Capt. Jonathan Knight

"Jonathan (b.1781, Cheraw Dist., SC, married Elizabeth _ born 1787, Ga., d. 1860, Clay Co., Fla. Jonathan died 1860, Clay Co., Fla."

Jonathan Knight 1781-1852 Oath Of Office Signature. http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~knighthistory/OathofOffice...

Based on photograph, downloaded from:

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~etknight/J&etkn~1.htm

as well as narrative contained at that site, Jonathan Knight was a substantial landowner and slave owner in Georgia. He also served as a captain in the Georgia Militia during the War of 1812 and, later, as a Justice of the Inferior Court in Georgia.

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Jonathan Knight came to Florida with his father John Knight circa 1803. He and his father first owned land on Amelia Island, Florida. Around 1810 he was elected Sheriff of Wayne County, Georgia. He later served as a Justice of the Peace for Wayne County, Georgia. He served in the War of 1812 as a Captain in the 74th battalion, Georgia Militia. He also served in the Indian War of 1840 from Lowndes County, Georgia. Prior to this he served as a Justice of the Interior Court for Lowndes County Georgia in 1826.

Prior to Florida becoming a state in 1845, Jonathan Knight moved his family, thirteen slaves, horses, cattle to land he bought near Middleburg, Florida which at the time was in Duval County, but is now located in Clay County, Florida. He and his wife are buried at the Fowler Cemetery, located at Middleburg, Florida. Their graves are marked.

http://www.rootsweb.com/~usfgs/florida/k/knight-j.txt

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Jonathan Knight was born in 1781 in Cheraw District, S. C., a son of John Knight, R. S. He came with his parents to Effingham County, Georgia, during the latter part of the Revolutionary War, where he grew up and lived for some years. His wife, Elizabeth, was born in this state in 1787, but so far her maiden name cannot be learned. Neither is a full list of their children available. Among their children were:

• William b. 1806, m. Mary
• Mary b. 1808, m. Lewis Roberts, Dec. 15, 1825.
• Jonathan b. 1811, m. (wife unknown).
• James H. b. 1817, m. Cynthia -.
• Thomas S. T. b. 1820, m. Barbara King, dau. of Willis.
• Sarah b. 1824, m. Lewis L. McCall, son of Robert.
• Matthew Albritton b. 1826, m. Mary E. Pace, Apr. 14, 1853. Died Clay County, Fla.
• Nancy b. 1827, m. Henry L. Wester.
• Elizabeth H. b. 1829, m. Hiram Prescott, Jan. 28, 1851.

Jonathan Knight and his first-cousin, William A. Knight (Vol. I), were among the first settlers of Wayne County after its creation, moving there From Effingham County. He appears to have lived there until about 1816 when he and his family moved back to Effingham County. Then after a few years' residence in his old home-county, they returned to~ Wayne County accompanied by his father. He lived there until 1825 when they removed to Lowndes County and settled on lot 88, 16th district of present Echols County, which lot is traversed by the Alapaha River. After about twenty years' residence there, Mr. and Mrs. Knight and most of their children

moved to Duval County, Florida, and settled in the portion later cut into Clay County. There he died about 1860.

He granted 200 acres of land in Wayne County in 1810, and also owned other lands there. The deed records of Irwin County show he bought said lot 88, 16th district, Feb. 23, 1821, and at that time he lived in Effingham County (Deed book A, page 19, Irwin County). The same year, Jan. 1, 1821, his father, John Knight, made a deed to him to lands in Effingham County, identifying him in the deed as his son. A deed is on record in Effingham County from Jonathan Knight joined by his wife, Elizabeth, dated June 28, 1817, to Martha Spiers, all parties resident of Effingham at the time (Deed Book L, page 9).Mr. Knight served as Sheriff of Wayne County, 1810-12. He was commissioned the same year (1810) as a captain in the Wayne County militia, and again commissioned Nov. 12, 1813, and as such commanded a detachment of Wayne County militia that rendered service in the War of 1812. He again served as a captain in the Indian Wars in this section, commanding a company of Lowndes County militia in 1840. Capt. Knight served as a Justice of the Peace, 28th district Wayne County, 1815-1816, and as Tax-collector of Wayne, 1821-1822. He was commissioned Justice of Peace in the 334th district of Wayne, Jan. 4, 1825, but moved the same year to Lowndes County, where in the first election for county officers he was elected a Justice of the Inferior Court, serving 1826-1829.Capt. Knight was a member of the Primitive Baptist Church. His wife was received by letter Dec. 7, 1822, into High Bluff Church in present Brantley County, from a church in Effingham County. Shortly after, March 9, 1823, he came into the church on a profession of faith and was baptized. Then on Nov. 8, 1823, they were dismissed by letter to join in organizing Kettle Creek Baptist Church in Ware County which it seems, was near where they lived. And on Oct. 1, 1825, they entered into the constituting of Union Baptist Church located on the west banks of the Alapaha River in what was then Lowndes, now Lanier, County, coming by letter from Kettle Creek Church. Then on July 18, 1827, he and his wife were dismissed by letter from Union Church to unite in constituting Friendship Church located near the present town of Hahira, Lowndes County. He was ordained a deacon by Friendship Church a few years later, also serving as church clerk. His subsequent church membership has not been traced.

http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~scroots/sc07430.htm
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Jonathan Knight was born in 1781 in Cheraw District, S. C., a son of John Knight, R. S. He came with his parents to Effingham County, Georgia, during the latter part of the Revolutionary War, where he grew up and lived for some years. Jonathan and his first cousin, William A. Knight, left Effingham County to be among the first settlers of Wayne County after its creation.

