Michael Christian Goodnight

Michael Christian Goodnight was the son of Hans Michael Gutknecht and his first wife, Mart Barbara Fiscus.

Michael Christian married Catherine Cook in 1772 in Concord, Cabarrus, North Carolina.

They were the parents of Elizabeth, Katherine, Christian, Mary, Michael, Margaret, George, John, Jacob, Henry and Rachel.

Michael Christian, served his Nation in the Revolutionary War. 4 Reg't (Beatty's) Virginia Militia. His rank was Private.

Michael Christian, was my husband, Michael's 5th great grandfather.

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Aug 21 2019, 14:09:49 UTC
• Reference: FamilySearch Genealogy - SmartCopy: Jul 7 2021, 15:22:21 UTC

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Here post found on ancestry maybe it can be researched more out.

David Lee Dunlop has done extensive research on the Goodnight family and even has books you can buy. His rootsweb database is called goodnightfamily.

ID: I00001 Name: Christian GUTKNECHT 1 2 Sex: M Birth: 24 JUN 1722 in Alsace-Loraine, Germany Death: 26 DEC 1795 in Germantown, Philadelphia, PA Note: He was 27 when he came to America in 1749 on the ship "Christian". He signed the Oath on 13 Sept. 1749. He located in the German settlement called Germantown, a suburb of Philadelphia. He only spoke German all of his life, as did his brothers. He died at age 73 years, 6 months and 2 days. (German Reform Church Records)

Christian and his brothers, Hans Michael and George, all emigrated to the New World from Germany on separate ships in the mid-1700s. All three went by Goodnight once they arrived. Both Hans -- also known as John Michael, or just Michael -- and George were slaughtered by American Indians in separate late-18th century attacks in frontier Kentucky. "They pioneered into the Kentucky wilderness among the earliest of those who went there; the blood of both brothers, spilled in Indian warfare, helped make it 'the dark and bloody ground,' " wrote descendant S.H. Goodnight in The Good(k)night Family (Gutknecht) Family in America (1936). George was killed in 1780 in a British-led raid by 500 Canadians and Native Americans on Ruddell's Station in frontier Kentucky. Five of his children were captured by American Indians. His daughter Elizabeth had Two sons by a Native American before she returned to her family. "George was massacreed in the most barbrous manner while his children were scattered among the Indians," according to a family letter written in 1883 letter. "My father was taken to Detroit and sold to the French and taken to Canada. Elizabeth never got to her people until she was twenty two years old." Accounts vary on exactly how Hans Michael met his fate. The first version has him being killed by Indians while his family was part of wagon train of pioneers heading from North Carolina toward what is now Mercer Co., Ky., in 1781. His son was wounded, and his pregnant wife escaped into the woods, where a search party found her days later "lying prostrate upon the ground in a semi-conscious state, her face covered with a blanket," according to the unattributed family account published in a newspaper in 1973. But a version passed down in old family letters has Indians attacking Hans Michael and his son while the two were apparently travelling alone. According to this version, they were returning to their Kentucky settlement after a trip to North Carolina to retrieve some of their possessions. Native Americans killed -- and scalped -- Hans Michael and wounded his son, who was able to escape. "The Indians came upon them at their camp fire, killed the father," a descendant wrote in 1883. "They shot the son, the arrow entered one side and came out at the other, and the surprising part is in that condition he made his way to the horses, stopped the bell, concealed himself and the next day went to the white settlements."

