George William Knowlton (1830 - 1874)

Born 24 Oct 1830 in Holden, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 5 Aug 1874 at age 43 in Windsor Hotel, New York, New York

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Biography

https://www.skinnerinc.com/auctions/2419/lots/934 Personal Story listed from Doll Auction that belonged to Minnie Knowlton as a child. Auction: Clocks, Watches & Scientific Instruments - 2419 Location: Bolton Date / Time: August 23, 2008 10:00AM Description:

Portrait Jumeau Swivel-Head Fashion Doll and Original Outfits, with closed mouth accented in slight smile, fixed threaded blue eyes with shaded lids, arched light brown feathered brows, pierced-in ears with wire loops for earrings, original strawberry-blonde mohair wig, and gusseted cream kid body with individually stitched fingers, ht. 19 1/2 in., (wig is tightly secured and has not been removed, firing blemish on forehead and right cheek, damage to left knee and right wrist, armature wire protruding through lower left arm); costumes: champagne silk satin two-piece wedding dress with lace trim; light coral taffeta single-piece gown trimmed with brown lace and fabric daisies; two-piece light saffron silk taffeta gown trimmed with cream lace and silk violets; aqua and gray silk satin two-piece gown with ruffled details; white cotton shift and pinafore (both foxed); and a very long white cotton petticoat.

Provenance: From the family of the original owner, Minnie Knowlton, great-grandmother of the seller, who won the doll in a raffle at the Homeopathic Fair in New York. Included with the doll is a newspaper clipping from Eli Perkin's "About the Town" column from Fifth Avenue Hotel, April 22, with pencil inscription 1871.

Text in full: "A $500 doll! A doll with an elaborate Parisian trousseau, with Dollie Varden morning dresses, street dresses, flounced with real lace and court train evening costumes, covered with real point - not a young lady, but a doll ! Who sold it, and who dres it ? Well, Miss Nettie P. got the 250th chance for this wonderful $500 doll on Saturday night at the Homeopathic Fair. Everybody was on tip-toe to know who was going to drawer the beautiful little woman with her damask bed, lace fan, and Saratoga trunks, and, of course, she has held a constant lovee for several nights. It was like the receptions given to Mrs. Minnie Crane's doll at Saratoga last Summer. "What a beautiful doll!" exclaimed every one. "And with ear-rings, too ?" "Yes, with real diamond ear-rings, point-lace handkerchiefs, and a wee-bit of a diamond solitaire on her finger, too" said Miss P. "All right, put me down for a chance", continued the admirer, and the procession moved on. Saturday night they put all of the 250 numbers in the wheel, and commenced drawing for the wonderful doll. A good many little girls eyed her with glistening eyes, and a good many fathers and mothers thought how happy little Sallie, who was asleep at home, would be if they could only draw the beautiful little angel. There was a great noise going on at the fair, but the little Doll corner was still as a mouse for a few moments. "Who drew the doll - and who was the happiest little fir in New York ?" "The fifth number was to draw her. The man put his hand in the wheel, held up the winning ticket, and read the lucky name - "Miss Minnie Knowlton, Gilsey House." George Knowlton don't (sic) think anything of loosing or making $20,000 at a pop in Wall Street, but when his little girl Minnie won the doll, George was as happy as if he had won Noah's Ark. I suppose when Minnie awoke on Saturday morning, and found that beautiful doll with her trunk and trousseau at the head of her bed, that she was the happiest little girl in New York. Minnie has sent out little bits of invitations for a doll reception at Gilsey House on Wednesday afternoon, when her ladyship will appear in her "Nile green" gros grain court train, cut decollete, with her hair a la Pompadour, and diamonds."

Note: George W. Knowlton married Anne Phillips, the daughter of Samuel Adkins Phillips, on November 19, 1859. Their youngest child, Minnie, was born in Riverdale, New York, in 1865, making her six or seven years old at the time the raffle is believed to have taken place. She married William Henry Young. She died in Woodlawn, New York, in 1958.

