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McKnight's Arrival from Scotland 1816

William McKnight b. NB ca. 1838

Thomas A. Murray (View posts)
Posted: 4 Feb 2005 5:48PM GMT
Classification: Query
Well, there are three possibilities that I can think of.
1. That William McKnight was b. New Brunswick, and was a member of the family in Northumberland County that I have some information on.
2. That he was from New Brunswick, but from another family.
3. That his birth-place of 'NB' might be 'North Britain', a common term for Scotland.

In the 2nd case, for example, there were, in Springfield Parish, Kings County, New Brunswick in 1851, the family of David McKnight (b. ca. 1795, Irish, came to NB in 1826) and his wife, Sarah (b. Nova Scotia ca. 1808, came to NB in 1832.) No William amongst their children. In Studholm Parish was William McNight (b. ca. 1797, Irish, came to NB in 1827), with a wife, Sarah (b. ca. 1803, also Irish also came 1827.) Their eldest child, also Sarah (b. ca. 1825), arrived with them; the next child, Paul (b. ca. 1828) was b. in NB. With David McKnight was a sister, who came the same time he did. This may be significant as it indicates that David did not come alone, and suggests the possibility that William and David might be brothers. It might be of interest that a Josiah and David McKnight petitioned for land in Kings Co. in 1826; suggesting Josiah as a father; as he does not later appear. Both David and Josiah had been granted land in Springfield Parish 15AUG1828; David 190 acres, and Josiah 95 acres. This actually suggests that David was married and Josiah was not. William did have a son, William, b. ca. 1837.
Just to complicate matters, in Sussex Parish, Kings Co., NB, in 1851, was a William McKnight (b. ca.1801, Irish, arrived 1836), with a wife, Margaret (b. ca. 1799, Irish, arrived 1836.) Most of their children arrived with them, including a William (b. ca. 1829) and Charles (ca. 1835) with the first being b. in NB ca. 1843 being Susan.
This is one brief period in one fairly localized area. It would be hard to say how many other McKnight, MacKnight McNight, etc. families there were in NB.
In the 1st case, while what I have is likely not complete, and certainly has errors; one family I note is:

. SAMUEL MacKNIGHT b. Escalfechan, Scotland 3SEP1803, d. Michigan 22 DEC1876, m. 10JUN1825 ELIZABETH JARDINE (b. Scotland 1805.) Said to have gone first to Ohio.
Their children were:
21. JOSEPH MacKNIGHT b. 1828, d. 1899
22. CHRISTINA MacKNIGHT b. 1830, d. 1894
23. ELIZABETH HALLIDAY MacKNIGHT b. 1832, d. 1865
24. ISABELLA MacKNIGHT b. 1834, d. 1850
25. WILLIAM MacKNIGHT b. 1839, d. 1922
26. JENNET MacKNIGHT b. 1841, m. Chatham Parish, Northumberland Co., NB 29AUG1837 JAMES SAUNDERS
27. MARY MacKNIGHT b. 1844
28. GEORGE MacKNIGHT b. 1846
29. ELIZA MacKNIGHT b. 1847

which has a William b. about the right time. As to their removal to Ohio, Michigan or elsewhere, I cannot say for certain. In these cases, such movements was largely to follow the logging and lumber industry. The possibility of a similar movement to Quebec, especially to the Gaspe, is a real one.
In the on-line version of the 1880 census of Calais, Maine, there is a puzzling entry. A William McKnight b. New Brunswick ca. 1839 is indicated as a 'SonL', which I interpret as 'son-in-law', but does not say of whom. Both his parents were b. Scotland. Following him is Anna McKnight, whom I presume is his wife, designated as 'GDau' (Grandaughter) but again, not of whom. She was b. Maine, but her father in NB, and mother in Maine. I suspect that what was once listed as one household was split in the transcription. Here is a possible case of a McKnight following the logging trade to Maine; although most people from the Miramichi went to Penobscot Co. rather than Washington Co.; particularly around Brewer, ME. While this WIlliam might very well be the William s/o Samuel and Elizabeth (Jardine) MacKnight above, it is hard to be certain; especially as we know there were other McKnight's in NB. Something that reinforces the suspicion is that William, in Calais, has a daughter, Isabella (a rather Scottish name), and the William, Above, has a sister, Isabella. This is a dangerous way to assume a relationship, but if the names, Halliday or Jardine, were to appear amongst this family; I would make such an assumption.
Back to Studholm Parish, Kings Co., NB, now in 1881, there is a William McKnight b. ca. 1836 and his family. This is most likely the same who was the s/o William and Sarah in 1851; then b. ca. 1837. Perhaps this eliminates him as a possibility.
It is difficult for me to make a real judgement without more information and extensive study; but an impression I do get is that, for the most part, in the early parts of the 19th century; there may have been only two Mc/MacKnight families in NB; the Northumberland Co. family (Scottish?) and the Kings Co. family (Irish.) This needs confirmation. Should you come across any information, let me know, and I'll see if anything triggers some ideas.

