HomeMy WebLinkAbout783Duotang bound book, 20 pages, compiled by Alyson Hazlett and Pat McCauley,
undated.
"Pickering Archives
The purchase of an old medicine bottle in Pickering marked A.KNOWLES C.W.
by my daughter Alyson Hazlett began a search for the man behind this ""German Oil""
and found only one possible person; Abraham Knowles. From there this interest and
research went back to Grimsby in 1801, to Scarborough in 1803 and forward to the
present where Alyson found a living relative. We think this information will be of
interest to those who value history in general and particularly to those who seek
information on pioneer times in Scarborough and Pickering.
P. McCauley
905-427-8128"
"The Knowles Family By Pat McCauley
Research by Alyson Hazlett and P. McCauley
Abraham Knowles was born in Grimsby, Ontario on March 19th, 1803 and baptised in
Scarborough a few days later. He was the eighth and last child of William and Mary
Knowles. The Knowles immigrated from New Jersey before 1801 and settled in
Grimsby, Ontario which then had a population of about 100 .
By February 26th, 1801, William had taken the Oath of Allegiance before Robert
Nelles, J. P. On March 16,1801, Peter Hunter the Lieutenant Governor for the province
of Ontario, received a petition from William ""now of Grimsby"". It stated that he had
purchased Lot #4, Conc. 1 of Scarborough and was ""desirous"" of obtaining a lease
on the adjoining Lot #5. However, by My 28,1803 the petitioner declines taking Lot #5
and having removed his family from Lot #4, he purchased Lot #3, Conc. 1 from Jessie
Ketchum and this became the family's home.
William and Mary's family consisted of:
Elizabeth Ann Born 1786 Married George W. Post of Scarborough
Sarah "" 1788 "" David F. Burk of Bowmanville
Richard "" 1790 "" Mary Stevens of Elmira, New York
Anna "" 1792 Spinster
William "" 1795 Married Olive Cobb Davis
John "" 1798 "" Fanny (Francis Marshall?)
Daniel "" 1799 Bachelor
Abraham "" 1801 Married Nancy Barclay of Pickering
With the exception of Abraham all the children of Mary and William were born in
Grannage,
Surrey, New Jersey.
The Knowles family flourished in Scarborough. William was a blacksmith and it is
said he was the first person to produce square-headed nails in the area.
A number of fruit trees were planted each bearing the name of the child who planted it.
On the death of William in 1825, Daniel became owner of the farm after settling with
his brothers.
Abraham and John went to Pickering in 1827 and purchased Lot #20 Broken
Front from William Gibbons. Abraham took the north half and John the south.
Abraham had a large two-storied house built at, what is now, Bailey Street and
Sandy Beach Road. It was built by C. H. Linton using clay on the property to produce
the bricks. The house stood until the 1980's, when plagued by careless tenants and
fires, it was demolished.
John purchased several properties in Pickering. In 1832 he bought the south-east
quarter of Lot #23, Conc. 5 from Elizabeth and Daniel Thornton. In April 1841 he
bought all of Lot #21 from"
"King's College.. In June he transferred 42-1/2 acres to Abraham. In 1851 he transferred
50 acres of lot #21 to Jordan Post who was a nephew of John and Abraham. In 1854
John purchased the north half of Lot #19 Conc. 2 from Dillingham, and sold his share
(110 acres) of Lot 20 to Jeremiah O'Connor and John Hart.
(1)
Abraham married Nancy Barclay, daughter of Reverend George Barclay and his wife,
Janet Tullis. They married in 1830 when Nancy was 18 and Abraham 27. Abraham and
Nancy had nine children, as follows:
Mary Born 1832 Married Wm. Forrester Died 1868
George "" 1834 "" Agnes Elizabeth Widdifield Died 1918
William "" 1836 "" Martha Wright
Daniel "" 1838 Died 1839
Richard ""1840 Married Susan Huxtable [Scarborough] Died 1890
Jane "" 1842 "" Wm. Henry Trout [Meaford] Died 1898
Charles "" 1844 Bachelor Died 1877
Anna "" 1847 Married John R. Sinclair [Meaford]
Henry ""1849 "" Amelia Whitelaw [Meaford]
Abraham and Nancy helped establish the Disciples Church together with David Barclay
and his wife Marie Houck and the wife of James Barclay, Hanna Parnham.
The ""Disciples""""was a religion established in the United States in Pennsylvania in
1809 and in Ontario in 1832. The Pickering Disciples and those of Bowmanville and
Oshawa met at a schoolhouse near the Jordan Post property on Brock Road at Kingston
Rd. Pickering.
