William KNIBBS, son of John Francis KNIBBS and Cecelia NORTH , was born October December, 1875 in Askam-in-Furness, Cumbria, England. He married Mary BIRBECK October December, 1897 in Ulverston District, Cumbria, England. He died UNKNOWN. Mary BIRBECK was born 03 July 1872 in Askam-in-Furness, Cumbria, England. She died January 1951 in Ireleth with Askam, Lancashire, England.


Children of William KNIBBS and Mary BIRBECK are:
1. Jane KNIBBS, b. April June, 1898
2. Charles KNIBBS, b. 21 December 1899 See Charles KNIBBS & Amelia May BARNES
3. John Francis KNIBBS, b. January March, 1901
4. Florence May KNIBBS, b. 03 February 1902 See John BODLEY & Florence May KNIBBS

Marriage Notes for William KNIBBS\Mary BIRBECK:

FreeBMD gives two possible Mary's who may have married William. It could have been Mary Birbeck or Mary Catherine McDonald. I suspect it was the former.

Other Marriages/Unions for William KNIBBS:
See William KNIBBS & Elizabeth Ellen COX


Notes for William KNIBBS:

William appears in the 1901 census living at 99 Steel Street, Dalton-in-Furness, Lancaster, with his wife Mary and sons Charles and John.
Williams Knibbs Head Mar 25 Iron Ore Miner Askam In Fur Lancs
Mary Knibbs Wife Mar 28 Askam In Fur Lancs 
Charles KnibbsSon 1 Askam In Fur Lancs
John F Knibbs Son 1M Askam In Fur Lancs
William Knibbs F in Law Widr 67 Iron Ore Miner Egremont Cumberland
Henry Knibbs B in Law UnM 45 Iron Ore Miner Egremont Cumberland
William Knibbs B in Law 24 Imbecile Askam in Furness

Note: Willian, Henry and William listed as In-Laws above, are all part of Mary's family, with the surname of Birbeck, not Knibbs.

This is the same address as the one where Mary Birbeck lived with her parents and siblings in 1881, so presumably it was either handed down or purchased by William Knibbs.
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From Soulby's Ulverston Advertiser and General Intelligencer - 12 January 1905:
MUNIFICENT GIFTS FROM THE TRANSVAAL—The South African mail on Monday morning brought welcome tidings from the Transvaal. The news was addressed to Mr H. Mellon, J.P., from Mr F. Man, and contained a draft for £49, subscribed to by the worthy sons of Askam, who are engaged in that far off country in the gold mines. Many a poor family will bless them in the winter of distress. These kind and benevolent hearted friends have gone about their work in a business like way, and formed a committee, secretary, and treasurer. Mr J. B. Fleet, son of Mr John Fleet, Furness Tavern, Askam, is the secretary, and Mr Fred Marr, treasurer, and a committee of six as follows: Messrs E. Connor, Alex Barr, Jake Millican, W. J. McGivern, Tom Crawley, and David Crawley. These gentlemen appointed their own committee at home, viz., Messrs H. Mellon, T. Stuart (Askam Hotel). Harry Burt. and L Oliver. These gentlemen met on Tuesday evening, and appointed Mr Geo Cowley as additional member of the committee. It was resolved that each committeeman ascertain the exact number who are in distress in Askam and Ireleth, and report to the next meeting, which is announced for Monday evening next. It was also reported that Mr Tom Constable, who recently arrived home, made the amount up to £50. We have great pleasure in publishing a list of the kind donors, which is as follows F. Mart, 24s; J. Fleet. 20s; B. Connon, 20s; J. Conor, 20s; J. H. Connor, 20s; F. Waters, 20s; W. Shackley, 20a; T. Blrkett. 20s; T. Burrows, 20s; W. Connor, 20s; C. Wilson, 20s; H. Gretham, 20s; A Friend, 20s; W. Woolcock, 20s; A Friend, 20s; Mrs Sherfield, 20s; J. Dixon. 20s; J. Millican, 20s; E. J. Cain, 20s: R. Furness. 20s; W. J. McGivern. 20s; S. Proctor, 20s; E. Barr, 20s: J. Constable. 20s; T. Crawley, 20s; D. Crawley. 20s; R. Cloudsdale, 20s; Alex Cloudsdale, 20s; T. Furness, 20s; W. Knibbs, 20s; W. Blackburn, 20s: Geo. Kellet, 203; T. Carson. 20s; J. Gilleland. 10s: Jim Dawson, 20s: W. Jess. 10s; J. J. Cain. 20s; Sid. Smith. 20s; B. J. Perks, 21s; J. Bell. 20s; T. Leek, 20s: W. Marshall, 10s; J. Hindley, 10s; J. Stuart, 20s: R. Metcalf, 10s; T. High. ss; G. Parker. 20s; J. Constable. 20s; T. High. ss; A. Barr. 20s: A Friend, 15s; A Friend, 5s; A. Friend, 52; A Friend, 5s; J. Charnock, 10s; T. Tapper, 15s; R. Bell, 10s; Thos. Constable, 20s.

