KNOWLES, William 1891, Tom 1893 & Martha Eliza 1895-1961

[walkersearch]

Siblings brought back to England in 1896 (arrived Liverpool Dec 28 aboard the Teutonic from New York). William age 5, Tom 3 & Martha Eliza 1, were accompanied by their father William Knowles. 

Martha Eliza (aka Pat & Pattie) was my grandmother.  Her mother had died in America during or soon after childbirth 1895 and the father returned to England a year later with the children.  The town hall, housing records of births burnt down subsequently & Pat never had proof of her birth. 

1907 they lived at Leslie Street, Moss Side, Manchester, & 1913 at Sneyd Green, Hanley, Staffs . 

Their father, William Knowles, b 1843, remarried a woman whose first two initials were M.E. 

When did he and his first wife go to America?  Family lore has it they lived in New York state but I haven't found record of my grandmother's birth/baptism or her mother's death. 

Will & Tom sent their sister postcards during WWI, which I have.  They later had families and I would like to locate them. 

[CaroleW]

Hi and welcome to Rootschat

Their father, William Knowles, b 1843

I think you mean 1863 - he was 33yrs old in 1896

Were all the children born in the USA?

Where was William senior born?

Who was his first wife?

Have you checked the free index on the site below to see if their outward journey is recorded

http://www.ancestorsonboard.com/HomePageController.action

[CaroleW]

Family lore has it they lived in New York state

The free 1911 index has a Tom Knowles aged 17 and a Martha Knowles aged 15 living in Wolstanton Staffs

Have you viewed that entry to establish whereabouts in the USA Martha was born?

http://www.1911census.co.uk/search/tnaform.aspx

[walkersearch]

Thank you so much! 
I was a bit shocked to find it cost so much but I found the original census form really worth it as I now know where my grandmother and her brother were born.  My husband subscribes to Ancestry.ca but I had no success with my family around this period.
So thanks again for your help.
All the best,
Carolyn

[CaroleW]

Do you know if William b 1891 was William Allen Knowles?

There is a 1911 index entry for that name in Wolstanton and he was aged 21

Births September qtr 1889     
William Allen Knowles     Leek  6b 308

I can't find an 1891 entry so it looks as though they emigrated between 1889-1891

There are a few William Knowles marriages in Staffs prior to 1889 but only one in Leek as per freebmd  www.freebmd.org.uk

Marriages December qtr 1888   
Mary Eliza Gibson   Leek  6b 481   
William Knowles    Leek  6b 481 

www.staffordshirebmd.org.uk  confirm it as a Civil marriage - no church shown
 

[CaroleW]

Just found the family in 1901 indexed as KNOWLER - address 80 Clanway Street Tunstall

William Knowles 36 b Leek - occ builder (employer)
Mary E  36 b Goldenhill
William A   11 b Leek
Tom 7 b America - British subject
Martha E 5 ditto
RG13 Piece 2592 Folio 104 Page 45

This is the only marriage between 1896-1901 to a Mary E

Marriages March qtr 1900 
William Knowles   Stoke on Trent  6b 216   
Mary Elizabeth Smith

The marriage is on http://www.staffordshirebmd.org.uk and is shown at
St Matthew  Etruria so can be looked up in parish records to confirm that William was a widower

[CaroleW]

I think Mary Elizabeth Smith was also previously married

1891 census for Tunstall

Thomas Smith 30 b Tunstall - carter
Mary E   26 b Goldenhill
RG12 Piece 2159 Folio 107 Page 6

[walkersearch]

Wow. This is so exciting!
Following your lead, I found at Tom & Martha were born in Colfax Iowa.  From there I found that their mother, Eliza died October 1896 age 34. Two months later William senior took his children to England. The Jasper County Genealogical Society has lots of free information http://iagenweb.org/jasper/
I will follow up on the information & links you sent me today.
Thanks again,
Carolyn

[Jool]

Hi Carolyn, not sure if you already have this info but... It looks like William Snr. returned to the USA with his second wife in November 1913 aboard the "Cedric" from Liverpool to New York.

William Knowles b. abt. 1864, married, Builder. 
Last permanent residence Bradford. 
Final destination Boston, Mass. 
Nearest relative in UK. J. Knowles, Uncle, 6 Doric Road, Leek.

Elizabeth Knowles, wife, b. abt. 1862

Jool