William Knott Jr. (abt. 1795 - 1864)

Born about 1795 in York, York, Upper Canada

Died 13 Jan 1864 at about age 69 in Toronto, York, Canada West

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William Knott Jr. served in the War of 1812
Service started:
Unit(s): 3rd Regiment of York Militia, Canada
Service ended:

Biography

During the War of 1812, William Knott Jr. served as a private, sergeant, and sergeant major in the 3rd York Militia. Some members of this regiment were present at the Capture of Detroit in August, 1812 and at the Battle of Queenston Heights on October 13, 1812. Unfortunately, the rolls for these two engagements have not been found and other documents must be relied upon for proof of which men were there.

From Nov. 25 to Dec. 24, 1812, he served as a sergeant in Captain Stephen Heward’s Flank Company. ^[1]

In 1812, he served in Capt. Heward’s 2nd Flank Company. This was a year end roll of men who had served in his company in 1812. This company was known to have been at the Battle of Queenston Heights. ^[2]

On Apr. 27, 1813, he was captured as a sergeant at Fort York while serving in Capt. Thomas Hamilton’s Company. ^[3]

From June 10 to 27, 1813, he served as a private in a detachment under Mjr. Wilmot. This was not a demotion in rank. Sergeants held temporary ranks that were dependent upon the number of privates serving under them. ^[4]

From Sept. 25 to Oct. 3, 1813, he served as a sergeant at York in Capt. Hamilton’s Co. ^[5]

From July 7 to 14, 1814, he served as a sergeant major with the field staff at York.^[6]

On Feb. 13, 1816, William Knott Jr., of the Town of York, made a land petition. He was born in the town, was 21 years old, and had served as a sergeant major in the late war. He had been promoted to sergeant major on July 7, 1814. ^[7]

On March 8, 1819, William Knott Jr., a tailor in the Town of York, made a land petition. He was 24 years old, had served in the 3rd York Militia, and his father had served as sergeant in the Queen’s Rangers and had been discharged at York in 1802. ^[8]

On March 10, 1820, he received a militia land grant as a tailor in the Town of York and a former sergeant major, of 300 acres on Lot 19 and the south half of Lot 18, Con. 5, Tecumseth Twp., Simcoe County. ^[9]

In 1847, he received the General Service Medal as a sergeant for Fort Detroit. ^[10]

KNOTT - We note the death of Mr. William Knott, one of the veterans of 1812. He died on Sunday last at the house of Mr. John Bright on the Kingston road, aged 70 years. He was the son of a private in the Queen's Rangers, and was born in the old Fort. He is said to have been the first child born of European parents in Little York. He served in 1812 in the militia of the Province, and was at the taking of Detroit. For this he obtained a medal. He was also at Queenston Heights when Brock fell, and at the Battle of York.

Sources

1. ↑ Collections Canada, War of 1812: Upper Canada Returns, Nominal Rolls and Paylists, Microfilm t-10384, pages 395-397
2. ↑ Collections Canada, War of 1812: Upper Canada Returns, Nominal Rolls and Paylists, Microfilm t-10379, pages 100-104
3. ↑ Collections Canada, War of 1812: Upper Canada Returns, Nominal Rolls and Paylists, Microfilm t-10383, pages 1148-1155
4. ↑ Collections Canada, War of 1812: Upper Canada Returns, Nominal Rolls and Paylists, Microfilm t-10384, pages 1030-1031
5. ↑ Collections Canada, War of 1812: Upper Canada Returns, Nominal Rolls and Paylists, Microfilm t-10384, pages 644-646
6. ↑ Collections Canada, War of 1812: Upper Canada Returns, Nominal Rolls and Paylists, Microfilm t-10384, page 1166
7. ↑ Collections Canada, Upper Canada Land Petitions (1763-1865), at http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/microform-digitization/006003-110.02-e.php?&q2=29&interval=50&sk=0&&PHPSESSID=npfo6qij0n1rpue06msk2mqnj1 Microfilm c-2117, pages 246-247
8. ↑ Collections Canada, Upper Canada Land Petitions (1763-1865), at http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/microform-digitization/006003-110.02-e.php?&q2=29&interval=50&sk=0&&PHPSESSID=npfo6qij0n1rpue06msk2mqnj1 Microfilm c-2118, pages 245-248
9. ↑ Ontario Archives, Militia Land Grants Register, Microfilm MS693, Reel 140, Volume 132, Grant #43
10. ↑ Janice Nickerson, York’s Sacrifice, Militia Casualties of the War of 1812, Dundurn, Toronto, 2012, William Knott's biography, page 188

• The War of 1812 Militia Rolls and Payrolls can be accessed online
• Hamilton Spectator Deaths 1864
• Robertson, John Ross. Robertson's Landmarks of Toronto, Volume 1