This is the profile of John Knight who married Rachel Anderson.
[this birth record has not been reliably sourced to be this John Knight; see Conflated Birth & Parents]
John Knight was born on 17 September 1745, and christened on 3 November 1745 in the Episcopal Church, Albemarle Parish, Surry County, Virginia.[1][2] He is the son of William Knight and Mary his wife. His sponsors were Edward Shelton, Samuel Wright, Elizabeth Alsobrook.
He is named in the Will of his grandfather John Knight dated 7 February 1760.[3][4]
John removed to Cheraws District, South Carolina before 9 January 1774, perhaps several years earlier.
John Knight and Rachael Anderson were married on 9 January 1774, in St. David's Episcopal Church,[5] Cheraws District, South Carolina, (now in Cheraw) by the Reverend Evan Pugh.[6][7]
Based on Thomas Knight being married in Cheraws District in 1777, it is presumed both John and Thomas remained there until after 10 July 1777.
After the American Revolution, John moved often: [update later after research]
In the autumn of 1803, "Juan" Knight and his son Jonathan were granted land[10] in Spanish Florida,[11] in Fernadina.[citation needed] They signed Oaths of Allegiance[12] to the Spanish Government on 2 September 1803, and requested permission to return to the United States to bring their families and property to Florida.[citation needed]
John asked for 400 acres on the shore, adjoining to land to the north of Juan Hodges. Jonathan asked for 200 acres, east of the land of Captain Nathaniel Hull.[10] [need to confirm translation; another page says John got 300 acres]
John stated he was married, a farmer, born in Virginia, and he brought with him one son, one daughter, four total family, two slaves, two horses, and 30 cattle. Jonathan stated he was married, and he brought with him no children, two total family, two slaves and 80 cattle.[12]
John lost his eyesight, and on 8 October 1805, requested permission to return to Augusta, Georgia. His request was granted on 17 October.[citation needed]
Jonathan remained in Spanish Florida through at least 1807,[citation needed] returning to Wayne County, Georgia, before 31 July 1810, when he was appointed Captain of the militia there.
Note: There may be some conflated records in the Timeline section that are still being researched.
[please do not add items to this section that lack a primary source; add to Find Primary Sources instead]
[see Conflated for deconflation analysis—there may be 3 or more John Knights and two Thomas Knights here]
1741 Jul 25 - John Knight was granted 540 acres in Surry County, on the South side of Nottaway River. Beginning and extending on the South side of Lee's branch.[13]
1757 Dec 15 - John King was granted 176 acres in Sussex County, on the south side of Nottoway River adjoining John Stephens, John Knight and extending.[14]
1760 May 11 - Charles Woodmason, Memorial For 5 Tracts Totaling 1,188 Acres In Craven County. Long list of names including John Knight and John Anderson. Places in this record: Craven County; Lynches Creek; Pee Dee River; Queensboro Township; Soccee Swamp.[15]
1761 Feb 28 - Charles Woodmason, Plat For 300 Acres In Craven County. Plat is next to John Knight's land. Places in this record: Craven County; Pee Dee River.[16]
1761 Nov 10 - Charles Woodmason, Land Grant For 300 Acres On Peedee River, Craven County. (1 Page) Date: 11/10/1761. Plat is apparently next to John Knight. Places in this record: Craven County; Pee Dee River.[17]
1761 Nov 10 - Charles Woodmason, Land Grant For 200 Acres On Peedee River, Craven County. (1 Page) Date: 11/10/1761. Plat is apparently next to John Knight. Places in this record: Craven County; Pee Dee River.[18]
1762 Nov 7 - Elizabeth (Betsy) Fort was born on 25 September 1762, and christened on 7 November 1762 in the Episcopal Church, Albemarle Parish, Sussex County, Virginia.[19][2] She is the daughter of Frederick Fort and Mary his wife. Her sponsors were John Knight Jr., Eliz. Knight, Amy Harwood.
