John Knight Sr (1595 - abt. 1670)

Born 30 Jan 1595 in Romsey, Hampshire, England

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah (Hawkins) Knight — married 27 Jan 1616 in Romsey, Hampshire, England

Husband of Elizabeth (Vincent) Knight — married 29 Mar 1624 in Romsey, Hampshire, England

Husband of Ann (Langley) Knight — married 20 Mar 1645 in Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Descendants

Died about May 1670 at about age 75 in Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts Bay Colony

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John Knight Sr migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Great Migration (Series 2), by R. C. Anderson, vol. 4, p. 208) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Disambiguation There are at least five John Knights listed in the Great Migration Directory or otherwise addressed by Robert Charles Anderson's Great Migration series. These include two men who are frequently confused with one another--John Knight of Romsey, England, and later Newbury, Massachusetts (this profile, Knight-185), and John Knight Sr. (abt.1601-1674) of Watertown and Charlestown, Massachusetts (Knight-285). See Research Notes.

Biography

John Knight was baptized in Romsey, Hampshire, England, 30 January 1594/5, the son of William and Elizabeth (Carter) Knight.^[1][2] John died in Newbury, Massachusetts, May 1670 (stated on his inventory); his wife survived him.^[3]

John Knight evidently married twice. He married (?1) in Romsey, England, 29 March 1624, Elizabeth Vincent.^[4] She died in Newbury, Massachusetts, 20 March 1644[/5].^[5] He married (?2), by 1652, Anne (Langlye) Ingersoll, the widow of Richard Ingersoll.^[6][7]

Although claimed in a 1986 publication, there is no plausible evidence that John married Sarah Hawkins. See Research Notes

Immigration

John and his brother Richard and their families came to America in 1635 on the ship 'James' and helped establish the town of Newbury.

John Knight and Richard Knight, tailors of Romsey, Hampshire, England, were brought to the Massachusetts Colony by the "James" of London,^[8] a ship of 300 tons. It sailed from Southampton on April 5, 1635 and arrived on June 3rd with passengers and cattle. They were part of a group of Romsey families led by Rev. Joseph Avery, and settled in Newbury.^[9]

At Massachusetts Bay Colony

John and his brother were both tailors and a mould for casting buttons of lead or pewter was brought with them from England and is still owned by the family in Portland.^{[citation needed]}

"Although a tailor by trade he was licensed to keep an ordinary in Newbury by the General Court on June 1, 1637.^[9]

John Knight and his brother, Richard, became freemen on May 25, 1636.

John was chosen as a selectman of Newbury on July 6, 1638. Over the years he was active in the church and town and held many different offices. At one time he was a constable and at another an ensign

John owned several tracts of land.^[9][10]

John settled near the Parker River as on 4 Oct. 1637: "There is an acre of ground on the great neck on the river granted to John Knight to be layed out in some covenient place there by the lotters."^[11] On 1 June 1638: "It is ordered that John Knight shall have eight acres of upland on the west side of the little river in consideration of the seven acres and a halfe be parted from". This land is probably at the same location where the Knight family still lives on 78 High Rd., Newbury. On 25 Aug. 1638: "There is likewise six acres of salt marsh granted to John Knight next to John Remington"

On 21 Dec. 1637: "It is agreed that Jo. Knight, Richard Knight and Mr Seawall shall make a rate for keeping of the calves & that Mr Woodman, Jo Woodbridge, Henry Short, Jo Knight, Richard Browne were chosen by the towne to the publick affairs of the towne one whole quarter & till new be chosen".^{[citation needed]} John was again elected a selectman for Newbury on 6 July 1638 and in that capacity he signed an agreement with Richard Dummer in regards to a grain mill owned by Dummer. "At a generall towne meeting April 19, 1638 John Knight & James Browne were chosen Constables for one whole year & till new be chosen".^[12]

On 8 Apr. 1651 “Frances Usellton fined or to be whipped on his presentment. Jo. Knight promised to pay the fine. And on 27 Mar. 1666 “Elnor Bryer was ordered to be whipped or pay a fine of five pounds for fornication. John Knight undertook to pay it for her”.^[13] So it looks like John was sympathetic to the plight of some of his neighbors.

