by Laura Knight
See Knight Records 1166-1549 for key.
1760 – SC John’s Island – Admin - Thomas Knight is on the Petit Jury list for St. John’s Island. (Jury Lists, 1757, Acts #863 [at SC Archives]; Page Number: 7; Family Number: 4) Joseph Knight is on the Petit Jury list for John’s Island. (Jury Lists, 1757, Acts #863 [at SC Archives]; Page Number: 7; Family Number: 5)
1760 – NC Halifax – Admin - Ephraim Knight - Signer of a petition saying: “Great scarcity of money lays us under very great hardships inso much as not to be able to pay our taxes… either grant us an Act of Assembly to make more money or an Act to pay our taxes in commodities which would enable us to cheerfully pay as usual.” (Harlander & Knight, p. 4)
1760 - Feb 26 – VA Spotsylvania – Admin – Ephraim Knight - Zachary Garton and Elijah Garton and Frances, his wife, to Ephraim Knight … 165 acres in Spts. Co. Witnesses: Uriah Garton, John Smith, John Knight, Uriah Knight, Edwsrd Herndon, Henry Carter, A. Foster, Harry Bartlett. (Crozier, p. 215)
1760 - Mar 25 – VA Sussex – Admin – Moses Knight & Judith Knight - Albemarle Parish Register: birth of first child:
* Patty Knight: 25 Mar 1760: sps. James Cocke, Elizabeth Shelton, Amy Whitehead
* Elizabeth Knight: 29 Oct 1765: sps. William and Anna Sturdivant, Polly Wynne;
* Moses Knight: 24 Jan 1767: sps. William Sturdivant, Nathaniel Newsome, Frances Sturdivant;
* Ephraim Knight: 2 Aug 1772: sps. Thomas Stokes, Abel Mabrey, Anne Hood;
* William Knight : 20 Sep 1774: sps. Reuben Rodgers, Thomas Weathers, Mary Whitehead;
* James Knight: 31 May 1770: sps. John Cocke, William Steward JR, Amy Cocke. (Boddie 1998, p. 56)
1760 - Apr 8 – VA Sussex – Admin – William Knight, Richard Knight, John Knight - Albemarle Parish Vestry Meeting to report on Processioning. Names mentioned: William Knight, Richard Knight, Francis Eppes, Peter Cain, Arthur Bass, Silvanus Stokes, Robert Webb, Sarah Watkins, John Knight. (APVB, pp. 122-133 )
1760 - Apr 27 – VA Sussex – Admin – Susanna Knight - Albemarle Parish: William, illegitimate son of William Adkins and Susanna Knight. (Richards 1958, p. 163) Note: Was his surname Adkins or Knight?
1760 - May 29 – VA Amelia – Admin - George Moore – Land patent for 221 acs on the lower side of Vaughans Cr., adj. James Baldwin, Mays Line, Hill & Jennings. (VA. Gen. Soc. Qrtly., Vol. 33, No. 1, p. 56)
1760 - May 29 – VA Sussex – Admin - Richard Knight – Land patent for 365 acs. on the S side of Nottoway Riv., adj. his own line, Nicholas Callahm, Howell Briggs & Charles Partin. (VA. Gen. Soc. Qrtly., Vol. 33, No. 1, p. 57)
1760 - Jun 30 – VA Albemarle – Admin - John Bell – Land patent for 136 acs on the Wolf Br., adj. John Hunger, William Burns & John Thornton. (VA. Gen. Soc. Qrtly., Vol. 33, No. 1, p. 58)
1760 - Jun 30 – VA Amelia – Admin - Charles Anderson – Land patent for 1420 acs. bet the Brs. of Bryery and Buffelo Rivers, adj Bakers now Andersons, Bartlot Anderson, Wimbishes line & Arbuckle…. part formerly gtd. unto James Thackston by Pat. 25 Jul 1749 the Right and Title of which is since become vested in the sd Charles Anderson, residue never before granted. (VA. Gen. Soc. Qrtly., Vol. 33, No. 1, p. 58)
1760 - Aug 20 – VA Lunenburg – Admin - George Walton – Land patent for 404 acs on the head of Reases Fork of Twittys Cr. adj. Vaughan. (VA. Gen. Soc. Qrtly., Vol. 33, No. 1, p. 59)
1760 - Aug 20 – VA Lunenburg – Admin - John Vaughan – Land patent for 400 acs. on both sides of Reeces fork of Twittys Cr. adj. Jones. (VA. Gen. Soc. Qrtly., Vol. 33, No. 1, p. 63)
1760 - Aug 20 – VA Bedford – Admin - Ambrose Bryant – Land patent for 260 acs on the brs. of Elk Cr. adj. Callaway & Walton. (VA. Gen. Soc. Qrtly., Vol. 33, No. 1, p. 63)
1760 - Sep 10 – VA Essex – Admin - Robert Spilsby Coleman – Land patent for 77 acs. up the Westermost side of Hoskins Cr…. line of Mrs. Hannah Gatewood, to Col. Dangerfields Mill pond. (VA. Gen. Soc. Qrtly., Vol. 33, No. 1, p. 67)
1760 - Sep 14 – VA Sussex – Admin – Mary Knight - Albemarle Parish: Mary Knight, Mary Harwood, William Hills,, sps to Malley dau of Burrel and Amy Maclamore. (Richards 1958, p. 193) Note: Wife of William.
1760 - Sep 26 – VA Lunenburg – Admin - James Clarke – Land patent for 400 acs bet. Allens Cr. and Latons Cr. adj. Nicholas Elledge & Lanier. (VA. Gen. Soc. Qrtly., Vol. 33, No. 1, p. 69)
1760 - Sep 26 – VA Lunenburg – Admin - Thomas Chamberlayne - Land patent for 262 acs on the head Br. of the South fork of Allens Cr. adj. Martin Pennegar, Conrad Masser Smith, Ralph Cunkly, Thomas Lloyd, Anthony Hughes, John Twitty & Michael Kobrey. (VA. Gen. Soc. Qrtly., Vol. 33, No. 1, p. 69)
1760 - Sep 26 – VA Goochland – Admin - John Woodson – Land patent for 400 acs on Wild boar a br. of Lickinghole Cr. Whereas by pat 28 Sep 1730 Gtd. Benjamin Woodson and whereas the sd Benjamin Woodson hath failed to pay Quitrents and to make Cultiv. and Improv. and John Woodson hath made humble suit and hath obtained a Grant for the same. (VA. Gen. Soc. Qrtly., Vol. 33, No. 1, p. 69)
1760 - Dec 5 – NC Cumberland – Admin - Thomas Knight – Land patent for 300 acs. on the N. E. side of Pee Dee River, joining both sides of McClendels Creek, the mouth of a Branch, and Jacob McClendel. (Hofman 1982, p. 398)
1760 – VA Sussex – Mar – Mary Ann Knight & Frederick Fort – (Jean Bradley Anderson) Note: Mary Ann is the daughter of John Knight of Sussex and second wife, Elizabeth Eppes.
1760 – VA Northumberland – Admin – Rent Rolls - John Knight.
1761 - Jan 30 – NC Edgecombe – Will - Robert Knight - Wife: Terece, 1/3 my plantation and estate, negroes, household goods for widowhood.
