Date: Sun, 2 Jun 1996 18:56:48 -0400
From: Ken McEvoy <kenm@benetech.com>
Subject: Changes at the Knowlton Web Site
After taking a few months off to spend time at my real job, and with my family, I dedided it was time to get a life, and return to genealogy.
I've completed a program (which I call GEDWEB) which reads GEDCOM files and creates web sites similar to the original hierarchy of Knowlton pages. By automating the construction of the pages, it becomes much easier to update the web site when new data appears (or data is changed).
I went through the mail of the last few months, and added data to the database where I could, and made suggested corrections (though I must apologize to the person who sent me corrections to the Roma Duncan material - I can't find the note, and haven't yet made those changes).
I generated pages not only for the descendants of William K. and my own Irish Robert K., but also for the other family fragments that have been mentioned in messages over the past few months. Some of you may be able to connect these fragments into the William line ... if so, please let me know and I'll make the appropriate changes. Ideally, we'll someday connect them all, and be left with only the one structure on this page.
I would appreciate constructive criticism on the look and feel of the family history pages. Is the pattern of links intuitive? easy to use? (Specifically, in each family, clicking on a child takes you to the family in which that child is a parent - clicking on a parent takes you to the family in which that person is a child). Since this is the first time I've put automatically generated pages out there, and I'm so close to it now, I'm curious how "user friendly" it is.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
May I suggest in general, when discussing a specific Knowlton, that if you have the data connecting him/her back to the William line, that you include it in your note (as Elizabeth did in response to my question about Luke Knowlton)? If you have the Stocking numbers, that helps as well, but for those of us without a copy of Stocking or Addenda, we don't know what the connection is unless it's spelled out (or already in the database).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
We set an initial objective of capturing the first four generations of descendants of William; now that this framework is largely in place (it is, isn't it?), we can begin adding on to it as individuals and family groups are discussed. Also, I would ask those of you who are willing to submit family histories, and I will add them to the database and to the web pages. If there's no known connection to the William line yet, they can be added as fragments as shown in this iteration. (Glen Pettit sent me an email message with his GEDCOM data as an attachment with no problems).
Bob, if you want send along some descendants of Julius K., we could add those!
I haven't updated the files available through FTP, but I hope too soon; I will put it out as BK5 files, a GEDCOM file, and for the William K. line, a text version similar to the web page register style.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
A couple of questions arising out of the messages I reviewed:
Cathy, who died on 17 Jan 1812 - Robert K., or Ede Allen? Also, was Edward Sawtelle K. born in 1842 or 1852?
If Arthur - or anyone - wants to send me copies of pictures or drawings, I will scan them at the office and put them up on the web site. (If you have graphics files already scanned, that's even easier). Also, any biographical sketches or other material could be added.
Regards, Ken McEvoy
Date: 06 Jun 96 02:10:30 EDT
From: Jim Wolford / OR <72732.1400@CompuServe.COM>
Subject: Knowltons in Eastern Townships
I dont have much luck with web sites, be more than happy to share what litle I do have on KNOWLTON however.
My direct line in the Eastern townships is the LEWIS family ( its my middle name) they lived around Shefford area for about three generations before returning to the States
My GGGgrandfather Silas LEWIS had ten children, two of them married KNOWLTONs Amasa Lewis to Hannah KNOWLTON in 1830 and Harriet LEWIS to Amasa Elmer KNOWLTON in 1835 all this in Shefford PQ. Most of these people are buried in Waterloo Cemetery (Anglican).
If you need more on these two families, I have most of the childrens names and date of birth.
Jim
Date: Fri, 7 Jun 1996 20:49:35 -0400 (EDT)
From: Heather Olsen <holsen@westnet.com>
Subject: Thomas Knowlton Ancestry
I just recently subscribed to this list, and this evening checked out the genealogies on the Knowlton web page. I was surprised to find that Thomas Knowlton (b. 1667, who married Margery Goodhue) is listed as being descended from William by way of William's son John, and John's son John.
