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m. 16 Jan 1647/48
Facts and Events
BIOGRAPHY: Richard Knight C:1603/1605-1680- The earliest record found of this person is on 4 Aug 1640 when he agreed with the town of Hampton to keep a mill at the landing and was granted 100 acres, "History of Hampton,N.H.",Pope. An assumption has been made that Richard came from Norfolk,England because of this record as most Hampton settlers came from Norfolk County,England. However, in the book McCormick-Hamilton-Day Ancestral Lines, Compiled for Elizabeth Day McCormick & Robert Hall McCormick III, privately printed, 1957 it suggest Richard came from Kent County, England. 14 Sep 1640, Richard contracted to build the meeting house at Hampton. 29 Jan 1640/1641, He was to make a gate for the pound. Dec 1641, He was a defendant in a suit brought by Stephen Kent. 1644, He was suspected of theft and was then "of~Salisbury,Ma." 1645, A warrent was issued for the arrest of Richard Knight of Hampton.
1648/49/50/53/54/57/58 - General Sergeant. The Early Records of the Town of Providence Volume XV BEING THE PROVIDENCE TOWN PAPERS Vol. 1 1639 - April 1682 NOS. 01 - 0367 Printed 1899 - Page 27 A Copy of the Warrent for Hugh Bewit You are herby required, In the name & power of the State of England to attach the body of Heugh Bewit, & to bring him before me, to answer to such things as shallbe layd to his Charge as you will answer the Contrary at yr will, warwicke the 23 of ffebruary anno 1649. To Richard Knight, Gen. Serjeant To the Cunstable of providence Jno: Smyth president these deliner The Early Records of the Town of Providence Volume XV BEING THE PROVIDENCE TOWN PAPERS Vol. 1 1639 - April 1682 NOS. 01 - 0367 Printed 1899 - Page 28 To Rich. Knight Gen. Sergeant, for the Colony of Providence Plantations, greeting. These are in the name of the honored State of England, to require & charge you to arrest the body of Nicholos Power Constable of Providence, & take sufficiant Bale for his personal appearance at the next Colony Court of tryall to be held for this Colony at Newport in may next to answer for his contempt of the Presidents Warrant thereo fayle you not, at ye will, Given at the Office this 17th of November 1649 me Philip Shearman Gene: Recorder
(Recto) Providence the 25, of the 12th. 1649. (called) fforasmuch as there is brought into this Town by the Gen. Serjeant, Certain Warrents as the termes them, directed for Hugh Bewit & Nicholas Powers, & some other of like nature. The Town being orderly called & met thereupon. We find by the letter of the Lawes Gen: unto wch we are ingaged, that they are not legally stated. We therfore the Deputies of the Town aforesaid, & on the foresaid Townes behalfe We forbid the said Rich. Knight Gen. Serjeant to execute the said Warrents, according to the contents theof, as he will answere it; yet we not denying any execution of any Legall Gen: Warrent, that shall in Order, according to the letter of or Gen. Lawes, be brought into this Town to be executed. Gleanings from Newport Court Files 1659 - 1783 Jane Fletcher Fiske 1710, September: John Knight now resident in Providence…eldest son, and heir of John Knight late of Norwich in ye Collony of Connecticut decesd: grandson and heir of Richard Knight of Newportdecesd vs. Peter Wells, Job Babcock, William Tanner, Isaac Shelden, Joseph Car[pen]ter, Peter Crandall, Samuel Hopkins & Gersham Cotterell yeomen all of Kingstowne…in a plea of partition, damage L800 as per summons dated 15 July 1710. In their plea, by attorney N. Blagrove, the defendants stated that they held no land in common undivided with the plaintiff…what land they hold is in fee simple, having received their title from Henery Hall, surviving joint tenant of [torn] Knight. David Knight and West Clark upon their engagement say that Richard Knight of Newport decd about 31 years agoe. The Early Knights of Rhode Island By G. Andrews Moriarty, A.M., LL.B., F.S.A., of Bristol, R.I. The early history of the Knight Family, which became prominent in Providence in the last century, is somewhat