William Daniel Knott, 92, of Barnstable, passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by family on Friday April 7th. Dan was born in Jamaica Plain, Boston, son of Sydney T Knott and Margaret C Knott. He was pre-deceased by his beloved wife Amy "Pat" C Knott, brother Sydney "Bud" Knott, and sister Priscilla K Davis.
In 1935, Dan's parents bought Bay Side Farm in Barnstable and re-named it Salt Acres Farm, as it is still named today. He graduated from Barnstable High School, where he excelled in football, receiving the Hinkle Trophy. He was also his class president, student council president, and many other clubs. He then went into the Naval Reserves, becoming a Commissioned Ensign and small craft engineer, and a Gunnery Sargent. That took him overseas to many countries, then finally back to Boston where he got his discharge orders.
Returning to Barnstable, he worked with his good friend Bun Howard on building skiffs and also did carpentry work. That was when he met Amy Craig, the love of his life, and they were married in 1949. Together they worked very hard building the apartment in the barn into a cozy little home. Dan loved boats and started working at Chester A. Crosby Company and also took a correspondence course in Yacht design from Westlawn Academy in Connecticut. During his 17 years at Crosby's, Dan built and designed many boats, from his 17ft Revolation (day sailer) to the 23ft Crosby Curlew to a 34ft yawl named the Sandbird, and his 36' schooner the Aries. He also carved many wooden half models of all his boats. For 20 years or more he was a boat surveyor all along the east coast. He also re-built his 1930 Ford Station wagon, Busby, that he enjoyed going in the local 4th of July parade and Osterville old car parades.
After retiring from Crosby's, he and Pat started a real estate office in the village as well as the craft and antique shop Pat ran with Dan's mother Margaret for 35 years at Salt Acres. In 1970 they purchased the Niskala property, 2 miles up 6A and started a Christmas tree farm. As a conservative, Dan worried about the economic growth in the village. He was a town representative for 9 years and water commissioner for the Barnstable fire district for 22 years .He was also an active member of the Barnstable Yacht Club and will be dearly missed by all and his good friend Jim Kittredge.
Dan is survived by a son, David A Knott and wife Ann, a daughter Meredith Pells and husband Peter. Three grandchildren, Samuel A Knott, Jesse D Pells and Amy Ricker and husband James, and 2 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. A special thanks to Laura, Liz, and Diane of VNA Hospice.
A graveside memorial will be held on April 22nd at 12 noon at Lothrop Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Barnstable Fire Dept. or the Unitarian Church.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18