On April 20, 1802, Jonathan married Elizabeth, who was two weeks away from her 14th birthday (born in Georgia on May 2, 1788.) She was the daughter of William Tucker and Jemima Andrews Tucker.

Jonathan travelled to Florida with his father John Knight circa 1803, during Florida’s second period of Spanish occupation. He and his father purchased land on Amelia Island.

In 1806, Jonathan and Elizabeth had their first child William. Two years later, they had their first daughter – Mary (who later married our ancestor Lewis Roberts on December 15, 1825.)

In 1810, Jonathan was elected Sheriff of Wayne County, Georgia and he continued in that office until 1812. He was granted 200 acres of land in Wayne County in 1810, and he also owned other lands there. While serving as Sheriff of Wayne County, his second son Jonathan was born.

At the same time that he was elected Sheriff, Jonathan was commissioned as a Captain in the 74th Battalion, Georgia Militia and he was again commissioned on November 12, 1813. He commanded a detachment of Wayne County militia that rendered service in the War of 1812.

After the war, Capt. Knight served as a Justice of the Peace for the 28th district of Wayne County (1815-1816.) He appears to have lived in Wayne County until about 1816 when he and his family moved back to Effingham County.

A deed is on record in Effingham County from Jonathan Knight joined by his wife, Elizabeth, dated June 28, 1817, to Martha Spiers. All parties to the deed stated that they were residents of Effingham County at that time.

Jonathan and Elizabeth continued to expand their family with the addition of two sons, James H. and Thomas, while living in Effingham County. After a few years' residence in his old home county, Jonathan and his family returned to Wayne County, accompanied by his father.

Capt. Knight served as Tax Collector of Wayne County 1821-1822.

Capt. Knight was a member of the Primitive Baptist Church. His wife was received by letter December 7, 1822 into High Bluff Church in present Brantley County, transferring from a church in Effingham County. On March 9, 1823, Jonathan came into the church on a profession of faith and was baptized. On November 8, 1823, they were dismissed by letter for the purpose of organizing Kettle Creek Baptist Church in Ware County, closer to their residence.

In 1824, daughter Sarah joined the still growing Knight family. Capt. Knight was commissioned as a Justice of the Peace in the 334th district of Wayne County on January 4, 1825.

Apparently afflicted by wanderlust, Jonathan moved the family once again. In 1825 they moved to the newly formed Lowndes County and settled on lot 88, 16th district (in what is now Echols County,) which lot is traversed by the Alapaha River. In the first election for county officers, he was elected a Justice of the Inferior Court, serving 1826-1829.

On October 1, 1825, Jonathan and his wife joined with others in forming Union Baptist Church, located on the west banks of the Alapaha River (in what is now Lanier County,) coming by letter from Kettle Creek Church. Jonathan and his wife apparently also had an attraction to forming new churches, as he and his wife were dismissed by letter from Union Baptist Church on July 18, 1827 to form Friendship Church located near the present town of Hahira in Lowndes County. Jonathan was ordained a deacon by Friendship Church a few years later, also serving as church clerk. His subsequent church membership has not been traced.

The Knight family “settled” in Lowndes County and continued to increase with the births of Matthew Albritton (1826,) Nancy (1827,) and Elizabeth H. (1829) Knight. Son Matthew was named for a fellow Justice, the Reverend Matthew Albritton.

At the age of 59, Capt. Knight’s military career was not finished. Conflict with native Americans arose and Jonathan commanded a company of Lowndes County militia in the Indian War of 1840.

After the excitement of the Indian War of 1840, a return to life in Lowndes County was apparently too boring for Jonathan. Florida was ready to become a state and Jonathan made his final move, bringing his family, thirteen slaves, horses, and cattle to land he had bought near Middleburg, Florida (which at the time was in Duval County but is now located in Clay County.)

Jonathan and Elizabeth lived their remaining days in Middleburg. At the age of 71, he died there on February 17, 1852 and, at the age of 64, Elizabeth died on January 13, 1853. Both are buried at Fowler Cemetery, located near Middleburg, Florida.

Clay County was formed in 1858. Continuing in his father’s tradition of public service, Matthew Albritton Knight was elected as the first Clerk of Court in Clay County.

Sources:

• http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~scroots/sc07430.htm
• http://www.geocities.com/knighthistory/GeorgiaKnights.htm
• http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~etknight/J&etkn~1.htm
• http://www.rootsweb.com/~usfgs/florida/k/knight-j.txt

Census Date: 1850; RG: 29; Series: M432; Residence: Black Creek District, Duval, Florida; Roll: 58; Page: 110a

• Household Members (Name) Age
• Jonathan Knight 69
• Elisabeth Knight 63

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