• ***** "Great grandfather was killed by the Indians and John was shot but got away in Ky. and one of my grand aunts was stolen by the Indians and had two sons by the Indians before she got back to her folks." Source: Family letter written by John S. Goodnight in 1884 and reprinted in The Good(k)night Family (Gutknecht) Family in America by S.H. Goodnight (1936).
  • **** "The family version of the removal to Kentucky and the killing of Michael Goodnight by Indians is told in this manner: "'After locating and building a cabin at Harlan's Station in what later became Mercer County, [Hans] Michael Goodnight returned to North Carolina and then set out again to Kentucky in July 1781, with his family and household effects. They were a party of a caravan composed of other pioneer families, who were guarded by thirty armed men. "'No serious mishap befell the emigrant train until it arrived within half a day's journey of Harlan's Station, where a camp was pitched for the night. All was secure but at midnight, the fearful cry of the savage was heard, followed by gun shots, screams and confusion. "'Michael Goodnight was killed in the first onslaught and his son, John, was severly wounded, but he succeded in making his escape. Mrs. Goodnight was expecting another child at the time; she fled into the dark forest. "'Many of the immigrants were massacred, but a few escaped to the station where the alarm was given. A party was made up to search for Mrs. Goodnight and she was found two days later in woods lying prostrate upon the ground in a semi-conscious state, her face covered with a blanket. "'She was taken to Harlan's Station, where four months later, January 1, 1782 a son, Isaac Goodnight, was born. A curious circumstance, preserved in the family traditions, is that from his birth until the day of his death Isaac could never go to sleep without covering his face.'" Source: Unattributed historical family account printed in the Harrodsburg Herald, Harrodsburg, Ky., on Jan. 18, 1973.
    • *** Excerpt from 1883 family letter: "The two brothers, John (Michael) and George, in the days of General Logan and Boon emegrated to the state of Kentucky and met sad misfortune. George and his entire family except two sons who were in the service were captured I think at Kentons [Ruddell's] station. "George was massacreed in the most barbrous manner while his children were scattered among the Indians. My father was taken to Detroit and sold to the French and taken to Canada. Elizabeth never got to her people until she was twenty two years old. "John (Michael) and his son John went back after some of their goods which they had to pack on horses for want of roads, the Indians came upon them at their camp fire, killed the father. They shot the son, the arrow entered one side and came out at the other and the surprising part is in that condition he made his way to the horses, stopped the bell, concealed himself and the next day went to the white settlements. "I have given the outlines of our people in America. . . . . . Respectfully, Farewell, S. W. Goodnight. Source: Family letter written in 1883 and reprinted in The Good(k)night Family (Gutknecht) Family in America by S.H. Goodnight (1936).

Immigrant Ships Transcribers Guild Ship Christian Source: http://www.immigrantships.net/v3/1700v3/christian17490913.html Christian Gutknetch (Goodnight) is a passenger on this ship.

Rotterdam, Netherlands and Cowes, England to Philadelphia, PA September 13, 1749 "[List 130 C] At the Court House at Philadelphia, Wednesday, the 13th September 1749. Present: Joshua Maddox, Esquire. "The Foreigners whose Names are underwritten, imported in the Ship Christian, Capt. Thomas Brady, from Rotterdam, but last from Cowes in England, did this day take the usual Oaths to the Government. By List III. In all 300 [?] [persons] from Wirtemberg, Alsace, Zweybrecht."

    Fridrich Gelbach Daniel (D) Altik Frantz (O) Gelbach Johann Philipp Hornn Fricderich (O) Gelbach Willhelm (+) Holtz Paulus Brod Michael (M) Shoemaker Andreas Vogel Joseph (+) Ressener Johann Andreas Dresler Ludwig Maintzger * Hs. Jacob Schumacher Johan Philb Henrich Sauer Hans Jacob Stratz Georg Michel Derr Hans Adam Hockner Georg Lenhardt Braun Friederich (O) Erb Andereas Braun Vallentin (O) Kern Georg Michael Braun Christof Ludtwig Karl Nolden George Ludwig (+) Burg Philip (X) Kaupt Ernst Munckel Johann Anderas Weckesser Heinrich Albrecht Johann Jacob Datisman Frantz Ziegler Senior George (X) Hummel Frantz (X) Ziegler Junior Jacob Hieman Beniamin Cuny David Pfautz Veltin Dellinger Michael Hauff Johannes Mitschler Carl Goss Martin Bernhart Weybegt Rupp Julius Christoph Bachman Martin Schlachenhauff Hans Jerg Michele Michael Hechelman Johann Georg Lang Johann Michael Mayer Johan George (X) Erig Christian (X) Romich Johannes Schaffer * Hans Jorg Haffer Johann Caspar Geissinger Hans Jerg Feucht Johann Ludwig Bauerle * Hans Jerg Schumacher Andoni Schneck Michell Haupt Johanes (X) Tilly Balthasar Dock Matdes Osterdag Senior Peter Goscha Matheas (X) Osterdag Johannes Schmerber Johans Michael Sommer Samuel Moser Johan Albrecht (X) Eshelman Hans Peter Jung Abraham Selman Hans Beder Ribeled Michael (X) Rummel Jacob Ribelet Johan (X) Ehrhart Johann  Nicolaus Koch Hans Georg (+) Unangst Abraham Ribellet Hans Jacob (X) Uber Thomas (D) Hull Balzazar (Bals) Glisser Henrich Dock Willhelm (X) Heyshe Christian Eichart Mardin Danner Johann Jacob Banutz Hans Jerg Merckly Christian Glasser * Conradt Bosch Hans Meck Matheis Weiss Peter (X) Hamman Joseph Schmith Michael (X) Houswird Jacob Risterholtz Fillib Kugler Christian Limbacher Antony Eki Johann Georg Limbacher Jacob Rummel Johann Adam Ebert Johan Erhard Knappenberger Johann Jacob Sinn Christian (X) Gutknecht Johannes Reuter Martin Hirsch Jacob Walckly * Bernhart (X) Shweighart Isaac Jung Hans Adam Krieger  Formatter Notes: As of 1727 it was required of all those over 21 years old entering  Philadelphia to sign an "Oath of Allegiance" and later two other oaths.  OATHS  "We subscribers, Natives and Late Inhabitants of the Palatinate upon  the Rhine & Places adjacent, having transported ourselves and Families  into this Province of Pensilvania, a Colony subject to the Crown of  Great Britain, in hopes and Expectation of finding a Retreat & peaceable  Settlement therein, Do Solemnly promise & Engage, that We will be  faithful & bear true Allegiance to his present Majesty King George II,  and his Successors, Kings of Great Britain, and will be  faithful to the Proprietor of this Province; And that we will demean  ourselves peaceably to all His said Majesties Subjects, and strictly  observe & conform to the Laws of England and of this Province, to the  utmost of our Power and best of our understanding." 