Stocking lists Thomas' ancestry as William (3), William (2), William (1). Could someone familiar with this line tell me: Is this something that is covered in the errata to Stocking book? (Which I haven't yet read) What other source(s) support the John (3), John (2), William (1) hypothesis?
Also, I saw a reference in the bibliography on the web page to a book "The Knowlton Ancestry" by Roma Duncan and Randy Creelman. Do any list members have a copy of this book, and/or can you point me to where I might find a copy? I gather it deals with the Nova Scotia branch of the family, from which I am descended.
Thanks
a lot,
Heather
Olsen
Date: 07 Jun 96 23:34:32 EDT
From: "Elizabeth W. Knowlton" <75013.1446@compuserve.com>
Subject: Re: Thomas Knowlton Ancestry
Hi, Heather: Since I supplied the original four generations of Knowltons for the web page that Ken McEvoy so graciously made for us, I would be glad to answer your questions.
This data may be wrong. It is compiled from Stocking's History of the Knowltons. . . , 1897, and George Knowlton's ERRATA AND ADDENDA, which he published in 1903, with 234 pages of corrections plus an index. Of course, the original records from which they took their data would always override these books.
You don't say where your Stocking data comes from, since you have not read Stocking. I suspect you, like so many others, are taking LDS data, submitted from the error-ridden first volume decades ago, and building on it without knowing anything about the 1903 book. Neither, as I said, is perfect.
I have gone on to correct GK also on my line, using original records. But either is closer to the source than the LDS compilations from individuals.
Also, note that using Stocking's numbers it is William (1), John (2), John (5) before Thomas (21) who married Margery Goodhue and Mary Coy. I am descended from Ephraim (24a), Thomas's brother.
Good to hear from you, Elizabeth Knowlton
Date: Sat, 8 Jun 1996 17:33:43 -0400 (EDT)
From: Heather Olsen <holsen@westnet.com>
Subject: Re: Thomas Knowlton Ancestry
On 7 Jun 1996, Elizabeth W. Knowlton wrote: [see note above] ...
Sorry if I didn't make that clear. My Stocking data comes straight from Stocking, which I read in the Library of Congress and photocopied extensively. It is the errata book by George Knowlton that I have not seen. STOCKING lists Thomas as being the son of William (3) [William (2), William (1) This is on page 25 of the book. I am guessing that George Knowlton is the source of Thomas (4), John (3) John (2) William (1) (my numbers in perends refer to generations) Can you, or anyone else confirms this?
Thanks,
Heather Olsen
holsen@westnet.com
Date: 09 Jun 96 16:55:39 EDT
From: "Elizabeth W. Knowlton" <75013.1446@compuserve.com>
Subject: Heather's Query
Sorry, Heather--
> Is this something that is covered in the errata to Stocking book? (Which I haven't yet read)<
I misread as you had not yet read the Stocking book--as well as GK's Errata and Addenda (1903).
Didn't the LC have the Errata? More problems have come from Stocking's book than there are Knowltons in the book. You think I am exaggerating, but it took a 234-page book to correct Stocking only six years later. Both books may be ordered from Higginson's books in Salem. You can get away with a soft cover for the George Knowlton Errata. They are nice quality photocopies of the originals, exact facsimiles.
Then you begin working on GK's errors.
I have always wanted Stocking to be redone and reprinted. Now I see that a web page is the 20th (21st) version of a reprint. Pretty exciting 100 years later. Please let me know if you have any other questions. Several of us on the listserve have the books and can answer individual questions.
Elizabeth W. Knowlton, desc. from Ephraim Knowlton (#24) of Ipswich, MA, and Westchester, NY
From: Alan Jones <ajones@asic.sc.ti.com>
Subject: Re: Changes at the Knowlton Web Site
Date: Mon, 10 Jun 1996 10:53:06 -0500 (CDT)
Ken McEvoy writes:
=>
=> We set an initial objective of capturing the first four generations of
=> descendants of William; now that this framework is largely in place (it is,
=> isn't it?), we can begin adding on to it as individuals and family groups
=> are discussed. Also, I would ask those of you who are willing to submit
=> family histories, and I will add them to the database and to the web pages.
