Knowles Family Line

Joshua Wilson, Jr. (1775 - 1839)

Birthdate: June 18, 1775

Birthplace: Colony of Virginia

Denomination: (probably) Presbyterian

Death: April 11, 1839 in Gibson, Indiana

Burial: Wilson Cemetery Gibson County Indiana

James Damon Knowles (1757 - 1839)

James Knowles I

Parents:

Richard I. Knowles, Sr.

1715-1791

Prudence Elizabeth Prettyman

1720-1765

Family 1

Spouse:

Patience Marvel

1758-1817

Patience Knowles

Birthdate: January 31, 1758

Birthplace: Sussex County, Delaware Colony

Denomination: (probably) Presbyterian

Date of Marriage: January 31, 1778

Place of Marriage: Sussex County, Delaware Colony

Cause: died of consumption years before leaving Georgia.

Burial: Knowles Cemetery, Mounts, Gibson County, Indiana

aka Knoles (as cited in his will, below) as per the Ken Armstron Tree, ancestry.com James Knowles and Patience had another son besides Eddy, named James Marvel Knowles (b. 10 July 1787. This younger James Married an Elizabeth Reed (b. 6 May 1793) and they had a daughter named Emily. This Emily was later married to Thomas Perry, the father of Eli Perry. Eli was a son-in-law to Priscilla Martin Knowles Norris, Solomon's wife. Eli married Mary Jane Knowles (born Mary Jane Norris) who was Priscilla's daughter by her second marriage to Ezekiel Norris. James and Patience had a total of eleven children: Prettyman (b.1780); James (b.1783); Edmund “Eddy” (b.1786); Jesse Marvel (b.1787, d.1862); Comfort (b.1790); Nathan I (b.1791,d.1791); Elijah (b.1793); Nathan II (b.1795); Ephriam (b.1797); Eli (b.1799); Asa (b.1802).

(orig submitted by “skbuddy” of Ancestry.com, the Knowles Family Tree) In the autumn of 1795, James and Patience (Marvel) Knowles, with their six children, started for their new home in the South (Georgia). With their possessions in a covered wagon, they made the long and tedious journey through Maryland, Virginia and the Carolinas into Greene county, Georgia. They settled about fifteen miles south of the present city of Greensboro. In 1796 Prettyman Marvel (married to James’ sister) had finished his business affairs in Delaware. He and Lavina and their two children decided to join the James Knowles family in Georgia. The Marvels traveled by the water route, along the Atlantic coast, to their destination. David Knowles, son of Richard II and Prudence (Marvel) Knowles, accompanied his “uncle” Prettyman and family on their journey. Prettyman Marvel and David Knowles, along with their families, headed back north North to Indiana in December of 1808. (They found the farmland in Georgia unsatisfactory for their kind of farming.) James Knowles and his family could not leave Georgia in 1808 and remained behind to finish up his affairs. The others left with the promise to prepare the way for the James Knowles family. A year or two later, in the autumn of 1810, Prettyman returned to Georgia to finish his business there. When he started home it was decided that Jesse Knowles, son of James and Patience Knowles, would accompany Prettyman on his return trip to Indiana. In early 1811 Jesse and Elizabeth (Reid) Knowles packed their possessions on the back of a horse. Elizabeth and the baby rode atop the pack while Jesse walked and led his family to Indiana. Another member of the James and Patience Knowles family joined this immigration to Indiana. Eddy Knowles had married Nancy Kirkpatrick while in Georgia. They packed their belongings on the back of a horse and a Negro slave. Bringing up the rear was their very large dog. According to the plan, James and Patience disposed of the remaining property in Georgia and in November 1811 and started the journey to Indiana Territory. In all it was a caravan of twenty-three people and their possessions. When they passed through the Cherokee Indian country they found the Indians were not all hostile, some were willing to sell them the provisions they needed. As they neared the Ohio River on November the 5th, news of the "Battle of Tippecanoe" reached the caravan. We question the date because that only gave them 5 days to travel over 300 miles. It was probably December 5 instead of November. Some family members felt that they should stay in Kentucky. The older members of the caravan, however, were determined to join their kinsmen in Indiana. On the evening of December 16 (1811) they camped on the northern shore of the Ohio River. While there they felt the tremors of the "Great Earthquake of 1811". The next morning, as they continued their journey north they were met by John Marvel and Jesse Knowles. They had come to meet them and guide them on to "Old Fort Branch". After only a couple of days rest the Knowles family began building a cabin of poles in the dense forest. In the midst of this happiness, prosperity and contentment, sadness touched their lives on the May 5, 1817. Patience (Marvel) Knowles, wife of James, died of consumption. After Patience death, James married a second time. He married Mrs. Elizabeth (Fugate) Clark, a widow with five children. To this couple was born two more children, a daughter, Prudence, who died in infancy and a son, John Lowery Knowles. James died 23 October 1839 and was buried beside Patience, his wife of many years.

