William Knyvett, (also spelt Knyvet), of Fundenhall was born in Ashwellthorpe. He married Dorothy Thimelthorpe, of Tunstead, daughter of Robert Thimelthorpe, (Themelthorpe), January 30, 1558 at Tinstead, Norfolk by licence. She was born abt 1531 and died in 1616. William died in Fundenhall and was buried June 30, 1612.

From The Dulhunty Papers, Chapter 14.

William, a younger son of Edward (Edmund) Knyvett and Jane Bourchier, was the ancestor of the Knyvetts of Fundenhall in Norfolk, who continued to reside there until, according to Burke's Extinct and Dormant Baronetcies, one of their descendants removed to London. He was a cabinet maker employed at Buckingham Palace in the reign of George II. Though never known to have made a piece of furniture, he had plenty of money to play at cards at the taverns he frequented. The Earl of Sandwich, First Lord of the Admiralty, was a frequent visitor at his house. The solution to this mystery, according to Knyvett records, was that Charles was the paramour of the Princess Elizabeth, in which role he was acceptable by reason of his descent from the Plantagenet kings of England. The cabinet-making was a mere pretence to afford him access to her apartments.

Charles the Cabinetmaker was the father of Charles Knyvett organist and composer to George III, who purchased an estate at Sonning near Reading, Berks.

National Archives (UK)
Settlement of property
By Jane Knyvett widow, (Edmund), and William Knyvett gent. of the manors of Whaplode Holbeach and 'Qwhaplod' with appurtenances in same and in Pinchbeck, Moulton, Skirbeck, Boston, Killingholme and Aylesby, Lincs., to herself for life and ultimately to her right heirs, (November 15, 1557).