On 21 Sept. 1654: "Liberty is granted to the inhabitants of the old towne to make a fence and hang a gate acrosse the way about Anthony Shorts or John Knights provided they hinder not the catell from going into the commons there."

John also had a servant, William Nef, who is mentioned in the court records in 1658, 1659 and 1666.^[14] Poor William was unfortunate to have been beaten twice by the neighbors in Newbury, once by Joseph Muzzey in 1658 and in 1659 by Matthew Moore the Scot.^[9]

On 25 Sept. 1661: "The Three and twentyeth lott figure 23 for John Knight Sen his freehold. Layd out for John Knight Sen. four akers of Marish Land in Plumb Iland". "The Towne Rate to pay the Towne debts as followeth... John Knight Sen I L 4s."

John Sr. and Jr. signed the petition of John Emery of Newbury 21 May 1663 requesting that Emery's fine of £4 for harboring Dr. Henry Greenland be abated. This petition was signed by many of Emery's friends.^[15]

John sued John Wolcott in 1666 for a debt of £12 and won. In 1669 John was given a new short pew on the east side of the meeting-house with the other old men of the town.^[16]

Will and Probate

Last Will & Testament^[3]

"This 5 of May 1670
I John Knight of Newbury Sen. being often pained in my body and know not how sudenly I may be desolved and leave this world and being desirous while my memoree is good to setl my outward Estat acording to my desir and therfor do hear make my Last will and Testament as followeth

first I Comitte my soule to God that gaue it: and my body to the Earth to be buried to Rest untill the Resurecion by my Saviour Jesus Christ

Itm: I give unto my beloued wiffe Eleven pounds a yeare for hir maintainanc while she liveth and that she my dwell in one End of my house while she liveth and to use anie of my goods what she hath need of for hir selfe in the house.

Itm: I giue and apoint fourtie pounds after my wifs deseace and In Convenient time as my overseers Judg best for my daughtr Sarah Bartlets use while she liveth: (and) with hir husband John Bartlet and after hir decease the fourtie pounds to be made good unto the Child or Children of hir body surviving to Injoy: If she have none then the fortie pounds to Return unto my sonn John Knights Children Equaly unto all accept Josep Knight: and my will is that If my daughter Sarah Bartlet have a sonn or daughter Living after hir decease my will Is that my sonn John Knight or his asigns shall pay for the Childs use tenn pounds more which will be in all fiftie pounds: and my will is that when my son In law John Bartlet or anie other for hir Coms to demaund or Recieve the fortie pounds before mentioned that then sufficient bond in land be given unto my overseers or my Executor for the payment of it acording to my will.

Itm: I give unto my daughter marie douner and hir husband Josep douner fourscore pounds to be paid one fortie of it in a yeare after my wifs decease and the other fortie pounds the next year after that: and Likwise I give unto my grand Child Josep Downer twentie pounds to be paid by my Executor when he is on and twentie years of aige: Likwise I give unto my gran Child marie Downer twentie pounds to be paid by my Executor when she is Eighteen years of age.

Itm: I give unto my daughter Marie Douner and hir husband during ther livs four acers of marish Land out of the marish I have on the south sid of John Piks land that they Call the 8 acers: after my wifs deceas and four acers of medow Joyning unto that 4 acers I gave my daughter Sara Bartlet on the north: and likwise I give my daught marie Douner & hir husband during ther lives that pece of marish our the pond to the Creek on the East by henri Jaquises land on the north & John piks on the south and my lot at Plum Iland and two akers wher they have built and that one aker of (plow) land in the feeld on the west sid of the way going to new toune joyning to my son Johns two akers he bought of Nicholas noic and my freehold or Comanag in Newbery all which land and Comanag to Injoy during ther livs and afterward to Return unto my grand Child, Josep Downer to Injoy for Ever or if he dy before he Injoys It then to Remain unto my granchild Marie Downer and If Josep Douner do Injoy the land then my will is he shall pay unto his sister marie Downer twenti pounds besid that her porcion be fore. Likwise I give unto my daught marie Downer after my wifs decease my great new kitl and puter Candlestick & a plater.

