Francis Knight was born in Landaff, Grafton County, New Hampshire on February 2, 1798. Indices of birth records variously list his father's name as Renie[1] or Benis[2] or Berli.[3] The images of the certified copies of the birth record on which the indices are based, however, are very faded, so it is understandable that there would be varying interpretations of the father's name written on them. A comparison between the images of the birth record and those of other children of Benjamin Knight strongly suggests that the name on the records was actually "Benja" short for Benjamin.[4] The proposition that Benjamin Knight was Francis's parent is also supported by a lack of other records for a Renie, Benis or Berli Knight.
Benjamin Knight's wife was Sarah "Sally" Jackman.[5] Therefore, the presumption is that Francis's parents were Benjamin Knight and Sally (Jackman) Knight.
The identities of Francis Knight's parents are also supported by the Sons of the American Revolution Membership Application of Lamar Whitcher,[6] who would probably have heard of their identities from their granddaughter, and Lamar's grandmother, Nancy (Knight) Whitcher, with whom Lamar lived for many years.[7][8]
Marriage and Children
Francis married Catherine Mooers ("Moore" on the marriage record) in Lisbon, New Hampshire on October 28, 1821.[9]
Francis and Catherine had (at least) the following children:
Mary Chandelier, b. about 1823,[10] m. about 1845 Charles Oakes,[11] d. November 1, 1904[12]
Zelmda/Zelinda/Zelenda, b. 1826,[13]m. Nathaniel Merrill, d. March 7, 1914 in Warren, Grafton, New Hampshire[14]
Nancy Royce, b. July 27, 1829[15] m. Daniel Whitcher, d. November 21, 1915 in Haverhill, Grafton, New Hampshire[16]
Moren (Moses?), b. about 1832,[17] m. 2d(?) April 24, 1890 Mary J. Poor[18]
William H., b. July 26, 1834 in Lyman, Grafton County, New Hampshire, d. August 5, 1919 in Haverhill, Grafton County, New Hampshire[19]
Residency in Landaff, New Hampshire
In 1830, Francis and Catherine were living in his hometown of Landaff, Grafton County, New Hampshire in a household consisting of three males 30-40 years old (Francis and 2 others), two females 0-5 years old (presumably Zelinda (who would have been about 4) and Nancy (who would have been about 1)), one female 5-10 years old (presumably Mary), and one female 30-40 (Catherine).[20]
↑ "New Hampshire Death Records, 1654-1947," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FSFY-PH4 : 12 December 2014), William H. Knight, 05 Aug 1919; citing Haverhill, , New Hampshire, Bureau Vital Records and Health Statistics, Concord; FHL microfilm 2,109,113.
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DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with Francis by comparing test results with other carriers of his Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA.
Y-chromosome DNA test-takers in his direct paternal line on WikiTree:
Norvin Knight :
Family Tree DNA Y-DNA Test 37 markers, haplogroup R-M269, FTDNA kit #B579772 +
Y-Chromosome Test, MitoYDNA ID T13554[compare]
It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with Francis: