Robert Knowles Genealogy Source Records

Contents

  • Baptismal Record (search)
  • Birth Record (search)
  • Marriage Records
  • Death Record
  • Obituary
  • Cemetery Records
  • Tombstone
  • Last Will and Testament



Baptism/Birth Record Searches

International Genealogy Index (IGI) Record
LDS

Name: Robert Knowles
Year of Birth: 1856
Place of Birth: Duff Castle, Kildrumferton, Cavan County, Ireland
Father: William Knowles
Mother: Jane Wallace


Baptismal Record Search Comments
  • The above record was found on the LDS Family History Center IGI.
  • Duff Castle is the ancestral home of Jane Wallace.
  • It would be useful to know who submitted this record and whether a baptismal record has been found for Duff Castle.
  • See also the St. Patrick's Baptismal/Birth Record Searches for Kildrumferton and Ballymachugh which indicated no record of Robert Knowles could be found for the years 1853-1857. The link is to Jane Wallace's Generalogy Source Record and specifically a letter from the Kildrumferton Rectory regarding baptisms for Jane Wallace and sons William and Robert.



Death Record Status
  • No death record has been obtained for Robert Knowles
  • The date of burial on the record almost looks like March 25 but the Cemetery record indicates it was March 27.
  • Phthisis Pulmanolis is Tubeculosis, a contagious lung disease. The contributory was probably a weak heart.



Obituary
Chicago Tribune
July 29, 1898, Page 5

Knowles, Robert 42 5627 Madison Ave. July 26


Obituary Comments
  • Robert Knowles was the brother of William Wallace Knowles. The 42 years old implies a year of birth of about 1856. He was struck by an ICRR engine.
  • Family history recalls it was at Grand Crossing, thought to be 79th and Stoney Island in Chicago.
  • No article in the newspaper could be found concerning the accident.




Cemetery and Grave Location
  • This is an overview map of Oakwoods Cemetery. The Oakwoods Cemetery is located between 67th and 71st Streets and Cottage Grove on the South Side of Chicago.
  • The Knowles family plot is shown in the Linden Hill Section. Addtional information is with the Knowles' Cemetery Records.




Knowles Family Plot

Oakwoods Cemetery
Chicago, Illinois

  1. Section: J
  2. Division: 1
  3. Lot: 314
  4. Deed 5100
  5. Owner Name: Wm. W. Knowles
Number
No.
Location
Name
37951 1 4W - 5S Isabella Knowles - ad
53256 2 2N - 4W Wm. W. Knowles - ad
57101 3 2S - 4W Robert Knowles - ad
80953 4 1 3/4N - 2 3/4 E Harold A. Knowles - ch
- 5 - 1'10" X 1'10" Monument


Knowles Family Plot Comments
  • The Oakwoods Cemetery is located between 67th and 71st Streets and Cottage Grove on the South Side of Chicago.
  • Data on each of the individuals is presented below.
  • The tombstone is a concrete like monument in the form of an obelisk similar to a small Washington Monument. It sits on a small base and is about 5 feet high. The lettering is beginning to fade away as the stone is soft.
  • A picture can be seen in the Knowles Picture Collection.
  • The 1'10" X 1'10" Monument is probably the size of the base.



Cemetery Record

The Oak Woods Cemetery Association
Chicago, Illinois

  1. Name: Isabella A. Knowles
  2. Date of Decease: Sept. 1, 1892
  3. Date of Interment: Sept. 3, 1892
  4. Age at Time of Decease: 38 years old
  5. Place of Birth: Germany
  6. Place of Decease: Chicago - Lived at 5734 Wabash Ave.
  7. Kindred: William W. Knowles - Husb.
  8. Lot or Grave No.: J-1-314
  1. Name: William Knowles
  2. Date of Decease: March 24, 1897
  3. Date of Interment: March 27, 1897
  4. Age at Time of Decease: 46 years 4 months
  5. Place of Birth: Scotland
  6. Place of Decease: Chicago - Lived at 5734 Wabash Ave.
  7. Kindred: Sarah
  8. Lot or Grave No.: J-1-314
  1. Name: Robert Knowles
  2. Date of Decease: July 26, 1898
  3. Date of Interment: July 28, 1898
  4. Age at Time of Decease: 42 years old
  5. Place of Birth: Not Stated
  6. Place of Decease: ICRR Track - Struck by an Engine
  7. Kindred: Sarah
  8. Lot or Grave No.: J-1-314
  1. Name: Harold A. Knowles
  2. Date of Decease: July 6, 1908
  3. Date of Interment: July 6, 1908
  4. Age at Time of Decease: 1 year - 6 months
  5. Place of Birth: Chicago
  6. Place of Decease: Chicago - Lived at 7919 Woodlawn
  7. Kindred: W. W. & Margaret Knowles
  8. Lot or Grave No.: J-1-314

Cemetery Record Comments
  • Above are transcriptions for the four persons in the Knowles Family plot at Oakwoods Cemetery in Chicago.
  • Isabella Knowles: This is Isabella Catherine Black who married William Wallace Knowles. Other data indicates that she was born in November, thus 38 years old implies she was born in 1853. The location of Germany has to be a typographical error. She is thought to have been born in Ireland or in the Sanguenay District of Quebec. The middle initial "A" is also thought to be a typographical error as her middle name was Catherine.
  • William Knowles: This is William Wallace Knowles. The age of 46 years and 4 months implies a birth of November 1850. His church birth/baptismal record indicates he was born December 27, 1848 in Cavan County, Ireland. William married Sarah White after Isabella died in 1892.
  • Robert Knowles: Robert Knowles was the brother of William Wallace Knowles. The 42 years old implies a year of birth of about 1856. ICRR would be Illinois Central RailRoad. Sarah would be Sarah Knowles, the widow of his brother.
  • Harold A. Knowles: This is thought to be the son of Wilfred Washington Knowles, who was the son of William Wallace Knowles and Isabella Catherine Black. Wilfred's wife was Mabel, but Margaret and Mabel may be interchangeable names.



Tombstone Inscription

Knowles

In memory of

Isabella C.

Beloved wife of

William W. Knowles

Born

Nov. 30, 1854

Died

Aug. 31, 1892


Tombstone Inscription Comments
  • The tombstone is a concrete like monument in the form of an obelisk similar to a small Washington Monument. It sits on a small base and is about 5 feet high. The lettering is beginning to fade away as the stone is soft.
  • A picture can be seen in the Knowles Picture Collection.
  • Dave Jordan copied the tombstone inscription in July 1978. The only lettering is for Isabella. There is none for William, Robert or baby Harold. Perhaps William's 2nd wife didn't want to spend the money.
  • There is a small concrete like monument in the form of an obelisk similar to a small Washington Monument. A picture can be seen in the Knowles Picture Collection.
  • The dates of birth and death are particularly intriguing.
  • Both the Death Certificate and Obituary clearly state the date of death as September 1, 1892. All I can conjecture is that William decided she really died August 31 and the doctor didn't arrive until 6 a.m. of Septembe 1.
  • This is the only record so far that shows a month of birth for Isabella. The date correlates pretty well with an age at death of 38 years and 9 months, except that the year of birth would be 1853 and not 1854. Perhaps after dwelling on it, William recalled the year of birth as 1854 in stead of 1853. The earliest record to date that indicates age is the 1871 census and that implies 1853 was the year.