The Knapps owned The Shrubbery in Eynsham until the 1740s: "The Shrubbery on High Street was probably rebuilt in the later 16th century by another leading Eynsham family, the Martins. By 1650 the house and associated estate were held by Thomas King, a sequestrated clergyman, whose interest derived from his wife Dorothy, formerly Martin. King died in 1681 and from Dorothy's son Michael Martin the house passed to Michael's children, Richard, and later Christopher, Knight or Martin (d. 1702). It was acquired by the Knapps, who sold it in the 1740s to Edward Ryves, a Woodstock lawyer.  (British History Online - Eynsham Buildings) 

"By deed dated 1753 John Knapp and his wife sold to Edward Ryves a messuage, 60 acres of land, 30 acres of meadow, 30 acres of pasture, and 4 acres of land covered with water, common of pasture etc in Eynsham, with a fishery in the Isis, etc."  (A History of the Chief English Families Bearing the Name of Knapp)

Ann died and was buried 22 August 1761 in Eynsham.

John Knapp was christened 15 September 1685 in Cumnor, Berkshire, the son of George Knapp and Mary Buswell. Cumnor is a parish about five miles south of Eynsham.


The Knapps came to Eynsham from Cumnor and seem to have had a long assocation with both locations: "The rectory had been held by successive lords of the manor until 1658, when Thomas Jordan sold to John Knapp of Cumnor the parsonage (formerly the abbey) barn, the adjacent Farm Court (a 4-acre plot now partly covered by Abbey Farm), and all the tithes except vicarial tithes and those of the demesne. Knapp was already lessee of the rectory under a grant of 1654. In 1662 he settled it on his son Francis, who in 1691 settled it on his son John. In 1692 the property was mortgaged to Stephen Fry of Oxford university, who bought the freehold in 1704." (British History Online - Eynsham)



John married Mary Dodwell  of the city of Oxford on 22 June 1710 in Horspath, Oxfordshire, a parish about ten miles from Eynsham.




Mary was christened 27 April 1689 in Oxford St. Michaels, the daughter of Richard and Ann Dodwell. Richard was a lawyer in the city of Oxford.


Mary's brother Richard left a will in 1727 mentioning Mary, and ensuring that she had her own private funds: "I give and bequeath to my Sister Knapp twenty pounds per annum to be paid her at the four most usuall ffeast days in the year by my executor hereinafter mentioned without any deduction for any manner of taxes and without the intermedling of her husband and no receipt shall be sufficient which is not under own hand."


John maintained contact with his mother's Buswell family, and in February of 1729 provided a recommendation for a Buswell cousin to become the rector of Kiddington, Oxfordshire: "Robert Buswell, M.A. of Trinity College, Oxford, on the death of Cudworth, was instituted Feb. 3, on the presentation of Robert Buswell of Westcote Barton, and John Knapp of Ensham, gentleman." (The History and Antiquities of Kiddington )


John died and was buried 13 February 1729 in Eynsham.


John left a will written 9 May 1722 and proven in 1729. His will may indicate some concern about his funds and debts:



In the name of God Amen I John Knapp of Ensham in the County of Oxon gent after an entire assignation of my soul to the will and pleasure of Almighty God with my prayers for his  future mercies & thankfull acknowledgement of his psent blessings in that portion of worldly estate he hath been pleased to afford me with considering the uncertainty of the life that I now enjoy a perfect health do make and ordain this my last will & comitt and recommend the guardian ship of my children while they are under age of one and twenty years unto my father in law Mr Doddwell my brother in law John Bartholomew and my brother in law John Knapp and the survivours and survivor of them who I constitute guardian of my said children until their sayd age of one and twenty years. Item I give and confirm also that my messuage lands & estate in Ensham aforesayd which were settled by deeds of settlement before and after marriage with my now wife for her joynture and all other my messuage land tenements and hereditiments in Ensham aforsayd and else where unto my son John Knapp his heirs and assigns for ever except the right of my sayd wife theirin. But nevertheless subject unto a charged with the payment of the severall sums of money herein after for that purpose particularly mentioned and expressed and under the provision here in containd concerning the same. Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Mary the sum of four hundred pounds of lawfull money of Gr Brittain for her portion to be paid unto her at the age of one and twenty years without interest for the same except in case my said father in law and his now wife should dye that and in such case I give and bequeath unto my said daughter the yearly sum of ten pounds of lawfull money of Great Brittain to commence from and imediatly after the death of my sayd father and mother in law to be paid her by four quarterly payments equally divided until her sayd portion shall become due and pay able the first payment to be made three months after the decease of my said father and mother in law. Item I give and bequeathe unto my daughter Elizabeth the sum of six hundred pounds of lawfull money of Gr Brittain for her portion to be paid unto her when she shall be of the age of one and twenty years and in the maintime for the maintenance of my said daughter Elizabeth from and  after my decease I doe give unto her the yearly sum of ten pounds until she shall attain the age of thirteen years and after she shall attaind the age of thirteen I give her the yearely sum of eighteen pounds until such time as her sayd porion shall become due and payable which said sum of ten pounds and eighteen pounds a year shall be paid att four most usale feast or days of payment in the yearly St. Michell the Arch Angel St. Thomas the apostle the Annunciacon of the blessed Virgin Mary and St. John the Baptist by equal portion the first payment thereof to be made on such of the sayd feast as shall first happen after my decease and I do wholey charge the messuages land tenements and hereditements herein before bequeathed unto my son John Knapp with the payment of my sayd daughters portion and yearly maintenance in maner aforesd with out any deducons for taxes or any otherwise howsoever and in case either of my sayd daughter should dye before she attaine to her age of one and twenty years then I give one moiety or half portion so dying to the survivor of them and the other moiety to my son John provided always and my will and meaning is that in case my personal estate shall not be sufficient to sattisfye and pay my debts and funeral expences which I desire may be decent and as private as possible then my will is that my father in law and my said brother in law shall enter into and upon all and every the messuage land and  pmisses  which I have here in before bequeathed unto my sayd son John which are my wifes jointure and recieve ye rents issues and profitts thereof after payment of the yearly maintenance herein before given unto my said daughters in manner aforesd and pay ye same for and towards payment of my debts and if at my decease there shall be any mortgages on any of my sayd land by me I do hereby authorize and requier my sayd father in law and my sayd brother in law and the survivours or survivor of them the executors and adminstrators of such survivor to assign and transfer the same as they shall soe mete and convenient until the profites of my estate will discharge them but not to advance any further sums than what shall be due and owing their on but my intent is that my sayd son shall be maintained during his mothers life out of the said rents in case my sayd wife makes no provision for him then I leave to the discretion of his guardians to do as think well & also my goods chattles bond, debts dues & demands whatsoever I give and bequeath unto my sayd father in law Mr Doddwell and my sayd brother in law John Bartholomew and John Knapp whom I do hereby nominate and appoint sole executors of this my last will and testament in trust that they doe with all convenient speed gett in what debts are owing to me & sell and dispose of all my said goods and cattles to the best advantage they can with the monys thereby & thereof pay & discharge my debts and funeral expences and that they doe in the first place pay all my debts on simple contracts then my bonds & lastly mortgages whereas I am contracting with the right Honorable Earl of Abingdon for putting my sons life into ye mills and tythes of Botley if it should be effected I doe here by give ye same to my sayd executors to sell ye same & to pay the money ariseing by such sale toward ye payment of my debts and I doe hereby give unto each of my executors who shall proper to undertake their care three guineas a peece for their trouble. In witness wherof I have to this my last will & testament conteyning two sheets of paper to each of them set my hand and seal the ninth day of May Anno Dom one thousand seven hundred twenty two John Knapp Signed sealed published and declared by them with in  named testator to be his last will & testament in the psence and subscribed by us who are witnesses thereof in ye psence of the testator John Ayres Thomas Merry Mary Ayers her marke




         Signature of John Knapp



Mary's father Richard Dodwell died in 1722, and her mother Ann had moved to Eynsham.

The widowed Mary married again 23 October 1740 in Oxford St. Mary Magdalen to John Hampshire of Eynsham. John Hampshire died two year later, and was buried 4 August 1742 in Eynsham. John left a will in 1742, leaving his land to his cousin William Wastie, and his household goods and horse to Mary: “Also I give and bequeath unto my maid servant Mrs Catherine Hopkins three guineas. Also all my household goods of all sorts within doors I give and bequeath the same unto my beloved wife Mary Hampshire and to her assigns forever, and also the gelding called by the name of Dick and the harness belonging to the sheaws and the sheaws I give and bequeath the same unto my beloved wife Mary Hampshire and to her assigns forever.” William Wastie was the executor for the will. 


