The parish of Stithians (or Stythians) is in the deanery and Hundred of Kerrier. The little river Kennel (Tretheage) rises near Carn Meneles and intersected the parish. (www.genuki.org.uk/)
Domesday book 1086
records that the cream of the estates (in Cornwall), 227 of 350 were in the hands of Robert de Mortain,
of the remaining 67 were held by Anglo-Saxons and the rest by Bretons and Flemings. Cornwall was devided into 7 (subsequently 9) administrative parts known as ‘hundreds’. The original hundreds were Penwith, KERRIER
and Trigg.
Kenell manor was situated on a hill overlooking the river which reaches the sea a few miles further on at the firth of the Carrick Roads. The river drove mills, and on the demesne tin was mined.
The first mention of a member of the Kenell family has been found so far in “Select Pleas of the Crown”, time of King John. (www.fordham.edu/) - Plea nº 19 - Hundred of Triggshire in the year 1201 refers to Reginald of Kennell, whose son Roland had been murdered. At that time Reginald pleads that he has passed the age of sixty, which means he would have been born c. 1140.
John Ingeriam de Kenel or Kenel in Easter week, Thursday 29th March at Kenel 24 Edward I or 1296, quitclaims to the Carminow family. "all right in his land of Kenel, in buildings, gardens, woods, meadows, pastures, ways, lands, acres, paths and all other appurtenances in dry and wet". (AR/2/202). It seems that the manor itself had been granted to them earlier, as an oval seal has been preserved in the Cornwall Record Office: legend is S(igillo). Joh'is (de) Kenell. On 4th June 1285 the King gave licence to Mathew Penfein to act as trustee to Oliver Carminowe and Elizabeth his wife for the Manors of Merthen, Wynyanton and Kenel. (V/T/15). From the Carminows the manor with its tin production came to the Arundel family by marriage later on.
Further Kenells are mentioned in documents deposited in the Cornwall Record Office:
1447-8 AR/2/894 Kenell manor: reeve John Noell
1469-70 AR/2/910 reeve Geoffrey de Kenell
1508-9 AR/2/945 reeve Roger de Kenell
1584 AR/2/971 reeve Ralph John alias Kenell
Arms: gules, a cheveron argent, with a cinquefoils argent. - Gules, on a chevron argent, three roses Gules seeded or.
The family coat of arms includes a red shield on which a silver chevron is emblazoned with three Tudor roses. The crest of the shield is a silver elephant. The famly motto is “In utrumque paratus”. (The Visitation of Berkshire)
The arms of Sir Robert Knolles, Knight of the Garter in the time of King Richard II, had been found in Wythiham Church near Buckhurst in Sussex: Gules on a chevron argent three roses gules. - The arms of Constance, wife of Sir Robert Knowles of Gourney along with the arms of the Black Prince and others, were found in the church of Harpley in Suffolk, namely a fess dancetté between three roses (The House of Gournay). Another one shows argent, a fess dancetté between three leopard´s faces sable. Sir Robert seems also to have used a cross recercelée voided between four cross-crosslets or. (Coll. Topographica and Genealogica Vol. VIII).
Constance was born in Pontefract, where they later founded the Knolles Almshouse at the same spot where her ancestral home had stood. From 'A History of Norfolk', V. 8: Harpley church was built by Sir Robert Knoweles, a famous general in the reigns of Edw. III and Richard II in the wars of France. In the chancel is painted a coat of arms gules, a chevron argent, 3 roses gules. - In 1465 occurs John Knowles as rector of the church, brother of Sir Robert Knowles. - Or 3 demi-lions passant guard gules Knolles county Hampshire and Knowles Downton Winchester (A Medieval Ordinary).
In Bodiam Castle in the southern tower several coats of arms were found engraved over the entrance. One of these shows three roses upon a chevron and surmounted with a helmet and the crest a ramshead. As the owner of the castle was Edward Dallingridge, he had it put there honouring Robert Knollys, his former warlord.
The Knolles, Knollys, Knowles family seems to have had their center of activities in Pontefract, London and North Mymms (Hertfordshire).