The building originally named the Gilsey House Hotel is located at 1200 Broadway, Manhattan. Designed by architect Stephen Decatur Hatch in the Second Empire Baroque style, the hotel opened its doors to well-heeled member of the public in 1871, and quickly became a favorite destination for theater-goers, actors, international visitors and writers, including Oscar Wilde. It is tempting to imagine a reception in miniature given in honor of Minnie Knowlton's prize, a fashionable venue for a very fashionable doll. Estimate $6,000-8,000

Wig is tightly secured and has not been removed, however head appears to be free of damage. There are raised dots, including one above eyebrow and one on right cheek, and som red straw marks on the cheeks. Repairs to body as noted, including small repairs on the hips and bottom. The taffeta costumes are machine stitched, the two satin costumes (blue walking dress and bridal dress) hand-stitched. Keywords

Minnie Knowlton, Minnie Crane, Fashion Doll, original owner , Portrait Jumeau Swivel-Head , Eli Perkin, Fifth Avenue Hotel, Dollie Varden, Saratoga, George W. Knowlton, Noah's Ark, George Knowlton, Arkansas, Wall Street, head , Anne Phillips, Samuel Adkins Phillips, Riverdale, William Henry Young, Woodlawn, Gilsey House Hotel, Stephen Decatur, Stephen Decatur Hatch, well-heeled member , Oscar Wilde

Born Holden?. 24 Oct 1830. Holden, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA. ^{[1] [2]} Holden?. 1835 New York City (All Boroughs), New York, USA. Found multiple copies of birth date. Using 24 Oct 1830

Died 5 Aug 1874. New York, New York, USA. ^{[1] [3]}

Residence 1857 New York, New York, USA. ^{[4] [3]}

Story of Eloping 27 Jun 1908. New York, USA. ^[5] File @O136@.

Minnie Knowlton Young Obituary 125 E. 74th Street New York City 1958-04-07 Yonkers, New York. ^[6] File @O540@.

File @O540@. @O136@. @O584@. @O247@.

Marriage Husband @I232073712738@. Wife @I232073712851@. Child: @I232308063739@. Child: @I232123076566@. Child: @I232122522592@. Child: @I232073687631@. Marriage Married @@ Trinity Church. 17 Nov 1859. New York, NY. Marriage 17 Nov 1859. Trinity Church. ^[7] File @O468@.

External Files

• File O136 File: Format: jpg. photo MTYPE document. STYPE jpeg. SIZE 67376. WDTH 390. HGHT 400. Story of Eloping. RIN 307d0c7e-30e6-4ac0-a540-6b0bc9cbb909 27 Jun 1908 Oakland, California Physical Description: Story of the Adeline Knowlton Hoag CREA 2022-02-18 13:59:46.286 Origin: newspapers URL: https:/www.newspapers.com/clip/95290082/story-of-eloping?xid=865. MSER LKID 307d0c7e-30e6-4ac0-a540-6b0bc9cbb909.

• File O247 File: Format: jpg. photo MTYPE document. STYPE png. SIZE 244029. WDTH 2462. HGHT 1292. George W. Knowlton New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949. RIN 57b9fced-ca09-4117-9295-5d1da03f1609 5 Aug 1874 New York, New York, USA Physical Description: "New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949," database, FamilySearch (https:/www.familysearch.org/ark:/619031:1:2WZR-C9V : 3 June 2020), George W. Knowlton, 5 Aug 1874; citing Death, Manhattan, New York County, New York, United States, New York Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 1,322,515. META <metadataxml><transcription>George W. Knowlton New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949. Name: George W. Knowlton. Event Type: Death Event Date: 5 Aug 1874. Event Place: Manhattan, New York County, New York, United States. Event Place (Original): Manhattan, New York, New York, United States. Sex: Male Age: 42 Marital Status: Married Race: White Occupation: Merchant Birth Year (Estimated): 1832 Birthplace: Mass. Burial Date: 8 Aug 1874. Cemetery: Woodlawn Father's Birthplace: Mass. Note: Windsor Hotel 46th St., 19th Ward; Lived in this city 8y. Certificate Number: cn 183247<transcription><metadataxml>. CREA 2021-07-13 11:03:42.000 Origin: u