In April 1842 Jordan Post purchased about 33 acres on Lot #19, conc. 1, to establish a
site for a Disciples cemetery. In 1863 the property, which had been George Leng Jr's
was sold to Abraham Knowles "" and others "" on Bill of Sale #21450. A wooden church
was built. Later a brick church using clay from the Knowles farm was erected. Some early
ministers were Joseph Ash, George Barclay [father of Nancy Knowles and David and
James Barclay] ,David Oliphant, and C. J. Lister. Occasionally, John Magill would come
from Bowmanville. Edward Sheppard ,who arrived from Nottingham, England to become
a teacher in Pickering was a Disciple It is presumed that while boarding there that he
brought the brethren to ""the new truths"". William Forrester, a former Scotch
Presbyterian, who was baptised a Disciple in 1848,also became a regular speaker.
The first convert to be baptised was Sherwood Palmer. Daniel Knowles set up another
meeting place at his home in Scarborough for the brethren.
The Knowles prospered on their farm. Abraham ruled with a kind but firm hand.
He liked to arrange things himself. One day he bought new furniture and stored it
in the barn. He was planning to set it up when he was called away to a district meeting.
When he returned he found that Nancy had set it out to ""surprise"" him.
When Abraham took his produce to Toronto he always brought back a dress
pattern and enough material (silk or wool) for his wife and daughters. Years later
William Trout, Jane's husband, described Abraham as being ""not only the provider
but also the spender, The mother regulated the house and made good use of what
was provided. Everything moved like clockwork. Boys and girls worked by uniform
routine,"
"without responsibility; and though seemingly ready, yet they were not educated and well
prepared for the eventualities of life"". He also stated that Abraham was a well-to-do and
respected man in Pickering and if income from crops failed to meet the bills, his credit
was good and a six month note settled it. William also complained that his young wife ,
Jane Knowles, was not used to change and had difficulty adapting to new circumstances.
In the 1850's Abraham began to produce his ""German Oil"". It was advertised in the
Whitby Chronicle, a semi-weekly paper, in 1860 and 1861. Exactly where this potion
was produced is unknown but the multitude of shards found around Post Manor on
Brock Road, Pickering might indicate Jordan's Post's mill as a possible place.
It was touted as good for ""man or beast"" and came in 25 and 50 cent bottles,
bluish-green in colour bearing the embossing ""A.KNOWLES,. C. W. (Canada West).
Matthew Swallow was an exponent of the medicine. In an advertising in the Whitby
Chronicle he declared that his scalded daughter, apparently at ""death's door"",
had rallied at once when the oil was applied and after two more applications was
""perfectly well"".
In another testimonial, G. A.Bannister, one of the first medical men in the area who
was also a druggist on Brock Street, Whitby, waxed enthusiastic. In the Chronicle he
declared ""Everywhere all over the world your justly celebrated German Oil deserves
to known. I have used it in cuts, bruises, frost bite and also sores of long standing;
it has never failed to effect a cure and was to be had at his drugstore and all principal
places of business in the province"". It was also recommended for horses and cattle
suffering from pain and for healing all wounds.
Abraham's son Richard was sent to live in Scarborough with his Aunt Anna and Uncle
Daniel. This was apparent in the census of 1851, when he would be about eleven and
was not listed as a member of the family residing in Pickering. When his Aunt Anna,
a spinster and Uncle Daniel, a bachelor died in 1861 a few months apart, Richard took
over the house and property.
Richard Knowles was an involved citizen in the community of Highland Creek.
He was town Councillor in Scarborough in 1862 and again in 1882 until 1887.
He became Deputy Reeve from 1888-1890. He was also a Justice of the Peace on
Scarborough's magisterial bench. Richard married Susan Huxtable whose family
owned the property directly North of the Knowles' Scarborough farm.
They had seven children (Herbert (1870-1872) buried in the Disciples Post cemetery.
Edward, Lilly, Frank, Beatrice, Walter and Wilfred. Edward married Sarah Chester,
Walter wed Margaret A. Taylor, Lilly - James Dimma, Wilfred - Margaret Cokewell,
Fred married Iva Hitchcock and Beatrice, John A. Washington. Wilfred
(or Wilford as indicated on the 1881 Scarborough census) and his wife ran a
general store in Highland Creek and were highly thought of in the community.
Richard was Chairman of the School District #11 that gathered historical data for
History of the Township of Scarboro by David Boyle."
"In 1886 Richard returned to Pickering having purchased 50 acres of Lot #17, Cone. 2
from William Forrester. He and Susan lived there quietly except for an incident of chicken
robbery reported in the Pickering News of March 8,1889. Richard died in 1890 .