=> If there's no known connection to the William line yet, they can be added as
=> fragments as shown in this iteration. (Glen Pettit sent me an email message
=> with his GEDCOM data as an attachment with no problems).
Is the intent here to only document KNOWLTON descendents, or are we going to include non-KNOWLTON descendents as well?
Alan Jones
Texas Instruments, Inc.
phone = (214) 480-1402
Date: Mon, 10 Jun 1996 15:04:03 -0400
From: Ken McEvoy <kenm@benetech.com>
Alan Jones writes:
=>Is the intent here to only document KNOWLTON descendants, or are we going
=>to include non-KNOWLTON descendants as well?
A good question; as a non-Knowlton Knowlton descendant, I might have to confess a bias. I'm interested in researching information on people who are related to me, regardless of their name. I suppose the potential downside is that too much information might be more difficult to manage and present in a clear fashion.
How do others feel?
Ken McEvoy (son of Ruth Knowlton)
From: robert.magnan@magnapubs.com
Date: Mon, 10 Jun 1996 14:55:57 -0500 (CDT)
[in response to the previous letter]
I agree with Ken! Of course, I share his genetic bias .... :-)
Maybe we should allow only those separated from the Knowlton name by a single generation?
Bob
Robert Magnan (son of Barbara Rita Knowlton)
From: "Knowlton, Tim" <Tim.Knowlton@wellsfargo.com>
Date: Mon, 10 Jun 96 16:57:00 PDT
Ken:
I believe that investigating the non Knowlton direct lines would be very interesting. However, it does drastically increase the scope and complexity of the information that is presented on the Web site.
Thanks, Tim Knowlton
Date: Mon, 10 Jun 1996 17:55:33 -0400 (EDT)
From: Heather Olsen <holsen@westnet.com>
Subject: Re: All Knowlton Descendants?
Unless disk space is an issue, I would think it would make sense to include all Knowlton Descendants in the database, regardless of name. I can't think why the web page's existing format wouldn't work for all descendants.
Heather Olsen (7 generations from the nearest ancestor surnamed Knowlton)
Date: 10 Jun 96 18:25:51 EDT
From: JONELL DONNELLY <102136.3452@CompuServe.COM>
Subject: Re: Message from Internet
I am not a descendent of Knowlton, but I'm interested in the surname because Thomas married some of my TOURTELLOTTE's.
Thomas KNOWLTON b abt 1720, died in Scituate, Prov. RI, married
Lydia TOURELLOTTE
Susanna Knowlton Abt 1745
Lydia Knowlton Abt 1749
Mary Knowlton March 14, 1756
Jonell
From: darrellm@sprynet.com
Date: Mon, 10 Jun 1996 20:47:36 -0700
Subject: Re: Changes at the Knowlton Web Site
Hi, everyone:
My two cents on the "Knowlton or Everybody" issue is this; although I am every bit as proud of my umbilical lines as my paternal ones, the surname is deeply embedded in European-based genealogy. I vote keep it "Knowlton" for practical reasons. When the Ultimate Genealogical Database is created, we won't need a Knowlton Web page anyway. Or will we{g}? Anyway, if I hadn't anticipated finding KNOWLTONs here I wouldn't have subscribed. And note the persons of feminine persuasion in my line:
Thomas KNOWLTON 1662-1750/1 m. 1692 Margery GOODHUE est.1670-aft.1704/5
Abraham KNOWLTON 1703-1768 m. 1735/6 Martha LAMSON ca.1718-1799
Paul KNOWLTON 1736-1799 m. 1769 Lucy FORBUSH 1751-1837
Margaret KNOWLTON 1781-1838 m. 1810 Zaavan PERKINS 1787-1855
Ruth K. PERKINS 1811-1856 m. 1835 Nathaniel Nelson DARTT 1808-1877
Sybil DARTT 1842-1902 m. 1866 Perrin Smith DUTTON 1834-1910
Herbert William DUTTON 1881-1967 m. 1902 Lillie Mae FELCH 1881-1931
Derrick Allen DUTTON 1905-1985 m. 1925 Ruth Alice WILLIAMS 1908-1979
Kathelyn Mae DUTTON 1928-liv. m. 1948 Clifton Carroll MARTIN 1926-liv.