* Son: Spier Knight. 150 acre plantation I now live on.
* Chil: Spier Knight, Penelope Knight, Frances Knight; unborn child to share equally.
* Exr: Bro., James Knight; James Spier. Wit: Robert Robison, Charles Porter, John Jones. (Williams & Griffin, p. 195)
1761 - Feb 14 – VA Lunenburg – Admin - James Collins – Land patent for 400 acs on both sides of the North Fork of Buffalo Cr,, crossing both Forks, adj. Elias Barker. (VA Gen. Soc. Qrtly. Vol 33, No. 1, p. 76)
1761 - Feb 14 – VA Cumberland – Admin - George Carrington – Land patent for 89 acs. on the brs. of Willis’s Cr., adj. Philip May & the sd George Carrington. (VA Gen. Soc. Qrtly. Vol 33, No. 1, p. 74)
1761 – Mar 20 – VA Sussex – Admin – Elizabeth Knight, widow – Appeared in court to relinquish all dower rights in lands belonging to Richard Knight. His three documented children are:
Alice Knight b. c. 1730 m. Edward Threewit
Ephraim Knight b. c. 1730
Richard Knight JR b. c. 1740
(Harlander, p. 3) Note: It appears likely that he may have had more children who never appeared in any records.
1761 - Mar 29 – VA Sussex – Admin – Jordan Knight - Albemarle Parish: Jordan Knight, Winnifred Land, Lewis Hutchins, sps to Arthur son of Baird and Sarah Edlendisto. (Richards 1958, p. 165)
Note: Even though Jordan has just reappeared, we have no reason to believe this is a Jordan JR because John Knight’s will mentions none and there are no records indicating a second Jordan at this point. Recall that the last we heard of Jordan was 13 years earlier when news of his "calamity" was reported at a parish vestry meeting in 1748. The way it was written at that time seemed to represent it as a calamity of some duration, possibly illness or injury. It may have taken quite a few years for Jordan to recover.
1761 - Mar – NC Edgecombe – Will – James Spier – Will written Jan 1761; Wife & Extx: Elizabeth. Wife to have use of plantation etc for life, or widowhood;
son & Exr: John Spier, 1 shilling;
sons: James Spier, 1 shilling; Nathaniel Spier 25 pounds VA money; Demplsey Spier, 25 pounds VA money;
son & exr: William Spier, 250 acres of land on S side of Fishing Creek, and plantation he now lives on, and 1 acre on N side of Fishing Creek at his landing, in Halifax Co.;
son-in-law Robert Knight, 40 shillings VA money;
Son-in-law Frederick Sauls and dau Frances Sauls, negro girl Rose, said negro girl to my gr.son: Moore Spier, son of John Spier;
sons: Wright Spier, negro girl and 200 acres of land adjoining his bro Williams land; David Spier, negro boy, Robin, and plantation I now live on; Kindred Spier, negro boy Ned and land; Negro wench, Cate, be sold to pay debts.
Wit: Robert Robeson, Daniel Doughtie, Dempsey Doughtie, John Hennegan. (Williams & Griffin, 1957, p. 309)
Note: Robert Knight died 3 months earlier; apparently there was no time to change the will. Must have been an epidemic.
1761 - Aug 16 – VA Sussex – Admin – Jordan Knight - Albemarle Parish: Jordan Knight, Sally Freeman, Agnes Gilliam, sps to Sally dau of Levi and Elisabeth Gilliam. (Richards 1958, p. 199)
1761 - Nov 24 – VA Hanover – Admin – Andrew Knight - St. Paul’s Parish Vestry meeting: 1 pound 15 shillings cash paid to Andrew Knight for keeping Isabella Hunter 5 weeks and conveying her to New Castle. (Chamberlayne 1940, p. 400)
1761 - Dec 16 – VA Sussex – Admin – John Knight - Albemarle Parish – John Knight is sponsor to child of Nathaniel and Agnes Duncan. (Boddie 1998, p. 37)
1762 - Jan 10 – NC Edgecombe County – Admin - John Knight - Land patent for 492 acres. “Beginning at a Pine…” (State Archives of North Carolina, Book: 11 pg: 215, Grant no.: 43, File no.: 1364)
Note: Possible that this is the son of John Knight of Sussex VA b. c. 1739.
1762 - Feb 15 – NC Granville – Admin - John Knight - of Lunenburg Co., VA to Memucan Hunt for 60 pds., 300 acres on Grassy Creek in Granville Co., N.C. Wit: Jonathan Knight, John Wade, William Knight. (Abstracts of Granville County Deeds, 1746-1765, Deed Book E, pgs 259/60.)
Note: This may actually be John Knight JR of Lunenburg.
1762 - Feb 18 – VA Sussex – Will - John Knight - I, John Knight of Sussex County, being in perfect health of body and of sound mind memory and understanding (thanks be to Almighty God) do constitute, ordain and appoint this to be my true last Will and Testament hereby Revoking and disannulling all former Wills or Testaments by me heretofore made in mannoer or form following, that is to say,
* IMPRIMIS I give and Devise to my loving son William Knight and to his heirs forever one moity of the tract of land I live upon to be laid off adjoining to Lee’s Branch, provided always and upon condition that he pay or cause to be paid to each of my loving sons John Knight, Joel Knight, Edward Knight, Peter Knight & Richard Knight, fifty shillings Current money of Virginia within three months after my decease.
* ITEM I give and Devise to my loving son Jordan Knight and to his heirs forever, the other moity of my tract of land to be laid off on that part whereon the houses now stand, provided always and upon Condition the he pay or cause to be paid to each of my loving sons John, Joel, Edward, Peter & Richard fifty shillings current money of Virginia within three months after my decease. I also give to my son Jordan one Bed and furniture, six Pewter Plates and two Pewter Dishes, and two Cows and Calves.
* ITEM I give and Devise all and every part of the Residue of my Estate whatsoever to be equally Divided amongs my loving children, William, John, Jordan, Edward, Joel, Peter, Richard, Sara Knight, Anne Knight, and Mary Knight, and my Grandson John, Knight, share and share alike to them and their Heirs forever.
* ITEM My Will and Desire is that my Estate may not be Appraised.
* Lastly I hereby constitute and appoint my loving sons William and Jordan my true and Lawful Executors of all and every part of this my last Will and Testament.
* In WITNESS whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and affixed my Seal this seventh Day of February 1760.
* Signed Sealed and Delivered by the Testator to be his John Knight (L.S.) last Will in Present of us: Nicholas Massenburg, John Cargill, Edmund Hass (his mark)
*At a court held for Sussex County the 18th Day of February 1762. The aforewritten last Will and Testament of John Knight deceased was presented in Courty by William and John Knight the Executors therein named who made Oath thereto as the Same directs, and the same was proved by the Oaths of [the witnesses].. and by the Court ordered to be recorded… the motion is granted them for obtaining a Probate thereof in jue form. A. Claiborne, Esq.
