He was married first to Matilda A. J. Daniel. Together they were the parents of at least two children--Richard Allen Knowles and Martha Jane Knowles.[4] He and Matilda were enumerated together on the 1860 United States Census for Haw Ridge Post Office, Coffee County, Alabama. Since Matilda was age sixteen in this record, it is likely their marriage had taken place shortly before the census was taken. Living on the farm with them was a laborer named Rolin Kite.[5]
He married Mary A. "Polly" Cotter on 27 November 1867 in Butler County, Alabama.[6][7][8]
He was a Civil War veteran, having served as Flag Bearer for Company B., 60th Alabama, also known as Hilliard's Legion. He was captured at the Battle of Hatcher's Run, Virginia on 15 Mar 1865 and held prisoner at Point Lookout Maryland. He was released in mid-June 1865.[9]
William Thomas Knowles passed away on 25 May 1903 in River Falls, Covington County, Alabama and was buried in the River Falls Cemetery located there.[10][11][12]
Children with Mary A. "Polly" Cotter: (The 1900 United States Census records that Mary Knowles had given birth to seven children only three of whom were still living, so several children's names are unknown.)
Jane Knowles m. Carraway (both sources for this child are secondary, at best, and lack sourcing. She may actually be Martha Jane Knowles.)[8][1]
Research Notes
William T. Knowles and Matilda A. J. Daniel may have had other children. Two, who already have WikiTree profiles are mentioned on FamilySearch.org, The supposed older one, Willie Elizabeth Knowles, has no sources attached. After comparing that profile with the profile of Martha Jane Knowles I am almost certain they are duplicates and I proposed on 25 May 2020.
Sources
↑ 1.01.11.2 White, Jesse W., Cotter Family, 1999, pages 2, 43. (Copy in the Personal Library of Nelda Gilchrist Spires).
↑ 2.02.12.22.32.4 "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4J8-H1F : 12 August 2017), William T Knowles, Fairfield, Newberrys, Harts and Red Level, Covington, Alabama, United States; citing enumeration district ED 52, sheet 307B, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,254,009.
↑ 3.03.13.23.3 "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M98H-VVR : accessed 28 February 2020), 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
17
Alabama
↑ 4.04.1 "Alabama Deaths, 1908-1974," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JK38-147 : 27 November 2014), W. T. Knowles in entry for Martha Jane Tompkins, 28 Jan 1929; citing reference 758, Department of Health, Montgomery; FHL microfilm 1,908,462.
↑ "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
↑ "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)
↑ 8.08.1 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).
↑ "U.S., Civil War Prisoner of War Records, 1861-1865," Ancestry.com, citing Selected Records of the War Department Commissary General of Prisoners Relating to Federal Prisoners of War Confined at Andersonville, GA, 1864-65; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1303, 6 rolls); Records of the Commissary General of Prisoners, Record Group 249; National Archives, Washington, D.C.Selected Records of the War Department Relating to Confederate Prisoners of War, 1861-1865; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M598, 145 rolls); War Department Collection of Confederate Records, Record Group 109; National Archives, Washington, D.C. Lists of Confederates Captured at Vicksburg, Mississippi, July 4, 1863; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M2072, 1 roll); War Department Collection of Confederate Records, Record Group 109; National Archives, Washington, D.C. Register of Confederate Soldiers, Sailors, and Citizens who Died in Federal Prisons and Military Hospitals in the North, 1861-1865; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M918, 1 roll); Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, Record Group 92; National Archives, Washington, D.C. Image for Ancestry.com subscribers or Ancestry Sharing Link
↑ "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 Free image for non-subscribers
↑ "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 Image for non-subscribers
↑ Find A Grave, database and images (accessed 28 February 2020), memorial page for William T. Knowles (1832–25 May 1913), Find A Grave: Memorial #68438224, citing River Falls Cemetery, River Falls, Covington County, Alabama, USA ; Maintained by Georgiana (contributor 46605915) .
↑ "Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1878-1994," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2M6-1J5S : 18 March 2018), William T Knowles 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 .
↑ "Alabama Deaths, 1908-1974," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J6QG-CB6 : 15 February 2018), William T. Knowles in entry for Horace Alto Knowles, 27 Dec 1951; citing reference 24902, Department of Health, Montgomery; FHL microfilm 1,908,864.
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DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with William by comparing test results with other carriers of his Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA.
Y-chromosome DNA test-takers in his direct paternal line on WikiTree:
60th Ala E Tenn Campaign Richmond Petersburg [Trench warfare] Hatcher's Run Captured ,to Pt Lookout Md Released after war