• File O540 File: Format: jpg. photo MTYPE document. STYPE jpeg. SIZE 31708. WDTH 400. HGHT 400. Minnie Knowlton Young Obituary 125 E. 74th Street New York City. RIN ce1c5fd2-b8c6-4ce6-8aca-955fdf5fa8a6 1958-04-07 Yonkers, New York CREA 2022-02-21 13:14:24.536 Origin: newspapers URL: https:/www.newspapers.com/clip/95913126/minnie-knowlton-young-obituary-125-e?xid=865. MSER LKID ce1c5fd2-b8c6-4ce6-8aca-955fdf5fa8a6.

• File O584 File: Format: pdf. story MTYPE story. STYPE pdf. SIZE 8330799. WDTH HGHT Minnie Knowlton's Doll Sold at Auction. RIN e11bdb13-99a4-4eaa-904d-58b776c555d0 Physical Description: "Miss Minnie Knowlton, Gilsey House." George Knowlton don't (sic) think anything of loosing or making ,000 at a pop in Wall Street, but when his little girl Minnie won the doll, George was as happy as if he had won Noah's Ark. I suppose when Minnie awoke on Saturday morning, and found that beautiful doll with her trunk and trousseau at the head of her bed, that she was the happiest little girl in New York. Minnie has sent out little bits of invitations for a doll reception at Gilsey House on Wednesday afternoon, when her ladyship will appear in her "Nile green" gros grain court train, cut decollete, with her hair a la Pompadour, and diamonds." 

Note: George W. Knowlton married Anne Phillips, the daughter of Samuel Adkins Phillips, on November 19, 1859. Their youngest child, Minnie, was born in Riverdale, New York, in 1865, making her six or seven years old at the time the raffle is believed to have taken place. She married William Henry Young. She died in Woodlawn, New York, in 1958. 

 CREA 2022-01-28 14:45:56.000 Origin: u MSER LKID e11bdb13-99a4-4eaa-904d-58b776c555d0.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Source: S687792265 Ancestry Record 50015 #23211
2. ↑ Source: S706143987 Franklin P. Rice; Worcester, Massachusetts; Vital Records of Holden, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849 Ancestry Record 61401 #1346975
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Source: S710826468 George W. Knowlton New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949 5 Aug 1874 George W. Knowlton New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949 Name: George W. Knowlton Event Type: Death Event Date: 5 Aug 1874 Event Place: Manhattan, New York County, New York, United States Event Place (Original): Manhattan, New York, New York, United States Sex: Male Age: 42 Marital Status: Married Race: White Occupation: Merchant Birth Year (Estimated): 1832 Birthplace: Mass. Burial Date: 8 Aug 1874 Cemetery: Woodlawn Father's Birthplace: Mass. Note: Windsor Hotel 46th St., 19th Ward; Lived in this city 8y Certificate Number: cn 183247 Note: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2WZR-C9V?from=lynx1UIV8&treeref=MPLZ-PGY Note: "New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2WZR-C9V : 3 June 2020), George W. Knowlton, 5 Aug 1874; citing Death, Manhattan, New York County, New York, United States, New York Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 1,322,515.
4. ↑ Source: S702784273 Ancestry Record 2469 #1201401508
5. ↑ Source: S721222689 Story of Eloping 27 Jun 1908 Note: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95290082/story-of-eloping/?xid=637 File @O136@
6. ↑ Source: S721385906 Minnie Knowlton Young Obituary 125 E. 74th Street New York City Note: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95913126/minnie-knowlton-young-obituary-125-e/?xid=637 File @O540@
7. ↑ Source: S687792265 Ancestry Record 50015 #1104208

• Family Records.

"Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VQ68-KYZ : 15 January 2020), George William Knowlton, 1830.