obscure, and the account given in Austin's "Dictionary" is not entirely satifactory. Therefore it is the purpose of the contributor of this article to present a brief history of the early generations of the family. The founder of the family in New England was Richard Knight, who was at Newport as early as December 1646. Austin knew nothing earlier than this about him; but there are references to him in the Essex Quarterly Court files at Salem, Mass., that show that prior to his arrival in Rhode Island he had lived at Hampton, N.H., where he had a mill. 1. Richard (1) Knight, of Hampton, N.H., and Newport, R.I., was living in 1680, but died before 27 Oct. of that year. He married first in England, ________; and secondly, about 1647, Sarah Rogers, daughter of James and Mary Rogers of Newport, R.I., who was living at East Greenwich 24 Feb. 1684/5, when she served on a jury of women with respect to the condition of a young women. Richard Knight probably came to Hampton, N.H. from co. Norfolk, England, as most of the earliest inhabitants of Hampton came from that part of England. On 4 Aug. 1640 and 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 14 Sept. 1640 he contracted to build a meeting house. On 29 Jan. 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 9 July 1645 a warrant for his arrest was issued to the constables of Boston, Mass., on account of certain thieving activities of his, and on 9 Sept. 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, p. 88 and History of Hampton.) In Rhode Island he was a house carpenter by trade, and the the items given above show that he practiced the same trade at Hampton. He probably fled to Rhode Island at some time between 9 July and 9 Sept. 1645, to escape punishment for his misdeeds. This experience seems to have had a salutary effect on him, for thenceforth his life in Rhode Island was, so far as is known, entirely decorous. In February 1646 [? 1645/6] Goodman Knight conveyed his house, mill, and 100 acres at Hampton to Christopher Lawson of Boston, Mass. In December 1646 he brought suit at Newport against William Jeffery (Acquidneck Quarterly Court Files, printed). On 16 Jan. 1647/8 land at Newport was conveyed to him by James Rogers, whose daughter Sarah he married about this time. On 8 Feb. 1648/9 he agreed with his wife Sarah not to sell the 40 acres of land bought of James Rogers and Robert Griffin, but entailed it upon her and his eldest son by her, who was to have it at the age of twenty years. If he should have no son, then the land was to go to their eldest daughter, at the age of sixteen years. Moreover, his son in Old England was to have no part in it. (Rhode Island Colonial Deeds, edited by Chaplin, vol. 1, p. 6.) From 1648/9 he kept the prison in Newport. He was general sergeant in 1648, 1649, 1650, 1653, 1654, 1657, and 1658. His name occurs on the roll of freeman at Newport in 1655. He was sent to summon the Warwick sachem Pomham before the Court on 17 Mar. 1655/6. He sold land at Newport on 22 Dec. 1656 and 5 Dec. 1658. In the latter year he was "Water Bailey." On 19 Jan. 1663/4 he made, in partnership with Henry Hall, the great purchase of lands at Chippachog, in Westerly and Kingston, from the Indians, which was afterwards known as the Hall and Knight purchase. He appears to have rendered service to the Colony in Philip's War, for on 31 Oct. 1677 he was one of the grantees of the East Greenwich lands, for service in that war. Each grantee received 100 acres. On 11 Dec. 1679 he, together with his wife and his eldest son, John, sold land. He was alive as late as 1680, when he was taxed 7s., but by 27 Oct. 1680 he was dead, as on that date his widow petitioned for a confirmation of the lands in East Greenwich that he had settled upon her, and this was allowed. Genealogical and Family History of the State of Connecticut: A Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of a Commonwealth and the Founding of a Nation. Volume II Knight Richard Knight , immigrant ancestor, was a carpenter by trade and lived at Newport, Rhode Island . He