Once a Knight is Enough

Knight Genealogy

by Laura Knight

Knight Records 1640 - 1649

See Knight Records 1166-1549 for key.

In this collection, there is a lot of information about Ingle's Rebellion and the part Capt. Peter Knight of Northumberland played in that drama. He doesn't come off looking very shiny, but you have to remember that his actions would have been par for a fire-eating Puritan which he surely was.

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1640 - Jan 11 – VA Accomack / Northampton – Admin - Thomas Knight - Court: Land Certificates: A certificate was granted to Thomas Knight for the following: Thomas Adderston, Richard Jones, Thomas Harrison, John Roberts, Percy Terry. (Parks 1982, p. 371)

1640 – Feb 22 – UK London – Will – John Knight, Haberdasher – To Thomas Knight, son of my brother, Thomas Knight, deceased, 100 pounds; to Richard Knight, another of the sons of my brother, Thomas Knight, 20 pounds; to John Knight, another son of Thomas, the brother, 40 shillings; to William Knight, son of brother Thomas, 10 pounds; to Mary Knight, daughter of said brother, 20 pounds at marriage or age 21; to Margaret Henry, sometime wife to said brother, 20 shillings to buy her a ring; to my brother Henry Knight, 8 pounds per annum for his natural life; to Thomas Phillips, son of my sister Anne Phillips, 50 pounds at 21; to Sarah Phillips, daughter of my said sister, 50 pounds at marriage or age 21; to sister, Anne Phillips, 50 pounds; to John Lake and Richard Lake, children of my sister Alice Lake, 4 pounds apiece yearly for their education until they attain the age of 21 and then 10 pounds apiece; to sister Alice Lake, 20 pounds; to John Tanner and Audrey Tanner, children of my uncle, John Tanner of the County of ___ Gent, 10 pounds apiece at 21; to Elizabeth Smith, daughter of John Tanner, 10 pounds; to Lat___ Ely, daughter of John Tanner, 5 pounds; to the children of Elizabeth Smith, 40 shillings yearly toward their education and at 21, 5 pounds apiece; to Margaret Adkins and Martha May, daughters of Thomas May, my kinsman, 20 shillings apiece to buy them rings; to Thomas and John, sons of Margaret Adkins, 5 pounds apiece, and also 5 pounds to a third child of hers lately born; small bequests; everything not bequeathed to go to wife, Sarah, who is executrix. (Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858 for John Knight, PROB 11: Will Registers, 1624-1643, Piece 185: Evelyn, Quire Numbers 1-49 (1641))

1640 – Mar 3 – UK London St Bride – Bap – Sara Woodson – d/o Phillip Woodson and wife Sara. (London Met Arch)

1640 – Apr 1 – UK Buckinghamshire Turwelton – Will - William Knight – To son William Knight, one bond of M. Thomas Tunford, of Rudston in Northamptonshire, the sum of 20 pounds, one bond of 20 pounds being due to me from William Dye of Holmesdown, Somerset (?), one bond of 10 pounds from Richard Land of Northampton; one bond of 7 pounds due me from John Adlind of Northampton, one bond of 10 pounds due me from John Andrews of Bed… in the county of Bucks; there is a bond of 25 pounds due to me from my son James Knight; 20 pounds of the said money shall be paid to my son William and the other five I give to John Knight the son of my son James Knight; 8 pounds due to me from John Stoakes of Bucks, my will is that 4 pounds of this be paid to my son, William and the other 4 pounds to be paid to my son James; Elizabeth Knight, my wife, and William Knight my son, executors. ( PROB 11: Will Registers, 1624-1643, Piece 182: Coventry, Quire Numbers 1-53 (1640), Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858)

1640 – May 7 – UK Wiltshire New Sarum – Will – Anne Knight, Widow – To son Edward Knight, 20 shillings; to son Arnold Knight, 10 pounds; to grandchild Anne Wiggs, 10 pounds; to son-in-law Amias Paine 12 pounds; to daughter-in-law Elizabeth Paine, 12 pounds; to daughter Anne Harward, 12 pounds; residue of estate to son-in-law Robert Morgan, and he to be executor. Wit: Thomas Morgan, Priscilla Morgan. (Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, PROB 11: Will Registers, 1624-1643, Piece 183: Coventry, Quire Numbers 54-116 (1640)

1640 – Jun 18 – UK Somerset West Buckland – Will – Anne Knight – To parish church, 10 shillings; to the poor, 40 shillings to be distributed on funeral day; to John Glass, Yeoman, and Johane his “now wife”, my son-in-law and daughter-in-law, 10 shillings; to son-in-law Thomas Knight of Taunton, Yeoman, 10 shillings; then follows a long passage about leases, royal decrees, etc, all of which appears to concern a Buckland Manor and may be of considerable historical interest as many names are mentioned as well as their roles and relationships concerning said manor; this is a job for an expert if anyone wishes to pursue it; residue of estate to daughter, Anne Knight, and she to be executrix. Friends Edward Clarke, Gent and kinsman, Richard Wash, Constable, overseers.  (Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, PROB 11: Will Registers, 1624-1643, Piece 183: Coventry, Quire Numbers 54-116 (1640))

1640 – Oct 8 – UK Kent Hythe – Mar – Alice Knight (Alise) & Edmund Bedingfield. (Tyler)

1640 – Nov 23 – UK Wiltshire Codford St Mary – Bap – Sarah Knight – d/o Henry Knight and Anne. (London Met Arch)

1641 – Feb – UK London St Andrew – Mar – Elizabeth Knight & John Barnes

1641 – Mar 3 – UK Norfolk Norwich – Nunc Will – Constance Knight, Widow – To brother Mr John Ebrooke and brother-in-law, Mr. John Toolis, one of the Aldermen of Norwich, and Katherine Toolis, his wife, the sister of testator, to receive entire estate to divide between them; 10 pounds to be distributed to the poor; to Mr. William Bridges and Mr. Edward White, preachers, 3 pounds apiece; sister Katherine Toolis to be executrix. (Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, PROB 11: Will Registers, 1624-1643, Piece 188: Cambell, Quire Numbers 1-42 (1642))

1641 – May 27 – UK Kent Godmersham – Mar – Joan Knight & William Maplesden (Tyler)

1641 – Jun 1 – UK Somerset Preston – Will – Margaret Knight, Widow – To be buried in the churchyard of Congresbury; to son John Smith, 40 shillings; to his 3 children, Agnes, Mary and Thomas, 10 shillings apiece; to daughter Isabella, wife of John Avery, 10 shillings; to her 4 children, Thomas, William, Elizabeth and Jane Avery, 10 shillings; to grandson Walter Kenrott, son of Thomas Konrott (Konrad?) and daughter Katherine, 20 pounds, bed, other household items; to granddaughter Margaret Konrott, 20 pounds, bed, household items; to Johane Chirk, wife of Jacob Chirk, 2 shillings; residue of estate to daughter Katherine Konrott who is to be executrix. (Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, PROB 11: Will Registers, 1624-1643, Piece 186: Evelyn, Quire Numbers 50-104 (1641))

1641 – Jun 9 – UK Somerset Cucklington – Will – William Knight, Yeoman – To the poor of the parish, 20 shillings; to Edward Knight, the son of Thomas Knight, two chattel leases with appurtenances; also to Edward, bed and furnishings, sheets, blankets, etc, coffer, and 100 pounds; to Edward Knight, the debt bonds from John Kendall and John Whittle;  to William Knight, son of Thomas Knight, 100 pounds; to William, debt bonds from George Gage and Henry Buller, Gent; to John Knight, son of Thomas Knight, 100 pounds; to Alice Knight, daughter of Thomas Knight, best coverlet and 100 pounds, money to be invested until she is 21 or married; to my brother’s, or sister-in-law’s children in the North Country, 40 pounds; residue of estate to brother, Thomas Knight who is to be executor; kinsman John Hobbs and Steven Mares overseers. (Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, PROB 11: Will Registers, 1624-1643, Piece 186: Evelyn, Quire Numbers 50-104 (1641))

1641 - Jun 11 – VA Elizabeth City – Admin – William Armistead - Transfer of patent deed from William Armistead (Armestead) to John Bowles, “20 acs of land in sd. County… Consideration: patent of 100 acs granted unto Thomas Keeling, Nov. 18 1635, accrewing due unto Thomas Cason (text: Casson) in right of his wife, Elizabeth, formerly wife and now relict of William Laighton & since assigned by Casson unto sd. Bowles. Wit: Samuel Abbott & John Mead.” (Nugent I, p. 124) Note: the earliest mention of this Thomas Cason is that he is used as headright by a Thomas Harwood in 1635 along with Lewis Cocke, Foulke Brasey, William Bell, Thomas Lewis, Joane Butler, all familiar names in the colony.

1641 - Jun 23 – VA Isle of Wight – Admin - Ambrose Bennett – Land patent for 1150 acs. … Upon the maine head of the Lower baye Cr. Called Cypress Swamp. Trans. Of 23 servants. List incl: Anthony Cole, David Cone. On the same day, Bennett patented 300 acs of Isle of Wight Co., “Beg. Nigh persimmond swamp, the head of a branch of Seawards Cr. Etc.” Adj. Capt. Nathaniell Bass. (Nugent I, p. 125) Note: Basse was apparently still in residence. Also, the name “Anthony Cole” is suspiciously similar to Anthony Coleman, though, of course, there were Coles around also.  

1641 – Jul 4 – UK London St Andrew – Bur – Robert Knight - s/o Richard Knight (London Met Arch)

1641 – Sep 9 – UK Hampshire Kingsclere – Will - Thomas Knight, Yeoman – Wife Elizabeth to receive use of house during her life, and full possession of many items, listed; house and lands mortgaged to William Smith of Deane; nephew, Thomas Harris the younger, son of his sister Jane, to receive estate after death of wife, and to pay off the mortgage; kinsman, Nicholas Knight, one of overseers. One of the witnesses: Peter Knight. (Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, PROB 11: Will Registers, 1624-1643, Piece 187: Evelyn, Quire Numbers 105-155 (1641))

1641 – Nov 12 – UK Suffolk Bulcamp – Will – Robert Knight(s), Yeoman – To nephew Miles Gardner of Bulcamp, all the lands and tenements now in the occupation of Miles on the condition that Miles Gardner shall pay my godson Robert Gardner, son of Miles, 10 pounds a year, and that after the decease of Miles, the property to go to Robert Gardner; more property and money to Robert Gardner, details, conditions, etc.; wife of Miles Gardner, Anne, mentioned; name of main estate appears to be Larkes in the parish of St Clement Danes, Middlesex; tenant named Mr. Boswell; to kinsman William Gardner, lands and tenements in parish of St Clement, Middlesex;  to the poor of Bulcamp and Blythburgh, 10 shillings each parish, to be paid yearly; details of where this money to come from;  to the poor of Easton Bavents, 20 shillings a year “forever”, details of source follow; to Miles Gardner, lands in Brampton; to kinswoman Grace Meacham, 40 shillings; to sister Jane Plason, if she become widowed, 3 pounds 6 shillings a year as long as she is widowed; Miles Gardner to be executor and residuary legatee. (Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, PROB 11: Will Registers, 1624-1643, Piece 187: Evelyn, Quire Numbers 105-155 (1641))

1641 – UK Middlesex London – Chancery – Saunders vs Knight - Plaintiffs: Joseph Saunders.  Defendants: Thomas Fletcher, George Margetts, John Hoult, Robert Smyth and Peter Knight.  Subject: money, Middlesex.  Document type: bill and answer. (National Archives, Kew England, Ref:C 8/50/37)  Note: This is likely to be Peter Knight, Merchant of VA who was formerly Saunders representative in Virginia.

1641 – UK Cornwall Liskeard – Chancery – Peter Knight - Plaintiffs: Peter Knight, mercer of Liskeard, Cornwall.  Defendants: Francis Lippencott [Lippincott].  Document type: bill and answer. (National Archives, Kew England, Ref: C 2/ChasI/K20/43)

1642 – VA Accomack/Northampton County – Info - Accomac Shire was established in 1634 as one of the eight original shires of Virginia. The name comes from the native word Accawmack, which meant "on the other side". In 1642 the name was changed to Northampton, following a policy of eliminating "heathen names". Northampton was divided into two counties in 1663. The northern adopted the original name, while the south remained Northampton.

1642 – VA Charles River/York County – Info – Charles River was established in 1634 as an Original Shire. It was renamed to York County in 1642

1642 – VA Nansemond County / Upper Norfolk – Info – Nansemond County was established in 1642 from Upper Norfolk County which had been established in 1637 from New Norfolk County. 

1642 - Jan 17 –VA Gloucester - Admin – Hugh Gwynn – Land patent for 1700 acs.: “Near the mouth of the Pyankatanke R. Beginning at a sandy point on Chisopeiake Bay up Milford Haven Bay to the narroe bounded by a great bay called Stengra Bay being due E from said River mouth, parallel to Rappahannocke Bay & S’ly parallel to Chisopeike. 200 acs. marsh.” Trans of: … William Parker, Richard Bennett, Thomas Taylor, John Knight, twice, Nicholas Reynolds, etc. (Mason 1946, p. 35)  Note: We have Parker, Bennet, Taylor, Knight, and Reynolds all together here. See also the 1654 May 29 will of William Knight for possible Gwynn connections.

1642 - Mar – VA Northampton – Thomas Knight - Accomack County  Court: A certificate for taking up land in Northampton County was granted to Thomas Knight for the following persons: Thomas Adderston, Richard Jones, Thomas Harrison, John Roberts, Percy Terry. A cert. was granted to William Andrews for: Alexander Harrison, Thomas Gaskins, John Lee, etc. (VA Hist. Mag. Vol. XXVIII, p. 143)

1642 – Apr 20 – UK Surrey Alfold – Will – Thomas Knight, Yeoman – To the poor of the parish, 10 shillings; to wife, Sara, all goods and chattels for her natural life and after her decease to be divided among three daughters, Mary, Johane and Katherine; all lands, tenements, etc, in the county of Sussex, called Markfolds, to son John Knight when he is 21; to daughter Katherine, 5 pounds; to daugters Mary and Johane, 50 shillings apiece; brother John Knight and William Burk of Alfold, Blacksmith, to be executors; instructions to wife about education and upbrining of son. (Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, PROB 11: Will Registers, 1624-1643, Piece 189: Cambell, Quire Numbers 43-85 (1641))

1642 - Apr 22 – VA Isle of Wight - Admin - James Hawley - Land patent for 300 acs. . … Upon the head of the Lower Baye Cr., adj. John Rowe. Due for the per. Adv. Of himself, Ann, his wife, & trans. Of 4 pers: Francis Ann & Alice, his children, John Foster & Richard Darling. Patent renewed Sept. 27, 1643. (Nugent I, p. 125)
Note: As things turn out in a few months, it looks like Hawley got his family out of England just in time to avoid the war there.

