Ancestors of Mandy Willard

John KNIGHT (1754-1812)

and Ann GEARING (c1754-1799)

John Knight and Ann Gearing married by banns on 7 April 1779 in Twineham, Sussex.  John was then a bachelor and Ann a spinster.  They were both of Twineham and both made their X marks.  The witnesses were William Tulip (marked) and John Paine (signed).  (They were not my direct ancestors.  John was the half brother of my 4x Great Grandfather.)

John Knight was baptised on 21 March 1754 in Twineham.  He was the son of Richard Knight (c1719-1757) and Mary Matthew (1723-1816).  The Shermanbury burial register records that a John Knight was buried there on 26 November 1812.

Ann Gearing may have been baptised on 25 August 1754 in Keymer, Sussex and have been the daughter of Thomas Geering and Mary (possibly Mary Alcock who had married Thomas on 12 June 1744 in Keymer.)  She was buried on 15 April 1799 in Shermanbury and the burial register records that she was the wife of John Knight.

(In addition to my web pages I also keep a private database, and in that I have at some point noted that the John married to Ann in 1779, was baptised on 7 June 1753 in Henfield, the son of Richard Knight (1706-1756) and Sarah Croucher (c1713-1774).  But I think it more likely the John born in Twineham also married there.  Might Henfield John have married Frances Croucher on 29 June 1780 in West Grinstead?  That John was then said to be of Cuckfield.)

John Knight and Ann Gearing had 7 known children:

1. John Knight was baptised on 1 January 1780 in Shermanbury.  Did he marry Ann Bayley by banns on 4 January 1809 in Brighton?  He was a bachelor and she a spinster.  John and Ann had the following children:

   1. William Knight was baptised on 14 June 1814 in Shermanbury.

   2. James Knight was baptised on 15 December 1816 in Shermanbury.

2. Thomas Knight was baptised on 18 November 1781 in Shermanbury.  He married Mildred Thompset in 1804.  (They have their own page.)

3. Mary Knight was baptised privately as she was in peril of death on 3 August 1783 in Shermanbury.  She was received into the church on 10 August 1783.  Did she marry William Duwdney by banns on 5 June 1802 in Shermanbury?  He was a bachelor and she a spinster and they were both of Shermanbury and both made their X marks.  The witnesses to their marriage were James Hards and Thomas Jupp.

4. Stephen Knight was baptised on 17 April 1785 in Shermanbury.  The baptism register notes that his parents were paupers and, therefore, exempt from paying the baptism fee.

5. Richard Knight was baptised on 8 July 1787 in Shermanbury.  The baptism register notes that his parents were paupers and, therefore, exempt from paying the 3d baptism fee.  He probably died between 1851 and 1861.

   Richard married Nanny Lelliott by banns on 2 September 1810 in Henfield.  He was then a bachelor of Shermanbury and she a spinster of Henfield.

   Nanny was baptised on 4 December 1785 in Henfield and was the daughter of William Lelliott (1751-1825) and Jenny Wood (1761-1841).  She died aged 86 years in 1872.

   The 1841 census records that the couple and 2 of their children were living at Greentrees in Shermanbury.  In 1851, 62 year old Richard and 65 year old Ann were living alone at Kings Cottage in Shermanbury and he was then a pauper/agricultural labourer.

   Richard and Nanny had the following known children:

   1. Sarah Ann Knight Lelliott was born on 19 July 1810 and baptised on 19 August 1810 in Henfield.  Her father's name was not recorded in the baptism register.

      Sarah married John Hemsley on 11 October 1828 in Henfield.

   2. Louisa Knight was baptised on 21 May 1815 in Shermanbury.

   3. Mary Knight was baptised on 9 August 1818 in Shermanbury.

   4. Elizabeth Knight was baptised on 17 September 1820 in Shermanbury.  In 1841 she was 21 years old and living at home with her parents and younger brother.

   5. Keziah Knight was baptised on 21 July 1822 in Shermanbury.

   6. Henry Knight was baptised on 27 March 1825 in Shermanbury.

   7. William Knight was baptised on 9 March 1828 in Shermanbury.  The 1841 census records that he was 11 years old and living at home.

6. William Knight was baptised on 24 January 1790 in Shermanbury.  The baptism register notes that his parents were paupers and, therefore, exempt from paying the 3d baptism fee.

   William married Eliza Amey by banns between 19 November 1814 and 6 February 1815 in Henfield, Sussex.  He was a bachelor and she a spinster, and they were both of Henfield.

   Eliza was born about 1795.  She may have been the daughter of Henry Amey and Hannah Chate who had married on 25 May 1789 in Henfield.  The witnesses to their marriage were John Chate and William Vinall.

   When the 1841 census was recorded the couple and 10 year old William Knight were living on Henfield Common and William was then a gardener.

   William and Eliza had the following known children:

   1. Eliza Amey Knight was baptised on 23 July 1815 in Henfield.

      As Eliza Eamey Knight she married Charles Nathan Stoner by banns on 3 December 1834 in Henfield.  She was a spinster and he a bachelor and they were both of Henfield.  The witnesses to their marriage were Thomas Coates, Edward Longhurst, Jane Lelliott, Louisa Kinsett, May Stoner and Richard Holla (all these witnesses have come from the Sussex marriage index - 6 does seem a little excessive!).

   2. Louisa Knight was baptised on 9 March 1817 in Henfield.  She may have married David Chambers by banns on 26 December 1835 in Brighton.  She was then a spinster and he a bachelor and they were both of Brighton.  Or she may have married William Illman by banns on 22 May 1836 in West Grinstead.  At the time she was of Cowfold and he was of West Grinstead.

   3. Henry Knight was baptised on 16 May 1819 in Henfield.  In 1841, Henry was a gardener living at Red Oaks in Henfield, the home of the curate, Charles Dunlop.

      Henry married Elizabeth Butcher on 6 August 1844 in Henfield.

      Elizabeth was born about 1821 in Washington.

      In 1851 the couple together their 4 children and 12 year old lodger Elizabeth Lelliott, were living at Potwells Cottage in Henfield and Henry was then a gentleman's gardener.

      Henry Elizabeth had the following known children:

      1. Henry Knight was born about 1846 in Henfield.  He was 5 years old in 1851.

      2. Eliza Knight was born about 1848 in Henfield.  She was 3 years old in 1851.

      3. William Knight was born about 1849 in Henfield.  In 1851 he was 2 years old.

      4. John Knight was born in 1850 in Henfield.  At the time of the 1851 census he was 6 months old.

   4. Gerring Knight was baptised on 28 October 1821 in Henfield.

   5. Anne Knight was baptised on 10 April 1825 in Henfield.

7. Jane Knight was baptised on 17 March 1793 in Shermanbury.  The baptism register notes that his parents were paupers and, therefore, exempt from paying the 3d baptism fee.

KNIGHT