Mary Ann (Cotter) Knowles (1842 - 1923)

Born 28 Feb 1842 in Cuthbert, Randolph, Georgia, United States

Wife of William Thomas Knowles — married 1867 in Butler County, Alabama, United States

Descendants

Died 31 Aug 1923 at age 81 in River Falls, Covington, Alabama, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Nelda Spires [send private message]

Biography

Mary Ann "Polly" Cotter was born 28 Feb 1842 in Cuthbert, Randolph County, Georgia, United States. She was the daughter of Bradford Cotter (abt.1790-1882) and Elizabeth (abt.1812-abt.1896)^[1][2][3]

She was enumerated in the household of Bradford Cotter (misspelled Cotton by the enumerator) on the 1860 United States Census. She was nineteen years old. She and her family were living in Coffee County, Alabama.^[4]

She married William Thomas "Bill" Knowles on 27 November 1867 in Butler County, Alabama.^[5][6][1]

When the 1880 United States Census was taken, Mary Ann and William T. Knowles were living in Covington County, Alabama. Three children were recorded in their household, Martha, Florance, and Horace.^[7]

They were living in Covington County, Alabama when the 1900 United States Census was taken. The household of W. T. Knowles consisted of his wife Mary and two children, Horace and Clara. According to the record, Mary had given birth to seven children, but only three were living.^[8]

She was mentioned as a next of kin in probate records for her father's estate filed in 1896.^[9]

In 1910 and 1920, she was widowed and living in the household of her daughter Clara, also a widow, according to censuses taken those years. For both those censuses, they were living in Covington County, Alabama.^[10][11]

Mary Ann "Polly" Cotter Knowles passed away on 31 August 1923 in River Falls, Covington County, Alabama.^[12] Where she was buried is currently unknown. Her husband was buried in River Falls Cemetery, River Falls, Covington County, Alabama so it is possible she was buried there as well, but documentation needs to be located.^[13]

""Known and Possible Children:""

(The 1900 United States Census records that Mary had given birth to seven children only three of whom were still living, so several children's names are unknown.)

1. Florence A. Knowles (24 Jul 1877 - 30 Mar 1964)^[14]
2. William Knowles (abt. 1875 - unknown) (See Research Notes)
3. Horace Alto Knowles (1880 - 1951)^[15]
4. Clara Alberta Knowles m. Wesley (29 Jun 1882 - 10 Nov 1960)
5. Jane Knowles m. Carraway (sources for this child are secondary, at best. She may actually be Martha Jane Knowles, William T. Knowles' daughter by his first wife.)^[3][2]
6. Unknown Knowles
7. Unknown Knowles

Research Notes

William Knowles already had a profile on WikiTree, which I adopted, but it had no sources and I have not seen this name in my other research for Mary Cotter Knowles. I will try to find out what I can. Gilchrist-1197 16:33, 25 May 2020 (UTC)

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} "Alabama, Texas and Virginia, Confederate Pensions, 1884-1958," Ancestry.com, citing Alabama Department of Archives and History; Montgomery, Alabama; Confederate Pension Applications, 1880-1940; Collection #: Microfilm in the Research Room; Roll Description: Knight, M. K. - Kyzer, Emanuel. Image for Ancestry.com subscribers or Ancestry Sharing Link
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} White, Jesse W., Cotter Family, 1999, pages 2, 43. (Copy in the Personal Library of Nelda Gilchrist Spires.)
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Shelley, Peggy Jean White, “Jesse Cephas Snellgrove Family,” The Heritage of Coffee County, Alabama, compiled by Coffee County Heritage Book Committee, Anne Wise Hood, Chairman, Heritage Publishing Consultants, Inc., Clanton, Alabama, 2002, page 163-164. (Copy in the Personal Library of Nelda Gilchrist Spires.)
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHDD-XY9 : 13 December 2017), Polly Cotton in entry for Bradford Cotton, 1860.

   Name	Sex	Age	Birthplace	Occupation
   Bradford Cotton	M	60	Georgia	Farmer
   Elizabeth Cotton	F	40	Georgia
   Polly Cotton	F	19	Georgia
   Jane Cotton	F	16	Georgia
   George Cotton	M	14	Georgia
   William Cotton	M	11	Georgia
   Cancel Cotton	M	7	Georgia

5. ↑ "Alabama, Marriage Indexes, 1814-1935," Ancestry.com, citing WPA Indices to Marriage Records, by County, 1814-1935. Alabama Department of Archives and History, Montgomery, Alabama. Image for Ancestry.com subscribers or Ancestry Sharing Link
6. ↑ "Alabama County Marriages, 1809-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKZ3-32DF : 21 July 2015), William Knowles and Mary E. Cotter, 27 Nov 1867; citing Butler, Alabama, United States, county courthouses, Alabama; FHL microfilm 1,290,250. (This record is currently unavailable at FamilySearch.org)
7. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4J8-H1N : 12 August 2017), Mary Ann Knowles in entry for William T Knowles, 1880; citing enumeration district ED 52, sheet 307B, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d), roll 0009; FHL microfilm 1,254,009.

