James KNIBBS\Emma LAWS

James invented and patented a device called the "Knibbs Run Around" and applied it to the Arbba Read Steam Fire Engine. It's a pressure valve with the main objective of the invention being to allow one, two, three or more discharge pipes or hoses to throw streams of water from the fire engine at the same time, without any waste of water or risk of injury or damage to it's operators or the engine itself. It appears that at James' request, for experimental purposes, the device was installed into an engine constructed by the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company. Amoskeag then manufactured and sold engines containing James' invention for two years before James eventually applied for the patent.
James fought many court cases against the State Of New York to obtain money on his invention. He tried to get $26,000,000.00 and fought from 1881 till his death. The family continued to fight for it after his death but ended up settling for just $1,500.00.

I'm sure James would chuckle at this one, taken from the History of Troy, New York - "James Knibbs was the chief engineer of the fire department, and thus it has been said that calling an important man 'His Nibs' also originated in Troy."
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A sample of James' signature taken from his Patent from 1864.
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Please visit my Notable KNIBBS Page for James
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1849
It can be seen that James applied for Naturalization at Albany, New York, USA on 16 April 1849
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1850
James and Rhoda can be seen living at Rensselear, NY, USA at the 1850 census. They appeared to be living at the home of Rhoda's parents:
Henry Harvey 49 Cooper Vt
Roxana Harvey 44 Vt
James Knibbs 23 Machinist England
Rhoda Knibbs 23 NY
Henry Buell Harvey 12 NY
Emily A Harvey 8 NY
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1860
In 1860 the Arba Read Steam Fire Engine Co. No. 1 was formed at Troy, and a steam pumper was purchased from the Amoskeag Co. of Manchester, New Hampshire. James was employed as the first fully paid engineer, hired to operate this highly technical piece of equipment. He was the engineer of the Arbba Read Co, between 1860-1873 and was paid a substantial wage of $50.00 a month.

He invented a device called the "Knibbs Run Around" and applied it to the Arbba Read. It was a pressure valve designed to greatly improve the control of water from the pump.

We can also see James still living at Rensselear, this time with Joseph, their first child:
James Knibbs, Rensselaer, 30
Rhoda Knibbs, Rensselaer, 30
Joseph H Knibbs, Rensselaer, 10
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1862
He is listed as living at 47 Grand Division St.1850 to 1862. Then at 67 Grand Division St. till his death.
His house at 47 burned in the great fire of 10 May 1862.On that day, Troy suffered its greatest loss by fire. A spark from a locomotive ignited a covered wood railroad bridge to Center Island, and a strong west wind drove the fire into Troy. By evening 508 buildings had been destroyed and at least 8 persons lost their lives. The financial loss was $3.9 million dollars.

The following is an extract from article that appeared in the Troy Times of 11 May 1862:

The Terrible Fire
of Troy. N.Y.
The fire originated in the bridge, by, it is supposed, a spark from a
locomotive. So rapidly did the flames spread, that several vehicles got off with
difficulty. The hurricane blew flames directly towards the city, and carried the
embers far back, setting a number of buildings instantly on fire.
The spread of the flames was so fast and fearful that any attempt at a connected
narrative would be in vain. At noon the danger was unexpected. At 6 o'clock
seventy five acres of the city had been swept over as by the hand of a
destroying fiend. Before sunset it was all over, and the streets - alas!
streets of the tombs to all appearances - were quite passable. Even the piles
of brick and crumbling walls had become cool.
The scene of desolation on River Street in indescribable. Franklin Square can
with difficulty be distinguished. The sign over the door of the Troy City Bank
is still standing, and the vault appears to be intact. All the valuables was
removed from the building before the fire approached.
The fire was stopped in River Street, at the pork store of C. Warner & Co.
On the other side of River Street the flames were checked in Greenman's
furniture store, and the Museum Building was this saved. The Read and Osgood
steamers were stationed at this spot all the afternoon, and checked the flames.
James Knibbs, engineer of the Read, received a message from his wife that his
house was in danger. His only reply was: "Let it burn � the city needs my
services and I must stay here." The company have raised between $100 and
$200 to partially reimburse him. The steamers worked until early morning
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1864
1864 he applies and is granted a patent for his invention. He applies it to another steam engine.
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1870
James can be seen at the 1870 census living at Troy, Rensselaer, Ney York, USA:
James KNIBBS 43 Engineer England
Rhoda KNIBBS 43 New York
Joseph KNIBBS 19 Machinist New York
William H KNIBBS 9 New York
Martha B KNIBBS 5 New York
Value of Real Estate $3,000
Value of Personal Estate $600
Locality: 13-WD TROY M593-Roll: 1084 Page: 352 State: NY
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1878