Itm: I give unto my wifs grand Child Thomas hains ten pounds to be paid after his time out.

Itm: Besid that portion of land and other Estat I gave my sonn John Knight for manie years sinc as my brother & (other) do know I now give unto my sonn John Knight my howse and land I dwell upon with barn and orchard and my land next the ox comon both plow land and pastur and medow: as with all the ffences both of plow land and pastur and medow which is my part by agreement to do and likwise about 4 or 5 akers of marrish joyning to the Creeke by the Comon on the south East and likwise another parcill of marish on the north of John Piks land tourds litl Pin Iland & henri Jaquises and the Creek on the west: And my desire is that my sonn John would let his sonn Josep Knight have and Injoy all this land and housing when he is of aige for Ever Likwise I do make my sonn John Knight my Executor and do give him all my goods accept the three things before mentioned to my daughter marie and likwise all my stocke of Cattell and horse and sheep and swine and I do Ingaig him herby to pay all the legacies and Charg that may a Rise for funerall or debts and to Receive all that is du unto me from anie person Likwise my will is that If my sonn John Knight will make over by a deed (given) unto Josep Downer and his wife marie douner that three acers of land joyning unto that he dwells on by henri Jaquishes and that two ackrs of plow land by my on acker on the west sid of the Ridg which was Nicholas noices then my will is that he shall pay but ffortie pounds of the fourscor unto Josep Downer & his wife and this land Josep and his wife to Injoy during ther livs and afterwards to her sone as the other before

Likwise I desier my thre frends my brother Richard Knight and Thomas Halle Snr and Nicholas Noice to be my overseers to see this my will performed and I do give them tenn shillings apeece to be paid by my Executor.
John Knight

Witness: Richard Knight Thomas Hale. Proved June 23, 1670 by the witnesses before Mr. Samuel I Symonds and Maj. Gen. Denison.

Inventory. An Inventory of the Land & goods and estate of John Knight, Sr., lately deceased, in May, 1670, taken by Thomas Hale, Sr., Nicholas Noie and Rich. Dole:

house, barn and orchard, twelve ackers of upland
and twentie and two akers of meadow..... 220-00-00
in wering Cloths and Bedlng,..........................16-00-00
two brasse kitls, a skilet and a warming pan.03-00-00
in pewter...........................................................01-10-00
In Iron thing......................................................03-10-00
Coberd, tabl, forme and other things...........01-10-00
4 woodn bols, a tunnell , tray, 4 dishes, to
pails....................................................................00-10-06
a Jug & tubs & barell, sivs, slid, bags & wood.01-04-00
a gunn................................................................01-05-00
16 bushells of mault........................................03-12-00
3 oxn and a steere...........................................20-00-00
4 Cows and a heifer.........................................20-00-00
2 yearlings.........................................................02-15-00
12 sheep and 4 lambs.....................................06-00-00
on horse............................................................06-00-00
on Calfe.............................................................00-12-00
4 swine..............................................................03-00-00
bacon.................................................................02-10-00
3 bush. of Rie....................................................00-13-00
on sadl, pilion & bridl.......................................01-00-00
free hold or Comanag.....................................08-00-00
in trees..............................................................02-00-00
........................................................................324-11-6

being present the 23 of June 1670 by the executor John Knight to be a true Inventory of his ffathers estate."^[17][3]

Family

John Knight and his wife Elizabeth Vincent were the parents of,^[9][18]

1. Elizabeth Knight, bp. Romsey, Hampshire, 16 May 1625; buried there 18 May 1625.
2. John Knight, bp. Romsey, 14 May 1626; married in Newbury, probably 1647, Bathsheba Ingersoll, the daughter of Richard Ingersoll.
3. Elizabeth Knight, bp. Romsey, 13 October 1628; buried there 19 October 1628.
4. Elizabeth Knight, bp. Romsey, 22 May 1632^[19]; no further record. [Note: Davis gives the baptism date as 18 March]
5. Mary Knight, bp. Romsey, 10 August 1634; married in Newbury, 9 July 1660, Joseph Downer
6. Sarah Knight, born about 1639; married in Newbury, 6 March 1659/60, John Bartlett.