Beginning with August 19, 1729, the immigrants were required to sign two additional declarations, which were entered in a bound book. The latter in course of time became a series of bound books, to each of which these two declarations where prefixed.

The two additional declarations, to which the immigrants affixed their signatures in the bound books, were as follows:

"I ___ do solemnly & sincerely promise & declare that I will be true & faithful to King George the Second and do solemnly sincerely and truly Profess Testifie & Declare that I do from my Heart abhor, detest & renounce as impious & heretical that wicked Doctrine & Position that Princes Excommunicated or deprived by the Pope or and Authority of the See of Rome may be deposed or murthered by their Subjects or any other whatsoever. And I do declare that no Foreign Prince Person Prelate State or Potentate hath or ought to have any Power Jurisdiction Superiority Preeminence or Authority Ecclesiastical or Spiritual within the Realm of Great Britain or the Dominions thereunto belonging.

"I ___ do solemnly sincerely and truly acknowledge profess testify & declare that King George the Second is lawful & rightful King of the Realm of Great Britain & of all others solemnly & sincerely declare that I do believe the Person pretending to be Prince of Wales during the Life of the late King James, and since his Decease pretending to be & taking upon himself the Stile & Title of King of England by the Name of James the third, or of Scotland by the Name of James the Eighth or the Stile & Title of King of Great Britain hath not any Right or Title whatsoever to the Crown of the Realm of Great Britain, nor any other the Dominions thereunto belonging. And I do renounce & refuse any Allegiance or obedience to him & do solemnly promise that I will be true and faithful, & bear true allegiance to King George the Second & to him will be faithful against all traiterious Conspiracies & attempts whatsoever which shall be made against his Person Crown & Dignity & I will do my best Endeavours to disclose & make known to King George the Second & his Successors all Treasons and traiterous Conspiracies which I shall know to be made against him or any of them. And I will be true & faithful to the Succession of the Crown against same is & stands settled by An Act Entituled An Act declaring the Rights & Liberties of the Subject & settling the Succession of the Crown to the late Queen Anne & the Heirs of her Body being Protestants, and as the same by one other Act Entituled An Act for the further Limitation of the Crown & better securing the Rights & Liberties of the subject is & stands settled & entailed after the Decease of the said late Queen, & for Default of Issue of the said late Queen, to the late Princess Sophia Electoress & Dutchess Dowager of Hanover & the Heirs of her Body being Protestants; and all these things I do plainly & sincerely acknowledge promise & declare according to these express Words by me spoken & according to the plain & common Sense and understanding of the same Words, without any Equivocation mental Evasion or secret Reservation whatsoever. And I do make this Recognition Acknowledgment Renunciation & Promise heartily willingly & truly." * In the original format the names below have diacritical symbols which are not recognized by our search engine, the names are listed below as they are in sources. Mäintzger Schäffer Bäuerle Glässer Wälckly Christian Gutknecht Christian Gutknecht was born in Bischweiler Germany on 25 Jun 1722.He was baptized at the Reformed Church in Bischweiler on 28 June 1722.His date of birth was calculated from the records of the Germantown Reformed Church records, which state he was buried on 27 December 1795, having died the previous day, at the age of 73 years, 6 months and 2 days.The church records of Bischweiler and the Bischweiler Stammtafeln yield the following information.Johann Gutknecht, carpenter, was born 18 January 1691 and died 18 July 1762.He married first, Anna Barbara Kieffer, born 25 Mar 1688 and was buried on 4 Mar 1726 at Bischweiler, age 38 years.To them were born four children; Johan Adam born 1719 buried 17 Jan 1719;Maria Eva baptized 10 Mar 1720, married to Jean Fischer, son of Jean Paul Fischer, on 25 Feb 1740, at the French Reformed Church; Christian born 25 Jun 1722, married 25 Apr 1746 at Bischweiler to Maria Magdalena Grunholtz;Maria Magdalena (Gutknecht) baptized 3 Jun 1725, buried 23 Aug 1725 at Bischweiler, age 11 Weeks.After the death of his first wife, Johann married second, 10 Feb 1727, to Mary Magdalena Grob, born ca 1695, buried 20 Sep 1741 at Bischweiler.Johann and Mary Magdalena had six children;Anna Barbara, baptized 11 Jul 1728, buried 9 Apr 1730 age 2 years; Maria Esther, baptized 6 May 1731, buried 19 Jul 1731;Johann Peter, baptized 5 May 1734, buried 24 May 1734, age 3 weeks one day;Johannes, baptized 3 Apr 1735, buried 2 Sep 1736 age 1 year, 5 months 2 days;Anna Maria Elisabetha, baptized 4 Dec 1737, died at 2 years of dysentery, buried 28 Jul 1739;Johann Jacob, baptized 29 May 1740, could find no death for him in either church records or stammtafel.After the death of Maria Magdalena, Johann Gutknecht, carpenter, married third, 9 Apr 1742 to Anna Maria Sutter, widow of Jacob Sutter.She was born 1684 died 3 Feb 1744.Christian Gutknecht, tobacco preparer, married Maria Magdalena Grunholtz, daughter of the late Johan Michael Grunholtz on 25 Apr 1746.She was born 25 Apr 1723 at Bischweiler.Seven children of Christian and Maria Magdalena;Maria Magdalena, born 6 Feb 1747, baptized 8 Feb 1747;Maria Elisabetha, born 17 nov 1748, baptized 20 Nov 1748 and married 24 Apr 1770 at Germantown Reformed to Christopher Henrici;Elisabeth, born around 1753, confirmed 1768 Germantown; Christian, born around 1756, confirmed 7 Apr 1772 age 16, married by 1789 to Elizabeth Rittenhouse, and their children were Deborah, born 16 Jun 1790, baptized at Germantown; Susanna, born 24 Nov 1795 and baptized at Germantown, John, born 6 Aug 1798, died 10 Jan 1823 in Philadelphia, buried First Dutch Reformed: Samuel, born around 1762 confirmed Easter 1779; Catherine, born 14 Jan 1764 baptized 19 Feb 1764; John Christopher, born 2 Oct 1769 baptized 16 Nov 1769.

There is further information on the Grunholtz line in the Church Records and the Bischweiler Stammtafeln.

I believe the evidence indicates that Christian Gutknecht of Germantown and Christian Gutknecht of Bischweiler Germany are one and the same.From the church records that I examined, there was no evidence to indicate that Johan Michael Gutknecht and Johan Georg Gutknecht, more commonly known as Michael and George Goodnight, were siblings of Christian Gutknecht of Germantown.Perhaps a link can be found further back to indicate they are related, but not as siblings.I believe the Gutknechts originated in Switzerland and migrated into Germany during the many wars in that area. books about The Goodknights The Goodknight (Gutknecht) Family in America By S. H. Goodnight

Charles Goodnight, Cowman and Plainsman" by J. Evetts Haley