Note: Only 3 children’s births are listed in the Albemarle register that survives:
*1740 Jan 8, Peter Knight, Bap 10 Feb: sps: Peter Hawthorn, Chauncy Tatum, Mary Eppes. (Richards 1958, p. 39)
*1742 Aug 25, Sarah Knight, Bap. 12 Sep: Sps. John Tatum, Bridget Tatum, Anne Hutchins. (Richards 1958, p. 49)
*1749 Sep 21 Mary Knight, Bap 3 Dec: sps William Hutchins, Sarah Evans, Anne King. (Richards 1958, p. 150)So, William, John, Joel, Edward, Jordan, Anne and Richard were born either elsewhere, or before the registry was begun/kept, or simply were not recorded or the record did not survive. We also know from the 1748 record that Jordan was a tax paying adult at that time, and the others named probably were also. There is also a Daniel Knight briefly present in Albemarle Parish who was most likely another son who died young. Est. d.o.b.s for these children, based on their activity in the records (sponsors at baptisms, land patents, etc), would look something like this:
1719 - William - In 1739/40 William Knight stands as sponsor to child of Jones and Anne Stokes; his own 1st child registered 1742
1722 - Anne Knight – 1st child - Jones Stokes - b. 1740, Also, being his sister, this would explain why William was the one who reported the death of Jones Stokes JR to the parish in 1750/1
1723 - Jordan Knight - Is full adult with taxable property in 1748 - does not reappear on the scene until 1761; 1st child reg. 1766
1725 - Richard Knight - 1st child reg. 1746
1727 - Edward - find nothing on him but he is in the will, so must have been living at the time.
1731 - Daniel Knight - First appearance as bap. sponsor of infant in 1752. He shortly disappears.
1736 - John Knight JR - 1st child reg. 1757; appears as bap. sponsor in 1762
1740 - Peter Knight - Birth registered. Appears on schedule as bap. sponsor in 1762
1742 - Sarah Knight - Birth registered
1744 - Joel Knight - appears as bap. sponsor in 1765 His birth was not registered.
1749 - Mary Knight - Birth registeredBecause of the enormous spread of the dates of birth of these children – 30 years – it is a certainty that two mothers were involved.
The grandson, John, named, would necessarily be the son of William since John Knight, son of John JR (who died 1791), was underage at the time of his own father’s death as noted in his will, and thus could not have been born before 1775. At the same time, John Knight SR clearly had other grandchildren, other grandsons, at the time of the making of his will; why did he single out this one for a share in his estate?
1762 - Feb 25 – NC Granville – Admin - John Knight - of Lunenburg Co., VA to William Knight of Granville Co., N.C. for 10 pds., 300 acres on Grassy Creek in Granville Co., N.C. Wit: Memucan Hunt, John Wade, Jonathan Knight. (Abstracts of Granville County Deeds, 1746-1765, Deed Book E, pp. 260/1)
Note: Again, this may be John Knight JR selling off the land provided to him by his father in preparation for acquiring other lands.
1762 - Feb 25 – NC Granville – Admin - John Knight - of Lunenburg Co., VA to Jonathan Knight of Granville Co., N.C. for 10 pds., 300 acres on both sides of Grassy Creek whereon Jonathan Knight lives in a dividing line between Charles Knight and William Knight and Memucan Hunt in Granville Co., N.C. Wit: M. Hunt, John Wade, William Knight. (Abstracts of Granville County Deeds, 1746-1765, Deed Book E, pp. 262/3)
Note: This record tells us that John Knight of Lunenburg has at least three sons that came of age in the 12 year record gap.
1762 - Feb 28 – VA Sussex – Admin – John Knight - Albemarle Parish: John Knight, Betty Beddingfield, Thomas Dunn, sps to William son of John and Lucy Dunn. (Richards 1958, p. 181)
Note: This is John Knight JR, b. c. 1739 who married Elizabeth Stokes.
1762 - Mar 17 – VA Spotsylvania – Will - John Coleman - Leg. wife, Nice Coleman, mentions land, whereon John Cason now lives, bought of John Oliver. Mentions “all my children that I have or shall have” (no names given). Wit: Edward Cason, Benjamin Hatter, Caleb Coleman Ex. wife and Richard Coleman, Samuel Haws. (Crozier 1905, p. 20)
1762 - Sep 12 – VA Sussex – Admin – Peter Knight - Albemarle Parish: Peter Knight, William Gilbert, Elisabeth Cowper, sps to Frederick, son of Richard and Mary Felts. (Richards 1958, p. 67)
1762 - Nov 7 – VA Sussex – Admin - John Knight JR, Elisabeth Knight - Albemarle Parish: John Knight JR, Elisabeth Knight, Amy Harwood, sps. to Betsy (Elizabeth) dau of Frederick and Mary Fort. (Richards 1958, p. 60) (Boddie 1998, p. 47)
Note: The record designates this John as a JR. This is almost immediately after his father’s death so one wonders if there is another John Knight in the parish or if this is simply the scribe's way of telling us that the John Knight, previously so busy in the parish, has now been succeeded?
The Fort family (1764 - 1845) of house carpenters included the brothers William Knight Fort (June 27,1764 - June 21, 1843); John Fort (ca. 1785 - 1828); and Elias Fort (ca.1790 - ca.1845). Known for a single large project, Fairntosh plantation, among what must have been many works, the Fort brothers are representative of artisans who strengthened their economic position beyond their wages by acquiring land and slaves and maintaining family ties.
Family genealogies cite the Fort brothers as the sons of Frederick (d. 1819) and Mary Ann Knight Fort, who married in 1760 and had many children over a remarkably long period. The Fort family was a large one, in which several people in different generations had the same names. Evidently Frederick and Mary Ann Fort moved from Sussex County, Virginia, to Wake County in the 1780s, along with their son, William Knight. The younger carpenter sons, John and Elias, were born in Wake County and joined William—who was old enough to be their father—in the carpenter’s trade, and they were probably trained by him as well. By the 1790s,William Fort was busy at his trade in Wake County, where he took several apprentices to the carpenter’s and wheelwright’s trades in 1798, 1804, 1809, and 1814. Another brother, Foster, also took an apprentice to the carpenter’s trade in Wake County in 1804, but little is known of his work as a carpenter. (https://ncarchitects.lib.ncsu.edu/people/P000159)
The only problem with this account is that Mary Knight was only 13 years old when she had this child, being baptized in 1749 as noted in the Albemarle Parish Register of baptisms. Not impossible, of course, and it gives us pause to consider how many other brides were bearing children at such a young age in those days, as the evidence for this seems almost incontrovertible.
1762 Nov 26 – VA Goochland – Mar - Thomas Knight and Ann___ - Marriage Bond. (Crozier 1909, p. 167)
Note: The marriage was apparently took place in Norfolk. VA. (VA MG REC 1700-1850)
1762 - Dec 7 – VA Sussex – Admin – Peter Knight - Albemarle Parish: Peter Knight, William Rogers, Mary Rogers, sps to Langston son of Jesse and Faith Rogers. (Richards 1958, p. 147)
1763 - Feb 10 – Paris/London/Virginia – Info - Britain, France, and Spain sign the Peace of Paris, ending the Seven Years' War, a global conflict known in North America as the French and Indian War.
