born was a son, George Valentine, born in 1702 and died in 1773 in Guilford County, North Carolina, where most of the Clapp children ended up.  He married Anna Barbara Steiss, the daughter of Philip and Anna Dohlmann Steiss.  Their children are an infant, Maria ELizabeth, John Philip, Maria Veronica, Jacob, George, and Maria Barbara.  I will write more of this family in a future post.

Johann Ludwig may or may not have been born next.  I see birth years for him from 1704 to 1707, but no firm dates.  He married Anna Margaret Strader, the daughter of Caspar Heinrich and Margaret Catherine Uhrmeister.  He died in 1778 in Guilford County, North Carolina.  Their children are Bernhart (Barney), Anna Margaretha, Charles, Maria Barbara, George Valentine, John Ludwig, Catherine, Daniel, Anna Maria, Jacob, Stephen, John, and Esther.  I will also be writing a blog post about this family.

Maria Elizabeth was born in 1706 and married Johann Adam Volpel (also seen as Philple).  I have found three children for them, Johann Adam, Anna Maria, and Anna Catherine.  There may be more children, or she may have died as a young woman, perhaps in or as a result of childbirth.  I have not located a death date or location. so "If you know something, say something."

Anna Catherine was born about 1708 and married Christian Miller.  He died soon after the family arrived in America, possibly with a child.  Anna Catherina then married Heinrich Schucardt (Shucker).  They had at least 8 children, including Johan Jost, Johanna Maria, Johannes, Maria Christina, Johann Heinrich, Wilhelm, Tobias, and Anna Maria.  She died in 1750 in Berks County, Pennsylvania.   

Anna Margaretha was born about 1710 and married Hans George Coch (Cook).  I have found no further information about her, other than a supposed death date of 1780 in Berks County, Pennsylvania, unsubstantiated as far as I can tell.  I don't know whether there were children, whether she actually died earlier, or anything at all.  I would love to find the rest of her story!

Finally, Maria Veronica was born, but not until December of 1716.  She married Philip Carl Jaeger, known as Charles Hunter, and died in 1745 in Yadkin County, North Carolina.  Their children are Maria Phillipina, Jacob, Daniel, John Henry, Joseph, and Charles.   

There are various other children claimed to belong to this family-another Anna Catherine, a Maria Catherine, and Johann Phillip, Johanna, and Joseph.  However, the birth dates given are too late for Anna Margaretha to be their mother (even 1716 is stretching it, as she was born about 1673).  As of this writing, unless someone or something changes my mind, I think these children belong to another family or families.  

The Clapps came from Germany.  Some put down roots in Pennsylvania, some left and traveled south on the Great Wagon Road, stopping and staying in North Carolina, until later generations stayed, or moved northward.  We'll see where some of them ended their days in later posts, but we're glad they came!