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Descendants of HENRY KNOWLES




Generation No. 1


1. HENRY2 KNOWLES (THOMAS1) was born 1609 in HULL, YORKShire, ENGLAND, and died January 1669/70 in KINGSTOWN, KENT , RHODE ISLAND. He married SUSANNA POTTER 1640, daughter of ROBERT POTTER and SARAH WILSON. She was born 1620 in SOUTH KINSTON,WARWICK,KENT,RHODE ISLAND, and died 1675 in WARWICK, RHODE ISLAND.

Notes for HENRY KNOWLES:
APRIL 13, 1635--- HE AND HIS BROTHER THOMAS ARRIVED IN AMERICA FROM ENGLAND.

MAY 27, 1644--- IT WAS ORDERED THAT HE CUT HIS LOT SHORTER AT THE DISCRETION OF A LT. SANFORD.

JANUARY 21, 1654--- HE SOLD THOMAS LAWTON A DWELLING HOUSE WITH NINE ACRES OF LAND, FRUIT TREES, ETC.

JANUARY 4, 1657--- AN ACTION OF TRESPASS WAS BROUGHT AGAINST HIM BY RANDELL HOLDEN.

NOVEMBER 20, 1657--- HE SOLD A HOUSE AND LOT TO THOMAS SCRANTON.

IN 1660--- HE BOUGHT SIX ACRES OF LAND ADJOINING HIS OWN.

IN 1663--- HE SERVED ON A GRAND JURY.

MARCH 23, 1664--- HE WAS AUTHORIZED BY THE TOWN TO KEEP ORDINARIES FROM THE ENTERTAINMENT OF STRANGERS DURING THE TIME THE KING'S COMMISSIONERS KEEP THEIR COURT.


