The KNOWLES Family of Plymouth, Eastham and Truro

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RICHARD KNOWLES (m. 1639) of Eastham m. Ruth Bower (b. 1620)
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JOHN KNOWLES (d. 1675) of Eastham
m. Apphia Bangs
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COL. JOHN KNOWLES ( 1673 - 1757) of Eastham
m. Mary Sears
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PAUL KNOWLES (1702 - by 1775) of Truro m. Phebe Paine (1700 - 1748)
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MARY KNOWLES (b. 1727) m. Joshua Atwood
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MARY KNOWLES m. Ephraim Doane
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MEHITABLE KNOWLES (b. 1653) m. George Brown


First Generation

RICHARD KNOWLES of Plymouth and Eastham

Parents: Unknown

"Renhard" Knowles was an original inhabitant of Eastham on 22 May 1655. [Ref] He married Ruth Bower on 15 Aug 1639 in Plymouth. [Ref, p. 14] Ruth was the daughter of George and Barbarie (Smythe) Bower. [Ref, p. 14] She was born in 1620 in England. [Ref, p. 14] Her parents were married on 9 Feb 1614/5 in Braithwell, co. York, England. [Ref, p. 14]

Children of Richard Knowles and Ruth Bower:

  1. John Knowles was born on Plymouth. He was killed by Indians near Taunton on 3 Jun 1675. He married Apphia Bangs.
  2. Mary Knowles was born in Plymouth. She married Ephraim Doane.
  3. James Knowles was born in 1648, probably in Cambridge. [Ref, p. 14] He died before 10 Oct 1678, when inventory was taken on his estate. [Ref, p. 14]
  4. Ruth Knowles was probably born in Plymouth. [Ref, p. 14] She died on 28 Aug 1714 in Eastham. [Ref, 151;5][Ref, p. 14] She married Joseph Collins [Ref, p. 14] on 20 Mar 1671/2 in Eastham. [Ref, 151;5][Ref, 3;229]
    some descendants of Ruth Knowles
  5. Dea. Samuel Knowles was born on 17 Sep 1651 [Ref] in Plymouth. [Ref, p. 14] His gravestone in the old cemetery in Orleans says that he died on 19 Jun 1737, age 86. [Ref] He married Mercy Freeman in Dec 1679 in Eastham. [Ref, 6;204][Ref, no month]
    Samuel was one of the most eminent men in Eastham. [Ref] He was deacon of the church in Eastham. [Ref, p. 15] He was a selectman and representative. [Ref][Ref, p. 15]
  6. Mehitable Knowles was born on 20 May 1653 in Eastham. She married George Brown.
  7. Barbara Knowles was born on 28 Sep 1656 in Eastham. [Ref, 5;23] [Ref, p. 14] She married Thomas Mayo on 13 Jun 1677. [Ref, p. 14]

Second Generation

JOHN KNOWLES (d. 1675) of Eastham

Parents: Richard Knowles and Ruth Bower [Ref, 79;294][Ref, p. 9]

John Knowles was born in Plymouth. [Ref, 79;293][Ref, p. 14] He was killed by Indians near Taunton on 3 Jun 1675. [Ref, 79;293][Ref, p. 14] He married Apphia Bangs on 28 Dec 1670 in Eastham. [Ref, 4;141][Ref][Ref][Ref, 79;293]

Children of John Knowles and Apphia Bangs:

  1. Edward Knowles was born on 7 Nov 1671 in Eastham. [Ref, p. 14] He married first Ann Ridley, the daughter of Capt. Mark Ridley. [Ref, p. 14] He married second Sarah (Elkins) Mayo, the daughter of Thomas Elkins of Salem and the widow of James Mayo. [Ref, p. 14]
  2. Col. John Knowles was born on 10 Jul 1673 in Eastham. He died on 3 Nov 1757 in Eastham. He married first Mary Sears. He married second Rebecca Chanly or Chanle.
  3. Rebecca Knowles was born on 2 Mar 1674/5 in Eastham. [Ref, p. 14] She "probably" married Thomas Tobey of Yarmouth, Massachusetts. [Ref, p. 14]

MARY KNOWLES (m. 1667)

Parents: Richard Knowles and Ruth Bower [Ref, p. 14]

Mary Knowles was born in Plymouth. [Ref, p. 14] She married Ephraim Doane on 5 Feb 1667 [Ref, p. 14, only gives the year] in Eastham. [Ref, 6;13][Ref]

MEHITABLE KNOWLES (b. 1653)

Parents: Richard Knowles and Ruth Bower [Ref, p. 14]

Mehitable Knowles was born on 20 May 1653 in Eastham. [Ref, 5;23] She married George Brown of Eastham. [Ref, p. 14]

Third Generation

COL. JOHN KNOWLES (1673 - 1757) of Eastham

Parents: John Knowles and Apphia Bangs [Ref, 79;293][Ref, p. 9]

