by Laura Knight
Census Records from Images provided by USA National Archives and Records Administration. Washington D.C. extracted by myself from images on ancestry.com
I've extracted what limited information was available from each source and households (HH) are separated by double asterisks thus: ** and the name of the Head of Household (HH) on the record is in bold for ease of finding. I've gone over this several times, trying to catch all errors, but I can't guarantee that there are none; I just do my best at any moment. Also, as noted elsewhere, for ease of search/finding, I've most often converted names to the modern spelling and have frequently included how the name appears in the record and/or how the transcriber rendered it: (text: Knite, trans: Kite). Also note that I have excluded Northern State Knights. If someone else wants to collect the Northern Knights and arrange them as I have so I don't have to do any extra work, I'll be very happy to include them and give credit where it is due.
At this point, the censuses are getting much longer and it has become impossible for one person to comb through the records with the thoroughness I would like; I do have a life outside of genealogy. Obviously, I focus more intensely on those areas where I know VA Knights moved to, but still, the population is growing fast and I can't guarantee exhaustive coverage though I am doing my best. In some of the newly settled areas, the censuses are still mercifully short and in some cases, I covered the entire sheet. When that is the case, I put the word "ENTIRE" at the end of the list. In this census, I haven't done Pennsylvania as I have been doing up to this point and the whole census, in general, has not been scoped out as thoroughly as earlier ones. I'll get it done and added eventually. I think there is enough here to keep a few people busy; it's very long as it is.
This is the first census that lists every household member by name, age, and where born. It's not 100% accurate, as is sometimes shown, but it's a darn good start. In my opinion, it should be illegal to mess with the effort to obtain pure demographic information in a census.
917 Record Returns
1850 – IL Adams Camp Point – Federal Census - ** George Knight, 43, farmer, ME, in HH of Dicken P. Gay, 34, farmer, OH and wife Lydia a. Gay, 31, ME.
1850 – IL Adams Honey Creek – Federal Census - ** Moses Knight, 25, laborer, TN; Betsy Knight, 24, TN; Mary A. Knight, 5, TN; Jane Knight, 3, TN; John Knight, 2, TN.
1850 – IL Adams Houston – Federal Census - ** Stewart Stuckler, 30, farmer, PA; Catherine Stuckler, 21, VA; Martha A. Stuckler, 4, IL; Nancy Stuckler, 2, IL; Oliver Mitchell, 14, OH; Zeoltus Knight, 21, laborer, OH. ** No other Knights noted; several other Stuckler families from PA present. ENTIRE
1850 – IL Adams Lima – Federal Census - ** James Knight, 25, cooper, OH, in HH of Robert B. Southard, 35, cooper, and fam. Two other non-related persons in HH: Samuel Poling, 24, cooper, OH; Alexander Johnston 25, cooper, OH. ** James Knight, 25, cooper, OH, in HH of Grayson Orr, cooper, KY; Two other unrelated persons in HH: Henry Johnson, 25, cooper, NY; Samuel Poland, 23, cooper, OH. Note: is this a duplication? The census text for this town is only 22 pages, so hard to understand why there would be confusion if that is the explanation. Perhaps these men worked for/with both Robert Southard and Grayson Orr, and both of them gave their names as HH members?
1850 – IL Adams Melrose – Federal Census - ** William J or S. Knight, 30, farmer, GA; Lydia Knight, 27, GA; Alonzo Knight, 1, IL; William H. Knight, 6 mo., IL; Ann M. Shinn, 11, IL. Dyer family on one side, Bishop family on the other. ENTIRE.
1850 – IL Adams Quincy Middle Ward – Federal Census - ** Arthur Knight, 25, mould/foundry, England; Mary Knight, 25, England; Arthur Knight, 1, England.
1850 – IL Adams Richfield – Federal Census - ** Samuel Knight, 29, farmer, IL; Elizabeth Knight, 22, MD; Lydia A. Knight, 2, IL.
