The Knapper Family

A presentment given in at the Court Leet and Court Barron of Hugo Menell Esq this 22nd October 1761 contained:

This seems to prove that William moved in with Mary when they married and became "head" of the family. There are more Adget(t) names in the documents but no other (K)Napper names. From the spread of names around that time I suspect that William was born in Wolstanton, Stoke or Newcastle Staffordshire.

There are no suit role entries for any women except those listed as Widow ie. widow Adgett is noted as dead - last entry October 1761, just before Mary married William so possibly Mary's mother.

The earliest recorded person on this part of the family tree is William Knapper who was born in the early 1700's and lived at Talke o'th'hill Staffordshire. He was a brick and tile maker.

William married twice, both times at St James Audley His first wife was Jane Hancock, they married on 5 February 1757. Four years later Jane died and was buried on 5th November 1761 at St James Audley. William and Jane had two children, the first one born in 1757 was called Edward and most of the Congleton Knappers are descended from him. The second child was John, who died in infancy and was buried on the 13 October 1761 23 days before his mother Jane was buried. Six weeks after Jane's burial William married Mary Adgett, on the 21 December 1761.

Details of William Knapper's family follows, to go straight to the "Congleton" Knappers use the links on the left or bottom of each page.

1. William Knapper was born in Talke O'th'Hill.

Notes from grandson Edwards baptism record states William was from o' th' Hill and a brick & tile

maker.

Notes from grandson Edwards baptism record states William was from o' th' Hill and a brick & tile maker.

Manor of Audley Court Document Ref:- HM139/1/10j (Talke) - "A presentment gieven in at the Court Leet and Court Barron of Hugo Meynell Esq for the Mannor of Wudley held this 21 of October 1763 be mee Jno Jones Headbarrow" includes "William Napper Cottages 1 Inclosures 1 " note that in October 1761 at a similar presentment William did not appear but Mary Aget did with 1 cottage and 1 inclosure. Mary and William married 21 Dec 1761. On 26th October 1763 simlilar entry for Wm Napper. Also entries for Mar and Oct in both 1764 and 1765.

Manor of Audley Suit Roll records indicate that a Wm Knapper had the following entries

1756 Mar excused Oct no entry

1757 Mar default Oct default

1758 Mar default Oct attended

1759 Mar excused Act default

there are no entries for 1760 or 1761 or Mar 1762 when the records end. There is a comment by his name that he is removed to Wolstanton. So perhaps he moved out of Talke and then returned when he married Mary Adgett.

There are no suit role entries for any women except those listed as Widow ie. widow Adgett is noted as dead - last entry October 1761, just before Mary married William so possibly Mary's mother.

William married (1) Jane Hancock on 5 Feb 1757 in St James, Audley, Staffs. Jane was buried on 5 Nov 1761 in St James, Audley, Staffs.

They had the following children:

2 M i. Edward Knapper was born in 1757. He was christened on 1 Jan 1758 in St Martins, Talk, Staffs. He was buried on 31 Oct 1847 in Barthomley.

Information is from the birth of his son Edward in the Barthomley Parish Records.

His abode when Edward was born was Englands Brook, at Sarah's birth

Ingleshow of Englands Brook, at Williams birth Wybunbury, Englands Brook, at

Joseph & John's birth Barthomley.

The entry for Edwards baptism gives more information:-

Day born Sat 12/2/1791 Day baptised Th 3/3/1791.

Fathers Decent - s William Napper o' th' Hill brick & tile maker by Mary hw.

Mothers Decent d Willm Thursfield of Haslington shoemaker by Mary hw.

Birth and death information from burial record in Barthomley parish records.

Occupation on marriage notes was Husbandman.

Notes: -

There is an Ingleshaw and Englands Brook in Barthomley Cheshire

o'th'Hill refers to Talke of the Hill Staffordshire - hw = his wife

Husbandman = A tennant farmer who cultivated the land

Edward married Elizabeth Thursfield daughter of William Thursfield and Mary unknown on 1 Jan 1781 in Barthomley. Elizabeth was born in 1754. She died in Inglesea Brook. She was buried on 27 Feb 1816 in Barthomley.

3 M ii. John Knapper was buried on 13 Oct 1761 in St James, Audley, Staffs.

no record of birth so it is assumed that John died in infancy. His mother Jane

died a few weeks later.

William married (2) Mary Adjett on 21 Dec 1761 in St James, Audley, Staffs.

They had the following children:

4 F iii. Sarah Knapper was christened on 23 Jan 1763 in St Martins, Talk, Staffs.

5 M iv. John Knapper was christened on 30 May 1765 in St Martins, Talk, Staffs.

John married Martha Stephonson on 28 May 1785 in St James Audley.

6 M v. Thomas Knapper was christened on 1 May 1768 in St Martins, Talk, Staffs.

Thomas married Hannah Lilley on 3 Oct 1796 in St James Audley.

7 M vi. Isaac Knapper was christened on 30 Sep 1770 in St Martins, Talk, Staffs.

8 F vii. Mary Knapper was christened on 25 Dec 1773 in St Martins, Talk, Staffs.

Mary married James Chadwick on 22 Dec 1799 in St James Audley.

9 M viii. Samuel Knapper was christened on 23 Mar 1777 in St Martins, Talk, Staffs.

10 M ix. James Knapper was christened on 7 Feb 1780 in St Martins, Talk, Staffs.

James married Jane Nixon on 16 May 1803 in St James Audley.

11 M x. George Knapper was born in 1782. He was christened on 17 Mar 1782 in St Martins, Talk, Staffs.

George married Sarah Gater on 10 Jun 1805 in St James Audley.

12 M xi. Harvey Knapper was born on 27 Sep 1784 in Talke. He was christened in St James Audley.

13 F xii. Barbara Knapper was born on 15 Aug 1786 in Talke. She was christened on 27 Aug 1786 in St James Audley.

Barbara married Joshua Hancock on 5 May 1805 in St James Audley.

31-03-2006