1642 – Apr 25 – UK Kent Lydden – Mar – Peter Knight, widower & Mary Holliday (Tyler) I read this register back to May 1540, the earliest available, and no previous Knights noted.

1642 – May 4 – UK Buckinghamshire Ravenstone – Will – John Knight, Yeoman – To second son, Thomas Knight, 100 marks; to third son Henry Knight, 100 marks at age 21; to 3 children of daughter, Anne Bethroy, 10 pounds, viz 5 marks apiece; wife Eleanor and eldest son, John Knight, executors and residual legatees; some discussion at end about handling disputes as though they are expected. (Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, PROB 11: Will Registers, 1624-1643, Piece 189: Cambell, Quire Numbers 43-85 (1641))

1642 May 16 – VA Isle of Wight – Admin – William Purdivatt – Land patent for 200 acs “Facing E. on Pagan Cr. Or New Towne Haven, near land of Capt. Basse called Cedar Island, now in possession of William Pateford, extending S. towards land of Hugh Wynn & William Taylor. (Nugent I, p. 142)
Note: This is the only mention of Pateford in the entire volume; one wonders if it could have actually been “Pate”? Nevertheless, it suggests that Capt. Basse had parted with Cedar Island though I haven't yet found a record for such a transfer.  

1642 – May 19 – UK London St Andrew – Bur – Richard Knight (London Met Arch)

1642 – May 21 – UK Somerset North Curry – Will – Alice Knight, Widow – Wishes to be buried beside her deceased husband in the churchyard of North Curry; to the parish church, 10 shillings; to the poor of the parish, 20 shillings; to daughter Mabel Knight, 40 pounds to be paid out of the Coppy hold Estate and household items; to daughter Katherine Knight, 50 pounds, household items; to daughters Agnes and Elizabeth Knight, chattel lease and household items; clothing to be divided between 3 youngest daughters; residue of estate to son Richard, and he to be executor; to Johane Corry, brother John Corry’s daughter, 20 shillings; to brother John Corry, 40 shillings; to sister-in-law Marie Knight’s daughter, Johane, 2 shillings; to goddaughter Agnes Sleate, 1 shilling; to kinsmen William and Reynold Ditt, 10 shillings apiece to make them rings and they to be overseers of the will. (Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, PROB 11: Will Registers, 1624-1643, Piece 189: Cambell, Quire Numbers 43-85 (1641)) 

1642 – May 26 – UK Kent Canterbury – Mar – Thomas Knight & Susan (HS, Marriage Licences issued by the Archbishop of Canterbury 1660-1668, vol 33 & 34;  G Armytage;  1892; Canterbury, Kent, England)

1642 – Jun 17 – UK Southampton Chawton – Will – Richard Knight, Esq – Begins in the usual way with reference to the transitory nature of life, but then mentions that this has been brought home to him by the deaths of his father, brothers and sisters and then goes onto a rather longer religious statement than usual; finally, he is most concerned that his debts are paid and suggests how this is to be done; mentions his friend, Lewis Bampford of the middle temple, London, who will help sell specific lands for the payment of debts; then, with money left over, 150 pounds to his wife; then, to his mother, Judith Saunders, 15 pounds; to sister King, 10 pounds; to nephew, Michael Martin, 20 pounds when he turns 17; nephew Anthony Barker, nieces Mary Barker and Judith Barker, 10 pounds each; to Uncle Jones, 5 pounds; to Aunt Jones, 5 pounds (to buy mourning rings); to his sister King’s two daughters, 5 pounds apiece; to kinsman Thomas Monty, 10 pounds; to friend Robert Baron, 10 pounds; to James Sessions, parson of Chawton, 10 pounds; to the poor of Chawton, 5 pounds; to wife, Elizabeth, his house and lands in Chawton to hold during her widowhood and until son Richard Knight shall reach 21, as long as she remains a widow; to son, Richard Knight, all goods and chattels, everything in the barns, all commodities, all plate, linen, beds, guns, munitions, artillery, etc , except that wife, Elizabeth, to have use of all this as long as she continues a widow and the son is not 21; the next half of the will is taken up with specific instructions for inventory, and then setting up an annuity for his son; has a clerk named John Knight, 5 pounds; numerous small bequests to servants; wife Elizabeth to be sole executrix. (Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, PROB 11: Will Registers, 1624-1643, Piece 189: Cambell, Quire Numbers 43-85 (1641))Note: the Saunders/Sanders connection is interesting. There are also Saunders/Sanders-Knight connections in Kent.

1642 – Jun 24 – UK Somerset Weston – Will – Thomas Knight – To the parish church, 10 shillings; to another parish, 10 shillings; to the poor 10 shillings; to son George, items (tools, household goods); to daughter Florence (?) 4 pounds and items; to godson Thomas Gander (?) 30 pounds; to Thomas Gander JR, items; Jeremia Gander, son of Thomas, money; sister Florence; sister Joan Baker; Robert Baker; Richard Baker; Mary Dabb; William Dabb; John Bates; John Gilbert; Mary Woodrow; Joan Woodrow; Andrew Pearch, Mary Parker, Robert Jenkins; daughter Elizabeth; Gregory Stokes (Stoaks); if son and daughters die, estate to go to Thomas Gander; daughter Elizabeth to be executrix, two friends to be overseers. (The image of this text is very poor and the text itself is difficult.)  (Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, PROB 11: Will Registers, 1624-1643, Piece 189: Cambell, Quire Numbers 43-85 (1641))

1642 – Jul 5 – UK Kent Cowden – Will – George Knight, Yeoman – Wife, Katherine, to receive entire estate during her life and after her decease, all to be divided among sons and daughters, and to the children of daughter-in-law, Jane Knight (widow of son?); (he does not name his children). ( PROB 11: Will Registers, 1624-1643, Piece 190: Cambell, Quire Numbers 86-131 (1642), Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858))

1642 – Jul 31 – UK London Stepney St Dunstan – Bap – Christopher Knight – s/o Francis Knight of Churchlane, Glover, and Joan. Bur: Nov 13 (London Met Arch)

1642 – Aug 10 – VA Charles River – Admin – William Prior Gent – Land patent for 1300 acs. on the North side of Charles River, on E. side near land of John Jones, etc. down Priors Creek, etc. Trans of 26 pers: incl. Richard Errington, Gregory Bass, Michael Sanders, William Thorneton, Thomas Kingswell, William James, William Johnson, Thomas Jervis, Robert Kingsbury. (Nugent I, p. 132)

1642 Aug 20 – VA Nansemond – Admin - Thomas Emerson – Land patent for 200 acs. Upon Western Br. Of Nansamund River… Trans. Of 4 pers: Edmund Knight, John Ellis, Nicholas Emerson, John Ellis (sic). (Nugent I, p. 130)

1642 – Aug 22 - UK England – Info- The First English Civil War - started in 1642. The Parliamentarians saw the causes of the quarrel initially as a constitutional issue (simmering since earlier that year), but as the war progressed they became more radical and religiously focused. Thus, the elements of resistance in Parliament and the nation were at first confused, and, later, strong and direct and pretty much purely about religion. Democracy, moderate republicanism, and the desire for constitutional guarantees could hardly make head way against the various forces of royalism, for the most moderate men of either party were sufficiently in sympathy to admit compromise. But the backbone of resistance was the Puritan element in Parliament, and this waging of war at first on the political issue, soon brought the religious issue to the front. By the end of the year neither side had succeeded in gaining an advantage, although the King's advance on London was the closest Royalist forces came to threatening the city.

1642 – Sep 5 – MD Kent Island – Admin – Census: William Naufone, Francis Rabnett, Thomas Allen, Thomas Butler, John Bennett, Walter Weeks, Henry Morgan, Edward Comins, Thomas Pett, John Russell, Thomas Stent, Thomas Parker, Giles Basha, Thomas Hales, Thomas Keyne, William Cox, Francis Brooks, Henry Bellamy, William Lant, Ralph Pettiman, William Parry, Thomas Kidd, Robert Philpott, John Medcalfe, Nicholas Porter, John Gresham, George Crouch, John Marwood, Robert Hewett, William Jackson, Robert Lake, Richard Smith, John Pattner, Richard Spain, William Wieldee, William Smith, Richard Thompson, William Ashbrook, Edmond Parry, Nicholas Browne, Devor Godwin, John Hill, Thomas Dier, Mathew Rodan, Robert Short, Thomas Arnold, Nicholas Pothampton, Richard Pinner, Roger Baxter, Howell Morgan, John Smith, John Armsby, Richard Purlevant, Edward Thompson, John Abbott, Thomas Bradnock, Duck Denitz, John Philips, Philip Conner, Robert Vaughan, John Walker, Andrew Basha, John Lee, Richard Hoben, Walter Smith, Charles Steward, Henry East, John Pere, John Powell, Hughe Fowes, James Johnson, James Claughton, William Porter. All these above appeared by their Proxie Mr Giles Brent

1642 – Sep 21 - VA James City – Admin - Anthony Coleman – Land patent for 82 ½ acs. In Pasbyhaies …. By order of Court, Dec. 3, 1639, “For the better strengthening and securing of James Cittie,” &c. Adj. Sir Francis Wyatt, Alexander Stoner, his own land & Mr. White’s. 21 yr. Lease from the feast of St. Michaell the Arch Angell 1649. Annuall Rent: 3 bbls. & a bushel of Ner. Indian corne sheld at the State Howse in James Citty.” Note: Renewed in the name of Thomas Ludwell, 11 July 1651. (Nugent I, p. 145)

1642 - Oct 17 – VA Elizabeth City – Admin – Henry Coleman – Land patent for 104 acs…. Bounded W. upon Hampton River, S. by land of Mr. Henry Poole & N. by land of Mr. Robert Speed. Formerly lease land. For trans of 2 pers: Robert Peltriman & William Knight. (Nugent I, p. 137)

1642 – UK Buckinghamshire Newport Pagnell – Chancery – John Knight - Laughton v Knight.  Plaintiffs: Priscilla Laughton.  Defendants: John Knight, Bridget Knight his wife and others.  Subject: personal estate of the deceased James Laughton of Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire.  Document type: [pleadings]. (National Archives, Kew England, Ref: C 3/451/47)

1643 – VA Warwick County – Info - Established in 1643 from Warwick River County.

1643 - Jan 3 – VA Northampton – Admin – Capt. Francis Yeardly - Cert granted for 3000 acs. for trans of the following (selected): Augustine Moore, Mary Watkins, Henry Leonard, John Lewillins (Llewellyn), Richard Griffin, etc. (VA Hist. Mag., Vol. XXVIII, p. 144)

1643 – Jan 12 – UK London St Andrew – Bur – Nicholas Knight (London Met Arch)

1643 - Apr 17 – VA James City – Admin - Richard Kemp Esq – “Secretarie & one of his Majesty’s Councell of State, 4,332 acs. … Lying at the head of Archers Hope Cr., upon the Pallisadoes, adj. Georg Lake’s land upon the horse path. N. W. by N. upon Powhatan Sw., and S. upon the Secretarys land. 1,200 acs by purchase from George Minifie, Merchant, which was not truly bounded as appears by survey made by William Wigg, Surveyor authorized by the Court & 940 by several former patents. 2,192 acs. For trans. Of 44 pers.: His own 2nd adv. …” Names include: Samuel Abbott, Richard Clarke, John Mead, William Edwards, Thomas Griffith, John Moore (More), William Lawrence, Thomas Sutton, Robert Bateman, Richard Norris, John Lewis, John Chamberlain, Leonard Hawley (Hawly), John Hall, Samuel Etherton (Ethirton), Gilbert Gerrard … “600 of said 1200 acs granted to Mr. Thomas Hill & the rent to be paid by him; 50 acs granted to Capt. Francis Pott, by order of June 13, 1642 & by him assigned to William Davis. (Nugent I, p. 143)

1643 - May 10 - VA Isle of Wight - Admin - Peter Knight (Peeter) - Land patent for 255 acs. … called Basses Choice…. Near Pagan Bay & Dawsons Cr. & land of Mr. Peter Hall. Trans. Of 6 pers: Peter Knight, Thomas Harris, James Foster, Edward Wells, William Nicholas, Thomas Cobb. (Nugent I, p. 166) 

Note: In the 1638 Apr 10 patent, the note is made that Peter Knight still has 36 acres due to him "for his own personal adv." That is undoubtedly the reason he is giving himself as a headright here; there's nothing mysterious about it, nor is it likely to be a son. It is curious that Peter Knight patented 255 acres of what was said to have been a 300 acre original patent to Basse. Did Basse retain 45 acres to live on himself while assigning the remainder to Peter for some remuneration?

