Robert KNIBBS, son of Joseph KNIBBS and Elizabeth WEBB , was born bef. 29 February 1852 in Swerford, Oxfordshire, England. He married Ruth SMITH 29 August 1880 in Swerford, Oxfordshire, England. He died bet. April and June, 1910 in Cardiff District, Glamorganshire, Wales. Ruth SMITH was born abt. 1856 in Hook Norton, Oxfordshire, England. She died bet. October and December, 1948 in Glamorgan District East, Glamorganshire, Wales.


Children of Robert KNIBBS and Ruth SMITH are:
1. Annie Elizabeth KNIBBS, b. 26 March 1884 See Walwyn JENKINS & Annie Elizabeth KNIBBS
2. John Richard KNIBBS, b. 1895 See John Richard KNIBBS & Elizabeth May JAMES
3. William Robert KNIBBS, b. December 1896 See William Robert KNIBBS & Eleanor Kate YOXALL OR William Robert KNIBBS & Florence M BOWES
4. Louisa KNIBBS, b. abt. 1890 See Francis Edward PIPER & Louisa KNIBBS
5. Martha KNIBBS, b. 06 April 1886
6. Robert KNIBBS, b. 16 July 1888
7. Benjamin Baden Powell KNIBBS, b. 01 June 1900 See Benjamin Baden Powell KNIBBS & Edith Annie BOWES
8. Minnie Selina KNIBBS, b. March 1893 See John H WITCHELL & Minnie Selina KNIBBS

Marriage Notes for Robert KNIBBS\Ruth SMITH:

Witnesses to the marriage were Stephen Smith and Martha Smith.

Robert was a "full age" bachelor and Ruth a "full age" widow, previously married to a man called Morris (Christian name unknown). Both Robert and Ruth were from the Swerford parish.
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It's quite possible that there were two other children from this marriage that I didn't see in the Hook Norton PR transcription:
Stephen Robert Knibbs, b. 18 July 1881 at Hook Norton, Oxfordshire, d. 4 September 1881
Thomas Henry Knibbs, b. 31 May 1899 at Hook Norton, Oxfordshire, d. 26 Jan 1900

Other Marriages/Unions for Ruth SMITH:
See Unknown MORRIS & Ruth SMITH


Notes for Robert KNIBBS:

Robert appears in the 1881 census as KNIBB, living at Garret Street, Hook Norton, Oxfordshire, England.
Robert KNIBB Head M Male 29 Swerford, Oxford, England Labourer
Ruth KNIBB Wife M Female 24 Hook Norton, Oxford, England
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Robert can be seen again in the 1891 census for Oxfordshire, living at Hook Norton with his wife Ruth and two of his daughters:
KNIBBS Robert 39 RG12/ 1180/ 31 Hook Norton
KNIBBS Rietta 34 RG12/ 1180/ 31 Hook Norton
KNIBBS Annie 7 RG12/ 1180/ 31 Hook Norton
KNIBBS Louisa 1 RG12/ 1180/ 31 Hook Norton
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Robert is seen living in the civil parish of Hook Norton at the 1901 census:
Robert Knibbs 48 Oxon Swerford Oxfordshire Brewers Labourer
Ruth Knibbs 44 Oxon Hook Norton Oxfordshire
Anne E Knibbs 17 Oxon Banbury Oxfordshire
Louisa Knibbs 11 South Wales Oxfordshire
Minnie Selina Knibbs 8 Hook Norton Oxfordshire�
John Richard Knibbs 6 Oxon Hook Norton Oxfordshire
William Robert Knibbs 4 Oxon Hook Norton Oxfordshire
Baden Powell Knibbs 10M Oxon Hook Norton Oxfordshire�
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I notice that Robert's trade in 1891 and 1901 was that of Brewers Labourer. Living in Hook Norton as he did, he was almost certainly employed at the Hook Norton Brewery (above) which started brewing beers in 1849, and still produces formidable traditional cask conditioned 'Real' Ales. More to the point it still does it with a steam engine as it's only power source. It was installed in 1899 and is the last stationary steam engine working commercially in the UK other than in the 'leisure industry'.
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We understand from detail provided by John Jenkins (a grandson of Robert Knibbs) that when Robert Knibbs moved from Hook Norton, Oxfordshire, to find work in Wales, he lodged in the village with his (John Jenkin's) grandfather. John also tells us that Robert worked as an Engine Driver at the Llanbradach Colliery for the owners, Cardiff Collieries Ltd., driving a locomotive called "Lundy".

The theory was that Robert moved to Wales with his family at some time between 1901 and 1906. This is based on the simple fact that his daughter Annie Elizabeth married Walwyn Jenkins that year in the Pontypridd District, Glamorganshire, Wales.

We believe that Robert moved to Wales for work but we aren't sure if he found work as an Engine Driver, or whether he found work as a labourer and then progressed.

Sources for Robert KNIBBS:

  1. Oxfordshire Parish Register - Swerford,
  2. GRO England & Wales, GRO England & Wales gives 1Qtr1852 
  3. 1861 British Census,
  4. 1891 Census for Hook Norton,
  5. .Ancestry.com, England & Wales, Death Index: 1837-1983 
  6. Personal Contact with David Jenkins,
  7. 1901 British Census,

Notes for Ruth SMITH:

Ruth's father was Richard Smith, a labourer.

She gave her name as Ruth Morris when she married Robert Knibbs in 1880. There seems to be no sign of her previous marriage to Unknown Morris in Hook Norton or Chipping Norton in particular, or even in the GRO records.

Ruth died aged 94 years.
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I understand from David Jenkins (Ruth's great-great grandson) that family hearsay has it that Ruth worked for some time at Oxford University (quite possibly in the kitchens?) but at some point early in her life, she went to live in Brazil. No-one knows why. Whilst in Brazil that she contracted a disease and became very poorly. She lost her hair (which grew back again) and became very deaf.

The theory within the family is that she married her first husband (surname Morris) whilst she was in Brazil, but left him there when she returned to England to recover from her illness. There is also a suspicion that Morris may even have been the doctor who treated her in Brazil.

Sources for Ruth SMITH:

  1. Oxfordshire Parish Register - Swerford,
  2. 1881 British Census,
  3. 1901 British Census,
  4. .Ancestry.com, England & Wales, Death Index: 1837-1983 

Notes for Martha KNIBBS:

Martha is believed to have been born in the Banbury District and not necessarily Banbury itself.

Sources for Martha KNIBBS:

  1. GRO England & Wales, GRO England & Wales gives 2Qtr1886 
  2. Personal Contact with Fionna Knibbs,
  3. .Ancestry.com, England & Wales, Death Index: 1837-1983 

Notes for Robert KNIBBS:

Robert is believed to have died in the Banbury District but not necessarily Banbury itself

Sources for Robert KNIBBS:

  1. GRO England & Wales, GRO England & Wales gives 3Qtr1888 
  2. Personal Contact with Fionna Knibbs,
  3. .Ancestry.com, England & Wales, Death Index: 1837-1983