1764 Feb 27 - Charles Woodmason, Plat For 200 Acres In Craven County. Plat is next to John Knight. Places in this record: Craven County; Pee Dee River.[20]
1765 Jan 1 - Peter Knight was granted 150 acres, in St. Phillip Parish, Georgia, bounded on every side by land vacant Having such Shape form & Marks as appears by a Plat thereof hereunto annexed.[21][22]
1772 Aug 1 - Richard Avery was granted 101 acres in Sussex County, Virginia, on the south side of Nottoway River adjoining William Rogers Junior, John Knight and his own land.[23]
1774 Aug 2 - John Knight, Plat For 300 Acres In Craven County. Plat is apparently next to Charles Woodmason. Places in this record: Craven County; Pee Dee River.[24]
1775 Apr 21 - John Knight, Land Grant For 300 Acres In Craven County. Places in this record: Craven County.[25] See 28 March 1792 land sale.
Note: This record above is important. It appears to tie John Knight to John Knight of Craven County. If they are the same person, then it appears this John Knight would have been born before 1739.
1775 Sep 7 - John Knight, Memorial For 300 Acres On Pee Dee River, Craven County. Plat is apparently next to Charles Woodmason. Places in this record: Craven County; Pee Dee River.[26]
1783 Sep 1 - John Knight Sr was granted 64 acres in Surry County, on the South side of Nottaway River. Beginning and extending corner of John Rachels on John Knights line.[27] [a sale of John Knight heir at Law to Daniel Knight???]
1785 Jun 8 - Robert Lide, Plat For 360 Acres On Pedee River And Hurricane Creek, Cheraw District, Surveyed By William Powe. Plat is next to John Knight. Places in this record: Cheraw District; Hurricane Creek; Pee Dee River.[28]
1785 Dec 2 - Cyreel Avery was granted 1,234 and 1/2 acres in Sussex County, on the south side of Nottoway River on both sides of Lees Branch adjoining John Graves, John Knight Senior, Nathaniel Rochell and extending.[29]
1787 Sep 20 - John Knight was granted 250 acres in Burke County, Georgia, bounding North by Deraosoes Land, East by Henry Jones:s and unknown Land, South by Bryer Creek and West by William Hammetts and Edmond Hills Land.[30]
1788 Aug 6 - An Indenture dated 4 October 1821 between Thomas N. Morel Esquire of Savannah, [Georgia], and John Rawls (Ralls) of Bulloch County, [Georgia], for $350, 1,000 acres, originally granted to John Moril Esquire then in Effingham County, [Georgia] but now in Bulloch County, granted 6 August 1788 and bounded at the time of the grant Northwest by Morel and Bowens land, Northeast by land reserved for John & Thomas Knight, and on every other side by vacant land which said tract of land came to the possession of the said Thomas N. Morel as one of the heirs of the said Grantee, John Morel Esquire deceased. Wit: Job L. Bolls, Geo L Cope. Ack: Thomas N. Morel. Ordered to be recorded 23 October 1821.[31] Margaret S. Morel, wife of the within named Thomas N. Morel Esquire, declareth that she of her own free will and accord without compulsion from any person whatever doth relinguish all her right in to and out of the tract of land within conveyed by her said husband to John Ralls.
1788 Dec 10 - Joseph Knight was granted 100 acres in Effingham County, Georgia, bounding South East by John Staffords and Vacant land, and on all other sides by Vacant Land.[32]
1788 Dec 31 - John Marshall, Plan For 2,869 Acres On Great Lynches Creek, Camden District, Surveyed By Josiah Cantey. Plat is apparently next to John Knight. Places in this record: Camden District; Lynches Creek.[33]
1789 May 19 - John Knight was granted (S.S.S. 168) 200 acres in Effingham County, Georgia, bounding South West by Belchers and Vacant land and on the other sides by Vacant Lands.[34] See 15 January 1801 land sale.
1789 May 19 - John Knight was granted (S.S.S. 169) 200 acres in Effingham County, Georgia, bounding North East by Belchers Mill Creek, South East by Pridgins land and South West by Knights and Morrells Land.[34] See 17 February 1791 land sale.