1643 – May 13 – UK Suffolk Bulcamp – Nunc Will / Admin – Robert Knight(s) – In Latin; names mentioned: Nicholas Knights, brother; James Knight, John Knight, nephew, son of deceased brother; Miles Gardiner and Nicholas Knight appear to be executors; their names are repeated numerous times. (Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, PROB 11: Will Registers, 1624-1643, Piece 191: Crane (1643))

1643 - Aug 10 – VA York – Admin – Roland Burnham Gent – Land patent for __ acs. upon the N side of Yorke R. SE on Burnhams Crk. and along the river NW upon John Bayles, NE on Thos. Wilkinson & Robert Norris (Norrice).  For trans of: himself, Thomasin Knight, James Uteley, Martin Baker, Walter Wood, Thomas Wooldrige, John Mason, William Heward, William Peach. (Mason 1946, p. 14)

1643 – Sep 2 – UK London St Micheal Wood St – Bur – John Knight – Lodger w/ Christopher Knight. (London Met Arch)

1643 - Sep 21 –VA James City – Admin - Anthony Coleman – Land patent for 82 ½ acs. In Pasbyhaies …. By order of Court, Dec. 3, 1639, “For the better strengthening and securing of James Cittie,” &c. Adj. Sir Francis Wyatt, Alexander Stoner, his own land & Mr. White’s. 21 yr. Lease from the feast of St. Michaell the Arch Angell 1649. Annuall Rent: 3 bbls. & a bushel of Ner. Indian corne sheld at the State Howse in James Citty.” Note: Renewed in the name of Thomas Ludwell, 11 July 1651. (Nugent I, p. 145)

1643 - Sep 28 – VA Isle of Wight – Admin - James Hawley – Land patent for 300 acs. … Upon the head of the lower bay cr., adj. John Row. By virtue of patent, dated 22 Apr. 1641. (Nugent I, p. 148) Repatented Apr. 10, 1647. (Nugent I, p. 167)

1643 Oct 17 – VA Lower Norfolk – Admin - Thomas Cason (Cassen) – Land patent for 300 acs. “Beg. At certaine trees deviding this and land of Peter Gaviott (?) etc.” Trans. Of 6 pers incl: Thomas Cason (Cassen), John Moore & Richard Hawton (Hawten).  (Nugent I, p. 149) 

Note: There is no other mention of a “Peter Gaviott” in Nugent. Looking at previous references to Thomas Cason, I find him in Charles City and Elizabeth City, but he appears to have transferred those parcels.  I found him associated with a Samual Abbott and John Mead. (See 1641 Jun 11 patent and 1638 May 20 patent of Francis Eppes.) It seems to me that the name, “Gaviott” might be a really messed up scribal attempt to write “Abbott.” (Or messed up attempt to transcribe it.) However, I don’t find any other reference to a Peter Abbott.  It also occurs to me, after seeing some really messed up transcriptions of the name “Knight” that “Gaviott” could possibly be such an error.  There is a patent that follows this one immediately that is apparently the same individual and date and the county is given as Lower Norfolk: “Near land of George Rutland. Trans. of 8 pers. incl. Thomas Richards & Richard Lee. (Nugent I, p. 149)

1643 - Oct 17 – VA Gloucester – Admin – John Hoddin – Land patent for 950 acs at the head of North R. upon the NW side of maine dames and adjoining his own land. Trans of: Mary Thomas, John Thompson, Humphrey Gum, Christian his wife, his own adv., Martin Skinner, John Barnes, Thomas Poynter, Thomas Fletcher, John Fletcher, William Blare, James Taylor, Sanders Allen, John Burnham, John King, Thomas Hopkins, Thomas Tompson, Henry Thomas. (Mason 1946, p. 39) Note: Thomas Fletcher may be ancestor to Thomas Fletcher (1713) who married Mary Knight, dau. of William Knight and Jane Butler. William was grandson of Capt. Peter Knight via Leonard Knight. Note also that John Burnham is a headright here; compare with 1643 Aug 10 Patent to Roland Burnham, Gent, which includes Thomasin Knight as headright.

1643 - Oct 20 – VA Elizabeth City – Admin - Mr. Henry Hawley – Land patent for 50 acs. for trans of Thomas Hatchway. (Nugent I, p. 151)

1643 - Dec 16 – VA Isle of Wight – Admin – William Peirce – Land patent for 2,100 acs on the James River mentions “a great oak marked by Mr. Hawley”. (Nugent I, p. 149)

1643 – UK London – Chancery – Arthur Knight - Plaintiffs: Peter Gwilliams. Defendants: William Oke, Arthur Mansfield, Thomas Tyler, Robert Mann, Arthur Knight, Henry Dermer, Robert Poole, Andrew Bostock, William Wells, William Tainton and William Kinge.  Subject: personal estate of Matthew Dunn, London.  Document type: bill and two answers. (National Archives, Kew England, Ref: C 8/57/148)

1644 – Feb 22 – UK London St Michael Wood St – Bur – Christopher Knight – s/o Christopher Knight, carpenter. (London Met Arch)

1644 Mar 1 – VA Elizabeth City – Admin - John Knight - Witnesses a sales transaction of 1200 lbs tobacco sold by Daniel Tanner of Elizabeth City, carpenter, and Cornelius Lloyd (Loide), of Elizabeth River, merchant, to John Flower, of London. (Davis 2010, p. 23)

1644 – Apr – VA Accomack – Info – Richard Ingle & Thomas Cornwallis - After a peaceful stop in Accomac, Virginia, in late March where Capt. Cornwallis (Cornwaleys) joined the ship, the Reformation sailed for London in April 1644. (William F. Milam, M.D., Riordan 2004, p. 166)

1644 - Apr 18 – Virginia Colony – Info – 3rd Anglo Powhatan War - Forces under 99 year old Opechancanough, a leader of the Powhatan Confederacy, attacks the English along the Pamunkey and York rivers, 22 years after his first attack at Jamestown. His followers will kill almost 400 Virginia colonists..   It was the start of the 3rd and last Anglo-Powhatan War ending in 1646 with the capture and death of Opechancanough at the age 92.

Note: Allegedly, “Dr” John Woodson was killed on his way home from seeing a patient.  His wife was alleged to have held off the Indians with the help of her companion, Col. Thomas Ligon, cousin of Sir William Berkeley. Supposedly, Indians were attempting to descend through the chimney, never mind the fact that a fire was burning in it, and Sarah allegedly dispatched them with boiling water and a roasting “pit” or spit; very much like dispatching the Big Bad Wolf in the tale of the Three Little Pigs. There is no account of where her later mentioned daughter Deborah was hidden during the attack so one assumes she was born posthumously. No details are given of where they were living, and no record of land patent or court appearances, or anything at all, has ever been found to support this tale. 

1644 – Jun 17 – UK London St Andrew – Bur – Edward Knight - s/o John Knight (London Met Arch)

1644 – Jul 29 – UK Kent Goudhurst – Mar – Grace Knight & Thomas Pooke (?) (Tyler)

1644 Oct 16 – VA York – Admin - Peter Knight, Merchant-  A letter to Mr. Fr. Willis sent by Mr. John Chew regarding an account of Capt Wormeley. Signed Peter Knight. (Fleet, III, p. 54)

Note: As another record further on will show, this was Capt. Christopher Wormeley,  son of Christopher Wormeley, Esq., a descendant of Sir John de Wormeley, of Hadfield, county York, England (1312). He was governor of the island of Tortuga from 1632 to 1635, during which last year it was taken by the Spaniards, a loss said to have been due to the carelessness of the governor. He appears to have come directly to Virginia as he was a justice of Charles River county in 1636. In 1639 and 1640, he was commander-in-chief of Charles River and Elizabeth City counties. In 1636-37, he was appointed a member of the council, and, being a supporter of Harvey, received a share of the governor's unpopularity. When Secretary Kemp fled to England in 1640, Wormeley seems to have accompanied him. He and Kemp were accused of cruelty and oppression in the colony and had considerable difficulty in making their return to Virginia, being twice prevented from doing so by orders from the house of lords, the second order being served on them when they were already on shipboard and about to depart. These charges seem to have had a foundation in fact. Wormeley actually confessed later to having tried a case against one Taylor unjustly, when a commissioner of Elizabeth City. Moral standards seem to have been somewhat lax in Virginia in 1640, for, although the council directed Wormeley to make reparation to Taylor, yet his sins do not seem to have debarred him from his office as councillor, and he was present at meetings of the council in 1642 and 1643. It seems probable that he died shortly after the latter date. (http://vagenweb.org/tylers_bios/vol1-10.htm)

1644 – Oct 21 – UK London St Bride – Bap – Mary Knight - d/o John Knight & Ann (London Met Arch)

1644 – Nov 20 – UK Somerset Portbury – Will – Mabell Knight – To children of sister-in-law, Alice Knight, 5 pounds apiece; to Susanna Roman and Elizabeth Romand, the daughters of John Roman of St Gregory, Gent, 5 pounds apiece; to the children of my sister-in-law, Joane Knight, 3 pounds apiece; to Alice Smith, servant to my sister-in-law, Alice Knight, 5 pounds; to Henry Foster, my servant, 5 pounds; to Anne knight, the daughter of Alice Knight, sheets; to Elizabeth Knight, daughter of Alice Knight, little cupboard; to Alice Knight, bed, bolsters, coverlet, blanket, pillows, pair of sheets;  anything remaining not bequeathed, to Susanna Moreton of Blodesworth, my sister,  and she to be executrix, with the intent that she may share with my sister, Margaret Moreton accordingly. (Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, PROB 11: Will Registers, 1644-1654, Piece 192: Rivers, Quire Numbers 1-56 (1644-1645))

1644 – Dec – MD Kent Island – Info - William Claiborne & Richard Ingle - During the Summer of 1644, the Civil War in England dragged on with neither side gaining the advantage. Complicating trade for the English colonies in America, both Parliament and King Charles I issued “Commissions” or “Letters of Marque” to the captains of sailing vessels giving them permission to capture ships supporting the other side.  Parliament controlled the port of London and the King controlled Bristol, Gravesend on the Thames and some southern ports.

In the Fall and Winter of 1644 – 1645 matters came to a head for Maryland after Governor Leonard Calvert returned from England in September with a Commission to capture Parliament supporting ships on the Chesapeake. He met with the Virginia Council who, although Royalists, were opposed to this idea since they foresaw the danger to their tobacco trade. In October, Richard Ingle while loading cargo in London for his annual voyage received a Commission from the Lord High Admiralty authorizing him “to seize vessels trading to ports which were hostile to Parliament” i.e. Bristol, Gravesend, etc. When the Reformation arrived in Virginian waters in December 1644, the stage was set.

Just before Christmas, 1644, the angry and resentful Capt. William Claiborne, first settler of the Isle of Kent (1631) and now a Virginia Council member, sailed two ships to Kent Island and landed an invasion party of 10. They were joined by 8 men from Chicacoan on the Northern Neck of Virginia which was inhabited by some of Claiborne’s disheartened settlers from Kent Island and also by Protestant fugitives from St Mary’s. Capt. Claiborne rallied some of the islanders and marched toward Giles Brent’s plantation. When they arrived at John Abbott’s house some asked to see Claiborne’s letter from the King authorizing him to seize the island’s government. They were not convinced by the “parchment” that he showed and abandoned the attack. Claiborne sailed back to Virginia. (William F. Milam, M.D., Riordan 2004, p. 167)

1644 – Dec – MD Kent Island – Info – Ingles Rebellion & Peter Knight – The following is from Maryland Court Records made in 1647-1648, but it refers to a period “Between Michaelmas & Christmas 1644”, so I am inserting it this point in the chronology of occurrence It obviously describes the events of the previous entry. 

The Deposition of Thomas Bradnox aged 40 yeares & upwards taken before the Govr & Councell att a Court held att St Maries 7 Decembr (1647) as followeth; Govr Prnt C. Giles Brent.  This Deponent sayth That sometime in the Winter, betweene Michaelmas & Christmas in the yeare 1644, Mr Thomas Gerrard, Capt William Claiborne (Cleyborne) (one of the Councell of Virginia) came uppon the Ile of Kent, bringing wth him in Tompson's, Cock’s, & his owne Vessell, Ten or Eleaven persons; and stird up the Inhabts of the sd Iland, together his owne forenamed Company, & seaven or eight other persons then newly arryved from Chicacoan, to rise in armes agst the then there settled Govermt & by force of armes to take the howse of Mr Giles Brent, then lyving uppon the sd Iland. And uppon this designemt of taking the sd Mr Brents howse by force of armes as aforesd & of taking the Iland from under the jurisdiction there setled as aforesd himselfe wth the foresd parties marched in armes from one Edward Commins howse, towards Mr Brents howse about 3 mile, unto the howse of one John Abbotts. Where then the sd persons, before they would march further wth him, requyred to see the Authority by wch hee was enabled to goe uppon the action (accon) then in hand. And hee shewed them a peice of parchmt & a Letter,  Wth hee sayd was a Commisn & a Letter from the King. But the sd parties, or the greatest number of them (as it should seeme) doubting of the validity of his Authority, to justify them in the sd accon there gave over the designe & left him.  Whereuppon hee betooke himselfe to his Vessells & departed.  And this is all (to his best memory) tht the Dept can say of the busines done att tht time. ffurther hee deposeth not. Thomas T Bradnox  (Maryland State Archives, Judicial and Testamentary Business of the Provincial Court, 1637-1650,Volume 4, Page 458)

1644 – UK Middlesex – Chancery – Henry Knight - Knight v Knight.  Plaintiffs: Henry Knight.  Defendants: Sarah Knight, widow.  Subject: personal estate of John Knight, Middlesex.  Document type: two answers. (National Archives, Kew England, Ref: C 8/59/27)

1645 – Jan 18 – MD St Mary’s – Admin – Giles Brent & Richard Ingle - Acting Governor Giles Brent ordered William Hardige with the assistance of Capt. Thomas Cornwallis to arrest Richard Ingle with the intent of shipping Ingle back to England for trial on his own ship, The Reformation. But, with the help of Thomas Cornwallis, Ingle escaped and on 20 January sailed to Kent Island in the northern Chesapeake Bay. (William F. Milam, M.D., Riordan 2004, p. 163)

1645 – Jan 21 – UK Somerset Coombe St Nicholas – Will – Thomas Knight, Yeoman – To daughter Dorothy Knight and her heirs, two leases of land in the hands of one Edward Rossiter, Gent; in default of heirs by Dorothy, to pass to Joseph Seller, grandson, son of daughter, Joane Seller;  to Joane Seller, annuity for life of 40 shillings;  to grandchildren, Joane Seller and Susan Seller, 40 shillings apiece at 21; remainder and residue of estate, to daughter Dorothy Knight who is executrix; wit: Richard Knight (his mark). (Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, PROB 11: Will Registers, 1644-1654, Piece 195: Twisse, Quire Numbers 1-52 (1646))

1645 – Feb 1 – MD St Mary’s – Info – Giles Brent & Richard Ingle - Governor Brent held four different Inquests against Ingle and each of them replied "Ignoramus" (insufficient evidence). Second Inquest Jury included:  Cutbert Fenwick (ffenwick), Walter Beane, John Nevill, John Medley, Francis Gray, Richard Nevett, Barnaby Jackson, Peter Draper, Joseph Edlo, John Langford, Arthur Hay, Gerard Ford. (William F. Milam, M.D., Maryland State Archive: Vol. 4, p.  238)

1644 – Feb 3 - MD St Mary’s – Info – Giles Brent & Richard Ingle - Governor Brent's Third Inquest Jury included: Robert Vaughan, foreman; Francis Gray, Thomas Hebden, John Price, George Binx John Wavill, Thomas Sturman (Sterman), Thomas Greene, gent; Robert Perry, Nathaniel Pope, Arthur Whale, John Ormsby. (William F. Milam, M.D., Maryland State Archive: Vol. 4, p. 241.)

