Why did they come to America?
Here is an account of my ancestor Roger Clapp - who came to America in 1630
His account mirrors the sentiment of many others of that time period.
How many of you have narratives about why your ancestors moved to a new land or made decisions that affected their descendants for many generations.
what can you share?
The Memoir of Capt. Roger Clapp of Dorchester
ca. 1640
Redacted to modern English by John Beardsley.
The brief Memoir of Roger Clapp is a first-hand account of the settling of Dorchester, 1630, and goes on to cover events in the Colony up to the time when he set down to write it, about 1680. It is our best surviving example of the voice of an "average" settler. What follows are excerpts containing all that pertains to the period up to about 1640. About half of our members are descended from Dorchester’s first-settlers, and we hope they will find this of special interest. Names have been parenthetically inserted in italics where omitted in the original.
The Memoir
I thought good, my children, to leave you with some account of God’s remarkable providences to me, in bringing me to this land, and placing me here among his dear servants, and in his house, who am most unworthy of the least of his 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 (Salcombe Regis), in Devonshire, in the year of our lord 1609. My father was a man who feared God, and in good esteem among God’s faithful servants. His outward estate was not great, I think not above £ 80 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 (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 mother being dead) that I might live abroad, which he consented to. So I first went for trial to live with a worthy gentleman, Mr. William Southcot, who lived about three miles from the city of Exeter. He was careful to keep a godly family. There being but a very mean preacher in that place, he went every Lord’s day into the city, where were many famous preachers of the word of God. I then took such a liking to the Rev. 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 a Mr. Mossiour, as famous a family for religion as I ever knew. He kept seven or eight men and diverse maid-servants, and he had a conference upon a question propounded once a week in his own family. With him I covenanted.
I never so much 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 if I would go. I told him, were I not engaged to 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 entreat 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 Rev. Mr. (John) Maverick, who lived 40 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. 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 21 years.
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