Genealogical Sketch of the Elijah Pickrell McKnew and Jane (Whittle) McKnew Family of San Francisco, California

 I have started writing genealogical sketches, and then will write AI-assisted biographies, of my wife's ancestors by ancestral couple, not by individual ancestor.  

Here is the genealogical sketch for Linda's great-grandparents  Elijah Pickrell McKnew (1836-1912) and Jane (Whittle) McKnew (1847-1921) who married in Tuolumne County, California in 1865 and resided in San Francisco, California after 1876.

1)  Elijah Pickrell McKnew's Early Life

Elijah Pickrell McKnew was born on 29 March 1836 in Prince George's, Maryland,[1-3] the second son and fourth child of Jeremiah McKnew (1804-????) and Frances Allethia Pickrell (1810-1845), who married in 1829 in Washington, District of Columbia. The Jeremiah McKnew and Frances Alethia Pickrell family included:

• Jeremiah McKnew, born February 1831, Prince George's, Maryland; married Rosalie B. Taylor, 29 October 1852, Washington, District of Columbia; died 27 March 1860, Washington, District of Columbia.
• Catherine Louisa McKnew, born 18 October 1832, probably Prince George's, Maryland; married Elias Thomas, 9 December 1852, Powhatan, Baltimore, Maryland; died 2 October 1910, Pikesville, Baltimore, Maryland.
• Elizabeth Jane McKnew, born 1835, probably Prince George's, Maryland; married Andrew Aitcheson, 25 August 1853, Laurel, Prince Georges, Maryland; died 1901, Alexandria, Alexandria, Virginia.
• Elijah Pickrell McKnew, born 29 March 1836, Prince George's, Maryland; married Jane Whittle, 12 November 1865, Tuolumne, California; died 4 April 1912, San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
• Benjamin Pickrell McKnew, born 25 December 1840, Prince George's, Maryland; married Diana Houston Aitcheson, 30 Nov 1865, Prince George's, Maryland; died 14 October 1905, Prince George's, Maryland.
• Maria Louise McKnew, born about 1842, probably Prince George's, Maryland; married Peter Aitcheson, 25 December 1866, Prince George's, Maryland; died 1885, Alexandria, Alexandria, Virginia.

Elijah McKnew was not enumerated in the 1850 United States census in the District of Columbia or Maryland, although Jeremiah with his second wife and several children were enumerated in the District.

Elijah McKnew enlisted in the First Dragoon, Company A of the United States Army on 5 January 1855 in Baltimore, Maryland. He deserted from the Army on 20 January 1856.[4]

Elijah came to California before 1860, settled in the Gold country east of Stockton, and likely used his middle name as a last name for some time.

In the 1860 United States Census, Elijah Picrell was enumerated in Township No. 2, Tuolumne County, California.[5] The household included:

• Elijah Picrell - age 26, male, miner, $200 in personal property, born MD.
• Lewis B. Pratt - age 33, male, miner, $200 in personal property, born NY.

2)  Jane Whittle's Early Life

Jane Whittle was born on 2 August 1847 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia,[6-9] the daughter of Alexander Whittle (1818-1853) and Rachel Morley (1821-1861), who married in Bolton-le-Moor, Lancashire, England in 1840, and emigrated to Australia later in 1840. Alexander Whittle and Rachel Morley had the following children:

• Elizabeth Morley Whittle, born 1 June 1839, Bolton-le-Moors, Lancashire, England; married (1) William Baker Ray, 7 March 1855, Calaveras, California; married (2) William Swerer, 8 June 1863, Sonora, Tuolumne, California; died 11 November 1912, Tuttletown, Tuolumne, California.
• William Alfred Whittle was born on 1 March 1842 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. died on 23 December 1842 at the age of 0 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
• Joseph Whittle, born 30 May 1843, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; married Mary Ann Quig, 29 October 1868, Angels Camp, Calaveras, California; died 7 October 1886, Angels Camp, Calaveras, California.
• John Whittle was born on 26 August 1845 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. He was christened on 19 October 1845 at St. James Church in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. He died before 1852 at the age of 7 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
• Jane Whittle, born 2 August 1847, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; married Elijah Pickrell McKnew, 12 November 1865, Tuolumne, California; died 7 February 1921, San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
• Margaret Whittle was born on 31 July 1849 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.30 She was christened on 2 September 1849 at St. James Church in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. She died on 3 June 1850 at the age of 0 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Alexander Whittle emigrated from Sydney to California in 1850. He died in 1853 in Angel's Camp, Calaveras, California. Rachel (Morley) Whittle emigrated with her children by 1852 to San Francisco, California. She married again and died 10 October 1861 in Sacramento, Sacramento, California.

