Person:Joseph Knight (186)

BIOGRAPHY: An Historical Sketch of the Town of Scituate, R.I. By C. C. Beaman July 4, 1876 - Phenix Capron & Campbell, Steam Book and Job Printers. 1877 - Page 37 The license to Joseph Knight runs thus: "License to keep a tavern, or house of public entertainment, and to retail strong liquors in said town, and hath given bond for maintaining good order and conforming to the regulations of the law respecting taverns and public houses. Provided, that he suffer no unlawful game or games, druckenness, or any other disorder, in said house, or in any place in his possession, but that good government, rule and order be kept therein according to law." The license is dated February 12, 1803, and is signed, John Harris, Clerk.

http://www.geocities.com/scituateminutemen/captainknight.html For the rest of his life Colonel Knight ran his tavern and farm, and still attended the Miltia Musters four times a year to lead "his men", he died peacefully of Old Age on Febuary 27, 1825 and was buried on his farm. A simple fieldstone marks his grave, it simply reads "Colonel Joseph Knight", he would have wanted no other epitath.

The Wights A Record of Thomas Wight of Dedham and Medfield And of His Descendants 1635 - 1890 By William Ward Wight Milwaukee - Swain & Tate - Printers 1890 - Page 98

An Historical Sketch of the Town of Scituate, R.I. By C. C. Beaman July 4, 1876 - Phenix Capron & Campbell, Steam Book and Job Printers. 1877 - Page 41 His father, Jonathan Knight, executed to him the lease of his farm for six years, April 4th, 1764, Jeremiah and Andrew Angell witnessing the same. He appears to have used his teams extensively in transportation for Hope furnace.

Captain Joseph Knight was born in Scituate Rhode Island on May 1, 1740 to Jonathan and Elizabeth Knight on their farm on Tunk Hill Road. Little is known about his childhood, other then the family ran a saw mill and apple farm. Records at the Scituate Town Hall indicate that the family was well off, and in high standing in the community. In 1766 Joseph Knight was commisioned by the Governor as Ensign in the First Company of Scituate Militia, he was promoted to Lieutenant in 1767, and to Captain in 1774.

CENSUS: Census of the Inhabitants of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. Taken by order of the General Assembly, in the year 1774 Arranged by John R. Bartlett - Secretary of State Providence - Knowles, Anthony & Co., State Printers 1885 - Page 213 Cranston Head of Family: Joseph Knight Whites Males Above 16: 1

            Under:16: 1
    Females Above 16: 1
           Under: 16: 0

Indians: Blacks: Total in Household: 3

Surname GivenName Age Sex Race Birthplace State County Location Year KNIGHT JOSEPH M W RI RI PROVIDENCE CRANSTON 1810

Surname GivenName Age Sex Race Birthplace State County Location Year KNIGHT JOSEPH M W RI RI PROVIDENCE SCITUATE 1820

MARRIED: Vital Record of Cranston,Johnston and North Providence, Rhode Island James N. Arnold 1983 Knight,Joseph, of Scituate, and Elizabeth Knight, of Jonathan, of Cranston; m. by William Burton, Justice, Sept 28, 1760

BURIAL The Rhode Island Historical Cemeteries. Transcription Project Index. SC141 COL JOSEPH KNIGHT LOT SCITUATE TUNK HILL ROAD ->100 ft. W of tel pole #218. KNIGHT JOSEPH, COL 1740c - 27 FEB 1825. Sept 2004

U.S. Veterans Gravesites, ca.1775-2006 Name: Joseph Knight Service Info.: LIEUT COL CONTINENTAL LINE REVOLUTIONARY WAR Birth Date: 1 May 1740 Death Date: 27 Feb 1825 Cemetery: Scituate Cem Cemetery Address: Turk Hill Rd Clayville, RI 02815 Source Information: National Cemetery Administration. U.S. Veterans Gravesites, ca.1775-2006 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2006. Original data: National Cemetery Administration. Nationwide Gravesite Locator.

MILITARY: An Historical Sketch of the Town of Scituate, R.I. By C. C. Beaman July 4, 1876 - Phenix Capron & Campbell, Steam Book and Job Printers. From papers in the possession of his descendants, which have been kindly loaned me (C.C. Beaman) we get much information of Revolutionary times. He seems to have had a taste early for military life, having received from Gov. Samuel Ward, June 16th, 1766, a commission as Ensign of the First Company, or Trained Band of Providence. He was made Lieutenant of the same Company, in 1769, and in August, 1774, he was created Captain, April, 1775, after the news of the Battle of Lexington, a company was formed in Scituate under him as Captain, the roll headed thus: "We do enlist ourselves as Volunteers in the present emergency in defense of our country and Right of Privileges and Liberty." Four new companies were chartered in Scituate, December 5, 1774, and one of them was called "Scituate Huners."

A letter from Gov. Cooke to Joseph Knight, dated Providence, December 19, 1775, directed to him as Captain in the Second Company of Minute Men in Scituate, says: "You are hereby directed to gather together the company under your command with all possible expedition and march them to this town in order to be transported to Rhode Island for the defense of that island. You are to be careful that the men are properly equipped with arms, ammunition and blankets fit for immediate service. I have advice from Gen. Washington that eight large transports, with two tenders, having on board one regiment of foot, and three companies of horse sailed from Boston last Saturday, and I have no doubt that your officers and men will exert themselves upon this occasion with their usual ardor."

Gov. West sends an order from head-quarters to Capt. Knight, Jan. 12, 1776, for nine privates with a commissioned officer and sergeant or corporal, upon fatique duty. Ten days afterwards Gen. Lippitt directs him, from Prudence, to send ten men up there to go in a scow down to the Pearl. The men sent were in the fight at Prudence. According to the record they were, Joseph Knight, Capitan: William Brownell and Simeon Wilbour, Sergeants; Abraham Angell, Corporal; and Joseph Turner, Stephen Leach, Oliver Leach, Oliver Fisk, Zebedee Snow, Christopher Edwards, Joseph Wight, Moses Colvin, and Christopher Knight.

Providence was threatened by the enemy and Scituate was called upon to assist in its defense. Gen. Sullivan writes to Mr. Knight, who has been promoted to be Lieut.-Colonel, to march immediately with his regiment to their aid: "Pray, delay no time, for by the delay of one hour we may lose the town of Providence; let each man take three days provision, and wait there for further orders."

Rufus Hopkins, who seems to have been especially active and efficient in the good cause, writes Major Knight from Cranston, July 27, 1780, saying: "By express from the Governor I am requested to direct you forthwith to muster together the regiment under your command, completely equipped with arms and ammunition and six days provisions; you are hereby directed accordingly, and rendezvous at Providence as soon as possible, where you are to be ready to receive further orders, the reason is said to be in consequence of Gen. Clinton's coming from New York with eight or ten thousand troops to attack the French army and fleet at Newport."

Scituate was not invaded, but she was called upon, and responded nobly to the call, to march her troops to the port. The British, on Sunday, December 8, 1776, landed and took possession Rhode Island, and remained there until October 25, 1779, during which time the inhabitants were greatly oppressed.

In a list of Capt. Knight's company, April 2, 1775, the day after the Lexington battle, are found the following names: Joseph Knight - Captain Samuel Wilbor Benjamin Wood Isaac Horton John Hill Nathan Walker James Parker John Bennet,Jr. Jeremiah Almy Joseph Remington Nathan Ralfe John I. Kilton Johnthan Knight,Jr. Joseph Briggs David Knight Joseph Collins William Taylor John Manchester Edward Bennett Thomas Parker John Edwards,Jr. Simon Wilbor Isaiah Austin Samuel Eldridge Christopher Knight Samuel Hopkins Ben Bosworth Obadiah Rolfe Ezekiel Wood Dr. Caleb Fisk Jolin Phillips Constant Graves Stukely Knight Peleg Colvin Eleazor Westcott Caleb Steere Collins Roberts Daniel Fisk William Knight Nathan Franklin Ephriam Edwards Uriah Franklin Stephen Edwards Francis Fuller Benjamin Whitmore William Stafford Daniel Angell Furmer Tanner

Another list, dated Feb. 5, 1776, gives the following additional names: Daniel Dexter Peter Pierce Alexander Lovell Ebenezer Handy Joseph Turner John Gunnison Isaiah Ashton Benjain Bacon Natan Mathewson Knight Wilbor Abraham Angell Moses Colvin Christoper Edwards

An order of Capt. Knight to Aaron Fisk, one of his corporals, dated Dec. 8, 1774, directs to notify every enlisted soldier to appear in arms complete , to appear at the new dwelling house of Lieut. Samuel Wilbor, January 16, 1775.

