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Revision as of 13:35, 30 September 2012
Knox, one of the four Albany County, NY Hilltowns or Helderberg Hilltowns is in the northwest part of Albany County. The other Hilltowns are Berne, Westerlo, and Rensselaerville.
The population was 2,647 at the 2000 census.
Description
Maps
Numerous maps have been found, some dating back 250 years. Click here for more information.
History
Knox's History appears in many publications. Click here for more information.
Military History
From the beginning residents of Knox have served in the military. Click here for more information.
Family Histories and Genealogy
Farms and Lots
Historic Homes
Churches
Churches played a major role in the lives of Knox residents. Click here for more information.
Cemeteries
From 1936 through 1940 William A. Brinkman, Historian, Town of Guilderland, compiled a list of the cemeteries and family burying grounds in the Town of Knox. He missed one or two, or maybe a few. Click here for more information
Schools
Knox had 15 one-room schools before the joined the Berne-Knox-Westerlo district. Click here for more information.
Organizations
Organizations in Knox were an important part of town life. Click here for more information.
Businesses
Knox businesses thrived for generations. Click here for more information.
Hamlets and Communities
Knox has had many hamlets, but most have disappeared. Click here for more information.
Photo Gallery
Post Cards and Photos of Knox are grouped in this section. Many of the pictures appear in individual stories. Click here for more information.
External Links
External Links to other web sites can bring you to valuable sources of information. Click here for more information.External Links to other web sites can bring you to valuable sources of information. Click here for more information.
Posting Tips and Tricks is a new project that needs your help.
Geography and Demographics
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 41.9 square miles.
The west town line is the border of Schoharie County, and the north town line is the border of Schenectady County.
Knox Maps
Click here for Knox Maps
Knox Visitor Attractions and Facilities
Like all of the Albany hill towns, Knox is known for its natural beauty: pastoral rural countryside, rolling hills, meandering creeks, waterfalls, forest land.
- Knox visitor attractions and facilities
- Proposals for town of Knox, farmers and businesses to enhance visitor experiences.
Upcoming events
Upcoming events are listed on the following pages:
- Upcoming events for visitors who want to know what is coming up when they "Head for the Hills."
- Upcoming Events of Special Interest to Hill Town Residents
History
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 Knox central-large web.jpg 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.
Farms
- Current Farms - Knox visitor attractions and facilities has a listing of current farms, farm activities, and where to buy farm products.
- Historical Farms - The purpose of this section is to tell the story of each farm from the first homesteader to the present. Each farm is named after the first known owner.
Van Rensselaer Lots Farms are in order by Van Rensselaer Knox Lot number which tells approximately (and often precisely) which grid on Beers 1866 map of Knox the farm is located.
Barns - Knox has a number of New World Dutch Barns. They are unique among American farm buildings. Its clean and logical structural system was derived from medieval European timber framing, and the availability of massive timbers from the virgin American forests allowed the barn builders to attain a scale and elegance that we still marvel at today. Dutch Barns were predominant from the mid-17th century to the early 19th century in the Colony of New Netherland. This was the area first settled by the Dutch and Palatine Germans, what is now northern New Jersey, and the Hudson, Mohawk, and Schoharie Valleys, and western Long Island in New York State. Hundreds of Dutch Barns still survive. Many are well known and have been studied and photographed by members of the Dutch Barn Preservation Society. The Towns of Berne and Knox are fortunate to have a number of Dutch style barns all built over two centuries ago. Whether the carpenters were Dutch, or Germans building in the Dutch style, has yet to be determined. The Dutch Barn Preservation Society has more information on historical importance of Dutch Barns.
- William Shultes Barn is in West Berne just before the Berne town line.
- Jacob Sholtes Barn on Lot 629, Rock Road.
- Knox Dutch Barn Tour 2009
Deeds / Leases:
Historic Homes
Tell the story of each historic home, when it was built, who lived there, additions, remodeling
Family History and Stories
Unlike the chapters in the proposed books on family history that will be written by individual researchers, the data in this section will be entered by anyone who knows something about the family. Within each section entries are organized alphabetically. Add links to the farms where your ancestors lived, and links to the homes they lived in. Pictures are encouraged. Families - Family history that focus on the family units that lived in the town, telling where they came from, what they did while here, when and why they left, and where they went. If history is for a particular family unit within a family surname, the index should be last name then first name.
Biographies - Over the past two hundred plus years countless people have made Knox their home. One of the best part of Helderberg Hilltowns is the ability to view and enter biographies of it's citizens from the past. Please join us in expanding this section by creating a biography that is not already written or adding to one that is already posted. Below you will find a link to biographies thus far for Knox. To view all biographies for the hilltowns click on 'Biographies' on the main menu.
Stories - Family stories organized by last name then first name.
Genealogy - Family genealogical charts organized by families
