Ref:

Records of Romsey Abbey: An Account of the Benedictine House of Nuns, with Notes on the Parish Church and Town (A.D. 907-1558)- Rev. Henry G. D. Liveing, M.A., Warren and Son, Winchester, 1906

will 23 Apr. 1560 Romsey, Hampshire

In the name of Goad Amen the 23 day of April in the year of Our Lord God 1560 I John Knight of Cupernam in the parishe of Romsey hole of mynde and of perfecte remembrance doe make my last Will and Testament in forme and manner folowinge.

Fyrste I bequethe my Sowle to Allmightie God my maker and redeemer and my body to the earthe to be buried in the churche yarde of Sainte Lawrence in Rossey being my parishe churche.

Itm: I geve and bequethe to my mother churche of the blessed Trinite in Winchester 4d.
Itm:I geve and bequethe to the alter of Sainte Lawrence in Ransey beinge my parishe churche and 8 decii oblig.' (tithes forgotten) 4d.
Itm: I geve and bequethe to the Reparacons (repairs) of my parishe churche 12d.
Itm: I geve and bequethe to the poore people after harvest 2 bushel of wheate in breade.
Itm: I geve and bequethe to John Knight my son and to his heyres male of his bodyc lawfully begotten my free land and If my said son John dye without Issue then I geve my said free land unto my son William Knight and to his heyres male of his bedye lawfully begotten.
Itm: I geve and bequethe to my daughter Agnes Knighte one fether bedd, a green coverlet, a payre of Shetes, a bolster of fethers, 2 platters, 2 potlngers, one Sawser, a blacke brasse panne, a brasse pott, a lytill kettill, a pappan (?), 2 candylstickes, her mother's best gowne, a worstede kyrtill, a [undecipherable] shete, and a pillow [undecipherable].
Itm: I geve and bequethe to my daughter Thomeson Knighte my best flockebedde, my best bolster of flocke, a payre of shetes, a coverlet of whitt (white) the best, my second brasse pott of the worst, two platters, two potingers, one sawcer, a blacke brasse panne of a bushell: two candylstickes, a kyttill that I bought of Breckynsall, a redd kyrtill with samlet colyer.
Itm: I geve to my saide two daughters a redd [two lines undecipherable]

The Rest of all my goodes and cattell unbequethed my detts payed, my legacies fulfilled I geve and bequethe to Agnes Harding and to John Knight and Willlam Knight my two sonnes whom I doe make my full executors of this my last Wyll and Testament and my goodes to be equal lie divided betweene them three. I will also my brother William Knight John Kyng and John Bayle to be my over seers of this my last Wyll and Testament and every of them to have for their paynes one of my best lambes. And if any of my said children dye then I will that parte to remayne amonge the other that leveth and so [undecipherable] the first to the last.

Itm: I geve and bequethe to Alice Coke my brother's mayd one bushel I of wheate:
Itm: I geve and bequethe to John Roke one bushel I of wheate:
Itm: I geve and bequethe to my brother William Knighte my best new midly cloke.
Itm: I geve to Thomas Rarding a ywe sheepe.

by John Knighte

Wytness hereof these persons whose names followeth:

the marke of John Kyng the marke of William Knighte
the marke of John Roke the marke of John Bayle
the marke of William Gyfforde the marke of Arkenwold Byrtehe

Detts that John Knighte doth owe

Itm : to Thomas Knight for a legacy 20 sh.
Itm : more to the said Thomas for a mare 13 sh. 4d.
Itm : more to the said Thomas for the hyre of a cow
and a cow's byre Bsh.
Itm : more to the said Thomas for the hyre of six shepe 4sh.
Itm to Elizabeth Knighte 20sh.
Itm to Roger Bayle 6sh.
Itm to John Kynge 7sh. 6d.
Itm to Thomas Knight 15sh.
Itm : to William Sherpe (?Sharp) 2sh. lid.
Itm : to Elizabeth Alman my servant 6sh.
Itm : to Mawd Cooke my servant a whytt peticote, a workydayes smocke, two [undecipherable] a Payle, [undecipherable] for the holy dayes three aprons.

Issue-

m. ELIZABETH WILD (bur. 12 Feb. 1570 Romsey)
d. 1569

About three miles from Romsey is the town of Timsbury where another Knight family who were members of the minor gentry lived having originally come from Northampton. Andrew, son of Richard Knight of Timsbury was a contemporary of our William of Romsey. Richard had a brother William and had sons John and Richard. Andrew died about 1600 and his widow Joan moved to Romsey with their son Edmond and daughter Ursula, so one wonders if these families were related. There was another William Knight who married Joan Hill in 1588, however, in his will he mentions his wife Joan and an only child William which clears away any doubt as to which family our John Knight belongs.