There is a picture of him and several pages of written information in Arthur Weise's book, "Troy Firemen and Fires" This book was written in 1878.
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1880
From the 1880 Federal Census for Troy, Rensselaer, New York, we can see James, aged 53, an Engineer, living with his wife Emma aged 29, and two of his children, Martha aged 16 and William aged 19. William is also listed as an engineer. They were all living at 66 North 3rd Street.
Surname First Age Relation Occupation Born Father Mother
Knibbs James 53 Head Engineer England England England
Knibbs Emma 29 Wife Keeping House New York England New York
Knibbs William 19 Son Engineer New York England New York
Knibbs Martha 16 Daughter At Home New York England New York
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1883
From the New York Times, Saturday 31 March, 1883
DECISION RELATING TO FIRE-ENGINES:
Boston March 30 - Judge Lowell has rendered a decision on the bills of complaint of the cities of Concord, Dover, Portsmouth, Manchester and Nashua against Marcus P Norton. Trustee and others in the United States Court. The complainant cities sought to restrain the defendants from prosecuting certain suits for damages for the use of an improvement in steam fire engines known as the Knibbs patent. The court refuses the injunction prayed for saying that it cannot undertake to decide upon the validity of the patent or restrain the present case at law unless some purely equitable defense is made out which would not be equally available at that action.

From the New York Times, Friday 4 May, 1883:
The Knibbs valve suits against four of the cities of New Hampshire are to be tried at Portsmouth next week. and an old steam fire engine, to be used in evidence, has been taken there from Vermont. The engine has been in existence since 1859 and is said to contain an arrangement covering the principle of Knibbs's patent, this antedating it.

From the New York Times, Thursday 26 July, 1883: (General Notes)
It has cost the New Hampshire cities $20,000 to contest successfully the Knibbs valve suits, and the city council of Dover asks an itemized bill.

From the New York Times, Sunday 23 December, 1883
A PATENT SUIT DECIDED.
Boston, Mass, Dec 22. - In the United States Circuit Court today before Judge Nelson in the patent suit of Marcus P Norton and another against the city of Boston, which has been on trial for several days, the jury returned a verdict for the defendant. This was an action to recover $450,000 for an infringement of what is known as the Knibbs patent for improvement in steam and fire engines, consisting of a short pipe and valves which control and regulate the supply and discharge of water in the hose. This is a case of great importance to all cities and towns using steam fire engines, as it was the first of a series of suits for the recovery of royalty on the Knibbs valve which the jury has declared by its verdict to have been antedated.

