George Knott ca 1600-1648 and His Wife Martha of England and Sandwich, Massachusetts

George Knott was born in England about 1600, a rough estimate, and migrated to New England before 1637. He was one of the founders of Sandwich, then in Plymouth Colony and now in Barnstable County on Cape Cod. His is my 11th great-grandfather on my grandfather Arthur Washburn Ellis Davis’ side of the family.

By about 1628 George married Martha whose maiden name is not recorded. They had two children, birth order uncertain:

1. Martha Knott born say 1630 in England; married Thomas Tobey 18 November 1650 at Sandwich [Sandwich VR 1:5 and Sandwich Town Records 1:221]
2. Samuel Knott born say 1633 in England; died after March 1710 when he is mentioned in Thomas Tobey’s will

I descend from Martha whom I wrote about here.

On 3 April 1637, it was agreed by the Court that those “tenn men of Saugust, viz Edmond Freeman, Henry Feake, Thomas Dexter, Edward Dillingham, William Wood, John Carman, Richard Chadwell, William Almey, Thomas Tupper, & George Knott shall have liberty to view a place to sitt downe & have sufficient lands for three score famylies, upon the condicons appounded to them by the Govnor and Mr. Winslowe.”  [Records of New Plymouth Colony, hereafter PCR, 1:57] I am uncertain how long he was at Saugus (later Lynn) before going to Sandwich. Some of the “Ten Men” were from Sandwich, Kent, so that would be a place to look for George’s birth but I have not yet done so.

The August 1643 list of men able to bear arms in Plymouth Colony includes Georg Knott of Sandwich. [PCR 7:193 ] His will and inventory give a few clues about George’s life: he was a farmer, his household perhaps produced yarn, fabric and clothing, he was literate as he owned a Bible and other “small books,” and weaponry indicates he served in the militia.

List of the men of Sandwich who have taken the oath of fidelity includes Georg Knott, but no year given. Other lists by town are are dated 1657 and 1644; George was already deceased by 1657 so would likely be 1644. [PCR 7:184]

A fire at the Barnstable Courthouse destroyed many land records. However at the 16 April 1640 Court, the names and persons to whom the dividend of meadow land at Sandwich between Moonoonenuscusett [later Scusset] and Shawme was made to about 60 men including “Georg Knott” who received 4 acres. [PCR 1:149] The approximate location of his homestead and land is also known based on a 1667 land survey: Widow Knott lived on Water Street, next door to her daughter Martha and son-in-law Thomas Tobey. [Lovell] The house currently on the property where the Tobey’s lived is now known as the Deacon Eldred house and was featured on the HGTV show Houses with History.

Map created by RA Lovell

Unlike many of the other Sandwich founders, George was not overly involved in public service. I have only found these references:

• At 7 March 1642/3 Court, Georg Knott was chosen constable at Sandwich [PCR 2:53)
• At 2 June 1646, Georg Knott was chosen juror for the grand inquest [PCR 2:102]
• His inventory included a musket, sword and bandolier, indicating he was a member of the town’s militia

On 20 September 1647 , “Gorg Knott” was one of six Sandwich men who approved Thomas Dexter the younger [he was a miller] having land lying near his marsh. [PCR 12:210]

George died at Sandwich on May 1 or 2 1648—he was buried on May 3. “Gorg Knot was buried the third of May” 1648 “p me William Wood.” [Sandwich VRs 1:4 citing PCR 8:6] He was about 55 years old. 

George’s will is dated about the first of  May 1648. He left bequests to his wife,  son Samuel and daughter Martha. His bequest to daughter Martha was contingent on “if she Maries and lives in Sandwich.”  He also left his leather suit to Thomas Dunham “in case he Maries my daughter.”  He mentions livestock to be given to his wife, Samuel and Martha; house, meadow and other land to his wife; house and meadow to son Samuel after his mother’s death; half the above mentioned meadow to daughter Martha if she marries and lives in Sandwich; land at Scusset to his wife. 

His “well beloved wife” Martha is named executrix with William Leveridge and William Newland as overseers. Mr William Leveridg was deposed to this will before Thomas Prence [no date shown].  [Plymouth Colony Wills 1:82] 

It was a nuncupative will, meaning it was an dictated orally because death was imminent. Not surprisingly it appears he did not sign his will by hand or mark as there is no indication of either in the document. He must have been very sick. I find the handwriting of the will and inventory very challenging to decipher.