1789 May 19 - Thomas Knight was granted (S.S.S. 170) 200 acres in Effingham County, Georgia, bounding South East by Knights and Vacant North East by Knights and Pridgins and North West by Morrells and Vacant land.[35]
1791 Feb 17 - Indenture between John Knight and Joseph Knight, for £10, 200 acres in Effingham County, Georgia, near great Ogeechee bounded on all sides by vacant Parcel. Wit: John London JP. Ack: John Knight. A true Copy 17 Feb'y. 1791.[8] See 19 May 1789 land grant.
1792 Mar 28 - Indenture between Jonathan Knight of Effingham County, Georgia, planter, and George McCall of Darlington County, South Carolina, planter, for £200 lawful money of Georgia, 300 acres, in Darlington County, South Carolina, formerly called Craven County, originally are 21 Apr 1775 granted to John Knight for 300 acres on the South west side of Pedee River, bounding South eastwardly of Pedee river, Southwestard on Charles Woodmasons land Northwestward on Lords And Kimboughs land. Wit: John Moore JP, Ab'ra. McCall, Johh McCall JP. Ack: Joseph Knight.[36] See 21 April 1775 land grant.
Note: This record above is important. It appears to tie John Knight to John Knight of Craven County. If they are the same person, then it appears this John Knight would have been born before 1739.
1793 Jul 15 - John Knight is named (signed) on a petition dated 15 July 1793 to Governor Telfair from the inhabitants of Effingham County, Georgia, saying the land court granted by fraud 1,000,000 acres to a few persons. Many couldn’t attend the land court because of poverty.[37]
1798 Oct 24 Mary (Knight) Hunter married John Stewart on 24 October 1798.[38]
1799 Feb 13 - John Knight was granted 250 acres in Effingham County, Georgia, bounding North West by Meadocks land, South West by Ogecher Rivers, South East by Hodges and Oberrys land and North East by Vacant Belchers and M. Calls land.[39] See 22 October 1799 land sale.
1799 May 25 - Richard Bettis, Plat For 1,000 Acres On Lynches Creek, Camden District, Surveyed By Richard Bettis. Plat is next to John Knight. Places in this record: Camden District; Lynches River; Rocky Branch.[40]
1799 Oct 22 - Indenture between John Knight of Effingham County, Georgia, planter, and Moor Spier of Screven County, Georgia, planter, for $250, 250 acres, in Effingham County, Georgia, originally granted unto the said John Knight on 13 Feb 1799, bounded North West by Bradoks land South West by Ogeehee River SouthEast by Hodges and Oberrys land and Northeast by vacant ___ Belcher and McCalls land. Wit: John London JP. Ack: John Knight, Rachael Knight (her mark). True copy 31st Dec'r. 1799.[41] See 13 February 1799 land grant.
1801 Jan 15 - Indenture between John Knight of Glynn County, Georgia, and Moor Spier of Glynn County, Gerogia, for $400, 200 acres, in Effingham County, Georgia, originally granted to the aforesaid John Knight on 19 May 1789, registered in Secretarys Office in Book S.S.S. fo 168, bounding South West by Belchers and vacant land and on all other sides vacant land. Wit: W'm. Stewart [sp?], Millis Spier. Ack: John Knight.[9] Personally appeared before me William Stewart, and being duly Sworn saith that he saw the within named John Knight sign and deliver the deed and he with the concurring Witness signed as Witnessed. Sworn to before me this 4th day of August 1801. See 19 May 1789 land grant (S.S.S. 168).