was keeper of the prison in 1648-49 and general sergeant in 1648-49-50-53-54-57-58 . He was admitted a freeman in 1655 . In 1663 he bought lands in Narragansett , and in 1677 he and forty-seven others were granted one hundred acres each in a plantation to be called East Greenwich , but never lived there. He died in 1680 . He married Sarah , daughter of James and Mary Rogers . Children: John , Jonathan , David , mentioned below. Levi Byram and Martha Jane Belnap Gold Medal Pioneers By Donald Levi Gale Hammon 1996 - Page 14/15 The Benjamin Families from Columbia County, New York Compiled by R. M. Benjamin Published by Pantagraph Ptg. & Sta. Co. Bloomington, Ill. 1911 - Page 19/20 John Pember The History of the Pember Family in America By Celeste Pember Hazen 1939 - Page 155
The Early Records of the Town of Providence Volume XV BEING THE PROVIDENCE TOWN PAPERS Vol. 1 1639 - April 1682 NOS. 01 - 0367 Printed 1899 - Page 66 To ye Deputie for ye towne of providence By vertue of a warrent Received from mr Nicho: Easton by ye presedents order, These are to Require you in ye name of ye keepers of ye liberties of England. by authoritie of parlement. to provide for ye General asemblie & ye Court of tryalls (which is adjourned till ye 12th of this present month & to be held at Portsmouth) accordinge as ye law in ye Case provides hereof you are not to faile. Richard Knight Gnarall Sargnt Newport June ye ferst 1653
1655 - Richard Knight was made a Freeman of the colony, which,in Rhode Island, did not imply that he was a church member, but that he was worth, at least $200.00. This was the last year of the presidency of Roger Williams, "but not the last of the unfortunate bickering disorder of the colony where fanaticism not only expressed itself in religon, but in politics and society; and no scheme was so wild as to find adherents in this confused medley." 17 Mar 1655 - Richard Knight and two other were sent by warrent for the Sachem Pomham, to require him to come before the court.
May 1649 - Civil&Military List of Rhode Island 1647-1800, General Sarjent, Richard Knight, To have leave to sell a little wine or strong water to some natives in theare sickness. Mr. Roger Williams.
3.7 Aug 1653 - Ipswich Court Records for 28 May 1654, there is recorded a petition to the General Assembly at Portsmouth(RI), 17 Aug 1653,"Members present: Richard Knight, General Sergeant." 1655 - Richard Knight was made a Freeman of the colony, which,in Rhode Island, did not imply that he was a church member, but that he was worth, at least $200.00. This was the last year of the presidency of Roger Williams, "but not the last of the unfortunate bickering disorder of the colony where fanaticism not only expressed itself in religon, but in politics and society; and no scheme was so wild as to find adherents in this confused medley." 17 Mar 1655 - Richard Knight and two other were sent by warrent for the Sachem Pomham, to require him to come before the court.
3.7 Aug 1653 - Ipswich Court Records for 28 May 1654, there is recorded a petition to the General Assembly at Portsmouth(RI), 17 Aug 1653,"Members present: Richard Knight, General Sergeant." LAND: 1645, Adjoining to the house, twelve acres and half of upland at Gauges wigwam and ten acres of meddow adjoining to the same, and fourty acres of upland in the west field adjoing to William Hayward's land on the east and William Fifield on the west, and this was by an absolute deed of Sale dated the 5 (3) 1645. (Signed) Richard Knight Witness: William Walderne,An Jenks,Recorded in Suffolk Deeds,Bk. 1 page 68.
Ref. Rhode Island Land Evidences, Vol. 1. 1648-1696, Originally Published, Rhode Island Historical Society, Providence,Rhode Island 1921, page 6. Page 5 is a land Evidence Record for the sale of land with James Rogers and Richard Knight. Page 6 & 7 is land evidence of the Henry Hall & Richard Knight purchase from the Indian Chief Coigamaquoant of the Narragansetts. There are also land transactions between Richard Knight & George Kendrick, and Richard Knight & Lawrence Turner mentioned in this book.
