His birthdate is frequently listed as 13 January 1738/9. Belknap was born in New England [+], removing to Newburgh with his parents, Samuel Belknap (b 1707) and Lydia Stearns, about 1749. He was one of twelve known children. He's a Revolutionary War veteran who served as 1st Sergeant, Capt. Birdsall's Company, Ulster County Militia, 4th Regiment for which he was awarded bounty land. In October 1777, Gen. James Clinton made his Headquarters at Belknap's house. His signature on the Oath of Allegiance to New York State, dated c. 1785, can be seen on the Ulster County Archives website. He is DAR Patriot #A008655. He created a soap factory that lasted for generations, acted as a Magistrate, and served as a Trustee for the First Presbyterian Church in New Windsor, among other community involvements.

Belknap was married to:

1. Mollie / Molly Richardson on 4 Oct 1765.

• Children:
• a. Stephen (1766 - 1848), married Mrs. Sarah Mace.
• b. Chancey (1768 - 1840), m1. 9 Jul 1788 Sarah Belknap (daughter of Jonathan), m2. Mercy Belknap (also daughter of Jonathan).
• c. Sarah.
• d. Molly.

2. Hannah Williams of Huntington, Long Island, on 6 Jun 1776.

• Child:
• e. Rachel Fleet

3. Hannah Williams of Sharon CT, on 6 Feb 1785 in Sharon, CT.

• Children:
• f. Abel (1785 - 1854), m1. Mary Gregory (daughter of Samuel), m2. Sally D. Munn.
• g. Moses Higby (1787 - 1855), m1. Margaret (also daughter of Samuel), m2. Ruth P. Cook.
• h. Aaron (1789 - 1847), m Josepha L S Belknap (daughter of Samuel).
• i. Margaret.
• j. Edwin Starr (b. 1794), m Rachel T. Price.
• k. Julia Ann, m William B Johnson.

Siblings:

• William Belknap, b 27 May 1730
• Ruth Belknap, b 11 Nov 1731
• Isaac Belknap, b 14 Dec 1733
• Samuel Belknap, b 18 Oct 1735
• Lydia Belknap, b 28 Feb 1737
• Mary Belknap, b 9 Jan 1740
• Ruth Belknap, b 14 May 1742
• David Belknap, b 14 Jan 1744
• Abigail Belknap, b 17 Apr 1745
• Jonathan Belknap, b 7 Sep 1748
• Olive Belknap, b 5 Apr 1751
• A Record of Births, Marriages and Deaths in the town of Sharon, Conn. from 1721 to 1879 taken from Ancient Land and Church Records and other Authentic Sources, Lawrence VanAlstyne, 1897, Page 138.
• Genealogy and memoirs of Isaac Stearns and his descendants, Avis Stearns Van Wagenen, 1901 Page 32-33.
• History of the county of Orange, with a history of the town and city of Newburgh; general, analytical and biographical, Edward Manning Ruttenber, 1875 Pages 136, 143, 210, 296, 358-362.
• New York in the Revolution as Colony and State, 2nd Edition, James A Roberts, Comptroller, 1898, Page 264.
• Oath of Allegiance to the State of New York, c.1785, Ulster County Clerk, Archives Division, http://archives.co.ulster.ny.us/oathofallegiancetothestate.htm Accessed 14 Aug 2011.
• Old Town Cemetery, "Men Who Served the War of the Revolution" Website, accessed 23 Jan 2011.
• Rights of Man, The, [newspaper] 19 Nov 1804, Obituary.
• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Jun 6 2020, 0:07:29 UTC