Home > Whitmore Knaggs

Whitmore’s parents were George Knaggs, who had been born in London, England, and Rachel Sly who had Dutch parentage. One of at least eight children, he was born in 1763 on his father’s farm by the Maumee River in Ohio. He was educated at home, being taught French, Latin and Dutch by his mother.

He was friendly with the local Indian ( Native American) people, and was appointed a United States Indian Agent in 1781 (some say by George Washington). In July 1784 the headman of the Ottawa nation granted him a tract of land on the Maumee River on which Fort Miami was later built.

On 20 August 1794 he fought with General Anthony Wayne at the Battle of Fallen TimbersThe Battle of Fallen Timbers was a conflict between Native American and United States troops that occurred August 20, 1794 north of the confluence of the Auglaize and Maumee Rivers in western Ohio. The Native American forces were an alliance of Chippewa, against a mixed Canadian and Indian force. He also acted as interpreter.

He moved to Detroit, where his father had opened a trading store, and in 1797Events January 3 The Treaty of Tripoli (a peace treaty between the United States and Tripoli) is signed at Algiers. January 7 The parliament of the Repubblica Cisalpina adopts the Italian Tricolore as official flag: here starts the story of the Flag of It, married Josette Labadie. In 1803Events January 30 Monroe and Livingston sail for Paris to discuss, and possibly buy, New Orleans. They end completing the Louisiana Purchase. February 24 The Supreme Court of the United States, in Marbury v. Madison establishes the principle of judicial r he bought a homestead and farm on the Detroit RiverGrosse Ile Township, Michigan The Detroit River is about 51 km (32 miles) long and 1 to 4 km (0. 5 miles) wide in the Great Lakes system. The name "Detroit" is French for "straits". It flows from Lake St. Clair to Lake Erie. The boundary between Canada an by Knaggs Creek (now disappeared) where he raised five children, and built a windmillA windmill is an engine powered by the energy of wind. It often refers to an engine contained in a large building as in traditional post mills, smock mills and tower mills. It also refers to small tower mounted wind engines used to pump water on farms and. It became a stopping point for Indians of the Ottawa, Chippewa, Pottawatomi and Wabash tribes. Whitmore Knaggs could converse in all these languages.

He was a personal friend of the Indian leader Tecumseh (who was later killed by James Knaggs). In 1805 he was made a Captain in the Michigan Militia, and fought against the British and the Indians in the war of 1812-1815. He was present at the Surrender of Detroit and was taken prisoner by the British, but later released. Later captured by the Shawnee chief George Blue Jacket , he was saved from death by the Wyandotte chief, Jack Brandy .

After the war he resumed his duties as Indian Agent and interpreter, being a signatory to Treaties at Detroit (1807), Brownstown (1808), Maumee (1817), St Mary’s, Ohio (1818), Saginaw (1819) and Chicago (1821). He died on 5 May 1827.

A full history of Whitmore Knaggs, his family and descendents is told in “History of the Knaggs Family of Ohio and Michigan” by Robert B Ross, Detroit, 1902.