(will of James D Knowles) In the name of God Amen. The Twenty six day of Aprial one Thoushand eighten hundred and Thirty seven. I, James Knoles of the County of Gibson and State of Indiana being in health of body and of sound mind and memary do make this my last will and testament at the same time utterly revoking all former wills made by me declaring this to be my last will and testament. First, I give and bequeeth to my son Prettyman Knoles one dollar and no more of my estate. To my son James Knoles one dollar and no more of my estate. To my son Eddey Knoles one dollar and no more of my estate. To my son Jesse Knoles one dollar and no more of my estate. To my daughter Comfort Marvil Willson one dollar and no more of my estate. To my son Nathan Knowles one dollar and no more of my estate. To my son Ephraim Knoles one dollar and no more of my estate. To my son Eli Knoles one Horse worth thirty-five dollars and no more of my estate. To my son Asa Knoles one dollar and no more of my estate. To my step-daughter Elizabeth Clark one cow and calf one bed & sted and bed and beding and two sheep and fourty dollars worth of my property. To my beloved wife Elizabeth Knoles I give and bequeath the whole rest and residue of my estate wether real or personal and every thing I am possessed of what soever or wheresoever during her natural life or widowhood and lastley at the expiration of the period of her natural life or widowhood I give and bequeath to my son John Lowery Knoles the whole rest and residue of my estate what soever or wheresoever that shall then be remaining at the same time I do appoint my son Eli Knoles as joint executor with my wife Elizabeth Knoles of this my last will and testament to which I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty six day of Aprial in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty seven. Sign seal and delivered in the present of us It is further my will and wish that Elizabeth Clark shall have the first coalt that my sorrel mar has it to be hers in addition to what I have named. James Knoles {SEAL} Attested: Montgomery Mounts; John Marvel

(observations, notes by J.Byrne, ggggg,gson) It would seem, based on the will, that James, had determined that he had already given adequate financial support to the children of his first wife, Patience. As a result, he cited, these older children, but left them only token legacies of one dollar each. They were all, apparently, self-supporting or married adults at the time of this death. There were two children of his second marriage to Elizabeth Fugate (Prudence who died as a baby, and John Lowrey, was still a minor). John was left the residual assets of the estate after his mother (Elizabeth) died. The older children could have been left out of significant bequests due to bad feelings toward their “step-mother”, but it seem more likely that, due to the size of the family, James’ main concern was to provide support for his widow and minor son. Giving more to the older children may have left Elizabeth destitute and/or dependent on the older children. Asa, the youngest of the older children, was trusted as a joint executor, and got a horse as well as the one dollar allotted to each of his older siblings.

Sources

Entered by Tom Knowles, May 25, 2013

Find-A-Grave memorial #94779763

Delaware, Wills and Probate Records, 1676-1971: Sussex: Wills, book B-D, 1751-1794. Image 669. FamilySearch.org. [1]

Will of RICHARD KNOWLES, Senior, planter

Written: 19 Jan 1791; Proved: 5 Mar 1791

Heirs: children: Richard Knowles, Thomas Knowles, Zechariah Knowles, James Knowles, Nancy Marvel, Edmund Knowles, Abigale Ellis wife of Joshua Elliss, Ephraim Knowles, Prudence Knowles, Patience Collings, Elizabeth Vinson, Sarah Hayward, Aseny Prittyman; daughter-in-law Betty Knowles, widow of my son Charles Knowles; grandchildren: Charles Knowles son of Charles (deceased) and Betty Knowles; Obediah Wills son of daughter Eve Wills; Agness Knowles, daughter of Zackreah Knowles

Executor: sons Thomas Knowles and Ephraim Knowles

Witnesses: Samuel Wilson, Peggy Wilson, Shiles Moore

THE FOLLOWING IS FROM LEVIN WILSON'S ADDRESS TO THE KNOWLES FAMILY REUNION ON SEPTEMBER 24, 1896

Young James, when he arrived at manhood, looked upon Patience, a daughter of David Marvel, who was born January 31, 1758, a good girl and one who was admired by all that were so fortunate as to obtain her acquaintance, and loved her. And by the consent of her parents she became his wife in the twenty-first year of his age. For about seventeen years, in the land of their nativity, they lived happily and toiled hard for a plentiful support. There was born unto them six sons and one daughter who were named Prettyman, James, Eddy, Jesse, Comfort Marvel (for her grandmother), and Nathan, who died in infancy and was buried in Delaware. There followed June 17, 1795, the birth of another son and they called him Nathan. They now had upon their hands an increasing family, with enlarged expenses, without the corresponding growth of an income.

The unsurpassable climate of Georgia and the adaptability of her soil to the cotton plant were everywhere known. The excitement produced by the invention of Eli Whitney in 1793 of the famous saw cotton gin, was well-nigh universal. The glow of cotton enamored the farmers. They saw through it the sure and immediate way to wealth. Among those affected were Prettyman Marvel and James Knowles; these determined to leave the Diamond state for the Empire state of the South.

During the summer of 1795, James and Patience prepared to leave the land of their nativity, and when the autumn leaves had changed their hues and the noon rays fell more obliquely, they packed their goods and at the appointed time their wagon moved off through the adjacent part of Maryland to the Chesapeake Bay. They boarded a schooner which had been previously engaged. The Captain said, “I insure safe passage to all.” So, according to promise, he landed them safely on the Virginia shore. An incident occurred on board the vessel which was alarming. Jesse, who was always a venturesome and risky fellow, being about seven years of age, was missed, which created some excitement; but he was discovered standing outside of the boat on a margin of less than a foot. One of the sailors ordered all to keep quiet and said he would save the child. He approached him by saying, “Little boy, you have a pretty place – I will go and stand with you,” and when near enough he took hold of him and took him into the ship. They took their long and tedious journey through Virginia and the Carolinas into Green County, Georgia, fifteen miles from Greensborough, the county seat, and sixty miles north of west from Augusta.