The inventory of the estate of Gorg Knot was taken 1 June 1648 by Edward Dillingham and William Newland. It does not contain real estate and totals £69 10s. Some items include wearing apparel, cash, livestock, wheat, rye, Indian corn, oatmeal, malt, pewter items, Bible and other small books, musket, bandolier, & sword, yarn, and various fabric. 

Martha Knot “the older” was deposed to this inventory before the court held at New Plymouth the 7th of month 1648 [likely June since inventory was taken 1 June]

In a plot twist, daughter Martha did not marry Thomas Dunham. On 4 October 1648 “the Court have ordered, concerning Thomas Dunham, that hee abstaine from coming atte or sending unto Martha Knote of Sandwidge from this prsent day untell the first Tusday of Desember next, untell the Court can better deserne the treuth of his pretended contracte with the sd Martha Knot, unles the Governer, uppon clearing of thinges, shall give him leave.” [PCR 2:136] They did not marry and two years later she married Thomas Tobey with whom she had seven children. 

After George’s death Martha did not remarry and lived as a widowed head of household in Sandwich. In 1650 there were 60 families in Sandwich and only four households functioned with women at the head: Bridget Bodfish, Katherine Briggs, Martha Knott, Joan Swift. [Lovell] I descend from Katherine and Joan as well.

It appears Martha was a Quaker: “Widdow Knott” was one of 12 Sandwich citizens brought to court on 7 October 1651 on the charge of ‘not frequenting the publick worship of God, contrarye to order made the 6th of June 1651.” The law read the abusers would be fined ten shillings or publicly whipped for each offense. [PCR 2:173]

Widow Martha Knott of Sandwich  wrote her will 27 October 1673 which she signed by her mark. [Mayflower Descendant 25:89] It was exhibited to Plymouth court on 5 March 1673/4 under oath of Mr Richard Bourne. Bequests were as follows:

To “my son Samuell Knott…my bed and beding all that I have onely excepting my green Rugg” also “my little iron, pott, my Skillett and a Tray”

To “my daughter Martha Tobey the wife of Thomas Tobey 4 Cattle: viz 1 Cow 1 heiffer 1 yearling and vantage and one Calfe; and all the rest of my Goods with my Clothes or whatever else I have.”

“I appoint Thomas Tobey my son in law executor.”

The witnesses were Richard Bourne, William Newland and John Newland.

The inventory of “Widdow Knot of Sandwidg” was taken 1 January 1673/4 by Richard Bourne and John Smith and was presented 5 March 1673/4 on the oath of Thomas Tobey. 

I am unclear what became of Samuel Knott. I have read he never married which was highly unusual for the time. He is mentioned in his mother’s October 1673 will, but it is his brother-in-law Thomas Tobey who is named executor. In Thomas Tobey’s 24 March 1709/10 will [Barnstable PR 1:230] he adds a contingency to the bequest to his sons Samuel and Gershom Tobey, that “they or their heirs executors or administrators do keep maintain yr uncle Samll Knot During ye time of his naturall Life both with food drink Lodging & apparill and to allow him a decent buriel after his Death.” At this point Samuel was perhaps in his mid 70s. Perhaps Samuel had some sort of disability as even men in their 70s typically supported themselves. I find it quite endearing the way families took care of their own. 

Sources:

RA Lovell, Sandwich: A Cape Cod Town, 1984

Justin Winsor (communicated by), NEHGS Register, “Abstracts of Earliest Wills in Probate Office, Plymouth,” 4:284

Mrs. John E. Barclay, The American Genealogist, “Notes on the Dunham Family of Plymouth,” 30:149

George Bowman editor, The Mayflower Descendant, “Plymouth Colony Wills and Inventories,” 25:89

Nathaniel B. Shurtleff and David Pulsifer, eds., Records of the Colony of New Plymouth, in New England, 12 vols. (New York: AMS Press, 1968)

Caroline Lewis Kardell & Russell A. Lovell Jr, Vital Records of Sandwich Massachusetts to 1885, NEHGS, 1996