1850 – IL Adams Ursa – Federal Census - ** John Knight, 26, cooper, OH, in HH of Frederick Steinback, 29, cooper, Germany and family. Two other unrelated coopers in this HH: Harry Fotheringill, 20, cooper, OH; Martin White, 30, cooper, OH.
1850 – IL Bureau Bureau – Federal Census - ** Alonzo Knight, 19, farmer, OH, in HH of George Bennett, 59, farmer, England and Mary Bennett, 64, PA.
1850 – IL Bureau Dover – Federal Census - ** William P. Knight, 31, farmer, VT; Samantha Knight, 28, NY; Charles B. Knight, 8, NY; Zina C. Knight, 6, M, NY; Lewis S. Knight, 2, NY; Edwin W. Knight, 7 mo, IL.
1850 – IL Bureau La Moille – Federal Census - ** Arnot G. Knight, 51, farmer, NH; Alvira L. Knight, 45, NH, Julius F. Knight, 18, farmer, NH; Hinckley G. Knight, 24, farmer, NH; Elizabeth L. Knight, 18, NH; Mitchell Clement, 37, farmer, NH.
1850 – IL Cass – Federal Census - ** Thomas Knight, 50, farmer, England; Elizabeth Knight, 52, England, Mary D. Knight, 17, England; William T. Knight, 15, England, Thomas Knight, 14, England, John Knight, 12, England; E. J. Knight, 9, F, England; Thomas Cooper, 22, IL.
1850 – IL Cass Beardstown – Federal Census - ** Charles Knight, 29, laborer, b. unk, in HH of John Fiela, 24, butcher, NY and wife, Mary Fiela, 25, Ireland. Four other unrelated laborers in HH.
1850 – IL Clark Johnson – Federal Census - ** Thomas Knight, 55, farmer, TN; Persey Knight, 51, VA; Mary Knight, 21, IL; Eleanor Knight, 19, IL; Keziah Knight, 17, IL; Alexander Knight, 16, farmer, IL; John Knight, 13, IL; Catherine Knight, 11, IL.
1850 – IL Clark Marshall Jail – Federal Census - ** Joseph Knight, no age, farmer, in jail for murder. One of only two prisoners, the other being William Davis, 46, for manslaughter.
1850 – IL Clark Melrose – Federal Census - ** James Knight, 25, farmer, IL; Catherine Knight, 23, IL; Solomon Knight, 2, IL; Jane Knight, 1, IL. ** William Knight, 54, farmer, TN; Jane Knight, 36, TN; Margaret Knight, 17, IL; Nancy Knight, 13, IL; Thomas Knight, 10, IL; William Knight, 8, IL; Elizabeth Knight, 6, IL; James Knight, 4, IL; Sarah Knight, 1, IL. ** Nancy Knight, 36, TN; Daniel Knight, 17, farmer, IL; Nathan Knight, 6, IL; Nancy Knight, 2, IL; Rhoda Knight, 5 mo, IL; Judith Dozier (Dosier), 60, TN.
1850 – IL Clark Millcreek – Federal Census - ** James Knight, 35, farmer, PA; Eliza Knight, 25, OH; Alexandra Coons, 2, IL; Martha Coons, 3, IN; Margaret Coons, 4, IL; May Coons, 4 mo, IL.
1850 – IL Clinton Dist 68 – Federal Census - ** Isaac Knight, 57, farmer, England; Eleanor Knight, 40, NY; Rachel Knight, 9, MO; Joseph Knight, 7, MO; Maria Knight, 3, MO; Isaac Knight, 4 mo, IL.
1850 – IL DeKalb Mayfield – Federal Census - ** Samuel Knight, 33, MD; Mary Knight, 35, VT; Harriet Knight, 10, IL; Mary E. Knight, 8, IL; Amanda Knight, 5, IL; George W. Knight, 3, IL; John Knight, 1, IL.
1850 – IL Edgar Dist 19 – Federal Census - ** Benjamin Knight, 23, farmer, IL; Jane Knight, 18, IL. ** Silas Knight, 32, farmer, Butler OH; Elizabeth Knight, Butler OH; George W. Knight, 9, Butler OH; Julia A. Knight, 7, Warren IN; Silas H. Knight, 4, Edgar IL; Hanna P. Knight, 1, Edgar IL. ** James Knight, 49, farmer, Knox TN; Cynthia A. knight, 50, OH KY; Percy J. Knight, 21, Edgar IL; Lydia Knight, 19, Edgar IL; Cynthia A. Knight, 17, Edgar IL; James M. Knight, 16, laborer, Edgar IL; Keziah E. Knight, 13, Edgar IL; Thomas H. Knight, 12, Edgar IL; Joseph W. Knight, 10, Edgar IL. ** Richard Knight, 50, farmer, Warwickshire England; Dinah Knight, 53, Warwickshire England; Saloma Knight, 21, Warwickshire England, Paul Knight, 12, Ripley IN. ** Emeline Knight, 20, Vermillion IN, in the HH of Sylvester P. Seeds, 30, farmer, Stuben NY, and wife Lucy Seeds, 29, Wilkes NC. Next HH is A. T. Seeds, 50, farmer, b. “on the Atlantic Ocean.” ** James Knight, 19, cooper, Edgar IL, in HH of John Patridge (Partridge?), 62, farmer, PA and Mary Patridge, 58, Monongahela VA.
1850 – IL Fayette – Federal Census - ** Joseph G. Knight, 27, farmer, KY; Sarah N. Knight, 28, KY; Orrin Knight, 6 mo, KY. ** Mary Knight, 48, NC; Turner Knight, 19, TN; Nancy M. Knight, 12, IL. ** (adj) James Knight, 24, farmer, KY; Elizabeth Knight, 21, TN; George W. Knight, 3, IL; Nancy J. Knight, 6 mo, IL; Sarah Knight, 75, VA. ** (Skip 1 HH) ** John Knight, 41, farmer, KY; Polly Knight, 41, KY; Sarah E. Knight, 15, TN; Joseph Knight, 12, AL; Benjamin Knight, 10, AL; Dinah Knight (trans: Sinal), 7, AL; Elita J. Knight, 6, MO; Angeline Knight, 4, MO; Francis M. Knight, 2, MO. ** Willy Knight (or Wesley), 33, farmer, KY; Elizabeth Knight, 29, TN; Margaret J. Knight, 10, IL, Carolina M. Knight, 8, IL; Jerusha J. Knight, 6, IL; Albert P. Knight, 5, IL; Emily A. Knight, 3, IL; John H. Knight, 1, IL.
1850 – IL Hamilton Dist 10 – Federal Census - ** William G. Knight, 46, farmer, KY; Sarah Knight, 31, KY; T. D. Knight, 12; Julia A. Knight, 11, IL; Jerry E. Knight, 9, IL; John R. Knight, 7, IL; Mary E. Knight, 5, IL; Robert H. Knight, 4, IL; Francis M. Knight, 2, IL; Lavinia Knight, 1 mo, IL; Jessamine J. Knight (M), 21, farmer, TN; Margaret Knight, 20, IL; William A. Knight, 1, IL. ** David D. Knight, 54, farmer, NC; Mary Knight, 43, TN; James M. Knight, 21, farmer, TN; Sarah M. Knight, 15, IL; William C. Knight, 12, IL; Samuel R. Knight, 11, IL; Mary J. Knight, 9, IL; Louisa E. Knight, 8, IL; Captain A. Knight, 3, IL. ** Acquilla Knight, 55, NC; Catherine Knight, 27, KY. ** James Knight (Knights), 50, farmer, KY; Nancy Knight, 45, TN; Sarah A. Knight, 21, KY; Nancy C. Knight, 20, KY; Marcida Knight, 14, IL; Rebecca G. Knight, 9, IL; William D. H. Knight, 7, IL.