From the Philadelphia Ledger, December 25, 1883
THE KNIBBS VALVE PATENT SUITS
It is expected that the old Philadelphia, the first steam fire engine which was recently taken to Boston as evidence in an important patent suit against that city, will be returned to its owners, the Insurance Patrol, to-day or to-morrow. The suit was by Marcus P> Norton and others, Assignees of James Knibbs of Troy, N.Y., who claimed to hold the original patent for a relief valve, which was extensively used upon its steam fire engines by the city of Boston and elsewhere throughout the country. In the former city alone royalties claimed by the plaintiffs amount to $450,000. The part taken in the case by the old engine Philadelphia was interesting. It seems from a statement of those who accompanied her to Boston that she was wanted to prove that the valve, for which the complainants claimed the patent right, had been used on her two or more years before the patent was issued. During the trial the court and jury adjourned to the Boston Commons to witness a practical demonstration of the working of the valve of the old engine with that of one of the latest construction. The result, it said, was amazing, as the old engine, which many feared could not stand the strain, threw a larger stream with two pieces of hose than the other did with one. The valves, it was stated, were shown to be the same, to the satisfaction of the jury, and a verdict for the city of Boston was rendered on Saturday last. Among those who testified with reference to the valve of Philadelphia was Jacob Neaffie, builder of the engine and member of the firm of Neaffie & Levy; Joseph L. Parry, the designer: Richard Warren, an engineer of the present Fire Department, and George Kurtz, the original engineer of the Philadelphia, who conducted the practical test at the trial, and who managed the engine over 20 years ago, when her usefulness was exhibited in the city of Boston, near the same spot, and a prize of $600 won.
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1890
James appears in the 1890 Troy, New York City Directory with the following entry:
Name: James Knibbs
Location: house 2194 Sixth Avenue
Occupation: supt. fire alarm tel.
City: Troy
State: NY
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1891
The following is an excerpt from Troy's One Hundred Years 1789-1889, compiled by Arthur James Weise, M. A., and published in 1891 by William H. Young of 7-9 First Street in Troy:
"Arba Read Steam Fire Engine Company, No. 1, informally organized in November, 1859; constitution and by-laws adopted December 19th; first officers elected January 9th, 1860. First engine received March 28th, that year. The engine-house, next north of the present [i. e., 1891] one, on the north-west corner of Third and River streets, was built in 1860; the present one was erected in 1875. The "law relating to the establishment and organization of a steam fire company of the city of Troy," passed by the Common Council, February 16th, 1860, designated the members of the Arba Read Steam Fire Engine Company, No. 1, as firemen of the city, limiting them to sixty persons. On May 24th, 1860, a span of black horses was purchased for the company. On January, 1862, the trustees transferred the apparatus and property to the city. James KNIBBS was appointed engineer of the company February, 1860, which position he filled until December 1st, 1863."
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1891
From the Galveston Daily News, (Houston, TX) September 06, 1891:

Mr. Knibbs, the Millionaire.
NEW YORK, Sept 5.- The chief of Troy fire department, James Knibbs, inventor of the relief valve for fire engine pumps, won his suit against the city of New York for using his device since 1864. The amount in nearly $2,250,000. Five hundred similar cases are pending against other cities in the United States, involving $15,000,000, all of which Knibbs will probably win.
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1895
From the Olean Democrat 12 April 1895, New York
GREAT PATENT CASE. What is probably the largest patent case ever known in the courts of this country is being conducted by Judge Hadlock, the Boston lawyer. The case is that of Christopher C Campbell, assignee in trust, against the city of New York, for alleged infringement of patent, and the amount involved is $15,000,000. Up to the present time about $200,000 has been spent in litigation,. It has been in the courts for nearly 20 years. In 1864 a patent was granted to James Knibbs for a valve controlling water pressure in fire and other steam engines, and this valve has since come to be used wherever steam fire engines are in service. - Boston Journal

From the Post Standard, Syracuse, New York, Friday December 16 1904
Decision in New York City Suit is Far Reaching - CASE IN COURTS 30 YEARS.
Brought by Knibbs Heirs for Alleged Infringement by Patent of Device Employed on Fire Engines
A decision handed down yesterday by the United States Circuit Court of Appeals relieves the city of Syracuse for liability of an infringement upon the Knibbs churn valve, which Chief John P Quigley of the Fire Department said last night, is an appliance found on every fire engine in use.
The suit has been in the courts nearly 30 years and involved more than $15,000,000. It became known as the "Campbell Patent Suit" and was brought against the city of New York in 1877 by the heirs of Knibbs, an engineer in the Troy Fired Department, inventor of the appliance. The device was adopted by the New York city fire department in 1865 and soon after in almost every other large city where steam fire engines were in use.
The decision is in favor of the defendant.
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1897
From a document headed Landmarks of Rensselear County, by George B Anderson, published 1897, Syracuse, N.Y.:
Knibbs, James, was born in England, October 5, 1827, and is a son of Joseph and Anna (Bennett) Knibbs who came to this country in 1840 and sett1ed in Albany. His father was for thirty years janitor of the Albany Medical College. He died in 1874 and his wife died in 1884. James was educated in the common schools and came to Troy in 1848 and learned the machinist's trade in Starbuck Bros. shop in Troy, and worked at his trade until 1860, when he became connected with the Arba Reed Steamer Company. He took charge of the engine until 1888, when be was appointed superintendent of the Troy Fire Alarm telegraph, which position he has since held. He is a member of Mount Zion Lodge F. &A.M., of which he is a past master, of Apollo Chapter. Bloss Council, Apollo Commandery, and is also a member of the Masonic Veteran Association, and is the present treasurer. He has held all the offices in Athenian Lodge of Odd Fellows and in the Encampment and is the present treasurer of both bodies. In 1850 he married Rhoda A. Harvey of Troy who died in 1876. His present wife is Emma Laws of Cohoes, whom he married in 1879. Mr. Knibbs has one son and one daughter by his first wife, viz.: William H., who is in the drug business at Stillwater and Mrs. Frank B. Marks, of Elmira, N. Y.
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1900
From the 1900 census Vol 220 ED 71, Sheet 2 line 96:
James Knibbs b. Oct 1827 age 72, married 22 years (m. 1878) born in England, mother and father born in England, Year of Immigration 1840, 60 yr. in US, Naturalized, Superintendant (Fire Alarm), Owns house, free of mortgage. Grand St, 84.
Married to Emma Knibbs v. Dec 1850, age 49, born in NY, mother & father born in Virginia.

