Born on November 5, 1782 in Northampton, Ma.
Died on October 29,1868 in Pittsfield
First wife: Patience Stockbridge, died July 18,1839
Second wife: Cecelia Eldridge Luce
Had three children
Mr. Clapp came to Pittsfield from Northampton to apprentice in the carriage business at seventeen. He became a foreman of L. Pomeroy’s Manufacturing and remained there for six years.
In 1810 started his own carriage business as well as operating a stage coach route from Albany to Boston.
In 1832 his company was awarded a contract by the federal government to deliver mail between the two cities.
In 1840 he partnered with his son Edwin Clapp under the firm name of Jason Clapp & Son.
They employed forty to fifty men by 1856.
Over the life cycle of their business they taught more than three hundred apprentices to learn their trade.
Their carriages were known for their quality of workmanship and were used by the likes of President
Franklin Pierce. Their carriages also found a market in Europe .
Many metals were awarded the company for their fine carriages.
The company even produced a fire engine for the Pittsfield Fire Department.
In 1835 Mr. Clapp was an incorporator of the Pittsfield Mutual Fire Insurance Co.
He was also elected twice as a representative to the general court.
Clapp Park on West Housatonic was named after Jason Clapp.