• Source: S687792265 U.S., Newspaper Extractions from the Northeast, 1704-1930 Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 2014 Provo, UT, USA Record Collection 50015

• Source: S687817016 Ancestry Family Trees Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. Record Collection 1030Ancestry Family Tree

• Source: S702784273 U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995 Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 2011 Provo, UT, USA Record Collection 2469

• Source: S702811296 New York, U.S., Episcopal Diocese of New York Church Records, 1767-1970 Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 2017 Lehi, UT, USA Record Collection 61224Ancestry Record 61224 #1350342676

• Source: S702928279 New York, New York, U.S., Index to Death Certificates, 1862-1948 Ancestry.com Publication: 2020 Lehi, UT. USA Record Collection 61778Ancestry Record 61778 #60705621

• Source: S703130040 Massachusetts, U.S., Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 2011 Provo, UT, USA Record Collection 2495Ancestry Record 2495 #82097082

• Source: S703650756 North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000 Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 2016 Provo, UT, USA Record Collection 61157

• Source: S706143987 Massachusetts, U.S., Compiled Birth, Marriage, and Death Records, 1700-1850 Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 2018 Lehi, UT, USA Record Collection 61401Ancestry Record 61401 #1346977

• Source: S706143988 Massachusetts, U.S., Town Birth Records, 1620-1850 New England Historic Genealogical Society Publication: Ancestry.com Operations Inc 1999 Provo, UT, USA Record Collection 4094 Note: <p><li><i>Vital Records of Bellingham Massachusetts to the Year 1850.</i> Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1904.</li></p><p><li><i>Vital Records of Granville Massachusetts to the Year 1850.</i> Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1914.</li></p><p><li><i>Vital Records of Lawrence Massachusetts to the Year 1850.</i> Salem, MA: Essex Institute, 1926.</li></p><p><li><i>Vital Records of Lincoln Massachusetts to the Year 1850.</i> Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1908.</li></p><p><li><i>Vital Records of Richmond Massachusetts to the Year1850.</i> Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1913.</li></p><p><li><i>Vital Records of Shirley Massachusetts to the Year 1850.</i> Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1918.</li></p><p><li>New England Historic Genealogical Society. <i>Vital Records of Chelmsford Massachusetts to the Year 1849.</i> Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1914.</li></p>Ancestry Record 4094 #169552

• Source: S706143989 New York, U.S., Death Newspaper Extracts, 1801-1890 (Barber Collection) Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com Operations Inc 2005 Provo, UT, USA Record Collection 8920 Note: <ul><li>Barber, Gertrude A., comp. <i>Deaths taken from the "Brooklyn Eagle."</i> Volumes 1-27. n.p.: n.p., 1963-66.</li><li>Barber, Gertrude A., comp. <i>Deaths taken from the New York Evening Post.</i> Volumes 1-54. n.p.: n.p., 1933-47.</li></ul>Ancestry Record 8920 #212651

• Source: S710826468 New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949 New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949 - Family Search Publication: Family Search 3 June 2020 USA Call Number: cn 183247 Note: "New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2WZR-C9V : 3 June 2020), George W. Knowlton, 5 Aug 1874; citing Death, Manhattan, New York County, New York, United States, New York Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 1,322,515.</line><line /><line>George W. Knowlton New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949 Name: George W. Knowlton Event Type: Death Event Date: 5 Aug 1874 Event Place: Manhattan, New York County, New York, United States Event Place (Original): Manhattan, New York, New York, United States Sex: Male Age: 42 Marital Status: Married Race: White Occupation: Merchant Birth Year (Estimated): 1832 Birthplace: Mass. Burial Date: 8 Aug 1874 Cemetery: Woodlawn Father's Birthplace: Mass. Note: Windsor Hotel 46th St., 19th Ward; Lived in this city 8y Certificate Number: cn 183247

• Source: S721222689 Newspapers.com - Oakland Tribune - 27 Jun 1908 - Page 8 Publication: Oakland Tribune 27 Jun 1908 Oakland, California

• Source: S721385906 Newspapers.com - The Herald Statesman - 1958-04-07 - Page 2 Publication: The Herald Statesman 1958-04-07 Yonkers, New York