Robert Knapp was probably the son of the Robert Knapp mentioned in the title page for the Knapp family. He was born about 1560 and married in Wells, Norfolk Co, England before 1580. His occupation is listed as Yeoman which means he was a member of the class of farmers ranked just below the gentry. He worked his own land but would have still been a retainer of sorts to the local Lord of the Manor. While he would not have been considered a wealthy man, he was probably comfortably well off. He died in Wells in 1617 amd is buried there