Thomas

Re: William McKnight b. NB ca. 1838

Janice (View posts)
Posted: 5 Feb 2005 12:10AM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 31 Mar 2006 7:19PM GMT
You are right Thomas, I think this needs more research. There are just too many William McKnights. Thanks for all the info, I will keep it for the future.

Re: William McKnight b. NB ca. 1838

Janice (View posts)
Posted: 25 Mar 2006 11:14AM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 31 Mar 2006 7:08PM GMT
Surnames: McKnight, Jordan, Jardine, Walsh
Hello Thomas,
I have been talking to family members and they seem to think my William McKnight was born in Miramachi, New Brunswick, Dec. 25, 1838. They say his parents were James McKnight (born April 8, 1808 in Dumfrieshire, Scotland) and Jeannet Jordan (Jardine). Beside Jeannet's name is written Fundergerth, Scotland as well as born March 1, 1812 died March 18, 1881.
My William married a Margaret Walsh in 1860. They lived at Portage du Forte, Quebec and after she died in 1873, he moved to Meigs Co., Ohio. They say he died in 1920.
What do you think? Does he fit anywhere in your research?

Re: William McKnight b. NB ca. 1838

Thomas A. Murray (View posts)
Posted: 25 Mar 2006 6:39PM GMT
Classification: Query
No, Janice, nothing I have quite fits what you describe. I do suspect that 'Jeannet Jordan' should be Janet Jardine, that her birth-place should be Thundergarth in what was Dumfries-shire, Scotland, and that her parents might be connected to:

ELIZABETH HENNESSY b. 13APR1850 (13APR1851 in 1901), m. JAMES KERR JARDINE (b. Napan/Neguac/Burnt Church, Northumberland Co., NB ca. 1831-3, d. New Westminster, BC 25APR1896.) In Cambridge, MA 1887-1890.
(Patricia Hennessy, Northumberland Co. board, Ancestry,com, 2JUN2002.)
An ELSPETH HENNESSY b. ca. 1800, m. JAMES JARDINE (b. Tundergarth, Dumfries-shire, Scotland ca. 1794, d. Napan?, NB 5JAN1846, bur. Chatham, NB. Robert Jardine gives James, Sr.’s parents as Joseph Jardine (b. Lochmaben?, Dumfriesshire, Scotland ca. 1767) and Janet Kerr, and that they were m. Tundergarth, Dumfriesshire, Scotland 16NOV1792; moving to NB in 1827.
(Donald Edge, Northumberland Co. board, Ancestry,com, 25MAR2002.) According to the IGI, these were James’ parents; so, perhaps, James Kerr Jardine and Elizabeth Hennessy were otherwise related.

between the McKnight's/MacKnight's and Jardine's there were connections. For example:

FRANCIS HALLIDAY MacKNIGHT b. (Annan, Dumfries-shire, Scotland?) 25JAN1801, d. Burnt Church, Northumberland Co., NB 20AUG1883, m. Chatham, Northumberland Co., NB (by the Rev. Samuel Bacon) 7JUL1827 JEAN JARDINE (b. Lockerbie, Dumfries-shire, Scotland 3APR1810, d. 23JAN1878), d/o Alexander Jardine.
Barbara Mills wrote (e-mail, 17JAN2003):
Francis H and Jean (Jardine) McKnight.... my gggrandparents lived in Napan until c 1854 when he moved to New Jersey . The whole area was called Burnt Church at one time .The Taylor Family lived up the shore (of the Miramichi Bay) from the main Burnt Church community.

Their son was:

FRANCIS H. MacKNIGHT b. Alnwick Parish, Northumberland Co., NB 1MAY1830,
m. 1st JANE JARDINE (b. ca. 1828, d. 3JAN1887), d/o John (b. ca. 1793, d. 20JUL1856) and Jane (Bell) (b. ca. 1795) Jardine;
m. 2nd CATHERINE (“KATE”) SIMPSON (b. PEI 1857 (ca. 1858); m. 1st George Edmonds/Edmunds), d/o George (b. ca. 1811) and Flora Ellen (MacLean) (b. 1824) Simpson;
m. 3rd 15AUG1888 ELIZA TAYLOR (listed as a widow, age 24 years, in the marriage record) (b. Alnwick Parish, Northumberland Co., NB 14JUN1864 (1901 census) (or 1866 on headstone), d. Tabusintac 13FEB1928

and another son was:

WILLIAM K. MacKNIGHT b. 12NOV1844, d. 1928, m. Alnwick Parish, Northumberland Co., NB 5JUN1877 MARY C. LOGGIE (b. ca. 1848, d. 1891.)

