William Knox

WILLIAM KNOX

Spurious Pedigree

Contrary to what is claimed by George Crawford MacFarlane, p. 278 William Knox here treated is not the same person as William Knox of Selvieland

Crawford identified William Knox here treated as the progenitor of the House of Silvieland. According to him, William Knox was the second son of Uchtred Knox of Ranfurlie and his wife Janet Semple. MacFarlane, p. 278 The Reverend Charles Rogers followed the genealogy proposed by Crawford. Memoirs, p. 10 However, this proposal, in so far as it concerns the House of Selvieland, conflicts with the available evidence, which traces possession of Selvieland through six generations begining in 1463 with Thomas Knox of Selvieland and ending in 1624 with Alexander Knox of Selvieland Moreover, the family seem first to have acquired Selvieland in the period before 1320, when Walter the Steward gave Selvieland to Gilbert Knox of Selvieland son of the deceased Uchtred of Knox.

Bogus Genealogy Proposed by the Landed Gentry of Ireland

According to Sir Bernard Burke, William Knox here treated, who is said by him to have been styled of Silvyland, was the ancestor of Knox of Brittas, Knox of Rappa Castle, Knox of Mount Falcon, Knox of Grace Dieu, Knox of Greenwood Park, and the Earls of Ranfurly. Burke, p. 373 The genealogy he proposed for all of these Irish families rests upon his identification of William Knox here treated as the grandfather of Marcus Knox, the ancestor of the Earls of Ranfurly, but this is not correct. bidem, p. 374 The bogus genealogy proposed by Burke is also followed by Gatheringleaves. A Family History Encyclopedia: William Knox

Bogus Genealogy Proposed by Werelate

According to Werelate, William Knox of Selvieland married Margaret Maxwell and had issue, John Knox of Selvieland. Werelate: William Knox of Selvieland However, Margaret Maxwell's husband, William Knox of Selvieland, was actually succeeded by his son Archibald Knox of Selvieland and Archibald was succeeded by his brother Alexander Knox of Selvieland Alexandersubsequently sold Selvieland to Simon Brisbane of Middle Walikinschaw Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, A. D. 1620-1633, charter number 1046 on page 370

Genealogical Accounts

1. Genealogical Memoirs of John Knox, 184 pp. including index. For an account of the family of Knox of Selvieland see pp. 17-22
2. 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.
3. 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.

Note Added by Eugene Thomas

William Knox was the son of Uchtred Knox of Ranfurlie and Janet Semple. He married Margaret Fleming. He married the heiress of Silvyland. He was the ancestor of the families of Knox of Rappa Castle, of Mount Falcon, of Grace Dieu, and of Greenwood Park, &c. and of the Earls of Ranfurly. Child of William Knox and Margaret Fleming: William Knox of Silvyland+ (1539 - ) [Citations: [S443] Sir Bernard Burke, A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Landed Gentry of Ireland (London: Harrison & Sons, 1899), pg 391 - According to MacFarlane, William Knox married first a heiress of Silvyland and then married Margaret, daughter of Patrick Fleming of Barrochan by whom he had a son, William Knox of Silvyland. This is in disagreement with other sources which give the William who married the heiress of Silvyland as the father of the William who married Margaret Fleming.. Hereinafter cited as Notes And Queries.[S443] Sir Bernard Burke, BLGI1899, pg. 238 Gatheringleaves. A Family History Encyclopedia: William Knox

Comment by Eugene Thomas

Link states he was progenitor of the House of Silvieland Genealogical Memoirs of John Knox, 184 pp. including index. For an account of the family of Knox of Selvieland see pp. 17-22