The "proven" origins of Richard Knight of Rhode Island are unknown to me.

Early settlers of Hampton, New Hampshire were from Norfolk, England and that may be an indication of his origins. However, McCormick-Hamilton-Lord-Day Ancestral Lines, compiled for Elizabeth Day McCormick & Robert Hall McCormick III, privately printed, 1957, suggests Richard came from Kent Co., England. This is apparently based on the origins of other settlers of Greenwich, Rhode Island.
 

See the Norfolk, England Heritage Page.

Born:  Perhaps by 1620, some say earlier, perhaps in Norfolk, England, as that was where many early settlers of Hampton, New Hampshire were from. He was married and had at least one child before 1640. (1640-25 years = 1615). Since he was given land for service in King Philips War, it would appear he wasn't born much earlier than 1620, as even that date would place him as 55 years old during that conflict.

Immigration: By Aug 4, 1640. Probably arrived by himself, although we know he had a wife, with unknown name, who may have died before he migrated, and a son in England. Aged from 20-40 years old.

Spouses:
 

1) Unknown first wife in England, never migrated. Married before 1640. One son in England referred to in will.

2) Sarah Rogers, married 1648, in Kent Co, Rhode Island. She was born before 1630 and died 1685, having survived Richard by 5 years.
 

Residences: Hampton, New Hampshire by 1640 > Rhode Island by 1646
 
"On Aug 4, 1640, an agreement was made between the town of Hampton and Richard Knight regarding his building and keeping a mill at the landing there, and 100 acres were granted to him. On Sep 14, 1640 he contracted to build a meeting house. On Jan 29, 1640/1, it was voted that instead of working on the Common Richard Knight was to make a gate for the pound. He was the defendant in a suit brought by Stephen Kent in December, 1641. On Jul 9, 1645, a warrant for his arrest was issued to the constables of Boston, Mass., on account of certain thieving activities of his, and on Sep 9, 1645, Joseph Armetage was ordered by the Court to hold all the goods in his hands of Richard Knight "late of Hampton, now of Rhode Island." (Essex Quarterly Court Files, Vol 1, Pg 88, and History of Hampton.) " NEHGR, Jul 1933, Pg 264-5, article by G. Andrew Moriarity
Occupation:  Carpenter, builder

Military:   He appears to have rendered service to the Colony in King Philip's War, for on Oct 31, 1677, he was one of the grantees of the East Greenwich lands, for service in that war. Each grantee received 100 acres.

Death: October, 1680 in Newport, Kent Co, Rhode Island.

Estate / Will:
 

Will of Richard Knight, Feb 1648:

Newport the 8th day of February 1648 . . . I Richard Knight of Newport doe inverce and ingage to my wife Sarah Knight that I will not sell . . . any of the Tract of Land latly bought of James Rogers and Robert Griffin but doe. . . Intaile it upon her and my heires forever, but Especialy to her and my Eldist: sonn if any and in case wee have no sonn to my Eldist daughter to be my and her proper he ire after my death and if a sonn he shall have it at The age of oile and Twenty yeares if I have left my beinge in this life, and if noe sonn then the Eldist daughter shall have it at Sixteene yeares of age provided alwaies that the thirds of the Land and the best and convenientest roome in the house is to be my wifes, duringe her life, and then to returne to the heire . . .  But if there be more then one Sonn the daughters are noe heires soe long as any of the male be liveinge, but if noe sonn or sonns or if the sonn or sonns die with Ishue, then the Eldist daughter then livinge shall be the Right heire, But this is more Largely declared that if the Eldist sonn dye without Ishue the next shall enjoy it, But if the first have children whether sonns or daughters and alsoe the rest that are herein appointed to be heires, And this have I done the day and yeare above written, to avoyd strife because my sonn in ole England shall have nothing to doe herein nor have any Right to any Land of mine in New-England. In testimony hereof I put to my hand this day and yeare aforesaid.

