Col. Sylvester R. Knight

Col Sylvester Rhodes Knight b 1Mar1821 in Centerville, Kent, RI, d 28Apr1892 in Providence, Providence, RI, bur in Swan Pt Cem, Providence, Providence, RI, m Abby Whipple Mauran 14Mar1848 in Providence, Providence, RI.

Military: Abraham Lincoln Papers at Library of Congress, Transcribed & Annotated by Lincoln Studies Ctr, Knox College, Galesburg, IL

Jan 1862, Mrs Sylvester R Knight wrote to Pres Lincoln concerning release of husband from jail in Richmond, VA. This is transcription of endorsment he wrote on letter from Mrs Knight, which was presumably returned. Pres's private sec, John G Nicolay, has written explanation of memorandum just below Lincoln's copy; "Endorsed upon the letter of a lady who wished her husband released from jail at Richmond where he is held prisoner of war. Lt SR Knight 1st RI Regt" Notwithstanding Pres's discourageing tone, Lt Knight was exchanged & mustered out of army Jan 1862. Pres sympathizes deeply w/Mrs Knight & her husband, & many others in like condition-but he is sure she does not appreciate difficulty of what she asks.

Am Civil War Soldiers

Name: Sylvester Knight, Residence: Providence, RI

Enlistment Date: 17Apr1861 Side Served: Union

State Served: RI Service Record:

Enlisted as 1st Lt 17Apr1861, Commission in Co D, 1st Infantry Regiment RI 2May1861, Mustered Out Co D, 1st Infantry Regiment RI 20Jan1862 at Washington, DC.

Narrative of Campaign of 1st RI Regiment, Augustus Woodbury, Providence, Sidndeys Rider, 1862-193

Co D, Sylvester R Knight, 1st Lt. Taken prisoner at Centreville, Jul 22. Released, & returned to Providence, Jan 25, 1862.

US Civil War Soldier Records & Profiles

Name: Sylvester R Knight, Residence: Providence, RI

Enlistment Date: 17Apr1861

Rank at enlistment: 1st Lt, State Served: RI

Survived War?: Y

Svc Record: Commissioned officer in Co D, RI 1st Inf Regt 2May1861, Mustered out 20Jan1862 at Washington, DC.

Source Info:

Historical Data Systems, comp. US Civil War Soldier Records & Profiles, Provo, UT, USA: Generations Network, Inc., 2009. Original data: Data compiled by Historical Data Systems of Kingston, MA from following list of works:

BIOGRAPHY: Descendants of Rev Thomas Hooker, Hartford, CT, 1586-1908, Edward Hooker, Commander, USN, Edited by Margaret Huntington Hooker, Rochester, NY, 1909, p 468

Incidents in Life & Times of Stukeley Westcote, w/some of his Descendants, J Russell Bullock, 1888, p 94

RI Register for yr 1856, George Adams, Vol II, Providence, Gladding & Bro; George H Whitney, 1856