The 1852 California State Census shows Rachel and three of her children residing in San Francisco, California in 1852:[10]

• Rachel Wadle, Age = 32, Birthplace = England, Last Residence = Manchester (?)
• Eliz Wadle, Age = 13, Birthplace = England, Last Residence = Manchester
• Jos Wadle, Age = 9, Birthplace = NSW
• Jane Wadle, Age = 5, Birthplace = NSW

Jane “White” was enumerated in the 1860 United States Census in Tuolumne County, California with the W.B. Ray family (her sister Elizabeth’s husband) only two lines above Elijah McKnew. Jane was age 13, born in Australia.

3)  Elijah Pickrell McKnew and Jane (Whittle) McKnew's Married Life

Elijah Pickrell McKnew and Jane Whittle were married on 12 November 1865 in Tuolumne, California.[11-12] Elijah Pickrell McKnew and Jane Whittle had the following children:

• Allethia Jane McKnew, born 25 November 1867, Tuolumne, California; married (1) John William Runnels, 12 Aug 1887, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, 3 children; married John F. Harper, after 1912, San Francisco, San Francisco, California; died 21 April 1959, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, one child.
• Alfred Rodney McKnew, born 23 February 1869, Tuolumne, California; married Alice G. McCann, 10 April 1889, Alameda, California, six children; died 23 November 1943, San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
• Henry Lee McKnew, born December 1870, Tuolumne, California; married Anna Marie Goff, about 1892, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, three children; died 1 August 1934, San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
• Alice Louise McKnew, born 24 December 1872, Tuolumne, California; married Phineas Durkee Hayes, about 1895, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, one child; died 1 June 1959, San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
• Lilly M. McKnew, born 15 August 1876, San Francisco, San Francisco, California; married (1) George Ludwig Olsen, about 1895, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, one child; married (2) Charles Aloysius Gardiner, before 1920, California; died 22 May 1958, Burlingame, San Mateo, California.
• George Morgan McKnew was born on 2 January 1879 in San Francisco, San Francisco, California. He died on 15 April 1944 at the age of 65 in Kern, California.
• Belle Alberta McKnew, born 17 February 1882, San Francisco, San Francisco, California; married (1) George Frederick Samwell, 12 September 1904, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, one child; married (2) Paul Ewald, 23 April 1928, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, no children; died 15 December 1975, Union City, Alameda, California.
• Edna Catherine McKnew, born 7 March 1884, San Francisco, San Francisco, California; married Paul Frederick Schaffner, 24 June 1906, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, two children; died 11 November 1974, San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
• May Jane McKnew, born May 1886, San Francisco, San Francisco, California; married William Charles Kenealy, 19 Feb 1908, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, two children; died 10 November 1918, San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
• Leland Joseph McKnew, born 6 June 1889, San Francisco, San Francisco, California; married Agnes Matilde Hansen, 23 December 1909, Marin, California, two children; died 28 November 1933, Sacramento, California.
• Gladys Hazel McKnew, born 22 August 1892, San Francisco, San Francisco, California; married Henry F. Rose, 17 May 1916, Alameda, California, no children; died 1 June 1955, San Francisco, San Francisco, California.

In the 1870 United States Census, the E.A. McNew family was enumerated in Township 2, Tuolumne County, California.[13] The household included:

• E. A. McNew - age 34, male, white, a miner, $1000 in real property, $100 in personal property, born Maryland, eligible to vote
• Jane McNew - age 23, female, white, keeping house, born Australia, parents of foreign birth.
• A.J. McNew - age 3, male, white, at home, born California, mother of foreign birth
• A.R. McNew - age 2, female, white, born California, mother of foreign birth

The Elijah McKnew family moved to San Francisco before 1876 and resided near 19th Street and Castro Street. The street number system changed over the years.

