Hosea M. Knowlton- Cut Down in His Prime
The Borden Curse #7

Hosea M. Knowlton was a talented and accomplished man. Born May 20, 1847 in Durham, Maine, he excelled at Keene, New Hampshire High School, Tufts College, B.A. 1867, and Harvard Law School, class of 1870. He married an equally accomplished woman, Sylvia B. Almy and produced seven successful children:
John Wellington Knowlton
Abby Almy Knowlton
Edward Allen Knowlton
Helen Sophia Knowlton
August I. Knowlton
Sylvia Prescott Knowlton
Benjamin Almy Knowlton- one year old at the time of Lizzie’s trial
His portrait still hangs in the courtroom in New Bedford where Lizzie’s trial took place, and for all of the accomplishments including District Attorney, he is always remembered as the prosecutor in the Borden trial of 1893.
In 1902 Mr. Knowlton’s mother died in an horrific accident in Boston. In December of that same year, Hosea himself was struck down suddenly with apoplexy while at his summer home in Marion and died on the 19th, only 55 years old. He and Sylvia had just built a beautiful house there and he was finally enjoying the fruits of his hard labor. Eli Bence and Defense Attorney and former Massachusetts Gov. George D. Robinson would also suffer the same fate, apoplexy- in their prime. Knowlton’s youngest son, Ben, who was just a year old at the time of Lizzie’s trial would die of cerebral hemorrhage in 1960. Knowlton’s remains were cremated and ashes scattered over the harbor of his beloved Marion. His name is on a memorial stone in Rural Cemetery, New Bedford where many of his relatives are buried.



2 Comments
Anonymous
I enjoyed the article. My name is Liza Knowlton. Hosea was my grandfather.
Shelley
Thank you for your message. I have your grandfather’s portrait on my wall in my office- I am a great admirer. Last summer I enjoyed a tour of his home in New Bedford and have seen both houses in Marion. Your grandmother was an amazing woman! You may also be aware of his portrait in New Bedford at the courthouse over the door in the room where the Borden trial took place. I have an article on her on this page.