Register County of Providence

Sheldon Knight

Justice of the Peace-Cranston

Sheldon Knight

City of Providence

Robert Knight-Jabez C Knight

Westerly

Jed W Knight

RI Militia

A E Burnside, Maj Gen of Militia, 1st Light Inf Co, Providence

Lt Col, Sylvester R Knight

Banks in Providence

Atlantic Bank-48 Broad St

Robert Knight-Director

Bank of Commerce-4 Market Sq

Jabez C Knight-Director

Butchers' & Drovers' Bank-25 Broad St

B B Knight-Pres-Director

W Knight-Cashier

High St Bank-154 High St

Robert Knight-Pres-Director

Mt Vernon Bank-37 Westminster St

Robert Knight-Director

Roger Williams Bank-23 Market Sq

Jabez C Knight-Pres-Director

Elmwood Bank-Elmwood, Cranston

Robert Knight-Director

Landholders' Bank-Kingston, S Kingston

David B Knight-Director

Mechanics' Savings Bank-41 Westminster St, Providence

Henry P Knight-Director

People's Savings Bank-4 Market Sq, Providence

Jabez C Knight-Director

Insurance Companies

Fireman's Mutual Ins Co, 2 Market Sq, Providence

Benjamin B Knight-Director

Merchants' Ins Co, 20 Market Sq, Providence

Jabez C Knight-Director

Roger Williams Ins Co, 15 Market Sq, Providence

B B (Benjamin Brayton) Knight-Director

Butler Hospital

Jabez C Knight-Director

Cranston, Providence, City Council (Probate)-Sheldon Knight

Foster, Providence, City Council (Probate)-Olney Knight

Johnston, Providence, City Council (Probate)-Charles Knight

Coventry, Blacksmith-Alfred W Knight

Scituate, Bobbin Makers-Robert Knight

Foster, Carpenter-Ezra Knight

West Greenwich, Carpenter-Nathan Knight

West Greenwich, Carpenter-Olney Knight

Coventry, Carriage & Coach Builders-Caleb Knight

Lime Rock, Cooper-John Knight

Scituate, Grist Mill-Richmond M Knight

Providence, Grocer (Retail)-William A Knight

Pawtucket, Millinery & Fancy Goods-Mrs Henry Knight

Scituate, Saw Mill-Richmond M Knight

Scituate, Saw Mill-Wm W Knight

Death: RI Deaths, 1630-1930

Name: Sylvester R Knight

Kin 1: Sylvester Knight

Kin 2: Louisa V Knight

Death Date: 28Apr1892

Age: 71 yrs

Source Info:

Ancestry.com. RI Deaths, 1630-1930, Generations Network, Inc., 2000

1850 US Census

Name: Sylvester R Knight, Age: 29, Est birth yr: c1821

Birth Place: RI, Gender: Male, Home in 1850: Providence Ward 2, Providence, RI

1860 US Census

Name: Sylvester R Knight, Age in 1860: 40, Birth Yr: c1820, Birthplace: RI, Home in 1860: Providence Ward 2, Providence, RI, Gender: Male, Post Office: Providence

Household Mbrs: Name/Age

Sylvester R Knight/40

Knight/38

Nehemiah Knight/8

Joshua Knight/6

Arthur Knight/4

Thomas S Knight/1

Ellen Caughlin/30

Kate Flynn/25

1870 US Census

Name: Sylvester R Knight, Est birth yr: c1821, Age in 1870: 49, Home in 1870: Providence Ward 2, Providence, RI, Race: White, Gender: Male, Post Office: Providence

Passport: US Passport Applications, 1795-1925

Name: Sylvester R Knight

Passport Issue Date: 26Sep1860

Passport Includes Photo: N

Source: Passport Applications, 1795-1905 (M1372)

Source Info:

Passport Applications, 1795-1905; (Natl Archives Microfilm Publication M1372, 694 rolls); Genl Records of Dept of State, Record Group 59; National Archives, Washington, DC, Passport Applications, Jan 2 1906-Mar 31 1925

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He was living in Rhode Island, and joined the first RI regiment in the Civil War. He was a first lieutenant. At the first battle of Bull Run, he was captured by the confederate army. (CSA) We was incarcerated in Libby Prison in Richmond VA. There is a letter from him to an official in DC listing the men who were captured with him, asking that their families be notified. Denny thinks he was exchanged for confederate soldiers and released, and we don't think he saw further war service. Denny saw his grave in Providence RI.

Denny has a copy of a letter from Sylvester in the Confederate prison. It was written in pencil, I have copied it here:

Richmond Va, July 24/61

Hon Henry B Anthony

Dear Sir

I am confined here as a prisoner of War, and am quite well. I was taken the morning after the battle. Will you please write my brother Mayor (or Mayon) Knight to that effect and oblige.

Yours respectfully,

SR Knight, 1st Lieut

Co D 1st Rhode Island Reg

List of prisoners from Rhode Island:

Qr Master Lloyd Bowers 1st Reg

Amos M Bowers (or Bowen) Co A " "

Dave W Barnes " B " "

T Delaf (loc cit) Smith "C " "

H D Perkins " C1 " "

Henry P Stafford " " " "

Zachariah Jacob " K (not sure) " "

Henry C Ienckes (guess) Asst Qr Master 2nd Regiment

Geo A Stetson, Forage Master, " "

Leumex King, Musician " "

Albert F smith private Co E " "