1644 – Feb 5 - MD St Mary’s – Info – Giles Brent & Richard Ingle - Governor Brent held four different Inquests against Ingle and each of them replied "Ignoramus" (insufficient evidence). Fourth Inquest Jury included: Thomas Greene, Thomas Sturman (Sterman), Thomas Bushell, Thomas Hebden, Nathaniel Pope, Joseph Edlo, Ellis Beach, Francis Gray, John Price, Thomas Baldridge, Henry Bishop, Nicolas Cossin. (William F. Milam, M.D., Maryland State Archive: Vol. 4, p. 245)

1644 – Feb 8 – MD St Mary’s – Info – Thomas Cornwallis & Richard Ingle - Since Ingle was the chief trader for carrying the Maryland planters’ tobacco crop to England and since many planters also supported Parliament, they were not interested in convicting Ingle for slanderous remarks. With the intercession of Capt. Thomas Cornwallis (Cornwaleys), on 8 February an accord was reached whereby Ingle agreed to appear in court within one year to answer charges and to deposit one barrel of gun powder and 400 pounds of lead shot in exchange for a certificate for free and unmolested trade in Maryland. Ingle and the Reformation returned to St Mary’s in late February to finish unloading supplies and to take on the planters’ tobacco. After a peaceful stop in Accomac, Virginia, in late March where Capt. Cornwaleys joined the ship, the Reformation sailed for London in April 1644. (William F. Milam, M.D., Riordan 2004, p. 166)

1644 – Feb 11 – MD St Mary’s – Info – Ingle’s Rebellion - The Maryland Assembly met on 11 Feb 1645 at Nathaniel Pope’s home / ordinary in St Mary’s. Thomas Sturman, a freeman from St Michael's Hundred, pointedly asked the Governor if his “Commission” for seizing London (Parliament supporting) ships applied to Maryland waters as it did to Virginia?  Calvert replied that it did not extend to Maryland. Like the Virginia Assembly, the Maryland Assembly declared itself for free trade. (William F. Milam, M.D., Riordan 2004, p. 169)

1645 - Feb 14– MD St Mary’s – Info – Ingle’s Rebellion - Richard Ingle, having returned from London, sailed the Reformation, accompanied by one ship from Chicacoan, up the St George’s River to St Inigoes Creek. Ingle first seized the Dutch trading vessel,  Der Spiegel (Looking Glass) even though it hailed from Rotterdam and its records showed that it had not traded in England. They captured former acting Governor Giles Brent who was on board and took him prisoner on the Reformation. Capt. Cornwallis' servant, Andrew Monroe, went to secure his pinnace. Apparently seeing a chance to gain his freedom, Monroe and Thomas Harrison surrendered the ship to Ingle’s forces and joined the rebellion. (Cornwallis was in England). Then Ingle attempted to capture the Trewlove, a small pinance, sailing out of Bristol, England, which was 1 mile up St. Inigoes Creek but the crew  moved it further up the creek where the larger Reformation couldn’t sail. After nightfall the Trewlove quietly slipped out and sailed for England. The next morning Ingle sent 7 men – including Thomas Sturman – to take the Cross House, the mansion of  his good friend, Thomas Cornwallis. At the time it was the largest and wealthiest home in Maryland which Ingle feared could be used by the Catholics as a garrison. Although Ingle promised Cornwallis’ servant's wife otherwise, it was pillaged, plundered and left in ruin within 24 hours. Sturman commanded a garrison there for a while and later in the rebellion a number of prisoners were held at his house in St. Michaels.  

Ingle also sent out search parties for specific individuals: in particular, Governor Leonard Calvert,  Secretary John Lewgar and Jesuit Priest Thomas Copley. Calvert attempted to organize a resistance.   Since the Protestants greatly outnumbered the Catholics in Maryland, Governor Calvert’s situtation was precarious. However, it appears that the Catholics were not immediately overwhelmed and that he was able to gain enough men to mount a defense and construct St. Thomas Fort on  the property of Giles Brent's sisters: Margaret and Mary Brent. For their defense, the Protestants constructed a fort around Nathaniel Pope’s house and ordinary. The battle became one of raids and foraging to support each garrison.

The Catholic gentry were especially badly plundered.  Ingle ordered all of the Catholics' plundered tobacco and silver plate placed on board the Reformation and the Looking Glass. But their household goods, livestock and tools went to the Protestant rebels. In addition, Ingle collected all the debts in pounds of tobacco owed to Calvert, Lewgar, Cornwaleys, Fenwick and Copley for himself. Ingle desperately wanted to capture the Catholic Priests so that he could take them to London in order to prove that Maryland was hostile to the Protestant controlled Parliament and to justify his actions and his anticipated reward. Father Thomas Copley was subdued at his Portobacco house and later Father Andrew White was found. Three other, lower ranking Jesuits “disappeared” and were never heard from again – the only casualties of the conflict.

The mission properties of the Jesuit Priests were plundered, some houses burned and others turned over to the rebels. According to later court records, Father Thomas Copley filed a claim against Richard Ingle in England for £ 1800 including for jewelry and a number of items made of gold or silver and containing diamonds, rubys and sapphires – possibly religious symbols.

In mid March, unable to capture Governor Calvert, Richard Ingle sailed to the Isle of Kent where they continued to plunder - in particular, Giles Brent’s plantation. Brent was a prominent Catholic and a member of Maryland’s Council; had been acting Governor while Leonard Calvert was in England in 1644; and had been commander of the Isle of Kent. Edward Cummins and Thomas Bradnox were leaders in this operation. By the end of March, the Reformation and Looking Glass were full with tobacco and plundered lute. By early April, they had set sail for England with his carefully chosen prisoners, all Catholics: Giles Brent, John Lewgar, Father Thomas Copley and Father Andrew White who would be taken to testify in London’s High Court of the Admiralty as the Letter of Marque required. They reached London in early June 1645. (William F. Milam, M.D., Riordan 2004, p. 170-176)

1645 – Mar 10 – UK Somerset Broomefield – Will – Francis Knight, Yeoman – To wife Ursula, 20 bushels of wheat, 12 bushels of barley, 30 bushels of oats, beds with furnishings, brass pans and pots, linen, pewter bowls, brass candlesticks, etc, and use of other items as long as she dwells in house; to son James Knight, to George Wills and Anthony Legg, sons-in-law, daughter Ursula Harte, 5 shillings apiece; to granddaughter, Grace Knight, red heifer; to all other grandchildren, 1 ewe apiece and 12 pence apiece; to Micheal Baker, James French, Henry Bragge, Gregory Cole, Walter Morris, Richard Gale, Thomas Kirby, Simon Simpson, William Martin, Thomas Bulliford, Joane Godwin, 12 pence apiece; residue of estate to son John Knight who is to be executor; son James Knight and son-in-law Anthony Legg to be overseers. (Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, PROB 11: Will Registers, 1644-1654, Piece 195: Twisse, Quire Numbers 1-52 (1646))

1645 – May 29 – UK Sussex Felpham – Will – Jane Knight, Spinster – To kinsman John Singleton, my free land in Felsham, when he is 21 and also 5 pounds and half a dozen napkins monogrammed with F & K, other items; if John Singleton dies, legacy to remain to his sister Mary Singleton; to kinswoman, Mary Singleton, 5 pounds and a ring; to brother John Knight and his children, John Knight, Thomas Knight, Edward Knight, Mary Knight, 5 pounds apiece when 21; to Edward Knight, my bible; to Mary Knight, my cloak and gowns and farthingale; to kinsman Allen Parker’s children, Allen and Joana, 20 shillings apiece at 21; further small bequests to friends and “kin”. (Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, PROB 11: Will Registers, 1644-1654, Piece 193: Rivers, Quire Numbers 57-110 (1645)) 

1645 – May 31 – UK Norfolk – Camb Alum – John Knight - Adm. sizar at JESUS, May 31, 1645. Had resided one year at St Edmund Hall, Oxford. Of Norfolk. Matric. 1645; Scholar, 1647; B.A. 1648-9, as Knight; M.A. 1652.

1645 – Aug 19 – UK Somerset Charde – Will – Elizabeth Knight, Widow – To the church at Charde, 20 pounds total; to the poor of Charde, 30 pounds; to the curate of Chard, 40 shillings to preach her funeral;  to the sexton, 20 shillings;  to the children of Henry Every (Evory), brother, 10 pounds; to Agnes Evory of Taunton, Widow, late wife of William Evory my brother, 3 pounds; to grandchildren of brother, 10 silver teaspoons; to Joan Alford, wife of Thomas Alford, cousin, 10 pounds; to Joane Evory, daughter of my brother Joseph, 3 pounds; to William Evory and Jane Evory, children of John Evory my cousin, 4 pounds; to John Everard, godson, 20 shillings; to Mary Litte, daughter of Thomas Litte, 20 shillings, if she die, the 20 shillings to her brother, Abraham Litte; … to Thomas Knight and Roger Knight, sons of Richard Knight my brother (in-law) , 5 pounds to be equally divided; to Joane Knight my sister-in-law, 40 shillings; more small bequests and residue of estate to Francis Carswell, son of Francis Carswell, who is also to be executor.  (Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, PROB 11: Will Registers, 1644-1654, Piece 193: Rivers, Quire Numbers 57-110 (1645))

1645 – Sep 2 – UK London St Andrew – Bur – Stephen Knight - s/o Arthur Knight (London Met Arch)

1645 - Oct 1 – VA Isle of Wight – Will - Arthur Smith - Of Warrisqueake. Leg. – sons Arthur Smith JR and Richard Smith etc… Overseers, Peter Hull, Peter Knight and George Hardy. D. Oct 1, 1645. R. Feb. 9, 1693. (Fleet III, p. 35)

1645 – Nov 20 – UK Hampshire Fawley – Will – John Knight – To Mr. Turner, money, “to be buried without a sermon”; to Mrs. M__’s 2 children, money each; to Doctor Mason’s 4 children, money; to cousin Andrew Rivers of Pedinge; sister Elizabeth Knight; cousin Joyce Atterberry; her mother Cicely Gomeldon; to brother (in-law) Ralph Wilcox; to John Wilcox and William Wilcox; goddaughter Marie Harding, wife of Robert; Mr. Edward Exton; discussion of charitable gifts; Mr. Henry Brasbridge, executor; (the image of the will on the ancestry.com website is almost completely unreadable) (Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858 for John Knight, PROB 11: Will Registers, 1644-1654, Piece 194: Rivers, Quire Numbers 111-157 (1645))

1645 – UK Kent Cowden – Chancery - Knight v Knight - Plaintiffs: George Knight, John Knight, Jonas Knight and James Knight. Defendants: Robert Knight, John Knight, Richard Knight and Christopher Knight. Subject: property in Cowden, Kent. (National Archives, Kew, England, Ref: C 3/450/62)

1646 – Feb 10 – UK Devonshire Membury – Will – John Knight, Yeoman – To be buried at Membury; 40 shillings to the poor; to wife, Petronilla, half of all his household stuff, implements, whatsoever; also to wife, 2 of his best milk cows and his horse; five daughters: Susanna, Mary, Beatrice, Elizabeth, Parnell, 34 pounds each to be paid at marriage or age 21; Henry Knight and Richard Turner, my “brothers”, to be executors and to take the benefit of the farmship of farm of Godworthie; that the said Henry Knight and Richard Turner together with son, John Knight, shall use it to pay the sums to the five daughters; then, the farm and everything else goes to son, John Knight; if John the son dies, everything gets divided among the daughters; usual ending. (Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, PROB 11: Will Registers, 1644-1654, Piece 199: Fines, Quire Numbers 1-62 (1647))

1646 – Feb 25 – UK Surrey Lingfield – Will – John Knight, Yeoman – Wife Anne; brother Robert Knight; sons John Knight and Robert Knight; everything to be sold, money to be divided into 3 parts to go to wife Anne and 2 sons equally when they are 21. (Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, PROB 11: Will Registers, 1644-1654, Piece 199: Fines, Quire Numbers 1-62 (1647))

1646 – April – MD Kent Island – Info - Peter Knight of Northumberland VA -  From the Margaret Brent Lawsuit against Peter Knight of 1648; I am placing the depositions given later, at the time of occurrence of the events described within.