A concerted effort to find the Elijah McKnew family in the 1880 census in California was fruitless on www.ancestry.com. The given names of Eli*, E, Jan*, J, Alf*, Hen*, Ali*, etc., and the surnames of *Knew, *New, New*, Mcn*, Mck*, Mackn*, MacN*, and combinations with the birthplace and birth years of Elijah and Jane were fruitless. Searches in San Francisco County for children with their known birth years was fruitless. The conclusion was reached that this family was not enumerated in the 1880 United States Census in California.

The California Voter Registers was reviewed for entries for Elijah McKnew[14] The found entries are:

• 1868 in Tuolumne County: McKnew, Elijah, age 32, nativity Maryland, occupation Farmer, residence Tuttletown, registered Sept. 29, 1868
• 1876 in San Francisco: McKnew, Elijah Pickens, age 40, nativity Maryland, occupation Teamster, residence 19th n Castro, Ward 11
• 1880 in San Francisco: McKnew, Elijah Pickering, age 44, nativity Maryland, occupation Driver, residence SW s 19th, b Cas & Sher, floor All, registered Sept. 21, 1880
• 1882 in San Francisco: Voting No. 196, Reg'd No. 147, name McKnew, Elijah, age 47, nativity Maryland, occupation Salesman, residence 1013 Nineteenth, registered Oct. 3, 1882
• 1886 in San Francisco: Voting No. 185, Reg'd No. 96, name McKnew, Elijah Pickrell, age 50, nativity Maryland, occupation Teamster, residence 1013 Nineteenth, registered Sept. 21, 1886
• 1888 in San Francisco: Voting No. 203, Reg'd No. 174, name McKnew, Elijah, age 53, nativity Maryland, occupation Driver, residence 1013 Nineteenth, registered Oct. 11, 1888
• 1890 in San Francisco: Voting No. 160, Reg'd No. 201, name McKnew, Elijah Pickrill, age 54, nativity Maryland, occupation Merchant, residence 1013 Nineteenth, registered Oct. 16, 1890
• 1892 in San Francisco: Voting No. 204, Reg'd No. 124, name McKnew, Elijah Pickrel, age 60, height 5 ft 7-1/4 in, complexion Fr, eye color Br, hair color Med, visible marks Mole right eye, occupation Fruit dealer, nativity Maryland, residence 1015 19th, floor T, registered Sept. 26, 1892
• 1896 in San Francisco: Voting No. 180, Reg'd No. 3, name McKnew, Elijah Pickrel, age 61, height 5 ft 7-1/4 in, complexion Fr, eye color Br, hair color Gr, occupation Oysterman, nativity Maryland, residence 1017 Nineteenth, floor 2, room All, registered June 1, 1896, read Constitution and write name Yes, mark ballot Yes
• 1898 in San Francisco: Voting No. 170, Reg'd No. 159, name McKnew, Elijah Pickrel, occupation Oysters, age 63, height 5 ft 6-3/4 in, complexion Dk, eye color Hzl, hair color Gr, nativity Ireland, residence 4131 Nineteenth, floor All, registered Aug. 10, read Constitution and write name Yes, mark ballot Yes

In the 1900 United States Census, this family was enumerated at 4131 19th Street in Assembly District 36, San Francisco, San Francisco County, California.[15] The household included:

• Elijah P. McKnew - head of household, white, male, born Mar 1837, age 63, married, for 35 years, born Maryland, parents born Maryland/Maryland, no occupation, owns home with a mortgage
• Jane McKnew - wife, white, female, born Aug 1847, age 52, married, for 35 years, 11 children born, 11 living, born Australia, parents born England/England, immigrated in 1850, resident of US for 50 years
• Bell A. McKnew - daughter, white, female, born Feb 1882, age 18, single, born California, parents born Maryland/Australia
• Edna C. McKnew - daughter, white, female, born Mar 1884, age 16, single, born California, parents born Maryland/Australia, milliner
• May J. McKnew - daughter, white, female, born May 1886, age 14, single, born California, parents born Maryland/Australia
• Leland J. McKnew - son, white, male, born June 1889, age 10, single, born California, parents born Maryland/Australia, at school
• Gladys H. McKnew - daughter, white, female, born Aug 1891, age 8, single, born California, parents born Maryland/Australia, at school

The McKnew family resided at 4131 19th Street in San Francisco when the Great San Francisco Earthquake hit on 19 April 1906. All family members, and the house survived the earthquake and the fire that burned to within one block of their home. The home was damaged and subsequently repaired. The family has a priceless photograph of family members on the street accompanied by their stove and other household items taken soon after the earthquake. Note the house steeet number above the front door – 4131.