John Knight's son and namesake, John Knight Jr., married by 1648, Bathsheba Ingersoll, daughter of Richard and Ann (Langley) Ingersoll.^[20] Bathsheba's sister, Sara Ingersoll, married William Haynes. ^[20] William died before he was age 28, leaving three young children. The youngest, Thomas Haynes, was bequeathed ten pounds in the will of John Knight by the request of his wife Ann (Langley) Ingersoll Knight, grandmother to Thomas Haynes.^[20]

On 29 May 1660 John gave to “my daughter Sarah (Bartlett) as part of a portion in marriage unto John Bartlett Junior of the abovesaid town… the one half of a lot of fresh meadow containing by estimation eight acres… in Newbury in the meadow below my houselot… also the one half of a parcel of salt marsh… in Nubury containing by estimation twelve acres… in the great marshes… with free egress and regress, through the land of my brother Richard Knight and also my own land by my house”. ^[21]

John's brother Richard left a poem to his children, although it is not known if the poetry was original or not:^{[citation needed]}

For no other man give not thy word

No farther than thou cans't afford,

Lest afterwards thou shouldest rue

To pay the debt when it is due

Research Notes

Disambiguation. For information about John Knight Sr. (abt.1601-1674) of Watertown and Charlestown, see Robert Charles Anderson, Great Migration Directory (2015), entry for John Knight of unknown origins, immigrated 1638 on Bevis; known of Watertown, Sudbury, Charlestown, Woburn, citing "Drakes’s Founders 60; Lechford 390; WP 4:128; MBCR 1:300; WaBOP 9, 10, 13, 43; WaTR 1:14, 15; SLR 1:44, 47; SuTR 4; MLR 1:155; Rodgers 3:244-46; Stevens-Miller 1:229-32." See also Robert Charles Anderson, "John Knight of Watertown and Beyond," Great Migration Newsletter, 23 (2) [April-June 2014]:13-14; digital images by subscription, AmericanAncestors.

As an example of the confusion, a prior version of this profile included, "John Knight, listed as a carpenter, arrived on the James with his wife, Mary Pickering Knight (married 1619 in Romsey, Southampton, England) and at least one child: Joseph Knight Jr.," citing "Merged memorials on Find a Grave ..." As of 2022, the narrative on John Knight's FindAGrave memorial includes information about both John Knight of Romsey and Newbury and John Knight Sr. (abt.1601-1674) of Watertown and Charlestown.

Profile needs inline citations. There are several paragraphs here that have no inline citations. The book by Tibbetts is unavailable free online, and the book by Alfred Knight isn't listed except on a family webpage.

Did he marry Sarah Hawkins in 1615? In the 1986 publication Four generations of the descendants of John Knight,^[10] Noreen Pramberg claims John Knight married Sarah Hawkins in Romsey on 27 January 1616 and that she died on 27 April 1623, also in Romsey. It’s apparent from the Romsey parish register that neither of these events occurred. The marriage may refer to John Hawkins marrying Sarah Starkie on 27 January 1615/6 in Newbury, Berkshire, England. Someone unfamiliar with 17th century handwriting could confuse Starkie with Hawkins. She was likely Sarah Starkey, baptized in Newbury in 1592. Starkey was an established name there. There were also Hawkinses, but not as many and there is no baptism for a Sarah Hawkins. John Knight (who married Sarah) was likely the one baptized at Kingsclere, very close to Newbury, in 1588. These towns aren't close to Romsey. There is no plausible connection to the Knights of Romsey. The Newbury marriage can be found in the index at Findmypast.co.uik. No alternative record was found to explain the death date. (Doug Sinclair, 2023)

Disputed Daughter. Judith (Knight) March (1628-1675). No support found for a daughter, Judith. Walter Goodwin Davis and Robert Charles Anderson called Hugh March's first wife Judith _____. See the comment posted here to profile of Judith (Knight) March (1628-1675).