James and his faithful wife settled down apparently satisfied for life. They found many things plenty and convenient. But he, being a Presbyterian of the strictest and purest type, had no church privileges nearer than the county seat, where, however, he often spent the Sabbath “with a multitude that kept holy day.” Patience, his loved and loving wife, was never know to utter a word against his theory of religion; but could, as she conceived, see much in the various church organizations which was contrary to the spirit of Christ, and of a selfish character. She preferred not to join any of them, feeling that she had “joined herself to the Lord in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten.” She was baptized in infancy and was fully satisfied with her relation to the new Covenant.

Their surroundings as well as the pleasantness of the family rendered all happy. And in the midst of general prosperity, on the 25th of October, 1797, another son came and they called him Ephraim, a name properly applied, for it signifies fruitful. James and Patience were faithful in their house, for notwithstanding the great pressure upon their time to provide for so large a family, they remembered the moral and spiritual need of their children and gave them all to the Lord in the holy ordinance of baptism, and as regular and certain as the first day of the week came they were thoroughly catechised. By this means they had stored in memory a fair knowledge of the scriptures and a strong system of theology, which no doubt exerted a wonderful influence in giving to all these sons and the daughter the unprecedentedly high moral characters which they possessed.

Time passed on and there was added to their family two more boys, Eli and Asa, which made eight living sons. Yet they became somewhat dissatisfied, which feeling daily increased. For they very soon, to their sorrow, learned that they had made a poor exchange of countries. Delaware was a plain without hills and retained the fertility of her soil with an increasing ratio, while Georgia was hills without a plain and two or three years’ cultivation exhausted her soil.

Prettyman Marvel and James Knowles were not only near relatives by marriage, but great friends, differing somewhat in their religious view, yet they were just what the spirit of Christ always makes, good men. They had the utmost confidence in each other and did not wish to be far separated. So we find that Prettyman, with his increasing family, under like influences with those of James and actuated by similar motives, went down into Georgia, taking with him David, the son of his sister, Prudence, and Richard Knowles, junior. The two friends were neighbors in Georgia.

All things being ready, about November 1st, 1811, James and Patience Knowles, having condensed their property, procuring all the money possible – Patience, with the household goods, in the wagon, the four boys afoot, and James on “the near horse” – moved off and left Georgia forever. Then followed Prettyman with his cart, wife and four children. After them came James with his cart, wife and two children. The son-in-law brought up the rear with his cart, wife and two children. Besides this family of twenty, two or three young men came with them. They traveled slowly, but each day shortened the distance. They passed through the Cherokee Indian country and found them friendly, willingly furnishing them with all the provision needed. The Indians were “sharp” and as well posted in regard to the value of eatables as the Knowles’.

They met with some mishaps in the mountain region by turning over and breaking down carts. But they were prepared for almost any emergency with tools and a knowledge of how to use them. They were an independent traveling community, doing their own cooking, sleeping on their own beds, having their own camp fires. They were not destitute of morals, for their head was a Presbyterian elder and the Sabbath was remembered by them. However, one Sunday as they were camped some wild fowls settled on a tree near by, and he said, “Nathan, get the gun and shoot one.” He obeyed and down came the bird. The boy, with fowl in hand, approached his father and said, “This will be good, for I killed it on Sunday.” Thus the old man was reproved, for he had given the order without thinking it was the Sabbath.

They had two objectives points, Nashville and the Red Banks. Before reaching the first, upon Lookout Mountain, part of their company were below in the midst of a hard rain storm while the others were above in the beautiful sunshine. Having reached Nashville, they replenished their stock of provisions, crossed the Cumberland River, and for many miles had a fine road which was highly appreciated by them. The weather was mild and pleasant and they were healthy, full of life and hope.

However, the warmth of their glee was cooled on hearing of the battle of Tippecanoe, on Nov. 5th, where many were slaughtered while it was yet dark, by Tecumseh’s Indian warriors, marshaled under the Prophet; and the herald reported that “it was owing to the imbecility of General Harrison who was made the dupe of the Prophet.” Someone brought up a proposition to stop in Kentucky, but it was at once voted down, saying. “We started for Indiana and to Indiana we will go.” They slowly but perseveringly traveled on until the Red Banks were reached and in full force the Ohio River was crossed, and at evening tide of Dec. 16th they encamped upon its northern shore, the very border of the “promised land.”

That night they were called to witness, as a remembrance, the earth reel to and fro like a drunken man. It was the time of the great earthquake of 1811. James, senior, as he lay in his wagon, was aroused by the shaking and, hearing others up, said, “Jimmy, I wish you would scare the hogs away from my wagon, for they are shaking it terribly.” A young Mr. Reed who was sleeping by the fire, on awaking cried out, “The chairs are at it, too.” This was one of the times the Knowles’ were much frightened, but soon prepared and ate their first breakfast in Indiana, and with greater haste than usual took up the line of march.