   Name	Role	Sex	Age	Birthplace	Occupation
   William T Knowles	Self	M	48	Alabama	Miller
   Mary Ann Knowles	Wife	F	38	Georgia	Keeping House
   Martha Knowles	Daughter	F	15	Alabama
   Florance Knowles	Daughter	F	2	Alabama
   Horace Knowles	Son	M	3/12	Alabama

8. ↑ "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M98H-VJW : accessed 20 April 2019), Mary Knowles in household of W T Knowles, Precincts 2, 6, 18 Fairfield, Loango, River Falls, Covington, Alabama, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 35, sheet 26A, family 472, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,011.

   Name	Role	Sex	Mon/Yr of Birth	Age	Birthplace	Occupation
   W T Knowles	Head	M	Dec 1832	67	Georgia	Farmer
   Mary Knowles	Wife	F	Apr 1837	63	Georgia
   Horace Knowles	Son	M	Mar 1879	21	Alabama	Druggist
   Clara Knowles	Daughter	F	Jun 1883	16	Alabama

9. ↑ Shelley, Peggy Jean White, “Bradford Cotter Family,” The Heritage of Coffee County, Alabama, compiled by Coffee County Heritage Book Committee, Anne Wise Hood, Chairman, Heritage Publishing Consultants, Inc., Clanton, Alabama, 2002, page 163-164. (Copy in the Personal Library of Nelda Gilchrist Spires).
10. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MKQ4-6YQ : accessed 28 February 2020), Mary Knowles in household of Clara A Camell, River Falls, Covington, Alabama, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 59, sheet 16A, family 72, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 9; FHL microfilm 1,374,022.

    Name	Role	Age	Sex	Birthplace	Occupation
    Clara A Camell	Head	26	Female	Alabama	Boarding House Keeper
    Herbert G Westley	Son	7	Male	Alabama	none
    Clarence Camell	Son	2	Male	Alabama	none
    Mary Knowles	Mother	68	Female	Alabama	none
    James H J Miller	Boarder	41	Male	United States	Carpenter & Painter

11. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXZZ-GGF : accessed 20 April 2019), Mary Knowles in household of Clarra Wesley, River Falls, Covington, Alabama, United States; citing ED 65, sheet 17B, line 92, family 72, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 10; FHL microfilm 1,820,010.

    Name	Role	Sex	Age	Birthplace	Occupation
    Clarra Wesley	Head	F	35	Alabama	Keeper - Boarding House
    Herbert Wesley	Son	M	17	Alabama	Fireman - Locomotive Engine
    Clarence Campbell	Son	M	11	Alabama	none
    Mary Knowles	Mother	F	79	Georgia	none
    John Brown	Boarder	M	44	Alabama	Machinist - Shop
    Vergal Moore	Boarder	M	24	Alabama	Machinist - Shop
    Wilbur Moore	Boarder	M	26	Alabama	Laborer - Saw Mill
    Joe Jones	Boarder	M	30	Alabama	Mechanic - Automobile
    Albert Still	Boarder	M	25	Alabama	Machinist - Shop
    Tom Lloid	Boarder	M	23	Alabama	Carpenter - Bridge Gang

12. ↑ Ancestry.com, "Alabama, Deaths and Burials Index, 1881-1974" Ancestry Record 2543 #401633 for Mary A. Knowles. (Record only, no image)
13. ↑ "U.S., Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1925-1963," Ancestry.com, citing Applications for Headstones for U.S. Military Veterans, 1925-1941. Microfilm publication M1916, 134 rolls. ARC ID: 596118. Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, Record Group 92. National Archives at Washington, D.C.Applications for Headstones, compiled 01/01/1925 - 06/30/1970, documenting the period ca. 1776 - 1970 ARC: 596118. Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, 1774–1985, Record Group 92. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C. Image for Ancestry.com subscribers or Ancestry Sharing Link
14. ↑ "Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1878-1994," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2M6-1J5Z : 18 March 2018), Mary Cotter in entry for Florence A Solomon, 30 Mar 1964; citing Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States, source reference , record number , Cook County Courthouse, Chicago; FHL microfilm.
15. ↑ "Alabama Deaths, 1908-1974," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J6QG-CBX : 15 February 2018), Mary Cotter in entry for Horace Alto Knowles, 27 Dec 1951; citing reference 24902, Department of Health, Montgomery; FHL microfilm 1,908,864.