Darrell Allen MARTIN 1949-liv. m. 1981 Deborah NIEDFELDT 1959-liv.
Darrell A. Martin
formerly of Springfield, Vermont
currently in Midwest exile in Wheaton, Illinois
Date: 10 Jun 96 21:05:16 EDT
From: "Elizabeth W. Knowlton" <75013.1446@compuserve.com>
Subject: Knowlton Database
Yes, this is an interesting question. I was surprised at the responses so far, but mine will seem just as biased. I wish this were being asked about a web page that was NOT my surname. Much as surnames irritate me--why they always come from fathers, etc.--and although I think people who do only their surname research are missing all the fun of genealogy--
I do think that these databases should end each line as the surname changes because statistically we are going to end up with more people in a database NOT of that surname than of it and the whole usefulness of the surname is negated. I like people identifying how they tie in, like Ken (saying son of Ruth Knowlton) or someone else saying great granddaughter of Bathsheba Knowlton or even attaching a tiny pedigree to your signature. Also, if a goal is to include all the Knowltons in the world, even if we never make it, we need to encourage and do outreach to more Knowlton descendants (of whatever name) rather than putting in the rest of our genealogies, which could go into other databases.
So in a Hackett database, for instance, I would be quite happy to have my line end with Eliza Hackett marrying John Samuel Clarke ca. 1838 and sign off as Elizabeth dau of Margaret Apperly dau of Elizabeth Foley dau of Josephine Clarke dau of Eliza Hackett.
Perhaps I do not understand enough about computers and databases. I am feeling that there is not ROOM for all of us to be listed over and over in dozens of databases. Or that if we are, we are taking up space that could be used for the lines of people not now genealogists. But perhaps this is an infinitely expanding space. And perhaps all the databases will eventually merge to create a giant human genealogy for billions of people over thousands of years. Would Ken or someone speak to this? I certainly do not want to go down in the listserve history as the one supporting patriarchal databases.
Elizabeth Knowlton
Date: Mon, 10 Jun 1996 21:31:34 -0400 (EDT)
From: nancyg@together.net (Nancy Guyette)
Does anyone have any information on Charlotte Temple Knowlton my ggg grandmother who married Dexter Bates Hazen abt. 1825. I know that they lived in North Hero, VT but the Hazen Family came from Norwich, CT. I know nothing of any of her ancesters but would certainly like to learn of them ,so if anyone out there has any leads please let me know.
Charles Guyette
From: "Robert Taylor" <synrec@king.igs.net>
Date: Mon, 10 Jun 1996 22:01:13 -0500
Subject: Knowltons of South Crosby, Leeds County, Ontario
I am most interested in contacting any members of the Knowlton family researching their roots in South Crosby or Bastard Township, Leeds County, Ontario. Am connected to the Knowltons through marriage but also am researching and writing a history of this area. Our local heritage group has designated the Knowlton Cemetary near Newboro. Many members of this family were buried in it. Some of the Knowltons in our township include Samuel Knowlton, Enoch Knowlton. Most left the area for the Canadian and American West.
Susan Warren
From: Cknowlton1@aol.com
Date: Tue, 11 Jun 1996 00:19:16 -0400
Subject: Another Opinion on the Web Page
After reading all the responses to Alan's original question - Is the intent here to only document KNOWLTON descendants, or are we going to include non-KNOWLTON descendants as well? - I have come to the following conclusion.
I would have to side with Elizabeth Knowlton as I feel that the database could get quite out of hand. If we were to just cut off the line with the last Knowlton in that line and do a signature as Elizabeth suggested, the database would be easier to manipulate and the web site would continue as The Knowlton Web Page.
