This has been bothering me for a long time. Thankful Knowles was born in 1705 and her parents have always been indicated as Richard Knowles (1688-1769) and Martha Cobb (1681-1763). Whereas it's a distinct possibility that Richard and Martha could have been of child-bearing age in 1705 all of the records show that they were married in Jul 12,1712. Their first child after their 1712 marriage is Martha born around Jan 1713 which is possible. However, why is there 8 years between the birth of Thankful, the marriage of Richard and Martha and then the birth of their very next child, Martha???
Some people have linked Thankful Higgins (1692-1712) as the mother of Thankful Knowles with Richard being the father. This is remotely possible as Thankful Higgins would have been 13 years old in 1705 when she would have given birth to Thankful Knowles. Curiously, Thankful Higgins died in Jul 13, 1712 and her gravestone is marked with her maiden name "Higins" (sic). Richard Knowles married Martha Cobb on Jul 2, 1712, 11 days before the death of Thankful Higgins.
Therefore I don't think Thankful Knowles is the daughter of Richard Knowles and Marta Cobb OR of Richard Knowles and Thankful Higgins. Thankful Knowles was either the illegitimate daughter of Richard Knowles and Thankful Higgins, the daughter of someone else with the surname of Knowles OR was Richard Knowles' daughter through an earlier relationship.
Frankly I would like Richard Knowles and Thankful Higgins to be the parents of Thankful Knowles. This would make me a direct blood ancestor of 2 more Mayflower passengers, Thomas and Joseph Rogers, through Thankful Higgins but I can't prove this connection.
If someone has some more concrete information about this I would greatly appreciate being enlightened.
Thank you;
Lawrence MacLeod Annis
lannis2697@aol.com
510-459-1146