A few miles brought them to Mr. Wagoner’s, where to their great joy they met Jesse Knowles and John Marvel, who came to meet them and pilot them to Old Fort Branch, and late in the day of the 17th of Dec. 1811, to the joy of all, they arrived at Prettyman Marvel’s. After a day’s rest they came down here, by way of Mr. Walter Montgomery’s, and about eighty rods from where we are today, on this quarter section of land, they built their cabin of poles, of which there were plenty, and procured some provisions from Mr. Nicholson, who resided where our esteemed friend and relative, John L. Knowles, now lives. He gave them all the pumpkins they wished, of which he had plenty uninjured by the frost. It was here in a dense forest, surrounded by howling wolves, screaming panthers and grunting bears, they spent their first Christmas in Hoosier land, with thoughts running back to the Cross and the redemption of the world by it.

James and boys cleared some ground and in the spring planted it in corn, which produced a large crop, and from straw brought with them a grain of wheat was taken and planted, which yielded many fold, and in a few years of careful planting and harvesting gave them all the wheat they wanted and supplied the whole family. The grain was very small, almost round and white. It was a small beginning, but, like the Knowles’, increased prodigiously. They built a better round log cabin, in which they were more comfortable, and afterwards a neat hewed log house, with a good and nice floor made of white wood puncheons, dressed and prepared by Nathan, who was an expert with the broadax. The roof was made of shingles eighteen inches long, rived and shaved by hand, each one fastened with a wooden pin. All the holes for the pins were bored with a bit owned by Joshua Wilson. The house had a porch on the south side. They made brick and built the chimney.

They were now fixed for comfortable living, but Patience, who had symptoms of consumption years before leaving Georgia, fell a victim to that dreadful disease May 5th, 1817. She was placed in a coffin of native black walnut, the lumber of which was sawed by hand. The lid was self-fastening. The coffin was made by that expert workman, Judge Thomas Alcorn, and in every respect neatly finished, for which he charged three dollars. Her funeral was preached by the Rev. James McGready, an eminent, vigorous and zealous minister of the Gospel, who resided at the Red Banks.

His text was...

“Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth; yea, saith the spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.”

“Her flesh shall slumber in the ground

‘Till the last trumpet’s joyful sound:

Then burst the grave with sweet surprise.

And in her Saviour’s image rise.”

Happy is the true way of life, serene, ever brightening as it nears the clearing of all clouds, the ceasing of all storms as it more and more clearly sees the Author of all life. Patience had never suffered herself to be drawn away from the great central truth of Christianity, “Christ the hope of glory,” by the advocates of external Churchanity. Her Christianity was of the generic kind and her piety of the purest type.

James was left without a wife and the boys without a mother and there was no woman to keep the house. However, Nathan, who was now a full-grown man and capable of turning his hand to anything needed, was very soon ready to contend with any woman for the mastery in getting up an elegant meal. Yet that way of living was not satisfactory to James, for he realized the truth of what God had said, “It is not good that the man should be alone.” So he married Mrs. Clark, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Smith. She had five children, two sons and three daughters. She was careful, full of business, and knew nothing else but to be industrious. Elizabeth bore James two children: Prudence, who died in infancy, and our own John Lowery, who by industry and economy has accumulated a large land property.

James Knowles, in connection with Samuel Montgomery, who was also an elder in the Presbyterian Church, consented, through the urgent entreaties of the Rev. William Barnett, to become a basis for the organization of a Cumberland Presbyterian Church, without reordination or relinquishing any part of their former faith, “For the sole purpose of advancing the cause of Christ.” Around these men was gathered the first Cumberland Presbyterian society in Indiana in the autumn of 1814. James never changed his theological view, but remained a staunch Presbyterian to the day of his death.

James passed the meridian line of life. His head was frosted, the activity of youth had departed, and he was an old man. It was at this period of his life that he saw fit to divide his farm with his son, Ephraim, retaining the western half, with the houses, for himself. Slowly his strength failed and his powers were broken down, and having lived more than four score years in this world, he bid adieu to all earthly things and yielded up the ghost and was gathered unto his fathers October 23rd, 1839. He was of the good of earth and was taken away from the evil of this world to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, one which will remain forever. His body was laid to rest beside that of his beloved Patience, not far from their residence. His funeral sermon was preached by Rev. Wm. McClusky to a large concourse of people.

GEDCOM Source

@R-2145259215@ Ancestry Family Trees Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. This information comes from 1 or more individual Ancestry Family Tree files. This source citation points you to a current version of those files. Note: The owners of these tree files may have removed or changed information since this source citation was created. Ancestry Family Tree http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=1283537&pid=4166

References:

https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/KVSP-T3L/james-damon-knowles-1757-1839

https://www.geni.com/people/James-Knowles/386147874790003981

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Knowles-2257

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/94779763/james-knowles

http://genealogy.montyhistnotes.com/genealogy/getperson.php?personID=I48357&tree=Rountree

http://alan.marvelfamily.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Descendant-report-for-David-Marvel-Sr..pdf

________________________________________________________________________________

Grandy's 4x Great-Grandfather:

My 6x Great-Grandfather:

Laila Laemmel-Gordon's 7x Great-Grandfather:

Richard I. Knowles, Sr. (1715 - 1791)

Richard Knowles, I

Birthdate: ca. 1710-1715

Birthplace: Somerset County, Province of Maryland / Sussex County, Delaware Colony

Denomination: (probably) Episcopalian / Presbyterian

Death: February 1791 in Georgetown, Sussex County, Delaware

Parents:

Edmund "Old Silverhead " Knowles, I

1685-1762

Elizabeth Mercer

1692-1762

Family 1

Spouse:

Elizabeth Prettyman

1720-1765

Elizabeth Knowles

Also Known As: "Prudence"