I do enjoy researching other names off the Knowlton line and have quite a large database because of it but, (and there's always a but) I feel the Knowlton Web Site should confine itself to just that. In addition, if anyone wants to pursue the "other lines" then they can always contact that particular person who submitted the Knowlton information, in one way or another, to get more information. So it would be important to include email addresses, P.O. Boxes, mailing addresses, etc. and to keep Ken informed as to your particular situation.
I would hope that other people on this mailing list would express their own opinions as it gives everyone else the opportunity to look at different views and weigh the advantages and disadvantages. Speaking for myself, I enjoy reading other people's opinions and thoughts and hope to see more (it's nice to see some action happening on this list!).
Cathy Knowlton (direct descendent of William)
cknowlton1@aol.com
San Jose, CA
Date: Tue, 11 Jun 1996 10:15:57 -0400
From: Ken McEvoy <kenm@benetech.com>
Subject: Non-Knowlton's ...
I haven't had this much fun in a long time!
I think the issue is one of the reader being able to assimilate the data presented, rather than the computer being able to store or manage it. I find myself being swayed by those who suggest that the web site might become overwhelming if not constrained.
How about this as a compromise? The Genealogies page could list the outline structure for the main Knowlton line and any other as yet unattached Knowlton lines, with a single off-page link to "Knowlton Descendants by any other name".
On this separate page would be listed the family structures of descendants with different family names. I would change my GEDWEB program so that when a Knowlton child (a daughter, presumably), produces children with a different surname, then a new file will be created which will be referenced from the "non-Knowlton" page. As others create their own pages for names, the non_Knowlton pages would replaced by links to the new pages created elsewhere.
Now the only question is, how do we deal with our (mythical) nephews and nieces, Jessica Knowlton-Hill, and Bartram Guernsey-Knowlton?
As an aside, is there a non-sexist equivalent for matriarchy and patriarchy? In the GEDWEB documentation, I use the neologism "natriarchy", ostensibly from the Latin "natus" (birth) and the Greek "ierarchos", but in reality I picked "n" because it was in between "m" and "p", and "oatriarchy" didn't make any sense.
Regards, Ken M.
From: darrellm@sprynet.com
Date: Tue, 11 Jun 1996 19:20:56 –0700
Subject: Re: Non-Knowlton's ...
You asked about the non-sexist equivalent of "matriarchy" and "patriarchy". If there is one, there shouldn't be. The two terms mean, respectively, "the rule of women (as opposed to men)" and "the rule of men (as opposed to women)". Where there is no distinction, there is no need for a special term.
Perhaps you meant "matrilineal" and "patrilineal", which have to do with the tracing of ancestry, family membership, and/or property rights. I am aware of only one culture, the Icelandic, which opts for a middle road, and I don't know that there's a special term for that, either. (In Iceland my son would be "Derrick Darrellson," my daughter "Yavanna Deborahsdottir.").
The patrilineal surname has proven useful to our culture, or it wouldn't have lasted. When something more useful comes along, it will take over--and more power to it. Until then, I shall be proud of my umbilical lines; and use the standard phrases. But, if I said what I really think about any attempt to sanitize genealogical terminology for purposes of political correctism, it would be a flame. So I won't. Especially since your question appears to be an honest "I wonder," and not an attempt to clean up somebody else's act, for which I thank you.
Darrell A. Martin
formerly of Springfield, Vermont
currently in Midwest exile in Wheaton, Illinois
darrellm@sprynet.com
From: Cknowlton1@aol.com
Date: Tue, 11 Jun 1996 22:41:46 –0400
Subject: Ken's Suggestion
Ken wrote:
The Genealogies page could list the outline structure for the main Knowlton line
and any other as yet unattached Knowlton lines, with a single off-page link to
"Knowlton Descendants by any other name".
Ken, I think that is a great idea! I knew there must have been a way of working it out and you did just that. I believe that would work without the web page becoming too cumbersome.
Regarding Ken's next question:
Now the only question is, how do we deal with our (mythical) nephews and nieces,
Jessica Knowlton-Hill, and Bartram Guernsey-Knowlton?