In the Name of God Amen the 15th day of March Ao. Dmi. 1568 I William Knight of the parishe of Romsey in the Countye of Southt. husbanoman beinge sycke of bodye and hole of mynde and of good and perfecte memorye Lawde and prayse be unto Almighty God I do make and ordeyne this my present last Testament concernynge herein my last Will in manner and forme a followinge.

Fyrste I bequethe my Sowle unto Allmightie God my maker and redeemer and my bodye to the earthe to be buried in the churcheyarde of Ransey being my parishe churche.

Item: I geve and bequeathe to my mother churche of the Blessed Trynitle in Winchester i £.
It.: I geve and bequeathe for tythes forgotten 4d.
Item: I geve and bequeathe towards the Reparacons of my parishe churche of Rossey 25/
Item: I geve and bequeathe to Thomas Knighte my kynsman my Russett coate and Jerkyn.
The best of my goodes and cattells as well move able as unmoveable my dettes paide and my legacies fulfilled I geve and bequeathe to Elizabeth my wyfe, William Knight and Nicholas Knight my sonnes, whome I do ordeyne and make my sole Executors joyntly together them as farre for the one as thother, And I will William Shergoe and John Wild to be overseers of this my last Will and Testament and either of them to game for theire paynes takinge one of my best lambes at show tyme.

Wytnesses : William Sherpe ; Henrye Card ; John Balys, constable ; and Anthonye Skythe...

Probate granted 21 April 1569

Issue-

Descendants of John Knight of Newbury, Massachusetts- Alfred C. Knight, Marston Mills, MA, 1988- available at: http://www.fortunecity.com/millennium/jamestown/250/jk/jk-intro.htm
Parish Registers- Romsey, Hants
The Knight Family- Charles S. Tibbetts, p.1

m. 12 Nov. 1588 Romsey, ELIZABETH CARTER, daughter of William & Thomasine Carter (bur. 18 May 1625 Romsey)
bur. 10 Jan. 1630 Romsey

Issue- children bpt. in Romsey

I. Richard- bpt. 1589, bur. 1596 II. Thomasine- bpt. 1590

Parish Registers- Romsey, Hants
The Knight Family- Charles S. Tibbetts, pp.1-2

bpt. 30 Jan. 1595 Romsey, Hants
m.1. c.1615 Sarah Hawkins (d.c.1622)
2. 29 Mar. 1624 Romsey, ELIZABETH VINCENT (d. 20 Mar. 1645 Newbury, MA)
3.c.1645 Ann Langley (m.1. 20 Oct. 1616, Richard Ingersol, d. 30 July 1677 Newbury)
d. May 1670 Newbury, MA

John and his family sailed from London with his brother Richard and his family on the ship James sailing from Southampton on 5 Apr. and arriving in Boston on 3 June 1635 with her passengers and cattle. The James was a ship of 300 tons and William Cooper was its master. John Winthrop stated the "Mr Graves had come every year for these seven years". 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 having been carried there by his great-grandson Enoch Knight who was also a tailor.

On 25 May 1636 John and Richard were admitted as freemen. On 6 June 1637 John was licensed "to keep an ordinary and give entertainment to such as needs".(3)

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."(4) 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". 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".

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."

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.(1)

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

This 5 of May 1670 I John Knight of Newbury Sen. being oftened 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 sei 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 of the 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 £.
wering Cloths and Bedlng, 16 1 1
two brasse kitls, a skilet and a warming pan, 3li
in pewter, 1li. 10s
In Iron things, 3li. 10s
Coberd, tabl, forme and other things, 1li. 10s
4 woodn bols, a tunnell , tray, 4 dishes, to pails, 10s. 6d.
Jug, tubs, barell, sivs, slid, bags & wood, 1li. 4s.
a gunn, 1li. 5s
16 bushells of mault, 3li. 12s
3 oxn and a steere, 20li
4 Cows and a heifer, 201i
2 yearlings, 21i. 15s
12 sheep and 4 lambs, 6li
on horse, 6li
on Calfe, 12s
4 swine, 31i
bacon, 21i. 10s
3 bush. of Rie, 13s
one sadl, pilion & bridl, 1li
free hold or Comanag, 8li
in trees, 2li
total, 324li.11s. 6d.