Col. John Knowles was born on 10 Jul 1673 in Eastham. [Ref, 79;380][Ref, p. 14] He died on 3 Nov 1757 [Ref, p. 14] in Eastham. [Ref, 79;380] He married first Mary Sears. [Ref, 79;380][Ref, p. 14] He married second Rebecca Chanly or Chanle on 6 May 1776. [Ref, 79;380] She died before 12 Oct 1773 when administration was granted on her estate. [Ref, 79;380][Ref, p. 14]

John was brought up by Joshua Sparrow. [Ref, p. 14]

John was the commander of the second Barnstable regiment. [Ref, p. 14]

Children of Col. John Knowles and Mary Sears:

  1. Joshua Knowles was born in 1696. [Ref, p. 14]
  2. John Knowles was born in 1698. [Ref, p. 14]
  3. Seth Knowles was born in 1700. [Ref, p. 14]
  4. Paul Knowles was born on 8 Aug 1702 in Eastham. He died before 11 Apr 1775. He married first Phebe Paine. He married second Mercy (Purrinton) Harding.
  5. James Knowles was born on 4 Nov 1704. [Ref, p. 15] He married Ann Doane on 31 Mar 1726. [Ref, p. 15] Ann was the daughter of Nathaniel Doane. [Ref, p. 15]
    some descendants of James Knowles
  6. Jesse Knowles was born in 1707. [Ref, p. 15]
  7. Mary Knowles was born in 1709. [Ref, p. 15]
  8. Col. Willard Knowles was born on 6 Nov 1711 [Ref, p. 15] in Eastham. [Ref, 47;34] He died on 11 Mar 1786, age 75, and is buried in the Bridge Road Cemetery in Eastham. [Ref] He married Bethia Atwood on 10 May 1733. [Ref, p. 9][Ref, 47;34]
    Willard was a tanner in Eastham. [Ref, p. 15]
    Click here to see a photo of his grave on the Findagrave website. The inscription says: "To the Memory Of | Col Willard Knowles | who | after a Life of Virtue & various | Usefulness attended with | Prosperity & Reputation | Died | March 11,1786 In the 75th year of his age."
    some descendants of Willard Knowles

Fourth Generation

PAUL KNOWLES (1702 - by 1775) of Truro

Parents: Col. John Knowles and Mary Sears [Ref, 79;380][Ref, p. 9]

Paul Knowles was born on 8 Aug 1702 in Eastham. [Ref, 80;17][Ref, p. 14] He died before 11 Apr 1775, when administration was granted on his estate. [Ref, 80;17] He married first Phebe Paine. [Ref, 80;17][Ref, p. 14] He married second Mercy Purrinton. [Ref] Mercy was the widow of Nathaniel Harding. [Ref, 80;17][Ref, p. 14] She died on 29 Jan 1761, age 50. [Ref, 80;17][Ref, p. 14]

Paul was a tanner. [Ref, 47;127] He settled in Truro and was a selectman. [Ref, p. 14]

Children of Paul Knowles and Phebe Paine:

  1. Mary Knowles was born on 20 Jan 1726/7. She died before her father. She married Joshua Atwood.

Fifth Generation

MARY KNOWLES (b. 1727)

Parents: Paul Knowles and Phebe Paine [Ref, 47;127][Ref, 80;17][Ref, p. 9]

Mary Knowles was born on 20 Jan 1726/7 [Ref, 80;17] in Truro. [Ref, 47;127][Ref, p. 9] She died before her father. [Ref, 80;17] She married Joshua Atwood [Ref, p. 433, daughter of Paul] on 27 Nov 1746 [Ref, p. 9] in Truro. [Ref, 80;17]

References

Bowman, George, "Eastham, Mass., Vital Records: Literally translated from the original records," The Mayflower Descendant various issues.

Collins, Stanley Newcomb, "Joseph Collins of Eastham and Three Generations of his Descendants," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 151, 1997, 3 - 30.

Crowell, Edwin, A History of Barrington Township and Vicinity, Shelburne County, Nova Scotia, 1604-1870, Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, unknown.

Crowell, F. E., New Englanders in Nova Scotia, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1938.

Hamlin, David, "First Settlers of Eastham, Mass.," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 6, 1852, p. 41-46 , p. 167-170, p. 234-.

Hayward, Elijah, "Plymouth Colony Records," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 9, 1855, 313-318.

Libby, Charles Thornton, "The Knowles Family of Eastham, Mass.," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 79, 1925, 379-392, 286-297; 80, 1926, 6-24.

Paine, Josiah, "Inscriptions in the Old Cemetery at Orleans, Mass.," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 21, 1867, 212- .

Shurtleff, Nathaniel B., "Plymouth Colony Rates," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 4, 1850 252-3.

Williams, Alicia Crane, "Stephen Wood alias Atwood of Eastham, Massachusetts," Mayflower Descendant 46, 1996, 131-136; 47, 1997, 33-40, 123-130.