The estate was managed by Wilfred and Edward Knowles until April 1907 when it
was sold for $2300. Richard and his wife Susan are buried in St. Margaret's in the
Pines in Scarborough along with other members of their family.
Mary Knowles, Abraham and Nancy's eldest daughter, married William Forrester,
a preacher. They had five children; Nancy, William, Jennie, George and Cordelia.
Nancy married William Carruthers after whose family Carruthers Creek in what is now
called Ajax is found. Son William married Hattie Post (who was his cousin).
Jenny married William Malcolm. George remained a bachelor and Cordelia a
spinster and would become an artist. Mary died in 1868. William Forrester married
again and had three more children named Fanny, Charley and Fred.. Mary, William
and his second wife Helena are buried in the Post Cemetery.
George married Elizabeth Widdafield, daughter of a well-known politician in Whitchurch
They had three children; Emma, Helen Gertrude and Frederick Charles Barclay.
Emma married Joseph McMillan, a dentist, Helen married John Taylor and Frederick
wed Grace Walters. George bought farm land in the Whitchurch area.
William married Martha Wright. They had one daughter named Jessie, Who married
Charles Gates. They had no children. William was the owner of a general store on
Lot #14 in Brougham. He also travelled about by horse and wagon selling produce
from the Knowles farm. No doubt he carried the famous German Oil.
Jane Knowles married William Henry Trout, the afore-mentioned author of The Trout
Family. Their love letters spanning a three year period were in the estate of Jenny
Renner, a great-granddaughter of Abraham and Nancy. In a letter Jenny wondered how
the courtship survived because William on receipt of Jane's first letter to him in
Meaford commented extensively by return mail on her spelling and punctuation.
They were married at the Knowles home . Trout Senior officiated. He was a church
elder who had a private marriage ceremony to his liking. However, William took this
draft from his father and ""improved the order and the style a little and gave it back to
him on good paper with good bold writing"".
Jane and William spent the two first years of married life in Owen Sound., where their
first two children were born. May was bora in 1870 and Arthur in 1872.
They died within a few days of each other as a result of scarlet fever in 1874.
There followed six other children;
Walter Charles Born 1874 Married Ellen Elizabeth Percy
Jane Mabel "" 1875 "" Otto Wm. Steindorf
George Henry "" 1877 "" Franke Kinzie
Nelly Amelia ""1880 "" Irvin Wilbur Davis
Lucretia Garfied (Lulu) "" 1882 "" Peter Mathieson Norgaard
Clara "" 1883 Died 1888 (one year before Jane's death)
In 1869 William made the first of many inventions, an improved lock. He reported
""I gave my"
"whole time to locks, mostly enjoyable spending a good part of one winter and drew on a
small sum held by my father-in-law, Abraham Knowles, for the benefit of Mrs. Trout when
she might need it for a living"". As his search for manufacture of the locks did not have
good prospects he abandoned the undertaking ""in disgust"". After Owen Sound they
moved to Beaverton where William took a job a job in an agricultural foundry as a
patternmaker. This business was destroyed by fire so the Trouts moved to
Peterborough. There William got steady work as a draftsman and patternmaker.
Later, he heard of opportunities for lock production in Milwakee, Wisconsin in The
States. He went there in 1884 to prepare for the arrival of his family who were still in
Peterborough. Jane's brother Richard went to Peterborough to assist Jane in the
packing up of the family and their possessions. They never returned to live in Canada.
Charles Knowles remained a bachelor and died in 1877 in the year before his father's
death. Little is known about Charles in any thing I have read. He was not highly favoured
in his father's will.
Anna married John Sinclair of Meaford when the family went there on the death of
Abraham in 1878. They had no children.
Henry married Amelia Whitelaw of Meaford. They had two daughters; Sybil who wed a
Secord and Hazel who married Tom Haig. Amelia died in 1883, not yet 28 years of age.
She is buried in the Lakeview Cemetery in Meaford with many others of the Whitelaw
family. Henry then married Ellen Lister. They had a daughter whom they named Olive.
In Scarborough, Daniel, Abraham's brother, owned Lot 3, Conc. 1, which extended from
Lawrence Avenue in the south up to Ellesmere Road. He owned 50 acres of the north
part of Lot #4, Conc. 1. He also acquired 75 acres of Lot 7, Conc. 2 which ran between
Ellesmere on the south to Sheppard Avenue in the north. In Pickering, about 1837 he
purchased from King's College the south 50 acres of Lot #21, Conc. 1, and built a
house which still exists today at 1454 Bailey Street. This was across the road from the
Knowles' holding on Lot 21, B.F.