1850 – IL Jackson N Dist – Federal Census - ** Jacob Knight, 47, farmer, PA; Huldah Knight, 51, CT; Phillip Knight, 17, PA; Maria Knight, 16, PA; Sally Knight, 13, PA; Rosanna Knight, 8, PA; Jerome Knight, 7, IL; Jane Knight, 4, IL; Emeline Cordello, 17, IL; Marietta Cordillo, 15, IL; Pulietta Cordillo, 13, I: Amanda Cordillo, 10, IL; James Woosley Cordillo, 9, IL. ** Amelia Knight, 9, IL, in HH of Garrett Will (or Wile), 35, farmer, PA, and wife Cathering Will, 22, PA.
1850 – IL Jackson S Dist – Federal Census - ** Burrell Knight, 30, farmer, SC; Matilda Knight, 24, TN; George W. Knight, 1, IL. ** (Adj.) Elijah Knight, 55, farmer, SC; Jane Knight, 50, SC; Eliza Knight, 22, KY; Elizabeth Knight, 20, KY; Daniel Knight, 22, laborer, KY; Thomas Knight, 15, KY; Nancy Knight, 13, KY; Celia A. Knight, 8, KY. Note: the Eliza here could be Elijah, though the name was corrected and marked “F”.
1850 – IL LaSalle Brookfield – Federal Census - ** Austin Knight, 28, farmer, PA; Cynthia Knight, 26, PA; James M. Knight, PA; Alba Knight, M, 4, PA; Amarilla Knight, 3, IL, Clarence Knight, 1, IL; Hopy Hobbs, 21, PA.
1850 – IL LaSalle Grand Rapids – Federal Census - ** Ezra Miner, 35, farmer, NY; Huldah Miner, 27, PA; Rosilla Miner, 6, PA; Lafayette Miner, 4, PA; Henry Miner, 3, IL; Aurelia Miner, 1, IL; Marcus Knight, 25, farmer, PA; Marshall Knight, 22, farmer, PA; Fanny Knight, 18, PA; Sonia or Sorina Knight, 62, VT. (Huldah Miner may be dau of Sonia and sister to other Knights in this HH.)
1850 – IL LaSalle Utica – Federal Census - ** Francis Knight, 28, coppersmith, PA; John Kendrick, 25, clerk, NY.
1850 – IL Lawrence – Federal Census - ** James Buchanan, 37, farmer, KY; Martha Buchanan, 33, OH; Orenda Buchanan, 12, IL; Mary Buchanan, 10, IL; Laura Buchanan, 8, IL; Hannah Knight, 18, IL. ** Other Buchanan HH’s present.
1850 – IL Madison Edwardsville – Federal Census - ** William Knight, 22, laborer, IL, in HH of Dyer W. Riche, 38, shoemaker, NY.
1850 – IL Madison Twnshp 3 – Federal Census - ** Peter Knight, 23, laborer, IL, in HH of William Cook, 29, farmer, OH, and wife Elizabeth Cool, 26, OH.
1850 – IL Madison Twnshp 6 – Federal Census - ** Joseph Knight, 38, peddler, VA; Margaret Knight, 34, KY; Sarah Knight, 15, IN; Margaret Knight, 7, IN; Mildred Knight, 5, MO; Henrietta Knight, 1, IL.
1850 – IL Madison Upper Alton – Federal Census - ** Nathan Knight, 24, butcher, Germany, in HH of Oliver Brown, 53, butcher, NY.
1850 – IL Mason – Federal Census - ** Francis Knight, 35, farmer, NY; Jane Knight, 30, NY; Thomas Knight, 10, NY; Francis Knight, 8, NY; Mary Knight, 6, NY.