The Deposition of William Jones (Joanes) of the Ile of Kent aged 34 yeares or thereabouts taken this 25” of Septembr 1648. Sworne & examined, Sayth:  That sometime in Aprill Ano Dni 1646, hee did see one  hogshead of English Corne rowled downe to the water side, to  bee putt aboard Mr Knights Sloope, riding before Kent howse.  And tht hee saw the Inke, the Gripe, & the Spindle, & a Gudgeon, with some bowles, belonging to the Mill, lying in Kent howse, some certaine dayes before Mr Knight went away from Kent.  But what became of them, or whither hee caused them to bee carryed away hee knoweth not & further this Dept sayth not.   Willm Joanes,  Jurat Coram, Robt Vaughan.  (Maryland State Archive, Judicial and Testamentary Business of the Provincial Court, 1637-1650, Vol 4 p. 455)

The Deposition of Nicholas Browne aged 40 yeares or thereabouts  Sworne & examined sayth  That somtime in the yeare 1646 Mr Peter Knight being att this depts howse. The sd dept hearing a Gun goe of, sayd unto Peter Knight That it was the Rogues killing his hogs. Peter  Knight relating againe, tht it was his men killing a Beast. The wch Beast the Dept maketh oath tht it was Capt Brents, or att  least did suck uppon one of his Cowes to his knowledge. &  further he deposeth not  Signed Nicolas Browne, Jurat Coram Phillip Conner. (Maryland State Archive, Judicial and Testamentary Business of the Provincial Court, 1637-1650, Vol 4 p. 454)

Capt. Peter Knight apparently had his own sloop

1646 - Jun 13 – UK London – Info – Ingle’s Rebellion - The first law suit began on 13 June when Captain Ingle sued the Looking Glass in Admiralty Court "for trading with a port hostile to Parliament" i. e. St. Mary's in the Province of Maryland. In July Thomas Cornwallis sued Richard Ingle in Admiralty Court and in August in Chancery Court under common law. Giles Brent and Father Thomas Copley sued Ingle in Admiralty Court in August as well. In November of 1645 Richard Ingle countersued Cornwallis and others under Common Law. Unfortunately for Ingle, the courts did not agree with him and he did not receive any "prize" money for taking the Looking Glass or benefit from his plunder. Furthermore, he came under suspicion of stealing and embezzling goods from the Looking Glass. Richard Ingle never returned to trade on the Chesapeake Bay. (William F. Milam, M.D., Riordan 2004, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181)

1646 – Jun 20 – UK Warwickshire Castle Bromwich – Will – John Knight, Yeoman – To be buried in the churchyard of Alton where his father was buried; to the poor of the parish, 20 shillings; to son-in-law Thomas Aylesbury (Ailesburn) 20 __ of Mashin in my barn and 10 pounds; to daughter Anne Aylesbury (Ailesbury), half the wool of the sheep at the next shearing; to grandchild ___ Aylesbury (Ailesbury) 100 pounds; to sister Dorothy 10 shillings; to cousin Elizabeth ___ 10 shillings; to cousin Hannah Somerland  three ___ of lumber;  to Samuel Peng, Clerk, __ shillings, 8 pence; to daughter-in-law Joan Fuller, items and to her son, Thomas (Knight?) my bible; to John Foster, Anne Foster and Maria Foster, three of the children of my son-in-law William Foster, 40 shillings a year; small bequests and list of debts owed to him; residue of estate to wife Anne Knight who is to be executrix; brother-in-law and son-in-law overseers. (Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, PROB 11: Will Registers, 1644-1654, Piece 196: Twisse, Quire Numbers 53-101 (1646))

1646 – Jul 13 – UK Cambridgeshire Denny Abbey – Will – Agnes Knight, widow – The image quality of this will is very bad which is a big shame because it otherwise appears to be reasonably easy to decipher if only one could actually see more of it. It looks to me like her first bequest is to her son, “Peter Knight and his wife, five pounds to buy them rings in Remembrance of me.”  Mentions daughters Jane, Ann and Marie and it looks like she is giving them land; son James Knight, land etc; son John Knight, land.  ( PROB 11: Will Registers, 1644-1654, Piece 197: Twisse, Quire Numbers 102-148 (1646), Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858)

Note: Denny Abbey is a former abbey near Waterbeach, about 6 miles (10 km) north of Cambridge in Cambridgeshire, England. In 1327 King Edward III gave the Priory to a young widow, Marie de Châtillon, Countess of Pembroke (1303-1377), known for her founding of Pembroke College, Cambridge. Countess Marie turned what had been the Abbey church into her lodgings. In 1628 the abbey passed into private ownership. The barrister John George Witt was born at Denny Abbey in 1836.  It is now the Farmland Museum and Denny Abbey.

1646 - Jul 24 – VA York – Admin - Peter Knight – Court: states that Capt. Christopher Wormeley dec’d owed him 825 lb tobo. Capt Ralph Wormeley the exor ordered to pay. Also that Knight pay 42 shillings Sterling he owes the est of Christo: Wormeley. (Fleet, III, p. 51)

1646 - Aug – MD Colony – Info - Ingle's Rebellion - Gov. Leonard Calvert returned to Maryland and regained control over both St. Mary's and Kent Island with support from Governor Berkeley of Virginia. But the rebellion was not over yet. See next entry.

1646 – Aug – MD Kent Island – Admin - Peter Knight - From the 1648 Margaret Brent Lawsuit against Peter Knight:

Declaration of Margaret Brent: Hee the sd Peter Knight sometime in the yeare 1646, unlawfully entred into the sd Kent Mill, & all the profitts thereof, from tht time, unto the time tht the Gov Mr Leonard Calvert tooke the Ile of Kent, converted to his owne use the sd profitts, being dew to her the sd Margarett Brent, & amounting to the value, as the sd Mill hath beene heretofore sett to 3000 lb Tob. wth cask. Likewise tht some time in the sd yeare the sd Peter Knight, bearing himselfe as the Capt of a rebellious crew, to defend the sd Ile agst the Govt made his garryson of her howse of Kent ffort. And during the sd time, converted all the profitts of the sd land to his owne use, or theirs by himselfe & then killed divers of her cattle wth gun shott & otherwise & made the rest wild, to the dammage of her the sd Margarett Brent above, fyred divers howses to Kent ffort belonging to the dammage of 6000 lb Tob. Likewise a wain (wayne) & wheeles to the valew of 600 lb Tob.  used, tooke away & dispersed her plowteem to the value of 1000 lb Tob. & being after forced to fly by the Govt By himselfe or his agents tooke away all the iron worke of the sd Kent Mill,  3000 lb tob could be taken away wthout fyring her, thereby decaying the Mill, to the value of 10000 lb Tob. & att the same time departing from the sd Kent ffort howse, ruined the howse in taking hinges & locks from the doores & in taking away doores & defacing the sd howse to the valew of 2000 lb Tob. & cask. ffor all wch severall dammages & losses susteyned by the sd Peter Knight, shee the sd Margarett Brent bringeth her suite.

The Deposition of Richard Cotsford taken 28th Septembr 1648.  This Dept sayth That sometime about July or August Ano 1646. this Dept then residing uppon the Ile of Kent. Mr Peter  Knight entred uppon Kent Mill & tooke the profitts thereof,  from that time, untill his the sd Knights departure from the sd  Ile when the Govr Mr Calvert tooke the same. Also that the  sd Peter Knight assumed uppon himselfe to bee Captaine of  the Rebells in the sd Ile, to defend it agst the sd Govr And  to tht effect kept a Garryson att Kent howse. During wch time of garryson, they the sd Rebells fyred a Tob. howse & one  other howse, a hog stey att Kent howse. And Mr Knight  caused to bee killd a Red Cow. Likewise immediately after  the flight of the sd Peter Knight & his Crew, from Kent  howse, hee the sd Dept fownd att Kent howse, hid in a ditch Great cattle feate - Seaven oxe feate -  whereby the Sd Dept hec thinks assumes himselfe tht the sd Knight or his Souldiers killd 2 Oxen. allthough hee knowes not wch of them  killed them; because the feete were of cattle lately killed.  Likewise this Dept sayth tht hee heard Mr Browne of Kent say, tht Knight & his Gange, had killed a calfe in his plantacon:  & tht alimost dayly they were gunning of it, after cattle. Likewise tht when the Sd Knight first entred on Kent Mill, shee was in good repayre. but tht immediately after his departure from  Kent howse, hee this Dept being sent thither by the Govr to looke after cattle. Saw tht there were all her iron works gone, wch could bee taken away, wthout pulling downe the frame.  Whereby hee did verily beleive, (allthoughe hee saw them not to doe it) tht the Knight, or his poeple had taken away all  the sd iron worke. wch hee beleives tht rather allso; Because during tht the Mill was whole this Dept heard the sd Knight say.  If hee had the Irons of the sd Mill for (amount of money) steareling.  & more the Dept remembers not of tht speach. But shortly  after the sd irons were taken away. Likewise that wth some of Mr Brents or Mrs Brents chaines & yokes (as one Pett told  this Dept) Knight caused a peice of Ordnance to be drawne in the Iland after Tompson's relinquismt of the Iland to Knight.  Likewise tht the waine & wheeles belonging to Mr Brent or Mrs Brent were burn'd wth the foresd Tob. howse. And tht att the  same time, that howse was burn'd, they had putt fyre to the Barne: whereby the wall-plate was burn'd in two. And likewise tht he this dept comming to Kent howse as aforesd immediately after the sd Knights departure, fownd the howse, wth noe dore but one left on the hinges: all the locks taken away & the sd howse very much defaced. ffurther this Dept sayth  not.   Signed  Richard Cotsford,  Jurat. Coram, Giles Brent. (Maryland State Archive, Judicial and Testamentary Business of the Provincial Court, 1637-1650, Vol 4 p. 455)

1646 – Sep 16 – UK London St Catherine Coleman – Will – George Knight, Gent – To my beloved wife, Chrystian, and to my dutiful, loving and only daughter and child, Elizabeth, all my lands, tenements, leasehold lands, annuities, etc whatsoever, lying in England or dominions, etc; then two pages of descriptions and detailed handling of same. Bequests to the poor of Bristol, to the Wardens of the worshipful company of Mercers in London; much about Bristol, mayor of same, etc., poor widows (setting up a charity, it seems), the poor of the parish of St Catherine Coleman, London;   Would be nice to get this one professionally transcribed as it looks interesting but the image is very bad. ( PROB 11: Will Registers, 1644-1654, Piece 195: Twisse, Quire Numbers 1-52 (1646), Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858)

1646 - Sep 18 – VA Lower New Norfolk – Admin - Edward Hall - Land Patent 400 acs. Low. New Norf. Co., …Bennets Cr. … Trans of 8 pers: incl. John Clarke and Richard Knight. (Nugent I, p. 169)

1646 - Sep 22 – VA Isle of Wight – Admin – John Upton - Sales contract between Captain John Upton and John Oliver, Planter; the land “was lately in the possession and Occupation of John Smith”, witnessed by Peter Knight. (Brayton Vol. 5) One day earlier: Sales contract between Upton and Thomas Greenwood, also witnessed by Peter Knight. (Nugent I, p. 9)

1646 – Nov 4 – UK Hampshire Kingsclere – Will – Walter Knight, Yeoman – Son Walter Knight; grandchildren Naomi Knight, Letitia Knight, Ruth Knight; daughter Joan and her three children, John, Richard, and William; daughter Ann; son William Knight; to godchildren; wife Joan and son William exectors.  James Yates to be overseer. Witness: Peter Knight. (Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, PROB 11: Will Registers, 1644-1654. Piece 198: Twisse, Quire Numbers 149-195 (1646)) (All bequests are small amounts of money and no land involved.)

1646 - Nov 5 – VA York – Admin – John Salter - Court session: The following judgments were confessed before Capt. Nicholas Martiau and Mr. Rowland Burnham: viz Thomas Poole and James Harris to Capt. Richard Townshend 1411 lb tobo.  Thomas Poole and John Salter to Capt. Richard Townshend 665 lb tobo. (Fleet III, pp. 67-68)

1646 – Nov 9 – UK Norfolk – Will – George Knight – The image of this will is so bad I can make out almost nothing; it actually appears to be a double exposure or very bad ink bleedthrough; it looks like there is a Robert Knight mentioned, and right at the end, where it is a little clearer, it says “my children, John Knight, William Knight, Joan Knight; mother Parnell, my brother-in–law ___ Walters, Gent, and that’s about all I can get out of it. (Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, PROB 11: Will Registers, 1644-1654, Piece 198: Twisse, Quire Numbers 149-195 (1646)) 

1646 – Nov 30 – UK Oxfordshire Faringdon – Will – Edward Knight, Yeoman – To the Cathedral of Winchester, 12 pence; to the parish church of Farringdon, 10 shillings; to the poor of the parish, 5 pounds annually to be managed by the churchwardens; to eldest son, John Knight, house and tenements called Stonehouse in Farringdon, and long description of a lot of lands and tenements, etc; in default of an heir from son John Knight, estate goes to son Edward Knight and his heirs; to son Edward, list of lands and tenements that go to him other than the default of the legacy to his brother;  to son Richard Knight, long list/description of lands and tenements that go to him and his heirs, etc; to son John Knight, the manor of Faringdon Hoxham and all the lands and tenements and appurtenances belonging to it; in default of heirs, to go to Edward Knight and his heirs; authority given to son John Knight and friend John Chason, to sell a manor in Shropshire at Brox__, and all the lands and tenements attached to it;  the money to be used for ____ and to make portion for Peter Knight my son and Margaret, Winifred, and Jane my daughters, equally to be divided amongst them; to wife Joan, items that “are in my lodging chamber in Stoudhouse”; brother William Knight and “every one of my children shall have a part or share of all the rest of my goods and chattels and money that shall or may be available after my decease”; John Knight and Edward Knight to be executors; John Chason and my nephew Knight, son of my brother William Knight, to be overseers. (Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, PROB 11: Will Registers, 1644-1654, Piece 198: Twisse, Quire Numbers 149-195 (1646))

Interestingly, the various histories of Faringdon House online do not mention any Knights in connection with it. Were there two Faringdon Houses?

1646 – Dec – MD Kent Island – Admin – Peter Knight -  From the 1648 Margaret Brent Lawsuit against Peter Knight inserted here because it describes, retrospectively, events of this time.

The Deposition of Tho: Bradnox aged 40 yeares & upwards taken before the Governor & Councell as afore.  This Dept sayth tht sometime in the yeare 1646, about or not long after Christmas, att Mr. Brents howse uppon the Ile of Kent, whereof Capt William Claiborne (Cleyborne) had then possesd himselfe, & his Cozen Tompson. That one Christopher Willin a Man then belonging to Capt Claiborne, told this Dept tht Capt Claiborne had Commisn from Sr Willm Berkeley, to take the Ile of Kent, & such estate, as had formerly belonged to Capt  Claiborne therein, into the Sd Claiborne’s possesn And further tht the sd Claiborne had Commisn sent him in tht prnt yeare,  (if hee would have accepted of it) to bee Governor of Virginia.  And That Sodenly after Capt Claiborne (then being uppon the Iland) drew the Inhabts of the sd Iland, together wth about 20 persons, whom hee had brought out of Virginia wth him, into armes & mustered them by Leift South (Sowth), & Peter Knight, in a feild, called Kent feild & then proposed to them, to goe downe in warlike manner to assault, & take the Govr of Mary-Land, & the ffort att St Maries: Telling them, att the first, tht hee would goe wth them. Whereuppon the sd Company assented to goe wth him, perswaded by him, That hee had lawfull Authority thereunto. But after the embarkemt of some of the provisions for this voyage were putt aboard, some of the Inhabts before they would embarke themselves, desyred to bee made acquainted by him, wth the Authority tht should iustify them in the Sd Act. wch hee denying to shew the sd Inhabts drew off from the designe. After wch againe the sd Capt Claiborne urged the Inhabts to goe uppon the foresd designe, wth his Cozen Tompson, who he sayd should leade them. & tht hee himselfe would carry them downe wth such Pinnaces as were there under his deposition for tht use, wch were three & would land them att Poynt Looke Out & would goe over to Chicacoan & send or fetch more helpe unto them. Wth the Inhabts againe refusing to doe about a day after the sd Claiborne leaving the Iland embarked for Virginia. & ffurther hee sayth not.   Thomas T Bradnox (Maryland State Archive, Judicial and Testamentary Business of the Provincial Court, 1637-1650,Vol 4, p. 459)

1646 – VA Northumberland – Bap - Anne Knight – Anne Knight married William Coppedge in 1666 at Wiccomico Parish Church in Northumberland County.  They were the parents of Charles Coppedge and at least 4 other children.  She died in 1688 and was buried in Wicomico Episcopal Church Cemetery where her gravestone can be found. Charles Coppedge married a Lucy or Sarah Lunsford about 1735. (Find a Grave: Wicomico Parish Church) Note: The big question is, who were her parents? Capt. Peter Knight was certainly old enough to be her father. However, she apparently had issue and no Coppedge children were mentioned in the will of Capt. Peter Knight.

