When David Lapham was born on 28 December 1753, in Smithfield, Providence, Rhode Island, United States, his father, Joshua Lapham, was 32 and his mother, Hannah Sherman, was 26. He married Judith Smith about 1776, in Adams, Berkshire, Massachusetts, United States. They were the parents of at least 6 sons and 3 daughters. He died on 28 January 1830, in Farmington, Ontario, New York, United States, at the age of 76, and was buried in Farmington, Ontario, New York, United States.