Birthdate: ca. 1720

Birthplace: Sussex County, Delaware Colony

Denomination: (probably) Episcopalian / Presbyterian

Date of Marriage: ca. 1739-1740

Place of Marriage: Delaware Colony

Death: ca. 1765-1773 in Sussex County, Delaware

Immediate Family:

Daughter of Thomas Prettyman Sr. and Comfort Burton

See: Prettyman Family Line

Children:

1. Richard Knowles, Jr. 1740–1797 m. Prudence Marvel b. 1759, Sussex County, Delaware d. 1790, Sussex County

2. Eve Knowles (Wills) 1742–1791

3. Zachariah Knowles 1742–1818

4. Charles Knowles 1746–1790

5. Edmund Knowles, Sr. 1747–1835

6. Elizabeth Knowles (Vinson) 1751–1837

7. Patience Knowles (Collins) 1753–1822

8. Sarah Knowles (Hayward) 1755–1837

9. Thomas Knowles 1755–1797

10. Ephraim Knowles, Sr. 1755–1802

11. James Damon Knowles 1757- 1839

12. Asenanth Knowles 1760–1828

Family 2

Spouse:

Patience Prettyman

1740-1835

Patience Knowles

Birthdate: ca. 1740

Birthplace: Sussex County, Delaware Colony

Denomination: (probably) Episcopalian / Presbyterian

Date of Marriage: ca. 1765

Place of Marriage: Delaware Colony

Death: ca. 1835 in Greene County, Georgia

Immediate Family:

Daughter of Thomas Prettyman, II and Elizabeth Enloe

See: Prettyman Family Line

Children:

2. Prudence Knowles (Marvel) 1771–1802

3. Abigail Knowles 1772–1808

About Richard I. Knowles, Sr.

Biography

He was born and died in Delaware. He was twice married and had three sons by the first marriage named, Zachariah, Eddy and Richard. By his second marriage he had two sons named Thomas and James. from The Genealogy of the Knowles Family as given by Nathan Knowles when in his 93rd year. In file.

!Richard married twice, sisters, who were Finnish. He located along Cod Creek, Little Creek Hundred, Sussex County, Delaware, to whom a warrant was issued in 1776 for a tract of land called Knowles Venture. Cod Creek is a forked stream, wholly within Delaware, flowing from headwaters in a northwesterly direction until lits branches converge about two miles from its mouth and from thence in a northerly direction until it emties into the Nanticoke River about one-half mile east of the State Line. On this stream eventually were located five mill sites, the second up the creek being the Knowles saw mill. In addition to Knowles Venture, thei family took up other tracts of land in the 1790's or grants were then consummated. These tracts were adjoining, or in the same general area, and were called Chance, Hill Lot, Good Luck, Friendship, and Green Woods, and altogether appear to have aggregated about 800 acres. [1]These tracts were located in what later became Ellis' Grove School District #50 of Sussex County, bounded on the west by the state line and on the north by the Nanticoke River and Broad Creek - the extreme northwestern section of Little Creek Hundred. Richard Knowles died circa February 1791. His wives evidently predeceased him. He had 15 children. Typed Copy of will included. [2]

!Married sisters named Patience and Prudence. From Robert Smith, 6 Canterbury Court, Champaign, Il, 61821-6547, 217-352-6963, 1994.

!19 Jan 1791: Will of Richard Knowles, Sr., Heirs Name: sons Richard, Thomas, Zachariah, James, Edmond and Ephraim Knowles; daus. Prudence Knowles, Nancy Marvel, Patience Colling, Elizabeth Vinson, Sarah Hayward, Aseny Prettyman, Abigail Ellis (wife of Joshua Ellis); dau.-in-law Betty Knowles (widow of son Charles); grandsons Obediah Wills (son of dau. Eve Wills) and Charles Knowles; granddau. Agnes Knowles (dau. of Zachariah Exec/Trus Name: sons Thomas and Ephraim Knowles Wit Name: Samuel Wilson, Peggy Wilson, Shiles Moore. Will Probate Date: 05 Mar 1791. [3]

Assessment List 1785, Little Creek Hundred

Knowles, Charles.

Knowles, Edmond.

Knowles, John.

Knowles, Richard.

Knowles, Richard.

Knowles, Thomas.

Knowles, Zachariah[4]

Notes

There are research notes at this site, [5]

Sources

↑ Sussex County Deed Books Liber #1 (warrants and surveys0 pp 179 and 435; Liber R#17 (warrants) pp 21, 29, 61, 62, 68, and 144; Liber S#18 (surveys) pp 180, 184, 210, and 211; Liber T#19 (patents) pp 220, 221, 336, 337, and 486; and Liber V#20 (certificates) pp 293 and 343.

↑ Genealogy of Some Descendants of Richard Knowles (d-1791) of Cod Creek, Little Creek Hundred, Sussex County, Delaware, etc, Compiled by James O. Adams, Dover, Delaware, 1956. In file.

↑ Will Book: Arch. vol. A82; Reg. of Wills, Liber D Page: 186-188; folios 331-332 Comment: [Note:--Arch. vol. A82, page 187 mentions Prudence Marvel].

