William Wallace Knowles Genealogy Source Records

**William Wallace Knowles Genealogy Source Records**
Contents Baptismal Record Birth Record Marriage Records Police Occupation Records (none found) Death Record Obituary Cemetery Records Tombstone Last Will and Testament

**Baptismal/Birth Record** **Searches**
Kildrumferton Rectory Crosserlough P.O. Co. Cavan Ireland 3 April 1990 Dear Mr. Jordan Thank you for our letter and money order. I was interested to receive the copies of the letters of recommendation. and have filed them for reference. Here is what I have been able to establish. Jane Wallace Baptized: 23rd May 1819 (Please note the date of Baptism only is recorded in these first records.) Location: St. Patrick's Church, Kildrumferton Mother's Name: Mary (not Ann) Father's Name: John William Knowles Born: 27th Dec. 1848 Baptized: 31st Dec. 1848 Location: St. Patrick's Church, Kildrumferton Mother's Name: Jane Father's Name: William There is no record of a Baptism of Robert Knowles in either the Kildrumferton or Ballymachugh records. He may have either been Baptized elsewhere or not at all. I enclose and extract from the Marriage Register giving the details or the marriage between William Knowles and Jane Wallace. I hope that will help you with your research. Yours Sincerely, Rev. D. Williams

**Baptismal Record Search Comments**
Above is a transcript of a 3 April 1990 letter from the Kildrumferton Rectory regarding baptismal records for Jane Wallace and her sons William (Wallace) Knowles and Robert Knowles. The information for Jane Wallace is probably our Jane Wallace but more crosschecking with other records as they are found should be done to be sure Information from Dolores Woodbury and Muriel Leonhardt indicated that Jane was born at Duff Castle, Parish Crosserlough (Kildrumferton). Jane's marriage record indicates she lived in Duff Castle at the time of her marriage and her marriage took place at St. Patrick's Church, Kildrumferton. Thus it appears that St. Patrick's covered the area of Duff Castle.	Other research though indicated that her mother's name was Ann, but this baptismal record indicates it was Mary. This needs to be investigaed. The letter indicates that no record of a Baptism for Robert Knowles was found in Kildrumferton or Ballymachugh records. The years suggested for the search were 1853-1857. However, the IGI shows that he was born in Duff Castle in 1856. This needs further investigation.

**Marriage License**
Copy PROVINCE OF QUEBEC Know all Men by these presents, that we, William Knowles, Policeman Robert Smith, Engineer Adolphe Galipeau, Carter All of the City and District of Montreal. are held and firmly bound, jointly and severally, unto Our Sovereign Lady Victoria by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Defender of Faith in the sum of Eight Hundred Dollars, of current mony of this Province, to be paid to His said Majesty, His Heirs and Successors; for the which payments, well and truly to be made, we do bind ourselves, and each of us by himself, our and each of our heirs, executors and administrators, firmly by these present, dated at Montreal, the twenty-fourth day of January in the fortieth year of his Majesty's Reign, and in the year of one thousand eight hundred and seven-seven. The condition of this Obligation is such, That whereas the above bounden William Knowles (a bachelor) hath obtained a License of Marriage for himself and Isabella Catherine Black of the said City and District of Montreal, (a spinster) now if it shall not appear hereafter that they, or either of them, the said William Knowles and Isabella Catherine Black have any lawful let or impediment, pre-contract, affinity or consanguinity, to hinder them being joined in Holy Matrimony, and afterwards their living together as Man and Wife, then this obligation to be void and of no effect, otherwise to be and remain in full force and effect. (signed) William Knowles (signed) Robert Smith (signed Adolphe Galipeau (X) his mark Signed and Delivered at Montreal, in presence of JNO. Monk of Montreal, Advocate T. P. Butler of Montreal, Advocate.

**Marriage License Comments**
It is believed that this Marriage License Record was obtained by Muriel Leonhardt in her genealogy research in the 1930s for information about her parents. The document appears to be a transcription of the "data" from the original 1887 record to a form that was used in the 1930s or thereabouts.	The need to pay $800 to his Majesty to be married seems very high for 1877 and also for the 1930s. The marriage license is for January 24, 1877, one day before their January 25, 1977 marriage at St. John the Evangelist.

Church Marriage Record

Superior Court
Prothanotary Office

Province of Quebec
District of Montreal

True Extract on the reverse, from the register of civil status of St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church MONTREAL for the year 1877
Montreal, April 12, 1979

William Knowles, Bachelor and Isabella Catherine Black, spinster, were married with license this Twenty fifth day of January Eighteen Hundred and Seventy seven by me.
Chas.