Robert Knolles or Knollys, (b. 1312, d. 1407) and his wife Constance Beverley are the ancestors of such famous descendants as Sir Francis Knollys whom Queen Elizabeth had appointed one of the judges at the trial of Mary Queen of Scots and France and later made him Treasurer, having been on her council before that. His daughter Lettice was married to Walter Devereux, 1st earl of Essex in time of Queen Elizabeth 1st. After his execution she married Robert Dudley, earl of Leicester. (In the British Library exists a letter which a Knell, Robert's secretary, wrote to Henry Sidney). Lettice was also sister-in-law to Queen Jane Grey. Sir Frances' second son William became treasurer of the household to James I and was raised to the peerage as Baron Knollys and Viscount Wallingford. Charles I made him Earl of Banbury. (Burke).
Robert's and Constance's had
- Emma who married Anthony Babington.
- Thomas, who owned North Mimms, - one and a half knights's fees (Feudal Aids) - became alderman and Lord Mayor of London (1399 and 1410, list of Mayors of London) and began to build the new Guildhall of the grocers. - Thomas de Beauchamp, earl of Warwick, Thomas Knolles, mayor of London, and others in 1399 had to inquire into treasons and crimes committed in London and Middlesex after the new King had come to the throne. In 1400 he was mayor and escheator of the City of London when he was to restore the temporalities of the Abbey of St. Saveur, Bermondsey in London.(CPR). - The King in 1401grants to Thomas Knolles and Richard Forster, citizens of London, properties in London which had been of Thomas Romayn (CPR).
Thomas Knolles, citizen and grocer of London and Joan his wife in 1390, 1394 and 1414 sued for land in Herlawe, Latton and Alvythele of which the first two were adjudged to them. (Essex Fines) - 1425 Thomas Knollys was one of the persons to prove the age of William son of Nicholas Schoyne near Eastbourne (CPR). Next year he witnesses a grant in London, where he is described as alderman of London. The Feudal Aids of 1428 tell that Thomas Knollis holds one military fee in North Mymms from the earl of Gloucester. - Thomas was tax collector 1436 in Sussex,
From Thomas and Joan descended as per Calendar of Wills Thomas Knolles, senior, grocer, in his will of 1435-6 wishes to be buried in the church of St. Antonin and makes bequests to his sons: Thomas, William, Robert and Richard and to his daughters Beatrice, Margery and Margaret .
- Margaret Knolles holds Doun in Compton manor of Elizabth late the wife of Henry Fitz Hugh (Cal.IPM).-
- Richard - In 1390 Richard Knowisle was citizen and draper of London.(CCR). 1403 Richard Knolles and others had a commission to enquire about woollen cloths in Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Hertford (CPR)
- Robert whose daughter married Henry Fordwyck of Weley, who conveyed North Mimms to John Coningby. - 1446 Robert Knolles, esq., son and heir of Thomas Knolles, citizen and grocer of Lonton to Nicholas Wotton, citizen and draper of London and others (CCR).
- William - On 5 July 1432 William Knolles, citizen and grocer of London, leaves all his chattels and properties to Thomas Knollis the younger, citizen and grocer in London (CCR).
- Thomas, - 1433 Henry Barton and Thomas Knolles the younger to Nicholas Tunwelle and Emma his wife. Quitclaim for 4 messuages and land to hold for life with reversion to Henry and Thomas (CCR) - 17 June 1434 Geoffrey Wyke, clerk to Thomas Knolles the elder and younger, citizens and grocers of London, general release of all actions, suits, plaints and demands. (CCR) - On 11 August 1435 Robert Shelley, esq., releases all his goods, debts and chattels to Thomas Knolles and Richard Sturgeon. (CCR). 1439 Thomas, John Langeley and Thomas Lavyngton granted William Baron and Joan his wife a shop in the parish of St. Nicholas (Cal. of Ancient Deeds, V. 2). He was tax collector in London in 1440 and 1445 . (CFR).
