Re: James W. Knaggs at Battle of the Thames
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In reply to:
Re: James W. Knaggs at Battle of the Thames
12/18/00
Dear Jeff,
Thank you for sharing this.Several weeks ago my son and I drove around Anchor Bay, through Algonac and past the ferry that goes to Harson's Island and Walpole Island.I would have taken it across but the weather was a bit too nasty.
I am a direct descendent of James Knaggs (b. 1780 in Maumee, OH.d. Dec. 23, 1860 in Monroe, MI).He would be my great-great-great-grandfather.His first wife was Jemima Griffin (d. 1811)They had a son, George Knaggs (b. Nov. 25, 1806 in Raisinville (Monroe) MI.d. Jan. 4, 1901 at Raisinville.Buried at Doty Cemetery in Grape, MI.On April 22, 1860 George Married Margaret Elizabeth Morris (b. March 31, 1830.d. April 21, 1907 at Novi, NY).They had a daughter named Ida Knaggs.She married John Taylor.They had a daughter named Grace Taylor.Grace married Donald Boyd.They had a son, Dale Boyd.Dale Boyd was my father.
James' father, George, was the first white settler to the Toledo, OH area.One of our family stories is about how James survived a battle during the French-Indian War at the trading post at Fort Miamis.Family legend has it that when the fort and the trading post were stormed, James went into the fireplace and climbed up in the chimney.
James settled on the River Raisin near Raisinville.There were no roads in those days.The early settlers traveled the lakes and rivers on boats and canal boats.The Musgrove Evans party came by the Knaggs farm. Evans needed a guide to take him west on the River Raisin where he hoped to find a piece of land to settle.He asked James Knaggs if he would do the job.James told Evans that his son George could do the job.Evans insisted that James go.He told Evans that his son George would do fine because he knew the way as well as his father did.When George Knaggs brought Evans to a place that suited him, young George suggested that the place be named Tecumseh.And that is the story of how Tecumseh, MI got its name.
Today there are many descendents of the Knaggs.Many people of Native American, English, French, Italian and other descents living in the Michigan/Ohio area can trace their ancestry back to George Knaggs and his descendents.
Some day I would like to visit Walpole Island to learn more about Tecumseh and my distant relatives there.Thanks again for sharing.
John Boyd