See James and Mary's Marriage Certificate

We see James in 1850, living at Saco, York, Maine, USA:
James H Knibbs Head Mar 29 Saddler England
Mary S Knibbs Wife 23 Maine
Henry W Knibbs Son 2 New Hampshire
Alma Smith 18 Maine
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We see James and Mary in 1870, living at Hyde Park, Norfolk, Massachusetts:
James H Knibbs Head Mar 45 Ret. Furniture England
Mary A Knibbs Wife Mar 27 Keeping House Halifax
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We see James in 1880 living at Hyde Park, Norfolk, Massachusetts:
James H Knibbs Head Mar 61 Furniture Repairer England
Mary C Knibbs Wife Mar 37 Keeping House Canada
Nellie C Knibbs Daughter 10 At School Massachusetts, United States
Mary E Knibbs Daughter 4 Massachusetts, United States
William P Knibbs Son 4 Massachusetts, United States
Ellen Powers Mother-in-Law 60 Ireland
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See James' Death Registration
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James' death record shows that he died aged 68 years, 8 months, 3 days. It also shows his parents names as Edward and Charlotte Knibbs from England, but we believe this is an error as the Massachusetts Town Vital records at ancestry.com clearly show his parents as Anthony and Mary.

Mary was the daughter of Patrick Powers from Ireland, and his wife Ellen Harrisey, also from Ireland.
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It may well be Mary that we see in 1865, living at Boston, Ward 09, Suffolk, Massachusetts:
Ellen Powers Head Wid 45 Washing Ireland
Ellen L Powers Daur UnM 22 Seamstress Nova Scotia
Mary C Powers Daur 22 Seamstress Nova Scotia
Anna B Powers Daur 21 Hairdresser Novia Scotia
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Mary married James in 1865.
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See Mary's Death Registration

See William's Birth Registration
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William fought in the Spanish-American war of 1898, and later became a Commander in Chief of the Legion of Spanish War Veterans in Boston.
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Please visit my Notable KNIBBS Page for William
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From the Boston Daily Globe, January 24, 1899:
TO THE CANADIAN WEST. Sergt Knibbs at the Central Club. At the Central club last evening In Somerville Sergt William P. Knibbs of the 7th regulars delivered an Interesting lecture on the campaign in Cuba during the recent war. Sergt Knibbs, who Is an entertaining speaker, spoke of the exciting days of the campaign and also told several interesting personal experiences. He was wounded four times in one day at El Caney.
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From the Boston Herald, Jun 6, 1899:
Soldier Laid to rest
(Special dispatch to the Boston Herald.)
Worcester, June 5, 1899. The funeral of Royal H. Pitts, late private in C company, 2d regiment, who died in Boston last Saturday, took place in the state armory in this city this afternoon. The Rev, Dr. Alexander Lewis, pastor of Pilgrim Church, officiated, and there was a large attendance of Spanish war veterans. The firing squad consisted of nine veterans of C company. The pallbearers were Sergt. F. B. Jordan and Priv. Frank M. Hill of H company 2d regiment; Sergt George Stebbins and Priv. W. W. Eddy of C company; Commander William P. Knibbs and Quartermaster-General George A. Richardson of the legion of Spanish War Veterans of Boston, of which deceased was a member.
There were elaborate floral tributes from C company, the employees of Houghton & Dutton of Boston and the legion of Spanish War Veterans. The burial was in Hope cemetery, where Bugler A. F. Whalen of C company sounded taps and the firing squad fired three volleys over the grave.
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From the Worcester Daily Spy (Worcester, Massachusetts), May 18, 1901:
RUTLAND
George C. Marshall Post, G. A. R., has engaged William P. Knibbs of Boston, Mass., to deliver the address Memorial Day afternoon in the Town Hall. Mr. Knibbs was a corporal in the Spanish War, and was in Company E, Seventh United States Infantry. Johnson's Drum Corps of Worcester, with furnish music.
Rev. George B. Frost, pastor of the Congregational Church, will preach a memorial sermon Sunday before Memorial Day.
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From the Boston Post, July 09, 1906:
HERO OF SPANISH WAR DIES LAWRENCEVILLE, Va., July 8:
William P. Knibbs of Boston Was Wounded at El Ganey. William P. Knibbs of Boston, Mass., a young man, who had been here some time for his health, died at the Central Hotel this morning at 8 o’clock, of paralysis. Knibbs received several wounds at the battle of El Caney while serving in the United States army, during the Spanish-American war. One of the shots passed through the young man’s neck and caused a formation over one of the large arteries, which grew and expanded and pressed upon It until It was predicted by eminent specialists that paralysis would result. The best physicians In the entire country were consulted In regard to a possible operation, but they considered it too dangerous to perform. Knibbs was bright and cheerful and resigned to his fate, which he had come to look upon as inevitable. He has a sister living In Boston, who Is the only member of family. She visited her brother here several weeks ago. He was a member of the Elks and Odd Fellows, and the members of these orders showed him every attention during his illness. Knibbs was a young man of more than ordinary intelligence and had won for himself some prominence in life, having been appointed by President McKinley as United States consul to British Columbia.
COMMANDED VETS Knibbs Was One of Most Prominent of Massachusetts Legion William P. Knibbs was one of the prime movers In the organization of the Legion of Spanish War Veterans, it being greatly through his efforts that George H. Whitten Camp, No. 1, L. S. W. V., was formed. He was afterwards elected commander-ln-chief of the order. When the Spanish war broke out, he enlisted in the regular army, being assigned to the Seventh United States Infantry, which regiment took a very active part In the operations leading up to the surrender of Santiago. During the battle of El Caney, when the American army took the Spanish blockhouses and trenches, he received severe wounds. He was well known in Hyde Park, where he formerly lived before moving to Boston, and was one of the most prominent Spanish war veterans In the State. His body will be brought to this city for burial. The following telegram was received last night by Mayor Fitzgerald from Lawrenceville, Va.: “Please find address of Mrs. K. D. Yeaton, Informing her that Mr. Knlbbs died this a. m. Wire instructions. (Signed)
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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 William.

See Mary's Birth Registration


See Mary's Death Registration

See Ellen's Birth Registration
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Ellen appears in the register of births for Boston, but that is all we ever see of her uless of course she is the one called Nallie at the 1880 census return.
My theory is that the Ellen C Knibbs and Helen L Knibbs are probably the same person.