Mary's mother Ann Dodwell of Eynsham died in 1742, leaving a will. In her will she left all her goods to "my daughter Hampshire". In the probate record at the end of her will, her executor was shown as Mary Hampshire, widow.


Mary lived another eleven years. She died and was buried 13 March 1753 in Eynsham.




Mary left a will in 1753, which may provide some insights into her family relationships. Her son John Knapp was left only one shilling, and no other family members were left bequests. Her land, money and other goods were left to her maid Catherine Hopkiins, who was also named as her executor.




In the name of God Amen I Mary Hampshire of Ensham in the County of Oxford widow being of sound and perfect mind and memory thanks be given to Almighty God for the same and calling to mind the uncertainty of this life, and being desirous to settle things in order do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner following (that is to say) principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul into the hands of Almighty God that gave it, and my body I commit to the Earth to be buried in a Christian like and decent manner at the discretion of my executrix herein after named, and as touching such worldly estate goods and chattels wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life, I give devise and dispose of the same in the following maner and form. First, I give and bequeath unto my son John Knapp one shilling. Also I give and bequeath unto my servant Catherine Hopkins and to her heirs and assigns all that my piece of meadow ground with the appurtenances called or known by the name of Thames Mead, lying in the parish of Appleton in the County of Berks. I give and bequeath all that my said piece of meadow ground with all and singular the appurtenances thereunto belonging, unto my said servant Catherine Hopkins and to her heirs and assigns forever. Also all the rest and residue of my moneys goods and chattels whatsoever of what nature and kindsoever, after my just debts and ffuneral expences are paid and discharged, I give and bequeath the same and every part and parcel thereof unto my said servant Catherine Hopkins my full whole and sole executrix of this my last will and testament. And I do hereby utterly revoke disannul and make void all other former will and wills by me heretofore made, ratifying and confirming this and none other to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof I the said Mary Hampshier have hereunto sett my hand and seal [torn] of November in the three and twentieth year of the reigne of our sovereign Lord George the second by the grace of God of Great Britain ffrance and Ireland King Defender of the ffaith, and so forth, and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ffortynine.
Mary Hampshier 16 March 1753



     Signature of Mary Hampshire




John and Mary had the following children:


1. Mary (mentioned in grandfather Richard Dodwell's will of 1722)


2. Ann, christened 19 August 1712 in Eynsham; bur 22 February 1716 in Eynsham.


3. Elizabeth, christened 17 February 1714 in Eynsham; married Thomas Meacock 7 November 1734 in Eynsham.


*4. John, christened 2 September 1715 in Eynsham; married Anne; buried 24 April 1756 in Eynsham.



 Baptism record for John Knapp in Eynsham: "Johannes filius Johannis Knapp baptizat: Sept: 2"



SOURCES: Eynsham parish register; www.ancestry.co.uk; will of John Knapp of Eynsham, 1729; The Eynsham Record, 1988; Gravestones in the Chancel of St. Leonards by Donald Richards' British History Online: Eynsham; A History of the Chief English Families Bearing the name of Knapp, by Oswald Greenwaye Knapp.





George Knapp was christened 16 January 1641 in Harwell, Berkshire, the son of John Knapp. George married first, Sarah Smart, both of Cumnor. Sarah died and was buried 14 December 1673 in Eynsham


George as a widower of Eynsham, married Mary Bolton in 1683. Mary was shown as a widow of Wootton, Oxfordshire.


Mary Buswell married Thomas Bolton 8 October 1677 in Wescote Barton, Oxfordshire.


