Tuesday, August 6, 2019

Lemuel "the Deacon" Knapp

Lemuel is the name of a King. He is mentioned in the book of Proverbs in the Bible. Proverbs 31:1-31 The chapter is about something his Mother teaches him. There is no other mention of him outside this and no one can be sure who he was. 

I have decided to hunt the Ghost of every Lemuel in all of my trees. 

I started with Lemuel Knapp. 
Lemuel Knapp was born in Sturbridge, or at least the text, Aaron Knapp of Taunton, Mass. in 1638 and some of his descendants : a genealogy founded upon the research of Charles Ruggles Knapp, Ezra Fred Knapp, Vesta V. Knapp, Shepherd Knapp and Alfred Averill Knapp,  says Jonathon Knapp, Stockbridge ( I believe it is meant to be Sturbridge) had Lemuel, baptized March 4, 1744. Sturbridge is in Worcester. Massachusetts and other documents point him being born in Sturbridge.  I can find nothing else of Lemuel until he shows up in Thompson, Windham, Connecticut in November of 1765 when he marries Mary Marsh. Then nothing more is found until 14 October 1807. 

Deacon Lemuel Knapp shows up to a gathering of Baptist leaders from around the area of Worcester County, Massachusetts in support of the ordination of Calvin Cooper to the pulpit. 

Deacon Lemuel Knapp dies 16 December 1818 and is buried in the East Thompson Cemetery in Thompson, Windham, Connecticut. 

                           
                                         Photo by ASB

Lemuel was a man who went quietly through life. Men like that are needed.