1646 – UK Warwickshire Rowington – Admin – William Knight the Younger - Deeds of a messuage and virgate or yardland of land at Mowsley End in Rowington; Includes post-nuptial marriage settlement of William Knight the younger of Clements Inn, London, gent and Margaret King, 1646   (William Cooke of Coundon (Warks), husbandman and Alice his wife, daughter and heiress of Robert Goodman, formerly of Coundon; Roger Oldnale of Rowington, yeoman; John Jenettes, gent; William Knight of London, gent; Margaret, daughter of Matthew King of London, goldsmith, deceased) [For subsequent deeds of this property see MS 1098/41,42,45] (Birmingham: Archives, Heritage and Photography Service, Ref: MS 1098/53)

1647 – Jan 16 – MD St Mary’s – Info – Ingle’s Rebellion - Because there were rumors of a plot to retake St. Mary's by rebels gathered at Chicacoan on the Northern Neck of Virginia - perhaps when Governor Calvert would be distracted by subduing Kent Island - the Maryland Council issued a Proclamation 0f Embargo on 16 January 1647:

    "Upon certain reasons known unto my Self requiring an embargo to be laid at this present upon all persons & vessells and to the end that noe Intelligence may be communicated....with fforraigners during this time of war, I doe hereby forbidd all persons now being in the County of St Maries....not to goe....out of the County of St Maries without acquainting me first therewth....and that noe person entertain any Communicacon or give any entertainment to any one comeing into the Province or from the Isle of Kent but that Immediately after the knowledge of any arrival of any person or Vessell Comeing into the County of St Maries they give notice thereof to me as Soon as they may and warn all persons Soe arriving to come to the ffort to me afore they entertain any Communicacon with any person of the province....observe it in every point Soe far as it Shall concern them upon pain of death....Given at St Inego's ffort this 16th January 1646."

The rumorers said that a certain Captain Wyatt was on the Chesapeake Bay with several ships planning to attack; that rebels from Chicacoan had returned to Maryland by night and stolen cattle taking the meat back to Virginia; and that William Claiborne and twenty men were on Kent Island attempting to rally them to attach St. Mary's - the latter rumor was in fact true. (Riordan 2004, p. 184)

1647 – Jan 18 – MD St Mary’s – Info – Ingle’s Rebellion - The Province's Attorney, John Lewger, presented charges to the Council of Maryland against Thomas Sturman, John Sturman, Francis Gray, John Hampton, Robert Smith, Thomas Youll (Yewell) charging them as follows:

1....that since they were lately pardoned bye two several pardons one after another of the Crimes of Rebellion & Sedition, they the said delinquents..... secretly fled out of the Province by night & made resort and assembled themselves together at the house of one John Mottram, and with others of Checkacoan notorious enemies to the Lord Proprietary and his governmt here established and on the thirteenth, ffourteenth, ffifteenth and sixteenth days of this Instant Month of January, Some one or more of them, have at the place, and with the enemies of the Province aforesaid, used divers Speeches and practises and hatched & Complotted divers Machinations and Conspiraces agt the person of Leonard Calvert Esq now Govr of the Province and for the entring into the Province by force as enemies and robbers to destroy the Inhabitants and the Cattle, and to burn & fire the Country afore them...."

"2.... have used Speeches and news at their returning into the Province on the 17 Jan:.... viz. publishing and proclaiming in triumphing Manner, that one Capt Wyatt was comeing in with Comission from the parliamt for the Governmt of this Province, and that divers Ships were in the bay to that end, as likewise Spreding news at other times that Capt Claiborne had likewise Comission for the Governmt and was come up with 50 men to take the Governmt or at least to Support the Rebellion of Kent {Island} which divers other Speeches and news tending to fright the people & divert their Obedience from the Lord Proprietary."

"3.... come by night into the Province, and drive and carry away the Cattle of the Inhabitants, as enemies and Robbers, and Some of them they kill and convey over to the residue of their Confederates as aforesaid,.... And thereupon his Lordships Said Attorney prayeth that the Said Several Delinquents now in prison, may be Judged for the Said Several Crimes, to be banished out of the Province, as persons incorrigible and desperate...., and all their goods to be Confiscated to the Lord Proprietary, and their Lands to the Several Lords of whome they are Imediatly holden, and that their persons may be kept in Close prison untill means may be provided for their transport, And that the rest of the Said Delinquents not being.... found may be proclaimed to render themselves to the Sherriff within ten days after notice thereof upon perill of being proceeded agt in their absence, & forfeiting all their Lands and goods as afd.
Jo. Lewgar"  (Riordan 2004, p. 185)

Later the same day the Council examined Edward Thompson/Thomson of Chicacoan: 

"This Examinant Saith that being at his house in Chickacoan on Wednsday last, one Sam Taylor/Tailor - comeing into the house and being ask't by this Examinant what news abroad - Replyed the Speaker (meaning Francis Gray) had Spoke once again, and that they that were the Chief cause of entertaining the present Governor were aimed at and their death vowed (nameing Capt Price and Thornbury and Hebden) but that there was a party that would goe over from this Place (Meaning Chickacoan) Soe Soon as the Governor is gone to Kent or where else they can gett an opportunity to goe over & would fire and burne and destroy all that they can.  By his Lordships Lieutent" (Capt John Price was commander of Governor Calvert's soldiers.) (Maryland State Archive: Vol. 3, Liber B, PROCEEDINGS OF COUNCIL 1636 - 1667, 175 – 176)

1647 – Jan 19 - MD St Mary’s – Info – Ingle’s Rebellion - The Council granted a bond to these prisoners: Thomas Sturman, Francis Gray, John Hampton, John Sturman and Robert Sedgrave  "....for himself acknowledge themselves to owe unto the Lord Proprietary two thousand wt Tobo in Case they Shall attempt to goe out of the County of St Maries without acquainting the Govr therewth afore or Shall entertain Secret Comunicacon or intelligence wth John Mott, Thomas Youll (Yewell), Thomas Lewis or Robert Smith or any person comeing from them or any of them, or Shall harbour them or any of them, or Shall know of any of their Comeing into the parts where he lives, and Shall not as Soon as he may give notice thereof to the Governor. Signed: Mark of T - Thos Sturman, Francis Gray, John Hampton, Robert Sedgrave, John Sturman.  By his Lordps Lieutent of Maryland. (M.D., ARCHIVES OF MARYLAND: Vol. 3, Liber B, PROCEEDINGS OF COUNCIL 1636 - 1667, 177)

1647 – Jan 24 – UK Hertfordshire Kings Langley – Will – Agnes Knight, Widow – To son John Knight, 10 pounds “willed me by my son William”; to daughter Bashaway, wife of William Cladon, 10 pounds “which my son William willed to me”; to cousin Sarah, wife of Francis Warner, 10 pounds; “I have given Roger Randall 20 pounds the whole 20 pounds the said Roger Randall faithfully promised me to give his son Benjamine Randall at the agoe of 21; a few more small bequests: Jeremy Aldwin and his daughter Sarah; Roger Randall; John Aldwin, etc;  son William Knight the younger to be executor, William Knight the elder overseer. ( Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, PROB 11: Will Registers, 1644-1654, Piece 203: Essex, Quire Numbers 1-52 (1648)

1647 - Jan 25 – VA York – Admin - John Knight - Court session: John Knight to be pd 1390 lb tobo from the est. of Robert Jackson dec’d due by bill and the confession of the relict and admrx. (Fleet, III, p. 68)

1647 - Jan 26 – VA York – Admin - Samuel Clarke - Court: That Nicholas Clarke is bound for paymt of 1500 lb tobo for John Coleman to Augustine Warner…Committee of administration on estate of Walter Pitchfork to John Hartwell “in the behalf of Samuel Clarke orphan”. (Fleet III, p. 69) Note: This orphan may very well be the Samuel Clarke who will be named sole heir and next of kin of Peter Knight, Merchant of Gloucester further on.

1647 – Feb 2 – UK Devonshire Upottery – Nunc Will – John Knight – Estate to nephew, John Knight. (Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858 PROB 11: Will Registers, 1644-1654, Piece 203: Essex, Quire Numbers 1-52 (1648))

1647 - Mar 10 – VA James City – Admin - Edward Bland -  Merchant, James City Co. Land patent for 1,300 acs. On the S. side of James River about a mile from the head of Upper Chipoake… trans. Of 26 pers: Edward Bland, James Bland, Elizabeth Bland, William Beare, Thomas Leigh, George Proby, Richard Litler, Robert Woodruffe, John Smith, Lydia Emery (Emeroy), Mary Beard, Griffith Davis, John Thomas, Anna Burk, Nicholas Weather, Katherine Lands, Ann Farrar, George Marrow, Lucy Evans, George Price, Thomas Dorwin, William Turke, Thomas Ridley, Richard Strader, Charles Baldwin. (Nugent I, p. 171)

1647 – Apr 7 - MD St Mary’s – Admin – Francis Gray - This wittnesseth that I ffrancis Gray ffor and in Consideration of one thousand pounds Wt of good & merchantable leafe tobb {tobacco} and two Sowes - the Tobbaco to be payd at the next Cropp and the Sowes already deliverd - doe bargaine sell and make over all the right and title of all Cattle whatsoever I have in Maryland of my marke unto Mr John Hampton and doe likewise vouch the sale of them against all person or persons what soeuer, as shall lay claime unto them Wittness my hand this 17th day of Aprill 1647. Signature of ffrancis Graye (Maryland State Archive: Vol. 4, PROCEEDINGS OF THE PROVINCIAL COURT 1637 – 1650, 334.) Note: Francis Gray – and many other former residents of Maryland and/or Kent Isle – are next to be found in Virginia, most of them in Northumberland County or thereabouts.  Nearly all of the former rebels became prominent citizens and wealthy landowners, justices, sheriffs, etc, not least of which was Capt. Peter Knight.

1647 Apr 10 – VA Isle of Wight – Admin - James Hawley – Land patent for 300 acs. Isle of Wight Co. … Upon the head of the lower bay creeke adj. Land of John Rowe. By virtue of a former patent. (Nugent I, p. 167)

1647 – May 10 – UK Gloucestershire Gloucester – Will – Tobias Knight, Broadweaver – That my body be buried in the church of St Alderton in Gloucester under the gravestone where my father was buried. To Wife, Ann, my bed with all the furniture thereunto belonging and also all my household stuff. I forgive my son James Knight the sum of 27 shillings which he owes me and I give him 2 shillings more; whereas James Knight has lived in my house in the parish of St Alderton which I bought with my own money, and whereas the said James Knight was to pay me 50 shillings a year for 20 years, I give the rent of the said house for 20 years to Henry Knight, my son, etc etc.  (Looks like he is setting up a legal war between James and Henry.) (Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, PROB 11: Will Registers, 1644-1654, Piece 200: Fines, Quire Numbers 63-128 (1647))

1647 – May 29 – UK Cambridgeshire Denny Abbey – Admin – Agnes Knight – In latin; names mentioned: John Knight, son; William Knight, son; Anne Knight, daughter or granddaughter;  Hester Knight, Marie Knight; Nathaniel Brent. (Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, PROB 11: Will Registers, 1644-1654, Piece 200: Fines, Quire Numbers 63-128 (1647))

1647 – Jun 20 – UK Herefordshire Lyon Hales – Will – John Knight, Yeoman – To the poor of the parish, 10 shillings to be distributed on funeral day; to Sybil, daughter of brother, Thomas Knight, 10 pounds; to the daughter of William Colson, 40 shillings; to Elizabeth, the wife of Henry Ponsonby, 10 pounds; to Dorothy, the wife of Henry Rawlins, 20 shillings; to John Rawlins, the son, 20 shillings; to George C__, 4 pounds; to Anne ___ 6 pounds for marriage; to the wife of George Tyler, 5 pounds; debt due from John Davis; to William Price, 20 pounds; something about debts owed to him; to Richard Knight, executor, items (bed, etc); to Charles Knight, release from debt; more household items (including brass kettle & pot) to executor; to Mary, daughter of James Knight, household items; to Richard Knight, household items; to Joan, wife of William Poore, items; release of debts to persons; to Walter Knight, 10 pounds; to Mary Knight, 20 shillings; clothing to Richard Knight, Charles Knight and George Dykes; to William Price, (Willy), clothing; to Katherine Tyler, Richard Knight, William Price, George Dykes, Mary Knight,  “all my linen to be equally divided”; to Katherine Tyler, brass candlestick; to Mary Knight the younger, all my brandy (?) at Marston Wood; to Richard Knight, son of James Knight, items; to Mary Knight the younger, cupboards in the kitchen at Marston Wood; to Richard Knight, son of James Knight, coffer; to Katherine Tyler, wife of George Tyler, items at Marston Wood; debt from Walter Knowles; residue of estate to Richard Knight, executor. Wit: John Watkins (mark), James Hill (mark), and one other. (Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, PROB 11: Will Registers, 1644-1654, Piece 201: Fines, Quire Numbers 129-201 (1647))

1647 – Aug 3 – UK London St Bride – Bap – John Knight - s/o John Knight & Ann (London Met Arch)