Signed in the presence off John Downeing (his X marke) Robert Spink X his mark Richard Knight

A Biography of Richard Knight - the immigrant, with time-line

 Notable Knights include:
 
Nehemiah Knight - Congressman
Nehemiah Rice Knight - Governor of Rhode Island

Knight Sources and Resources

Knight Notes, Questions and Errata

Biography of David Knight - son and ancestor of one major branch of the Richard Knight tree. Moved from Rhode Island to Connecticut.

 
 1   Richard Knight 1620 - 1680 b: Bef. 1620 in Prob Norfolk, England
.... 2   Knight 1646 - b: Bef. 1646
..  +Sarah Rogers 1630 - 1685 b: Bef. 1630 in Prob England
.... 2   John Knight 1649 - 1695 b: Abt. 1649 in Prob Newport, Rhode Island
........  +Ann 1657 - b: Bef. 1657
........... 3   Anne Knight 1675 - 1685 b: Abt. 1675 in East Greenwich, Rhode Island
........... 3   Abigail Knight 1676 - b: Abt. 1676
........... 3   John Knight 1678 - 1771 b: 1678 in Prob East Greenwich, Rhode Island
...............  +Eleanor 1690 - 1771 b: Bef. 1690
........... 3   Richard Knight 1680 - 1754 b: 1680 in Prob East Greenwich, Rhode Island
...............  +Deliverance Rolph 1700 - 1758 b: Bef. 1700
........... 3   Sarah Knight 1685 - b: Abt. 1685 in Prob East Greenwich, Rhode Island
...............  +Enos Randall 1685 - b: Bef. 1685
........... 3   Samuel Knight 1690 - b: Abt. 1690 in Prob East Greenwich, Rhode Island
.... 2   Jonathan Knight I 1653 - 1717 b: Abt. 1653 in Prob Newport, Rhode Island
........  +Hannah Bennett 1659 - 1713 b: Bef. 1659
........... 3   Hannah Knight 1675 - 1675 b: May 10, 1675 in Cranston, Rhode Island
........... 3   Dinah (1) Knight 1676 - 1676 b: October 15, 1676 in Cranston, Rhode Island
........... 3   Dinah Knight 1677 - b: November 26, 1677 in Cranston, Rhode Island
........... 3   Hannah Knight 1680 - b: April 03, 1680 in Prob Cranston, Rhode Island
...............  +William Clarke 1682 - 1747 b: Bef. 1682
........... 3   Jonathan Knight II 1682 - 1762 b: April 16, 1682 in Warwick, Rhode Island
...............  +Martha Angell 1690 - b: Bef. 1690
........... 3   Rebecca Knight 1683 - b: September 25, 1683 in Cranston, Rhode Island
........... 3   Sarah Knight 1685 - b: 1685 in Cranston, Rhode Island
........... 3   Richard Knight 1685 - 1754 b: September 24, 1685 in Cranston, Rhode Island
........... 3   Robert Knight 1689 - 1771 b: June 04, 1689 in Cranston, Rhode Island
...............  +Mary Potter 1700 - b: Bef. 1700
........... 3   Marcy Knight 1690 - b: November 30, 1690 in Prob Cranston, Rhode Island
........... 3   Joseph Knight 1694 - 1750 b: June 09, 1694 in Cranston, Rhode Island
...............  +Mary Stone 1700 - b: Bef. 1700
.... 2   David Knight 1656 - 1744 b: Abt. 1656 in Prob Newport, Rhode Island
........  +Sarah Backus 1668 - 1742 b: April 1668 in Norwich, New London Co, Conn, USA
........... 3   Rachel Knight 1691 - 1742 b: November 14, 1691 in Norwich, New London Co, Conn
...............  +Jonathan Hendy 1700 - b: Bef. 1700
........... 3   David Knight, Jr. 1694 - 1769 b: February 10, 1694 in Woodstock, Conn
...............  +Abigail Crane 1703 - 1790 b: February 15, 1703 in Windham, Windham Co, Conn
........... 3   Sarah Knight 1695 - 1779 b: December 09, 1695 in Woodstock, Conn
...............  +Elisha Lilly 1699 - 1767 b: April 01, 1699 in Lynn, Essex Co, Mass
........... 3   Jonathan Knight 1698 - 1770 b: July 02, 1698 in Norwich, New London Co, Conn, USA
...............  +Abigail Longbottom 1705 - b: October 21, 1705 in Norwich, New London Co, Conn
........... 3   Mary Knight 1700 - b: April 02, 1700 in Norwich, New London Co, Conn, USA
...............  +Thomas Wallbridge 1700 - 1776 b: Abt. 1700
........... 3   Hannah Knight 1702 - b: January 30, 1702 in Norwich, New London Co, Conn, USA
...............  +Aaron Read 1702 - 1752 b: October 11, 1702 in Norwich, New London, Conn
........... 3   Laranah Knight 1704 - b: February 01, 1704 in Norwich, New London Co, Conn, USA
...............  +Ebenezer Bettis 1713 - b: Bef. 1713 in Prob Woodstock, Conn
........... 3   Joseph Knight 1705 - 1739 b: November 07, 1705 in Norwich, New London Co, Conn, USA
...............  +Sarah Read 1711 - b: December 28, 1711 in Norwich, New London, Conn
........... 3   Benjamin Knight 1707 - 1772 b: August 13, 1707 in Norwich, New London Co, Conn, USA
...............  +Hannah Jewett 1707 - 1758 b: August 30, 1707 in Norwich, New London Co, Conn
...........  *2nd Wife of Benjamin Knight:
...............  +Isabel 1730 - b: Bef. 1730
.... 2   Richard Knight 1658 - b: Abt. 1658 in Prob Newport, Rhode Island
........... 3   Mary Knight 1690 - b: Abt. 1690
...............  +Joseph Springer 1698 - b: Bef. 1698
.... 2   Priscilla Knight 1662 - b: Abt. 1662 in Prob Newport, Rhode Island
.... 2   Rebecca Knight 1665 - b: Abt. 1665 in Prob Newport, Rhode Island

