Arthur William KNIBBS, son of William KNIBBS and Rebecca SHIRLEY , was born 13 April 1891 in Chelsea, London, Middlesex, England. He married Kathleen Mary COLEMAN 25 December 1915 in Longford, Warwickshire, England. He died January March, 1972 in Coventry District, Warwickshire, England. Kathleen Mary COLEMAN was born 10 March 1895 in Foleshill, Warwickshire, England. She died July September, 1965 in Meriden District, Warwickshire, England.


Children of Arthur William KNIBBS and Kathleen Mary COLEMAN are:
1. Ernest Aubrey KNIBBS, b. 25 November 1917 See Ernest Aubrey KNIBBS & May NEWTON
2. Arthur Ronald KNIBBS, b. 09 August 1920 See Arthur Ronald KNIBBS & Iris Doreen ELSON
3. Olive Kathleen KNIBBS, b. 14 November 1924 See Hüseyin Mehmet KAVAS & Olive Kathleen KNIBBS

Marriage Notes for Arthur William KNIBBS\Kathleen Mary COLEMAN:

Identified as Cathleen with a "C" in the marriage register. Kathleen's family Bible tells us they married married at Salem Baptist Chapel, Longford nr. Coventry, by the Rev G Buckley on Christmas Day Dec 25th 1915.

The marriage was witnessed by William and Olive Coleman.
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From the Coventry Evening Telegraph - 24 December 1940:
SILVER WEDDINGS
KNIBBS-COLEMAN. - On December 25, 1915, at Salem Baptist Chapel, Longford. by the Rev. George Buckley, Arthur William, eldest son of William and Rebecca Knibbs, to Kathleen Mary, second daughter of William and Mary Ann Coleman.


Notes for Arthur William KNIBBS:



Arthur, probably in the 1960's. (click to enlarge)
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Arthur appears in the 1901 census aged 9, living at New Street, Shipston on Stour, Warwickshire with his uncle James, presumably on holiday:
James KNIBBS, 32, Shoemaker, Oxon Deddington
Sarah A KNIBBS, 35, Oxon, Banbury
Arthur W KNIBBS, 9, nephew, London Chelsea
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Arthur's uncle James left the sum of £10.0s.0d. to Mrs Arthur William Knibbs in his will..
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He was an ARP Warden, during the blitz making an incredible positive, psychological impact on its survivors.
He continued to work mornings, till 75, and then went to his second home the allotment.

On a more personal level, Ron is remembered as a quiet man, as straight as an arrow. He was very fond of the occasional 'pint or two of mild ale' and as a little prank one night, his sons Aube and Ron took him to the Conservative Club for a drink. After sipping his much loved two pints of mild, he looked up and asked "So where's this then, not too bad". On hearing the reply, he quietly arose, put on his jacket, and walked out with dignity.

During his later years. Arthur regularly walked the 3-4 miles between his home and Russell Street. He was still very fit and strong but one day he was found unconscious along the route. He'd suffered a stroke.
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We see Arthur and Kathleen, along with sons Arthur and Ernest, and daughter Olive, living at 123 Windmill Road, Coventry, Warwickshire, at the time of the 1939 Register.
Arthur W Knibbs 13 Apr 1891 Textile Engineer Married
Kathleen M Knibbs 10 Mar 1895 Unpaid Domestic Duties Married
Ernest A Knibbs 27 Nov 1917 Gas Lighting Fitter Single
Arthur R Knibbs 09 Aug 1920 Engineering Machinist Single
Olive K Kavaz (Knibbs) 18 Nov 1924 Female Typist Textile Works Single
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Sources for Arthur William KNIBBS:

  1. 1901 British Census,
  2. GRO England & Wales, gave date 
  3. Ancestry.com, England & Wales, Birth Index: 1837-1983 
  4. Family Bible of Kathleen Coleman,
  5. 1911 British Census,
  6. Baptism Certificate,
  7. Marriage Certificate,
  8. 1939 Register,

Notes for Kathleen Mary COLEMAN:



Kathleen with her mother, daughter and an unknown toddler, taken I would think, in the 1950's. (Click to enlarge).

I have it from Kathleen's grandson, Nicholas Kavaz, that that Kathleen's father, William Coleman, was an interesting character indeed with the real name of Willie Cohman. The family story has it that he was a Roumanian Jew who escaped from an orphanage at the age of 6 and joined a travelling circus. When he came to England, he worked on the barges operating between Gloucester and Coventry.
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I believe Katheleen's parents were William Coleman and Mary Ann Brogdon. If I'm right, they married in the Foleshill District of Warwickshire during q1/1889.
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In 1901 Kathleen was living at Sowe Parish, Hawkesbury, Foleshill, Warwickshire:
William Coleman Head Mar 35 Staffs West Bromwich
Mary A Coleman Wife Mar 41 Warwick Folewhill
Walter Coleman Son 11 Staffs Hucknall
Kathleen Coleman Daur 6 Warwick Foleshill
Olive Coleman Daur 3 Warwick Foleshill
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We see Kathleen's family again in 1911, living at Windmill Lane, Longford, Foleshill, Warwickshire:
William Coleman Head 43 Married Boot & Shoe Repairer West Bromwich
Mary Ann Coleman Wife 51 Married (22 years) Foleshill Nr. Coventry
Walter W Coleman Son 21 Single Teacher of Music Bucknall Lockard Notts
Estella Coleman Daughter 19 Single Silk Fitter in Factory Bucknall Lockard Notts
Kathleen Coleman Daughter 16 Single Cotton Winder in Factory Foleshill Nr. Coventry
Olive Coleman Daughter 13 Assistant Finisher in Factory Foleshill Nr. Coventry
John Thomas Simmonds Lodger 20 Single Pupil Confectioner Bloxwich Staffordshire
Edna Brogdor Lodger 35 Single Cotton Winder in Factory Foleshill Nr. Coventry
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In 1915, Kathleen married Arthur Knibbs

Sources for Kathleen Mary COLEMAN:

  1. FreeBMD,
  2. Family Bible of Kathleen Coleman,
  3. GRO England & Wales,
  4. Marriage Certificate,