1763 - Mar 27 – VA Sussex – Admin – Charles Knight & Elizabeth Knight - Albemarle Parish: Charles Knight, Elisabeth Knight, Anne Wren sps to Patty dau of Thomas and Sarah Barham. (Richards 1958, p. 84)
1763 - Aug 27 – VA Brunswick – Bap – Moses Knight - According to his Rev. War pension file. (Moss 1983, p. 542)
Note: This suggests that the John Knight and William Knight that we earlier saw patenting land in Brunswick remained there for some time.
1763 - Sep 11 – VA Sussex – Admin – Jordan Knight - Albemarle Parish: Jordan Knight, Priscilla Jones, Lucretia Hood, sps to Faithy dau of John and Elisabeth Hood. (Richards 1958, p. 67)
1763 - Nov 10 – VA Lunenburg – Mar - Theodorick Carter & Sally Ealbank - bond, Sur: Jacob Royster. (Matheny & Yates 1967, p. 20)
1763 - Dec 1 – VA Hanover – Info - Patrick Henry argues the defense in a Parsons' Cause case at Hanover Court House, challenging the British claim to authority over Virginia's laws. The jury accepts Henry's arguments and awards the plaintiff only one penny in damages. (VA History online)
1764 - Mar 3 – VA Spotsylvania – Admin – Richard Coleman - Deed to Richard Coleman of Spts. Co. witnessed by Seth Cason. (Crozier 1905, p. 233)
1764 - Mar 31 – VA Lunenburg – Admin - Cumberland Parish Vestry Returns of Processioning - No. 4, Processioned by Daniel Wynn, Elisha Estis & Joel Farguson: … Daniel Wynn’s land, (lines between) Benjamin Bridgfords & John Knight’s, the last & Samuel Snead being present. … No. 5 Processioned by Lodowick Farmer & Sylvanus Stokes… (lines between) Richard Claiborne & Michael Johnson … Richard Claiborne & Lodowick Farmer… Gideon Moon & George Grimes… Richard Stokes & Evans Stokes’s & John Parker… Mr. Stephensons & John Johnsons… No. 6. Processioned by Joseph Minor, Jacobus Christopher & John Knight … lands belonging to: Richard Stokes JR & Richard Stokes SR… Col. John Nash, John Knight… William Monroe, Anthony Puckett, Francis Amos; (Bell 1930, pp. 513, 514)
1764 - Apr 22 – VA Sussex – Admin – Moses Knight & Judith Knight - With William Rives, sps to William son of Richard and Sarah Marks, Albemarle Parish. (Richards 1958, p. 182)
1764 - Apr 24 – VA Sussex – Admin - Jordan Knight, Susannah Knight - Albemarle Parish Report on Processioning. Names mentioned: (LOT of new names, old names seem to be disappearing) James Cain Jr, Isham Cain, Francis Eppes, Jordan Knight, Susannah Knight, (APVB pp. 149-158)
Note: This Susannah may be the same one having an illegitimate child with Adkins as noted in prev entry. Is she a widow or a Knight by birth?
1764 - May 20 – VA Sussex – Admin – Charles Knight & Sarah Knight - Albemarle Parish: Charles Knight, Sarah Knight, Amy Harwood, sps to Rebekah dau of Charles and Mary Barham. (Richards 1958, p. 156)
1764 - Jun 10 – VA Lunenburg – Admin - Cumberland Parish - List of Tithes includes: Thomas Jones, John Moore, Sylvanus Walker, Joseph Bass, John Farmer, Benjamin Farmer, Joseph Bass, Reece Hughes, James Farmer, George Clark, Samuel Clark, Stephen Coleman, Thomas Andrews, Richard Andrews, Peter Andrews, John Moore, Thomas Moore, Drury Moore, Edward Jordan SR and sons Benjamin and William, Edward Jordan JR, Sylvanus Stokes, William Stokes, Richard Stokes, Richard Stokes JR, Evan Stokes, Charles Stokes, Young Stokes, Henry Stokes, Col. David Stokes, Henry Stokes, William Walker, Richard Coleman, Cluverius Coleman, Lodowick Farmer, Andrew Johnson, John Johnson SR, John Johnson JR, John Knight JR: 3, John Knight SR: 4; Peter Knight:2, David Stokes, Thomas Anderson, James Coleman, William Coleman, Archibald Clark, James Clark, Robert Coleman, Phillip Coleman, Abner Coleman, Jesse Clark, John Clark, Francis Clark, Robert Jones Esq, John Anderson, Thomas Moore, Thomas Moore JR, Richard Johnson, George Moore, Major Evans, Charles Evans, Edward Lewis, James Anderson, Ephraim Andrews, William Andrews, John Andrews, Eleazar Andrews, Morris Evans, Robert Evans, Stephen Evans JR, Thomas Evans, Stephen Evans, William Evans, Warner Tucker, Lodowick Farmer, Phillimon Johnson, James Johnson, Isaac Johnson, William Moore, Joel Moore, Mark Moore, John Tucker (Landon Bell, p.243)
Note: There is a 12 year skip between the last tithe list and this one. In the meantime, John Knight - either SR or JR has purchased property in Granville, NC, which he later sold to Jonathan Knight and William Knight as the records above show (and probably Charles Knight, though no records on that). Also at this point, there are apparently three Knight Households in Lunenburg, John, John JR, and Peter, while the other sons, Charles, Jonathan and William, are in North Carolina. All of these children with their own households are most certainly over 21. That means that since the appearance of Jonathan in 1751/52, when he apparently turned 16, four other children have come of age. Either that, or John had children from a first marriage that were already living in NC at the time he patented land in Lunenburg.
1764 – Jun 27 – VA Sussex – Bap – William Knight Fort – s/o Frederick Fort and Mary Ann Knight, dau. of John Knight of Sussex and Elizabeth Eppes Knight. (APR, Richards)
1764 – Jul 13 – SC Colleton – Will – William M. Knight – Written 14 Apr 1764: William M. Knight of Williams Township, Craven County, province of SC, being sick in body, but perfect memory etc… Estate to be sold except slaves left to daughter Jean when she reaches 18 yrs; daughter also to receive bed, furniture, 300 pounds, her mothers saddle, kitchenware, her mother’s flax wheel with all cloth and yarn; to granddaughter Jean M. Knight, daughter of John M. Knight, deceased, one cow and calf, 20 pounds; remainder of estate to be divided into four parts; one part to son Alexander Knight, second to son Thomas Knight, third to son Robert Knight, fourth to grandson John Knight, son of John M. Knight, deceased. Three sons Alexander, Thomas and Robert, to be executors. Signed with his mark. Wit: William Law, Robert Wilson, Ann Wilson. Proved 13 Jul 1764 by Robert M. Knight. (SC Wills and Probate Rec. 1670-1980, Charleston, Wills, Vol 9-10, 1760-1767, image online served by ancestry.com)
Note: The location was "Craven" at the time of the will, but is now Colleton County.
1765 – Jan 1 – GA St Philip Parish – Admin – Land Grant – Peter Knight – 150 acres, surveyed March 24, 1762, Plat Book C, page 127, Granted Jan 1, 1765, Grant Book E, p. 96. (Helmer 2014, p. 178)
Note: This area was later part of Effingham County. See note further on that clarifies who this Peter Knight may be. On the map below, see the location of the parish.
