FIFTH GENERATION
16. Richard Patrick KNIGHT6 was born between 1813 and 1816 in South Carolina.6 A certified copy of his death certificate, stating his age of death was 107, makes his year of birth 1813.
However, if he was only 17 in 1833, given the date the "Night the Sky Fell" of Nov 13, 1833, calculating that out, he most likely could have been born anytime between Nov 13, 1816 and the end of the year. That would make him 104 years old at his death, as he was also reported to have been by one obituary done at the time of his death.
He was a Wagon master of a Cargo Wagon Train between Raleigh, NC and Charleston, SC on the night of 13 Nov 1833. Family tales handed down told of him being in charge of 38 freight wagons that were driven by slaves. Though he was only 17 years old, his route was between Charleston, South Carolina and Raleigh, North Carolina. He related to his grandchildren, of the time the sky fell while he was on his journey.
It was a frightening experience, evidently, and seen by many as there is an account of the occurrence in the History of White County, Tennessee, page 26;
"The Stars Fell."
"On November 13, 1833, the meteors fell. It was a time of great excitement. Men, women,
and children ran to and fro. They thought the Judgment Day was at hand. People prayed. Negroes,
especially women, could be heard saying," Glory hallelujah, de judgment day am come and I's ready
to go, hallelujah." White men went and made friends with their enemies. It is said that the
meteors falling had the appearance of snow.
Everybody was more or less excited with the exception of an old bachelor who went about
leisurely smoking his pipe. He was a tough old sinner. An excited but sympathetic sister, a
neighbor called to him, "John, why are you not praying, don't you see it is the Judgment
Day?" He replied, "Be quiet, Sarah, no Judgment Day, or any other day is going to come
and it night." It is said that meteors that looked as large as the moon came near the earth
and made it quake perceptibly. No such display as this had been seen before."
He was a Methodist about 1841. Information from living
family members and also the marriage certificate, they were married by a Methodist minister. He
removed in 1845 from Carroll Co., GA.34 Richard
and his family moved in 1845 to Tallasee, Elmore Co., AL6
(formerly Coosa Co., AL.) Then in 1859, he and his family again moved from
Alabama.6 They immigrated in 1859 to
Washington Co., TX.6 He served in the military between 1861
and 1865 in Texas.
He appeared on the census in 1870 in Brazos Co.,
TX.35
A Suite was filed against, R. P. Knight, A. R. Knight and J. R. Knight in connection with
their property or plantation in Brazos Co., TX. After the Civil War, they were unable to pay
the mortgage on the land and lost the Suit 20 November 1872.
With the loss of their land, the family moved to Bell Co., TX. He lived
between 1873 and 1920 in Bell Co., TX.
Richard Knight and Nancy Little obtained a marriage license on 31 Mar 1841 in Carroll Co., GA. They were married on 1 Apr 1841 in Carroll Co., GA, by S. M. Smith, ME.6
It is not known, when Richard left South Carolina, but his marriage record in Carroll County, Georgia shows that he migrated to that area. Richard and Nancy's two oldest sons were born there, then the family moved to Alabama. Farming is the occupation listed on later census records.
Tradition says the family left from Tallahassee, Alabama for Texas in 1859 and went to Washington County for a while and settled in Brazos County near the town of Millican where they were buying a plantation. The Civil War began and Richard, though he was 46 years old and considered too old to participate and handicapped by deafness, served as a private in the quarter master corps for 3 years.
Richard and Nancy lived through dangers from marauding Yankee soldiers and bands of freed slaves. His own slaves were armed to protect his family and charged to stop anyone, "White or black" from coming onto the plantation. When he awoke one morning he discovered a large number of ex-slaves had been allowed to enter. When the steward was asked, why the slaves were allowed to be there, the steward answered they had come asking for protection from the Yankees, the towns people, and their own masters. Their lives were in danger seemingly from everyone, with no one to help them. They were allowed to stay under Richard's protection. There was little or no law in those troubled times and each family had to rely on themselves to fend off their enemies.
Nancy died 28 March, 1877. In 1880 Richard is found living with his second son Joseph Robert and his family in Bell County, near Salado.
Richard P. Knight died on 27 Aug 1920 in Belton, Bell Co., TX at the age of 107.6 An obituary ran in Temple Telegram, Temple, TX newspaper. One notice gave his age at death as 104 and another at 107. He was buried in the Salado Cemetery, in Salado, Bell Co., TX.6
17. Nancy Martha LITTLE6 was born in 1821 in North Carolina.6 She died on 28 Mar 1877 in Prairie Dell, Bell Co., TX, and is buried in the Salado Cemetery, Salado, Bell Co., TX.6 Nancy was 3/4 Cherokee Indian. Aunt Glenna told of some "panes" that were woven by her.
Children were:
i. James Patrick KNIGHT6 was born on
1 Jan 1842 in Carroll Co.,
GA.6,5
He served in the military between 27 Aug 1861 and 1865 in Texas.
6,36
James Patrick Knight volunteered at 19 years old and served until the end of the war.
He served in the 5 Calvary, Co. E. under Capt. H. A. McPhaill's Co. 2 Regiment, Sibley's Brigade TX
Mounted Volunteers. At the end of the war, James took his oath of amnesty at Boonesville, TX
along with his brother, Joseph Robert and father, Richard Patrick. He appeared on the census
in 1870 in Brazos Co., TX.37 He was named in a
incident reported in papers on 1 Oct 1871 in Brazos Co.,
TX.6 Family stories included the same incident, with
only slight variations. He appeared on the census in 1880 in Bell Co.,
TX.15 He died on 3 Jun 1919 in Eastland, Eastland Co.,
TX.6 He is buried in the Salado Cemetery, Salado, Bell
Co., TX. 6
ii. Joseph Robert KNIGHT6 was born
on 31 Jul 1843 in Carroll Co., GA.34 He died on 11
Jan 1916 in Bell Co., TX.34 He was buried
after 11 Jan 1916 in Salado Cemetery, Salado, Bell Co., TX. Joseph served in the military
between 21 Jun, 1862 and 1865, enlisted in Brenham, Washington Co.,
TX.34 He enlisted as a private in Co. E, Green's Brigade,
5th Texas Calvary. He was paroled on July 14th, 1865 at Mud Creek, Texas. A copy of his
parole is on record, signed by Wesley Merritt, Maj. General , USA. Joseph Robert Knight took his
oath of amnesty at Booneville, TX, along with his father, Richard Patrick and brother, James
Patrick Knight. He was called Bob.6
iii.
Anderson Richard KNIGHT6 was born on 18 May 1847 in
Alabama.6 Cousin Joe David's Profile of the Knight family,
shows they moved to Jefferson Co., AL in about 1847/48. Anderson appeared on the census
on 11 Jun 1880 in Bell Co., TX.15 He was the Postmaster on 6
Dec 1900 in Goldenrod, Wharton Co., TX.38 He was again
the Postmaster between Feb 1910 and Jan 1915 in Providence City,
TX.38 He died on 27 Oct 1930 in Runge, Karnes Co.,
TX.6 He is buried in the Runge Cemetery, Runge, Karnes
Co., TX.8 Anderson was named Richard Anderson Knight, as is
shown in the Family bible, but used the reverse order of his given names, and often used only his
initials A. R.
The following names Anderson Knight as director at the
Provident City Bank, in 1909.
Colorado Co. Chronicles- Vol #1, Pg 279 Provident City State Bank, Provident City
"In December of 1909, charter number 567 was issued for the
Provident City Bank with a capital of $10,000 and the following men as directors: T. B. Coleman of
Golden Rod, Texas, as president, Charles O. Fenner of Cardele, Texas as cashier, R. J. Clark of
Seclusion, Texas, Emil Reinhold of Kansas City, Missouri, A. D. Peoples of Granada, Texas, and A.
R. Knight
and Daniel Willett of Golden Rod. The bank's post office address was also Golden
Rod."
"On February 4, 1913, the bank had $13,230 in deposits, $7,600
in loans and discounts, and total assets were $23,612. "As Provident City failed to grow, so
did its financial institution, and in July of 1914, the bank was forced to liquidation with N. M.
Craft in charge of disposing of the assets."
iv.
Sidney F. KNIGHT
was born on 6 May 1849 in Alabama.5,34 She died
on 5 Feb 1856 in Alabama.5,34
v.
Mary Jane KNIGHT was born on 11 Jul 1851 in Alabama.5
She died on 17 Mar 1852 in Alabama.5
vi.
William Washington KNIGHT, Sr.6 was born
on 28 Apr 1853 in Alabama.34 He and family were on the
census on 11 Jun 1880 in Bell Co., TX.15
Sad to note, but a son of Wm. W. Knight, listed on this 1880 Census on
Jun 11, 1880, died the next day on Jun 12, 1880. This child was shown with "Dropsey of
the Head."
William Washington Knight died on 13 Dec 1935 in Ennis, Ellis Co.,
TX.34
8 vii.
Jasper Walter KNIGHT.
viii.
Sarah Elizabeth KNIGHT6 was born on 7 Jun
1862 in Texas.5,6 She died on 23 Mar 1946 in Runge,
Karnes Co., TX.5,8 She was buried in the Runge Cemetery,
Runge, Karnes Co., TX. She was called
"Sallie".4 Aunt Sallie kept house and raised her
brother Jasper's, motherless children. She was well loved. Uncle Robert, remembers her
talking of running and hiding when her brothers came home to visit during the Civil War.
Aunt Sallie died without ever marrying. I remember her funeral,
although, I was only four years old. I remember walking around the coffin and looking
up. I couldn't see her and no one lifted me up to see her.
Home