Harry KNIBBS, son of Robert KNIBBS and Elizabeth MARKHAM , was born 19 August 1870 in Clifton, Oxfordshire, England. He married Emma Jane OCKWELL 10 November 1895 in Paddington, London, Middlesex, England. He died 26 December 1960 in Blunsden, Wiltshire, England. Emma Jane OCKWELL was born 03 March 1876 in Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England. She died 01 January 1955 in Stratton St. Margaret, Wiltshire, England.


Children of Harry KNIBBS and Emma Jane OCKWELL are:
1. Doris Amy KNIBBS, b. 03 December 1902 See Norman William GEALER & Doris Amy KNIBBS
2. Frank Robert KNIBBS, b. 25 July 1901 See Frank Robert KNIBBS & Elsie RAZEY
3. Gladys Evelyn KNIBBS, b. 22 October 1904 See Donald Anderson CAMERON & Gladys Evelyn KNIBBS
4. Frederick Henry KNIBBS, b. 15 February 1896 See Frederick Henry KNIBBS & Edith Elizabeth ROMANS OR Frederick Henry KNIBBS & Ethel Annie HILL

Marriage Notes for Harry KNIBBS\Emma Jane OCKWELL:


Notes for Harry KNIBBS:


This photo of Harry (slightly out of focus) was taken in August 1955.
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Harry worked for the Great Western Railway as a Horse Keeper at Paddington station between 1890-1901 and at Swindon Station between 1903 and 1910. From May 1910 his record states that he was a Horse Driver. He gave his occupation on the 1911 census as Horse Shunter, so I presume that in those days, horses were used to shunt wagons, rather than engines.

His Great Western Railway record shows that he was reprimanded on a few occasions. In Dec 1891, he was reprimanded for being absent from duty, neglect and disobedience to orders. In 1892 and again in 1893, he was reprimanded for being absent without leave. In 1894, for leaving horses outside stable.
In August 1911, he was commended but sadly, the records don't say why.
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Harry can be seen in the 1891 census (albeit as "Henry" living at 2 Short Street, Marylebone, London, boarding with a man named Samuel Kitchen and his family, along with several other boarders:
Henry Knibbs Boarder S 20 Horsekeeper GWR Oxon Clifton
(note: GWR stands for Great Western Railway)
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Harry is seen as aged 30, living at 19 Golbornefors(?) in the civil parish of Kensington, London, in the 1901 census with his wife Emma and son Frederick.
Harry KNIBBS, 30, Horsekeeper Groom, Oxon Clifton
Emma KNIBBS, 25, Glos
Frederick H KNIBBS, 5, London Kensington

Their other son Arthur William was seen to be living with his uncle James at Shipton-on-Stour, Worcestershire, England
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We know from daughter Gladys' baptism record that in 1904, Harry and Emma were living in the Great Western Railway Cottage, Statioin Road, Swindon.
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We see Harry and his family in 1911, living at Greek Collage, Swindon, Wiltshire:
Harry Knibbs Head Married M 40 Horse Shunter Railway Co Oxfordshire
Emma Jane Knibbs Wife Married 15 F 35 Gloster
Frederick Henry Son Single M 15 Engine Cleaner Railway London
Frank Robert Knibbs Son M 10 School London
Doris Amy Knibbs Daughter F 8 School London
Gladdys Eveline Knibbs Daughter F 6 School Swindon Wilts
Frederick George White Boarder Single M 20 Carriage Examiner on Railway Cardiff S Wales

Emma and Harry had 4 children before the 1911 census.
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Harry and his wife Emma lived in a bungalow called "Aynho" at Blunsdon, Swindon, Gloucestershire, England. He smoked a clay pipe and I understand from his neice Barbara, that he had the "Knibbs' sense of humor". He kept pigs and hens.

Harry had the reputation of being quite "tight", but also very thoughtful. On each anniversary of his brother Ernest's death, Harry would send a box of snowdrops to Ernest's wife, Amelia.
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We see Harry and Emma living at Aynho, Highworth, Wiltshire, at the time of the 1939 Register.
Harry Knibbs 19 Aug 1870 Railway Employee Retired Married
Emma J Knibbs 03 Mar 1876 Unpaid Domestic Duties Married
Horace Rivette 21 Feb 1911 Airman Married
Eva G Rivette 16 Nov 1916 Unpaid Domestic Duties Married
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Knibbs Harry of Aynho Blunsden Swindon Wiltshire died 26 December 1960 Probate Oxford 27 February to Doris Gealer (wife of Norman William Gealer) and Gladys Cameron (wife of Donald Anderson Cameron). Effects £2383 17s. 3d.
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Our gratitude goes to the members and volunteers at Duncan & Mandy Ball for recording the details, in memory of Harry.
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Our gratitude goes to the members and volunteers at Find A Grave web site for recording the details, in memory of Harry.

Sources for Harry KNIBBS:

  1. Oxfordshire Parish Register - Deddington,
  2. GRO England & Wales,
  3. Great Western Railway Records, Gave Date of Birth 
  4. Headstone,
  5. Ancestry.com. - England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966,
  6. 1901 British Census,
  7. 1891 British Census,
  8. GWR Records,
  9. 1911 British Census,
  10. Personal Contact with Ian Cameron,
  11. 1939 Register,
  12. Parish Burial Records, GRU,

Notes for Emma Jane OCKWELL:



This photograph shows Harry and Emma. It was taken at their house "Aynho", Blunsden, Wiltshire, England in about 1946. Click for the larger version.
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It may well be Emma and her parents and siblings living at "Up The Lane Nr Chequers Inn", Upton St Leonards, Gloucester, England at the 1881 census
Joseph Ockwell Head Mar 28 Railway Shunter Somerford Keynes Wiltshi
Jemima Ockwell Wife Mar 24 Purton Wiltshire
Emma Ockwell Daur 5 Upton St Lds Gloucester
Anne Ockwell Daur 3 Gloucester
Nelsie Ockwell Daur 6m Upton S Lds Gloucester
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In 1891, Emma was living and working at 23 Park Streett, Charlton, Wiltshire, in the household of a Thomas Lampson, a Wheelwright, Carpenter & Blacksmith:
Emma J Ockwell Servant UnM 14 General Servant/Domestic Gloucester
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Emma married Harry Knibbs in 1895. It is confirmed to me by Harry's neice Barbara Stacey, that Harry married Emma, although she couldn't remember her maiden name. They lived in a bungalow called "Aynho" at Blunsden, Swindon.
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Knibbs Emma Jane of Aynho Ermin-street Blunsdon Wiltshire (wife of Harry Knibbs) died on 1 January 1955 at St. Margarets Hospital Stratton St. Margaret Wiltshire Administration Winchester 30 March to the said Harry Knibbs retired railway carman. Effects £365.
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Our gratitude goes to the members and volunteers at Duncan & Mandy Ball for recording the details, in memory of Emma.
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Our gratitude goes to the members and volunteers at Find A Grave web site for recording the details, in memory of Emma.

Sources for Emma Jane OCKWELL:

  1. Personal Contact with Ian Cameron,
  2. 1901 British Census,
  3. 1881 British Census,
  4. Ancestry.com, England & Wales, Birth Index: 1837-1983 gave Gloucester District 
  5. 1939 Register,
  6. Headstone,
  7. Ancestry.com. - England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966,
  8. 1891 British Census,
  9. Parish Burial Records, GRU,