Top of Page

1   Richard Knight 1620 - 1680
..  +Sarah Rogers 1630 - 1685
.... 2   David Knight 1656 - 1744
........  +Sarah Backus 1668 - 1742
........... 3   Joseph Knight 1705 - 1739
...............  +Sarah Read 1711 -
.................. 4   Anna "Hannah" Knight 1735 - 1809
......................  +Daniel Baldwin II 1731 - 1816
........................ 5   Elijah Baldwin 1756 - 1841
........................  *2nd Wife of Elijah Baldwin:
............................  +Polly 'Patty' Richardson 1768 - 1812
............................... 6   Ezra Baldwin 1805 - 1892
...............................  *2nd Wife of Ezra Baldwin:
...................................  +Lydia Eaton 1810 - 1872
...................................... 7   Henry Gilbert Baldwin 1836 - 1894
..........................................  +Eleanor Serepta Fisher 1843 - 1924
............................................ 8   Arthur Willis Baldwin 1876 - 1961
................................................  +Inez Evangeline Hallock 1886 - 1976

Related Links:

 

The Glenn Knight Page at one time contained lot of descendants of Richard and Sarah (Rogers) Knight. The webmaster has taken down this database. I'm leaving this link, as the home page is still there, in hopes the database will return.

The William Knight Page is an overall page dedicated to the Knight surname, with information about his Knight lines. His Names Index Page lists the Knights in his line. (The Richard Knight there is not ours.)

Lori Griffith's Web Page has her collection of Richard and Sarah (Rogers) Knight's descendants, including her branch.

Descendants of Edward Hall web page has some interesting material (and some speculation) about Richard Knight.

The Slumberland page on Richard Knight has an excellent chronology of known events in his life.

Cuzzins Page - See if there are any cousins on-line. Drop me an e-mail if you wish to be added.

Return to Mom's Side
 

Copyright 1998, 1999 Norris Taylor