Ellen, I have recently gone back to work full time. I am adjusting to the lack of free time. I know you have been doing significant research on this line. One thought I had and have never pursued is that since John Knowles was a mariner and the name knowles was in VA and maybe in Barbados ( I seem to remember someone mentioning that to me) that perhaps he was from there AND then met someone and or decided to settle in New England .... .............just a way out thought. jane knowles lindsey