In the 1910 United States Census, this family was enumerated at 4103 19th Street in Assembly District 34, San Francisco, San Francisco County, California.[16] The household included:

• Elijah P. McKnew - head of household, male, white, age 74, first marriage, married 44 years, born Maryland, parents born Maryland/Maryland, can speak English, has own income, can read and write, owns home free of mortgage
• Jane McKnew - wife, female, white, age 62, first marriage, married 44 years, 12 children born, 11 living, born Ata English, parents born Ata English/English Ata, can speak English, no occupation, can read and write,
• Gladys McKnew - daughter, female, white, age 18, single, born California, parents born Maryland/Maryland, can speak English, stenographer, works in office, a wage earner, can read and write,
• Robert J. McKnew - lodger, male, white, age 24, single, born North Carolina, parents born North Carolina/North Carolina, can speak English, superintendent, works at food company, a wage earner, can read and write.

In the 1910 census, son Leland McKnew was enumerated at 4135 19th Street in Assembly District 34, San Francisco, San Francisco County, California. The household included:

• Leland McKnew - head of household, male, white, age 21, first marriage, married 1 year, born California, parents born Maryland/England, a messenger, works for Wells Fargo Express, rents home
• Agnes McKnew - wife. female, white, age 20, first marriage, married 1 year, 0 children born, 0 living, born California, parents born Norway/Norway

4)  The Later Years

Elijah Pickrell McKnew died on 4 April 1912 in San Francisco.[1-3, 17] A death notice for Elijah P. McKnew was published in the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper, dated 5 April 1912, on page 17. It says:

"McKNEW -- In this city, April 4, Elijah P., dearly beloved husband of Jane McKnew, and devoted father of Alfred H., Henry L., George M., Leland J., and Gladys Hazel McKnew, Mrs. A. Runnels, Mrs. P.D. Hayes, Lily Olsen, Mrs. G.F. Samwell, Mrs. P.F. Schaffner and Mrs. W.C. Kenealy, a native of Baltimore, Md., aged 76 years and 6 days (Tuolumne county papers please copy)."

In the 1920 United States Census, Jane McKnew was enumerated at 4137 19th Street in Assembly District 26, San Francisco, San Francisco County, California.[18] The household included:

• Jane McKnew - head of household, owns home with mortgage, female, white, age 72, widow, unknown immigration, born Australia, parents born England/England, no occupation.

Jane (Whittle) McKnew died on 7 February 1921 in San Francisco.[7-9,19] A death notice for Jane McKnew was published in the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper dated 9 February 1921, page 6. It says:

"McKNEW--In this city February 7, 1921, Jane, beloved wife of the late E.P. McKNEW and loving mother of Alfred R., Henry L., George M. and Leland J. McKNEW, Allethia J. RUNNELS, Mrs. P.D. HAYES, Mrs. C.A. GARDINER, Mrs. G.F. ROSE and the late Mrs. W. C. KENEALY, a native of Australia, aged 73 years, 6 months 5 days. Friends are invited to attend the funeral services Wednesday, at 2 o'clock p.m. from her late residence, 4137 19th St., Interment, Cypress Lawn Cemetary, private."

Elijah Pickrell McKnew and Jane (Whittle) McKnew are inurned in Cypress Lawn Cemetery in Colma, San Mateo County, California.[3,9]

No probate record for either Elijah or Jane has been found to date.

5.  SOURCES:

1. Elijah P. McKnew, death certificate, Local Registered No. 2086, died 4 April 1912, age 76 years, 6 days; Department of Public Health, San Francisco City and County, California (certificate obtained 15 May 2012).

2. "San Francisco Chronicle," online database, SFGenealogy (www.SFGenealogy.com), citing original documents at San Francisco Public Library, San Francisco, Calif., 5 April 1912 edition, page 17, Elijah P. McKnew death notice, indicates age 76 years, 6 days.

3. Find A Grave, indexed and imaged, (https://www.findagrave.com), Cypress Lawn Memorial Park, Colma, Calif., Elijah Pickrell McKnew memorial #175579978.