1850 – IL McDonough – Federal Census - ** P. Knight, 41, farmer, MA; Amanda Knight, 37, NY; Willis Knight, 17, IL; Elber Knight (Wilbur?), 16, OH; Luticia Knight, 12, IL; Archibald Knight, 10, IL; Lester Knight, 9, IL; Ephraim Knight, 7, IL; Silas Knight, 5, IL; William Knight, 3, IL; Benjamin Knight, 4 mo, IL; Eli Davis, 78, NH; Teresa Davis, 66, NH. ** Milton Knight, 24, farmer, VT; Harriet Knight, 26, VT; Paris Knight, 2, M, VT. ** S. C. Knight, 30, farmer, ME; Martha Knight, 23, IL; Y. S. Knight, 2, IL; Sarah E. Knight, 1, IL.
1850 – IL Mercer Keithsburg – Federal Census - ** Daniel Keith, 38, baker, Scotland; Martha Keith, 31, England; James Knight, 17, laborer, England; Martha Knight, 15, England, William H. Keith, 7, England; Katherine J. Keith, 1, IL.
1850 – IL Montgomery Southwest – Federal Census - ** Joel Knight, 55, farmer, KY; Martha Knight, 57, NC; William Knight, 22, IL; Joel B. Knight, 19, farmer, IL; Eliza Knight, 18, IL’ Martha Knight, 14, IL. .** Thomas Knight, 53, Farmer, SC; Mary Knight, 45, TN; Caswell Knight, 18, laborer, TN; Daniel Knight, 16, laborer, TN; John Knight, 13, TN; James Knight, 12, TN, Noel Knight, 8, TH, Parlee Knight, 6, F, IL; Pleasant Knight, 3, M, IL; Julia Ann Knight, 2, IL. ** William Knight, 50, farmer, KY; Barsheba Knight, 49, NC; Elijah Knight, 25, farmer, IL; John Knight, 15, IL; Louisa Knight, 12, IL; William Knight, 10, IL; Joel Knight, 8, IL; Frances Knight, 5, IL. ** D. B. Jackson, 56, MA; Sarah Jackson, 54, MA; Susan Knight, 14, IL; F. L. Maynard, 61, F, MA; F. L. Maynard, 29, F, MA. ** Mary Knight, 38, NY.
1850 – IL Peoria – Federal Census - ** George Williams, 27, brickmaker, KY; Susan C. Williams, 17, IL; Thomas Knight, 20, laborer, IL, Edward Knight, 14, IL.
1850 – IL Peoria Peoria – Federal Census - ** Samuel Knight, 28, pedlar, ME; in HH of Alvin Faskett, 37, pedlar, NY.
1850 – IL Saline Stonefort – Federal Census - ** Thomas Knight, 53, farmer, SC; Mary Knight, 45, TN; Caswell Knight, 18, laborer, TN; Daniel Knight, 16, TN; John Knight, 13, TN; James Knight, 12, TN; Thomas Knight, 10, TN; Noel Knight, 8, TN; Parlee Knight, 6, IL; Pleasant Knight, 3, IL; Julia Ann Knight, 2, IL.
1850 – IL Sangamon – Federal Census - ** Elizabeth Knight, 53, farmer, NC; James Knight, 27, farmer, VA; Rachel Knight, 19, KY; Zozo Knight, 23, F, VA; Abner Knight, 18, farmer, VA; William Knight, 14, VA. ** Berryman Knight, 39, farmer, NC; Martha Knight, 40, NC; Gracy Ann Knight, 18, IL; Emeline Knight, 17, IL; William Knight, 15, IL; Ann Knight, 79, NC.
1850 – IL St Clair American Bottom – Federal Census - ** Dexter Knight, 37, carpenter, NY; Lilly Knight, 22, IL; Clement Knight, 8 mo, IL, Charles King, 12, IL, Teresa McDembie, 15, NY.
1850 – IL St Clair Belleville – Federal Census - ** Margaret Knight, 8, IL, in HH o Phillip Keller, Germay and wife, Mary Keller, 24, IL.