Attested June 23, 1670, by John Knight executor of his father's estate.(2)

Issue- first four children bpt. in Romsey, last probably born in Newbury.

Ref:

(1) Mass. Archives- Vol.15a, p.10
(2) Essex County Registry of Probate- Docket 15,981.
(3) Records of the Massachusetts Colony- Vol. I, p. 149
(4) First Book of Newbury Records- 4 Oct. 1637

Parish Registers- Romsey, Hants
The Knight Family- Charles S. Tibbetts, pp.1-2

bpt. 14 May 1626 Romsey, Hants
m. 1647 Newbury, MA, BATHSHEBA (2) INGERSOL (b.c.1620 Sands, Bedfordshire, d. 24 Oct. 1705 Newbury)
d. 27 Feb. 1677/8 Newbury

John Jr. was made a constable in 1654, a selectman in 1668 and was a sergeant in the militia in 1666 and ensign in 1669.

Bathsheba was made administratrix of John's estate 6 Mar. 1678 and the court ordered that the following division be made. John, Richard and Benjamin were to have the house and barn valued at £100, and 75 acres of land, valued at £375, to be divided equally between them. The three daughters were to have £80 each. Bathsheba was to have the remainder of the estate and was to pay the debts out of her share. Joseph was not mentioned in the settlement.

Ref:

The Knight Family- Charles S. Tibbetts, pp.3-7

b. 21 June 1652 Newbury, MA
m. 31 Oct. 1677 Newbury, DEBORAH (6) COFFIN (b. 10 Nov. 1655 Newbury)
d. 29 Jan. 1722/3 Newbury

Joseph was an ensign in the militia.

Issue- all children born in Newbury

Ref:

The Knight Family- Charles S. Tibbetts, pp.5,9-11

b. 9 June 1695 Newbury, MA
m. 9 June 1719 Newbury, SARAH GREENLEAF (b. 27 Mar. 1697, d. 7 July 1744 Newbury)
d. 18 Feb. 1778 Atkinson, NH

From his grandfather's (Tristram Coffin Jr. q.v.) will from 1704: 7. Item I give to my daftar deborah knights 5s and twelf walnut trees: In that land I bowft of edman moores and to har son Tristram knight a Cowe.

This Certifies that in Consequence of ye forgoing requisition of the Hon'd Committe of Safety for Said State- all the males of Twenty one years of age & upwards belonging to Atkinson in ye State aforsd (Lunaticks Ideots & Negroes excepted) have freely & voluntarily Subscribed their respective Names to the foregoing Declaration- Atkinson Sept 20 1776... Tristram Knight(1)

Issue- all children born in Newbury

Ref:

(1) Miscellaneous Revolutionary Documents of New Hampshire, Including the Association Test, the Pension Rolls, and Other Important Papers- Albert Stilliman Batchellor, State Papers Series, 1910- Vol. 30

The Knight Family- Charles S. Tibbetts, pp.11, 22-4

b. 22 Dec. 1729 Newbury, MA
m. 16 Nov. 1752 Newbury, SUSANNA (7) NOYES (b. 12 July 1729)
d. after 1800 Fryeburg, ME

Stephen moved to Plaistow with his brothers in 1753. The births of his older children are recorded there from 1754 until 1764. He was in Newbury on 20 Dec. 1752 as he was listed as attending the Presyterian church there.(1)

Stephen and Susanna moved to Fryeburg before 1768 as their son John was baptized by Rev. Coffin in that year.(2) They purchased the right of Gen. John Stark on 27 July 1774.(3)

Stephen Sr. or Jr. was a private from Fryeburg under Capt. George W. Smith in Col. Joseph Vose's regiment from 1 Aug. 1777 until 1 Aug. 1780 and was at the battle of Valley Forge in 1778.