In 1900, the address may be 68 Grand St.:
Knibbs, James, Head, born Oct 1827, age 72, married 22 years, self and parents born in England, immigrated in 1840, illegible scribble in the citizenship column, occupation: "Supt (Fire Alarm)", able to read, write, and speak English, owns his house free of a mortgage.
Knibbs, Emma, Wife, born Dec 1850, age 49, married 22 years, 0 children, born in New York (state), parents born in Virginia, able to read, write, and speak English, no occupation.
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1900
From The New York Times, December 13, 1900:
CITY AS AN INFRINGER
a judgment has been entered against the City of New York for $818,074.82, with interest from May 14, 1897, being the amount of damages awarded the trustee of the successor of the assigneeof an inventor named KNIBBS for the use by the city of a device applicable to steam fire engines. The patent to KNIBBS was granted in May, 1864, and is very much broader in its scope than The present rules of the Patent Office would permit. The invention is undoubtedly useful. It consists of a relief valve in the discharge nozzle of the pump by which the water discharged, when impelled under greater treasure than the hose will carry, opens a clog-pass for itself and is returned to the suction pipe. The object of the device was to permit any of the streams discharged by a steam-fire engine to be cut off without interfering with the other streams, or bringing an undue strain upon the hose linen. It was undoubtedly a useful improvement in attachments for power pumps;
The same result could be reached by a dozen mechanical devices wholly different from that used. Mr. KNIBBS'S patent was drawn, as to its tint claim, to cover the principle of the invention, independent of the specific means by which the result was attained. Such a claim would be impossible of allowance under the rules of practice now enforced, and a patent which should contain such a claim would not be sustained by the courts. Nothing is better established in Patent Office practice than that an inventor is entitled to his invention; That to
establish his invention he must show a. way of attaining the result described, and that if he wants to cover other means he must take out other patents.
The principle underlying the invention of KNIBBS was applied to all steam fire engines as a necessary detail of construction. In this way it was adopted and used by the New York Fire Department. Suits fo recover what the owners of the patent alleged to be due them were begun in 1877. The details of the litigation are unimportant. In 1897 a decision sustaining the patent was obtained. and a Master appointed to determine the amount of profits. Those for whom it has interest will find it indexed as CAMPBELL vs. The Mayor, &c., 28 Blatchford, 67, 9 Fed. Rep. 500; 47 Fed. Rep., 515. The. Master, after a critical examination, reported that the city had profited by the use of the invention to the amount of $28,886 This was probably fair and just - it was certainly liberal. It probably represented a good many times what the inventor would have been extremely glad to take for the local rights, but that is of no consequence. Exceptions were taken by both parties. These exception, were argued before Judge WHEELER in the United State Circuit Court for the Southern District of New York. who, on the 14th of May, 1897, rendered a decision to the effect that, by the use of KNIBBS�S device, the city had saved $183,394.32 in hose,
$28,336 in machinists� wages, and over $606,344 in salaries of men. The sum of these colossal economies, $818,074.32, was the award. This Judgment. though rendered three and a half years ago, has just been entered. Interest and costs will bring the amount for which the city stands as a judgment debtor well over a million dollars.
It is not the province of a newspaper to review the opinion of so learned a jurist as Mr. Justice WHEELER. We may respectfully suggest, however, in the language of Solon Shingle, that $818,074.32 "is a lot of money," especially when rounded out with costs and interest for
three and a half years. The lay mind is incapable of appreciating the judicial acumen which is capable of weighing economies practiced on so large a scale in a balance so delicate as to determine a saving in the item of hose alone of $183,394.32 during a period of fifteen years and four months.We think the award of the Master, $28,336 was extremely liberal, and that the representative, of the city were warranted in
taking exception to it as excessive. Had it been sustained it would have been abundantly compensatory to the owners of the patent, who long ago extinguished the rights of the inventor in the outcome of the suit against. New York when $10,000 was accepted from the City of Troy for the local right of use, we incline to the belief that the United States Circuit Court of Appeals will promptly reverse Judge WHEELER and confirm the report of the Master. The maintenance of a Fire Department is not a gainful occupation for the city. It is extremely doubtful if any of the theoretical economies discovered by Judge WHEELER were, or could be realized. It would be equitable for the city to pay an
amount representing a fair royalty upon the device claimed in KNIBBS�S patent, and then to recover the same from the companies building steam fire engines which appropriated the device without license and embodied it in their
constructions.