Daniel opened the first store in the Highland Creek area and was part owner with James
Allen of a vessel named The Highland Chief. They shipped goods between the U.S. and
Canada. It had been built at the mouth of the Humber river about 1834. It subsequently
was lost, with all hands, in a wild Lake Ontario storm and driven ashore at Presqu'Ile
Point. It was overhauled and sold to Thomas Scott.
Daniel was one of the Scarborough commissioners who supervised the moving of the
Kingston Road to a route further north and a more favourable grade. The work was done
by Joseph Secor for $11,000. At one time the road was planked from Norway (Kingston
Rd. & Woodbine) to Highland Creek. In 1861, the year of his death, he was still active
in the area as a Councillor. He was President of the Scarborough, Pickering and
Markham Wharf Company at Port Union where farmers and tradesmen could bring
their production for export to the States. William Helliwell was the Secretary Treasurer
in 1851 Peter Reesor became a company shareholder. Daniel had also been a
Lieutenant in the Scarborough Militia about 1836. When the 1837"
"rebellion broke out and Toronto was threatened, the Militia marched out 400 strong to
defend.
Anna Knowles was her brother's housekeeper and lived with Daniel and nephew
Richard. She was reputed to be one of the best soap makers in the area. After rising
early and accomplishing her household duties in Scarborough, she would saddle up her
horse ""Old Sorrel"" to make the five mile trip to Pickering where her brother John lived.
There she would bake, wash and scrub his quarters and settled his bachelor house in
order. By evening she was following the banks of the Rouge and making Old Sorrel swim
any intervening creeks .She is said to have been a matter-of-fact and humorous woman
and to be a notable person of the township. When she made out her will she signed it with
an X.
Both Daniel and Anna died in 1861. He in June and she in August. They are buried in
the Post cemetery in Pickering.
As Abraham became older he began a plan for a family burial site on Lot #21, B.F.
This land had been held for some time by George Knowles and he sold 4-1/4 perch of it
to Abraham for the sum of $50.00 in 1863. The burial site was carefully set out on article
21449 as commencing at the north-east angle of Lot #21 and with complex
measurements established in a parcel of soft-wood forest. George Knowles owned
42-1/2 acres of this lot, the burial site being but a small part of it. William Knowles
also owned 42-1/2 acres of the same lot. The land had been transferred from
Abraham to his two sons in 1860.
In July of 1877 Abraham made out a will giving to Henry and his heirs the north
seventy-five acres of Lot #20 in the second and third ranges of the Broken Front
concession. He also gave into Henry's keeping the 4-1/4 perches on Lot #21.
He gave his ""beloved"" wife Nancy all of the southern part of Lot 20.
He also bequeathed Nancy the north part of the Knowles house including a kitchen
"" for her use during the period of her natural life with full exit and egress"". Nancy a
lso inherited all his personal farm stock, furniture, book debts and securities To the c
hildren[5]of his deceased daughter he gave $200.
Jane $200. Annie was to receive $400. Son Charles was to
receive $50. payable within three years ""as soon as convenient after my death"".
William, George and Richard had already received "" their due portions of my estate""..
Nancy was to receive half of any money earned by the estate each year. Abraham
died in January, 1878. Charles in 1877 after the will had been written..
The voter's list of 1878 shows Henry to be the only name recorded on Lot 20. William
Knowles was still listed on Lot #14 in Brougham.
For some time after becoming interested in Abraham Knowles, Alyson
(my co-investigator) and I believed that by looking around in what is now the
Bay Ridges subdivision, we would find a cairn or some other indication of this
family plot, without any success. I finally went to the Whitby land registry office and l
ooked up transactions on the property.
In May 1878, about four months after the death of Abraham, Henry sold the 4-1/2
perch of land on Lot 21 that had been designated as the burial area to Thomas Tripp.
Obviously, if this was where Abraham wanted to be buried he didn't get his wish. In
August 1878 Nancy sold her"
"South acreage to George Ormiston.. On August 1, 1882, Henry sold 3.43 acres to
Joseph Gordon In December, 1882 the north 1/2 of lot#20 was sold to Henry Westgate
by ""Nancy et al"" and the land was finally vacated by all the Knowles.
Only the impressive house remained as a reminder of earlier times.
Nancy, her daughter Anne,and her niece Lydia Barclay who had been living with
Nancy after the death of her mother, all went to live in Meaford. There Anne married
John Sinclair and Lydia wed William Sinclair. Nancy still lived in Meaford some fifteen
years later when she died in April of 1896 as reported in the Meaford newspaper.
