John Knowles, of Herne

John Knowles

• Born Aug 1597 of Hearn, Kent, England
• Christened 26 Aug 1610 in Godmersham, Kent, England
• Died 1655
• Buried in the Church of Herne, South Chantry Chapel ("Knowler Chapel"), in Kent, England (see notes)
• Parents: Robert Knowles & Susan Pordage

Family

Married

1. on 17 Feb 1630 in Godmersham, Kent, England to Mary Brodnax (1610-1685). She was the daughter of Thomas (II) Broadnax of Godmersham (barrister) and Elizabeth Taylor

They had the following children:

• Capt. JOHN KNOWLES (KNOWLES) (immigrant to the colonies) was born about 1631/1635 and died 1676. Married (unknown)
• Robert KNOWLES  (died 1693) was born 3 Jan 1631 and died 1 Nov 1693. Married Elizabeth Gilbert.
• Elizabeth KNOWLER (KNOWLES) was born 19 Jan 1632. Married Thomas Napleton.
• Cecily KNOWLER  (immigrant to the colonies) died 1703/1704. Married 1) Isaac Hutchins 2) Henry Sherman
• Thomas KNOWLER  (died young, age 18) was born 23 Dec 1635. He died 23 May 1654.

Notes

From  St Martin Church, Herne CANTERBURY DIOCESE: HISTORICAL AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY Tim Tatton-Brown's Survey 1994

"LOCATION: In the centre of the village of Herne, at c. 65 feet above O.D. on the lowest part of the London Clay. The main street to Herne Bay from Sturry skirts the churchyard on the east. ... in the post-medieval period the S.E. chapel became the Knowler Chapel (now a vestry)."

From http://oursoutherncousins.com/knowler-knowles3.html

Quote from Brodnax by Mildred Seab Ezell:    "Mary Brodnax, baptized 26 August 1610 at Godmersham, married 17 February 1630 at Godmersham, John Knowler (sic), bachelor of Heame, born c. 1597, son of Robert, Heame, co-Kent, and PORDUGE."

A genealogy of the Brodnax family is in the William and Mary Quarterly XIV, 52-59, 135-137.  This genealogy is illustrated by a portrait of Gen. William H. Brodnax, and cuts of an armorial seal used by him.    The pedigree of Brodnax in Berry's 'Kent', page 126, shows Thomas Brodnax Esq. of Godmersham Kent, who died 1658 (and who was sixth in descent from Robert Brodnax living temp. Henry V) married Elizabeth Taylor and had issue:   1) Thomas of Godmersham, Esq., who died 1667; 2) Robert (died 1673)

comments

She may be the daughter of Thomas Broadnax, II and Elizabeth Taylor. This requires more research. Also, I am not convinced she is the mother of Bethania Knowles. This too needs more research.

April 2014: it appears Mary (Brodnax) Knowles was the daughter of Thomas Brodnax (d 1658) & Elizabeth Taylor. She married John Knowler & their children included Capt John Knowles of Henrico, the father of Bethania Knowles.

sources

Canterbury Marriage Licences By Diocese of Canterbury, Joseph Meadows Cowper, states the following...and note that how the groom's name is spelled:    KNOWLER, JOHN of Herne, g., ba., about 33, and MARY BRODNAX of Godmersham, v., about 20, dau. of Thomas Brodnax, s.p., Esquire, who consents, as is testified by George Knowler of Herne, g., at Godmersham, Feb 14, 1630.

1630:   JOHN KNOWLER of Herne, g., ba., about 33, and MARY BRODNAX of Godmersham, v., about 20, dau. of Thomas Brodnax, s.p., Esquire, who consents, as is testified by George Knowler of Herne, g., at Godmersham, Feb 14, 1630

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Links

• http://www.genfan.com/getperson.php?personID=I32576&tree=MASTER
• http://oursoutherncousins.com/knowler-knowles3.html

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GEDCOM Note

! born in England, came to America and

! born in England, came to America and settled in Concord, Massachusetts, about 1640, father of Benjamin, John and Abraham. Source: FHL, Book American Ancestry, p. 49

Mary Smith is not related to John Knowles

John Graves family
John, s. of Thomas, (1) Hat., slain by Indians, Sept. 19, 1677. He m. (1) Mary, dau. of Lt. Samuel Smith. She prob. d. Dec. 16, 1668; (2) Mary, widow of John Wyatt of Haddam, Ct. Children - John; Mary, m. (1) Jan. 15, 1671, Samuel Ball of Springfield, (2) April, 1679, Edward Stebbins; Isaac; Samuel; Sarah, m. Edward Stebbins; Elizabeth, b. Dec. 9, 1662, m. Thomas Jones; Daniel, b. Dec. 7, 1664; Ebenezer, b. Nov. 20, 1666; Bethiah, b. June 17, 1668, d. Jan. 21, 1669; Nathaniel, b. June 10, 1671.

Life Sketch

Final settlement of estate, 23 Feb 1677, Henrico County, VA

The Will of Capt. John Knowles:
(The edge of the paper was crumbled): In the name of God Amen Feb 5 1675 I John Knowles of Hen' County in Virginia gent though ____ and weake yet of perfect and sound memory blessed and praised be almighty God doe make, ordaine constitute and appoint this my last will and Testament in manner and form following viz. First I give my soul to God, hoping through the merits and mediation of my ever blessed Saviour Jesus Christ to obtain pardon and remission of all my sins and to inherit life everlasting. I order my body to ye earth from whence it came to bee decently buryed at ye direction of my executors and for ____ worldly goodes it hath pleased God to blesse me with I geve and bequeath as followeth: 1st I give and bequeath all my track of land adjoining on ye Woods? end and now in possession of Jno Partridge confirming by estimation about eight hundred acres to my dear daughter Bethenia Knowles to her and heirs forever. 2d. I give and bequeath to my son Wm. Knowles all the rest of my lands, tenements, herediments, all appurtenances and emoluments whatever and any ways appertaining or belonging to him and his heirs for ever. 3d. I give and bequeath all my present estate consisting a slave?, servants, cattell, horses, household, debts (and after my debts and funeral expenses once discharged) to be equally divided between my son William and Daughter Bethenia (line lost here in copying) to whom I commit the guardianship and tutelage of my dear children and the care and benefits of my lands to maintain my child till they shall come to age and I hearby desire my executors to be careful of my dear children as they may expect the like to theirs. Lastly I constitute this to be my last will and testament hereby forever revoking all former whether written or verball wills by me at any time heretofore made. In witness to ye ____ I have hereto set my hand and Seale the day and year before specifyed . /s/ Jno Knowles. Signed Seald and delivered as his last will and testament in ye presence of us. Jno his IB mark Burton Junr Robt his RB mark Burton Proved in court 1st June 1676 by the ____of Robert Burton Witnesses to the same As endorsed ____ the records of this county court of Henrico this first day of June 1676 /s/ Wm Randolph http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/4517976/person/6523172474/media/2?pg...|pgNum

GEDCOM Source

9PL2-J6D Mary Broadnap, "England Marriages, 1538–1973 " "England Marriages, 1538–1973 ," database, <i>FamilySearch</i> (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NNFX-MXJ : 10 February 2018), John Knowler and Mary Broadnap, 17 Feb 1630; citing Godmersham, Kent, England, reference p 4, index based upon data colle https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NNFX-MXJ

GEDCOM Source

Family

• Reference: FamilySearch Genealogy - SmartCopy: Jan 31 2020, 0:09:07 UTC