William Knox, Merchant Tailor in Glasgow

WILLIAM KNOX

Spurious Pedigree

George Crawford apears to have confused William Knox here treated with William Knox of Lifford According to him, William Knox here treated was the youngest son of Marcus Knox and his wife Isobell Lyon. Crawford 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

Tailor and Merchant in Glasgow: Burgess and Guild Brother of Glasgow

The Reverend Charles Rogers contradicted George Crawford. He identified William Knox here treated as the eldest son of Marcus Knox: "William Knox, the eldest son, was a merchant burgess of Glasgow. According to him, 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

William Knox, here treated was enrolled as a burgess and guild brother of Glasgow on 11 July 1627. He was admitted in right of his marriage to Catherine Elphinstone, who is identified as the daughter of James Elphinstone, burgess and guild brother. Glasgow Burgesses, 1573-1750: 67

Death

William Knox, here treated, died intestate in April 1674. [National Records of Scotland, Commissary Records of Glasgow, Testament Dative and Inventory of William Knox, tailor burgess of Glasgow, confirmation was granted on 23 April 1674, reference CC9/7/40]

His Testament Dative and Inventory

The testament dative and inventory of William Knox, here treated, was given up by his widow, Catherine Elphinstone. No financial provision was made for any surviving children, because William was: "ane old man having provydet [for] all his bairnes and put thm [out] of the hous". Consequently, he had very little property, other than the: "insight & plenishing of his hous in utencills & domicills," which he and Catherine Elphinstone had already given away: " qlk was also disponit be him & the sd ex[ecut]rix". All of this suggests that the widow had already moved in, or was planning to move in with one of her children. Confirmation was granted on 23 April 1674. [National Records of Scotland, Commissary Records of Glasgow, Testament Dative and Inventory of William Knox, tailor burgess of Glasgow, confirmation was granted on 23 April 1674, reference CC9/7/40]

1. Image of Testament
2. Image of Testament

Marriage

William Knox here treated married Catherine Elphinstone. A marriage record has not been found but she is noticed as his wife in his burgess record dated 11 July 1627. Glasgow Burgesses, 1573-1750: 67

Children

1. John Knox
2. Jean Knox, primus
3. Catherine Knox
4. Jonet Knox, primus
5. Jonet Knox, secundus
6. Agnes Knox
7. William Leslie, Bishop of Laibach, Metropolitan of Carniola
8. Mary Knox
9. Jean Knox, secundus
10. David Knox
11. George Knox
12. Anna Knox

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

3 December 1622: Bond for one hundred merks in favour of William Govan, bonnet maker in Glasgow, by Alexander Knox, apparent of Selvieland. Marcus Knox, merchant burgess of Glasgow, and William Knox, merchant there, are cautioners for Alexander Knox. Hattie S. Goodman, The Knox Family etc. (Whiter & Shepperson, Richmond, Virginia, 1905), page 254, where Deeds recorded in the Registers of the Commissariot of Glasgow have been printed

Evidence from the Records of the Burgh of Glasgow

26 January 1665 William Elphinstone, tailor, Burgess, as serving apprentice with William Knox, tailor, Burgess (Guild Brother, same right, 24 June 1669) Glasgow Burgesses, 1573-1750: 170

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. Reverend Charles Rogers, LL.D., Genealogical Memoirs of John Knox and of the Knox Family (Grampian Club, London, 1879), 184 pp. including index
3. Reverend Robert D. McKenzie, BD., Kilbarchan: A Parish History (Alexander Gardner, Paisley, 1902), 306 pp. For Knox of Selvieland and Knox of Ranfurly see pp. 223-6