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In 1911, we see William's wife Mary, living at 99 Steel Street Askam in Furness, Lancashire:
Mary Knibbs Wife 37 Married (13 years) Lanc Askam in F
Charles Knibbs Son 11 Scholar Lanc Askam in F
Florence Knibbs Daur 9 Scholar Lanc Askam in F VIEW
Henry Birbeck Brother 54 Single Labourer General Frizington Cumberland

William wasn't with them at the time of the census.
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I haven't found out exactly when yet, but I believe William emigrated to South Africa. His brother Frederick's death notice, from 1921, identified that William was living at a place called Benoni which is a town in Ekurhuleni municipality, Gauteng, South Africa.

Sources for William KNIBBS:

  1. 1901 British Census,
  2. 1881 British Census,
  3. GRO England & Wales,
  4. Ancestry.com, England & Wales, Birth Index: 1837-1983 gave Ulverston District 
  5. 1891 British Census,

Notes for Mary BIRBECK:

Mary can be seen in the 1881 census aged just 8, living at 99 Steel Street, Dalton In Furness, Lancashire, England with her parents and siblings:
William Birbeck Head Mar 47 Iron Miner Egremont Cumberland
Jane Birbeck Wife Mar 48 Frizington Cumberland
Henry Birbeck Son 24 Iron Miner Frizington Cumberland
John Birbeck Son 16 Iron Miner Millom Cumberland
Jane Birbeck Daur 14 General Servant Millom Cumberland
Mary Birbeck Daur 8 Scholar Askam Lancashire
Hannah Birbeck Daur 6 Scholar Askam Lancashire
William Birbeck Son 4 Askam Lancashire

Her future husband William Knibbs lived at number 57 Steel Street, so they grew up as close neighbours.
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In 1891, Mary could be seen working at Millom Castle Hotel, Main Street, Bootle, Liverpool, Lancashire:
Mary Birbeck Servant UnM 18 Domestic Servant Lancs Askam
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Mary married William Knibbs in 1897.
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In 1901, we can see Mary's father and brothers John and William living with Mary and her husband William Knibbs at the above address, They'd were wrongly named as Knibbs in the census.
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We see Mary living at 90 Steel Street, Dalton-in-Furness, Lancashire, at the time of the 1939 Register, so just a few doors from where she was brought up:
Mary Knibbs 03 Jul 1872 Unpaid Domestic Duties Married

Sources for Mary BIRBECK:

  1. 1901 British Census,
  2. Alan Jackson GRO,
  3. 1939 Register,
  4. National Burials Index,
  5. Ancestry.com, England & Wales, Death Index: 1837-1983 gave Ulverston District 
  6. Parish Burial Records, GRU,

Notes for Jane KNIBBS:

Jane died in infancy.

Sources for Jane KNIBBS:

  1. GRO England & Wales, GRO England & Wales gives 2Qtr1898 
  2. Ancestry.com, England & Wales, Death Index: 1837-1983 
  3. National Burials Index, gave date and place of death as 'Ireleth with Askam' 
  4. National Burial Index,

Notes for John Francis KNIBBS:

John died in infancy.

Sources for John Francis KNIBBS:

  1. 1901 British Census,
  2. Ancestry.com, England & Wales, Death Index: 1837-1983 gave Ulverston District 
  3. FreeBMD,
  4. National Burials Index,
  5. Parish Burial Records, GRU,
  6. National Burial Index,