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1901
April 17,1901
New York Times
James Knibbs

KNIBBS, James. The funeral of James Knibbs, late superintend of the Fire Alarm telegraph system, was held this afternoon from the family residence of 34 Grand St.,Rev. R.D. Williamson of the United Presbyterian Church officiating. The obsequies were largely attended, delegations from the Masonic bodies, The Odd Fellows and the Fire Department being present. Here were beautiful floral tributes from friends and organizations. Apollo Commandery sent a facsimile of its badge. Mount Zion Lodge F. and A.M., gave a Masonic emblem Floral piece. The Read Steamer Company presented a facsimile of it's badge and appropriate pieces sent by Athenian Lodge and the Encampment. In addition to these pieces there were numerous floral tributes from many friends. The Empire Male Quartet, including Ben Franklin, Ed Humphrey, Fred C. Comstock and James Laing sang at the house and at the grave. At the residence the selections were " Lead Kindly Light" and, "Abide With Me," At the grave the quartet sang in the Masonic burial service " O Solemn Strikes the Funeral Chapel and " My heavenly Home" The Bearers were Frank C. Morey and Melvin S. Marble, representing Mount Zion Lodge. Assistant Chief James H. Loyd and John N. Squires , representing the Fire department and Charles F. Hilke and George L. Harger, representing Athenian Lodge. And W.W. Lee and George M. Payfer, representing the Encampment, M[?].O.O.F. The Masonic burial service was conducted at the grave in Oakwood cemetery under the direction of Mr. Master Anaon R. Thompson. Delegations from the Masonic and Odd Fellows bodies and from the companies of the fire department were present at the grave. The members of the Arba Read Steamer Company, of which the deceased was an organizer and it's first engineer attend the funeral. At a meeting of the company last evening a committee was named to draft revolutions of respect. The captains of the fire Department met and decided to send delegations from each company to the funeral. (from The Troy Times, April 17, 1901
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KNIBBS, James. James Knibbs, Superintendent of the Troy (NY) fire alarm system and for many years engineer of the Arba Read Steamer Company in that city, died at his home there yesterday. He was stricken with paralysis a few days ago. Mr. Knibbs was born in England in 1823 and came to this country in 1840. He was twice married, his second wife surviving him. His only son died several years ago. Mr. Knibbs was very prominent in Masonic and Odd fellows circles, but was best known throughout the country by his invention of what is known as the "Knibbs Run Around" This is an attachment to steam fire engines which prevents a waste of water and saves the hose and suction pipes. " The Run Around " was utilized almost everywhere, and by the advice of counsel he brought suits against many municipalities. Many of the latter settled for large sums, but the City of New York defended the action. Recently a verdict was given in the United states court for nearly $1,000,000 in the favor of the persons to whom Mr. Knibbs assigned his invention. One of these is ex-collector of customs Thomas Murphy of New York. (from The New York Times, April 17,1901).

NOTE: As welll as his year of birth, there is one inaccurate part to this. He had a second son named William H. alive at the time of his death.
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He was a member of the Mont Zion Lodge and was buried at Oakwood Cemetery, Troy, New York, USA.
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James died at 6:40 a.m. at his home, 84 Grand Street at the age of 73. He'd been in poor health for the two previous years.