1647 – Aug 5 – UK Kent Aldington – Will – John Knight, Yeoman – Wife, Susan, a portion of goods, 25 pounds; Thomas Brobb of Rowington, brother-in-law; daughter, Anne, the wife of George Culpepper, Mary, the wife of Francis Wibourne of Wrotham, and Deborah, the wife of William Langston of New Romney, Mildred, wife of John Wrake, Katherine Grove, set up annuities for all; Jane Woods and Anne Woods, daughters-in-law (?) 20 shillings; son John Knight, my bed and furnishings, three pairs of my best shoes; to son John Knight, the leases of Aldington, mortgages, etc; to his son all my books, writings and manuscripts; William Langston, son-in-law, Joseph Osborne of Ashford, son John Knight, executors; Robert Wigill of Rye, Esq, to have power to sell property to best advantage; etc. (Abstracted from image: (PROB 11: Will Registers, 1644-1654, Piece 201: Fines, Quire Numbers 129-201 (1647), Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858)

1647 Dec 14 – UK Sussex Eastbourne – Will - Peter Knight, Clerk – Mentions “troublesome times” in his preamble; “whereas I have already settled an estate upon my eldest son, Thomas Knight…” to second son, Peter Knight, my house and lands at Northlade called Maytoff in Lydd; also to Peter, lands in Brooklands, now in the occupation of Thomas Horn, in Romney Marsh;  son Thomas to pay Thomas Knight (elder brother of Peter testator) four pounds every year during his natural life towards his maintenance; son Peter Knight Jr to pay the same to same person (elder brother of Peter the testator); wants lands called Kidwell Close and the house and lands late William Lawrence’s, now occupied by “Markett”, to be sold to pay all debts and remainder of funds to executrix;  to son-in-law, minister of Hollington, Thomas Carr, his Latin books; all his English books to be divided between his sons, Thomas Knight, Peter Knight, Wilcock Knight and John Knight; to the poor of Eastbourne parish, 20 shillings; residue of estate to wife Margaret and she to be executrix. (Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, PROB 11: Will Registers, 1644-1654, Piece 202: Fines, Quire Numbers 202-260 (1647))

1647 – Dec 21 – MD St Mary’s – Admin – Thomas Knight - Robt Taylor aged 17 yeares or thereabouts att the request of William Lewis sayth uppon his oath, That hee was then att Mr Lewis howse att the beginning of the troubles here, when some of Ingle's company being att the foresd Mr Lewis howse a taking away his Corne, Mr Gerrard came instantly unto them wth fowre of his men to witt John Wortley, Thomas Knight, James Walker, & Nathaniel Jones (Joanes), & forwarned them to take away any Corne there, & alledged that Corne belonged unto him, & thereuppon the sd Mr Gerrard measured the Come in the sd Willm Lewis howse, & carryed it away unto his owne howse, but what quanty this Dept knoweth not. & further hee sayth not.  James Walker aged 29 yeares or thereabouts att the request of Leift William Lewis, sayth uppon his oath, That he was wth Mr Thomas Gerrard when hee measured, & carryed away the Corne from the sd Mr Lewis howse but what quanty he knoweth not. And further sayth not. (Maryland State Archive: Vol. 4, p. 357)

1647 – UK London – Chancery – Richard Knight - Knight vs Knight: Plaintiffs: Anne Knight, widow.  Defendants: Richard Knight and Thomas Knight.  Document type: bill and answer. (National Archives, Kew England, Ref: C 2/ChasI/K6/28)

1647 – UK Herefordshire Lyonshall – Chancery – Richard Knight - Knight vs Watkins (Watkyns).  Plaintiffs: Richard Knight.  Defendants: John Watkins.  Subject: personal estate of John Knight, Lyonshall, Herefordshire.  Document type: answer only. (National Archives, Kew England, Ref: C 8/96/17  See also:C 8/87/268 for Bill)

1647 – UK Hampshire Romsey – Chancery – Moses Knight, Aaron Knight - Twyne v Knight.  Plaintiffs: John Twyne.  Defendants: Moses Knight and Aaron Knight.  Subject: property in Romsey, Hampshire.  Document type: answer only. (National Archives, Kew England, Ref: C 6/7/239)

1647 – Dec – VA Northumberland – Admin – Col. Giles Brent - Giles Brent, a catholic, tiring of the unrest and disputes in Maryland, crossed the river to what was to become Northumberland County, part of which later became Stafford County. He was accompanied by his two sisters Mary Brent (c. 1600-1658), and Margaret Brent (c. 1601 – 1671), both of whom left wills, and recall that it was Margaret Brent who had sued Capt. Peter Knight on behalf of her family. They settled at what later became Overwharton Parish, Stafford County. Giles was the son of Sir Richard Brent (1573-1652), Lord of Stoke and Admington, in Gloucestershire, England.  Giles had settled in Maryland in 1637 and married Princess Kittamaquad, daughter of the Emperor of the Piscataway Indians, who was baptized “Mary” by Father Andrew White, S.J.  Giles Brent died in 1672, and left a will.  Margaret Brent was the executrix of the will of Gov. Leonard Calvert.  When Lord Baltimore learned that Calvert’s lieutenant, Giles Brent, had decamped, he started issuing land patents in the Northern Neck, i.e. Northumberland County.  The rebellion and its religious overtones was one of the factors that led to passage of the landmark Maryland Toleration Act of 1649, which declared religious tolerance for Catholics and Protestants in Maryland. His first patent in the county will be seen below, but he was there at least 3 years earlier than the date of the patent.

1648 - Jan – VA Northumberland – Info - In 1648 a group of merchants in London applied to Parliament for revocation of the Maryland charter from the Calverts. This was rejected, but William Claiborne received a final opportunity to reclaim Kent Island when he was appointed by the Puritan-controlled Parliament to a commission which was charged with suppressing Anglican disquiet in Virginia; Virginia in this case defined as "all the plantations in the Bay of the Chesapeake." (The settlers of Chicacoan who fled there from Maryland, were recalcitrant and did not recognize either the governments of Virginia in Jamestown, or Maryland.)  Claiborne and fellow commissioner Richard Bennett secured the peaceful submission of Virginia to Parliamentary rule, and the new Virginia Assembly appointed Claiborne as Secretary of the colony. It also proposed to Parliament new acts which would give Virginia more autonomy from England, which would benefit Claiborne as he pressed his claims on Kent Island. He and Bennett then turned their attention to Maryland and, arguing again that the Catholic Calverts could not be trusted and that the charter gave the Calverts too much power, demanded that the colony submit to the Commonwealth. Governor Stone of Maryland briefly refused but gave in to Claiborne and the Commission, and submitted Maryland to Parliamentary rule. By these actions, the entire Northern Neck of Virginia was transformed into Northumberland County.

1648 - Jan 20 – VA Northumberland – Admin – Peter Knight -  Court record book missing but index survives saying that the following cases were heard/recorded by 20 Jan 1648, thus probably were spread out over the prev. year, or perhaps longer. p. 7: Rowland Haddaway agt Peter Knight; p. 20: Peter Knight agreemt wth: Henry: Hughett; p. 28: Francis Gray Agt. Knight; Peter Knight agt. Nicholas Polhampton; Peter Knight agt. Joane Philpott; Knight agt. George Knott; p. 29: Peter Knight agt. Abbotts Estate; p. 32: Peter Knight agt. Thomas Keene; Peter Knight agt. John Lerrett; p. 33: George Colclough agt Knight, Gaskin & others; Mr. Lee agt Peter Knight; p. 39: John Trussell agt. Peter Knight. (Sparacio, NC D&W, 1650-1655, pp. 2 - 8)

1648 Jan 24 – VA York – Admin - William Knight - Court: That William Knight stands indebted to the est of Edward Chiswell (Chissell) decd 800 lb tobo. Which debt Tho Broughton undertook to answer “for at the request of Thomas Wilson master of the good ship Desire”. Order that Broughton pay Rich Duning the assignee of Luke Davis admr. out of the estate of Chissell. [Note: This name is Chiswell, phonetic spelling being used in the entry. B.F.] (Fleet, III, p. 86) Note: A William Knight is in debt, and the Master of the ship Desire, Thomas Wilson, orders that it be paid by Thomas Broughton. How does this William relate to either Wilson or Broughton? Is he just a member of the ship’s crew?

1648 – Feb 2 – UK Devonshire Upottery – Will – John Knight – No details available. (National Archives, Kew England, Ref: PROB 11/203/202)

1648 – Feb 11 – UK Kent Canterbury - Will – Nicholas Knight Gent – Mentions that what he has was left to him by his father: John Knight, Gent; brother Charles Knight; Ellen Lypart, wife of William Lypart of Canterbury; Thomas Manly, Gent.  (Apparently died unmarried and without issue and may have been in the military.) (Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, PROB 11: Will Registers, 1644-1654, Piece 207: Fairfax, Quire Numbers 1-57 (1649))

1648 – Apr 6 – UK Cheshire Hankelow – Admin – John Knight, Gent – Grant: 1 Robert Browne jun. of Cow lane, clerk, 2 Raphe Boulton, citizen and Merchant Taylor of London, 3 William Massie of the Mosse in Audlem, esq., John Sparrowe, gent., Hugh Boulton of Hankelow, gent., John Knight of same, gent.  Annual rent of £6 issuing from closes called the Damme Crofte, the Canny Parrott, the Ouldfield, the Three Chelly fields, the two marled crofts, the Millfield, the Chelly meadowe, all in Cowlane in Audlem and Wrenbury, part of prem. of 1 lately purchased from George Cotton of Combermere, esq., dec.  Prem. conveyed by 1 to 3 on trust to cause 'sixe groate loves of good househould bread' to be baked and distributed each Sunday to 'sixe of the poorest aged and ympotent workemen' in Audlem and Hankelow nominated by 2 during his life and then by those appointed by 2.  Consideration: £100 paid by 2 to 1.  Wit: W? Boothe, Ed. Brandon, G. Malbon, Robert Jeffes, Robert Cudworth. (Cheshire Archives and Local Studies, Ref: P113/18/1)

1648 – Apr 20 – UK Sussex West Tarring – Nunc Will – Richard Knight – Entire estate to go to Thomas Knight his younger son. Witnessed and sworn by a Richard Knight who might be his elder son. (Abstracted from image:  PROB 11: Will Registers, 1644-1654, Piece 204: Essex, Quire Numbers 53-107 (1648), Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858)

1648 – May 5 – UK Shropshire Shrewsbury – Will – Thomas Knight – To wife, Hester, one part of the house with gardens, orchards, appurtenances, in Dogpoole in Shrewsbury wherein testator now dwells, during her natural life; the other part to eldest son John Knight; after decease of wife, her share also goes to son John; property division to be overseen by Humphrey Markworth of Sutton and Roland Hunt Esq of Shrewbury; if wife wants the place to herself, she must pay son 6 pounds 13 shillings 4 pence per year; to son Roland Knight, , property in the parish of St Julian purchased of Thomas Nichols Esq; to grandchild, Anne, daughter of late son Thomas Knight, deceased, a portion of the St Julian property and an annuity of 9 pounds for her maintenance until she is 16 or married; other estates to son John Knight and in default of his heirs, to son Roland Knight; to the poor of Shrewsbury,  30 pounds to be distributed by the mayor and aldermen; an annuity of 30 pounds to daughter Sarah, wife of Robert Griffiths; residue of estate to son, John Knight who is to be executor.  (Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, PROB 11: Will Registers, 1644-1654, Piece 204: Essex, Quire Numbers 53-107 (1648))

1648 – Jun 23 – UK Sussex Yapton – Will – Richard Knight, Yeoman – Bequests to the poor of the parish of Yapton; to William Olson of Groves, Gent, Thomas Bridger, Yeoman, of Sussex, John Knight of ___, Sussex, Clerk, and Thomas Knight of Yapton, Yeoman, lands and tenements in Arundell, Sussex, (apparently to hold it jointly), said lands in the occupation of Gabriel Buckingham, Gent; Thomas Tucker; to William, the son of Thomas Bridger, John Knight and Thomas Knight, goods and chattels; residue of estate to underage children: William Knight and Sara Knight and wife, Sara Knight unborn child. William Olson, Thomas Bridger, John Knight and Thomas Knight, executors. and . (Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, PROB 11: Will Registers, 1644-1654, Piece 204: Essex, Quire Numbers 53-107 (1648))

1648 - Jul 3 – VA James City – Admin – Thomas Hart - Son of Henry Hart, deceased, land patent for 100 acs. at Smiths Fort, James City Col, for trans. Of 4 pers. Incl Robert Knight, William Pierce, Phillip Clave. (Nugent I, p. 176)

1648 - Jul 10 – VA James City – Admin - William Edwards & Rice Davis – Land patent for 1080 acs. …Trans. Of 22 pers incl.  Francis Hall, John Mathews, David Hussey … Robert Knight (Night), David Husey (sic). (Nugent I, p. 176)

1648 – July 11 – MD Somerset County – Admin - Peter Knight – Court: Mrs Margarett Brent, demandeth of Peter Knight mercht 5000 lb of casked Tob: for dammages done her, by him, in her goods & cattle uppon the Ile of Kent during the hated Rebellion there.  Attachmt to the Sheriffe ret. Octobr Court. (Maryland State Archive, Judicial and Testamentary Business of the Provincial Court, 1637-1650,Vol 4, p. 399  1648)

1648 – Jul 13 – UK East Sussex Arlington – Admin - John Knight – Demise byWILLIAM THOMAS of Westdeane, esq., to SIR THOMAS GAGE of Firle, bart., of lands, tenements, &c. in Arlington called Sessingham, late of John Knight decd., for 2000 years as collateral security for the further assurance to the said Sir Thomas, after the eldest son of the said William Thomas should have attained 21, of 14 ac. in Exceate which were conveyed to Sir Thomas by deed dated 14 April, 1648; Counterpart with signature of Thomas Gage and seal of arms. Witnesses--Thos. Hewes, William Myner, Rose Woodyson, Tho. Moore.  (East Sussex Record Office, Ref: SAS-M/1/680)

1648 - Jul 24 –VA York – Admin - John Knight – Court session: John Knight and Robert Ellson to have notice given them before Joane Jackson the relict and admrx of Robt Jackson dec’d have her quietus, they having unsettled debts agst the estate. (p. 380) Tho Hudson confessed judgt to John Knight for 400 lb tobo. (p. 381) (Fleet, III, p101)

1648 - Aug 10 – VA Northumberland – Admin - John Cloberry - is witness to a sale of a cow and calf between Walter Danell and John Bennett. (Sparacio, 1650-1652, p. 9)

1648 - Sep 9 – VA James City – Admin - Mrs. Jane Perkins (Pirkins) – Land patent for 27 acs. … Adj. Land of Anthony Coleman & near John Fitchett. This land was given to Alexander Stoner by Capt. William Peirce in open court and forfeited by sd. Stoner unto John Knight, who assigned to William Edwards, who assigned it to Edward Prince, who assigned it to Robert Miles, who assigned it to the sd. Mrs. Perkins. (Nugent I, p. 177)

1648 – Oct 4 – MD Somerset County – Admin – Peter Knight - Mrs Margarett Brent complayneth agst Mr Peter Knight Mercht for tht shee being possessed by deeds sufficient in the Law, bearing date sometime in the yeare 1644: & registerd  uppon the Records of the County of Kent, from her brother Mr Giles Brent of a stock of neat-cattle, certaine draft Oxen wth waines plowgeers &c wth other things therein expresd. As likewise of Kent Mill & Kent ffort, wth all the Land, howsing & appurtenances thereunto belonging.  (See above for her declaration about the year 1646).