1803 Mar 21 - Thomas Knight was granted 150 acres in Glynn County, Georgia, bounding West by Ransons Casons Land & on all other sides by Vacant Land.[42]
1805 Aug 19 - Joseph Knight was granted 350 acres in Effingham County, Georgia, bounding North East by Jo's. Knights Land; Northwest by Tho. Knights land; and on all other sides by Vacant land; (on Knights branch, waters of Ogechee River).[43]
1805 Oct 20 - Williams, Theophilus, Unc. W 16; G&S V 425; DG V 72, 2 [S]: Fernando de la Puente gives George Vincent [Vansant] permission to use 200 acres of pine land on Jicary Ground, St. Marys River, bounded on the east by land of Jonathan Knight, for the grazing of 200 head of cattle and hogs. Amelia Island, 10/20/1805.[44]
1810 Dec 1 - William Knight was granted 200 acres in Wayne County, Georgia, bounding S. E. by William Knights, and on all other sides by vacant land.[45]
1810 Dec 1 - Jonathan Knight was granted 200 acres in Wayne County, Georgia, bounding N. by John Forts N. E. by Jonathan Knights, and on the other sides by vacant land.[46]
1811 Mar 4 - Superior Court, Wayne County, Georgia: Ordered that John Stewart be and he is hereby appointed Guardian for Racheal Hunters an orphan of Miles Hunter deceased and that the said John Stewart do give security in the sum of 1,000 dollars for the faithful management of said Oprhans Estate.[47] [Note Allied Family Fort seen in prior pages. Note Elias Fort of the Court.]
1814 Nov 3 - Thomas Knight was granted 202 acres in Wayne County, Georgia, bounding NW by Vacant and George Cooper's and on all other sides by Vacant land.[48]
1816 Aug 20 - Lamuel Benton, Plat For 89 Acres On Great Pee Dee River, Darlington District, Surveyed By Thomas Conn. Plat is next to John Knight. Places in this record: Darlington District; Pee Dee River.[49]
1820 Aug 7 - 1820 US Federal Census, Effingham County, Georgia. There is 1 male "45 and over" and 0 females "45 and over" living with the family of Jonathan Knight.[50] It is theorized the male is his father John, and his mother Rachael has passed away.
1820 Dec 2 - William Knight was granted 250 acres in Wayne County, Georgia, bounding South by Knights land; West by Cason's and Vacant land; and on all other sides by vacant Land.[51]
1820 Nov 24 - Abraham Knight was granted 150 acres in Camden County, Georgia, bounding on all sides by vacant Land.[52]
1820 Dec 15 - Thomas Knight was granted 37 acres in Bulloch County, Georgia, bounding N E't. by the great Ogeechee; S W't. by Durmantes land; E't. wardly by Parish's land; & W't. wardly by Knights land.[53]
1821 Jan 1 - Superior Court, Effingham County, Georgia: John Knight of Effingham County, "me hereunto moving" appointed "my son" Jonathan Knight of Effingham County as his attorney to apply for at the proper offices and obtain a grant for Lot number 46 in the Ninth district, Hall County, which said Lot was drawn to his name in the late Land Lottery, and he my said Attorney is hereby fully authorised to sell and dispose of the same in such manner as he may think proper. Wit: Isaac Young, Samuel Parish JP. Ack: John Knight. True copy of the original this 3rd day of January 1821.[54]
1821 Jan 1 - Superior Court, Effingham County, Georgia: John Knight of Effingham County, "me hereunto moving" appointed "my son" Jonathan Knight of Effingham County as his attorney to apply for at the proper offices and obtain a Grant for Lot number 119 in the tenth district, Habersham County, which said Lot was drawn to my name in the late Land Lottery, and he my said Attorney is hereby fully authorised to sell and dispose of the same in such manner as he may think proper. Wit: Isaac Young, Samuel Parish JP. Ack: John Knight. True copy of the original this 3rd day of January 1821.[54]
1823 Nov 4 - Jonathan Knight was granted 400 acres in Wayne County, Georgia, bounding West by Tho's. Stafford and Vacant Land and on all other sides by Vacant Land.[55]
Laura Knight Jadczyk has compiled the most extensive repository of records and research of the Knights of Colonial Virginia.[56] Her research specific to John Knight of Effingham is found at John Knight of Sussex County VA.[57]
Western-most slice of SC
Eastern-most slice of SC
For a discussion, see: John Knight of SC to Effingham GA Part 2.
