The origin of the name Kniffen is unknown and has been the subject of much debate. My father-in-law, Hazen Kniffen, always said that the Kniffens were Pennsylvania Dutch which he believed meant Dutch where in fact we now know that it actually means German. The Dutch in Pennsylvania Dutch being a corruption of Deutsch which is the German language word for German. It has been said that our branch of Kniffens came to Canada by way of Germantown, Pennsylvania.

Max Sniffen "speculated" that the name originated in Kniveton, Derbyshire, England because of the similarity in the spelling of the first known Kniffen name which had also been spelled Knifton. Since Max was one of the earliest published researchers of the name he was considered to be something of an authority on the subject and has been quoted repeatedly in many documents and by subsequent researchers as if it were fact when in fact there is no supporting evidence to make it so and he has clearly suggested it as a possible area for further research.

Ancestry.com suggests that Kniffen is a derivative of Kneuven which is a Dutch or North German name. No other explanation given.

There have been other imaginitive explanations for the variation in the spelling from Knifton to Kniffen to Kniffin to Sniffen and Sniffin and even Snuffene. I have also seen Niffen, Niffin and Niffon. It seems endless but such variations over the centuries are not uncommon especially when one considers the fact that many people were quite illiterate a century or more ago.

The only factual evidence is in official documentation such as census records. Canadian census records, especially older ones, have tended to record the ethnic origin as German although I have also seen English and Scottish. There is an 1850s New York immigration document for a father and son named Kniffen who had arrived directly from Germany. Since finding this direct link to Germany I have discovered many more on Ancestry and on the LDS web site, so for sure the name comes from Germany but possibly from other countries too.

When one examines old documents and maps for where the Kniffens have lived one can see that most of their neighbours were Dutch, German or English and this repeats itself across the country as our branch moved as a result of war or the quest for better land. They actually appear to have moved almost as communities as the same name groupings repeat themselves in New York, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Michigan.

If memory serves me correctly Max Sniffen's research uncovered three Kniffen brothers living in Rye, Westchester County, New York in the early 1600s. My own research has revealed a Kniffen first mentioned in Stratford, Connecticut who then moved to the town of Rye, Westchester, New york. There are many references to Kniffens in Rye and it is my belief that all North American Kniffens can probably trace their roots to Rye.

The oldest proven Kniffen in my wife's line is George (Thomas) Kniffen of Woodhouse Township, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada who is said to have been born in New York c.1775. Data prior to George is, to the best of my knowledge, unproven. My father-in-law, Hazen Kniffen, always said that his great, great, grandfather was born in a tent where Times Square is. That would make him George Thomas Kniffen b.1775. According to Georgia Painter, Port Dover, Ontario (Kniffen descendant) this branch of Kniffens were United Empire Loyalists. The last time I met Georgia she took me to her daughter's home which stands on what once was one of the Kniffen farms at the Halfway House Corner. George Kniffen is known to have married in Digby, Nova Scotia so may have been a loyalist but I have yet to find the connection between him and the rest of the Nova Scotia Kniffens, many of whom were United Empire Loyalists. I have found several different Kniffen branches in Nova Scotia and am slowly putting the puzzle together. I think that I may be able to link some of them to George Knifton but not yet to my George Kniffen.

The Loyalists were war refugees who sacrificed their homes and belongings to retain their loyalty to the British Crown during the American War of Independence (1775-1783). They were from all walks of life and of many different ethnic backgrounds. Of the 80,000 Loyalists who fled the colonies, about half either journeyed by ship to the Maritimes or travelled north through the wilderness to parts of Quebec and to what is now Ontario. It is estimated that between four and six million Canadians or about one-fifth of the population can trace their lineage to a Loyalist ancestor. The next generation fought in the War of 1812, ensuring that Canada remained British.

The Township of Digby was named in honour of Rear Admiral Robert Digby who, in the spring of 1783, dispatched HMS Atalanta to convey loyalists from New York City to Conway, which became known as Digby, Digby County.

Various references and maps show a number of Kniffen families living in the Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia and some are specifically mentioned in Clements, New Albany, Bear River and Digby with other Kniffen females marrying into families in Amherst and on Digby Neck. Families such as Rice, Purdy and Haines for example. As yet no one has been able to connect George to any of these families.

A 1776 map showing the location of Westchester County.
Essentially the North American Kniffen starting point .

Kniffen links from Rye, Westchester County, New York to Nova Scotia.

