The history of the town of Dorchester, Massachusetts, By a committee of the Dorchester antiquarian and historical society ...

HISTORY OF DORCHESTER. 291
1723-24, aged about 41 years. He was a large real
estate owner, and was proprietor of the mill known
as " Clap's Mill," which stood on the Creek near the
foot of Willow Court. He was a brother of Rev.
Nathaniel Clap, the famous minister of Newport,
R. I., whose advice to children makes the concluding
paragraph in the old New England Primer. He was
father of Noah Clap, A.M., so many years in the
town's service. Lieut. Samuel Clap died January
30th, succeeding. Blake says, " both of them very
pious and useful men, and much lamented."
February 24th, of this year, there was an exceedingly high tide, probably the highest known here,
until April, 1852.
1724. This year a portion of the south precinct of
the town was set off to Wrentham, on petition of
Jonathan Blake, Solomon Hews, and others. This
petition, like most similar ones since, was opposed
by the town; but it would seem that sufficient cause
was shown by the petitioners for their request; viz.,
" that they lye thirty miles from the old meetinghouse, and fifteen from the southern meeting-house
at Puncapaug, so that they are under great disadvantages for attending the public worship there."
The size of the town of Dorchester can be imagined when we find that it extended from Dorchester Point (now South Boston Point), over
against the Castle (now Fort Independence), to
within 160 rods of the line of Rhode Island; about
35 miles as " ye road goeth." The part this year
set off to Wrentham, was larger than one half of the
present town of Canton. An excellent and authen