John Knight, who married Rachel Anderson, is presumed to be the same John Knight born on 17 September 1745, and christened on 3 November 1745 in the Episcopal Church, Albemarle Parish, Surry County, Virginia.[1]
John was married in Cheraws District, South Carolina, on 9 January 1774 to Rachael Anderson, by the Reverend Evan Pugh. Reverend Pugh also married Thomas Knight to Frances Newnan on 10 July 1777. It is believed that Thomas was John's brother.
There are at least two John Knights of similar age in Sussex County at this time:
Both of these John Knights are using the same christening record (b. 17 Sep 1745, ch. 3 Nov 1745), which lists parents William Knight and Mary his wife, and sponsors Edward Shelton, Samuel Wright, Elizabeth Alsobrook. His sister Elizabeth was sponsored by William Lee, Rebecca Harwood, Mary Alsobrook.
There are several families with common names that are frequently conflated:
See:
TBD: Document theory this John in SC is the same John in Surry/Sussex Co. VA.
See Mary (Unknown) Knight's LNAB for a discussion of the two theories for his mother Mary's LNAB.
He was previously attached to parents John Hughes Knight II and Elizabeth Woodson. This relationship has also been disproven based on Y-DNA, but that proof is not provided here. Spratlin-29 03:40, 27 January 2023 (UTC)
This "record" conflates Rachael (Anderson) Knight (abt.1753-1844) and Frances (Newnan) Knight (1757-1844):
Note: Newsom above should be Newman.
Discussion of this purported marriage.[57]
Disproven son, Samuel Knight.[57]
Previously listed in these Research Notes (profiles did not exist, unsourced):
Are there reliable sources for his time in Edgecombe NC?
John appears to be in SC before 9 January 1774 (marriage).
Are there other John Knights in Edgecombe NC, leading to possible conflation?
A variety of military service records for the American Revolutionary War were previously associated with this John Knight, apparently copied from family and on-line genealogies including here. These records clearly were conflated, and it was not clear any of them were for this John Knight.
See Knights of SC – American Revolutionary War for current research to deconflate these records.
It is unfortunate that genealogists that have published one or more profiles of John and Jonathan Knight fail to include citations. The description of their time in Florida is easily seen to contain errors from the one source that has been found and cited here (Oath of Allegience). The Spanish Land Grants contain about 460 separate "books" and literally thousands of pages. Their request to return to Georgia for their family, and his request to return to Georgia for health reasons have not yet be found and therefore cannot be confirmed.
1802 Sep - Jonathan's wife's father was living in Florida at that time?
1803 Sep 2 - On September 2, 1803 in St. Augustine, Florida, John Knight and his son, Jonathan Knight, were granted land in Spanish Florida. They signed Oaths of Allegiance to the Spanish Government, stating that John was married, a farmer, born in Virginia, that he had with him, one son, one daughter, two negroes, two horses, and 30 cattle. His residence was listed as Fernandina. Jonathan's grant and oath, (married no children), were listed below John's. On the same day, they requested permission to return to the United States, to bring their families and property to Florida.
1805 Jul 29 - On July 29, 1805, while living on Amelia Island, John and Jonathan Knight signed with about fifty others to band together under Don Juan McQueen of the Spanish Militia for mutual protection against attacks by privateers, and in 1807 they were instructed on orders from the Governor to help retrieve a runaway slave.
1805 Oct 8 - On October 8, 1805, John Knight asked to be released from his Spanish Land Grant, due to the loss of his eyesight, and permission to return to Augusta, Georgia, which request was granted on October 17, 1805. Jonathan Knight was still in Florida in 1807.
1807 Feb 18 - Jonathan Knight is listed in correspondence concerning a slave named Daniel:[59]
See also:
Are there records to be found in the Unconfirmed Land Claims? These are locked on FamilySearch.
An unsourced burial date of 1822 was previously listed in the Biography.
See Jonathan Knight list of "records". Lots of bread crumbs here!
Abt. 1790–1811 Mar 4 - Miles Hunter Estate (Liberty Co, McIntosh Co, Wayne Co).[citation needed]
[citations would be helpful here!]