Is it possible for them to be listed on both pages - Knowlton and Hill or Knowlton and Guernsey? Unless I'm not understanding the question correctly . . . or not understanding how the links work on the web pages (I've got to become more informed on how this all works!!).
Any other ideas out there???
Cathy Knowlton
Date: 11 Jun 96 22:53:26 EDT
From: "Elizabeth W. Knowlton" <75013.1446@compuserve.com>
Subject: Charlotte T. Knowlton
Sorry, Charles, I do not find Charlotte or Mr. Hazen in Stocking or the Index. Are you sure she was a Knowlton and not a Temple who first married a Knowlton?
There are a number of Knowlton/Temple marriages in a place called Northboro, VT. Could this be your NorthHERO?
Have you checked the 1820 census for Knowlton households in the town in which the marriage took place? Do you have a marriage record?
Elizabeth Knowlton
Date: 11 Jun 96 22:53:23 EDT
From: "Elizabeth W. Knowlton" <75013.1446@compuserve.com>
Subject: Bastard township, Ontario
I am excited to hear that Susan Warren is researching this area of Leeds Co., Ontario, Canada.
She has probably already heard from Jill Russell, on this listserve, a descendant of Thomas Knowlton, Enoch's brother. We are both in touch with Doreen Knowlton Smillie in western Canada, descended directly from Enoch. The three of us have made some progress on this vague, wandering line of Knowltons who, beginning with Ephraim (b. 1676) left Massachusetts for Westchester Co., NY. From there either his son or grandson Thomas Knowlton married, had one child in Westchester Co., and began moving up the Hudson. He stopped in Ulster Co. for a while, probably lived around Albany, NY, and finally, after the American Revolution,migrated with two (the youngest?) sons, Enoch and Thomas, up to Ontario where they were entitled to land for settling it. Most of this research has been done by Jill Russell, and she can add the details for anyone interested. She really used the Revolutionary War pension applications to good effect by tracing every one of Thomas Sr.'s sons, whether her ancestors or not, and from the birth places on them being able to trace the father's residence and migration pattern. A great example of Whole Family Genealogy, of which we should all do more.
My line, from Ephraim's son Robert, remained in Westchester Co., until the mid-19th century when they moved to New York City, to Brooklyn, and then out to New Jersey. None of these Knowltons had the sense to stay in Bedford, NY, where their farms would now be worth millions of dollars (see back of any New York Times Sunday Magazine). Ah, well.
Elizabeth Knowlton
From: darrellm@sprynet.com
Date: Tue, 11 Jun 1996 22:25:20 –0700
Subject: Re: Charlotte T. Knowlton
Re: North Hero, Northboro, Vermont
Just to avoid confusion; well, maybe create a little, too; although Elizabeth's suggestions are good ones, I don't think she meant to say there *is* no North Hero, Vermont. It is an island, also a township, in Lake Champlain; the county is Grand Isle.
On the other hand, my National Survey (located Chester, VT) large-scale map of the state does not index any Northboro (or similar spelling). This map usually proves reliable, even down to the "bump in the road" villages.
Elizabeth -- where IS Northboro?
Darrell A. Martin
formerly of Springfield, Vermont
currently in Midwest exile in Wheaton, Illinois
Date: 12 Jun 96 22:47:33 EDT
From: "Elizabeth W. Knowlton" <75013.1446@compuserve.com>
Subject: North Hero, VT
In response to Darrell Martin [see note above], says:…
Good question! I looked at Vermont in the atlas but was not surprised to find nothing either. We know that Stocking is riddled with errors; perhaps this is another. I have suggested before, and will again, that we serious Knowlton researchers should create a geographical index for Stocking. It would shorten our search time for common names enormously and make it much easier to find other researchers with Knowltons in the same areas.
Elizabeth Knowlton
Date: Thu, 13 Jun 1996 12:09:25 -0400
From: Ken McEvoy <kenm@benetech.com>
Subject: Re: Non-Knowlton's ...
Darrell (and others):
I can't let this go by <g>.
There is a common misconception that words based on the root "ierarchos" indicate rule; they do not - they indicate order. The distinction may be subtle, and I will acknowledge that connotations have been added - especially in the last century - which imply the concept of rule.