↑ http://deahgp.genealogyvillage.com/sussex/little-creek-hundred-sussex-county-delaware.html

↑ http://www.genealogy.com/ftm/m/i/l/William-K-Mills/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-0449.html

Delaware, Wills and Probate Records, 1676-1971: Sussex: Wills, book B-D, 1751-1794. Image 669. FamilySearch.org. [1]

Will of RICHARD KNOWLES, Senior, planter

Written: 19 Jan 1791; Proved: 5 Mar 1791

Heirs: children: Richard Knowles, Thomas Knowles, Zechariah Knowles, James Knowles, Nancy Marvel, Edmund Knowles, Abigale Ellis wife of Joshua Elliss, Ephraim Knowles, Prudence Knowles, Patience Collings, Elizabeth Vinson, Sarah Hayward, Aseny Prittyman; daughter-in-law Betty Knowles, widow of my son Charles Knowles; grandchildren: Charles Knowles son of Charles (deceased) and Betty Knowles; Obediah Wills son of daughter Eve Wills; Agness Knowles, daughter of Zackreah Knowles

Executor: sons Thomas Knowles and Ephraim Knowles

Witnesses: Samuel Wilson, Peggy Wilson, Shiles Moore

Richards last Will is given by the Adams Family Tree and it states:

?In the name of God Amen, I, Richard Knowles, Senior, of Sussex County and State of Delaware, planter, being in perfect health and of sound mind and memory and understanding, but considering the uncertainty of this transitory life, do make publish and declare this my last will and testament in manner and form following, to wit:

Item. I give and bequeath to my son, Richard Knowles, all that part of a tract of land, whereon he now lives, between the forks of Cod Creek branches and the lines of Knowles Venture and to extend as far as the marked trees between him and my grandson, Charles Knowles, to him and his heirs. .

Item. I give to my-daughter-in-law; Betty Knowles, widow of my son, Charles Knowles, during her natural life or widowhood, part of a tract of land called Knowles Venture whereon she now lives to begin at the marked trees between her and my son, Richard Knowles, and eastward as far the lines by Joshua McDowell and the marked trees between her and my son, Thomas Knowles, and, after her death or marriage, to my grandson, Charles Knowles, and no more of my estate forever.

Item. I give to my son, Thomas Knowles, the remainder part of Knowles Venture that lies whereon he now lives to begin at the marked trees between him and my grandson, Charles Knowles, and to extend as far as the head of this said land next to John McDowell, to him and his heirs.

Item. I give to my son, Zachariah Knowles, one-shilling sterling to him and his heirs forever and no more of estate.(*)

Item. I give to my son James Knowles, two hundred and twenty acres of land, whereon he now lives, to the eastward as far as the lines of Knowles Venture towards the head of Beaver Dam branch and also one-third part of my saw mill on Cod Creek branch, to him and his heirs.

Item I give to my daughter, Nancy Marvel, one feather bed and furniture that I commonly lie on, and also one cow and calf, to her and her heirs.

Item. I give to my grandson, Obediah Wills, son of my daughter Eve Wills, one shilling sterling to him and his heirs forever and no more of my estate. (*)

Item, I give to my granddaughter, Agnes Knowles, daughter of Zacha­riah Knowles, one featherbed and furniture that she commonly lies on, one spinning wheel, and also five pounds to be raised out of my estate, to her and her heirs forever and no more of my estate

Item. I give to-my-son, Edmond Knowles, one shilling to him and his heirs and no more of estate. (*)

Item. I give to my daughter, Abagail Ellis, wife of Joshua Ellis, one shilling sterling to her and her heirs forever and no more of my estate forever. (*)

Item. I give to my son, Ephriam Knowles, two-thirds of my saw mill on Cod Creek branch and also fifty acres of land whereon the saw mill stands taken up in the year seventy six (1776) and to include his dwelling house and plantation whereon he now lives, and also my dwelling house and plantation wereon I now live it being the remainder part of Knowles Venture to the eastward as far as the lines I sold Joshua Moor and has been land of said Moor, and also my still as she stands, to him and his heirs.

Item. I give to my daughter, Prudence Knowles, one bed and furniture that was always called hers, the furniture to consist of as followeth: one bolster, one pillow, two blankets, one quilt, two shoats, and also cow and calf that was always called hers, and also one reed chest, and also five pounds of estate before it is divided amongst my children, to her and her heirs forever.

Item. I leave the remainder of my estate after the legacies and my just debts are paid to be equally divided amongst my children that is to say Richard Knowles, Patience Collings, Elizabeth Vinson , Sarah Hayward, Thomas Knowles, James Knowles, Asseny Prettyman, Ephriam Knowles, Nancy Marvel and Prudence Knowles; and hereby nominate and appoint my two sons, Thomas Knowles and Ephriam Knowles, my whole and sole executor of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all former will or wills heretofore made.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this nine­teenth day of January one thousand seven hundred ninety one.

his (*)-See note below regarding these asterisks!

Richard X Knowles

mark

Witnesses

Samuel Wilson

Peggy Wilson

Shiles Moor

This will was probated on the 5th day of March 1791 before Phillip Kollock, Register and was recorded at Georgetown in Sussex County Will Book Liber D folio 33

(*) Note: These two sons and a daughter received one shilling sterling each, and had clearly moved to Greene Co. GA by the mid-1780s. All others received land or personal items. Obediah Wills also received one shilling sterling as well-perhaps he was a favorite grandson.