[1466-7 Gregory William, alderman of London in his will destines rent from lands and tenements in the Vintry for the Knolles Chapel of St. Vintry for the souls of Thomas Knolles, sen. and Johanna his wife and Thomas Knolles Jun. and Isabella his wife. (Court of Husting, London)]
- Robert Knollys who married Margaret d'Oilly. (Note: As per Wace's Chronicles of Normandy the family of d'Oilly was seated at Oilly-de-Basset near Falaise. Robert d'Oilly came to England with the Conqueror).
Robert came into possession of North Mymms in 1446 and settled the manor on himself and his heirs with remainder to his brother Richard. In 1457 he did homage to Richard Duke of York (VCH). 1461 William Sandre of North Mymms, Hertfordshire, to Robert Knolles, esq., William Lacy and others of North Mymms, gives them all his goods, chattels and debts (CCR). He was still living in 1484 when he paid subsidy to the sheriff of Hertfordshire (VCH).
Robert and Margaret had the following children:
- Margaret Knollys married Henry Belknap, grandson of Robert Belknap, who had bought Knelle manor in 1385. -
- Elizabeth, daughter and coheir of Robert Knolles of North Mymms married Richard Fortescue c.1500. (The Vis. of Cornwall)
- Robert became gentleman of the Privy chamber to King Henry VIII. He had a grant from the King for some time of the manor of Rotherfield Greys in Oxfordshire. He married Lettice, daughter of Lord Penyford, Lord Haurage and Marshal in Buckinghamshire.
- - His daughter Jane married Sir Richard Wingfield of Kimbelton Castle.
- Francys Knollys KG. He married Catherine (d. 15 Jan. 1568-9), adopted daughter of William Carey, esquire of the body to Henry VIII, natural daughter of King Henry VIII and Lady Mary Boleyn, his wife, sister of Queen Anne Boleyn. (Genealogy of the extinct British Baronage).- Francys was treasurer to Queen Elizabeth's household and knight of the Garter. He had been exiled in Germany during Queen Mary's reign. Catherine had a royal funeral due to her nearness to the royal family. - On 3 June 1547 Francis Knolles, esq., the King's servant, obtained licence to export 2000 tons of Beer (Chancery Warrants). - In 1552 he was granted the lordships and manor park of Caversham Oxford and Berkshire late of Edward (Seymour) Duke of Somerset attainted for felony, as well as other properties. (CPR).
Francis and Catherine had the following children:
- Sir Henry Knollys, b. c. 1542, d. 1582, married to Margaret Cave (d. 1606)., M.P. for Reading in 1563. - Henry was lieutenant of Lord Howard of Effingham, general of the horse (Lives and Letters of the Devereux, Earls of Essex).
- Sir William, (b. c. 1545. d. 26 May 163), married Dorothy Bray, dsp., married secondly in 1605 Lady Elizabeth Howard. He was treasurer of the household of King James, created baron Knollys in 1603 and viscount Wallingford in 1616, later earl of Banbury by Charles I which title expired with his death in 1632. - On 10 April 1604 he received a Letter Patent as William lord Knolles, High Constable of the castle of Wallingford. (The Manuscripts of Captain F.C. Loder-Symonds).
- Edward Knollys, (1546-75)
- Sir Robert Knowles of Greys (c.1547-1619) married Jane Higham. They had a son, a grandson and a great grandson named Robert.
- Richard Knolys, (1548-1596 ) had a son Francis who by his second marriage had two sons and a daughter.
- Sir Francis Knollys, (c.1550 - 1648), a member of the 'Long' Parliament, d. at the age of 98. He inherited from his father the manor of Battle and estates near Reading Abbey in Kent. MP of Oxford and of Berkshire. He married Lettice, daughter of John Barret, esq. of Hanham in Gloucestershire. Their son Sir Francis Knollys, kt., married Ellen, daughter and heir of Richard Miles, esp. of Lower Winchenden in Buckingham. The line goes on: Richard, Francis, Francis, Francis, Richard, Francis created a baronet in 1754, sheriff of Oxfordshire 1757, MP for Reading 1761. He died without issue so that the baronetcy expired with him..
