James Knight (abt. 1770 - abt. 1808)

Born about 1770 in England

Husband of Mary (Thatcher) Godfrey — married about 1800 in Rye, England

Descendants

Died about 1808 at about age 38 in Rye, Sussex, England

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Biography

James was born about 1770. He married Mary Thatcher in Rye about 1800. They had 4 children in Rye before he passed away.

1. Elizabeth 1800
2. William1802
3. James 1807
4. Charles 1808

He passed away in Rye in 1808 and Mary remarried to publican Thomas Godfrey in 1810. They had two other children.

Notes about James’ children- Early New Zealand History database p: 501 compiled Tony Christiansen

Charles Knight had two brothers James; William and a sister Elizabeth - as well as a step brother and sister (Loisa and Thomas Godfrey), all where born in Rye in Sussex. All emigrated to Australia.

Charles Knight went on to New Zealand from South Australia.

In early 1850s, Charles's brother, James Knight went to the Ballarat Goldfields and opened a number of hotels. Two other miners who started businesses near the hotel were James Prendergast (a young lawyer) and Julius Vogel (a storekeeper). James Prendergast became Sir James Prendergast and was at one time the Administrator of New Zealand

At roughly the same time Charles Knight's brother William was Auditor General in Western Australia and a Director of the Bank of Western Australia.

His sister Elizabeth was Governess to the family of Lt Governor of Western Australia James Stirling

Sources

• Christening record for son Charles in Rye, Sussex 1808 - "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N6XD-3BN : 20 March 2020), James Knight in entry for Charles Knight, 1808.