Francis, Sr.'s brother was:

SAMUEL MacKNIGHT b. Escalfechan, Scotland 3SEP1803, d. Michigan 22 DEC1876, m. 10JUN1825 ELIZABETH JARDINE (b. Scotland 1805.) Said to have gone first to Ohio.

with Elizabeth Jardine possibly Jean's sister. Samuel's son was:

WILLIAM MacKNIGHT b. 1839, d. 1922

A third brother of Francis, Sr. and of Samuel was:

JAMES MacKNIGHT b. Scotland 1810, d. Napan, Northumberland Co., NB 5JUN1880, m. 1830 MARY DOBIE (b. 1810, d. Napan, Northumberland Co., NB 15MAY1878.)

who had a son:

WILLIAM S. J. MacKNIGHT b. 1832, d. 1916

The parents of Francis, Sr., James and Samuel were:

SAMUEL McKNIGHT/MacKNIGHT from Scotland 1816 (or 3OCT1818), Napan area of Northumberland Co., b. Dumfries-shire, Scotland ca. 1777, d. Napan, Northumberland Co., NB 1845 age 68 years, m. ELIZABETH (“BETSEY”) HALLIDAY (b. ca. 1761, d. 6MAY1862 aet. 100 years.)
See:
http://goodies.yi.org/~jack/genealogy/Godfrey/Godfrey_I143.h...
part of a genealogical web site by Jack Godfrey, 5JUL2003, based on, Mabel‘s Remembrances, transcribed by Shirley Godfrey from a manuscript by Mabel McKnight (1879-1975), Black River, Northumberland Co., NB 1974. Part of this reads:

We would honour our Grand Pioneer Father Samuel McKnight and his good wife Elizabeth Halliday McKnight, who came to this country from Dumfries-shire, Scotland in 1818 with their four sons and two daughters.
We are told they intended going on to Upper Canada but a severe storm drove them up Miramichi Bay. So they landed Oct 3, 1818 at Tyrills Point below Chatham, NB, where they remained for a little time. They considered it to be a good place to make a home. They applied for a grant of land and were given it on the north side of Napan River, Chatham Parish.
They connected themselves with St. Andrews Church, Chatham NB. The older couples bodies were laid to rest in St. Andrews Church Cemetery, which is in the lower part of Chatham NB.

There is a great deal more at this web site which is not included here as it is very extensive. It should be consulted as a check to what is here. The closest I can find to a home page is at:
http://goodies.yi.org/Genealogy/
called, Jack Godfrey’s Genealogy Information, and dated 23DEC2002; with the index at:
http://goodies.yi.org/Genealogy/Godfrey/index.html

Now, here's the thing; much of what I have is based on hearsay and on-line material. Much of it may be incorrect. For example:

6. JAMES MacKNIGHT b. Scotland 1810, d. Napan, Northumberland Co., NB 5JUN1880, m. 1830 MARY DOBIE (b. 1810, d. Napan, Northumberland Co., NB 15MAY1878.)
Their children were:
61. WILLIAM S. J. MacKNIGHT b. 1832, d. 1916

How do I know James' wife was Mary Dobie? Well, the only clue I have is that their son was JAMES DOBIE MacKNIGHT b. Napan, Northumberland Co., NB 1838 (29JAN1836), d. Napan, Northumberland Co., NB 14OCT1902, bur. Old St. John’s Church cemetery, Chatham Head, Northumberland Co., NB. So, much of the above may be incorrect.

Thomas

Re: William McKnight b. NB ca. 1838

Posted: 11 Jan 2013 2:21AM GMT
Classification: Query
I may have the information on the McKnights that you are looking for. Please contact...

Re: William McKnight b. NB ca. 1838

Posted: 11 Jan 2013 11:49PM GMT
Classification: Query
William McKnight is my great-great grandfather. I am indeed interested in information about the McKnights.

Re: William McKnight but not Jane Morewood

Posted: 17 May 2015 9:45PM GMT
Classification: Query
Jane Morewood was not my William McKnight's wife. She was married into a different family.
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