"HISTORY OF RYE" c. 1870

I. George Kniffen, of Stratford, Conn., in 1666 bought a house and land in Rye from John Budd senior; 'the house being situated in the town formerly called Hastings.' (Probate Records Fairfield Co.) At the same time probably he acquired proprietary rights which continued in his family as long as the corporation subsisted. He was 'propownded for freeman' of the colony in 1670, his name appearing as 'George Snuffene, of Ry.' (Conn. Rec., vol. ii, p. 128.) His 'house-lot, laid out in 1678' seems to have been situated where his descendant Jonathan Sniffen now (1870) lives. He died in 1694. A son, Joseph, and a daughter who married John Stoakman, are known. Five others of the name are presumed to be his sons: Ebenezer, Jonathan, George, Nathan and Samuel.

II. George (2), mentioned 1705-1718, is alluded to as early as 1687, his father then calling himself senior. In 1705 Deliverance Brown, senior, sold to George Kniffen four or five acres in the Great Swamp. This locality was between Ridge Street and Regent Street, south of the road to Park's mill. There 'the Kniffens' owned land long after.

III. George (3), perhaps a son of George Kniffen (2), in 1712-1717 bought land on Brush Ridge, and called himself 'George Kniffen of Brushie Ridge'. He afterwards lived on King Street, but by the year 1744 had removed to North Castle, where he died in or before 1750. He left two sons: George and David; and probably Israel.

Of this generation there were several others, probably grandsons of George (1), but whose immediate parentage I cannot ascertain. Andrew Kniffen is mentioned in 1724; Benjamin in 1727; Thomas in 1740; Nehemiah in 1741; Amos in 1744. Thomas lived on Grace Church Street, and was perhaps a son of Joseph (2). Amos Kniffen bought in 1752 the house where Mr. Ezrahiah Wetmore now (1870) lives, with eight acres.

IV. George Kniffen (4), 'eldest son and heir to George Kniffen, late of North Castle, deceased', in 1750 surrendered all interest in the farm at Rye which his father had owned, and where his brother then lived. He probably settled in North Castle.

(It is interesting to note that North Castle was once a part of the town of Rye and also that a George Kniffen from North Castle, N.Y. co-incidentally shows up in Nova Scotia in the same year that his namesake surrendered all interest in the family farm and "probably settled in North Castle".)

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GEORGE(4) KNIFFEN [GEORGE(3), GEORGE(2), GEORGE KNIFTON(1) (KNIFFEN)] was born 1708, and died 1755. He married JOHANNA STUDWELL, daughter of JOSEPH STUDWELL and MARY LYON.

Children of GEORGE KNIFFEN and JOHANNA STUDWELL are:
i. GEORGE(5) KNIFFEN, b. 1734.
ii. ROGER KNIFFEN, b. 1736.

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Muster Roll Data

Co-incidentally George(4) Kniffen had sons George(5) and Roger and a brother David who had a son David. These three names show up in Digby in 1784 as United Empire Loyalists. The above image shows George and Roger on a Muster Roll as "Settling in the Township of Clements". I wonder if this is the George who is married to Hannah and whose farm is shown below on the map of Clements? Does anyone have information on this couple? Could these people possibly be the parents of George Thomas Kniffen b. 1775?

Note: There appears to be a contradiction in data here as George(4) supposedly died in 1755, after his two sons were born but before this reference to Sarah's birth, unless she is the daughter of George(5) which would fit chronologically? However, this does support the George (1) through (4) descendancy into Nova Scotia. Furthermore, if George(4) arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750 and his sons in 1784 that means when he left North Castle he left behind his sons aged 14 and 16, unless of course these later immigrants are not his sons despite having the same names. Below is another reference to the same George(4) showing three daughters, one of whom is Sarah. Is the date of death wrong?

30 July 1784, Annapolis, Nova Scotia. Muster Roll for Clements.
(From the History of Digby County)

George is noted as being a civilian, single and as having descendants living in Nova Scotia around 1900. However another 1784 Muster Roll reference suggests that George brought a family with him and that Roger was single:

The numbers after the names refer to, in order, men, women, children above 10 (years of age), children under 10, servants above 10, and servants under 10; next comes description (I assume "D.S." means "discharged soldier" and "D.O." means "discharged officer"); then location where person/family settled. "Moose River" later became Clementsport. Annapolis, Granville, Wilmot and Clements would refer to the townships.

KNIFFEN, George 1,1,3,1 Loyalist Clements (Could the youngest child be George b. 1775?)
KNIFFEN, Roger 1 Loyalist Clements

Bartholomew Haines and wife Gloranah Kniffen
moved to the town of Freeport at the extreme
south end of Long Island, Digby Neck and are
recorded as Pioneer Loyalists.

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Nova Scotia Immigrants to 1867, Volume 1 By Leonard H. Smith

Kniffen, George. Loyalist; drew shingles Botsford grant. (The Botsford Grant was the original grant of the township of Digby which included much of the present county and Digby Neck.)

Kniffen, George. North Castle, N.Y., 1750; to N.S.

(George Kniffen of North Castle, New York came to Nova Scotia in 1750 and had daughters Sarah, Mercy and Mary, who married into the Rice family.)