Chas. A. Daniel	Assist. Priest
Robert Smith	Williams Knowles
Sarah King	Isabella Catherine Black

**Church Marriage Record Comments**
William Knowles and Isabella Black were married on January 25, 1877 in Montreal.	William was 28 and Isabella was about 23 years old.

**Newspaper Marriage Notices**
Montreal Daily Star Marriages Jan. 27, 1877, Saturday Knowles, Black - On the 25th past, at the Church of St. John the Evangelist, by the Reverend Mr. Daniels, Mr. William Knowles, formerly of Cavan Ireland to Isabella Catherine, oldest daughter of Thomas Black Esq., of this city. Marriages Jan. 29, 1877, Monday Knowles, Black - On the 25th past, at the Church of St. John the Evangslist, by the Reverend Mr. Daniels, Mr. William Knowles, formerly of Cavan Ireland to Isabella Catherine, oldest daughter of Thomas Black Esq., of this city.

**Marriage Notice Comments**
William Knowles and Isabella Catherine Black were married on Thursday, January 25, 1877.	This marriage notice provided a key piece of information about William Knowles, that he was from Cavan County Ireland. Most other data indicated Scotland. It was subsequently found that he was born in Cavan County, Ireland.

**Police Records Search**
The Montreal Directories indicate William Wallace Knowles was a policeman and Police Sergeant between 1877-1882. In February 1977, a request was made of the Montreal Police department for any occupation records for William Knowles	The Montreal Police Department responded on April 13, 1977 that they searched the records at the Cities Halls of Montreal and Verdun. Their search was negative.

**Marriage Record Search**
After William's first wife Isabela Black died in September 1892, William remarried. The family thought her name was Sarah White. The name Sarah is on William's Cemetery Record and the name Mrs. Sarah Knowles (widow William W. Knowles) is in an 1897 Chicago Directory listing.	A search was made in April 1978 by the Cook County Clerk for the marriage of William Wallace Knowles and Ms. White between September 1892 and April 1897. No record was found. In March 2003, a search was made for the Illinois marriage index and no marriage was found between them. And a listing of Illinois marriages for W. Knowles did not yield any likely matches. Searches should continue on the Illinois Marriage Index. However, it is possible that Sarah was from another town/state/province and they were married there.

**Certificate of Death**
Report of Death Department of Health: City of Chicago Certificate Number: 9878 Name: William Wallace Knowles Sex: Male Color: White Born in: Scotland Age: 46 years 4 months Died on 24th day of March 1997 at about 11:30 p.m. Married Place of death: 5734 Wabash Place of burial: Oakwoods Date of burial: March 27, 1897 Undertaker: J. J. Horing 303 63rd Cause of Death Chief and Determining - Phthisis Pulmanolis Contributing and Consecutive Causes - Endocarditis Witness my hand, this 25 day of March 1897. Signature: M. M. Leahy M.D. 6301 Wentworth Av.

**Death Record Comments**
The age of 46 years and 4 months implies November 1850. However, William was born on December 27, 1848 in Cavan County, Ireland, although it appears he was of Scottish ancestry. The place of death 5724 Wabash in Chicago was his home.	The date of burial on the record almost looks like March 25 but the Cemetery record indicates it was March 27. Phthisis Pulmanolis is Tubeculosis, a contagious lung disease. The contributory was probably a weak heart.

**Obituary Comments**
In December 1977 a search was made for William Wallace Knowles obituary. The Chicago Tribune was searched for March 25-29, 1897 and the Chicago Daily News was searched for March 25-29, 1897. No obituary was found. These would be worth searching again along with other newspapers. Perhaps there was one that catered to the Scottish Community.	An unpublished obituary/eulogy for William Knowles was found among Muriel Leonhardt's genealogy papers.

**Cemetery and Grave Location**
This is an overview map of Oakwoods Cemetery. The Oakwoods Cemetery is located between 67th and 71st Streets and Cottage Grove on the South Side of Chicago.	The Knowles family plot is shown in the Linden Hill Section. Addtional information is with the Knowles' Cemetery Records.