Her body was returned to Pickering for burial in the Post cemetery. William Forrester,
her son-in-law officiated at the burial. As reported in the May 1st Pickering News of 1896,
she was buried in the presence of a large number of former friends and acquaintances
and that she was in her 82nd year. I later discovered something I had missed scanning
the Post Cemetery list. Under Knowles wereDaniel, Anna, John and Herbert a child of
Richard and Susan Huxtable, a grandson of Abraham's. Scanning the list again I found
under 18A a marker ""A.K"". Abraham was obviously buried there. Perhaps Nancy
shares his grave because no marker or monument now exists to mark her burial in the
cemetery in April of 1896. It is strange that these two people so active in establishing
the ""Disciples"" church and graveyard would have no memorial stone. However, both
Kingston and Brock Roads, the crossroads where the cemetery is located have been
widened time and again over the last century, and who knows how much has been lost.
We located a Knowles relative named Carolyn Knowles. She is a direct descendant of
Abraham and Nancy, who were her great-great grandparents. Richard and Susan were
her great -grandparents and their son Walter and his wife Margaret Taylor were the
grandparents. Their son Bruce was her father, her mother was Irene Cunningham.
She lives in Alliston, Ontario.
Whenever I travel the 401 past the area in Pickering where the huge hydro towers
emerge from lot #20 at the bottom of which stands the Pickering nuclear plant,
I think of Abraham and his family. If they could see the change to the beach were their
children played and the plant that obscures the view of Lake Ontario, they would probably
be happy that they lived when they did."
"Page 1
""Abraham was born in Grimsby"" - History of the Twnsp. of Scarboro by David Boyle,
printed in 1896.
""baptized in Scarboro"" - Morman Church Family Search on Net.
""The Knowles immigrated from New Jersey"" Pg. 45 History of Scarboro - Boyle
""By February 26th, 1801 to removed his family from Lot #4"" -Archives of Onario
Canadian Land Petitions ""K"" bundle leases 1799-1835.
""purchased Lot 3, conc. 1 from Jesse Ketchum"" - Pg. 45 History of Scarboro - Boyle
""William and Mary's Family to married Nancy Barclay of Pickering""- facts taken from
old German bible of Mary (Marie) Knowles (Knols). The bible printed in high German,
covered in cow hide is declared by the American Bible Society to be the second oldest
bible published in America. The first being one published for the Indians in
Massachusetts and pre-dated any in English. It is dated 1751 and the name of Martin
Luther is on both title pages. It was printed by H. P. Schramm and is the first edition of
bible printed on American soil for white people.
""With the exception etc"" - Morman Family Search on Net. Entries attributed to Lorraine
Romaine Kanary, a descendant of William and Mary through Richard Knowles and
Susan Huxtable of Scarboro.
""The Knowles family flourished"" - History of Scarboro - Boyle Pg. 46
""Abraham and John went to Pickering"" - Whitby Land registry
""Abraham had a large to it was demolished"" - Interview with Plitz family, present
owners of the property.
""John purchased several properties in Pickering"" - Whitby Land Registery
Page 2
""Abraham married Nancy Barclay to Amelia Whitelaw"" -Barclays of Pickering- authors
Robert Fuller and Kathleen Bowley - available Pickering Library.
""Abraham and Nancy to Pickering."" - Disciples of Canada -by Rueben Butchart Pg.430
""In April 1842 to Bill of Sale #21450"" - Whitby Land Registry
""A wooden church to for the brethren."" - Disciples of Canada - Butchart
""Abraham ruled the family to adapting to change"". Finished Pg. 3 - The Trout Family -
author William Trout of Meaford
Page 3
In the 1850's Abraham began to (Canada West)."" - Research Alyson Hazlett - medicine
bottle collecting lore.
Matthew Swallow to healing all wounds."" -Advertising in. Whitby Chronicles of 1860
and 1861.
""Abraham's son Richard to took over house and property."" - research P. McCauley from
census of 1851 and will of Anna Knowles.
""Richard Knowles to magisterial bench."" - History of Township of Scarboro - Boyle"
"""Richard married Susan Huxtable to John A. Washington"".- Barclays of Pickering by
Fuller and Bowley
""Wilfred (or Wilford) to community."" - Facts and Folklore -Pg 45- author John
Spilsbury. Corrections P. McCauley Authenticated by
Richard Schofield- Available at Scarborough Archives.