4. "U.S. Army, Register of Enlistments, 1798-1914," digital image, Ancestry.com    (https://www.ancestry.com : digital image 18 December 2012), Enlistment Register, 1855 Jan - 1857 Sep; page 152 (penned), Elijah McKnew entry, enlisted 5 January 1855, deserted 20 January 1856.

5. 1860 United States Federal Census, Tuolumne County, California, Township #2; Page 399, Dwelling #3776, Elijah Picrell household; imaged, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com), citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M653, Roll 71.

6. "Australian Births and Baptisms, 1792-1981," indexed database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org), extracted from FHL microfilms 993955-6, Jane Whittle entry, 2 August 1847.

7. Jane McKnew, San Francisco, Calif. death certificate, Local Registered No. 823, died 7 February 1921, birth 2 August 1847 in Australia; Department of Public Health, San Francisco City and County, California (obtained 22 May 2012).

8. "San Francisco Chronicle," SFGenealogy, 9 February 1921 edition, page 8, Jane McKnew death notice, 2 February 1921.

9. Find A Grave, Cypress Lawn Memorial Park, Colma, Calif., Jane Whittle McKnew (1847-1921) memorial #175579685.

10. "California State Census, 1852," San Francisco County, California, page 524 (penned), Rachel Wadle household; imaged, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com), ; citing California State Library, Sacramento, California; 1852 California State Census, Roll #: 4; Repository Collection #: C144:4.

11. Tuolumne County California Marriages, 1850-1900 (Groom and Bride), (Sonora, Calif. : Tuolumne County Genealogical Society, 2009), Bride's list, no page number, Elijah McKnew and Jane Whittle entry, 12 November 1865.

12. Tuolumne County, California Recorder's Office, Vital Records, 1850-1906, "Delayed births, vol. 1, 1862-1905 -- Index to marriage certificates (Men), vol. 1, 1852-1875 -- Index to marriage certificates (Men), vol. 2, 1876-1905 -- Index to marriage certificates (Women), vol. 1, 1852-1875 -- Index to marriage certificates (Women), vol. 2, 1875-1905 -- Marriage record, vols. 1-4, 1850- 1862 -- Marriage licenses, vol. 1, 1862-1870 -- Marriage licenses, vol. 2, 1871-1872 -- Marriage licenses, vol. 3, 1873-1878", imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org), on FHL microfilm US/CAN 1305265 (accessed 24 January 2018); Volume 1, page 195, Elijah McKnew and Jane Whittle marriage license and certificate.

13. 1870 United States Federal Census, Tuolumne County, California, Township #2, Page 354 (penned), dwelling #1352, family #607, E.A. McNew household; imaged, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com), citing National Archives Microfilm Publication M593, Roll 93.

14. "California Voter Registers, 1866-1898," digital images, Ancestry.com  (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 8 January 2018); various years, e.g. San Francisco > 1876-7, page 69, Voting No. 4958, Elijah Pickens McKnew entry.

15. 1900 United States Federal Census, San Francisco County, California, Assembly district 34, Enumeration District 104, Page 8A, Dwelling #133, Family #175, Elijah McKnew household; imaged, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com), citing National Archives Microfilm Publication T623, Roll 103.

16. 1910 United States Federal Census, San Francisco County, California, population schedule, Assembly district 34; Enumeration District 128, Page 7A, Dwelling #150, Family #158, Elijah P. McKnew household; imaged, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 28 May 2012); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication T624, Roll 98.

17. "California Death Index, 1905-1939," indexed, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com); San Francisco County, Elijah P. McKnew entry, 4 April 1912.

18. 1920 United States Federal Census, San Francisco County, California, population schedule, Assembly District 26; Enumeration District 116, Page 10A, Dwelling #62, Family #93, Jane McKnew household; imaged, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 12 September 2007); citing National Archives Microfilm Publication T625, Roll 135.

19. "California Death Index, 1905-1939," indexed, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com); San Francisco County, Jane McKnew entry, 2 February 1921.

6)  Relationship

Edna Catherine (McKnew) Schaffner (1884-1974), the eighth child and fifth daughter of Elijah and Jane (Whittle) McKnew, is the maternal grandmother of my wife, Linda (Leland) Seaver(1942-still living), through her mother Edna May Schaffner (1913-1979) who married Leo Severt Leland (1911-2002) in 1937 in San Francisco.

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Copyright (c) 2025, Randall J. Seaver

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