William Knox of Lifford

WILLIAM KNOX OF LIFFORD

Spurious Pedigrees

The ancestry of William Knox here treated is uncertain. George Crawford identified him as a younger son of Marcus Knox, merchant in Glasgow and said this about him: "William Knox Esqr a Younger son who went over to Ireland and Settled in the City of Dublin in the Tradeing way whereby he got great Wealth and much greater Reputation for a Man of Integrity. He had a son its said Sir John Knox who was Lord Mayor of the City of Dublin. He left his Estate partly to an only Daughter And partly to keep up and preserve the Memory of his Family to Thomas Knox of Dungannon Esqr his Nephew." Crawford's history of the Knox family was published as part of Walter MacFarlane's collection of genealogies. MacFarlane, 281

The Reverend Charles Rogers contradicted Crawford. He identified Marcus Knox's son William as the eldest son, rather than the younger son. and said this about him: "William Knox, the eldest son, was a merchant burgess of Glasgow. He married and had an eldest son John, aparently a minor in 1659. He died before this period in circumstances of indigence." Memoirs, p. 20

According to the Reverend Charles Rogers: "William Knox, of the Silvieland branch, by Mr. George Crawfurd erroneously described as a younger son of Marcus Knox of Glasgow, proceeded to Ireland, and engaging in merchandise at Dublin, became opulent. He acquired the estate of Lifford, in County Donegal, and having married .......... Campbell, by her left at his decease in 1650 (with three daughters) two sons, John and William. The former, having settled at Dublin, was elected sheriff of that city in 1675, and Lord Mayor in 1685. He was knighted 6th February 1685. He had a grant by Privy Seal, dated at Whitehall 23 October 1685, confirmed by anotrher date at Dublin, 29th December 1685, giving him exclusive rights of a copper coinage for Ireland for twenty-one years. He married Hannah, sister of Colonel Roger Moore, M.P. for Phillipstown and Mullingar, and died, without issue, 3rd November 1687." Memoirs, p. 33

Genealogy

1. Genealogical Collections Concerning Families in Scotland made by Walter MacFarlane 1750-1751 etc. in two volumes. II (Scottish History Society, Edinburgh, 1902), 605 pp. including index. See pp. 261-84 for the Knox Family
2. Genealogical Memoirs of John Knox, 184 pp. including index. For an account of the family of Knox of Selvieland see pp. 17-22
3. Reverend Robert D. McKenzie, BD., Kilbarchan: A Parish History (Alexander Gardner, Paisley, 1902), 306 pp. For Knox of Selvieland see pp. 223-6 et seq.
4. Sir Bernard Burke, CB., LL.D., Ulster King of Arms (Revised by A. C. Fox-Davies), A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Landed Gentry of Ireland (Harison & Sons, London, 1912), 786 pp.