1765 - Mar 2 - VA Spotsylvania – Admin - Ephraim Knight - of St. George’s Par. Spts. Co., to Hugh Lenox & Co, Mercht. 28 pounds, 18s 11d curr. Mortgage. 165 acres in Par. And Co. afsd., purchased by sd. Knight of Zachary and Elijah Garton, 5 Mar 1765. (Crozier 1905, p. 240)
1765 - Mar 22 – UK London – Info - Stamp Act - Parliament passes the "Duties in American Colonies Act 1765," better known as the Stamp Act, a piece of legislation introduced by George Grenville, the British prime minister. It requires all printed materials in the American colonies to be produced on specially stamped paper manufactured in London, England. (Wikipedia)
1765 - May 29 – VA Jamestown – Info - Patrick Henry persuades a sparsely attended House of Burgesses to adopt five resolutions condemning the Stamp Act as a violation of the ancient rights of Englishmen in Virginia, known as the "Virginia Resolves on the Stamp Act." Burgesses rescind one resolution and never formally propose or vote on two others. (Wikipedia)
1765 - Jun 22 – VA Sussex – Admin – Rebecca Knight - William Andrews of Sussex Co. gave a Negro girl to his granddaughter, Rebecca Knight, to be hers after the deaths of her parents. (Dorman, Vol. 1, Epes family, Sussex County Deed Bk C, pp. 176-77)
1765 - Aug 11 – VA Sussex – Admin – Charles Knight - Albemarle Parish: Charles Knight, Mary Hern, Patty Freeman sps to Patty dau of James and Mary Hern. (Richards 1958, p. 85)
1765 - Aug 11 – VA Sussex – Admin – Joel Knight & Hannah Knight - Albemarle Parish: Joel Knight and Hannah Porch Knight children:
* Mary Knight: 11 Aug 1765, Bap. 17 Nov: sps: James Spane, Margory Hill, Hannah Parham;
* Lucretia Knight: 22 Oct 1767, Bap 13 Dec, sps: Henry Burrows, Lucretia Burrow;
* Sylvia Knight: 13 Sep 1769, Bap 13 Dec, sps: Isham Hawthorn, Sylvia Porch. (Boddie 1998, p. 55) (Richards 1958, p. 204, 148, 208)
1765 - Aug 15 – VA Brunswick – Admin - William Knight - and wife, Jane, of Meherrin Parish, sold the land given him by his father. (Dorman, Vol. 1, Epes family, Sussex County Deed Bk C, pp. 176-77)
Note: Are these the parents of Moses Knight above, said to have been born in Brunswick Co?
1765 - Aug 28 – VA Stafford – Will - William Knight - "In the name of God Amen I William Knight of Stafford County being aged & infirm, but of a sound memory....make this my last will & testament. My Soul into hands of Merciful creator... What worldly Estate after my Debts lawfully contracted, funeral expenses & Legacies are paid I do dispose of ...
* Imprimis I give to Rebecca Fletcher 1 cow and calf, 1 sow & piggs, a pot and a pan, her wearing clothes and her own proportion excluded. I also give her four geese, also a feather bed & furniture during her life. and then to be returned to the heir or Executor. Also three barrells of corn.
* Item I give to my brother John Knight my gun also my cartouch box & jacket & leather breeches.
* Item I give to Scarlett Harper two barrles of corn.
* Item I give to my loving Father my crop & stock and all my personal estate after the above Debts and legacies are paid during his natural life, after his decease to be equally divided between my Brother John Knight and my Sister Sarah Knight & heirs.
* Lastly I appoint my loving father Leonard Knight my sole Executor of this my last will and testament.....28th of August 1765"
Signed: William Knight
**'September court 1766. This will presented into court....proved.....Admitted to record. certificate granted for probate." (Stafford County, Virginia Will Book (?), pg 504-505, image online served by ancestry.com)
Note: This will is problematical for several reasons. First of all, William states that he is "aged and infirm", and then he makes his father his executor, and one would suspect the father of being even more aged! We know for sure about Leonard Knight, son of Capt. Peter Knight, and there is documentary evidence for his sons Christopher, Isaac and Ephraim (bap. 1706). Then we have George Knight who married Jean Dawson that we also suspect is a son of Leonard. We later encounter a Leonard Knight married to an Eleanor baptizing at least two children in Overwharton Parish. This Leonard II would probably be born c. 1716 giving the mother, at this point, a 12 year child-bearing period. If the father named in this will is Leonard II, then he would be c. 49 years old and none of his children could be older than, say 30, and such could hardly describe themselves as “aged and infirm”.
And so, we are thrown back on the idea that the father, Leonard, was actually Leonard Knight, son of Capt. Peter Knight, b. 1666 according to his own affidavit, and thus, 99 years old at the time of this will! It’s not impossible since we know that John Knight 1747 lived to be almost, or even over, 100. This also brings up the possibility that Leonard Knight had more than one wife in order to explain the subsequent children named in this will which might have stretched a first wife's child-bearing years a bit much. Does that mean that Leonard Knight II was also Leonard Knight I ? It's possible, but I don’t think so because we simply have too many children to account for. It may be that it was Leonard Knight II who went off to Spotsylvania County while Leonard I remained in Stafford. It will require some study to sort it all out more or less accurately. But for now, because of the reference to being “aged and infirm”, and because we know that some of this branch of Knights were very long lived, I’m going to give this William to Leonard I along with his brother, John, and sister Sarah. I would assume that the other brothers and sisters have pre-deceased him because they are not mentioned.
Finally, William appears to be the one who married Jane Butler and to have had a son, John, married to Elizabeth Harper. Her brother was Scarlett Harper. This John’s son, John Knight Jr. was one of the attesters to the 1792 marriage of Scarlett Harper's daughter, Nancy Harper to Charles White, along with Benjamin Davis in Bourbon Co., KY (record will be found in its appropriate time slot). I can’t figure out the relationship of Rebecca Fletcher since she is bequeathed certain items for her life, then to be “returned to the heirs”. She was obviously not a legal heir. However, Mary Knight, a daughter of William Knight and Jane Butler did marry a Thomas Fletcher in 1742 so Rebecca could have been a sister of this Thomas. This Rebecca apparently did marry a John Lashly and removed to Northampton NC so it strikes me that she may have been a niece by marriage or something of that sort.