- Sir Thomas, commander in the Low Countries under Maurice, Prince of Orange (d. after 1596). He married Odelia de Morada, daughter of John de Morada Marquess of Bergen. Their daughter Penelope married William Le Hunt.
- Lettice, b. 1540, is mentioned in Berkshire: ”primo nupta Waltero Comiti Essexiae postea Roberto Comiti Leicestriae post suius obitum renupta Christophero Blunt". She had married Walter Devereux, second Viscount of Hereford in 1561-2, both being about 22 years old. They had a son, Robert earl of Essex, who was executed by Queen Elizabeth for insurrection and treason. Her second husband, Robert earl of Leicester was a favourite of the Queen. He married Lettice on 21 Sept. 1578.They had a son who died 1584 and lies buried in the Beauchamp chapel at Warwick. Robert died July 1589. Shortly afterwards she married Christopher Blount, who later was accused of having been involved of the Earl of Essex's insurrection and therefore was also executed in 1601. After that she lived in Drayton Basset which had been given to her by the earl of Leicester. Obviously she was a vital person who lived to see the grandchildren of her grandchildren and died at Christmas day 1634 at the age of 94. She was buried by the side of Robert Dudley, earl of Leicester at Warwick. (The Lives of the Devereux...)
- Anne Knollys (c.1553, living 30 Aug. 1608), married Thomas West, 2nd Lord de la Warr
- Elizabeth Knollys or Cecilia, maid of Honour of Queen Elizabeth , m. 1578 Sir Thomas Leighton (1535-c. 1611)
- Catherine Knollys, m. 1578 Gerald FitzGerald, Lord Offaly, son and heir of the earl of Kildare. She married secondly Sir Philip Boteler and died in 1632. (The Worthies of Oxford a.o.)
In 1458 a monumental brass was erected in the church of North Mymms showing Elizabeth Knowles with her children (Monumental brasses Hertfordshire).
The Knolles family also founded the branches of Stanford and Reading in Berkshire (The Visitation of Berkshire) where the name is spelt Knol, Knolles, Knolys, Knollys and Knowles, and the one in Norfolk. Visitation of Norfolk 1563 gives the descent of the Norfolk branch from Sir Robert Knolles and Constance his wife. Blomfield gives a row of Knolles, Knollys or Knowles rectors in Norfolk ranging from 1435 to 1616. Arms of the Lancaster branch: Gules, on a chevron argent three roses of the field; in dexter chief a crescent or, charged with a mullet sable for difference. Crest a ram's head, couped argent, armed or, charged on the neck for difference, as in the coat.
Matilda, daughter of Sir Robert Knowle of Knowle and Aldrington, married John Babington, Devon, who held those manors in right of his wife. He also had been enfeoffed by Sir Thomas Camoys in the manor of Woton Surrey, in 1422. Maud died seised of a third part each of the manors Ingelpenne, Devon, Grendon, Bucks., Cotes, Bedfords., and a third part of the advowson of Edgecote, Bucks. (Coll. Top. & Gen. V. VIII).
The Golden Falcon Chapter VI/1 Fair (Melbourne Library)
On the Normandy coast Sir Robert Knollys led a large company of English and Navarrese troops who pillaged, marauded and captured towns and castles with no opposition. Sir Robert Knollys had done this for a long time, acquiring about 100 crowns. He had many mercenaries in his troops, so well-paid they were eager to follow him.
The charred gables which marked Robert Knolle’s or Knolly’s passage through France were called “Knolly’s Mitres”, the motto on his banner read “Qui Robert Cnolle prendera, cente mille moutans gagnera”. (The moutans were coins, not mutton).
Sir Robert Knolles may have risen from the lower ranks of society to become a prominent captain and a very rich man. He may have been descended from one *Stephen de Knolle* who held land in Sussex “de nova feffamento” in 1211-12 of the Honour of the Earl of Eu and perhaps ancestor of Thomas Knolles, one of the mayors and vicounts in London under the reign of Henry IV. (French source) - other sources assure that he was from the Valley Royal where similar coats of arms exist.
Robert Knollys :
Patronymia Brittanica - The founder of the family, was the famous Sir Robert Knollys, a person of humble origin who after the
Battle of Poictiers had established the supremacy of the English in France. He
greatly enriched himself by incursions where he was known as 'The devil for
fighting' (le véritable demon de la Guerre).:
During the Hundred Years War between England and France, he was judged «...the most able and skillful man-at-arms in all the companies » He had risen from the ranks in the
Breton wars and fought with the Thirty, gaining knighthood along the way. The French recorded him as Sir Robert Canole (and Cannolles), who “grievously harmed France all the days of his life”.
- There is a place called Cahagnolles 15 km south of Bayeux.
In 1422 King Henry IV gave to Richard Sturgeon, royal clerk, a manor with
appurtenances situated near the church St. Peter, in the ville of Caen, which
were of Robert de Cahaignolles, once burgess of that vill. (Mémoires de la
société des Antiquaires de Normandy, p. 233, nº 1338.
According to “The White Company” and “The Dictionary of Chivalry” by Grand Uden, Sir Robert began his mercenary life within the English White Company led by Nigel Loring and Sir John Harwood. Sir Robert and Sir Hugh later left the ranks to raid the marches of Navarre.
Barbara Tuchman wrote in her book “A Distant Mirror”:
The object of Sir Robert Knolly’s savage raid through northern France in 1370 was to do as much injury as possible in order to damage the French war effort and hold back French forces from Acquitane. And: Edward Plantagenet “The Black Prince” (d. 1376) appointed him Captain of Knights and Squires of his personal household.
In 1371 he received a letter sommoning him and his companions to homage.
Sir Robert Conolle, Quenolle, had given to Richard Norhenton, herald of the earl of Hertford, the parish of Maiet during the ransom of that town and parish until Lady Day (Cat. of Ancient Deeds V. 6).
The Issue Roll of Thomas de Brambington, bishop of Exeter, contains several orders of payments to seamen's wages for the passage of Robert de Knolles to France. Sarjeant-at arms were ordered to retain shipping for his passage. Letters were issued to messengers, couriers and valets to send troops to join Robert for his passage. Admirals and officers were directed by the Great Seal to retain ships and take them to Winchelsea and Rye immediately for the passage of Robert and his retinue to France. Proclamations to call the men at arms and archers to proceed who were to sail with Robert and so on. - A Roger Knolles seems to have been a valet of the prior of Sele Priory.
In 1361 Robert de Knolles had paid into the exchequer 2000 florins called 'motons' for the keeping of the castles of Gravele, Gugery and Chastelblanc in Brittany, which were returned to him (CCR). -1370 Robert to sail in the King's service to foreign parts when John de Lakynghethe is his attorney general ( CCR.) - 1371 Robert and his companions had to swear an oath when he made an identure with the king for 4000 soldiers to go to France. On 10 Dec. of that year the escheators were ordered to take into the King's hands the lands of Robert Knolles 'chivaler' in Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, London, Norfolk, Suffolk, York and Cambridge of which he was seised at the day of his death. (Cal. IPM). But this was an error. Robert was to live another 30 years. Thus on 26 Jan. 1372 the King is informed that Robert is alive and he gave order to restore all his properties to him (CCR). On 6 Feb. of that year Richard Norwich, escheator in Kent, had order to restore the manor of Dunstale and 1000 acres of march in Elmele to Robert and Constance.
When Richard II came to the throne 1377, Sir Robert was made governor of the castle of Brest immediately. Three years later he had to fight in France again. This is from Capgrave's Chronicle of England: "In 1380 Thomas Woodstock, earl of Buckingham, Hugo Caverle, Robert Knollis, Thomas Percy, William Windsor, kts., embarked for France to help John Montfort, Duke of Brittany. But they were received by French galleys so that they had to return to Calais from where they set out to destroy whatever came their way in France." In 1381 he was one of the four persons in London who received full powers to investigate the insurgents and punish the guilty (Cal. of Letter Books, London).