THE 1ST PEOPLE TO ACQUIRE FIXED SURNAMES WERE THE NOBLES AND GREAT LAND OWNERS, WHO CALLED THEMSELVES, OR WERE CALLED BY OTHERS, AFTER THE LANDS THEY POSSESSED. MUCH LATER TENANTS CAME TO TAKE THE NAMES OF THEIR LANDLORDS. FARMERS WERE INCLINED TO MAGNIFY THEIR IMPORTANCE AND SIGN LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS WITH THE NAMES OF THEIR BARONIES OR FARMS INSTEAD OF THEIR CHRISTIAN NAMES. THE ABUSE OF THIS STYLE OF WRITING WAS CARRIED SO FAR THAT AN ACT WAS PASSED IN THE SCOTS PARLIAMENT IN 1672 FORBIDDING THE PRACTICE AND DECLARING THAT IT BE ALLOWED ONLY TO NOBLEMEN AND BISHOPS.
IT WAS A NOT UNCOMMON PRACTICE IN THE MIDDLE AGES FOR BROTHERS TO HAVE THE SAME CHRISTIAN NAMES. THUS, THEY WOULD VARY THE SPELLING OF THE SURNAME TO STOP CONFUSION OF THE DIFFERENT SIBLINGS.
IN 1666 REV. JAMES FRASER REMARKED THAT " IT IS AN EPIDEMICAL DISEASE TO WHICH MANY SURNAMES ARE SUBJECT, TO BE ILL SPELLED AND VARIOUSLY DISGUISED IN WRITING." THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF SCOTLAND ABOUND WITH INSTANCES WERE SURNAMES AND PARTICULARLY NAMES OF GAELIC ORIGIN, LIKE KNOWLES, HAVE BEEN MANGLED ALMOST BEYOND RECOGNITION, OWING TO THE IGNORANCE OF THE NOTARIES AND SCRIBES.
WHEN RESEARCHING THE KNOWLES FAMILY LINE INTO THE MIDDLE AGES IT MUST BE REMEMBERED THAT THE LETTER "K" IS NOT IN THE GAELIC ALPHABET, BUT CREPT INTO THE LOWLAND SPELLINGS OF A NUMBER OF GAELIC PATRONYMICS, ESPECIALLY IN THE 14 AND 15 HUNDREDS.
THE FAMILY OF KNOWLES IS DERIVED BY CRAWFURD FROM ADAM THE SON OF UCHTRED, WHO IN THE REIGN OF ALEXANDER II RECEIVED FROM WALTER THE STEWARD THE LANDS OF KNOCK IN THE BARONY OF RENFREW. THE LANDS WERE NAMED FROM THE REMARKABLE PROMINENCE THERE, CALLED " THE KNOCK". ROBERT DE LA CNOLLE, A NORMAN LORD GRANTED LANDS IN SCOTLAND WAS THE 1ST OF OUR ANCESTORS TO APPEAR ON LAND REGISTRATIONS IN THE BRITISH ISLES IN THE YEAR 1185. THIS IS IN KEEPING WITH THE FACT THAT THE EARLIEST HEREDITARY SURNAMES IN BRITIAN ARE FOUND SHORTLY AFTER THE NORMAN CONQUEST OF 1016 AND ARE OF FRENCH ORIGIN RATHER THAN NATIVE ENGLISH, SCOTCH, OR IRISH. THE INCOMING NORMAN INVADERS IDENTIFIED THEMSELVES BY REFERENCE TO THE ESTATES THEY HELD, IN THE YEAR 1234 THE LAND OF CNOC IN RENFREWSHIRE WAS HELD UNDER THE ABBOT OF PAISLEY BY DUUGALLUS FILIUS CRISTINI AND MATILDA HIS SPOUSE, WHO CLAIMED THE LANDS AS HEIRS OF DUFGALLUS, THE RECTOR, BROTHER OF THE EARL OF LENNOX. THE NEXT RECORDED NORMAN LAND HOLDER TO APPEAR IN WRITTEN RECORDS OF THE PERIOD WAS THEOBALD DE CHNOLLE ON A TRANSFER OF THE ESTATE TITLE IN 1242, ABOUT 1260 JOHN DE CNOC WITNESSED A CHARTER OF THE LANDS IN RENFREWSHIRE, AND IN 1272 HE WITNESSED THE GIFT OF LAND BY SIR ANTHONY OF LOMBARD TO THE ABBEY OF PAISLEY. THE FOLLOWING YEAR HE WITNESSED ALONG WITH WILLIAM DE KNOC A GRANT OF LANDS BY THE EARL OF LENNOX TO THE SAME ABBEY. IN 1273 HUGO CNOX PLEDGED 2 SHILLINGS YEARLY TO THE MONASTERY.ALSO IN THAT YEAR ROGER DE LA CNOLLE APPEARED ON A LAND TITLE TRANSFER. SOME MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY CHOSE TO ADOPT THE CELTIC, OR GAELIC SPELLINGS OF THEIR NAMES AND LANDS AS THEY INTERMARRIED INTO THE SAXON BLOODLINES, IN THE HOPE OF INSURING STABILITY OF THEIR HOLDINGS AND THIS TREND COMBINED WITH THE LARGE NUMBER OF NATIVE RECORD KEEPERS AND SCRIBES GAVE BIRTH TO NUMEROUS VARIED SPELLINGS OF WHAT WOULD EVENTUALLY BECOME OUR FAMILY SURNAME OF KNOWLES. WILLIAM DE KNOC WITNESSED A DIVISION OF THE LANDS OF PAISLEY IN 1280, AND JOHANNES DE KNOC WITNESSED A CHURCH CONFIRMATION OF CRAGIN.THE NAME KNOCHES APPEARS ON RECORDS IN THE YEAR 1311. IN 1328 THERE ARE RECORDS OF PAYMENTS TO ALAN DE KNOCKIS, WHO ALSO SIGNED HIS NAME AS ALAN DEL CNOC. ONE OF THE 1ST FEMALE RELATIVES TO APPEAR IN WRITTEN RECORDS WAS CECILIA DE KNOLLE IN 1379 ON A LIST OF CHARTERS. ROBERT DE KNOLLYS APPEARED ON A SIMILAR LIST IN 1397. UCHTREDE KNOCS OF CRAGYNS AND JOHNE OF THE KNOK WERE ARBITERS IN A DISPUTE BETWEEN THE BOURGH OF RENFREW AND THE ABBOT OF PAISLEY IN 1408. THOMAS DE KNOK BUILT A TENEMENT IN 1426. KNOLLES APPEARS ON RENFREW RECORDS IN 1463. JOHN KNOLLIS IS LISTED AS A SERGEANT IN 1549. WILLIAM KNOLLIS IS RECORDED AS A CUSTOMARY IN 1560 AND APPEARS AGAIN AS WILLIAM KNOWIS IN 1565.
THE FAMILY PROSPERED AND ACQUIRED LANDS IN ABERDEENSHIRE ALSO. SOME OF THOSE FAMILY MEMBERS WERE LISTED ON RECORDS AS KNOWS AND KNOLLIS.. JOHN KNOWIS ADMITTED BURGESS IN ABERDEEN IN 1460 AND APPEARS AGAIN IN 1464 AND 1475 AS JOHN KNOLLIS AND KNOLLYS. SIR WILLIAM OF KNOLLIS APPEARS ON MANY RECORDS FROM 1463 TO 1493. THE GAELIC ORIGINS AND LATER VERSIONS OF THE SURNAME KNOWLES APPEAR ON VARIOUS PAPERS AS FOLLOWS: KNOCHES 1311, KNOICCE 1345, KNOKIS 1330, KNOLLES 1463, KNOKKIS 1468, AND CNOXES IN 1309, ALL IN ABERDEEN.