1765 – Nov 17 – VA Sussex – Admin – Joel Knight - Albemarle Parish – Joel Knight, Peter Green, sps to Burrel son of William and Lucy Green. (Richards 1958, p. 135)
1765 – NC Orange – Info – Regulators Rebellion - Orange county was formed in 1752 from parts of Bladen, Granville, and Johnston Counties. The Orange County seat of Hillsborough was founded in 1754. Hillsborough was an earlier Piedmont colonial town where court was held, and was the scene of some pre-Revolutionary War tensions. In the late 1760s, tensions between Piedmont farmers and county officers welled up in the Regulator movement, or as it was also known, the War of the Regulation, which had its epicenter in Hillsborough. Several thousand people from North Carolina, mainly from Orange County, Anson County, and Granville County in the western region, were extremely dissatisfied with the wealthy North Carolina officials whom they considered cruel, arbitrary, tyrannical, and corrupt. With specie scarce, many inland farmers found themselves unable to pay their taxes and resented the consequent seizure of their property. Local sheriffs sometimes kept taxes for their own gain and sometimes charged twice for the same tax. At times, sheriffs would intentionally remove records of their tax collection to further tax citizens. The most heavily affected areas were said to be those of Rowan, Anson, Orange, Granville, and Cumberland Counties. It was a struggle of mostly lower-class citizens, who made up the majority of the population of North Carolina, and the wealthy ruling class, who composed about 5% of the population, yet maintained almost total control of the government. Of the 8,000 people living in Orange County at the time, an estimated 6000 - 7000 of them were in support of the Regulators. Governor William Tryon's conspicuous consumption in the construction of a new governor's mansion at New Bern fuelled the movement's resentment.
While small acts of violence had been taking place for some time, mainly out of resentment, the first organized conflict was in Mecklenburg County in 1765. Settlers in the region, who were there illegally, forced away surveyors of the region assigned with designating land. Minor clashes followed for the next several years in almost every western county, but the only true battle of the war was the Battle of Alamance on May 16, 1771.
Edmund Fanning was the main opposition to the Regulators. A graduate of Yale College, he was generally regarded by his friends as well disciplined and firm. He held many political offices in Orange County. He was once found guilty of embezzling money (along with Francis Nash) but was fined only one penny per charge.
In 1768, the Regulators entered Hillsborough, broke up the court, and dragged those they saw as corrupt officials through the streets. The mob attempted to have the judge try the cases that were pending against several Regulator leaders, including that of Herman Husband, one of the unofficial leaders of the Regulators. The presiding Judge Richard Henderson quickly adjourned the court until the next morning to avoid being forced to make a ruling in the presence of an angry mob of Regulators, and escaped in the night. The Regulators rioted, destroying public and private property alike. Fanning was among the lawyers beaten, found after taking refuge in a shop neighboring the courthouse. According to Judge Henderson, Fanning's beating was so severe that "one of his eyes was almost beaten out." The courthouse was systematically and symbolically vandalized. Human waste was placed on the judge's seat, and the body of a long deceased slave was placed upon the lawyers' bar. The mob continued to destroy shops and property in the town, and ultimately brought their destruction to Fanning's personal residence. After destroying all of the furniture and drinking all of his alcohol, they picked apart his entire house. Henderson's barn, along with his stables and home, were burned to the ground. They cracked the church bell of the Church of England but stopped short of looting the church.
Tryon sent troops from his militia to the region, and defeated the Regulators at the Battle of Alamance in May 1771. Several trials were held after the war, resulting in the hanging of six Regulators at Hillsborough on June 19, 1771.
Governor Tryon and his forces, which numbered just over 1,000, with roughly 150 officers, arrived at Hillsborough on May 9. At the same time, General Hugh Waddell, supporting the governor, en route with his contingent of 236 men was met by a large contingent of Regulators under the leadership of Captain Benjamin Merrill. Realizing his force was outnumbered, he fell back to Salisbury. On May 11, having received word of the retreat from a messenger, Tryon sent the force to support General Waddell. He intentionally chose a path that would lead his forces through Regulator territory. He gave strict orders that nothing was to be looted or damaged. By May 14, his troops had reached Alamance and set up camp. Leaving about 70 men behind to guard the position, he moved the remainder of his force, slightly under 1,000 men, to find the Regulators.
About 10 miles (16 km) away, a force of approximately 2,000 Regulators (by some accounts, 6,000) without any clear leadership or supplies, was gathered mainly as a display of force and not a standing army. The general Regulator strategy was to scare the governor with a show of superior numbers in order to force the governor to give in to their demands. The first clash of the battle was on May 15, when a rogue band of Regulators captured two of the governor's militia soldiers. Governor Tryon had informed the Regulators that they were displaying open arms and rebellion and that action was to be taken if they did not disperse. The Regulators did not understand the severity of the crisis they were in and ignored the warning. Despite hesitation from his own forces, Governor Tryon allegedly initiated the main battle of Alamance on May 16 by shooting Robert Thompson, who was the first death of the battle. The Regulators resistance crumbled somewhat quickly. The battle was over with nine deaths for the governor's forces and about the same for the Regulators. Virtually everyone captured in the battle was fully pardoned in exchange for an allegiance to the crown; however, six Regulators were hanged for their part in the uprising, including some officers of the colonial militia who had joined ranks with the Regulator's side. Those officers were Captain Robert Messer, Captain Benjamin Merrill, and Captain Robert Matear.
Following the battle, Tryon's militia army traveled through Regulator territory, where he had Regulators and Regulator sympathizers sign loyalty oaths and destroyed the properties of the most active Regulators. He also raised taxes to pay for his militia's defeat of the Regulators.
As news articles spread the word of his victory, Tryon was branded a hero of the colonies for defeating the larger group of Regulators with his small, well prepared militia. However as the initial excitement over the battle died down, many newsmen, especially in the Boston area, began to question the reasons behind the rebellion and investigated further. Several reasons were found to regard the destruction of the Regulators as an act of an oppressive government. Most particularly admonished was the methods in which Tryon had used to win the battle. The use of a riot act and the execution of rebellion leaders after the battle was frowned upon. Reports also indicated that battlefield misconduct had taken place on the governor's side, including giving the farmers a two-hour warning period before the battle began, and subsequently breaking that agreement to bombard them with artillery fire.
Many of the main leaders remained in hiding until 1772, when they were no longer considered outlaws. Many Regulators moved further west into places such as Tennessee, notably establishing both the Watauga Association in 1772 and the State of Franklin in 1784.
Though the rebellion did not change the power structure, some historians consider it a catalyst to the American Revolutionary War. Though the rebellion did not change the power structure, some historians consider it a catalyst to the American Revolutionary War. Others like John Spencer Bassett view that the Regulators did not wish to change the form or principle of their government, but simply wanted to make the colony's political process more equal. They wanted better economic conditions for everyone except slaves and Native Americans, instead of a system that benefited the colonial officials. Bassett interprets the events of the late 1760s in Orange and surrounding counties as "a peasants' rising, a popular upheaval.” Others like John Spencer Bassett view that the Regulators did not wish to change the form or principle of their government, but simply wanted to make the colony's political process more equal. They wanted better economic conditions for everyone except slaves and Native Americans, instead of a system that benefited the colonial officials. Bassett interprets the events of the late 1760s in Orange and surrounding counties as "a peasants' rising, a popular upheaval.” (Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_the_Regulation)
1765 – SC Colony – Info – Regulators of South Carolina - At the same time as the Regulators Rebellion in North Carolina, the South Carolina colony had a group of men calling themselves regulators, albeit with very different goals. The regulators of the south were also farming class, landowning men who had grievances against officialdom. However their main problems stemmed not from corruption, but a lack of representation and of government-provided services such as courts and churches. These regulators found an enemy in local groups of "hunters" (who were seen as undesirables) and bandits. The South Carolina regulation helped catalyze the Revolutionary War, as the residents found the distant authority of the Parliament of Great Britain to be so late in responding to their demands. The Regulators of South Carolina were formed during the mid-1760s and were active mainly between 1767 and 1769. During the previous decades, the population of the frontier had boomed, thanks to the planning of Governor Robert Johnson.