In his later years, Sir Robert spent much of his wealth on charity work, including building a “goodly fair bridge” over the River Medway at Rochester and a hospital in Rome for English travellers and religious pilgrims. Already on 29 Nov. 1356 he had donated to the Chapel of St. Stephen a black alb (noted in the exchequer).
He endowed a church at Pontefract with the booty ransacked in France and John Stowe related in his “Survey of London”:
Then was the White Friar’s church called “Fratres Beate Mariae de Monte Carmeli”. Sir Robert Knoles, kt, was a great builder there also in the raigne of Richard the Second and of Enrique de Trastamara the Fourth. He deceased at his manor of Scone Thorpe (Scunthorpe)
in 1407 and was brought to London and honourably buried by the Lady Constance, his wife,
[on Aug. 15] in the bodie of the said White Friar’s church which he had newly builded." Another source says that he was buried with military honours.
According to Calender Patent Rolls and National Archives the original spelling of Knollys is Knolles. Sir Robert de Knolles’ and his wifes, Constance de Beverley’s, activities can be deducted from those documents between the years 1355 and 1395.
Between 1355 - 1370 there are numerous documents relating to military service (CPR). They include:
Between 1370 and 1387 survive various grants of properties and land to Robert and Constance in consideration of military service and for purchases of manors.
There is a list of manors granted by the king covering half a page.
1380 - 1394 covers the period when Robert and Constance dedicate themselves to good works.
According to "la Nobilière de Guienne et Gascogne" (by M. O'Gilvy) the surname Knolle held a great significance in Brittany and Guienne in the 14th century, also spelt as Cnolle, Canolle or Canoles (Hist. of Brittany, the Langedoc and 'du Gesclin'). - Betrand de Guesclin was the great French army leader and Robert de Knolle's adversary general. - In the 19th C. a Knowles family in England still bore in its arms quarterly gules, a chevron argent and 3 cinqfoiles, the arms of Robert de Knolle. -
It goes on saying that three of a family in the 14th C were Edward, Edmond and Robert Knolle. Now, Edmund is Edmund de Knelle, described in an earlier chapter and Edward his son. Thus Robert might have been a brother of Edmond. Other sources say that Robert was of a humble Chester family.
The author of the book claims that Robert and Constance had descendancy in France by an unnamed son who is buried in the church of St. Jacques de Beynac with his wife, and whose name had been changed to Canolle as the French pronounced Knolle.The whole genealogy is shown in this book.
His descendancy was still living in the 19th C. Pierre Joseph Henry Fort Robert, marquis de Canolle, was born on 16 May 1820 and his sister Léontine de Canolle in 1822. The former was married to Louise Marie Charlotte de Julien de Pégueiroles, daughter of Antoine Honoré Jules de Julien, marquis de Pégueiroles and Marie Valentine Vaysse de Rainneville. They had a son Robert Henry de Canolle who would have died by the end of the 19th C or the beginning of the 20th C.
Léontine married Charles Théophile de Seissan, baron de Marignan.
In the 15th C., even after the French had retaken Guienne definitely in 1451, the seigneurs de Canolle had feudal rights in the barony of Beynac, one of the four best baronies in the Périgord, which included burying rights in the church of St.Jacques there. For this reason it is assumed that a son of Robert de Knolles had married a Berjac daughter and heiress.
Apart from the genealogy, Robert de Knolle is described as having served during 60 years under the kings Edw. III, Rich. II and Henry IV as well under all the famous princes and dukes who were war leaders at that time. In 1370 he became the lieutenant of the English king in France and commander of the Picardie. He had fortified Derval in Brittany which was his main seat from where he went on his campaigns and raids, one of which led him to Paris where he camped in front of the walls.
At the end of his military carreer, in 1399, he became great seneschal of Guienne. In the Feudal Aids of 1401-2 all his lands are enumerated which he held in Norfolk. He died in 1407.