Stephen and Susanna were listed in the 1800 census for Fryeburg on the same page with Joseph, his family, and Oliver and his family.(4)

Ref:

(1) Mass. Archives- Vol. 13, p.371
(2) Collections of the Maine Historical Society- Vol.4, p.281
(3) York Co. Deeds- Vol.48, p.139
(4) 1800 Census- p.1044

b. 16 Jan. 1774 Fryeburg, ME?
m.1. 5 Dec. 1794 Fryeburg, ME, APPHIA (4) FARRINGTON (b. 25 Sept. 1777 Fryeburg, d. 1804)
2. 7 Jan. 1805 Patience Wentworth of Conway, NH (b. 16 Mar. 1786, d. 20 Sept. 1865)
d. 16 Nov. 1851 Sweden, Oxford Co., ME
bur. Black Mountain Cemetery, Knight's Hill Road

Oliver and Patience are listed in the 1850 census for Sweden along with their children Stephen, Albert, and Sally. Elizabeth Eastman, age 12, was also living with them. His son Caleb and his wife Rachel and his son Sabastian were living next door as were his son Lemuel and has family.(1)

Issue-

(1) 1850 census for Waterford, Sweden & Denmark, Oxford Co.- p. 375

The Knight Family- Charles G. Tibbetts, 1941, Vol.I, pp.145-6

b.c.1585 Shepton Mallet, Somerset?
will 23 June-24 Aug. 1676 Boston, MA

Robert was in York in 1640 and lived on the west side of Mill Creek where he as a mason with Bartholomew Barnard the carpenter and John Ingelby the sawyer erected the saw mill for Gorges. Robert later lived on the east side of the York River.(1)

On 9 Sept. 1640 Robert Knight, Indian trader, testified in the court at Saco that the scales used by Thomas Purchase for weighing furs bought from them were not reliable.

Robert bought Robert Blaisdell's house and lands on Meeting House Creek 22 July 1642 and then bought a house and lot of fifty acres from Bartholomew Barnard at Old Mill Creek 22 Nov. 1642.(2) He also had town grants in 1648 and in 1658. Robert may have exchanged lands with Edward Rishworth for in 1653 John Pierce bought of Edward Rishworth a house and fenced field "up the river of York which farm was ould Robert Knight's". In the same year he deeded to Thomas Marston of Hampton a house and 7 acres "formerly Robert Marston's now mine" and 35 acres of marsh and upland granted Mr. Rishworth by the town of Hampton. In 1666/7 he deeded 7 acres in Hampton bought from Rishworth to his grandson John Redman Jr.

Map of York- Gorges and Ferry Necks- from Banks' History of York, Map of York- showing the homes of the people who signed the submission to Massachusetts in 1652, Map of York Village- from Banks' History of York, Map of York- Alcock's Neck and the beach- from Banks' History of York

Robert's wife testified in court in 1650 in a case concerning Mrs. Jane Bond and in 1659 Goodwife Knight of "Accomneticus" owed the estate of Bozoun Allen of Boston �2/16/10.(3)

Robert gave a deposition 7 Dec. 1658 and again 6 July 1671 as to what he heard Mr. Thomas Gorges say before he went to England in 1643.(4)

In 1668 Dr. Clapham sued Robert for care and medicine expended on his grandson Rowland Young's boy, "which boy in time of his lameness Robert Knight took as his own" but, withdrew the suit with costs to the debt. In 1673 he deeded land to his grandson Rowland Young Jr.

Sometime before 1676 Robert moved to Boston where he lived with his son Richard who had been a resident there for some years. In his will Robert left his house, barn, five acres of marsh, two cows and a bull and all his other land and belongings to his son Richard Knight of Boston.(5)

Robert Knight's Will

Robert took the oath of allegience to Massachusetts 22 Nov. 1652 (6) and signed the petition to Cromwell in 1656(7) .

Robert along with many others was not satisfied with the division of Godfrey's land and they signed a petition to the general court in Boston stating their opinion. However, the awards were never changed.(8)

He was on the jury in 1647, 1650, 1653, 1655, 1656, and 1664 and was on the grand jury in 1647, 1650/1, 1653-6, 1658-9, 1661, 1663, and 1667.

Issue-

(1) "History of York, Maine"- Banks, Vol.2, p.65
(2) York Deeds- Vol.3, p.142; Vol.1, p.30
(3) "History of York, Maine"- Banks, Vol.1, p.158
(4) York Deeds- Vol.I
(5) "History of York, Maine"- Banks, Vol.1, p.158
(6) Mass. Archives- Vol.3, p.199
(7) Ibid- p.242
(8) Ibid- p.237

"Genealogical Dictionary of Maine & New Hampshire"- pp.404-5
"Pioneers on Maine Rivers"-Wilbur D. Spencer
"Pioneers of Maine & New Hampshire"- Pope, p.118
York Co. Deeds- Vol.I, p.14
Norfolk Co. Registry of Deeds
Mass. Archives- Vol.3, p.193

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