1850 – IL St Clair Dist 4 – Federal Census - ** James H. Knight (Night), 38, brick mason, IL; Maraby Knight, 30, OH; James Knight, 12, IL; Melinda Knight, 1, IL; Joseph Coy, 18, apprentice, KY.
1850 – IL St Clair Ridge Prairie – Federal Census - ** Lewrany Knight, 40, NC; David Knight, 26, farmer, IL; Elizabeth Knight, 18, IL; Joseph Knight, 17, IL; William Knight, 13, IL; James Knight, 12, IL; John Knight, 10, IL; Newton Knight, 8, IL. ** (Skip one HH) ** Uriah C. Knight (Euriah) 30, Charity Knight, 28, TN; John W. Knight, 11, MO; Francis Knight, 8, MO; Jesse Knight, 3, IL; Joseph Knight, 2, IL.
1850 – IL Schuyler Browning – Federal Census - ** Ira Knight, 40, miller, NC; Elizabeth Knight, 36, NC; Shepherd B. Knight, 14, NC; Minerva J. Knight, 12, IN; William H. H. Knight, 7, IL; Ira J. Knight, 5, IL. ** Hugh Knight, 25, farmer, IL; Elizabeth Knight, 19, IL; Amanda Knight, 16, IL.
1850 – IL Stephenson Freeport – Federal Census - ** Samuel D. Knight, 31, merchant, MA; Martha M. Knight, 25, MA; Evelyn Knight, 3 mo, IL; Mary Shitzler, 16, PA; William Knight, 14, PA. ** George Knight, 42, brewer, England; Augustus B. Knight, 40, physician, England; both in HH of Thomas Seaton, 35, brewer, Ireland, and family.
1850 – IL Stephenson Rock Run – Federal Census - ** Wesley Knight, 20, in HH of Thomas Armstrong, 38 and Ohin Armstrong, 40. Census text unreadable.
1850 – IL Union Dist 2 – Federal Census - ** G. T. Knight (Night), 20, farmer, KY; Rebecca Knight, 20, VA; James Knight, 1, KY. ** Elizabeth Knight, 14, IL; in HH of Charles Hartline, 33, farmer, NC, and wife, Sarah Hartline, 29, IL.
1850 – IL Union Jonesboro – Federal Census - ** Washington Knight, 39, cooper, OH; Ann Knight, 16, IN; Lodicia Knight, 12, IN.
1850 – IL Whiteside Dist 37 – Federal Census - ** Austin Cowls, 58, miller, VT; Irene H. Cowls, 43, MA; David C. Cowls, 13, NY; Henry Austin Cowls, 8, IL; Martha W. Cowls, 5, IL; Louisa W. Knight, 32, NY; Emma E. Knight, 11, IL; Mary Knight, 8, IL; Dan C. Knight, 7, IL. ** Sarah Knight, 25, NY; George Knight, 9, IL; Lydia Knight, 6, IL; Bernice Knight, 4, IL; Francis Knight, 9 mo, IL. ** Nelson Knight, 33, laborer, CT; in HH of Steams Ostrander, 33, ferryman of Canada. ** Lucy Knight, 22, NJ, in HH of W. S. Wright, 31, tavern keeper, NY. ** Charles Knight, 25, farmer, ME; Julia A. Knight, 22, Canada, Elizabeth Knight, 2, IL/ George Sampson, 15, laborer, WI; James Logan, 40, farmer, Ireland. ** Lucy A. Knight, 22, NJ, in HH of Thomas Axley, 52, farmer, England and wife, Betsy M. Axley, 46, NJ and 7 Axley children 19 and under. Note: Is this Lucy a duplicate of the Lucy at the tavern?
1850 – IL Will Joliet – Federal Census - ** S. J. Knight, 48, farmer, MA; Camden Knight, 21, clerk, NY; Helen Knight, 17, NY; Mary Knight, 15, MA. ** Solon Knight, 17, barkeeper, NY, in HH of H. Henderson, Hotel Keeper, Ireland.