During this time, the inland settlers on the South Carolina frontier suffered more from violent crimes, including organized bandit raids. The disruption of the Cherokee war of 1760-1761 left many settlers without homes, and native raids sometimes resulted in abandonment of settler children. To sustain their families, the men went out hunting. In the colonial period on the western frontier, this was not seen as an honorable profession, and hunters were labeled as vagrants, bandits, and outlaws, and blamed for stealing livestock. Their method of "fire hunting" at night used fire to blind deer, and sometimes they mistook farmers' livestock for wild game. They left unused animal corpses, which drew wolves and scavengers closer to populated areas. Hunting also pushed well into the boundary of the local natives, the Creek Indians, exacerbating their already tense relationship with colonists. The bandits gathered until they numbered about 200. Eventually they were bold enough to attack magistrates. They dragged James Mayson, a regulator, from his home in the night. Originally made up of the hunting groups, the bandits also accepted free mulattos and blacks, fugitive slaves, and any outlaw available. Some members of the bandit network were well-established farmers.
In South Carolina, "regulators" were not rebels, but a vigilante force of propertied elite men. They co-operated with their colonial government for their entire active time. The South Carolina regulators were a much smaller organization than the mass movement in North Carolina. There were 100 known regulators, of whom 32 became justices of the peace, and 21 were militia leaders. Thirty-one owned slaves, and 14 owned 10 or more. Their primary aim was to protect themselves and their assets from bandits; their secondary purpose was to get courts, churches and schools established in their quickly growing communities. The only court in the colony was in Charleston, through which all legal documentation had to go. The inland settlers had the sympathy of the coastal elite, but the circuit court act, which would establish the jails, courts, sheriffs and 14 judicial districts, was held up by a dispute with the Parliament of Great Britain concerning the tenure of judges.
The South Carolina regulation movement was a great success. Their manifesto, written by Anglican missionary Rev. Charles Woodmason argued their case.[8] Eventually the colonial legislature passed a series of acts that met the needs of the propertied frontiersman. These included vagrancy acts, which restricted the hunters, forbidding them to trespass on Native lands.
Coupled with the 1769 ordinance for the preservation of deer, which forbade fire hunting, the new law resulted in many hunters being whipped and banished from the area. In 1768, the Charleston grand jury began urging the creation of new schools in the back country, as per regulator request. In 1769 the circuit court act was passed, making way for the new courthouses and jails, as well as setting up four new judicial districts. The cooperation between frontier and coastal colonists was so effective that by 1771, Governor Charles Montague had issued a full pardon for any actions taken by the regulators in his state. (Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_the_Regulation See also: Zinn, Howard. A People's History of the United States: 1492–Present. Harper-Perennial, 2003.)
1766 - Mar 18 – UK London – Info - Parliament passes the Act Repealing the Stamp Act. (Wikipedia)
1766 - Jun 1 – VA Sussex – Admin – Joel Knight & Hannah Knight - Albemarle Parish: Joel Knight, Hannah Knight, Rebekah Rowland, sps to Mary dau of Thomas and Sarah Wilkinson (Wilkason). (Richards 1958, p. 205)
1766 - Jun 19 – VA Sussex – Will - Silvanus Stokes - Will dated May 23 1758, proved June 19, 1766
In the name of God Amen. I Silvanus Stokes of Sussex County being in health of and of sound and perfect mind and memory thanks be to almight God for the same. Calling to mind the uncertainty of this life do make Constitute and Ordain and declare this my last will and Testament in manner and form following: first I bequeath my soul and spirit into the hands of Almighty God… etc. And as touching the distribution of my worldly Estate I dispose the same as followeth
* Imprimis I will that all the Just debts that I owe be paid
* Item to my son Marcus Stokes five Shillings Cash
* Item to my son Silvanus Stokes five Shillings Cash
* Item to my son Drury Stokes five Shillings Cash
* Item to my Wife Celia Stokes all my lands Lying on the South side the Rachoon swamp in Sussex County with my Plantation I now live on with all other appurtenances thereunto or in any wise appertaining During her Natural life. And after her Death to my son Micajah Stokes to Him the said Micajah His Heirs and Assigns forever.
* Item to my Daughter Pheba Freeman five Shillings Cash
* Item to my Daughter Susannah Green five Shillings Cash
* Item to my Daughter Elizabeth Knight five Shillings Cash
* Item to my Daughter Lucy Stokes five Shillings Cash
* Item to my Daughter Agness Stokes five Shillings Cash
* Item to my Daughter Lydia Stokes (Ledia) five Shillings Cash
* Item to my wife Celia Stokes all the rest - and Remainder of my Estate Both real and personal During her Natural life and at her death to be Divided among my Children at her Discretion.
* Item My Will is that my Executrix shall not give Security for the proving of this my last will and testament.
* Item My Will is that my Estate should be Inventoried but not appraised and I do make Constitute and appoint my wife Celia Stokes my whole and sole Executor of this my last will and Testament Revoking annulling and making Void all former wills and Testaments by me at any time made.
The words belonging was inter___ before sealed or signed
In testimony whereof the said Silvanus Stokes of Sussex County have here unto sett my hand and affixed my seal this 23th day of February in the Year of our Lord Christ, One Thousand Sevin Hundred and fifty of eight
Signed Sealed Published and Declared...
Proved and recorded June 19, 1766 Sussex County, Virginia (Will image online served by ancestry.com)
Note: There were two Sylvanus Stokes, one in Lunenburg and one in Sussex Co. They were cousins. We see from this will that Elizabeth Stokes Knight, wife of John Knight JR of Sussex, was living as late as 1766 unless she predeceased her father by a very short time.
1766 - Aug 4 – VA Spotsylvania – Will – Daniel Carter - Elizabeth Salter, admx. of Daniel Carter, decd., with Thomas Blanton, sec. (Crozier 1905, p. 62) Note: there are quite a few Salters in nearby Philadelphia at this period.
1766 - Sep 26 – NC Onslow – Admin - Robert Knight - Land patent for 82 acres on the S. side of the N.W. Branch of New River and (on the) S. side of Blue Creek, joining a pon. (a point) nigh the road, and the Creekside nigh John Evans. (Hofman 1765-1775, p. 60)
1766 - Sep 29 – VA Sussex – Admin – Jordan Knight - Albemarle Parish: Jordan Knight and Elizabeth Knight begin their family:
* John Knight: 1766 Sep 23: James Horn, Thomas Moore, Jane Horn;
* Lucy Knight: 1668 May 15: John Knight, Elizabeth Rodgers, Lucy Horn;
* Mary Knight: 1770 Feb 3: Curtis Land, Mary Rachell, Lucretia Gilliam;
* Daniel Knight: 1771 Nov 20: Joseph Wren, Reuben Rodgers, Lucy Horn. (Boddie 1998, p. 57)
* Agnes Knight: 1765 Mar 4, Bap 21 Apr, sps. James Horn, Frances Rives, Elisabeth Knight. (Richards 1958, p. 166)
* William Knight: 1769 Dec 30, Bap 1770 Mar 18, sps Frederick Fort, Charles Mabry, Fanny Mason. (Richards 1958, p. 201)
Note: Jordan's wife was most likely a Horn as Horns figure most frequently as sponsors to their children.