Sources

1. ↑ Citing "Phoebe Tilton Anc 235," Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume IV, I-L (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2005), 208-212 (John Knight); digital images by subscription, AmericanAncestors.
2. ↑ Walter Goodwin Davis, The Ancestry of Phoebe Tilton, 1775-1847 (Portland, ME: The Anthoensen Press, 1947), pp 235-237; digital images, Hathi Trust.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} Essex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1638-1881.Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014. (From records supplied by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives.) 5 pages
4. ↑ Romsey, Hampshire Parish register by subscription image 484 https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/62421/images/62421_48021001947_3118-00485
5. ↑ Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume IV, I-L (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2005), 208-212 (John Knight) at 210-211; digital images by subscription, AmericanAncestors.
6. ↑ Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume IV, I-L (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2005), 208-212 (John Knight) at 210-211; digital images by subscription, AmericanAncestors.
7. ↑ Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Volumes I-III, 3 vols. (1995), 1060-1063 (Richard Ingersoll), at 1061; digital images by subscription, AmericanAncestors.
8. ↑ Citing "Drake's Founders 56," Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume IV, I-L (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2005), 208-212 (John Knight); digital images by subscription, AmericanAncestors.
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4} Walter Goodwin Davis, The Ancestry of Phoebe Tilton, 1775-1847 (Portland, ME: The Anthoensen Press, 1947), pp 235-237; digital images, Hathi Trust.
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1} Pramberg, Noreen C. Four generations of the descendants of John Knight and his brother, Richard Knight : first settlers of Newbury, Massachusetts. Newburyport, Mass. : Parker River Researchers, 1986. Page 3+.
11. ↑ First Book of Newbury Records- 4 Oct. 1637
12. ↑ Currier, John J. History of Newbury, Mass., 1635-1902. Boston : Damrell & Upham, 1902
13. ↑ Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts- Vol. I, p. 224; III, 309
14. ↑ Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts-Vol. II, pp. 116-7, 154; III, 346-7- quoted in The Ancestry of Pheobe Tilton- p. 236
15. ↑ Mass. Archives- Vol.15a, p.10
16. ↑ The Ancestry of Phoebe Tilton- Walter Goodwin Davis, Anthoensen Press, Portland, 1947- p. 236
17. ↑ Essex County Registry of Probate- Docket 15981
18. ↑ Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume IV, I-L (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2005), 208-212 (John Knight) at 210-211; digital images by subscription, AmericanAncestors.
19. ↑ Baptism: "Hampshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1536-1812"
    Hampshire Archives and Local Studies; Winchester, Hampshire, England; Anglican Parish Registers; Reference: 58010/1/2
    Ancestry Record 62421 #719475 (accessed 27 September 2023)
    Elisabeth Knight baptism on 22 May 1632, daughter of John Knight, in Romsey, Hampshire, England.
20. ↑ ^{20.0 20.1 20.2} Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Volumes I-III, 3 vols. (1995), 1060-1063 (Richard Ingersoll); digital images by subscription, AmericanAncestors.
21. ↑ Ipswich Land Records- Vol. III, pp. 176-7

See also,

• Martin E. Hollick, New Englanders In the 1600s: A Guide To Genealogical Research Published Between 1980 and 2005 (Boston, Massachusetts: New England Historical Genealogical Society, 2006) p. 127. [KNIGHT, JOHN, b 1595, d. Newbury, Mass., May 1670. GM2 IV:208-12; Davis II:396-410 [Phoebe Tilton], including English origins; Johnson, p. 227.]
• Alfred C. Knight, The Descendants of John Knight, Newbury MA. (Note: This book has no web presence)
• Charles G. Tibbetts, The Knight Family: Descendants of John Knight of Newbury- Charles G. Tibbetts, 1941- pp. 1-2
• Brenda Daicy, "Notes on Knight Immigrants to America." In The Second Boat, vol. 4:2 (Aug. 1983), pp. 45-47. Viewable online at Ancestry.com [1]

Other--

• "Find a Grave", database with images, John Knight memorial Find A Grave: Memorial #114575609 (merged memorial, with erroneous narrative comments); photograph by Dean Knight. citing Burying Ground of the First Settlers, Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts, USA; Maintained by T.O. Knight (contributor 47196935).