If you start with "hierarchy", the Complete Oxford lists four definitions; the first three are ecclesiastical, dealing with divisions of angels and clergy. Only the last definition, number 4, concerns us:
> "A body of persons or things ranked in grades, orders, or classes,
one above another;
> a system or series of terms of successive rank, used in
classification".
In a deck of cards (ace high), Ace - King - Queen ... etc. down to 2 is an example of a hierarchy; the cards are "ranked ... one above another". Similarly, a grouping of people ordered by birth sequence is also a hierarchy. No concept of rule is suggested - only order.
Now the Oxford definition of matriarchy is "That form of social organization in which the mother, and not the father, is the head of the family, and in which descent and relationship are reckoned through mothers, and not through fathers". This is exactly what I meant when I referred to matriarchy - "descent and relationship reckoned through mothers".
Now my problem (well, one of my problems) was that I wanted a word to indicate "descent and relationship", without implying any distinction by sex. If I have a hierarchy which consists of all the descendants, regardless of their sex, of - say - Anne Smith, then that hierarchy is neither a matriarchy nor a patriarchy. So my question was, what should we call it?
It also raises the question, what should we call the person at the top of this hierarchy? The ever-reliable Oxford defines "patriarch" as
In designing a computer program to generate a listing of descendants, I needed a term to refer to the oldest person; the one on the top of the heap. Traditionally, the term patriarch has been used, and this is in fact the term I used in coding, though I grew increasingly unhappy with it, since it was exclusive. My motivation for creating the neologisms "natriarch" and "natriarchy" was to give myself a word to use in writing the code and documentation. (And if I create the neologism, I get to define it, don't I?)
I did not mean "matrilineal" or "patrilineal"; for one thing, these are adjectives, and I was looking for nouns. Moreover, neither are included in my copy of the Complete Oxford <g> (In fact, in the MicroSoft spellchecker doesn't recognize "patrilineal", and recommended switching to "matrilineal").
I don't consider this an attempt to "sanitize genealogical terminology". If anything, it is simply an attempt to use inclusive language - if necessary, create it where it doesn't exist - so that I can talk to the women in my life, and about the women who preceded me, in terms that neither demean them nor deny the reality of their lives. (if you've checked my line, you'll see I have neither brothers nor sons - only sisters and daughters).
There now, was that "political correctness"?
Regards, Ken M.
From: mackay@direct.ca
Subject: Re: Non-Knowlton's ...
Date: Thu, 13 Jun 1996 11:00:41 -0700
Dear Ken
Apropos [your message above]:
Yes, and in order to make sense of our data we use a bilateral structure - not having the Complete Oxford or a beginning anthropology text at hand I cannot think of the appropriate noun to express this adjective. Even if implicit, in our particular society the structure exists and it really doesn't matter which person you use as a starting point (currently I'm working on my umbilical line which now extends back twelve generations from my grandaughter). Your exposition of the problems involved in simply naming the structure were excellent, but they reinforce my feeling that we should not bog down in semantics and the search for political and anthropological correctness.
Rather could we address your suggestion of a main tree based on Knowlton with links to all the associated name databases we each have? Perhaps with a most recent date of 1900? I realize this might become enormous and would welcome a discussion of what is practical from the consideration of maintaining the database. Such a database, given the limited original geographical distribution of the Knowlton name, might give each of us the opportunity to establish links in other lines.
My thanks for all the work you are putting into this forum, Ken.
Regards
Audrey P.M. Shane mackay@direct.ca
From: darrellm@sprynet.com
Date: Thu, 13 Jun 1996 13:42:17 –0700
Subject: Re: North Hero, VT
The geographical index sounds interesting. Somebody's labor of love, one can hope? As to the point at hand, my copy of "Historical Data Relating to Counties, Cities, and Towns in Massachusetts" says:
Northborough, Worcester County. 1766 Jan. 24. Established . . .
from part of Westborough.
Just a possibility.
