Alexander Knowles (abt. 1610 - abt. 1663)

Born about 1610 in England

Descendants

Died about 8 Dec 1663 at about age 53 in Fairfield, Fairfield, Connecticut

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Biography

Alexander Knowles, whose origin in England is uncertain (but possibly in Nottinghamshire), immigrated to Dorchester, Massachusetts, where he became a Freeman on 07 December 1636. Alexander and Ruth took their family to Fairfield, Connecticut, about 1653. Alexander purchased Henry Whelpley's house and homelot (on the southwest corner of Frost Square) on 17 January 1653 (1653/54?).

From "Public Records of Connecticut", Volume I: On 18 May 1654, "It is ordred by this Courte, that Mr. George Hull & Allexander Knowles, of Fairfield, Phillip Graves, of Stratford, & Mathew Canfill, of Norwack, shall be Assistant to such Magestrate or Magistrates as the Courte shall at any time send amoung them, in the executyon of justice, & they hereby impower them to examine misdeameanors, to graunt out summons, or bind over delinquents to Courte, in this Jurisdictyon, for either of them to marry person, to press horses by warrant from them as the publick welfaire of this Common wealth & their perticuler Towns may of shall at any time require; they giving an accot to this Courte of the same, when required thereunto."

On 03 October 1654, "This Courte orders, that the 5th day of the next weeke bee kept a publique Fast & day of humilliation, throughout all the Plantatyons in this Jurissdiction, to seeke the presence and blessing of the Lord uppon the present expedition to the Narragansetts, according to the conclusion of the Comissioners, wherein or future peace & comforts are much concerned.... The Comittee chosen by this Courte to press men and necessaryes in each Towne, for this expedityon, in each Towne till it bee ended, is as followeth; For Windsor, Mr. Phelps & Mr. Allyn, to joyne with the Magistrates there.... For Fairfeild, Mr. Ward & Allexander Knowles, with the Constable: For Pequett, Capt: Denison & Hugh Calkin, with the Constable.... The men are to bee uppon there march next Tuesday morning; and are to meete in Hartford, from Windsor & Farmingtone."

On 11 March 1657/58, "The Deputies nominated to this Court, to be propounded at the next Gen: Court of Election for choise to be Magistrates in this Jurisdiction, Mr. Phelps, of Windsor..., and Mr. Allexandr Knowles, of Fairfeild." Alexander Knowles was one of the Magistrates elected, as reported at the General Court of 20 May 1658. On 16 May 1661, "Mr. Pels and Alexandr Knowles chosen Assistants for Fairfield, and in case either of them refuse, Mr. Wm. Hil is chosen to supply that defect." Alexander Knowles died in December 1663, Fairfield, Connecticut, and he is said to have left a will (according to "The History of Fairfield, Fairfield County, Connecticut", page 392).

Sources

• Find A Grave: Memorial #32369658: Old Burying Ground, Fairfield, Fairfield, Connecticut
• Mindrum, Thomas L., Alexander Knowles: Early Settler of Fairfield, Connecticut, Connecticut Ancestry (Connecticut Ancestry Society, Inc., Stamford, Conn., Nov 2019) Vol. 62, No. 2, Page 45.
  • " He likely married Elizabeth James at St. Peter’s Church in Nottingham on 24 November 1628. Elizabeth probably died in Fairfield before her husband."
  • Wife referred to in Alexander’s will in past tense: Fairfield Probate District, Vol. 1, p. 85.
• The Connecticut Nutmegger, Vol. 38, March 2006, pp. 542-565.
• Schenck, Elizabeth Hubbell. The History of Fairfield, Fairfield County, Connecticut (J.J. Little & Co., New York, 1889) Vol. 1, Page 392.
• "Pedigree Resource File," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/2:2:9WZN-XNP : accessed 2 June 2018), entry for Alexander Knowles; file (2:2:2:MM9R-PZD), submitted 11 November 1999 by rdavenport2713733 [identity withheld for privacy].
• "Public Records of Connecticut", Volume I (for dates 18 May 1654, 03 October 1654, and 11 March 1657/58).