References:

https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KZ8D-15M?icid=amp_hdr_signin

https://www.geni.com/people/Richard-Knowles-I/386152552950002685

https://www.geni.com/people/Richard-Knowles-Sr/6000000143205732823

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Knowles-197

http://genealogy.montyhistnotes.com/genealogy/getperson.php?personID=I48376&tree=Rountree

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/94779763/james-knowles

http://alan.marvelfamily.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Descendant-report-for-David-Marvel-Sr..pdf

________________________________________________________________________________

Grandy's 5x Great-Grandfather:

My 7x Great-Grandfather:

Laila Laemmel-Gordon's 8x Great-Grandfather:

Edmund "Old Silverhead " Knowles, I (1685 - 1762)

Edmund Knowles

Elizabeth Mercer

1692-1762

Elizabeth Knowles

Also known as: "Elizabeth Woodward", "Eilzabeth Vestal"

Birthdate: August 14, 1692

Birthplace: Aynho-on-the-Hill, Northamptonshire, England

Denomination: (probably) Anglican / Quaker

Date of Marriage: ca. 1710

Place of Marriage: Province of Maryland

Death [?]: 1762 in Somerset, Province of Maryland

Immediate Family:

Daughter of Thomas Mercer and Mary Greenaway

See: Mercer Family Line

Children:

1. Richard I. Knowles, Sr. 1715–1791

2. Thomas Knowles 1719–

3. Edmund Knowles 1720–

4. Ruth Knowles 1721–

5. John Knowles 1722–

6. Knowles 1723–

7. Knowles 1728–

8. Knowles 1730–

About Edmund "Old Silverhead " Knowles, I

The following information is generally accepted as the lineage of the immigrant ancestor, Edmund "Old Silverhead" Knowles.

In Boulton-le-Moors Parish in Lancashire County, England, Richard Knowles and Margaret Hopkinson were married on July 18, 1595. Richard and Margaret had seven children, as follows: John, who was baptized on January 25, 1603; Robert, who was baptized on January 28, 1604; Elizabeth, who was baptized on April 2, 1609; Francis, a son who was baptized on March 3, 1610; James, who was baptized on January 6, 1616 and probably named for King James I; and Mary, who was baptized on April 8, 1620 and possibly named for the king's late mother. Anne was the name of the king's Danish wife. All Richard's and Margaret's children were born at Quarlton in Boulton-le-Moors Parish and were baptized by Church of England clergy.

James Knowles was married at the age of 23 years to Elizabeth Isherwood on May 2, 1639 in Boulton Parish. They lived at Edgeworth in that parish and had three children, as follows: Henery, who was baptized on July 6, 1640; Thomas, who was baptized on October 23, 1643; and Elizabeth, who was baptized on February 25, 1645. All James's and Elizabeth's children were born at Edgeworth and were baptized by, Church of England clergy.

Thomas Knowles was married to Agne Hoarth in her home parish, Bury, in Lancashire County on June 8, 1680. They lived at Quornton near Turton and had only one child, Edmond, who was baptized on March 6, 1685 by the official clergy. So it happened that Thomas was married at the age of 37 years and that he was 42 years old when his son Edmond was born.

The area in which the Knowles families lived during this time is about five miles northeast of the city of Bolton, which is 25 miles northeast of Liverpool and 11 miles northwest of Manchester. Edgeworth is five miles north-northeast of Bolton. Turton is four miles north-northeast of Bolton and half a mile southwest of Edgeworth. At the time of Edmond's birth, Bolton lay in the center of England's major coal producing region. Later it was the center of cotton production.

With the discovery of America, the crown chartered companies to do monopolized trading there and enrich the government through taxation. To enhance its investments in the New World colonies, the Virginia Company promised a headright of 50 acres of land to original members for each immigrant brought over the Atlantic Ocean as inexpensive labor, to be employed mostly on riverside tobacco plantations. King James inherited and continued this policy, whereby planters financed the passages of young, able-bodied people in exchange for their work under contract.

In the year 1700, Edmond left his home at the age of 15 years and went to Liverpool. There, on November 19, he embarked on a voyage to Virginia aboard the ship "Elizabeth and Judith" which was under the command of ship's master Edward Payne.

Edmond was indentured to serve planter Jonathan Leivsay of Virginia for seven years to pay for his passage. Edmond and other bondsmen and bondswomen aboard were sworn to loyalty to their masters for their indentureships by Church of England clergy. On this voyage Edmond was Leivsay's only bondsman. Edmond served Leivsay, whose name was also spelled Livesay and Livesley in legal records, in Prince George County, Virginia, on the south side of the James River southeast of Richmond about 25 miles. Leivsay owned about 300 acres in this area in around 1704. He apparently died soon after filing his will in 1720 at the town of Prince George, the county seat of government.

When Edmond Knowles had completed his indentureship to Leivsay he went to the relatively unsettled interior of what is today called the Delmar or Delmarva Peninsula between Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. He made his home in northern Somerset County, Maryland.

Edmond settled here sometime around the early to middle 1700s, according to traditional stories from among later Knowles families in the area. They also recount that Edmond was once wounded in the head by an Indian who fractured his skull with a tomahawk. A silver coin was cut and beaten to fit the shape of the hole to protect his brain and for the rest of his life Edmond was known as "Old Silverhead."

