Birth: 1609 near Hull, Yorkshire, England
Immigration: 1635 on the ship “Susan & Ellen”
Details: The “Susan & Ellen” sailed from London soon after the middle of May, 1635, and crossed the Atlantic in 6 to 8 weeks. She carried 96 passengers and was commanded by Edward Payne. Henry came over as a servant of Ralph Hudson.
Marriage: ABT 1640 Warwick, Kent Co, Rhode Island
On a Grand Jury: 03 DEC 1643
Place: Newport, Rhode Island
Religion: Was the first in the Knowles family to become a Quaker.
On a Grand Jury: 07 MAR 1644
Place: Portsmouth, Rhode Island
Note: 27 MAY 1644
Details: Henry Knowles was ordered to cut shorter his lot in Portsmouth.
Birth of Son: 1645
Name: William Knowles
Birth of Daughter: Mary Knowles
Birth of Son: ABT 1647
Name: John Knowles
Note: In the winter of 1648, he was one of 50 men who attested their submission to the government of Oliver Cromwell.
Jury: 1650
Birth of Daughter: 1651
Name: Martha Knowles
Birth of Son: ABT 1654
Name: Henry Knowles
Land Rec: 21 JAN 1654/55
Details: Henry Knowles of Portsmouth sold to Thomas Lawton (Scranton?) “my nowe dwelling house,” with three house lots adjoining, the fruit trees [etc] , “sittuate in portsmouth, the sayed land being by estimation nyne ackers more or lesse.”
Freeman: 1655
Details: Henrie Knowles was placed on the “Roule of ye Freeman of ye Colonie of Warwicke”. Warwick was a more recently settled town than Portsmouth, and he had moved from the northern end of the island on which Newport now stands westerly across Narrangansett Bay to the mainland.
Land Rec: 20 NOV 1657
Details: He sold a house and lot to Thomas Scranton. In 1660, a six acre lot was laid out to him, on land adjoining his own.
Note: During the winter of 1661/62 Knowles seems to have been in constant trouble. He was not an educated man, for he made his mark in place of a signature. But he was to be authorized in a few years to keep a tavern; therefore, he must have been something of “a man about town.”
In Jan 1661/2 Randall Holden accused Henry Knowles of trespass. The case came before a local jury, and he was declared not guilty, receiving damages of two pence from Holden. About the same time he served on a jury for other cases in Warwick. In March, Eleazer Collins brought suit to collect ten pounds from Knowles. A compromise was effected, and the suit was withdrawn. Francis Derby of Warwick also brought a suit in April. The case was put over to a later court, and was withdrawn in August. The record here given is for one winter and spring. If other years were anywhere nearly as active, Henry Knowles must have lived a busy life.
Note: 23 MAR 1664/65
Details: Knowles and three others were authorized by the town to keep ordinaries (a tavern) for the entertainment of strangers during the time the King’s commissioners held court in Warwick.
Jury: JAN 1666/67
Details: He was on a jury which reported that a dead Indian came to his end by being beaten.
Will: 02 JAN 1670/71
Details: Henry Knowles gave to his wife (whose name was not mentioned), for life, the northeastern half of the house in Warwick, which his son John was to fit conveniently for his mother’s use, the meadow in front of the house, which John was to mow annually, certain other land for life, two cows and a hog, and 40s. annually. To his daughter Mary, 15 pounds, of which she was to receive 5 pounds from her brother John three years after the death of the testator and 5 pounds annually afterwards. To his daughter Martha, 20 pounds, of which 5 pounds was to be paid by John 2 years, and 5 pounds annually after that. To his son John half of the house and the rest of the lands and meadows at Warwick and Potowomut, etc., and on the decease of the testator’s wife, her part of the lands “of my now dwelling” (at Kingstown?) and a calf. To his son William, the other half of these lands. To his sons William and Henry, the rest of all lands equally, “as Robert Hazard and John Albro shall divide it for their convenience.” The rest of the cattle and hogs and a mare were to remain to the farm, but were eventually to be divided as his wife should see cause, the best bed at Warwick, however, to be for his wife and the other one for John, and , of “those which are here,” the best was to be for Henry and the other for Martha. He charged William to be careful over Henry until the latter came of age, and then to give him full and quiet possession of the house and half of all appertaining, for two years after Henry should come of age, and William having half the nursery to plant if he should see fit. He appointed his son William executor.
It was testified by witnesses that they heard deceased say, after signing his will, that, if his son John did not take what he gave him, he was to have his brother William’s right, and William was to have John’s share, except the executorship, and whoever should enjoy the Warwick estate was to provide sufficient wood for their mother during her life. The 40s. was to be paid by William to his mother until Henry should come of age, and then he was to pay 20s of it.
Death: 02 JAN 1670/71 Warwick, Kent Co, Rhode Island
Will Proved: 20 JAN 1671
Details: Written in Kingstown but proven in Warwick
Parents are Robert Knowles and ?
Martha Elizabeth Potter
Birth: ABT 1620 Warwick, Kent Co, Rhode Island
Death: 1679 Kent Co, Rhode Island
Parents are unknown
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