1766 - Nov 22 – VA Stafford – Admin - George Knight, John Knight, Elizabeth Knight - Early Records of Chappawamsic Baptist Church, Stafford Co. VA: Church minutes state that Chappawamsic was constituted by former members of Broad Run Church, Fauquier County. Signatories incude (selected): Mary Anderson, John Carney, Mary Carney, Absolom Carney, George Williams, Sarah Carney, Joshua Carney, John Bland, John Taylor, Elizabeth Taylor, Betty Harper, Ann Moore, Margaret Bland; New member enrollments: 1767 Jun 28: George Knight, John Knight, Elizabeth Knight (VA Gen. Soc. Qrtly. Vol. 27, No. 1, pp. 37-40)
1767 - Mar 2 – VA Sussex – Admin – John Knight - With Elizabeth Moore, John Hargrove, sps to Thomas, son of Nathaniel and Susannah Newsome, Albemarle Parish. (Richards 1958, p. 96)
1767 - Apr 21 – VA Sussex – Admin – John Knight - Albemarle Parish Vestry Business Meeting: Church pd John Knight forty Shillings. (p. 158); James Cain Jr fined for swearing. (p. 159) Pd John Knight part of his charge for Repairing church roof (APVB, p. 160 )
1767 - Aug 19 – VA Sussex – Admin – John Knight, Jordan Knight, Moses Knight - Albemarle Parish Vestry meeting to report Processioning. Names mentioned: “Estate of William Knight”, John Knight, Jordan Knight, Moses Knight. (APVB, pp. 167-173 )
Note: William Knight, son of John Knight and Elizabeth Jordan, has apparently died.
1767 - Nov 15 – VA Sussex – Admin – Joel Knight - With William Horn, Eleanor Rives sps to Joel, son of James and Frances Horne, Albemarle Parish. (Richards 1958, p. 100)
1768 – Sep 6 – GA St Philip Parish – Admin – James Cherry – Land grant for 200 acres, St. Philip Parish bounded on the southeast by Peter Knight. Grant Book G, page 172. (Helmer 2014, p. 164)
Note: See the 1765 Peter Knight record above. This area was later Effingham County. It seems that the only Peter Knight this could have been, considering date and associations, would be Peter, son of John of Sussex and wife, Elizabeth Eppes. Peter’s son, Jesse Knight (1757-1815), was father-in-law to Aaron Cherry, so there was a Cherry family association in Edgecombe, NC. It appears that this Peter did not remain in GA, but returned to Sussex VA and then removed to Edgecombe NC where he died and left a will. However, his appearance in this location is likely a clue as to the identity of the John Knight who later obtained land in Effingham.
1769 - Apr 16 – VA Sussex – Admin – Charles Knight - With Mary Johnson, William Burroughs sps to Barham son of Nathaniel and Susannah Newsome, Albemarle Parish. (Richards 1958, p. 136)
1769 - May 6 – VA Sussex - Admin – John Knight - Albemarle ParishVestry Business Meeting. Paid John Knight for Repairs Done at St Andrew Chappell in Part of his Demand & It’s Submited to John Peters Whether he Deserves More. (APVB, p. 184)
1769 - Jun 10 – VA Lunenburg – Admin - List of Tithes – Selected: Edward Jordan, Benjamin Jordan, William Jordan, William Stokes, James Anderson, Reps Jones, Robert Jones, Drury Jones, William Jones, Robert Moore, James Moore, John Moore, John Haley, Thomas Haley, Samuel Jordan, Isaac Johnson, Michael Johnson, David Johnson, David Stokes, Peter Jones, Young Stokes, Henry Stokes William Evans, Allin Stokes, Sylvanus Stoks, James Johnson, Benjamin Evans, Edward Hambleton, John Knight, Joseph Knight: 7; Peter Knight: 4; Lodowick Farmer: 3, Martha Tucker, Charles Stokes, Edward Jordan JR, Shadrack Stokes, Richard Stokes, Richard Stokes JR (Landon Bell, pp.282, 283, 285.)
Note: John Knight now has yet another son 16 or older in his household though with a 5 year skip between tithe lists, it’s difficult to say much except that he is probably under 21 or he would likely have his own household based on previous pattern. Notice also that John Knight JR is not listed after being there with his own household in 1764. There is no record in the interval suggesting where he has gone.
1769 - Aug 7 – VA Sussex – Admin – John Knight - With Fanny Newsome, Daniel Harwood, sps to Eldridge son of William and Elisabeth Newsome, Albemarle Parish. (Richards 1958, p. 187)
1769 - Sep 2 – VA Norfolk – Mar - John Oliffe & Mrs. Anne Knight. (Crozier 1909, p. 252)
Note: May have been widow of Thomas Knight, supra: 1762 Nov 26.
1769 – Dec 30 - VA Sussex – Admin – John Knight – And wife Anne Knight – Birth/Bap of first child. Family listed in parish register consisted of the following:
* 1769 Dec 30, William Knight: Sp: Fred Fort, Charles Mabrey, Fanny Wilson (trans: Huson)
* 1772 Jan 30 birth of son Benjamin Knight, Bap. 17 Apr 1772 sps. William Knight, Lewis Newsome, Martha Newsome. (Richards 1958, p. 137)
* 1774 Mar 6, Wilson Knight, Bap 8 May: sps: Benjamin Adams, William Prince, Alice Newsome. (Richards 1958, p. 210)
Note: Notice that the sponsor of the second child is a William Knight. William Knight who has lately died, had a son William, but his baptism was registered in 1753 making him only 16 at this time and I haven't thus far seen any baptismal sponsors that young though; it is not impossible, but it is unlikely. Was Anne Knight a Wilson before marriage as suggested by name of last child and the presence of a Fanny Wilson, possibly a sister, as godmother to her first child? I don't know who this John Knight is. He should be born c.1749 which would put him in the age group with the son of William Knight, i.e. grandson of John Knight of Sussex. He could even be that John Knight, but I am convinced by other evidence that John Knight, son of William, grandson of John Knight SR of Sussex, is also John Knight of Effingham GA who married Rachel Anderson. If that is the case - and the evidence is very good in that direction - then that would mean that John Knight of Effingham had a first family that he more or less abandoned. But that's not what I think happened. There is a land patent by a John Knight in Cumberland County NC in 1773 and then I've found Wilson Knight - not so common a name - in the Cumberland NC 1830 census, along with a Henry Knight of a similar age and a John Knight young enough to be a son of either. Wilson is alone in Cumberland in 1840. The name Wilson shows up again as a 16 year old son of James Knight, 38, in the 1850 Clarke, Mississippi census along with a Mark Knight, 32. BUT, it also shows up in the same census, alone, in Frederick VA as a 27 year old, this time with a son, James Knight. In any event, later records indicate that this family removed to Cumberland County NC, and I have no clue as to how they may connect upline. Perhaps the name Benjamin connects them to the Northumberland/Stafford/Spotsylvania branch?