Edmond's home was in that part of Maryland lost to the Delaware colony in an agreement ratified in 1775 after a survey was completed in 1767 to settle the Calvert-Penn Provincial Boundary Dispute. His home was in the watershed of Little Creek, which after his death lay in the extreme southwest comer of the Colony of Delaware. The land is within the later political unit of Sussex County called Little Creek Hundred, bounded on the north by Broad Creek and Broad Creek Hundred and on the south by the Maryland border. Swamp lies close by to the southeast on the border.

The use of the term "hundred," exclusive to Delaware among American colonies, began in Saxon times before Norman rule in England. It meant roughly 100 "hides" or family holdings whose legal records of ownership were tabulated in 1086 in the Domesday Book of King William the Conqueror. The term "hide" means a parcel of 60 to 120 acres and comes from the Old English "higan," meaning home, and the Middle English "higid," meaning a portion of land or a household.

Before the settlement of many Englishmen in the eastern shore of Maryland, the east coast of the Delmar Peninsula was inhabited by colonists from Sweden. "New Sweden" extended from the town of Zwaanendael on the Atlantic coast of the peninsula northward along the Delaware River. As more English people settled here, the town became known as Lewes, which it is called now.

From these Swedes, Edmond found a wife whose name has been :forgotten. They reared seven sons, as follows (age order unknown): Thomas, Richard, Edmond, Henry, Rice, Charles and Elija.

Edmond "Silverhead" died around 1762 without a will. His estate was distributed in 1765 as follows: One-third went to his widow and the remainder was divided equally into seven shares which were given to sons-in-law or grandsons George Oaks and Thomas Wilson; to grandson John Knowles; to daughter, granddaughter or daughter-in-law Ruth Knowles; and to sons Richard, Thomas and Edmond. At the time of the probate the share intended for Edmond junior was held in trust because his whereabouts were unknown or because he was a minor. Richard, the oldest son, was administrator of the estate as appointed by the presiding court judge in the Sussex County seat, Georgetown.

With the moving of the boundary line between the colonies of Maryland and Delaware and migrations and generations of Edmond "Silverhead"'s sons and daughters it came about that Knowleses, settled thickly both in Sussex County, Delaware and in Maryland's Eastern Shore area which later included the lower counties of Worchester around Snow Hill, and Wicomico around Salisbury, adjacent to Somerset County from which they were formed, and Dorchester County to the west.

Note: Summary edited from unattributed source, but seems to be the most accurate "old world" linkage.

References:

https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LDLV-T24

https://www.geni.com/people/Edmund-Old-Silverhead-Knowles/4397922934170024805

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Knowles-228

https://www.ancestry.com/genealogy/records/edmund-old-silverhead-knowles-24-210fgsd?geo_a=r&o_iid=62817&o_lid=62817&o_sch=Web+Property

https://www.genealogy.com/ftm/m/i/l/William-K-Mills/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-0458.html

Incorrect Wife?:

https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/LVPW-QF7/elizabeth-mercer-1692-1751

http://www.friede-abrahamson-genealogy.com/p26.htm#i855

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/123554259/elizabeth-vestal

________________________________________________________________________________

Grandy's 6x Great-Grandfather:

My 8x Great-Grandfather:

Laila Laemmel-Gordon's 9x Great-Grandfather:

Thomas Knowles (1643 - 1685)

Birthdate: October 23, 1643

Birthplace: Edgeworth, Boulton-le-Moors, Lancashire, England

Christening: October 23, 1643 at Bolton St. Peter Parish Church

Denomination: (probably) Anglican

Death: August 3, 1685 in Quarlton, Lancashire, England

Burial: Featherstone, York, England

Parents:

James Knowles, Sr.

1617-1677

Elizabeth Martyn Isherwood

1619-1690

Family

Spouse:

Ruth Agnes Howorth

1661-1688

Ruth Agnes Knowles

Birthdate: May 5, 1661

Birthplace: Bury, Lancashire, England

Denomination: (probably) Anglican

Date of Marriage: [unknown date]

Place of Marriage: [unknown place]

Death: ca. 1684 in England

Immediate Family:

Daughter of [unknown parents]

Children:

1. Edmund "Old Silverhead " Knowles, I 1685-1762

2. Richard Knowles

About Thomas Knowles

Biography

Thomas was baptised 23 Oct 1643 at St Peter's, Bolton, Lancashire, England. [1]

Sources

"England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NPX2-2MY : 30 December 2014, Thomas Knowles, 23 Oct 1643); citing SAINT PETER,BOLTON,LANCASHIRE,ENGLAND, index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 0844811 IT 2

References:

https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/GQZY-VHT

https://www.geni.com/people/Thomas-Knowles/4397928748610036476

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Knowles-254

https://www.genealogy.com/ftm/m/i/l/William-K-Mills/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-0484.html

________________________________________________________________________________

Grandy's 7x Great-Grandfather:

My 9x Great-Grandfather:

Laila Laemmel-Gordon's 10x Great-Grandfather:

James Knowles, Sr. (1617 - 1677)

James Knowles

Birthdate: January 6, 1617

Birthplace: Quarlton, Boulton-le-Moors Parish, Lancashire, England

Christening: January 6, 1617 in Bolton le Moors, Lancashire, England

Denomination: (probably) Anglican

Death: bet. 1648 and 1707 in Lancashire, England

Parents:

Richard Knowles, II

1565–1622

Margaret Hopkinson

1575–1662

Family

Spouse:

Elizabeth Martyn Isherwood

1619-1690

Elizabeth Martyn Knowles