5 Dec 1658 - He sold Lawrence Turner 4 acres. Ref. RI Land Evidences, page 6. 22 May 1662 - Land recorded of Lawrence Turner and Tobias Saunders, both of Newport, land in Newport adjacent to land of Lawrence that he purchased of Richard Knight, together with a dwelling...acc. to law made 22 May 1662 ratified 29 May 1673. RI Families, GBR, Vol. 2 page 261.
22 Dec 1656 - He sold George Kenwick (Kenrick)? of Providence 12 acres in merchantable peage at rate of eight to a penny of flour of white or of black, or equivalent. Newport Historical Magazine Volume 1, 1880-1. Published by The Newport Historical Publishing Co. 128 Thames Street Newport, R.I. No. 1 - July, 1881. - Vol.2 - Page 116 Rhode Island Colonial Land Evidence Deed. Richard Knight, of Newport, for a certain sum of money, conveys to Lawrence Turner of Newport, four acres of land, bounded, W. by the land of Richard Knight and to begin at a dead tree, next the land of said Lawrence Turner, at the south-west corner, and so to range to a living tree on the north-west corner, and from thence, down to the highway, as the fence runs. Sd fence to be maintained forever by sd Lawrence Turner. Date, Dec. 5, 1658. Witness, Will Jefferay and Richard Bulgar. [Vol. 1, p. 30.]
Collections of the Rhode Island Historical Society Vol. III. Providence: Marshall, Brown and Company MDCCCXXXV Page 70 Jan. 19, 1664. Coginaquant's deed to Richard Knight and Henry Halls, of about two square mile, which they named Westerly Manor. (L.E. 1, 2, 405.) It joined the Pettiquamscut purchase, and was bounded on the East side from a place called Quamatucumpic-Southward to a place called Chippachuack-thence Westerly to a place called Quowachauk-thence North to a place called Winatompic-and from thence a strait line to the first bounds. This purchase was afterwards confirmed by the Assembly, in 1708. Its bounds as finally settled, appear to have been Usquepaug river on the West-Pettiquamscut purchase on the East, and on the North, a tract of land which Lang, Boss, Wickam and others, purchased of the State's Committee, May 17, 1710 Collections of the Rhode Island Historical Society Vol. III. Providence: Marshall, Brown and Company MDCCCXXXV Page 111 In October, 1708, (at Providence,) this committee made a Report, (see App.) which was received and confirmed as being mad according to the true intent of the Act of October 30, 1672. The Assembly confirmed the Deed of Coginaquand to Knight and Halls, provided it should not interfere with the Pettaquamscut purchas, or former grants. 31 Oct 1667 - He was one of forty-eight who were granted 100 acres each in a plantation called East Greenwich. This name of the new town,together with the reference in the deed of Coganaquoant,arouses suspicion that Richard Knight, and perhaps others of the settlers, were familiar with the county of Kent,England, and possibly had come from that county.
Tied for third place in voting for Assistant from Newport to Rhode Island General Court, 7 May 1659 [RICR 1:408]. Deputy from Newport, October 1664 [RICR 2:61]. Committee to set rates for Newport, 13 May 1667 [RICR 2:197]. Rhode Island jury, foreman, 29 August 1653 [EQC 1:314]. ESTATE: "W[illia]m Jeffryes, gent.," was a patentee of Agamenticus [York] on 2 December 1631 (and on 2 March 1631/2) [York Hist 1:86-88]. On November 1641 he received his division of lands at York, in partnership with Samuel Maverick, Elias Maverick and Hugh [sic] Bursley [York Hist 1:135]. "Mr. William Jefferey" held land in Newport as early as 16 January 1648[/9], when he was named as an abutter to lands being sold by James Rogers to Richard Knight, and on 6 June 1650 "William Jefferey" promised to "make the fence that hath been in controversy betwixt Richard Knight and myself" [RILE 1:5]. On 22 March 1653/4 "William Jefferays" sold to Lawrence Turner and Tobias Saunders a parcel of land measuring sixty-seven rods by fifty-six rods, "being the eastern part of the lands of William Jefferays of Newport" [RILE 1:28]. 11 Dec 1679 - With his wife Sarah Rogers, and his eldest son, John, he sold land to Francis Brimley and Francis Smith.