      THE KNOWLES FAMILY COAT OF ARMS IS DESCRIBED IN THE HERALDIC REGISTARY AS FOLLOWS:
      ARMS:
      "QUARTERLY 1ST & 4TH AZURE CRUSILY OF CROSSLETS. A CROSS MOLINE VOIDED D'OR; 2ND & 3RD GULES, ON A CHEVRON ARGENT 3 ROSES OF THE 1ST."
      CREST:
      "AN ELEPHANT STATANT ARGENT"

      HERALDIC SIGNIFICANCES

      CHEVRON:
      "SIGNIFIES PROTECTION, AND HAS OFTEN BEEN GRANTED TO THOSE WHO HAVE BUILT FORTRESSES AND ACCOMPLISHED FAITHFUL SERVICE & NOTABLE ENTERPRISE."
      CROSS:
      "REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH, IT HAS SOMETIMES BEEN GIVEN TO THOSE WHO HAVE BUILT OR PROTECTED CHURCHES OR ABBYS."
      CREST:
      " THE ELEPHANT IS MOST LIKELY A HOLDOVER FROM FRENCH COATE DE ARMES REPRESENTATIVE OF LEADERSHIP IN ONE OF THE EARLY CRUSADES TO THE HOLY LAND."


"GENEALOGICAL COLLECTIONS OF SCOTLAND" BY WALTER MACFARLANE, 1750

"EXCHEQUER ROLLS OF SCOTLAND" 1264-1600

"CALENDAR OF CHARTERS" 854-1837 BY JOHN ANDERSON

"CHARTERS AND DOCUMENTS" 1165-1710


More About HENRY KNOWLES:
Occupation: LAND DEALER

More About SUSANNA POTTER:
Occupation: HOMEMAKER
     
Children of HENRY KNOWLES and SUSANNA POTTER are:
2. i.   WILLIAM3 KNOWLES, b. 1645, WARWICK, SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I.,; d. 1727, WARWICK, SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I..
  ii.   JOHN KNOWLES, b. 1647; d. September 16, 1716.
3. iii.   MARY KNOWLES, b. 1649; d. December 28, 1719, PROVIDENCE, ROADE ISLAND.
  iv.   MARTHA KNOWLES, b. 1651; d. 1728, South Kingstown, Roade Island; m. SAMUEL ELDRED, 1683, South Kingstown, Roade Island; b. October 26, 1644, Cambridge, Mass.; d. 1720, South Kingstown, Roade Island.
  More About MARTHA KNOWLES:
Occupation: HOMEMAKER
4. v.   HENRY KNOWLES, b. 1654; d. 1726.
Generation No. 2



2. WILLIAM3 KNOWLES (HENRY2, THOMAS1) was born 1645 in WARWICK, SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I.,, and died 1727 in WARWICK, SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I.. He married ALICE FISH, daughter of THOMAS FISH and MARY SHERMAN. She was born 1652 in PORTSMOUTH, RHODE ISLAND, USA, and died 1734.

