Person:Robert Knight (126)

BIOGRAPHY: !The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans: Volume VI !K !Knight, Stephen Albert

!Knight,Robert, manufacturer, was born in Old Warwick,R.I.,January 8, 1826; son of Stephen and Weltham (Brayton) Knight. He was employed in the Cranston Print Works, and in the other cotton factories, 1834-1843, and in the latter year became a clerk in the store of his brother Benjamin Brayton at Providence, R.I. He attended Pawcatuck Academy, Westerly, R.I., for a short time, and taught a district school one winter. In 1847 with Zachariah Parker, he leased John H. Clark's cotton mill and bleachery at Arnold's Bridge, and in 1850 they purchased the property, of which Mr. Knight became sole owner in 1851. He gave to the village and mill the name of Pontiac. In 1852 he purchased a half-interest in the flour and grain business of his brother Benjamin Brayton Knight, in Providence, the firm name becoming B. B. & R. Knight. He extensively increased this cotton manufacturing interests, operating as part owner about ten mills in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. In 1867 he was elected director in the National Bank of Commerce,Providence, and in 1884 became its president. In 1874 he was chosed director in the People's Savings Bank,Providence, becoming its president in 1884. He was also elected a director in the New York, Providence and Boston Railroad company, and became prominently identified with various insurance companies. In June, 1898, on the death of his brother Benjamin Brayton Knight, he became the largest individual owner of cotton mills in the world, with upwards of twenty distinct establishments under his personal control. He was married, March 5, 1849 to Josephine Louisa, daughter of Royal A. and Hannah C. Webster of Providence, and had nine children.

History and Genealogy of the Gov. John Webster Family Of Connecticut By William Holcomb Webster of Washington, D.C. Rev. Melville Reuben Webster, D.D. Rochester, N.Y. E. R. Andrews Printing Company Rochester, N. Y. 1915 - Page 1246

The Providence Society Blue Book Including suburbs in Rhode Island together with Fall River and the Attleboros, Mass. Elite Family Directory Club Membership 1905 - Page 58 Knight, Mr. and Mrs. Robert 297 Elmwood Miss Edith Knight Mrs., nee Webster (26). Mr. (79)

The Rhode Island Register for the year 1856. By George Adams Volume II - Providence Gladding & Brother; George H. Whitney 1856 Register County of Providence Sheldon Knight Justice of the Peace - Cranston Sheldon Knight City of Providence Robert Knight - Jabez C. Knight Westerly Jed W. Knight Rhode Island Militia A. E. Burnside, Major General of the Militia First Light Infantry Company, Providence Lieutenant Colonel, Sylvester R. Knight

Banks in Providence Atlantic Bank - 48 Broad Street. Robert Knight - Director

Bank of Commerce - 4 Market Square Jabez C. Knight - Director

Butchers' and Drovers' Bank - 25 Broad St. B. B. Knight - President - Director W. Knight - Cashier

High Street Bank - 154 High Street. Robert Knight - President - Director

Mount Vernon Bank - 37 Westminster Street Robert Knight - Director

Roger Williams Bank - 23 Market Square Jabez C. Knight - President - Director

Elmwood Bank. - Elmwood, Cranston Robert Knight - Director

Landholders' Bank, - Kingston, South Kingston David B. Knight - Director

Mechanics' Savings Bank. - 41 Westminster St., Providence Henry P. Knight - Director People's Savings Bank. - 4 Market Square, Providence Jabez C. Knight - Director

Insurance Companies

Fireman's Mutual Insurance Company 2 Market Square, Providence Benjamin B. Knight - Director

Merchants' Insurance Company 20 Market Square, Providence Jabez C. Knight - Director

Roger Williams Insurance Company 15 Market Square, Providence B. B. (Benjamin Brayton) Knight - Director

Butler Hospital Jabez C. Knight - Director

Cranston, Providence City Council (Probate) - Sheldon Knight

Foster, Providence City Council (Probate) - Olney Knight

Johnston, Providence City Council (Probate) - Charles Knight

Coventry, Blacksmith - Alfred W. Knight Scituate, Bobbin Makers - Robert Knight Foster, Carpenter - Ezra Knight West Greenwich, Carpenter - Nathan Knight West Greenwich, Carpenter - Olney Knight Coventry, Carriage & Coach Builders - Caleb Knight Lime Rock, Cooper - John Knight Scituate, Grist Mill - Richmond M. Knight Providence, Grocer (Retail) - William A. Knight Pawtucket, Millinery & Fancy Goods - Mrs. Henry Knight Scituate, Saw Mill - Richmond M. Knight Scituate, Saw Mill - Wm. W. Knight

                                       77500                 1046.25

TAXES: The Providence,Providence,Rhode Island City Tax, ordered by the city council June 1845, to be assessed at the rate of $.38 cents per $100.00 of ratable property. The following individual was rated as follows.

                                        Real.      Per.       Amt. Of  Tax

Robert Knight 36 120 59,28

The Providence,Providence,Rhode Island City Tax, ordered by the city council for the year 1872. The following individual was rated as follows.

