John Knight
was born about 1861 in St Germans, Cornwall. Son of James Knight
and Sarah Ann Williams.
Nothing has been
confirmed about this man but it is my personal belief that the
following information is actually HIM. Of course this could turn
out to be incorrect but I shall include why I think this is him
which will show why I am almost certain.
He would have been the
first child between James Knight and Sarah Ann Williams. As is
now know, James died early which left his wife having to work
and with small children. Her only recourse was to 'farm' the
children out so she could work. John would have been sent out to
work as early as possible so he could at least fend for himself.
Many very young children were listed on the censuses as working
at very young ages but they were probably even younger and their
ages lied about when it came to the census. However, this is not
a case of MAKING THINGS FIT, but the most likely scenario.
I could only find one
reference, to a John Knight who could be this one, on the 1871
census. He is listed as being 11 years old and 'general farm
servant, indoors' to a family called Thomas. I then tried the
1881 census and found one who was on board a ship but nothing of
much use to decided if it was him or not. I tried the 1891 and
1901 census. The 1901 census showed a John Henry Knight,
pensioner RN and his wife Amelia. I then went back at looked for
Amelia on the 1891 census and found her listed as the wife of a
stoker, RN. There was also a daughter. I then looked for a
marriage to get the wife's maiden surname.
As other members of the
Knight family were in the Royal Navy, it is not beyond reason
that John may also have joined. Other members were also stokers
which adds weight to my suspicions. There are also a couple of
John Knight's listed in the Naval records at the National
Archives. One of which would probably fit with the numbers
before that of his brother Charles Lane Knight. Unfortunately
these papers do not give the parents names and I do not know for
sure when John was actually born due to rather too many John
Knight to hazard a guess.
From this I have
concluded the following:-
John married Ameila
Grace Tagget in 1886 in St German's, Cornwall. She was born
about 1864 in St German's Cornwall.
In 1901 they were
living at 42 York Street, St Aubyn, Devonport, Devon. In 1891
Ameila was the head of the family at 3 St Aubyn Ope? Morice,
Stoke Dameral, Devon where she is listed as 'Wife of Stoker,
RN'.
Child of John Knight and Amelia Tagget
is:
Florence M Knight
born about 1887 in Devonport.
