Witnesses to the marriage were James Knibbs and Elizabeth Gammage. James may have been John's uncle or his cousin, but Elizabeth we know was John's 1st cousin. John had acted as a witness to Elizabeth's marriage to John Gammage a couple of years earlier.

Thomas FARDON, father of Ann FARDON and grandfather of John was b.c.1757 a Quaker but was baptised into the C of E Deddington 26 Jun 1777 - An Adult Baptism at the age of 20. He was an Ironmonger and Clockmaker of Deddington. He installed the clock, (made by an Oxford Co.), in the parish church in 1833, and still in place today. One very ordinary looking wall clock made by Thomas and his brother, John is currently for sale in Guildford for �4,650.00.

In his will, signed 5 Sep 1836, he bequeathed "....the payment of the Sum of Ten pounds to each of my grandchildren John KNIBBS and Mary TOWN the same to be paid to them respectively as soon as conveniently may be after my demise" Further on in the will: "....the payment of the sum of Eighty pounds which I give and bequeath to my said Grandchildren John KNIBBS and Mary TOWN the said sum to be equally divided between them share and share alike and to be paid to them respectively or their respective Executors or Administrators by my said Grandson Thomas FARDON within twelve months from the decease of his father John FARDON."

Thomas FARDON (Snr.) died Dec Qtr 1838

His will was proved, London, 24 Apr 1839

His son, John FARDON, John's uncle, died Mar Qtr 1865. So John would have received his second bequest of �40 in 1865/66 although we believe his sister Mary Town had died before that time.
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John Knibbs, probably in the very late 1800's. Click to enlarge
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Listed in the 1841 census for central, South and East Oxfordshire as living at Deddington with his wife Mary Ann, son Richard aged 4 years and son Thomas aged 10 months.
John KNIBBS 33
Mary Ann 31
Richard 4
Thomas 10 months
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Listed in the 1851 Census for Woodstock Union as living with his wife Mary Ann, son Richard and daughters Sarah and Mary Ann, at Tabernacle Square, Deddington:
Deddington, Tabernacle Square:
John KNIBBS 43 Thatcher Deddington
Mary Ann 41 Deddington
Richard 14 Thatchers Labourer Deddington
Sarah 9 Deddington
Mary Ann 7 Deddington
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From the January 1851 entries of the diaries of the Rev. Cotton Risley:
4th January - J. Knibbs came and I paid him his bill for thatching the boys school.

Clearly John was a very versatile man - Town Crier, Ale Taster, Thatcher, as well as General Labourer.__________
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The 1861 census for Oxfordshire & North Berkshire lists John and his wife living at Deddington:
John KNIBBS Head 53 Whitewasher Oxon Deddington
Mary Jane KNIBBS Wife 51 Whitewashers Wife Oxon Deddington
Richard KNIBBS Son 24 Lab at Axle Tree Manufactory Oxon Deddington
Mary Ann KNIBBS Daur 17 Seamstress Oxon Deddington
Sarah KNIBBS Daur 19 Seamstress Oxon Deddngton
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The 1871 census for Oxfordshire and North Berkshire shows John as living at Deddington with his wife and one of his daughters:
John Knibbs abt 1807 Deddington Oxfordshire Head Deddington Oxfordshire
Mary Knibbs abt 1810 Clifton Oxfordshire Wife Deddington Oxfordshire
Sarah Knibbs abt 1842 Deddington Oxfordshire Daughter Deddington Oxfordshire
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In the 1881 census, John appears living at Philcock St, Deddington, Oxfordshire, England
John KNIBBS Head M Male 74 Deddington, Oxford, England General Lab
Mary Ann KNIBBS Wife M Female 70 Deddington, Oxford, England
Mary Ann KNIBBS Daur U Female 37 Deddington, Oxford, England Dressmaker
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In the 1891 Census John is shown as 84 years old, a widower, living as an inmate of the Almshouses in Church Street, Deddington.
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From Jackson's Oxford Journal (Oxford, England), Saturday, November 14, 1891;

Duchy Manor. - On Saturday last the court baron
William Cornwallis Cartwright Esq., of Aynho Park, the Lord of this manor, was held at the town hall, when Mr. Nathanial Stilgoe, of Adderbury, was chosen foreman of the jury. The business transacted was of a routine character. Major Austin was appointed High Bailiff of the parish, in the place of the late Mr. G. Hedges, Mr. W.P. Spiers under-bailiff, and Mr John Knibbs crier. After perambulating the town the company adjourned to the King's Arms Hotel, where a luncheon had been provided by Mrs. B. Whetton. Mr. G Coggin, as Steward of the Manor, presided, and the usual patriotic and complimentary toasts having been duly honoured, the company retired.
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In 1895, we can see John listed in Kelly's Directory of Oxfordshire under the heading "Volunteers":
Town Crier, John Knibbs, Church Lane.
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From Deddington News, March 2000:

IN MEMORIUM in April 1901. 'The late JOHN KNIBBS (died 14 March, aged 94) who lived under FIVE SOVEREIGNS, was for many years, and within a few years of his death, a Member of the Church Choir, which he attended with great regularity as long as his strength and age permitted him. He also acted as Town Crier.'
(JOHN KNIBBS was born in the reign of George III, lived through the reigns of George IV, William IV. Queen Victoria and one month into the reign of Edward VII).
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