Notes for WILLIAM KNOWLES:
OCTOBER 22, 1661--- HE WAS APPRENTICED TO THOMAS SMITH, A TAILOR FROM PAWTUXET, RI.

JULY 29, 1669--- HE SIGNED A PETITION TO THE KING OF ENGLAND PRAYING THAT HE WOULD " PUT AN END TO THESE DIFFERENCES ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT WHICH HATH BEEN SO FATAL TO THE PROSPERITY."

SEPTEMBER 25, 1671--- HE WAS APPOINTED TO A COMMITTEE TO MAKE A RATE ON THE INHABITANTS OF PETTACOMSCOTT, RI.

MARCH 6, 1688--- HE SERVED ON A GRAND JURY.

OCTOBER 30, 1690--- HE WAS APPOINTED TO A COMMITTEE TO FIX THE RATE OF TAX.

IN 1701--- HE GAVE 12 S. TOWARDS BUILDING THE QUAKER MEETING HALL.

JULY 12, 1703--- HE WAS CHOSEN TO HELP LAYOUT THE HIGHWAYS OF THE REGION.

FROM 1706-1707--- HE SERVED AS A DEPUTY.


More About WILLIAM KNOWLES:
Cause of Death: PLAGUE
Occupation: TAILOR, BUSINESSMAN, POLITICAN

More About ALICE FISH:
Occupation: HOMEMAKER
RELIGIOUS: QUAKER
     
Children of WILLIAM KNOWLES and ALICE FISH are:
  i.   WILLIAM4 KNOWLES, d. 1727; m. HANNAH BROWNING.
  More About WILLIAM KNOWLES:
Cause of Death: PLAGUE
RELIGIOUS: QUAKER
  ii.   JOHN KNOWLES, b. 1686; d. 1772, RICHMOND, ROADE ISLAND; m. ELIZABETH WARNER, May 22, 1718; b. 1697; d. July 24, 1799.
  iii.   ALICE KNOWLES, m. MR. SCREVEN.
  iv.   MARTHA KNOWLES, m. SAMUEL SHERMAN, March 07, 1710/11; b. October 15, 1672, PORTSMOUTH, ROADE ISLAND; d. June 1733.
  v.   MARY KNOWLES, b. 1685, Roade Island; m. EBERNEZER CHASE, October 22, 1706; b. 1672, PORTSMOUTH, ROADE ISLAND; d. June 1740.
  vi.   MARGARET KNOWLES.
  vii.   ROSE KNOWLES, d. 1749; m. JOHN WILSON.
  viii.   HENRY KNOWLES, b. September 29, 1675, SOUTH KINGSTOWN, RHODE ISLAND, USA; d. May 01, 1740, SOUTH KINGSTOWN, RHODE ISLAND, USA; m. (1) MARY CASE; b. December 02, 1682, NORTH KINGSTON, WASHINGTON, RHODE ISLAND; d. November 16, 1709, SOUTH KINGSTOWN, RHODE ISLAND, USA; m. (2) SUSANNAH BOSS, May 28, 1712, SOUTH KINGSTOWN, RHODE ISLAND, USA; b. July 16, 1687.
  More About MARY CASE:
Occupation: HOMEMAKER

  More About SUSANNAH BOSS:
Occupation: HOMEMAKER
  ix.   ROBERT KNOWLES, b. 1680; d. 1759; m. ANN HULL, 1721.
  x.   DANIEL KNOWLES, b. 1690, SOUTH KINGSTON, ROADE ISLAND; d. 1759; m. HANNAH HAZARD, May 05, 1721, South Kingstown, Roade Island; b. April 20, 1697.


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