Darrell A. Martin
formerly of Springfield, Vermont
currently in Midwest exile in Wheaton, Illinois
Date: Thu, 20 Jun 1996 11:26:29 -0400 (EDT)
From: "William D. Allen" <ballensr@cris.com>
Subject: Jared Knowlton
Does anyone have any information on a Jared Knowlton, born about 1765, who appears in the 1800 federal census in Rensselaer County in New York, and a Jared Knowlton in the Portage County, Ohio, 1840 census?
Are they the same person? Is Jared the father of James, William and Willard who also appear on the Portage County 1840 census?
Would appreciate any help.
Yours truly
Bill Allen
From: "Knowlton, Tim" <Tim.Knowlton@wellsfargo.com>
Subject: Family history
Date: Tue, 25 Jun 96 08:54:00 PDT
My dad (William Allen Knowlton) and I have been filling in some of the family history. Here is a recap. Please incorporate whatever you find of interest into the Knowlton home page. Most of the early line matches what is currently on the home page. I didn't send this to the whole mailing list
because I wasn't sure who might be interested. Please feel free to forward this to anyone who might be interested.
Thanks, Tim.
Narrative:
We know that of the four Knowlton brothers, William (1615-1665) is where my line starts. He was a bricklayer in Ipswitch MA.
His fifth son was Samuel (1647-1696/7), a shoemaker of Ipswitch who married Elizabeth Witt. Their fourth child was Ebenezer (1684-1743). He married Elizabeth Poland, and they had five children. Ebenezer died insolvent and intestate.
Their second child was Nathaniel (1717-1782) who married Elizabeth Dean. When Nathaniel died in Hamlet Town of Ipswitch (later Hamilton MA) he left a go <some text lost ...> h's wife by an earlier marriage. An issue of NEHGR of 1930 says he was the son of one of Jeremiah's sisters and adopted by Jeremiah. Putting all of this together, one of Jeremiah's sisters may have been engaged to a naval officer who perished on a voyage, leaving her with child. But a search of the timing does not quite match. So we shall probably never know who Ezekiel really was. But the Knowlton blood continues with Polly.
Polly and Ezekiel had Abigail, Polly, Sally, Hiram, Amy, Joseph, Lucinda and Isaac Case, my gggf. Ezekiel and Polly both died in Liberty ME and are buried there. Reverend Isaac Case Knowlton (1819-1894) married Mary Smith Wellington. They has Hosea Morrill (my ggf), Mary Alice, Frank Warren and Wellington Case. Isaac was largely self educated, but Tufts College awarded him an honorary Doctorate of Divinity in 1889. His itinerant ministry took him to a series of posts in ME and MA.
Hosea was born on 20 May 1847 in Durham ME. He graduated from Tufts in 1867 and from Harvard Law in 1870. His most famous assignment came when he was the prosecutor in the case of Lizzie Borden. While he failed to convict her, the case moved him to Attorney General of MA in 1894. He died of a stroke at his home in Marion MA on 18 December 1902. That home is now a faculty house of Tabor Academy.
On 22 May 1873 he married Sylvia Bassett Almy. There were to have four sons and three daughters. My grandfather, Frank Warren Knowlton, Sr. (1878-1932) was obviously named for his uncle, who died young. A trial lawyer for Choate, Hall and Stewart of Boston, he married Isabelle Riese, stage actress and daughter of a veteran of the Civil War and Indian Wars. They had one daughter (who died shortly after birth), and three sons.
The third son is William Allen Knowlton, my father and a retired Army General. He was born on 19 June 1920. On 27 January 1943 he married my mother Majorie (called Peggy) Adams Downey. They both now live in Arlington VA. They have four children, William Allen Jr., Davis Downey, Timothy Riese (that's me) and Hollister.
I was born 24 February 1951 in NYC. On 17 January 1981 I married Janet Brunn. We have two sons, Spencer Downey (born 26 March 1988 in Marin County CA) and Dillon Scott (born 22 December 1991 in Marin County CA.
Up to the Knowlton Mail List page
Return to the Knowlton Genealogy Home Page