""Richard was also Chairman to Scarboro."" Facts and Folklore - John Spilsbury
""In 1886 Richard returned to William Forrestor"". - Map Of 1877 and Whitby Land
Registry.
""The estate was managed to $2300."" - Whitby Land Registry
""Richard and Susan to of his family."" - St. Margaret's cemetery list.
Page 4
""Mary Knowles (start end of Page 3) to Post Cemetery."" - Barclays of Pickering by
Fuller and Bowley
""George married Elizabeth to Walters."" - Barclays of Pickering by Fuller & Bowley
""George bought farm land in Whitchurch area."" Research Alyson Hazlett 1877 map of
StouffVile-Whitchurch.
""William married Martha to no children."" Barclays of Pickering
""William was owner of Lot #14 in Brougham."" 1878 voter's list for Pickering at
Pickering library
""No doubt to German Oil."" - McCauley speculation
""Jane and William to scarlet fever in 1874."" - The Trout Family by Wm. Trout
""Walter Charles to Died 1888"". - Barclays of Pickering Fuller and Bowley
""In 1869 William to never returned to live in Canada."" (Pg 5) - The Trout Family - Wm.
Trout
Page 5
""Charles Knowles to died in 1877"" - Barclays of Pickering Fuller and Bowley
""the year before his father's death to Abraham's will"". - Speculation P. McCauley
""Henry married Amelia to Tom Haig"" - Barclays of Pickering - Fuller & Bowley
""Amelia died in 1883 to Whitelaw family."" - Lakeview Cemetery List in Meaford
""Henry then married to Olive."" - Barclays of Pickering Fuller and Bowley
""In Scarborough Daniel to Sheppard Avenue in the north."" -Map of Scarborough 1860
""In Pickering to 1454 Bailey Street."" - an article titled ""The House on Lot 21"" by Henry
Gawman
""Daniel operated the first store to notable person of the township.""(Top Pg. 6) History of
Twnsp of Scarboro - Boyle
Page 6
""When she made out will she signed it with an X.""- Anna's will.
""As Abraham began to two sons in 1860"" - Land Registery - Whitby
""In July of 1877 to earned by estate each year."" - Abraham's will.
""The Voter's list to Brougham."" - Voter's list of 1878 - Pickering archives - library
""In May 1878 to vacated by all the Knowles."" - Whitby Land Registry
""Nancy, her daughter Anne to William Sinclair."" - The Barclays of Pickering Bowley &
Fuller"
"""Nancy still lived in Meaford to reported in Meaford newspaper."" - McCauley
investigation of Meaford newspapers in Meaford (top pg 7)
0
2
Page 7
""Her body was returned that she was in her 82nd year."" - The Pickering News of May 1,
1896.
""I later discovered to much has been lost."" - Investigation at Post cemetery.
""We located to her father."" - Info received by Alyson Hazlett from Bowley."
"The Knowles Arrived in 1803
William Knowles came from England, via New Jersey, and settled on the parcel of land
where Centennial Church is. They owned 200 acres which extended from Ellesmere
down to Lawrence. Will Knowles was a blacksmith, and built a blacksmith's shop on
the site now occupied by the church. He is reported to have made the nails used in the
first frame barn in Scarborough. Mr. Knowles died in 1825, and his wife in 1842.
The property went to the oldest son,--Richard, who divided it equally among his brothers.
The Knowles built the second stone house in Scarborough in 1831-32. It was located
just west of the church, across from the big barn (still standing). It burned in 1906 and
was replaced by the present brick house.
Daniel Knowles eventually bought out his brothers and built the first store in the area.
It was on the same property as the smithy. Daniel was a commissioner for the building of
Kingston Road. Along with William Helliwell and Will Hetherington he formed the Wharf
Company at Port Union and was a councillor of the Township in 1861. He died in office.
His brother [""NEPHEW""] Richard pursued a career in politics and was Councillor for
our area from 1881 to 1887, and Deputy Reeve from 1888 to 1890. He was also
Chairman of the committee for School District #11, that gathered historical data for
David Boyle's History of [TWSP OF] Scarborough.
William [""WILFRED H""] Knowles, a direct descendant of the first William Knowles who
arrived in 1803, was the fourth owner of the little store in Highland Creek at Kingston
Road and Morrish. He bought the store from James Duncan (date unknown) and later
sold to W. D. Morrish in 1915.
The second William [""WILFRED H""] Knowles was public spirited, just like his
antecedents. He was a trustee of Highland Creek School, Scarborough Collegiate
and a director of the Scarborough Telephone Company in the late '30's. William [Wilfred]
Knowles and his wife Margaret'were pillars of the Highland Creek community.
