History

Links to Histories for other Hilltowns are HERE.

The Town of Knox was established in 1822 from part of the Berne.

Early Settlement - Scoharie was settled by Palatine Refugees 1712 from what is now Germany. The earliest settlers of what is now Knox were both newer Palatine arrivals who found that the land in the Schoharie Valley was already taken, and early settlers who either could not get clear title too their land, or did not (or could not) pay the price. At that time, the wilderness land to the east in what is Knox could be had for the taking.

Settlement began before 1740. At that time it was called Helleberg (various spellings). The settlers were actually squatters, since in the 18th and most of the 19th centuries, Knox was part of the Rensselaerwyck estate. The head of the Van Rensselaer family was the Patroon who owned all the land on which the tenants in the Hudson Valley lived, and used feudal leases to maintain control of the region. Before the Revolutionary War, the patroons acted as feudal lords, with the right to make laws.

The Van Renseelaer 1787 survey map shows that occupied lots were irregularly shaped indicating they were all settled by squatters before the survey. Here is a

to a portion of the map. The main east west wagon road goes from Altamont to Schoharie. The wagon road to the south from the center goes to Thompson's Lake. Vacant lots are rectangular and of 120 acres each.

1846 Historical Collections of the State of New York - Brief Mention

1860 French's Gazetteer of the State of New York

1870 Child's Gazetteer: History of Knox

1870 Child's Gazetteer: Residents of Knox

1884 Altamont Enterprise: History of Knox

1886 Tenney and Howell: History of Knox

1897 Amasa Parker: History of Knox

Sesquicentennial History Article

1820 - 1860 Census Index

1932 Altamont Enterprise: Village History

1934 - Knox is Smallest Town in County of Albany - Altamont Enterprise - October 12, 1934

1934 - Altamont Enterprise: School Essay Winner - Helderberg History - October 19, 1934

1936 - Albany Evening News: Rural Albany County - October 15, 1936

Travel

Knox: Planting and Harvesting Photos

1960 The Beautiful Helderbergs: History of Area - Altamont Enterprise – August 19, 1960

Anti-Rent Wars: The residents of Knox were active participants in the Anti-Rent Wars.