Abt. 1790 - Not long after marriage, Miles Hunter and family moved from Effingham County and settled in that portion of Liberty county made into McIntosh County in 1793.[citation needed]
[presumably based on a 1793 record]
1793 Sep 17 - GA Effingham – Admin – Andrew Tucker - To Jemima Tucker, Trustee for her children, unnamed. Gift instrument dated Sept 17, 1793, of livestock, furniture, ½ of his corn and fodder, cotton and potatoes he to “have the liberty to eat of them while I stay on the place.” He renounces claim to same now and after his death whether by matrimonial rights or otherwise. Witnesses: John Knight, Miles Hunter, John Cook. (Huxford Genealogical Society, Homerville, Ga)
[Effingham County, GA, according to genealogy.com page]
[don't see Effingham County, Georgia, court records for this era on FamilySearch]
[found nothing in Effingham, General index of estates, 1791–1934]
1797 – GA Effingham – Admin – John Knight - Appointed guardian of grandchildren.[citation needed]
[is this just confusing administration of estate with guardianship?]
Zachariah moved to Liberty County, Georgia, and died there.
1810 - The administration of the (Miles) HUNTER estate was transferred to Wayne County. Mr. Stewart was appointed in Wayne County March 4, 1811, as guardian for the daughter, RACHEL HUNTER, a minor." (WAYNE COUNTY DEED BOOK D:13). [Don't see Wayne County, Georgia, court records for this era on FamilySearch.]
1822 Dec - Mr. John Knight died after December of 1822, probably in (Jesup?) Wayne County. It is not known when Rachel (Anderson) Knight died. Sources: On file at the Huxford Genealogical Society, Homerville, Ga. Note: The original church Minute books of the Union Church were donated to the Huxford Genealogical Society when the church disbanded in 1996. Contributed by: Bettye Knight Barest, 2425 Harden Blvd. # 164, Lakeland, Fla., 33803-5953.
[what is the source dated Dec 1822 (implied) above]
unknown - Box 116, Fldr 2129, Knight (Jonathon). in Letters of Son Juan McQueen to his family written from Spanish East Florida, 1791–1807.
See also:
See also - other family trees:
See also - other family trees (UNRELIABLE):
Paternal relationship is confirmed through Y-chromosome DNA testing. Anonymous Knight, FTDNA kit #(withheld for privacy), and his withheld cousin, Robert Knight Jr., FTDNA kit #920130, match at a Genetic Distance of 11 on 738 STR markers with 7 non-matching SNPs and 855,493 matching SNPs thereby confirming their direct paternal lines back to their MRCA Thomas James Knight (1754-bef.1820) and another match with his withheld cousin, Charles Martin Knight Jr. (1966-2020), FTDNA kit #916667, match at a Genetic Distance of 9 on 711 STR markers with 6 non-matching SNPs and 850,349 matching SNPs and their MRCA is William Knight (abt.1719-1767). (one of which is also one of the non-matching 7 for Robert). James and Charles are 7th cousins once removed and match at Genetic Distance of 12 on 713 STR markers with 11 non-matching SNPs and 847,185 matching SNPs and their MRCA is William Knight (abt.1719-1767). All three cousins are in haplogroup R-FT420076.
Featured Eurovision connections: John is 30 degrees from Agnetha Fältskog, 23 degrees from Anni-Frid Synni Reuß, 24 degrees from Corry Brokken, 19 degrees from Céline Dion, 24 degrees from Françoise Dorin, 22 degrees from France Gall, 26 degrees from Lulu Kennedy-Cairns, 21 degrees from Lill-Babs Svensson, 19 degrees from Olivia Newton-John, 30 degrees from Henriette Nanette Paërl, 29 degrees from Annie Schmidt and 18 degrees from Moira Kennedy on our single family tree. Login to see how you relate to 33 million family members.
edited by Linda (Johnson) Leslie
Wm Foster added that statement. It still appears at the very bottom of the research notes. I guess he was asking the same question about John Joseph Knight (1745-1838) that I was asking. Why were Albemarle Parish Register birth records being added to a person whose father was in Maryland.
The incorrect parents of John Joseph Knight (1745-1838) have now been addressed. It remains to be see if that profile is still conflated.