Part of the American History & Genealogy Project

Mrs. A. Leo Knott

Mrs. Knott is among the earliest members of the Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, being at the time of its formation, a resident of Washington. She was elected a member of the society on June 19, 1891, having previously attended several preliminary meetings of the society at the residence of Mrs. Cabell.

On the 9th of May of the same year she was elected one of the vice-presidents-general. Mrs. Knott claims membership in the society on account of the Revolutionary services rendered by Captain John Phelan, through her mother Mary J. Kienan, nee Mary J. Phelan. Captain Phelan joined the American army at Boston in 1776. He survived the war, being promoted to the rank of captain for gallant services performed during the war and was with the army until it disbanded at Newburg in October, 1783.

After the war Captain Phelan engaged in mercantile business in New York. He made a trip to Rio Janeiro in connection with his business. On his return he was shipwrecked, losing the vessel and cargo in which most of his fortune was invested. He removed to Baltimore and established a classical and mathematical school which enjoyed a wide reputation for many years. He died in Baltimore in 1827.

Mrs. Knott took an active part in the work of the early building up of the Daughters of the American Revolution. On the retirement of Mrs. Flora Adams Darling from the position which she filled of vice-president-general in charge of the organization of chapters, Mrs. Knott, together with Mrs. John W. Foster and Mrs. H. V. Boynton was appointed by the national board to take charge of that work.

In 1891 Mrs. Knott, on her removal to Baltimore, was requested by the national board to accept the position of state regent of Maryland and to undertake the work of establishing chapters in that state. In accordance with that request Mrs. Knotty in 1892, sent out invitations to ladies in Baltimore whom she knew were eligible to membership in the National Society and on March 4th, the Baltimore Chapter was formed at her house. Mrs. Knott appointed Miss Alice Key Blunt regent of the chapter.

In 1894 Mrs. Knott resigned the office of state regent of Maryland, and at the succeeding congress was elected one of the honorary vice-presidents-general for life. In 1889, at the urgent request of many of the members of the chapter, Mrs. Knott was elected to the office of regent of the Baltimore Chapter, which has done good work under her regency and has taken a lively interest in the construction of Continental Hall.

Women of America

Source: The Part Taken by Women in American History, By Mrs. John A. Logan, Published by The Perry-Nalle Publishing Company, Wilmington, Delaware, 1912.