Representative women of New England/Roselth A. Knapp

by Mary H. Graves

ROSELTH ADAMS KNAPP was born August 27, 1854, in South Boston, Mass. She is a daughter of the late Joseph Moulton and Abigail (Weed) Adams. Her father, a native of New London, N.H., was the son of the Rev. Theophilus Bradbury Adams, a Baptist clergyman, and a lineal descendant of Robert Adams, an early .settler of Newbury, Mass. Her maternal grandfather was Elijah Weed, of Unity, N.H. Roselth Adams attended a private school in South Boston until she was eight years of age, when her parents moved to Cambridgeport, where she completed her education in the public schools. She also studied voice culture, and for several years was connected with the choir of the Broadway Baptist Church, Cambridgeport. She was a popular singer at musicales and other entertainments, and often sang at social and public gatherings with Allen Brown, donor of the musical library that is kept in the department room known as the Brown Room of the Boston Public Library. She was married in November, 1878, by the Rev. A. E. Winsliip, to Samuel Knapp, of Somerville.

Since her marriage Mrs. Knapp has lived in Somerville. As a member of the Prospect Hill Congregational Church, she is interested in its religious and charitable work. In 1879 she joined the Independent Relief Corps, of Somerville, which was connected with Willard C. Kinsley Post, G. A. R. This was one of the first women's societies in Massachusetts recognized as an auxiliary to a post of the Grand Army of the Republic. Although the corps was very prosperous as a local organization, it decided in 1882 to broaden its work and re- organize as a subordinate corps of the Department of Massachusetts, W. R. C, under the title of Willard C. Kinsley Relief Corps, No. 21. Mrs. Knapp was a charter member, and after serving in several offices was installed as President in January, 1886. With faithfulness and ability she performed the duties of her pffice throughout the year, and by her cordial manner gained many friends in other corps. The appointments of Department Aide, Assistant Inspector, and Installing Officer having been conferred upon her by Department Presidents, she has performed the duties of these several positions with credit. At the annual conventions of the Department of Massachusetts, Woman's Relief Corps, Mrs. Knapp has been entrusted with important committee work, and in 1886 was elected a delegate at large to the national convention at Columbus, Ohio.

Mrs. Knapp is a prominent December of J. Howard Payne Council of the Home Circle of North Cambridge, and served one term as its leader. She is also a member of the In- dependent Social Club, of the Patriotic Order of America, and the Somerville Lodge, Independent Order of Oikl Ladies, in which she has filled most of the chairs, including that of presiding officer. Mrs. Knapp has two brothers and three sisters, viz.: Joseph M. Adams of Worcester, Adelbert A. Adams of Cambridge, Mrs. Abbie A. Tower of California, Mrs. Clara L. Wiswell of Somerville, and Mrs. Laura E. Mirick of Winthrop.

Her sister, Mrs. Abbie Adams Tower, is a teacher of elocution and physical training, also a lecturer and reader. She is a graduate of the Emerson School of Oratory, of the Teachers' Science Course of Lowell Institute, and is interested in art, science, and philosophy. Among her professional duties is that of teacher of parliamentary law. Mrs. Tower is president of the Ruskin Club of Boston.

Mr. Knapp was born in 1846 in Newburyport, Mass., and is a son of the late Captain Samuel Knapp, of that city. When seventeen years of age he enlisted in the Fifth Massachusetts Regiment, commanded by Colonel George H. Pierson, and was mustered into the service as a member of Company B, July 28, 1864, at which time the regiment left Camp Meigs, Readville, for the South. Mr. Knapp is a comrade of Willard C. Kinsley Post, No. 139, G. A. R., of Somerville, is a past leader of J. Howard Payne Council of the Home Circle of North Cambridge and chairman of its Board of Trustees, a member of Franklin Lodge, Knights of Pythias, of Somerville, and of the West Somwville Social Club. He is also a member of the Winthrop Yacht Club.

Mr. and Mrs. Knapp have many friends in various sections of the State. Their only child, Roselth Adams, was born in Somerville, September 1, 1879. She was married September 17, 1902, to Granville Domett Breed, of Cambridge, Mass., a direct descendant of the family once the owners of Breed's Hill, Charlestown. Mrs. Breed is a professional elocutionist. She is a member of the Ruskin Club, an officer in the J. Howard Payne Council of the Home Circle, and a member of the Willard C. Kinsley Relief Corps.