John ll Knight, of Romsey

Father of John in 1515, William in 1517, and Thomas in 1519.

The earliest record at hand is for JOHN KNIGHT of Romsey, who died in 1549. His will dated 9 Sept. 1549 is at the Abbey, and lists his wife Mawde and two sons, JOHN and WILLIAM. Probate was granted on 13 Jan. 1550.

No Thomas is mentioned in the will. He may also fathered two daughters Alice and Joan. His friend John Ham (also one of the saviors of the Romsey parish along with John) was listed as an overseer of the will.

Another family tree website lists Maude as Margaret Maud Bellentyne, b. 1495, , Horshope, Berwick, Scotland , d. Aug 1569 – Age: 74 years

Romsey is a small market town in the valley of the river Test seven miles NW of Southampton. It is principally known for its 12th century Norman church, originally the chapel of a Benedictine nunnery. Romsey Abbey was famous for its roses at the time of William Rufus in the late 11th century.

The parish registers of Romsey were kept in the Cathedral and began in 1569, although there were a few scattered records of earlier dates at Romsey and Timsbury. The name of Knight was common in the town at that time.

The earliest record was that of John Knight of Romsey who died in 1549. This John helped save Romsey Abbey from the greed of Henry VIII at the time of the dissolution of the monasteries. His will lists his wife Maude and his two sons John and William. Knights from Timsbury a few miles north of Romsey date from later in the 16th century. They were apparently a minor gentry family who had come originally from Northamptonshire.

Copied from: Records of Romsey Abbey. 

Up to the suppression in 1539, the town had been rather the appendage of the Abbey, which exercised lordship over it, though the town had evidently sought and attained some sort of separate existence, as may be seen from the history of its guilds described in Chapter XL From the year 1539 the town stood alone, and it speedily showed its vitality by the important transaction of 1544, when the townsfolk bought the great Church from the Crown for 100 pounds. Four men, Robert Cook, John Salt, John Ham, and John Knight, are described in the deed as "Guardians of the Church of Romsey." John Knyght died about the end of the year 1549, leaving 6s. 8d. for the repair of the Parish Church, and requesting his friend, John Ham, to be one "of the overseers of his will. John Salte, yeoman, made his will 29th July, 1554, and died about the close of the year.

Knight Family of Romsey, Hampshire County, England

The earliest traceable Knight generations, belonging to John Knight of Romsey, proclaimed their allegiance to Trinity Church in Winchester,Hampshire County, England. In their Last Wills and Testaments they referred to Trinity (Winchester Cathedral) as their mother church. The Trinity Church (built 976-1079) pre-dates the Romsey Abby (built 1120-1250) and other area churches. Winchester Cathedral is a Church of England cathedral in Winchester, Hampshire, England. It is one of the largest cathedrals in England. Dedicated to the Holy Trinity, Saint Peter, Saint Paul, and Saint Swithun,

Important events which took place at Winchester Cathedral include: Funeral of King Harthacanute (1042) Funeral of King William II of England (1100) Coronation of Henry the Young King and his queen, Marguerite (1172) Second coronation of Richard I of England (1194) Marriage of King Henry IV of England and Joanna of Navarre (1403) Marriage of Queen Mary I of England and King Philip II of Spain (1554)

Winchester Castle

Was founded in 1067. Only the Great Hall still stands; it houses a museum of the history of Winchester. In 1302, Edward I and his second wife, Margaret of France, narrowly escaped death when the royal apartments of the castle were destroyed by fire. Margaret of York, daughter of King Edward IV, was born here on 10 April 1472. On November 17, 1603 Sir Walter Raleigh went on trial for treason in the Great Hall. The castle was used by the Royalists in the English Civil War, eventually falling to Parliamentarians in 1646. Oliver Cromwell then ordered the castle's destruction.

King Arthur's Round Table

The "Winchester Round Table" hangs in the Great Hall of Winchester Castle Winchester is well known for the Great Hall of its castle, which was built in the 12th century. The Great Hall was rebuilt sometime between 1222 and 1235, and still exists in this form. It is famous for King Arthur's Round Table, which has hung in the hall from at least 1463. The table actually dates from the 13th century, and as such is not contemporary to Arthur. Despite this it is still of considerable historical interest and attracts many tourists. The table was originally unpainted, but was painted for King Henry VIII in 1522. The names of the legendary Knights of the Round Table are written around the edge of the table surmounted by King Arthur on his throne. Winchester was the capital of England, until some time after the Norman Conquest when the capital was moved to London.

(Added 2012 Don Knights)