"History of Leeds & Grenville, page 103, says Enoch Knowlton was an adventurer, bringing United Empire Loyalists across the St. Lawrence River into Upper Canada. Nothing is known of his wife, but his children were born in Canada. He was probably married in Canada also.
Several petitions for land on record in Canada:
Oct 6, 1790: States he was from NY State; granted 200 acres.
Dec 3, 1800: Bastard. "That your petitioner is an inhabitant of the twp. of Elizabethtown and has been for space of 3 years and has not received any grants from the Crown. " Therefore, pray, that his Excellency will be pleased grant him the privilege of leasing a Reserve Lot in Bastard, being in No. 14, in 5th Conc. bearing on such terms as is given to others and your humble petition as in Duty bound will ever pray. Enoch Knowlton. Nov 3, 1801: U.C.L.P. C-2117, K Bundle 7, Vol. 269, Petition 7: "Moved to Canada about 15 years before, was granted 200 acres but disappointed in location, in possession of horses and utensils fitting for agriculture."
Muster Files of War of 1814 (Helen Fisher's papers):
June 4, 1819: Enoch Knowlton was absent (Capt. Jones' men frequently left to farm) June 5, 1820: Capt. Jones: Enoch Knowlton was present.
From hand-written notes, source unknown, in possession of Etta Proud of South Crosby, ON: "Enock K. who died in 1827, farmer of Enock K. Jr., who died 1892, who immigrated from USA from Vermont with Thomas K. Enock settled at Brockville, Thomas at Chantry. Enock K. left Brockville and settled at Crosby about 1803 having 4 daughters, 3 sons.
LAND GRANTS UPPER CANADA, Index K 1796-1825, Ontario Archives: Amt. of Land Date of Patent Lot Concession Twp. 100 acres 30 Sept 1803 sw 112 of 8 2 Eliz. Issued 2 Mar 1805 (folio 86)
200 acres 1 Nov 1803 25 7 Augusta The WILL of Enoch Knowlton dated Feb 1828 (original at Brockville County office: "I, Enoch Knowlton of South Crosby, am sick and weak in body but sound in mind. I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Lavina Knowlton her third while she remains my widow. I give and bequeath to my oldest son Stephen two hundred acres of land, lot no. twenty four in the first Concession of South Crosby. I give and bequeath to my second son Enoch two hundred acres of land, lot no. 23 in the second Concession of South Crosby. I give and bequeath to my third son Samuel two hundred pounds to be paid in cattle and grain. I give and bequeath to each one of my four daughters vis twenty five pounds in cattle and grain, two of them to be paied in three years and the other two when they are married or come to age, and the remainder of the property to be administered for the support and Education of the family.
Signed and scaled this day of February, one thousand eight hundred and twenty eight. Enoch Knowlton (L. S.) Witness: John Leggett Reuben Sparks
ONTARIO ARCHIVES, MS 638(28) Brockville (L&G) Surrogate Ct. Estate wills 1786-1858. K-Pu, 1828: In addition, Surrogate court swearing of witnesses to the will which was apparently mislaid. It actually was with Thomas Knowlton, his brother. Additional information included married names of 2 daughters. Also name of William Bresee and other given as paying a debt.
"In the surrogate Court District of Johnstown. John Leggett of South Crosby and Thomas Knowlton of Bastard in said district, yeoman, and Reuben Sparks of South Crosby, yeoman, severally make oath and say: first this deponent John Leggett saith that at the request of the within named Enoch Knowlton he drew his will and was a subscribing witness to it that Reuben Sparks also witnessed it, and that the within is to the best of his recollection a true copy of its contents with one exception, which is that in the will, Lavina Knowlton was appointed executrix, and Thomas Ripley and Thomas Knowlton executors, and these deponends Thomas Knowlton and Reuben Sparks for themselves say that, to the best of their recollection, the within is a true copy of the contents of the last will and testament of the within named Enoch Knowlton, with the exception as above stated and that Lavina Knowlton and one Thomas Ripley, executors to the said, sworn before me at Brockville this 7th Day of June 1828 in open court."
Signatures: John Leggett Thomas Knowlton Reuben Sparks
"That 1st appears to the Citation and --- the so-sworn witnesses. John Leggett drew the will, was present at the execution and testation, appeared to be sane. The witnesses to will were Reuben Sparks and John Leggett --- thinks that young Mattice was present at the execution. Himself and Thos Ripley were appointed execs and Lavina Knowlton Extr. Thought that he took it away with some other papers on the day it was executed- When he got to his own house he gave the parcel of papers to his wife, who afterwards informed him that she had put it in a trunk. Deceased live for about a fortnight after the will was executed. About ten days after his death, widow and he thought it necessary to make an inventory of the property, and he on searching the trunk for the will could not find it. Thinks that the will is either lost or mislaid as he never has seen it since, and does not know where it is. On being questioned how the deceased disposed of his property in his will, first he left his wife in full possession of all his property real and personal until Enoch, the second son came of age. Thinks that of the lands it was only the home farm. Then after the said second son came of age, she was to have one third of the said farm during her life if she remained so long the widow and unmarried.
Also gave the eldest son, Stephen, a lot of land 200 acres in South Crosby cornering on the Home farm, to him and his heirs. Thinks he did not give anything else.
Also gave to Enoch, the second son, the Home farm. in so simple to get possession of two thirds on his coming of age and the other third on the death of his mother or at the marriage of his mother. Also to the third son, Samuel, the sum of L200---does not recollect whether to be paid in money or cattle or grain.
Also to his daughters Jerusha Edwards, Vashte Ann Barker each L25 to be paid one year after his decease- does not recollect how to be paid. Also to his daughters Lavina and Anne each L25---does not recollect how or when to be paid- recollects now it was to be paid when they arrive at the age of 18 or on their marriage day. Also all the rest of his possessions to be applied in the support and education of his unmarried children.
Reuben Sparks sworn was present at the execution of the will referred to by Thomas Knowlton and was a subscribing witness to it, and also John Leggett was present and was a subscribing witness
Child: THOMAS KNOWLTON, JR.
Comment 1: Rec'd second highest tax assessment in twp.: 2 pounds 5 shillings. Ethnicity/Relig.: Devout Baptist. Also known as Thomas Knolton, Jr. Residence: Settled at Chantry; moved to So. Crosby Twp.
140Misc. Notes
Leavitt's book on Leeds & Grenville, p 102-3 contains mention of Enoch Knowlton, who appears in South Crosby around 1820 on Lot 23, Concession 2. He appears to have had at least 3 sons:
1. Stephen (1811-1859), lived on Lots 24-5, m 1833 Melissa DeLong b 1817, the dau of George Delong a prominent So. Crosby farmer. Her brother, Jesse (1806-1870) became a member of parliament for North Leeds County in the 1850's. Another brother, Justus looked after the homestead. He had at least 5 children.
2. Enoch, Jr. (abt 1817-after 1880, m Mary Ann ? (1817-1880), had 5 children. Lived on Concession 2, Lot 23.
3. Samuel, b abt 1824, d? Illinois, m 1847 Grace Ann Warren (1828-d? Illinois), the oldest sister of Elizabeth Warren. They had 6 children: Stephen, Ezra, Mary, Sarah, Adelaide & Milton (b 1870?) The couple went to US during the 1870's (lived on Co. 1, Lot 25, near Crosby in So. Crosby)
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