Knowles Family Plot

Oakwoods Cemetery
Chicago, Illinois

Section: J

Division: 1

Lot: 314

Deed 5100

Owner Name: Wm. W. Knowles

Number	No.	Location	Name
37951	1	4W - 5S	Isabella Knowles - ad
53256	2	2N - 4W	Wm. W. Knowles - ad
57101	3	2S - 4W	Robert Knowles - ad
80953	4	1 3/4N - 2 3/4 E	Harold A. Knowles - ch
-	5	-	1'10" X 1'10" Monument

**Knowles Family Plot Comments**
The Oakwoods Cemetery is located between 67th and 71st Streets and Cottage Grove on the South Side of Chicago. Data on each of the individuals is presented below.	The tombstone is a concrete monument in the form of an obelisk similar to a small Washington Monument. It sits on a small base and is about 5 feet high. The lettering is beginning to fade away as the stone is soft. A photo can be seen in the Knowles Photo Collection. The 1'10" X 1'10" Monument is the size of the monument base.

**Cemetery Record**
The Oak Woods Cemetery Association Chicago, Illinois Name: Isabella A. Knowles Date of Decease: Sept. 1, 1892 Date of Interment: Sept. 3, 1892 Age at Time of Decease: 38 years old Place of Birth: Germany Place of Decease: Chicago - Lived at 5734 Wabash Ave. Kindred: William W. Knowles - Husb. Lot or Grave No.: J-1-314 Name: William Knowles Date of Decease: March 24, 1897 Date of Interment: March 27, 1897 Age at Time of Decease: 46 years 4 months Place of Birth: Scotland Place of Decease: Chicago - Lived at 5734 Wabash Ave. Kindred: Sarah Lot or Grave No.: J-1-314 Name: Robert Knowles Date of Decease: July 26, 1898 Date of Interment: July 28, 1898 Age at Time of Decease: 42 years old Place of Birth: Not Stated Place of Decease: ICRR Track - Struck by an Engine Kindred: Sarah Lot or Grave No.: J-1-314 Name: Harold A. Knowles Date of Decease: July 6, 1908 Date of Interment: July 6, 1908 Age at Time of Decease: 1 year - 6 months Place of Birth: Chicago Place of Decease: Chicago - Lived at 7919 Woodlawn Kindred: W. W. & Margaret Knowles Lot or Grave No.: J-1-314

**Cemetery Record Comments**
Above are transcriptions for the four persons in the Knowles Family plot at Oakwoods Cemetery in Chicago. Isabella Knowles: Isabella Catherine Black who married William Wallace Knowles. Her tombstone indicates that she was born in November, thus the 38 years old entry implies she was born in 1853. The location of Germany is a typographical error. She was born in the Sanguenay District of Quebec. The middle initial "A" is also thought to be a typographical error as her middle name was Catherine. William Knowles: The age of 46 years and 4 months implies a birth of November 1850. However his church birth/baptismal record indicates he was born December 27, 1848 in Cavan County, Ireland. William married Sarah White after Isabella died in 1892. The 2nd marriage date is unknown.	Robert Knowles: Robert Knowles was the brother of William Wallace Knowles. The 42 years old entry implies a year of birth of about 1856. ICRR would be Illinois Central Rail Road. Sarah would be Sarah Knowles, the widow of his brother William. Harold A. Knowles: Harold A. Knowles is the son of Wilfred Washington Knowles and Margaret Rardin. Wilfred is the son of William Wallace Knowles and Isabella Catherine Black.

**Tombstone Inscription**
Knowles In memory of Isabella C. Beloved wife of William W. Knowles Born Nov. 30, 1854 Died Aug. 31, 1892

**Tombstone Inscription Comments**
The tombstone is a concrete like monument in the form of an obelisk similar to a small Washington Monument. It sits on a small base and is about 5 feet high. The lettering is beginning to fade away as the stone is soft. A picture can be seen in the Knowles Picture Collection. Dave Jordan copied the tombstone inscription in July 1978. The only lettering is for Isabella. There is none for William, Robert or baby Harold. Perhaps William's 2nd wife didn't want to spend the money.	The tombstone is a concrete monument in the form of an obelisk similar to a small Washington Monument. It sits on a small base and is about 5 feet high. The lettering is beginning to fade away as the stone is soft. A photo can be seen in the Knowles Photo Collection. Dave Jordan copied the tombstone inscription in July 1978. The only lettering is for Isabella. There is none for William, Robert or baby Harold. Perhaps William's 2nd wife didn't want to spend the money.

**Last Will and Testament and Distribution of Estate Search**
A request was in 1978 to the Clerk of the Circuit Court, Probate Division, Chicago, Illinois to search for the last will and testament for William Knowles who died on March 24, 1897.	The January 1978 response was as follows: We are unable to find any record of probate on the estate of the person named herein, in the Probate Court of Cook County, Illinois. A search was done for 1892-1906 (No Est.)