Haines, Gloranah . Wife of Bartholomew; daughter of ----- Kniffen; N.Y. to Digby 1783; to Freeport 1784.

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Excerpt from US newspaper states "There set sail out of North River on the 28 day of Nov. 1783 one Bartholemew Haines , his young wife and small children. On the 9th day of the following month they landed at Digby, Nova Scotia. Stayed there until April, whence they moved on to Long Island, N.S. and landed at what is now Freeport."

Extract from C. W. Bairds " History of Rye, 1871:-Bartholemew Hains. He was a Loyalist in the Revolution, and with 100 others signed a petition to be true and loyal to George 3rd at Rye NY"

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"Proprieters of Land on Long Island circa 1787"

"A list of Proprietors of land on Long Island in the Township of Digby, County of Annapolis, Province of Nova Scotia
which was drawn by lottery under the inspection of Barthw Hains, Christopher Klingshear and John G Greben,
being duly chosen by the Proprietors of the said Island"

"Proprietors of Farm Lots 100 acres each"

Bartholomew Hains drew Lot number 21. See map below.
It states that lots 1 - 55 were of 100 acres.

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Curiously, in 1775, Gloranah Kniffen had a bastard son by Bartholomew Haines:

"Westchester County }To the Constable of Rye, or any other Constable in the parish of Rye in Said County. Greeting.

WHEREAS Gloriana Kniffin of Rye in Said County Single woman hath by her Examination in writing on Oath before me Gilbert Merritt Esq. one of his Majestys Justices of the peace in and for Said County Declared that on the fourteenth day of July Last past in the Township of Rye aforesaid at her fathers house in Said County the Said Gloriana Kniffen was Delivered of a (Male) Bastard Child, and that the Said Bastard Child is Likly to become Chargeable to the parish of Rye, and Hath Charged Bartholemew Haines of Said Rye Town in Said County farmer with having gotten her with Child of Said Bastard Child and whereas Joshua Purdy and the Churchwardens of Said parish of Rye aforesaid in order to indemi(fied ?)the Said parish of Rye Hath applyed to me to Issue out my warrant for the apprehending the Said Bartholemew Haines I Do therefore hereto Command you or either of you immediately to apprehend the Said Batholomew Haines, and to Bring him before me or Some other of his Majestys Justices of the peace of Said parish of Rye to find Sufficient Surties for his appearence at the next General Sessions to be held in Said County then and there to abide and perform Such order or orders as Shall be made in the premises and to be Dealt with according to Law - Given under my hand and Seal this Sixtennth day of October A. D. 1775 and in the fifteenth year of his Majestys Reign

Gilbert Merritt"

Gloranah Kniffen is said to be the daughter of Jonathan Kniffen and Rachel Brown of Rye, Westchester, New York, United States. She was born 19 September, 1754 and died 1799 in Nova Scotia, Canada.

Spouse: Bartholomew Haines, born in Rye, Westchester, New York on 16 September, 1750 and died in 1799 in Nova Scotia.

They were married 18 February, 1776.

Children:
Martha Hains .......... 1777
James Hains ............ 1778 - 1858
Nicholas Haines ....... 1780
Bartholomew Hains . 1782
Robert Hains ........... 1784
Mary Eliza Haines ... 1786 - 1847
Thomas Haines ........ 1789 - 1865
Charles Hains .......... 1791
John Haines ............ 1794
Sophia Hains ........... 1798

The plot thickens as there is no mention of the bastard son in this family list. Could he be our missing link? What became of this child?
Was he raised by Gloranah's parents?

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Tamar Kniffen b. 6 Jul 1754 in White Plains, Westchester, New York d. Sep 1843 in Fort Lawrence, Cumberland Co., m. Henry Purdy b: 27 Jan 1745 in White Plains, Westchester, New York on 16 Feb 1773 in White Plains, Westchester Co., NY

The third son, and fourth child, of Samuel Purdy and Winifred Griffin, Henry Purdy UE, approximate age 30 in 1776, joined the Loyalist cause during the American Revolution. Henry Purdy UE (27 June 1745 or 7 February 1746, Westchester County, Province of New York - 20 July 1826, Nova Scotia) married Tamer Sniffen or Kniffen on 16 February 1773. In 1775 Henry Purdy signed "an Association with the Rebels, but this he did to remain quiet, and with the approbation of Governor Tryon. He was once drafted into the [Patriot] Militia, but hired a Man in his place." In October 1776, when the British army came to White Plains, he joined them, serving with the Guides and Pioneers and DeLancey's Refugees, taking an oath to the King of Great Britain in January 1777. He was commissioned on 04 February 1780 as a Captain of a Company of Light Infantry under Colonel James DeLancey.