Their retirement years were spent in the comfortable brick house beside Lomas'
Hardware.
William [ ""WILFRED H""] and Margaret Knowles on their wedding day.
The Knowles General Store in Highland Creek at Old Kingston and Morrish
Roads.
45"
"I. Beginning Knowles Family History
William and Mary Knowles
1. Elizabeth Knowles b Thurs. Feb. 27, 1786 _ m. George Post d.
2 Sarah Knowles b. Friday Feb. 15, 1788 _ m. David Burke d.
3. Richard Knowles b Wed. Feb. 20, 1790 _ m. Mary Stevens, Elmira N.Y. d.
4 Ann Knowles b Mon. June 24, 1792 _ unmarried d. Aug 15, 1861
5 William Knowles b Tues. Feb. 10 1795 _ m. Olive Cobb Davis d.
6 John Knowles b Tues. Aug. 8, 1798 _ m. Fanny - ? John d. Apr. 18, 1870 age 71
7 Daniel Knowles b Sun. oct. 13, 1799 _unmarried d. June 12, 1861 Age 67
8 Abrahma Knowles b Sat. Mar. 19, 1803 _ Nancy Barclay
[Indicating the content to the left of the underscores: ""This part copied from the Old
Knowles Bible""]
[Indicating the content to the right: ""This data has been filled in from the letters sent to
my mother.""]
This much is written in English on a blank page near the middle of the old German Bible
I have. The Bible was given to Abraham's 6th child, Jennie (or Jane (Trout)) who was my
grandmother. She in turn gave it to my mother Jennie Trout Steindorf because she had
studied German at School. As the eldest daughter, and also named Jennie, I , Jennie
Steindorf Renner, am the present proud possessor. I suppose it will go on to my eldest
daughter, Ruth Percy who has a family of four children.
The bible's cover seems to be stiff board covered with dark cowhide. It is nearly as thick
as it is wide. A pair of iron hasps are connected to the bottom cover with a leather hinge
and a hook on the other end fastens into iron slots imbedded in the front cover. The top
and bottom covers measure 4 ½ x 7 ½"" and it is 3 1/2 "" thick, well worn leather being
stretched across the back over four ""ribs"" of linen threads.
The edges of the pages are quite brown and pages themselves have a brownish tinge.
The Bible is printed in High German with the title page between the New Testament and
the Apocrypha and is dated 1751. After the New Testament is a section of songs - a
Psalter I guess is dated 1746.
Both those title pages bear the name Martin Luther and the printer's name
Johann H. P. Schramm, and because of that, the American Bible Society was
able to identify it to my mother, as the first edition of the Bible printed on American
soil for white people. The very first Bibles printed in America were for the Indians in
Massachusetts, and this German Bible (probably printed in Germantown, Pa.)
antedated the first English Bible printed in America.
It is illustrated with numerous plates of steel engravings, and the two first sheets
form a lovely hard illuminated frontispiece, in which the colours have kept pretty well.
The design across the top shows birds and flowers and pomegranate seeds (fertility),
then a Bible quotation - in German of course - then also in Germanic lettering the name
Maria Knols followed by a small m., which I am guessing means married. And it is not
hard to imagine it was a wedding gift.
Now the mystery is — were they both German, or was he (William) English and
married a German girl in perhaps Pennsylvania or one of the Eastern States,
and did they become one of the United States Loyalists who fled to Canada at the
time of the American Revolution? Where was this family family and this Bible until
some of them appears in Crown Grant records 1827-1837 at Pickering, Ontario?"
"The present Centennial Church sits on the Kingston Road at the intersection of 401
Highway on land donated by an early descendant of William Knowles.
[Handwritten: ""(Daniel)""]
The handsome stone house that Richard Knowles [Handwritten: ""Daniel?""] built in 1832.
The house was destroyed by fire in the early part of the 1900's.
Richard Knowles
Rather good-looking, eh!
The store at Highland Creek where Will Knowles and his wife Margaret served the
community for several years. They are standing on the verandah and the delivery boy
is all ready to take off with the day's orders."
"Abraham Knowles 1803-1878
Nancy (Barclay) Knowles 1812-1896
Trout Family
left to right
rear - Nellie Amelia (m. Davis)
""Jennie"" Jane Mabel (m. Steindorf)
Lucretia Garfield (m. Norgaard)
front - Walter Charles
William H. TROUT (father)
Jane Barclay Knowles TROUT (mother)
George H.