Lieut.-Col. Ezekiel Cornell, of Col. Hitchcock's regiment, Providence, writes to Major Knight, dated Warwick, July 20, 1777, informing that he has just received an express telling him that forty sail of square-rigged vessels were off Watch Point standing towards Newport, last evening; also, desiring me to send an express to Col. Colwell, which I have done, ordering him immediately to warn the militia to be in rediness.

The returns of the Third Regiment, made to Major Knight of eight companies are as follows: Capt. Potter, 75 men, Capt. Dorrance, 67 men, Capt. Smith,123 men, Capt. Paine, 109 men, Capt. Wilbor, 76 men, Capt. Howard, 64 men, Capt. Medbury, 32 men, Capt. Rolfe, 67 men. We get some idea of the imperfect equipments of the soldiers in the return of three companies of two hundred and seventy-two privates. Of these, without bayonets, 101, with bayonets, 26, and cartouches of same number only 43.

Knight, Joseph (R. I.). Major Rhode Island Militia in 1779.

DAR Magazine May 2000 issue Page 344 Patriot Index Corrections Corrected his Rank to Lt. Col.

http://www.geocities.com/scituateminutemen/roster.html The following Roster is taken from Captain Knight's Orderly Book he maintained throughout the War.

"Roster of Captain Joseph Knight's Second Company of Scituate Minutemen, Third Regiment Providence County Militia.

Private Jerimiah Almy Private James Andrews, junior Corporal Abraham Angell Private Daniel Angell Private Isaiah Ashton Private Isaiah Austin Private Benjain Bacon Private John Bennet, junior Private Joseph Bennet Private Edward Bennett Private Benajah Bosworth Private Joseph Briggs Sergeant William Brownell Private Christopher Collins Private Joseph Collins Private Moses Colvin Private Peleg Colvin Private Daniel Dexter Private Christopher Edwards Private Ephriam Edwards Private John Edwards, junior Private Samuel Eldridge Private Stephen Edwards Corporal Aaron Fisk Surgeon Caleb Fisk Private Daniel Fisk Private Oliver Fisk Private Nathan Franklin Private Uriah Franklin, junior Private Francis Fuller, junior Private Constant Graves Private John Gunnison Private Ebenezer Handy Private John Hill Private Samuel Hopkins Private Isaac Horton

Private John I. Kilton, took part in the raid on the "Gaspee". Captured on Prudence Island, died of disease 1778.

Private David Knight Private Christopher Knight Private Jonathan Knight, junior Captain Joseph Knight Private Thomas Knight Private William Knight Private Oliver Leach Private Stephen Leach Private Alexander Lovell Private John Manchester Private Nathan Matthewson Private James Parker Private Thomas Parker Private Joslin Phillips Private Peter Pierce Private Nathan Ralfe Private Obadiah Rolfe Private Joseph Remington Private Collins Roberts Private Zebedee Snow Private William Stafford Private Caleb Steere Private Furmer Tanner Private William Taylor Private Joseph Turner Private Stuckley Thornton Private Nathan Walker Private Eleazor Westcott Private Benjamin Whitmore Private Joseph Wight Private Knight Wilbur Lieutenant Samuel Wilbur Sergeant Simeon Wilbur Private Benjamin Wood

DEATH: Vital Record of Rhode Island 1636 - 1850 Birth, Marriages and Deaths By James N. Arnold Vol. XIV Providence, R.I. Narragansett Historical Publishing Company Providence Gazette - Deaths 1905 - Page 33 Knight, Col. Joseph, at Scituate, in 85th year. Had been a member of council several years and colonel of Scituate Regiment 15 years; Feb. 27, 1825

Vital Record of Rhode Island 1636 - 1850 Birth, Marriages and Deaths By James N. Arnold Vol. XV Providence, R.I. Narragansett Historical Publishing Company Providence Phenix - Deaths 1905 - Page 538 Knight, Col. Joseph, at Scituate, in 85th year. Patriot of the Revolutionary War, March 9, 1825

BURIAL: National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution Patriot Grave Search KNIGHT, Joseph Major RI Knight Farm Fam Cem nr Foster, Providence County, RI 1741 - 1825 Revolutionary War Graves Register. Clovis H. Brakebill, compiler. 672pp. SAR. 1993. Also SAR Revolutionary War Graves Register CD. Progeny Publishing Co: Buffalo, NY. 1998

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Col Joseph Knight, in Find A Grave.