Uppon the demand of Mrs Margarett Brent plt. vers Peter  Knight mercht deft, for 5000 lb Tob & cask. The deft being  called, & not appearing: The pltf  requyreth tht shee may bee noe longer deferred, since the suite hath beene respited allready  att 2 severall Courts. And this being the last day of the Court, the pltf was admitted to prove her claime. who produced these  testimonies: (Testimonies entered into chronology above)

Uppon the testimonies the Jury returned their Verdict &  ffownd for the pltf according to these particulars. Viz Tob.  howse & hogstye wch was fyred 2000 lb Tob. & cask. A Cow  killed 600 lb Tob. & cask. ffor the profitt of the Mill for 8 months  2000 lb Tob & cask; a wayne & wheeles fyred wth the Tob. howse  500 lb Tob. & cask. The rest of the particulars expressd in the  Evidence, they went not uppon: These here expressed,  amounting to 100 lb Tob more, then the accont enterd. Where  5000 uppon the Court adiudged tht the plf should recover  Sherif 0600 5000 lb Tob. & cask according to her demand.  Clk 0118 Exequcon to the Sheriffe ad satisfaciendu. (Maryland State Archive, Judicial and Testamentary Business of the Provincial Court, 1637-1650, Vol 4, p. 458-459)

1648 – Oct 15 – UK Kent Godmersham – Bap – Katherine Knight – d/o Nicholas Knight, Gent. (Tyler)

1648 – Nov 30 – UK Somerset Selworthie – Nunc Will - Pentecost Knight – To son John Knight, 2 shillings; to John Knight’s wife and children, 5 shillings; to godchildren, each one, 1 shilling 6 pence; residue of estate to wife Johane Knight who is to be executrix.  Wit John Slape, Richard Blackmore.  (Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, PROB 11: Will Registers, 1644-1654, Piece 206: Essex, Quire Numbers 150-191 (1648))

1648 – Dec 8 – UK Devonshire Honiton – Will – John Knight, Husbandman – To daughter Elizabeth Knight 30 pounds at 21; if she dies, 20 of the 30 pounds to remain to the executrix and 10 pounds to be divided between William Westhall and Parholl Westhall, “my brother and sister”; residue of estate to wife Margery who is to be executrix;  Silas Knight and Nicholas Knight, brothers, to be overseers. (Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, PROB 11: Will Registers, 1644-1654, Piece 206: Essex, Quire Numbers 150-191 (1648))

1648 - Dec 21 – VA York – Admin - Richard Lee Gent - Land patent for 1250 acs….On the N. side of Yorke River… being land formerly possessed by John Bayles & George Knight & for want of an heir devolved to his Majesty…. (Nugent I, p. 178)  Note:  See the 1643 Aug 10 Patent to Roland Burnham, Gent who transported himself and Thomasin Knight; that land was adjacent land of John Bayles also.   

1649 – Mar 8 – UK London Hammersmith – Ox Alum – Isaac Knight – created B.D. 8 Mar 1648-9, chaplain to Fairfax, the generalissimo of the parliament army; minister of Hammersmith, rector of Fulham 1645, and vicar 1657, ejected 1662; father of Thomas 1649.  See Fasti, ii 114; & Calamy, ii. 447. (Oxford University Alumni 1500-1886, p. 861)

1649 – Mar 16 – UK London Hammersmith – Ox Alum – Thomas Knight – sacerd. fil. Magdalen Coll, matric 16 March 1648-9, demy 1648-52, B.A. 6 April 1652, by virtue of chancellor’s letters (Oliver Cromwell), and there stated to be a studious young man, that he is to leave the university and to apply himself to the study of the lawe; bar.-at-law, Gray’s Inn, 1660 (as son of Isaac, B.D.). See Burrows, 517; & Foster’s Judges and Barristers. (Oxford University Alumni 1500-1886, p. 861)

1649 – May 12 – UK London St Bride – Mar – Leonard Knight & Abigail Cooke (London Met Arch)

1649 – May 19 – UK London – Admin – John Knight Gent - Covenant to prove title; with bond. Consideration £850. (a) Edward Moore, of Hurtmore, near Godalming, co. Surrey, esq., William Smith, of the Middle Temple, London, esq. and Margaret, his wife, Richard Winwood, of Ditton Park, co. Bucks., esq. and John Denton, of Lincoln's Inn, co. Middx., esq.; (b) Sir John Smith, of Crabbett in Worth, kt., Sir Thomas Parker, of Ratton in Willingdon, kt. and George Parker, esq. his son, John Goodwin, of Inner Temple, London, esq. and Edward Parker, another son; (c) Benjamin Scarlett, of Inner Temple, London, gent., Thomas Dighton, of Clifford's Inn, London, gent., Jefferey Palmer, of Middle Temple, London, esq., John Burroughes, of Gray's Inn, co. Middx. esq. and John Knight, of London, gent.  Property as in no. 129.  Witnesses: Benjamin Culpeper, R. A. Beard, John Mickleton, Walter Burrell, jun., William Denton, Edmund Lassells, Thomas Gibbons and George Goodman.  (West Sussex Record Office, Ref: LYTTON/138, 139  See also: 129)

1649 – Jul 27 – UK Somerset Bromfield – Will – Henry Knight Yeoman – To wife, Elizabeth Knight, all lands, tenements, etc, held by lease, for life unless she remarries; at her death or remarriage;  to daughter Jane Robby, wife of Giles Robby, lands etc; to wife, Elizabeth, list of household items, beds, linens, etc; to daughter Marie, 6 shillings; to grandchildren, William Harris, Mary Harris, money; to daughter Alice, 3 shillings 4 pence; to son, William Knight, 1 pound; to son Henry Knight, 1 pound; to daughter Elizabeth Knight, money; to daughter Bridget, 40 pounds; to son John Knight, 10 pounds; to son John Knight, list of lands, etc;  to daughter Jane, list of household items she will receive after decease of wife, Elizabeth; residue of estate to son Thomas Knight who is to be executor; Hugh Garner and Giles Robby overseers. (Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, PROB 11: Will Registers, 1644-1654, Piece 208: Fairfax, Quire Numbers 58-116 (1649))

1649 – Sep 14 – UK London St Bride – Bap – Elizabeth Knight - d/o William Knight & Elizabeth (London Met Arch)

1649 – Sep 17 – UK Middlesex London – Will – Benjamin Knight Factor – To father and mother, William Knight and Joan Knight, 50 pounds apiece; to brother John Knight, 30 pounds and items of clothing; to sister Mary Knight, 30 pounds; to brother-in-law, Roger Cale __ of Taunton, Merchant, 10 pounds and items of clothing;  to sister Elizabeth Cale, 10 pounds; to the children of Roger Cale, 40 pounds to be divided among them; to brother Edward Knight, 20 pounds and do release and forgive him of all sums owed me and all bills and bonds of his I have to be delivered to him after my decease; to my cousin, Abraham Paine (Payne), Clothweaver, 5 pounds and items of clothing and to Elizabeth his wife, 40 shillings to buy her a ring; to Elizabeth Paine, daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth, 10 pounds at age 18 or when married; to cousin John Barnard, 5 pounds and to Mary his wife, 5 pounds; to cousin John England and his wife 20 shillings apiece; to William Barber (Barbor) and his wife, 10 pounds apiece; to friend James Betto, five pounds; residue of estate to go to wife, Elizabeth Knight who is sick, for her care and comfort; after her decease, his father is to take and divide the estate and share it out equally among all his children and grandchildren; brother-in-law Roger Cale, and friend James Betto of London, Grocer, and William Barber of Taunton, Clothier, to be executors. (Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, PROB 11: Will Registers, 1644-1654, Piece 209: Fairfax, Quire Numbers 117-153 (1649))

1649 – Sep - VA Northumberland – Info – From the following account, we find one of the many reasons the American Revolution was fought: gross greed on the part of English Lords.  The Northern Neck Proprietary, also called the Northern Neck land grant, Fairfax Proprietary, or Fairfax Grant, was a land grant by the exiled English King Charles II encompassing all the lands bounded by the Potomac and Rappahannock Rivers in colonial Virginia. This constituted up to 5,000,000 acres (20,000 km2) of Virginia's Northern Neck and a vast area northwest of it. The grant was made to seven Englishmen all of Virginia. By 1688 it had devolved on Thomas Colepeper, 2nd Baron Colepeper who also received a new patent issued by James I. Lord Colepepert died in 1689 and his daughter Catherine Culpeper and her husband Thomas Fairfax, 5th Lord Fairfax of Cameron fell heir to the Proprietary. While some of the original proprietors' rights had been lost, the collecting of taxes from settlers had been established through the efforts of their agents in Virginia and through Lord Fairfax himself to ensure that the proprietors received their income from their property. After Lord Fairfax died in January 1710, his son Thomas, the 6th Lord, inherited the title and his five-sixths shares in the Northern Neck. In May, his grandmother died leaving the new Lord Fairfax her one-sixth share. Because he was only sixteen years old at the time, the affairs of the Proprietary fell to his mother, Lady Catherine Fairfax. When she died in 1719, the sixth Lord Fairfax came to control all six shares of the proprietary.

As the Virginia government at Jamestown was losing control over a significant portion of Virginia held by Lord Fairfax, the feud between them was significant. The specific issue at this time was the southern and western boundaries of the proprietary. In 1735 Lord Fairfax came to Virginia to see about a survey to settle the matter. The survey was undertaken in 1736 and the next year Fairfax returned to England to argue his case before the Privy Council. Before leaving, he rode over much of his domain, and set aside for himself a tract of 12,588 acres (50.94 km2) near Great Falls, in what was to become Fairfax County. A second survey was conducted with great difficulty in 1746 (the Fairfax Line) setting a line between the sources of the Potomac and Rappahannock.

In 1747, Lord Fairfax came back to Virginia, two years after having won his claim before the Privy Council to the most extensive boundaries for the proprietary in exchange for certain land concessions to the Virginia authorities. Virginia had won political control over the proprietary and its inhabitants in the seventeenth century. When Lord Fairfax died in 1781 in Virginia, the proprietary effectively ceased to exist. All the land which had been granted by Lord Fairfax remained in the hands of the grantees; the remainder of ungranted land came under the control of the new Commonwealth of Virginia.

Prior to 1649, the entire Northern Neck had been designated by the Assembly as one large county called Northumberland. In 1653, the majority of the northern portion of Northumberland was named Westmoreland County. In 1664, Stafford County was created from the northern portion of Westmoreland. What is now Fairfax was first in Northumberland, then Westmoreland, and from 1664 to 1730, Stafford. (Wikipedia)

1649 – Oct 10 – UK London – Will – John Knight, Cit and Turner – To wife Anne and son Richard, all goods, chattels, household stuff, debts, etc, to be equally divided and wife to be sole executrix. (Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, PROB 11: Will Registers, 1644-1654, Piece 209: Fairfax, Quire Numbers 117-153 (1649))

1649 - Oct 16 – VA Northumberland – Admin - Ralph Horsley – Land patent for 130 acs  “On Lees Creek, being a branch coming out of Claytons Cr., beg. At a point parting this from John Earles land.” (Nugent I, p. 185)

1649 – Oct 19 – UK London St Andrew – Bur – William Knight. (London Met Arch)

1649 - Oct – VA Northumberland- Admin - Peter Knight, Gent - Land patent for 500 acs. … On the S. of great Wicocomocoe, being a neck of land bounded Ely. Upon the great bay, Wly. on the Cr. that parts same from the Indian Town of Cattalowmen, N. & N.E. upon the mouth of sd. river. Trans. Of 10 pers. (list not included) (Nugent I, p. 184)

1649 – UK Somerset – Chancery – John Knight - Knight v Palmer.  Plaintiffs: John Knight.  Defendants: George Palmer, Eleanor Palmer his wife, and Eleanor Palmer.  Subject: recovery of goods, Somerset. Document type: bill and answer. (National Archives, Kew England, Ref: C 10/4/116)

1649 – UK Radnorshire Presteigne – Chancery – Lyde vs Knight etc - Plaintiffs: Thomas Lyde.  Defendants: Philip Taylor, William Knight, Peter Knight, Morgan Glynn and Elizabeth Glynn his wife.  Subject: property in Presteigne, Radnorshire.  Document type: answer only. (National Archives, Kew England, Ref: C 8/72/26)

1649 – UK London – Will - Peter Knight, Bachelor – “Died overseas.” No further details provided by ancestry.com  Doesn’t say if he is a mariner or a colonist or a merchant or visitor or where his home in England was. (Administrations in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 1649-1654) This will obviously needs to be looked up and read.

1649 – UK Somerset Easthaddon – Admin – Valentine Knight, Gent - Wm. Hawkes of Oxford, gent., Valentine Knight of Easthaddon gent., his wife, Frances, Dorothy Knight, wid. of his father, Edward Knight of Easthaddon, yeo., and John Knight of Newton, yeo., all to John Smith, jun. of Easthaddon, yeo. Moiety of one yard land in the North Fields of Easthaddon for £146 13s. 4d.; covenants by feoffee to pay sums of £26 13s. 4d. to sd. John Knight and to Eliz. and Anne Knight, daus. of sd. Edw. Knight, and to Edw. and William Knight, sons of sd. Edward Knight, the three last specified dates [presumably when they reached the age of 21], being legacies under the will of their father. (Somerset Heritage Centre (South West Heritage Trust), Ref: DD\SF/1667)

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