Captain Henry Purdy UE is listed in Cumberland County, Nova Scotia, "Westchester Loyalists: October 15, 1784 Return" as follows: "Name: Purdy, Henry; Men: 1; Women: 1; Children: 3; Servants: 1; Remarks: Captain. As a Loyalist, he received 150 acres at Fort Lawrence, Nova Scotia, in 1785 and 400 acres in 1788. The 2 November 1786 Petition of Captain Henry Purdy UE is recorded in Loyalist Settlements 1783-1789: New Evidence of Canadian Loyalist Claims.

"American Loyalist Claims" Vol 1

Children of LEWIS KNIFFEN and TAMAR MILLER are:
i. BETHIA KNIFFEN, b. 1742; d. 1760.
ii. MARY KNIFFEN, b. 1744.
iii. SUSANNAH KNIFFEN, b. 1747.
iv. TAMAR KNIFFEN, b. July 06, 1754; m. HENRY PURDY, February 16, 1773.

Notes for HENRY PURDY:
Henry Purdy was born 1745. He died on 20 Jul 1826 in Fort Lawrence, Nova Scotia. He moved to Fort Lawrence, Nova Scotia. Henry Purdy was a Loyalist-Nov 1779 was commissioned Lt. in Refugee Militia of Light Infantry of Westchester Co., then as Capt.; left New York June 1783. Memorial 15 Feb. 1786 Halifax. Claim: 44 acres; house, cattle; legacy of 1/4 part of an estate in Westchester Co. He married Tamar Kniffen on 16 Feb 1773 in Rye, Westchester, New York.

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From the History of Annapolis another George(4) child with a Rye, Westchester, New York connection?

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From the foregoing we see that some of our Kniffens traveled to Nova Scotia, Canada as United Empire Loyalists. This is where George and Elizabeth first appear together, on record, having been married 13 August, 1797 in the Trinity Anglican Church in Digby, Nova Scotia. Records also show two Kniffen christenings at this church: Sarah Kniffen 20 December, 1795, residence: Digby, Nova Scotia (No other data shown) and curiously George Kniffin 13 August, 1797, residence also Digby, Nova Scotia (again no other data shown). It has been suggested that George was baptised and married on the same day.

The decades following the arrival of our Kniffens in Nova Scotia were particularly tough and those families that had moved to Upper Canada were sending back reports of very productive farm land and were encouraging others to join them. This may have been the reason that George and Elizabeth left Nova Scotia. We know that they moved west to Ontario, Canada by way of New York (where some of their children were born) and then to Pennsylvania, where again specific data is elusive. Hazen Kniffen always said that his family came from Pennsylvania, and there are Kniffens there. A Kniffen descendant from Norfolk County, Ontario has stated that the Kniffens came to Ontario by way of Germantown, Pennsylvania, but again no proven connections.

Upon arrival in Ontario George and family appear to have settled in Woodhouse Township, Norfolk County just outside of Port Dover joining the "Long Point Settlers" who had preceded them. Kniffen descendants still live in the area. An article that appeared in a Port Dover newspaper published the recollections of the "92 year old granddaughter of George Kniffen" in which she stated that her grandfather was of Dutch/German descent and was 25 years old when he emigrated to Germantown, Pennsylvania and subsequently to Port Dover. Apparently he joined with a group of campers on what is now known as "Radical Road" and remained there until he received a land grant in the area. This, more or less, ties in with the recollections of Hazen Kniffen. Woodhouse Kniffen descendants are known to have moved to Michigan, Manitoba, the Yukon, Alaska, Arizona, British Columbia, North Dakota, Kansas, Florida, California and undoubtedly other States and Provinces. Some took part in the Klondike Gold Rush of 1898 and others fought in WWl with the British Expeditionary Forces.

From these trees we can see a direct link from New York to Nova Scotia and from Nova Scotia to Ontario but somewhere in the late seventeen hundreds there appears to be a disconnect through a missing link, The last person in the first tree and the first person in the other trees all appear to have resided, at the same time, in Digby County, Nova Scotia but a connection has yet to be discovered. This disconnect is co-incidental with the arrival of the Kniffen loyalists from Rye.

The following data is an attempt to record, in writing and photographs, the descendants of George Thomas Kniffen. Descendant lines are recorded vertically and grouped by colour. In some instances there may be several children shown for one individual as may be seen for Thomas L. Kniffen. Each of these has its own line of descent within the same colour grouping. I make general reference to all descendants of George and Elizabeth as being "Norfolk County Kniffens" since, for the purposes of this web site, this was their point of origin. The Kniffens were and are a mobile group and may be shown in several Provinces or States as this web site developes. In the near future I hope to include the family tree to the extent that I have recorded it.

Submitted by Florence (Wride) Kniffen

Submitted by Sheryl Sheaffer