31 Oct 1667 - He was one of forty-eight who were granted 100 acres each in a plantation called East Greenwich. This name of the new town,together with the reference in the deed of Coganaquoant,arouses suspicion that Richard Knight, and perhaps others of the settlers, were familiar with the county of Kent,England, and possibly had come from that county.
Tied for third place in voting for Assistant from Newport to Rhode Island General Court, 7 May 1659 [RICR 1:408]. Deputy from Newport, October 1664 [RICR 2:61]. Committee to set rates for Newport, 13 May 1667 [RICR 2:197]. Rhode Island jury, foreman, 29 August 1653 [EQC 1:314]. ESTATE: "W[illia]m Jeffryes, gent.," was a patentee of Agamenticus [York] on 2 December 1631 (and on 2 March 1631/2) [York Hist 1:86-88]. On November 1641 he received his division of lands at York, in partnership with Samuel Maverick, Elias Maverick and Hugh [sic] Bursley [York Hist 1:135]. "Mr. William Jefferey" held land in Newport as early as 16 January 1648[/9], when he was named as an abutter to lands being sold by James Rogers to Richard Knight, and on 6 June 1650 "William Jefferey" promised to "make the fence that hath been in controversy betwixt Richard Knight and myself" [RILE 1:5]. On 22 March 1653/4 "William Jefferays" sold to Lawrence Turner and Tobias Saunders a parcel of land measuring sixty-seven rods by fifty-six rods, "being the eastern part of the lands of William Jefferays of Newport" [RILE 1:28]. 11 Dec 1679 - With his wife Sarah Rogers, and his eldest son, John, he sold land to Francis Brimley and Francis Smith.
31 Oct 1667 - He was one of forty-eight who were granted 100 acres each in a plantation called East Greenwich. This name of the new town,together with the reference in the deed of Coganaquoant,arouses suspicion that Richard Knight, and perhaps others of the settlers, were familiar with the county of Kent,England, and possibly had come from that county.
Tied for third place in voting for Assistant from Newport to Rhode Island General Court, 7 May 1659 [RICR 1:408]. Deputy from Newport, October 1664 [RICR 2:61]. Committee to set rates for Newport, 13 May 1667 [RICR 2:197]. Rhode Island jury, foreman, 29 August 1653 [EQC 1:314]. ESTATE: "W[illia]m Jeffryes, gent.," was a patentee of Agamenticus [York] on 2 December 1631 (and on 2 March 1631/2) [York Hist 1:86-88]. On November 1641 he received his division of lands at York, in partnership with Samuel Maverick, Elias Maverick and Hugh [sic] Bursley [York Hist 1:135]. "Mr. William Jefferey" held land in Newport as early as 16 January 1648[/9], when he was named as an abutter to lands being sold by James Rogers to Richard Knight, and on 6 June 1650 "William Jefferey" promised to "make the fence that hath been in controversy betwixt Richard Knight and myself" [RILE 1:5]. On 22 March 1653/4 "William Jefferays" sold to Lawrence Turner and Tobias Saunders a parcel of land measuring sixty-seven rods by fifty-six rods, "being the eastern part of the lands of William Jefferays of Newport" [RILE 1:28]. 11 Dec 1679 - With his wife Sarah Rogers, and his eldest son, John, he sold land to Francis Brimley and Francis Smith. TAXES: 1680 - Taxed 7 shillings. Last record of Richard. DEATH: 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
MILITARY: He appears to have rendered military service to the colony in King Philip's War, for on October 31,1677, he was one of the grantees of the East Greenwich Lands, for service in that war. Each grantee received 100 acres. Register of the Society of Colonial Wars in the District of Columbia Washington City 1905 - Page 47 Richard Knight (1603 - 1683) of Rhode Island; Keeper of Prison, 1648-49; General-Sergeant; 1648-53; served in King Philip's War under Captain William Turner. References
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