                                                           Real.      Per.       Amt. Of  Tax

Robert Knight 77500 1046.25

OBITUARY: The New York Times November 27, 1912 Robert Knight Dies At 86. Largest Owner of Cotton Mills in the World. Providence, R. I., Nov. 26.-Robert Knight, the largest owner of cotton mills in the world, died to-day at his home, in Elmwood. He was caught in a heavy rain on Nov. 14, and a severe cold developed, from which he did not recover. Robert Knight was born in Old Warwick, R. I., Jan. 8, 1826. He was a student for a short time at Pawcatuck Academy, Westerly, R.I. At the age of 8 he went to work in a cotton mill, and for nine years was in the employment of the Cranston (R.I) print works and other cotton factories. In 1843 he became a clerk in the store of his brother, Benjamin B. Knight, at Providence. Four years later he leased with Z. Parker a cotton mill and bleachery at Arnold's Bridge, and later purchased it, becoming sole owner in 1851. In 1852 he bought a half interest in the grain and flour business of his brother, Benjamin, adding at the same time to his manufacturing holdings in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. He was married March 5, 1849, to Miss Josephine Louisa Webster of Providence. Upon the death of his brother Benjamin, in 1898, Mr. Knight became owner of twenty-two spinning, weaving, and finishing establishments. These plants have more than 500,000 spindles, about 12,000 looms, and 6,500 operatives. Mr. Knight was President of the National Bank of Commerce and the People's Savings Bank of Providence and was a Director of the New York, Providence & Boston Railroad Company and of several insurance companies.

MEDIA: J0058 - The photograph of Robert Knight is on loan from the collection of Steve Knight norrisami@aol.com J0019 - Poor photo from a book, unknown origin

CENSUS: 1850 United States Federal Census Name: Robert Knight Age: 24 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1826 Birth Place: Rhode Island Gender: Male Home in 1850(City,County,State): Providence Ward 6, Providence, Rhode Island Source Citation: Year: 1850; Census Place: Providence Ward 6, Providence, Rhode Island; Roll: M432_845; Page: 455; Image: 468.

1860 United States Federal Census Name: Robert Knight Age in 1860: 33 Birth Year: abt 1827 Birthplace: Rhode Island Home in 1860: Cranston, Providence, Rhode Island Gender: Male Post Office: Knightsville Household Members: Name Age Robert Knight 33 Josephine W Knight 31 Josephine E Knight 10 Webster Knight 5 Harriet L Knight 1 Martha Obrien 21 Source Citation: Year: 1860; Census Place: Cranston, Providence, Rhode Island; Roll: M653_1206; Page: 259; Image: 176.

1870 United States Federal Census Name: Robert Knight Estimated Birth Year: abt 1826 Age in 1870: 44 Birthplace: Rhode Island Home in 1870: Providence Ward 9, Providence, Rhode Island Race: White Gender: Male Post Office: Providence Source Citation: Year: 1870; Census Place: Providence Ward 9, Providence, Rhode Island; Roll: M593_1480; Page: 398; Image: 257.

1880 United States Federal Census Name: Robert Knight Home in 1880: Providence, Providence, Rhode Island Age: 54 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1826 Birthplace: Rhode Island Relation to Head of Household: Self (Head) Spouse's Name: Josephine W. Father's birthplace: Rhode Island Mother's birthplace: Rhode Island Occupation: Cotton Mfg. Marital Status: Married Race: White Gender: Male Household Members: Name Age Robert Knight 54 Josephine W. Knight 51 Josephine E. Knight 30 Webster Knight 25 Prescott C. Knight 18 Sophie Knight 14 Edith Knight 9 Elizabeth Jones 58 Bridget Brady 23 Frank Shute 26 Source Citation: Year: 1880; Census Place: Providence, Providence, Rhode Island; Roll: T9_1213; Family History Film: 1255213; Page: 257.2000; Enumeration District: 47; .

1900 United States Federal Census Name: Robert Knight Home in 1900: Providence Ward 7, Providence, Rhode Island Age: 74 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1826 Birthplace: Rhode Island Relationship to head-of-house: Head Spouse's Name: Josephin L Race: White Occupation: Cotton Mfg Household Members: Name Age Robert Knight 74 Josephin L Knight 71 Edith Knight 29 Mary J Brien 58 Hannah J Johnson 30 Source Citation: Year: 1900; Census Place: Providence Ward 7, Providence, Rhode Island; Roll: T623 1508; Page: 7A; Enumeration District: 62.

1910 United States Federal Census Name: Robert Knight Age in 1910: 84 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1826 Birthplace: Rhode Island Relation to Head of House: Head Father's Birth Place: Rhode Island Mother's Birth Place: Rhode Island Spouse's Name: Josephine L Home in 1910: Providence Ward 7, Providence, Rhode Island Marital Status: Married Race: White Gender: Male Household Members: Name Age Robert Knight 84 Josephine L Knight 80 Edith Knight 39 Hannah J Johnson 39 Hilda Forkert 33 Ida C Karlin 27 Source Citation: Year: 1910; Census Place: Providence Ward 7, Providence, Rhode Island; Roll: T624_1444; Page: 9A; Enumeration District: 225; Image: 389.