47"
"Sons of Abraham and Nancy Knowles
William (father of Jessie Gates)
Henry (youngest of the family)
Emma daughter of George & Agnes Knowles
Jennie Trout Steindorf 1945 at the Knowles farm
48"
"KNOWLES Petitions 1. of 2
MICROFILM C.2124 reference R.G.1 L.3 Vol.282
Canadian Land Petitions ""K"" bundle Leases 1799-1835
#8 Wm. Knowles Scarborough 1801
#24 Wm. Knowles Scarborough 1810
#8 - (cover) William Knowles to take a lease in Scarborough
Rec'd 16 March 1801 and filed
Received for the Crown August 21 1801 D. V. Smith Secy
""_______ and approved"" (2 initials)
TO His, Excellency Peter Hunter, Esquire
Lieutenant Governor of the Province of Upper Canada _____ in Council
The petition of William Knowles now of Grimsby
Humbly Sheweth
That your petitioner has a wife and seven children and has purchased Lot number four in
the first Concession fo Scarborough, and is about to remove thither with his family —
That the Lot No.5 adjoining thereto being in reserve, your Petitioner is desirous to obtain
a lease of it — therefore humbly prayeth Your Excellency would be pleased to grant to
him a lease of the said reserve on such terms as His Majesty shall be pleased to direct
— and as in duty bound your Petitioner shall ever pray.
York (signed) William Knowles
16th March 1801
28th July 1803 Petitioner declined taking lease of the lot prayed for — see within
Sir — Having removed from No.4 in the Concession of Scarborough, I beg leave to
inform you that I shall give up all thought of leasing the reserve lot No.5 1 Concession
petioned (sic) for by me.
I am, Sir, Yr Humb Servt
Scarborough William Knowles
July 20th 1803
Cover - Wm. Knowles Rec'd 15/Aug/1803
to John Small, Esq. York
[Handwritten: ""1 copy to Jenny 26/Sept/78""]"
"KNOWLES Petitions 2. of 2
MICROFILM C.2124 (continued)
# 24
To His Excellency Francis Gore, Lieutenant Governor of the Province of Upper Canada
....... in Council
The petition of William Knowles of the Township of Scarborough, yeoman, hymbly
sheweth.
That your petitioner is desirous of obtaining a lease of the reserve Lot No.3 in the
second concession of the said Township of Scarborough, and begs leave to offer
William Cornell of the same place, yeoman, as a surety to be joined in a Bond with
your petitioner for the regular payments of the rent —
Your petitioner therefore humbly prays that Your Excellency would be pleased to
grant him a lease of the aforesaid reserve lot on such conditions as Your Excellency
shall deem meet.
And your petitioner shall ever pray
York 11th July 1810 (signed) William KNowles
I certify that William Knowles has taken and subscribed the Oath of Allegiance as
required by law, before me, this twenty-sixth day of February in the year of Our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and one.
Robt Nelles J.P.
I do hereby certify that I know Mr. William Knowles these seven years back, since
which I have never heard or known the smallest thing to the disadvantage of Him or
family, but on the contrary many particulars to his advantage. I think him a sober and
good inhabitant.
Given under my hand this 11th December 1810
Robt Baldwin
Cover - Petition of Wm KNowles for the lease of Lot No. 3 2nd Con. Scarborough
Received 12th July 1810 from himself
TO the Act. Surv. Gen. Be pleased to report upon this Petition.
J. Smale
Lot No.3 in the 2nd Concession of Scarborough is reserved for the
Crown — Timber maple & beech.
... J. Ridout
....20 July 1819 Actg. Surveyor Gen.
Lieut. Governor's Office York 1st August 1810
Returned to the Executive Council by Order of the Lieutenant Governor
In the absence of the Secretary
Wm. Stanton
C.C. in the Lt. Gov. office
Rec'd in Council 11th December 1810
The Petitioner recommended for a lease of the Lot prayed for.
The rent to commence from the next quarter day after this date.
Approved Thos. Scott Chairman
Warrant No. 867 sent to the AGO 14th December 1810"
"NEW ADVERTISEMENTS
To the Afflicted.
THE CELEBRATED
GERMAN OIL!
FOR THE CURE OF
Cuts, Bruises and all kinds of Flesh Wounds incident to the Human System.
In Bottles at 25 to 50cts Each,
According to size. This oil will cure all frost wounds, and is an infalliable remedy for the
relief of
HORSES & CATTLE
SUFFERING FROM PAIN, AND THE
HEALING OF ALL WOUNDS
Inflicted on animals. It has been used successfully for the past Seven Years,
and has never been known to fail. Made and sold by
A. KNOWLES,
Pickering, C. W.
Whitby, Jan. 24, 1860. 2-1y"