By her first husband, Thomas Bolton she had a daughter, Hester Bolton, who married John Bartholomew of London, citizen and goldsmith. Thomas and Mary also had a younger daughter, Mary, who died a few months after Thomas. Thomas died in 1680, leaving a will: "In the name of God Amen I Thomas Bolton of Wootton in the County of Oxond yeoman beinge weake in body but of pfect memory I prayse God doe make appoint and ordayne this my last will and testament in maner and forme as followeth first I bequeath my soule into the hands of Allmighty God my heavenly father through Jesus Christ my most mercifull Redeemer by whose merits alone I hope to be saved and my body to the earth to be buryed in the pish church of Wootton aforsd as for my worldly goods chattles and cattles I give and bequeath them as followeth Imprimis I give unto my eldest daughter Hester Bolton all my messuage and halfef yard in Wootton holden by coppie of inheritance and formerly knowne by the name of Simonsey his land after the decease of Mary Bolton my wife and her mother to the onely use and behoof of her the sd Hester Bolton and her heires for ever. Itim I likewise give unto her my sd daughter Hester Bolton the sum of two hundred pounds to be paide to her when she cometh to the age of one and twenty years old. Itim I give unto my youngest daughter Mary Bolton the sum of two hundred pounds to be paide to her when she cometh to the age of one and twenty years old and if either of them die before they shall com to the age aforsd then the aforsd half yard land and messuage and half the others portion of money to remaine to the longest liver of them and the other half of their portion of money to remain to their mother. Itim I give unto Alice Camden of Northly five shillings. Itim all the rest of my goods chattles and cattles I give and bequeath unto my dearly beloved wife Mary whom I doe hearby make my hole and sole executrix of this my last will and testament and doe likewise nominate and appoint William Bolton my brother and John Buswell my brother in law to be my ffeofies in trust to see this my will pformed for the good of my children. In witness wherof I have hereunto set my hand and seale the second day of December in the two and thirtieth yeare of his majesties reigne that now is and the yeare of our Lord God 1680. Thomas Bolton. Sealed and delivered in the presents of George Bolton Robert Buswell his marke John Boddington"


George and Mary "lived in Cumnor till about 1690, when he moved across the Thames to the adjoining parish of Eynsham.” (A History of the Chief English Families Bearing the Name of Knapp)  George moved from Cumnor to Eynsham between 1687 and 1690. He acquired land in Eynsham: "Another substantial 17th-century house forms the core of the later Newland House, the site of the 'ancient holding' around which Newland borough was laid out in the 13th century...In 1708 another Thomas Brown sold the house to George Knapp, whose family retained it until 1771. " (British History Online - Eynsham Buildings)


He was “trustee of the marriage settlement of his step-daughter Hester Bolton on 1 January 1704 and was legatee of the will of John Knapp of Little Linford in his will of 1706." (A History of the Chief English Families Bearing the Name of Knapp)

 
Mary died and was buried 14 May 1694 in Eynsham.


Mary's monumental inscription is recorded in an article on the gravestones in the chancel of St. Leonards in The Eynsham Record:




George died and was buried 18 December 1711 in Eynsham. He was buried in the church of St. Leonards in Eynsham: "Floor slabs include those of George Knapp (d. 1711)". (British History Online - Eynsham: Churches) 


"George Knapp was buried on the day he died. He was a friend of John Bartholomew and a trustee of his will. His own will, which he made on December 10, 1711, is in the County Record Office." (The Eynsham Record, 1988; Gravestones in the Chancel of St. Leonards) George's father was shown as George Knapp on the abstract of his monumental inscription, but there is some doubt about the accuracy of that abstraction: “The inscription on his tomb was copied about 1794 as follows, “Here lieth the body of George Knapp the son of George Knapp, who departed his life Dec 18, 1711, age 80” The statement of his age and parentae if correct is fatal to the identification which requires him to be the son of John Knapp and age 70. It is not unlikely that a mistake was made as to his age. The bald statement of his parentage, so unusual in the case of a man of his age and the father of a family, is sufficient of itself to arouse a suspicion of its accuracy, but it cannot now be checked for the stone, after being partly covered by pews for more than a century was at the last restoration of the chancel, move to one side and is now entirely concealed by the flooring of the choir benchen. The identification is however made almost certain by the board of donations to the Bartholomew School, 1703, preserved in the old School Room; which records that John Knapp, Esq. gave £10, Mr. Francis Knapp £1 and Mr. George Knapp £2.3.0. The second of these must be Francis Knapp of Shilton, and son of John Knapp of Swinford, while the first is almost certainly his younger brother. One can hardly avoid the conclusion that Mr George Knapp was the youngest of the brothers.” (A History of the Chief English Families Bearing the Name of Knapp)