Witnesses to the marriage were ?Jiba COX and Frances JOHNSON

1846-1852

The following information was passed to me by Natascha Hartlett from documents she has related to the NASH family:
Samuel John Nash (son of Rev. Samuel Nash), John Edward Knibbs, and Edward Coulter were friends (in England) and were sent to South Africa as soldiers either during 1846 or 1852 to fight in one of the kaffir wars of the Eastern Colony of the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa. Upon their discharge from the
army Samuel John Nash was allotted ground at Mount Coke near King William's Town. Edward Coulter farmed at Stonelands in the Komga district. John Edward Knibbs had a saddle making business in King William's Town.

Samuel John Nash married Jane Knibbs (sister of John Edward). Edward Coulter
married Lucy Nash (sister of Samuel John). John Edward Knibbs came from
Charlbury, Oxford, England and married Fanny Collins."...

From this, we think John Edward returned to England, got married, had some children and then came back to South Africa to settle for good.
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1883-1895

Information from the South African National Archives indicates that John Edward emigrated to South Africa, trading in the Cape Province supplying saddlery and suitcase between 1883 and 1895. He died in South Africa in1920 and the Archives show that his estate took 3 years to wind up. It's quite probably that his business (JE KNIBBS & SONS) complicated matters.
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1859

His daughter Amy Caroline was baptised at Charlbury, Oxfordshire, in 1879. The Archives show he was trading in South Africa in 1883. However, John Edward and his new wife Fanny of just 4 months, emigrated to South Africa in July 1859. They travelled on a ship named Shah Jehan with a "well-selected superior group of immigrants" according to the book 'Aided Immigration from Britain to South Africa 1857-1867' by Esmé Bull.
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The following article was found from the
Eastern Province Herald, July 12, 1859

Shah Jehan (sometimes spelled Schah Jehan)

On Friday last just as we were going to press we noticed in a hasty manner the arrival of the Shah Jehan, 757 tons, C, J. Cox, Commander, with Emigrants from Southampton.

She sailed on the 2nd May, and has had a fine passage of 67 days. The port Captain immediately went on board, but in consequence of a strong westerly breeze blowing at the time, she dropped anchor at a considerable distance from the shore and was therefore not visited by the Immigration authorities until the following morning when the Chairman of the Board, J Campbell, Esq. and the Secretary, Mr Longlands, went on board. They found "all well" and everything in beautiful order. The Shah Jehan is certainly the finest vessel that has yet been employed in the transport of emigrants to this colony. Her fittings are good and the ventilation secured is the most perfect that could be devised.

There have been three births but no deaths during the voyage. The emigrants seem a superior class of people, and their conduct on board ship is reported as having been orderly. They express themselves as well satisfied with their treatment during the passage, and speak highly of the accommodation of the vessel.

From the list of emigrants which we append, it will be seen that out of the number embarked (288 souls) a great many are permit cases who have been sent for by their friends. Most of these landed on Saturday and about 150 of the other immigrants. The remainder came on shore yesterday. Many of these have already met with engagements - a considerable number having determined upon proceeding to Graaff-Reinet.

We cordially welcome these new arrivals to this the country of their adoption, and feel satisfied if they only be honest, sober and industrious, they will never have cause to regret the step they have taken. A far better prospect is before them here than they could have at home.

The following is a correct list of immigrants by the Shah Jehan, showing their names, ages and occupations:

Knibbs; John Edward, 22, harness maker; Fanny, 18, housemaid
etc....
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The sailing ship Shah Jehan, 757 tons.

From the South African National Archives it can be seen that:
1883 - Known to be selling saddlery to the Northern Border Police
1895 - Known to be selling saddlery and equipment to Cape Police and Cape Mounted Rifles as JE KNIBBS & SON
1896 - Known to be selling suitcases as JE KNIBBS & SON
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1901

Interestingly, in 1901, John appears living at a property named Egerton, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire in the UK with his wife Fanny and two younger daughters Hilda and Amy. I am told this was an affluent area of Cheltenham made up of Georgian houses, probably in Andover Road which is close to Montpelier Gardens and the Rotunda. Certainly at that time, the neighbouring houses all appeared to be occupied by people "living on their own means" and with house servants.
I believe from this information, we can consider that John Edward was a fairly wealthy man who travelled back and forth to his home country of England with his family, probably on several occasions.

We can see from the census that Amy was born in Cheltenham, but Hilda, the younger of the two was born in South Africa.

John Edward KNIBBS, 64, Saddler & Harness Maker Cape Colony, Oxon Charlbury
Fanny KNIBBS, 59, Glouces Moreton-in-Marsh
Amy KNIBBS, 22, Gloucs Cheltenham
Hilda KNIBBS, 18, South Africa
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1920

The following is the transcript of John Edward Knibbs' death notice
(ref. MOOC 6.9.1672, no 1276) kindly provided to me by Natascha Hartlett. Names are
spelt as per the transcript:
1. Name of deceased: John Edward Knibbs
2. Birthplace of the deceased: Charlbury, Oxfordshire, England
3. Names of the parents of the deceased: Father John Knibbs
4. Age of the deceased: 83 years 9 months
5. Condition in life (occupation): Saddler
6. Ordinary place of residence: K W Town
7. a) Name of surviving spouse: --
b) Name or names and approx. date of death of previous spouse or
spouses: Not married in Community Fanny Knibbs (born Collins) June
1918
c) Place of last marriage: Charlbury Oxfordshire England
8. The day of decease: On 30th March 1920
9. At what house or where the person died: His residence K W Town
10. Names of children of deceased, and whether majors or minors
Henry Edward Knibbs Major
James Knibbs Major
Frances Store formerly Plummer born Knibbs
John Knibbs Major
Frank Wiliam Knibbs Major
Alice Knibbs Deceased
Robert Ernest Knibbs Major
Amy Caroline Knibbs Major
Herbert Knibbs Major
Hilda May Barrand (born Knibbs)
10a) Whether decease has left any property, and of what kind: Yes
Movable & Immovable Property
10b) The deceased has left a will: Yes
Dated at K W Town
this 31st March 1920
Signed by F. W. Knibbs
Son Present at death
+++++++++++++++++++++

This is good information about John Edward Knibbs. But why is his father mentioned as JOHN KNIBBS? The information on the death notice would have been provided by the next of kin, present at death. In this case, his son Frank William. It could well be that Frank William just didn't know his grandparents names, which is quite possible. Maybe he just wasn't thinking straight and gave his father's name instead of the deceased's father's name.

Fanny's mother Ann can be seen as a widow in 1881 living at back of High Street, Moreton in Marsh, Gloucestershire, England:
Ann COLLINS Head W Female 70 Broadwell, Gloucester, England

John Edward Knibbs' death notice indicates that Amy Caroline was unmarried (aged 41 years) when he died in 1920. It appears that she remained a spinster all of her life.

Amy's Death Notice is on file at MOOC 193500006/9/4625 ref: 46230 at the Cape Archives.

Frank was present at the death of his brother James in 1922.

Frank's Death Notice is on file at MOOC 194300006/9/9955 ref: 85004 at the Cape Archives.

We only know of Alice Knibbs being another daughter from the transcript of John Edward's death notice. We don't know where or when she was born. She is simply listed amongst the children as Alice Knibbs Deceased.